Latest news with #NorthernEurope
Le Figaro
a day ago
- Le Figaro
Set sail from home port: discover the world on MSC Cruises from Southampton
Seasoned travellers know that a journey's first moments set the tone for everything that follows. That is why embarking on one of MSC's cruises feels instantly different. You swap airport queues for a breezy drive or train ride, step aboard within minutes, and ease into Italian-inspired elegance long before the ship clears the Solent. From that smooth departure, an entire atlas unfurls, Norway's mirror-still fjords, Lisbon's sun-soaked hills, Lanzarote's volcanic moonscapes, woven together in one seamless holiday. Why Southampton matters Southampton is Britain's busiest cruise hub, purpose-built for seamless boarding and disembarkation. Terminals stand a short hop from the city's rail station, luggage vanishes at the curb and reappears outside your cabin. Better still, MSC schedules departures all year, so whether you crave winter auroras or midsummer tapas, there is always a voyage poised to leave with cruises from Southampton. Treat that convenience as the first perk of your cruise, not the last, because once you cross the gangway, the scenery only improves. Northern Europe: light, legends and Fjords Few routes showcase ship travel's magic like the Northern Europe itineraries. One morning you might wake to Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie gleaming like a shard of ice; two days later, you dock in Flåm, a hamlet dwarfed by vertical cliffs and ribbon waterfalls. MSC's seven-night programmes link such contrasts with striking ease. Highlights include: Rotterdam-Amsterdam, Netherlands – Cycle canal front paths, linger in the Rijksmuseum, and sip a locally roasted espresso in Jordaan before re-boarding for gourmet dinner at sea. – Cycle canal front paths, linger in the Rijksmuseum, and sip a locally roasted espresso in Jordaan before re-boarding for gourmet dinner at sea. Olden, Norway – Take a tender across glassy Nordfjord, then ride an open-air trolley to the emerald tongue of Briksdal Glacier. – Take a tender across glassy Nordfjord, then ride an open-air trolley to the emerald tongue of Briksdal Glacier. Ålesund, Norway – Art Nouveau façades meet Atlantic viewpoints; kayakers glide past pastel warehouses while eagles wheel overhead. Travellers with less time can sample the flavour on mini-cruises—two, three or five nights that slip into Le Havre for a fast train to Paris or into Zeebrugge for medieval Bruges. Short on days, rich in stories. Canary Islands and Madeira: perpetual spring at sea Sail southwest and the weather softens, colours brighten, voices lighten. Funchal welcomes with jacaranda-lined boulevards; cable cars climb to Monte's gardens perfumed by orchids and jasmine. On Tenerife, lunar trails wind around Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, while down in Las Palmas, the earthy joy of tapas meets sun-warmed sand along Las Canteras beach. MSC pairs these ports with languid sea days ideal for sun-lounging, poolside cinema or an indulgent afternoon thalassotherapy session. Fourteen nights slip by like a single golden afternoon. Western mediterranean and Iberia : culture in quick succession If variety sparks your wanderlust, the extended Western Med voyages deliver. Picture breakfast with La Coruña's Roman lighthouse on the horizon, a late-morning wander through Lisbon's Alfama alleyways, tapas counters in Bilbao by lunch, and open-air opera under Barcelona's stars after dusk. You see more capitals, taste more regional cuisines, and hear more languages in one fortnight than most travellers manage in a year—without ever packing a suitcase twice. Life aboard : elegance in motion MSC ships marry clean Italian design with clever engineering. Grand atriums feel airy thanks to sweeping staircases inset with sparkling Swarovski crystal; infinity-edge pools blur sea and sky; panoramic lifts reveal the horizon at every deck. Yet comfort is personal, too: Staterooms & Suites – Choose from sea-view balconies for morning coffee with gulls, or Yacht Club suites where a dedicated butler unlocks private lounges and secluded sun decks. – Choose from sea-view balconies for morning coffee with gulls, or Yacht Club suites where a dedicated butler unlocks private lounges and secluded sun decks. Dining – Rotisserie lamb scented with rosemary one evening, handmade gnocchi the next, and pan-Asian tasting menus when you crave something unexpected. Fresh ingredients, open kitchens, never a dress-code dilemma. – Rotisserie lamb scented with rosemary one evening, handmade gnocchi the next, and pan-Asian tasting menus when you crave something unexpected. Fresh ingredients, open kitchens, never a dress-code dilemma. Family Fun – Lego-themed playrooms, VR-equipped arcades, aqua parks and teen hangouts make 'Are we there yet?' a phrase of the past. – Lego-themed playrooms, VR-equipped arcades, aqua parks and teen hangouts make 'Are we there yet?' a phrase of the past. Evenings – Original production shows light up the theatre, while quieter souls sip aged Scotch in an art-lined lounge. I often split the night: first the jazz trio, then a moonlit stroll on the promenade deck. Balance is everything at sea. Shore experiences : local eyes, lasting memories Every destination hides layers unseen by casual visitors. That is why MSC partners with guides who call each port home. Join a marine biologist to spot puffins near Akureyri, cycle Dutch polders outside Amsterdam, or learn the art of Madeira wine blending in a centuries-old lodge. Booking excursions through the cruise line keeps logistics simple and ensures your euros support vetted local experts. Responsible voyaging Travel should enrich both guest and planet. MSC's newest vessels feature LNG propulsion, shore-to-ship power hookups, and advanced water-treatment technology that exceeds international standards. You feel the difference in quieter sail-aways and cleaner wake trails—proof that elegance and environmental care can share the same deck. Exceptional value, never « cheap » From time to time MSC releases limited-time cruise deals, adding onboard credit, drinks packages or reduced deposits. These offers create genuine value without diluting the premium experience, and they disappear as quickly as cabins fill. I recommend subscribing to the line's newsletter to catch them early; the best staterooms, after all, are finite. Your next chapter starts at the dock A cruise should feel like opening a well-written novel: effortless immersion, vibrant settings, characters who surprise you, and pages that practically turn themselves. That is precisely what MSC delivers from Southampton. One voyage might leave you hushed beneath Iceland's summer midnight sun; another, laughing over tapas under Barcelona's gothic spires. Yet the common thread is always the ship—a moving sanctuary of style, warmth and possibility. I have travelled by rail through the Alps, driven coast-to-coast across North America, even trekked on foot in Patagonia. Each mode has its charm, but only a cruise knits together so many destinations with so little friction. Step aboard, settle into that first flute of Prosecco, and feel the shoreline slip astern. Discovery is calling. Let Southampton be your gateway, and let MSC Cruises carry you to the next horizon—with elegance, emotion and a welcome as open as the sea itself.
Vogue
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Vogue
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Greenland, Ukraine, the EU, and the Global State of Democracy
Frederiksen's directness has only intensified in the months since. 'I have to say that from the beginning of this discussion, I think that President Trump is serious. They want Greenland,' Frederiksen tells me. 'But we are serious as well. And we will not step down.' Frederiksen and I now sit facing each other at a long dining table, beneath a minimalist, yet show-stealing, crystal chandelier by modernist architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. I recall images of her at this same table with world leaders such as India's Narendra Modi and Egypt's Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. It feels like the kind of space in which allyships are forged. And until recently, one of Denmark's closest allyships was the US, making the Greenland standoff especially painful. 'It's difficult for us as Danes to hear these words coming from the US,' Frederiksen admits. 'Globally we are seen in many parts of the world as a very reliable partner, because there is a very close link between what we say and what we do. And when it comes to the US, we have been one of its closest allies since the end of the Second World War. So when Vice President Vance says Denmark is a 'bad ally',' she continues, 'you say: 'What? Are you saying that about us?'' There has perhaps never been a more high-stakes moment for Frederiksen. Yet she seems almost tailor-made for the challenge. Growing up in northern Denmark, politics is in her blood. 'My background is ordinary working class, quite similar to the majority of Danes in my generation,' she says of her childhood in Jutland, the peninsula that forms the northernmost part of the country. 'I come from a very political family. My dad was a very active member of the trade unions—so was my grandfather and my great grandfather… it's how I was raised.' As a 12-year-old, Frederiksen not only felt supportive of Nelson Mandela—then imprisoned on Robben Island for opposing racism in South Africa—she also joined the international youth wing of the African National Congress, the political party that ultimately brought down apartheid. 'It was quite common then in Denmark to support Mandela,' she reflects. 'But if there was another 12-year-old in northern Jutland who was a youth member of the ANC at that time, I would be quite surprised.' This sparked a longer-term interest in the African continent. 'I have always been very interested in Africa,' she says. 'At 18, I went to Kenya on my own and lived there in a very rural area for a year.' She is still, she says, friends with the family she stayed with. Returning from her time abroad, Frederiksen started her degree but soon landed a job for the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions, and then won her first election to the national parliament in 2001, aged 24. 'So I quit university,' she says. 'But we had quite a tough female politician in my party, and one day she asked me, 'Are you totally out of your mind? You don't have a degree in anything! You have to finish up.'' Frederiksen already had one young child at the time with her first husband. Despite that, and the responsibility of an elected seat at such a young age, she went back to university to do a master's in African studies, while pregnant with her second.
Fox News
07-07-2025
- Fox News
Old smartphones are being turned into tiny data centers
Did you know that over 1.2 billion smartphones are produced every year? Most of these devices end up in landfills, contributing to the growing global e-waste crisis. But what if there was a smarter, greener way to use them? Researchers are now showing us that old smartphones as data centers could be the next big thing in sustainable tech. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my A team at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science in Northern Europe's Estonia has found a creative way to give outdated phones a new purpose. Instead of letting them gather dust or pollute the environment, these phones are being repurposed into tiny data centers. By connecting old smartphones together, the team enables them to efficiently process and store data for research and community projects, an innovative idea with significant impact. Turning old smartphones into data centers is surprisingly affordable. Researchers removed the batteries (to prevent chemical leaks) and used external power sources. They then connected the phones, placed them in 3D-printed holders, and created a working prototype. These mini-data centers have already been tested in real-world scenarios, like monitoring marine life underwater tasks that would normally require expensive equipment. Every phone that gets a second life as a data center means fewer toxic materials in landfills and less demand for new electronics. This approach not only reduces e-waste but also saves valuable resources and cuts down on CO₂ emissions from manufacturing. By extending the life of our devices, we're taking a big step toward a more sustainable future. Before tossing out your old phone, consider donating it to organizations that upcycle electronics. Your device could help power the next wave of sustainable tech solutions. Together, we can keep our landfills cleaner and support innovative research, all by rethinking what we do with our old smartphones. Giving old smartphones a second chance as data centers is a simple way we can all help reduce e-waste and support sustainable tech. Imagine the positive impact if more people embraced old smartphones as data centers instead of sending them to landfills. Would you consider turning your unused phone into something that powers research or helps your community? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Wall Street Journal
07-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
This Bay Is Key to Russia's Militarization of the Arctic
This Bay Is Key to Russia's Militarization of the Arctic As melting sea ice reveals new trade routes, resources and battlegrounds, the Kola Bay is emerging as one of Russia's most powerful hubs in its quest to dominate the Arctic. Photo: Alican Ocak/Anadolu Agency
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ericsson, LMT Partner for Cloud-Native Core Network Transformation
Ericsson ERIC was selected by Latvia's largest communication service provider, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons ('LMT'), to modernize its core network infrastructure and build the foundation for the nationwide deployment of 5G Standalone (5G SA) services. By upgrading to Ericsson's cloud-native solutions, LMT is embracing a future-ready architecture that will allow greater agility, scalability and innovation in delivering advanced digital two companies share a longstanding partnership, working together on several innovative initiatives, including mission-critical communications and network development projects. It marks the initial deployment of Ericsson's Unified Data Management ('UDM') solution within the broader Telia Group, of which LMT is part, highlighting ERIC's growing role as a core network modernization leader in Northern Europe. For telecom providers like LMT, upgrading backend systems to support 5G SA capabilities is essential to ensure a seamless rollout and integration of next-generation services. ERIC's latest deal with LMT focuses on a comprehensive overhaul of LMT's subscriber domain infrastructure. This includes transitioning to a cloud-based, service-oriented architecture, which is more agile and future-proof than legacy systems. Over the next year, Ericsson will upgrade LMT's core network to ensure it can support cloud-native and virtualized network functions.A key aspect of this transformation is the deployment of Ericsson's Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure. This solution enables LMT to run both virtualized and cloud-native network functions, giving the operator the flexibility to scale operations and integrate services with greater speed and efficiency. LMT will also migrate its Physical Network Function IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to ERIC's Cloud IMS platform. This move enables LMT to offer advanced IP-based voice and multimedia services with improved flexibility and reduced operational agreement includes the replacement of LMT's legacy Home Location Register (HLR) and Home Subscriber Server (HSS) with Ericsson's UDM Latvia's digital economy expands, the modernization of LMT's core network with Ericsson's cloud-native solutions is pivotal. LMT's move to a cloud-native core with Ericsson puts it ahead in digital growth. This upgrade means future networks will be faster, smarter and better suited to people's changing needs. Ericsson is positioned to grow by capitalizing on strong 5G demand with its competitive products. It aims to lead in mobile networks and develop a robust enterprise business. Acquiring Vonage, Cradlepoint and Ericom helps expand into wireless, 5G and security. Heavy R&D investment keeps the company ahead in 5G, while its patents generate steady income. By focusing on innovation, automation and smart deals, it is driving growth and securing its place in the wireless ERIC unveiled Ericsson On-Demand, an innovative solution that provides 5G core network services through a true SaaS model. Developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, this platform leverages Google Kubernetes Engine and Google's AI infrastructure to give communications service providers (CSPs) a fully managed, cloud-native solution. Ericsson On-Demand allows CSPs to quickly deploy and scale their core networks, cut operational costs, and gain the agility needed in today's fast-changing telecom Ericsson's business is under pressure from various geopolitical and economic challenges. Its small market share has led to falling revenues in China, partly due to Sweden's ban on Chinese 5G vendors, which could hurt ties in the region. Supply-chain issues are adding to the woes. The company faces tough competition from Huawei and Nokia, along with lower spending by telecom operators in the Middle East, Africa and India, resulting in further revenue declines. Ericsson, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, has gained 37.3% over the past year compared with the Zacks Wireless Equipment industry's growth of 33.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Some other top-ranked stocks from the broader technology space are NETGEAR, Inc. NTGR, TaskUs, Inc. TASK and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation CTSH. NTGR currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and TASK and CTSH carry a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 179.12%. In the last reported quarter, NTGR delivered an earnings surprise of 105.71%. Its shares have gained 101.7% in the past earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, matched in one and missed in the other, the average surprise being 6.39%. In the last reported quarter, TASK delivered an earnings surprise of 18.75%. Its shares have risen 21.6% in the past earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 6.38%. In the last reported quarter, CTSH delivered an earnings surprise of 3.36%. Its shares have grown 19.1% in the past year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ericsson (ERIC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) : Free Stock Analysis Report NETGEAR, Inc. (NTGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
