Pirates release cruise ship hostages

by Iva Skoch on

Call me naive and uninformed, but I honestly didn’t think that pirates still operate in the world the way they do in the movies. That is obviously not the case.

According to this IHT article, the International Maritime Bureau, which tracks piracy, says that global pirate attacks rose 10 percent in 2007, marking the first increase in three years. Pirates seized more than two dozen ships off the Somali coast last year alone, AP reports. The U.S. Navy has led international patrols to try to combat piracy in the region. Last year, the guided missile destroyer USS Porter opened fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to a Japanese tanker.

Just last Friday, pirates seized control of a French cruise ship off the coast of Somalia. Attackers stormed the 288-foot Le Ponant, in the high seas in the Gulf of Aden, as it returned without passengers–but with 30 crew members–from the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, toward the Mediterranean Sea. Elite French troops were sent to East Africa to bolster efforts to free the yacht captives.

According to the latest update from AP, pirates just freed those 30 hostages. The French government would not say whether any pirates were captured nor whether the vessel had been retaken.

Nude images of Carla Bruni go for $91,000

by Anna Brones on

Remember last month when French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s first official visit to the UK was shadowed by the nude pictures of his wife, Carla Bruni, that were being auctioned off by Christie’s? Well, those photos finally sold; for an unexpected $91,000.

That figure was more than 20 times the asking price, meaning that Bruni is a pretty sought after woman. But it could also be the work of the international media. With so much attention brought to the Sarkozy-Bruni marriage and other dramatic events, it’s not really a surprise that Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy has once again returned to the limelight. Sarkozy has refused to comment on the issue.

If you are a true Carla Bruni fan, you can watch the video of the Christie’s auction on the BBC website.

Canceled flights can get you some luxury

by Jamie Rhein on

If you happen to be one of those unfortunate people who come up with a dud on what seems to be a new roulette style airline game called “Will My Flight be Canceled?” or even worse, “Will my Airline Shut Down Overnight?,” you can head to certain Kimpton Hotels for a gift designed especially for you–the stranded traveler.

As a way to coax stranded travelers to a Kimpton Hotel, the “Stranded in Style” promotion allows guests with a canceled flight to choose from the following options they show a canceled boarding pass or ticket:

  • Bath salts or eye mask
  • Bottle of wine or in-room movie
  • KN Karen Neuburger zebra chenille lounge socks
  • Cocktail or appetizer at adjacent restaurant

    Participating hotels include: 70 park avenue and The Muse in New York, Hotel Argonaut in San Francisco and Hotel Monaco in Denver.

    This may not be enough to turn lemons into lemonade, but it’s an interesting idea. I wonder what budget motels could come up with? Maybe you could get real Half-and-Half instead of non-dairy creamer with that complimentary cup of coffee.

    • US pilots jump ship; love Emirates

    by Iva Skoch on

    I had no idea US pilots were leaving the country in droves. I guess it makes sense. All the bankruptcies in the US airline business, pay cuts, frozen pensions, eroded job security and increases in monthly flight hours are not exactly benefits of the job.

    This Time article, titled International Departures, describes the mood among pilots working in the US as not exactly filled with motivation. Many US pilots have already switched to working for international carriers, where they can still be treated like “upper-level managers, with something they feel has long been missing in the US: respect.”

    Dubai-based Emirates, for example, expects to hire 540 pilots this year. Half the applicants are Americans, compared with just 7% of its current pilots. Over the past four years, over 100 US pilots have been lured by Emirates and their generous benefits package, including over 40 days of vacation and guaranteed annual raises.

    I wonder what Kent will say about this trend. Any insights?

    So long, Oasis Hong Kong

    by Grant Martin on

    The Low Cost Carrier massacre continues, with the newest victim being one of the first budget long-haul, international airlines. Oasis Hong Kong was founded in February of 2005 with the idea that competitive fares on the Hong Kong – Vancouver and Hong Kong – London routes would make a killing for the company. I remember the glee of shopping around for super cheap 150£ budget tickets between London and Hong Kong a few years back, only to take the shorter route on Cathay over the Pacific. I was never able to find a good time to make it out to London or Vancouver to hop on an Oasis flight — I guess I never will.

    The departure of Oasis Hong Kong is our first strong sign that domestic airlines’ oil woes are being felt felt around the globe. While it is true that world markets are all generally in decline, many people don’t consider how many airlines are really out there and how many are struggling in the modern economy.

    Those who are now stranded by Oasis are encouraged to call a hotline set up by Cathay Pacific to gobble up any stray passengers, while others who have already booked and paid are possibly eligible for a refund. Several stipulations do apply to earning that cash, however, so you’ll have to read the website carefully to make plans.

    Farewell Oasis Hong Kong. I wish that we had met.

    What strange things have been found on planes?


    Click the image to read the bizarre story…