Australia's controversial plan for "lifetime ban" on illegal asylum seekers may fail

The Australian government's controversial plan to hand down lifetime bans to all illegal asylum seekers seems set to fail, after crossbench Senators on Tuesday reaffirmed they would not support the bill in its current form.

Australia plans lifetime ban for illegal asylum seekers

Asylum seekers who use people smugglers to illegally come to Australia by boat will be given a lifetime ban from entering the country, under a government plan set to be put to Parliament next week.

Portugal makes considerable efforts to protect world heritage sites

Portugal has made considerable efforts in the past decade to protect its 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Sintra which is located some 30 km northwest of the capital Lisbon.

U.S. approves flights to Havana from 10 American cities, via 8 airlines

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday approved commercial flights to Havana from 10 American cities.

Spain: Running of the bulls off to spirited start

The annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain started this year with four injuries but no one gored, yet always with the flavor of danger in the air as thousands dared to run alongside 1,400 lb. wild bulls.

Cuba looks to attract tourists to island's eastern region

The thawing of the Cuba-US relations is giving a boost to tourism of the Caribbean island known for its crystal clear sea, white sand, vintage cars, mojito cocktail and cigars.

A dozen Cuban-Americans travel on 1st U.S. cruise ship to Cuba in 50 years

Top officials with Carnival Cruise Line said Sunday that up to a dozen of the more than 700 passengers who will depart this afternoon on the Adonia, the first U.S. cruise vessel to sail to Cuba in 50 years, are Cubans or Cuban-Americans.

US authorizes up to 110 daily flights to Cuba

The United States and Cuba will sign an agreement Tuesday authorizing up to 110 daily US commercial flights to Havana and nine other destinations in the communist island, restoring regular air travel for the first time in more than 50 years.

Russia’s foreign ministry advises Russians not leave resort areas in Indonesia

Russia’s Foreign Ministry advised on Saturday the Russians who are on holiday in Indonesia not to leave resort areas in that country, citing information on possible terror threats.

Regular flights to resume between US and Cuba

The United States announced Thursday the resumption of regular flights to and from Cuba, the latest step in a historic thaw in relations.

Israel lifts restrictions on Muslim prayer at Al-Aqsa

Israel is to lift temporary restrictions on Muslim worship at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, imposed after the weekend killing of two Israelis nearby, police said Tuesday.

Native Americans, Wyoming Officials Clash Over Devil’s Tower

Over a dozen Native American tribes are calling for a Wyoming rock formation known as Devil’s Tower to be renamed, as they believe the name implies that Indian rituals performed there for centuries were devil worship.

US moves to further ease travel, business restrictions on Cuba

The United States on Friday announced new amendments to sanctions on Cuba, further easing travel and business restrictions on the island country.

Greece proposes marriage tours at Atatürk House to Turkish tourism agencies

One of the largest Greek tourism companies, Mouzenidis Group, has offered travel agencies in the Aegean province of İzmir to organize marriage tours to the Atatürk House in Thessaloniki in a bid to boost tourism in the cash-strapped country. Turkish agencies have found the idea appealing and asked their counterparts to develop tour packages.

Cuba to unveil Tobacco Trail as new tourist attraction

Cuba is preparing to unveil a new tourist attraction inspired by the country's famed cigar industry.

Ephesus added to UNESCO World Heritage list

The ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey has been inscribed to the World Heritage List of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).

Thousands to gather at Stonehenge for Summer Solstice

Up to 40,000 people are expected to take part in an annual pilgrimage to Britain's most pre-historic site, Stonehenge.

Quake-hit Nepal reopens heritage sites in bid to bring back tourists

Nepal has reopened most of the heritage sites that were damaged in a pair of strong earthquakes that devastated parts of the country recently, hoping to bring back foreign tourists.

China's Forbidden City caps visitors at 80,000 daily

The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, capped the amount of visitors to 80,000 per day on Saturday.

Egypt suicide bomber targets Luxor temple

A suicide bomber blew himself up near Egypt's ancient Karnak temple in the southern city of Luxor on Wednesday, security sources said, a possible sign that militants are shifting focus to target the country's economic recovery.