China-funded training benefits Myanmar’s tourism sector

Travel

Students attend a China-funded tour operator and travel operation training course in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 22, 2024. In downtown Yangon, China-funded training programs provided tourism professionals with updated skills and knowledge to help revive the sector in the post-pandemic era. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)YANGON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) — In downtown Yangon, Myanmar, China-funded training programs provided tourism professionals with updated skills and knowledge to help revive the sector in the post-pandemic era.Lin Latt Phyo, a final-year tourism student at the National Management Degree College in Yangon, was among the participants of the tour operator and travel operation training course.”I joined this course to expand my knowledge of tourism. Here, I’ve learned about marketing strategies, destination management, and travel itinerary planning,” she said.She was working on her final-year research paper. “The knowledge gained from this course will enhance my writing,” said the student.The course emphasized preservation of Myanmar’s tourism destinations to attract more international visitors. “The training covered both theoretical and practical aspects,” Lin Latt Phyo noted.The programs included seven courses, covering digital skills, training for tour operators and guides, and hospitality-related skills. They were funded by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) and organized by Myanmar Tourism Federation and related organizations.Min Soe Thura, an experienced tour guide fluent in English, also attended the course. “The training helped me update my industry knowledge, We even went on a day trip to Yangon Heritage Trust sites,” he said.Acknowledging current challenges, he said, “The tourism industry is struggling to recover in the post-pandemic period, and this training gave us ideas on how to boost it.”The 10-day course, which concluded on Friday, was attended by over 50 trainees, including tourism students, tour guides and tour operators.Naing Htoo Aung, a teacher of the course and a tour guide, said, “The training aims to refresh the skills of individuals in the tourism industry.””I teach responsible practices to ensure safety and reduce environmental impact for sustainable tourism. Our curriculum was made in line with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) competency standards,” he said.The training was also helping to address workforce gaps caused by the pandemic, during which many tourism professionals switched careers, he explained.”Thanks to the CFRD’s financial support, we can offer the courses free of charge. This has been extremely beneficial for the trainees,” Naing Htoo Aung said.The training also taught the trainees about Chinese culture, so they can better talk with Chinese tourists, he said.Tourism is not solely about economic benefits, and also fosters meaningful cultural exchanges, he added. ■

George Washington squares off against Illinois State

Technology

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Illinois State Redbirds (4-2) vs. George Washington Revolutionaries (5-1)Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands; Monday, 3 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: George Washington plays Illinois State in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands.
The Revolutionaries have a 5-1 record against non-conference oppponents. George Washington averages 80.2 points while outscoring opponents by 11.2 points per game.The Redbirds have a 4-2 record in non-conference games. Illinois State scores 81.0 points and has outscored opponents by 10.8 points per game.

Reading, With Extra Cheese: Remembering Pizza Hut’s ‘Book It!’

Arts & Culture, Books

Reporting on the 40th anniversary of the popular pizza literacy program sent one writer on a mozzarella-scented memory trail.Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.It was late one night last spring, and I was Googling cultural phenomena that would mark milestone anniversaries in 2024, as a sleepless reporter does.Fifty years old, as in things that had arrived in 1974? The Rubik’s Cube. Skittles. Dungeons & Dragons.From 1984, 40 years ago? “Ghostbusters.” The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Pizza Hut’s Book It! reading program, which offers pizza as an incentive to entice kids to read.Huh, I thought. I wonder how long that thing lasted. I had been a Book It! kid growing up, reading half a dozen books in a week, filling up a punch card and earning a certificate redeemable for a sweet, sweet six-inch pepperoni personal pan pizza (never plain cheese, I had standards).I was shocked: The program was still around.Of course, it had undergone some changes since my elementary school days: Gone were the punch cards; certificates were now digital. There was an option for home-schooled students to participate. Book It! even had accounts on Instagram and X.But what other literacy program — started by a restaurant, no less — had lasted 40 years?This, I knew, was a story.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Egypt Feuds With Travel Blogger, Issuing 1,100-Word Response to Complaints

Travel

When a blogger criticized Cairo’s airport, Egypt’s government fired back, citing security footage, threatening legal action and asking, “Is it reasonable for a passenger to visit two lounges before a single flight?”Authoritarian governments are not known for taking kindly to criticism. And in Egypt, official skins can be especially thin: deepening repression has muffled most dissent and sent tens of thousands of perceived political opponents to jail, including one for posting a doctored photo of the president with Mickey Mouse ears. But this month, Egypt found itself facing an opponent it could not silence so easily.“Cairo Airport: Is There a Worse Major Airport?” the travel blogger Ben Schlappig pondered in a no-holds-barred post on his website, One Mile at a Time. He cited the “actively hostile and rude” staff, the “endless requests for tips,” the “disorder” in line, the “weak” dining options and the “yuck” lounges.“My visits have varied from inconvenient and disorganized, to outright chaotic,” he wrote. “I just can’t think of a single redeeming quality about the airport.” As if salting the wound, he ended by comparing Cairo’s airport unfavorably with that of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with which Egypt is locked in a yearslong dispute over water rights.It was a verdict almost guaranteed to enrage Egypt’s government, which is making a concerted push to double its tourism numbers, trying to reach 30 million annual visitors by 2028. Besides employing one in 12 Egyptian workers, the tourism industry delivers desperately needed foreign currency to a country reeling from a prolonged economic crisis.New luxury hotels are going up around Cairo and Egypt’s sunny beach destinations. The government has announced plans to refurbish historic attractions. And a long-awaited new museum of antiquities is opening in stages — and to positive reviews — next to the Great Pyramids of Giza.Egypt’s government is making a concerted push to reach 30 million annual visitors by 2028.Sima Diab for The New York TimesWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

India’s Biggest Hit Film Had Comedy, Drama, And Romance, Budget Was Just Rs…

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Released in 2007, Welcome emerged as a landmark in Bollywood’s comedy genre. Directed by Anees Bazmee, the film featured a star-studded cast, including Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, and Mallika Sherawat in lead roles. Known for its laugh-out-loud moments and unforgettable dialogues, Welcome struck gold at the box office and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of fans.Welcome enjoyed a phenomenal opening week, earning Rs 35 crore domestically. Despite competing with Aamir Khan’s critically acclaimed Taare Zameen Par, the film grossed Rs 97.43 crore in India, becoming the second-highest-grossing movie of 2007, only behind Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om. With a production budget of Rs 32 crore, Welcome achieved an impressive worldwide gross of Rs 117.91 crore, cementing its status as a blockbuster hit.

Reports suggest that tension arose between Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor during the film’s production. Akshay, being the lead actor, wanted his name to appear first in the credits, while Anil argued for seniority. The matter was resolved by Anees Bazmee, who decided to list Feroz Khan’s name first, honoring the veteran actor’s seniority.

Welcome also holds sentimental value as it marked the last film of the legendary actor Feroz Khan. Known for his suave screen presence, Khan delivered a memorable performance as RDX. Sadly, he passed away on April 27, 2009, at the age of 69, after battling lung cancer.

The film’s success paved the way for a sequel, Welcome Back, which released in 2015 and was also a commercial hit. Fans of the franchise can look forward to the third installment, Welcome to the Jungle, scheduled for release in 2025. The upcoming film boasts an exciting ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, and Lara Dutta.

With its iconic characters, hilarious sequences, and unforgettable dialogues, Welcome remains a benchmark for comedy films in Bollywood. It is a reminder of the magic that great storytelling and exceptional performances can create on the silver screen.

Cuba hosts tourism, cultural promotion event in Shanghai

Travel

A Cuba tourism and cultural promotion event is held at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on Nov 22 on the sideline of the China International Tourism Mart. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Cuba tourism and cultural promotion event was held at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on Nov 22 on the sideline of the China International Tourism Mart. The event, aimed at fostering mutual exchanges and exploring new opportunities between China and Cuba, was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba and the Consulate General of the Republic of Cuba in Shanghai.
The night party attracted a diverse group of attendees, including Cuban officials, representatives from hotel chains and travel agencies, and two honored Cuban athletes, who were members of the Cuban delegation led by Jorge Alberto Garcia Domínguez, the first deputy minister of tourism of Cuba, to the mart.
Among them was Mijain Lopez, widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Lopez, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion, emphasized that promoting tourism is a powerful way to boost the economy and strengthen the bond between China and Cuba.

Entertainment News | Ranveer Singh, Aditya Dhar Visit Golden Temple as They Kickstart Next Schedule for Their Upcoming Film

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 24 (ANI): Ahead of commencing the next schedule of their highly anticipated project, actor Ranveer Singh and director Aditya Dhar visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar to seek blessings.Taking to his Instagram handle, Ranveer shared pictures from his recent visit to the Golden Temple with Aditya. He wrote in the caption, “Jaako raakhe sayiyaan maar sake na koi..”Also Read | Vijay Deverakonda Enjoys Secret Lunch Date With Rumoured GF Rashmika Mandanna Days After Confirming He’s Not Single; Netizens React and Call It ‘Hide and Seek’.https://www.instagram.com/p/DCvg7PSIxKc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Aditya Dhar, who is best known for directing and writing military action film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ and Ranveer are working together for this next film.Also Read | Love Joggers? Check Out How Kiara Advani, Malaika Arora & Others Are Styling Them (View Pics).Dhar also posted pictures on his Instagram handle with the caption, “Blessed “https://www.instagram.com/p/DCvhDCjosui/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande from Jio Studios along with Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under their banner B62 Studios. This follows their recent super hit collaboration ‘Article 370’. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal. Meanwhile, Ranveer was recently seen in Rohit Shetty’s latest action-packed film ‘Singham Again’ that has stormed the box office.Featuring an ensemble cast of stars, including Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Arjun Kapoor, the film has garnered significant attention for its star power.Ranveer reprised his role from ‘Simmba’ in the movie.Ranveer will also be starring in Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming ‘Don 3’. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Ranveer Singh Visits Amritsar’s Golden Temple With Director Aditya Dhar, Seeks Divine Blessings Before Starting Next Schedule of Their Untitled Film

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Aditya Dhar seeked divine blessings at the Golden Temple in Amritsar before commencing the next schedule of their yet-untitled film in the city. Ranveer, who will reportedly play an RAW agent in the untitled movie, took to Instagram, where he shared a few pictures from the visit. After Baby Dua and ‘Singham Again’, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh Lease INR 7 Lakh per Month Apartment at Beau Monde Towers in Mumbai – Deets Inside!.
The first image had Ranveer in a white shirt, wearing a saffron headscarf. The Golden Temple can be seen in the backdrop. Another picture showed him and Aditya praying with their backs towards the camera. For the caption, he wrote: “Jakon raakhe saiyaan, maar sake na koi.” The actor-director duo wanted to visit the Temple before starting the next schedule of the film. The team shot for an elaborate schedule in Bangkok earlier and this will be their second schedule.
Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar Seek Blessings at the Golden Temple

It was in July, when the project was announced. Ranveer had shared a post on Instagram at that time and captioned it: “This one is for my fans, who have been so patient with me, and been clamouring for a turn like this. I love you all, and I promise you, this time, a cinematic experience like never before. With your blessings, we embark on this great, big motion picture adventure with spirited energy and pure intent. This time, it’s personal.”
The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande from Jio Studios along with Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under their banner B62 Studios. This follows their recent super hit collaboration, Article 370. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal. Ranveer’s latest release is Singham Again by Rohit Shetty. ‘Lady Singham’ in the Works! Rohit Shetty CONFIRMS Deepika Padukone’s Character To Get Standalone Film.
The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff and Arjun Kapoor, who played a negative character in the blockbuster. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2024 01:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).