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The captain of the Disney Treasure is Voyager Minnie, a version of the character that is specially costumed for the cruise ship.DisneyThe Disney fleet is expanding.Next month, the Disney Treasure cruise ship will make its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Caribbean, officially becoming the sixth ship in the company's lineup.The Treasure, which is 221 feet tall and 1,119 feet long, can carry 4,000 passengers and 1,555 crew members. Like Disney's other cruise ships, the Treasure features themed dining, curated lounges and premium on-board live entertainment.As the Treasure sets sail, Disney, too, is embarking on its own journey. The company, which hadn't launched a new ship in a decade prior to the Disney Wish's debut in mid-2022, is entering an era of rapid expansion.Disney...

Customers buy flowers on stalls at Columbia Road Flower Market in East London.Henry Nicholls | Afp | Getty ImagesLONDON — U.K. inflation picked up sharply to a higher-than-expected 2.3% in October, data from the British Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday, tempering expectations of a December interest rate cut from the Bank of England.The hike marks a sharp increase from the 1.7% rise recorded in September and exceeds the 2.2% forecast of economists polled by Reuters.The latest print once again brings inflation above the Bank of England's 2% target, potentially dampening the prospects of a final interest rate cut this year.Sterling ticked up marginally following the latest inflation print, trading 0.1% higher at $1.2692 at 8:03 a.m. London time. The British pound was up 0.4% ag...

Former US President Donald Trump arrives during a "Get Out The Vote" rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, US, on Saturday, March 2, 2024.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesDonald Trump's U.S. election victory has ratcheted up concerns about higher prices, prompting strategists to rethink the outlook for global bond yields and currencies.It is widely thought that the president-elect's pledge to introduce tax cuts and steep tariffs could boost economic growth — but widen the fiscal deficit and refuel inflation.Trump's return to the White House is seen as likely to throw a wrench in the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting cycle, potentially keeping an upward bias on Treasury yields. Bond yields tend to rise when market participants expect higher prices or a growing budget deficit.Alim Remtulla, c...

A picture shows a view of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on May 18, 2022. Sergei Supinsky | AFP | Getty ImagesThe U.S. closed its embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday, warning that it has "received specific information of a potential significant air attack" amid soaring tensions with Russia.The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it was closing the building "out of an abundance of caution" and instructed embassy employees to shelter in place."The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced," it added.Air alerts in Kyiv are a common occurrence, as the Ukrainian capital suffers frequent drone and missile attacks from Russia. But the latest alert comes amid rising tensions between Moscow and Washington, after reports that the White House...

One of the main faces of Hong Kong's pro-Democracy scene, British citizen and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, has started testifying in court.It is the first time he has spoken in court in a case that has been delayed for years. Lai, 77, has been charged under Hong Kong's national security law with two counts of conspiracy to commit foreign collusion and one count of publishing seditious material.He is accused of asking the US and other foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and mainland China. Lai has denied all charges.The publisher's testimony began with an explanation about why he started the Apple Daily newspaper in the city. He said the publication represented the "core values" of Hong Kong.Read more:Son of Jimmy Lai calls for 'urgent' UK interventionCalls for Starmer to condemn ...