Italian airline Alitalia has announced that it is suspending all flights to Venezuela "due to the ongoing critical currency situation” in the country," which is "no longer economically sustainable." The decision follows a similar suspension by Air Canada.

The governments of Barbados and China will sign a mutual visa abolition agreement to pave the way for smooth entry of Chinese nationals who are holders of diplomatic and service (official) passports. Barbados Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Maxine McClean, made the annnouncement.

President Barack Obama says he's heading to the Baseball Hall of Fame to stress how tourism can lead to good-paying jobs. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he'll be in Cooperstown, New York, on Thursday.

As the Ukraine-Russia standoff shows few signs of coming to a peaceful resolution soon, more cruise lines are cancelling or modifying Black Sea itineraries, especially those that call at Ukrainian ports. One of the latest lines to route away from Ukraine is Silversea Cruises.