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☆ The UK announces $12 entry fee for travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —The United States has been charging visitors for electronic travel authorization since 2009, and now the United Kingdom and the European Union are rolling out entry fees, too. Also in our latest CNN Travel roundup, we bring you a double-decker plane seat and bunk beds in the sky. UK to charge travelers for entryVisa waiver schemes have been around for a while.

Persons: it’s, Bunk, all’s, we’ve, James Beard, CNN There’s Organizations: CNN, European Union, CNN Travel, United, ETA, Edinburgh, Eiffel, Coliseum, Acropolis, –, CNN CNN Travel, Aircraft, Lufthansa, . Law, Tourists, North Carolina Zoo Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Europe, London, Kingdom, Qatar, Germany, Air, Pacific, Philadelphia, Korea

☆ The Spy Who Called Me
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Nicholas Casey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The wave of scandals that would engulf Spain began with a police raid on a wooded property outside Madrid. It was Nov. 3, 2017, and the target was José Manuel Villarejo Pérez, a former government spy. He was rumored to have had powerful friends and to have kept dirt on them all. They had come searching for evidence of money laundering, but it wasn’t Villarejo’s accounting books that gave them pause that day. He was, after all, a spy — and not just any spy, but one who had started his career in the secret police of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

Persons: Manuel Villarejo Pérez, —, Villarejo, “, It’s, ”, Villarejo’s, Francisco Franco Organizations: ETA Locations: Spain, Madrid, ”, Spanish, Basque

☆ Possible meteorite crashes through the roof of a New Jersey home, lands in bedroom still warm
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A grapefruit-sized metallic object fell through the roof of a New Jersey home and dented the floor. Police who responded to the incident in Hopewell, New Jersey, believe the falling object may be a meteorite, possibly from the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which peaked this weekend. The offending falling object, beside a dent it cracked in the hardwood floor. It's rare for these falling space rocks to hit buildings or people. He added that this falling object could be as old as the solar system: 4 to 5 billion years old.

CNN —What could be a meteorite struck a home in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, authorities said Monday. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is an annual phenomenon in which debris from the famous Halley’s Comet rains down into Earth’s atmosphere. In November, for example, an object believed to be a meteorite from the Taurid meteor shower struck a house in Northern California, according to CNN affiliate KCRA in Sacramento. Authorities in New Jersey said the possible meteorite that struck on Monday measured about 4 inches by 6 inches. A meteorite will be much heavier for its size than a typical Earth rock because it’s packed with dense metals.

☆ Watch the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak in Night Skies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Adam Mann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But on special dates scattered throughout the year, skywatchers can catch a multitude of flares as meteor showers burst in the darkness. Meteor showers occur when our planet runs into the debris fields left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids going around the sun. The regularity of orbital mechanics means that any given meteor shower happens at roughly the same time each year, with the changing phases of the bright moon being the main variable affecting their visibility. In past years, the Eta Aquariids have produced 45 to 85 meteors per hour in dark sky conditions. Unfortunately, the peak for this shower coincides with a full moon on Friday, May 5, into Saturday, May 6, limiting visibility.

☆ The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is peaking, giving you the chance to see up to 40 shooting stars an hour. Here's how to watch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is due to peak May 5, offering up to 40 shooting stars per hour. The dazzling display is known as the Eta Aquarids and takes place in May each year when Earth travels through debris left behind by Halley's Comet. The meteor shower is active this year from between April 15 to May 27, but it is expected to peak on May 5. NASAThe Eta Aquarids are one of the few showers that favor the Southern Hemisphere. So you will have to wait over 20 years to see another Eta Aquarids outburst," he added.

☆ See a meteor shower and lunar eclipse this weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —With bright meteors blazing across the sky from the Aquariids meteor shower and a chance to see a lunar eclipse, Friday will be the time to look up to the sky for a day of spectacular celestial events. That alignment will create what is known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, which is when the moon enters Earth’s outer shadow. Get a lawn chair and put the moon at your back,” said Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society. During a penumbral eclipse, the moon stays on this outer ring, appearing as if it is dimming, but not completely darkening like a total lunar eclipse. On October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and much of South America.

☆ The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is about to peak, giving you the chance to see up to 40 shooting stars an hour. Here's how to watch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is due to peak May 5, offering up to 40 shooting stars per hour. If you're heading out to see the display, here are NASA's top tips for getting the best look. The meteor shower is active this year from between April 15 to May 27, but it is expected to peak on May 5. NASAThe Eta Aquarids are one of the few showers that favor the Southern Hemisphere. So you will have to wait over 20 years to see another Eta Aquarids outburst," he added.

☆ I'm a car dealer. Here are the things customers get dead wrong about our business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I grew up in a family dealership and did everything from marketing to customer service to a little bit of sales. From a customer service perspective, it became very difficult during COVID and it's still difficult now with parts. Whitney Yates-WoodsMy most challenging thing right now would be that customer service pieceThose parts taking a long time to get in is still really very prevalent. I think sometimes people think that that 1950's car salesperson persona still existsIt's evolving from the stereotypical car sales guy. I especially want women coming in by themselves to not feel like they're going to get taken advantage of.

☆ How to see the Lyrids April meteor shower
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After no major annual meteor showers for months, the Lyrids are here to end the drought. Known as one of the oldest-recorded meteor showers, the Lyrids are expected to produce 10 to 15 meteors per hour for three nights centered around its peak of 9:06 p.m. Lyrids’ history dates back centuriesThe Lyrids were first recorded in 687 BC, according to NASA, making this meteor shower to be one of the oldest recorded. “Only in the 19th century was when we kind of understood that they actually came from space.”Every meteor shower has a parent comet from which comes the debris that makes up the shower. For those in Africa, Asia and Australia, a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on May 5, and on October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and much of South America.

☆ How to view the rare hybrid eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A hybrid solar eclipse — the first of its kind in nearly 10 years — is on the way. The hybrid eclipse will begin at 10:37 p.m. What makes a hybrid eclipse uniqueOtherwise known as an annular-total eclipse, a hybrid eclipse is a function of Earth’s curvature and the event’s path. During full eclipse, at the very middle of the eclipse path, the antumbral shadow will create an annular eclipse for some and the umbral shadow will create a total eclipse for others. If you live in North, Central or South America, an annular solar eclipse will take place on October 14.

☆ 18 countries sent sharpshooters to a US military base in Germany to see who has the best sniper team in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 2022 version of the European Best Sniper Team Competition was one of the largest ever. The European Best Sniper Team CompetitionEstonian troops in a replica of a downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. An Italian sniper team in a replica of a downed helicopter during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. The winnersCompetitors in the "1917" event during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. Snipers and modern warfareA Finnish Army sniper team at the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 7.

☆ All travelers to the UK — including from the EU and U.S. — will need pre-authorization by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

British and Irish nationals and people with U.K. settled status will be exempt from the scheme. The European Union is set to launch its own digital travel authorization scheme, called ETIAS, for visa-exempt nationals in 2024. However, it will mark a significant change for many frequent travelers from Europe and elsewhere who do not currently need pre-approval. Nationals currently able to use e-passport gates on arrival into the U.K. will continue to be able to do so with an ETA. Anyone arriving at the U.K. border by air or rail without an ETA will be turned away, including if they arrive via Ireland but are not Irish or British citizens.

☆ U.S. climate envoy Kerry outlines carbon offset initiative for developing nations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABU DHABI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on Sunday outlined core principles for a "high-integrity" carbon offset plan meant to help developing nations speed their energy transition, and next steps including establishing a consultative group. The Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), first announced at last year's COP27 climate conference, is being developed by the United States with the Bezos Earth Fund and the Rockefeller Foundation to mobilise private capital. "We believe you can have high-integrity, accountable, transparent credit which will help us to be able to put some money on the table," he said, acknowledging widespread criticism of voluntary carbon offset schemes. He said ETA principles also called for a near-term, inclusive and comprehensive approach to deliver on broader sustainable development goals and support power sector-wide energy transition. Reporting by Rachna Uppal and Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Meet ShElvis, Australia's leading female Elvis Tribute Artist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Cordelia Hsu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Elvis Tribute Artist, Sheryl Scharkie, also known as ShElvis, strikes a pose in the main street at the Parkes Elvis Festival in Parkes, Australia January 6, 2023. REUTERS/Cordelia HsuPARKES, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Among the hundreds of Elvis tribute acts wandering the Australian country town of Parkes, one stands out: Sheryl Scharkie, also known as ShElvis. Parkes, 350 km northwest of Sydney, is home to a 64-meter telescope and an annual Elvis Festival, now in its 30th year. A nurse by day, the 64-year-old Scharkie is Australia’s most prominent Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA), as they are known, and for most of her nearly decade-long career, the country's only female one. It's no longer male or female ETA, gender just goes.”Scharkie has been an Elvis fan since childhood and remembers watching his movies at her grandmother's house.

☆ IRS delays rule change for people who get paid on Venmo, Etsy, Airbnb and other apps
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Anyone getting paid for their goods and services through apps like Venmo, PayPal or CashApp, or platforms like Etsy and Airbnb, just got a reprieve from the IRS. But the 1099-K reporting will make it harder for someone to evade the taxes they owe by underreporting their business income. The rule also does not apply to personal transactions you conduct on an electronic payment platform. Lastly, the 1099-K reporting rule does not apply to any transactions made through Zelle. But the IRS may still get reporting on at least some of your business transactions on Zelle, Walker said.

☆ Health-care stocks are looking good for 2023 and not just because the sector is a 'safe haven'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Investors looking for cover this year would have done well if they sought a safe haven in large-cap pharmaceutical stocks, a trend that is likely to continue into 2023. The Inflation Reduction Act provided some clarity around drug pricing that should help health-care stocks. The average price target, according to FactSet, is $62, or nearly 40% above the stock's closing price on Tuesday. Gene therapies in focus Investors will be closely watching the progress of several gene therapies, according to Phipps. "Yes, these are expensive therapies," Phipps said.

☆ Avoid these 5 passive-aggressive phrases that 'irritate' people the most, says speech expert
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( John Bowe | In Johnfbowe | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The most successful communicators get to the point and avoid these phrases that only serve to irritate the listener:1. What to say instead: Legitimate criticism is necessary and even helpful, as long as you're not a jerk about it. Your audience may have no idea that you're upset, much less why you're upset. What to say instead: Examine why you're upset. What to say instead: Be upfront.

☆ Hebe de Bonafini, the mother who defied Argentina's dictatorship, dies at 93
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Hernan Nessi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hebe de Bonafini, the iconic co-founder of Argentina's Mothers of Plaza de Mayo and a staunch fighter against the human rights violations committed during the country's military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s, died on Sunday at the age of 93. Bonafini became one of Argentina's most famous human rights activists when she and 13 other women began searching for their children who were kidnapped by security forces during the dictatorship. Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner lamented Bonafini's passing on Twitter and the government called for three days of national mourning. "Dearest Hebe, Mother of Plaza de Mayo, you are a world symbol of the fight for Human Rights, and a pride of Argentina," Fernandez de Kirchner wrote. "As founder of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, she shed light in the middle of the dark night of the military dictatorship."

☆ Don’t dump on U.S. coal plan. Make it better!
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Sceptics fear an American plan to use voluntary carbon markets to accelerate the energy transition in poor countries could amount to greenwashing. Many critics think rich countries should just fork out the cash themselves to close coal plants – or tax fossil fuel companies to get the money. This “jurisdictional” approach is designed to prevent new coal plants springing up where old ones have been closed. Why not hitch itself to the high standards already being developed by the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative? Another concern is that the ETA is planning to use cash not just to close coal plants but also to ramp up renewable energy.

☆ U.S. launches carbon offset program to help developing countries speed clean energy transition
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Climate Envoy John Kerry on Wednesday unveiled a carbon offset plan that would allow corporations to fund renewable energy projects in developing countries that are struggling to transition away from fossil fuels. Officials argue it could funnel billions of dollars from the private sector into the economies of developing countries working to shift to renewable power sources like wind or solar. The plan will create a new class of carbon offsets that represent investments in projects that help accelerate renewable energy projects or build climate change resilience in a developing country. Chile and Nigeria are among the developing countries interested in the program, the State Department said, and Bank of America, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Standard Chartered Bank have "expressed interest in informing the ETA's development." Voluntary carbon offset programs have been widely criticized as insufficiently regulated schemes that allow governments and corporations to undermine net-zero emission targets.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on Wednesday announced the creation of a carbon offset plan meant to help developing countries speed their transition away from fossil fuels. Kerry launched the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA) with the intention of funding renewable energy projects and accelerating clean energy transitions in developing countries. Kerry added that the carbon credits used in the program would be "high quality" and meet "strong safeguards". Kerry said Guterres was supportive of the U.S.-led carbon market initiative provided there were safeguards to it. At the event launch, a protester interrupted Kerry saying: "You’re providing false solutions.”Kerry responded that fossil fuel companies would not participate in the program.

☆ The Orionid meteor shower peaks Thursday night. Here's how to watch colorful streaks and fireballs lighting up the sky.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Orionids meteor shower peaks late Thursday night and into early Friday morning. Colorful streaks and bursting fireballs make this one of the year's most beautiful meteor showers, according to NASA. A meteor streaks past the Canis Minor constellation in the night sky during the annual Orionid meteor shower in Ronda, near Malaga, Spain, on October 22, 2017. NASA recommends against using telescopes or binoculars to view a meteor shower, since those instruments show only a limited portion of the sky at a time. A stargazer waits for light clouds to clear to watch the Perseid meteor shower to begin near Bobcaygeon, Ontario, on August 12, 2015.

☆ In its first 100 days, the James Webb telescope peered deep into space, took beauty shots of faraway galaxies and glittering nebula, and saw a spacecraft slam into an asteroid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In its first 100 days of observation, Webb has captured mind-blowing images, reaching astonishing cosmic distances. Webb captured violent interactions in a star system more than 5,000 light years awayWebb captured a series of 17 concentric dust rings spawned by the Wolf-Rayet 140 binary system. Webb took a 'deep field' image that filled astronomers with wonderThe James Webb Space Telescope's first deep field infrared image, released on July 11, 2022. Webb captured detailed views of the king of our solar system – JupiterWide-field view of Jupiter, captured by Webb. Webb snapped a beauty shot of the Carina NebulaThe star-forming region NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula, captured in infrared by Webb.

☆ Russians flee to South Korea to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Stella Kim | Stella Kim Is An Nbc News Freelance Producer Based In Seoul. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL — Groups of Russians have sailed to South Korea in an attempt to avoid being conscripted for the war in Ukraine — only for most of them to be refused entry at the border. Alexandr Kryazhev / Sputnik via APBut he said 21 were denied approval on the basis of “insufficient documentation and unclear objective" for entering South Korea. The two successful applicants had documents showing records of having previously been in South Korea. A 6-ton yacht also arrived in South Korea on Oct. 1, according to the Coast Guard. All four individuals aboard were denied entry.

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