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☆ Extraordinary photos reveal the secret kingdom of the soil
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s a scene most of us might associate with an open savannah in a nature documentary, but photographer Andy Murray is watching the drama unfold from his back garden in Somerset, UK. To Murray, these microscopic soil animals are as fascinating as the lions and zebras you might see on safari – just far more accessible, if you know where to look. “They live in this tiny world; it works like our world, it’s just on a really small scale,” he tells CNN. Andy MurrayYet despite this wealth of life, the creatures living in the soil beneath our feet are relatively unknown. “He captures moments of soil life doing interesting and cool things,” says Anthony, such as laying eggs in a place where we would never expect.

Persons: Andy Murray, He’s, Murray, ”, “, Mark Anthony, Anthony, they’ve, it’s Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Food, Agricultural Organization, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Research Locations: Somerset, Mexico City, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania

☆ Videos show African ethnic groups rounded up in Sudan’s Darfur region
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Sarah Dean | David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Members of African ethnic groups in Sudan’s Darfur region appear to have been rounded up by members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and other Arab militias, according to videos and images verified and geolocated by CNN. The RSF on Saturday announced it had taken over the main army base in El Geneina (the 15th division headquarters), close to where these videos were filmed. Ethnic related killings have intensified since fighting broke out mid-April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, according to witnesses and aid groups operating in the region. MSF said at its hospital in Adré, a 27-year-old man told them he fled El Geneina with 16 other people, but their group was attacked on the road to Chad. It comes after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for an “immediate cessation of attacks” in El Fasher in North Darfur.

Persons: “, Toby Harward, El Geneina, Médecins, ”, Nabila Abdel Rahman, Stephanie Hoffmann, Dominique Hyde, ” Hyde, RSF “, RSF, State Anthony Blinken, El Fasher, ” Blinken, CNN’s Sarah Dean, David McKenzie, Allegra Goodwin Organizations: CNN, Rapid Support Forces, Saturday, Reuters, Twitter, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, United Nations, MSF, UN, UNHCR, US State Department, African Union, State Department, State, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Locations: Sudan’s Darfur, El Geneina, West Darfur, fatigues, Darfur, Chad, Ardamata, Ardamata , West Darfur, Sudan, El, Arab, Ardmata, Adré, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United States, El Fasher, North Darfur, South Africa, London

☆ Arab States Intensify Pleas for Gaza Cease-fire as Public Anger Mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Vivian Nereim | More About Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That concept has fallen flat in Arab nations, where many view it as a weak proposal that shows the U.S. is either unwilling or unable to hold Israel back. Jordan and Turkey have recalled their ambassadors to Israel in protest over the war, while United Nations officials have implored Israel not to impose “collective punishment” on Gazans for atrocities committed by Hamas. That ambiguous message reflects the challenges Bahrain’s American-allied royal family faces as they balance protecting their ties with the U.S. and Israel with insulating themselves from popular anger. “I have not seen such a large number in a spontaneous demonstration in Bahrain for a long time,” said Ibtisam al-Sayegh, a human-rights activist who attended a protest last month. Some Bahrainis carried signs depicting their king holding hands with Mr. Netanyahu — accusing the monarch of complicity in the murder of Palestinians as long as Bahraini relations with Israel continue, she said.

Persons: Blinken, Israel —, ” Khalid al, Suleiman, —, “, Bahrainis, Biden, ”, Ibtisam, Netanyahu — Organizations: Israel, Saudi, Okaz, United Nations, Bahrain’s, U.S, ” Riot Locations: U.S, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Gazans, Bahrain, American

☆ Nintendo to develop 'Zelda' movie in latest entertainment push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of the Nintendo is displayed at Nintendo Tokyo, the first-ever Nintendo official store in Japan, at at SHIBUYA PARCO department store and shopping mall complex, during a press preview in Tokyo, Japan November 19, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Nintendo (7974.T) said on Wednesday it will develop a live-action film of long running franchise "The Legend of Zelda" in the Kyoto-based firm's latest push beyond its core gaming business. The two men have been working on an adaptation of the "Zelda" franchise for many years but the movie will take time, according to posts on social media by Nintendo. Nintendo said on Tuesday it had sold 19.5 million units of the latest "Zelda" game at September-end as the series continues to deliver hits almost 40 years after its first installment. The "Zelda" movie development comes at a time of renewed appetite for adaptations of Japanese franchises globally, with examples including Netflix's recently launched adaptation of long running pirate manga series "One Piece".

Persons: Issei Kato, Zelda, Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, Avi Arad, Wes Ball, Sam Nussey, Sandra Maler Organizations: Nintendo, Nintendo Tokyo, REUTERS, Rights, Sony, Thomson Locations: Japan, SHIBUYA PARCO, Tokyo, Kyoto

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates:
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bahrain said on Thursday that the Gulf state's ambassador to Israel had returned home and the Israeli ambassador in Manama had left the kingdom "a while ago," confirming an earlier statement by parliament linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The statement did not clarify whether that meant the Israeli ambassador had been expelled. Israel had earlier said it received no word of any such actions, saying its relations with Bahrain were "stable." "The cessation of economic relations was also decided," it said, without making clear who had made the decision. Relations between Israel and Bahrain are stable."

Persons: Israel, — Organizations: Gulf, Hamas, Representatives Locations: Bahrain, Israel, Manama, Gaza

☆ The World Is Becoming More African
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Declan Walsh | Hannah Reyes Morales | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +37 min

Old World Young Africa As the world grays, Africa blooms with youth. The World Is Becoming More African Part one of a series on how the youth boom is changing the continent, and beyond. But while a handful of African countries are poised to ride the demographic wave, others risk being swamped by it. In the West, racists and right-wing nationalists stoke fears of African population growth to justify hatred, or even violence. The age gap between geriatric leaders and restless youth is “a major source of tension” in many African countries, said Simon Mulongo, a former African Union diplomat from Uganda.

Persons: Lauren Leatherby, ”, Jean, Patrick Niambé, Hilton, Edward Paice, “, Keziah Keya, Keya, Paul R, Ehrlich, stoke, Lauren Leatherby “, Carlos Lopes, Burna, Weeks, “ It’s, Laolu Senbanjo, Tems, Toulaye Sy, Pritzker, Abdulrazak Gurnah, “ Africa’s, ” Long, exotica, Mulendema, Hannah O’Leary, “ We’re, Sipho Dlamini, Dlamini, Moawad, Optimists, Mo Ibrahim, Aubrey Hruby, birthrates, India’s, China’s, Akinwumi Adesina, States —, William Ruto, Paul Biya of, Biya, Wole Soyinka, Paul Kagame of, Nourdine, Nigeriens, Awade, Ali Bongo Ondimba, Simon Mulongo, Nuha Abdelgadir, Abdelgadir, gesturing, “ We’ve, ” Weeks, Abdelgadir’s, Modu Ali, Young, Saidu, Habiba Mohammed, Ms, Ha, Joon Chang, Nobody, Chang, Ibrahim, Touré Organizations: Young, United Nations, Southern, Northern, Western Asia Northern, United, Ivory Coast, African Union, Group, European Union ., Suisse, Africa Research Institute, Nigeria Mozambique Kenya “, Russia Canada Germany United, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Ethiopia Dem, Russia Germany, China Egypt India Nigeria D.R.C, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Dem, Bank, Nations, International, Bryn Mawr College, Angola, Angola Ivory Coast, Angola Ivory Coast Cameroon Dem, Africa Middle Africa Southern, Economic Commission, New, Citi, Spotify, Cannes Film, Burkina Faso, UNESCO, Disney, Amazon Prime, Netflix, “, Apple, Cape Town, Microsoft, Google, Infrastructure, McKinsey & Company, Pew Research Center, African Development Bank, Greek Coast Guard, Saudi, Africa Climate, Young Voters, Freedom House, University of Denver, United Arab, Japan Cuba Vatican City, Netherlands South Korea Belgium U.A.E, Islamic, Global, Center for Girls Education, School of Oriental, Studies Locations: grays, Africa, India, China, United States, Southern Asia, Asia, America, Caribbean, Northern America, Western Asia, Western Asia Northern America, Europe, London, New York, West Africa, Ivory, Abidjan, Russia, Turkey, Gulf, Nairobi, Nigeria Mozambique Kenya, Italy, Japan, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Ethiopia, Congo Indonesia Brazil Australia South Africa Argentina, Russia Germany U.S, China Egypt India Nigeria, Brazil South Africa Australia, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria, Nigeria, Africa’s, Young, South Africa, Somalia, Mozambique, Mali, Gabon, Niger, Mozambique Nigeria Kenya, Kenya, Pennsylvania, Angola Ivory, Angola Ivory Coast Cameroon, Congo Algeria Egypt, Ghana Kenya Madagascar Mozambique Niger Nigeria, Tanzania Uganda South Africa, Northern Africa Eastern Africa, Africa Middle Africa, Africa Middle Africa Southern Africa, Guinea, Bissau, African, Qatar, Nigerian, Brooklyn, Target, French, Senegalese, Paris, Milan, Venice, Burkina, Tanzania, Saharan Africa, Nigeria Kenya Senegal In Lagos, Dakar, Zambia, South Korea, Sotheby’s, Lagos, Zimbabwe, Watford, Cape, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Cairo, Morocco, East Africa, Nigeria Mozambique Morocco, Sudanese, North Africa, East Asia, Thailand, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, States, Namibia, Kenyan, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, United Arab Emirates, United States France Turkey, Germany, Russia India, Brazil, Japan Cuba, Japan Cuba Vatican City Spain Italy Saudi Arabia Qatar, Netherlands South Korea Belgium, Iran Canada, Niger’s, Niamey, Senegal Kenya Kenya, X’s, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Senegal, Uganda, Khartoum, Sudan, Ethiopia, Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Chad, Burkina Faso, Nigeria Nigeria Morocco, hijabs, Zaria, American, Korea, South, England

☆ ‘Oppenheimer’ helps IMAX swing to a profit in the third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

IMAX on Wednesday posted third-quarter earnings showing its second highest-grossing quarter ever at the global box office, led by Universal's "Oppenheimer." The quarter was behind only the fourth quarter of 2019, when "Joker" and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" opened, in terms of grosses, IMAX said. In the third quarter, IMAX also generated 120 new signings for new and upgraded IMAX systems across the world. The company delivered a record performance in the third quarter," Gelfond said during the call. Looking to next year, IMAX expects "some movement" due to effects felt from the Hollywood actors' strike, Gelfond said.

Persons: Universal's, Oppenheimer, Richard Gelfond, We've, Gelfond, I've, Indiana Jones, Natasha Fernandes, Taylor Swift, Beyonce Organizations: Revenue, Hollywood, CNBC, Universal Pictures

☆ The sad, lonely secret behind America's never-ending wave of Marvel movies and Disney reboots
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. Next, participants took Batcho's Nostalgia Inventory, a psychological test developed by Krystine Batcho in 1995 to quantify how deeply people feel nostalgia at a given time. If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. American health insurer Cigna has conducted a large loneliness survey since 2018, with over ten thousand respondents in the sample annually. In 2020, 61% of those surveyed were lonely, up 7 percentage points since the survey was first conducted in 2018.

Persons: Harry Potter, Krystine Batcho, lonelier, Cigna, reboots, Indiana Jones, Heather Jones, Walt Hickey, Zelda, backlist, SpongeBob, Percy Jackson, Workman Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Sony, Fox, Southampton University, UCLA, Research Center, Pew Research, Gallup, Netflix, Recreation Locations: Wonderland, Orlando, England, Hogwarts, Kingdom, America, Hollywood

☆ China's economy is on shaky ground - but its movie industry is hitting historic box office records
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China's economy hasn't seen the post-pandemic rebound as many expected, but its film industry is running strong. From June to September, Chinese consumers spent $3.2 billion at the box office, a record high for that stretch. Meanwhile, China's economy faces weak growth, a shaky property sector, and declining trade. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementChina's economy has yet to enjoy the post-pandemic rebound many had anticipated, but its movie industry has thrived nonetheless.

Persons: hasn't, —, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Lehman, Alfredo Montufar Organizations: Service, CNN, China Center, Conference Board Locations: Dengta, China, Beijing

Box office receipts totaled 23.44 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) between June and September, the highest amount for that period in history, according to data from Dengta and Maoyan, China’s two major box office tracking apps. Ticket sales for the traditional high season between June and August soared to a record 20.6 yuan ($2.8 billion), smashing the previous summer peak of 17.8 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) recorded in 2019. “I’ve been a big fan of American and European movies,” Peng said. Powered by womenThat China’s recent box office boom has been driven by women is surprising given the gender imbalance in the country. So far this year, American films accounted for only about 14% of China’s box office, the second largest in the world, according to CNN calculations based on Dengta data.

Persons: Alibaba, ”, Stanley Rosen, Rosen, “, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, ” Perry Peng, she’s, “ We’ve, “ Barbie, “ I’ve, ” Peng, ” Pency Peng, Perry’s, Xuguang Chen, Chen, Kevin Tran, Tran Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, USC’s, China Institute, Warner Bros, CNN, School of Arts, Peking University, “, Morning, Hollywood Locations: China, Hong Kong, Dengta, United States, Shanghai, WarnerBros .

☆ In ‘The Hungry Season,’ Whole Worlds in a Grain of Rice
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Ellen Barry | More About Ellen Barry | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To keep rice seedlings from shriveling in the arid San Joaquin Valley, a farmer must flood them two or three times a week with water pumped up from deep below the surface of the earth. Then she must wage war against strangling weeds, cut each stalk individually and thresh it by hand. If rice is so cheap and plentiful, why bother? Over the next 20 years, as Lisa M. Hamilton recounts in “The Hungry Season,” Ia’s 10 rows of seedlings grow into a kingdom of nine acres. Her farm will become a refuge for older Hmong women who whisper and sing to one another as they harvest rice stalks by hand, working their way up parallel rows of grain.

Persons: Lisa M, Hamilton, ” Organizations: Hamilton, U.S . State Department Locations: Fresno, Calif, Laos, Thai, California, shriveling, San Joaquin Valley

☆ Bahrain Says Two Soldiers Killed in Houthi Drone Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a Houthi drone attack on Monday during a deployment in Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen, the state news agency quoted the Bahraini army as saying. The Houthis have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and left 80% of Yemen's population dependent on humanitarian aid. Last week the Saudi government welcomed what it described as “positive results” from the first direct talks it had with the leading Houthi officials who spent five days in Riyadh. The army statement said an officer and a soldier were killed and "a number" from the force were injured. The U.S. embassy in Bahrain sent a message of condolence to the families of those killed and said it stood by its long-term ally.

Persons: Omar Abdel, Chizu Nomiyama, Alison Williams Organizations: Saudi Locations: CAIRO, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Saudi, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, U.S, Bahrain

The Old City of Jerusalem and its walls were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981, but UNESCO doesn't list it under Israel or Palestine. Whereas other sites are listed by country, UNESCO lists the site separately, under "Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)." Source: Screenshot from UNESCOIsrael, which joined UNESCO in 1949, has nine sites named to the list, including Masada, the Old City of Acre and the "White City" of Tel Aviv. A backdrop of political alliancesUNESCO's decision to add Tell es-Sultan/Jericho to its World Heritage Site has angered Israeli officials, with Israel's foreign ministry releasing a statement Sunday calling it a "cynical" ploy by the Palestinians to politicize UNESCO. Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral is now on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.

Persons: Archivio J, Lange, De Agostini, Mounir, Jordan, Masada, Anastas, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv's, Kyiv's Saint Sophia, Pollex Organizations: UNESCO, Getty, Bank, Saudi Press Agency, The, City of, UNESCO Israel, politicize UNESCO, Saudi, U.S, Biden, United, UNESCO —, World, Saint Locations: Jericho, Palestine, Old City, Jerusalem, City, City of Jerusalem, Israel, Acre, Tel Aviv, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Medina, Saudi, United States, Ukraine, Lavra, Kyiv, Pechersk, Lviv, Kyiv's Saint

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a rare interview with Fox News on Wednesday that negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalized relations between both countries “get closer" every day, but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved. Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear program. We think it’s good not just for Israel and Saudi Arabia, we think it’s good for the whole region,” Kirby said. Saudi Arabia has made major progress in winding down its devastating war with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, this week hosting a rebel delegation in the capital, Riyadh. The 38-year-old bin Salman assumed day-to-day rule after the aging King Salman named him next in line to the throne in 2017.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “, Bret Baier ”, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, ”, bin Salman, we’ve, John Kirby, Saudi Arabia “, ” Kirby, Bin Salman, ” Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, ” bin Salman, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s, PIF, Salman, King Salman Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Fox News, MBS, Israeli, General Assembly, West Bank, National Security, Washington Post, Saudi, Fox News Channel, White House, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Trump, Arab League Locations: — Saudi, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States, Palestinian, Saudi, New York, Asia, East, Europe, Iran, Saudi Arabi, Western, Yemen, Riyadh, Syria, America

Legendary golfer Gary Player thinks government and sports shouldn't mix, as the golf world goes through a major merger that has triggered antitrust concerns. He was an ambassador for Golf Saudi, an organization pushing to make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a more prominent force in the sport. Player also said he supports the proposed merger between Saudi-backed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, which has drawn criticism and scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, not to mention golfers. (Previously, Player has spoken out against players leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, saying it's for "guys that can't win one the regular tour any more.") Last week, a U.S. Senate subcommittee held its second hearing on the proposed merger.

Persons: Gary Player, We've, LIV Golf, Connecticut Sen, Richard Blumenthal Organizations: CNBC, Golf Saudi, Aramco, PGA Tour, U.S, Connecticut, Democratic, Saudi Public Investment Fund, soccer team Locations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ U.S. Deepens Security Pledge to Bahrain, an Adversary of Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Vivian Nereim | More About Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration signed a security agreement with the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Wednesday, deepening its commitment to defend the authoritarian country from attacks. The format of the agreement could serve as a template for other Gulf Arab governments that have demanded stronger security guarantees from the United States, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain — an island nation that is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — has a particularly tense relationship with Iran, located across the Persian Gulf. Under the new agreement, if the kingdom were attacked, the United States would consult with the Bahraini government and determine the best way to “confront the ongoing aggression,” said a senior Biden administration official, who briefed journalists on the condition of anonymity. One of the provisions in the agreement allows Bahrain and the United States to invite other countries to join the pact, the official said.

Persons: —, ” Organizations: Biden, United Arab, Navy’s, Bahraini Locations: Bahrain, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Persian, United

The surprise deal, which would join the venerable PGA Tour and a rival Saudi-funded golf start-up, LIV, was announced in June. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, called the Public Investment Fund, or PIF, is controlled by the Saudi government. The Saudi Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the subpoena, which names the Public Investment Fund's New York-based U.S. subsidiary, USSA International. This summer's announcement of the PGA-Saudi golf deal ended a legal battle between the two rivals. Blumenthal said available public records indicate the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has expanded its investments in the United States from $2 billion in 2018 to $35 billion now.

Persons: Sen, Richard Blumenthal's, al, LIV, ” Blumenthal, Blumenthal, “, ”, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Saudi, PGA, Connecticut, Senate, PGA Tour, Public Investment Fund, Public Investment, United, Saudi Embassy, USSA, Crown Locations: United States, Saudi, York, San Francisco, Saudi Arabia

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The United Nations special envoy for Syria Sunday urged donors not to reduce their funding as the war-torn country's economic crisis spirals. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesWith international donor support dwindling, U.N. agencies have been cutting programs due to budget cuts for years. “We cannot accept that funding for Syria is going down while the humanitarian needs are increasing,” Pedersen said. “For Syria without addressing the political consequences of this crisis, the deep economic crisis and humanitarian suffering will also continue,” Pedersen said. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran have tried to push Syria and Turkey to rekindle ties, the latter backing opposition groups in northwestern Syria.

Persons: Bashar Assad’s, Assad, Geir Pedersen, Faisal Mekdad, ” Pedersen, —, Pedersen, — Chehayeb Organizations: United Nations, Syria Sunday, Syrian Foreign, Arab League Locations: DAMASCUS, Syria, Sweida, Daraa, Russia, Iran, Damascus, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Beirut, Lebanon

☆ Foreign reactions and offers of aid in response to Morocco earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

[1/6] A general view of damage in the historic city of Marrakech, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9. ****OFFERS OF FOREIGN AID AND SUPPORTALGERIAAlgeria, which broke off ties with Morocco two years ago, said it would open its air space for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco. TURKEYThe Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara was ready to provide all kinds of support "to heal the wounds of the earthquake in Morocco". Valerie Pecresse, president of the Paris region, said on X it was offering 500,000 euros ($535,000)in aid for Morocco. -------------**** ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN NATIONALSFRANCEThe French Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Morocco and the ministry in Paris have opened crisis centres "to respond to demands for information or help from our compatriots."

Persons: Abdelhak, Algeria's, Olaf Scholz, Antony Blinken, Valerie Pecresse, Benoit Payan, Jose Manuel Albares, Antonio Nogales, Eli Cohen, “, Israel's Magen David Adom, Magen David Adom, Kais Saied, Nawaf Al, Ahmad Al, Jaber, Marcel Ciolacu, NARENDRA MODI, VLADIMIR PUTIN, MOHAMMED VI, KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ANNALENA, EMMANUEL MACRON, FELIPE, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Turkish Foreign Ministry, UNITED STATES Secretary, French Foreign Ministry, Morocco, Cote d'Azur, Orange, Spain's, Moroccan, ISRAEL, Crescent, Ministry of Health, Israel Defense Forces, INDIAN, IMF, Bank, MINISTRY, Facebook, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, ALGERIA Algeria, Moroccan, TURKEY, Ankara, AFAD, Turkish, Turkey, GERMANY, New Delhi, Germany, United States, FRANCE, France, Paris, Marseille, Marseille's, Occitanie, Corsica, Provence, Alpes, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, SPAIN, TUNISIA, Tunisian, KUWAIT, Jaber Al, Sabah, ROMANIA, TAIWAN, Algeria, Kingdom of Morocco, EMIRATES, German, Rabat

Santos, the club where Pelé and Neymar started, also doesn't accept that the Al-Hilal striker broke the record of the man the club and Brazilians call their king. Pelé scored twice in Brazil's 2-2 draw with Inter Milan in 1960. In 1960, he claimed a hat-trick in a 3-1 triumph over against a combination of Egyptian and Syrian national team players. “I want to say this (record) doesn’t mean I am better than him (Pelé) or any national team player,” he said in a short statement. “I always wanted to write my story in the national team and today I did that.”___

Persons: Neymar, Pelé, Neymar Jr, Ednaldo Rodrigues, ” Neymar, Rodrigues, “, Santos, Al, ”, Mauro Cézar Pereira, Renato Mauricio Prado, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Organizations: SAO PAULO, —, Brazil's, FIFA, “ FIFA, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Sweden's, Pelé, Syrian national, Neymar, Brazil —, Argentina, Copa Locations: — Brazil, American, Bolivia, Hilal, Brazil, Sweden's Malmo, Northeastern, Pernambuco, London, Rio de Janeiro, Portugal, Copa America

☆ Opinion | The Subtlety of J.R.R. Tolkien
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The devil appears to some people as Lucifer the light-bringer, yes — but his darker visage finds worshipers as well. Ours is no longer the world in which Tolkien grew up, nor even the one in which he spent his last years. Tolkien himself was very careful to note that the Shire is not self-sustaining, dependent as it is on outsiders for security. I obviously endorse this point, but I think the last line undersells how much Tolkien subjected his own pastoral nostalgia to critique. Because Tolkien is a reactionary, the solution to that sickness is the return of a king of ancient lineage.

Persons: Tolkien, Soviet Union didn’t, Adolf Hitler’s, Joseph Stalin, Hitler, Lucifer, unrealism —, Tolkien’s, Philip Larkin, “, King Charles III’s, Niall Gooch, Hobbitism, Bilbo, It’s, Gondor, Anárion, that’s Organizations: Gorgoroth, Jackson Locations: Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, England, Tolkien’s, Isengard, Shire, Britain

☆ Why American families are leaving the US for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Finally, Pennsylvanian Alan Andrew and his Belgian husband, Vincent Proost, bought a rundown farmhouse in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Young hearts run freeThere comes a day in all our lives when we’ve taken our final vacation, whether we realize it at the time or not. From next year, it won’t even be free to travel to Europe. The new ETIAS visa waiver program will allow entry into EU countries for fees starting at $7.70.

Persons: who’ve, Dawkins, Nadine, Kim, –, Alan Andrew, Vincent Proost, we’ve, Terry Ward, you’re, We’ve, It’s, CNN Riiya Shukla, Arabia ”, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Labor, Pearl, Auckland, Auckland Airport Locations: United States, Texas, Latronico, North Carolina, Umbria, Belgian, Alentejo, Portugal, Florida, Canada, Italy, Europe, Asia, Bhutan, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tokyo, Kong’s, New Zealand, Norway, Arabia, Antalya, Instagram

☆ Bhutan cuts daily tourist fee by half to lure more visitors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"This is in view of the important role of the tourism sector in generating employment, earning foreign exchange ... and in boosting overall economic growth," it said. Isolated for generations, Bhutan opened to tourists in 1974 when it received 300 visitors. The tourist fee has limited arrivals to bigger spenders who make up a fraction of the numbers that visit nearby Nepal. Nevertheless, Bhutan hopes to raise the contribution of tourism to its $3 billion economy 20%, from about 5%. In June, the government eased rules on length of stay and fees for tourists but numbers have not picked up as expected.

Persons: Dorji Dhradhul, Dhradhul, Gopal Sharma, Robert Birsel Organizations: Department of Tourism, Thomson Locations: KATHMANDU, Bhutan, COVID, Nepal

Loeffler fears a land grab on Maui would mean the loss of Hawaiian culture. Affordable housing advocates such as Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) are calling for a moratorium on foreclosures. At stake is the survival of Hawaiian culture, said Kaliko Baker, an associate professor at the University of Hawaii. "If people buy land and build their own Lahaina does that include Hawaiian language schools?" Loeffler plans to rebuild her plantation-style family home with insurance money so Lahaina can again "look like Lahaina."

Persons: Deborah Loeffler, Liliana Salgado, Loeffler, Josh Green, Marlena, Sterling Higa, Andrew Rumbach, Kaliko Baker, Baker, Sam, Andrew Hay, Rachel Nostrant, Daniel Trotta, Jonathan Allen, Donna Bryson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaii Alliance, Progressive, Consumer, Reuters, Housing, Urban Institute, University of Hawaii, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Kaanapali, Hawaii, U.S, Maui, Paradise , California, New Mexico, Maui County, Oklahoma City, Florida, Honolulu, Washington, Loeffler, Taos , New Mexico

☆ Fears of predatory land grabs mount in the ashes of Maui, opening old wounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The threat of predatory outsiders swooping in to buy up property under the ashes of Maui is sparking outrage and opening old wounds for locals. “And every time there’s a crisis, it accelerates.”Homes consumed in recent wildfires are seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Jae C. Hong/APA week after wildfires razed through west Maui, killing more than a hundred people and displacing thousands, locals are grieving and rallying together to take care of those who lost everything. It’s through these community-based efforts, Ing said, that the people of Maui will best find a way to equitably rebuild. An offering of flowers is left on the ground following the Maui fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 16, 2023.

Persons: ”, Kaniela Ing, Jae C, insurrectionists, Queen Lili’uokalani, Sterling Higa, ” Higa, Justin Sullivan, Josh Green, don’t, he’s, ” Green, we’re, wrongdoers, ” Mana Moriarty, Ing, ” Ing, kanaka, Yuki Iwamura, Green, Higa, ” “, GoFundMe, “, “ That’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, Homes, Housing, “, Hawaii’s Department of Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Consumer, Green New Deal, Getty Locations: Maui, Hawaiian, Lahaina , Hawaii, American, Kingdom of Hawaii, United States, Lahaina, Hawaii, Lahaina , West Maui, AFP

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