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Add ‘vertical depth’ to small rooms with our tricks, making homes seem larger

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:41:52 +0000

GIVE your home an instant upgrade with some simple and transformative tips to make any small space feel bigger.

Sometimes less is indeed more – at least when you’re giving a room a decorative redesign.

Simple interior design tips can open up a room and make it feel more spaciousCredit: Getty

If you have too much stuff in your small home, chances are clutter is getting in the way of your style.

To create a more carefully curated area, the experts at Moving.com recommend leaving sufficient open space.

This pro tip can be applied to all “visible areas” throughout the home, from the floor to your countertops and even in the space between pieces of furniture.

You can also add ‘vertical depth’ to any space by incorporating larger items and using shelves and art.

This also means you can get creative with your most coveted pieces.

Instead of throwing everything away, just place some items on a shelf.

When it comes to hanging curtains, they recommend installing the rod about two inches below the ceiling or cornice, which gives the illusion of extra height.

You can also upgrade your style game while saving space by incorporating innovative storage items.

My Budget-Friendly Walmart Decor Hack Costs Under $10 and Will Upgrade Your Table — People Say It’s ‘A Win-Win’

Some of these furniture solutions include ottomans that can store linens and under-bed storage pieces that look like “cool cabinets.”

Wayfair is selling a $45.99 Hilsa upholstered storage bench, which hides blankets, pillows and remotes.

The table top lid even serves as extra seating.

The space-saving purchase received many five-star reviews.

“I needed a simple footstool. This one did the job and also provides storage. I was skeptical at first when I saw that the sides were folded up and quite flimsy, but once I put them together it held up,” wrote one buyer .

“It’s a great little ottoman for the price. I love that you can store a blanket, or iPad, etc. in it, and flip the top over for an extra small tabletop.

“It’s just the right touch I needed in my family room,” said another buyer.

Small doesn’t have to be boring either. Instead, these more compact spaces are even more prone to bold colors, prints and textures.

Start with an accent wall, a throw pillow or add a colorful wallpaper.

Even a statement piece or a simple item like a picture frame can do the transforming trick.

It’s all about securing ‘balance’, which can be done by playing with patterns.

They also recommend going big when integrating a rug into a room.

That’s because using a large rug can cause your eye to see more than is actually there. It also gives your home an even grander appearance.

Finding storage solutions and using shelving are some simple, space-saving and stylish tipsCredit: Getty

Tips to make a small room seem bigger

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Biden proposes a larger federal role to lower housing costs

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:03:23 +0000

Economists in the Biden administration are calling for more aggressive federal action to reduce costs for homebuyers and renters, targeting one of the biggest economic challenges facing President Biden as he runs for re-election.

The policy proposals in a White House report released Thursday include what could be an aggressive federal intervention in local politics, often dictating where homes are built and who can occupy them. The administration is backing a plan to pressure cities and other places to relax zoning restrictions, which in many cases are hampering affordable housing development.

The recommendation is part of a deep dive by the new administration into a housing crisis that has been brewing for decades and is hampering the president’s chances for a second term. The proposals, included in the president’s annual Economic Report, could serve as a blueprint for a major boost to the housing market if Mr. Biden wins a second term.

The report includes a series of measures intended to reduce the cost of renting or purchasing a home, while encouraging local governments to change zoning laws to allow for the development of more affordable housing.

“It’s really hard to make a difference in this space, in this affordable housing development, without addressing land use regulations,” Jared Bernstein, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said in an interview.

Mr. Bernstein added that government officials believed many local leaders were encouraging a greater federal role in zoning reform — which could help override objections from local groups opposed to development. “I feel like we’re kicking ass more now than ever before,” he said.

The report is packed with statistics that illustrate why housing has become an acute source of stress for American families and an electoral burden for Mr. Biden.

The government has recognized that it has limited power over local zoning rules, which tend to dictate the design and density of housing in certain neighborhoods. Most of the president’s recommendations to expand supply involve using the federal budget as a carrot to encourage local governments to allow more construction — including adding low-income housing and smaller starter homes.

Such policies are unlikely to become law this year, with elections looming and Republicans in control of the House of Representatives.

But the focus on housing and the adoption of a comprehensive set of policies to increase supply and affordability could serve as a blueprint for a potentially bipartisan effort in this area if Mr. Biden is re-elected. It could also boost a housing reform movement that is well underway in state legislatures across the country.

The report documents how home prices have significantly exceeded wage growth for American households over the past decade. That has put ownership out of reach for middle-income homebuyers and pushed lower-income renters to the brink of poverty.

A quarter of tenants – around twelve million households – now spend more than half of their income on rent. Prices are so high that if a minimum wage worker worked 45 hours a week for a month, an average rent would eat up every dollar he or she earned.

According to the report, behind all this lies a long-term housing shortage. The lack of housing has become a rare point of agreement between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

The shortage is the result of decades of inability to build enough homes, a trend that worsened after the 2008 financial crisis. The situation has been exacerbated by rising construction costs and many local zoning and land use regulations, which make building housing more difficult and expensive. These rules also limit which types of units can go where, for example making apartments in single-family neighborhoods illegal.

The lack of affordable housing mainly affects lower-income families and first-time couples. Millions of cheaper apartments have all but disappeared over the past decade, either due to rising rents or falling into disrepair. At the same time, smaller and cheaper ‘starter homes’ form an increasingly smaller share of the market.

In recent years, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both red and blue states have passed dozens of state bills to limit cities’ control over development. The report applauded them and noted the government’s efforts to encourage such reforms Housing supply action planwhich was released two years ago.

Mr. Biden has focused heavily on housing in recent weeks, in part to show voters he is fighting to reduce one of their biggest monthly costs. Privately, his aides have expressed hope that interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year will push down mortgage rates and possibly home prices, if a new supply of homes comes onto the market in response.

Publicly, Mr. Biden has taken the initiative, calling on lawmakers to pass major federal investments in housing supply and tax breaks for people who buy homes.

“If inflation continues to fall – and that is expected to happen – mortgage rates will also fall, but I am not going to wait,” Biden said in Las Vegas on Tuesday. “I’m not going to wait.”

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10 Best Transition Dresses for Larger Busts | We weekly

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:43:58 +0000

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As winter turns to the warmth of spring, there’s one thing on every fashionista’s mind: it’s time to dress for warmer weather! And as fun as that may be, not everyone has a whole collection of warm-weather clothes that they can start wearing. This can also be difficult for women with larger breasts, which makes buying certain items of clothing difficult enough.

If that’s you and you’re looking to pick up a few new dresses that can make dressing for spring a lot easier as you gradually transition from winter clothes to their warmer counterparts, we’ve got the solution for you. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best transitional dresses for women with larger busts. Check them out below and see if there’s anything you like – and effortlessly create a new wardrobe for the season.

10 Best Transition Dresses for Larger Busts

1. Flowing Flowers: This A-line wrap dress is beautiful short sleeve sundress with plenty of room in the chest and a few sunny colors to choose from – simply $34!

2. Long and Luscious: Get this summer boho maxi dress because of its flowy, carefree character and multiple color choices – just $30!

3. Keep it simple: Show yourself in this Swing dress with short sleeves and V-neck that you can wear with anything – simply $20!

4. Beautiful Peasant Dress: You won’t feel confined in this dress with a large chest area and beautiful ruffle sleeves – just now $30!

5. Cooling Cotton: Enjoy the sun here spacious linen dress with short sleeves – just now $25!

6. Sexy Summer Dress: This soft sleeveless cotton summer dress is perfect for lounging on the beach and has a roomy, roomy bodice – net $33!

7. Fuels a lot: Slip into this tank dress with ruffles for a look that will grab everyone’s attention this season – simply $34!

8. Flirty flutters: This beautiful flutter sleeve smocked mini dress has a stretchable chest section, so you have plenty of extra room $34!

9. Teed Up: This loose one T-shirt dress with fashionable V-neck can look absolutely stunning on anyone – just $37!

10. Going Around: Slip into this Round neck dress with mesh panels for an intriguing look that gives you an exotic look – simply $30!

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IMF agrees to much larger rescue package for Egypt

Sabir Ansary — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 23:48:54 +0000

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to more than double the bailout package for Egypt, which is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, exacerbated by war in the neighboring Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

The fund now plans to provide Egypt with $8 billion, up from the initial $3 billion announced in October 2022.

The head of the IMF’s mission in Egypt, Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, noted at a news conference that Egypt’s already struggling economy had been further affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has hampered the country’s vital tourism trade.

At the same time, revenue from the Suez Canal fell by half after Houthi militants, who say they stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, began attacking cargo ships using the Red Sea shipping lanes.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the deal would allow the government to secure an additional $1.2 billion, on top of $8 billion, from the IMF’s Environmental Aptitude Fund and would include development partners such as the World Bank and the European Union encourage Egypt to also give more money. loans to help achieve financial stability.

Last week, Egypt signed a $35 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates to develop parts of the Mediterranean coast. Egyptian officials celebrated it as the largest foreign direct investment in Egypt’s history.

Hours before the deal with the IMF was announced, Egypt’s Central Bank, in an effort to rein in rising inflation, devalued the currency by more than 35 percent – it was the fourth devaluation since October 2022 – and raised interest rates by 600 basis points.

Mr Madbouly said his government and the IMF have reached consensus on the objectives of Egypt’s structural reform plan.

“The aim is to increase foreign exchange reserves, reduce debt burden, ensure the flow of foreign direct investment and work towards high growth rates for the Egyptian economy,” he said.

The government and the monetary fund are committed to social protection measures for vulnerable people who will be affected by the reform plans, Mr Madbouly said.

Over the past 18 months, a severe shortage of foreign currency in Egypt, which is overwhelmingly dependent on imports, has wiped out prices – and concerns about the future. The cost of some basic food items quadrupled, debt levels reached record highs and the currency lost much of its value, decimating the purchasing power of people’s incomes and the value of their savings.

Central Bank Governor Hassan Abdalla said the government’s medium-term plan aims to reduce inflation, which reached a record high of almost 40 percent last summer, to single digits.

Before the IMF deal, mounting economic pressure had forced the government to change its tactics, including freezing some costly megaprojects ordered by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, including a lavish new capital in the desert.

Additional pressure came from the IMF, which refused to transfer much of the original loan until Egypt met certain economic policy conditions. One of these was to stimulate private sector growth by eliminating the competitive advantages enjoyed by Egyptian military companies.

Over the past decade, the Egyptian economy has struggled for stability. Many observers say mismanagement, including overspending on mega-projects and long-standing over-reliance on imports, has left Egypt vulnerable to successive external shocks. In addition to the war in Gaza, there was the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which affected both tourism and essential wheat imports.

Mr el-Sisi has repeatedly defended his government’s policies, saying the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak had created lasting economic uncertainty.

However, in daily interactions on Cairo’s streets and on social media, many blame the president, whom they accuse of spending money on vanity projects and weakening the economy in a way that undermines Egypt’s influence in the region.

Some experts say the IMF, which has loaned Egypt billions of dollars since 2016, is part of the problem.

“They don’t go deep enough into what’s happening inside the machine,” said Mohamed Fouad, a financial consultant and former Egyptian lawmaker.

Mr Fouad expects the international lender will now make more calculated decisions.

“Their biggest mistake,” he said, “came between 2016 and 2020, when everyone was cheering and focusing only on the macroeconomic aspect. But the foundation was shaky.”

Vivian Yee reporting contributed.

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I'm a 34G and have finally found a push-up bra that is perfect for a larger breast

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 21:45:50 +0000

A woman with fuller breasts has sung the praises of a popular bra that she thinks is perfect for her large breasts.

She said she was obsessed with the new Skims item because it accentuated her 34G breasts so well.

Olivia said she finally found a push-up bra that is perfect for a larger breastCredit: tiktok/@oliviagayanam

She said she is obsessed with her new Skims Fits Everybody braCredit: tiktok/@oliviagayanam

Olivia Gaya (@oliviagayanam) is no stranger to the problems that come with having large breasts.

She showed in a TikTok video her new go-to push bra from Skims in size 34G.

“Finally found a push-up bra that's perfect for a larger bust,” she wrote in the caption.

She wore the Fits Everybody Push-Up Bra, $56, under a black spaghetti strap tank top and paired it with low-rise jeans.

In the caption, she added that she was “obsessed” with it.

When the video started, she was up close with her bust showing and walking back to show off her complete outfit.

Olivia turned to the side and showed off her busty figure from multiple angles.

She added additional thoughts on sizing in the comments.

Before purchasing, she read “all the reviews” because fit varies from person to person.

She usually wears a size 34DDD, but has a size up to a G cup and was “very happy” with the style.

The comments section was filled with questions and honest opinions from viewers.

“I'm so hesitant to buy it. I'm a size 36D and I have no idea what size to get and all bra sizes are different and the style might not work for me,” one person commented.

She wore it under a black tank top and paired it with low-rise jeansCredit: tiktok/@oliviagayanam

“I'm a 34G to 38G so I'll probably get a 36G because they don't have 38G,” wrote another.

“I already have a large chest and am looking for a bra that pushes up but doesn't make my chest look bigger, if that makes sense. Thoughts?” one TikTok user asked.

Olivia is normally a 34DDD, but is sized up to 34GCredit: tiktok/@oliviagayanam

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Is this Putin's 'secret hideout 18 miles from the NATO border'? New video claims to show the president's potential luxury lake hideaway in a forest area larger than Monaco

Albert Elence — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:11:42 +0000

A new video has emerged claiming to show Vladimir Putin's secret northern hideout – just 18 miles from Russia's border with NATO.

According to unverified reports in Russia, the 71-year-old dictator is accused of “stealing” a scenic waterfall and a piece of the commandeered national park – bigger than Monaco – for his retreat of lakes and forests.

It is reported that the property's nearby neighbor, just two and a half kilometers away, is former Chelsea tycoon Roman Abramovich, 57.

The narrator of the footage claims that the secret hideaway that Putin is said to share with beloved Alina Kabaeva, 40, a world-famous gymnast, is located next to the picturesque 4-meter-high Marjalahti Waterfall.

According to the independent news channel Dossier Center, it has a modernist gazebo with a full view of the beautiful site, closed to ordinary Russians.

However, MailOnline has not been able to verify the footage and may have used AI or special effects to add the buildings.

Putin is said to share homes with lover Alina Kabaeva, 40, a world-famous gymnast

The retreat is believed to take place in Lake Ladoga National Park in Karelia – as far north as the Faroe Islands – but close to Russia's NATO border with Finland.

The video goes on to say that there are several buildings and a telltale sign that this is part of a huge Putin portfolio of secret houses and palaces hidden from the Russian people.

“Behind the shed you see an ordinary hill,” says case journalist Ilya Rozhdestvenskiy.

'It is not known for certain what exactly this site is for, but based on satellite images it has appeared in recent years.

'It is possible that an air defense system is on display here…

“This is not the first time that ground markers – from the support of military equipment deployed from the air into combat positions – have protected the President.

'Since the start of the war, all of Putin's main residences have been covered by the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft system.

'The barn looks more like a reception house.

The property is believed to be only 29 kilometers from Russia's border with NATO

The video claims that he has a modernist gazebo in full view of the beauty spot, closed off from ordinary Russian people.

'Inside there is a living room, its own brewery and a tea room on the second floor.

'The building has a swimming pool or fountain.'

The retreat has a separate underground entrance, a helipad and a pier for yachts [on Lake Ladoga]as well as the gazebo opposite the waterfall.'

The so-called 'fishing hut' has its own helipad and pier.

Semi-precious stones are used in interior decoration.

Rumor has it that there is a bathhouse, a trout fishery and farm, a marbled beef farm and a secluded gazebo with breathtaking lake views nearby.

'Here the president can enjoy nature in complete solitude.

'You can't get here just by plane [helicopter], but also by yacht. Putin has a whole fleet at his disposal for that purpose.'

According to the narrator, just three and a half kilometers away are a country house, a sauna and a restaurant that, Rozhdestvenskiy says, belongs to Abramovich, as confirmed by entries in the Russian real estate register.

Footage from the video allegedly showing Vladimir Putin's secret hideaway

Images from the Dossier Center outlet supposedly showing Vladimir Putin's secret hideout

A nearby hotel is said to be owned by Yuri Kovalchuk, a longtime friend of Putin and known as the dictator's “personal banker.”

'Kovalchuk has created a network of companies that deal with the president's leisure activities and are responsible for all his real estate, including the famous [Black Sea] palace near Gelendzhik and the mansion in Valdai, where the head of state most often visits,” said the report on YouTube channel Khodorkovsky.Live.

“Abramovich is not part of Putin's inner circle, but has always been close to the highest levels of power,” the report said.

During Putin visits to his northern luxury retreat, 'local security is replaced by FSO agents.

'The entrances are blocked, as are the neighboring islands [on the lake] are blocked.

'The houses are gated, with CCTV cameras and motion sensors on the fences.

'Barbed wire runs through the adjacent forest.'

The post Is this Putin's 'secret hideout 18 miles from the NATO border'? New video claims to show the president's potential luxury lake hideaway in a forest area larger than Monaco appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

I'm medium sized and have a mommy body and found a great, comfortable dress for a larger bust

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:24:36 +0000

A FASHION influencer has shared how she styled her new favorite dress.

She was able to style the dress in three unique ways for different occasions.

A mid-sized fashion influencer styled the same dress three different waysCredit: tiktok/copperblushblogs

Buyer (@copperblushblogs) shared the fitting video with more than 115,000 TikTok followers.

The mid-sized influencer had nothing but praise for the $41 red floral Pour Moi dresswhere comfort is praised.

“Medium girls, I have one dress and I'm going to style it three different ways,” she said, adding the hashtag #mombod.

“It's amazing if you have a bigger chest because there's a little pocket in there,” she said, shaking the extra material on the chest of the floral dress.

For a girly-grunge look, she paired the dress with a pair of Doc Martens, a leather jacket and a belt.

“Look how much more shape this dress has become now that we have a waist belt,” she said.

For her second look, she layered a black sweater over the dress to turn it into a skirt, along with some sneakers to complete the look.

“If you were meeting your friends on a Saturday, you would put some gold hoops in it, so keep it casual,” she said.

For a more dressed-up look, she added a pair of heels, a clutch bag and of course some earrings to the dress.

“This is something I would wear to the pub on a Friday night,” she said.

People were impressed with her sense of style and her eye.

“It's beautiful and the popper is amazing,” said one commenter.

“Simply beautiful, I love this dress,” another agreed.

For a girly-grunge look, she paired the dress with boots, a leather jacket and a beltCredit: tiktok/copperblushblogs

For a casual look, she turned the dress into a skirt by throwing a sweater over itCredit: tiktok/copperblushblogs

For a night out, she added heels, a clutch and hoop earringsCredit: tiktok/copperblushblogs

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Ryan O’Neal dies at 82: Paper Moon and Love Story actor who was with Farrah Fawcett for decades passes away ‘peacefully’, his son Patrick reveals: ‘He was larger than life’

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:10:42 +0000

By Heidi Parker for Dailymail.com

Published: 4:50 PM EST, December 8, 2023 | Updated: 5:05 PM EST, December 8, 2023

Hollywood actor Ryan O’Neal has died at the age of 82.

His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon. “So this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but here we go,” he began.

“My father passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side, who supported him and loved him as he loved us.”

O’Neal was best known for his films from the 1970s, including Paper Moon, in which he co-starred with his daughter Tatum O’Neal.

He also worked with some of the top female stars of his time, such as Barbra Streisand What’s Up, Doc, and also The Main Event, and Marisa Berenson on Barry Lyndon.

Ryan was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his blockbuster Love Story with Ali MacGraw.

Hollywood actor Ryan O’Neal has died at the age of 82. His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon.

His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon. “So this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but here we go,” he began. “My father passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side, who supported him and loved him as he loved us.”

Ryan was also known for his high-profile relationship with Charlie’s Angels actress Farrah Fawcett, which lasted for decades; they never marry.

The two were partners from 1979 to 1997 after he stole the bubbly blonde beauty from her husband, The Six Million Dollar Man’s Lee Majors.

Together they had a son named Redmond, who had trouble with the law and even served time in prison.

O’Neal was jailed in 2009 after being found in possession of heroin during a routine security check at the Pitchess Detention Center, California. He was behind bars when his mother died of cancer in June 2009.

O’Neal also romanced Ursula Andress, Bianca Jagger, Jacqueline Bisset, Streisand, Joan Collins and Diana Ross.

Ryan is survived by four children and five grandchildren.

His son posted a long note with the photo of a sunset on the beach.

‘This is very difficult for my wife Summer and me, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is.

“My dad Ryan O’Neal has always been my hero. I looked up to him and he was always larger than life. When I was born in 1967, my father was already a TV star on Peyton Place.

Ryan was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his blockbuster Love Story with Ali MacGraw.

He also worked with some of the top female stars of the time, such as Barbra Streisand on What’s Up, Doc (seen here in 1972) and The Main Event.

Ryan was also known for his high-profile relationship with Charlie’s Angels actress Farrah Fawcett, which lasted for decades; they never marry. The two were partners from 1979 to 1997. Seen in 2004

‘That’s where he met my mother Leigh Taylor-Young, and about nine months later (give or take an evening or two) I was born.

‘My father became an international movie star in the early 1970s with Love Story, a decade he absolutely crushed by starring in films such as What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Main Event and The Driver.

‘He’s a Hollywood legend. Point. The growth spurt of the first name Ryan can be traced back to my father. That’s a fact.

“He was Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place 3 days a week (he was in 500 shows over 5 years) and then of course the Ryan name peaked after Love Story (the movie that saved Paramount Studios and gave my father a star on the Hollywood Walk famous).’

O’Neal attends the Farrah Fawcett 5th Birthday Reception at the Farrah Fawcett Foundation on June 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills

Ryan started acting in the 1960s and got his big break on the TV series Peyton Place playing Rodney Harrington.

The post Ryan O’Neal dies at 82: Paper Moon and Love Story actor who was with Farrah Fawcett for decades passes away ‘peacefully’, his son Patrick reveals: ‘He was larger than life’ appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

High life on the high seas! Private restaurants, exclusive sundecks, larger suites – this is how you become a VIP cruiser

Albert Elence — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:00:15 +0000

We know there’s a cruise for everyone: from mega ships with entertainment from morning to night, to luxury yachts where butlers pour champagne and polish your sunglasses.

Now, however, the world’s largest ships are giving up more decks to private spaces. These ‘ships within ships’ come with a host of benefits, from luxurious suites, 24/7 butler and concierge services, ‘head start’ check-ins, private restaurants, bars and lounge areas plus priority theater bookings and direct access along private corridors to spas.

The suites in these retreats sell out quickly as passengers opt for a taste of luxury life on the high seas.

JOIN THE CLUB

This overview looks at what it means to be a VIP on some of the world’s largest cruise ships. Upstairs, MSC Cruises Yacht Club guests are welcomed by their private butler

A Swarovski crystal staircase connects the glamorous two-deck MSC Yacht Clubs on MSC’s newest ships.

Each room has its own lounge and bar, dining room, sundeck and swimming pool with cocktail bar. Guests arrive at the cruise terminal where they will be met by their private butler at the Yacht Club embarkation desk and then escorted to their retreat.

MSC Yacht Club areas boast 95 suites, including interior, deluxe, duplex and royal suites – and they have become bestsellers, often being the first to sell when cruises become available. Direct access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea spa is a major attraction.

Top advantage: The club-only restaurant with 270 degree panoramic views at the front of the ship.

Book It: A seven-day ‘Northern Europe’ cruise on MSC Euribia, staying in an interior cabin at the Yacht Club, departs from Southampton on January 26, from £1,519 pp (msccruises.co.uk0203 426 3010).

PORT COTTAGE

Passengers get access to an exclusive sundeck if they choose a suite in the Port section of the Norwegian cruise ships. Above is the sundeck of the Norwegian Prima

Passengers booking in the Port section of Norwegian cruise ships have access to an exclusive deck with a sun terrace and suites with free movies. Free cell phones are available for use on board the ship.

The premier suite is a 6,000-square-foot, three-bedroom villa for eight people with a living room, outdoor terraces, a hot tub and a dining area – available on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Ster and Norwegian Jewel.

Top advantage: The private sundeck with a hot tub with butler service.

Book It: Seven-day ‘Caribbean: Barbados, Antigua & St. Lucia’ Haven cabin cruises on the new ship, Norwegian Viva, departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 14, from £2,501 per person (ncl.com0333 2412319).

LIFE IS SUITE

As seen in this rendering, the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas features a water slide, karaoke and private patio

Following huge demand for Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has doubled the size of its ‘Suite Neighbourhood’ on the new 5,610-passenger Icon of the Seas, filling four decks with 52 suites and a multi-level sundeck.

The neighborhoods are popular with multi-generational families; children’s clubs and a large water park are a big hit with young people. There are also private pools, hot tubs and two restaurants for passengers staying in the Suite Neighborhood only.

Top advantage: The three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse has a slide (for adults and children), karaoke and a private patio.

Book It: Seven-day ‘Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day’ cruises on Icon of the Seas with junior suite accommodation from £3,906pp, departing Miami on September 7; seven nights in the Ultimate Family Townhouse from £65,000 per sailing (royalcaribbean.com0344 4934005).

PRIVATE RETREAT

Groundbreaking: Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Roof Garden for Cruise Passengers Who Love Exclusive ‘Extras’

Above is one of the ‘top of the line’ iconic suites at Celebrity Edge. Guests can count on a good night’s sleep on cashmere mattresses

Guests who book Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series ship suites have access to The Retreat’s sundeck, where attendants bring drinks and snacks to private cabanas.

They can also dine at Luminae, a restaurant serving dishes created by award-winning chef Daniel Boulud. All iconic suites measuring 1,80 m² with a 60 m² terrace are located above the ship’s bridge and guests can expect a good night’s sleep on cashmere mattresses.

Top advantage: Peloton exercise bikes for the cabin.

Book It: Nine-night return flights to Barcelona ‘Italian Riviera and France’ depart April 27 from £1,490pp (celebritycruises.co.uk0800 2404286).

SECRET SANCTUARY

Above is the exclusive restaurant on Sun Princess, a new ship from Princess Cruises, which will be available to guests in the Signature Collection suites

Sun Princess, the highly anticipated new ship from Princess Cruises, launches on February 8 with a Signature Collection of 50 suites with access to a private lounge, restaurant and an area in the Adults Only Sanctuary on the sundeck.

Top advantage: Priority shore excursion reservations.

Book It: Seven-day Mediterranean cruises with Greek Islands and Turkey from Rome on August 10 from £2,599 pp (princess.com0344 3388670).

LUXURY PARTIES

Holland America Line’s Pinnacle Class ships feature Neptune Suites with hot tubs, teak verandas and dual views. The Pinnacle Suite, the upper cabin, is a whopping 1,290 feet.

Guests can attend the Neptune Lounge’s cocktail party and eat at the private Club Orange dining venue.

Top advantage: Free laundry, ironing and dry cleaning service.

Book It: The seven-day ‘Alaska Inside Passage’ roundtrip on Koningsdam, from Vancouver, departs from May 18. Neptune Suite prices from £3,379pp (hollandamerica.com0344 3388605).

WHAT WE SAY…

The prices for these ‘private enclave’ areas are usually excellent value when they offer so many benefits.

Fares can be at least half that of traditional, smaller luxury cruise ships such as Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Silversea and Seabourn.

Some modern ships are so large that some passengers fear getting lost – but now there are intimate hideaways that can increase their appeal.

The post High life on the high seas! Private restaurants, exclusive sundecks, larger suites – this is how you become a VIP cruiser appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Fears Hezbollah is set to declare war with Israel and light the touch paper for a larger regional conflict as terror group chief makes major speech today

Albert Elence — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:23:48 +0000

Fears are growing today that Hezbollah is set to declare war with Israel and light the touch paper for a larger conflict in the Middle East.

The terror group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah will break weeks of silence since war broke out between Hamas and Israel in a speech today, that some fear could signal Hezbollah’s intention to wade deeper into the on-going conflict.

After Hamas militants launched an unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, Lebanon’s southern border has seen escalating tit-for-tat exchanges, mainly between Israel and Hezbollah.

The terror group, like Hamas, is backed by Iran, and clashes across Israel’s northern border are stoking fears of a broader conflagration of the on-going war.

The cross-border attacks heated up Thursday, as Israel responded with a ‘broad assault’ after Hezbollah said it attacked 19 Israeli positions simultaneously.

Rockets also hit the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona near the border in a barrage claimed by the Lebanese section of Hamas’s armed wing.

Fears are growing today that Hezbollah is set to declare war with Israel and light the touch paper for a larger conflict in the middle east. Above, Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip is seen on Thursday in a picture taken from the Israeli side of the border

Israeli troops are seen operating in the Gaza Strip as the war with Hamas continues

The terror group, like Hamas, is backed by Iran , and clashes across Israel’s northern border are stoking fears of a broader conflagration of the on-going war. Pictured: An Israeli artillery unit fires during a military drill in the Golan Heights near the border with Lebanon on November 2

Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli strike on the Tal Al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City

In IDF soldier is seen with a sniper rifle in while operating in the Gaza Strip

Nasrallah’s highly anticipated speech will be broadcast as part of an event in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, at 3.00pm (1300 GMT) on Friday.

The speech will be in memory of fighters killed in Israeli attacks, but will be watched keenly for any signal from the group that it may wade deeper into the conflict on the side of Hamas.

On the Lebanese side, more than 70 people have been killed – at least 50 of them Hezbollah fighters but also other combatants and civilians, one a Reuters journalist.

On the Israeli side, nine people have died – eight soldiers and one civilian, according to the Israel Defence Force (IDF).

Some analysts believe that Hezbollah has little interest in becoming fully embroiled in a conflict that Israeli officials have threatened could destroy Lebanon.

But others say the decision lies with Iran, which leads the regional ‘axis of resistance’ against Israel, which alongside Hezbollah includes armed groups from Syria, Iraq and Yemen, some of which have attacked Israel and US interests in recent weeks.

The grouping of Iran and terror groups has been described by the Jewish state as an ‘axis of evil hell-bent’ on destroying Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned that ‘the region is like a powder keg’ and that ‘anything is possible’ if Israel does not stop attacking Gaza.

But Amal Saad, a Hezbollah expert at Cardiff University, said: ‘Hezbollah is not a proxy of Iran, it’s an ally of Iran.

‘Hezbollah doesn’t need anyone’s permission to intervene.’

‘Hezbollah has much more experience obviously fighting Israel than Iran does – Iran has not had a direct confrontation with Israel,’ Saad added.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah published a letter from its fighters addressed to Palestinian groups in Gaza, saying they had their ‘finger with you on the trigger… to support Al-Aqsa mosque and our oppressed brothers in Palestine’.

The terror group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah (pictured, file photo) will break weeks of silence since war broke out between Hamas and Israel in a speech today, that some fear could signal Hezbollah’s intention to wade deeper into the on-going conflict

Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023

Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are seen riding on motorbikes and carrying Chinese QM-18 man portable air defence systems. Hezbollah has purchased Chinese tech in recent years to compliment its extensive Soviet built arsenal of air defence weapons

People carry coffins of Hezbollah members Hussein Hariri, Mahmoud Darwish and Taha Hussein, who were killed in southern Lebanon amidst tension between Israel and Hezbollah, during their funeral, in Nabatieh Lebanon, October 27

The Shiite Muslim group has mainly restricted itself to targeting Israeli observation posts, military positions and vehicles near the border as well as drones, using what it says have been anti-tank missiles, guided missiles and even surface-to-air missiles.

Israel has responded by bombing sites along the border, while drones have targeted fighters near the frontier.

US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has sent two aircraft carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean and warned Hezbollah and others to stay out of the conflict.

Reports in October suggested that the White House and US military officials have discussed the possibility of using military forces if Hezbollah joins the war.

And according to a CNN report on Thursday, the US has intelligence that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has agreed to provide Hezbollah with a Russian-made missile defence system, with the Russian Wagner Group tasked with delivering.

CNN said in its report that the hardware is a surface-to-air SA-22 missile system (also known as a Pantsir). It said it was not clear if it had already been delivered.

The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Wagner – which has been heavily involved in fighting in Ukraine, operates in Syria and has significant interests in Africa – would provide the system to the terror group.

However, ‘Assad’s role has not been previously reported,’ CNN said.

One unidentified US official quoted by the Journal said that Washington had not confirmed that the system had been sent. But U.S. officials are monitoring discussions involving Wagner and Hezbollah, the Journal said.

The Journal said that the Pantsir system – known by NATO as the SA-22 – would be provided to Hezbollah via Syria, where Russia propped up al-Assad by entering the civil war there in 2015.

Wagner Group, which was funded by the Russian state and has been brought firmly under Kremlin control since an aborted mutiny by its former leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June, did not reply to a request for comment from Reuters.

The US remains sceptical that Hezbollah will get involved in the Israel-Gaza war.

‘We’ve got significant national security interests at play here,’ US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

‘I don’t believe we’ve seen any indication yet specifically that Hezbollah is ready to go in full force. So we’ll see what he has to say.’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv ahead of the speech, in a trip focused on easing tensions in the wider region.

Hezbollah, or the ‘Party of God’ in Arabic, is a Shiite Islamist political and military organisation that was founded in the 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War with the support of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Its dual political and military setup echoes that of Hamas, but while both groups are backed by Iran, Hezbollah has evolved into a far graver military threat.

In fact, it is said to be ten times stronger than Hamas, with 200,000 missiles, rockets and mortars in its arsenal, all ready to be fired at Israel.

While Hamas is still highly dangerous – with tens of thousands of soldiers and extensive rocket stockpiles – it has no air defence capabilities and almost no heavy armour. By contrast, Hezbollah’s military wing is extremely well-equipped.

In addition to the small arms, machine guns and rocket stockpiles used by Hamas, Hezbollah boasts a range of anti-tank and anti-air systems, a fleet of thousands of drones, and dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles.

It also boasts of having many more fighters.

Like Hamas, Hezbollah also has an extensive tunnel network along the Lebanese-Israeli border which serves as a strategic asset for clandestine movement, storage, and surprise attacks.

In 2021, the group claimed to have 100,000 active fighters – though Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) says the number is half that.

INSS says the group’s arsenal counts 150,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles, including ‘hundreds’ of precision rockets.

The overwhelming majority of Hezbollah’s military hardware is Soviet or Iranian made, and the group has either purchased or received donations of weapons and munitions from their Iranian backers, or from the government of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.

Both Iran and Syria have proved to be key sources of financial and material support, viewing Hezbollah as a strategic ally and an instrument of influence in the region.

The border tensions of the past three weeks have revived memories of Hezbollah’s devastating 2006 war with Israel that killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, largely soldiers.

Since then, the group – which receives financial support as well as weapons and equipment from Iran – has built up its powerful arsenal.

For years, Nasrallah has boasted that his group’s weapons could reach deep into Israeli territory.

‘Each side is carefully measuring its actions and reactions to avoid a situation that may spin out of control and spread to the region,’ said Michael Young from the Carnegie Middle East Center.

But if Hezbollah fully entered the war, ‘Lebanon’s devastation would turn most communities, perhaps even large segments of the Shiite community’, against it, he warned last week.

Israeli army soldiers sit in the turret of a battle tank moving at a position in the upper Galilee region of northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on November 1

In Lebanon, those both for and against expanding the war are holding their breath for Nasrallah’s speech.

‘We are waiting impatiently… We hope he will announce war on the Israeli enemy and the Western countries that support it,’ said Ahed Madi, 43, from the border town of Shebaa, speaking to France’s AFP news agency.

Rabih Awad, 41, from the southern town of Rashaya al-Fokhar, said a new war between Hezbollah and Israel ‘would be a death blow for Lebanon’, which is grappling with a crushing economic crisis.

‘I am against the war of extermination on the Palestinians in Gaza,’ he said. ‘But the decision to go to war must be taken by the Lebanese state, not a party or a militia.’

Hezbollah’s military hardware

Arms

AK-47

M16

RPGs

DShK (heavy machine gun)

KPV (heavy machine gun)

Tanks and APCs

T-55

T-72

BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Israeli Namer/M113s (captured)

Modified civilian vehicles

Missiles and Artillery

Katyusha rockets

Fateh-110

M300

Fajr-3 and Fajr-5

Zelzal-2

Anti-air Weapons

Strela 2 MANPAD

Strela 3 MANPAD

Igla-1 MANPAD

QW-18 MANPAD

ZU-23 (anti-air guns)

ZPU (anti-air guns)

Buk M2

Pantsyr S1

Anti-tank Weapons

9M14 Malyutka

9K111 Fagot

9M133 Kornet-E

UAVs

Mirsad 1

Mirsad 2

Shahed-129

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