cshaskin

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Mongolia’s new snow and ice festival sets Guinness World Record
Famed for its beautiful open spaces, lush green valleys and traditional nomadic culture, Mongolia has long been considered a destination best visited in the summer months.

However a new event has been launched to lure international travelers in search of an authentic Mongolian winter experience.

The inaugural Mazaalai International Snow and Ice Festival, which kicked off on January 14, takes place till January 28 at Sky Resort, a golf and ski resort on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.

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@StanchikEthan We were alerted on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to prepare for possible flight operations against a Houthi drone in the Red Sea.

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@fato141 Nninful challenges industry norms with diverse cover stars, including women over 50 and older actresses like Miriam Margolyes and Dame Judi.

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@yesmcnr Edward Enninful featured 40 iconic cover stars for his final issue of British Vogue, creating a stunning and memorable tribute.

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@StanchikEthan China cancels soccer match due to backlash against Messi; fans outraged over Hong Kong controversy.

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@YAquise like a political football.

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@CAMILAM79 The federal jury ruled in favor of Sotheby's in the art fraud lawsuit brought by Dmitry Rybolovlev.

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@CAMILAM79 a truly unforgettable experience of sleeping under the stars.

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@CAMILAM79 Please be my friend, you are a good friend

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@CAMILAM79 can I book my ticket for this amazing cruise?

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@plugg_j protest? The actions of the protesters are disrespectful and should be condemned.

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@Lisona celebrate the New Year. However, in 2020, due to the pandemic, there were no spectators allowed for the Times Square ball drop.

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@StanchikEthan be seen as a way for Sofia Richie Grainge to share her pregnancy news in a glamorous and controlled manner.

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@daniFLYY Russia, to its sanctions list, impacting the global trade in gems.

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@Redman56267 Karen Celebertti, director of Miss Nicaragua, stepped down following conspiracy and treason charges filed against her, her husband, and son by the national police.

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@CAMILAM79 Zou, a 9-year-old Chinese photographer, felt nervous speaking English during a phone interview.

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This cruise ship can carry nearly 10,000 people. Here’s more of what sets Icon of the Seas apart

There is nothing subtle about the world’s largest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean’s new, nearly 1,200-foot-long and 250,800 gross ton Icon of the Seas - which set sail from the Port of Miami on its maiden cruise just before sunset on Saturday - towers like a multilayered birthday cake.

The frosting on top is in the form of seven swimming pools, a whimsical striped carousel, groves of tropical greenery and twisting waterslides in green, pink, blue and orange.

When the $2 billion ship sailed into Miami with music blasting on January 10, after crossing the Atlantic – with a pitstop on Puerto Rico – from the shipyard in Turku, Finland, where it was built, it was greeted with a cacophony of fireboat salutes and a banner flag flyover. The commotion brought traffic to a halt along the causeway to Miami Beach that parallels the cruise ship channel.

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The best things to experience in Saudi Arabia according to the people who know it

Closed to tourists until recently, Saudi Arabia is still an unknown quantity for many would-be travelers.

That’s changing fast. The country reported a 56% growth in international arrivals in 2023 from 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to the UNWTO.

So, where are some of the best places in this emerging tourism destination to go?

We asked some of the people who know it best – regular visitors and Saudis themselves. From celebrities to rocket scientists, here’s what they recommend

This living museum is best known for historic dwellings dating back thousands of years, dramatic rock formations and some of Saudi’s most spectacular scenery.

Lojain Omran, a Saudi television presenter and star of Netflix’s UAE-based reality show “Dubai Bling,” is a fan.

“It’s like nowhere else on Earth, it is truly magical,” she tells CNN. Like everyone interviewed for this feature, she was speaking via email. “The level of peace and comfort in AlUla is just unmatched. If you are into meditation and relaxation, AlUla is the perfect spot. It is secluded, far from the hustle and bustle of crowds and city noise.”

Omran, who is also an actress, says when visiting she stays at A-list favorite the Banyan Tree AlUla, which features private tented villas.

“It combines luxury, privacy, and tranquillity, in addition to excellent service for all guests,” she says.

Omran is also hopeful visitors will explore destinations across Saudi Arabia.

“The Kingdom is vast, and every region has its unique charm in terms of nature, atmosphere, cuisine, customs, and traditions, adding a wealth of cultural richness to our experiences,” she says.

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Time Out reveals world’s best cities for 2024

It’s the city that’s the main character in all your favorite TV shows and movies, the inspiration behind countless songs and art – and one of the famous destinations in the world.

Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that media company Time Out has named New York City as its best city for 2024.

Time Out surveyed some 20,000 city-dwellers across the world, alongside its network of global writers and editors, to compile its latest round-up of the best cities in the globe.

Factors including cities’ food scenes, architecture and cultural happenings were taken into account.

The goal, says Time Out, is to provide “inspiration for travel” but also a “global snapshot of city living.”

New York City’s myriad of museums and its thriving theater scene were namechecked by Time Out as reasons why the US city clinched the top spot. NYC’s global reputation also played a role – the city was ranked as the place other global city-dwellers would most like to relocate to.

At number two on Time Out’s list is Cape Town, South Africa, a city ranked, according to Time Out, by “every single survey respondent” as “beautiful,” thanks no doubt to its stunning combination of sea, cityscape and spectacular mountainous surroundings.

Time Out specifically shouted out Cape Town’s cultural offerings – from its late night museum evenings over the summer months to its theater and comedy offerings at Theatre on the Bay, as well as the newly opened Time Out Market Cape Town.

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The ‘work of art’ cruise terminal that’s a destination in its own right

Normally just the unlovely places where passengers step on and off en route to somewhere more picturesque, cruise ports aren’t usually known as destinations in their own rights.

But in Qatar, a regular port of call on Arabian Sea itineraries, there’s a reason to stop and stare.

Doha’s Grand Cruise Terminal opened in November 2022, welcoming the MSC Europa – the largest ever ship operated by MSC Cruises, with a guest capacity of 6,774 passengers.

The terminal – which cost half a billion dollars to build – swiftly became a reverse tourist attraction, with local residents streaming to see it. Located at the end of a two-mile causeway stretching into the semicircular Doha Bay, and easily visible from the Corniche – Doha’s 4.5-mile long waterfront promenade – it was an attractive addition to the skyline.

The relative distance from the city center works for everyone – starting with residents, who aren’t overwhelmed by views of the huge ships. Passengers, meanwhile, get a panorama of Doha, with its mix of modern and traditional architecture hemming the bay – and a swift, easy, and picturesque walk into town.

Before the terminal opened, cruise ships docked at Hamad Port, some 25 miles south of Doha. Despite the port being open to comparatively large cargo vessels, cruise ships were limited to a certain size. The MSC Splendida, carrying 3,900 passengers, was the largest ship to dock at Hamad, in 2017. The new port is not only more convenient for passengers, but also able to handle the largest megaships.