Siri, please tell me about the Whitsundays
Tourism Whitsundays in Australia has engaged one of the most famous voices in the world to promote its tourism regions. The Wonders of The Whitsundays radio campaign features a voice famed for limitless knowledge, accuracy and calm—Siri.
The woman behind this voice, Karen Jacobsen, is a Whitsundays local!
Tourism Whitsundays chief Tash Wheeler said, “Our industry needed a direct tactical approach, and these radio ads using Karen Jacobsen, the voice of Siri, are delivering incredible results for an industry that so desperately needs it.”
Listen to Siri's voice for Tourism Whitsundays here.
Spies, don’t miss this auction
The entire collection of New York City’s KGB Espionage Museum, which closed permanently after sustaining major losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, is being sold off.
More than 3,000 spy items will be sold at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills on 13 Feb. 2021.
Among the items to go under the hammer are KGB’s so-called “Kiss of Death” gun, which appears to be a lipstick tube but actually contains a 0.177-inch bullet and firing mechanism.
And a device that appears to be a wooden branch but is in fact rigged with cameras and recording devices that can spy on secret outdoor meetings.
Need a new company jet? Contact THAI
Cash-strapped Thai Airways is selling a pile of its aircraft. Among them are 32 widebodies, including the airline’s entire remaining fleet of Boeing 747s, as well 12 of its older 777s.
THAI has been involved in a bankruptcy reorganisation since May.
The aircraft are available for delivery in the first half of 2021 although several will need significant maintenance before flying.
Narita puts Covid to the test
Japan's largest airport has opened a novel coronavirus testing facility which can deliver results in six hours, though it expects to get that down to two hours by the end of the month.
The Narita International Airport PCR Centre is aimed at outbound travellers who need proof that they are virus-free when they arrive at their destinations.
Japan last week eased travel curbs for nine Asian countries and regions.
China bars entry from some Covid-hit countries
China has banned non-Chinese travellers from the UK, Belgium and the Philippines, a move which the Chinese authorities said is a temporary one in response to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.
The suspension of entry for British travellers came as the UK entered a month-long lockdown starting Thursday. Britain, which is seeing Europe's highest death toll, is grappling with more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day.
Belgium has Europe’s highest per capita number of new confirmed cases, while in Southeast Asia the Philippines has the second-highest number of infections and deaths after Indonesia.