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Karisma signs new deal to manage Montenegro resort MIAMI – Karisma Hotels & Resorts has set its sights on the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro, often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean.’The luxury hotel company, which owns and manages properties in Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, has just announced agreements between Karisma Adriatic, Wind Rose Resort and Transat France’s Look Voyages to manage the Wind Rose Resort in Montenegro. With this new deal, Karisma forges a new long-term partnership with tour operator Transat France, and becomes operator of 27 properties across seven countries.“We are very pleased to sign this milestone agreement with Transat France’s Look Voyages for Karisma Adriatic to manage Wind Rose Resort,” said Rafael Feliz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Karisma Hotels & Resorts. “Karisma’s entry into Montenegro is an exciting step toward our continued global expansion and strengthens our presence along Europe’s magnificent Adriatic Sea. We look forward to setting new standards for upscale properties while delivering extraordinary and unforgettable vacation experiences for guests that value the utmost in quality at every touch point.”More news: Carnival Cruise Line enhances HUB app for families and youthLocated on the tip of the Adriatic Sea, the Wind Rose Resort features 106 rooms and apartments for 2017, two outdoor pools, two beach bars, two restaurants and two tennis courts. There’s also a gorgeous seafront beach plateau with 500 deck chairs, plus a children’s playground, mini zoo, open-air theatre and other recreational facilities.The resort offers an all-inclusive concept as part of Club Lookéa by Look Voyages. An all-inclusive package comprises flights, transfers, accommodations, gourmet meals, entertainment and sports activities.Wind Rose Resort by Karisma is the fifth property within Karisma’s European portfolio, which includes Allure Caramel, Sensimar Makarska, Sensimar Adriatic Beach Resort, and Sensimar Kalamota Island Resort. << Previous PostNext Post >>
Karisma signs new deal to manage Montenegro resort
Posted by MONTREAL — Air Canada Rouge is adding high-speed satellite Internet service aboard its A319 aircraft.Roll out of the new Gogo 2KU Internet service on all 20 Air Canada Rouge narrow-body A319s will be completed this month. To coincide with the launch, on these aircraft Air Canada Rouge is also updating its wireless in-flight entertainment experience to the next generation of gate to gate, on-demand entertainment and information.Air Canada plans to complete installation of satellite Internet service on all Air Canada Rouge A321 and B767-300ER aircraft by the end of 2018. Pricing packages will be available so customers can choose a level of service that suits their needs.Air Canada was the first Canadian carrier to offer customers in-flight connectivity, said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “Today we are pleased to extend this service on Air Canada Rouge. High-speed Internet is another great on-board entertainment option for our customers and strengthens Air Canada Rouge’s promise to provide a wonderful beginning and ending to any vacation.” High-speed Internet coming to Air Canada Rouge Friday, May 12, 2017 Share
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British Airways parent IAG eyeing a bid for Norwegian Air Thursday, April 12, 2018 Travelweek Group Share TORONTO — Just days after Norwegian Air put its plans for transatlantic flights out of Canada on hold, comes word that British Airways’ parent IAG could be looking to buy the airline.British Airways’ parent company said Thursday it is considering making an offer for the low-cost carrier.International Airlines Group says it has acquired 4.61% of Norwegian Air Shuttle “to establish a position from which to initiate discussions, including the possibility of a full offer for Norwegian.” IAG already operates LEVEL, a low-cost carrier out of Spain. With LEVEL’s launch IAG now has five main airline brands, including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.IAG says no official discussions have taken place, and the company emphasized that it hasn’t decided whether it will make an offer.Shares in Norwegian Air jumped 37% on the news.Norwegian Air Shuttle has rocked the long-haul market with offers like US$140 tickets from Edinburgh to New York.More news: Kory Sterling is TL Network Canada’s new Sales Manager CanadaHere in Canada, Norwegian Air filed with the Canadian Transportation Agency to possibly start transatlantic flights from this market starting summer 2018, however on Tuesday it was reported that the airline has pushed back plans for a possible Canada launch until at least spring or summer 2019 due to aircraft delivery delays.In a statement, the Oslo, Norway, based company said it had “no prior knowledge of this acquisition,” adding it had “not been in any discussions or dialogue with IAG about the matter.”“Norwegian believes that interest from one of the largest international aviation groups demonstrates the sustainability and potential of our business model and global growth,” it said.For months there has been talk of a possible LCC alliance between Ryanair and Norwegian. Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary has said he has no plans to expand Ryanair’s operations across the Atlantic but the airline has been in talks with Norwegian about a possible partnership that would see Ryanair piggyback on Norwegian’s long-haul routes. Ryanair is now the biggest European airline in terms of passengers flown – or at least it was until 2017, when a snafu with pilot holiday time schedules led to the cancellation of thousands of flights (and Lufthansa Group grabbed the title).More news: Flights cancelled as British Airways hit by computer problem With files from The Associated Press
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Posted by Tags: Peru, Valencia Travel Travelweek Group Earn $50 in cash when booking clients to Peru Thursday, May 23, 2019 
TORONTO — Valencia Travel, a DMC based in Cusco, Peru, has launched a new promotion that includes 50% savings for travellers and $50 cash incentive for travel agents. Running until May 31, 2019, the promotion aims to highlight the most recognized parts of Peru and the quality experiences available in each. Clients will enjoy 50% off the following four travel packages:• Lares Trek & Machu Picchu: This seven-day trek begins in Cuzco followed by a voyage into the Lares region of the Peruvian Andes, home to green valleys, tranquil mountain lakes and snow-capped Andean peaks that stand up to 6,000 metres tall.• Trek Along the Inca Trail & Machu Picchu: On this seven-day adventure, travellers will trek along the majestic Inca Trail over the course of four days.• Classic Peru: Highlights of this 12-day trip include traditional food, bustling cities, mountains, lakes, canyons, rural communities and an expedition into Machu Picchu.• The Best of Peru: This 13-day immersion tour covers all of Peru’s must-see places as well as a full-city tour in Lima. Clients will visit Cusco’s many temples, journey through the historic Sacred Valley and explore the ancient site of Machu Picchu. More news: Hotel charges Bollywood star $8.50 for two bananas and the Internet has thoughtsAs part of the promotion, North American travel agents will receive $50 when booking two people on any of the above packages before May 31. For more information, contact valenciatravel@turnerpr.com. Share << Previous PostNext Post >>
No related posts. Mosquito season is in full swing. A lucky few people seem immune to the bites of the pesky insects. Others can’t seem to avoid them.In Costa Rica, as the rainy season continues its shaky start, the number of dengue cases are soaring. The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) show Costa Rica with 11,672 reported cases of dengue so far this year, which is not updated to the latest bulletin from the Costa Rican government, which reports 14,929 cases.Some may be more at risk than others. New research explains mosquitoes’ apparent selectivity. According to an article in Smithsonian magazine, an estimated 20 percent of people are “especially delicious” to mosquitoes. (Shudder.) They are bitten more often than others.Why? A number of factors are at play. Chief among them is blood type. “Not surprisingly — since, after all, mosquitoes bite us to harvest proteins from our blood — research shows that they find certain blood types more appetizing than others,” the article reports. Type O is at the top of the list. Additionally, about 85 percent of people secrete a chemical signal that indicates their blood type; these “secretors” are more prone to bites regardless of their blood type.Another factor is the amount of carbon dioxide people emit when they breathe. Larger people exhale more of the gas, which may explain why adults tend to get bitten more often than children. This also means that obese people are more prone to getting bitten than average or underweight people, tall people more prone than short. Sweat, high body temperatures and skin bacteria also play a role. Pregnancy, which increases body temperature and carbon dioxide emission, may also increase the likelihood of bites.And if you’re enjoying a beer at a barbecue, you may have made yourself a mosquito target. No one has been able to pinpoint why drinking beer makes people more attractive to mosquitoes. Some have theorized that the elevation in body temperature and the amount of ethanol in sweat may play a role, but neither theory has panned out. Still, it appears that even a 12-ounce bottle is enough to do the trick.© 2013, The Washington Post Facebook Comments
Ocean conservationist and Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson, 63, started a social media campaign Monday asking followers to write to Costa Rica’s new president, Luis Guillermo Solís, and urge that an extradition request against Watson be dropped.“I was placed on the Interpol Red List by the very corrupt former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla whose administration saw the shark finners make huge profits with few arrests. Her administration also did nothing to prevent the death of Jairo Mora Sandoval who requested government protection months before he was murdered,” Watson wrote on his Facebook profile. “I am hopeful that President D. Luis Guillermo Solis will address both corruption and the illegal slaughter of turtles and sharks in Costa Rican waters.”Solís took office on May 8, but has not publicly commented on Watson’s case. His predecessor, Chinchilla, made no effort to hide her contempt of Watson and his comments, accusing the Sea Shepherd founder of harboring “disdain for the Costa Rican rule of law.” Chinchilla and officials in her administration have always referred to Costa Rica’s separation of powers when asked about the 12-year-old case of “attempted shipwrecking,” in which a Costa Rican fisherman injured a finger in an incident off the Guatemalan coast.In March, Chinchilla’s communications minister, Carlos Roverssi, blamed Watson and “leftist groups” for smearing “the good name of Costa Rica” in response to the country’s dramatic drop on 2014′s World’s Best Ethical Travel Destinations List.But Watson, who wants to work with the Costa Rican government on marine conservation policy, believes the new administration will be more receptive than the last one. And he hopes his army of social media followers will help spread the word.“I believe that President Solis has great potential to make a significant and positive difference in protecting marine diversity in Costa Rican waters,” Watson wrote. “I would like to request a favor of all on this facebook page to send a polite message to President Solis with a request that Costa Rica drops the extradition order demanding that I be brought to Costa Rica.“Sea Shepherd and I would like to return to helping protect the turtles and sharks in Costa Rican waters,” he added.To read the latest on the ongoing legal battle, click here.Recommended: Little has changed 1 year after slaying of Costa Rica conservationist Jairo Mora Related posts:Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson turns to human rights commission to block Costa Rica’s legal chase Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson back on Interpol website as Costa Rica fugitive Sea Shepherd’s R/V Martin Sheen lands in Costa Rica for 4-month research mission Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson files human rights lawsuit against Costa Rica Facebook Comments
Facebook Comments The leaders of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala plan to ask U.S. President Barack Obama for help funding projects to stem immigration during White House talks next week.The presidents will meet next Friday over the humanitarian crisis triggered by some 57,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America who have traveled illegally to the United States since October.“We want to discuss with Obama structural measures, by which we mean investing in the immigrants’ communities of origin to generate opportunities and create more security for our people,” Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez told state television Channel 10.The “Northern Triangle” leaders plan to request employment and security aid when they meet with Obama.The tide of unaccompanied youths has overwhelmed U.S. border patrol, shelters and immigration courts, and prompted Obama to warn parents in Central America not to send their kids to the United States in search of a better life.Guatemala’s Otto Pérez Molina, Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras and Salvador Sánchez Cerén of El Salvador, together with their foreign ministers, will attend the discussions with Obama.“We hope that afterwards there will be increased cooperation from the United States,” Martínez said. Related posts:Central American leaders offer plan to slow child migrant surge US to grant refugee status to Central American child migrants Obama calls wave of children across US-Mexican border ‘urgent humanitarian situation’ US to spend $750 million to attack Central America poverty woes
The Costa Rican Social Security System, or Caja, plans to open smoking cessation clinics in hospitals countrywide to help folks kick the habit. But coming to the aid of smokers really isn’t a choice for health officials, and Caja Executive President María del Rocío Sáenz Madrigal said on Wednesday her agency is legally obligated to provide support by the 2012Control of Tobacco and its Harmful Effects on Health Law.The law calls for funding to be made available to clinics from a ₡20 ($0.04) tax on every cigarrete sold.Under the Caja’s new plan, each hospital must form an interdisciplinary team composed of doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, social workers and nurses, among other specialists.The Caja currently offers smoking cessation clinics in the capital at Hospital México, San Juan de Dios and Calderón Guardia, and at hospitals in Alajuela and Heredia.By next year, the agency expects to open clinics in Puntarenas, San Carlos (Alajuela), Guápiles (Limón), Pérez Zeledón (southern San José), Max Peralta (Cartago) and at the National Psychiatric Hospital. Health officials will open clinics in all public hospitals by 2016, Sáenz said at a press conference.The Caja also will provide educational materials, beds, audiovisual equipment for keynote speakers and medical equipment for respiratory exams.Smoking cessation programs include eight weekly sessions averaging three hours each, doctor checkups and prescriptions. Participants also receive nutrition and healthy lifestyle information, and therapy sessions for nicotine dependence.Participation is open to all Caja insurance holders 18 and older who reside in a hospital’s area of coverage.Caja officials hope to help at least 3,000 smokers each year when all of the clinics are fully operational.According to Caja figures, 14.2 percent of Ticos older than 20 are active smokers. Smoking is linked to risk factors for the two leading causes of death in Costa Rica: cardiovascular disease and cancer. Facebook Comments Related posts:Hotel owners to request changes in anti-smoking law Costa Rica’s Supreme Court declares anti-smoking bill constitutional Tobacco company wants overhaul of Costa Rica’s smoking ban No smoking ban in Costa Rican bars, restaurants goes into effect
Intervención quirúrgica por fisura de cadera. Se encuentra muy bien. Gracias— Dra. KARINA BARDIANI (@drakgb) July 22, 2015 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Legendary Argentine rock-and-roll musician Charly García successfully underwent surgery in Buenos Aires for a hip fracture, his lawyer Karina Bardiani reported Wednesday on Twitter.“Operation for hip fracture. He is well. Thank you,” Bardiani tweeted. Related posts:Selena died 20 years ago – why we’re still talking about her Cuban legends Buena Vista Social Club to play at White House Singer-songwriter Kevin Johansen makes everyone feel good in Costa Rica debut Mathematics tracks the hip-hop ‘revolution’ Facebook Comments García, 63, also suffered a gastrointestinal disorder last week, which forced him to check in to the hospital. After recovering, and before he was discharged, he offered an improvised concert for other patients, doctors and nurses.“Due to inexact rumors, we report that Charly García was scheduled a month ago to undergo programmed surgery,” Bardiani said Wednesday about the musician’s new hospital admission.The author of classics of Argentine progressive rock such as “Inconsciente colectivo,” “De mí” and “Rezo por vos” overcame in 2008 a severe drug addiction and psychiatric crisis.Detox and recovery treatment was intensive, and he was away from the stage for a long period.In 2009 in Las Vegas, he was awarded the Latin Recording Academy’s Musical Excellence Grammy.A leader of historic bands such as Sui Generis, Serú Girán and La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, he is considered a pioneer in the “national rock” movement and one of the composers who revolutionized the genre.Among his most memorable concerts are one in 1988 at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental, in Buenos Aires, with Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel and Sting.In 2013, he took his show “Líneas Paralelas” to Teatro Colón, one of the most important lyric halls on the continent, as well as in Buenos Aires.
5 people who need to visit the Ultrastar Multi-tainment Center New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – A Myanmar court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to death for a bombing at a festival in 2010 that killed 10 people and wounded 170.The lawyer for Phyo Wai Aung says his client was sentenced Tuesday after being convicted of murder and other charges.The April 15, 2010, bombing, which ripped through a crowded celebration of the traditional New Year, was one of Myanmar’s worst terrorist attacks. The national police chief at the time, Brig. Gen. Khin Yi, blamed a radical anti-government exile group, the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors. 5 things to look for when selecting an ophthalmologist 3 international destinations to visit in 2019 Lawyer Kyaw Hoe says he will appeal the sentence. He insisted the court failed to produce evidence against his client.No executions are known to have been carried out in Myanmar since at least 1988. However, the country’s courts are seen by outside human rights groups as susceptible to political influence.The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission described Phyo Wai Aung’s trial as “patently flawed and unjust” and said it involved torture and fabricated evidence.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – Malaysia is asking Google to block access to an anti-Muslim video clip blamed for sparking mob attacks against U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East.Information Minister Rais Yatim says Malaysian authorities want the clip removed from YouTube because of the “explosive commotions and repercussions at hand.”Google owns YouTube, which has already blocked the clip in Libya and Egypt, citing “the very sensitive situations” there. It also blocked it in India and Indonesia after their governments told YouTube the video broke their laws. Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day The difference between men and women when it comes to pain Comments Share Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement The clip is from the obscure film “Innocence of Muslims,” which was produced in the U.S. and denigrates Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. It has been blamed for playing a role in violence in Libya, where the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement The vital role family plays in society The low-budget “Innocence of Muslims,” parts of which were made available online, portrays the Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, womanizer and buffoon.Egypt’s official news agency said the court found the defendants guilty of harming national unity, insulting and publicly attacking Islam, and spreading false information _ charges that carry the death sentence.Maximum sentences are common in cases tried in absentia in Egypt. Capital punishment decisions are reviewed by the country’s chief religious authority, who must approve or reject the sentence. A final verdict is scheduled on Jan. 29.The man behind the film, Mark Basseley Youssef, is among those convicted. He was sentenced in a California court earlier this month to a year in federal prison for probation violations in an unrelated matter. Youssef, 55, admitted that he had used several false names in violation of his probation order and obtained a driver’s license under a false name. He was on probation for a bank fraud case.Florida-based Terry Jones, another of those sentenced, is the pastor of Dove World Outreach, a church of less than 50 members in Gainesville, Fla., not far from the University of Florida. He has said he was contacted by the filmmaker to promote the film, as well as Morris Sadek, a conservative Coptic Christian in the U.S. who posted the video clips on his website, were also among those charged. Top Stories Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day In a telephone interview Wednesday, Jones said the ruling “shows the true face of Islam” _ one that he views as intolerant of dissent and opposed to basic freedoms of speech and religion.“We can speak out here in America,” Jones said. “That freedom means that we criticize government leadership, religion even at times. Islam is not a religion that tolerates any type of criticism.”The connection of the other five sentenced by the court was not immediately clear. They include two who work with Sadek at a radical Coptic group in the U.S. that has called for an independent Coptic state, a priest who hosts TV programs from the U.S., and a lawyer living in Canada who has previously sued the Egyptian state over riots in 2000 that left 21 Christians dead.The other person is a woman who converted to Christianity and is a staunch critic of Islam.The official news report said that during the trial, the court reviewed a video of some defendants calling for an independent Coptic state in Egypt, and another of Jones burning the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The prosecutor asked for the maximum sentence, accusing those charged of seeking to divide Egypt and incite sedition. All of the defendants, except Jones, hold Egyptian nationality, the agency added. Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix
3 international destinations to visit in 2019 Some Christians and human rights groups worry that prosecutions for insulting religion, which existed to a degree under the secular-leaning regime of Hosni Mubarak, will now increase with the ascent of Islamists to power.____Curt Anderson contributed reporting from Miami, Florida(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Sponsored Stories Comments Share Top holiday drink recipes Associated PressCAIRO (AP) – An Egyptian court convicted in absentia Wednesday seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Florida-based American pastor, sentencing them to death on charges linked to an anti-Islam film that had sparked riots in parts of the Muslim world.The case was seen as largely symbolic because the defendants, most of whom live in the United States, are all outside Egypt and are thus unlikely to ever face the verdict. The charges were issued in September amid a wave of public outrage in Egypt over the amateur film, which was produced by an Egyptian-American Copt.
Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project The court upheld the conviction linked to death threats Krekar made against one Norwegian politician and three Kurds.The 56-year-old cleric came to Norway more than 20 years ago as a refugee. He is the founder of Ansar al-Islam, a Kurdish group listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) OSLO, Norway (AP) – A Norwegian appeals court has struck down terror charges against an Iraqi-born Islamist cleric currently serving time for making death threats against a Norwegian politician and intimidating witnesses.Najmaddin Faraj Ahmad, also known as Mullah Krekar, received a total of six years imprisonment after convictions earlier this year, but the appeals court on Thursday reduced that to two years and 10 months after acquitting him of inciting terror. Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix How Arizona is preparing the leader of the next generation Comments Share Top Stories 
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Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement He said Pakistani leaders have often promised to take action, “but have not followed through.” Without such action, peace and security in Afghanistan will remain elusive, Panetta said.Another major issue facing Panetta in the closing weeks of his tenure is how many U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014. There currently are 66,000 in the country, down from a peak of about 100,000 in 2011.U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of international forces in four southern provinces, including the key province of Kandahar, told reporters Thursday that he foresees further troop cuts in coming months, but he did not specify whether he was talking only about U.S. troops.“I fully expect by next summer we will have less ISAF forces here because we’ll need less ISAF forces,” Abrams said, using the acronym for the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force. He said believes fewer will be needed because Afghan forces will be more capable by then.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Sponsored Stories Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day AP National Security WriterKABUL (AP) – President Hamid Karzai said Thursday he will meet President Barack Obama in Washington next month to discuss a postwar U.S. role in his country, whose fragile security was highlighted hours earlier by a suicide bombing that killed one U.S. troop and two Afghan civilians.At a news conference with visiting Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Karzai said he and Obama will discuss how many U.S. troops will remain after the Western combat mission ends in December 2014. He said he understands that immunity from Afghan laws for those remaining Americans is of “immense importance” to Washington, but he added that he has his own priorities in negotiating a postwar U.S. role. Top Stories Comments Share Panetta described the Kandahar attack as further evidence of insurgent brutality.“This is what they resort to in order to try to continue to stimulate chaos in this country,” he said. “They will not be successful.”The Karzai-Obama meeting, which Panetta said would occur during the week of Jan. 7, with no specific date set, also is intended to discuss prospects for establishing a process for pursuing peace with the Taliban.The main message of Panetta’s two-day visit to Afghanistan was one of reassurance to Afghans that they will not be abandoned after 2014. And he made a pitch for patience among Americans tired of war.“For the first time since 9/11 we have a chance to achieve the mission that we are embarked upon,” Panetta said. “To achieve that mission will require a continued commitment, continued perseverance, continued partnership and continued sacrifice on the part of our nations.”He told Karzai that his country should not doubt U.S. resolve to prevent the Taliban from regaining power and potentially facilitating al-Qaida’s return.“America will not turn away from Afghanistan,” he said.The Pentagon chief, who is expected to step down early in 2013 and return to private life, also made a plea for Pakistan to do more to clear al-Qaida, the Taliban and other extremist groups from havens on its side of the border with Afghanistan.
Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Top holiday drink recipes Parents, stop beating yourself up Men’s health affects baby’s health too “Give us a good army, a good air force and a capability to project Afghan interests in the region,” Karzai said, and he would be ready to argue “with ease and with reason” that his country should grant immunity to U.S. troops.Obama has said the U.S. will not abandon Afghanistan and risk that it might revert to the al-Qaida haven it became in the 1990s after the Taliban came to power. Nor has he indicated what size and scope of post-2104 military mission he thinks is necessary and affordable.The Taliban are a small but resilient force, even after 11 years of fighting a vastly larger U.S.-led international force. They managed to send a dramatic reminder Thursday, claiming credit for the suicide bombing that killed three and wounded 17 near an entrance to Kandahar Air Field, the largest Western base in southern Afghanistan. Panetta and his traveling party had left the air field about two hours before the attack.The U.S. military did not identify the American who was killed. It said an investigation was under way.Panetta was at the air field for about three hours, receiving a briefing from U.S. commanders. Panetta also spoke to about 350 U.S. troops and took questions from them before flying back to Kabul, where he met with Karzai at the presidential palace.
Metzker’s credit cards, a check book and his ID card were found near his body.The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to be quoted by name. He said police were also looking into the possibility that the murder was a crime of passion. He would not elaborate.“It was a barbaric crime that has shocked Minas Gerais and all of Brazil,” Kerison Lopes, president of the Minas Gerais Journalists Union said by telephone. “He was decapitated, scalped and tortured.”“There is a climate of terror in the region that intimidates reporters from doing their job,” he said, adding that Metzker often received death threats.Carlos Lauria, the senior Americas Program coordinator of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said by telephone that at least 14 Brazilian journalists have been killed since 2011 “in retaliation for their work, making Brazil a very dangerous country for journalists.”“Lethal violence against the Brazilian press is on the rise, impeding journalists from reporting critically on what is going on,” he said. “The level of violence (against journalists) in Brazil is unacceptably high.” New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Comments Share Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober SAO PAULO (AP) — The decapitated body of a blogger known for denouncing corrupt politicians has been found in a rural zone in southeastern Minas Gerais state, police said Wednesday.Evany Jose Metzker, 67 was reported missing five days before his body was found near the town of Padre Paraiso in one of Brazil’s poorest regions.“His hands were tied behind his back and his body showed signs of torture,” a police press officer said, adding that the murder was apparently motivated by Metzker’s recent investigations into child prostitution and drug trafficking. Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement Arizona families, Arizona farms: A legacy of tradition embracing animal care and comfort through modern technology 4 sleep positions for men and what they mean Sponsored Stories Get a lawn your neighbor will be jealous of Top Stories 
New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Sponsored Stories Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Comments Share Early signs of cataracts in your parents and how to help 4 sleep positions for men and what they mean
The Birkin Bag was designed for and named after British actress Jane Birkin. It’s famous for having a price tag in the thousands of dollars and a years-long waiting list.The bag was one of more than 300 that Christie’s put on the block in Hong Kong, which has emerged as a global auction center thanks to wealthy mainland Chinese.A similar black Birkin Bag was offered for auction but didn’t sell after failing to attract the minimum bid of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($130,000).Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Top Stories HONG KONG (AP) — Christie’s said Monday that a Hermes designer handbag smashed a world auction record in Hong Kong.The auction house did not identify the buyer of the crocodile skin Birkin Bag in fuschia with 18 karat gold and diamond hardware. It sold for 1.72 million Hong Kong dollars ($222,219).The previous record was set at a U.S. auction in 2011 for another Birkin Bag, in red crocodile skin, that sold for $203,150. Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement 4 ways to protect your company from cyber breaches
Here’s how to repair and patch damaged drywall Parents, stop beating yourself up Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober How men can have a healthy 2019 “If we continue to operate business as usual, and we all draw from the same pie and Cuba is in the equation … there will be serious economic and employment consequences,” he said in a phone interview.The association seeks to create a Caribbean Basin Tourism Initiative to help boost investment and travel across the region with help from the U.S. The plan would be modeled on the Caribbean Basin Initiative, a U.S.-led program in the 1980s that sought to boost trade in the Caribbean and Central America.The association proposes the plan in a report that warns of Cuba’s impact on the Caribbean and that was sent to the U.S. International Trade Commission.The report calls the opening of travel to Cuba for U.S. visitors “the biggest and most disruptive pebble to be dropped into the Caribbean pool in fifty years.”From January to early May, Cuba saw a 36 percent increase in U.S. visitors from the same period in 2014. It also had a 14 percent jump in other international arrivals, and Caribbean tourism officials say they expect those numbers to keep rising.“Those countries whose focus has been on the United States as their primary source market and who have not felt any competition from Cuba … will be surprised at how sophisticated and effective the Cuban marketing machine has become,” the report says. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Caribbean tourism officials are pushing for a partnership with the U.S. government because of concerns that warming relations between the U.S. and Cuba will result in a significant loss of visitors to the rest of the region.Cuba has seen such a surge in visitors that the fragile budgets of many tourism-dependent islands will be hit hard if they don’t take action, Frank Comito, CEO of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, said Wednesday. Comments Share New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Top Stories Clean energy: Why it matters for Arizona Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Sponsored Stories The association said the islands where the tourism business could be most affected are those closest to Cuba.It is unclear whether tourism officials on those islands support the association’s plan or whether they have taken steps to help attract more visitors. Tourism officials in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas did not return messages for comment.Comito said the region should work together to boost overall investment and travel to the Caribbean.“It’s a little idealistic, but I think you need an element of that in this,” he said. “A stronger Caribbean benefits everyone, including Cuba.”Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Sponsored Stories The difference between men and women when it comes to pain KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — As Iran and global powers move toward a nuclear agreement, Tehran’s ambassador to Afghanistan said a deal easing crippling economic sanctions would also benefit security and development in his country’s war-torn neighbor.Mohammad Reza Bahrami also said Iran would be prepared to help fight the Islamic State group if its presence in Afghanistan grows into a real and regional threat. While fighting the militant group is Kabul’s responsibility, Iran would consider assisting the effort if the Afghan government “feels that it needs the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said. Mesa family survives lightning strike to home New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Arizona families, Arizona farms: working to produce high-quality milk Comments Share Top Stories “It will create more possibilities for investment by Iran in Afghanistan (and will have) a considerable impact on the bad economic conditions of Afghanistan,” he said.The trade relationship is tilted greatly in Iran’s favor, as 30 years of war have strangled investment and industrial development in Afghanistan. It sends mostly agricultural products to Iran, and receives fuel, concrete and other construction materials, and home appliances.A nuclear deal could allow trade in previously off-limits industries such as oil, banking and insurance.“We want stability in Afghanistan, strong central government and economic development. If we want to neutralize and decrease the threats that Afghanistan and the region are facing, we have no solution but collective cooperation between Afghanistan and other countries from the region and beyond,” he said.Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. “The events during recent decades have made it crystal clear for us that the challenges and threats in Afghanistan are not going to stay in Afghanistan; they are threats for other countries as well,” Bahrami said in an interview last week. “When we talk about terrorism and extremism, these are not going to remain within the borders of Afghanistan. Daesh and the Taliban . are common threats and the solution is collective cooperation.”Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group, which has had a creeping presence in Afghanistan for much of this year. Officials believe most militants claiming to be Islamic State fighters are former Taliban disillusioned by that group’s lack of progress in almost 14 years of insurgency.The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated since most U.S. and NATO combat soldiers withdrew last year, handing security responsibility over to Afghan forces.On the nuclear issue, world powers and Iran are hoping to clinch a deal by Tuesday, setting a decade of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program and granting Iran significant relief from international sanctions.The deal would boost cross-border trade, benefiting Afghanistan’s moribund economy which has been hard hit by the withdrawal of foreign troops and international aid groups. Economic development, Bahrami said, would help improve security. 4 sleep positions for men and what they mean Here’s how to repair and patch damaged drywall
Source = e-Travel Blackboard: W.X <a href=”http://www.etbtravelnews.global/click/27658/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://adsvr.travelads.biz/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=10&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=a5c63036″ border=”0″ alt=””></a> InterContinental Hotels has taken a swipe at Hilton Hotels launching a brand new competition for disgruntled loyalty club members who recently had their points devalued.Early this year Hilton increased the level at which many of their members could redeem their points, effectively devaluating their HHonors points by about 20%, and now IHG has announced that it will award the HHonors member who has lost the most points two million of their loyalty points.Additionally the new “Luckiest Losers” competition sees any HHonors member who submits an entry automatically receive 1,000 of IHG’s Priority Club Points, while the top 20,000 entrants will gain back up to 20% of their current HHonors Balance in Priority Club points.“If you want your loyal customers to stick with you during tough times, it’s vital to show you appreciate them and give them more value, not less,” said Tom Seddon, IHG Chief Marketing Officer.“Some of our customers, particularly ones we’re talking to on social networking sites, asked us if there was anything we could do to help – so we’re offering to replace their lost Hilton HHonors points with Priority Club points.”IHG says the top prize is enough for about 80 free hotel nights at its properties around the world.InterContinental Hotels Group will run the promotion until the 28th of February.
“However, there is still demand for travel to Japan, particularly from Europe.”Meanwhile flooding and storms in Queensland have not affected the Australian market, with business class fare rising by up to five percent over the last year.According to the survey, the cause for steady growth in Australia is pinned to the careful management of seat capacity and oil prices.“The Australian economy is on solid footing, and increased competition to the Americas is boosting competition Down Under,” Dr Jones added. “Those competitive forces, however, can’t keep up with the pressures in terms of both supply and demand.” Airline fares across the Asia Pacific will be pressured upwards over the next twelve months, as business travel strengthens across the region.A CFO Research Global Business and Spending Monitor survey conducted by American Express found that while oil price and capacity demand created a strong year-on-year growth for the first quarter this year, rising number of business travel will continue to impact fares through the rest of the year.The research of chief financial officers at large companies in the region found that up to 57 percent of businesses will spend the same or more on travel this year, while 15 percent of that figure said they are likely to spend up to 10 percent more than the year before.“In the fourth quarter of 2010, we experienced a levelling in airfares, however, the data points to further expansion in 2011, with fares increasing one percent in the first quarter,” American Express Business Travel director of advisory services Dr Carl Jones said. Strong demand for high-end European products and services is driving greater fare growth to the region, particularly in Hong Kong, where fares to Europe, the Middle East and Asia climbed eight percent over last year.”Despite the Asia Pacific experience consecutive natural disasters during the first quarter, Dr Jones said fares, particularly to Japan will not “continue heading down in the long term”.“The tragic events in Japan have certainly had an effect on the market,” Dr Jones added. “Since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March, airfares to Japan are being slashed. Source = e-Travel Blackboard: N.J.