RIU Hotels recognizes top Canadian travel agencies at annual awards show Share Tags: RIU Hotels & Resorts PUNTA CANA — Top Canadian travel agencies were honoured at RIU Hotels & Resorts’ 2nd Annual RIU Awards, which took place earlier this month at Riu Palace Bavaro in Punta Cana.The selected agencies were rewarded with a trip for two to the Dominican Republic to attend the RIU Awards Ceremony. In addition to the awards program, they were treated to a VIP weekend, inclusive of special tours of the island, leisure activities and special events.Recognizing agents from both Canada and the United States, the awards aims to strengthen RIU brand loyalty and relaunch other programs such as Riu Agents, Riu Specialist, the urban hotel line Riu Plaza, as well as Weddings and Groups (MICE).The Canadian agencies recognized this year are:Caribbean VacationsEscapes.caFlight Centre Upper Canada MallGlenny TraveliTravel2000.comIxtapa TravelLaurier Du VallonRedtag.caSears TravelSelloffvacations.comTravel NationTravel OnlyTravel Professionals InternationalTripcentral.caAmong the 20 U.S. agencies recognized were Vacations to Go, All Inclusive Outlet and SVH Tours.More news: Universal enhances popular Harry Potter vacation package with new perksRiu Partner Club rewards travel agents for their loyalty, allowing them to quickly and easily earn points redeemable for vacations at any RIU hotel – Riu Plaza and All-Inclusive 24 Hours resorts – and without blackout dates. Agents earn points by submitting their reservations through the RIU Partner Club; these points are based on hotel category, number of guests and room nights.All members interested in participating in the 3rd RIU Awards Ceremony in 2018 need only keep booking for a chance to be recognized. Only RPC active accounts can participate in the contest, and winners must be credited as Riu Specialist Agents. Posted by
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Share Wednesday, July 26, 2017 European Union court says Canada passenger data deal breaches privacy Source: The Associated Press BRUSSELS — The European Union’s top court says in an advisory opinion that a deal between the EU and Canada on sharing airline passenger data breaches citizens’ privacy and cannot be concluded in its current form.Wednesday’s opinion by the European Union Court of Justice’s Advocate General Yves Bot was a setback to attempts to share airline data in the fight against extremism.It says that transferring passenger data from the EU to Canada and the possibility that the information could be shared with others “entail an interference with the fundamental right to respect for private life.”The EU and Canada signed the agreement in 2014, but the European Parliament subsequently referred it to the court for a ruling on whether it was compatible with EU privacy laws. Tags: Britain & Europe, Canada, European Union << Previous PostNext Post >>
Travelweek Group Thursday, May 31, 2018 MONTREAL — Today is International Flight Attendant Day, and to show just how much it values its frontline employees, Air Transat has unveiled a series of short videos that not only highlight both its flight crew and preferred Sun destinations.In these videos, select employees share their passion and expertise for specific destinations. This past winter, three employees, including two flight attendants, talked about their top Sun destinations, while more recently, two vacation ‘enthusiasts’ (one of whom is a flight attendant) take viewers to their favourite spots in London and Lisbon.These videos are part of Air Transat’s latest advertising campaigns, which highlight the expertise of its employees who its says are “passionate about travel and love sharing their favourite destinations and discoveries with their customers.”On the role of flight attendants, Air Transat President Jean-François Lemay said: “Being a flight attendant means not only seeing to customers’ comfort and establishing a special and reassuring contact with them, it’s first and foremost about ensuring their safety. I feel very strongly about emphasizing that flight attendants are safety professionals, trained to react in any situation, normal or otherwise. And so on this very special day, I want to recognize their valuable contribution to the Air Transat inflight experience and to thank them for accompanying our passengers as they start or end their holidays.” << Previous PostNext Post >> Posted by Tags: Air Transat, International Flight Attendant Day, Lisbon, London Air Transat says a big “thank you” on International Flight Attendant Day
Travelweek Group CG Journeys’ new Russia fam visits both Moscow & St. Petersburg Tags: FAM, Moscow, St. Petersburg Tuesday, June 18, 2019 TORONTO — CG Journeys has a new fam to Russia that includes all the top sights of Moscow and St. Petersburg.Departing Sept. 12-21 from either JFK or LAX, the 10-day ‘Russia’s Two Capitals and Golden Ring’ fam starts in Moscow with visits to the Red Square, the world-famous Kremlin and a city bus tour. From there, agents will journey to Sergiev Posad followed by a tour of the Holy Tirnity-St. Sergius Lavra.After transport to Pereslavl-Zalessky where they’ll enjoy a city tour and welcome dinner, agents will then visit Suzdal to explore the Suzdal Kremlin and Euthymius Monastery.A high-speed Sapsan train – business class – will then take agents to St. Petersburg, where they’ll embark on a panoramic city tour that includes Peter and Paul Fortress followed by lunch at Taleon hotel. After lunch, agents will visit the famous Faberge Museum and enjoy free time during which they can take in a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre or shop with a personal guide.More news: Flight Centre Travel Group takes full ownership of Quebec-based agencyOther highlights in St. Petersburg include the Peterhoff Palace, often referred to as the ‘Russian Versailles’, the famous Catherine Palace in Pushkin, the Hermitage and the Winter Palace. A farewell dinner at the Four Seasons closes the tour.The fam is priced at $1,850 (single) and includes: international and domestic flights with Aeroflot Airlines from JFK or LAX; two nights’ accommodation at the four-star Azimuth hotel Smolenskaya, Moscow; two nights’ accommodation at the four-star Azimuth hotel Pereslavl; four nights’ accommodation at the five-star Belmond Grand Europe hotel; all breakfasts and lunches and three dinners; transportation, tours, museum and attractions entry and English-speaking guide as per program; Business class high-speed train ticket from Moscow to St. Petersburg; Moscow walking city tour; and city tours of Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl, Suzdal and St. Petersburg.For more information call 1-800-668-8401 or visit cgjourneys.com.
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The first Starbucks opened Wednesday in Plaza Avenida Escazú, southwest of San José. Local media gave the inauguration heaps of attention (while social networks debated the merits of indulging in Starbucks in a country quite proud of its own coffee brand), and 30 people waited in line for the coffeehouse to open its doors at 7:30 a.m.A cup of coffee at the store costs more than your average Costa Rican brew. A small Starbucks coffee goes for 1,100 ($2.20) to 1,700 ($3.40) for a large. The trademark Frappuccinos start at 1,800 ($3.60).The hours for Starbucks will be 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The famous coffee shop will include in its blends, a Costa Rican bean from Bella Vista Coffee, of Tres Ríos, southeast of San José. Facebook Comments Related posts:Starbucks to sell Tico brand in Costa Rica store Starbucks opens second Costa Rica location on Thursday The first Starbucks in Costa Rica will open in May First Starbucks to open in Costa Rica on June 20
Related posts:String of 25 quakes rattles San José, Central Valley Magnitude-7.3 earthquake off El Salvador coast shakes Central America Two Good Friday quakes rock Costa Rica Mag-4.5 earthquake rattles Costa Rica’s Central Valley The epicenter of a magnitude-4.4- temblor in Siquirres, Limón, on June 11, 2015. (Courtesy OVSICORI via Facebook)A magnitude-4.4 earthquake shook the Caribbean slope city of Siquirres on Thursday at 12:43 p.m., OVISCORI reported via Twitter.The quake’s epicenter was 8.2 kilometers southeast of the city of Siquirres at a depth of 9 km.The temblor could be felt across Limón, Cartago, northern Heredia and the southern end of San José province, according to intensity reports from the Seismic Engineering Laboratory.There were no reports of damage or injuries. Facebook Comments
Mobile services customers can spend up to an hour on hold when calling their carriers’ customer service lines, and the Telecommunications Superintendence (SUTEL) is taking action.SUTEL issued a warning to all carriers and granted them six months to outline a plan to improve their procedures in order to reduce wait times, and a plan to improve their overall service quality within three months.The warning is the agency’s first action following the release, last week, of results of its survey on customer perception and satisfaction. SUTEL found that most surveyed people — 75.4 percent — said they wait up to 10 minutes on hold before they can talk to a customer service agent in order to file a service inquiry or claim. Another 15 percent said they have to stay on the phone for up to half an hour and two percent claimed they have to wait an hour or more to talk to an operator.Other resultsOf the carriers evaluated in the survey, Spanish carrier Movistar (Telefónica) at 7.8 toped the satisfaction list regarding customer service wait times. Mexican carrier Claro (América Móvil) followed at 7.6 and local Tuyo Móvil was third at 7.3. Full Móvil at 6.8, and state-owned Kölbi (ICE) at 5.6 placed at the bottom of the list.SUTEL also evaluated customers’ satisfaction with the quality of their mobile and mobile Internet services, and results were similar.Movistar ranked first with 8.7, followed by Claro (8.5), Tuyo (8.6), Fullmóvil (8.4) and Kölbi at 7.8.Customers of all carriers in general are dissatisfied with the speed of their mobile Internet service. Satisfaction values in this area ranged between 6.6 for Kölbi to 7.6 for Movistar.SUTEL conducted its telephone survey of a sample of 3,122 people between August and December and has a confidence level of 95 percent.ComplaintsSUTEL President Manuel Ruiz Gutiérrez said in a public statement that the survey will help the organization fulfill its duty to guarantee consumer rights.This week’s warning is just the first step of a process that might lead to sanctions against carriers, but the agency also needs customers complaints in order to file a case against a company.Spokesman Eduardo Castellón told The Tico Times that SUTEL urges customers to help them improve their monitoring of customer satisfaction by filing complaints with their carriers.“Many people who face problems with their carrier just rant on Facebook, but we can’t base a complaint on a social media post,” he said.He added that SUTEL will conduct another survey at the end of this year to determine if sanctions should be applied.“If the results of the new survey show that carriers failed to improve their customers’ satisfaction rates, we will move forward with actions that might involve legal or even financial sanctions,” he said.Results are also consistent with a SUTEL report about consumer complaints filed between January and July of last year. According to that report, customers of mobile services made a total of 347 complaints, and almost half of them corresponded to problems with the quality of service.Most of those complaints — 41 percent — were from ICE-Kölbi’s customers. Claro followed at 23 percent and Movistar was third with 11 percent, the regulator reported. Facebook Comments Related posts:Costa Rica mobile carriers improve coverage, but not internet speed Telecommunications regulator proposes lifting phone, internet rate controls Costa Rican Electricity Institute appeals ₡2 billion fine by regulators Costa Rica ranks just above average in 4G mobile coverage
The U.S. National Team was seeded on Group B and will be looking to earn its sixth regional title. The team will open against Panama on July 8 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. They will then face Martinique and will end group play against either Haiti or Nicaragua.Each group of four teams will visit three cities during group play.Group ANew York/New Jersey (Red Bull Arena), Houston (BBVA Compass Stadium), Dallas (Toyota Stadium)-Honduras-Costa Rica-Canada-French GuianaGroup BNashville (Nissan Stadium), Tampa (Raymond James Stadium), Cleveland (FirstEnergy Stadium)-United States-Panama-Martinique-Haiti or NicaraguaGroup CSan Diego (Qualcomm Stadium), Denver (Sports Authority Field), San Antonio (Alamodome)-Mexico-El Salvador-Curacao-Jamaica Facebook Comments Costa Rica’s National Team, or La Sele, landed in Group A of the upcoming2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup that will take place in the United States from July 7-26. That means Los Ticos will face Honduras, led by their former head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, as well as Canada and French Guiana.Costa Rica and Honduras will play the group’s inaugural match on July 7 at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.La Sele then will face Canada on July 11 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston and will wrap up the group stage against French Guiana on July 14 at the Toyota Stadium in Dallas.In a news release from the Costa Rican Football Federation, head coach Óscar Ramírez said the opener against Honduras will be a challenge for his team. He also noted that La Sele will have to play Honduras three times within a six-month period.“Honduras is doing a great job under Coach Pinto, and I know they will be a tough opponent,” Ramírez said right after the official draw held at Santa Clara, California on Tuesday evening.Regarding Canada, Ramírez said that despite being out of the final round of World Cup qualifying matches, the Canadian team combines experienced and young players that will likely put up a good fight.The coach said Costa Rica will have to prepare carefully as the Canadians are tough players, with a strong biotype.“They’re tall, aggressive, and very disciplined, so I think it will be a complex game,” he said.Ramírez said he knows very little about French Guiana, but that they likely have good players who eventually get contracts in French teams: “Like most Caribbean teams, their gamestyle is mostly based on their physical strenghth.”He also said he has yet to define the final list of players he will take to the tournament. He said he will evaluate the physical state of players who play abroad, but will also consider players performing well locally.See Ramírez statements after the draw: Related posts:2017 Gold Cup: Costa Rica’s La Sele draws Canada 1-1 Gold Cup: Costa Rica’s Sele blanks French Guiana 3-0, advances to quarterfinals Panama’s own goal sends Costa Rica into Gold Cup semifinals against the U.S. Óscar Ramírez faces first adversity as La Sele’s head coach
President Luis Guillermo Solís officially inaugurated a newCoast Guard station in the southern Pacific, donated by the U.S. Southern Command.The new $2.5 million facility spans an area of 543 square meters in the coastal town of Golfito. President Solís attended the ceremony on Saturday along with U.S. Ambassador S. Fitzgerald Haney, First Lady Mercedes Peñas, Public Security Minister Gustavo Mata, and other government officials.The new station can accommodate 70 officers. It includes bedrooms, showers, toilets, a dining room, a kitchen, a laundry room, an operations center, a communications center, an armory and a warehouse for storage of spare parts and other maintenance supplies. President Luis Guillermo Solís inspects the new Coast Guard speed boat “Cadejos 3” along with U.S. Ambassador S. Fitzgerald Haney, First Lady Mercedes Peñas and other officials. (Via U.S. Embassy in San José)New speed boatThe U.S. government donation also included a 45-foot-long interceptor speed boat valued at $549,000. Local Coast Guard officials named the new boat “Cadejos 3.”Coast Guard officers in Golfito are in charge of surveillance operations in an area that comprises important sites including Punta Burica on the border with Panama, El Caño Island, Drake Bay, Golfo Dulce and Corcovado National Park.The new resources will strengthen search and rescue operations as well as the protection of marine resources. They also will help improve Coast Guard anti-drug actions throughout the southern Pacific region and along the border, local officers said. Facebook Comments Related posts:Presidents Obama, Solís sign historic security donation for Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solís to meet with U.S. Vice President Michael Pence President Trump nominates Sharon Day as ambassador to Costa Rica Venezuelan lawmaker says in Costa Rica that her people eat from garbage trucks
The Vatican has expelled Costa Rican priest Mauricio Víquez from the clergy, the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San José announced Monday.Víquez has been accused of at least nine cases of sexual abuse of minors.“Rev. Father Mauricio Víquez Lizano, priest of the archdiocese of San José, has been imposed the permanent and expiatory punishment of expulsion from the clerical state,” said the Vatican statement, read before journalists by the spokesman of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San José, Jason Granados.The expulsion of Víquez takes place at a time when the accused is a fugitive from justice following the international arrest warrant issued by Costa Rican prosecutors.Granados confirmed that the Vatican resolution was sent to the residence of Víquez but could not be delivered because his whereabouts are unknown.Local media corroborated that the priest had entered Mexico in January, but he has not been located.“In the abuses, we see the hand of evil that does not forgive even the innocence of children; there are not enough explanations for these abuses against children,” read the statement, which was released late at night.Granados explained that the decision implies an acknowledgment of Víquez’s guilt and was adopted after listening to all the parties involved.Under Costa Rican law, sexual abuse of minors is punished with up to a 10-year prison sentence.This story was made possible thanks to The Tico Times 5 % Club. If only 5 percent our readers donated at least $2 a month, we’d have our operating costs covered and could focus on bringing you more original reporting from around Costa Rica. We work hard to keep our reporting independent and groundbreaking, but we can only do it with your help. Join The Tico Times 5% Club and help make stories like this one possible.Support the Tico Times Facebook Comments Related posts:Costa Rican priest arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor Priest accused of sexual abuse arrested trying to leave Costa Rica Archbishop minimizes fall in reputation of the Church, predicts ‘high participation’ during Holy Week Costa Rica approves law against child abuse prepared by alleged victims of priest
Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates Get a lawn your neighbor will be jealous of New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths Top Stories RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – The Palestinian Authority says it will seek to have additional religious West Bank sites recognized by UNESCO as endangered World Heritage sites.Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki named a site holy to Jews and Muslims in Hebron where biblical patriarchs and their wives are buried, and Mount Gerizim near Nablus.Last week, UNESCO approved Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity as an endangered site in a move Palestinians hailed as a key step toward statehood. The United States and Israel dismissed it as cynical politicization of the cultural body. Comments Share Sponsored Stories 
More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family 3 international destinations to visit in 2019 Malki said the church’s recognition was the start of a “long term project.”Israeli government spokesman Yigal Palmor dismissed the plan to add more sites as “purely propaganda.” He hoped UNESCO would reject the move.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 4 ways to protect your company from cyber breaches
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CAIRO (AP) – Several Egyptian journalists have left their columns blank in daily papers to protest the appointments by the upper house of parliament of 50 new editors for state-owned publications. Many of the newly -appointed editors are known for their Islamist views.Instead of their pieces in Thursday’s editions of independent newspapers, the columnists wrote short notes explaining their protest and denouncing what they describe as the Brotherhood’s attempt to control the state-owned press. 4 ways to protect your company from cyber breaches The upper house is dominated by Islamists, mostly from President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. The fundamentalist group has complained about negative press coverage, both of the Brotherhood and of Morsi.The upper house, known as the Shura Council, is formally the owner of the country’s state press, including such flagship publications as the dailies Al-Ahram and Al-Akhbar.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family
Quick workouts for men Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix Get a lawn your neighbor will be jealous of Comments Share 3 international destinations to visit in 2019 ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Officials say Nigeria will launch a $1 billion sovereign wealth fund in the coming months to invest some of the nation’s oil revenue.Nigeria’s Finance Ministry made the announcement Tuesday. It said the board managing the fund will be led by Mahey Rasheed, a board member at Nigeria’s First Bank PLC. Uche Orji of UBS will serve as the fund’s managing director and CEO. Sponsored Stories 
Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement Nations use sovereign wealth funds to invest in stocks or securities. Nigerian authorities pushed for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund as a means to better save the billions of dollars the nation annually earns annual from oil revenues. Opaque budgeting and corruption sees much of the money siphoned away.Some politicians have criticized the fund, saying more money should go to Nigeria’s states.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Top Stories 
Associated PressMOSCOW (AP) – As elections for governors, mayors and regional legislatures took place across Russia this weekend _ and President Vladimir Putin’s loyalists swept almost all the posts _ independent observers registered an array of suspected violations.It was par for the course in Russia, where standard techniques for manipulating elections include “carousel voting” and “spoiler candidates,” as well as more common violations such as ballot box stuffing. The difficulties for opposition candidates also often start well before the campaign begins. In the city of Izhevsk, observers reported seeing a group of several dozen men with certificates for absentee ballots entering a polling station in pairs and then returning in a group to a van parked outside, where they showed a man photos from their cell phones.BALLOT STUFFINGAfter widespread reports of fraud in a December parliamentary election, all polling stations were equipped with web cameras. Even so, observers say some election officials still manage to slip in wads of ballots. A video from a polling station in the southern Krasnodar region shows an election official taking a pile of ballots from a desk and putting them into the ballot box.In the Tula region, the opposition Yabloko party said election officials broke the finger of a Yabloko representative as she tried to prevent ballot stuffing.COPYCAT PARTIES AND SPOILER CANDIDATESNew legislation drafted in response to anti-Putin protests last winter made it easier for parties to take part in elections. One result is dozens of copycat parties, for instance with the words “Communist” or “justice” in their names. This is mostly meant to confuse elderly voters, who might tick the first box they see with a familiar word next to it. Top Stories Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Here is a look at the various techniques that the Kremlin and its supporters have used in elections to help ensure the desired outcome.ABSENTEE BALLOTSRussians can easily secure a certificate allowing them to vote at any polling station, a variation on the absentee ballot. Teachers, employees of state companies, soldiers and others are often required to vote at their workplace, under the eyes of their bosses and under pressure to vote for the Kremlin party.Observers have recorded instances in which officials helped voters to obtain multiple certificates, enabling them to vote at several polling stations.In the city of Bryansk on Sunday, a representative of the Kremlin party, United Russia, drove off with a Communist Party observer on the hood of his car after the observer spotted these voting certificates being distributed from the car, according to the Communist Party and a video posted online.CAROUSEL VOTINGElection observers say that a typical carousel voter is paid up to $100 a day to be bused from one polling station to another to cast multiple ballots, a scheme that normally requires prior agreement with election officials at the polling stations. The carousel voters normally are required to take a picture of the ballot to prove they chose the “right” candidate, although in some cases they receive the ballots already marked. The difference between men and women when it comes to pain
Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix 5 ways to recognize low testosterone Sponsored Stories Comments Share Spoiler candidates are also common. These are often seemingly independent figures who run against Kremlin-backed candidates to create a semblance of competition and to steal votes from genuine opposition politicians.In the mayoral race in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, opposition leader and environmentalist Yevgeniya Chirikova was up against not only the acting mayor but a former government official known for his environmental activism and a heavy metal singer with a cult following. Chirikova came in second after the acting mayor with 18 percent of the vote. The independent election monitoring organization Golos estimated that spoiler candidates received 8 percent of the vote nationwide.HIGH THRESHOLD FOR HOPEFULSAlso in response to the street protests, the Kremlin restored elections for Russia’s 83 regional governors, which Putin had abolished in 2004. But candidates can run only if they represent a party and have the endorsement of at least 5 percent of the lawmakers in their regional legislatures, which tend to be under the Kremlin party’s control.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Top holiday drink recipes
In March, IS members razed the ancient cities of Nimrod and Hatra in Iraq — both UNESCO world heritage sites. The move was described by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon as a “war crime.”The militants have released videos in recent months showing fighters proudly destroying artifacts with hammers and drills in a museum in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and using explosives to wreck other sites.The Sunni extremists, who have imposed a violent interpretation of Shariah law in the territories they control in Syria and Iraq, believe ancient relics promote idolatry.Since capturing Palmyra and its archaeological treasures, IS has not said what it plans to do with them.Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BEIRUT (AP) — A look at Palmyra, the Syrian archaeological gem captured by Islamic State fighters.LOCATION:A desert oasis surrounded by palm trees in central Syria, Palmyra is also a strategic crossroads linking the Syrian capital Damascus with the country’s east and neighboring Iraq. Home to 65,000 people before the latest fighting, the town is located 155 miles (215 kilometers) east of Damascus.HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE: Top Stories New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies FILE – This file photo released on Sunday, May 17, 2015, by the Syrian official news agency SANA shows the general view of the ancient Roman city of Palmyra, northeast of Damascus, Syria. Members of the Islamic State group have captured the ancient town raising fears that the extremists will destroy its archaeological sites that have stood for two millennia. Palmyra, home to one of the Middle East’s most famous UNESCO world heritage sites, was under full control of militants on Thursday after troops withdrew to nearby bases. (SANA via AP, File) 5 people who need to visit the Ultrastar Multi-tainment Center Arizona families, Arizona farms: working to produce high-quality milk Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement
Comments Share Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober A UNESCO world heritage site, Palymra boasts 2,000-year-old towering Roman-era colonnades, temples and priceless artifacts that have earned it the affectionate name among Syrians of the “Bride of the Desert.”They are the remnants of an Arab client state of the Roman Empire that briefly rebelled and carved out its own kingdom in the 3rd Century, led by Queen Zenobia, with Palmyra as its capital. Before the war, it was Syria’s top tourist attraction, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.Palmyra was first mentioned in the archives of Mari in the 2nd millennium BC, according to UNICEF’s website. The town was the hub of a network of caravan trails that carried silks and spices from eastern Asia across the Roman province of Arabia to the Mediterranean.Palmyra became a prosperous region during the Hellenistic period. It later became part of the Roman Empire.But its rebellious Queen Zenobia challenged Rome’s authority. The city was plundered in 272 A.D. after she was captured during a long siege.FEARS:Following Palmyra’s capture by Islamic State militants, many fear the extremists will destroy the archaeological site as they did other ancient ruins in neighboring Iraq. Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Four benefits of having a wireless security system Sponsored Stories 
Ukraine last week captured two men who it said were Russian officers operating on the side of the separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Russian defense ministry said the two are no longer active servicemen. The two men, however, insisted in several video interviews that they were in Ukraine on their commanders’ orders.The measure brought strong criticism from Amnesty International and the U.S.“Not only is this decree a blatant attack on freedom of expression, it also has sinister undertones that will intensify speculation President Putin has something to hide — specifically losses incurred by Russia’s military in Ukraine,” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s Europe and Central Asia director, said in a statement.U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in Washington, “We see this as a misplaced effort to cover up what everyone knows, and that is that Russian active-duty military personnel are fighting and dying in eastern Ukraine and that the Russian government is denying it.”___This story has been corrected to show that the decree was signed on Thursday, not Wednesday.Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to make losses of Russian troops in peacetime a secret.The decree published on the official government website and signed by Putin on Thursday makes it a state secret to divulge information about peacetime losses of Russian troops in “special operations.”The decree comes as evidence of Russian involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine is mounting. Sponsored Stories Comments Share Arizona families, Arizona farms: providing the local community with responsibly produced dairy Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Top Stories 4 ways to protect your company from cyber breaches Patients with chronic pain give advice Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies
Top Stories FILE – In this May 4, 2014 file photo, an Etihad Airways plane prepares to land at the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates’ national carrier has formally submitted a document to the United States government rebutting allegations by U.S. carriers that it receives unfair subsidies. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File) U.S. airlines have criticized Etihad and rivals Qatar Airways and Dubai-based Emirates over the subsidies allegations — charges the Gulf carriers have repeatedly denied. The fight has grown increasingly bitter as the Gulf airlines increase their American operations, with Delta CEO Richard Anderson earlier this year invoking memories of the Sept. 11 attacks.In the 60-page document to the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and Transportation, Etihad dismisses the U.S. airlines’ allegations as “not supported by fact, logic, law or treaty,” while outlining $14.3 billion it has received from the Abu Dhabi government.That includes $9.1 billion in equity payments Etihad said it received in various tranches between 2004 and March 2015, a period of rapid growth that saw Etihad acquire minority stakes in Air Berlin, Alitalia and other foreign carriers.In addition, Etihad said the government provided $5.2 billion in loans that must be repaid.It argues the payments are justified given the government’s sole ownership, and “categorically rejects” claims it receives subsidies.“Our shareholder’s equity and loans are not subsidies under any applicable definition,” the airline said. “They are the means by which the Abu Dhabi government has sensibly invested in a successful business model.” Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober Comments Share Etihad’s filing also seeks to refute other allegations of subsidies and unfair advantages, such as Emirati labor laws that prohibit labor unions and the carrier’s dealings with other government-related entities, and says the U.S. airlines’ complaints “take a very condescending view of non-U.S. law.”___Read the filing: http://bit.ly/1RGTuYP___Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adamschreckCopyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier, has formally submitted a document to the United States government rebutting allegations by U.S. carriers that it receives unfair subsidies.The airline, owned by the oil-rich Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, announced the filing Tuesday. It is its most comprehensive response yet to an American carriers’ effort to pressure Washington to renegotiate agreements that allow airlines from Qatar and the UAE to fly to the U.S. The vital role family plays in society
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Agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site has announced Metro Hotel Sydney Central as one of 494 recipients of its prestigious Gold Circle Awards in 2012. The Awards recognise hotels from around the globe that lead by example in the competitive hospitality industry.Launched in 2009, the Awards are given to Agoda.com partners who are committed to accommodating the unique needs of the online booking industry, which has seen significant and steady global growth as technology continues to make online booking faster, easier and more convenient.In determining this year’s Gold Circle Award winners, the new judging criteria takes into account the number of positive customer reviews including aggregate scores, a hotel’s utilization of Agoda.com’s Yield Control System, top-performing properties, competitive pricing, and a hotel’s understanding of the complex business dynamics that define the industry.Metro Hotel Sydney Central’s General Manager, Sandra Calabretta, said she and her staff were thrilled to be recognised for customer service excellence, and offering great value at a fair price to its guests.“We constantly strive to ensure the best hotel experience for our guests. Customer service is very difficult to get right all the time, and often you only receive feedback when things go wrong. “This Award is testament to our success in ensuring our guests enjoy a high level of service as well as value for money.”Metro Hotel Sydney Central recently completed an extensive refurbishment of four of the hotel’s 10 floors, now offering only Superior and Deluxe rooms, with standard rooms being phased out. It will embark on upgrading the remaining six floors in February 2013.“This is an exciting time in the history of the hotel as we are offering our guests not only superior customer service, but also a significantly better quality of accommodation and facilities,” Ms Calabretta said.Metro Hotels is the public face of Transmetro Corporation, an Australian owned public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Group currently provides a national accommodation network of properties, with over 1000 rooms in key locations and major cities across Australia. Source = Metro Hotels
Left to right: Ethan Larkin, Margaret Sibraa, Karen Christensen, Lia Malone and Kimberley McIntosh. Image: Silversea Silversea Cruises predicted significant potential growth in luxury cruising from this region, when they decided to establish an Asia Pacific Regional Sales and Marketing office in Sydney in late 2007, but little did they realise that within five years Asia Pacific would become the third largest global market for Silversea and with the introduction of expedition cruising in 2008, Asia Pacific has become the second largest market for Silversea Expeditions.Karen Christensen, General Manager and Director Sales and Marketing Australasia, said last week, “We opened our Sydney office with just three staff, but have now steadily expanded to a staff of 21 employees, with 19 based in Australia and 2 based in the Singapore office, adding, “Our objective has always been to further develop our close relationships within the travel industry, providing extra brand marketing and local sales and reservations support for agents.”“Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market for Silversea and we currently have three BDMs on the road across Australia and New Zealand, supporting agents’ and partners’ needs.”Silversea has also made several new appointments this year, including Margaret Sibraa – Business Development Manager, North New South Wales and New Zealand; Ethan Larkin – Inside Sales Coordinator; Lia Malone – Reservations Consultant and Kimberley McIntosh – Reservations ConsultantMs Christensen, added, “With the introduction of Silver Galapagos in September, we will have seven ultra luxury ships travelling to more than 500 destinations, across all seven continents and as the market continues to grow, so will our support for the travel industry, through effective brand marketing, local training, reservations and sales assistance.”Source = ETB News: JAJ
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for the full year of 2014 showing demand rose 5.9 per cent compared to the year prior.The 2014 performance was above the 10 year average growth rate of 5.6 per cent and another positive result was that all regions saw demand grow in 2014.More than half of the growth in passenger travel occurred on airlines in emerging markets including Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.IATA director general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler, said that demand for the passenger business did well in 2014.“With a 5.9 per cent expansion of demand, the industry out-performed the 10-year average growth rate. Carriers in the Middle East posted double-digit growth while results in Africa were barely above previous-year levels. Overall a record 3.3 billion passengers boarded aircraft last year—some 170 million more than in 2013,” Mr Tyler said.International passenger traffic rose 6.1 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013 and at the same time capacity rose 6.4 per cent.In terms of domestic air travel, it rose 5.4 per cent in 2014, with all markets showing growth, led by China and the Russian Federation.Source = ETB Travel News: Lewis Wiseman