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Skeleton saint Santa Muerte attracts devotees among US Latinos
Standing before an elaborate altar in her living room in New York, Arely Vazquez explains the pledge she made to Santa Muerte—or Saint Death—after surviving pancreas surgery 17 years ago: that she would honor her “little skeleton” by throwing a festival of thanksgiving each year. Vazquez is the main priest, or “madrina,” in the United States of a growing faction of devotees to the skeleton saint revered in Mexico, often alongside...
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The 'Tishala' and its captain: A look into the life of a Kuwaiti seafarer
By Khaled Al-AbdulhadiKUWAIT: Ali Hassan Al-Jasmi, the son of one of Kuwait's revered captains, embodies the maritime spirit deeply embedded in Kuwait's heritage. He takes us back to an era before technology's prominence, when society's identity was closely intertwined with the dedication and hard work of its people in service of their homeland. Al-Jasmi paints a vivid portrait of his father, Hassan Al-Jasmi, who embarked on his maritime journey...
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Young Kuwaiti divers sail for 32nd annual pearl diving trip
By Faten OmarKUWAIT: Under the sponsorship of HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, young Kuwaiti divers set sail for the 32nd annual pearl diving trip on traditional dhows off the coast of Khairan. Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC) organized a “dasha” ceremony on Saturday with the participation of about 60 youths.Head of the Kuwait Heritage Committee at KSSC Ali Al-Qabandi said: “The six-day trip is important, as it is one of...
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‘It’s gone’: stunned residents find nothing but ashes in Hawaii town
LAHAINA: When Anthony La Puente made it back to the place he had called home for the last 16 years, there was almost nothing left. His house, like most in Lahaina, had been razed by the wildfire that swept through this slice of Hawaiian paradise. “The only thing I can say is that it hurts. It takes a toll on you emotionally,” the 44-year-old said.“It sucks not being able to find the things you grew up with, or the things you remember.” La...
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Columbian gang behind Ecuador assassination
QUITO: Two years after a Colombian squad allegedly shot dead the president of Haiti, authorities in Ecuador have accused a group of Colombians of being behind the assassination of a top presidential candidate, pointing to the export of a culture of political hitjobs. Colombia has a long history of politicians being assassinated by opponents, drug traffickers, or paramilitaries, and even its president, Gustavo Petro, campaigned before his election...
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Little-known senator named Pakistan caretaker PM until coming election
ISLAMABAD: A little-known senator from Pakistan’s least-populous province was named caretaker prime minister Saturday to see the country through to an election due in months. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, from Balochistan province, takes on a country that has been wracked by political and economic instability for months, with Imran Khan, the country’s most popular politician in jail.Kakar was confirmed by President Arif Alvi as the choice of the...
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US to invest $1.2bn on facilities to pull carbon from air
WASHINGTON: The US government said Friday it will spend up to $1.2 billion for two pioneering facilities to vacuum carbon out of the air, a historic gamble on a still developing technology to combat global warming that is criticized by some experts. The two projects—in Texas and Louisiana—each aim to eliminate one million tons of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent in total to the annual emissions of 445,000 gas-powered cars.It is “the...
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FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed after bail revoked
NEW YORK: A US federal judge on Friday ordered FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried back to prison less than two months before his trial on fraud charges, revoking the disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon’s bail over alleged attempts to tamper with witnesses. Bankman-Fried, 31, has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, as well as election finance violations, in connection with the spectacular collapse of his...
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IEA raises world oil demand forecast in 2023 to all-time high
PARIS: The International Energy Agency said Friday it had revised upwards its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023 as demand is “scaling record highs”. World oil demand already hit a record 103 million barrels per day in June and August and “could see yet another peak”, the Paris-based IEA said in its monthly report.“For 2023 as a whole, global oil demand is set to expand by 2.2 million barrels per day to 102.2 million barrels...
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Preliminary audit report slams Lebanon central bank, governor
BEIRUT: A preliminary forensic audit of Lebanon’s central bank by professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has painted a damning picture of the institution under long-serving former governor Riad Salameh. Since late 2019, Lebanon has been mired in an economic crisis that the World Bank has dubbed one of the worst in modern times, but officials have largely failed to take action to stem the collapse or implement reforms demanded...
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Over half of young Arabs in Levant, N Africa, pin hopes on emigrating
BEIRUT: More than half of young Arabs in north Africa and the Levant say they are actively trying to emigrate or considering leaving their home countries in search of better jobs abroad, a research shows.The latest Arab Youth Survey by global communications agency Asda’a BCW, released on Thursday, found that 53 percent of people aged 18-24 in Levantine countries — Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and the Palestinian territories — and 48...
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‘Good chemistry’ takes Sweden into familiar territory at WCup
AUCKLAND: They don’t attract the same level of attention as many of their rivals, but Sweden might be starting to quietly believe this is their year after reaching yet another semi-final at the Women’s World Cup. The pre-tournament talk was about the United States and a third straight title, England adding the World Cup to their European crown and Australia going for glory on home soil. But Sweden are ranked third in the world for a reason...