Private space travel gets a big boost from California bill
NBC
As NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour orbiter flew to its retirement home in sunny California Friday, Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation to bolster the commercial spaceflight sector in that state.
The Assembly bill limits liability for private spaceflight companies.
“California aerospace pioneers like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and the Spaceship Company are blazing a path to the stars with commercial space travel,” Brown said in a statement. “This bill allows commercial space-travel companies to innovate and explore without the worry of excessive liability.”
Plight of 2 baby gorillas raises fears in Congo
Boston.com
The plight of two infant gorillas, rescued after being kidnapped from their wild families, highlights the dangers confronting the endangered
Grauer’s gorillas that have become victims of ongoing violence and a new rebellion in eastern Congo.
A decision to allow oil exploration in a national park there may put the gorillas at greater risk.
Virunga National Park said Monday that wildlife authorities rescued two baby gorillas in the space of a week this month.
Attacks take big toll on Tunisia tourism sector
New Zealand Herald
Tunisia is pulling out the stops to shore up its tourism industry after sporadic attacks by Islamic extremists during the summer season sullied the country’s image for tolerance and hospitality.
More than 18 months after the start of the Arab Spring that toppled authoritarian leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, European tourists are still reluctant to return in the same numbers to the North African country’s white-sand resorts, Roman ruins and deserts.
In the first eight months of this year, 1.9 million Europeans went on holiday in Tunisia, more than 30 per cent up on the same period last year, when the country was in the throes of revolution.
But it remained way short of the 2.49 million who came during the same period in 2010, according to Tunisian Government figures.
Rockslide on famed Italian tourist trail injures 4
wtnh.com
Rescuers say a rockslide slammed into Italy’s popular Way of Love hiking trail in the coastal Cinque Terre resort area, injuring four Australian women. One was crushed by rocks and another was knocked off the steep path.
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
