by admin | Aug 31, 2025 | cruises, lifestyle, money, passports and international travel, Travel
A shipping company is providing seniors with an unprecedented chance to reside aboard a vessel indefinitely through the launch of a ‘Golden Passport’.
“Endless Horizons” is an innovative “residence at sea” initiative launched by Villa Vie Residences, offering visitors the opportunity for “lifelong residency” aboard a collection of fully inclusive cruise vessels.
From £75,000 ($99,999), individuals possessing a Golden Passport can embark on non-stop voyages covering over 400 locations spanning 140 nations, with every trip extending between three to three and a half years.
Many of the port calls will last between two and three days, allowing passengers plenty of opportunity to discover every location during the ship’s stay.
Travelers will receive an “all-encompassing way of living” which includes food, cleaning services, maintenance, leisure activities, and online connectivity, along with wine or beer provided during meal times.
Additional service fees will also apply, but ticket buyers will not have to pay unexpected costs or terminal taxes.
Possessing the Golden Visa grants visitors access to complimentary yearly health examinations to maintain optimal well-being.
The program provides price tiers based on age groups, with the $99,000 plan exclusively available to individuals who are 90 years old or older.
The highest-priced plan, costing $299,999, targets people who are between the ages of 55 and 60.
“As individuals retire, one of their primary concerns is running out of funds,” stated Mike Petterson, founder of Villa Vie Residences, according to reports.
Unilad
.
He added, “Thanks to the Golden Passport, that unpredictability vanishes — a single fee guarantees a lifetime of exploration. Our tiered pricing structure means Endless Horizons isn’t merely a fantasy for some, but a feasible option for numerous people.”
Kathy Villalba, chief executive officer of Villa Vie Residences, stated: “Life passes swiftly, and the common remorse many express is not having explored the globe when they had the opportunity.”
The Golden Passport turns that dream into reality—and at an accessible price—something the cruise and travel sectors have not encountered before.
This is not the initial unrestricted travel program available.
A
A U.S.-based carrier is providing its passengers with a yearly “unlimited flight” membership at a cost below $600.
For travelers envisioning endless adventures in 2025, Frontier Airlines is ready to help aspiring flyers with a time-sensitive offer for its GoWild! Pass.
Purchasing this deal for only $599 allows smart travelers to take advantage of endless flights within Frontier’s network covering both U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin American routes.
The permit is effective for travel from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, after which it will automatically renew for $699 per year.
Cardholders receive various advantages, such as the ability to reserve local flights one day prior to their journey, and ten days ahead for overseas trips.
Travellers who organise themselves in advance can book flights earlier by opting for GoWild! whenever it’s available – although an additional fee for booking early might be charged.
Frontier Miles membership is automatic for passholders once they sign up, allowing them to accumulate miles on every purchase qualified under the Go Wild! program.
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by admin | Aug 28, 2025 | banking, financial services, money, securities, technology
Published on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 7:24 AM
The Central Bank of Pakistan (CBP), known as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), plans to introduce its enhanced payment and settlement platform named PRISM+ on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The ceremony will be presided over by the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Mr. Jameel Ahmad, with participation from high-ranking SBP personnel, delegates from banking entities, and important players within the finance industry. This development represents an essential step forward in the continuous improvement of Pakistan’s financial framework.
This innovative framework marks a significant advancement in updating the way funds and governmental assets circulate within the nation’s monetary network.
PRISM+ is based on the global ISO 20022 messaging standard, which is used in many advanced financial systems around the world. It includes two key components:
An improved Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system designed for swift processing of major transactions between involved parties
A completely new Central Securities Depository (CSD) responsible for handling government instruments like Treasury Bills, Public Investment Bonds, and additional government-related financial assets
What PRISM+ Provides: A Quicker and More Intelligent Banking System: PRISM+ introduces various innovative tools and functionalities for banks to enhance their everyday management processes:
Immediate transfer of significant transactions among users Choice to plan payments for a later day
Payment handling based on priority (key transactions are processed initially)
Real-time dashboards displaying account balances, outstanding payments, and transaction processing status
Automated computation of charges and bills
Enhanced Management of Sovereign Securities: The CSD within PRISM+ enables banks to purchase, trade, and oversee government bonds with greater ease:
Primary Market Auctions: Financial institutions may place offers and receive outcomes instantly
Trading in the Secondary Market: Financial institutions may send transaction orders, which are promptly paired and finalized.
Risk Administration: Financial institutions have the ability to monitor and assess their collateralized assets, as well as determine the amount that can be utilized.
Monetary Policy Tools: Assists the State Bank of Pakistan in adding or removing funds from the economy and facilitating immediate transaction settlements
Enhanced Visibility and Safety: Each transaction comes with a complete record of activity
Role-based access ensures only authorized users can perform actions
Real-time alerts notify banks about any issues with settlement
Innovative Solutions for Managing Cash Flow and Payments
Liquidity Saving Queues: To reduce delays and manage liquidity better, PRISM+ uses special queues:
High-priority payments are settled right away
Payments with lower priority are placed in distinct queues and processed in groups to prevent overcrowding.
Reserve Earmarking: Banks can set aside funds specifically for systems like Raast, 1Link, NIFT, or NCCPL. This makes sure critical transactions are not delayed due to general liquidity use.
Intraday Liquidity Facility (ILF): Financial institutions have the option to obtain temporary funding by pledging qualifying government bonds. This mechanism helps maintain seamless transactions despite temporary fund shortages.
Other Improvements
Longer operating hours for better access: Payment cancellation and return messages can now be handled in real time
Facility to deposit or withdraw cash at the SBP Karachi branch for specific transactions
The platform was created in accordance with SBP’s Vision 2028, seeking to build a contemporary, accessible, and strong financial environment. Comprehensive involvement of stakeholders during the creation phase has made sure that PRISM+ incorporates global standard approaches while addressing Pakistan’s specific market requirements.
by admin | Aug 19, 2025 | commerce, gold, money, news, precious metals
Released on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The cost of 24-karat gold per tola rose by Rs1,500 on Monday, reaching Rs357,700 after being priced at Rs356,200 the prior business day, according to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewelers Association. Additionally, the price for 10 grams of 24-karat gold climbed by Rs1,286 to Rs306,670, compared to Rs305,384 previously, while 10 grams of 22-karat gold saw an increase of Rs1,179, now selling for Rs281,124 instead of Rs279,945. Per tola and ten-gram silver prices stayed unchanged at Rs4,031 and Rs3,455 respectively. In global markets, gold prices moved upward by $1 to reach $3,350 from $3,335, while silver maintained stability at $37.98, as stated by the association.
by admin | Aug 13, 2025 | cost of living, expenses, money, tipping, travel planning and tips
Holiday expenses can accumulate rapidly, including taxi fares for trips to and from the airport, driving costs to reach sightseeing spots, and additional gratuities.
However, recent studies have identified the world’s most affordable and priciest cities for taxi rides.
In the research, 50 well-known cities around the world were examined, including locations in
Japan
to
Mexico
, were analaysed.
Although numerous visitors come to Paris because of its famous attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, food, and outstanding artwork, the city remained the most expensive place for taxi rides.
A typical five-mile taxi ride costs around £29.12, which includes a 7.5% gratuity.
London
placed second, priced approximately £27.96 including a 10% gratuity, whereas Milan secured third position at £24.57.
In the well-known Italian city, leaving a 7.5% gratuity for cab operators is considered standard.
The study, carried out by taxi insurance experts
ChoiceQuote
discovered that in 86% of the locations studied, giving tips is anticipated.
In the international ranking, Osaka, Japan ranks as the fourth most costly city, where an average five-mile taxi ride costs £24.06.
Amsterdam came in fifth position, with costs approximately £24.
Regarding the most affordable cities for taxi rides, Delhi in India ranked first, with an average cost of £2.06 for a five-mile trip including a tip.
This covers a 12.5% gratuity for the driver, which might appear substantial but totals just 23p when combined with the extremely low fare of £1.83.
Cairo, Egypt came second with £2.31, including a 10% tip on top of the taxi price.
Denpasar, Indonesia, which does not anticipate tipping, ranked third with an average cost of £2.41.
Another Indian city, Agra, ranked fourth for affordability at £3.74, succeeded by Shanghai in China at £4.14.
The research also examined gratuity norms across various nations for taxi operators.
It was expected that the United States ranked first with 17.5%.
This was then followed by South Africa, where travelers are anticipated to leave a 15% gratuity.
In India, Greece, and Mexico, a 12.5% gratuity is typically anticipated, whereas in Egypt, Croatia, and the United Kingdom, taxi drivers might expect around 10%.
In Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, and France, a rate of 7.5% is considered acceptable.
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by admin | Apr 21, 2025 | government, government regulations, laws and regulations, money, technology
In an effort to enhance service delivery and boost internal revenue generation for the government, the Bauchi State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) has implemented and rolled out technological solutions into their operations.
As a result, to implement and refine the new initiative, the Board led by its Executive Chairman, Alhaji Mu’azu Umar, convened a roundtable discussion with several key stakeholders. During this meeting, certain common understandings were achieved.
Mu’azu who disclosed this in an interactive session with Journalists in Bauchi, stated that a meeting held between the Board and all the 20 LGCs Chairpersons was aimed to address major challenges especially of multiple taxation, thereby harmonizing collections and blocking leakages.
At present, various agencies are gathering revenues, and taxpayers often claim payment to specific entities without being able to verify either the exact amounts or timing. These issues will be addressed moving forward,” he stated. “We had an extensive conversation with the chairpersons who agreed with our stance.
The BIRS Executive Chairman stated that efficiency needs to be maintained throughout the procedure, noting that an automated system will be implemented since the capabilities at the state level surpass those available at the local government level.
As he stated, “Automation will be crucial, eliminating cash collection and doing away with the manual procedures involved in gathering and recording revenues.”
So, these measures will expedite the collection process, minimize losses, and simplify things since we aim to make it effortless for taxpayers. This way, their costs related to compliance will remain minimal. We planned to initiate this around late January and hope to commence it during this upcoming quarter starting in April, God willing.
The Executive Chairman highlighted numerous transportation unions along with several important stakeholders in the process of generating revenue. However, he mentioned that managing road taxes has posed significant difficulties for the Board historically. Despite these challenges, he conveyed his thanks to God as they are currently surmounting these obstacles.
“We encountered issues since there was no strict implementation of road taxes until recently, when Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed launched the Bauchi State Road Traffic Agency BAROTA. The board is now collaborating with this agency to explore ways to enhance compliance with traffic rules within the state,” he mentioned additionally.
According to Mu’azu Usman, the BIRS has partnered with various transportation unions including NURTW, RTEAN, Achaba, and Keke Napep to implement regulations concerning road taxes. He mentioned that they have initiated weight billing and manifest systems through the collaboration of these unions.
“We are currently requiring updates from Achaba and Keke NAPEP operators to ensure accurate records. For the Keke NAPEP vehicles, we are implementing body numbering to identify those involved in this business effectively. This measure aims to enhance security, improve road safety, and increase revenue,” he stated.
Thus, the Executive Chairman expressed appreciation for the backing provided by State Governor Sen Bala Muhammad, acknowledging the conducive atmosphere he facilitated for the Board’s operations.
He urged the taxpayers to increase their efforts in making timely payments, as this would help the government deliver more benefits of democratic governance. He highlighted that from 2020 until now, all ongoing capital projects within the state have been funded solely through locally generated income.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Apr 14, 2025 | business, commerce, money, news, Travel
A legislation prohibiting false reviews and concealed charges, which deceive online buyers out of £2.2 billion annually, will take effect today.
Websites imposing additional ‘administrative fees’ or ‘ticket booking fees’ must now include these charges within the total cost of the purchase upfront instead of adding them secretly when customers are about to complete their payment.
The prohibition, part of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill enacted during the previous administration, falls under this legislation.
UK government
This will impact travel agencies, ticketing websites, and food delivery applications.
Nevertheless, this will not affect any required additional expenses like particular airline seat selections and luggage upgrades for your flights.
This alteration requires online retailers to block and eliminate counterfeit customer reviews on their platforms as part of an effort to halt companies from building misleading reputations.
As reported by the Department for Business and Trade, consumers spend £2.2 billion annually on concealed charges. This new initiative aims to provide individuals with greater ‘authority over their finances.’
Justin Madders, the Minister for Competition and Markets, stated: “As of today, consumers can confidently make their purchases assured that they have protection against counterfeit reviews and hidden price increases.”
These modifications will empower consumers to have greater authority and management over their earnings, along with assisting in creating fair competition by discouraging unethical players who undermine law-abiding companies.
Studies have shown that concealed fees can soar up to 25 percent of the initial cost, with nearly half of internet merchants incorporating obligatory additional charges into their prices in one way or another.
Out of the 45 percent who incorporate fees referred to as ‘dripped pricing,’ 21 percent originate from the travel and hospitality industries, whereas retail contributes approximately 3 percent.
The effort to crack down on hidden charges follows last year when numerous Oasis fans became enraged due to Ticketmaster’s ‘dynamic pricing,’ which thwarted their ticket-buying efforts.
purchase tickets for the rock group’s spectacular comeback this summer
.
Approximately 14 million enthusiasts devoted one Saturday in August of last year to this endeavor.
attempting to obtain tickets to watch
siblings Noel and Liam Gallagher come together again for an extensive tour across the UK and Ireland.
However, enthusiastic supporters were furious when the cost of standing tickets increased from a face value of £150 to £355 shortly after, owing to high demand.
Audiences labeled Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing strategy as ‘a complete outrage.’
expressed strong criticism towards the company’s leadership, which includes CEO Michael Rapino, UK Managing Director Andrew Parsons, President Mark Yovich, and COO Michael Wichser
.
The ‘dynamic pricing’ mechanism, launched by Ticketmaster in 2022, functions through
adjusting ticket prices according to demand – akin to how Uber calculates fares or airlines set seat prices
.
Once tickets at their original prices sell out, ticket vendors make additional ones available at increased costs, which were pre-negotiated with the artist’s management team and promoters, though these aren’t offered to the broader audience.
Importantly, Oasis – frequently celebrated as icons of the working class – had the option to reject dynamic pricing and maintain a more affordable price point for their fans.
In 2022, singer Tom Grennan stated that he had eliminated all VIP and platinum ticket choices because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Ticketmaster claims this undesirable practice stems from market dynamics and asserts that the additional funds generated from the increased ticket prices for Oasis shows will benefit the band directly.
The idea behind dynamic pricing is that by raising prices on official sites, scalpers will be deterred, allowing artists to retain additional profits.
The ‘In-Demand’ tickets are frequently referred to as ‘platinum tickets,’ however, they do not provide any additional perks for customers like VIP access.
Mr. Rapino, who leads Live Nation Entertainment—the company behind Ticketmaster—faced criticism when the Oasis tickets went on sale.
A user posted: “You represent all that is flawed within the live events sector.”
Someone else commented: ‘Michael Ticketmaster are a joke, and you’re a greedy scam artist.’
Demand-based pricing is Ticketmaster essentially becoming the scalpers itself.
Thousands of UK fans contacting their MPs. We’ll see you in court.”
Mr Rapino, who
resides in Los Angeles with his spouse and their three kids
is renowned for his ‘rock-star compensation packages’ and received $139 million in 2022, placing him among the top-earning executives in American corporations.
Other individuals requested Mr. Parsons to clarify himself during an interview, remarking, “Dynamic ticket pricing?? A complete scam perpetuated by his firm!”
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