Travel

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt's concern with his safety came at a steep cost to taxpayers as his swollen security detail blew through overtime budgets and at times diverted officers away from investigating environmental crimes to protect him. Altogether, the agency spent millions of dollars for a 20-member full-time security detail that is three times the size of his predecessor's part-time security contingent. New details in Pruitt's expansive spending for security and travel emerged from agency sources and documents reviewed by The Associated Press. They come as the embattled EPA leader fends off allegations of profligate spending and ethical missteps that have imperiled his job. Shortly after arriving in Washington, Pruitt demoted the career staff member heading his security detail and replaced him with EPA Senior Special Agent Pasquale "Nino" Perrotta, a former Secret Service agent who operates a private security company. An EPA official with direct knowledge … [Read more...] about Report: EPA Chief Spent Millions on Security and Travel

World Caravan MS13 Police in Yuma, Arizona apprehended a member of the gang MS-13 who crossed the U.S. border illegally on Monday night, according to reports. The gang member, an 18-year-old named Herberth Geovani Argueta-Chavez, had crossed into the United States with a group of 60 other migrants believed to be part of the migrant caravan that President Donald Trump has focused on over the last several weeks. The young gang member had pretended to be an unaccompanied minor, but police later ascertained that he is an adult who was affiliated with the infamous cross-border criminal group. Both the caravan and the gang have caught the attention of the president, who has railed against Central American migrants during speeches and on social media. During an event ostensibly about tax reform on April 5, Trump complained about “the caravan of thousands of people coming up from Honduras,” and suggested that women in the caravan were being raped. In fact, migrants began traveling … [Read more...] about MS-13 Gang Member Arrested Traveling With Migrant Caravan From Central America to U.S.

U.S. Quebec City Mosque Shooting Trump Travel Ban Alexandre Bissonnette, the man who attacked a Quebec City mosque in January 2017, killing six and injuring 19 others, told police that he was reacting in part to news that related to President Donald Trump’s travel ban, according to Canadian press reports. Related: Trump Is Making Muslims More Popular Even as Hate Crimes Against Them Increase In his confession played to the court during his testimony hearing Friday, Bissonnette told police during his interrogation that news coverage of Trump’s travel ban, which initially sought to bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from the United States and stirred widespread protest at that time, played a role in inspiring the attack. He also referenced a tweet by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that appeared to be issued in reaction to Trump, promising to bring more refugees into Canada. Recommended Slideshows 51 In Pictures: The 50 … [Read more...] about Trudeau’s Trump Travel Ban Reaction Motivated Quebec City Mosque Shooter

Flight Network, one of the world's largest online travel publications, has revealed the World’s Ultimate Travel Bucket List for 2018, chosen by hundreds of top travel professionals.  By consulting more than 800 of the world’s leading travel journalists, agencies, bloggers, and editors, Flight Network has compiled a diverse collection of hidden gem locations and exhilarating activities from every corner of our planet. From the wildlife wonders of an African safari to the non-stop partying of Rio Carnival, there's something for every traveler. Whether your dream vacation involves exploring the ancient temples of Cambodia, sleeping under the stars in the Sahara, or paddling a dugout canoe through the Amazon rainforest, this list will inspire you to pack your bags and book the next flight out.  This Newsweek gallery covers the top 50 destinations in the world, including Greek islands, coral reefs, salt flats and jungles, as well as must-see European cities such … [Read more...] about In Pictures: The World’s Ultimate Travel Bucket List for 2018

According to the most recent statistics, the world's fleet of around 23,600 commercial airliners carried more than 4 billion passengers in 2017, the most in the history of air travel. But where did all the people go? While the majority of answers to that question is are likely "to a sales conference in an hotel convention center in the middle of nowhere," a good number of airline seats will have been occupied by vacationers heading to an exotic location for at least a few days away. And, thanks to a recent report from Mastercard, we also know which are the most popular travel destinations, i.e. the cities that attracted the most visitors from overseas through 2016. The Mastercard survey has analyzed travelers' trends for at least the past five years and published the most visited 100 cities worldwide. As is always the case when looking at global trends, Americans are forced to accept that their preferences don't make too much of a ripple on the international scene. And … [Read more...] about In Pictures: The Top 50 Cities for Travelers