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The day Edmundo González was plucked from obscurity and chosen to take on South America’s longest ruling authoritarian leader, technicians were busy making sure his home was not wiretapped. “This was not in our plans,” his wife, Mercedes López de González, said in an interview that day in April in their apartment in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Not long ago, Mr. González, 74, was a retired diplomat and grandfather of four with no political aspirations. He kept busy writing academic papers, speaking at conferences and taking his grandchildren to haircuts and music lessons. Now, many Venezuelans have placed their hopes in him to end years of repressive rule as he challenges President Nicolás Maduro, who has held power since 2013, in elections scheduled in late July.

Persons: Edmundo González, ”, Mercedes López de González, González, Nicolás Maduro Locations: Caracas, Venezuela

☆ Colombia to Sever Ties With Israel Over Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Colombia will sever diplomatic ties with Israel over its prosecution of the war in Gaza, President Gustavo Petro announced in Bogotá on Wednesday, describing the Israeli government as “genocidal.”His announcement came in a speech in Colombia’s capital city in front of cheering crowds that had gathered for International Workers’ Day. “The times of genocide, of the extermination of an entire people cannot come before our eyes, before our passivity,” Mr. Petro said. “If Palestine dies, humanity dies.”Colombia is the second South American nation to break off relations with Israel after Bolivia, which cut ties in November over its strikes in Gaza. Belize also cut diplomatic ties with Israel that month. “Israel and Colombia always enjoyed warm ties.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, “, ” Mr, Petro, Petro’s, ”, Israel Katz, ’, Mr, Colombia’s, Katz, Netanyahu Organizations: International Workers, Israel, Security Locations: Colombia, Israel, Gaza, Bogotá, Colombia’s, American, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras, Belize, “ Israel, Gaza City

☆ Blinken Presses Hamas to Accept Israel’s Latest Cease-Fire Proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

One of the Israeli officials said those returning to the north would be subject to no inspections or limitations, while the second said there would be nearly no restrictions, without elaborating. It was not clear whether Hamas would accept the most recent Israeli proposal, which is part of negotiations that the two sides are conducting indirectly through mediators from Egypt and Qatar. The cease-fire talks were a focus of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken as he visited Israel on Wednesday. The Israeli offer, according to one of the Israeli officials, doesn’t include language that refers explicitly to an end to the fighting. On Monday, The New York Times reported that, as part of its proposal, Israel had reduced the number of hostages Hamas would need to release in the initial phase of a deal.

Persons: hadn’t, Antony J, Blinken, we’ve, ” Mr, Isaac Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, Mr, doesn’t, ”, “, Aaron Boxerman Organizations: Hamas, The New York Times, Mr, Finance Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah

☆ In a Country Awash in Violence, a Vote Will Test Its Leader’s Hard-Line Stance
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ecuadoreans will vote on Sunday in a referendum that could give their center-right president greater powers to combat drug-related gang violence and also gauge how he would fare in his bid for re-election next year. President Daniel Noboa, the 36-year-old heir to a banana empire, took office in November after an election season focused on drug-related gang violence, which has surged over the past five years to levels not seen in decades. In January, he declared an “internal armed conflict” and directed the military to “neutralize” the country’s roughly two dozen gangs, which the government labeled “terrorist organizations.” The drastic move allowed soldiers to patrol the streets and prisons, many of which have come under gang control. Two weeks ago, Mr. Noboa took the extraordinary step of arresting an Ecuadorean politician facing a prison sentence who had taken refuge at the Mexican Embassy in Quito, in what experts called a violation of an international treaty on the sanctity of diplomatic posts. The move drew widespread condemnation across the region.

Persons: Ecuadoreans, Daniel Noboa, Noboa Locations: Mexican, Quito

☆ U.S. Restores Oil Sanctions on Venezuela as Hopes Dim for Free Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When the government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and his country’s opposition signed an agreement in October to work toward free and fair elections this year, it was seen as a glimmer of hope after years of authoritarian rule and economic free fall. The United States, as a sign of good will, temporarily lifted some of the economic sanctions that have crippled the country’s crucial oil industry. But six months later, the Maduro government has made several moves that have dimmed the chances of legitimate elections, and a frustrated Biden administration on Wednesday announced that it was letting the sanctions relief expire. The reinstatement of the penalties could carry significant consequences for the future of Venezuela’s democracy, for its economy and for migration in the region.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Biden Organizations: Wednesday Locations: Venezuela, United States

Ecuador was once famous for sheltering a man on the lam: For seven years it allowed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to hole up in its embassy in London, invoking an international treaty that makes diplomatic premises places of refuge. Then, last week, the South American nation appeared to tear that treaty to shreds, sending the police into the Mexican Embassy in Quito — over Mexico’s protests — where they arrested a former vice president accused of corruption. President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador defended the decision to detain the former vice president, Jorge Glas, calling him a criminal and citing the country’s growing security crisis to justify the move. But his critics said it one of the most egregious violations of the treaty since its creation in 1961. They saw a more personal motive: Mr. Noboa’s political agenda.

Persons: Julian Assange, Daniel Noboa, Jorge Glas Organizations: Quito — Locations: Ecuador, London, American, Mexican, Quito

☆ See Maps of Where Eclipse Seekers Flocked and the Traffic That Followed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Charlie Smart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

See Maps of Where Eclipse Seekers Flocked and the Traffic That Followed Movement data shows the destinations with the greatest influx of people. PATH OF TOTALITY VT. MAINE St. Johnsbury Adirondack Park N.H. N.Y. PA. OHIO ILL. IND. Greater increase in activity TEXAS Texas Hill Country PATH OF TOTALITY VT. MAINE St. Johnsbury Adirondack Park N.H. N.Y. PA. OHIO ILL. IND. PATH OF TOTALITY MAINE VERMONT Bangor Burlington NEW YORK Portland NEW HAMPSHIRE Syracuse Manchester Albany MASS. NEW YORK PATH OF TOTALITY MAINE VERMONT Bangor Burlington NEW YORK Portland NEW HAMPSHIRE Syracuse Manchester Albany MASS.

Persons: Maine —, Liam Sullivan, Mr, Sullivan, Cassandra Klos, Nick Perry, Louis W.V, ”, Richard Chen, Chen Organizations: Eclipse, MAINE St, TEXAS Texas Hill, OKLA . TEXAS Texas, MAINE VERMONT Bangor Burlington NEW YORK Portland NEW HAMPSHIRE Syracuse Manchester Albany, Portland VERMONT NEW, ”, The New York Times, Associated Press, Northeast, IOWA Toledo OHIO, Columbus Indianapolis, Toledo OHIO Locations: MAINE, N.Y . PA, OHIO, Ste, Genevieve KY, TEXAS, TEXAS Texas Hill Country MAINE, Johnsbury, Adirondack, PA . OHIO, KY, Genevieve MO, OKLA . TEXAS, Lancaster, N.H, Geneviève, Mo . State, New York, Ozarks, Arkansas, Missouri, MAINE VERMONT, Portland, Portland VERMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE Burlington, TomTom, Maine, New Hampshire, Burlington , Vt, Somerville , Mass, Somerville, Lake, Indianapolis, St, Louis, Columbus , Ohio, Toledo, Louis W.V . MO, Newport , Vt, Brooklyn, N.Y, U.S

☆ Venezuela’s Democratic Hopes Dim as Opposition Is Blocked From National Vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | Isayen Herrera | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Then, it was supposed to be Corina Yoris, a little-known philosophy professor. But now, an opposition coalition has been blocked from fielding any candidate to run against President Nicolás Maduro in elections scheduled in July. The coalition of opposing political parties, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, had hoped that uniting behind a single candidate would make it a viable challenger to Mr. Maduro. But on Monday, a national electoral commission controlled by allies of Mr. Maduro used a technical maneuver to prevent the coalition from putting a candidate on the ballot. As a result Mr. Maduro, whose repressive rule has left Venezuela in financial ruin and helped push out roughly one-fourth of its population, is increasingly likely to hold onto power.

Persons: María Corina Machado, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro Organizations: Democratic Unity Roundtable Locations: Venezuela

☆ Elizabeth Hurley says having her son direct her in erotic thriller was liberating
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The idea of watching movie sex scenes with your children might make many parents recoil in horror – but Elizabeth Hurley isn’t bothered. In fact, filming her upcoming movie - an erotic thriller - was made all the more “liberating” by the knowledge her son was behind the camera, she has said. “It’s kind of liberating to work with your family, I may do it again,” she added about her experience filming the erotic crime thriller, which is slated for release in April. Damian Hurley added: “We felt in our comfort zone, it’s very strange. I think, also, when you’re on an independent film, you have 18 days to shoot, every single second counts.

Persons: Elizabeth Hurley isn’t, Damian Hurley, Pear, ” Hurley, “, Genevieve Gaunt Organizations: CNN Locations: ”, British, Georgia

☆ Gabriel García Márquez’s Hometown Awaits His Last Book and More Visitors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | Nathalia Angarita | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Hotels, barbershops, nightclubs and bike repair stores carry references to his work. In the sweltering Colombian mountain town of Aracataca, it is impossible to walk down a single street without seeing allusions to its most renowned former resident: the winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, Gabriel García Márquez. Yellow butterflies are seen all over town, a nod to one of his famous literary images. The house where he lived as a child has been turned into a museum filled with its original furniture, including the crib where he slept. The library, named Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La Bella, after the character Remedios the Beauty from his novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” features a glass case of his books translated into various languages.

Persons: Gabriel García Márquez, Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La Bella, Remedios Organizations: Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios Locations: Colombian, Aracataca, Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La

☆ Venezuela Announces Election Date, With Opposition Candidate Still Banned
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Venezuelan officials announced on Tuesday that national elections that many had hoped would forge a path toward democracy will be held on July 28. But the decision on a date comes a month after the country’s highest court barred the leading opposition candidate from the ballot, leading many to question how free and fair the summer election would be. Still, the announcement from the government of President Nicolás Maduro is at least a partial fulfillment of a commitment to the United States to hold elections this year in exchange for a lifting of crippling economic sanctions. In October, Mr. Maduro signed an accord with the country’s opposition and agreed to work toward a free and fair presidential vote. In the agreement, Mr. Maduro said he would hold an election before the end of this year, and the United States in turn lifted some sanctions as a sign of good will.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Maduro Organizations: Mr Locations: United States

“Losing the love was worse than losing the money,” said Kleinart, 70, who lost tens of thousands to a romance scam over several months. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission received over 64,000 romance scams reports that translated into $1.14 billion in reported losses. Romance scams often target lonely and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, assistant director of the Division of Marketing Practices at the FTC. Specifically for older people, romance scams are among the most common scams, said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP. However, she noted people from all ages can fall for a romance scam.

Persons: Kate Kleinart, ”, Kleinart, Will Maxson, “, —, Kathy Stokes, Genevieve Waterman, Waterman, ” Waterman, scammers, it’s, Stokes, Hey, ” Stokes, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, AARP, National Council, Aging, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: Spain

Of all the government critics, few thought that Rocío San Miguel would be the one to disappear. Ms. San Miguel, 57, has long been one of Venezuela’s best known security experts, a woman who dared investigate her country’s authoritarian government even as others fled. But late last week, Ms. San Miguel arrived at the airport outside Caracas with her daughter, bound for what a relative called a short trip to Miami, when she was picked up by counterintelligence agents. For four days, the only public information about Ms. San Miguel came from Venezuela’s top prosecutor, who claimed on social media, without providing evidence, that Ms. San Miguel had been linked to a plot to kill the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. Finally, on Tuesday evening, her lawyers said she had surfaced — and was being held in a notoriously brutal detention center.

Persons: San, San Miguel, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: Venezuelan Locations: San Miguel, Caracas, Miami, Venezuela’s

☆ One-Pot Hainanese Chicken and Rice for Harried Weeknights
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Melissa Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The classic method for Hainanese chicken rice, which has you gently poach a whole bird and use the resulting broth to cook the rice, makes for a flavor cycle where nothing is lost. With its silky chicken, gingery rice and aromatic, bright green sauce, this is a vibrant, satisfying meal that will elevate your week. Featured RecipeView Recipe →Copious amounts of grated fresh ginger are a great way to add sparkle to a dish without much effort; a spoonful of chile crisp is another. No chile crisp on hand? Then she uses that oil to stir-fry some shrimp and green beans for a 20-minute meal that packs a fragrant wallop.

Persons: Genevieve Ko streamlines, Ali Slagle

When deportation flights from the United States to Venezuela resumed last fall after four years, it was a move meant to show that President Biden was aggressively tackling the record numbers of crossings at the U.S. southern border. The expulsions were also meant to deter other Venezuelans who might be considering the journey. But on Wednesday, for the second week in a row, U.S.-run flights to Venezuela carrying migrants did not depart as planned — a move that seems to be initiated by Venezuela. The Venezuelan government did not respond to repeated requests for comment about whether it was permanently halting the deportation flights, but a social media post by Venezuela’s vice president last month threatened to stop them after the United States reimposed some economic sanctions. Officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a flight scheduled last week and another scheduled Wednesday had both been canceled.

Persons: Biden Organizations: United, U.S . Department of Homeland Security Locations: United States, Venezuela, U.S, Venezuelan

☆ ‘El país no está preparado’: Colombia combate oleada de incendios forestales
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Annie Correal | Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

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Organizations: The

☆ Superpunchy One-Pan Eggplant Adobo
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Melissa Clark | More About Melissa Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If you have the energy for one extraordinary dinner this week, it’s well worth investing it in Genevieve Ko’s homemade spinach-filled dumplings with chile crisp. Her version, both steamed and fried, is a symphony of crackling, crunchy undersides with chewy-tender tops. Springy ramen noodles meet nubby ground chicken and crunchy peanuts, which are seasoned with a sesame-orange-soy mixture that’s been sizzled in hot oil. More traditional youvarlakia recipes use ground beef for the meatballs, and I’ve also made this soup with ground turkey. For something both sweet and light — for either breakfast or dessert — you could make my broiled grapefruit with brown sugar and flaky salt.

Persons: Genevieve, dill, I’ve, you’ve Organizations: New York Times Locations: Ali, cookingcare@nytimes.com, hellomelissa@nytimes.com

☆ Colombia, a Usually Wet Nation, Reels Amid Widespread Wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Annie Correal | Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Helicopters hauling buckets of water fly toward the mountains where fires burn, a thick haze periodically covers the sky, and residents have been ordered to wear masks and limit driving because of the poor air quality. For a full week, firefighters have been battling fires in the mountains around Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, as dozens of other blazes have burned across the country, in what officials say is the hottest January in three decades. The president has declared a national disaster and asked for international help fighting the fires, which he says could reach beyond the Andes Mountains and erupt on the Pacific Coast and in the Amazon. Colombia’s fires this month are unusual in a country where people are more accustomed to torrential rain and mudslides than fire and ash. They have been attributed to high temperatures and drought exacerbated by the climate phenomenon known as El Niño.

Locations: Bogotá, Coast

☆ Starbucks sued for allegedly using coffee from farms with rights abuses while touting its ‘ethical’ sourcing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Kenzi Abou-Sabe | Adiel Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A consumer advocacy group is suing Starbucks, the world's largest coffee brand, for false advertising, alleging that it sources coffee and tea from farms with human rights and labor abuses, while touting its commitment to ethical sourcing. "But it's pretty clear that there are significant human rights and labor abuses across Starbucks' supply chain." Practices, in 2004 to oversee its coffee sourcing in more than 30 countries. The verification program holds Starbucks coffee suppliers to more than 200 environmental, labor and quality standards. "I think it is really hard to have an ethical supply chain.

Persons: Sally Greenberg, Greenberg, Genevieve LeBaron, LeBaron Organizations: Starbucks, D.C, National Consumers League, NBC News, Brasil, SCS Global Services, Conservation International, Rainforest Alliance, Hershey, School of Public, Simon Fraser University, United Nations Locations: Washington, Guatemala, Kenya, Brazil

☆ How to Clean Up After Thanksgiving Dinner Like a Pro
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Genevieve Ko | More About Genevieve Ko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dishwashing, the B-side to Thanksgiving cooking, can be as satisfying as preparing the feast. There’s a certainty to the outcome, a calm that comes with cleanliness and a definitive end to all the work for the holiday. To make it less stressful, it’s important to first acknowledge that stubborn grease stains aren’t the only hard part of cleaning. Following practical kitchen tips and her advice will make cleaning — before, during and after the meal — manageable in execution and emotion. Examine and Set Expectations for YourselfThere’s a lot of pot scrubbing that comes with making a dozen dishes from scratch.

Persons: KC Davis, ” Locations: Houston

When the San José made its final voyage from Seville, Spain, to the Americas in 1706, the Spanish galleon was considered to be one of the most complex machines ever built. But in an instant, the armed cargo vessel went from a brilliant example of nautical architecture to what treasure hunters would come to consider the Holy Grail of shipwrecks. The San José was destroyed in an ambush by the British in 1708 in what is known as Wager’s Action, sinking off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, with a haul of gold, jewels and other goods that could be worth upward of $20 billion today. But the myth built around the San José has prompted the Colombian government to keep its exact location a secret as a matter of national security. It is the latest maneuver in a decades-long drama that has pitted treasure hunters, historians and the Colombian government against one another.

Persons: José, Gustavo Petro Locations: Seville, Spain, Americas, Spanish, José, Cartagena, Colombia, Colombian

From having a lot of empathy to knowing how to report a scam, experts shared their recommendations for talking about scams:Political Cartoons View All 1239 ImagesKNOW WHICH SCAMS COMMONLY TARGET OLDER PEOPLEKnowing which scams are most commonly used to target older people can help. According to the FTC, common lies by scammers include “I or someone close to me is sick, hurt, or in jail” and “I can teach you how to invest.”Other common scams are investment scams, tech support scams, and impersonation scams. HAVE CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCAMSOne of the best ways to raise awareness about scams is to talk to each other about them. To keep your older family members safe, Waterman recommends that families talk about scams more often in their day-to-day lives. If you’re looking for guides to avoid scams for older adults, you can find a variety of them on the National Council on Aging’s website.

Persons: Daniel Goldstein’s, hadn’t, it’s, scammers, ”, Genevieve Waterman, Kathy Stokes, ” Waterman, Waterman, Goldstein, they've, it's, Stokes, “, ” Stokes, ’ ”, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, National Council, Aging, AARP, FTC, Watch Network, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: scammers, ”

☆ No Gluten or Dairy, but Plenty to Love in These Thanksgiving Dishes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Genevieve Ko | More About Genevieve Ko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

With Thanksgiving approaching, I think often of that story. As a child (OK, sometimes even as an adult), I sincerely believed that baking a good pie could fix everything. Accommodating allergies is nonnegotiable, but preparing dishes for those who can’t or prefer to not eat gluten or dairy can be an act of grace. These two dishes — savory sticky rice stuffing and pumpkin meringue pie — will make those guests feel that you care. And it may be a cliché, but it’s true: They’re delicious enough for everyone to enjoy.

☆ Venezuela Tries to Squash Opposition Campaign Before It Even Starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It seemed like a small glimmer of hope for supporters of democracy, after years of authoritarian rule. The election of an opposition candidate to challenge Venezuela’s president, which followed on a commitment from the government to hold free and fair elections next year, led to cautious optimism among Venezuelans and international observers about the possibility of establishing a path back to democracy. But now the government of President Nicolás Maduro is taking aim at the opposition election held this month, raising concerns that Mr. Maduro will resist any serious challenge to his 10-year hold on power even as his country continues to suffer under international sanctions. The opposition primary in Venezuela, a South American nation of roughly 28 million people, took place with no official government support. Instead, the vote was organized by civil society, with polling stations in homes, parks and the offices of opposition parties.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Maduro Locations: Venezuela, American

☆ Venezuela Holds a Key Vote. Here’s What You Need to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Maduro came to power in 2013, after the death of Hugo Chávez, the founder of the country’s socialist-inspired revolution. Under Mr. Maduro, Venezuela, once among the richest countries in Latin America, has undergone an extraordinary economic collapse, leading to a humanitarian crisis that has sent more than seven million people fleeing. But the Maduro government and the opposition signed an agreement on Tuesday meant to move toward free and fair elections, including allowing the opposition to choose a candidate for next year’s presidential contest. Sunday’s election, however, will take place with no official government support. Instead, the vote is being organized by civil society, with polling stations in homes, parks and the offices of opposition parties.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Maduro, Hugo Chávez Locations: Maduro, Venezuela, Latin America

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