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☆ Airlines That Offer 'Stopover' Programs, Some With Free Hotels
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Airlines capitalize on this trend with "stopover" programs, some even offering free hotels and food. Airlines have jumped on this growing trend with built-in "stopover" programs, which can come with free or discounted hotels, excursions, transportation, and food at the layover destination. Essentially, you can't intentionally book a longer layover to quality for the free stopover hotel. Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesSingapore Airlines' stopover program is available via the multi-city tool, similar to other carriers, where travelers can add hotels, transfers, and activities. Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesTurkish Airlines' stopover program gives economy travelers a one-night free hotel stay and business flyers a two-night free stay if the period between their connecting flights in Istanbul exceeds 20 hours.

Persons: —, Robert Smith, Markus Mainka, Liang Xu, Nicolas Economou, Thomas Mukoya, Suparat, Finnair, Shutterstock Icelandair, Marcio Rodrigo Machado, Bauer, Griffin, Alexi Rosenfeld, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Massimo Insabato, It's, Matheus Organizations: Service, Airlines, Travelers, An Air Canada Boeing, Getty Images Air, Air France, KLM Air France, KLM, Air, China Southern Airlines, China Southern Airlines Airbus, Getty Images China Southern Airlines, Copa Airlines AP Copa Airlines, Copa, Emirates, Emirates Airbus, Getty Images Emirates, Dubai Connect, Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines, Reuters Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways Airbus, Shutterstock.com Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways Fiji Airways, Shutterstock Fiji Airways, Iberia Airbus, Japan, Japan Airlines Boeing, Japan Airlines, Latam Airlines Boeing, Latam Airlines, Hotels, An Oman Air, Getty Images Oman Air, Qantas, Getty, JAL, Oneworld, Qatar Airways, Qatar Airways Boeing, Getty Images Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines Royal Jordanian Airlines Boeing, Getty Images Royal Jordanian Airlines, Air Lines, Swiss International Air Lines Airbus, Getty Images Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Airbus, Getty Images Singapore Airlines, Portugal, TAP Air Portugal Airbus, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines Airbus, Getty Images Turkish Airlines Locations: Getty Images Air Canada, Canada, Air France, Xinhua, Panama, Panama City, Emirates, Dubai, UAE, Addis Ababa, Abu Dhabi, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, Helsinki, Iberia, Iberia Airbus Iberia, Madrid, Icelandair, Reykjavik, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, São Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Manaus, Curitiba, Belem, Oman, Muscat, layover, Bangkok, San Francisco, AFP, Switzerland, Singapore, Lisbon, Porto, Portuguese, Azores, Madeira, Istanbul

☆ A woman called Swastika got an apology from Uber after it banned her because of her name
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Swastika Chandra had her Uber account banned because of her name. Uber eventually apologized to the Australian woman and reinstated her account. AdvertisementAn Australian woman was banned from using Uber after the company deemed her first name to be offensive. The company also faced backlash last year after the owner of a Palestinian restaurant in Toronto said Uber Eats had suddenly labeled his restaurant as Israeli. Uber Eats previously told Business Insider that the "unintentional" issue had been fixed.

Persons: Chandra, Uber, she's, —, Adolf Hitler, Hitler Organizations: Service, Hindu, of Australia, New South, ACA Locations: Asia, Fiji, New South Wales, Toronto

☆ Surfing great Kelly Slater hints at end of glittering, decades-long career
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( James Legge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The 52-year-old American, an 11-time world champion, missed the World Surf League’s mid-season cut after losing to compatriot Griffin Colapinto – a man 27 years his junior – in the round of 32 at the Margaret River Pro. This time “feels like the end,” Slater told World Surf League Monday. Slater’s era of dominance began in 1992, when, at age 20, he became the youngest ever men’s world champion, a record he still holds. “It’s been an incredible lifetime of memories,” Slater said at Margaret River on Monday. But it’s been the best times of my life.”And though his storied surf career is coming to an end, Slater added it feels like “the start of something else, the start of the rest of life.”

Persons: CNN — Kelly Slater, compatriot Griffin Colapinto –, Margaret River, ” Slater, ”, Pamela Anderson, “ Kelly Slater’s, Kelly Slater, Australia Margaret, Australia Margaret River Pro, Beatriz Ryder, Slater, “ It’s, “, it’s Organizations: CNN, Margaret, Surf, Australia Margaret River, Fiji Locations: Western Australia, Florida, United States, Australia

☆ A Hiker Was Lost in the Woods. Snow Was Falling. Time Was Running Out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Her son, a 33-year-old New York City man, had gone hiking in the Adirondack Mountains that March morning. Now, with up to 19 inches of snow forecast overnight and into the morning, she was worried. The same woman had called three weeks earlier because her son was late, and it turned out he was fine. Cellphones with GPS service have lowered the number of people who truly get lost in the woods. Ranger Peter Evans said one man called last summer seeking water.

Persons: Mount Marcy, Robbi, Peter Evans Organizations: New Locations: New York City, New York State, Fiji

☆ World's first-ever global emissions tax takes a step closer to reality
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Countries at the meeting of the United Nations' International Maritime Organization in London signed a deal for shipping emissions to reach net zero "by or around" 2050. Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesTwo weeks of talks at the United Nations shipping agency concluded in London on Friday, with a clear majority of countries emerging in favor of introducing the world's first-ever global emissions levy. The UN is on the edge of adopting the world's first-ever global emissions price, but the policy will only be as successful as countries make it to be. "The UN is on the edge of adopting the world's first-ever global emissions price, but the policy will only be as successful as countries make it to be," said Sandra Chiri, shipping emissions international outreach manager at the Ocean Conservancy, a U.S.-based advocacy group. Other proposals include a push to combine a price on shipping emissions with an international emissions standard for maritime fuel.

Persons: Sandra Chiri, Chiri, Gregor Fischer Organizations: United Nations, International Maritime Organization, Ucg, Getty, UN, Ocean, Ocean Conservancy, EU, Marshall Locations: London, Caribbean, U.S, Pacific, Africa, Canada, decarbonize, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Belize

☆ A Russian oligarch's megayacht seized by the US is costing taxpayers a fortune, and the government is desperate to sell
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Russian oligarch's seized megayacht is costing US taxpayers $922,000 a month, a court filing says. Another Russian billionaire is claiming ownership of the yacht and opposing attempts to sell it. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA Russian oligarch's megayacht is costing taxpayers almost $1 million a month after the government seized it, court filings say.

Persons: megayacht, there's, —, Suleiman Kerimov, It's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Russian, Fiji, San Diego

☆ US has spent about $20 million to maintain superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US government is spending nearly $1 million a month to maintain a luxury superyacht seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch as part of the Justice Department’s effort to put pressure on the Kremlin. The superyacht was seized while docked in a port in Fiji in 2022 by local law enforcement officials and the FBI. Now, federal prosecutors have asked a judge for permission to sell the vessel saying its expenses are excessive and has cost the government about $20 million, according to recent court filings. The monthly costs total roughly $600,000 to maintain the yacht, plus $144,000 in insurance, according to court records. Maintaining the Amadea is certainly expensive, and Claimants never intended for U.S. taxpayers to shoulder that burden.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, Eduard Khudainatov, they’ve “ Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, FBI, US Marshals Service, Millemarin Investments, ” Prosecutors Locations: Russian, Fiji, San Diego

☆ Why Australia's National Rugby League could help curb China's Pacific influence
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Australia's National Rugby League could help stop China from gaining more influence in the South Pacific. AdvertisementThe US appears to be courting an unlikely ally to help stop China from building its political and economic influence in the Pacific: Australia's National Rugby League. The Australian Financial Review reported that the White House will support those plans, which policymakers believe could help counter China's efforts to assert itself in the South Pacific. The South Pacific has emerged as a key battleground between Beijing and Washington in recent years. It's popular in Australia, New Zealand, northern England, France, and across the Pacific Islands and has slightly different rules to rugby union.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, Peter V'landys, Biden, Kamala Harris, Spencer Leniu, Ezra Mam Organizations: Australia's National Rugby League, Service, Financial, Biden, NRL, Sydney Morning Herald, Kiribati . Rugby, The Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Roosters, Broncos Locations: China, South, Papua New Guinea, New South Wales, Queensland, United States, Australia, Washington , DC, Beijing, Washington, Solomon, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, New Zealand, England, France, Las Vegas

☆ 'Survivor' contestants share 17 facts about being on the show that would surprise even the biggest fans
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Meghan Cook | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Eight "Survivor" competitors spoke with Business Insider about their time on the show and shared behind-the-scenes secrets that might surprise even the series's biggest fans. The production team has a set of 'identical' replacement clothesLauren-Ashley Beck and Karishma Patel on "Survivor: Island of the Idols." Beck added that she sometimes said things out loud before remembering that they could be aired on national television. Contestants aren't allowed to directly address the camera crewKellee Kim and Lauren-Ashley Beck on "Survivor: Island of the Idols." But Beck added that after spending weeks with the crew, it's hard to not notice certain things about them.

Persons: —, Lauren, Ashley Beck, Beck, Davie Rickenbacker, Rickenbacker, Elaine Stott, Stott, We're, we're, Patel, Karishma Patel, Janet Carbin, aren't, Carbin, castmates, Malcolm Freberg, Carbin's, Kellee Kim, they're, Tyson Apostol, Dean Kowalski, Tom Laidlaw, Chelsea Walker, Robert Voets, Jeff, doesn't, Andrea Boehlke, Boehlke, David, — Nick Wilson, Nick, Goliath, Dan Rengering, I've, she's Organizations: Service, CBS, Business, Getty, YouTube Locations: Philippines, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Fiji, Tribal, Ponderosa

Below, we'll teach you where to watch Survivor live and on-demand throughout the new season. Hulu + Live TV Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu's on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN+. Using this method, you should be able to use your existing live TV package from overseas and watch Survivor. Check it out below:Who are the Survivor season 46 contestants? Survivor season 46 will showcase 18 contestants split amongst three tribes.

Persons: Jeff Probst, Fubo, Hulu's, VPNs, ExpressVPN, Q Burdette, Jessica, Jess, Chong, Charlie Davis, Tevin Davis, Tiffany Nicole Ervin, Moriah Gaynor, Maria Shrime Gonzalez, Bhanu Gopal, Jem, Hussain, Adams, David, Ben Katzman, Hunter McKnight, Randen Montalvo, Tim Spicer, Soda Thompson, Venus, Kenzie Petty, Liz Wilcox Organizations: Business, Survivor, CBS, USA Survivor, Paramount Plus, Paramount, Showtime, Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN, Canada Survivor, Global, Dallas, Atlanta Locations: Fiji, USA, Canada, Memphis, TN, Francisco , CA, Boston, Richmond , VA, , NJ, Diego , CA, Dallas , TX, MA, Chicago , IL, Vegas, NV, Miami, FL, Orlando, Hopatcong , NJ, Toronto , Ontario, Charlotte , NC

☆ Giving Big, a California Couple Gets Gratitude and Scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Robin Pogrebin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Standing on the grand staircase of Lynda and Stewart Resnick's opulent Beverly Hills mansion at a party last fall — where Diane Keaton, Bob Iger and Brian Grazer were among the luminaries making small talk over crudités and Sazerac cocktails — the author Walter Isaacson took a moment to thank his hosts. Not only were the Resnicks giving the party to celebrate his new biography of Elon Musk, they had also been major supporters of his former professional home, the Aspen Institute, donating $36 million to the think tank over the years. Isaacson was not the only one in the room with reason to be grateful to them. Overall, the Resnicks — whose Wonderful Company business empire includes Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice, Wonderful Pistachios, Fiji Water, Halos mandarins and Teleflora, the flower-delivery service — have donated $1.9 billion of their estimated $13 billion fortune to academic institutions, climate change initiatives, cultural organizations and programs in California’s Central Valley. Their gifts have landed them on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of the 50 biggest donors three times.

Persons: Stewart, Diane Keaton, Bob Iger, Brian Grazer, Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk, Isaacson, Picasso, Fragonard, Boucher, Michael Govan, Ann Philbin, Michael Milken Organizations: Aspen Institute, Angeles County Museum of Art, Milken Institute, Wonderful Company Locations: Beverly, Fiji, Central Valley

☆ Google cofounder Sergey Brin faces wrongful-death lawsuit from pilot's widow over fatal plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Camilo Fonseca | Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Google cofounder Sergey Brin is facing a wrongful-death lawsuit stemming from a plane crash last year that killed two crew members en route to a private island in the South Pacific. The lawsuit also alleges that Brin intentionally delayed the recovery process. The suit identifies Brin, Google, and Bayshore Global Management — Brin's family office — as the "owner/operators" of the aircraft. While the lawsuit does mention various recovery efforts conducted by Brin's team, it alleges frequent and drawn-out delays. Olarte Maclean alleges that Brin's representatives cited weather conditions at the crash site and their interactions with the USCG as excuses.

Persons: Sergey Brin, Brin, Lance Maclean, Dean Rushfeldt, Olarte Maclean, Steven C, Marks, Larry Page Organizations: South Pacific, Business, Coast Guard, Los Angeles Times, Google, Bayshore Global Management, Bayshore, LA Times, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Brin's, Seafly LLC, Southern Cross Aviation, BI Locations: South, California, Hawaii, Santa Rosa , California, Fiji, Honolulu, Fiji's Mamanuca

☆ The US wants to auction off an oligarch's seized $300 million yacht that's been racking up $600,000 a month in maintenance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US wants to auction a $300 million superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch due to high maintenance costs. Another Russian oligarch, Eduard Khudainatov, claims to own the yacht and wants it back. AdvertisementThe US wants to sell a $300 million superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch because it's getting too expensive to maintain it, a court filing from Friday shows. The problem is that another Russian oligarch, Eduard Khudainatov, claims to own the yacht and wants the vessel back. They told Bloomberg in a statement that the seizure was "unlawful" and that their client would pay the US back for the maintenance of the Amadea yacht.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, Eduard Khudainatov, —, it's, Amadea, Khudainatov hasn't Organizations: Service, US Department of Justice, US, Khudainatov, Bloomberg, Court, Southern District of Locations: Fiji, Russian, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ The Bucket List Family: How to travel the world with three kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“I never had the thought in my brain that ‘I want to travel around the world,’” Gee, from Denver, Colorado, tells CNN Travel. They soon began planning an extended trip to Southeast Asia and decided to launch an Instagram page, The Bucket List Family, to collate their adventures. “The little bit of traveling turned into three years full-time,” adds Gee, who has just released a travel guidebook, The Bucket List Family Travel, in partnership with National Geographic. The family went on to visit dozens of countries across the world, including Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala and Dominica. Family favoritesThe family of five have traveled to more than 90 countries.

Persons: Jessica Gee, Walt, ”, Garrett, Dorothy, Manilla, “, ” Gee, Gee, Jessica, Garrett Gee, who’ve, Callihan, Calihan, Geographic Gee, you’re, Gee’s, – that’s, it’s, They’ve, don’t Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney, CNN Travel, National Geographic, Gee, Central, East, Rwanda, Geographic, Disney Locations: Europe, Florida, Denver , Colorado, Vladivostok, Russia, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore , New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala, Dominica, Belize, Central American, Alaska, East African, Rwanda, Hawaii, Africa, Antarctica, China, Borneo

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will resume a long-suspended Peace Corps program in the North Pacific island of Palau as the Biden administration continues moves to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. “Volunteers will live and work side-by-side with community partners to improve childhood literacy and math and science skills, along with teaching English as a foreign language,” Peace Corps director Carol Spahn said in a statement. Palau’s president, Surangel Whipps, said the return of the Peace Corps reflects the strong relationship between his nation and the United States. Peace Corps officials said they hope that with congressional funding the Palau reopening will be the first of several new programs it will restart in the Pacific. The Peace Corps, a creation of the John F. Kennedy administration, currently has Pacific island programs in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Persons: Biden, Carol Spahn, Surangel Whipps, “, ” Whipps, John F, Kennedy, Didi Tang Organizations: WASHINGTON, Peace Corps, “ Volunteers, Peace, Corps, Pacific, Marshall, Associated Press Locations: United States, North, Palau, Taiwan, Federated States, Micronesia, China, Marshall Islands, Beijing, U.S, Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

☆ Google cofounder Larry Page quietly bought a Puerto Rico island for $32 million, records show
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The Google cofounder purchased Cayo Norte, a large private island in Puerto Rico, in 2018, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. Cayo Norte sits about 20 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico and just northeast of Culebra, another island that forms an archipelago. Cayo Norte is known for its white sandy beaches, surrounding coral reefs, and preserving a refuge for endangered sea turtles. Google cofounder Larry Page bought Cayo Norte, an island in Puerto Rico. Page purchased the Lollik islands, which sit 23 miles east of Cayo Norte, in 2014 for $23 million, BI previously reported.

Persons: —, Larry Page, Page, Lucinda Southworth, Cristina Rosado, Southworth, Dan Shelley, Hugh Langley, Shelley, Louis Padrón, Richard Gautier, Wayne Osborne, Great Hans Lollik, Hans Lollik, Osborne, Lucinda Southworth C, Mary Ann Lucking, Lucking, Sergey Brin, Kimberly White, Sundar Pichai, Brin, Kitty Hawk Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Virgin Island Properties, US Virgin, BI, LLC, Area, Cayo Norte, SVI Investments, Virgin Islands Locations: Cayo Norte, Puerto Rico, Caribbean, US, Puerto Rico's Fajardo, Cayo, Culebra, SVI, Padrón, Virgin, Great, Conservation, Kimberly White Cayo

☆ Pacific Islands Need to Boost Digital Security to Join Undersea Cable, Says US Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kirsty NeedhamSYDNEY (Reuters) - Pacific Islands nations that want to connect to U.S.-funded undersea cables will need to secure their digital ecosystems to guard against data risks from China, a senior U.S. State Department official said. The United States pledged last year to jointly fund two undersea cables, to be built by Google, connecting the U.S. territory of Guam with hubs in Fiji and French Polynesia, and further branching out across remote Pacific Islands. The proposed intra-Pacific cable project has offered to branch out to Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna and the Federated States of Micronesia. China and the U.S. are jostling for influence in the Pacific Islands with competing offers for infrastructure. The Solomon Islands, which struck a security pact with Beijing, is rolling out a Chinese-funded mobile network built by Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Nathaniel Fick, Kirsty Needham, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Pacific, U.S . State Department, United, Google, Futuna, Federated, The U.S . Department of, Washington, Sydney, Huawei, Telstra, Microsoft, U.S Locations: U.S, China, Guam, Fiji, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Wallis, Federated States, Micronesia, The, Solomon, Beijing, Australia, Asia, Pacific

☆ The best-dressed couples at the Critics' Choice Awards 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt wore glamorous outfits with coordinating jewelry. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for FIJI WaterBlunt wore a bright-red gown by Armani Privé which stood out for the rose details that adorned the shoulder. Meanwhile, Krasinski opted for a cream tuxedo jacket, brown pants, and a bow tie. While the outfits appeared completely different, the couple subtly coordinated with their jewelry from Tiffany & Co. Blunt wore a sapphire, opal, and diamond bracelet and diamond earrings and Krasinski wore a star-shaped brooch.

Persons: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Phillip Faraone, FIJI Water Blunt, Armani, Krasinski, Blunt Organizations: FIJI, Tiffany

In this year's gleaming host city of Dubai, billboards advertise the benefits of wind energy, climate ambition and Exxon Mobil's (XOM.N) carbon capture projects. This is seen by some as a sign of success and by others as a dangerous distraction from the business of combating climate change as over nearly three decades global oil demand, carbon emissions and temperatures have marched steadily upward. "It's a lobby fest where polluters can schmooze with politicians, all under the guise of tackling climate change," Pascoe Sabido, a researcher at the Corporate Europe Observatory, which scrutinizes corporate influence on policy-making, said. Delegates walk at the Dubai's Expo City during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023. For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Exxon Mobil's, Pascoe Sabido, Alden Meyer, Meyer, Lisa Jacobson, Jacobson, Thaier, We're, –, Daniel Lund, Joko Widodo, COP28, Jake Schmidt, Darren Woods, General Antonio Guterres, Al Gore, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Kate Abnett, Sarah McFarlane, Bernadette Christina, Richard Valdmanis, Alexander Smith Organizations: Exxon, Corporate, Observatory, United Nations, Business Council, Sustainable Energy, Global Strategic Communications Council, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Natural Resources Defense, Exxon Mobil, Drillers, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, Berlin, The Hague, COP28, United Arab, Fiji, Indonesia, China, UAE

☆ Virgin Australia adds Boeing MAX-8 aircraft as demand stays buoyant
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Airline operator Virgin Australia (IPO-VIR.AX) on Friday said it has added six Boeing MAX-8 aircraft to further expand its fleet and meet travel demand, taking its total order for the planes to fourteen. Australia's second-biggest carrier returned to a profit for the first time in 11 years in fiscal 2023, buoyed by a strong recovery in travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. "Travel demand remains high and we continue to grow and renew our fleet, enabling us to deliver great value and choice in the market," Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said. The MAX-8 aircrafts will enter the domestic and short-haul international routes including Fiji, Bali and Samoa, the carrier said. Reporting by Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank DhaniwalaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Australia's, Alistair Hartley, Adwitiya Srivastava, Mrigank Organizations: Virgin Australia, Boeing, Thomson Locations: Fiji, Bali, Samoa, Bengaluru

☆ Australia to form rapid cyber assist teams for Pacific Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would spend A$26.2 million ($17 million) to establish "rapid assistance" teams to respond to cyber crises in the Pacific region, and another A$16.7 million to identify cyber vulnerabilities in the Pacific Islands. The cyber security boost comes after Australia and the United States committed last month to funding two new undersea cables to be rolled out by Google in the Pacific Islands to increase connectivity for eight remote island countries. Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy said the rapid response teams would "build long-term resilience in the Pacific" and provide critical support. A second undersea cable would connect the United States to Australia via French Polynesia.

Persons: Kacper, Pacific Pat Conroy, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Google, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Australia, Pacific, United States, Fiji, French Polynesia

☆ Fiji PM: China likely to collaborate on key port, shipyard project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Lincoln Feast/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Wednesday the Pacific Islands nation was likely to collaborate with China on a key port modernisation and shipyard project, after discussing it in a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Fiji previously sought Australia's involvement to build a modern ship-building facility at Lautoka, officials and a consultant to Rabuka on the project told Reuters. Rabuka told Fiji's parliament on Wednesday his government was focused on upgrading infrastructure, "particularly the modernisation of port facilities and shipyards". An Australian-based ship design company said Rabuka had earlier sought the involvement of Australia, Fiji's largest aid donor, in the shipyard project. China has been pushing for greater security and trade ties with Pacific Islands countries.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, Xi Jinping, Rabuka, Xi, Stuart Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Vajira Piyasena, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Lincoln, Rights, Fiji Prime, Wednesday, Reuters, APEC, Wednesday Fiji, Fiji Ports, Fiji Ships, Heavy Industry, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Fiji, Suva, China, Lautoka, Australia, San Francisco, Australian, tradespeople, Pacific, Solomon Islands, United States, Papua New Guinea

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sometimes it can be easy to forget that President Joe Biden's original foreign policy priority was reasserting American influence in Asia. "The United States remains vital to the future of the region, and the region is more vital than ever to the United States of America," he told a gathering of business executives during one of the summit's many receptions. “From here in San Francisco, America reaches out all across the Pacific, building bridges mightier than the Golden Gate,” he said. Protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza shut down all vehicular traffic heading into San Francisco over the Bay Bridge. “We will be glad to see a confident, open, ever-growing and prosperous United States,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, “ That’s, He's, Donald Trump, ”, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kishida Fumio, Xi Jinping, Xi, “, ” Biden, Yun Sun, Aisha Nizar, San Francisco ”, ___, Colleen Long Organizations: FRANCISCO, Ukraine, Republican, Economic Cooperation, South Korean, Chinese Communist Party, U.S, Xinhua, China Program, Stimson, Palestinian Youth Movement, Biden wasn't, China, Associated Press Locations: American, Asia, Russian, Israel, San Francisco, United States, United States of America, Europe, America, China, Beijing, Bali , Indonesia, Iran, San Francisco ., Washington, Ukraine, Gaza, Bahrain, Fiji, Japan, Mexico, Peru

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nurturing economic ties this week with Asia, but he's not signing any trade deals at a regional summit in San Francisco. This fact — no trade deals — reveals a lot about the status of U.S. politics, the evolving global economy and the Biden administration's own ambitions. The trade pillar is being overseen by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, while the other three are under Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. WHY TRADE DEALS ARE UNPOPULARIt's simple: Voters say past trade deals caused the loss of factory jobs that hollowed out their hometowns and the Biden administration agrees. In a June speech, Tai criticized past trade deals.

Persons: Joe Biden, he's, —, Biden, “, ”, Robert Holleyman, ” Biden, Katherine Tai, Gina Raimondo, Matthew Goodman, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Brown, ” Brown, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump, Tai Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Economic Cooperation, Biden, U.S . Trade, ., Greenberg Center, Geoeconomic Studies, Council, Foreign Relations, White, Republican, Democrat, Pacific, China . Trade, Trump, ” Trade, South Locations: Asia, San Francisco, IPEF, U.S, Tokyo, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Ohio, Canada, Mexico, China

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, fresh off his meeting with President Joe Biden, courted Indo-Pacific leaders in a flurry of meetings Thursday at a time of intensifying competition with the United States. Xi held individual talks with the leaders of Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan and Brunei, all on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies. In a meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, Xi said the two countries should strengthen economic and trade cooperation and pledged China’s support for Peru as host of next year’s summit of APEC leaders. Earlier, Xi held talks with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, praising the Mexican president for his leadership and reform efforts and pledging to bring the China-Mexico relationship to a new level. Xi called Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei’s sultan, an “old friend” and said China would work with Brunei to bring benefits to both people.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Dina Boluarte, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, —, Hurricane Otis, “, ” Xi, Sitiveni Rabuka, ”, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Biden Organizations: FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Fiji's, Japanese Locations: United States, Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan, Brunei, Asia, China, American, Latin America, Beijing, Brunei’s

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