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☆ I've visited 93 countries, 57 of them with kids. These 5 underrated spots are great places to enjoy with your family.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Since 2000, I've visited 93 countries and 57 of them have been with my four children who are all under the age of 10. We went on a safari tour in TanzaniaOur family visited Tanzania in 2019 in collaboration with a tourism brand. We love Sri Lanka so much, we're building a villa thereIn 2022, my family and I moved to Sri Lanka from Abu Dhabi. Edwards' daughter and son on a beach in Sri Lanka. Courtesy of Karen EdwardsI visited the country in 2008, and then again in 2012 with my then-boyfriend and now-husband.

Persons: Karen Edwards, Edwards, —, I've, Abu, Abu Dhabi, you'll, Al, we're, It's, We'd Organizations: Service, Disney, Mto, United Arab, Oasis, Catalonian Locations: Tanzania, Abu Dhabi, America, California, Florida, Zanzibar, Tanzanian, Lake, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Al Ain, Hafeet, Sri Lanka, Galle, Andorra, Pyrenees, Spain, Barcelona, Toulouse, France, Karen Edwards Andorra, Macedonia Macedonia, Balkan, Greece, Europe, Albania, Macedonia

☆ More Americans Are Moving Abroad Because the US Is Too Expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"We realized we couldn't afford the mortgage and the car payments and everything," Stonestreet told me. Americans work more, vacation less, spend more on healthcare, and die sooner than people in other high-income economies. These factors likely explain why some Americans are moving to countries that aren't generally considered low-cost-of-living locales. She said that living abroad afforded her a degree of flexibility and spontaneity that would be out of reach back home. From their temporary perch in Tirana, Albania, the couple told me via WhatsApp that their only regret about moving abroad was not doing it sooner.

Persons: Amelia Basista, Stonestreet, Basista, Maliya, I'm, Fale, scoping, Cristina Johnson, Johnson, Mariana, Dustin Lange, that's, Mariana Lange, Mark Zoril, Andrew Hallam, Zoril, hasn't, — Zoril, Tomorrow's Organizations: State Department, American Citizens, Monmouth University, Labor Statistics, Financial Technology Association, Business Locations: South America, Denver, Cuenca, Ecuador, Germany, Canada, France, Minneapolis, Latin America, America, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Belize, States, Austin, North Carolina, Central America, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, Europe, Tirana, Albania

☆ Oracle's Larry Ellison thinks every government will want to build a 'sovereign' AI cloud in the future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Michelle Castillo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Oracle, which works with Nvidia and Microsoft on generative AI capabilities, has already helped use cloud tech to cut red tape for countries. For the first time, we're beginning to win business for countries," Ellison said. Countries including Serbia are standardizing on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and using generative AI for processes like automating health care. Cloud and generative AI applications allowing countries to give rural areas internet access could increase educational opportunities and create more economic value. "There's the 'Black Mirror' bad side of it: Big Brother, data wars, AI warfare and all that stuff," Garder said.

Persons: Raimo Lenschow, Ellison, Oracle's Larry Ellison, it's, Elon Musk's, you've, we've, Dan Gardner, Tapan Parikh, Parikh, Garder, Gardner, Simone Bohnenberger, It's, Bohnenberger, there's Organizations: Oracle, Barclays, EU, Nvidia, Microsoft, European, Amazon, Department of Defense, Google, Infrastructure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Cornell University, U.S Locations: Serbia, Albania, European Union, Kenya, Rwanda, U.S, China, TikTok

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald J. Trump, confirmed on Friday that he was closing in on major real estate deals in Albania and Serbia, the latest example of the former president’s family doing business abroad even as Mr. Trump seeks to return to the White House. Mr. Kushner’s plans in the Balkans appear to have come about in part through relationships built while Mr. Trump was in office. Mr. Kushner, who was a senior White House official, said he had been working on the deals with Richard Grenell, who served briefly as acting director of national intelligence under Mr. Trump and also as ambassador to Germany and special envoy to the Balkans. One of the proposed projects would be the development of an island off the coast of Albania into a luxury tourist destination. A second — with a planned luxury hotel and 1,500 residential units and a museum — is in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, at the site of the long-vacant former headquarters of the Yugoslav Army destroyed in 1999 by the NATO bombings, according to a member of Parliament in Serbia and Mr. Kushner’s company.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald J, Trump, Kushner’s, Kushner, Richard Grenell Organizations: Mr, White House, Yugoslav, NATO Locations: Albania, Serbia, Germany, Balkans, Belgrade

☆ French appetite for frogs’ legs threatens frog species, experts warn Macron
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The popularity of the famous French delicacy of cuisses de grenouille, or frogs’ legs, is threatening the existence of certain frog species, a group of more than 500 environmental campaigners has warned French President Emmanuel Macron. A joint study by Robin des Bois and Pro Wildlife found that France alone consumes more than 3,000 tons of frozen frogs’ legs a year. Vietnam is also a large exporter of frogs’ legs, but these frogs are typically farmed rather than wild, according to a media statement accompanying the letter. “But the EU still tolerates the collection of millions of animals in other countries – even if this threatens the frog populations there. The signatories called on France to develop proposals to protect declining frog species, and to ensure that the monitoring, regulation and sustainability of the trade in frogs’ legs is governed by international trade rules.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Robin des Bois, Jeff Pachoud, ” Fejervarya, Arun Roisri, ” Sandra Altherr, Alain Moussu, Moussu Organizations: CNN, Biodiversity, Pro Wildlife, European Union, Wildlife, Getty Locations: France, Pierrelatte, Lyon, AFP, Indonesia, Turkey, Albania, Vietnam, Europe

☆ Vast reserves of clean hydrogen fuel could be hiding beneath our feet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trillions of tons of lightweight, energy-dense hydrogen gas may be hidden deep underground. Those natural reservoirs, known as geologic hydrogen, could be a fruitful carbon-free fuel source. Oil and gas giants BP and Chevron have joined a consortium to study geologic hydrogen. That's when an oil and gas company assessed a mine that had exploded in Mali and found it was full of hydrogen gas. In the US, two long stretches of this rock are a promising place to look for hydrogen reserves, and efforts are already underway.

Persons: Bill Gates, Geoffrey Ellis, Joe Biden's, didn't, Ellis, John Barrasso, Evelyn N, Wang, Pete Johnson Organizations: Service, United Airlines, BP, Chevron, US, Energy, Natural Resources, Business, Research Projects Agency, ARPA Locations: Alberta, Canada, Mali, Kansas, Ontario, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, France, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Albania, Albania's, Tirana, GENT

☆ Researchers just discovered a massive 'jacuzzi bubbling with almost pure hydrogen' — a lucrative source of clean energy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A team of researchers recently discovered a massive reservoir of hydrogen in a mine in Albania. The reservoir could be a potential source of clean hydrogen energy. But recently, a team of researchers uncovered a massive reservoir of hydrogen buried in a mine in Albania that could serve as a source of clean, hydrogen energy . If the hydrogen in the mine can be safely harnessed, the researchers believe it could be a key energy source. One of the initiative's goals is for the hubs to produce "more than three million metric tons of clean hydrogen per year," about one-third of the 2030 US clean hydrogen production goal.

Persons: —, Laurent Truche, Joe Biden Organizations: Service Locations: Albania, Albania's, Tirana, Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, Appalachia

☆ Hot on the trail of cherry blossoms — peak times for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. CNN —In travel news this week: Circling the calendar for peak cherry blossoms, a very rare peek at post-pandemic North Korea and the insightful confessions of a Vegas habitué. While peak bloom can still be up in the air, the dates for the National Cherry Blossom Festival are solidly locked down: March 20-April 14. Meanwhile, Japanese forecasters are out with their own cherry blossom, or sakura, predictions. 02:06 - Source: CNNIn the best of times, a visit to communist North Korea was a rarity.

Persons: Brandon Griggs, He’s, Willy Wonka Organizations: CNN, Washington , D.C, Bloom Watch, National Cherry Blossom, –, Air Albania, AAA Locations: Korea, Netherlands, France, Washington ,, Japan, Wharf, Kochi, Tokyo, wintry Sapporo, Dubai, Atlanta, Air, London, India, United States, North Korea, Russia, Pyongyang, Masikryong, North, Las Vegas, Sin

We have everything you need right here on where to watch the Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake live stream tonight from anywhere in the world. How to watch Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake live stream in the USThere are multiple options for subscribing to the MLS season pass on the Apple TV+ platform. If you already have Apple TV+, the MLS Season Pass costs $12.99 monthly or $79 for the whole season. How to watch Messi and Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake live stream from anywherePrices are generally similar around the world. This tool lets you trick Apple TV Plus or other live TV streaming services into thinking you're signing up from within a supported country.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, We've, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, MLS, Inter Miami, League, Apple, Plus, Apple TV Locations: Salt, Turkey, Jamaica, Iceland, Albania, Romania, Russia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, China

☆ We've visited 50 states and 91 countries and almost always choose hotels over Airbnbs. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Initially, we were going to live in a golf community in Palm City, Florida, and also do some traveling. Courtesy of John and Beverly MartinJohn: When COVID hit, we realized we couldn't travel internationally. So we sold our house, bought the Airstream for $50,000, and visited all 50 states and 51 national parks in two years. John: After about a year, we started noticing we could stay at hotels for a similar price to the Airbnbs. Beverly: We've had some amazing stays, like a luxury hotel in Delhi.

Persons: —, John Martin, Beverly, Beverly Martin John, Bev, Beverly Martin Beverly, John, We've, Airbnb, we're, We're, would've Organizations: Service, Beverly, Central America, The, YouTube, Kruger National Park Locations: United States, Palm City , Florida, Beverly, New Zealand, California, Florida, Greece, Panama, Sri Lanka, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Europe, Central, Asia, Norway, Albania, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Santorini, Hyatts, Laos, Delhi, South Africa, Victoria Falls, West Africa

Justice Department prosecutors had recommended sentencing McGonigal to a prison term of two years and six months for the Washington case alone. McGonigal was scheduled to report to prison next month to begin serving his sentence in the New York case. McGonigal was separately charged with concealing his ties to the former Albanian official, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was living in New Jersey. McGonigal pleaded guilty last September to concealing material facts, a charge punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years. McGonigal didn't need more prison time beyond his 50-month sentence in New York “to serve the ends of justice,” Ducharme argued.

Persons: —, Charles McGonigal, Colleen Kollar, McGonigal, ”, Kollar, “, Oleg Deripaska, didn't, McGonigle, Elizabeth Aloi, Seth Ducharme, ” Ducharme Organizations: WASHINGTON, FBI, U.S, Justice Department, Albanian Locations: New York, U.S, Albanian, Washington ,, Washington, Russia, Crimea, New Jersey, Albania, Russian, Europe

☆ I turned my failed Etsy shop into a business that made $1 million in its first year. Here's how I did it by 21.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Ashley Couto | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Keida Dervishi, 21, chose to start an embroidery business with her mom instead of going to college. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keida Dervishi, the 21-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs. Soulmate Customs made over $1 million in sales in less than a year. I started with an Etsy embroidery shop before founding Soulmate Customs. Keida Dervishi with the Soulmate Customs team.

Persons: Keida Dervishi, —, Gjeniu I Vogel, we've, I'd, Olivia Rodrigo's, I've, Keida, Dervishi, TikTok, Kris Jenner, Kenny, Olivia Rodrigo, We're, It's, Instagram Organizations: Service, Customs, Business, YouTube, Soulmate Customs, School Locations: Albania, Europe, Gjeniu, Albanian

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

☆ Italian senate passes controversial measure to ship boat migrants to Albanian camps
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Rome CNN —A controversial plan agreed upon between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart in November to send boat migrants to Italian-run centers on Albanian soil has passed the Italian Senate. The plan passed on a vote of 93 to 61. It is unlawful under EU law to immediately deport a migrant or refugee until their application for asylum is processed. The centers will be built with Italian funds and staffed with Italian civil servants to process up to 3,000 asylum applicants a month. In 2023, more than 157,000 people reached Italy by boat, according to Italian interior ministry data.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN —, Giorgia Meloni, Atdhe Mulla, NGO’s, Meloni’s, Matteo De Bellis, “, ” Organizations: Rome CNN, Italian, Italian Senate, European Union, Bloomberg, Getty, Coast Guard, Navy, Amnesty Locations: Italian, Guantanamo, Albania, Afghan, Shengjin, Italy, United Kingdom, Rwanda

☆ Former Albanian Navy Port to Take in Migrants Sent on From Italy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Floirian GogaSHENGJIN, Albania (Reuters) - An Albanian port that was once home to the country's navy is set to receive African, Asian and Middle East migrants sent on from Italy as part of a deal that has drawn criticism from human rights groups. Migrants who arrive in Italy would be taken by boat to the ex-navy port of Shengjin, now a popular tourist destination on Albania's scenic northern Adriatic seacoast. I feel a spiritual obligation because my children were raised in Italy," said Mhill Marku, an Albanian ex-military officer whose four children live in Italy. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights chief said last week the plan raised concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions for migrants. The Rwanda scheme was declared unlawful in November by non-EU Britain's Supreme Court and the government has introduced legislation it hopes, when passed, will override human rights concerns.

Persons: Goga, Mhill Marku, Marku, Florian Goga, Ivana Sekularac, Mark Heinrich Organizations: European Union, Migrants, Reuters, European, EU Locations: Goga SHENGJIN, Albania, Albanian, Italy, Balkan, European, EU, Shengjin, Gjader, Brussels, Albania's, British, Rwanda, East Africa, France

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Kremlin dismisses threat from anti-war election hopeful; Zelenskyy visits front-line war hot spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As part of the Western Balkans block waiting for EU-membership, Serbia is caught in a geostrategic rivalry between its Western allies and Russia. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought fresh political momentum to the European Union and its plans for enlargement in the Western Balkans. "I see the European Union more ready for the Balkans than the Balkans for the European Union," Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans, told CNBC last month. Within days of Russia's invasion, Ukraine, neighboring Moldova and, soon after, nearby Georgia applied for EU candidate status — which they were granted in quick succession. "Now, it's very clear that the European Union is serious."

Persons: Russia's, —, Miroslav Lajčák, Lajčák, — Karen Gilchrist Organizations: EU, European Union, Belgrade, Pristina, CNBC, European Locations: Ukraine, Belgrade, Serbia, Balkans, Russia, Western Balkans, European, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Europe, Yugoslavia, Moldova, Georgia, European Union

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine has had an unlikely consequence — it has revived the EU's plans to get even bigger
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People hold a banner and Ukrainian flags during a rally to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. As part of the Western Balkans block waiting for EU-membership, Serbia is caught in a geostrategic rivalry between its Western allies and Russia. Davos, SWITZERLAND — As spiking geopolitical tensions thrust the European Union into the spotlight, attention has turned to the strategically important Western Balkans. The Western Balkans, comprised of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia, represent a notable gap in the map of EU membership in southeastern Europe. "I see the European Union more ready for the Balkans than the Balkans for the European Union," Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans, told CNBC last month.

Persons: —, Miroslav Lajčák, Lajčák Organizations: EU, Union, European Union, Belgrade, Pristina, CNBC Locations: Ukraine, Belgrade, Serbia, Balkans, Russia, Davos, SWITZERLAND, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Europe, Yugoslavia, European, Western Balkans

Most of Kosovo uses the euro, even though the country isn't part of the EU. But parts of Kosovo's north, populated mostly by ethnic Serbs, continue to use the dinar. The Central Bank reported on Wednesday that Serbian bank Komercijalna Banka AD Beograd closed its branches in Kosovo. Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008, but the government in Belgrade doesn't recognize its neighbor as a separate country.

Persons: Kosovo's, Aleksandar Vučić, Alexander, Botsan, ” Vucic, ”, Besnik Bislimi, Albin Kurti, Miroslav Lajčák, Josep Borrell, ___ Llazar Semini Organizations: Union, Serbian, Kosovo’s Central Bank, Western, The Central Bank, NATO, Belgrade doesn't, European Union, Kosovo, Kosovo police, EU Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbian, Kosovo's, Serbs, Serbia, Russia, Russian, Belgrade, Pristina, Metohija, Kosovo Serbs, ” Kosovo, Komercijalna Banka, Beograd, Brussels, EU, United States, Vučić, Balkans, Kosovo’s, Tirana, Albania

☆ Albania’s Highest Court Rules in Favour of Migrant Deal With Italy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's constitutional court ruled on Monday in favour of a deal with Italy that will allow the Italian government to set up reception centres to host migrants trying to come ashore. The Albanian parliament has still to ratify the deal before it enters into force. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed with her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in November to set up centres that would initially host some 3,000 people as Italy tries to bring down numbers of migrants that nearly doubled last year. (Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci, editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Florion Goga, Fatos Bytyci, Christina Fincher Organizations: Albanian Locations: TIRANA, Italy, Italian

☆ Contested Migrant Deal Between Albania and Italy Moves Forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | Gaia Pianigiani | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

An Albanian court on Monday gave the green light to an agreement allowing Italy to send migrants who are rescued in the Mediterranean by Italian ships to detention centers in Albania while their asylum claims are considered. The deal is part of the Italian government’s multipronged efforts to stem migration, in particular Mediterranean Sea crossings, sending the message that many undocumented migrants will not be allowed directly into Italy, even temporarily. The agreement was signed in November by the leaders of the two countries, but challenged by opposition lawmakers in Albania, who argued that it violated the country’s Constitution. On Monday, the Albanian Constitutional Court ruled otherwise, clearing the way for the deal to be taken up by Parliament, where Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party holds 75 of the 140 seats.

Organizations: Monday, Albanian Constitutional, Edi, Socialist Party Locations: Italy, Albania, Albanian

In the 1960s, immigration laws were reformed again, ushering in waves of immigration from Asia because the U.S. needed people to work at unfilled jobs. So, how do other countries, including Canada and Germany, respond to migrants crossing their borders without a visa or proper documentation? Germany, for example, has been wrestling with increases in undocumented immigration. Italy, which is also battling a huge influx of undocumented migrants from North Africa, recently doubled the amount of time that it can detain undocumented migrants, rising from three months to at least six months. They also direct the European Union to give money to countries that allow more asylum seekers to stay in those countries.

Persons: Tara Sonenshine, Olaf Scholz, Sebastien St, Jean, Eric Adams, Adams, Edward R, Murrow Organizations: Underwood, Underwood Archives Immigrants, Union, European Union, Getty, New, Diplomacy, Tufts University Locations: United States, Mexico, U.S, Ellis, Europe, Asia, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, North Africa, Albania, Greece, Syria, Pakistan, Quebec, New York, Chicago

BARI, Italy (AP) — The year has gotten off to a slow start for a rescue ship that typically plies the Mediterranean Sea looking for migrants and refugees in distress. Italian maritime authorities now routinely assign privately operated rescue ships to ports in central and northern Italy, hundreds of miles and several days of navigation away from where they find boats in trouble. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesTo date, 13 or 14 charity-run rescue ships have been impounded for various violations. But she said the presence of charity-run ships in the Mediterranean must be limited and strictly regulated. Charity ships rescue only around 8% of the asylum-seekers who reach Italy, down from a peak of 41% in 2017.

Persons: Premier Giorgia Meloni, Alessandro Porro, ” Mary Finn, ” Sara Kelany, ”, Meloni, Enrico Mattei, haven't, Edi Rama Organizations: SOS Mediterranee, Premier, Authorities, SOS, Meloni’s Brothers, International Organization for Migration, ENI, Constitutional, Edi Locations: BARI, Italy, Europe, North Africa, Bari, Italian, Lampedusa, Africa, Tunisia, Albania, Balkan

☆ In the Dream Orchestra, many musicians never played an instrument before joining
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

I think they thought I was crazy.”Many of the Dream Orchestra’s members had never played an instrument before they joined. Ron Davis Álvarez, Dream Orchestra founder and artistic directorThe small ensemble rehearsed on Fridays and Saturdays. He'd never played an instrument before joining the Dream Orchestra. Mushtaq Khorsand asked to join the Dream Orchestra after seeing how joyful his friends were during a performance. So if I wasn’t part of Dream Orchestra and (hadn’t) met Ron, I don’t where I would be,” he says.

Persons: Ron Davis Álvarez, He’d, ” Álvarez, hadn’t, they’d, Álvarez, Venezuela’s, he’d, It’s, Gustavo Bandres, “, Mostafa, ” Kazemi, Kazemi, —, –, Mostafa Kazemi, He'd, ”, Ron, Mushtaq Khorsand, ” Khorsand, Khorsand, He's, Rey, He’s, he’s, Carlos Medrano y Ritmos Ciganos Carlos Garcia, isn’t, it’s, Johan Nilsson, Tymofii Slakva, Tim, Slakva, ” Slakva, Azra Avci, Andrea Spehar, Anna Svanberg, they’ve, ‘, hasn’t, Scheherazade, Richard Meyer Organizations: CNN, Volunteers, El, El Sistema, Sistema, Orchestra, Dream Orchestra, Dream, Gothenburg Symphony, Training, YouTube, University of Gothenburg, ” Locations: Stockholm, Venezuelan, Sweden, Syria, Afghanistan, El Sistema Sweden, Gothenburg, It’s, El, Caracas, Eritrea, Albania, Malmo, Swedish, Ukraine, France, Álvarez, United Kingdom, Lebanon

☆ The world’s most powerful passports for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In a big shakeup of a quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, an unprecedented six countries are tied in the top spot for the hottest travel documents for 2024. The United States and Canada, meanwhile, are tied in seventh place, along with Hungary, with visa-free access to 188 destinations. “The average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” says Kaelin. Portugal is at No.4 on the Henley Passport Index and Arton Capital's Passport Index. Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2024 puts the United Arab Emirates in the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 180.

Persons: Christian, Kaelin, ”, Tamas Gabor, iStockphoto, It’s, Arton Capital’s, Armand Arton, that’s, Arton Organizations: CNN, Henley & Partners, International Air Transport Association, South Korea, United, United Arab Emirates, Henley, United Nations Locations: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, London, Europe, Finland, Sweden, –, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, Greece, Malta, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Czechia, Poland, United States, Canada, Hungary, United Arab, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian, Territories, Monaco, Albania, South Korea, Czech Republic , New Zealand, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland

☆ I regretted buying a home and now live out of 2 suitcases in a $60-a-night Airbnb. I've finally found my freedom, but it's not for everyone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I had to resort to an iBuyer to sell the house quickly and get out, which meant I lost $100,000. There's an account called Living Big in a Tiny House that I always found fascinating. I always just thought, "That's a nice idea, but I'm not really into the RV lifestyle." I'm staying here for 30 days, and then I have another Airbnb lined up on the west side of Los Angeles. If you're someone who's able to work remotely and who loves freedom, I think this is really the way to go.

Persons: Stella Guan, Guan, —, I've, I'd, I'm, it'll, hasn't, It's Organizations: Service Locations: Los Angeles, LA, Washington, New York City, Europe, Asia, Balkans, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro

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