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☆ Venezuelan asylum seekers tripled in 2022, UN agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 14 (Reuters) - Venezuelans seeking asylum abroad nearly tripled in 2022, according to the United Nations refugee agency, which found that more than two in five new asylum applicants globally last year came from Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba, also hit by U.S. trade sanctions and fuel shortages, recorded the second highest asylum figure at 194,700, a six-fold increase on 2021. Asylum seekers primarily stayed within the region, particularly in neighboring countries, the UNHCR found, with the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico receiving the most requests. While 2022 saw countries process asylum requests faster than previous years, the UNHCR said that backlogs keep growing due to "the sheer volume of new applications." The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has urged migrants to use legal pathways to enter the United States, including using a mobile app called CBP One to schedule appointments to request asylum.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sarah Morland, Raul Cortes, Grant McCool Organizations: United Nations, Refugees, UNHCR, U.S, Thomson Locations: America, Caribbean, Venezuelan, Americas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, Haiti, UNHCR, United States, Costa Rica, Mexico, Mexico City

☆ The ‘breakout travel trend’ of the decade: What to know about expedition cruising
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Helen Iatrou | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Instagram posts — which often showcase trips to Antarctica — may have given expedition cruising more publicity, but this form of cruising isn't new. Today, there is stiff competition among expedition cruise lines to launch more technologically advanced vessels and to secure onboard talent. Source: Aurora ExpeditionsNoah Brodsky, chief commercial officer of Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, described expedition cruising as the "breakout travel trend of the decade." Expedition cruising is also a good option for the growing number of solo travelers. "Unfortunately, this has meant the new expedition cruise ships have become larger and the expedition experience itself has been sacrificed," he told CNBC.

Persons: LIND, Costa, Greg Mortimer, Carlo Raciti, Bronwyn Stephenson, Aurora expeditioner, Lindblad, Mensun, Robert Bindschadler, Hayley Peacock, Gower, Aurora's Hayley Peacock, Noah Brodsky, James Cole, Hillary, Cousteau, Shackleton, Cole, Xers, hadn't, Carl Raciti, Andrew Marsh, Commandant Charcot, Stefanie Schmudde Organizations: Aurora Expeditions, Panama's UNESCO, Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, NASA, Aurora, Geographic, CNBC, Expedition, Cruisers, Environmental, Abercrombie, Kent Locations: Australia, Panama, Costa Rica, Aurora, Antarctica, Its, Greenland, Alaska, Galapagos, French Polynesia, Western, Kimberley, Central, South America

☆ Meet the mystery species that buried their dead long before humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And Homo naledi was added to the family tree in 2013 after cave explorers tipped off researchers that there might be something promising within the dangerous depths of the Rising Star cave system. Mark Thiessen/National GeographicA team of explorers has uncovered evidence that Homo naledi buried their dead and carved symbols on cave walls at least 100,000 years before modern humans. Across the universeAstronomers using the Webb telescope discovered complex organic molecules in a galaxy located over 12 billion light-years away. Doyle/NASA/ESA/CSAThe James Webb Space Telescope peered into a galaxy located more than 12 billion light-years away and spied the most distant organic molecules ever detected. — A bright new supernova appeared in the Pinwheel Galaxy, and a telescope in Hawaii captured a dazzling image of the stellar explosion.

Persons: Matthew Berger, —, Homo, paleoartist John Gurche, Mark Thiessen, naledi, Webb, Doyle, James Webb, Einstein, Dino, dino, Iani smithi, Janus, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Geographic, Cincinnati Zoo, Botanical, NASA, ESA, Parker, Probe, Drassm, Tunisia’s Skerki Bank, Sonar, CNN Space, Science Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, Spain, Utah, North America, Tunisia, Italy’s, Tunisia’s, Costa Rican, Great Britain, Hawaii

☆ Canada’s Ability to Prevent Forest Fires Lags Behind the Need
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Vjosa Isai | Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Canada’s capacity to prevent wildfires has been shrinking for decades because of budget cuts, a loss of some of the country’s forest service staff, and onerous rules for fire prevention, turning some of its forests into a tinderbox. As residents braced for what could be the worst wildfire season on record, and one that is far from over, the air slowly cleared over the Northeastern United States on Friday, but hundreds of wildfires continued to burn across Canada. Thanks to some rain and cloud cover near wildfire areas, with scattered rains expected in parts of southern Ontario on Sunday, Steven Flisfeder, a warning preparedness meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, predicted that the weekend could bring better air quality in Toronto, the country’s largest city. “That’s going to help flush out the contaminants from the air a little bit,” he said. More than 1,100 firefighters from around the world have been dispatched across Canada to help combat the country’s raging fire season, officials said, including groups from France, Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Persons: Steven Flisfeder, “ That’s Organizations: Northeastern Locations: Northeastern United States, Canada, Ontario, Toronto, France, Chile, Costa Rica, United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

☆ Scientists discover the first virgin birth in a crocodile
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Scientists say they have documented the first virgin birth in a crocodile. Many of the offspring produced this way are very ill or weak, according to Booth. Any offspring produced in this manner shares most of its DNA with the mother. And Coquita’s parthenogenically produced offspring — which was female — likely formed that way solely because of the temperature at which the egg was incubated. “They are all using the exact same cellular mechanism for parthenogenesis,” Booth said.

Persons: Coquita, Warren Booth, Booth —, Booth, Parthenogenesis, it’s, ”, “, ” Booth, parthenogenesis, parthenogenically Organizations: CNN —, Reptilandia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, State University, Research Locations: Costa Rican, Costa Rica, parthenogenesis

☆ Natural evolution: Record Galapagos deal sparks clamour for eco-friendly debt swaps
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The growing appetite comes as record numbers of developing world governments face debt pressures due to higher global interest rates. There have been around 140 over the past 35 years, but even including last month's super-sized Galapagos deal they have only involved around $5 billion of debt altogether. The top-level attendees will be urged to do more, not only debt swaps, but also by providing foreign exchange guarantees and automatic debt-payment breaks for countries hit by climate-related disasters. "Seeing something that has a group of countries involved would be amazing," Issa said. Ecuador says it is eyeing another transaction to capitalise on the halo effect from the Galapagos deal.

Persons: Ramzi Issa, Charles Darwin's, Issa, Ilan Goldfajn, Scott Nathan, Nathan, Emmanuel Macron, Mia Mottley, Suisse's Issa, Simon Jessop, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Ecuador, Credit Suisse, Inter, American Development Bank, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Ecuador, Belize, Barbados, Gabon, Paris, Sri Lanka, Indian, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles

MEXICO CITY, June 7 (Reuters) - Scientists have documented the first-known instance of a "virgin birth" by a crocodile, which had been living in isolation for 16 years at Costa Rican zoo, according to a study published Wednesday. According to the study published in the journal Biology Letters, scientists tested the crocodile fetus' genetic makeup. The phenomenon of FP, which some scientists have referred to by the shorthand of "virgin birth," has also been documented in other species of fish, birds, lizards and snakes. In FP, a female's egg cell can develop into a baby without being fertilized by a male's sperm cell. The scientists said the Costa Rica "virgin birth" could lead to new information about crocodile ancestors that walked the earth in the Triassic Period some 250 million years ago.

Persons: Pterosauria, Cassandra Garrison, David Gregorio Our Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Costa, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Costa Rican, Costa Rica

☆ A crocodile makes history with the first-ever virgin birth of its species, researchers say. But none of the 14 eggs hatched much to scientists' disappointment.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Researchers said the 18-year-old crocodile who lived alone laid 14 eggs. DNA from the fetus and the 18-year-old crocodile matched, researchers said, adding that the fetus lacked paternal genes. In other words, this solidifies the researcher's virgin birth hypothesis. Warren Booth, an entomologist at Virginia Tech University, told The BBC that virgin births are common in animals that descend from dinosaurs. He told The BBC that there likely hadn't been a recorded virgin birth among crocodiles before this because most people weren't specifically looking for it.

Persons: —, Warren Booth, Warren Organizations: Service, Parque Reptilandia, Virginia Tech University, BBC Locations: Costa Rica

☆ James Beard Award 2023 winners announced
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Marnie Hunter | Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The awards have been presented in the Windy City since 2015 and are set to remain there through 2027. Like last year, much of the 2023 show was focused on showcasing the new push for greater diversity. The James Beard Foundation has been mired in controversy over the past few years. The winner of the South category, Natalia Vallejo, is the first Puerto Rican native to win a James Beard Award. Here’s the full list of the 2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees.

Persons: James Beard, Eric Adjepong, Esther Choi, Andrew Zimmern, Gail Simmons, ”, ” Simmons, Gregory Gourdet, Kann, ” Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox, James, Ellen Yin, J.B . Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, foodie, James Beard’s, “, Timothy Hontzas, Sam Fore, Mariah Carey, Monti Carlo, Natalia Vallejo, Rachel Miller, Nightshade Noodle, Lynn, Niki Nakayama, Erik Ramirez, NY Rob Rubba, Hajime Sato, Sozai, Celeste Noche, NY Don, Brandon Chrostowski, Greg Dulan, CA Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, Elie Yigo, Quynh Pham, WA Ellen Yin, Damarr Brown, Virtue, Rashida, LA Charlie Mitchell, Clover, NY Amanda Shulman, Angelo, Bakeshop, Zak, Baker, Baker Veronika Gerasimova, Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Café Mochiko, Vince Bugtong, Margarita Manzke, CA Shawn McKenzie, Café, AL Lula Drake, Los Angeles , CA Spencer, Ann, Brownsville , TX Rob Roy, California Gilberto Cetina Jr, CA Kyle, Katina, Brandon Hayato Go, Hayato, Los Angeles , CA Justin Pichetrungsi, Carlos Salgado, Taco, Omar Anani, Saffron De, Diana Dávila, IL Tim Flores, Genie Kwon, IL Andy Hollyday, MI Sarah Welch, Marrow, Jesse Ito, Cantina La, Kate Lasky, Tomasz Skowronski, Michael Rafidi, Sanaa, Gregory León, Francesco Mangano, Osteria, Madison , WI Itaru Nagano, Andrew Kroeger, Madison , WI David Utterback, Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, Michael Diaz de Leon, Suchada Johnson, WY Kris Komori, Ali Sabbah, Brooklyn , NY Mary Attea, Amanda Cohen, Dirt, Valentine Howell, Hunter, CT Sherry Pocknett, Renee Touponce, Joshua Dorcak, Vince Nguyen, Thomas Pisha, Gado, Beau Schooler, Bocca Al, AK Aaron Verzosa, KY Josh Habiger, TN Sam Hart, NC Terry Koval, Paul Smith, Ana Castro, Lengua, LA Timothy Hontzas, AL Henry Moso, Alex Perry, Kumi Omori, Cocina al, Oscar Amador, Kaoru Azeuchi, KAISEKI, Andrew Black, Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der, Justin Pioche, Texas Reyna, Painter, Houston , TX Emiliano Marentes, El Paso , TX John Russ, Clementine, San Antonio , TX Ernest Servantes, David Kirkland, Jim Embry, Valerie Horn, Savi ” Horne, Ira Wallace, Olivia Watkins, Karen Washington, Madur Jaffrey Organizations: Washington , D.C, Lyric Opera of, Illinois Gov, Chicago Mayor, Philadelphia, James Beard Foundation, James, New York Times, CNN, Foundation, WA Coracora, Sunday, of Culture, NY, Neng, EDWINS, Restaurant Institute, Hospitality, SC Yenvy, Street Hospitality, Mbaye, Dakar, WA Bottega, AL, SC, Beverages, Merchant, WA BEST, Sherman, Taco María, Selden, D.C, Madison , WI Itaru, Fairchild, Madison , WI, WY, New, New York State, NY Shaina Loew, Pacific, AK, TN, EDO, Food, Burnt Bean, Sustainable Communities Network, Cooperative Farming, Community Center, Southern, Sierra, Burgerville Workers Union, Black Farmer Fund Locations: Philadelphia, Haitian, Pacific, Washington ,, Lyric Opera of Chicago, livestream, Windy City, Boise , Idaho, Madison , Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Monson , Maine, Haiti, Charlestown , Rhode Island, Puerto Rican, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, NY, Washington, Clawson, MI, Seattle, West Hartford, Philadelphia ,, Lucia, Dallas ,, Cincinnati, Portland , Oregon, of Culture , New York, Mexican, Fort Worth , TX Kann, Portland, Milwaukee ,, Asheville , NC, Chicago, Houston , TX, Cleveland, Crenshaw, Columbia, WA, Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles ,, Dakar NOLA , New Orleans, LA, Clover Hill, New Orleans, Richardson ,, Kansas City ,, Miami, Billings, San Francisco ,, Café Cerés, Minneapolis, Cypress, Pullman, Birmingham, Quarry, Monson, IL, New York, Houston ,, Ann Arbor, Honolulu, Shawnee, KS, Las Vegas, Brownsville , TX, Healdsburg, Sherman Oaks, Costa Mesa ,, Lakes, Saffron De Twah, Detroit ,, Detroit, NJ, PA, , Philadelphia, Cantina La Martina, Apteka, Pittsburgh, Albi , Washington, Kalaya, MN, MO, Sioux Falls, Amilinda, Milwaukee, Osteria Papavero, Madison ,, Yoshitomo, Omaha, UT, WY, Salvador, BRUTØ, Denver, Teton, Teton Village, Boise, Salt Lake City, Sofreh, Brooklyn , NY, , New York, Hudson, Atomix , New York, NH, RI, Krasi, Boston, New Preston, Charlestown, Siu, Yunnan, The, MÄS, Ashland, Berlu, Gado Gado, Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, Archipelago, KY, NC, TN, WV, Lexington, Bastion, Nashville, Charlotte, Decatur, Charleston, Lengua Madre , New Orleans, Homewood, Orlando, Springs, Cocina, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, AZ, NM, Oklahoma City, Fruitland, Navajo Nation, Sandwich Hag, El Paso , TX, San Antonio ,, Seguin ,, City of Whitesburg

☆ We're losing the battle against bird loss. Scientists estimate North America's bird population is down 3 billion and dropping fast in other countries worldwide.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Emily Sohn | Knowable Magazine | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

In North America, more than half of 529 bird species have declined, according to one study. Another study of 378 European bird species estimates numbers fell by as much as 19% from 1980-2017. There are birds on mountains, birds in cities, birds in deserts, birds in oceans, birds on farm fields and birds in parking lots. Bird numbers are falling across a broad range of habitats, as these graphs from Europe and North America show. A recovery program has boosted the species' numbers to more than 500, with several hundred living once more in the wild.

Persons: —, Peter Marra, It's, Alexander Lees, Lees, Christopher Michel, Marra, we're, Lees et, Philip McGowan, Glenn Simmons, McGowan Organizations: Service, Penguins, Earth Commons, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cornell, of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, Survey, US Geological Survey, Environment Canada, European Union, International Union for Conservation, Environment, Resources, Newcastle University, IUCN, California condor, Recovery Initiative Locations: North America, Antarctica, ptarmigan, Everest, Georgetown, England, Canada, United Kingdom, Gould Bay, eBird, United States, Science, Costa, India, Europe, California, Arizona, Brazil

☆ Scientists Discover a Virgin Birth in a Crocodile
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Veronique Greenwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In January 2018, a female crocodile in a Costa Rican zoo laid a clutch of eggs. While crocodiles can lay sterile eggs that don’t develop, some of this clutch looked quite normal. In this case, life did not, uh, find a way, as the egg eventually yielded a perfectly formed but stillborn baby crocodile. In a paper out Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters, a team of researchers report that the baby crocodile was a parthenogen — the product of a virgin birth, containing only genetic material from its mother. Here’s how a virgin birth happens: As an egg cell matures in its mother’s body, it divides repeatedly to generate a final product with exactly half the genes needed for an individual.

Persons: ” —, parthenogenesis Organizations: cobras, California condors Locations: Costa Rican, sawfish

☆ This couple are riding around the world with three rescue dogs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But other than a “couple of cruises,” Janell and Stu Clarke, both from Australia, had barely traveled beyond their home country nearly a decade later. I was waiting until my obligation with the navy had ended.”Ultimate road tripAustralian couple Janell and Stu Clarke are riding around the world on motorcycles with three rescue dogs. The couple purchased two motorbikes, Janell went for a 2006 BMW F650GS, while Stu opted for a 2012 G650GS, while in Texas. “We were surrounded by people who were trying their best to help us and care for Skyla,” says Janell. Now, after setting off from Australia with one dog, Janell and Stu are preparing to finish their trip almost 10 years later with three entirely different dogs.

Persons: CNN —, Janell, Stu Clarke, Stu, ”, “, it’s, Skyla, ’, ‘, ’ ” Janell, they’d, Mary, ” Janell, We’ve, they’ve, That’s, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Australian, BMW, “, Southampton, Azra Locations: Australia, Skyla, Dallas , Texas, Texas, Belize, Mexico, Janell, Central America, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, South America, Venezuela, Colombia, Bogota, Colombian, Ecuador, Turkey, Europe, Morocco, West Africa, South Africa, “ Africa, Egypt, Portugal, Eastern Europe, ”, South East Asia, “

☆ Replanting the Amazon could slow global warming. Here’s why it’s hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +24 min

Milton da Costa Junior nosed his pickup through a remote stretch of the western Brazilian Amazon to check on his babies. Local authorities said the September 2021 incident, which Da Costa outlined in a police report that was reviewed by Reuters, is being investigated. Out of dozens of reforestation initiatives in the country, Rioterra and The Black Jaguar Foundation, a Brazilian-European group, are among the largest. Illegal invaders destroy in hours what it takes Rioterra or Black Jaguar a year to plant. In all, Black Jaguar has signed contracts with 26 farms and planted 326 hectares (806 acres) to date.

Persons: Milton da Costa, Da Costa, Carlos Nobre, Alexis Bastos, Rioterra, ”, Nobre, “, Bastos, Jamari, Dejesus Aparecido Ramos, it’s, ” Bastos, Jair Bolsonaro, Germany –, Bolsonaro, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Black, Ben Valks, Valks, Leandro Silveira, Silveira, São, ” Valks, aren’t, Cristina Banks, Leite, Marcos Mariani, Araguaia, Mariani, Tânia Irres, ” Irres, Regina Molke, I’ll, Clovis, Black Jaguar, Aquaverde, Renato Franklin, “ Ben, ” Franklin, L’Oreal, da Costa, ” Da Costa, da, Spring, Clare Trainor, Catherine Tai, Lais Morais, Ilan Rubens, Lucy Ha, John Emerson, Marla Dickerson Organizations: Milton da Costa Junior, Toyota, Reuters, Black Jaguar Foundation, National Institute for Space Research, Rioterra, Cultural, Environmental Studies, Petrobras, “, Amazon Fund, Environment Ministry, United, United Arab Emirates, São Paulo, Global, Farmers, Brazil’s Central Bank, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, Imperial College London, Santana, Bolsonaro, United Nations, Space Agency, Copernicus, Sentinel Locations: Machadinho, Rondônia, Brazil, Germany, Brazilian, European, Manhattan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Bastos, Porto Velho, droves, Rio, Black, Itapuã, Oeste, Norway, United Arab, Pará, Caixa, “, Costa, Syria, Paris, Santana, Araguaia’s, Clovis, Regina, United States, South, Geneva, Rio Preto, da Costa

☆ Remember that jiu-jitsu tournament Mark Zuckerberg won? He was also choked out during the match.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mark Zuckerberg has taken to improving his physique as he gets more interested in jiu-jitsu. In May, Zuckerberg participated in his first tournament and was choked unconscious, NYT reports. The road to Mark Zuckerberg's gold and sliver medals at a recent jiu-jitsu tournament apparently came with a few bumps, according to a new report. Zuckerberg didn't respond to a request for comment from the Times, and Meta, where Zuckerberg is CEO, didn't respond to a request from Insider. "I really like watching UFC because I also like doing the sport," Zuckerberg told Joe Rogan.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg's, José Lucas Costa da Silva, he'd, Costa da Silva, Khai Wu, Conor McGregor, —, Joe Rogan Organizations: Meta, New York Times, Facebook, Times, UFC Locations: Brazilian, Meta, Brazil, Thai

May 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a California unit of oil refiner PBF Energy Inc over a November emissions release, the company said. "We are cooperating with all relevant agencies, including with respect to any ongoing investigations related to the incident," said a PBF Energy spokesperson on Friday, declining further comment on pending legal matters. The Department of Justice, which oversees the FBI, did not reply to a Reuters request for comment. The Contra Costa District Attorney is pursuing legal action against the refinery for failing to notify the county when the release happened, county health officials have said. The oil refiner "thoroughly investigated the incident to identify appropriate corrective actions and we are committed to implementing them," the PBF Energy spokesperson added.

☆ Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Touches Down in New Jersey
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Matt Stevens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two months and 25 shows after the pop megastar’s career-spanning Eras Tour began, the show arrived in the New York area for three weekend dates — her first concerts near (but not quite in) her adopted hometown in five years. “I really, really missed you!” Swift told the sold-out crowd of more than 72,000 people. One young woman announced that she was crying tears of joy as she strode down a tunnel leading to the parking lot. Two fans with tickets to Saturday’s concert who had traveled from Costa Rica came hoping to see Swift on Friday as well. A woman in an “I ❤️ T.S.” shirt refused an interview request, admitting that she teaches at a public school and was not supposed to be at the stadium on a Friday afternoon.

☆ A 26-year-old executive assistant moved from Utah to Costa Rica to work remotely. She makes less than half of what she did but works less than 30 hours a week and loves the peace of mind.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Melodie Powers-Draper, an executive assistant, moved from Salt Lake City to Costa Rica in 2023. She now lives in La Fortuna where her monthly expenses are below $2,000 a month. I have AC, hot water, and electricity, and am only a 10 minute walk from downtown La Fortuna. Starting my own business has helped me thrive in Costa RicaMelodie at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Costa Rica. Moving to Costa Rica has really propelled me into developing structure in my life and has allowed me to focus on myself.

[1/5] Portuguese surfer Teresa Bonvalot smiles after winning her heat in the Sydney Surf Pro on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Australia, May 19, 2023. REUTERS/Lincoln FeastMay 22 (Reuters) - When Portugal's Teresa Bonvalot qualified for the Tokyo Games in 2021 as a then 21-year-old, she had barely a month to prepare for surfing's Olympic debut and the biggest event of her life. Now, more than a year out from the Paris Games, Bonvalot has again booked an Olympic ticket and is relishing the extra time to ready her mind, body and equipment. "That was unbelievable to get the news to mark my spot there," Bonvalot said during a competition in Australia last week. A total of 24 women's places are available, with the International Surfing Association's World Surfing Games in El Salvador this month providing the next qualification spots.

☆ This company models itself after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Analysts say it can beat the market too
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Founded in 1930 and with a market value today of $18 billion, Markel is first and foremost a specialty insurance company focused on niche markets like livestock and dude ranches. Some Wall Street analysts have praised Markel's recent performance against both peers and the broader market. Markel has returned 16.1% annually over the past three years while the S & P 500 has returned 12.4%, according to FactSet. "Given the favorable insurance market conditions in many of MKL's product lines, we believe the company's P/B multiple may expand if it can maintain solid profitability." Markel also has its appeal to Berkshire, which took a $600 million stake in Markel in early 2022.

☆ World Bee Day 2023: 6 surprising things about bees
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Unfortunately, many bee species are under threat as a result of changes in land use, pesticides, intensive agriculture and climate change — but there are steps you can take to help them thrive. In honor of World Bee Day on May 20, here are six surprising things you might not know about nature’s hardest-working pollinators. “It marks the first report of honey bees of any species foraging for materials that are not derived from plants or water-based fluids. It is also the first clear-cut example of honey bees using a tool in nature.”Honeybees also signal an imminent attack by making a chilling warning noise. Bees are seen on a honeycomb cell at the Urban Bee Hive rooftop site in Woolloomooloo, a suburb of Sydney.

☆ Turkey's unorthodox economic policy will be difficult to sustain, strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTurkey's unorthodox economic policy will be difficult to sustain, strategist saysLuis Costa, head of CEEMEA FX strategy at Citi, discusses the investing outlook for Turkey as the country's presidential election heads into a runoff, and says Turkey's economic policy has been "beyond unorthodox."

Her mother Sarah — a former deli shop owner — was bored with retirement and had decided to open an ice cream shop in Bethesda, Maryland. "To be honest, at first I was like, 'ice cream shop?'" Running the ice cream shopDespite Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream successful grand opening, it took over six months for the business to become "a well-oiled machine," Park says. Instead, Park and her mother donate ice cream to local nonprofits and community organizations, which has attracted loyal customers in the Bethesda area. Within a few months of opening the first store, Park realized the business didn't have to be limited to just "a mom-and-daughter shop."

☆ Nadal turns down claycourt event wildcard as French Open looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 14 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week's Challenger tournament in Bordeaux as the Spaniard's participation in the French Open hangs in the balance, the claycourt event director said on Sunday. Nadal has been struggling with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. He very kindly told me that Nadal was continuing his preparation at home in Manacor, that he was not ready and was in a race against time to be ready for the French Open," Jean-Baptiste Perlant told French sports daily L'Equipe. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 14 times including last year, starts on May 28.

☆ Tom Brady honors exes Gisele and Bridget Moynahan on Mother's Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Tom Brady is honoring the moms in his life on Mother’s Day. The football legend shared a series of photos on his verified Instagram page on Sunday of ex-wife Gisele Bündchen and their two children, Vivan and Benjamin, alongside photos of Brady’s former partner Bridget Moynahan, who is mom to their son Jack. “Happy Mothers Day to all these amazing women who have given our family so much throughout their lives. The pair have continued to support each other publicly since they went their separate ways. “Listen, I have always cheered for him, and I would continue forever,” Bündchen said, going on to say he’s the “one person” in this world she hopes is the happiest.

☆ Bobi, the world’s oldest dog, celebrates 31st birthday
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The world’s oldest dog is living it up in his 30s. Bobi, a Portuguese pooch who was declared the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records in February, celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, according to a news release from Guinness. Costa told Guinness that Bobi has been enjoying a lot of attention since being crowned the world’s oldest dog. “It wasn’t easy for him.”Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese dog trained to guard livestock, according to his owner. In addition to being the oldest dog currently living, Bobi is also the oldest dog ever recorded, according to Guinness.

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