Image from Vice.com

Over the past week or so I came across some interesting travel- related news stories. Most of the stories are probably better classified as international or world news but to me news around the world is still lumped in with travel. 

Check out brief descriptions and links below to read the full articles.

Venezuela’s controversial leader and Anti-American Hugo Chavez died earlier in the week. He was 58 years old. Read about it in this Yahoo article HERE.
The TSA will be relaxing the rules on some banned carry-on items like small knives and some sports equipment. Knives need to be less than 2.36 inches long and less than one half inch wide. Some sporting equipment which will now be allowed include pool cues, lacrosse sticks, golf clubs (up to 2) and toy baseball bats. 
Read more about it HERE.

Is North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un a father? According to reports, Kim’s wife Ri had a baby in late 2012. The sex is unknown but rumored to be a girl. Read more about the story HERE.

Latam Airlines Group will be joining Oneworld bringing TAM along. LAN, the other airline in the group is already a member of the alliance. This wasn’t much of a surprise to most. Read more about it in a Bloomberg article HERE. 

Here is my favorite story of the week:

Flamboyant, retired NBA star Dennis Rodman visited North Korea and made a friend for life- the Supreme Leader! He sat courtside with Kim Jong Un watching a basketball exhibition featuring three Harlem Globetrotters and members of North Korea’s “Dream Team”. The main purpose of the trip was to film a TV Documentary which will air on HBO. Find out more about it in a CNN.com article HERE.

Which story is your favorite from this list?