US waves white flag in disastrous ‘war on drugs’

After 40 years, Washington is quietly giving up on a futile battle that has spread corruption and destroyed thousands of lives Read the full story

Though journalists, international affairs professionals, travel lovers, and international businessmen are already well aware that Brazil is the country to watch, there are still many gringos who aren’t tuned in to Brazil’s ascent or don’t quite understand the country’s importance. This list is for those gringos.

10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s cultural capital (but not the national capital – that’s Brasília) is an excellent urban case study when learning about the developing world. It shares certain characteristics with other developing cities that provides many important lessons and a useful perspective on urban conflicts, like inequality, violent crime, and drug trafficking, as well as positive changes like a growing middle class, increased purchasing power of the average consumer and social movements. Read the full story

Hurricane Ida weakened to a tropical storm today after the U.S. Gulf Coast braced itself for more troubling weather. In Nicaragua last week, Hurricane Ida destroyed homes, damaged schools and bridges as it moved through the Caribbean. Currently, the National Hurricane Center has a public advisory on its site.

“A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana eastward to the Aucilla River Florida … including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.”

U.S. airlines are alerting travelers that flights may be affected in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Here are some change policies listed on their websites:

Delta: States that you may make a one-time change to your ticket without fee if you are scheduled to travel to, from, or through the following destinations: Fort Walton, Fla. (VPS), Gulfport, Miss. (GPT), Mobile, Ala. (MOB), New Orleans, La. (MSY), Panama City, Fla. (PFN), Pensacola, Fla. (PNS) and Tallahassee, Fla. (TLH) for impacted travel on Nov.9-10. Read the  Delta Weather Alert page for Hurricane Ida for full details and restrictions. Contact: (800) 221-1212.

Continental: Offers the option to reschedule or re-route your travel once, without penalty, if you are ticketed to/from one of these cities with original travel dates on Nov. 9-11: New Orleans, La. (MSY), Baton Rouge, La. (BTR), Lafayette, La. (LFT), Lake Charles, La. (LCH), Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss. (GPT), Mobile, Ala. (MOB), Pensacola, Fla. (PNS), Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (VPS). If your flight has been cancelled, a refund to the original form of payment can be requested. Get full information about their re-accommodations policy here.

American Airlines: I couldn’t find a specific reference to Ida on its website. American does list a Hurricane Protection Policy for its travelers. It says it is valid for passengers ticketed for travel within the area and dates of a hurricane watch issued by the United States National Hurricane Center.

U.S. Airways: Waived the standard change fee, advance reservation and ticketing requirements for customers with travel to, from or through Mobile, Ala.; Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Pensacola, Fla.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss. Nov. 9 – Nov. 11. See the travel advisory page for more information on its revised ticket policy.

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

http://travel.latimes.com/