DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Meta's mandatory return to office is 'a mess'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Meta's return to office mandate has gone about as well as the metaverse so far. One person noted that, after days of trying to get a room for a meeting at Meta's campus in Menlo Park, a small room became available. They assume the backlog of remote work applications to be "in the thousands." Coming in to be on ZoomOne employee noted their team is mostly in other offices. Others are in the same boat, at least for several more weeks, as they wait for remote work applications to be approved.

Persons: They've, Meta's, let's, they're, We've, Adam Mosseri Matt Winkelmeyer, Adam Mosseri, Instagram, they'd, Lori Goler Organizations: Meta, Menlo Park Locations: Menlo Park

☆ Opinion | If Hurricane Rebuilding Is Only Affordable for the Wealthy, This Is the Florida You Get
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sarah Stodola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Just down the island’s main road, the Red Coconut R.V. For most homes in Fort Myers Beach, this means that rebuilding what was there before Ian isn’t an option. For a hotel development like Margaritaville, the building codes helped it weather Ian with damage from which it could recover. That means existing property owners like those of the Silver Sands, Red Coconut and countless private homes end up cutting their losses and selling. They’re also banking on the infinite desirability of the beachfront, as are the state authorities responsible for the building codes that allow redevelopment after hurricanes and floods.

Persons: Hurricane Andrew, Ian isn’t Organizations: Seagate Development Group Locations: Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Sands, Florida, Banks, North Carolina, New York City

☆ World’s 50 best hotels for 2023 revealed
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —It opened just over a year ago, but a luxurious 24-key Italian property has already been named the best hotel in the world. Passalacqua, which overlooks Lake Como, beat off stiff competition to receive the top spot on the first-ever edition of the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, which was announced at an awards ceremony in the UK on Tuesday night. The highly-anticipated list honored 50 hotels from 35 destinations across the world. “After seeing the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry, it’s been especially fulfilling to see so many hoteliers from around the world gather in London to celebrate each other’s achievements under one roof for the first-ever awards ceremony of The World’s 50 Best Hotels,” Tim Brooke-Webb, managing director for the World’s 50 Best Hotels, said in a statement. The World’s 50 Best Hotels: Full list1.

Persons: –, Aman Tokyo, ’ Capello, Aman, Rosewood São, ” Valentina De Santis, Passalacqua, Silvio Vettorello, Vincenzo Bellini, ”, De Santis, it’s, Tim Brooke, Webb, Soneva, Chablé, Aman Venice, Le Sirenuse, Borgo, Royal Mansour, São, Cheval Blanc, Soneva Jani, Eden, Oberoi, Hôtel de Crillon Organizations: CNN, London CNN, Firenze, Rosewood, ’ Capello Bangkok, Capella, Hudson Yards, NoMad, CNN Travel, Somerset, Park, Eco, Hospitality, Lodges, Hotel Academy, Singita, Raffles, Madrid, Capella Singapore, Le Bristol Paris, Hyatt Kyoto, Hoshinoya, Atlantis, Equinox Locations: London, Lake Como, Europe, Florence, Asia, Rosewood Hong Kong, Bangkok, Chao Phraya, Hong Kong, Capella Bangkok, Aman New York, York, Hudson, Connaught, Rosewood São Paulo, Brisbane, South Africa, Scotland, Bruton , Somerset, Utah, Italy, Aman Tokyo, Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco, Soneva Fushi, Maldives, Puerto Vallarta , Mexico, Australia, Chocholá, Mexico, Claridge’s, Raffles Singapore, Wanokaka, Indonesia, Tulum, France, São Paulo, Brazil, Kyoto, Japan, Réserve, Paris, Auchterarder, Du, Antibes, Somerset, Bruton, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Hoshinoya Tokyo, Bali, Barths, Siam, Badrutt’s, Moritz, Switzerland, Dubai, Agra, India, Spain

☆ Climate change and extreme weather, like Maui wildfires, are hurting affordable housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

For people on Maui and across the US, climate change is making the affordable housing crunch even worse. “This is why they have been building these affordable housing buildings. It is a safe place, but it doesn’t feel like home.”Affordable housing picture on Maui was already ‘pretty grim’For people on Maui and across the US, climate change is making the affordable housing crunch even worse. But not fires damaging buildings and taking lives.”“The affordable housing picture was pretty grim on Maui even before the fire,” he said. “There was more than one kitchen, more than one family living there.”These types of cobbled-together solutions to affordable housing are now gone, as are other recent hard-won affordable housing projects.

Persons: Josh Green, Hannah Harris, Tony Ellett, ”, Harris, “, ” Harris, Ellett, Jae C, Shantal Catanach, Keanu, ” Catanach, she’s, Stan Franco, Franco, –, Diane Yentel, ” Yentel, Yentel, Hurricane Sandy, Sandy, Peter Niess, Justin Sullivan Organizations: DC CNN, Urban Institute, UN, University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, Income Housing Coalition, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Hurricane, Maui Architectural Locations: Washington, Maui, Lahaina, Catanach, Maui County, Hawaii, Corelogic, Maui –, Lahaina , Hawaii

☆ Tourists lost their summer vacations. Maui’s locals lost everything
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In an aerial view, homes and businesses are seen that were destroyed by a wildfire on August 11, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. In an aerial view, homes and businesses are seen that were destroyed by a wildfire on August 11, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. CNN Business Writer Catherine Thorbecke (center) with her late grandparents in Lahaina, Hawaii, circa 2013. People looking down to downtown Lahaina from Lahaina Bypass in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 13, 2023. A woman digs through rubble of a home destroyed by a wildfire on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Persons: Rick Avila, ”, –, ” Avila, Avila, Justin Sullivan, Mike Cicchino, “, Cicchino, Catherine Thorbecke, Josh Green’s, Mengshin Lin, ALICE, Rick Bowmer, it’s, ” Gionson, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Lahaina, ”, Washington Post, “, Aloha United Way, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaii’s Department of Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Tourism Authority Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, Kingdom of Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, Hawaii, Maui County, Las Vegas, Oahu, –

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I decided to plan a last-minute vacation, and to make it affordable, I'm using credit card rewards points. It was cheaper to book hotels through third-party sites, but I'm using points to get cash back. Cover travel purchases that I couldn't redeem points forSome travel reward credit cards have their own portal where you can book hotel stays using your credit card points. Since I wanted to use points instead of cash, I found that after I booked the hotel stays using my credit card, I was able to cover purchases using my credit card points.

Persons: I've, Read Organizations: Service, LA Dodgers Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoFRANKFURT, July 27 (Reuters) - New construction plunged in Germany during the first half of the year, data on Thursday showed, the latest sign of stress in the property market of Europe's largest economy. The data underscore a steep rut that dominates the nation's real-estate sector in its worst crisis in decades. "There's strong caution in project development," said Sven Carstensen, chief executive of Bulwiengesa. The nation's property industry will ask the government for multi-billion euro support at a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in September, Reuters reported last week. "The situation is dramatic," said Jan-Marco Luczak, a parliamentarian who has pushed for a property tax cut demanded by industry.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Sven Carstensen, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Marco Luczak, Marcus Gwechenberger, Bulwiengesa, Florian Schwalm, EY, Karim Rochdi, Tom Sims, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Bulwiengesa, Reuters, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT, Frankfurt's

☆ I'm a solo female traveler from Europe. Here's why I chose to go to Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lucy Handley | Lisa Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Ho Chi Minh City highlightsI'd been warned about congestion in Ho Chi Minh City, which has a population of around 9 million. Tips for traveling in Vietnam Vietnam varies from hot and dry to cold and rainy, depending on the time of year. The Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City is an example of French architecture in the city. Although I only stayed a short time, I fell in love with Ho Chi Minh City's grand architecture, history and general buzz. The Mekong DeltaSouthwest of Ho Chi Minh City lies the Mekong Delta, a region of rice paddies, rivers and floating markets.

Persons: Ho, I'd, Ho Chi Minh, Ben Nghe, Mongkol, Rex, Eugene Ferret, It's, Bob Henry, Ucg, Thanh, Virgin Mary, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, Lucy Handley Thanh, Antonin Emery, Marius Mallein, Jolie, Minh, Cai, Andrew Woodley, Mark Barnett, expat Organizations: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's National Authority of Tourism, Sapa, Chi Minh City People's, Rex, Saigon Opera House, Saigon Opera, Getty, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Vietnam Locations: Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu, Gulf, Thailand, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Vietnam, Hanoi, Hoi, Nguyen Hue, Ben, Chi Minh City, Ville, France, Saigon, French, Saigon Saigon, Mekong, Delta, homestays, My, Tho, Con Quy, Can, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, U.S, cassia, mealtimes

☆ Wall St sees bargains and lure of Europe buoying cruise, hotel earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Passenger ticket and onboard spending revenue is expected to increase 66% and 36%, respectively. Cabin bookings in the second quarter were up 58% compared to this time last year. For Carnival, booking volumes in the second quarter were 17% higher than in 2019, Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein told investors in June. Meanwhile, investors will be watching if record nightly rates for on-shore accommodations can offset revenue in the second quarter. Hotel and short-term rental rates were about 18% and 35% more expensive in the second quarter than in 2019, according to analytics firms CoStar and AirDNA.

Persons: Brandt Montour, McKinsey, Sylvia Jablonski, Patrick Scholes, Josh Weinstein, AirDNA, Hilton, Doyinsola Oladipo, Granth, Susan Heavey Organizations: YORK, Investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Barclays, Royal, Carnival Corp, Cruise Line Holdings, Airlines, Cruises, Cruise, Truist Securities, Thomson Locations: Europe, United States, AirDNA . U.S, Asia, New York, Bangalore

☆ Amazon partners with travel site Priceline in a first for Prime Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 10 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is partnering with travel booking site Priceline to offer discounts during Tuesday's Prime Day, the first time an online travel agency has participated in the shopping event. Priceline is the first travel brand to offer an exclusive U.S. Prime Day deal, Amazon said. We know travelers are shopping on Amazon and booking travel with Priceline," said Lesley Klein, senior vice president of marketing at Priceline. Booking Holdings has several sites, so this isn't the first time the company has worked with Amazon on Prime deals. Amazon several years ago attempted to build a hotel booking service called Amazon Destinations but it closed a few months after launching.

Persons: Priceline, Lesley Klein, Booking.com, Doyinsola Oladipo, Jeffrey Dastin, David Gregorio Our Organizations: YORK, Amazon.com Inc, Tuesday's, Priceline's, Express, Booking Holdings, Prime, Amazon, Tourism, U.S . Travel Association, Thomson Locations: U.S, Germany, Austria, New York, San Francisco

☆ The Mystery That Ended Two Women’s World Cup Dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The scandal — a sudden and violent attack by a mystery man; accusations and denials; tabloid headlines — led to worldwide attention and, years later, a feature-length movie about Harding. But to Diallo, a 28-year-old French soccer player being led up a police station stairwell, the mention of her name — “Have you heard of Tonya Harding?” — produced only a blank stare. Now, in France, a generation later, the police suspected a similar motive in an attack on Kheira Hamraoui, Diallo’s teammate at the French club Paris St.-Germain. Prosecutors last September charged Diallo with aggravated assault in the attack on Hamraoui. Documents in the case and leaks to the French news media have accused Diallo of masterminding a premeditated attack.

Persons: Aminata Diallo, Tonya Harding, Harding, Diallo, ” —, Nancy Kerrigan, Germain, Hamraoui, Kerrigan, masterminding Organizations: Police, Paris St, French national Locations: Versailles, American, France, Diallo’s, women’s

☆ France conducts maiden test of hypersonic glider
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The agency said a sounding rocket carrying a VMAX hypersonic glider launched on Monday from the Biscarosse missile test site on the Bay of Biscay, southwestern France. In 2019, France contracted aerospace company ArianeGroup to manage the VMAX program, aimed at developing a hypersonic glider demonstrator. Hypersonic gliders — unpowered, manoeuvring vehicles flying at speeds greater than Mach 5 (6,000km/h) — have been under study by major nuclear powers for several years. Hypersonic gliders are being designed to carry a nuclear or conventional warhead. Unlike ballistic missiles whose trajectories are fixed at launch, hypersonic gliders can change direction at high speed.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Stephanie, Read, Dominique Vidalon, Richard Lough, Christina Fincher Organizations: EU, International Paris Air, des, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, PARIS, Biscay

☆ Paris 2024 flame to be lit on April 16, relay to visit overseas territories
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It's going to be spectacular and will showcase all our territories," Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said at a ceremony at the French capital's Sorbonne university. Following a brief domestic relay in Greece the flame is then handed over to the host city. Paris organisers have said they will use a three-masted ship the 'Belem' to take it the port city of Marseille, where the sailing competitions of the Olympics will take place. Usually the flame, held in a safety lantern, is flown by plane to the Olympic Games host city. Paris 2024 organisers have been planning to install the Olympic flame on the Eiffel Tower, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters last month.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq PARIS, Armel Le, Tony Estanguet, Laure, Florent Manaudou, Dimitri Pavade, Anne Hidalgo, Julien Pretot, Kirsten Donovan, Toby Davis Organizations: Sorbonne University , Paris, Michel, French, Sorbonne, National Assembly, Senate, Olympic Games, Eiffel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Marseille, Paris, France, Olympia, Athens, Montpellier, Corsica, Bordeaux, Brest, Strasbourg, Reims, Ville, Greece, Belem, Phocaea

☆ Officine Generale loosens classic styles at Paris Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Designer Pierre Maheo gestures next to models who present his creations for the fashion brand Officine Generale as part of its Menswear ready-to-wear Spring/Summer 2024 collection show during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesPARIS, June 23 (Reuters) - French fashion label Officine Generale showed a breezy lineup of relaxed tailoring on the runway on Friday as part of Paris Fashion Week. "The goal was to really manage to work on looser, more supple shapes for suit jackets," the label's founder and designer, Pierre Maheo, said. The collection, which included looks for men and women, featured slouchy trousers and dressy jackets, lightweight overcoats and cotton trousers with elastic waists. Paris Fashion week's menswear shows, which wind up on June 25, feature dozens of labels ranging from some of the biggest fashion names like LVMH-owned Louis Vuitton and Dior, as well as Hermes, to smaller, emerging brands.

Persons: Pierre Maheo, Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS, Louis, Mimosa Spencer, Sandra Maler Organizations: Generale, REUTERS, Monnaie, Left Bank, Paris, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, United States, New York

☆ The Hotel That Started as a Gift Shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Shannon Eblen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But by her early 30s, Ms. Maldonado said, she had become uninspired by her career. In 2015, Ms. Maldonado, now 39, recalled thinking, “What if I start a modern gift shop?”Soon after, she started a website, Yowie, that sold housewares, like ceramic cups and bowls. (When considering names for the website, yowie, an Australian word synonymous with yeti or Bigfoot, emerged as a favorite and stuck.) Ms. Maldonado soon quit her job at American Eagle to focus on the business. Recently, she moved the store again, to a much bigger space on the ground floor of a new Yowie hotel designed and co-owned by Ms. Maldonado.

Persons: Shannon Maldonado, Maldonado, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Ms, . Maldonado Organizations: Fashion Institute of Technology Locations: New York, Japan, Philadelphia, Queen

June 5 (Reuters) - Tighter lending standards from regional banks are making it harder for U.S. hotel developers to secure funding, slowing construction of new hotels at a time Americans' appetite for travel is ripe. Analysts say slower hotel development will also limit profits of blue-chip manufacturers like Caterpillar Inc. , whose commercial real estate customers account for around 75% of construction sales. Overexposed regional banks are now offloading commercial real estate loans at a discount. Troubled regional lender PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) announced in May it would sell $2.6 billion worth of real estate construction loans. Banks started to reduce their hotel loan portfolios in the first quarter of 2023, an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence found.

Persons: Joseph Delli Santi, James Hansen, Andy Ingraham, Ingraham, Evens Charles, Banks, Mitchell Hochberg, Bianca Flowers, Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Silicon Valley Bank, Shopoff, Reuters, Build Central Inc, Hilton, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Marriott International, Caterpillar Inc, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, National Association of Black, Developers, Frontier Development, Hospitality Group, Washington D.C, PacWest Bancorp, P Global Market Intelligence, Lightstone, Thomson Locations: Silicon, California, Florida , Texas, Washington, Arizona, New York, Chicago, Bengaluru

Persons: Joseph Delli Santi, James Hansen, Andy Ingraham, Ingraham, Evens Charles, Banks, Mitchell Hochberg, Bianca Flowers, Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Silicon Valley Bank, Shopoff, Reuters, Build Central Inc, Hilton, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Marriott International, Caterpillar Inc, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, National Association of Black, Developers, Frontier Development, Hospitality Group, Washington D.C, PacWest Bancorp, P Global Market Intelligence, Western Alliance, Lightstone, Thomson Locations: Silicon, California, Florida , Texas, Washington, Arizona, New York, Chicago, Bengaluru

☆ Why an empty sand plot in Dubai sold for a record $34M
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The sale – for 125 million dirhams (AED) – marks a whopping 242% gain over his original purchase price of 36.5 million AED, or just under $10 million, in 2021. Jumeirah Bay Island is also home to plenty of sandy beaches and a marina for dozens of yachts, high-end restaurants, a gym and a spa center. Jumeirah Bay Island, on the other hand, is much smaller at just 0.22 square miles, and is considered more exclusive. Current listings show an empty plot for sale on Jumeirah Bay Island for 90 million AED, or about $24.5 million. A three-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment in the Bulgari complex on the island is being offered for 60 million AED, or about $16.3 million.

☆ Disney to close Star Wars hotel that opened in Florida last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] "Star Wars" Stormtroopers stand guard inside the atrium of the Halcyon starcruiser at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, U.S., February 24, 2022. Disney announced the closing of the two-night "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser" hotel and experience on Thursday but did not provide a reason. The hotel debuted with fanfare at Walt Disney World in March 2022. Some Star Wars fans had complained that the cost of staying at the Starcruiser was too high. The price included two days and two nights in one of 100 Starcruiser cabins, galactic-inspired food and drink, and a visit to Batuu, the "Star Wars" planet inside the Disney World theme park.

You can use a Hilton free night certificate at just about any Hilton hotel, including the stunning Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. Hilton HotelsYou can earn Hilton free night certificates with select Amex Hilton credit cards. Hilton free night reward certificates are valid at almost any Hilton hotel, including luxury Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties. Best Hilton hotels for using a free night certificateYou'll usually get the most value from your Hilton free night certificate by redeeming it at expensive properties or luxury beach resorts. How to use Hilton free night certificatesWhen you've earned a Hilton free night certificate, you'll receive an email from Hilton Honors letting you know your award is in your Hilton account.

CNN —Hundreds of jewels once owned by late Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten have fetched a combined 176 million Swiss francs ($196 million) to become the most expensive private jewelry collection ever to appear at auction. Heidi Horten pictured wearing the Briollete of India necklace, which sold for 6.3 million Swiss francs ($7 million). The most valuable lot, a ruby and diamond Cartier ring that is “pigeon blood” in color, fetched just over 13 million Swiss francs ($14.5 million), despite Christie’s expecting bids as high as 18 million Swiss francs ($20 million). A 90-carat “Briolette of India” diamond necklace by jeweler Harry Winston also came in below estimate, selling for 6.3 million Swiss francs ($7 million). courtesy Christie'sElsewhere, however, a Bulgari diamond ring more than doubled its high estimate to fetch 9.1 million Swiss francs ($10.1 million).

☆ Hotel supply growth is muted but demand is near record levels, says Choice Hotels' Pat Pacious
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHotel supply growth is muted but demand is near record levels, says Choice Hotels' Pat PaciousPat Pacious, Choice Hotels CEO, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss the private and public sector construction boom driving hotel demand, supply growth in the hotel sector, and the decrease in workforce participation contributing to the hotel consumer base.

There are too many things that matter to me that travel insurance surprisingly doesn't cover. Cancellation coverage is limitedThe first few times I purchased travel insurance, I didn't read the fine print. I travel so much that it gets expensiveAs someone who takes up to a dozen trips every year, getting travel insurance per trip adds up. The average cost of travel insurance is anywhere between 4% to 8% of the cost of your trip. Most travel insurance policies won't let you make those changes unless there's an emergency.

☆ Exclusive: Olympics - Paris 2024 plans Games relay changes, fewer torches, source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But organisers are planning changes to the traditional months-long relay across the host nation to make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable. There will also be far fewer torches than the several thousand usually produced for an Olympic relay by host cities, the source close to the torch lighting and relay planning process told Reuters. "The organisers are planning not to use individual torches for each of the runners," the source said. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesThe relay in the host country starts after the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece's Olympia, the site of the ancient Games. Organisers did not comment on the number of torches to be produced, saying it was still "a work in progress."

☆ Pension protests to bring 'maximum' workers in France after government, union talks fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Silvia Aloisi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Labour groups vowed to dig in their heels after talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Wednesday - which lasted just an hour - failed to calm the situation. They said the only way out of the crisis was for the legislation to be pulled, an option which Borne flatly rejected. "After this meeting, I am calling for a maximum of workers, men and women, to join the marches across France tomorrow," Laurent Berger, head of the country's biggest union CFDT, said on Wednesday. Strikes are still disrupting operations at oil refineries and nuclear plants, while garbage collectors have vowed to resume their protest from next week. Polls show a wide majority of French oppose the pension legislation and the government's decision to push it through parliament without a vote.

Search resuls for: "Hotel de"

25 mentions found