Taiwan establishes first quasi-government presence in China with tourism office

Taiwan opens first tourism office in China

BEIJING – Taiwan opened a tourism office Tuesday in Beijing that represents the island’s first official presence in China’s capital since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.
China will open a counterpart office in Taipei later this week as part of reciprocal steps aimed at opening up … Read : Taiwan establishes first quasi-government presence in China with tourism office.

Osmond family gathers in Idaho town to dedicate mother’s home as museum

Osmond matriarch’s home dedicated as museum

SAMARIA, Idaho – Members of the Osmond family gathered Monday in the small southeastern Idaho town of Samaria to honor their mother with the dedication of the “Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin and Museum.”
Olive Davis Osmond was born 85 years ago in a two-room cabin in Samaria. She died in …. Source  : Osmond family gathers in Idaho town to dedicate mother’s home as museum.

Flight forced to land after man bangs on cockpit door, claims to be alien, want to fly plane

Passenger disruption forces flight diversion

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A SkyWest Airlines flight from Helena, Mont., to Salt Lake City was diverted to Idaho Falls after a passenger began banging on the cockpit door, saying he was a space alien and wanted to fly the plane.
Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Phil Grimes says other passengers on the …. Read the original article  : here.

Snapshot of world’s fairs past

World’s fair snapshot
A world’s fair snapshot:

PARIS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1889
More than 30 million visitors over six months. Produced the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous world’s fair structure ever, according to historian John E. Findling, who wrote the “Encyclopedia of World’s Fairs and Expositions.” One of the few fairs to make a profit.
CHICAGO WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, …. Source  : Snapshot of world’s fairs past.

Alappuzha Beauties: Kerala Alappuzha “Venice of the East”

ALAPPUZHA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) — Alappuzha is a district of Kerala, situated in the southern fringe of India. It’s a picturesque town with panoramic beaches, multiple canals, backwater and lagoons. Alappuzha was named “Venice of the East” by Lord Curzon. You can feel its eternal beauty once you make a visit to Alappuzha.
History revealed that [..] Read the original article: here.

Delta waives 1st checked bag fee for airline’s AmEx cardholders and traveling companions

First bag free on Delta with airline’s AmEx card

Delta says it will waive the fee on the first checked bag for most customers with Delta SkyMiles credit cards.
The move on Wednesday by Delta and the card issuer, American Express, could pressure other airlines to waive bag fees for their credit card users, too. The cards …. Source  : Delta waives 1st checked bag fee for airline’s AmEx cardholders and traveling companions.

Nelson museum lures Egypt lovers with 2,300-year-old coffin, revamped galleries in Kansas City

Kansas City museum to open new Egyptian Galleries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – King Tut, that popular Egyptian boy king whose traveling tomb lured gangbuster museum crowds two decades ago, is once again touring the country.
But Egypt lovers who can’t make a trip to Denver or New York and don’t want to pay nearly $30 to see …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nelson museum lures Egypt lovers with 2,300-year-old coffin, revamped galleries in Kansas City.

US Coast Guard searches for cruise ship worker who went overboard near Puerto Rico

Cruise ship worker goes overboard near Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship worker who climbed over the ship’s railings as it traveled past Puerto Rico, officials said Thursday.
After crew members reported him missing on Wednesday night, officials reviewed the ship’s video cameras and … Read more >>.

Florida officials want visitors to know beaches are still fine, for now

Fla. officials say tourists shouldn’t cancel trips

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida officials want to set the record straight: The beaches are still open for vacationers despite the Gulf’s gushing oil spill.
David Halstead, head of the Division of Emergency Management, says the spill is still a long way from the peninsula.
Halstead says reports of tarballs washing ashore … Read more : Florida officials want visitors to know beaches are still fine, for now.

Smart Spending: It’s not too late to find a deal on a summer vacation rental

Smart Spending: Vacation rentals
CHICAGO – Temperatures are rising, the school year is ending and vacations are on the brain.

If you and your family want to go away for more than a few days, renting a beach house or lakeside cabin can cost about half as much as a hotel stay. That means more cash to …. Original source  : Smart Spending: It’s not too late to find a deal on a summer vacation rental.

US official: Airlines must now check for updates on no-fly list more often or face penalties

Airlines required to check no-fly list more often

WASHINGTON – The government is requiring airlines to check no-fly lists within two hours of being notified of list updates – a move aimed at preventing known terror suspects from boarding airplanes as the man accused in the Times Square bombing attempt did.
Faisal Shahzad, who prosecutors say tried … Read : US official: Airlines must now check for updates on no-fly list more often or face penalties.

AP answers your questions on the news, from the Bay of Valdez to emergency vehicles on 9/11

Ask AP: The Bay of Valdez, 9/11 emergency vehicles

Why is Alaska’s Bay of Valdez pronounced more like the Bay of ValDEEZ?
That’s one of the questions in this edition of “Ask AP,” a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to readers’ questions about the news.
If you have your own news-related question that you’d like to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : AP answers your questions on the news, from the Bay of Valdez to emergency vehicles on 9/11.

Iraq says British court lets Iraqi airline chief leave despite airplanes dispute with Kuwait

Court lets Iraqi airline chief leave Britain

BAGHDAD – The head of Iraqi Airways can now leave Britain after being held there for more than a week over a two-decade-old dispute with Kuwait, Iraq’s Transportation Ministry said Thursday.
A British court announced the airline chief, Kifah Jabar Hassan, had his passport returned and was now free to …. Read the original article  : Iraq says British court lets Iraqi airline chief leave despite airplanes dispute with Kuwait.

Spirit Airlines CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed, overall ticket prices still lowest

Spirit CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed

WASHINGTON – The CEO of the airline that wants to charge passengers as much as $45 for certain carry-on bags says he agrees with federal regulators that the fee needs to be disclosed plainly to consumers when they buy their tickets.
Ben Baldanza of Spirit Airlines says he met …. Read the original article  : Spirit Airlines CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed, overall ticket prices still lowest.