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☆ ‘The Love Boat’: How a TV show transformed the cruise industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

‘Greatest product placement’"The Love Boat" centered around the adventures of the crew and passenger on board a luxury cruise ship. “‘The Love Boat’ really created the cruise industry,” Michael L. Grace, who worked as a scriptwriter on the program during the 1980s, told CNN Travel in 2022. During the 1980s, almost 40 new cruise ships were constructed, including Tropicale, from Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Princess, Princess Cruises’ first purpose-built cruise ship. Princess Cruises“The Love Boat” may also have played a part in the heavy entertainment focus we see on modern-day cruise ships. Outlandish musical performances were often featured on “The Love Boat,” and they proved to be a big hit with viewers.

Persons: we’re, Aaron Spelling, Princess Cruise, Jeraldine Saunders, “, Merrill Stubing, Gavin MacLeod, ” Michael L, Grace, Princess, Caribbean's, ”, Carolyn Spencer Brown, Captain Stubing, Adam Bricker, Bernie Kopell, Julie McCoy, Lauren Tewes, Isaac Washington, Ted Lange, Vicki, Jill Whelan, ” Grace, Everett, Peter Knego, Spencer Brown, Dittrich, Keen, Cruises ’, Princess “, Cruises, Della Reese, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller, Judi Patterson, Andy, Oriana, Patterson, Greer Garson, Howard Duff, Jill Whelan –, Princess Cruises – Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Ezra Freeman, he’s, ” MacLeod, Joe Raedle, Caribbean’s, Isaac, Ted Lange's, Bret Hartman, Knego, ” Spencer Brown, ” Whelan, Cruise Organizations: CNN, Paramount Plus, Princess Cruises, Princess, Everett, CNN Travel, Cruise Media, Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Entertainment, CBS, Knego, “, Disney Cruise, world’s, Princess Cruises Pacific Locations: Mexico, Royal Caribbean, India, New York, Canada, New England

[1/4] Carla and Claudia Victoria, transgender women, sit inside the Blessed Immaculate Virgin Church in Torvaianica, near Rome, Italy, November 16, 2023. But for transgender women who live there it had seemed light years away until a rapprochement with the Catholic Church that began during the COVID-19 lockdown and led to an invitation to have lunch with Pope Francis on Sunday. Claudia Victoria Salas, 55, and Carla Segovia, 46, both Argentinian, were in a group of transgender people, among about 1,200 poor and homeless people, who attended the lunch on the Church's World Day of the poor. As well as sending money, the cardinal arranged for them to have COVID vaccinations in the Vatican and to meet the pope. On Sunday, Conocchia arrived at the Vatican on a bus with about 50 poor from his parish, including transgender people, both foreign born and Italian.

Persons: Carla, Claudia Victoria, Antonio Denti, Pope Francis, Claudia Victoria Salas, Carla Segovia, Salas, Francis, Father Andrea Conocchia, Conocchia, " Salas, Segovia, Philip Pullella, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Immaculate Virgin Church, REUTERS, VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Immaculate, Thomson Locations: Torvaianica, Rome, Italy, VATICAN

☆ Italy's Transgender Women Thank Pope for Making Them Feel 'More Human'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

But for transgender women who live there it had seemed light years away until a rapprochement with the Catholic Church that began during the COVID-19 lockdown and led to an invitation to have lunch with Pope Francis on Sunday. Last week, the Vatican's doctrinal office issued a statement saying transgender people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves. As well as sending money, the cardinal arranged for them to have COVID vaccinations in the Vatican and to meet the pope. "For us, he is our saint," Salas said of Conocchia last week. On Sunday, Conocchia arrived at the Vatican on a bus with about 50 poor from his parish, including transgender people, both foreign born and Italian.

Persons: Oriana Boselli, Antonio Denti, Philip Pullella TORVAIANICA, Pope Francis, Claudia Victoria Salas, Carla Segovia, Salas, Francis, Father Andrea Conocchia, Conocchia, " Salas, Segovia, Philip Pullella, Barbara Lewis Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Immaculate Locations: Italy, VATICAN, Torvaianica

☆ Lion Sleeps It off After Saturday Stroll Through Italian Town
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LADISPOLI, Italy (Reuters) - A lion that escaped from an Italian circus has been taking well-deserved naps to recover from a Saturday night out in the seaside town of Ladispoli that sparked panic before authorities managed to recapture him. The adult lion, named "Kimba", escaped from the "Rony Roller" circus on Saturday afternoon and was on the loose for around seven hours before he was sedated with an aesthetic dart. Footage and pictures, some taken by locals, went viral and showed the lion roaming around the town streets, skirting houses and fences, and standing in front of a carabinieri police car. Local authorities are investigating how the lion managed to get out of its metal enclosure. In a Facebook post on Monday, local mayor Alessandro Grando wrote that he would ask council experts to check if there were legal grounds to revoke the permits for the "Rony Roller" circus.

Persons: Rony Vassallo, Alessandro Grando, Giuseppe Altavilla, Cristiano Corvino, Roberto Mignucci, Oriana Boselli, Federico Maccioni, Keith Weir Organizations: carabinieri, Reuters Locations: LADISPOLI, Italy, Ladispoli, Ladipsoli

☆ Lion sleeps it off after Saturday stroll through Italian town
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LADISPOLI, Italy, Nov 13 (Reuters) - A lion that escaped from an Italian circus has been taking well-deserved naps to recover from a Saturday night out in the seaside town of Ladispoli that sparked panic before authorities managed to recapture him. The adult lion, named "Kimba", escaped from the "Rony Roller" circus on Saturday afternoon and was on the loose for around seven hours before he was sedated with an aesthetic dart. Local authorities are investigating how the lion managed to get out of its metal enclosure. A lion that escaped from a circus near Rome is seen in front of a house before it was captured and sedated to be brought back to "Rony Roller" Circus, November 11, 2023. In a Facebook post on Monday, local mayor Alessandro Grando wrote that he would ask council experts to check if there were legal grounds to revoke the permits for the "Rony Roller" circus.

Persons: Rony Vassallo, Alessandro Grando, Giuseppe Altavilla, Cristiano Corvino, Roberto Mignucci, Oriana Boselli, Federico Maccioni, Keith Weir Organizations: carabinieri, Carabinieri Military Police, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LADISPOLI, Italy, Ladispoli, Rome, Ladipsoli

☆ Biden and Xi will sign a deal to keep AI out of control systems for nuclear weapons: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China's President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden will meet this week. They're expected to agree to limit the use of AI in nuclear weapons, a report said. AdvertisementAdvertisementUS President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are set to sign a deal limiting the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear weapon control systems, according to The South China Morning Post. Biden and Xi will pledge a deal limiting the use of AI in autonomous weaponry, such as drones, as well as the systems used for the control and deployment of nuclear warheads, the report said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked last week about prospects the US and China could come to some understanding about keeping AI in nuclear weapons.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, They're, —, Xi, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Stanford University's Freeman, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, South China Morning Post, Economic Cooperation, White, Stanford, Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Locations: China, Asia, San Francisco, Ukraine, Russian, Israel, Beijing, Gaza, Hague, Bletchley Park, Japan

☆ As Biden and Xi gear up for a high-stakes meeting, experts have low expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Senior U.S. administration officials detailed a handful of agenda items during a briefing with reporters. "We're not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables," a senior administration official told reporters. Even in recent days, Chinese officials were hesitant to confirm that Xi would attend the meeting with Biden. Biden and Xi's meeting also comes in the lead-up to Taiwan's 2024 presidential election in January, followed by the U.S. election. "We've been clear publicly and privately that interference in the Taiwan election is something we're extremely concerned about," a senior administration official said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Colleen Cottle, Jude Blanchette, They've, Thomas Fingar, Fingar, Biden, Wang Wenbin, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Ely Ratner, Ratner, We've, we've, Li Shangfu, Li, David Sacks, Sacks, Xi's Organizations: Global China, Atlantic Council, Senior, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Stanford University, National Intelligence Council, White, U.S ., American Enterprise Institute, NBC News, Defense, Biden, China, Council, Foreign Relations, U.S, Washington Locations: Nusa Dua, Indonesian, Bali, U.S, China, Taiwan Strait, South China, San Francisco, People's Republic of China, Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. "This is going to overshadow anything that happens at APEC," said Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Stanford University China expert. Biden will welcome other APEC leaders - including from Vietnam, the Philippines, Canada and Mexico - and both he and Xi will be playing to the gallery. "Our door is open to any country or economy facing PRC (People's Republic of China) economic coercive threats," Melanie Hart, a senior China policy adviser at the State Department, said on Monday. That would include "companies flocking to meet with Xi Jinping and have dinner with him," he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Xi, Biden, Victor Cha, Washington, Matthew Goodman, Goodman, Janet Yellen, Melanie Hart, Donald Trump, Jude Blanchette, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, Laurie Chen, Michelle Nichols, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, San, Economic Cooperation, U.S, APEC, Stanford University China, Biden, Beijing, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, China, Protesters, White, Treasury, Washington, People's, State Department, Pew Research, Prosperity, CSIS, Thomson Locations: Bali , Indonesia, San Francisco, Asia, Bali, Beijing, China, China . U.S, Washington, Taiwan, South China, Vietnam, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, U.S, People's Republic of China

☆ Pope Says Nagorno-Karabakh Experiencing a Humanitarian Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia to restore peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that the region was experiencing a humanitarian crisis. "I have been following the dramatic situation of the displaced people in Nagorno-Karabakh in recent days and I renew my call for dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, hoping that talks between the parties... will foster a lasting agreement that will put an end to the humanitarian crisis," the pope said during his Sunday prayer. More than 100,000 refugees have arrived in Armenia since Azerbaijan's military operation to retake control of Nagorno-Karabakh, the United Nations said on Saturday. The pope also said he was praying for the victims of the explosion at a fuel depot near the city of Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh. (Reporting by Francesca Landini and Oriana Boselli; writing by Francesca Landini; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Persons: Pope Francis, Francesca Landini, Oriana Boselli, Hugh Lawson Organizations: VATICAN CITY, United Nations Locations: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Stepanakert

Matilde and Angelica navigate unique... Read moreROME, July 17 (Reuters) - Teenage sisters Matilde and Angelica Aureli, who have albinism, face unique challenges in Italy's sweltering temperatures, and must take extra care to protect their fair complexions and delicate eyesight. Albinism is a genetic condition characterised by a lack of the protective pigment melanin in the hair, skin and eyes. Beatrice Gueli, the mother of the Aureli sisters, said her daughters need to have regular skin checks. Italian authorities have issued red alerts for 16 cities, including Rome, with a new heatwave set to begin on July 15. According to the United Nations, 1 in 5,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 20,000 people in Europe and North America have albinism.

Persons: Matilde, Angelica Aureli, Angelica, Read, Beatrice Gueli, it's, Antonio Denti, Oriana Boselli, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: United Nations, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, ROME, Italy's, Sicily, Saharan Africa, Europe, North America

☆ Chicago Suburb Pays Reparations to Black Residents in a ‘Test Run for the Whole Country’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Joe Barrett | Photographs Oriana Koren For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ In Chicago, Volunteers Help Migrants Sleeping in Police Stations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Joe Barrett | Photographs Oriana Koren For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-chicago-volunteers-help-migrants-sleeping-in-police-stations-339fcc37

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: chicago

[1/6] Mehmet Ali Fakioglu arrives by bus from Istanbul to Hatay to vote during Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections, in Hatay, Turkey May 14, 2023. But as he prepared to cast his ballot, he voiced criticism of the state's slow response to the disaster in which more than 50,000 people were killed. We were forgotten, all of us, on that day, the second day even on the third day. Critics and earthquake survivors have accused Erdogan's government of both a slow response and lax enforcement of building rules - failures they said cost lives. He said around 1.5 million people had left the quake zone, only a portion of whom had registered new addresses for the purpose of voting.

☆ What the voters say as Turkey votes in landmark elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Deniz Uyar | Oriana Boselli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

ISTANBUL/ANTAKYA, Turkey, May 14 (Reuters) - Here are some views from Turkish citizens as their country voted on Sunday in elections that could extend President Tayyip Erdogan's rule into a third decade or see a transfer of power to his main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. I don't think it will go to a runoff," said school staff member Hasibe, 40, in the school where Erdogan voted on the Asian side of the city. I chose democracy and I hope that my country chooses democracy. "Of course, there are good things (Erdogan) did, but lately, they started to look down on and insult the nation. As you can see, even in elections, votes are being cast in ballot boxes outside," said school teacher Behzat Oz.

☆ Faced with tougher U.S. policy, migrants in Mexico pin hopes on asylum app
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Migrants seeking asylum in the U.S., gather on the Matamoros-Brownsville International Border bridge, in Matamoros, Mexico May 12, 2023. Now, she is trying another way she hopes will be easier: the U.S. asylum app. "It's much better," Silva said on Thursday at the border, scrolling through a WhatsApp chat with tips about the app known as CBP One. Under the COVID-era order, U.S. officials could immediately expel migrants back to Mexico, blocking them from requesting asylum. Alongside her, two young men from Venezuela said they were also going to seek asylum appointments on the CBP One app.

☆ There is 'no situation' where Taiwan can defend itself against China the way Ukraine has fought against Russia, says APAC security expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan can't fight off China alone, even if it gets NATO weapons, said an APAC security expert. There's "no situation" where Taiwan can pull off its own defense like Ukraine has, she said. Taipei's game plan will rely on holding out so the US can arrive, she told The Washington Post. "Taiwan has to be able to hold out long enough for the United States to get enough forces in theater," Mastro told the outlet. And US forces would be significantly delayed if war does break out over the Taiwan Strait, she added.

☆ Pope Francis leaves hospital, saying 'I'm still alive'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Remo Casilli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, April 1 (Reuters) - Pope Francis left hospital and returned to the Vatican on Saturday after being treated for bronchitis, making light of his illness by saying: "I'm still alive you know". Looking to show he was fully recovered, Francis got out of his car before leaving left the hospital grounds, using a walking stick to support himself. Before getting back into the car, Francis embraced a sobbing mother, whose young daughter had died overnight in the hospital, and then prayed with both the parents. Asked by reporters if he had been afraid during his hospital stay, the pope said: "No, afraid no." [1/6] Pope Francis rides in a car near the Vatican after having been discharged from Gemelli hospital in Rome, Italy, April 1, 2023.

☆ U.S.-sanctioned general to become public face of China's growing military
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Greg Torode | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In 2016, Li was named deputy commander of the PLA's then-new Strategic Support Force - an elite body tasked with accelerating the development of China's space and cyber warfare capabilities. He was then appointed head of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), China's governing defence body, headed by President Xi Jinping. Some security scholars note the sanctions - while not a deal-breaker for future meetings - add a potential complication, and could provide China's military leadership with leverage. Li's term at the Central Military Commission has highlighted his ties to Xi, who has strengthened his grip across the military. Some scholars believe Li has close ties to Zhang Youxia, a close military ally of Xi, whom Li replaced as head of the department.

For startup founders and venture capitalists, the office holiday party is a December tradition. For many venture capitalists and the startup founders they invest in, December is synonymous with two things: end-of-year paperwork and office holiday parties. But this year, holiday parties in startup-land look a little different. "Align those goals with your holiday party, and you can do something powerful and cost-effective," she said. "You should maybe cut some travel, maybe you don't have a big holiday party, but that's all drop in the bucket compared to head count," he said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. the person said, adding that the calls would connect but Chinese officials wouldn't pick up. Based on a long-standing practice, faxes continue to be exchanged between two semi-official organisations that handle routine affairs: Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. The council told Reuters that while Chinese officials do not reply directly, they have handled Taiwanese requests when needed or responded through public statements. China this year labeled Tsai's administration "evil" while Taiwan called China "incredibly absurd".

Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in person on Monday for the first time since taking office, with U.S. concerns over Taiwan, Russia's war in Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear ambitions on top of his agenda. Biden and Xi, who have held five phone or video calls since Biden became president in January 2021, last met in person during the Obama administration. Xi's government has also criticized the Biden administration's posture toward Taiwan as undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Biden will also discuss Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and plans to be "unapologetic" in his defence of Ukraine, U.S. officials said last week. Biden will also warn Xi that North Korea's continued pursuit of weapons development will lead to an enhanced U.S. military presence in the region, the White House said.

☆ CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour declined to wear a head scarf in front of Iran's president, walking away from the interview amid ongoing hijab protests over the death of Mahsa Amini
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CNN's Christiane Amanpour walked away from a long-anticipated interview with Iran's president. The anchor "politely declined" to wear a head scarf since the interview took place on US soil. Her decision follows a history of women journalists declining to wear the clothing for interviews. On Twitter, Amanpour said that Raisi was late to the interview in New York and received a last-minute request to wear a head scarf from one of the president's aides. Amanpour's case is not the first time a reporter declined to wear clothing that is compulsory for women in Iran.

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