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PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a 20-year concession for a Canadian copper mine that has been the focus of widespread environmental protests was unconstitutional. In March, Panama’s legislature reached an agreement with First Quantum allowing Minera Panama to continue operating the huge copper mine for at least 20 more years. The dispute over the mine led to some of Panama's most widespread protests in recent years, including a blockade of the mine’s power plant. A court decision that declared the contract unconstitutional was the last opportunity for opponents to get it thrown out. The Canadian government said it respected Tuesday's ruling and was following the contract negotiation closely.

Persons: —, Raisa Banfield, “, ”, Jean, Pierre J, ” ___ Rob Gillies Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Minerals, Pan, Naval, Panamanians, National Assembly, government’s Global Affairs Department Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Panama’s, Costa Rica, Minera Panama, Colon province, Toronto, America, Caribbean

☆ EU is ill-equipped to meet growing global threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The snag is that EU countries are ever more reluctant to give up their right to block collective actions. Meanwhile, rivalry between the United States and China – and a green subsidy race between the world's two largest economies – is undermining the world trading system. The response of EU countries to the Gaza conflict has also been shambolic, both individually and collectively. Yet EU countries are also grappling with nationalistic currents, the latest demonstration of which is last week’s election victory by Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician who has long campaigned on an anti-immigrant and anti-EU ticket. But it is not clear that EU countries want to find a way to speed up collective decision-making.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Geert Wilders, Olivier Costa, Jan Zielonka, Erik Jones, keener, Annalena, Shahin Vallée, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European, NATO, EU, United Nations General Assembly, Franco, Britain, IF, College of Europe, Oxford University, European University Institute, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, United States, China, EU, People's Republic, Gaza, Dutch, Washington, Beijing, Germany, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Berlin, Franco, Russia

☆ Environmental groups take Portugal to court over climate inaction
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Students of Camoes school shout slogans from inside the school after blocking the entrance as a protest for climate change and against the use of fossil fuels in Lisbon, Portugal, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Environmental groups have filed a legal action in a Lisbon court against Portugal over an alleged failure to put into practice its own regulation to tackle climate change, they said on Monday. Portugal approved in 2021 a set of regulatory policies and legal instruments to combat climate change, but the three environmental groups - Ultimo Recurso, Quercus and Sciaena - say "little progress" has been made to meet goals and deadlines. They also said the government had not fully implemented measures of its national energy and climate plan (PNEC) as well as sector-specific policies for climate mitigation. Every deadline we miss ... increases the likelihood of catastrophic climate events," said Francisca Costa, from Ultimo Recurso, which means "last resort" in Portuguese.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Ultimo, Francisca Costa, Ultimo Recurso, Catarina Demony, Mark Potter Organizations: of Camoes, REUTERS, Rights, Renewables, London School of Economics, Political Science, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Rights LISBON, Portuguese

Here are some of the main players and negotiating blocs involved in the COP28 conference starting Nov. 30 in Dubai. In climate negotiations, Beijing argues that wealthy developed countries like the United States, the biggest historical CO2 emitter, should move first and fastest in climate policy and finance. Despite having the world's second largest economy after the United States, China considers itself as a developing nation in the climate talks. But U.S. delegates will face pressure for climate finance after Washington pledged no new climate cash to the United Nations this year. AFRICAN GROUP OF NEGOTIATORSAfrican countries will be pushing at COP28 for climate finance and financial mechanisms to speed up green energy projects.

Persons: Rula, Kate Abnett, Katy Daigle, Josie Kao Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, UNITED, Washington, United Nations, EU, GROUP, Marshall, European Union, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, Dubai . CHINA China, China, Beijing, United States, U.S, Union, United, United Kingdom, London, Brazil, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, CHINA, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mozambique, Vanuatu, Costa Rica

☆ Pack your jerseys. The era of 'sports tourism' is here
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Randy Mulyanto | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sports tourism, as it's called, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. "The sport tourism market will continue as long as new opportunities to play and compete exist," she said. Justin Setterfield | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesFor some countries, these events are an opportunity to raise their international standing. Patrick Smith | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesTravel + Leisure Co. and Sports Illustrated Resorts announced plans to open a network of sports-themed resorts in American college towns. Ryan Pierse | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Persons: Lisa Delpy Neirotti, George, Neirotti, Delpy, Justin Setterfield, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dustin Johnson, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Delpy Neirotti, Lewis Hamilton, Kym Illman, Jay Wardle, Narendra Modi, Robert Cianflone, Gianni Infantino, Major League Baseball —, Patrick Smith, GetYourGuide, Ryan Pierse Organizations: Summer, Games, Sports, United Nations World Tourism Organization, George Washington University's, Management, Sport, Padres, NFL, MLB, FIFA, Getty, CNBC Travel, Saudi Crown, Fox News, Adara, ICC Men's Cricket, The Bank of Baroda Economics Research, Narendra, MotoGP, Rugby, Las Vegas, Companies, Major League Baseball, Sports Illustrated Resorts, University of Alabama —, McLaren Technology, U.S ., CNBC, Olympic Games, Olympic Locations: Mexico City, Germany, London, Brisbane, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Indonesia, France, United States, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, U.S, New York

Many countries are working on them — and neither China, Russia, Iran, India or Pakistan have signed a U.S.-initiated pledge to use military AI responsibly. Another AI project at Space Force analyzes radar data to detect imminent adversary missile launches, he said. One urgent challenge, says Jane Pinelis, chief AI engineer at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab and former chief of AI assurance in Martell’s office, is recruiting and retaining the talent needed to test AI tech. Testing and evaluation standards are also immature, a recent National Academy of Sciences report on Air Force AI highlighted. Might that mean the U.S. one day fielding under duress autonomous weapons that don’t fully pass muster?

Persons: —, Replicator —, Kathleen Hicks, ”, Gregory Allen, we’ve, Missy Cummings, George Mason, Lisa Costa, Wallace ‘ Rhet ’ Turnbull, Tom Siebel, Matt Visser, Palantir, Jack Shanahan, Maven, Mark Milley, Christian Brose, Paul Scharre, ” Anduril, Nathan Michael, Michael, Shanahan, Craig Martell, Martell, Jane Pinelis, “ Organizations: U.S ., Russia, Air Force, China, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Navy, ” U.S . Space Force, Space Force, Space Systems Command, Blackhawk, ., U.S . Missile Defense Agency, Defense Counterintelligence, Security Agency, Third Infantry Division, NATO, Maven, National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, U.S . Special Operations, ISIS, Command, Control, Chiefs, Armed Services Committee, U.S, Marines, Special Forces, Industry, BAT, Marine Expeditionary, Pentagon AI, LinkedIn, Johns Hopkins, Lab, National Academy of Sciences Locations: Md, Ukraine, U.S, China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, ” U.S, Silicon Valley

☆ Some Migrants Are Swapping Their American Dream for a Mexican One
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

So when Banegas fled gang threats in Honduras once more in 2021, he set his sights not on the United States, but Mexico. He gets along with his Mexican coworkers, he said, and he's proud his six-month-old son, David, is a Mexican citizen. The vast majority of migrants who enter Mexico continue north toward the U.S., posing challenges for the Biden administration. U.S., Mexican and U.N. officials have called for regional cooperation to help migrants resettle in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia, aiming to reduce illegal migration to the U.S. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Laura Gottesdiener in Saltillo; Editing by Christian Plumb and Suzanne Goldenberg)

Persons: Laura Gottesdiener, Beth Solomon, Walter Banegas, Banegas, Long, he's, David, Biden, Giovanni Lepri, Arturo Rocha, Jose Medina Mora, Fernando Hernandez, Kaitlyn, Hernandez, Daina Beth Solomon, Christian Plumb, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: United, Pace Industries, UNHCR, U.S, ASK Locations: Beth Solomon SALTILLO, Mexico, Mexican, Saltillo, Honduran, Honduras, United States, United Nations, Michigan, U.S, Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Texas, Monterrey, Chang's, Mexico City

☆ Montenegro court approves extradition of 'cryptocurrency king' Do Kwon
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur, who created the failed Terra (UST) stablecoin, is taken to court in Podgorica, Montenegro, March 24, 2023. The decision will be made after Do Kwon completes serving his prison sentence for document forgery, the court said. A South Korean national, Kwon is the former CEO of South Korea-based Terraform Labs, the company behind the stablecoin TerraUSD that collapsed in May 2022, roiling cryptocurrency markets. Following Kwon's arrest, the U.S. District Court in Manhattan made public an eight-count indictment against him for securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud and conspiracy. In late May, a Montenegrin court scrapped a bail of 800,000 euros for the pair, saying it could not be taken as a solid guarantee, nor their promise they would not run away once released from detention.

Persons: Kwon, Stevo, Do Kwon, Kwon ´, Han Chang, joon, Daria Sito, Mark Potter Organizations: UST, REUTERS, Rights, Police, Terraform Labs, Court, Korean, Labs, U.S, Thomson Locations: Podgorica, Montenegro, Rights SARAJEVO, South Korea, United States, U.S, Rican, Montenegrin, Dubai, Manhattan

☆ I talked to 263 of the world’s longest-living people—these 9 health rules make them 'longevity champions'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Dan Buettner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Based on my interviews with 263 people ages 100 or older, I've found that the world's longevity champions conduct themselves based on what I call the "Power 9." People in the Blue Zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening, and they don't eat any more the rest of the day. Plant slantBeans, including fava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most Blue Zones diets. Wine at 5 p.m.People in Blue Zones, even some Adventists, drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Put loved ones firstCentenarians in the Blue Zones keep aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home, which studies show can lower the disease and mortality rates of their children.

Persons: I've, Loma, outlive Organizations: Research Locations: Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Costa Rica, Ikaria, Greece, Loma Linda , California

So when Banegas fled gang threats in Honduras once more in 2021, he set his sights not on the United States, but Mexico. He gets along with his Mexican coworkers, he said, and he's proud his six-month-old son, David, is a Mexican citizen. 'VERY SOLID OPTION'A decade ago, a few hundred people annually received asylum in Mexico. The vast majority of migrants who enter Mexico continue north toward the U.S., posing challenges for the Biden administration. U.S., Mexican and U.N. officials have called for regional cooperation to help migrants resettle in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia, aiming to reduce illegal migration to the U.S.

Persons: Walter Banegas, Daniel Becerril, Banegas, Long, he's, David, Biden, Giovanni Lepri, Arturo Rocha, Jose Medina Mora, Fernando Hernandez, Kaitlyn, Hernandez, Daina Beth Solomon, Laura Gottesdiener, Christian Plumb, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Pace, REUTERS, Rights, United, Pace Industries, UNHCR, U.S, ASK, Thomson Locations: Honduras, Mexico, Saltillo , Mexico, Rights SALTILLO, Mexican, Saltillo, Honduran, United States, United Nations, Michigan, U.S, Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Texas, Monterrey, Chang's, Mexico City

☆ The ultimate work perk? This company provides a free place to stay in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Marylou Costa | Shalbha Sarda | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But employees of the Polish company PhotoAid needn't bother. The company, which helps travelers take their own passport photos at home, allows its employees to stay at an apartment in Spain for free — provided they work while they're there. Employees can stay up to three weeks at a time at the Tenerife apartment and can visit as many times as they like. How the 'workcations' workPhotoAid is a small company with a young workforce, so most employees don't have children, said Mlodzki. Source: PhotoAid

Persons: PhotoAid, Rafal Mlodzki, Mlodzki, Marcin, Tomasz Mlodzki —, —, Aleksandra Staromiejska, Staromiejska, Michel Jonca Organizations: Employees, CNBC Travel Locations: Spain, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Morocco, Warsaw, Tenerife's, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, vermouth, Workation, Macizo, Poland

Some 165 photographers working on assignment for National Geographic shot more than 2.1 million images in 2023. The feature — published in the magazine's December issue and online in November — contains "stunning photographs that unearth remarkable, rarely seen moments," according to National Geographic. Louie PaluThe training was conducted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to National Geographic. A journey homeThis harrowing photograph by Renan Ozturk — a former National Geographic "Adventurer of the Year" — captures a journey home. Today India celebrates "National Technology Day" annually on May 11 to commemorate the 1998 tests.

Persons: Kiliii Yuyan, Kiliii, Yuyan, Louie Palu, Liam Burke, Alexander Semenov, Renan Ozturk —, Renan Ozturk, Michael —, Nenad Sestan, Max Aguilera, Chinky Shukla, Taj Mohammad, Chinky Shukla Mohammad, Jaime Rojo Organizations: National Geographic, Pictures, Geographic, CNBC, NATO, Yale University, Yale, World Health Organization, India Locations: Rock, Palau, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, U.S, Ukraine, Finland, United States, Sandwich Islands, New Delhi, Rajasthan, India, Pokhran

☆ Portugal's Attorney General Says She's Not Responsible for PM Costa's Downfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sergio GoncalvesLISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's Attorney General Lucilia Gago on Thursday rejected criticism from the ruling Socialist Party (PS) that she was responsible for Prime Minister Antonio Costa's resignation because of her probe into alleged irregularities in his administration. Costa stepped down on Nov. 7 over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects. Prosecutors said Costa was also the target of a related probe, but he has denied wrongdoing. Santos Silva said some in the judicial system viewed political activity as "by nature suspicious and tend to criminalize political and governmental action." He demanded the justice system decide Costa's case before the snap election.

Persons: Sergio Goncalves LISBON, Lucilia Gago, Antonio Costa's, Gago, Costa, illegalities, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Augusto Santos Silva, Santos Silva, Sergio Goncalves, Charlie Devereux, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Portugal's, Socialist Party, Prosecutors Locations: Costa

☆ Longevity clinics are a new hot spot for the ultrawealthy. Here are 5 of the top destinations — which can cost more than $50,000 a week.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Longevity clinics appear to be growing in popularity among some rich people looking to live longer. Many of these clinics offer extensive diagnostic tests and personalized care plans. "The best longevity advice is something only the rich have access to today," one expert says. One of the few exceptions, he said, are high-end longevity clinics that offer science-based and highly personalized guidance — even though they're inaccessible to most people. From Switzerland to Costa Rica — take a look at some of the world's most elite longevity clinics.

Persons: —, Matt Fellowes, Fellowes Organizations: Service, Stanford Center, Longevity, Global Wellness Institute, Costa Rica — Locations: Switzerland, Costa Rica

☆ Scientists identify new dinosaur species from footprints in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's geological service on Thursday announced a new species of dinosaur, a speedy animal that lived in the desert during the early Cretaceous period. "From the large distance between the footprints found, it is possible to deduce that it was a very fast reptile that ran across the ancient dunes," the geological service said in a statement. The fossilized dinosaur "trackways," as scientists call them, were first found in the 1980s by Italian priest and paleontologist Giuseppe Leonardi in what today is the city of Araraquara, in Sao Paulo state. The footprints are different from all other known dinosaur footprints, said MCTer paleontologist Rafael Costa. Reporting by Jake Spring and Eduardo Simoes; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giuseppe Leonardi, Leonardi, Rafael Costa, Jake Spring, Eduardo Simoes, Brendan O'Boyle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: SAO PAULO, Brazil's Museum, Earth Sciences, Thomson Locations: Araraquara, Sao Paulo

China, the world's second-largest economy, is already a major investor in South America and has offered tariff-free access to its huge consumer market to four countries. But Uruguay faces opposition from other members of the Mercosur bloc who want to settle an FTA with Europe instead. By comparison, other major beef exporters Australia and New Zealand, which have FTAs with China, pay tariffs at 3.3% and 0%. The elevation of ties with Uruguay to the level of Brazil and Argentina also pushes the remaining Mercosur member Paraguay further outside China's global trade and investment network. Agriculture-dependent Paraguay, whose main exports include beef and soybeans, is the last South American nation that has ties with democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, and not with Beijing.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Luis Lacalle Pou, Florence Lo, Lacalle Pou, Xi, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Ella Cao, Toby Chopra, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Chizu Nomiyama, Alexander Smith Organizations: Uruguayan, of, People, REUTERS, New Development Bank BEIJING, Mercosur, South, Nations, New Development Bank, China, United, Mercosur CET, National Meat Institute of, China's National Bureau of Statistics, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil Mercosur, American, Brazil, South America, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Shanghai, United States, MERCOSUR Uruguay, Brussels, Montevideo, Mercosur, National Meat Institute of Uruguay, Paraguay, Taiwan

☆ Costa Rica makes first-ever fentanyl gang arrests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Four suspects were taken into custody, two Costa Ricans and two Colombians, along with 1,100 fentanyl pills in an operation backed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that included raids in three towns in central Costa Rica, Security Minister Mario Zamora said at a press conference. The arrests "raises alarms because it confirms the presence of fentanyl" in Costa Rica, said Zamora. As of last month, Costa Rican authorities had been carrying out 10 fentanyl investigations since last year, according to government data. Violent crime in Costa Rica has surged this year with homicides at a record, and the growth blamed on gang turf battles over the country's role as a major transit point for the illicit trade. The fentanyl arrests come as around 70% of Costa Ricans disapprove of President Rodrigo Chaves' crime fighting record, according to a recent poll.

Persons: Mario Zamora, Zamora, Rodrigo Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, David Alire Garcia, Bill Berkrot Organizations: JOSE, Costa Ricans, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomson Locations: Costa Rican, United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Costa Ricans

☆ San Francisco Bay's only private island is on sale for $25 million — but there's a catch
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

San Francisco Bay's only private island is on the market for $25 millionRed Rock Island lacks basic infrastructure like power and running water. AdvertisementSan Francisco Bay's only private island is on the market for $25 million — but there's no electricity or running water, reported The Wall Street Journal. The island has been put up for sale several times in recent years for between $5 million and $22 million, Durning told WSJ. In September, a private island in Solano County, California was put on the market for $75 million. And in August, a private island in Maine with a cottage and lighthouse was listed for $400,000.

Persons: Francisco Bay's, Brock Durning, hasn't, —, Chris Lim, Lim, Durning Organizations: Service, Street, Contra Costa, Christie's, Estate, Rafael Bridge, Google, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: Francisco, Richmond, Rafael, Marin, Alaska, Solano County , California, Maine

The Americans held on to win the total-goals series 4-2 and earn spots in the 16-nation Copa América and the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. As a team, the players, the staff, we need to hold him accountable.”Dest will be suspended for the Nations League semifinal in March. He missed this year’s Nations League final after getting a red card and a three-game ban for scuffling in the semifinal against Mexico. He’s going to learn. He’s going to grow.

Persons: Sergiño Dest, Tim Ream, “, ” Ream, Antonee Robinson, didn’t, Walter López, Andre Rampersad, “ It’s, Gregg Berhalter, ” Dest, López, Gio Reyna, Ream, Reyna, Turner, that’s, ” Berhalter, we’re, it’s, ”, Michael Kammarman, Philippe Moggio, Alvaro Urrutia, Moggio, Urrutia, “ Serge, he’s, Berhalter, He’s, we’ve, Paul Caligiuri’s, Robinson, Shannon Gomez, Denzil Smith, ” Robinson, ___ Organizations: Copa América, Trinidad, CONCACAF Nations League, U.S, Dest, Nations League, year’s Nations League, Mexico, CONCACAF Locations: United States, Port, Spain, U.S, Austin , Texas, Guatemalan, ” U.S, Costa Rica

Qatar has become a key negotiator for the release of hostages held by Hamas. In recent years, the tiny Emirate has led mediation efforts in Afghanistan, Iran and Ukraine. WSJ’s Shelby Holliday explains how Qatar became a diplomatic power broker. Photo illustration: Marina CostaIsrael and Hamas are closing in on an internationally brokered deal to pause fighting and free some of the roughly 240 hostages taken by the militant group, officials close to the talks said, amid heightened scrutiny of the civilian toll of Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The hostage talks—brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S.—have moved in fits and starts for weeks and could break down again.

Persons: WSJ’s Shelby Holliday, Marina, Marina Costa Israel, — Organizations: Marina Costa, U.S Locations: Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, Egypt

☆ Shakira stands trial in Spain for alleged tax fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shakira poses on the red carpet during the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards show in Seville, Spain, November 16, 2023. The 'Hips Don't Lie' Colombian megastar, who also has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities, has vowed to fight what she called false accusations. She rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor's office to close the case and is expected to testify on Monday in the first of 12 hearings scheduled until Dec. 14. The prosecutor's office is seeking an up to eight-year prison term and to claim back the taxes it says she owes. Shakira, 46, lived with former Barcelona and Spain soccer star Gerard Pique for 11 years and the couple have two children.

Persons: Shakira, Marcelo del Pozo, Gerard Pique, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Diego Costa, Bayer, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Bayer Leverkusen, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Rights BARCELONA, Barcelona, Miami, Spanish

☆ Moody's upgrades Portugal's rating two notches, despite political crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Portugal's government nationalised a small private bank, Banco Portugues de Negocios (BPN), on Sunday as the international financial crisis claimed its first victim in the Iberian country. REUTERS/Jose Manuel Ribeiro (PORTUGAL) Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Moody's upgraded Portugal's long-term issuer rating two notches to A3 from Baa2, despite the political crisis triggered by the resignation of the country's prime minister due to an investigation into alleged irregularities in his government. Moody's said it appeared the country's institutions were dealing with the crisis in an "effective and transparent manner". The 2024 budget, which is set to be approved by the Socialist parliamentary majority on Nov. 29, projects economic growth slowing down to 1.5% in 2024 from the 2.2% growth expected this year. It sees "significant private and public investments as well as the implementation of further structural reforms", both linked to the country's recovery plan.

Persons: Jose Manuel Ribeiro, Antonio Costa, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Moody's, Fernando Medina, Medina, Sergio Goncalves, David Latona Organizations: Banco Portugues de, Rights, Finance, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Portuguese, Lisbon, Banco Portugues de Negocios, PORTUGAL, Rights LISBON, Baa2, Portugal

☆ 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

☆ Making Sweet, and Bittersweet, Music Together
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Tammy Lagorce | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

By the time he had reached his early 20s, another of his select few passions was consuming him: his relationship with his girlfriend, Vanessa Rodrigues Moody. Six months later, when she was a senior and he had graduated and moved to Baltimore to start a doctoral degree in music, neither was sure what would become of their budding romance. “I was terrified,” Dr. Repper said. “But I was also all in.”Dr. Repper grew up in Laguna Niguel, Calif., with a younger sister, Danielle. His mother, Dr. Claudia Repper, is an emergency room doctor.

Persons: Michael Eric Repper’s, Vanessa Rodrigues Moody, Repper, Moody, Paul, Weiss, Garrison, “, ”, Dr, Danielle, Claudia Repper, David Repper, Marilyn Smith Organizations: Stanford, Pacific Symphony Locations: American, Rifkind, Wharton, Baltimore, Laguna Niguel, Calif, Costa Mesa

☆ Trans-Pacific trade deal members meet at APEC summit, say open to new members
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign advertising the upcoming APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in see as the city prepares to host leaders from the Asia-Pacific region in San Francisco, California November 8, 2023. The lack of an IPEF trade deal is a setback for the Biden administration. The CPTPP is the successor to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, from which former President Donald Trump withdrew as soon as he took office in 2017. The CPTPP meeting on the sidelines of the APEC leaders' summit was the first ministerial to include new member Britain, which signed up to the trade bloc in July. The current CPTPP members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Biden, Donald Trump, CPTPP, David Lawder, Lincoln Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Trans, Pacific, U.S, Economic, Pacific Partnership, Britain, Thomson Locations: Asia, Pacific, San Francisco , California, States, San Francisco, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United Kingdom, Vietnam

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