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WTTC sustainability initiative signs up 1,700 hotels

5/03/2024

More than 1,700 hotels across 70 countries have signed up for the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ initiative. The independent global sustainability verification program enables hotels to follow a 12-step plan focused on reducing carbon emissions, promoting nature conservation, and ensuring local communities benefit from operations.

Major hotel groups from Commonwealth countries such as India, South Africa and Malaysia have joined the initiative, including Jin Jiang, Louvre Hotel Group, Choice Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group. Travel brands including Intrepid and Abercrombie & Kent have also endorsed the program.

Read the original article here: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/wttc-sustainability-initiative-signs-up-1700-hotels

Uganda: ICT Ministry given three-month deadline to table Copyright Bill

4/03/2024

The Parliament of Uganda has directed the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, to introduce amendments to the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act by May 2024. The proposed amendments relate to Caller Ring Back Tones (CRBTs) charges by telecommunications companies.

CRBTs are customizable ringtones heard by the caller while waiting for the recipient to answer. They can include songs, audio clips, or other content. Telecoms in Uganda offer CRBTs as a paid subscription service to customers. However, Parliament noted that despite charging subscribers for the service, telecoms pay very little revenue to the artists and creators of the CRBT content.

To address this, the Copyright Amendment Bill will likely include reforms to the rules and revenue sharing for CRBTs. The goal is to ensure artists receive fairer compensation when their work is used as a CRBT.

Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/information-and-communications-technology-ict-ministry-given-threemonth-deadline-to-table-copyright-bill?lang=en

Tanzania to host Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting

28/02/2024

The United Republic of Tanzania is gearing up to host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Zanzibar on March 4, 2024, according to a statement from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC.

Held biennially, this significant gathering brings together ministers and attorneys-general from the 56 Commonwealth countries, united by a shared legal tradition. The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘Technology and Innovation: How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice.’

Read the original article here: https://www.arise.tv/tanzania-to-host-commonwealth-law-ministers-meeting/