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HUNTINGTON BEACH, California, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle (EV) maker Fisker Inc (FSR.N) unveiled a pickup truck on Thursday, weeks after starting deliveries of its flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV) and as it tackles persistent supply chain issues. Fisker aims to make a mark in the crowded EV market with lower-priced vehicles that still have high-design sensibility. Fisker said Alaska, reservations for which opened on Thursday, would be built on the same platform as its Ocean SUV. Fisker, which uses contract manufacturing for its vehicles, aims to keep cost of production as well as vehicle prices low. While the Ocean SUV starts at $37,499, its smaller Pear SUV, which was also unveiled on Thursday, is priced at $29,990.

Persons: Henrik Fisker, Fisker, Tesla, We're, Lisa Baertlein, Abhirup Roy, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Fisker Inc, Reuters, Ford, Thomson Locations: HUNTINGTON BEACH , California, Alaska, Huntington Beach , California, Huntington Beach, San Francisco

REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci/File PhotoAug 3 (Reuters) - Thousands of UPS workers will start voting on their tentative contract agreement with the delivery giant on Thursday after local leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters endorsed the union's deal earlier this week. The tentative deal covering 340,000 Teamsters-represented workers at United Parcel Service (UPS.N) averted a threatened strike that could have wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy by disrupting about a quarter of the nation's parcel shipments. Leaders from Teamsters locals oversee messaging and "sell" the deal to members, who vote through Aug. 22. The tentative deal would raise it to $21 from the current $16.20. It remains to be seen whether the group can mobilize enough part-timers, who account for about half of UPS workers.

Persons: Peter Lyngso, Jose Negrete, Negrete, Lyngso, Lisa Baertlein, Susan Heavey Organizations: Parcel Service, Teamsters, REUTERS, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Parcel Service, Monday, Leaders, UPS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Orange , California, Washington, Chicago, Anaheim , California, Louisville , Kentucky, Los Angeles

☆ Burned by the European heat, travelers are seeking new destinations this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

'Scandi summer' trendInterest in visiting the Mediterranean dropped by 10% from June to November this year, according to data published by the European Travel Commission. watch nowA "Scandi summer" trend is evident among summer home renters too, according to Expedia Group. Shifts in SpainSpain is the most popular travel destination in the European Travel Commission's poll of more than 6,000 European travelers. A spring poll of more than 6,000 European travelers showed the No. 1 reason for choosing a travel destination was "pleasant weather conditions," according to the European Travel Commission.

Persons: Tom Marchant, Marchant, Evia, Will Vassilopoulos, Cynthia Nerangis, Peter Tomlinson, Tomlinson, InsureMyTrip, hasn't Organizations: CNBC, European Travel Commission, Expedia Group, Expedia, Costa de Cantabria, Afp, Getty, National Parks, Swiss, Istock, Travelers, LemonLime, CNBC Travel Locations: Europe, London, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Scandinavia, Swedish, Skane, Blekinge, Edinburgh, Scotland, Riga, Latvia, Tallinn, Estonia, Smaland, Tenerife, Rimini, Spain Spain, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Mallorca, Costa Verde, Costa de, Basque, Greece, Rhodes, Corfu, Lofoten, Croatian, Canada, U.S, Slovenia, Italy, Puglia, Sicily, North Africa, Austrian, Lucerne, Solden, Switzerland, Morocco, Marrakech, France, Athens, Crete

☆ Phoenix just endured the hottest month for any US city as historic heat streak comes to an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jennifer Gray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But the heat is far from over for Phoenix and millions of others across the Central US. Tuesday’s high temperature was 108 degrees in Phoenix, or 2 degrees above average. It wasn’t just high temperatures breaking records: The city also set a new record warm low temperature of 97 degrees during the streak. It's official, this July was the hottest month in Phoenix on record, with an average temperature of 102.7°F. The fear of a surge in heat-related deaths prompted the Maricopa County medical examiner to bring in 10 refrigerated containers last week to handle a possible overflow of bodies.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Ryan Worley, ould, iver, orth Organizations: CNN, Phoenix, Arizona State, National Weather Service, ust Locations: Phoenix, uman

☆ Epic OneWater Brew: The beer made from recycled shower water
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

More states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Washington, are in the process of updating their water reuse regulations. In 2017, two California-based brewers produced limited-edition beers made from recycled water, to serve at local events. “When I got into the water industry, there was a lot of often-repeated tropes that the general public was just not ready for recycled water,” he says. There’s a mental perception that recycled water is not as clean as other sources of water. “You’re going to start hearing a lot more about a lot of different industries using recycled water for their products.

Persons: ”, Aaron Tartakovsky, Germany —, it’s, ” Tartakovsky, “, Cleantec, Tartakovsky, David Sedlak, Sedlak, Daniel McCurry, McCurry, “ You’re Organizations: CNN, Berkeley Water Center, University of California, Civil, Environmental Engineering, University of Southern Locations: San Francisco, Germany, California, Texas, Arizona , Colorado , Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Southern California, Singapore, Australia, Berkeley, University of Southern California, San Diego

Yellow's demise underscores the shift in the U.S. trucking industry from too few trucks and truck drivers during the pandemic to too many today. Most U.S. trucking companies have about 20% spare capacity in their networks, Stifel analyst Bruce Chan said in a client note on Monday. Yellow struggled for more than a decade after loading up on debt from acquisitions of rival trucking firms Roadway and USF. Still, it is not good news for Yellow's customers, which likely will face double-digit price increases when they turn that business over to companies, Chan said. "If you weren't prepared for this, it's probably a pretty tough day for you," Adamo said of Yellow's customers.

Persons: Bruce Chan, Chan, Stifel's Chan, Donald Trump, Ken Adamo, it's, Adamo, Lisa Baertlein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Yellow Corp, Walmart, Teamsters, Forward, TFI, FedEx Freight, Dominion, Apollo Global Management, Analytics, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, USF, Los Angeles

That risk has been put under the spotlight by the burning car carrier drifting off the Dutch coast. While all logistics companies deal with the risk of EV lithium-ion batteries burning with twice the energy of a normal fire, the maritime industry hasn't kept up with the developing technology and how it creates greater risk, maritime officials and insurers said. There were 209 ship fires reported during 2022, the highest number in a decade and 17% more than in 2021, according to a report from insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) (ALVG.DE). The European Maritime Safety Agency said in a March report the main cargo types identified as responsible for "a large share of cargo fire accidents included ... lithium-ion batteries." Firemen typically put out EV battery fires on roadsides by clearing the area around the burning vehicle and flooding the underside with water, something difficult to do on a RoRo, Dillon said.

Persons: hasn't, EVs, Shoei, Nathan Habers, Douglas Dillon, John Frazee, Marsh, Dillon, Frazee, KVNR's Habers, Joe Biden's, Lisa Baertlein, Anthony Deutsch, Victoria Waldersee, Ben Klayman, Diane Craft Organizations: Allianz, ANGELES, Dutch coastguard, RTL, Allianz Global Corporate, Specialty, Maritime Safety Agency, Royal Association of Netherlands, Tri, Maritime Safety Association, Auto, Firemen, EV, International Maritime Organization, Reuters, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Dutch, EVs, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, China, Europe, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Berlin

Of course, that nickname started with his mother, who called her middle son by his initials, he said in an interview before the UPS deal was announced. O'Brien had warned UPS ahead of the deal not to "go down the road of being greedy, being more loyal to Wall Street than Main Street." O'Brien crisscrossed the country in the weeks ahead of a threatened UPS strike on Aug. 1, fortifying Teamster members' resolve with "practice" pickets and profanity-punctuated speeches. Nelson cheered on O'Brien after the UPS deal in a statement, calling the right to strike the "only countervailing force to capitalism that is otherwise unchecked ... UPS workers have until Aug. 22 to vote on the tentative deal.

Persons: Sean O'Brien, O'Brien, Steven Tolman, John Logan, Shawn Fain, Sara Nelson, Nelson, ROLLBACKS O'Brien, Steve Striffler, We've, Lisa Baertlein, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Teamsters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Parcel Service, UPS, Workers, Unions, San Francisco State University, United Auto Workers, of Flight, Boston Local, company, University of Massachusetts, Boston Labor Resource Center, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, Massachusetts, Los Angeles

July 24 (Reuters) - FedEx pilots have rejected a tentative contract deal with the parcel delivery firm and the two sides will reopen negotiations, likely under the supervision of the National Mediation Board, the company and the pilots' union said on Monday. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) did not detail the reasons why members voted 57% to 43% to reject the deal. "Our members have spoken and we will now regroup," Captain Chris Norman, FedEx ALPA chair, said in a statement. The tentative FedEx deal included a 30% pay increase and a 30% increase to the pilots' legacy pensions. American Airlines (AAL.O) and the Allied Pilots Association are revising their tentative deal following the United agreement.

Persons: Chris Norman, Priyamvada, Lisa Baertlein, Devika Syamnath, Susan Heavey, Hugh Lawson Organizations: FedEx, National Mediation Board, Air Line Pilots Association, United Airlines, ALPA, American Airlines, Allied Pilots Association, United Parcel Service, UPS, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Los Angeles

☆ Deadly extreme heat is on the rise in national parks – a growing risk for America’s great outdoors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Eric Zerkel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

More people are suspected to have died since June 1 from heat-related causes in national parks than an average entire year, according to park service press releases and preliminary National Park Service data provided to CNN. Ground zero for extreme heat deathsAll of this year’s suspected heat-related deaths took place in just three national parks: Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Big Bend. Heat risk and damage to national parks will only increase if unabated carbon pollution continues, Gonzalez said. That’s changing the personal risk calculus for summer recreation now and in the future in increasingly hotter national parks. Ronda Churchill/AFP/Getty ImagesPersonal responsibility weighs heavily in the policy direction the individual national parks take when dealing with the heat.

Persons: –, spokespeople, That’s, Patrick Gonzalez, ” Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Nicolo Sertorio, Abby Wines, Joelle Baird, Baird, Matthew Levy, Maggie Peikon, ”, I’ve, Peikon, that’s, ” Peikon, Ronda Churchill, “, ” Wines, ” Baird, James Thompson, It’s, ” Andrea Walton Organizations: CNN, Service, National Park Service, Climate Central, University of California, Death, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, American Hiking Society, Tourists, Visitor, Getty, Emergency, Region Public Affairs, “ Locations: Big Bend, Mississippi, Alaska, Berkeley, America, Indonesia, Ronda, AFP, Death Valley, Lake Mead, Arizona, Nevada

☆ Project Wild Earth: This family of four has just embarked on a 5-year adventure around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

They instantly connected and maintained a long-distance relationship for a year after his road trip ended before moving to Hong Kong to start a life together. During the project, dubbed “Project Wild Earth,” they will also share stories on their website and social media accounts about inspiring rangers, support organizations, government officials and entrepreneurs they work or come in contact with. Leah, an American, worked as a primary school teacher and helped establish a Sudbury school in Hong Kong that empowers children to direct their own education. The Priors found themselves stuck in Hong Kong, which had some of the strictest pandemic restrictions in the world due to its “zero-Covid” approach. “When these things unfolded in Hong Kong, we had to reconsider everything.

Persons: we’re, Matt, Leah Prior, Leah, Zapp, Graham, Paige, “ Leah, ” Matt, ”, “, AdventureX, Jack, Matt couldn’t, “ Jack, Sai Kung, “ It’s, Dr, Jane Goodall, Tompkins, Allen, –, Reinhard Dirscherl, Charlotte, they’ll Organizations: CNN, The Explorers Club, Sumy Sadurni, Getty, Allen Coral Atlas, Jane, Jane Goodall Institute and, Bank Locations: Charlotte, Laos, London, South Korea, Hong Kong, Europe, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Asia, Pacific, Africa, Americas, American, Sudbury, British, Indonesia, Hong, New Territories, AFP, Patagonia, agroforestry

A strike could be one of the costliest in at least a century, with the impact of a 10-day strike topping $7 billion, according to one think tank. UPS pilots, who belong to a different union, would also stop flying in solidarity with the striking workers. The Teamsters have been holding "practice pickets" in major cities around the country to keep pressure on UPS. On the other hand, UPS is the largest employer of Teamsters at a time when unions are fighting to grow. "We believe an August 1 strike at UPS remains possible but not yet probable," Susquehanna analyst Bascome Majors said in a client note.

Persons: Mike Blake, Sean O'Brien, Joe Biden, Bascome Majors, Lisa Baertlein, Priyamvada, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Josie Kao Organizations: teamsters, UPS, REUTERS, United Parcel Service, Teamsters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: L.A, Los Angeles , California, U.S, United States, Susquehanna, Los Angeles, Bengaluru, Washington

The world's biggest package delivery firm and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have until midnight on July 31 to reach a contract deal covering some 340,000 workers that sort, load and deliver packages in the United States. If a deal is not done by the deadline, UPS workers have vowed to strike. A 10-day strike could cost the U.S. economy more than $7 billion, according to a recent estimate from Anderson Economic Group. "A new Teamsters deal could drive cost per piece (about) 2% higher than current expectations," Susquehanna analyst Bascome Majors said in a client note this week. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bascome Majors, Alfredo Ortiz, Bernie Marcus, we're, Ortiz, Lisa Baertlein, Chris Reese Organizations: Wednesday, United Parcel Service, Teamsters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, UPS, Anderson Economic, Retail Industry, Association, Network, Home, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, United States, Susquehanna, Los Angeles

☆ California's Death Valley could top 130 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend – the hottest temperature recorded on Earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

California's Death Valley could top 130 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend – the hottest ever on Earth. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories now cover over 100 million people in the US, per National Weather Service. California's Death Valley could topple the hottest temperature recorded this weekend amid what the US National Weather Service dubbed "sweltering and dangerous heat." John Locher/APSummer temperatures in the infamously dry national park often top 120 Fahrenheit, according to the National Parks Service. Heat could surpass 130 Fahrenheit this weekend, the record for the hottest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth, according to the Scientific American.

Persons: John Locher, Petteri Taalas Organizations: Service, World Meteorological Organization, Weather Service, National Weather Service, National Parks Service, Scientific American, Guardian, Meteorological Organization Locations: West, Phoenix , Arizona, Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Argentina, Patagonia, Iraq

[1/5] Sean O'Brien, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, speaks to UPS Teamsters during a picket ahead of an upcoming possible strike, outside of a UPS Distribution Center in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., July 14, 2023. The contract covering UPS workers who sort, load and deliver packages expires on July 31. I assume at some point they'll be reaching out looking to try and get a deal," Sean O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, told Reuters following a worker rally in New York. Earlier in the day, UPS said it remained focused on reaching an agreement before the current one expires. UPS, which aims to hold down labor costs to compete with non-union rivals, could lose customers in a strike, while the Teamsters count UPS as the largest employer of Teamster-represented U.S. workers.

Persons: Sean O'Brien, Brendan McDermid, he's, O'Brien, Lisa Baertlein, John Stonestreet Organizations: International Brotherhood of Teamsters, UPS Teamsters, UPS, REUTERS, United Parcel Service, Teamsters, Reuters, Teamster, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, U.S, ANGELES, New York, Los Angeles

That estimate from Michigan-based Anderson Economic Group (AEG) includes UPS customer losses of $4 billion and lost direct wages of more than $1 billion. A 15-day UPS strike in 1997 disrupted the supply of goods, cost the world's biggest parcel delivery firm $850 million and sent some customers to rivals like FedEx (FDX.N). Roughly 340,000 union-represented UPS workers handle about a quarter of U.S. parcel deliveries and serve virtually every city and town in the nation. A strike could delay millions of daily deliveries, including Amazon.com (AMZN.O) orders, electronic components and lifesaving prescription drugs, shipping experts warned. In fiscal 2019, GM's fourth-quarter profit took a $3.6 billion hit from a 40-day UAW strike that shut down its profitable U.S. operations.

Persons: Patrick Anderson, Anderson, GM's, Bruce Chan, Chan, Lisa Baertlein, Priyamvada, Pooja Desai, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: United Parcel Service, Anderson Economic Group, AEG, UPS, FedEx, stoke, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters, Consumers, UAW, Teamster, Thomson Locations: U.S, Michigan, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Incredible US national park campgrounds you can’t drive to
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Even though most national park campgrounds are easily accessible by motorized vehicles, some of the coolest digs are in places that you can’t drive to. Below are eight incredible national park campgrounds that you can’t drive to. Bright Angel Campground (Grand Canyon National Park)The Bright Angel campground is located next to a creek at the end of the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. Washington Creek (Isle Royale National Park)Washington Creek, part of Michigan's Isle Royale National Park, has 10 camp sites. Sea Camp Beach (Cumberland Island National Seashore)The Cumberland Island National Seashore sits off the coast of Georgia.

Persons: we’re, CNN —, you’ve, doesn’t, Ashley Cooper, John Muir, you’re, Jim West, Weaver, Michael Shi, Joe Yogerst, ” Organizations: CNN, Key West, Yankee, Island Packers, Yosemite Valley, Nature, Washington Creek, Recreation, Washington State, Co, Cumberland, Getty Locations: Florida, Fort Jefferson, Santa Cruz, California, Ventura Harbor, Yosemite, Little Yosemite Valley, Vernal, Nevada, Maui, Palikū, Washington, Michigan's Isle, Lake Superior, Windigo, Isle, Grand Portage , Minnesota, Houghton , Michigan, Chelan, Lake Chelan, Weaver, Beach, Georgia, Stafford Plantation, Parks

Wait times for rides and attractions at both resorts have shortened, according to analysts who track theme park attendance. Disney CEO Bob Iger attributed Disney World’s recent decline in wait times to an overall slump in Central Florida tourism. Iger told CNBC he did not have “long-term concerns” about Disney’s theme parks. For Universal’s Florida parks, every month since March has seen lower average wait times, according to the site. Pareti said she spends between four and six days per week at Disney’s parks and visits Universal parks, as well.

Persons: Los Angeles CNN —, Walt, Universal Orlando parkgoers, Bob Iger, ”, Iger, Shorter, July’s, Don Munsil, he’s, Munsil, “, Kayla Pareti, Mickey Travels, Mickey, You’re, Pareti, she’s, “ Don’t, it’s, Comcast’s, Disney’s, That’s, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Pete Werner, Christine McCarthy, ” Werner, It’s, Disney Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Central, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Disney, CNBC, CNN, Universal, Disney’s, Universal Studios, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Company, Comcast, UBS, DIS Universal, Republican, NAACP, Human Rights, League of United Latin American, Walt Disney, Disney Cruise Locations: Florida, Central Florida, “ Florida, Disney’s Florida, Universal Studios Florida, Bay Lake , Florida, Orange County, Orlando

The hardliners, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, also called on McCarthy to delay appropriations votes in the House of Representatives until all 12 government funding bills have been finalized and can be subjected to a side-by-side review. "Absent adhering to the $1.471 trillion spending level ... we see an impossible path to reach 218 Republican votes on appropriations or other measures," the letter said. House Republicans last month voted on a lower target of $1.47 trillion, which would cut spending for the environment, public assistance and foreign aid. House Republicans are also trying to use the legislation to rescind key Biden priorities in areas such as climate change and tax collection. DeLauro, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, noted that House Republicans "know and have said publicly, that in the end they are going to need Democratic votes to keep the government open."

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Scott Perry, Chip Roy, McCarthy's, Biden, Patty Murray, Susan Collins, Rosa DeLauro, DeLauro, David Joyce, Joyce, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler Organizations: . House, Democratic, Caucus, Republican, Senate, House Republicans, White House, Republicans, Republican Governance Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States

"July is going to have a lot of late-night votes and a lot of really big issues being tackled," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the chamber's No. House Republicans are aiming to craft a series of 12 detailed spending bills covering every aspect of government funding, an intricate feat Congress has not pulled off on time since fiscal 1997. House Republicans last month voted on a lower target of $1.47 trillion, which would cut spending for the environment, public assistance and foreign aid. "House Republicans really are committed to shrinking spending. House Republicans are also trying to use the legislation to rescind key Biden priorities in areas such as climate change and tax collection.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Steve Scalise, Patty Murray, Susan Collins, Biden, McCarthy, Dusty Johnson, Rosa DeLauro, David Joyce, Joyce, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican, House, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, House Republicans, White House, Main Street Caucus, Reuters, Committee, Caucus, Republican Governance Group, Thomson Locations: United States

☆ 5 National Park Destinations That Aren’t Parks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Lauren Sloss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Many of the 63 national parks across the United States have seen an explosion of visitor numbers both during and after the pandemic, which often has led to booked campsites, clogged trails and timed entry requirements in an attempt to limit crowds. The big-name national parks however are just one category of public lands under the purview of the National Park Service. And the designation does not necessarily imply a superiority of scenery and activities — many of the lesser-known national historic sites, monuments, recreation areas and seashores also provide excellent spots to explore the varied natural beauty and attractions of the United States, but without the big ticket crowds. “Regardless of formal designation, each of the 424 sites in the National Park System offer visitors a variety of opportunities for inspiration, relaxation, recreation and education,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist with the N.P.S. Here are five suggestions for less crowded alternatives to national parks in this busy summer season.

Persons: ”, Kathy Kupper Organizations: National Park Service Locations: United States

☆ Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Environmental Photography Award: Powerful images show challenges and hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. CNN —A windswept Arctic fox, a murmuration of birds facing a snowstorm in the Himalayas, and a man and a boy in a flooded living room are among the images recognized in this year’s Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Environmental Photography Award. “Photography is a powerful tool for giving a voice to threatened wildlife and biodiversity,” said jury president Sergio Pitamitz in a press release. A photograph of elephants being transported between national parks in Malawi claimed first place in the “Change Makers: Reasons for Hope” category. The winning images are now being exhibited in Monaco on the Promenade du Lavotto, before touring internationally.

Persons: Prince Albert II of, ”, Sergio Pitamitz, Kallol Mukherjee, Jasper Doest, ” Pitamitz, “, ” “ Doest, Marcus Westberg Organizations: CNN, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Wildlife Forensics Academy Locations: Gabon, Africa, Netherlands, Malawi, South Africa, Monaco

☆ Zambia's bondholders see debt restructure deal in coming weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - Zambia's international bondholders expect to strike a debt restructuring deal with the country "in the coming weeks", a leading member said on Tuesday, a move that would draw a line under the nation's near three-year stint in default. "So I think we (bondholders) can now reach a deal in the coming weeks." Daly said that was something bondholders themselves had called for when restructuring talks became stalled last year over how much debt relief would be required. "The adjustment mechanism provides for an accelerated repayment schedule and higher interest rates if Zambia's debt carrying capacity improves from the current 'weak' classification to 'medium' classification," he said. While China has rejected writing off some of the debt altogether, bondholders could still do that, Daly added.

Persons: Hakainde, Kevin Daly, Daly, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Marc Jones, Chris Mfula, Libby George, Christina Fincher, Ed Osmond, William Maclean Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Zambian Finance, IMF, World Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Lusaka

Union workers missed out on a frenzy of wage increases by employers desperate for workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low unemployment makes it easier for union workers to stand firm during negotiations. Union workers also want more affordable healthcare, paid sick time and more-flexible scheduling for greater work-life balance. Some workers said the base wage increase was insufficient and balked at higher out-of-pocket medical costs. Late last year, U.S. freight railroad workers rejected a five-year contract that included a 24% wage increase, citing lack of paid sick leave.

Persons: Diane Swonk, Erin McLaughlin, Willie Adams, Sam Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, Todd Vachon, Garth Thompson, Lisa Baertlein, Bianca Flowers, Rajesh Kumar Singh, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Workers, Spirit, Deere & Co, Reuters, KPMG, Conference Board, Conference, . West, International Association of Machinists, Aerospace Workers, Caterpillar, Congress, Unions, Union, CNH, Deere, Midwest, Rutgers, United Parcel Service, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Auto Workers, Detroit automakers, General Motors, Ford, FedEx, American Airlines, Pilots, United, United Airlines, Thomson Locations: U.S, . West Coast, Wichita , Kansas, Decatur , Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, West, Los Angeles, Chicago

☆ European tourist island declares itself a phone-free zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Amaya Mcdonald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —As summer approaches and tourism season begins, social media users will struggle to answer the age-old question: If you didn’t post about your vacation, did you really even go? Though it may be difficult for some to resist work emails and updating social media during vacation, the island of Ulko-Tammio in Finland is urging visitors to ignore their screens and enjoy nature. “The island of Ulko-Tammio, which is located off the coast of Hamina, will be a phone-free area this summer,” Mats Selin, an expert in island tourism at Visit Kotka-Hamina, said in a news release. However, the staff of Parks & Wildlife Finland, the company that manages the island, hopes that the campaign translates to tourists unplugging and engaging with the flora, fauna and fellow visitors. “We spend countless hours scrolling our social media feeds, so taking a short break from them means you have more time for new experiences.”Visitors can spend their phone-free nights on the island in tents or in a cabin maintained by Parks & Wildlife Finland.

Persons: that’s, “, ” Mats Selin, ” Sari Castrén Organizations: CNN, Nordic, Nokia, Parks & Wildlife, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare Locations: Ulko, Tammio, Finland, Eastern Gulf of Finland, Hamina, Parks & Wildlife Finland, Eastern Gulf

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