BEIJING — The Chinese government plans to expand the country’s high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometres by 2020, part of public infrastructure spending aimed at shoring up economic growth. The network would connect more than 80 per cent of China’s major cities, Vice Transport Minister Yang Yudong said. Last year, …

LOS ANGELES — After her husband asked for a divorce, Amber Clisura gave back her engagement ring, kicked him out of the house and tossed everything that reminded her of the ruined marriage. Except for one item: a polished steel barbecue smoker that her future ex-husband had fashioned for her …

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Canadian man is being held on $5,100 bond in Florida after driving a baggage-towing vehicle across the tarmac at Orlando International Airport. The Orlando Sentinel reports that police identified the man as 27-year-old Richard Hogh. According to an affidavit, Hogh was flying Friday to Chicago and …

MONTPELIER — A new law that will make it easier for people to travel between Canada and the United States will be good for Vermont and other states, even some far the border, officials said Thursday. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont was at the Burlington International Airport on Thursday. …

MONTREAL — Air Canada is offering customers an opportunity to give the gift of travel to someone deserving this holiday season. Click here to view the video on Facebook Yesterday evening aboard Air Canada’s 787 Dreamliner flight AC115 from Toronto to Vancouver, customers were each gifted two round-trip flights to …

NEW YORK — In the wake of the Berlin truck attack, police departments around the U.S. are making a show of force at places where crowds gather at Christmastime. In New York City, police dispatched heavily-armed counterterrorism officers to stand guard at crowded pop-up Christmas markets in Union Square, Bryant …

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s fragile economy is getting a tonic from tourism this year, with revenue up by more than 10 per cent through October including a 20 per cent jump in visitors from the United States. Tourism minister Ana Mendes Godinho says the sector brought in some 11 billion …

DUBAI — Hotels.com sets ‘Fastest Mobile Bed’ Guinness World Records title in the United Arab Emirates by building a bed on a Ford Mustang GT. The hi-octane feat saw a Hotels.com bed, based on a modified Ford Mustang GT, traveling at almost 135 kilometers per hour. Footage of the world …

TORONTO — A new poll says the ‘staycation’ trend may be on its way out – and thank goodness for that. According to Enterprise’s ‘Weekend Getaway Survey’, nearly two-thirds of people who plan on taking a weekend getaway in 2017 will travel more than 240 kilometres from home. While weekend …

HALIFAX — How do Canadians with different traditions celebrate the holiday season? With dancing, rigatoni and wiener roasts, according to a display at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. In some households, pyjamas play a major role in the festivities. The Halifax museum is inviting visitors to provide …