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☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Drone Strike Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers in Jordan, White House Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The allegation, made by Israel, is a serious blow to the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, generally known as UNRWA. The agency looms especially large in Gaza, where most of the population of more than two million people are registered as refugees. “Behind the scenes Israel has often favored UNRWA’s work,” said Anne Irfan, an expert on Palestinian refugee rights at University College London. Many settled in refugee camps that the agency helped create, which have since become built-up, mostly impoverished urban areas. Palestinians are the only refugee group whose support is not handled under the global mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Persons: Here’s, —, “, ” Hector Sharp, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Ahron Bregman, Israel, Anne Irfan, Megan Specia, Ben Hubbard Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel, United Nations, UNRWA, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Department, King’s College London, University College London, Refugees, European Union Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, United States, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

☆ U.S. reviewing Venezuelan sanctions policy in wake of court decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It is "an evident and overwhelming victory for the 'Yes' in this consultative referendum," said the president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso. "The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Miller said the court ruling was a "deeply concerning decision" that ran contrary to the commitments made by Maduro to allow all parties to select candidates. Gerardo Blyde, head of the opposition negotiating team, denied members had been linked to acts of violence and demanded the court ruling be reversed. "We will never hesitate to remain in the talks, to remain in the discussion," said Hector Rodriguez, the ruling party governor for Venezuela's Miranda state.

Persons: Nicolás, Elvis Amoroso, Pedro Rances Mattey, PEDRO RANCES MATTEY, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Nicolas Maduro's, Miller, Maduro, Gerardo Blyde, Hector Rodriguez, Miranda Organizations: Bolivarian, Electoral, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Getty, U.S . State Department, Venezuela's, Department Locations: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Essequibo, Caracas, Guyana, AFP, U.S, Venezuela, United States

☆ U.N. Pleads for Aid to Not Be Cut to Palestinians: Israel-Hamas War Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Vivek Shankar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The U.S. government and nearly 30 conservative world leaders on Saturday condemned the decision of Venezuela’s highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado. “The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Machado insisted throughout the campaign that she never received official notification of the ban and said voters, not ruling-party loyalists, were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy. The ruling came more than three months after Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition reached a deal to work on basic conditions for a fair election. The deal led Washington to ease some economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors.

Persons: María Corina Machado, Biden, Nicolás Maduro, Matthew Miller, Machado, Miller, Justice “, Maduro, ” Gerardo Blyde, Emmanuel Macron, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro —, Blyde, Maduro’s, Hector Rodríguez, ” Rodríguez, Machado “, Iván Duque, Mauricio Macri, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderón, ” Organizations: Saturday, U.S . State Department, U.S, Justice, Democratic Initiative of Spain Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, U.S, United States, Washington, Barbados, France, Brazil, Colombia, Americas, Venezuelan, Spain, Latin America, Iván Duque of Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela's

☆ Palestinian soccer team claims emotional first Asian Cup win to reach knockouts as war rages in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The historic sporting moment for Palestinians comes as Israel’s war against Hamas following the group’s October 7 attacks rages in Gaza, causing widespread destruction and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Some Palestinian players have reportedly lost family members, or have relatives trapped in Gaza, and have spoken about the difficulties of playing while not knowing what’s happening at home. Many of those in the stands in Qatar waved Palestinian flags or held up keffiyeh scarves to show support for the team. Thaier Al-Sudani/ReutersStarvation, bombing at homeAs the Palestinian team progresses to the knockout stage in Qatar, back home the Israeli military campaign is intensifying in southern Gaza. On Monday, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7 has risen to 25,295, with at least 63,000 injuries recorded.

Persons: Dabbagh, Abdullah, Zeid Qunbar, Mohammed Saleh, Thaier, Makram Daboub, ” “, ” Daboub, Hector Cuper, Hong, Everton Camargo, Khan Younis Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, soccer team, AFC Asian, Hong, Hamas, West Bank, Reuters, ”, India, United Nations Relief, Works Agency Locations: Hong Kong, Qatar, Doha, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Reuters Palestine, Syria, Iran, Hamas

☆ Billy Joel is releasing his first single in 17 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Billy Joel has delighted his fans with news that he is about to release his first new single in 17 years. “It’s TIME TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON,” he wrote on X, referencing the name of the song to be released on February 1. The clip describes “Turn the Lights Back On” as “the first new single in decades,” though that may be a slight stretch. Joel’s most recent single, “All My Life,” was released in 2007, which was his first new music since his album “River of Dreams” was released in 1993. On Wednesday, he will play a one-night concert in Tokyo before returning to Madison Square Garden on February 9.

Persons: Billy Joel, ”, Joel, “, Freddy Wexler, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector, Rolling Stone, Sting, Stevie Nicks Organizations: CNN, Madison, Garden Locations: New York City, Tokyo

HOUSTON (AP) — Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros finalized a $95 million, five-year contract on Monday. Hader will get a $19 million salary in each of the next five seasons, none of it deferred. He gets a full no-trade provision and would receive a $1 million bonus for winning the Mariano Rivera/Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award. Houston reached the agreement three days after announcing reliever Kendall Graveman will miss the season after right shoulder surgery. Because Hader turned down a qualifying offer, San Diego will receive an extra pick in next July’s amateur draft.

Persons: Josh Hader, Hader, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Edwin Díaz’s, won’t, Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, Bryan Abreu, Héctor Neris, Kendall Graveman, ___ Organizations: HOUSTON, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Astros, Houston, San Diego, Padres, Star, NL, Brewers, Baltimore Locations: San Diego, Milwaukee, Maryland, Houston

☆ Gary Woodland says he was gripped by fear of death before brain surgery
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —American golfer Gary Woodland said he was “fear-driven every day, mostly around death” in the months before undergoing brain surgery last year. Yet the most debilitating symptom, Woodland explained, was a daily fear of death. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesThe scan ruled out Parkinson’s disease, yet revealed what looked to be a tumor on his brain. “You can imagine leading up to surgery how I felt going into having my head cut open and operated on. The fear going into that was awful.”Woodland is back for the new tour season.

Persons: Gary Woodland, Woodland, “, ”, “ I’ve, Hector Vivas, You’re, ’, ‘, I’ve, nauseous, ’ Didn’t, Jared C, Tilton, –, Kevin C, Cox, I’m, …, he’s Organizations: CNN, Sony, Woodland, Wells, PGA, Wyndham Championship, I’m, Wyndham, Getty Locations: Mexico, Vallarta, Honolulu, Kansas City

The world also said goodbye to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who died Nov. 29. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesAnother political figure who died this year was former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Nov. 19. Among the entertainers who left the world this year was singer Tina Turner, who died May 24. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Fred White, 67. A Hall of Fame forward who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Silvio Berlusconi, Dianne Feinstein, James Buckley, James Abourezk, Nigel Lawson, Pervez Musharraf, Sandra Day O’Connor, Li Keqiang, Martti Ahtisaari, United Nations Bill Richardson, Gov, Sheila Oliver, Theodoros Pangalos, Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Suzanne Somers, Matthew Perry, Raquel Welch, Richard Belzer, Chaim Topol, Jacklyn Zeman, Lance Reddick, Alan Arkin, Paul Reubens, David McCallum, Richard Roundtree, Tom Sizemore, Jimmy Buffett, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Lee Jones, Burt Bacharach, David Crosby, Fito Olivares, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Astrud Gilberto, Coco Lee, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Cormac McCarthy, William Friedkin, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Louise Glück, Jeff Beck, Mary Quant, Kaija Saariaho, Lloyd Morrisett, Fred White, Maurice, Verdine White, Ken Block, Walter Cunningham, Fay Weldon, ” Jan, Russell Pearce, Charles Simic, Lynette “ Diamond ” Hardaway, Donald Trump, Diamond, Constantine, Jan, Tatjana Patitz, George Michael’s, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley, Robbie Knievel, Evel Knievel, Ray Cordeiro, Elmo, Cookie, Gina Lollobrigida, Chris Ford, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Cindy Williams, Shirley, “ Laverne, Billy Packer, Sylvia Syms, Alex ”, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, “ Papa, Rollin ’ Stone, Tom Verlaine, Patti Smith, Bobby Hull, Paco Rabanne, Harry Whittington, Dick Cheney, Hsing Yun, ”, San Jose ”, Carlos Saura, Spain’s, Hugh Hudson, Oscar, “ Greystroke, Hans Modrow, David Jude Jolicoeur, Huey “, ” Smith, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, “, Leiji Matsumoto, Yamato ”, Tim McCarver, Stella Stevens, Jerry Lewis’s, John Munch, Ahmed Qureia, Betty Boothroyd, Ricou Browning, Gill, Gérard Latortue, Fontaine, Barbara Everitt Bryant, Ryan ”, Kenzaburo Oe, Judy Heumann, Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Georgina Beyer, Traute Lafrenz, Rose, Peterson Zah, Tevye, Robert Blake, Jiang Yanyong, Bud Grant, Dick Fosbury, Pat Schroeder, Gloria Bosman, Jacqueline Gold, Britain’s Ann Summers, John Wick ”, John Jenrette, Juana La, Willis Reed, Darcelle, Paul O’Grady, Lily Savage, Emperor ”, Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Ferencz, Nuremberg, Elisabeth Kopp, Michael Lerner, Jack Lipnick, “ Barton Fink, Bugsy Calhoun, Anne Perry, Thomas Pitt, William Monk, Al Jaffee, magazine’s, Charles Stanley, Richard Riordan, Todd Haimes, Tony Awards, Barry Humphries, Tony, Dame Edna Everage, Len Goodman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, Emmett Till, LeRoy “ Lee ” Carhart, Larry “, ___ Gordon Lightfoot, Tori Bowie, Vida, Grace Bumbry, Rock ”, Ovelha, Denny Crum, Heather Armstrong, Bobbie Spencer, Rolf Harris, Kenneth Anger, Doyle Brunson, Jim Brown, Timothy Keller, Andy Rourke, Ray Stevenson, Thor ”, Ed Ames, George Maharis, Carroll Cooley, Miranda, John Beasley, Kaija, George Winston, Ipanema ”, Robert Hanssen, Richard Snyder, Simon & Schuster, Françoise Gilot, Pablo Picasso —, Pat Robertson, Theodore “ Ted ” Kaczynski, Roger Payne, Treat Williams, Glenda Jackson, Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Nixon, Big, George Frazier, Lee Sarokin, Rubin “, ” Carter, Winnie Ewing, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, “ Fiorello, John Goodenough, Peg Yorkin, Sue Johanson, Yan Mingfu, John Berylson, James Lewis, poisonings, Mikala Jones, André Watts, Jane Birkin, Kevin Mitnick, San Francisco ”, Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, Hugh “ Sonny ” Carter Jr, Jimmy, Randy Meisner, Herman, Angus Cloud, Fezco, ” O’Neill, ___, Mark Margolis, Hector Salamanca, Saul, Sixto Rodriguez, flamed, Robbie Robertson, Tom Jones, Magoo, Timbaland, Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Clarence Avant, Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, Ada Deer, Jerry Moss, Herb Alpert, Alpert, Michael Parkinson, Muhammad Ali, Miss Piggy, Jiri Cerny, Betty Tyson, Richard Nixon’s, John Warnock, Ron Cephas Jones, Howard Hubbard, Samuel “ Joe ” Wurzelbacher, Joe, Barack Obama, Gil Brandt, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, Bill Richardson, Steve Harwell, Shabtai Shavit, Jordan, Ian Wilmut, Dolly, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Roy Kidd, Eno Ichikawa, Michael McGrath, Fernando Botero, Giorgio Napolitano, Matteo Messina Denaro, Michael Gambon, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter ”, Mankombu Sambasivan, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Hosni Mubarak, Tim Wakefield, Dick Butkus, Michael Chiarello, Michael Chiarello ”, Masters, Burt Young, Paulie, Sylvester Stallone, Hughes Van Ellis, Kevin Phillips, Louise Meriwether, Mark Goddard, Major Don West, Rudolph Isley, Isley, unblinking, Piper Laurie, Chrissy Snow, Bobby Charlton, Bishan Bedi, Richard Moll, Xi Jinping, Wu Zunyou, Chandler Bing, Ken Mattingly, Bob Knight, Frank Borman, Steve Norton, Don Walsh, Mariana Trench, Terry R, Taylor, Daisaku Ikeda, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Ussery, George “ Funky ” Brown, Joanna ”, Marty Krofft, Pufnstuf, Donny, Marie ”, Terry Venables, Tim Dorsey, Serge A, Frances Sternhagen, ” “, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Gerald Ford, Shane MacGowan, Bernard McGhee Organizations: Wagner Group, Russian, White House, U.S, Supreme, United Nations, Greek Foreign, Republican, Hong, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBC, CBS, Television, Fame, Chicago Blackhawks, ”, New, of Fame, Louis Cardinals, “, Palestinian, Israel, South Dakota Democrat, Arab, Arab American U.S, Britain’s, Commons, . Census Bureau, Alabama ”, Zealand, Navajo, Minnesota Vikings, People, Playboy, Capitol, Juana La Cubana, New York Knicks, Guinness, World Records, Hollywood, Treasury, Southern Baptist Convention, Los Angeles, Roundabout Theatre Company, Air Force, Harlem Globetrotters, Janeiro Games, baseball’s, Germany’s Bayreuth, NCAA, Hall of Famer, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Legion, Ames, Phoenix, FBI, Simon &, Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican Party, Christian Coalition, Harvard, Feminist Majority Foundation, “ Little, Communist Party, Millwall, New York Philharmonic, San, Brigade, Wing, Eagles, HBO, of Indian Affairs, M, Police, Carpenters, Adobe Systems, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, escapist, Democratic, Zulu, Eastern, AA, Broadway, Communist, U.S . Senate, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston, Chicago Bears, Major, Isley Brothers, New York Times, Manchester United, India, Indiana, Nevada — Resorts, Atlantic City —, Navy, Associated Press, Soka Gakkai, Kentucky Derby, Kool, The, European, Barcelona, Tottenham, City Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russian, U.S, Finnish, New Mexico, New Jersey, British, Greece, American, Hong Kong, Italian, America, New York, Spanish, catwalks, Texas, Taiwan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, San, New Orleans, Rosebud, Arab American, Haiti, “, African, Brooklyn, London, Los, Mississippi, United States, Rivers, Georgia, Savannah, Louisville, New York City, Irish, HBO’s “ Rome, Brazilian, Ipanema, Moscow, Virginia, Montana, Vietnam, Canada, Asia, Chicago, Hawaii, France, South Africa, Wisconsin, Los Angeles, Czech, Eastern Kentucky, Colombian, ”, California, Tulsa, Finland, China, Nevada, Atlantic City, Florida, Berkshire

☆ I'm the first plus-sized woman to compete at Miss Universe and I made the top 20. My story is changing society's standards.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett is the first plus-sized woman to compete and place at Miss Universe. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jane Dipika Garrett, who represented Nepal at Miss Universe in November. That moment really, really inspired me. Then I saw the Miss Universe Nepal application was open and I was inspired to try it. AdvertisementAfter Miss Universe, I've gotten so many messages from people who said they were inspired by me.

Persons: Jane Dipika Garrett, Garrett, —, I've, Olivia Cuplo, Hector Vivas, MARVIN RECINOS, El Organizations: Miss, Service, Miss Universe, Getty Locations: Nepal, United States, Pennsylvania, San Salvador , El Salvador, AFP, Miss Nepal, El Salvador

☆ I only had 3 weeks to prepare for Miss Universe, but made history as the first trans woman to place in the top 20
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She made history as the first trans woman to place in the top 20. I was inspired by Angela Ponce, the first trans woman to compete at Miss Universe. AdvertisementMachete is the first trans woman to place at Miss Universe in its history. Some girls have a year and three months to prepare for Miss Universe, I had three weeks. Marvin RECINOS / AFPMaking it to the top 20 at Miss Universe was an amazing experience.

Persons: Marina Machete, Machete, —, Angela Ponce, Angela, I've, Hector Vivas, Miss Portugal, they've, didn't, I'm, Portugal, Marvin RECINOS Organizations: Miss Universe, Miss, Service, Miss Portugal Organization Locations: Miss Portugal, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, El Salvador

☆ Barclays in talks to buy Metro Bank's mortgage book worth $3.74 bln - Sky News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows signage on a branch of Barclays Bank in London, Britain, March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Britain's Barclays (BARC.L) is in exclusive talks to buy embattled lender Metro Bank's (MTRO.L) 3 billion pound ($3.74 billion) residential mortgages portfolio, Sky News reported on Monday. Both Barclays and Metro Bank declined to comment. The report comes after Britain's best-known challenger bank announced a 325 million pound capital raise and 600 million pound debt refinancing in early October, in a bid to bolster its finances. Last month, Santander's (SAN.MC) chief executive officer Hector Grisi had said the Spanish bank may consider looking into acquiring a mortgage portfolio from Metro.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Britain's, Jaime Gilinski, Hector Grisi, Eva Mathews, Anil D'Silva, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Barclays Bank, REUTERS, Britain's Barclays, Metro, Sky News, Barclays, Metro Bank, Separately, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Colombian, Metro, Spanish, Bengaluru

LAS VEGAS (AP) — David Benavidez retained the interim world super middleweight belt by stopping Demetrius Andrade after the sixth round Saturday night. “Now just give me the fight that everyone wants to see.”Benavidez is widely recognized as the world’s best super middleweight after Canelo Alvarez. Immediately after his win he called for a match against Alvarez to unify the super middleweight title. Charlo’s rapid-fire left-uppercut, right-hook combination stopped Benavidez in his tracks several times as the champ kept his perfect record intact. Called two seconds into the sixth round at the request of his team, Ergashev (23-1) didn’t come out of his corner.

Persons: — David Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade, Andrade’s, Andrade, “, ” Benavidez, Benavidez, Canelo Alvarez, Alvarez, Jermall Charlo, Jose Benavidez Jr, Benavidez Jr, Subriel Matias, Shohjahon Ergashev, Matias, didn’t, Lamont Roach, Hector Garcia’s, Roach, Garcia, Tim Cheatham, Robert Hoyle, Max DeLuca Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Showtime, “, WBC, IBF, Hector Garcia’s WBA Locations: KOs

Labor union leaders said Thursday they are paying close attention to what the libertarian president-elect says and what they are hearing is in opposition to their interests. “In the moment they move forward with reforms related to labor rights, both individual and collective, and when the labor organizations affected by these adjustments request it, the CGT will take a stance,” Dear said. “We expect absolutely nothing from Javier Milei.”Catalano was one of the representatives of labor unions and social organizations who joined the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in their weekly march in downtown Buenos Aires Thursday. There’s also concern among human rights organizations about a potential setback in policies that allowed for the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against humanity during the dictatorship. Leaders of leftist social organizations also held a meeting Thursday to discuss their response to Milei’s policies and “a plan for struggle against austerity” that will involve street protests.

Persons: Javier Milei, ” Héctor, Pablo Biró, Milei, ”, ” Daniel Catalano, ” Catalano, There’s, “ it’s, Nicolás Saldías, ” Sadias, —, Débora Rey Organizations: Labor, Confederation, Airline Pilots Association, Aerolineas Argentinas, Milei, State Workers ’ Association, de Mayo, Economist Intelligence, Latin, Associated Press Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, “, Buenos Aires, Latin America, Caribbean, ” Argentina

☆ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's new cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes the oath of office during a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain November 17, 2023. Andres Ballesteros/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced his new cabinet, keeping the same number of 22 ministers, 12 women and 10 men, despite reshuffling some of their portfolios. SOCIALIST MINISTERS:NADIA CALVINO - ECONOMYCalvino remains as Sanchez's first deputy prime minister and top economic expert. FELIX BOLANOS - JUSTICEBolanos saw his profile boosted by heightened media exposure while acting as Sanchez's de facto cabinet chief. SIRA REGO - CHILDREN AND YOUTHThe second-in-command and main spokesperson for the United Left, she became an MEP in 2019.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Andres Ballesteros, NADIA CALVINO, Calvino, Sanchez's, TERESA RIBERA, Ribera, MARIA JESUS MONTERO, Sanchez, Montero, FELIX BOLANOS, JUSTICE Bolanos, JOSE MANUEL ALBARES, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, MARGARITA ROBLES, Robles, FERNANDO GRANDE, Miquel Iceta, PILAR ALEGRIA, Alegria, Isabel Rodriguez, ISABEL RODRIGUEZ, Rodriguez, JOSE LUIS ESCRIVA, DIANA MORANT, LUIS PLANAS, Puente, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, JORDI HEREU, Hereu, Hector Gomez, ANGEL VICTOR TORRES, Torres, ELMA SAIZ, Escriva, Redondo, Podemos party's Irene Montero, SUMAR, YOLANDA DIAZ, LABOUR Diaz, Sumar, MONICA GARCIA, Garcia, Isabel Diez Ayuso, ERNEST URTASUN, PABLO BUSTINDUY, Bustinduy, Alberto Garzon, Ione Belarra, SIRA REGO, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Grant McCool Organizations: Spain's, REUTERS Acquire, Spanish, Monday, European Investment Bank, JUSTICE, High, Culture, Social Security, Universities, Democratic, Socialist, ANA REDONDO, LABOUR, Mas Madrid, Greens, European Free Alliance, Consumer Affairs, United Left, Thomson Locations: Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Dubai, France, Morocco, Ukraine, Melilla, Gandia, Valladolid, Barcelona, Canary, Bolanos, Pamplona, Navarre, Mas, Podemos, Gaza, SIRA, Israel

☆ Miss Universe: Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua wins 2023 pageant in El Salvador
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, which took place on Saturday night in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. The winners of 84 countries’ national pageants had competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016). Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua, competes in the evening gown round. A newly-crowned Palacios waves to the audience in attendance at the Miss Universe pageant final. Palacios succeeds the 2022 Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA.

Persons: CNN — Sheynnis Palacios, Anntonia, Carson Kressley, influencer Avani Gregg, Janelle Commissiong, Iris Mittenaere, Sheynnis Palacios, Hector Vivas, Palacios, Porsild, Moraya Wilson, Australia, Mary Wollstonecraft, “, ”, Marvin Recinos, Colombia, Camila Avella, Karla Guilfú, Athenea, Congeniality, R’Bonney Gabriel Organizations: CNN, Miss, Miss Universe, Getty Locations: Nicaragua, El Salvador’s, San Salvador, Thailand, Aden, Trinidad & Tobago, France, Miss Nepal, Miss Pakistan, Miss Nicaragua, British, AFP, Miss Puerto Rico, USA

☆ See the best evening gowns at the 2023 Miss Universe competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Bolivia, Estefany Rivero. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Brazil, Maria Brechane. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Bulgaria, Yuliia Pavlikova. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Slovakia, Kinga Puhová Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss South Africa, Bryoni Govender. The 2023 Miss Universe pageant also marks longtime Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart’s last year.

☆ Miss Universe 2023 preliminary: Highlights from the national costume competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s a serious question, but with a delightfully nonsensical answer: All served as inspiration for national costumes on display during the 2023 Miss Universe pageant’s preliminary competition. (Specifically, those were the looks donned by Miss Great Britain, Miss Philippines, Miss Dominican Republic and, yes, Miss Switzerland.) Eighty-four countries are represented at this year’s Miss Universe, which is taking place in the El Salvadoran capital of San Salvador. Miss Nepal, Jane Garrett, is one of the first “curvy” women to compete at Miss Universe; Erica Robin, meanwhile, is the first woman to represent Pakistan at the pageant. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesTrue to form for the competition, Miss France ventured into Moulin Rouge's costume department.

Persons: Miss Great, Miss Nepal, Jane Garrett, Erica Robin, R’Bonney Gabriel, Hector Vivas, Miss Brazil, El Salvador's, Alex Peña, Ireland's, carnations, Miss Nigeria's, Miss Curaçao's, Marina Machete, Miss Malaysia, Serena Lee, Jordanne Levy, Moulin, Anntonia Porsild, Bryoni Natalie Govender, Miss Mongolia's Organizations: CNN, Swiss Guard, Miss, El, Oxford English, Miss Netherlands, Games, country's Air Force, Images Locations: Miss Great Britain, Miss Philippines, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Switzerland, El Salvadoran, San Salvador, Netherlands, Portugal, Miss, Pakistan, USA, Miss Iceland, Venezuelan American, Costa Rica, Miss Portugal, Honduras, Jamaica, Thailand, South Africa

LEVI, Finland (AP) — Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova built a big lead in the first run of a women’s World Cup slalom Sunday, a day after winning a race on the same hill by a huge margin. Vlhova led second-placed Mikaela Shiffrin by 0.76 seconds as the pair looked set to continue their dominance in the event. No other skier has won the traditional season-opening slalom in Finnish Lapland since 2016. “I felt good, I did perfect in the steep part compared to yesterday first run,” said Vlhova, who is the Olympic champion and has 20 World Cup wins in slalom. Only once in her career has she failed to get a podium result in any of her first three World Cup races – in 2011-12, her debut season on the circuit.

Persons: LEVI, Petra Vlhova, Vlhova, “, ”, Sara Hector of Sweden, Lena Duerr, Shiffrin, Levi, ___ Organizations: — Slovakian, Olympic Locations: Finland, Lapland, Austria

“We thank God for the release of Mr. Luis Díaz!” the conference posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-State relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating his release.”Ceballos was on board a UN-funded helicopter that picked up Díaz’s father, Luis Manuel Díaz, from a forest area along the Colombian border with Venezuela. “We are delighted by the news of Luis Díaz’s father’s safe return and we thank all those involved in securing his release,” the club said in a statement. The Colombian government’s Peace Delegation and the ELN both welcomed the release of Díaz’s father. In addition, the Colombia Football Federation thanked all of the forces “that made possible the release of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of our player Luis Díaz.”

Persons: Luis Díaz, “, Francisco Ceballos, Héctor Henao, ” Ceballos, Luis Manuel Díaz, Díaz, Stéphane Dujarric, Caitlin Hu, ” Luis Manuel Díaz, Colombia Dujarric, Cilenis Marulanda, Marulanda, Luis Díaz’s father’s, Carlos Camargo Assis, ” Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Catholic Church, Episcopal, Church, State, UN, National Liberation Army, Liverpool, Sunday, Premier League, Luton Town, Liverpool’s Europa League, Toulouse, Colombian, United, Colombia’s, Colombia Football Federation Locations: Liverpool, Colombian, Valledupar, Colombia, Riohacha, Mons, Venezuela, Conferencia, Barrancas, France, United Nations

☆ The US is quietly arming Taiwan against a Chinese invasion — but it could backfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIn late August, the US approved an $80 million military grant to arm Taiwan against a potential Chinese invasion. It's part of a plan to wrong-step China's leaders and make them uncertain about how exactly the US would respond to Chinese attacks on Taiwan. "Those military packages are the Biden administration's efforts to build Taiwan's defense capabilities at a faster pace to match PLA [Chinese military] modernization efforts," said Kuo. Provoking ChinaSince the 1970s, the US has had a delicate diplomatic relationship with China, acknowledging the "One China" policy under which China claims ownership of Taiwan, yet also backing Taiwanese autonomy. "That could easily provoke exactly the Chinese attack on Taiwan that US policy aims to deter," he wrote.

Persons: Xi, —, Biden, Xi Jinping, HECTOR RETAMAL, Joe Biden, Graeme Thomson, Naiyu Kuo, Kuo, Thompson, Hugh White, Beijing's, Kavanagh Organizations: Taiwan, Service, Bloomberg, BBC, Communists, CNN, Getty Images, White, Eurasia Group, PLA, China, Strategic Studies, Australian National University, US Locations: China, Taiwan, Taiwan's, Taiwan Strait, China's, Fujian province, AFP, Washington ,, Beijing, Washington

☆ Day of the Dead is full of longstanding traditions meant to honor ancestors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Leah Asmelash | Nicole Chavez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Día de los Muertos is a tribute to the afterlife, a day meant to honor those who have died and keep their memory alive. Unlike Halloween, which historically was a day to ward off evil spirits, Day of the Dead is more about paying respects to loved ones who have died. Just like in Mexico, Filipinos visit their loved ones’ graves and also create altars to those who have passed. Many people honor Day of the Dead by visiting the graves of dead relatives and loved ones. People come together to share stories of their loved ones — helping keep their memory alive.

Persons: CNN —, you’ve, papel, Coco ”, Día, Baron Samdi, Hector Retamal, José Guadalupe Posada, Pedro Pardo Organizations: CNN, Cite Soleil, Getty, Aztecs Locations: los, Mexico, calaveras, Día de los, America, Philippines, Haiti, Port, Prince, AFP, Americas, Spanish, de los, de los Muertos, Mexico City, Mexican

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. President Laurentino Cortizo announced that the new mining restrictions will apply to both future mining projects as well as those currently seeking permits. The abrupt mining pause comes barely a week after Cortizo hailed the revised contract that allows the local unit of Canada's First Quantum (FM.TO) to continue operating its lucrative Cobre Panama project. "Panama is a mining country," Alexander told Reuters, arguing that without the mine, the country's economy would barely grow this year, versus the robust 6% growth the government estimates. The Cobre Panama mine alone accounts for nearly 5% of Panama's economy.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, Hector Alexander, Alexander, Panama's, Edison Broce, Valentine Hilaire, Christian Plumb, Marguerita Choy, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso

☆ 6 troubling questions about the Corizon bankruptcy deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

The bankruptcy of prison health provider Corizon has faced pressure from senators and a federal regulator in recent weeks. Other troubling questions surrounding the bankruptcy involve payments to insiders, "dishonest" testimony, and a secret data breach. The other company, Tehum, was saddled with most of Corizon's liabilities and, in February, filed for bankruptcy. AdvertisementAdvertisementNine US senators have written to Corizon successor companies Tehum Care Services and YesCare demanding answers about Corizon's efforts to "manipulate bankruptcy law." AdvertisementAdvertisementLefkowitz repeatedly said under oath during a June creditor call that he didn't know who owned Geneva Consulting — the company Corizon paid $5.5 million.

Persons: Corizon, —, Christopher Lopez, David Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, YesCare, Jones, Tehum, Judge Jones, Freeman, Ian Cross, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Dick Durbin, Lopez, they're, Kevin Eckhardt, Hector Garcia Jr, Hector Garcia, Belen Lowery, Garcia's, Jeff Sholey, Isaac Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, Sara Tirschwell, Jeffrey Scott King, Ayodeji, Michelle Rice, Jennifer Finger, Sholey, Edward Janger, Janger, he's, didn't, Geneva, Russell Perry, Baker, Hostetler, Tehum's, Tracey Grissom, Grissom, Julia Tutwiler, Roman, Sannikov, CISA, Tehum hadn't, What's, it's Organizations: Service, Tehum Care Services, Justice Department, Corizon, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Geneva Consulting, Tehum, University of Missouri Health Care, Brooklyn Law School, Geneva, Genesis Healthcare, Department, US, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Baker, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, of Health, Human, CISA, HHS, HIPAA, Women Locations: Houston, Texas, YesCare, Reorg, New Mexico, Corizon, Geneva, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Alabama, Wetumpka , Alabama, Rivers, bitcoin, Tehum

☆ Santander may look into potential acquisition of Metro mortgage portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen outside of a Metro Bank in London, Britain, May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Santander (SAN.MC) may consider looking into acquiring a mortgage portfolio from Metro (MTRO.L) if the British bank decides to put it up for sale, the Spanish bank's Chief Executive Officer Hector Grisi said on Wednesday. Metro, seeking to bolster its finances after a string of setbacks, earlier this month announced a 325 million pound capital raise and 600 million pound debt refinancing. The bank also said it was in discussions regarding the sale of up to 3 billion pounds ($3.64 billion)of residential mortgages. "Today the truth is that I don't know whether Metro will end up doing something or not, whether it will sell a portfolio or not."

Persons: Hannah McKay, Hector Grisi, Grisi, Jesús, Jane Merriman Organizations: Metro Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Metro, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights MADRID, Santander, British, Spanish

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