That's The Badger

All in all it’s been a pretty troubling week for the state of Pakistan. First off the UK Prime Minister David Cameron this week caused an international diplomatic hoo-ha, by telling the world’s media that Pakistan was a nation of terrorists. After that the country’s prized cricket team got well and truly smashed by England in the first test. Jimmy Anderson took a 10 wicket haul at Trent Bridge which finished the game, knocking Pakistan for 80 all out in the second innings. However, in the grand scheme of things a media scrum and a sports event are completely meaningless, compared to death and destruction caused by the continuing Pakistan Floods.

Four days ago the annual monsoon rains began to fall in northern Pakistan. Unfortunately, for the country and the inhabitants of its northern province a record 312mm of rain fell in a single 36hour period. The amount of rainfall recorded would normally be witnessed throughout an entire month during the monsoon season, but this year within a day and a half the city of Peshawar was inundated with water, causing the worst floods for 80 years.

Aid workers and charity organizations estimate that up to 2.5m people have been affected by the torrential downpour. Over 1,100 people are already believed to have lost their lives during the Pakistan floods as bridges, roads and house were swept away by surging torrents and out of control currents. Large parts of the Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa province in northern Pakistan are virtually unreachable, a massive relief effort led by the army has so far managed to rescue 28,000 people, but it is feared that another 30,000 are still cut off by the floods.

A number of UK based charities have already swung into action across the worst hit areas of Pakistan. Oxfam the international agency has launched a rapid relief effort which intends to provide fresh water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies to over 400,000 people. To donate to the Pakistan Flood appeal through Oxfam follow the link.

Last minute holidays are once again on the up and back in vogue according to the latest consumer reports. The report indicates that up to 14% of holidays across the June 2010 period were booked only four weeks before the departure date. In the U.K, holidaymakers are eager to take advantage of the rising Pound value against the weakening Euro. More competition between companies, car rental firms and travel operators has helped boost tourism, but low consumer confidence is still heavily affecting the industry.

According to the BBC last minute package deals across the Mediterranean are being cut by up to a third. A standard last minute deal to Crete is now roughly 29% less and holidays to Turkey almost 24% cheaper. With the prices dropping across Europe, more and more Brits are reconsidering taking that all important summer break. According to the BBC poll short-haul holidaymakers were most likely to head to Turkey, Greece, Egypt, the Canary and Balearic Islands and mainland Spain.

The good news is that tour operators are not the only ones to benefit from the increase in tourism. With cheaper holidays across the continent and a strengthening pound, Brits are now able to spend that little bit extra on the hols which helps to boost car hire firms, hotels, local businesses, bars and restaurants. According to John McEwan of the travel company Abta “With prices having fallen in the eurozone and an improved exchange rate on last year, holidaymakers will get a pleasant surprise when they arrive in resort and head for local restaurants and bars.”

The resurging European economy is a welcome site for holiday companies and those who operate within the continents tourism trade. A number of events earlier in the year including, financial problems, the collapse of the Greek economy, Channel Tunnel problems, aviation disputes and the eruptions of Mt Eyjafjallajökull created a great deal of chaos, but fortunately it looks like the tourism trade is again back on its feet.

Volkswagen, Europe’s powerhouse of the auto industry, has hit the headlines this week after the Polo was voted 2010 World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.  The judging panel consisted of 59 top auto journalists from around the globe and after much deliberation the coveted chequered flag was given to the Polo, surpassing 29 other nominations. Each nomination was judged on a number of categories including, merit, value, safety, environmental impact and emotional appeal.

After winning the award for 2010 World Car of the Year Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman for VW, stated “After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning well-nigh every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows that Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history.”

Volkswagen certainly appears to be pushing ahead with an expansive and impressive business plan. The company was virtually the only major car and vans manufacturer to have survived through the recession unscathed, in recent months Volkswagen has capitalised on this and announced a major investment plan which will see the company pump billions into the Asian market, in an attempt to displace Toyota as the world’s no1 automotive manufacturer.

As well as going for the manufacturer’s crown, Volkswagen is also stepping up its second hand car and used vans operations throughout Europe. In a recent statement the company announced its intention to boost its overall market share in the UK by 50%, from 10% to 15% within 5 years. The ambitious plan is just another aspect of Volkswagen’s growing dominance within the auto industry. Hold on to steering wheel folks and prepare to kneel at the wheel-arches of the the people’s car: The King of Autos…