Free Republic

The least luxurious cruise in the world: North Korea launches its first liner (where cabins are shared and the ship is rusty) The liner is rusty, the cabins are cramped and the Captain's Table is a help yourself buffet. But though the surroundings are less than glamorous, North Korea hopes to launch itself into the world of cruising with ageing liner the Mangyongbong. The former cargo ship set sail on its maiden tour yesterday carrying about 130 passengers from the rundown port of Rajin, near the China-Russia border. Some 500 North Koreans, about half dressed in dark workers clothes and...

As children suffer Mbeki splashes out on luxurious plane By Basildon Peta 29 July 2002 s As children suffer Mbeki splashes out on luxurious plane We could see many funerals here, warns mayor Thabo Mbeki is about to take delivery of a new, specially upgraded jet worth £37.5m, as reports showed yesterday that 75% of the South African President's people do not have enough to eat. Mr Mbeki's decision to proceed with acquiring the aircraft amid worsening poverty has been condemned by the main opposition parties. Pictures of children physically stunted by wasting and the nutrition-deficit disease kwashiorkor were published...