Guatemala country profile
Provides and overview of Guatemala, including key facts about this Central American country.
2023-08-21 20:16
Roundup: Spain Wins World Cup, Oppenheimer's Box Office, 25 Good Dogs
Olga Carmona scores World Cup-winning goal for Spain, then learns of father's death ... Donald Trump's unconventional campaign is destined to get even more unconventional .... Disappointing New York Yankees mired in longest losing streak since 1995 ... Oppenheimer cruises past $700-million mark, now become megahit ... John Sterling almost bonked with another foul ball ... Angel Hernandez continued to build to an impressive legacy with an iffy call ... A Russian spacecraft has crashed into the moon ... Aldi is expanding and possibly coming to an area near you .... Bradley Cooper controversy over before it could really begin ... Charlize Theron, like the rest of us, is aging ...
2023-08-21 19:57
Jeremy Doku tells Rennes he wants to join Manchester City
Jeremy Doku communicates to Rennes that he only wants to join Manchester City despite interest from West Ham United.
2023-08-21 19:29
Wrexham FC’s Ben Foster announces retirement for second time as Ryan Reynolds releases statement
Goalkeeper Ben Foster has retired from football for a second time. The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Forster walked away from the game last September but was convinced to end his retirement and sign for Wrexham in March. He has now called time on his career following a difficult start to the new campaign. Foster said: “I feel sometimes you’ve just got to be honest with yourself and admit that you can’t do what you used to be able to do.” Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds said on Twitter: “He built memories I’ll never let go of for as long as I live.” Read More Moment Spanish FA president kisses Jenni Hermoso on the lips after world cup win Lionesses ‘won the hearts’ of fans despite World Cup defeat Injured Lioness Beth Mead says World Cup has been ‘tough to watch’ from home
2023-08-21 19:17
Bethesda boss Pete Hines hits back at claim Starfield start menu was 'hastily' designed
Pete Hines insists the 'Starfield' main menu has been designed "differently" to other game menus.
2023-08-21 19:16
Bezos’ Blue Origin Methane Emissions Were Spotted by the Space Station
Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is thought to be responsible for more than a quarter of global warming
2023-08-21 19:16
The anguish, emotion and the story of the Women’s World Cup in photos
The Women’s World Cup has concluded. After more than four weeks of dramatic action in Australia, Spain defeated England in the final on Sunday to reach the highest of peaks and, with it, footballing immortality. It’s not over the top to suggest it as such, either; some of the sport’s most iconic and memorable images down the years have come from this very tournament and that very match, both in the women’s and men’s games: Birgit Prinz’s joy in 2007, Lionel Messi lifting the trophy adorned in a bisht in Qatar, Brandi Chastain’s shirt-off shootout celebration, Pele carried off the Azteca pitch in 1970. Those images are as much a part of football history as the games and players themselves – yet the people who bring those moments, those stories to life are, by the very nature of being behind the camera, rarely as prominent. Over in Australia and New Zealand, Getty Images is one of the most prominent global photography organisations providing such reproductions and reflections of what’s going on in the 2023 edition, which makes Lead Photographer Catherine Ivill perhaps better-placed – literally as well as figuratively – than most to detail just how the emotions of the occasion can be captured for those not fortunate enough to have a watching brief. “What I like most about it is telling the story for people who aren’t in the stadium. What we see and hear is only one thing; if you’re not there you need it describing. It’s about the atmosphere, in the game but also until long after the final whistle,” she told The Independent. “A tournament like this has its challenges but these opportunities only come along every few years. The process doesn’t change, just the scale. We send a really strong, experienced team: we have 27 photographers and eight editors on the ground and we provide images across the world, just the same as at the men’s World Cup.” And so to the action, the images, the moments which live on. The 2023 tournament started back on 20 July and it’s fair to say the magic started then, too, as co-hosts New Zealand won their first-ever game at any World Cup, ever. “I was at the fan fest in Wellington during the opening game and the atmopshere was incredible,” Ivill explained. “That one goal changed everything for New Zealand football and people’s respect for it: that one goal has created a legacy for it in the country. It’s such an important moment, you see the subs, the smiling faces – it was a good day.” And yet, football has two sides to every coin. And when there is utter jubilation and euphoria at success on the biggest stage, so too must there be devastation, desperation, despair – as evidenced by Ivill capturing Italy crashing out at the group stage in heartbreaking, last-minute fashion. “Italy gave it away. The utter devastation they were feeling is clear. If [celebratory] stuff is going on at the other end then it’s not always a good photo – you always initially think about the celebration being the good photo but Italy were near me so I focused on how they were feeling, it tells the same story but from a different side.” Even in hard moments can come a softer side in sport though, a moment where rivals know what their beaten opponents are going through. “What I like most about the women’s game is the empathy,” Ivill says. “A lot of these players play together and it’s not always about the celebration at the final whistle. Nobody wants to feel that rubbish at the final whistle and they’re always very willing to go over and help the other team. “It was a hard-fought game and they’re picking her up off the floor – I really like the empathy and the strength that this type of picture gives you.” Sometimes the picture everyone wants to see isn’t necessarily a defining moment, but the players who matter most. One of the world’s finest players and one of the game’s most exciting young talents coming together briefly, for example. “It’s a bit of both luck and planning. Most is luck but of course you have the players in mind. Linda Caicedo has been one of the standouts of the tournament so she’d be someone I would be focusing on – and it just so happens Lucy Bronze comes along at the same time. One’s Real Madrid, one is Barcelona – on paper the rivalry is there too.” No matter how much planning and knowledge goes into proceedings, though, the surprising nature of football is what keeps people coming back – Japan thrashing Spain 4-0 in the group stage being a good example, as Ivill found out. “That game I was on my own and I was waiting to see if Alexia Putellas was starting. She was, so I thought it would be all Spain attack and took up my position behind the goal they’d be heading to...then it’s 3-0 to Japan at half-time and I’m sat at the other end, head in hands! Japan ran riot that game and all I can remember is sitting at the wrong end!” One interesting side note is the concept of taking photos she cannot actually see at the time – with England’s semi-final goal, scored by Lauren Hemp, providing a spectacular and unusual viewing angle. “We have a net cam and before the match we attach it to the goal. I’m firing the camera from a remote in my seat; it doesn’t work all the time as if the net gets hit it can swing or point the wrong way but it’s a great angle and only a few agencies do this, so it’s more of an exclusive image. “We don’t have a view of it in-game – I just have to hope it’s still in the place I left it! We set it up and then it either happens or it doesn’t.” As noted, Ivill remains in place long after the final whistle, long after fans have departed. Or most of them, anyway: the Japanese supporters have become much-admired for lingering later and tidying stadiums behind themselves and others. “They’re so well-known for cleaning up after matches. The players make origami figures and write thank you on the board in the changing rooms; the fans here have continued their tradition of going around after the game. “It doesn’t finish for me when the whistle blows and this shows that. I don’t finish until ages after everyone else has left the stadium.” The go-to, the standard, the expectations of match photos are the action shots: the goals, the saves, the moments people remember. But being in place for such a shot is more than luck and finger-on-the-trigger reflexes. There’s plenty of planning which goes into such an event, Ivill explains, whether from ensuring a team of three are focused on different groups or individuals in a penalty shoot-out, or to making sure potential occurrences are on their radar – such as Marta’s exit from her final World Cup appearance for Brazil. Meanwhile, there are in-the-moment issues and challenges to deal with, particularly around VAR in the modern game. Referees traipsing across the pitch to watch a monitor perhaps 40 yards away from the incident and the group of players can make a photo with context a “difficult” image to capture, with the digital screens a further complication as the LEDs are tricky to focus. Ultimately, though, everyone is at the football for one thing: winning. The celebrations which ensue – whether in the stands, in gatherings outside or right in the midst of the players themselves, are the ones which can linger longest in the memory. Naturally, the emotions which can explode at that point are in large part down to the circumstances of the match: the “unusual” moment of Sweden’s goalline technology-confirmed penalty shootout triumph over USA led to an incredibly up-close and intimate moment, where jubilation in the extreme was clear to see. Of course, Sweden’s adventure ended with a bronze medal as England reached the final with victory over the hosts. But the final chapter of this story saw Spain grasp their moment in the final. A moment which wasn’t the dream scenario for Ivill. one more chapter in this story to come, one more photo in particular to capture. And it’s fair to leave the final word on that to the person who’ll be taking it – and how pertinent that as football continues to catch up, a woman at the top of her profession will deservedly be in place to immortalise those who are celebrating. “I know I’m on the pitch and I’ll be bench-side for the final, so for the trophy lift, the longest-lasting photo, we’ll stand next to each other and have different lenses to capture different images,” she said before Sunday’s final. “My perfect one will be the Lionesses picking it up. That’s the picture for me.” Sometimes, the fairytale ending isn’t fulfilled. Read More Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: England head home after final heartbreak Women’s World Cup prize money: How much do the winners get? Lionesses receive surprise reception as they start journey back to England Mary Earps’ Golden Glove award isn’t enough to convince Nike to sell her shirt The two sides of the Women’s World Cup — and the truth about where power still lies England’s impact will last far longer than pain of World Cup final defeat
2023-08-21 18:51
New ‘extreme’ wildfire risk alert sounded in Greece as five villages are evacuated
Greek authorities have warned of an “extreme” wildfire risk around capital Athens as strong winds have renewed burning infernos and prompted evacuations in five northern villages. The alert was issued for areas around Athens and other parts of southern Greece on Monday as the large summer wildfire, which has already destroyed several homes over the weekend, was feared to have come dangerously close to residential areas. A wildfire, which ignited near the town of Alexandroupolis over the weekend, led to evacuations in eight villages that were emptied on Saturday due to the advancing flames. Some 200 firefighters, assisted by 16 water-dropping aircraft, volunteers and police, were battling the blaze near Alexandroupolis. Local authorities said about half a dozen outlying houses and outbuildings were badly damaged in two of the evacuated villages, as well as a church. Sections of a major highway were closed for a second day as smoke reduced visibility, while Alexandroupolis residents were advised to keep their windows shut. Greece’s minister for civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias, said on Sunday that firefighters, police, army personnel and volunteers were “waging an intense battle” in the Alexandroupolis area, and called for extreme public vigilance throughout the country on Monday. “No outdoors work that could trigger a fire will be permitted,” he said. “We must all protect our country.” Across the border in Turkey, the governor of Erdine province declared Sunday that the border crossing at Ipsala had been closed until further notice due to the fires. The fresh alert comes as the Meteo weather service forecasts another round of high temperatures in Greece this week, with mercury expected to reach or even exceed 40 degrees Celsius in certain areas. Warm air masses hovering over the Eastern Mediterranean are expected to raise temperatures by 2-5C above the usual for this time of year. Greece has been suffering from wildfires for weeks now as record-shattering temperatures driven by the climate crisis led to a massive surge in wildfires this year in several countries. While Greece suffers destructive wildfires every summer, scientists said increasing temperatures are making them more frequent and prolonged. Last month, a large wildfire on the resort island of Rhodes forced the evacuation of some 20,000 tourists. Days later, two air force pilots were killed when their water-dropping plane crashed while diving low to tackle a blaze on the island of Evia. Another three wildfire-related deaths have been recorded this summer. Apart from Greece and other European countries, Canada is also witnessing its worst wildfire season on record this year with fires raging for months now. Meanwhile, wildfires in Hawaii’s Maui have killed 114 people. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Mapped: Where are the wildfires in Tenerife as blaze forces thousands to flee Why campaigners say Europe has given up on saving lives in the Mediterranean Heat and wildfires put southern Europe's vital tourism earnings at risk World’s largest carbon-sucking factory starts operation in Iceland ‘The climate crisis is a reality’: Africa’s summer of extremes Against the odds: The fight to save sea turtles in Ras Baridi
2023-08-21 18:50
Ben Foster announces his retirement from football... again
Ben Foster has retired from professional football for a second time, Wrexham have announced. The former England goalkeeper came out of retirement to help the Welsh club’s push for promotion to the football league in March. Foster made 12 appearances for the club, including four this season, during his second spell, having played for them back in 2005 on loan. He played as recently as Saturday (19 August) in Wrexham’s thrilling 5-5 draw with Swindon, but the 40-year-old made up his mind after the game, despite being just 10 weeks into his year-long contract. “The honest truth is that my performances this season haven’t reached the level I demand of myself, and I feel that now is the right time to retire,” Foster said in a statement. “At the forefront of my mind, when making this decision, was not only what was best for me but also the Club, and making the decision now gives the Club every opportunity to assess their options before the [transfer] window closes. “Wrexham will always have a special place in my heart.” Foster, who has eight England caps to his name, first hung up his gloves in September 2022 when his contract at Watford expired and they were relegated to the Championship. It was a career that began with Foster playing for RC Warwick and then Stoke back in 2001, and in the 22 years since he has played for a number of clubs including Manchester United. His return to Watford in 2018 marked his second spell with the Hornets. Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: “Ben has been the model professional while at Wrexham and has done everything we have asked of him. “It takes a big person to make the decision he has and one who really understands this Football Club, with the timing of his decision. I am sure I speak for everyone, when thanking him for his contribution that went far beyond that one magnificent penalty save against Notts County to help us gain promotion last season. “Wrexham AFC was a better place for having Ben Foster around the Club.” Read More Hugh Jackman joins Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham game: ‘Finally snagged an invite!’ Wrexham’s league return in front of Hollywood stars spoiled by MK Dons Why James McClean needs Wrexham just as much as the club needs him Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster retires from football for a second time The anguish, emotion and the story of the Women’s World Cup in photos Are Everton the first crisis club of the season?
2023-08-21 18:46
Bernardo Arevalo: Anti-corruption leader wins Guatemala election
Bernardo Arevalo promises to end elite rule in the country mired in poverty and gang violence.
2023-08-21 18:27
Marketmind: Bonds burn on as China rate cut underwhelms
A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan There's been little let up in
2023-08-21 18:26
Historic drought, hot seas slow Panama Canal shipping
By Lisa Baertlein and Marianna Parraga LOS ANGELES/HOUSTON Before the Ever Max ship carrying lava lamps, sofas, Halloween
2023-08-21 18:23
