NYC, London make deal to encourage tourism in both cities, including trading ad space

September 30th, 2009 What the? Tourism group changes name, acronymMADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin tourism lobbying group is changing its name after realizing its initials formed a crude acronym.

September 30th, 2009 Sky is not the limit at space business summitBOSTON — As the economy struggles on earth, some companies are setting their sights on more out-of-this-world opportunities. About 120 companies that make products or offer services ranging from communications satellites to rocket-powered vehicles capable of sending ordinary people into space gathered Wednesdat at Boston's Hynes Convention Center for the seventh Space Investment Summit.

September 30th, 2009 Rocket readied at Kazakh steppe for ISS missionBAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — Workers at Russia's manned space-launch facility lifted to the launch pad on Monday a rocket that is to send Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte and two astronauts to the International Space Station. The gleaming white Soyuz rocket and capsule moved at a walking pace across the Kazakh steppe aboard a train taking it from its assembly building to the launch pad known as Gagarin's Start.

September 18th, 2009 In hundreds of cities, parking space become parksLOS ANGELES — Activists across the nation are planning to occupy curbside parking spaces and transform them into mini parks with sod, potted plants and lawn chairs to draw attention to the lack of public space in big cities. They expect to create hundreds of instant parks Friday as part of a 4-year-old movement called Park(ing) Day.

September 2nd, 2009 Foreign tourism falls in France over summer monthsPARIS — Foreign tourism fell sharply in France this summer because of the global recession, but locals more than filled the gap by their taking holidays in their country, an official said Wednesday. France, the world's No.

August 17th, 2009 Las Vegas tourism to hire a terrorist analystLAS VEGAS — Tourism officials in Las Vegas plan to hire a terrorist intelligence analyst in part to assure conventioneers that they will be safer in Las Vegas than if they meet in other cities. The board of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved about $480,000 in funding for the next three years for the position.

June 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja Friday urged Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to offer budgetary incentives for the tourism industry as it is facing a crunch due to global economic slowdown. Leading a delegation of key stake holders from tourism industry, Selja met the finance minister and submitted a memorandum requesting concessions in the union budget to be presented July 6.

June 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Kumari Selja, the young minister for tourism, housing and urban poverty alleviation, is thinking jobs. She wants to alleviate urban poverty by establishing a convergence between the portfolios she holds.

June 19th, 2009 La. would rent offices from Saints head under dealBATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana's government would lease office space from the owner of the New Orleans Saints as part of a deal to keep the team in the state.

June 15th, 2009 One-stop shopping for Asia trip planningNEW YORK — A one-stop Web site for planning a trip to Asia has relaunched with new features and deals. The "Discover Asia Now" site at www.discoverasianow.com is a joint marketing effort by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, India Tourism, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization, Macau Tourism Board, Philippine Department of Tourism, Singapore Tourism Board, and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

May 29th, 2009 Russia signs deal to ferry astronauts in 2012MOSCOW — The Russian space agency says it has signed a $306 million deal with NASA to ferry its astronauts to the international space station in 2012. Roscosmos said Friday the agreement covers four launches aboard the three-person Soyuz capsules to swap out crews in the orbiting laboratory.

March 24th, 2009 LONDON - A new report has indicated that the greenhouse gas emissions of large cities are far below those of rural areas, which means city dwellers harm climate less. According to a report in New Scientist, David Dodman at the International Institute for Environment and Development in London, who led the study, said previous claims that cities contribute disproportionately to global climate change are unfounded.

March 22nd, 2009 LONDON - Sixteen years after winning Scotland's most prestigious piping competition - the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in Inverness - Bruce Woodley is hoping to play bagpipes in space. Woodley, an engineer from British Colombia, has become one of 16 finalists chosen by the Canadian Space Agency from more than 5,000 applicants vying to represent Canada in future NASA space missions, including long-duration space flights on the International Space Station.

March 12th, 2009 LONDON - The mayor of London Wednesday urged foreign businesses to relocate to the British capital, saying he will provide a year's free office space and expert advice. Boris Johnson's offer came as the latest cost of living survey revealed London is cheaper to live in than New York City for the first time since 2002.

January 26th, 2009 LONDON - Scientists will seek ways to reduce global warming with help from two new satellites that will measure carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere. Researchers at Edinburgh University are to study data from the instruments launched by the US space agency NASA and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.