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☆ What to know about Denzel Washington's family, including his actor kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Here's what to know about Washington's kids: John David, Katia, Malcolm, and Olivia. John David Washington, Washington's eldest child, stars as the lead. In 2018, John David Washington told Andscape that pursuing football was a way to escape being compared to his father. In 2020, John David Washington told Esquire that he didn't tell his father about the audition until he got the role. Katia Washington has worked on several movies, including "The Equalizer," which starred Denzel Washington, "Fences," which was directed by Denzel Washington, and "Malcolm & Marie," which stars John David Washington.

Persons: Denzel Washington's, John David, Katia, Malcolm, Olivia, Washington's, John David Washington, Katia Washington, Denzel Washington, Cuba Scott, Malcolm Washington's, Olivia Washington, Young Mama Ola, Mama Ola, Samuel L, Jackson, John David Washington John David Washington, Emma McIntyre, Andscape, It's, it's, Dwayne Johnson, — Pauletta, —, Spike Lee's, Christopher Nolan's, Tenet, Gareth Edwards, Katia Washington Katia Washington, Monica Schipper, Django, Marie, Malcolm Washington Malcolm Washington, Jon Kopaloff, Malcolm Washington, August Wilson, Tony, Wilson, Malcolm Washington cowrote, Oscar, Virgil Williams, Olivia Washington Olivia Washington, Amy Sussman, Latoya Richardson, Butler Organizations: Netflix, Washington, Paramount Pictures, Santa Barbara, Film, Campbell Hall High School, Morehouse College, Louis Rams, Germany's, NFL Europe, California Redwoods, United Football League, Hollywood, HBO, Broadway, Yale, Bron Studios, Windward School, University of Pennsylvania, American Film Institute, AP, Toronto Film, New York University's Tisch School, Arts, New York, New York Amsterdam News Locations: Cuba, Pauletta Washington, Washington, Atlanta, — Pauletta Washington, Hollywood, Canadian, LA, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, American, London's, California, New York Amsterdam

☆ 20 Miss Universe contestants who made history during the 2024 pageant
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

AdvertisementMultiple contestants made history at the 73rd Miss Universe competition on Saturday. This year also featured the oldest-ever contestant and the first to wear a hijab in the pageant. Miss Universe came back bigger than ever. Some countries, like Cuba and Samoa, returned to the Miss Universe stage after a long hiatus, while others made their grand debut. The 2024 competition also featured the oldest-ever Miss Universe contestant and the first contestant to wear a hijab in the pageant.

Persons: Miss Universe Organizations: 73rd Miss, Miss Locations: North Macedonia, Maldives, Cuba, Samoa

☆ Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe 2024, becoming the first Dane to ever win the competition. This year’s finale featured a performance by singer Robin Thicke and was hosted by “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. Theilvig participates in the Miss Universe competition at Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City on November 16, 2024. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesDelegates for each country were selected via local pageants that license local rights from the Miss Universe Organization. This year’s contest saw Cuba, represented by Marianela Ancheta, take part in Miss Universe for the first time since 1967.

Persons: Victoria Kjær Theilvig, Dane, Sheynnis Palacios, Robin Thicke, Mario Lopez, Olivia Culpo, Theilvig, “, ”, Chidimma, Maria Fernanda Beltran, Suchata, Ileana Marquez Pedroza, Malta’s Beatrice Njoya, —, Hector Vivas, Marianela Ancheta, Adetshina, Karen Celebertti, Palacios Organizations: CNN, Victoria, Miss, Bell, Miss Universe’s, Miss Universe Organization, Arena Ciudad de, Getty, Miss Universe, United Arab Locations: Denmark, Mexico City, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, Nigeria, Mexico, Thailand, Venezuela, Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Cuba, Belarus, Eritrea, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Miss Universe South Africa, Miss Universe Nicaragua, Nicaraguan

“We know they can do it.”More than 300,000 women served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Manning said. More than 9,000 women received Army Combat Action Badges for “actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy,” according to a 2015 report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. Two were given a Silver Star, the third-highest military combat decoration, for “gallantry in action,” the report said. Manning said another 383 women were awarded a Purple Heart — the nation’s oldest military award, which recognizes sacrifice and heroism. “To cast this wide net and say women shouldn’t serve in combat — well, guess what?

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, ”, hasn’t, ” Hegseth, Shawn Ryan, Ben Shapiro, “ I’m, Ash Carter, Shapiro, “ shouldn’t, Lory Manning, Manning, “, Allison Jaslow, Jaslow, ” Jaslow, Trump, Hegseth, Steven Cheung, Trump’s, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, ” Duckworth, Raquel Durden, shouldn’t Organizations: U.S, Army, NBC News, Fox News, Pentagon, Army Rangers, Green Berets, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, ”, Defense Department, Service, Congressional Research Service, Star, Afghanistan Veterans, Army’s Ranger, Republican, Army National Guard, CNN Locations: U.S, America, Iraq, Afghanistan, California, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense and a former Fox News host, was investigated in 2017 over "an alleged sexual assault" at a California hotel that was hosting a gathering of Republican women, police said Friday. The National Federation of Republican Women was holding a convention at the hotel at the time, according to the organization's website. Fox News, the National Federation of Republican Women and Hyatt Regency hotels did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hegseth's last day at Fox News was Tuesday, the day of Trump’s announcement, the network said earlier. He began working at Fox News in 2014 and began co-hosting “Fox & Friends Weekend” in 2017.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, Hegseth, “, ”, Timothy Parlatore, Parlatore, Steven Cheung, Trump, Cheung, Hegseth's Organizations: Fox News, Republican, Monterey police, Police, Hyatt Regency Monterey, Del, National Federation of Republican Women, Vanity Fair, Trump, United, Defense, Fox, Hyatt Regency, Army National Guard Locations: California, Monterey, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, Del Monte, Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, has said that he believes women should not serve in combat and that he wants to see the military purged of “woke” officials who support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Neither Fox News nor Trump’s transition team immediately responded to requests for comment about Hegseth’s on-air remarks about the military. Hegseth was an Army National Guard infantry officer, serving tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. “I’m straight up just saying that we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said on the podcast. “Who?” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said on Capitol Hill when he was asked Tuesday evening about Trump’s picking Hegseth.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, “, ”, Trump’s, Hegseth, Trump, Pete, Shawn Ryan, CQ Brown, ” Hegseth, hasn’t, Qassam, Edward Gallagher, “ They’re, Gallagher, Richard Spencer, Daniel Penny, Penny, Jeffrey Prosperie, ” Prosperie, Matt Gaetz, Sen, Marco Rubio, Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, I’m, he’s, Gretchen Carlson, Hegseth’s, Brian Kilmeade, ” Sen, Bill Cassidy, “ I’m, Mike Rounds Organizations: Fox News, Trump, “ Fox & Friends, Fox, Army National Guard, Defense Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force, Pentagon, U.S, Navy SEAL, Marine, Associated Press, Democrat, Weekend Fox, Defense, Friends, Hegseth’s Fox News, Senate, Capitol Locations: America, Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, U.S, Iran, New York City, Marco Rubio of Florida

☆ Pete Hegseth: Trump’s Pentagon pick aims for clash with top military leadership
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

A Princeton and Harvard grad, Hegseth was CEO of the conservative veteran’s advocacy organization, Concerned Veterans for America, beginning in 2006. He has 20 years’ experience in the military, having served in the Army National Guard as an infantry officer from 2002 to 2021 and leaving service as a major, according to military service records. He also worked as a guard at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from June 2004 to April 2005. Hegseth has been awarded two Bronze Stars from his combat service. In one June interview on Fox, Hegseth bemoaned the state of the US military’s procurement system and the threat posed by China’s growing military.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, CQ Brown, —, “ Fox, ”, Trump, ” John Noonan, ‘ You’ve, Hugh Hewitt, “, they’re, Shawn Ryan, you’ve, ” Hegseth, Brown, Staff —, shouldn’t, Obama, Ben Shapiro, America Allison Jaslow —, who’ve, ” Jaslow, –, Biden, neocon, Hegseth –, neocon ”, he’s, ’, they’ve, Vladimir Putin’s “, Ryan, King, warcrimes, Matthew Golsteyn, Clint Lorance –, Eddie Gallagher, Mark Esper, Gallagher, Golsteyn, Lorance, Jaslow, Tim Parlatore, “ Everyone’s, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Joint Chiefs, Army National Guard, Star, Pentagon, Trump, Princeton, Harvard grad, Veterans, Republican, Defense Department, Armed, Navy, of Defense, Staff, Air Force, Army Ranger School, Army Special Forces, Naval, Warfare Command, Afghanistan Veterans, Ranger School, Defense, Iraq, Fox, United, “ Fox, ”, warcrimes CNN, United States Senate Locations: China, Ukraine, America, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Washington, United States, Washington ,, Trump, Europe, Poland

☆ Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean and heads toward ‘life-threatening’ impact with Central America
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Tropical Storm Sara is here and closing in on Central America where it will unleash disastrous flooding rain in the region. The storm will bring “life-threatening” flooding rainfall up to 30 inches to Honduras and double-digit rainfall totals to other parts of Central America, the NHC warned. This scenario would bring strong winds and torrential rain to Central America, but could keep the storm away from the US entirely or have it approach as a very weak storm. It would still unleash life-threatening flooding rainfall in Central America and head for dangerous strike on Belize and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. This would bring more substantial impacts to Central America, the Yucatán and Belize and a much more troubling forecast for the US.

Persons: Sara, that’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, Florida Keys, NHC Locations: Central America, of Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, It’s, Mexico, Florida, Cuba, Belize, Caribbean, Gulf Coast

NBC News has reported that the Trump administration plans to end Biden's programs, possibly making those who have not yet received asylum eligible for deportation. Since then, Nicaragua has become a popular hub for migrants from Latin America and Africa trying to reach the U.S. Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard recently suggested that his government could retaliate with its own tariffs on U.S. imports if the Trump administration imposes tariffs on Mexican exports. VenezuelaDuring Trump’s first term, Venezuela was at the forefront of his Latin America policy. “You have to address Cuba’s impact on migration across the region,” said Trujillo, who is Cuban American.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Carlos Trujillo, Biden, ”, Trujillo, “, Trump, Trump’s, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Claudia Sheinbaum, López Obrador, Marcelo Ebrard, Nicolás Maduro, Juan Guaidó, Maduro, Cuba Trump, Barack, liberalizing, Sheinbaum, Trump's Organizations: Central American, Organization of American, Trump, Border Patrol, Triangle, “, Asylum, U.S, NBC News, Economy, United, United Nations, European Union, Cuban Communist Party Locations: Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, U.S, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Latin America, Africa, Cuban, Cuban American, United States, China, Russia, Beijing, Havana

CNN —Argentine delegates at the COP29 United Nations climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, have been ordered to withdraw from negotiations and return home, according to a source at the country’s foreign ministry. He is expected to travel to the United States this week to attend a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) summit at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Milei came to power less than a year ago, running on a libertarian platform, and has since implemented drastic social and economic measures in Argentina. Other cuts to public services have so far included shutting down the Argentina national press agency Télam and several ministries. Abortions were legalized in Argentina in 2021 in all cases up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Biden, “, ”, John Podesta, Javier Milei, ” Milei, Milei, ” Javier Milei, UNGA, Michael M, Diana Mondino, CNNE, Donald Trump, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Argentine, COP29, White, UN, Assembly, United Nations, Conservative Political, Argentina national Locations: Nations, Baku, Azerbaijan, Paris, Argentina, New York City, Cuba, Venezuela, United States, Mar, Lago , Florida, Buenos Aires

☆ How Pete Hegseth went from Fox News host to Trump’s Defense Secretary pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Two years ago, Pete Hegseth relocated his family from New Jersey, near Fox News headquarters, to a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee. On Tuesday evening, President-elect Donald Trump said Hegseth is his pick for Defense Secretary – a decision that shocked even some of his friends at Fox. Hegseth and Rauchet disclosed their relationship to Fox management when Rauchet was pregnant (and Hegseth was still married). After returning home from Iraq in 2006, Hegseth wrote that more troops were urgently needed. Hegseth wrote “Modern Warriors” in 2020 and “War on Warriors” earlier this year, both for Fox’s book imprint.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Friends ”, Biden, Donald Trump, Hegseth, –, Pete, “, Trump, ” Hegseth, ”, Roger Ailes, Ailes, buzzed, Hegseth’s, Samantha, Jennifer Rauchet, Rauchet, Kaitlan Collins, George W, Bear Stearns, Amy Klobuchar, Glenn Beck’s, Tucker Carlson, Jack Carr, Bernstein, he’d, Fox, Carr Organizations: New, New York CNN, Fox News, “ Fox, Friends, Fox, Army, Department of Defense, Inside Fox, Trump National Golf, Nashville Christian, CNN, Princeton University, New Jersey Army National Guard, National Guard, Harvard University, White, Trump, Department of Veterans Affairs, Twitter, Fox Nation, Veterans, Warriors, FOX News Media, Princeton Locations: New York, New Jersey, Nashville , Tennessee, Washington, DC, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, United States, Bear, Guantanamo, Minnesota, Nashville, Tennessee

HAVANA — A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling. The rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba. The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba. First, it was hit by island-wide blackouts stretching on for days, a product of the island’s energy crisis. The blackouts and wider discontent among many struggling to get by has stoked small protests across the island.

Persons: Yolanda Tabío, hadn’t, “, ”, Rafael Organizations: United States Geological Survey, Residents, Associated Press Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Bartolomé Masó, Santiago de Cuba, Santiago, Cuba’s

☆ 6.8 magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of eastern Cuba
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-10 | by ( Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Cuba on Sunday, causing material damage in several regions as the island continues to recover from widespread blackouts and the impact of two hurricanes over the past few weeks. The municipality of Pilón has suffered “a lot of damage,” according to Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba. Residents in eastern Cuba told Reuters that the tremor was as powerful as any they’ve felt before. In other occasions, we’ve felt the earthquake but not as strong as now,” Griselda Fernandez said. The quake was also felt in the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin and Guantánamo, where the deadly Hurricane Oscar struck last month.

Persons: Miguel Díaz, Canel, Enrique Diego Arango Arias, “, haven’t, ”, we’ve, ” Griselda Fernandez, Oscar, Rafael, shockwaves Organizations: CNN, United States Geological Survey, National Seismological Service, Facebook, Reuters, Santiago de Cuba, US, Tsunami Warning Locations: Cuba, Bartolomé, Granma Province, Pilón, Santiago de, Holguin, Guantánamo, Havana, Florida, Miami

The exact number of people who could face deportation after arriving in the U.S. legally is not known, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Trump’s plan to end the two Biden programs comes as the president-elect’s promised plan to carry out mass deportations is taking clearer shape. The sources cautioned, though, that they may not be considered top priorities for deportation after Trump takes office, but could still be deported eventually. Since the migrants entered the U.S. legally, any attempt by Trump to deport them will likely be challenged in court by various groups. Trump used a similar policy at the end of his first term when the U.S. deported migrants from third countries to Guatemala.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Biden, elect’s, Trump, Trump’s Organizations: U.S, NBC News, Biden, NBC, Migrants, Trump, CBP, Enforcement Locations: U.S, United States, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Guatemala

☆ Hurricane Rafael moves across Gulf of Mexico as a rare major November storm while Cuba recovers
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Rafael was moving west across the Gulf of Mexico Friday morning as the first major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in November for almost 40 years, bringing the threat of life-threatening conditions to the southern United States coastline. Forecasters said the storm could cause dangerous surf and rip-tides across the whole Gulf region in the coming days, after causing havoc in Cuba where millions are still without power. ET Rafael was 585 miles east of the mouth of the Rio Grande with sustained wind speeds of 120 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane, moving west at a rate of 9 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Rafael is now tied with Hurricane Kate in 1985 as the strongest storms recorded in the Gulf. The storm is expected to weaken throughout the weekend, but it could still produce tropical storm-force winds — which is between 39 and 73 mph — up to 115 miles from its center.

Persons: Rafael, Hurricane Kate, Miguel Díaz Organizations: National Hurricane Center Locations: Gulf, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, United, Cuba, Rio

Hurricane Rafael has turned to the west after lashing Cuba where it knocked out the country’s electrical grid, leaving its 10 million residents in the dark. Rafael will continue to move away from western Cuba on Thursday and will weaken over the central Gulf of Mexico. “On the forecast track, Rafael is expected to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico for the next few days,” the National Hurricane Center said. A man walks through a darkened street due to a blackout after the pass of hurricane Rafael in Havana, on Wednesday. I hope all the power will be restored when the storm is over,” Havana resident Mabel Suarez told Reuters.

Persons: Rafael, Yamil Lage, Mabel Suarez Organizations: National Hurricane Center, Locals, Reuters, ”, The Associated Press Locations: Cuba, Cuban, Artemisa, Key West , Florida, Mexico, “, Havana, AFP, Florida, ” Havana

☆ Cuba's power grid collapses as Hurricane Rafael lashes the island
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA — Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed on Wednesday as Hurricane Rafael slammed into the island’s southwest shore, packing sustained winds of 115 mph and wreaking havoc on the already crisis-stricken country. The hurricane was churning about 60 miles west of Cuba’s capital Havana on Wednesday night, after lashing the capital city of nearly two million people with driving rain and violent wind gusts. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center warned of a “life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding” across much of western Cuba. Cuba’s state-run grid operator UNE said the high winds had caused the country’s electrical system to collapse. Forecasters predict Rafael will spin off towards the western Gulf of Mexico later this week, though the track remains uncertain, the hurricane center said.

Persons: Rafael, Havana’s Jose, Ydael Pérez Brito, Oscar, Adalbero Roque Organizations: Hurricane Center, Police, Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport, Pinar del, Farmers, Agriculture, Communist, Getty Locations: HAVANA, Cuba’s, Havana, Miami, Cuba, State, Varadero, Cayo Largo, Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, AFP, Venezuela, Russia, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Gulf

☆ Hurricane Rafael tracker: See map, forecast and status
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

It’s forecast to move near or just east of Cuba’s Isle of Youth on Wednesday afternoon and make landfall in western Cuba later on Wednesday. Rafael is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding to portions of western Cuba, forecasters warned. Hurricane conditions are expected in western Cuba and the Isle of Youth on Wednesday. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected for the lower and middle Florida Keys. Several tornadoes are also possible through Wednesday evening over the Florida Keys and far southwestern Florida mainland.

Persons: Rafael, Sancti, Ciego de Avila Organizations: NHC, Saffir, Simpson, Cayman, Pinar, Villa Clara, Florida Locations: Cuba’s Isle, Cuba, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Cuban, Pinar del Rio, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Isle, Villa, Cienfuegos, Florida, Key, Caribbean, U.S

☆ Living the remote life, how to practice self-care, poignant Titanic postcard: Catch up on the day’s stories
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Daniel Wine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. The day after a high-stakes presidential election usually brings elation on one side and dejection for the other. Now’s the time to take a breather and practice a little self-care. Today, the suburban New York dad has dedicated his life — and developed a video game — to help save other young people from overdoses. 3️⃣ Poignant postcard: In 1912, a first-class passenger on the Titanic scrawled a message in pencil to someone back home in England.

Persons: ake, ike, rance, riends, tim, Tod, Coll, egon, Georg, Richard Locations: ife, nsw, Ohio

☆ Hurricane Rafael is rapidly intensifying on its path toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hurricane Rafael, a Category 2 with 100 mph sustained winds, is rapidly intensifying in the Caribbean as it bears down on Cuba Wednesday. It will be a strong Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall in western Cuba Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Rafael is the strongest hurricane to roam the northwestern Caribbean in November since 2009, according to data from the NOAA. It’s forecast to become only the fifth hurricane to roam the Gulf of Mexico in November since 1966, according to hurricane expert Michael Lowry. Different forecast model solutions (colored lines) for Rafael's track are overlaid on the official forecast cone (grey) from the National Hurricane Center.

Persons: Rafael, Michael Lowry Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, NOAA, Florida Panhandle, Storm, Weather Locations: Caribbean, Cuba, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Gulf, of Mexico, Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia

☆ 'Fat Leonard,' Navy contractor behind bribery scheme, sentenced to 15 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

SAN DIEGO — Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.

Persons: Leonard “, Leonard ” Francis, Janis L, Sammartino, Francis, Prosecutors, Leonard’s, Leonard, “ Leonard Francis, Tara McGrath, ” Prosecutors, Francis ’, overcharge, snipped, — Organizations: DIEGO, U.S . Navy, U.S, Navy, Attorney’s, . Naval, ”, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd, Prosecutors, Simon Bolivar International Locations: masterminding, Venezuela, ” U.S, Singapore, Malaysian, Asia, Kobe, Thailand, Philippines, Southeast Asia, San Diego, Mexico, Cuba, Caracas, Russia

Harris and Trump project confidence headed into Election Day. The battle between Harris and Trump comes to a headLeila Register / NBC News; Getty ImagesElection Day has arrived. Mark Duncan / AP fileOrganizers of the embryonic Women’s Professional Baseball League hope to have six teams in caps and cleats by the summer of 2026. But league officials have one big question to answer that’s not entirely clear: Where do they find these female players? However, league officials are confident they can put a good product on the field in a few years.

Persons: Harris, Rafael, Trump, Leila, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” She’ll, ”, he’ll, Harris ’, Boeing machinists, Kelly Ortberg, ’, Rafael churns, Read, Justine Siegal, Mark Duncan, That’s, — David K, Li, Alo Yoga, Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: Trump, U.S, NBC, Getty, Democratic, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Howard University, Washington , D.C, Convention, Biden, Boeing, Workers, DHL, National Hurricane Center, MLB, University of Florida, University of Georgia, Professional Baseball League Locations: Canada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada , North Carolina , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington ,, North Carolina, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Beach, New Hampshire, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, North America, Florida, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba

☆ Tropical Storm Rafael to become a hurricane before Cuba landfall Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Hanna Park | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —While Tropical Storm Rafael winds remained consistent Monday night, the storm is forecast to strengthen Tuesday and become a hurricane Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the western Caribbean and southern Florida by midweek. Tropical storm watch alerts were issued for the Florida Keys on Monday, joining the existing warnings for Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The Cuban provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila, are under Tropical Storm Warnings after being upgraded from Tropical Storm Watch. Ilda Gallardo and her daughter Marley Millian watch a local TV news program as Tropical Storm Rafael approaches, in Playa Baracoa, Cuba, November 4, 2024. Tropical Storm Rafael will also create rough seas and significant storm surges, with expected inundation of up to 3 feet in the Cayman Islands and as much as 9 feet in western Cuba above normal tide levels.

Persons: Rafael, Villa Clara, Sancti, Ciego de Avila, Ilda Gallardo, Marley, Norlys Perez, Milton, Michael Lowry Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, Islands, Hurricane, Wednesday, Florida, Tropical Storm, NHC, Reuters, Radio Jamaica News, Tropical Locations: Caribbean, Florida, Kingston , Jamaica, Grand, Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman, Cayman Islands, Gulf Coast, Cuban, Cienfuegos, Islands, Playa Baracoa, Mexico

☆ ‘Fat Leonard,’ Navy contractor behind one of the military’s biggest scandals, sentenced to 15 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

San Diego AP —Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.

Persons: Leonard “, Leonard ” Francis, Janis L, Sammartino, Francis, Prosecutors, Leonard’s, Leonard, “ Leonard Francis, Tara McGrath, ” Prosecutors, Francis ’, overcharge, snipped, — Organizations: Diego AP, Former, U.S . Navy, U.S, Navy, Attorney’s, . Naval, ”, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd, Prosecutors, Simon Bolivar International Locations: masterminding, Venezuela, ” U.S, Singapore, Malaysian, Asia, Kobe, Thailand, Philippines, Southeast Asia, San Diego, Mexico, Cuba, Caracas, Russia

A disturbance in the Caribbean strengthened into Tropical Storm Rafael on Monday afternoon. Rafael is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and will be the 11th hurricane if it strengthens further, as expected. The storm system is expected to approach the United States later in the week, the hurricane center said, and a tropical storm watch was issued Monday afternoon for the lower and middle Florida Keys and for the Dry Tortugas. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Cayman Islands, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for Jamaica. The government of Cuba issued a hurricane watch for a handful of provinces, and a tropical storm watch for other areas.

Persons: Storm Rafael, Rafael Organizations: Storm, Monday, National Hurricane Center, Atlantic, NHC Locations: Caribbean, Kingston , Jamaica, United States, Florida, Gulf, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba

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