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☆ Cunard added a 4th luxury cruise ship to its famous fleet — see what it'll be like on the new Queen Anne
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Cunard welcomed its fourth ship and newest in 14 years, the 2,996-guest Queen Anne. Queen Anne's 2024 itineraries, primarily in Europe, start at $300 per person for a two-night cruise. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementCunard has operated 249 ships throughout its 184 years in operation, including the famous Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2. It's Cunard's latest 2,996-guest ship, replete with 4,300 art pieces, archery, and the company's signature high-end flair.

Persons: Cunard, Queen Anne, —, Queen Mary and Queen Mary, it's, It's Organizations: Service, Cunard, BBC Locations: Europe

☆ 9 new around-the-world cruises have joined Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise at sea. See what they're like — from a sold-out 6-month luxury cruise to a cheaper $21,100 option.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Regent Seven Seas Seas Cruises — NCLH's $73,500 ultra-luxury 4 ½-month cruiseThe Seven Seas Mariner in Kotor, Montenegro. AzamaraAzamara's sold-out 2024 world cruise departed on January 5 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Silversea's fares started at $66,000 per person for the least expensive vista suite, cheaper than Regent Seven Seas' cruise of the same length. AdvertisementPrincess Cruises — Carnival Corp's almost four-month $21,100 vacationPrincess Cruises says its 2024 world cruise guests will have an overnight in Dubai and the opportunity to see 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Holland America Line — the four-month roundtrip Florida cruiseThe Zuiderdam's world cruise itinerary includes overnights in places like Tokyo and Aqaba, Jordan.

Persons: —, TikTok, Royal, it's, Fares, Azamara, Taj, Azamara Azamara's, Leo Caldas, Cunard, Queen Mary 2, Queen Mary, Queen Victoria, Mary 2, Southhampton, Jennifer Gauthier, would've Organizations: Service, Royal, Business, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Regent Seven Seas, Seas, Regent Seven, Seven Seas Mariner, Cruises —, Getty, San, Cruises, UNESCO, Heritage, Princess, Carnival Corp, Seabourn, Fares, Corp's, Cunard, Holland America Line, Reuters, Holland, Holland America Locations: New York City, Sydney, Australia, Los Angeles, Norwegian, Hawaii, Islands, New Zealand, Asia, East, Europe, Canada, Yangon, Myanmar, Reykjavik, Iceland, Kotor, Montenegro, Miami, Central America, Islands , New Zealand, Bermuda, Oceania, Giza, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Central, South America, Barcelona, Caribbean, AFP, San Francisco, Southeast, East Asia, Alaska, Dubai, Africa, Piraeus, Greece, Athens, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Jordan, Cairns, Honolulu, Queen, York City, Aruba, North America, Holland, Florida, Tokyo, Aqaba, Holland America

Travelers are looking to cruises in 2024 because they are still cheaper than land-based alternatives. With occupancy levels approaching pre-pandemic levels, operators plan to hike prices in coming months. "Overall the market is extremely strong, especially the top end of the market in terms of the most high-end luxury cruises," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of cruise marketplace Cruise Compete. Even as travelers have canceled or postponed planned vacations to the Middle East, cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024, said Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes. Prior to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, industry-wide bookings for 2024 were about 25% higher than in 2019 for bookings in 2020.

Persons: Queen Mary, Andrew Kelly, Bob Levinstein, Patrick Scholes, Scholes, Jason Liberty, Josh Weinstein, Atle, Kari Dillon, Dillon, InteleTravel, Dave Spinelli, Ben Harrell, Granth, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Cunard Line, Carnival Corporation & plc, Brooklyn Cruise, REUTERS, Travelers, Truist Securities, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean, Liberty ., Holdings, Cruisers, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn , New York City, U.S, BENGALURU, Israel, Caribbean, Oslo, North Carolina, Florida, InteleTravel, Delray Beach , Florida, Royal Caribbean, Bengaluru, Doyinsola, New York

☆ Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians rush to flee Nagorno-Karabakh
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh region ride in the back of a truck as they arrive in the border village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. The hairpin mountain road snaking out of Karabakh towards Armenia was choked with people. There were conflicting details about the toll of the blast but the ethnic Armenian authorities said at least 68 had been killed, 105 were missing and nearly 300 were injured. "The Secretary urged President Aliyev to commit to broad amnesty and allow an international observer mission into Nagorno-Karabakh," Miller said. "President Ilham Aliyev underlined that respective activities are underway to ensure the rights of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region," it said.

Persons: Irakli, GORIS, Vera Petrosyan, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Antony Blinken, Azerbaijan's Aliyev, Matthew Miller, Aliyev, Miller, Blinken, Guy Faulconbridge, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Soviet Union, Reuters, Armenian, West, Thomson Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Kornidzor, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Soviet South Caucasus, South Caucasus, Soviet, Askeran, Russia, United States, Turkey, Iran, Moscow

Thailand's central bank is seen at the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. Despite inflation in Thailand edging up slightly to 0.88% in August, it remained below the central bank's 1-3% target range for a fourth consecutive month, suggesting little need for the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to continue hiking. A strong majority of economists in a Sept. 18-22 poll, 21 of 27, expected the BOT to keep its benchmark one-day repurchase rate (THCBIR=ECI) at 2.25% on Wednesday. None expected the central bank to raise interest rates at the following meeting in November. Median forecasts showed interest rates remaining at 2.25% through next year.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, Lavanya Venkateswaran, Aris, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Devayani Sathyan, Jonathan Cable, Kim Coghill Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Bank of Thailand, Aris Dacanay, HSBC, Thomson Locations: Bank of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, BENGALURU, China, ASEAN

☆ Eighty years on, Italian victims of Nazi crimes finally to get compensation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Crispian Balmer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A study funded by the German government and published in 2016 estimated that 22,000 Italians were victims of Nazi war crimes, including up to 8,000 Jews deported to death camps. However, it did not offer reparations for war crimes. "They didn't look at war crimes and this was a mistake. In 1994, a cupboard was found in the offices of Rome's military prosecutors packed with files documenting hundreds of war crimes that had never been prosecuted. In 2012, the International Court of Justice backed Berlin, but Italian courts continued to hear compensation cases, saying no limit could be imposed on war crimes.

Persons: Crispian Balmer, Mauro Petrarca, Domenico Lancellotta, Giulio Disegni, Lucio Olivieri, Petrarca, Mario Draghi, Disegni, Fornelli, Giovanni Tedeschi, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Nazis, International Court of Justice, Union of Italian Jewish, Allied, Rome, Nazi, Berlin, PRIDE, Italian Treasury, Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Fornelli, Molise, Italy, Germany, Berlin, Rome

They said that the state law, signed by Republican Governor Brad Little in March, illegally discriminates on the basis of gender identity and violates students' right to privacy. Idaho's bathroom bill allows students to sue schools for $5,000 if they encounter a transgender student in a bathroom the law forbids. That effectively puts a "bounty" on transgender students and encourages others to search them out, the lawsuit said. The new law says schools must provide a "reasonable accommodation" for transgender students unwilling or unable to use their assigned bathroom. Federal courts have been divided on school policies requiring transgender students to use the restroom corresponding to their birth sex, with the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S.

Persons: Queen Mary, Stephane Mahe, David Nye, Peter Renn of, Raul Labrador, Rebecca Roe, Brad Little, Brendan Pierson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Justice, REUTERS, U.S, District, Peter Renn of Lambda, Republican, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Brittany's, Rennes, France, Idaho, Richmond , Virginia, Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, New York

☆ Netflix earnings showcase strength as the rest of the media industry struggles
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)The main takeaway from Netflix 's second quarter earnings is business is ... good. Netflix added 1.2 million subscribers in the United States and Canada in the quarter — its largest regional quarterly gain since 2021. This is not the story for the rest of the media industry. That means Netflix will actually have even more cash than it previously expected. Next quarter, Netflix forecast subscriber gains will be about 6 million again.

Persons: Netflix Ted Sarandos, Charley Gallay Organizations: Netflix, Raleigh Studios Hollywood, Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount Global, Comcast Locations: ANGELES , CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles , California, United States, Canada

☆ Euro zone slips into recession after Germany, Ireland revisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The revision was principally due to a second estimate from Germany's statistics office showing that the euro zone's largest economy was in recession in early 2023. The euro zone figure for the fourth quarter of 2022 was also cut to -0.1% from a previous reading of zero. Capital Economics said the outlook for the euro zone economy was poor, with a contraction likely again in the second quarter as the impact of higher interest rates fed through. Eurostat said that household spending stripped 0.1 percentage points, public expenditure 0.3 points and inventory changes 0.4 points from quarterly GDP. Gross fixed capital formation added 0.1 points and net trade a further 0.7 points as imports declined.

Persons: Gross, Philip Blenkinsop, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Gross, Eurostat, Reuters, Economics, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Ireland, BRUSSELS, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia

☆ This couple are riding around the world with three rescue dogs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But other than a “couple of cruises,” Janell and Stu Clarke, both from Australia, had barely traveled beyond their home country nearly a decade later. I was waiting until my obligation with the navy had ended.”Ultimate road tripAustralian couple Janell and Stu Clarke are riding around the world on motorcycles with three rescue dogs. The couple purchased two motorbikes, Janell went for a 2006 BMW F650GS, while Stu opted for a 2012 G650GS, while in Texas. “We were surrounded by people who were trying their best to help us and care for Skyla,” says Janell. Now, after setting off from Australia with one dog, Janell and Stu are preparing to finish their trip almost 10 years later with three entirely different dogs.

Persons: CNN —, Janell, Stu Clarke, Stu, ”, “, it’s, Skyla, ’, ‘, ’ ” Janell, they’d, Mary, ” Janell, We’ve, they’ve, That’s, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Australian, BMW, “, Southampton, Azra Locations: Australia, Skyla, Dallas , Texas, Texas, Belize, Mexico, Janell, Central America, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, South America, Venezuela, Colombia, Bogota, Colombian, Ecuador, Turkey, Europe, Morocco, West Africa, South Africa, “ Africa, Egypt, Portugal, Eastern Europe, ”, South East Asia, “

☆ Southern Europe braces for climate change-fuelled summer of drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

As climate change makes the region hotter and drier, years of consecutive drought have depleted groundwater reserves. CLIMATE CHANGE TRENDSouthern Europe is not alone in suffering severe water shortages this year. The Horn of Africa is enduring its worst drought in decades, while a historic drought in Argentina has hammered soy and corn crops. "In terms of the climate change signal, it very much fits with what we're expecting," said Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts at Newcastle University. Some 90% of the mainland is suffering from drought, with severe drought affecting one-fifth of the country - nearly five times the area reported a year earlier.

☆ OECD hikes growth outlook, but warns recovery fragile
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After growth last year of 3.2%, the world economy is on course to expand 2.6% as central bank tightening takes full effect, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its interim economic outlook. The Paris-based organisation raised its forecast for global growth from 2.2% in its last Economic Outlook in November, citing a decline in energy and food prices and China's easing of its anti-COVID restrictions. Setting aside turmoil in financial markets following SVB's failure and continued worries about Swiss lender Credit Suisse, the European Central Bank hiked interest rates by a further half percentage point on Thursday to fight inflation. The OECD forecast that U.S. economic growth would slow from 1.5% this year to 0.9% next year as higher interest rates cooled demand. The OECD had previously forecast 0.5% and 1.4% growth respectively.

☆ Thai c.bank to raise rates 25 bps, tourism to bolster growth: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Devayani Sathyan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Unlike its neighbours in Malaysia and Indonesia, The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is expected to keep tightening policy for awhile longer. Twenty-one of 23 economists polled by Reuters expected the BOT to raise its benchmark one-day repurchase rate (THCBIR=ECI) by 25 basis points (bps) to 1.50% on Jan. 25. This gives the BOT room to continue hiking rates, to continue anchoring inflation expectations." The poll median showed the central bank would then raise borrowing costs by another 25 bps, taking it to 2.00% by end-September. "The combination of improving growth prospects and still-elevated inflation gives the central bank room to continue reducing policy accommodation."

☆ Malaysia central bank to hike rates to 3.00% on Thursday: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Sujith Pai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) became in May last year one of the first Asian central banks to hike rates in the current cycle and has added a cumulative 100 basis points. Median forecasts in the poll showed inflation to average 3.0% this year, an upgrade from the 2.8% predicted in October. All but one of 27 economists in the Jan. 10-16 Reuters poll forecast the central bank to hike its overnight policy rate (MYINTR=ECI) to 3.00%, where it was before the pandemic, at its meeting on Jan. 19. While a slim majority of respondents, 13 of 24, expected rates to still be 3.00% at end-March, 10 of them had a 3.25% forecast. Nearly 60% of economists, 14 of 24, expected rates to reach 3.25% or above by end-June, a quarter point higher from a November poll.

☆ U.S. EPA tightens soot standards for first time in decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Valerie Volcovici | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Fine particulate matter, or soot, comes from sources ranging from power plants to cars and trucks. It causes lung and heart damage and has been found to disproportionately affect low-income communities, according to EPA. "Fine particulate matter is both deadly and extremely costly," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters, adding the decision was "based on sound science and a rigorous evaluation of the data that we have at hand." The EPA said it would also take public comment on revising the level to as low as 8 µg/m3, and as high as 11 µg/m3. The EPA also opted to retain the current primary 24-hour PM 2.5 standard of 35 µg/m3, despite a CASAC recommendation to lower that number to 25 µg/m3.

☆ German inflation slows in December on one-off energy payment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Miranda Murray | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A one-off payment for household energy bills in December, part of government efforts to shield consumers, had a downward effect on prices, according to the statistics office. Energy prices eased somewhat in December but were still up 24.4% compared with the same period last year, while food prices had increased by 20.7%, according to the office. Germany's full-year harmonized inflation rate jumped to 8.7% in 2022 from 3.2% a year earlier, said the statistics office. "Core inflation remains the number one inflation scourge for the time being," he added, referring to a measure that excludes volatile food and energy costs. Commerzbank chief economist Joerg Kraemer also warned that core inflation had risen further and said the European Central Bank's "hesitant approach" means high inflation will stick around, despite energy relief measures.

☆ Bank Negara Malaysia set to hike for fourth time in a row on Nov. 3 - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) started raising rates in May even though inflation was within its target range of 2%-3%. It has since hiked rates by 75 basis points to keep inflation in check. All but two of 27 economists in the Oct. 25-31 poll predicted BNM would hike its overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% from 2.50% at its Nov. 3 meeting. While 13 of 18 penciled in a 25 basis point hike in Q1, three said 50 basis points. The median forecast showed the overnight policy rate would remain at 3.00% until at least the end of next year.

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