Daily Archives: November 10, 2023

SANTIAGO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Latin America and the Caribbean have made progress in their fight to eradicate hunger, though the region still has the highest rate of food insecurity worldwide and has yet to recover from setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by five United Nations agencies published on Thursday.

Some 43.2 million people went hungry in the region last year, or about 6.5% of the population, the U.N. agencies said. That's down from the 7% who faced hunger in 2021.

"Progress was made in Latin America and the Caribbean in the fight against hunger and food insecurity, driven by improvements in South America," the agencies said.

South America saw hunger drop due to improvements in the labor market and fresh social protection policies, with increased energy input prices boosting the region's exporting nations.

Despite the progress, the rate of hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean is still nearly a full percentage point above the 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic, which aggravated structural issues such as inequality, labor informality, poverty and lack of social benefits.

Meanwhile, moderate or severe food insecurity "was higher in the region compared to the world estimate," the agencies said, with 37.5% of the region affected versus 29.6% globally.

Food insecurity is calculated by estimating the proportion of the population which faces limitations in obtaining sufficient food throughout the year.

"Persistent inequalities in the region have a significant impact on the food security of the most vulnerable," the report said, highlighting discrepancies in access between men and women and between rural and urban communities, with women and people living in rural areas worse off.

The gender gap widened considerably during the pandemic, the U.N. said, though it narrowed in 2022 to 9.1 percentage points. In rural versus urban communities, the gap in food insecurity was 8.3 percentage points.

Reporting by Juana Casas; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Andrea Ricci

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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LatAm, Caribbean progress in fighting hunger, though COVID-19 ... - Reuters

Maritime royalty has docked in Galveston: Regal Princess, the largest Princess cruise ship ever based in Texas, has dropped anchor in Houston's coastal neighbor, ready for its inaugural season of voyages to the Western Caribbean.

The massive, 142,229-ton "Love Boat" ship can host 3,560 guests across its 19 decks and over 1,400 stateroom balconies. Among its most distinctive features is glass-floor walkway called SeaWalk, which extends 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship and affords stunning views of the sea below (for those who dare).

During its first travel season from Galveston, now through March 2024, the Regal Princess will take 21 voyages to the Western Caribbean, with an estimated 75,000 passengers onboard.

The cruises begin at seven-day treks, but can extend up to 12 days. Popular stops on the journeys include Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Roatn, Honduras. A quick search of the Princess website shows fares for a seven-day cruise aboard the Regal Princess in mid-December start at $499 for an interior room.

"Princess loves Texas and we know Texans enjoy the convenience of having the Love Boat so close by offering a hassle-free drive or convenient fly option to enjoy the beautiful destinations in the Western Caribbean," touts Princess Cruises CCO Terry Thornton in a release. "As we celebrate the arrival of Regal Princess, we extend our deep appreciation to the Port of Galveston for their ongoing partnership, and were excited to welcome aboard the only premium cruise experience from Galveston."

Cruise enthusiasts who'd like to spend their 2023 holidays at sea can check out Regal Princess' trips planned for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Additionally, a "Love and Romance Celebration"-themed cruise with TV presenter and fashion designer Randy Fenoli is scheduled to depart from Galveston on Sunday, December 3. It will feature special romantic events, wedding advice talks, and a unique "Randy" cocktail for passengers.

The Regal Princess is a 10-years-young ship that was christened by the Crew of the TV show The Love Boat in November 2014.

To mark Princess' 20th year of cruising from Galveston, Regal Princess will return to the port for more cruises to the Western Caribbean in the 2024-2025 travel season, according to the release. More information is at princess.com.

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Largest Princess ship ever ported in Texas launches first Caribbean ... - CultureMap Dallas