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The Beetle
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Execution denounced in world protest
A coalition of international human rights organisations is calling on countries around the world to abolish capital punishment in the first World Day Against the Death Penalty. Sixty cities around the world marked the occasion by illuminating significant landmarks: Barcelona lit up the Gaudi cathedral, Santiago illuminated its central park, and Belgium lit up its…
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The Beetle
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Shiva Exhibition
In an exhibit billed as “The Sensuous and the Sacred,” the Smithsonian Institution introduces the public to a Hindu deity called Shiva, noted for being the Lord of Dance. Admission to the exhibit is free. After it closes in Washington on March 9, it will be seen at the Dallas Museum of Art, April 4-June…
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The Beetle
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The Daily Telegraph Destinations 2003
Olympia London from January 30 – February 2 You'll find the largest range of holidays and ideas to be found under one roof – hundreds of tour operators, travel companies and tourist boards offering everything from adventure experiences to cultural weekend breaks. A limited number of complimentary tickets are available to telegraph.co.uk readers (maximum 2…
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The Beetle
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Snows of Kilimanjaro May Melt By 2020
by Charles Arthur / Independent/UK (via Common Dreams News Center) The snows of Mount Kilimanjaro, immortalized by an Ernest Hemingway short story, are melting so quickly they are expected to disappear within two decades. Researchers have found that the ice fields capping Africa's highest mountain shrank by 80 per cent in the last century, from…
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The Beetle
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Cruise Ships touted for Homeless
New York City may convert de-commissioned cruise ships into shelters for its rising numbers of homeless people. Last month, a record 37,000 homeless people were sleeping in city shelters every night according to the Coalition for the Homeless, which compiles statistics for the city. City officials, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg's commissioner of homeless services, have…
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The Beetle
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7 UK Airports may Close Due to Strike
A British union that has firemen and airport workers as its members has announced a set of dates it on which it proposes to strike. These will affect seven airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Southampton, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Proposed strike dates are: 28 Nov, 2, 10, 15 & 23 Dec and 2nd Jan, and if…
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The Beetle
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Fave Websites of the Month
Passed on by the London Meetings co-ordinator: TravelIntelligence is a new website giving access to good travel writing (mainly British) – Philip Marsden, William Dalrymple, Stanley Stewart, Nick Danziger et al. Take a look at Travel Intelligence and sign up for their monthly newsletter – mostly links to other sites.
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The Beetle
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Travel Warnings
The FCO said early November: 'Following the terrorist attacks in Bali… in which Western tourists were deliberately targeted, the threat to British nationals in Thailand, including popular tourist areas, the island of Phuket in particular, has increased significantly.' This statement has enraged not only the Thai and other South East Asian tourism authorities, but ABTA,…
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The Beetle
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Airline News: November 2002
A new “no-frills” international carrier, Qantas-owned Australian Airlines, launched its schedule with flights from the northern city of Cairns to Nagoya and Osaka in Japan. They plan to start services to other Asian destinations, most likely Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong and aim to bring thousands more tourists to the tropical north of Queensland. The…
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The Beetle
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Manila Warning
Canada and the European Union have joined Australia and indefinitely closed their diplomatic missions in the Philippines after receiving information about an “imminent” terror attack. The move came after Australia said it had received “credible and specific” warning of the attack by Islamic militants on its embassy in the capital Manila within the next few…
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The travel club for independent travellers.