A tourist sits on the statue of Don Quijote's companion Sancho Panza (R), in Madrid's Spain square (Plaza de Espana) in 2005. The economic crisis means that Spanish hotels will have more domestic than foreign tourists this summer for the first time in decades.
Spanish tourists replacing foreigners in their own country

The economic crisis means that Spanish hotels will have more domestic than foreign tourists this summer for the first time in decades, an industry official predicted Friday. In the 1980s an estimated 70 percent of tourists were foreigners, Roman Estalella, head of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, told the Europa Press news agency.

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AFP

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:46 PM GMT

A woman smokes a cigarette. Dutch bar owners won a new victory in their fight against a smoking ban on their premises when an appeal court cleared two of them of breaking the law and quashed a 1,200 euro fine.Dutch bar owners won a new victory in their fight against a smoking ban on their premises when an appeal court cleared two of them of breaking the law and quashed a 1,200 euro fine. "The law contains no formal obligation for landlords of cafes, restaurants and hotels without staff to implement a smoking ban," the appeal court at Leeuwarden in the northern Netherlands said in a statement.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:02 PM GMT

This picture taken in 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City shows children sleeping inside the Tam Binh orphanage. Vietnam, concerned that too many boys are being born, will destroy more than 30,000 copies of books instructing couples on how to have a baby of their desired sex, state-linked media said Friday.Vietnam, concerned that too many boys are being born, will destroy more than 30,000 copies of books instructing couples on how to have a baby of their desired sex, state-linked media said Friday. The books include 27 titles and were seized last month, VietnamNet online news service said, citing officials.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:06 PM GMT

Ryan Moore riding "Presvis" (L) wins the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Sha Tin race course in Hong Kong in April 2009. The Hong Kong government said Friday it has approved a proposal to add five extra meetings to the horse racing season in a bid to lure punters away from the glitzy casinos of its neighbouring cities.The Hong Kong government said Friday it has approved a proposal to add five extra meetings to the horse racing season in a bid to lure punters away from the glitzy casinos of its neighbouring cities. Carrie Yau, permanent secretary for home affairs, said the change, which would extend the season from 78 to 83 meetings, was necessary to boost the city's economy and tourism due to the fierce competition from places such as Macau and Singapore.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 6:29 PM GMT

A man walks past a mannequin wearing fashion made of banana fibre mixed with indigenous Filipino fabric by Dita Sandico Ong of the Philippines on display at "thekey.to" sustainable fashion trade fair, in Berlin July 2, 2009. Goodbye "fashionista" brands, where neither the price nor the planet counts. The recession has made recycled "recessionista chic" a hit at Berlin Fashion Week.Goodbye "fashionista" brands, where neither the price nor the planet counts. The recession has made recycled "recessionista chic" a hit at Berlin Fashion Week -- some of it even organic and free trade. "When I started six years ago, no one wanted to hear about 'rubbish textiles'," Liza Arico -- who describes herself as Franco-Argentine-Brazilian -- creator of the Customisee par (Customised by) label, told AFP.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 6:35 PM GMT

A model presents a creation by French designer Christian Lacroix during the autumn/winter 2009 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris, in March 2009. The haute couture shows for next autumn-winter open next week in a sombre mood, with the fate of the house of Christian Lacroix hanging in the balance since it went into administration in May.The haute couture shows for next autumn-winter open next week in a sombre mood, with the fate of the house of Christian Lacroix hanging in the balance since it went into administration in May. Despite its critical acclaim and popularity with fashion editors, it has struggled financially and looks set to become the first big name victim of the global recession in the luxury sector.

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Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir attends the 13th African Union summit in Sirte, Libya. The African Union has decided not to cooperate with a war crimes warrant against Beshir and again appealed to the United Nations to delay the case, delegates said Friday.
Africa refuses to act on Sudan war crimes warrant

The African Union decided Friday not to act on an international war crimes warrant for Sudan's president, at a summit that also yielded a deal on the powers of a new regional Authority. The refusal to arrest Sudan President Omar al-Beshir granted a continent-wide reprieve to a leader accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 8:13 PM GMT

Latest Regional News

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, seen here before departing, have set off for a 15-day goodwill tour of Canada and Hawaii, with the ageing monarch revealing his personal attachment to both destinations.
Japan's emperor, empress arrive in Canada

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Canada on Friday for a 11-day goodwill visit, the first since the emperor ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1989. The royal couple was welcomed by Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon and Cooperation Minister Bev Oda on their arrival in Ottawa.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:01 PM GMT

Latest Sci-Tech News

A sales assistant holds up a Nokia handset featuring a new mobile internet music download platform at a store in Hong Kong. Rampant piracy and a crumbling market for CDs has put the music industry in Asia under immense pressure, but experts are hoping that technology like Nokia's music services will help to fill the gap.
Asia tested as music industry seeks to boost sales

Rampant piracy and a crumbling market for CDs has put the music industry in Asia under immense pressure, but experts are hoping that technology and social media will help fill the gap. While demand for music continues to rise across the region, the global economic downturn has accelerated the Internet-fueled fall in sales of physical music.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 4:39 AM GMT

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