At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.S&P/TSX composite rises Wednesday while U.S. markets move lowerdrawing online games 。

Kimberly Guilfoyle puts on a brave face to accept Donald Trump's Greece ambassador nomination after Don Jr.'s betrayalToo early to celebrate – Arne Slot keeps leaders Liverpool focusedNotable quotes by Jimmy Carter

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her reelection bid Wednesday after a recount confirmed her lead, helping her party pad its thin majority in the U.S. House and retain control of all four of Iowa’s congressional seats. Miller-Meeks said in a post on the social platform X that she was “deeply honored” after she defeated Democrat Christina Bohannan in a rematch of 2022, when Miller-Meeks won by 7 percentage points. The margin this year was much tighter — Miller-Meeks' lead over Bohannan was less than a percentage point, or fewer than 1,000 votes. “I am now looking forward to getting back to work in Washington to lower prices at the gas pump, grocery store and on prescription drugs, secure the border and help farmers," said Miller-Meeks, who represents the 1st District, which includes the eastern part of the state and a swath of south-central Iowa, including Johnson County, home to University of Iowa in Iowa City. Miller-Meeks earned a first term in Congress representing Iowa’s 2nd District when she defeated Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in 2020. The Associated Press called this year's race at 4:02 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Miller-Meeks had declared victory earlier, but the AP had not yet called the race because the margin was close enough that it could prompt a recount. Bohannan's campaign on Nov. 14 requested a recount , as any candidate is allowed to do, saying in a statement that the recount will make certain “that every voter is heard.” She congratulated Miller-Meeks in a message on X after the vote count was completed. “Although this is not the result we wanted, I am so proud of our campaign,” she wrote. “We exceeded all expectations and turned a district that many pundits thought was unwinnable into one of the very closest races in the country.” The request was made for a recount in each of the district’s 20 counties. Because the margin was less than a percentage point, the state — not the candidate — pays for the costs associated with the recount. Miller-Meeks’ campaign accused Bohannan and other Democrats of being “election deniers," and Republicans have said Bohannan is wasting taxpayer dollars. “This is a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people,” the Miller-Meeks campaign said in a Nov. 14 statement. “A recount won’t meaningfully change the outcome of this race as the congresswoman’s lead is mathematically impossible to overcome.” Republican incumbents held onto Iowa’s three other congressional seats, maintaining GOP control over the entirety of Iowa’s congressional delegation. The sweep in 2022 represented the first time in three decades that Iowa had an all-Republican delegation, emblematic of the sharp rightward shift in the state not long after former President Barack Obama carried Iowa in 2008 and again in 2012. Obama won with solid support from the eastern counties along the Mississippi River that have mostly backed Trump since and bolster Miller-Meeks' in her district as well. Two competitive congressional races in Iowa this year — the 1st and 3rd Districts — brought millions of dollars in paid advertising to the state from national campaign arms for House Republican and Democrats. Zach Nunn fought off the challenge from Democrat Lanon Baccam in the 3rd District, which includes much of the Des Moines metro area. Republican incumbents Ashley Hinson in the 2nd District and Randy Feenstra in the 4th District won decisively. Hinson defeated Democrat Sarah Corkery. Feenstra defeated Democrat Ryan Melton.

PASAY CITY, Philippines , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy. SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said that despite ongoing challenges of peso volatility and higher inflation, the business sector has adapted well. Consistent demand sustained household spending in the third quarter, with Household Final Consumption Expenditure posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1%, maintaining the same level in the same quarter last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. "Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound. This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands," Mr. DyBuncio said. To cater to growing demand, SM continues to expand into more underserved areas, contributing to sustainable economic development and collaborating with government stakeholders to enhance access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property developments. "By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities," he said. Mr. DyBuncio also said SM continues to invest in promising ventures such as renewable energy and logistics, that foster economic activity. SM has invested in the clean energy industry through Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which produces 300 Megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through PGPC in support of the Department of Energy's goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040. To encourage circularity towards green energy production, SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. (GUUN) to implement the Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. The technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel. SM's banking arm, BDO Unibank is one of the largest funders of renewable energy projects. BDO has funded PHP898 billion in sustainable finance, including loans to 59 renewable energy projects as of December 2023. In logistics and tourism, the improvement of transport networks across the country's archipelago connects tourist and industrial areas that will help create inclusive growth. SM though its subsidiary 2GO launched MV Masigla and MV Masikap in 2024 to help better connect goods to 19 ports across the country including Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Manila , further supporting the government's push for medium term growth through an upgraded tourism infrastructure and ecosystem. "Our focus for 2025 will be to drive purposeful growth, empowering communities and partners through our investments towards a sustainable future," Mr. DyBuncio said. SOURCE SM Investments CorporationJoin our newsletter to get the latest military space news every Tuesday by veteran defense journalist Sandra Erwin. ORLANDO, Fla. — Entrepreneur and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman in remarks Dec. 11 outlined an ambitious vision for U.S. space leadership, emphasizing the critical need to maintain technological superiority in the global space race while highlighting the growing role of private sector innovation. Speaking at the Spacepower Conference hosted by the Space Force Association, Isaacman — who has been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to lead NASA — did not comment directly on the nomination and spoke broadly about American competitiveness in space, warning against falling behind international rivals, particularly China. “I know we can’t be second,” Isaacman told an audience of military and defense industry professionals. Isaacman in September 2021 commanded the Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian orbital flight that raised over $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More recently, he led the Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024, which achieved significant milestones including the first private astronaut spacewalk and the highest-altitude flight since the Apollo era. In his remarks, Isaacman was emphatic about the transformative potential of space entrepreneurship, stating that he believes we are entering “an era of great experimentation” with promising economic horizons. Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a financial technology firm he launched at 16, and co-founder of Draken International, a defense contractor providing adversary air training for U.S. and NATO forces. Draken won a $280 million contract with the U.S. Air Force in 2018, and Isaacman sold the company in 2019 to The Blackstone Group investment firm. Reflecting on his defense contracting experience, Isaacman urged companies to take risks in developing solutions ahead of government demand. “If there is a real problem, and you know that if you solve that problem, there’s going to be demand for it, just lean in and do it,” he said. “I hate the idea of waiting around and not touching the keyboard until you get a contract.” Isaacman also highlighted the role of the U.S. Space Force in protecting emerging space infrastructure. He praised service members, known as guardians, for their work in satellite protection and debris tracking, calling their contributions essential to safe space exploration. “There will almost assuredly be some space economy up there,” he predicted. “We are going to inevitably have a presence on the moon and then on Mars,” Isaacman stated, “and we’re just going to keep making the high ground higher.” I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history. On my last mission...— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) December 4, 2024 The future of Isaacman’s own Polaris program is now uncertain, with two planned missions now in limbo. “It’s a little bit of a question mark,” he acknowledged. However, his broader message was one of optimism and challenge. He hopes the industry will “crack the code on something other than what we’ve been doing for a while,” noting that the space economy has remained largely unchanged for six decades. Isaacman expressed optimism about the growth of the space economy, citing its potential for advances in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and energy. While SpaceX continues to dominate the business, Isaacman lauded the contributions of other private companies. “Blue Origin is putting a ton of their own money on the line,” he noted, adding that Rocket Lab’s agility as a “small, scrappy startup” has yielded impressive results. A goal for space companies should be to “crack the code on something other than what we’ve been doing for a while,” he said. “Because essentially, the space economy has been more or less the same for 60 years.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen’s stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday’s showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn’t paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.” Advertisement AdvertisementROSEN, LEADING INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Celsius Holdings, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – CELH

Artificial intelligence is radically changing the way we live and work but its insatiable thirst for power is making the world's drive to go carbon free by 2050 even more challenging. Consider this: emissions of greenhous gases - GHGs - related to AI are predicted to soar more than tenfold between now and the end of this decade, from 68 million to 718 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, according to Accenture. The increase will be driven by the growing number of data centers and computing infrastructure, the global consultant says, adding that the jump ''assumes no significant advances in energy systems, computing technology or algorithms.'' Big Tech is well aware of the growing pressure to use clean energy and cut emissions and is now tapping into nuclear power, despite public fear over the disposal of nuclear waste and the risks of radioactive leaks. Governments, too, are looking at using more nuclear energy, which produces almost no GHG emissions. POWER HUNGRY GenAI tools are being increasingly used the world over, and developers are rolling out more and more computing-hungry visual processing while slashing prices in the battle for market dominance. OpenAI's ChatGPT from the United States had over a million paid business users in September, while ByteDance's Doubao from China saw its daily use jump thirty-threefold to 4 trillion tokens from July to mid-December. But GenAI consumes considerable electricity and thus emits even more CO2. If a user asks an AI large language model to generate a picture 1,000 times, the most inefficient model consumes 11.49 kilo Watts per hour - as much as 950 smartphone charges on average, a study by HuggingFace and Carnegie Mellon University shows. These 1,000 tasks are estimated to generate 1,594 grams of CO2, roughly the equivalent of 6.6 kilometers driven by a petrol-powered car. Data on the cloud also costs energy. A 1-gigabyte video stored in the cloud for a year will consume 65.7 kWh which produces 15.3kg of CO2e, only 11 percent less than the 17.2 kg CO2e generated by a petrol car over 100 km, according to researchers at Loughborough University in the UK. This makes it harder for global tech firms to eliminate their carbon footprint, as they already need to use nearly 1,300MW hours of power to train an LLM like GPT-3, about as much electricity as consumed by 130 homes in the US per year. Data centres and data networks each account for about 1-1.5 percent of global power usage and are responsible for 1 percent of energy-related GHGs, the International Energy Agency says. As tech giants accelerate the applications of AI, the industry is expected to use up to 3.5 percent of the world's electricity by 2030, equivalent to the current consumption of Japan, the world's fifth largest electricity user, says IT consultant Gartner. Notably, the surging demand from AI firms for electricity has delayed the retirement of coal and gas-fired power plants in the US, with the number of those phased out declining 45 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, data from the US Energy Information Agency shows. China, though, is ahead of the game in this aspect, thanks to a decades-long push for renewable energy. Green power now accounts for over a third of all electricity generated and tech giants like Tencent (0700) have built new data centers in western China where wind and solar energy are abundant. CLEAN INVESTMENTS Nevertheless, to stay committed to their net zero goals, Big Tech is now turning to clean nuclear energy. Google, whose GHG emissions surged by 48 percent during four years to 14.3 million tonnes in 2023, has signed its first nuclear deal with Kairos Power to buy 500MW of clean electricity for its growing data center businesses, following similar moves by Microsoft and Amazon. Facebook-owned Meta is searching for nuclear power providers to acquire an additional 4GW of electricity in the US before 2030. Nuclear power has also got the attention of bankers, with 14 international financial institutions including Goldman Sachs teaming up to support nuclear power construction. Meanwhile, investors are betting on nuclear energy providers, pumping their shares up. In the US, NuScale Power, a small modular reactor or SMR developer, has skyrocketed 520 percent and Oklo, a nuclear startup backed by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has jumped 115 percent this year. In Hong Kong, CGN Power (1816), part of the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group and the world's second-largest nuclear energy firm - has risen about 36 percent this year. But CNNC International (2302), the overseas arm of state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation, the major developer and landlord of nuclear power plants in the mainland, has plunged 23.5 percent this year. BOC International projects electricity will remain a market focus next year, supported by a rare global consensus. But instead of power plants, BOC International is betting on firms that produce uranium - the fuel for nuclear plants - with CGN Mining (1164) its top pick. Though CGN Mining is down 5 percent this year, the bank expects it to hit HK$2.1 apiece, indicating a 28 percent gain from the current price of HK$1.64. Morgan Stanley has a buy rating for CGN Power, citing easing concerns about slower decreases in electricity prices in the short run and raised the target to HK$3.69 apiece, 31 percent higher than its price of HK$2.81. BOC International set its target at HK$3.2 per share. Meanwhile, small modular reactors have gained investments from Google, Amazon and Oracle due to their smaller size and lower electric consumption. But despite NuScale's rally, concerns remain about high generation costs and its wave of layoffs. Some governments are also in nuclear mode, while others won't touch it with a barge pole. China recently completed construction of the world's first commercial SMR and wants to explore elusive nuclear fusion - the holy grail of energy - while Russia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand are also looking at building SMRs. Besides, Japan plans to restart most of its existing reactors to meet surging AI demand, despite regulatory hurdles and public opposition amid the ongoing clean-up of the Fukushima plant, which melted down 13 years ago after being hit by a massive tsunami - the second worst disaster, after Chernobyl in 1986, in nuclear power history. But Germany and Taiwan have banned and phased out nuclear energy. CARBON TRADE In the meantime, AI players have other options on hand. Carbon credits or offsets allow owners to emit a certain amount of CO2 or other GHGs by buying certificates linked to projects that reduce GHG emissions. One such option is direct air capture, in which CO2 in the air is removed by chemical sorbents or filtered and later stored or used. But DAC costs are high, varying from US$600 to US$1,000 per tonne of CO2. PwC expects carbon credits would be further tokenized on the estimated adoption of US$16 trillion worth of assets, while Morgan Stanley believes voluntary carbon offsets will swell 49 times to US$100 billion between 2023 and 2030. But carbon trading is also controversial, with Greenpeace alleging that some offset projects indulge in double-counting amid a lack of standards and regulations. To tackle surging AI emissions, the International Monetary Fund advocates imposing an electricity tax on AI firms of US$0.032 per kWh or US$0.052 including air pollution costs, which could raise as much as US$18 billion a year. The IMF also wants governments to coordinate over carbon prices to avoid AI firms relocating to places with lower standards. Experts say AI can has the potential to mitigate 5-10 percent of all GHG emissions by 2030 as its technology advances, but it's too early to tell if nuclear energy will be the magic bullet that hits the bull's eye between performance and emissions. Still, with the right investment and amid growing AI demand, it just might.Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin MSC Seascape S ailing across the sun-kissed Bahamas and the sparkling Caribbean , MSC Seascape is one of the newest, ultra-glamorous, high-tech cruise ships launched by MSC Cruises in 2022—inspired by New York City , with a towering three-meter-high replica of the Statue of Liberty and a sweeping retail area named Times Square with an LED wall spanning four decks projecting Manhattan ’s glittering skyline onboard Seascape . Boasting 11 onboard restaurants—including five premium specialty restaurants and a 1,169-seater buffet—20 bars, an award-winning spa, Broadway-style shows, a private lavish 'ship-within-a-ship' (with your own personal butler), and 140,000 square feet of outdoor space home to a soaring zip line, six swimming pools (including an adults-only Infinity Pool ), four water slides and a high-tech robotic ride—sailing onboard MSC Seascape makes for the perfect holiday for both couples and families alike. Read More: MSC Yacht Club Yacht Club One Pool, MSC Seaside Tucked away on Deck 16, MSC Yacht Club is MSC Seascape’s exclusive ‘ship within a ship’, offering VIP treatment with 24-hour butler service, a dedicated concierge, priority embarkation—and a private lounge, restaurant, and sundeck. Swipe your keycard and swan into its lavish bone marble lobby with glass haut watch cabinets, a giant glowing lava mural, and a cream marble staircase snaking up to its 131 well-appointed suites. Waltz along a stretching walkway with mirrored walls and abstract paintings past a Picasso -style bust as you spill into the Top Sail Lounge , with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, a glossy grand piano, chocolate suede loveseats, and a rippled marble bar serving Jacquart Mosaïque Brut —while sliding chrome doors open onto a panoramic terrace with pairs of pebble-grey sofas where you can lounge and sip a cool Mojito . Top Sail Lounge, MSC Seascape Back inside, a diamond-studded staircase swirls up to the Yacht Club Restaurant with marble cake floors, giant Picasso-style paintings, and a wraparound balcony overlooking the Top Sail Lounge below. At the once-a-cruise Gala Dinner , you can feast on Burgundy snails, twice-baked blue cheese souffle, and shellfish bisque—followed by champagne risotto, grilled lobster tail, and beef tenderloin Rossini . Desserts are rich and lavish, ranging from Chocolate Royal Cake to Crêpe Suzette and Italian tiramisu—while a sommelier is on hand to guide you on the finest wines from Napa Valley Conundrum to Piedmont Moscato. Read More: Breakfast at the Yacht Club Restaurant , though, is a must-do—don’t be tempted just to opt for room service. You’ll be rewarded with a sumptuous, multi-course affair, starting with hand-delivered butter croissants, pain au chocolat, and Danish rolls, before opting for French toast (with cinnamon and sugar) and fluffy waffles and pancakes drizzled with maple syrup. Afterward, you can graze on oatmeal, cereals (from Special K to Cornflakes ), bircher muesli, and fruits and yogurts—before moving onto grilled smoked herring, rollmops, Norwegian salmon, and eggs benedict—or eggs cooked to order. Alternatively, choose the MSC Express Breakfast —with fried eggs, grilled sausages, Prague ham, champignons, and hash browns. Yacht Club Restaurant, MSC Seascape Set across 463 square feet, its top-deck Deluxe Grand Suites are chic and modern, wrapped in grey oak with heavy zebra curtains, a king-sized bed, a walk-in closet, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, an oak writing desk, a charcoal suede loveseat, and sea turtle artworks—as well as a flat-screen TV, fluffy robes, and a complimentary mini-bar. Its adjoining ensuite is dressed with black volcanic marble floors, a walk-in shower, and a magnifying vanity mirror. While sliding doors open onto a sweeping 226-square-foot balcony with mesh chairs and footstools—perfect for gazing over the Caribbean sea. Deluxe Grand Suite, MSC Seascape Up on Deck 20, you’ll find the Yacht Club One Pool with a turquoise mosaic swimming pool (backed by a 3D tropical fish mural) and a solarium grill as its centerpiece—serving spectacular buffet lunches from fresh seafood to carvery as you graze on Romana salami, blue cheese, Asian slaw, roasted pork loin, beef, and lamb; Mediterranean cod (with parmesan herb crust), strawberry cream puff, raspberry mouse cake, pecan pralines bricks, and berries baked cheesecake. Circling the deck, you’ll find white Scandi-boxed cabanas and cream-plump sunloungers to snuggle into—with a second little pool hidden at the back adorned with giant silver fish sculptures and dark teal stone showers. Read More: MSC Seascape Restaurants Aegean Restaurant, MSC Seascape You can feast your way through 11 restaurants onboard MSC Seascape —but, as guests of the MSC Yacht Club , you’ll have access to 5 specialty restaurants—of which children are welcome too. Ocean Cay Guarded by retro-fluted glass lamps, Ocean Cay is MSC Seascape’s chic, stylish seafood restaurant with intricate shell murals, an octopus sculpture, retro-fluted lamps, and a champagne wine cellar. Sink into navy snakeskin booths with little mushroom lanterns and start with luscious crabcakes before grazing on sesame-seared yellowfin tuna, roasted Dover sole, rock salt-crusted seabass, thermidor lobster, lamb cannon (served in a crust for two), tenderloin served rose veal or boneless cockerel. Couples can opt for the Seafood Platter —an ocean feast with spiny lobster, red king and blue crab, langoustines, Argentinian shrimps, sea scallops, and wild clams. Complete your feast with rhubarb crumble, pavlova, bourbon vanilla creme brulee, or creamy tiramisu. Butchers Cut Butchers Cut, MSC Seascape Butchers Cut is MSC Seascape’s sexy American steakhouse with floor-to-ceiling wine cellars, bronze tusk lamps, crimson Chesterfield banquettes, industrial mesh chandeliers, and chalk walls telling the historical tales of the butchery process—with black and white photographs and cow anatomy diagrams. Melt into studded leather armchairs and order a shrimp cocktail (with Louis sauce), foie deviled eggs, or a baked goat cheese tart—before savoring roasted corn-fed chicken, sockeye salmon, or thick, juicy cuts of 14oz New York sirloin and 14oz double lamb chops—with creamed spinach, smoked mashed potato or crispy fries. Desserts range from bittersweet lava cake to melting peanut butter & milk chocolate cookies and weighty New York cheesecake. Kaito Teppanyaki Kaito Teppanyaki, MSC Seascape With high tangerine stools and floor-to-ceiling Geisha prints, Kaito Teppanyaki is MSC Seascape’s fine dining Teppanyaki restaurant, where guests gather around an open kitchen as chefs crack jokes, orchestrate a group choir of Tina Turner hits, and show off their best egg juggling and knife tricks. On the Sencho Dining Experience , you’ll graze on miso soup, smoked salmon, sushi and sashimi, octopus, shrimp, sirloin and fried rice, and tiger eye tempura—complete with matcha tea ice cream. MSC Aurea Spa MSC Aurea Spa, MSC Seascape Glide past glowing portholes as you swan into the MSC Aurea Spa , complete with 21 treatment rooms, a hair and nail salon, a barbershop, an outdoor area with three cabanas (available for hire), and The Thermal Suite —with free passes included for MSC Yacht Club guests. With glass-cubed chambers and little nooks, it houses a Himalayan salt room, dark and light sensory steam baths, hot and cold experience showers, mosaic ergonomic beds, a Narnia -esque snow grotto, a Finnish sauna, a blower pool, a Mediterranean bath, and rattan chocolate loungers. MSC Aurea Spa, MSC Seascape Its Balinese therapists offer a plethora of treatments from hot stone lava massages to lymphatic drainage and shiatsu–as well as aromatic candle massages, anti-cellulite treatments, and its signature Himalayan Dream massage using rare fossil salts from the Himalayan Mountains . Or indulge in a thalassotherapy treatment using ingredients like seawater, seaweed, sea mud, and mineral salts, such as the Aurea Papaveris with a body scrub made from poppy flowers, grape seeds, and sea salt to improve elasticity of skin, reduce cellulite and remove toxins from the body. Adjacent to the MSC Aurea Spa , you’ll find the 3,000-square-foot MSC Gym by TechnoGym with treadmills, exercise bikes, and a spinning room and fitness studio holding yoga, pilates, and HIIT biking classes. Entertainment and Activities Robotron, MSC Seascape Days aboard the MSC Seascape can be as calming or adrenaline-pumping as you choose—from salsa classes to walking across the panoramic glass skywalk Bridge of Sighs and riding the Robotron —a three-seater robotic arm suspending riders 174 feet above water, twisting and flipping, as DJ beats blast out. Or, visit Times Square for a spot of retail therapy from Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar to TimeVallée’s first watch boutique at sea. There are also 6 pools onboard—one with a 360-degree water fountain island in the center to another with tiger statues, hot tubs, and a retractable roof (so it can be climate-controlled in winter), and even an adults-only Infinity Pool at the aft of Seascape , surrounded by sun loungers. Yet, as the sun sets, MSC Seascape truly comes alive. Theater Shows Le Cabaret Rouge Chora Theater is MSC Seascape’s 1,200-seater Broadway -style theater, spilling over two decks, with comfy suede seats, classic Greek motifs (hence the name Chora — Greek for town), and heavy red velvet curtains, where you can watch intimate concerts, acrobats, and musical-style shows. While Le Cabaret Rouge is low-lit and sexy, inspired by Paris’ Moulin Rouge, wrapped in scarlet red with black swanky chandeliers—seating up to 400 onlookers. Here, you can watch intimate cabaret shows before it is transformed into a nightclub at midnight. Bars and Nightlife Times Square, MSC Seascape You’ll find 20 bars onboard MSC Seascape —from the ultra-chic Champagne Bar to the Wine Cellar and signature Seascape Bar , but the Sports Bar is a must-visit with chocolate snakeskin booths, vintage racket lamps, and a football-shaped bar as its centerpiece. In the evenings, Times Square plays host to intimate dueling piano concerts—while elsewhere on MSC Seascape, you’ll find karaoke, parties under the stars on the Marina Pool Deck (with a live DJ), and a grand casino with 186 slot machines and 14 casino tables where passengers play Roulette , Blackjack , and Poker . Kids Club Doremiland Kids Club, MSC Seascape Set across 7,500 square feet, Doremiland Kids Club is one of the largest kids clubs in the MSC Cruises fleet—only surpassed by MSC World Europa . It is divided into six key areas: Baby Club Chicco , Mini Club , Juniors Club , Young Club , Teen Club , and The Studio . With soft play areas for toddlers and a cinema, video game consoles (including PlayStation5, Xbox X Series, and Nintendo Switch), and foosball and ping pong tables for older kids and teens, there’s plenty to keep them entertained while you make use of the MSC Aurea Spa and adults-only areas. The hosts of Doremiland Kids Club can also escort your kids to the Marketplace Buffet for an all-you-can-eat feast, gorging on juicy burgers, hot dogs, and pizzas—so it can be a good opportunity to glean some alone time as a couple at one of the specialty restaurants while the kids are in food heaven. Young Club, MSC Seascape Each cruise features a “ LEGO Experience On Board ”—an entire day dedicated to LEGO activities—while at Halloween , you can attend special family parties with themed activities and a ‘scare house’. Adjacent to the Doremiland Kids Club, you’ll find a video arcade, Hall Games —housing a Formula 1 racer simulator, an interactive 4D cinema (with laser guns), and a flight simulator—as well as Pirates Cove AquaPark , laid out like a giant pirate ship engulfed by the mythical Kraken’s tentacles with shooting water slides, suspended rope bridges, water cannons, and giant tilting flooding buckets. MSC Formula Racer, MSC Seascape So whether you’re looking for adults-only serenity with personal butlers, champagne bars, and infinity pools—or an action-packed family adventure with a floating waterpark, 4D cinema, and a cutting-edge kids club, choose MSC Seascape . For more information, visit msccruises.com Read More: Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service. We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. 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Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service.AAP FACTCHECK – Doctored videos of US President elect Donald Trump promising people can make millions if they invest in his ‘Golden Eagles’ are circulating online. The various videos, including some taken from his 2024 election victory speech, include audio altered using artificial intelligence (AI). Manipulated videos also show Mr Trump talking about the Golden Eagles in television interviews, as well as Elon Musk supposedly endorsing the scheme and urging “patriots” to invest. In one of the posts , Mr Trump addresses an audience in front of a lectern that reads ‘House Republicans 119th Congress’. “Patriots, I am calling on each and every one of you to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity,” he is heard saying. “In this crucial moment, I am urging you to invest in the Trump Golden Eagles...With the purchase of just 100 Trump Golden Eagles today, you will be able to exchange them for millions of dollars come January.” A reverse image search reveals the manipulated video is taken from a recording of Mr Trump at the Republicans Congress meeting in November 2024 . In the original clip, he does not mention Golden Eagles. A link in the caption in the altered video directs users to a site where you can supposedly buy Golden “Patriot Eagles”. At the time of writing, links to purchase the item did not appear to work. Small print at the bottom of the website says the website is not affiliated with Mr Trump or the Trump campaign, and that the product is just a collectable item and does not have any monetary value. AAP FactCheck contacted the website creators for comment but did not get a reply. The golden eagle is a symbol associated with Mr Trump and was the image of his official 2021 members card given to supporters who donated to the campaign. Dr Andrew Lenson , an AI and computer science expert at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, told AAP FactCheck the Republicans Congress meeting video is “clearly fake”. “The biggest ‘tell’ is at 0:09, where his mouth suddenly moves from a neutral expression into a deep grin – clearly unrealistic,” he said. The low quality of another video is common in manipulated videos as a way of hiding the visual giveaways associated with deepfakes. However, you can make out Mr Trump’s teeth, which disappear and reappear during the video – a sign of AI manipulation. The actual video can be found on Mr Trump’s website and features him announcing a plan to wage war on Mexican drug cartels in December 2023 . Again, there is no mention of the Golden Eagles. Another manipulated post on X in which Mr Trump supposedly spruiks the Golden Eagles is from his 2024 victory speech . The edited clip starts with the original lines from the speech, but at 25 seconds it substitutes a doctored section in which he says the value of the Golden Eagles has risen since his election win. “Everyone who invested in Trump Golden Eagles will soon be able to exchange them for real cash,” the audio says. Another post appears to show Mr Trump endorsing the eagles on Fox News with host Sean Hannity. But this is another manipulated video. The original video of Mr Trump speaking dates from January 2021 when he was responding to the US Capitol riots. 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