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Facebook suspends dating service rollout in Europe after Irish officials search Dublin HQ
Question: What stories have you heard from good or bad dating app experiences? Are we going too far with the dating apps? Are the apps better or worse for relationships? Facebook has suspended the rollout of its dating service in Europe planned for the eve of Valentine’s Day after officials from the Irish data regulator…
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Uber driver charged with kidnapping after passengers livestream chase
Question: Have you ever had a bad experience in the car before? An Uber driver in Virginia has been charged after police say he attempted to chase down someone who hit his car — without letting his passengers out. Richmond Police have charged Olufemi S. Olomola, 38, with two counts of abduction, reckless driving, and felony…
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Oscar acceptance speeches: When moral outrage verges on grandstanding
Question: Do public figures have the right to voice their personal opinions about social issues? Do you care what they think? The Academy Awards were Sunday night, and we all know what that means: the year’s best films, high fashion on the red carpet, and a heavy dose of moral scolding from Hollywood stars. Brad Pitt,…
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A Colorado city has set off the world’s largest firework. It weighed more than a ton
The skies over Steamboat Springs, Colorado, erupted in red as the world’s largest firework launched Saturday night at the city’s annual winter carnival. The firework shell weighed almost 2,800 pounds, about the weight of a Toyota Corolla, and was 62 inches — a little more than five feet — in diameter. A team at Steamboat Fireworks launched…
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Animals show their funny side for the 2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Question: Do you consider yourself funny? Do others consider you funny? There are some joke tellers that only a few people find funny, but a true comedy genius will have the whole world laughing. The beasts featured in the 2019 edition of the annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are clearly in the genius category. From…
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Meet the man trying to walk 1,000 miles … in a pair of swimming trunks
Question: What is the most extreme thing you would do for charity? (cut your hair off, walk naked, give a lot of money?, etc.) The bleak midwinter can be tough. It doesn’t matter how many layers you put on, you just can’t shake the cold. It’s even worse when the rain or snow comes. So…
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‘If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies’ — Climbing 3,000 feet without ropes
Question: What calculated risks have you taken in your life? Any doubts as to whether Alex Honnold was the greatest rock climber of all time were doused when the American did something that no one thought was humanly possible. In June 2017, the 33-year-old became the first person to climb Californian granite monolith El Capitan…
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What it’s like to live in Amsterdam’s red-light district
Question: What are the good and bad things about the place where you live? Amsterdam’s De Wallen red-light district has long been one of the city’s most provocative neighborhoods thanks to its notorious window brothels. But the historic area has become something of a spectacle in recent years thanks to a dramatic rise in tourists…
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The children’s game that’s got professional athletes playing and millions watching online
Question: What was your favorite childhood game? It’s a popular playground game that has entertained children all over the world for generations. So what happens when you add in jumps, obstacles and a time limit to the game of tag? You get World Chase Tag, the first and only global league for professional, competitive…
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Car camera system could help keep drivers awake at the wheel
Question: Is there an activity that you do which often makes you fall asleep? (movies, driving late, church, long car rides, etc.) When you’re driving a car, losing focus can be a killer. Distraction — be it a smartphone, a cigarette, music or eating — factors in up to 30% of road crashes, while fatigue…
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Ugandan climate activist cropped out of photo taken with her white peers
Climate activists Vanessa Nakate, Luisa Neubauer, Greta Thunberg, Isabelle Axelsson and Loukina Tille, from left, arrive for a news conference in Davos. The AP news agency apologized for earlier publishing an image with Nakate cropped out. Question: Have you ever been purposely excluded from something? If so, what happened? The Associated Press news agency (AP)…
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Google-backed project is collecting millions of wildlife camera-trap images
Question: Do you like this idea? What is your view on wildlife and endangered animals? Do you do anything to help? A new website backed by Google will allow anyone in the world to access millions of wildlife photos taken by camera traps. Researchers in the field often use camera traps to remotely photograph the intimate…
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A romance novelist accused another writer of racism. The scandal is tearing the billion-dollar industry apart
Question: Are you influenced by public scandals or not? To say the romance publishing industry is in upheaval right now would be an almost comical understatement. It’s more scandalized than a dowager countess finding her headstrong niece alone on the lap of a rakish duke. It’s more divided than a reluctant billionaire who has to…
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This 20-year travel TV host has solutions for every vacation mishap
Question: What advice do you have for inexperienced travelers? In the past year, television host Samantha Brown took a total of 45 flights. She zipped through 88 airports and checked into 32 hotels. But this bustle is not unusual. Traveling from Dallas to Budapest and so many places in between, Brown was busy filming her Emmy…
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Rafa Nadal slams fans following ATP Cup defeat by Novak Djokovic
Question: Should fans be free to express themselves or should they follow the etiquette of the sport in general? Rafa Nadal criticized fans for showing a lack of respect at the ATP Cup following Spain’s defeat by Serbia in Sydney. The world No. 1 fell 6-2 7-6 to Novak Djokovic as Serbia clinched the inaugural team…
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Pro Chefs Make Their Favorite Egg Recipes | Test Kitchen Talks | Bon Appétit
Question: What is your favorite egg recipe?
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Priest Breaks Out in Epic Dance Routine at School Pep Rally, Dazzling Audience
Question: Do you have any special talents? Fr. Ricardo Rivera of Cardinal Gibbons Catholic School in St. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., went viral with some epic dance moves at his school’s pep rally. The YouTube video below shows the senior theology teacher and priest performing with the school dance team. The Miami Herald reported that he…
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Microsoft tried a 4-day workweek in Japan. Productivity jumped 40%
Question: What would be the ideal work schedule for you? A growing number of smaller companies are adopting a four-day workweek. Now the results of a recent trial at Microsoft suggest it could work even for the biggest businesses. The company introduced a program this summer in Japan called the “Work Life Choice Challenge,” which shut down…
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How to succeed at your New Year’s resolutions this year
Question: What are your personal and professional New Years resolutions? Do you want to eat better, exercise more, stop vaping or lose weight? Great. Now’s the time to set those New Year’s resolutions. As we head into a year — and a new decade — your first step is to believe you can do it. The opposite…
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GM president: Electric cars won’t go mainstream until we fix these problems
Question: What kind of car do you have? Would you like to buy an electric car? The automotive industry is hurtling toward a future that will change transportation the same way electricity changed how we light the world. Electric and self-driving vehicles will alter the automotive landscape forever — it’s only a question of how…
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Uber releases safety report revealing 5,981 incidents of sexual assault
Question: Have you ever used a car service like Uber? If so, describe your experience. Uber released its highly-anticipated safety report on Thursday revealing, among other details, that it received 5,981 reports of sexual assault in 2017 and 2018. Among those, there were 464 reports of rape. The report, which comes more than a year…
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The world’s most beautiful streets
Question: What is your favorite street in the world? Architecture is typically famous for its big, bold statements — the huge skyscrapers, opera houses, bridges and airports that tower over cityscapes, dwarfing their occupants. But it’s arguably at its most beguiling when it comes to human-scale thoroughfares dedicated to everyday activities such shopping, eating, sleeping…
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See What Was Most Likely Served During the Very First Thanksgiving
Question: Which Thanksgiving food are you most curious to try? The “traditional” Thanksgiving meal of turkey and “all the trimmings” is a modern-day evolution from a very different buffet the guests at the first gratitude celebration enjoyed in 1621. According to a new book, Menus That Made History by Vincent Franklin and Alex Johnson, that…
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Why Black Friday is absolutely crucial for struggling retailers
Question: What are you planning to buy this year? This year, Black Friday is more than just the starting gun for the all-important holiday shopping season (or the day you elbow your neighbor out of the way to score a TV). For retail’s struggling players, shopping’s mega-day is crucial. Remember: In September 2017, Toys “R”…
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Best trips for 2020, according to National Geographic
Question: Where do you plan to visit in 2020? Where will you be expanding your horizons in 2020? If you take National Geographic’s advice, you’ll be seal-watching in Quebec, hiking in Hungary or braving the world’s tallest bridge in Guizhou, China. The travel publisher has just released its Best Trips list, highlighting 25 destinations it…
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Outrage in the skies: Are airline passengers getting more unruly?
Question: Have you ever witnessed a bad scene on a plane? Air travel can be hard work, whether it’s navigating super-long security lines, losing the seat lottery and ending up jammed in the middle of the row, or finding yourself on a plane grounded on the runway, delayed and unmoving for the foreseeable future. In…
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Iran’s ‘largest internet shutdown ever’ is happening now. Here’s what you need to know
Question: What is the longest you have gone without using the internet? Iran has gone almost entirely offline as authorities try to stem the spread of nationwide protests that have gripped the country since Friday. Protesters took to the streets shortly after the government announced an increase in fuel prices by as much as 300%.…
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London to Sydney flight breaks world record
Question: What is the longest flight you have ever taken? How did you pass the time? Until someone invents a device to teleport humans from one side of the Earth to the other, this is the next best thing. An experimental research flight operated by Australian airline Qantas touched down in Sydney on Friday, after…
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Lewis Hamilton ‘could go on until he’s 40,’ says dad Anthony
Question: What makes someone the best? Pure statistics? Impact on a particular sport? How do you define greatness? If any of Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One rivals were hoping to see the back of him sometime soon, then the driver’s father has some bad news for them. Anthony Hamilton believes his son can continue competing in…
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China perfected fake meat centuries before the Impossible Burger
Question: Are you trying to move towards a vegetarian lifestyle? Have you found good alternatives to meat? When 29-year-old Wang Jianguang was growing up in a poor neighborhood in China’s northern Shanxi province, his family would buy him chicken wings with soy sauce as a rare treat. Except they weren’t actually made of chicken. The…
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How your poop can help train AI
Question: Would you be willing to send a picture of your poop? Do you like this idea? The next time you go to the bathroom, a couple startups are hoping you’ll snap a photo before you flush. For scientific reasons, of course. No, really. Two companies — Auggi, a gut-health startup that’s building an…
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The dark side of tattoos and your health
Question: Do you like tattoos? Do you have any tattoos? Have you ever heard a bad story about tattoos? If you clicked on this story, you likely either have or are thinking about getting some ink. It might be your first embellishment (in tattoo-speak, you’re a tenderfoot), or maybe it’s your sixth (on your way…
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11 Phrases That Will Make You More Successful at Work
Adopt these phrases and strategies to ensure you seal the deal, smooth over a difficult relationship, or impress your boss. Question: The importance of communication FIZKES/SHUTTERSTOCK What you say at work is almost as important as what you do at work. Learn the phrases that will help you sound smarter, more respectful, and ultimately help…
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The Best All-Inclusive Vacations Around the World
No need to worry about everything costing more than planned. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your vacation! Question: Have you ever taken an all-inclusive trip? How was your experience? All-inclusive trips that are a dream come true STOKKETE/SHUTTERSTOCK No matter how much you love exploring and making your own itinerary while on vacation, there’s…
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The Real Reason Halloween Colors Are Black and Orange
FAMVELD/SHUTTERSTOCk Question: Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you have a holiday this time of year that you celebrate? We tend to take holiday colors for granted, not giving them too much thought since they’re so ingrained in our culture. It’s usually pretty obvious what colors go with which holidays—all you need to do is step…
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How Successful People Spend the Last Hour of Their Workday
Past the 2 p.m. slump, but not quite yet 5 p.m.? Here’s how to capitalize on your last hour at work, according to experts. Question: How do you end your workday? The importance of ending your workday with purpose MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK Let’s face it: The last hour of anyone’s workday is not always fruitful.…
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The Downside of Reusable Bags More People Need to Be Thinking About
Question: Do you recycle? Do you try to be green? Is your approach 360° or just for the things that are easy for you? Although more environmentally friendly than traditional single-use plastic bags, reusable bags, depending on what they are made out of, are more energy-intensive to produce, distribute, and recycle. To be clear, plastic…
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Rome restaurant faces wave of tourist complaints after $500 bill goes viral
Question: Have you ever been ripped off? A Rome restaurant has attracted a wave of complaints over the alleged overcharging of tourists after two Japanese diners claimed they had been slapped with a bill for €430 ($470) for two plates of spaghetti and fish, and water. A picture of the hefty bill by Antico Caffè di…
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9 Ways to Make (Almost) Any Task Fun
Question: How do you make boring activities fun? Lots of us have trouble engaging with boring everyday chores—those never-ending tasks that hold our lives together. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Use these 9 simple strategies to turn dreary into fun. 1.) Add music and dance. I admit it—the inspiration for this post…
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19 Best Money-Saving Tips from Self-Made Millionaires
Saving money can be the difference between stressing to dress and dressing to impress. It can help you retire younger to see more of the world sooner. It can mean building that dream house. And more than anything, it can mean having the money when you need it, and resting assured that you have it…
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14 Careers That Could Make You a Millionaire Before You Retire
In a survey of millionaires, these are the top careers where you could sock away a million by the time you retire—and many don’t even require an advanced degree. Question: What are the best paying jobs in your country? Engineer IGOR KARDASOV/SHUTTERSTOCK Average civil engineer salary: $84,770 Average mechanical or industrial engineer salary: $85,880 “We…
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How to Be More Productive In Your First Hour of Work
After you grab coffee, chat with your coworkers, and scan your email, the first hour of your workday has blown by. Here’s the recipe for a more productive morning. Question: When are you most productive and least productive at work? Have breakfast before work ISTOCK/PEKIC Don’t wait until you get to the office to reach…
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17 Little Things Everyone Forgets to Clean—But Shouldn’t
No matter how much you plan, these always slip through the cracks. Question: What do you always forget to clean? Refrigerator ISTOCK/ANNA_OM Your fridge could make you sick if you don’t clean it every once in a while. NSF International swabbed 20 Michigan kitchens as part of its 2013 Household Germ Study, and two…
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50 of the Most Stunning Pictures of Fall Across America
Question: Where are the most beautiful places to visit in the Fall? These autumn photos will make you start craving apple cider and planning your pumpkin picking! Alabama JENNY WALLER/COURTESY COUNTRY MAGAZINE I had been up to Oak Mountain State Park in the spring and found this spot. It was so beautiful I came back…
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‘World’s first’ cheese conveyor-belt restaurant opens in London
A new London restaurant looks set to get cheese and wine lovers all in a spin. Pick & Cheese, which has just launched in Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden, has a 40-meter conveyor belt that serves up a seemingly limitless supply of cheese. What’s described as the “world’s first conveyor belt cheese restaurant” — a claim…
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How to: Three Ways to Cold Brew Coffee
Question: How do you like your coffee? Do you have any special recipes? How many coffees do you drink per day?
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‘Super Size Me 2’ will make you think twice about fast food
Spurlock, famously, ate only at McDonald’s for a month to demonstrate the dangers of fast food in “Super Size Me,” which became almost a horror movie for anyone who has spent a little too much time in the shadow of the golden arches. The follow-up isn’t as neatly packaged conceptually — indeed, it’s a bit…
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Arrive at the airport with time to spare or last minute?
When catching a flight, is it best to arrive at the airport early or just in time? That is the question. Rules are rules Some travelers feel strongly about following the rules to a T. One reader from New Orleans simply commented: Two hours domestic, two and a half hours international. Airports are cool Lots…
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Which countries dominate the world’s dinner tables?
“THE DESTINY of nations,” wrote Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, an 18th-century French gastronome, “depends on how they nourish themselves.” Today a nation’s stature depends on how well it nourishes the rest of the world, too. For proof of this, consider the rise of culinary diplomacy. In 2012 America’s State Department launched a “chef corps” tasked with…
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Could fake meat burgers make cows obsolete?
The average American eats nearly 60 pounds of beef (27 kg) a year — roughly equal to a couple of hundred burgers. But for how much longer will the beef burger remain king? A new generation of burgers made with, “plant meat” is vying to topple the beef burger from its throne, transforming the beef industry…
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An Australian man says he’s starting an ‘endless lunch break’ after winning $96 million lottery prize
An Australian father said he was pretty sure he’d quit his job after winning the $96 million prize Tuesday in the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot, according to the Australian lottery website The Lott. The Sydney man, who wishes to remain anonymous, is the second-biggest individual lottery winner in Australian history, according The Lott. He…
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A British man donated his frozen big toe to a Yukon bar so he can drink it in a cocktail
When Adam Gerle went to work one morning this week, he was thrilled to finally find a parcel with a frozen big toe in it. Gerle is the general manger of the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, Canada, which is world-renowned for an extremely gross traditional drink – the Sourtoe Cocktail. Since 1973, visitors of the Yukon…
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Why not smash stuff on your next trip to Las Vegas?
There’s nothing like bashing a computer monitor with a sledgehammer to pulverize the stresses of everyday life. That’s the concept behind so-called “rage rooms” that allow visitors and locals alike to take out their frustrations on various materials otherwise headed for a dump. They’re part of a larger trend across the United States of businesses that provide…
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From Thailand to Peru, foodies can learn to cook like the locals
Lucy Aitchison is thwacking a stalk of lemongrass with the side of a cleaver. A trainee surgeon from Sydney, Australia, she has grabbed the opportunity to attend a cooking class with a Thai chef while in Bangkok for a conference. “I don’t have much time to cook at home,” she says. “I was keen to…
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Spice Girls hint at possible Australian world tour
The Spice Girls have hinted that their sell-out reunion tour will travel to Australia early next year, after Mel B made a surprise announcement during the group’s final performance at London’s Wembley Stadium Saturday evening. Geri Horner, aka Ginger Spice, also surprised the crowd Saturday by apologizing for quitting the group in 1998.”I need to say…
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This Comfy Beach Chair Doubles as a Wagon, and Will Save Your Back This Summer
This may be the greatest beach invention of all time. While trips to the beach are supposed to be fun and relaxing, getting there can be a challenge. Carrying everything your group needs—drinks and snacks, beach toys and activities, chairs, towels, and all sorts of other must-haves—usually proves to be a test of how many…
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Perth spends $278k on public toilet for Instagrammers
The most photographed tourist attraction in Perth, Australia isn’t a monument, public artwork or UNESCO site. It’s the Crawley Edge Boat Shed, a bright blue wooden house that many locals drive past several times a day without noticing. But thanks to its popularity on Instagram, this little blue shed has become a major local issue,…
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London to get ‘world’s first’ infinity pool with 360-degree views
For thrill-seeking swimmers, the chance to take a death-defying dip might not be far away. Plans to build a rooftop infinity pool — with 360-degree views of the London skyline — are in motion. The designs for the 600,000-liter pool and 55-story building, named Infinity London, have been unveiled by Compass Pools. The designers claim…
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This startup is planning a flying taxi service that costs about the same as normal taxis
A flying taxi that you can order through an app? This German company plans to make that a reality in the next six years. Munich-based startup Lilium unveiled its five-seater electric air taxi prototype on Thursday. The Lilium Jet, which conducted its first flight earlier this month, is part of an app-based flying taxi service…
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How Amsterdam is fighting back against mass tourism
Famous for its tolerance as much as its narrow houses and broad canals, Amsterdam is undergoing a radical change of attitude when it comes to the millions of tourists that flock to see it each year. Tolerance, it seems, has reached its limits in the Dutch capital, which is now actively urging visitors to head…
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Facebook’s planned new currency may be based on a blockchain
The excitement among crypto-buffs is palpable. Facebook, the world’s largest social network, appears to be planning to launch a digital coin early next year. But they should not get their hopes up too high. If the firm does indeed launch what is being dubbed fb Coin, GlobalCoin or Libra, it will be a tame sort…
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The Scientific Secrets to Preventing Jet Lag
Traveling abroad can be exhilarating. But sometimes it’s easy to discount the crippling jet leg that can set in after traversing multiple time zones—leaving you exhausted, disoriented and possibly causing you to miss out on your vacation. Jet lag is something that can ruin a vacation or plague athletes and musicians or have a businessman or…
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Are small cities the smartest?
When you hear of urban transformations, you tend to think of high-rise mega-cities like Shanghai, Dubai or Hong Kong. Or if it’s technological advances, San Francisco and Silicon Valley might come to mind. But, the cities at the forefront of this growing urban revolution are often the unexpected. Take Kalasatama, a city being built from scratch on…
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Spice Girls concert’s ‘awful’ sound disappoints fans
The Spice Girls kicked off their highly anticipated reunion tour in Dublin on Friday night, however some fans were left disappointed after complaining of “awful” sound problems during the show. It was the first time the 90s girl group had performed in seven years, where more than 70,000 fans watched Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton, Geri “Ginger…
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Online identification is getting more and more intrusive
Most online fraud involves identity theft, which is why businesses that operate on the web have a keen interest in distinguishing impersonators from genuine customers. Passwords help. But many can be guessed or are jotted down imprudently. Newer phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers often have beefed-up security with fingerprint and facial recognition. But these can…
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Goldman wants to manage the assets of the middling rich
If the best way to get rich is by managing other people’s money, it helps if your clients control a lot of it. For private-equity firms and hedge funds, that means courting pension-fund managers, investment bankers and the like. For the top wealth managers, the money in question belongs to the super-rich, whom they advise…
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A bleak view of the future
ARE millennials really different from preceding generations? Bartleby (writer of this article) tends to be cynical about such claims, recalling how the youthful idealism of his own peers was tamed by parenthood and the need to pay the mortgage. But a new survey from Deloitte, the accountancy firm, suggests that millennials, defined as those born…
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Hotel suite transformed into Barbie-themed glamping experience
Mattel has launched the ultimate Barbie glamping experience in honor of the iconic doll’s 60th birthday.From March to December 2019, fans in Mexico can check in to an exclusive suite at the Hilton Mexico City Santa Fe that’s been transformed into a life-sized Barbie haven. The themed room, which took 20 weeks to create, is kitted…
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Is this the world’s most expensive cup of coffee?
Coffee aficionados are willing to shell out big bucks for the perfect cup of coffee. But Californians may be taking it to the next level. A single cup of coffee just sold for $75 at Klatch Coffee’s new San Francisco location, which hosted a tasting over the weekend. The single-source organic coffee bean at the heart of…
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Architect unveils striking proposal for ‘green’ Notre Dame
The rebuilt Notre Dame could feature a futuristic glass design, solar power, and an urban farm that supports vulnerable and homeless Parisians, if one architecture firm’s vision is realized. In April, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced an international competition for architects to redesign the cathedral’s 19th century spire, which collapsed after a fire devastated the…
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The Inspirational Teachers Who Have Changed Our Lives
Teachers are a special breed of human. It takes something strong to simultaneously teach the brains, inspire the souls, discipline the manners, and strengthen the values of a classroom full of students. We all have our past teachers that stand out as “not just any other.” They’re the ones that inspire us to climb insurmountable…
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Visiting San Francisco’s windy Lombard Street may come at a price
Driving down famously twisty Lombard Street in San Francisco may come with a fee soon. On April 16, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors unanimously OK’d state legislation that requires people who want to drive down the street — known for its 27-degree slant and sharp curves — will have to make a reservation and pay a…
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How hackable is your password?
If “123456” is your password, it may be time for a change. That was the unsurprising conclusion of a survey revealing the internet’s most vulnerable passwords, which also warned that codes using names, sports teams and swear words are more popular than you might think. Several combinations of numbers made up the top 10, while “blink182” was…
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Roy Disney’s granddaughter thinks Bob Iger’s paycheck is ‘insane’
Disney CEO Bob Iger made nearly $66 million last year, and a Disney family member thinks that’s “insane.” Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of company co-founder Roy Disney, criticized Iger’s multimillion dollar pay in several tweets on Sunday. Roy Disney was Walt Disney’s brother. “By any objective measure a pay ratio over a thousand is insane,” she said of…
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Jack Ma endorses China’s controversial 12 hours a day, 6 days a week work culture
One of China’s richest men has been criticized for endorsing the controversial culture of 12-hour workdays in the country’s red-hot tech industry, saying employees who worked longer hours will get the “rewards of hard work.” Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has spoken out on social media in recent days in support of the Chinese…
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Should we be searching for hidden spy cameras in Airbnbs and hotels?
Airbnbs have changed the way we vacation, offering accommodation that adds a whole new dimension to travel. Sometimes that extra dimension is delightful — a unique place to stay in a cool neighborhood, or the chance to experience life like a local. But lately, there have been a few incidents where the extra dimension is downright creepy. In…
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The Beginner’s Guide To Hosting Easter Lunch
Easter Sunday is just around the corner, and even the most experienced hostess must have a foolproof game plan when entertaining family and friends. Resurrection Day in the South is monumental. Easter egg hunts ensue, honey baked ham adorns the dining room table, and of course, family travels from near and far for the joyous occasion.…
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Resurrection Rolls Recipe
Looking for a fun and memorable way to tell your kids the story of Jesus’ burial and resurrection? We’ve got you covered. This Resurrection Roll recipe is deliciously simple, and it brings with it the ultimate meaning of Easter Sunday. And, it wouldn’t be a Southern holiday without a few bread selections on the kitchen…
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The Benefits of a Bucket List
It’s important to take time for things you enjoy in life—doing things you enjoy can make you feel energized and more relaxed at the same time, and help to keep burnout at bay. Traditional vacations bring important benefits for stress management and life satisfaction, but for those who can’t spare the time or expense for…
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Airplane interiors of the future revealed in 2019 Crystal Cabin Awards
Would you sleep in an airplane’s windowless cargo cabin? It may not sound appealing, but after picking up a prize at the the 2019 Crystal Cabin Awards at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, it could soon be on its way. A panel of aircraft interior experts judged more than 100 entries from 22 countries with…
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The Ultimate Cleaning Schedule for Your Day, Week, Month, and Year
Raise your hand if you find keeping your home clean totally daunting. Or if you stumble upon dust, rust, or dirt in spots you totally forget about too often for comfort. We get it. Which is why we created this super handy checklist with the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab to help you stay on…
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Burger King’s New Coffee Subscription Is Just $5 a Month
For the price of one fancy latte, customers can enjoy an entire month of coffee. Perhaps the only downside making a to-go cup of coffee part of your morning commute is the cost. If you opt to make coffee at home, there’s obviously a significant savings versus shelling out — at the cheapest — a buck…
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Which European city is the most affordable to visit?
What are your priorities when you’re planning a European city break? Good food? Culture galore? Interesting history? More likely than not, you’ll also prioritize price when you’re considering where to jet off to for a weekend getaway. Coming up on top on this travel list? It’s Vilnius, in Lithuania, which you may recall from that infamous tourism…
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Asian airlines named the cleanest in the world in Skytrax survey
Ever wonder how clean the airline seat you’re sitting in is as you travel? A new survey has dished the dirt on which carriers offer the most pristine experiences for fliers. Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways was named the cleanest airline in the world, as part of the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2018. The Japanese carrier claimed…
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World’s most expensive cities to live in
The most expensive cities in the world have been revealed — and the No. 1 spot belongs not to one singly city, but to three destinations. Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong are joint leaders on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. France’s capital city, which has been one of the top 10 since…
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$5 billion Dubai megaresort rises from The World
Four kilometers off the Dubai coastline lies Europe. Or a version of it, at least. Comprising six man-made islands styled after a mix of European countries and cities, when completed this $5 billion megaproject will be able to accommodate 16,000 tourists in the height of travel luxury. In this Europe the sun nearly always shines, the ocean’s…
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Singapore announces opening date for long-awaited Jewel Changi Airport
The wait is finally over for travelers who frequently fly into Singapore’s Changi Airport. More than five years since revealing plans for the airport’s stunning new addition, officials have announced that the “Jewel Changi Airport” complex will open to the public on April 17th. But it’s also potentially a destination in its own right, featuring a large…
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Smoking during pregnancy doubles risk of sudden death for baby, study says
Smoking even one cigarette a day during pregnancy can double the chance of sudden unexpected death for your baby, according to a new study analyzing over 20 million births, including over 19,000 unexpected infant deaths. By the time you smoke a pack a day, the study found, your baby’s risk of unexpected sudden death has…
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China to introduce new generation of driverless trains in 2020
A new, faster generation of driverless magnetic levitation trains is set to debut in China as early as 2020, according to state media. But those dreaming of eye-wateringly fast, record-breaking bullet trains will have to sit tight. These trains are medium-low-speed maglev, though still impressively quick. Built and developed independently in China by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotives Co. Ltd.,…
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The world’s best beaches, according to TripAdvisor
It’s time to shake the sand out of the golden envelope for a fresh set of awards — TripAdvisor has announced its best beaches in the world for 2019. Ranked by traveler reviews and ratings, the list is made up of 25 idyllic spots in the likes of Aruba, Cuba, Turks and Caicos and Spain. But it’s…
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Can airplane seat cameras spy on passengers?
In February, Vitaly Kamluk — a Twitter user who works in malware research — was on board a Singapore Airlines flight when his wife noticed an “interesting sensor” below the inflight entertainment screen and pointed it out to him. “She felt general discomfort of a digital eye looking at her. I believe that’s a common reaction…
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Using the Mate X made me a foldable phone believer
Forget about the $2,000-plus price tag. The Galaxy Fold and Mate X aren’t just about the money. Foldable phones are shaking up the industry with a daring design that effectively doubles the amount of screen space you have to use on your phone while still making the device small enough to carry around. Because foldable…
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China’s ‘horizontal skyscraper’ attraction nears completion
Dubbed an engineering marvel, the highly anticipated Raffles City Chongqing project in China is nearly complete. Devised by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, it measures a staggering 1.12-million-square-meters and consists of a collection of eight towers and a gigantic connecting skybridge, which is being called a “horizontal skyscraper.” The 250-meter-long skybridge, named Crystal, is said to be one…
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Five-star concierges: The wild requests of the mega-rich
When a Qatari sheikh asked a concierge at the Raffles Dubai hotel to deliver a present to his wife, the concierge nodded. “Of course, sir. What gift?” A Rolls Royce Ghost, the latest model, the sheikh replied. To be delivered to Qatar by the following evening. The year was 2012. Harold Abonitalla, now chief concierge of…
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Singapore wants self-driving cars to help its aging society
It may look like a giant robotic bug but the MooAV could be the car of the future. Made by startup MooVita, it’s one of dozens of autonomous vehicles being put to the test at a special center in Singapore that aims to advance the development of self-driving car technology. Startups from around the world are…
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War on e-cigarettes: Hong Kong intends to jail vaping offenders. But will it make people quit?
Robert Chan lit his first cigarette aged 18. He quickly became hooked, smoking 15 a day for more than a decade. Like so many other smokers, Hong Kong-based Chan didn’t savor his addiction. He wanted to quit smoking cigarettes, but struggled to end his nicotine habit. Two years ago, on his 30th birthday, Chan started…
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19 places to visit in 2019 Part 1: Christchurch, New Zealand
Many people only associate Christchurch with its most tragic event — the 2011 earthquake that leveled much of the city and resulted in 185 deaths. But it isn’t the natural disaster that defines a city — it’s the way they choose to regroup and rebuild. Several years later, Christchurch has been reconstructed to be respectful of…
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Alligator
Reptile. The American alligator is the largest reptile in North America and has been a successful predator for 200 million years! Alligators are less aggressive than crocodiles, and they hibernate during the winter. In summer, female alligators build nests on banks above the high water mark, and they each lay about 30 eggs. The eggs…
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Choc-a-block: Liquid chocolate leak envelops German street
In a scene that could be straight out of a children’s book, around a ton of liquid chocolate flowed out of a factory and caked a street in a west German town on Monday. Firefighters said a storage tank overflowed at DreiMeister’s chocolate factory in Westönnen, a suburb of the town of Werl, running out…
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Spend the night in the world’s tallest treehouses
It’s the stuff of childhood dreams. As the sun begins to break through the darkness in Laos’ Nam Kan National Park, the cries of wild, black-crested gibbons echo through the jungle air. Crawling out of our mosquito-net covered beds, perched high in wooden treehouses that tower over the jungle floor, we grab our binoculars for a closer…
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‘A huge mess’: Failure at COP24 climate talks would be ‘suicidal’
The heads of state for some of the main countries causing climate change — the United States, the UK, Germany, China, Canada and India among them — are not present here in Poland to try to keep the wheels from falling off an agreement meant to save humanity and the planet. So the weight of…
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Boeing launches business jet capable of world’s longest flight
Boeing has unveiled its newest line of business jets, which the company says will allow VIP travelers to fly nonstop between “any two cities on Earth.” The BBJ 777X planes will have a range of 11,645 nautical miles (21,570 km), enabling them to offer the longest commercial flight in the world. Depending on which routes the jets…
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Most visited: World’s top cities for tourism
Bright lights, big cities. The lure of urban centers has lost none of its appeal in 2018, with tourists expected to make around 1.4 billion trips to cities around the world this year. UK-based market research company Euromonitor International has just released its Top 100 City Destinations 2018 report, an annual ranking of the world’s most…
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Why German bread is the best in the world (opinion)
Germans have more bakeries and eat more varieties of bread than most other countries in the world (although we might not go toe-to-toe with France on the bakery count). According to the bread register of the German Institute for Bread (of course there is such a thing), there are now more than 3,200 officially recognized…
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Bali resort bans smartphone use by the pool
Some hotels and resorts depend on social media posts to get future guests inspired to visit. But the Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali, Indonesia, is taking a different approach. Its new “In the Moment” program is encouraging visitors to unplug — by banning smartphones and other electronic devices from one of the resort’s 12 pools.…
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Fancy trying bull penis or sheep eyeball juice? Disgusting Food Museum opens in Sweden
The whiff of fermented shark, sheep eye juice and bull penis is leaving people physically sick at the new Disgusting Food Museum. But anyone thinking of visiting the newly-opened attraction in Malmo, Sweden may be relieved to hear that entrance tickets also double up as sick bags. Among the dishes on display are a dead mouse in…
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Walkers can fend off unleashed dogs, even ‘friendly’ ones, German court rules
A jogger who injured himself trying to fend off a dog with a stick is entitled to compensation, a German court ruled. The dog’s owner unsuccessfully argued the animal was just playing and there was no need to be afraid. The “he just wants to play” argument doesn’t absolve dog owners from liability if someone is…
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Tokyo struggles to recruit enough volunteer city guides to help during 2020 Summer Games
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is struggling to recruit volunteer city guides for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the number of applicants currently well short of the 30,000 recruits it is aiming to sign up by Dec. 5. The Tokyo government started its campaign for city volunteers in late September and had secured 16,000…
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Fans back idea of points deductions to curb racism in football
The idea of deducting points from countries or clubs whose fans are found guilty of racist abuse has the backing of nearly two thirds of football supporters, according to a new survey on Wednesday. In the study of 27,000 fans from 38 countries — conducted by anti-racism group Kick It Out and live-score app Forza…
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China is crushing Europe’s electric car dreams
Europe gave the world some of its top automakers, but it’s losing out to China in the race to define the industry’s future. China is the driving force in the business of electric vehicle batteries, which European leaders see as vital to the future of the auto industry that employs millions of people across the…
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Japanese research shows skipping breakfast leads to weight gain
Skipping breakfast disrupts the internal body clock and leads to weight gain. In the study, the team divided 56 rats into two groups and gave the same amount of high-fat feed to both groups for 14 days. Rats eat intermittently when they are awake. One group was given the feed normally and the other group four hours…
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Forget Overwater Bungalows — You Can Now Rent an Underwater Villa in the Maldives
Overwater bungalows are so 2017. Now, it’s all about the underwater experience. The Muraka, the world’s first undersea residence from Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, is now open. The residence allows guests to quite literally immerse themselves in an underwater world in the Indian Ocean. It will join the brand’s undersea restaurant, Ithaa, as yet another pioneering travel experience.…
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Is it time to stop treating women chefs differently?
In his critique of the 2018 results of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the late Jonathan Gold, food critic for the Los Angeles Times, referred to the World’s Best Female Chef category as an “unlovable honor.” The award handed out annually at the fine dining world’s equivalent of the Oscars — this year’s, held in…
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Man launches into racist rant on Ryanair plane — but keeps his seat
A spokesperson for Theresa May said the British Prime Minister condemns “abhorrent” racial abuse after a passenger on a European airline made racist remarks about another passenger that were caught on video. The man had threatened to “push” an elderly black woman onto another seat. A crew member of the Ryanair flight from Barcelona, Spain,…
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The tiny Swiss village that wants to become a hotel
The tiny mountain village of Corippo, arranged higgledy-piggledy on the green slopes of southern Switzerland’s Verzasca valley, looks like something out of a fairytale. But here, in what is Switzerland’s smallest municipality, the citizens are facing a harsh reality. What was once a thriving farming community of around 300 people has dwindled to just 12 residents,…
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The world’s most liveable cities in 2018
Melbourne has finally lost the title of world’s most liveable city after a seven-year reign. The Australian city came in second place on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 ranking of the world’s most liveable cities, missing out on the top spot by just 0.7%. It was pipped to the post by Vienna, which received an…
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Restaurants rise to fame over Instagramable food
In early April, my younger sister and I waited for about 45 minutes in the rain to eat at Black Tap in midtown Manhattan. The line extended along the block, and both tourists and locals stood with umbrellas, buzzing about the trendy restaurant’s popular “Crazy Shakes.” On its website, Black Tap calls itself the “classic…
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Tokyo’s new Toyosu fish market opens for business
After two years of delays and uncertainty, the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo finally opened its doors on October 11 at the stroke of midnight. Toyosu replaces Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market, a popular tourist destination that closed on October 6 following 83 years of operations. The new Toyosu market covers 407,000 square meters — making it 1.8…
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Mother among 4 arrested for attempting to sell babies on Instagram
Indonesian police say they have broken up a child trafficking operation that was allegedly buying and selling babies on Instagram. Four people were arrested, including a 22-year-old mother and 29-year-old suspected broker in Indonesia’s second largest city Surabaya, police said in a press conference Sunday. A midwife and a suspected buyer were also arrested on the…
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Racism in Spain’s rental market: “They asked me what color my parents were”
Experiment reveals that finding a place to rent in Spain is harder if you are not white, with some ads advertising properties “only for Spaniards”. Three people aged around 30, each with a stable job, walk into several real estate agencies. One of them is shown many apartments and is offered the chance to get in…
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Can the world be saved from overtourism?
Every week seems to bring new confirmation we’ve officially entered the era of too much tourism. In Madrid, stringent rules have been put in place to handle Airbnb as locals fear being priced out of the city. And most recently, Thailand announced that Maya Bay, the popular destination made famous in the 2000 movie “The Beach”…
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Pret a Manger investigates second death linked to sandwich
A second customer is believed to have died from an allergic reaction to a product bought from Pret a Manger, the chain has said. The person died in 2017 after eating a “super-veg rainbow flatbread” which was supposed to be dairy-free. Sandwich chain Pret said it was mis-sold a guaranteed dairy-free yoghurt, as it contained dairy protein. But…
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Madrid announces new rules of the road in bid to banish traffic from center
Madrid City Council is set to approve a new Sustainable Mobility Ordinance that will change the way residents move around public spaces. The new measures, which will take effect between five and 15 days after the council approves them on Friday, introduce a speed limit of 30km/h on all one-way streets and on single-lane two-way streets. Under…