An attack in central London yesterday has left five dead and many injured, after a car drove into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge.

An official statement from Metropolitan Police’s acting deputy commissioner and national lead for counter terrorism, Mark Rowley, read: “The (MI5) UK threat level has been ‘severe’ for some time and this will not change. We have enhanced the scale of policing operation to protect our communities across the country.”

The Metropolitan Police is treating the attack as as a terrorist incident, and have advised people to avoid Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube station.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has partnered China Cruise & Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA), the only national association authorised to promote the cruise and yachting industries in China, to grow its presence in the country.

NCLH has been a member of the Chinese government-owned CCYIA and their relationship was formalised yesterday at the signing of a partnership agreement at CruiseWorld China in Shanghai.

CCYIA’s Zheng (left) and NCLH’s David Herrera (centre)

Speaking to travel agents and partners at the event, CCYIA executive vice-president and secretary general Zheng Weihang, stated that the partnership will be “long-term” and “multi-faceted”.

The Norwegian Joy, NCLH’s first ship customised for the Chinese cruise market, will begin sailing from her Shanghai homeport in June. The ship will be a new Breakaway-Plus Class ship accommodating 3,850 guests, offering first-at-sea features such as a race track. The company will also offer a series of cruises from the port in Tianjin in 2017.

Cox and Kings has launched Enable Travel, an initiative to cater to travellers with disabilities across mobility, hearing, speech and vision impairment, by working with five travel experts with some form of disabilities to roll out special tour packages.

“Enable Travel will introduce quality transportation in the form of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, aids and accessories like ramps and an assortment of specialised wheelchairs for those who are wheelchair bound. Support services also include investments in specially trained manpower such as caregivers, sign language interpreters, expert guides and escorts making all areas of travel accessible,” said Debolin Sen, head, Enable Travel.

Ranging from one to 20 days, Enable Travel tours will first be offered in 14 destinations in India’s northern, western and southern regions before expanding to eastern and central Indian destinations. The initiative currently focuses on the domestic and inbound markets but the company has plans to introduce outbound tours in the future.

“There about 27 million people in India with some form of disabilities and we will reach out to this segment through media and with the government,” said Sen.

“We also expect disabled travellers from international markets like the US and Australia will be attracted to India once they are aware (of such offerings). It is believed that about 11 per cent of Australian travellers have some form of disability, so we expect these travellers will add to inbound numbers of India,” he added.

The launch of JC International Airlines, which started operations in Cambodia this month with daily flights connecting Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on two Airbus A320s, has been welcomed by the industry.

This brings the number of local airlines to five – the existing four are Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, Bassaka Air and Sky Angkor Airlines – and hopes that the new Chinese-backed carrier will drive down airfares in the country.

Sihanoukville

Mick Spencer, owner of ANA Travel & Tours, said: “JC is welcome competition for existing airlines operating domestically.”

Heng Khan, manager of Mekong Tours, added that the additional flights make it easier for travellers on tight itineraries to explore Cambodia beyond Angkor Wat.

He said: “Many visitors come for just a few days. Affordable flights mean they can still see glorious Angkor Wat and enjoy our beautiful beaches and islands in a short holiday.”

Kimhean Srun, CEO of Cambodia Smile Travel, said: “The skies opening up further means we can fit more into visitors’ itineraries, and they can see more in a shorter time. This can only benefit the industry and lead to more development and quality.”

By end-2017, JC International Airlines plans to add an additional three aircraft to begin international routes to Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea and Europe, according to CEO Dongyan Huang.

In a similar move to the US’ ban on carry-on electronic gadgets on planes coming from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa, the British government has also announced a cabin luggage ban on laptops for direct passenger flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Laptops and devices larger than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide or 1.5cm deep will not be permitted, but most smartphones fall inside these limits. The banned items will still be allowed on board checked luggage instead.

Airlines expected to be affected by the gadget ban include Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

This move comes barely a week after US president Trump’s second attempt at curbing travel from several Muslim-majority countries

After announcing plans to introduce its first flights to Hong Kong, Virgin Australia has now confirmed Melbourne will be the Australian city to enjoy the connections starting July 5.

To be operated on Airbus A330-200 aircraft, Virgin Australia’s Melbourne-Hong Kong service will offer 255 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Flights will depart Melbourne five-times weekly: at 00.35 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for arrival in Hong Kong at 08.15 the same day, on Mondays at 10.25 to arrive at 18.05 and on Wednesdays at 09.40 for arrival at 17.20.

The return flight from Hong Kong will depart at 19.50 every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Melbourne at 08.20 the next day.

Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti said: “Virgin Australia’s entry into Hong Kong and Greater China is a key pillar of our international strategy, allowing us to tap into Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound travel market.

Melbourne Airport’s chief of aviation, Simon Gandy, said: “As Australia’s fastest-growing capital city, Melbourne represents an incredibly sound, long-term investment market for international airlines.”

Hong Kong, on top of being a strong market for both inbound and outbound travel, also serves as a hub for connecting to onward services into mainland China and North Asia, he added.

More connections between Australia and China are expected to follow from the alliance between Virgin Australia and HNA Aviation.