Costa launches new safety measures after grounding

GROSSETO, Italy — The owner of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia asked a court on Monday to consider it a victim of the disaster, saying it too wants to seek damages for the 2012 grounding off Tuscany that killed 32 people. Costa Crociere SpA, a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp., made the request as the court in Grosseto, Italy, opened a preliminary, closed-door hearing into the grounding and whether to issue indictments against the captain and crew. In Italy, civil cases are heard alongside criminal ones.

SME finance market will receive a £300 million investment, in terms to fill the long-standing gaps. General Motors announced that it will invest €4 billion or $5.2 billion in Opel by the end of 2016. Italian cruise line Costa Crociere SpA was fined €1 million or $1.3 million on Wednesday by the Tuscany’s court. The number of real estates for sale in the US increased by 2.4% in March, but still remained below the 15% rate in 2012.  

One can’t stand being in a mall: It feels too much like the ship, with no visible exits. Another dreams she’s walking on a tilt – a memory of having crawled up walls as the cruise liner rolled onto its side. A 4-year-old boy talks obsessively about the meal he had to leave behind when plates started to fly across the dining room.

ROME (AP) — A judge in Tuscany fined Italian cruise line Costa Crociere SpA 1 million euros ($1.3 million) Wednesday for the 2012 shipwreck of the Concordia cruise ship that killed 32 people.

NEW YORK — Carnival Cruise Lines on Wednesday announced a $300 million program to add emergency generators, upgrade fire safety and improve engine rooms on all 24 of its ships.

(Karen_Chappell)