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☆ Saudi Arabia needs peace in the Middle East for its $500 billion Neom megaproject to succeed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia brokered a deal to re-establish diplomatic relations. Related storiesThe US and Saudi Arabia are in the final steps of a new agreement on security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance, Reuters reported last week. Many of Neom's projects aimed at capturing the luxury tourism market are located along the Red Sea coast. Set to open next year, Neom's luxury island resort of Sindalah is advertised as an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea." Saudi officials are already fighting to combat claims that Neom is facing delays and setbacks.

Persons: —, it's, Israel, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ulrichsen, Robert Mogielnicki, Mogielnicki, Neom Organizations: Saudi, Service, Neom, New York Times, Reuters, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Gulf States Institute, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Saudi, Dubai, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Palestinian, Israeli, Red, Jeddah

☆ Saudi Arabia wants big spenders for the first part of its Neom megaproject
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Arabia plans to open the first part of its Neom megaproject this year. Saudi Arabia is pushing to distinguish itself in the high-end luxury market to compete with Dubai. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year. Neom recently ended investor roadshows in China by confirming the luxury island resort would open this year, Arab News reported. A rendering of The Line, part of the Neom project planned by Saudi Arabia.

Persons: —, Neom, roadshows, It's, Marriott Bonvoy, Chadi, MDLBEAST, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Ulrichsen, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: Dubai, Service, Arab News, Marriott, United, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Saudi, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Saudi Arabia, Sindalah, China, Saudi, Vives, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Crown, Gulf Kingdom

☆ Opinion: NASA was America’s crown jewel. After the Columbia disaster it was never quite the same
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Opinion Douglas Brinkley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Space Shuttle Columbia launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, 2003. Space Shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:39 a.m. The environmentally controlled chamber was mated to Space Shuttle Columbia for access into the orbiter. NASA Space Shuttle Columbia lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, 2003. Students and staff of the Shoshone-Bannock High School had an experiment on board Space Shuttle Columbia.

Persons: Douglas Brinkley, Katherine Tsanoff, John F, Kennedy, ”, Douglas Brinkley Moore Huffman, Nancy Currie, Gregg, Scott Andrews, NASA's, Michael P, Anderson, William C, McCool, Rick D, David M, Brown, Laurel, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, Joe Skipper, Karl Ronstrom, Ramon, NASA Chawla, Clark, Chawla, Robert Giroux, Kathryn O'Neill, Zachary, Brett Coomer, Florida Sen, Bill Nelson, Matt Stroshane, Tommy Peltier, Eric Gay, Smiley, Gene Theriot, Sean O'Keefe, George W, Bush, Ron Dittemore, Joe Cavaretta, O'Keefe, Mannie Garcia, NASA Sandy Anderson, Carlos Noriega, Michael L, Coats, Evelyn Husband, Thomas, John Raoux, Glenn Benson, Kim Shiflett, Sean O’Keefe, Jeff Bezos, Lockheed Martin, Sir Richard Branson, “ Organizations: Rice University, CNN, Shuttle Columbia, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Russian Space Agency, Russia, United Arab, Challenger, Columbia, Space, Space Shuttle Columbia, Kennedy Space Center, Reuters Space Shuttle Columbia, Scott Andrews People, Control Center, Getty, NASA Space, Israeli Air Force, Space Shuttle, Red Team, Blue Team, Johnson Space Center, Former, Houston, Houston Chronicle, People, US Navy Corps, Columbia Reconstruction, NASA Workers, Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Reuters, Bannock, Bannock Junior, Senior, Bannock High School, Johnson Space, Shuttle, Investigation, Elon, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Boeing, Lockheed, Virgin Galactic, JFK Locations: China, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Columbia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Houston, Israel, SPACEHAB, New York, Laguna Hills , California, San Augustine , Texas, Washington ,, Shoshone, Fort Hall , Idaho, American

☆ They Could Decide the 2024 Election. If They Vote.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Marcela Valdes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Elections, historically, are decided not only by those who cast votes but also by those who don’t. President George W. Bush edged out Al Gore in the 2000 election by 537 ballots in Florida. Yet there’s a case to be made that the five million Floridians who were eligible to vote in that election but did not were the ones who really tipped the balance. According to the University of Florida Election Lab, 44 percent of citizens who were eligible to vote in 2020 did not. But in any given election, those who stay home or tune out may change: Fully 25 percent of the ballots in 2020 were cast by people who didn’t vote in 2016.

Persons: George W, Bush, Al Gore, Lyn Ragsdale, Jerrold G, Rusk Organizations: University of Florida, Rice University Locations: Florida

☆ Dartmouth, Northwestern, Rice and Vanderbilt settle financial aid lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Four more private universities have agreed to settle a lawsuit which alleged they violated antitrust laws in determining financial aid amounts for admitted students, according to court documents filed Friday. Dartmouth College, and Rice, Vanderbilt and Northwestern universities agreed to pay a total of $166 million to settle claims filed in a 2022 class action lawsuit alleging the schools colluded on the amount of financial aid awarded to students, while favoring applicants from wealthier families. In 2022, the University of Chicago agreed to settle for $13.5 million. “Nearly 15% of this year’s first-year class is attending Dartmouth without responsibility for paying tuition, housing, meals and many other fees, and more than half of the class receives some form of financial aid. Meanwhile, Dartmouth, Rice, Vanderbilt and Northwestern’s settlements range from $33.75 million to $55 million each.

Persons: Brown, Emory, ”, “, Robert Gilbert Organizations: New, New York CNN, Dartmouth College, Vanderbilt, Yale, University of Chicago, CNN, University, Dartmouth, ” Rice University Locations: New York, Rice, Northwestern, Columbia, Duke, Dartmouth

The two organizations have worked together on other issues, including several conferences on U.S. elections, but the principles released Tuesday are their first to examine the nation’s election system and policies. Carroll said challenging election results and the integrity of the voting process is a relatively new development. ”Extreme polarization really has led, I think, to more questioning of election processes that, ironically, have only improved significantly over the last 25 years," he said. Amy Cohen, executive director of the National Association of State Election Directors, said she had not seen the recommendations but said election officials are constantly trying to improve. “We need to normalize the fact that it just takes longer to tabulate election results accurately,” she said.

Persons: gamesmanship, ”, Jimmy Carter, State James A, Baker III, David Carroll, Carter, Carroll, ” Mark Jones, Baker, Jones, Amy Cohen Organizations: WASHINGTON, The Carter Center, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Democrat, Republican, State, Reform, Democracy, U.S, Rice University, National Association of State Locations: U.S

☆ In 1870, a Black woman sued her enslaver for reparations and won
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Christine Jean-Baptiste | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewHenrietta Wood was born into slavery to the Tousey family in Kentucky between 1818 and 1820. AdvertisementIn an April 1878 article about Wood's lawsuit, The New York Times suggested that more formerly enslaved Americans may ask for reparations. "The United States Government may be asked to make good the loss of those whose property was suddenly clothed with the right of manhood," The Times wrote. While there has been more vocal support for reparations in recent years, and individual states have instituted their own reparations committees, federal efforts have stalled. Last May, Democratic Rep. Cori Bush proposed Reparations Now, legislation that would push the federal government to provide reparations to the descendants of enslaved people.

Persons: —, Henrietta Wood, Henry Forsyth, Wood, William Cirode, Cirode, Jane, Jane Cirode, Zebulon Ward, Josephine, Robert White, Wood's, Ward, Caleb McDaniel, …, Danielle Blackman, Jim Crow, Steve Cohen, Cori Bush, Bush Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, United, United States Government, Times, Northwestern University's School of Law, Rice University, Seattle Times, Senate, Democratic, Tennessee Locations: Kentucky, Louisville, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Ohio, Hope, Chicago, America, United States

☆ How the U.S. Became the World’s Biggest Gas Supplier
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Brad Plumer | Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Became the World’s Biggest Gas SupplierTop exporters of liquefied natural gas 12 billion cubic feet per day U.S. Qatar 10 Australia 8 6 Russia 4 Malaysia 2 2014 2023 12 billion cubic feet per day United States Qatar Australia 10 8 6 Russia 4 Malaysia 2 2014 2023 Source: S&P Global Note: Data reflects annual average liquefied natural gas exports by country. But climate activists worry that soaring exports of liquefied natural gas could make global warming worse. In the early 2000s, natural gas was relatively scarce at home, and companies were spending billions of dollars to build terminals to import gas from places like Qatar and Australia. In the mid-2000s, U.S. drillers perfected methods to unlock vast reserves of cheap natural gas from shale rock. The process of making and shipping liquefied natural gas adds complexity and cost, but if the difference between U.S. natural gas prices and overseas prices is big enough, it is profitable.

Persons: Biden, Fracking, ”, Kenneth Medlock, —, Ben Cahill Organizations: U.S, drillers, Cheniere Energy, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University, “, Asia, Department of Energy, Energy Department, . Energy, Energy Information Administration, Clearview Energy Partners, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: U.S, Qatar, Australia, Russia, Malaysia, United States Qatar Australia, United States, Japan, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Texas , Louisiana, Maryland, Georgia, Mexico

☆ Dubai is the economic jewel of the Middle East — now its Gulf neighbors are coming for a piece of the pie
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Pete Syme | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

According to Forbes' 2023 Travel Guide, Dubai has nine 5-star hotels , compared to Abu Dhabi's three and two in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it wants in on international travel, stating it aims to attract 100-150 million visitors by 2030. Saudi Arabia is catching up with a new airlineThe competition is perhaps the most heated in the aviation industry. On its double-decker Airbus A380, Dubai's airline, Emirates, has top amenities like a shower for business-class passengers, plus an on-board bar. AdvertisementAnd even if it succeeds in attracting tourists to Saudi Arabia, it is unlikely to knock Emirates off its perch.

Persons: —, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Abu, Abu Dhabi, Forbes, Abu Dhabi's, Faisal Alibrahim, Alibrahim, Mohammed Bin Salman, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ulrichsen, Skytrax, Pete Syme, Tony Douglas, Douglas, That's, OAG Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, Business, Saudi Crown, Etihad, Bloomberg, CNN, Saudi, Economic, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qatari, Etihad Airways, Riyadh Air, Air, Riyadh Air's Boeing, Boeing, Dubai International Airport Locations: Dubai, Gulf, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Abu, UAE, Qatar, Davos, Neom, Emirates, Still, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia

☆ The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Long Shadow of 1948
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Emily Bazelon | A Discussion Moderated Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

In 1948, Jews realized their wildly improbable dream of a state, and Palestinians experienced the mass flight and expulsion called the Nakba, or catastrophe. It’s only in 1948 that the Arabs become Palestinians and the Jews become Israelis. Many Jews became lower-level officers during World War II, and they brought their new military expertise to the 1948 war. Zoltan Kluger/GPO, via Getty Images Palestinian bombers destroyed buildings on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem in March 1948. Bettmann/Getty Images A Palestinian refugee cut off from her home by the border established after the 1948 war.

Persons: Matson, —, Khalil Raad, Yaakov Ben Dov Delegates, Haj Amin al, Husseini, ”, It’s, Avraham Avinu, David, Fox, King David Hotel, David Ben, Gurion, “, Hitler, Hans Pinn, Abd al, Qadir al, Chalil, Zoltan Kluger, Ben Yehuda, Hugo H, Mendelsohn, John Phillips, Palestine ”, UNSCOP, Bettmann, Ruth Orkin, David Seymour, Jordan, Israel, Abdullah, Nadim, Leena Dallasheh, Abigail Jacobson, Moshe Naor, ” Derek Penslar, ” Itamar Rabinovich, Salim Tamari, Emily Bazelon, Herzl, Faisal Al, Hashemi, James Russell &, Bain, Jabotinsky, Abraham Pisarek, Weizmann, Heinrich Hoffmann Organizations: Congress, Institute for Palestine, Palestinian, . Institute for Palestine, Matson, Palestine, Getty, of Congress British, Peel, Zionist, Jewish, British Armed Forces, Allied, King, of Congress Women, Hulton, Biltmore, British, Agence France, Getty Images, Refugees, West Bank, Shutterstock, United Nations, League of Nations, United, United Nations Jewish, Madver, The, Palestine Studies, Columbia University, Columbia University , New York University, Rice University, Islamic, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University, Tel Aviv University, Birzeit University, Institute for Palestine Studies, The New York Times Magazine, James Russell & Sons, of Congress, Israel, Ben, General Photographic Agency, Society, International Affairs Locations: Palestine, City, Jerusalem, Canadian American, Israel, British, Jaffa, Damascus, Old City, Hebron, Safed, Europe, Arab, North Africa, New York City, Middle Eastern, Haifa, Cyprus, Jenin, U.S, United Nations, Iraq, Tel Aviv’s Lod, Lebanon, Eyal, el Bared, Egypt, Syria, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Palestinian, United States, Qatar, Iran, Columbia University ,, Nazareth, Israeli, Husseini

If those population-growth patterns continue for the rest of the decade, it could seriously imperil the Democrats’ long-term chances of winning the White House. The Week in Cartoons Jan. 15-19 View All 5 ImagesFor Democrats, the picture is grim. An analysis by the Brookings Institution found that the main factor driving population growth in 2022-23 was immigration. The two states Democrats are eyeing most urgently to become the new Arizona and Georgia are North Carolina and Texas. In particular, predictions of “Blexas” – a blue Texas – have taken longer to materialize than most Democrats had hoped.

Persons: Donald Trump, University’s, Joe Biden, ”, Alan Abramowitz, Christopher Cooper, Brennan, Biden, Mark P, Jones, it’s, Michael McDonald, Trump, Michael Bitzer, ” Bitzer, “ Biden's, Thomas Schaller, ” Schaller, –, Barack Obama, Cooper Organizations: White, Center for Justice, Biden, Emory University, Democrats, Western Carolina University, “, ”, Republicans, Rice University, University of Florida, Brookings Institution, Brookings, North Carolina’s Catawba, Northern Blacks, Brennan, University of Maryland, American Democracy, Senate, Democratic, Texas, Democratic Party, Electoral College Locations: South Carolina , Florida , Texas , Idaho, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, New, Texas, Florida, Idaho, South Carolina , Tennessee, California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota , Oregon, Rhode, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, U.S, That’s, North, Northern, Baltimore, Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico, Nevada, “ Texas, United States

☆ A scientist explains what would happen if all the fish in the ocean disappeared
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Kory Evans | The Conversation | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So what would happen to Earth if all the fish in the ocean suddenly disappeared? NOAA, Kevin LinoI'm a scientist who studies fish, their diversity, and all the ways they contribute to ocean environments. Fish as foodFish play important roles as both predators and prey in ocean ecosystems. Related storiesIn coral reef ecosystems, small fish are eaten by larger fish and other marine animals. AdvertisementIn coral reef ecosystems, plant-eating fish control the growth of algae by constantly grazing it down.

Persons: Fish, Kevin Lino I'm, Rogers, parrotfish, Kory Evans Organizations: Service, Fisheries, NOAA, biosciences, Rice University Locations: They're, United States, parrotfish

CHANNELVIEW, Texas — For nearly 20 years, Texas environmental regulators have kept a disturbing secret. AdvertisementTexas Community Health News; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality"Any exposure to a carcinogen increases your risk of developing cancer. AdvertisementTim Doty, a former TCEQ mobile air monitoring expert, at the industrial edge of River Terrace Park in Channelview, Texas. In fact, the agency rarely fines companies that violate Texas air pollution laws. Mark FelixHoneycutt's toxicology division soon took an even more dramatic step to weaken Texas' benzene guidelines.

Persons: Loren Hopkins, Hopkins, Mark Felix, TCEQ, AirToxScreen, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, Menefee, Tim Doty, Doty, Solv, He'd, Glenn Shankle, Kelly Keel, Todd Riddle, Riddle, Lopez, Joe Lopez, Dora, Joel Lopez, Randy Lopez, It's, Joel, Felix Benzene, wildcatters, Houston —, Forbes, Lorenzo de Zavala, Alison Cohen, Cohen, Tim Doty's, Houston Mayor Bill White, Shankle, Michael Honeycutt, Valerie Meyers, Meyers, Mark Felix Meyers, Richard Hyde, John Sadlier, Ryder, Hyde, hadn't, Russell Allen, Matt Baker, Jacintoport, Cloelle Danforth, Public Health Watch —, Danforth, Mark Felix Honeycutt's, Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer, Honeycutt, Jim Tarr, polluters, upended, Mark Felix Fracking, Barnett, Glenn Shankle —, —, Rick Perry, Perry, Sadlier, David Bower, misstep, Baker, Bower, Michael Burgess, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Mark Felix Meanwhile, Randy, That's, Carolyn Stone, Stone, Carolyn Stone's, Mark Felix The, Cynthia Benson, Benson, Mark Felix Tim Doty, Mark Felix K, Jordan Gass Organizations: Public Health Watch, Texas Commission, Environmental, American Petroleum Institute, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Navy, Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, General, Health, Public Health, Rice University, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Community Health, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney, polluters, Mark Felix Public Health, TCEQ, Solv, Mark Felix Public Health Watch, myelodysplasia, Houston, Oil, Gas Watch, Texas, Houston Ship, University of California, Houston Mayor, ., . Texas Community Health, NASA, Exxon Mobil, Public, Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, Management, Civil, Air Alliance Houston, Republican, Fort, United, Texas toxicologist, EPA, Texas Tribune, Google, Land Office, . Geological Survey, National Oceanic, Firefighters, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Channelview, Improvement Coalition, Health Watch, San Jacinto, K, Texas Legislature, Solv Group, Services Locations: , Texas, Texas, Houston, Channelview's Jacintoport, San Jacinto, California, Jacintoport, Channelview , Texas, AirToxScreen Harris County, Channelview, Harris County, United States, North Channelview, Gulf, Terrace, Joel's, Houston , Texas, Spindletop, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Port of Houston, San Francisco, . Texas, That's, polluters, lacquers, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth City, Austin, Round, Minnesota, Galveston, U.S

For gay men and other LGBTQ+ people, “their friends and family may not be aware of how they identify. "And men as a category don’t meet that stereotype, even though all the research has shown us that at least 9% of sexual assault survivors are male.”__This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or go to https://hotline.rainn.org. Schultz saw others in the opera community rally around the attackers, and was criticized for besmirching the reputation of prominent gay men. Gay men often gather in bars – spaces they feel safe to be themselves.

Persons: Sam Schultz, Schultz, there’s, ” Schultz, ”, Scott Berkowitz, “, Anthony Edwards, Fatima Goss Graves, __ Schultz, David Daniels, Scott Walters, Daniels, Xerxes, didn’t, Walters, they’ve, “ You’re, Ted Gideonse, Gideonse, ” Gideonse, ‘, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, Matthew Smith Organizations: Associated Press, Sciences, RAINN, Women’s Law Center, Legal Defense Fund, National Women’s Law, Houston’s Rice University, Houston, University of California, Washington, BBC, Abercrombie, Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch Locations: Irvine, New York, Paris, London

☆ Crossings at the U.S. Southern Border Are Higher Than Ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Eileen Sullivan | More About Eileen Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“It used to be that when there was a migration crisis, it tended to be one — maybe one source country at a time,” Mr. Blinken added. Now it’s all of the above, plus Venezuela, plus Nicaragua, plus Ecuador.”Over the past year, the Biden administration has rolled out new enforcement policies and legal pathways designed to drive down the number of illegal crossings on the southern border. The number of migrant arrests outside ports of entry, however, was down by about two million compared with a year ago. This path is much more orderly and safe than swimming across the Rio Grande, for example. But the demand is far greater than the number of appointments available, and some migrants have been waiting months to get one.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, ” Mr, Biden Organizations: Baker Institute, Rice University in Locations: Rice University in Texas, Haiti, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador, United States, Rio

A state oil company PDVSA's logo is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela May 17, 2019. The U.S. on Wednesday lifted most restrictions on Venezuela for six months for producing, selling and exporting oil to its chosen markets. But it is not expected to significantly boost Venezuela's deteriorated oil production or immediately lead to stronger exports. Venezuela can now receive direct payments for goods or services under the license issued by OFAC, which oversees American sanctions. PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, PDVSA, Washington, Pedro Tellechea, Francisco Monaldi, Rice, Nicolas Maduro's, Monaldi, Maduro, Spain's, Joe Biden's, Marianna Parraga, Will Dunham, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Treasury's, Foreign Assets, Oil, OFAC, Washington, Chevron, Baker Institute, Venezuelan, Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, India's Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Eni, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, U.S, Asia, PDVSA, United States, American, CHINA, EUROPE, China, India, PetroChina, Houston, Maduro, Washington

A state oil company PDVSA's logo is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela May 17, 2019. The United States on Wednesday lifted for six months most restrictions on Venezuela for producing, selling and exporting oil to its chosen markets. Not all sanctions on PDVSA were lifted by the United States. Before sanctions, India and the United States were other top destinations. PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, PDVSA, Francisco Monaldi, Rice, Nicolas Maduro's, Monaldi, Maduro, Spain's, Joe Biden's, Marianna Parraga, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Treasury's, Foreign Assets Control, Washington, Chevron, Baker Institute, Venezuelan, Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, India's Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Italy's Eni, United, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, U.S, Asia, PDVSA, American, CHINA, EUROPE, China, India, PetroChina, Maduro, Washington

Rolling back Trump-era sanctions, U.S. officials issued general licenses for Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors in response to a deal between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the county's opposition on the 2024 presidential election. SLOW RECOVERYThe sanctions relief authorizes the production, sale and export of Venezuela's crude and gas, while keeping a ban on business with Russia. Since the U.S. imposed secondary oil sanctions on Venezuela in 2020, PDVSA had been unable to fulfill its supply contracts to clients in regions from Europe to Asia. An individual authorization to Chevron Corp (CVX.N) allowed the return of Venezuela's crude to the United States this year. Area chart shows data from U.S. EIA showing Venezuela crude oil production.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Francisco Monaldi, Rice University's, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden, Monaldi, PDVSA, Baker Hughes, Maduro, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Rice University's Baker Institute ., Trump, Venezuelan, OPEC, U.S, Chevron Corp, U.S Chevron, Eni, EIA, Thomson Locations: Jusepin, Venezuela, South American, U.S, American, Russia, Iran, Europe, Asia, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Caribbean

Alamo employees worked with United Auto Workers Local 2179 and this week voted to unionize, with nearly two-thirds in favor. They join Alamo employees at the Brooklyn theater, who voted last month to become part of Local 2179. At a time of labor action in the movie industry and beyond, union activity is expanding at movie theaters themselves, a trend which began during the pandemic. Within days, Brooklyn employees voted to unionize, by a margin of more than 2-to-1. “For years the workers of Brooklyn Alamo have tried to solve problems through dialogue with management, to no avail,” the union statement read in part.

Persons: “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Barbenheimer ”, Maggie Quick, ”, Tyler Trautman, “, Quick, it's, Olga Brudastova, Chad Bolton, Tim League, Alamo, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Bernie, I’m, Michael Kusterman, Shelli Taylor, It'll Organizations: Alamo, Manhattan, United Auto Workers, Film, Amherst Cinema, Film Forum, UAW, The Associated Press, Vermont, League, Karrie League, Democratic Party, America, Hollywood, Gallup, Rice University, Entertainment, League . Altamont Capital Partners, Fortress Investment, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Alamo Locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York, Massachusetts, San Francisco, Austin , Texas, Amherst, “, Alamo, Texas, U.S, Austin

Many of the GOP presidential candidates say they would carry out potential acts of war against Mexico in response to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador repeatedly denies his country is producing the synthetic opioid despite enormous evidence to the contrary. Border agents seized nearly 13 tons (12,000 kilograms) of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border between September 2022 and August, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "As commander in chief, I’m going to use the U.S. military to go after the Mexican drug cartels,” said DeSantis, the Florida governor. Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018 campaigning with a motto of “hugs, not bullets,” and for four years has shredded his predecessors’ prosecution of the drug war.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, ” Donald Trump, You’ve, you’ve, ”, Arturo Sarukhan, “, Andrea Thomas ’, Thomas, Joe Biden's, Andres Manuel López Obrador, I’m, DeSantis, James Mandryck, Lopez Obrador, Xóchitl Gálvez, James K, Polk, Woodrow Wilson, Pancho Villa, Trump, Tony Payan, Elliot Spagat, Mark Stevenson Organizations: MIAMI, Republican, GOP, U.S . Customs, U.S . Commission, Univision, Drug Enforcement Administration, Trump, Biden, U.S ., Center, Rice, Baker Institute for Public, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Mexico, United States, Washington, Junction , Colorado, Mexican, Florida, China, Sinaloa, Latin America, Texas, California , Nevada , Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma , Kansas, Wyoming, Veracruz, Columbus , New Mexico, San Diego, Mexico City

☆ The full moon has different names for each month. Here's the meaning and origin for the whole lunar calendar.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The next full moon will be a harvest moon, rising on September 29. AdvertisementAdvertisementSeptember: harvest moon, "corn moon," "barley moon"Amish people harvest corn in Maryland. A harvest moon sometimes occurs in October (the moon doesn't follow the Gregorian calendar), but it's always the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. The next worm moon: March 25, 2024April: "pink moon," "sprouting grass moon," "egg moon," "fish moon"Wildflowers along the California coastline in Big Sur at sunset. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe next seasonal blue moon: August 19, 2024The next monthly blue moon: August 19, 2024

Persons: It's, —, Patrick Hartigan, Mark Wilson, it's, Shamil Zhumatov, Eddie Keog, what's, Jeff R Clow, Andy ClarkREUTERS, John Moore, Mike Segar, Charlie Baker, Brian Snyder, that's, Mike Blake, Toby Talbot, Mead, Toby Melville Deer, Matt Balazik, Steve Helber, Champlain, Paul Hanna Supermoons, Andrew Lichtenstein Organizations: Service, Rice University, Reuters, North, Getty, Beavers, REUTERS, Former, NASA, AP, Astronomical Union Locations: Maryland, Moscow, Russia, North America, Europe, New England, Superior, Colonial, Stokenchurch, England, Lake Louise , Alberta, Irvington , New York, Former Massachusetts, Hollis Hill, Fitchburg , Massachusetts, Algonquin, California, Big Sur, Calais , Vermont, Richmond Park, London, Britain, Alaska, James, Charles City , Virginia

In the past few months alone, researchers have linked Neanderthal DNA to a serious hand disease, the shape of people's noses and various other human traits. Research shows some African populations have almost no Neanderthal DNA, while those from European or Asian backgrounds have 1% to 2%. For example, Neanderthal DNA has been linked to auto-immune diseases like Graves’ disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The list goes on: Research has linked Neanderthal genetic variants to skin and hair color, behavioral traits, skull shape and Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found the skulls of domesticated dogs in Homo sapiens sites much further back in time than anyone had found before.

Persons: We’re, ”, Mary Prendergast, Hugo Zeberg, Svante Paabo, Zeberg, It's, Graves, Homo sapiens, Chris Stringer, “, Rick Potts, Paabo, ” Zeberg, Raghavan, Potts, Denisovans, sapiens, Eleanor Scerri, Prendergast, Janet Young, Pat Shipman, John Hawks Organizations: Rice University, Karolinska, Research, Smithsonian Institution, University of Chicago, Germany’s Max Planck Institute, Geoanthropology, Canadian Museum, University of Wisconsin -, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Sweden, Melanesia, New Guinea, Fiji, Africa, Europe, Asia, London, Eurasia, Germany’s, University of Wisconsin - Madison

☆ Saudi Arabia and the UAE are battling to become the Middle East's economic superpower
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Saudi Arabia's crown prince is shaking up his economy in a move escalating its UAE rivalry. In March, Saudi Arabia unveiled Riyadh Air , a new airline serving as an alternative to the UAE's Emirates and Etihad Airways. If you want to do business with Saudi Arabia or Saudi state-owned entities, you've got to base your regional HQ in Saudi Arabia." "Saudi Arabia sees the separation project in Yemen as a way to let the Houthis control the north and therefore have a more-threatening border at the south of Saudi Arabia." Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERSHow far the rivalry between the two nations goes largely depends on Saudi Arabia's actions.

Persons: Saudi Arabia's, Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, MBZ, Obama, You've, Kristian Ulrichsen, Rice, Sheikh Mohamed, Prince Mohammed, Sheikh Mohamed —, —, Leon Neal, Shaybah, Ulrichsen, Sheikh Zayed, Sultan Al Nahyan, Abu, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Neom, Abishur Prakash, Jorg Greuel, Abdullah Alaoudh, Prakash, you've, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed, Ludovic Marin, Mohammed's, Jamal Khashoggi, Biden, Baker Institute's Ulrichsen, Alaoudh, wouldn't Organizations: United Arab Emirates, UAE, Service, Baker Institute, Saudi, UAE —, Qatar, Dubai, United, Freedom Initiative, UAE's Emirates, Etihad Airways, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United FC, English Premier League, Manchester City, Saudi Crown, Getty, Ritz Carlton, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi Aramco, United Nations Locations: Saudi, Wall, Silicon, Saudi Arabia, East, Washington, London, UAE, Persian, Al Ain, British, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Riyadh, Manchester City . Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Istanbul, Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia's, Bandar, Ukraine

Our species, Homo sapiens — with our complex thoughts and deep emotions — were the only true humans to ever walk the Earth. A study last week found early humans were building structures with wood before H. sapiens evolved. This ability to read ancient DNA revolutionized the field, and it is constantly improving. He specializes in creating lifelike models of ancient humans for museums, including the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History, in hopes of helping public perception catch up to the science. They haven't been able to gather much ancient DNA from Africa, where H. sapiens first evolved, because it has been degraded by heat and moisture.

Persons: ”, Chris Stringer, ” Stringer, sapiens, Rick Potts, naledi, heidelbergensis, John Shea, “, Svante Paabo, Paabo, Bence Viola, Potts, Shea, ’ ” Shea, let’s, Janet Young, Young, John Gurche, Gurche, ” Gurche, “ They’re, they’re, it’s, haven't, we’ll, Mary Prendergast Organizations: Stony Brook University, University of Toronto, Canadian Museum, Smithsonian, American Museum of, Rice University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Africa, Europe, Indonesia, Asia, Swedish, East, Southeast Asia

☆ A 7-year journey to deliver an asteroid sample to Earth will soon end in Utah
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The cargo van-size spacecraft arrived in orbit around the asteroid Bennu in December 2018, providing detailed views of the spinning top-shaped space rock. Other worldsA training model of the OSIRIS-REx mission's sample return capsule was released from an aircraft in August, simulating the upcoming recovery operations. Keegan Barber/NASAThe OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will fly by Earth this weekend and drop off its precious sample from Bennu. Watch as the sample capsule is set to plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and land in the Utah desert, with NASA’s live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. As the capsule parachutes down, OSIRIS-REx will keep going, embarking on a new adventure to explore the asteroid Apophis.

Persons: CNN —, REx, NASA’s, Keegan Barber, ”, Deutsches, Monopoly, you’re, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Rice University in Texas, Mechanical, Zimbabwe, Bochum, Iron, Swedish Museum of, Publishing, Andromeda Galaxy, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Dürrnberg, Austria, Austrian, Zambia, Tasmania, Stockholm, Western Australia

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