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☆ Honduras extends, expands state of emergency meant to fight crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoTEGUCIGALPA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal gangs amid high levels of violence. The state of emergency, in place since Dec. 6 in 165 areas of Honduras' largest two cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, has been expanded to 235 of the country's 298 municipalities, the national police said. Police chief Gustavo Sanchez said the decision, based on what he told journalists were good results during December, will allow continued reductions in crime and violence. During the first month of the measures, 39 criminal gangs were destroyed and 652 people were arrested, while 43 kilos of cocaine and thousands of grams and rocks of crack were seized, the police said. Reporting by Orfa Mejia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Skillshare has over 35,000 online video courses, most taught by experts in their fields. Below is an overview of the Skillshare platform, FAQ, and 15 great online courses to take. It has over 34,000 video courses taught by experts in the field, including high-profile names like bestselling author Roxane Gay. Skillshare Annual Subscription Skillshare offers more than 25,000 online classesHow does Skillshare work? Other than the free trial, Skillshare doesn't offer free courses or any certificates to add to your LinkedIn for employers to see.

“Your story will be different than ours.” Those are the final words of Sarah Polley’s film “Women Talking” and they succinctly sum up the film’s challenges, as well as its hopes. “Women Talking” starts after the otherworldly pretense has already exploded. Instead, most of “Women Talking” is, like the title says, women talking. Instead, most of “Women Talking” is, like the title says, women talking. “Women Talking” insists, though, that it’s worth doing.

Seven decades ago, Carol Aird and Therese Belivet went on a second date. The film earned six Academy Award nominations and the enduring adoration of queer women the world over, who have dubbed Dec. 21 “Carol Day,” and the holiday season “Carol Season.”One of the best ways to celebrate? ‘Carol’ is that magic for the sapphic community.”Watching “Carol” has also been a holiday tradition for Kaina Dominguez, the founder of The Bush Films, a queer film festival with screenings throughout the year. Queer women-centered site Autostraddle once had a “30 Days of Carol” event, where it posted 30 articles about “Carol” in as many days, and one of its writers also watched “Carol” on a 24-hour endless loop. And then there is ‘Carol,’ braving the tsunamis of ‘business/industry requirements’ and telling the tale of love with sensitivity and honesty.”

☆ Core Scientific files for bankruptcy as crypto winter bites
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Core Scientific said in a statement the bankruptcy filing was necessitated by a decline in the company's operating performance and liquidity amid the prolonged decrease in the price of bitcoin. Core Scientific said its creditors have also agreed to provide up to $56 million in debtor-in-possession financing. One of the largest creditors of Core Scientific, B. Riley Financial Inc (RILY.O), had offered $72 million last week to avoid the bitcoin miner's bankruptcy. In its bankruptcy petition, Core Scientific said it has $1 billion to $10 billion in assets and liabilities, and creditors between 1,000 and 5,000. Core Scientific went public in 2021 through a merger with a blank-check company in a deal that at the time valued the miner at $4.3 billion.

☆ In 'Women Talking,' Mennonite women find voice on sexual assault
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The film “Women Talking” follows eight Mennonite women who struggle over how to respond to continual sexual assaults from the men in their insular religious community. “Women from all walks of life do have a really powerful reaction to the film, and it’s this incredible conversation starter,” Mara said in an interview. "Women Talking" joins “She Said,” and “The Woman King” in a group of 2022 films that focus on the narratives of women. McLeod, who plays a younger member of the group, believes that is a reflection of society making some progress. "More and more women are finding their voice and breaking out of the social confines we’ve been put in,” McLeod said.

☆ Advocates Urge Congress to Pass Permanent Residency Status for Afghans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesConvincing Republican senatorsThe House version of the Afghan Adjustment Act has 143 co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans. Demonstrators gather to support Afghan evacuees outside the Capitol on Nov. 16, 2022. At the moment, one prospect to advance the Afghan Adjustment Act is by attaching it to that larger spending bill, advocates say. But negotiations on the omnibus are ongoing, and whether the Afghan Adjustment Act will be included is up in the air. Yet without a deal by then, passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act appears doomed, advocates say, keeping Afghan evacuees in perpetual legal limbo.

“Spoiler Alert” opened in U.S. theaters Dec. 2. “Women Talking” opened in select U.S. theaters Dec. 2. “The Whale” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 9. “Babylon” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 23. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 23.

☆ Honduras to suspend some constitutional rights to fight gang violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The government of Honduras announced on Saturday that it will suspend some constitutional rights in areas of two main cities controlled by criminal groups. The cities have been struggling with a so-called "war tax", in which gangs offer protection or say that those who pay up will not be killed. The gangs have torched buses and killed drivers who did not pay the fee, prompting businesses and people to pay out of fear. The measure, which is expected to be endorsed by the council of ministers, is part of President Xiomara Castro's plan to deal with violent gangs. Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Edited by Noé Torres and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ El Salvador deploys 10,000 troops to gang-run capital suburb
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Troops walk in the suburb of Soyapango, after El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced the deployment of 10,000 security forces to the troubled area which for years has been considered a stronghold of the violent Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs, in San Salvador, El Salvador December 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jose CabezasSAN SALVADOR, Dec 3 (Reuters) - El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced Saturday the deployment of 10,000 security forces to a suburb of San Salvador known to be a stronghold for gangs. Images released by the government showed troops carrying heavy weapons, helmets and bulletproof vests, traveling in war vehicles. The municipality has a population of about 300,000 and was previously considered impregnable for law enforcement. Reporting by Gerardo Arbaiza; Edited by Noé Torres and Alexander Villegas and Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Merck could keep its patent edge by shifting Keytruda cancer drug to a simple shot
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

If successful, Merck could begin marketing the new formulation within a few years, a top Merck executive told Reuters. "The clock for that patent would start ticking from the time we would get that patent approved." Drug patents have a guaranteed term of exclusivity for 20 years after receiving a patent under U.S. law, but sometimes the companies are able to add additional patents that extend their exclusivity. Merck's patents on the subcutaneous version of Keytruda could protect that formulation until at least 2040, according to Tahir Amin, co-founder of drug patents watchdog group Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK). Northwell's Mulloy said moving patients to subcutaneous versions of drugs also opens up spots in infusion centers for additional patients.

As expert shoppers and product reviewers, we're here to make the holiday gifting process as simple as can be. If you're looking for gifts that ship out quickly and don't break the bank, look no further. Below, we've rounded up some of the best gifts you can find for $50 or less — for everyone on your list. To boot, you can find all of these products on Amazon for easy shopping, and shipping — most of the gifts on this list have fast, free Prime shipping. Keep reading for 55 of the best gifts you can snag on Amazon for $50 or less.

S&P 500 stocksAll 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led by real estate (.SPLRCR), down 2.81%, and a 2.74% loss in energy (.SPNY). The S&P 500 declined 1.54% to end the session at 3,963.95 points. With two trading days left in November, the S&P 500 is on track for a gain of 2.4% for the month. Trading was mixed in other heavyweight growth stocks, including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O). The S&P 500 posted 12 new highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 93 new highs and 174 new lows.

S&P 500 stocksAll 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led by real estate (.SPLRCR), down 2%, followed by a 1.91% loss in energy (.SPNY). In afternoon trading, the S&P 500 (.SPX) was down 1.20% at 3,977.86 points. Trading was mixed in other heavyweight growth stocks, including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O). Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 (.AD.SPX) by a 7.7-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 11 new highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 75 new highs and 120 new lows.

Rare protests in major Chinese cities over the weekend against the country's strict zero-COVID curbs have hit growth expectations in the world's second-largest economy. U.S.-listed shares of Chinese companies such as Bilibili Inc , Alibaba Group Holding Ltd , JD.com Inc , Baidu Inc and Nio Inc , however, eked out gains, rising between 1% and 2.2%. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 2.47-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and for a 1.95-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 11 new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 74 new highs and 102 new lows. Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Honduras declares national emergency over gang extortions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Congress must still approve the suspension of constitutional rights, though the security plan came into force on Thursday. The declaration also authorizes the Honduran government to make extraordinary use of public funds to combat criminal gangs known for involvement in illicit activities such as kidnapping and drug trafficking. The leftist president announced the new plan to combat extortion afflicting the impoverished Central American nation in a television broadcast. In exchange for a so-called "war tax", gangs offer protection or say that those who pay up will not be killed. The gangs have torched buses and killed drivers who did not pay the fee, prompting businesses and people to pay out of fear.

One highly recommended and inexpensive treatment is light therapy, which mimics the elements found in sunlight. Light therapy, in a nutshell, includes siting by or working near a light-emanating device that essentially mimics the elements of bright, natural light. When looking for a light therapy box, you want to search for something with 10,000-lux light. To use it most effectively, the light from the light box needs to enter your eyes indirectly. You should not replace regular in-person therapy sessions with light therapy, but it may be an affordable supplement.

☆ Greed is back with a vengeance on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Wall Street is now, dare we say, almost giddy. The Dow has surged 17% since the end of September, following the best month for the closely watched market barometer since 1976. The CNN Business Fear & Greed Index, which looks at seven indicators of market sentiment, is even showing signs of Greed and is not far from Extreme Greed levels. Clearly, investors are banking on smaller rate hikes. George Young, a portfolio manager with Villere & Co. said he’s bullish right now on smaller companies, since they aren’t as widely held as the mega cap blue chip market leaders.

Democratic state Rep. Yadira Caraveo made history as Colorado’s first Latina elected to Congress, according to NBC News projections. With 97% of the votes counted, Caraveo won 48.4% of the votes and Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer won 47.7%, according to the NBC News Decision Desk. Caraveo, a pediatrician and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2018. Pediatrician and Colorado State Senator Yadira Caraveo in Thornton, Colo., on Aug. 17, 2022. The first Hispanic member of Congress representing Colorado, John Salazar, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and served until 2011.

☆ Crypto stocks slide as FTX prepares for bankruptcy proceedings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 11 (Reuters) - Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related firms dropped on Friday after FTX, one of the biggest crypto exchanges, said it would initiate bankruptcy proceedings in the United States, triggering a potentially massive meltdown in the industry. Silvergate Capital (SI.N) declined 10%, leading the losses in the sector, while bitcoin holder MicroStrategy Inc (MSTR.O) slipped 2.6%. Bitcoin fell 3.6% to $16,919 as FTX Chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried said he will step down from his position. The turmoil at FTX, which has rescued other players during the crypto market's recent crash, has raised concerns about the future of the crypto industry. ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO.P) fell 8%, while Short Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITI.P) jumped 7.4%.

☆ Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ is being made into a TV series for Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A beloved teen novel is getting a Netflix adaptation. The streaming giant announced Thursday that Judy Blume’s popular 1975 novel “Forever” is being “reimagined” by writer/producer Mara Brock Akil for “a new generation.”“It’s an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts,” according to a press release. Akil is best known for creating hits like “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” “Being Mary Jane” and “Love Is.”“Judy Blume’s ability to capture the real emotions we experience during the various rites of passage of our youth influenced my life choices and writing voice. I’m honored to reimagine one of my favorite books, ‘Forever,’” Akil said in a statement. The series does not yet have a target premiere date.

Latino Republican voters appear more progressive than white Republican voters on key issues like abortion and climate change, according to NBC News exit polls. Around 57% of Latino Republican voters held this view, compared to 45% of white Republican voters. Nearly twice as many Latino Republican voters, 29%, approve of Biden’s student debt cancellation plans compared to white Republican voters, at 15%. Around 29% of Latino Republican voters and 46% of white Republican voters view inflation as the issue that mattered most in deciding how they voted. Similar numbers of Latino Republican voters, 93%, and white Republican voters, 96%, also reported that they disapprove of Biden.

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate race too close to call Wisconsin's Senate race between GOP Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes is too close to call, NBC News says. Vance wins Ohio Senate race, defeating Democrat Tim Ryan, NBC News projects COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.D. Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance is leading The Senate race in Ohio is too early to call, NBC News says, but Republican candidate J.D. Share this -Link copiedGeorgia Senate race too close to call Georgia's Senate race is too close to call about three hours after polls closed at 7 p.m.

Americans named inflation and abortion as the most important issues driving their vote on Tuesday, according to the NBC News Exit Poll. Democrats care most about abortion rights, while Republicans are most concerned about inflation, according to the poll. Midterm voters are also continuing to feel pain at the pump as gas prices in the U.S. hover around $4 per gallon. More voters say Biden's policies are hurting than helpingBiden fell short in persuading voters of the merits of his administration's policies, according to the poll. Black voters are one of the few demographic groups where a majority (55%) say Biden's policies are helping the country.

☆ Bank of America downgrades Tyson Foods ahead of earnings, citing worsening conditions in meat industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The future isn't looking very bright for Tyson Foods, according to Bank of America. In addition, the company has seen market share losses in prepared foods that it is working hard to regain. Beef, chicken headwinds Weaker industry fundamentals in beef will weigh on Tyson Foods going forward. Chicken prices have also slipped as production has increased, weighing on margins. Prepared foods The company recently made a change in its prepared foods division as it tries to regain losses.

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