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☆ Barcelona crashes out of the Copa del Rey in extra time, La Liga leader Girona also knocked out
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Barcelona suffered its second disappointing cup defeat in as many weeks on Wednesday, falling to a 4-2 quarterfinal away loss against Athletic Bilbao in extra time. The 16-year-old set a Copa del Rey record in the process, becoming the youngest player this century to score in the competition. Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty ImagesAn upset for the La Liga leadersThis season’s surprise package in Spanish football has been Girona, which is mounting the unlikeliest of title challenges in only the club’s fourth season of La Liga football. However, the Blanquivermells will not get the chance to do the league and cup double after losing 3-2 to Mallorca on Wednesday. Mallorca, which sits 14 places and over 30 points behind Girona in La Liga, raced into a 3-0 lead at home inside the first half to stun the league leaders.

Persons: Iñaki, Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, “, Xavi, Ander Gillenea, Gorka Guruzeta volleyed, Yuri Berchiche’s, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Oihan Sancet, Nico, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Antonio Raíllo, Cristhian Stuani, Rafa Babot, Sávio Organizations: CNN — Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Bilbao, Africa, of Nations, Mozambique, Spanish, archrival Real Madrid, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Napoli, ”, Athletic, ” Barcelona, Getty, Barça, Copa, Rey, La Liga football, Mallorca, Wednesday, Girona Locations: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Spain, La, ” Barcelona, AFP, Girona

☆ Bolivia gets green light for full Mercosur membership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucinda Elliott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia is set to become a full member of the South American Mercosur trade bloc following a decision on Tuesday by the Brazilian Senate to approve the country's admission. The vote on the accession of Bolivia to Mercosur is expected to be formally concluded during a regional summit on Dec. 7 in Rio de Janeiro. "Thank you to the senators for completing this process and congratulations to President Arce and Bolivia for joining us in Mercosur," Lula said on social media. Prospects for finally concluding the trade agreement with the EU gained traction following the election of ultra-liberal Javier Milei, a staunch critic of Mercosur, as president of Argentina. Bolivia was one of the worst offenders of primary forest clearances last year, behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Global Forest Watch that monitors deforestation rates.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Arce, Lula, Luis Arce, Javier Milei, Milei, Lucinda Elliott, Mark Porter Organizations: SAO PAULO, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Senate, Bolivia, Senators, European Union, EU, Mercosur, Democratic, Global Forest Watch, Thomson Locations: Bolivia, Brazilian, Mercosur, Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo

☆ Bolivia Gets Green Light for Full Mercosur Membership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lucinda ElliottSAO PAULO (Reuters) - Bolivia is set to become a full member of the South American Mercosur trade bloc following a decision on Tuesday by the Brazilian Senate to approve the country's admission. The vote on the accession of Bolivia to Mercosur is expected to be formally concluded during a regional summit on Dec. 7 in Rio de Janeiro. "Thank you to the senators for completing this process and congratulations to President Arce and Bolivia for joining us in Mercosur," Lula said on social media. Prospects for finally concluding the trade agreement with the EU gained traction following the election of ultra-liberal Javier Milei, a staunch critic of Mercosur, as president of Argentina. Bolivia was one of the worst offenders of primary forest clearances last year, behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Global Forest Watch that monitors deforestation rates.

Persons: Lucinda Elliott, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Arce, Lula, Javier Milei, Milei, Mark Porter Organizations: Lucinda Elliott SAO PAULO, Reuters, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Senate, European Union, EU, Mercosur, Democratic, Global Forest Watch Locations: Bolivia, Brazilian, Mercosur, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Democratic Republic of Congo

☆ Three Mexican journalists freed following kidnapping
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Mexico is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with five killed this year, the international free-speech group, Article 19, has said. Another journalist freed on Saturday was Marco Toledo, director of the weekly El Espectador de Taxco, authorities said. Toledo's wife and son had also been kidnapped by five armed men who entered their home last Sunday, Article 19 said. Although Toledo's wife has been freed, authorities are still searching for the journalist's son, the attorney-general's office said in its statement. With a tally of 13 murdered, last year was the deadliest for journalists in Mexico since Article 19 began keeping records in 2000.

Persons: general's, Silvia Arce, Alberto Sanchez, Marco Toledo, Taxco, Toledo's, Adriana Barrera, Valentine Hilaire, Daniel Wallis, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: MEXICO CITY, El, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Guerrero, Mexico, Taxco

☆ Mexico Authorities Search for Journalists Taken in Tourist Town
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Authorities on Friday intensified the search for three journalists believed kidnapped by armed men in the south of Mexico, which press freedom groups consider among the world's most dangerous countries for reporters. The attorney general's office in the state of Guerrero on Thursday said it was investigating the disappearance of five people in the tourist town of Taxco, among them journalists Marco Toledo, Silvia Arce and Alberto Sanchez. Carlos Monge, communications chief for the attorney general's office, said searches would be reinforced with participation from the state prosecutors' office, the state search commission, state police, National Guard and the Army. Fifteen vans with personnel from various law enforcement agencies were deployed from the state capital to Taxco, Monge said. Mexico is among the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with five journalists killed so far this year, according to Article 19.

Persons: Marco Toledo, Silvia Arce, Alberto Sanchez, Carlos Monge, Monge, Toledo, Arce, Sanchez, Arce's, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Alistair Bell Organizations: MEXICO CITY, National Guard, Army, El Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Guerrero, Taxco, Toledo

☆ Bolivia severs ties with Israel over war in the Gaza Strip, as Columbia and Chile recall ambassadors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

- Leftist economist Luis Arce assumed the Bolivian presidency facing the challenge of uniting a polarized society and reactivating an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. Bolivia on Tuesday announced it has cut off diplomatic ties with Israel as a result of the civilian deaths caused by its war in the Gaza Strip, while Chile and Colombia have recalled their ambassadors to the Middle Eastern country for consultations. The Bolivian decision took place after a Monday meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to the South American country, said Maria Nela Prada, minister of the Bolivian presidency, in an update. "The government of Bolivia's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Israel is a surrender to terrorism and to the Ayatollah's regime in Iran," Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added, "In any case, since the change of government in Bolivia, relations between the countries have been devoid of content."

Persons: Luis Arce's, Marianela Prada, Luis Arce, AIZAR RALDES, Maria Nela Prada Organizations: Casa, Bolivian, Getty Images, Tuesday, CNBC Locations: del Pueblo, La Paz, AFP, Israel, Gaza, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Palestinian, American, Iran, Bolivian

☆ Bolivia severs ties with Israel, others recall envoys over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Daniel Ramos | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Palestinians conduct search and rescue operations at the site of Israeli strikes on a residential building, in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2023. The three South American nations lambasted Israel's attacks on Gaza and condemned the deaths of Palestinian citizens. "What we have now is the insanity of Israel's prime minister, who wants to wipe out the Gaza Strip," said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday. Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 under the government of leftist President Evo Morales, also in protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Gaza health authorities say that 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

Persons: Ahmed Zakot, LA, Freddy Mamani, Israel, Gustavo Petro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Evo Morales, Jeanine Anez, Arce, U.N, Daniel Ramos, Gabriel Araujo, Lucinda Elliott, Oliver Griffin, Peter Frontini, Brendan O'Boyle, Kylie Madry, Rosalba O'Brien, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, LA PAZ, Israel, Bolivian, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Bolivia, Israel, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Palestinian, Iran

☆ Joan Laporta: FC Barcelona president under investigation for bribery and other crimes, according to court document
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matias Grez | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta is officially being investigated as a “suspect” in the ongoing alleged improper payment scandal, according to court documents obtained by CNN – the latest twist in a scandal overshadowing the club and Spanish soccer. The investigation relates to alleged improper payments made by Barça to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former leading refereeing official in Spain. CNN has reached out to FC Barcelona for comment from Laporta but has yet to hear back. Laporta began his second term as club president in 2021. “As such, the statute of limitations of the crimes referred to previously has not expired in respect to [Laporta], as well as those people who were members of the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona respectively during his leadership,” Wednesday’s court document read.

Persons: Joan Laporta, ”, Barça, Judge Joaquín Aguirre López, Enríquez Negreira, Javier, Aguirre López, “, –, Judge Aguirre López, Negreira, invoiced, Blaugrana, Xavi, Caso, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Laporta’s, Laporta, Pau Mosquera Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, CNN, Spanish, 1st, FC Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo, Caso, Prosecutors, CTA, Osasuna, Barcelona, Estadio El Locations: Spain, Barcelona, Spanish, Estadio El Sadar

☆ Ukraine's 'free-spirited use' of anti-tank missiles is wrecking Russian armor, but it doesn't mean the tank's days are over
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Anti-tank missiles have wreaked havoc against Russian tanks in Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementVideos of burning Russian tanks — victims of Ukrainian anti-tank missiles — has reignited the long-running debate over whether those missiles and other anti-armor weapons have rendered tanks obsolete. Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images"Neither side appears capable — or willing — of forming much more than a company-sized battle group for offensive operations," Cranny-Evans wrote. As a result, many engagements involving armor have seen small numbers of tanks face large numbers of missiles. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian troops display anti-tank missiles, including NLAW and Javelin, at an exhibition in Lviv in December 2022.

Persons: —, Sam Cranny, Evans, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Cranny, Celestino Arce, ATGMs, YURIY DYACHYSHYN, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Security, Defence, Royal United Services Institute, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, ATGMs, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Eurasia, British, Donetsk, Afghanistan, Kippur, Yom, Russian, Kherson province, Lebanon, Lviv, AFP, Forbes

CNN —FC Barcelona and several of the soccer club’s current and former executives are officially being investigated as suspects for “the sustained crime of active bribery,” according to a court document obtained by CNN – the latest twist in an alleged improper payment scandal overshadowing Spanish soccer. The investigation relates to alleged improper payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former leading refereeing official in Spain. The spokesperson declined to share more details about the search but said that no arrests are expected to be made. He added that in his opinion the payments “produced the desired effects on referees,” resulting in “consequent systemic corruption in … Spanish refereeing” affecting soccer in the country. CNN has reached out to Negreira via his company for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Persons: “, –, Javier Soriano, invoiced, Negreira, ” Judge Joaquín Aguirre López, Aguirre López, ”, Barça, Caso, Xavi, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Javier Tebas, Los Blancos, CNN’s Matt Foster Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, CNN, Spain’s Civil Guard, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Guardia Civil, An FC Barcelona, Caso, Spanish, AFP, Getty, Prosecutors, CTA, 1st, La Liga, Barcelona, Osasuna, Civil Guard, Real, Real Madrid, UEFA Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Guardia, Spanish, Real Madrid

☆ Evo Morales announces candidacy for 2025 Bolivia presidential elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bolivia's President Luis Arce and former President Evo Morales attend an ancestral ceremony to ring in the Aymara New Year, in Tiwanaku, Bolivia June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Manuel Claure/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 24 (Reuters) - Former Bolivia President Evo Morales will stand in the South American country's elections in 2025, he said on Sunday in a message on social media platform X, adding that he has been "obliged" by attacks against him. The announcement confirms a rift between Morales, one of Latin America's most prominent leftists, and Bolivia's sitting President Luis Arce, his former economy minister turned rival within the ruling MAS party. Morales fled the country and claimed he was the victim of a right-wing "coup" that was backed by the United States. After an 11-month caretaker government, Arce won a landslide election victory in October 2020, paving the way for Morales to return home.

Persons: Luis Arce, Evo Morales, Manuel Claure, Morales, Bolivia's, I've, Arce, Oliver Griffin, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, MAS, Thomson Locations: Aymara, Tiwanaku, Bolivia, United States

CNN —Spain’s National Court has admitted the complaint made against former soccer chief Luis Rubiales for “the crimes of sexual assault and coercion” by Spanish prosecutors, according to a court press release issued on Monday. The admittance of the prosecutor’s complaint – part of the Spanish legal process – allows the court to begin gathering evidence, which could lead to possible charges against Rubiales, who resigned from his position as president of country’s soccer federation (RFEF) on Sunday. Jenni Hermoso filed an official complaint with Spanish prosecutors last week, which has now been accepted by the National Court. The unwanted kiss on Hermoso sparked condemnation in Spain and led to widespread calls for Rubiales to resign from his role as RFEF president. Jorge Vilda was fired as head coach of the Spanish women's team in a series of "regeneration" changes being made by RFEF.

Persons: CNN —, Luis Rubiales, “, ”, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, El, Jenni Hermoso, ” Rubiales, Hermoso, –, Jorge Vilda, RFEF, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Pedro Rocha, Montse Tomé, Rocha, Víctor, Verónica Boquete, Vilda, ” Boquete Organizations: CNN, Diario AS, Vanguardia, Spanish, Hermoso, National Court, FIFA, Getty, High Council of Sport, Nations League, Sweden, Cadena COPE Locations: Spanish, ”, Spain, RFEF

☆ One of the world’s oldest synagogues reopens in Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Aimee Look | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Egypt has reopened one of the world’s oldest synagogues and home to the most significant single trove of Jewish manuscripts. A copy of the "Torah scrolls" at the newly restored Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt's oldest Jewish temple, after decade-long restoration, in old Cairo, Egypt. It awarded Drops of Milk a grant in 2017 to fund their restoration efforts of the remaining synagogues in Egypt, including Ben Ezra, Bertini said. The Ark and "Menorah" at the newly restored Ben Ezra Synagogue, in old Cairo, Egypt. The "Bimah," also known in Arabic as al-minbar, is pictured at the newly restored Ben Ezra Synagogue, in old Cairo, Egypt.

Persons: Ben Ezra, Mostafa Madbouly, Abraham ibn Ezra, Moses Maimonides, Maimonides, Moses, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Egypt’s MOTA, Louise Bertini, ARCE, Bertini, “ There’s, Abel Fattah al, Sisi, Khaled Fahmy Organizations: CNN, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cambridge University Library, Milk Association, American Research Centre, UNESCO, Heritage Locations: Egypt, Egypt's, Cairo

☆ Bolivia hardens tone on cocaine 'mega labs', signaling crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Monica Machicao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Along with Colombia and Peru, Bolivia is widely recognized as a leading world producer of coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, but the government has long maintained production of consumption-ready cocaine was limited. "They are trying to turn our nation from being a drug transit country to a drug-producing country," he added and presented a drug trafficking map of some 1,804 drug factory busts since 2020, the "vast majority" in Chapare, he said. "At the same time Bolivia has managed to transition from basic paste to hydrochloride." "In Bolivia we are experiencing a dispute between two factions of the MAS, each one pointing the finger at the other suggesting that they are protecting drug traffickers." Reporting by Monica Machicao; Writing by Daniel Ramos; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: LA, Evo Morales, Eduardo del Castillo, MAS President Luis Arce, Morales, Carlos Toranzo, Arce, Toranzo, Monica Machicao, Daniel Ramos, Adam Jourdan, Howard Goller Organizations: Departmental Association of Coca Producers, MAS President, MAS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: La Paz, Bolivia, LA PAZ, Colombia, Peru, Chapare, Bolivian, MAS

☆ What is BRICS, which countries want to join and why?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All the BRICS countries are part of the Group of 20 (G20) of major economies. WHICH NATIONS WANT TO JOIN BRICS AND WHY? It has received backing from Russia and Brazil to join the BRICS. Bolivia's President Luis Arce has expressed interest in BRICS membership and is expected to attend the summit. Algeria said in July it has applied for BRICS membership and to become a shareholder in the New Development Bank, the so-called BRICS Bank.

Persons: Commerce Wang, Competition Ebrahim Patel, Goldman Sachs, Jim O'Neill, Luis Arce, Bhargav Acharya, Olivia Kumwenda, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Commerce, Africa's, Trade, Industry, Competition, of Trade, Economic, United Nations, World Bank, of, Petroleum, WHO, Democratic, U.S, New Development Bank, BRICS Bank, Thomson Locations: South Africa, China, JOHANNESBURG, Brazil, Russia, India, Johannesburg, United States, United, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Algeria, Bolivia, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Cape Town

☆ Putin's invasion of Ukraine was his 'greatest intelligence fiasco,' spy expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia's invasion of Ukraine was an "intelligence fiasco," an intelligence expert wrote in The Times. He said that Russia's FSB had failed to adequately prepare for the invasion of Ukraine. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyRussian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine was his "greatest intelligence fiasco," an intelligence expert has claimed. It likely played a role in the FSB's failure to establish well-placed recruits to act as saboteurs and help Russian forces during the invasion, Walton wrote. "The time after the war, with all the expulsions, was a fateful time for the Russian intelligence system," a European intelligence official told the outlet.

Persons: Calder Walton, Vladimir Putin's, Walton, Putin, Celestino Arce, Der Spiegel, Der, Horst Jehmlich Organizations: The, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Service, Sunday Times, Intelligence, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Guardian, Red Army Locations: Ukraine, The Times, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ukraine's Kherson, Slovenia, Greece, Brazil, Norway, Netherlands, Dresden, East Germany, Soviet, West Germany

BELEM, Brazil, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Eight Amazon nations agreed to a list of unified environmental policies and measures to bolster regional cooperation at a major rainforest summit in Brazil on Tuesday, but failed to agree on a common goal for ending deforestation. The failure of the eight Amazon countries to agree on a pact to protect their own forests points to the larger, global difficulties of forging an agreement to combat climate change. Bolivia and Venezuela are the only Amazon countries not to sign onto a 2021 agreement among more than 100 countries to work toward halting deforestation by 2030. But tensions emerged in the lead up to the summit around diverging positions on deforestation and oil development. Fellow Amazon countries also rebuffed Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro's ongoing campaign to end new oil development in the Amazon.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Marcio Astrini, Lula, Luis Arce, Mauro Vieira, Ricardo Stuckert, Gustavo Petro's, Petro, Alexandre Silveira, Silveira, Jake Spring, Steven Grattan, Brad Haynes, Rosalba O'Brien, Jason Neely, Peter Graff, Aurora Ellis, Richard Chang Organizations: Climate, Reuters, Bolivian, Brazil's, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, REUTERS, Amazon, Brazil's Energy, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BELEM, Brazil, Brazilian, Belem, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela

☆ Canada headlines second day of Women’s World Cup action as Olympic champion faces Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Women’s World Cup is finally here and the tournament’s second day of action holds plenty of intriguing storylines. Olympic champion Canada kicks off its campaign in the opening game of Friday’s action, before one of the Women’s World Cup debutants – the Philippines – make its bow at the worldwide event. Nigeria vs. CanadaCanada is considered one of the favorites to compete for the Women’s World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand following its recent success. I know being in the World Cup is going to bring a lot of awareness. From 1995 onwards, only three World Cup debutants have won their opening match at a World Cup.

Persons: La Roja, Christine Sinclair, Adriana Leon, Allysha Chapman, Kadeisha Buchanan, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, Sinclair, Julie Ertz, Jack GruberUSA, Bev Priestman, ” Priestman, ”, Sarina Bolden, Bolden, ” Bolden, “, Jason McCawley, Alisha Lehmann, Inka Grings, ” Lehmann, ’, Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso, Putellas –, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Raquel Rodríguez Cedeño Organizations: CNN, Canada, La, . Canada, Sinclair, Olympic Games, Olympics, FIFA, Super Falcons, Republic of Ireland, Dunedin, –, soccer team, Western Sydney Wanderers, Western United, New, ”, Wellington Regional, Women’s Champions League, Portland Thorns Locations: Philippines, Costa Rica, Qatar, Nigeria, Canada, Melbourne, Switzerland, Dunedin, Wellington, Spain, . Canada Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tokyo, Sweden, Republic of, Zealand, Norway, Ecuador, ” Spain, Barcelona, Panama

☆ Ukraine could have more battle tanks than Russia for the first time ever, new data suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine could have more tanks than Russia for the first time, new data suggests. A compilation of data from various sources suggests Ukraine currently has roughly 1,500 active tanks compared with around 1,400 for Russia, Bloomberg reported. While Ukraine's tank fleet has continued to grow, Russia's has been severely depleted. Ukraine has received 471 additional tanks since the war began last year, and a further 286 are still due to arrive, per data published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy,During the conflict, Ukraine has lost 558 tanks and captured 546, data from open-source outlet Oryx suggests. It is also unclear how many old, retired tanks Russia has brought out, Bloomberg noted.

Persons: Russia's, Celestino Arce, Yohann Michel, Michel Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Kiel Institute, Getty, British, Russia, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine's Kherson, Kyiv

CNN —Beaches in the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa have been closed off after filthy waters from a collapsed dam washed downstream, posing a “genuine threat” to local residents, authorities say. Homes are seen underwater in a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Celestino Arce/NurPhoto/Reuters A neighborhood of Kherson, Ukraine, remains flooded Saturday, June 10, following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam days earlier. Celestino Arce/NurPhoto/Getty Images Ukrainian servicemen use boats to evacuate people in a flooded neighborhood of Kherson on June 8. Alex Babenko/Getty Images Houses in a flooded Kherson neighborhood on June 7.

Persons: Felipe Dana, Andrey Alekseenko, Celestino Arce, NurPhoto, Evgeniy, Hanna, Oleksandr Klymenko, Vladyslav Musiienko, Alex Babenko, Angelina Kopayeva, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Tetiana, Ivan Antypenko, Alexey Konovalov, Musiienko, Nina Lyashonok, Oleksandra, Alina Smutko Organizations: CNN, Authorities, Kyiv, Ukraine’s Ministry, Internal Affairs, Telegram, Local, AP, Reuters Volunteers, Reuters, Getty, Anadolu Agency, Planet Labs PBC, Reuters Red Cross, AP Local, Culture, Reuters Local Locations: Ukrainian, Odesa, Russia, Dnipro, –, ”, Dnistrovskyi, Kherson, Ukraine, Crimea, Russian, Nova, Mykolaiv, Kherson . Roman, Vladyslav, Nova Kakhovka, Libkos

☆ Bolivian leader open to using yuan for trade, touting 'trend'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LA PAZ, May 10 (Reuters) - Bolivia's president expressed openness to the use of the Chinese yuan for international trade during a press conference on Wednesday, citing similar moves by Argentina and Brazil to tap the Asian currency for transactions with China. International trade transactions tend to be priced in U.S. dollars, especially for major commodity markets like energy and grains, going back decades. Earlier in the year, China and Brazil moved to reduce the dominance of the greenback by signing a deal to set up yuan clearing arrangements that can facilitate bilateral trade. "In Latin America, we have always had a great influence from the United States... but today many countries have more foreign trade with China. Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bilingualism May Stave Off Dementia, Study Suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jaya Padmanabhan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Speaking two languages provides the enviable ability to make friends in unusual places. A new study suggests that bilingualism may also come with another benefit: improved memory in later life. Studying hundreds of older patients, researchers in Germany found that those who reported using two languages daily from a young age scored higher on tests of learning, memory, language and self-control than patients who spoke only one language. The findings, published in the April issue of the journal Neurobiology of Aging, add to two decades of work suggesting that bilingualism protects against dementia and cognitive decline in older people. “It’s promising that they report that early and middle-life bilingualism has a beneficial effect on cognitive health in later life,” said Miguel Arce Rentería, a neuropsychologist at Columbia University who was not involved in the study.

SQM's lithium contract in Chile is set to expire in 2030 and Albemarle's in 2043, giving it more insulation from the potential move. Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year, and Indonesia banned exports of nickel ore, a key battery material, in 2020. SQM has a larger footprint in Chile, with 81,000 hectares (about 200,000 acres) for lithium extraction compared with Albemarle's 16,000 hectares. Argentine state energy firm YPF last year began exploring lithium, while Bolivia has long maintained strict control over its huge though largely untapped resources. Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Bolivia's Luis Arce have touted the idea of a regional lithium "OPEC" to coordinate on lithium policy and benefit local economies.

The move would see Chile, the world's second largest lithium producer, shift to a model with the state holding a controlling interest in all new lithium projects through a public company that would partner with private mining firms. Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year, and Indonesia banned exports of nickel ore, a key battery material, in 2020. In early trading on Friday, Chilean firm SQM's U.S.-listed shares slid 6.2%, while Albemarle was down 2.5%. SQM's lithium contract in Chile is set to expire in 2030 and Albemarle's in 2043, giving it more insulation from the potential move. Mining shares in London fell sharply too.

☆ Colombia, Bolivia to ask UN to remove coca leaf from narcotics list
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Claudia MoralesBOGOTA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Colombia and Bolivia will jointly ask the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs to remove coca leaves from its list of prohibited substances and accept the plant's traditional uses, Colombia's government said on Wednesday. "Bolivia and Colombia consider it is the moment to once again put this issue on the table," she said. "To remove the coca leaf - the leaf, not cocaine - from the prohibited substances list." Coca leaves are widely used in different countries in Latin America, especially by indigenous groups, to treat stomach aches and altitude sickness, among other ceremonial uses. Bolivian President Luis Arce said in January his government would push for coca leaves to be removed from the list so they can be commercialized, after his predecessor Evo Morales decriminalized coca nationally.

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