One in three countries is now closed to international tourism, with only five states open for travel, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said in a statement. At the beginning of February, 69 out of 217 countries in the world (32%) do not receive foreign tourists, with half of them having already had their borders closed for 10 months. Borders of another 73 countries (34%) are partially...

The European Union and the United States have concluded negotiations to adjust EU import quotas for agricultural products from the United States by billions of euros, which was necessary because of Brexit, the European Commission said in a statement. "The European Union and the United States have concluded negotiations on an adjustment of EU agricultural quotas within the World Trade Organisation...

China's exports and imports in January-February 2021 showed record growth amid a strong economic recovery and an improving epidemiological situation, data from China's General Administration of Customs show. In January-February this year, China's exports rose 60.6% year-on-year to 468.8 billion dollars, while imports rose 22.2% to 365.6 billion dollars. China's total foreign trade for the two...

Since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 1 January 1995, its member countries have initiated 598 disputes. During this time, 51 countries have initiated at least one dispute and 60 have become defendants in at least one case, according to WTO data. In all, 110 countries (including as third parties) have been involved in the resolution of disputes, in one way or...

India's GDP in the third quarter of fiscal 2020-2021 was 0.4 per cent, thereby bringing the country out of a technical recession, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation said. India's GDP declined by 7.5 per cent in the second quarter of fiscal 2020-21, marking the first time in history that the country has entered a technical recession due to consecutive declines in GDP for two...

The consulting firm Brand Finance has released a new version of its soft power ranking of the world's countries. The first place was taken by Germany, which in a year marked by the pandemic has demonstrated stability and ability to control the situation. The year 2020 was a year of turmoil and unprecedented restrictive measures around the world, facing a new threat. And how governments handled...

Digital passports with COVID-19 vaccination information for travellers, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is working on, could be launched "within weeks". The Telegraph and BBC report this, citing data provided by IATA. It is primarily about an app with verified and secure traveler vaccination information against COVID-19 or a recent test. "The key issue here is trust....

Japan temporarily banned Boeing 777s with Pratt & Whitney PW 4000 engines as the engine of such a United Airlines aircraft in the US caught fire during flight. Its trim fell on residential areas of Colorado. United Airlines recalled 24 Boeing 777s from service. Flights of this type of aircraft have been banned in Japan by the Ministry of Public Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, NHK...

The US state of Texas, the country's biggest energy hub which is proud of its oil industry, was hit by a frost. It caused massive power outages that left millions of people without power and dealt a sensitive blow to the oil industry. Nearly 75% of the country is covered with snow. Meanwhile, thermometers in Dallas, one of the biggest cities in the southern state of Texas, have reached minus 18...