Topic: Tourism

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Fenway Park: 5 new books about the beloved ballpark

5 new books to check out about the fabled stadium
4 bestselling poetry books to celebrate National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. As Americans find different ways to celebrate the poems that they love, which are the verse collections that they are buying most often? Here are four bound-to-please poetry collections riding high on the poetry bestseller list this April.
Top 10 cities where house prices are rising

House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?
World's cheapest gas: Top 10 countries

While Americans and Europeans bemoan the cost of gasoline at the pumps, people in some other parts of the world enjoy filling up their tanks cheaply thanks to subsidies provided by wealthy, oil-rich governments. Here are the 10 cheapest countries on Earth to fill a gas tank.
Academy Awards: Which Best Picture nominee won at the box office?

Nine films will be vying for the Best Picture trophy at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards, taking place Sunday at 8 pm. The Best Picture Oscar won’t be announced until late in the evening, but when it comes to the box office, clear winners and losers have already emerged. While there was no runaway blockbuster among this year’s Oscar nominations, the films nominated ran the gamut in terms of profitability: Some made back nearly four times their filming budgets, while others failed to break even. Here’s all nine Best Picture nominees, ranked according to profit margin. Box office numbers are based on worldwide earnings. Can you guess which film was the best bang for its buck?

All Content

A race to shore up the ancient walls of Babylon

After two failed bids, archeologists seek to establish Babylon as a UNESCO world heritage site despite damage from Saddam Hussein and US troops. Those are just its latest encounters with conquerors, they argue.
Latin America Monitor
Lost in translation: English in Brazil

Brazil is considered a 'low English proficiency' country, and ranks among the lowest in the world for workplace fluency, putting the emerging economy at a disadvantage, writes a guest blogger.
SpaceX launch to space station: humanity finds new wings

If all goes well, the first private capsule will dock at the space station Thursday, marking a historic turning point in the use of private space companies. This will help free up NASA for riskier space exploration.
Saving Money
20 ways to save on your summer vacation

Your summer vacation doesn't have to break the bank.  By being flexible in your travel plans, checking multiple sites for deals, and dining out less, you can save a bundle on your getaway.
Terrorism & Security
Philippines feels the economic cost of standing up to China

The South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is beginning to take its toll on the Philippine economy, which is heavily dependent on Chinese demand for its exports.
China's standoff with the Philippines heats up with travel warnings, oil drilling

Analysts say the oil-rich waters around Scarborough Shoal and the Paracels are but one factor in the increasingly prickly relations between China and the Philippines.
China urges the Philippines to ensure citizens' safety

The monthlong standoff between China and the Philippines over a South China Sea shoal is snowballing. Ahead of anti-Chinese protests in Manila, China cancelled flights to the Philippines.
Editor's Blog
Russia's one-man brand

Like too many Russian leaders, Vladimir Putin's long shadow makes it hard to see the real owners of Russia -- its people.
Netherlands bans tourists from buying marijuana. Yes, in Amsterdam, too.

The Netherlands has banned non-residents from buying marijuana in the country. Neighboring governments are pleased, but the country's coffee shop owners and opposition party are not.
Los Angeles riots: 20 years later, has LAPD reformed?

The view that the Los Angeles Police Department was corrupt and abusive fueled the Rodney King riots. Twenty years later, however, the LAPD has won over some of its harshest critics.
Mother's Day 2012 gift ideas: No spa day for me, please

Mother's Day 2012 gift ideas: Give me a fun day over a spa day, anytime.
Fenway Park: 5 new books about the beloved ballpark

5 new books to check out about the fabled stadium
White House defends Secret Service director

Press secretary Jay Carney said the President's security was never compromised.
Secret Service scandal sheds light on sex tourism in Latin America

Large events like the Summit of the Americas and upcoming Olympic games in Brazil can drive up the demand for prostitution and sex trafficking.
The beach: sun, sand, and inequality in the Dominican Republic

Urban, man-made beaches are popping up around the world, but they serve as a reminder of the inequality that can prohibit low-income residents from traveling to parts of their own countries.
4 bestselling poetry books to celebrate National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. As Americans find different ways to celebrate the poems that they love, which are the verse collections that they are buying most often? Here are four bound-to-please poetry collections riding high on the poetry bestseller list this April.
Casino mogul Adelson pressures Spain to bend rules for EuroVegas

American casino mogul Sheldon Adelson's EuroVegas project could bring Spain much-needed investment, but the deal comes with demands for unappealing legal and financial exemptions.
Top 10 cities where house prices are rising

House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?
Cities are banking on the arts

Once the first thing to be cut in a time of recession, the arts are proving their worth.
World's cheapest gas: Top 10 countries

While Americans and Europeans bemoan the cost of gasoline at the pumps, people in some other parts of the world enjoy filling up their tanks cheaply thanks to subsidies provided by wealthy, oil-rich governments. Here are the 10 cheapest countries on Earth to fill a gas tank.
Academy Awards: Which Best Picture nominee won at the box office?

Nine films will be vying for the Best Picture trophy at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards, taking place Sunday at 8 pm. The Best Picture Oscar won’t be announced until late in the evening, but when it comes to the box office, clear winners and losers have already emerged. While there was no runaway blockbuster among this year’s Oscar nominations, the films nominated ran the gamut in terms of profitability: Some made back nearly four times their filming budgets, while others failed to break even. Here’s all nine Best Picture nominees, ranked according to profit margin. Box office numbers are based on worldwide earnings. Can you guess which film was the best bang for its buck?
In Pictures: It's Mardi Gras time all over the world!
Bullish on jobs? These 10 cities are.

Our list of the 10 metro areas that saw the most job growth in 2011 might surprise you.
Upheaval in the Maldives: 4 things you should know

The Maldives, an archipelago nation best known for its beaches and resorts, is suddenly making headlines after its president stepped down amid protests. What's going on in the Maldives?
Latin America Monitor
Could police strikes spread in Brazil?

Local police are striking over pay in Salvador, and some fear the unrest could spread to Rio just in time for Carnival, writes guest blogger Julia Michaels.