Home » Home » José Luis Horta e Costa Assesses the Career of Rodri By Space Coast Daily  //  May 1 continues to be the subject of debate in both national and international newspapers and magazines The election of Rodri as the best player in the world by France Football generated controversy over the deservedness of the midfielder with both defenders and critics discussing the issue sports writer José Luís Horta e Costa presents an overview of the Spanish midfielder’s journey to fame and the 2024 Ballon d’Or “The main reason for the controversy surrounding Rodri’s nomination and subsequent election as the best player in the world can only be the fact that he has a very different profile to most footballers. Without social networks, fanatical supporters or high-profile plays, Rodri is simply the one who does the job competently,” José Luís Horta e Costa begins Lisbon-based sports blogger José Luís Horta e Costa believes that in order for readers to form an informed opinion about the player it’s important to have all the necessary information and a better understanding of Rodri’s career from the start whose full name is Rodrigo Hernández Cascante The Spaniard began his career as a footballer at a very young age a team from the outskirts of the Spanish capital “It didn’t take long for Rodri to start playing for Atlético de Madrid’s youth teams the midfielder left Madrid at no cost and moved to Villarreal where he made his first-team debut in December 2015 at the age of 19,” says José Luís Horta e Costa Rodri not only completed his soccer training but also began his studies in Management and Business Administration at the University of Castellón Sports writer José Luis Horta e Costa explains that Rodri was launched when he played for the Yellow Submarine making 84 appearances and scoring two goals All this while the player was studying and living in the student residence Atlético de Madrid signed him again in 2018 “Rodri’s talent was already clear from his time at Villarreal, which is why the Madrid club signed him to a five-year contract, expecting great things from the young midfielder,” explains talented sports blogger José Luis Horta e Costa despite having a half-decade contract with the player Atlético de Madrid ended up selling him in July 2019 to Manchester City “Rodri caught Pep Guardiola’s eye not only because of his numbers but also because of his balanced profile as a midfielder his physical size and his intelligence in reading the game – three extremely valuable characteristics for Manchester City’s tactical approach,” says sports expert José Luis Horta e Costa Manchester City paid a termination clause of over 62 million euros to Atlético Madrid – the club’s most expensive transfer to date commented that Rodri was a talented young midfielder with all the qualities the club was looking for makes himself available to receive the ball and uses it well when he has possession He fits in perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s team and we are confident that he will be a success,” said Txiki Begiristain The month after he was signed for the 2019/2020 season Rodri made his Premier League debut for the Citizens in a 5-0 win over West Ham United The player suffered a muscle injury later that year scored the goal that gave City victory in an English League Cup final against Aston Villa “Since his first season at Manchester City Rodri has been a constant and positive presence the player has been building a winning trajectory His role has been fundamental in winning 11 titles for the English club including 4 consecutive Premier League victories and the unprecedented Champions League Cup” “Rodri’s 23/24 season has been impressive, and the midfielder has been key to both Manchester City’s and the Spanish national team’s achievements. In both teams’ games, it’s clear to see how Rodri manages to control the midfield and distribute the ball in the directions he wants, and this becomes even more evident when we analyze his passing statistics,” says sports writer José Luis Horta e Costa midfielder Rodri made an average of 88.9 passes per game an average of 57.2 of his passes per game took place in the final third of the pitch passes to create dangerous attacking moves and the accuracy of these passes was 90.1%,” said the sports expert Another point that stands out in Rodri’s excellent soccer he averaged 2.3 tackles and 6.4 disputes won per game According to the CIES Football Observatory no other player made more of an impact than Rodri in last season’s matches – 54 leagues from around the world were analyzed for the study “It’s worth noting that the CIES Football Observatory survey only considers games played for Manchester City drew 11 and lost just once,” says José Luis Horta e Costa If you include the games played for the Spanish national team in the 23/24 season as well as being voted the best player at Euro 2024 and the Club World Cup in 2023 – his achievements are not few and far between,” lists Horta e Costa many are still wondering if these achievements are really enough to guarantee Rodri the title of best player in the world.” In another analysis, José Luis Horta e Costa said: “Rodri has had a great season but one could well have chosen Vini Jr.’s colleague Bellingham for the title only a thorough evaluation of the other players’ achievements could ‘hammer down’ the case what remains are subjective and often contradictory criteria Even with objective criteria determined in advance the journalists who judge the Ballon d’Or award end up being subjective in their voting Rodri won,” concludes José Luis Horta e Costa José Luís Horta e Costa is a well-known author in the field of sports blogs whose analyses are based on statistics and facts He has been writing about various sports for years Click Here to Sign Up for Text Alerts Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security José Ramos-Horta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor Full name: José Ramos-HortaBorn: 26 December 1949 After its liberation from Indonesia, East Timor was beset by social and ethnic conflicts. In 2006, soldiers from its western region revolted and the capital of Dili was plundered by young rioters. A UN forced was used to re-establish law and order After periods as both foreign minister and prime minister Ramos-Horta won the presidential election in 2007 He made former president Gusmao his prime minister The following year both were targets of attempted assassination by rebel soldiers but returned to his post after successful hospital recuperation in Australia unceasingly and with great personal sacrifice collecting and communicating information on the repression and acting as East Timor’s principal international spokesman." Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 after Portugal withdrew One of those who fought against the unlawful occupation was the journalist José Ramos-Horta but he served as foreign minister in exile for the liberation movement For the next 20 years he travelled throughout the world Ramos-Horta’s efforts were long disregarded and impeded by the West which needed Indonesia in the fight against communism Ramos-Horta lost three siblings in the war and received many death threats When the Cold War was over and the Indonesian dictator resigned Indonesia withdrew from East Timor under UN supervision In 2002 Ramos-Horta became the first foreign minister of an independent East Timor When Ramos-Horta heard that he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize he said that it really should have gone to Xanana Gusmao He was the political and military leader of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor the liberation movement and political party to which the peace laureate himself belonged Gusmao was taken prisoner by Indonesia in 1988 and later sentenced to life in prison and in 2002 he was elected as the first president of an independent East Timor "José Ramos-Horta is a machine that seeks more work than sleep The Indonesian government took a conciliatory tone toward Bishop Belo while it sharply condemned the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s choice of Ramos-Horta Indonesia falsely accused Ramos-Horta of being responsible for atrocities during the war in 1975 The Indonesian ambassador boycotted the award ceremony in Oslo City Hall and he warned the Nobel Peace Prize laureates not to criticise Indonesia during their stay in Norway Belo did not take the chance of appearing at a joint press conference with Ramos-Horta Disclaimer: Every effort has been made by the publisher to credit organisations and individuals with regard to the supply of photographs Please notify the publishers regarding corrections Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons Tasked with a mission to manage Alfred Nobel's fortune and has ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the intentions of Nobel's will these academic institutions have worked independently to select Nobel Prize laureates Several outreach organisations and activities have been developed to inspire generations and disseminate knowledge about the Nobel Prize The UEFA Champions League is still in full swing and the 36 teams are still fighting for a place in the final in Munich in May 2025. With the end of the sixth round of the group stage, Portuguese analyst José Luís Horta e Costa comments on the performance of Benfica and Sporting the Portuguese clubs vying for a place in the knockout phase The sports writer then reviews the new format of the Champions League and discusses the Portuguese teams competing the UEFA Champions League is a competition where the best teams in European soccer face each other until they reach a final – a game that is considered the most watched annual sporting event in the world For its 2024/2025 season, the Champions League has undergone a revamp and expansion. Sports expert José Luís Horta e Costa explains a little about it: UEFA has decided to bring even more excitement to the world’s biggest club competition There are 36 teams playing in a league phase in which each team plays eight matches in that first phase – half at home and half away.” points will be counted in the same way as always “The top eight teams in the initial phase will advance directly to the round of 16, while the clubs that finish between 9th and 24th place will compete in the playoffs, with back-to-back matches. The winners will complete the group of teams that will go through to the knockout stages, and the rest of the tournament will remain as before,” explains sports blogger José Luís Horta e Costa this change marks the end of the traditional group stage and is already proving to be a positive change for spectators “The matches from the initial phase are already as exciting as those in the upcoming knockout phase and we’ve already seen great teams facing each other even at this early stage of the competition,” he concludes Image by Sepp from Pixabay Two Portuguese teams managed to qualify for the 2024/2025 Champions League: Benfica and Sporting Benfica were in 15th place and Sporting in 17th “The Portuguese teams are performing reasonably well in the Champions League so far – nothing impressive they’ve performed averagely,” explains José Luís Horta e Costa Benfica made their Champions League debut with a match against Red Star won away from home at the Rajko Mitić stadium in Belgrade earning their first three points in the league phase of the world’s premier club competition “The Reds’ debut in the Champions League was worthy of applause Aktürkoglu scored the first goal for the club and Kökçü the second – both in the first half Estrela Vermelha managed to reduce the gap but they were unable to secure victory or even a draw and the match ended 2-1,” said José Luís Horta e Costa the game was balanced and gave the Portuguese club confidence it was against Atlético de Madrid that Benfica put on a real show,” says the expert referring to the thrashing that took place at the Estadio da Luz on October 2 in the second round of the first phase of the tournament “Benfica beat one of Spain’s biggest clubs 4-0 in a great game by Bruno Lage which secured another three points for the club from Luz you could just hear the fans shouting: ‘Lage the club’s performance fell apart after the third matchday Benfica’s chances of beating the big teams in the Champions League were called into question “At the end of the first six matches, Benfica won a hard-fought, come-from-behind victory (3-2) against Monaco on matchday five and drew 0-0 against Bologna on matchday six,” said José Luís Horta e Costa “This bitter draw against Bologna at the Estadio da Luz could have definitely complicated the Reds’ chances of qualifying directly for the knockout stage Benfica will need to hope that the teams ahead of them slip up the Reds still have Barcelona and Juventus to contend with,” he concludes Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay Sporting had a balanced start to the Champions League drawing against PSV on matchday two (1-1) and winning again on matchday three “After pulling the rug out from under Pep Guardiola Sporting were considered by many to be one of the favorites to go straight through to the last 16 The club scored a dozen points and finished second in the group Sporting suffered two consecutive slip-ups in the following rounds which dropped them into the playoff zone and even out of the group of seeded teams,” he says Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Sporting was the Portuguese club’s first Champions League match under their new coach Sporting played Club Brugge and lost again That defeat not only pushed Sporting down to 17th place in the Champions League but also marked the club’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions since Amorim’s departure In short, the “silver of the house”, as José Luís Horta e Costa refers to the new coach didn’t perform well until the end of the sixth round of the Champions League “But everything can change,” says the writer who believes that in the next two rounds and the playoffs Image by Marcin from Pixabay A sports blogger from Lisbon, José Luís Horta e Costa is known for his accurate analysis. The writer evaluates the careers of players competitions and matches in soccer and other sports and is dedicated to bringing relevant commentary on the world of sports to articles in Portuguese media and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Tagged with: soccer Attorney Maria Teresa Horta (1937-2025) passed away today in Lisbon at the age of 87 she was a defining figure in literature and activism Her legacy is marked by fearless advocacy for women’s rights—whether in professional spaces or personal freedom—at a time when such defiance risked imprisonment Her prominent work often dealt with themes of gender Horta was one of the “Three Marias,” co-authoring Novas Cartas Portuguesas [The Three Marias: New Portuguese Letters] alongside Maria Velho da Costa and Maria Isabel Barreno the book was banned by the Estado Novo regime for its denunciation of oppression A trial against the authors dubbed the “Three Marias,” gained worldwide media coverage and became the first international feminist cause voted on by the National Organization for Women (NOW) Their trial gained international attention with figures like Simone de Beauvoir and Doris Lessing rallying in support Horta’s poetry was equally revolutionary; her 1971 collection Minha Senhora de Mim led to a violent attack on her in Lisbon—an attempt to silence her voice Horta published nearly 40 works encompassing poetry becoming one of the most important voices in contemporary Portuguese literature.  Horta was deeply influenced by her grandmother a suffragist who nurtured her love for literature “I am my poetry,” she once declared Horta’s defiance extended beyond the dictatorship she rejected a literary award rather than accept it from Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho In 2017 she declined the prestigious Océanos Prize Recently, she was recognized by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential and inspiring women in the world The Portuguese Ministry of Culture distinguished her with the Medal of Cultural Merit in 2020 and she was awarded the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty A loss of “incalculable dimensions,” as her publisher Dom Quixote stated Maria Teresa Horta leaves behind an enduring legacy in literature and feminism—a voice that will never cease to challenge Metrics details Carolina Horta Andrade is an Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Federal University of Goiás and head of LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Carolina received her degree in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Goias (UFG) and a Ph.D in Drugs and Medicines from University of Sao Paulo (USP In addition to her role at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Federal University of Goiás since 2021 she is head of pharmaceutical projects at the Center for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CEIA) and a principal investigator of the Advanced Knowledge Center for Immersive Technologies (AKCIT) She is also one of the coordinators of the Center for Research and Advancement on Fragments and Molecular Targets (CRAFT) Her research focuses on computer-assisted and artificial intelligence-oriented drug design, aiming at discovering new drug candidates for neglected and emerging diseases. Her research also focuses on the development of AI tools and QSAR models for toxicological research and risk assessment. Her major software tools and models developed are publicly available in LabMol web portal www.labmol.com.br She has supervised 19 master’s and 11 doctoral theses she was awarded the For Women in Science award from L’Oréal-UNESCO and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in Brazil and in 2015 the International Rising Talents award from L’Oréal—UNESCO in France the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Brazilian Society of Chemistry (SBQ) awarded her with the Brazilian Women in Chemistry Award she received the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia” medal by the President of the Italian Republic to celebrate excellence in science and promotion of inter-university cooperation between Italy and Brazil She was elected to the Young Academy of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (2016-2021) She served as Associate Editor for the Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences (2021-2022) and as Editorial Board Member of Communications Chemistry (2020–2022) She currently serves as Senior Editor for ACS Omega and is member of the Editorial Advisory Boards for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Journal of Chemical Information and Modelling and ChemMedChem and developed 4 technological products (software) with more than 6436 Google Scholar citations resulting in an h-index of 41 she was ranked the top 2% most cited scientists in the world (Elsevier/Stanford University) I chose to become a scientist because of a gradual realization of my passion for research and inquiry which began during my undergraduate studies in Pharmacy I enjoyed watching TV shows like “Beakman’s World” and participated in science fairs throughout primary and secondary school These experiences provided me with a closer glimpse of what it means to be a scientist; in those moments we considered ourselves “junior scientists” through my participation in Scientific Initiation and the development of my Final Graduation Project (FGP) I discovered a profound interest in the academic field This discipline captivates me for its potential to create tangible improvements in health and well-being My paternal grandfather has also played an inspiring role in my journey Moacyr Duval Andrade was a Full Professor at UFMG and I never had the privilege of knowing him my father and uncles often share inspiring stories about his life He graduated from the Federal University of Ouro Preto and received the Golden Medal awarded to the top student in the Civil Engineering School He was fluent in nine languages and held international respect in the fields of Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering as I have been able to merge my interests with meaningful research Becoming a scientist enables me to explore the unknown and engage in lifelong learning—all of which I find deeply rewarding I am currently leading a groundbreaking and exciting initiative known as SOFIA, which stands for Sensorial Olfactory Framework Immersive with AI. This research and development project is part of the Advanced Knowledge Center for Immersive Technologies (AKCIT, https://akcit.ufg.br/) which aims to position Brazil as a leader in the fields of artificial intelligence and virtual reality SOFIA project resonates deeply with me because olfaction is a complex sensation arising from the interaction of small chemical molecules This intricate interaction is at the heart of our research as we strive to understand how a single olfactory molecule can interact with multiple receptors simultaneously including the orphan olfactory receptors that do not interact with known odorants The primary goal of the SOFIA project is to apply artificial intelligence to develop advanced computational models designed for immersive olfactory experiences We aim to seamlessly integrate these models into multi-sensory environments using innovative devices that generate precise directional stimuli maintaining the appropriate intensity while allowing for rapid neutralization of odors Our exploration is enhanced by employing techniques that merge AI with neuroscience to study these complex interaction networks The intersection of technology and sensory experience not only opens up new avenues in virtual reality but also has the potential to significantly enhance user engagement and emotional impact I believe that the future direction of my research field should heavily embrace the advancements in artificial intelligence technologies My current work focuses on developing AI models that significantly enhance the immersive experience This area of research is on the cutting edge as only a small number of scientists globally are exploring these innovative intersections and we are optimistic about bringing a new product to fruition soon I see tremendous potential for AI to transform traditional methodologies AI is increasingly being utilized to support decision-making processes and expedite the identification of high-quality hits and leads large language models and other AI methods continue to evolve I anticipate that we will see a new wave of drugs enter the market developed with the aid of these advanced technologies The integration of AI into both VR and drug discovery will not only enhance user experiences but also significantly improve efficiency and outcomes across diverse applications I find the most stimulating aspect of my research to be the drive to develop medications for the thousands of individuals suffering from diseases that currently have no effective treatment The opportunity to contribute to improving lives is incredibly motivating sharing my knowledge and experiences and teaching others is both inspiring and rewarding there are moments of frustration when our efforts go unrecognized by society and government my commitment to advancing science remains unwavering I encourage young women in science to never give up and to always have confidence in themselves even when it feels like the universe is conspiring against you If you’re passionate about a scientific career move forward with dedication and determination Being a woman should never be seen as a barrier to success in the scientific field; we have the strength and intelligence to overcome challenges and achieve our goals It’s also important to seek out strong mentors and attend reputable universities that support your aspirations Building networks and establishing connections within the scientific community can be incredibly beneficial Create support systems among your peers and colleagues Ensure your presence is known—don’t hold back and don’t be shy and it’s vital to assert yourself in this field We all need support—a strong network that includes family Take the initiative to build your own support network One of the most memorable moments in my career was receiving the Brazilian Women in Chemistry Award in 2022 presented by the American Chemical Society and the Brazilian Chemical Society right after I returned from maternity leave with my second child The COVID-19 pandemic had caused me (probably everyone) to seriously reevaluate my future and question whether I wanted to continue living a life fully dedicated to my work Becoming a mother inevitably shifts priorities and I realized that I would never be the same Carolina I was before having children my passion for science and my work remained strong When I received the award during the first in-person Brazilian Chemical Society National Meeting after the pandemic It was a reminder to myself that I could not set aside my love for science my greatest challenge is finding a balance among my various roles: as a mother the things I am passionate about have not diminished This experience has reinforced the importance of resilience and adaptability not just for me but for all women striving to pursue their careers while navigating the complexities of life I have been fortunate to receive support from three influential scientists in my life: my three advisors Kerly Pasqualoto—along with my co-advisor in the United States Both women have served as inspiring role models and leaders in their fields continues to inspire me to this day—she is truly an incredible woman I would go to her house with my desktop computer and we would spend hours installing programs and running calculations on Linux working with him at the University of New Mexico where he served as a Distinguished Research Professor of Pharmacy he had an illustrious career at UIC in Chicago as a Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at the University of Illinois Professor Tony developed several cheminformatics methods and QSAR software including the innovative 4D-QSAR methodology His groundbreaking contributions led to the development of Aspartame one of the world’s leading artificial sweeteners a blockbuster drug for treating early-stage Alzheimer’s disease His research also played a crucial role in the creation of Celecoxib (Celebrex®) which is used for treating pain and inflammatory diseases Tony was not only brilliant but also incredibly approachable and humble He consistently provided me with innovative ideas to solve my problems and offered generous praise I will never forget the words in his letter of recommendation for me: “Simply put Carolina is one of the best graduate students (from more than 85) who have studied with me I am particularly impressed with her fortitude This recognition was a game-changer for my career I was invited to speak at several international conferences about my work—an opportunity that marked my transition to a professional scientist I owe a great deal to my mentors for their invaluable support Since 2021, I am fortunate to work with and learn from three inspiring leaders: Professors Telma Soares, Anderson Soares, and Arlindo Galvão, the CEO and leaders from CEIA (Excellence Center of Artificial Intelligence, https://ceia.ufg.br/) and AKCIT They have taught me invaluable lessons about translating our research into practical solutions for businesses emphasizing the importance of adding business value to our work and adopting a more entrepreneurial perspective rather than a purely academic one I learn from them daily how to effectively engage with companies and how to better promote and sell our ideas and innovations achieving a balanced representation of men and women in editorial positions is essential it’s very important to ensure gender parity among reviewers and leadership roles within academic publishing Women must be afforded the same opportunities and conditions as their male counterparts to advance in their careers motherhood should not be perceived as a hindrance It is crucial that governments provide support through improved policies that promote shared parental leave with fathers to foster a more equitable division of responsibilities This would not only empower women but also encourage a culture that values family commitments equally among all genders conferences should offer child-friendly spaces and activities at little to no additional cost allowing mothers to attend while caring for their children By integrating these family-oriented solutions we can create an inclusive environment that enables women scientists to participate fully in their professional communities a multi-faceted approach that includes equitable representation and family-friendly conference environments will significantly contribute to empowering women in science and ensuring their contributions are recognized and valued Recognize and appreciate the contributions of fellow women scientists Elevate their achievements and engage in meaningful conversations with them to celebrate your successes together It’s essential that we unite rather than distance ourselves from one another I believe this is one of the primary barriers we face While men often support and collaborate with one another tend to be less connected due to socio-cultural factors By fostering a culture of solidarity and collaboration among women in science we can create a supportive community that empowers each other and celebrate each other’s accomplishments openly Let’s build a network of support that champions women’s achievements and fosters a sense of belonging in the scientific community we can create lasting change and help each other thrive This interview was conducted by the editors of Communications Chemistry Rational design and 3D-pharmacophore mapping of 5′-thiourea-substituted α-thymidine analogues as mycobacterial TMPK inhibitors 3D-pharmacophore mapping of thymidine-based inhibitors of TMPK as potential antituberculosis agents Download references Reprints and permissions Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01452-y Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science KRON4 Joey Horta is an Emmy award-winning journalist and brings his passion for storytelling to the KRON 4 Morning News team covering some of the biggest stories in the Bay Area working as an anchor at KRON’s sister stations KSEE and KGPE in Fresno Joey has also worked as an anchor throughout Texas where his investigative reporting on SNAP abuse led to a bill being filed in the Texas Legislature Joey has volunteered for years in support of various animal welfare organizations like the SPCA and to help children fighting critical illnesses see their dreams come true through Make a Wish If you have a story you want to see on the news send him an email or reach out on social media This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page On February 4, 2019, Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, signed a joint Document on Human Fraternity condemning religious violence and calling for “the widespread promotion of a culture of tolerance” The document was signed in Abu Dhabi during the Pope’s historic visit to the Emirate the UAE has marked the February 4 every year with the awarding of the international Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity The event brings together the prizewinners and a number of global political and religious leaders Among their number this year is José Manuel Ramos-Horta He spoke to Vatican News about the concept of human fraternity Pope Francis’ recent visit to his small Southeast Asian country and the lessons to be learned from its reconciliation with one-time occupier Indonesia Timor-Leste became the first country in the world to officially adopt the Abu Dhabi declaration on human fraternity the simple fact that it was crafted by his Holiness Pope Francis together with Grand Imam Tayyeb of Al-Azhar – that in itself should provoke interest and curiosity I have found it to be an exceptional document that very profoundly encapsulates what we all believe in It has elements that are in the constitution of Timor-Leste elements that are in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in so many religious and spiritual teachings Particularly given the signatures of His Holiness the Pope and of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar I thought that this document would be of extreme value for Timor-Leste in continuing the path that we have chosen So even before I was sworn in for my second term as President I went to our national Parliament and met with the Speaker I told him that it was important that our Parliament pass a resolution declaring the Abu Dhabi declaration a national document It should be translated into our languages It's an ongoing process but work has begun to adapt the document for children of different ages by the time they've reached university age they will be able to read and understand the full document churches all over the county – hundreds and hundreds of them from the cathedral to the humblest chapels in the small And that is only because we put 700,000 as the maximum I was worried about our capacity to absorb so many people How are we going to provide drinking water to the hundreds of thousands of people throughout the day People were there from early in the morning You need only a few people to panic and then it will be chaos I was there close to His Holiness the Pope and I was watching the way people were reacting People were desperate to touch the Pope’s hands I saw some children crying – they wanted to see the Pope what has the impact of the Pope's visit been I had been planning to launch major activities in 2024 to market the country internationally hiring media specialists and events specialists We knew that at least 100 journalists would accompany him so all together well over 200 journalists came What I had planned as President to promote our country was no longer necessary far more effective than any grand plan I had put in place The visit consolidated the faith of the people made people feel very proud of being Christian and made them more attentive to the message of the Pope and the Church The Pope always stresses the importance of children And then as the Pope was preparing to depart he told me: “Cuiden bien de este pueblo maravilloso.” [Take good care of this wonderful people] but deep down I was worried about his health So from day one when we start talking about the Pope's visit We cannot tire him.” And yet the program was full His stamina in managing those two full days of visit to Timor-Leste and always remaining in a good mood There are so many victims who are children Look at what has happened in Gaza or Ukraine in the Democratic Republic of Congo right now The worst humanitarian crisis in the world is actually in Sudan One thing that I have shared with Pope Francis is how we must invest more in conflict prevention We could have prevented October 7 and the events in Gaza We could have avoided the escalation of tensions between Russia and NATO The Pope is the only leader who everybody respects because other global leaders are all involved in tensions Do you think there's a lesson for the world in the reconciliation process between Timor-Leste and Indonesia The Pope talked about it during his visit … Leaders are the ones that lead people to wars and leaders are the ones who lead people to peace no hatred; we must reconcile first among the Timorese because we had rejected them in a referendum If only this could happen elsewhere around the world The above transcript has been lightly edited for reasons for style and brevity Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here Center for Information Technology Policy His work is concentrated at “the intersection of computational social science In a recent interview with undergraduate students Tsion Kergo ‘26 and Jason Persaud ‘27, Manoel Horta Ribeiro shared his research interests in investigating the evolving landscape of digital platforms – specifically honing in on how generative AI is influencing such platforms “I’m very interested in online platforms; I’m interested in how we can improve our information ecosystem.” He continues “We have this flood of models that now everyone has access to — from ChatGPT to MidJourney —and in the years to come I want to understand how they change the rules of the game in online platforms change.” When asked more about perceptions of AI-generated content Horta Ribeiro frames them as partially cultural How we perceive AI and the things that we associate AI with are socially constructed.”  He further points out a potential consequence of easy content creation emphasizing that on the notes of the ongoing “flurry of AI-generated content on sites like TikTok and YouTube shorts.” He elaborates “it sometimes feels that this content is the lowest value content But perhaps we can also use AI to help better align social media feeds to the content we actually want to consume.”  In examining the broader cultural landscape, Horta Ribeiro discusses how societal values influence technology adoption. He contrasts privacy standards across regions by observing that “privacy standards are lower in the U.S. than in some places in Europe people don’t use Gmail because they fear Google looking up their messages and so on.” He also reflects on the inherent role of friction online, noting that “a lot of things that exist in society rely on friction.” He elaborates by using the example of how AI enables voice scams: “[Voice scams] are way easier to do now than before You can clone someone’s voice and call them and do things that seem very realistic — we have to think about what to do about this.”  Such a perspective illuminates how the ease of online navigation and tools powered by AI can implicitly enable malicious actions Horta Ribeiro’s academic journey is rooted in interdisciplinary research – key to deeply understanding and reshaping digital platforms. He recalls his early work, stating, “During my doctorate, I mostly worked on content moderation…And that’s why I want to do research in academia – because here we’re able to think about how things could be different.” he outlines innovative strategies to capture digital behavior such as his data-driven projects: “I have a few projects in the pipeline where the idea is to buy people’s data…so we can gather super interesting and important information about users’ behavior.” For those interested in diving into digital research, Horta Ribeiro offers practical advice on navigating interdisciplinary fields. He encourages engagement with experts and mentors, underscoring: “There are a lot of faculty – you can find them on the CITP website – who could be interesting to work with to do independent work.” He continues could be a great way to get involved and to do research on this eventually.” Horta Ribeiro’s insights serve as a powerful reminder that the digital ecosystem is ever-evolving especially thanks to AI becoming more accessible to users His reflections and research challenge us to rethink how we go about interacting with online platforms and AI Jason Persaud is a Princeton University sophomore majoring in Operations Research & Financial Engineering (ORFE) pursuing minors in Finance and Machine Learning & Statistics Tsion Kergo is a Princeton University junior majoring in Computer Science pursuing minors in Machine Learning & Statistics and African-American Studies Both work at the Center for Information Technology Policy as Student Associates piloting a new series called Meet the Researcher The CITP Blog is hosted by Princeton University’s Center for Information Technology Policy a research center that studies digital technologies in public life Here you’ll find comment and analysis from the digital frontier 303 Sherrerd Hall – Princeton Universitycitp@princeton.edu Subscribe to CITP’s newsletter Accessibility Help © 2025 The Trustees of Princeton University 4/17/25 Update Per San Diego Police Department: Thank you for everyone’s help, Azucena Horta Cuentas has been located. April 16, 2025 – San Diego Police Department officials are asking for the public’s help locating at-risk missing person Azucena Horta Cuentas. On April 15, 2025, Azucena Horta Cuentas was reported missing from The Shores Post-Acute Nursing Home located at 2828 Meadow Lark Drive in San Diego. She was last seen at the facility around 4:00 P.M. on April 15, 2025.  Azucena is diabetic and has a diminished mental capacity making her AT RISK. Azucena may be wearing a red sweatshirt with black polka dots and grey sweatpants. She is described as a 47-year-old Hispanic female, 5’5”, 230 lbs., with neck length brown hair and brown eyes. She may be wearing a medical style bracelet with contact information. If anyone has information related to Azucena's whereabouts, please call 619-531-2000 and reference San Diego Police Department: Case #25-500633. Source & photos: San Diego Police Department José "Pepe" Horta, a prominent Cuban cultural manager, art collector, and businessman, passed away at the age of 72 in his home in Vedado, Havana, apparently due to a heart attack. His passing, reported by the news portal Café Fuerte, marks the end of a life dedicated to promoting Cuban art and culture, both on the island and in the diaspora. This promotion was characterized by the highs and lows inherent to a totalitarian regime, which ultimately forced into exile a former high-ranking official in the cultural sector on the island. Horta was a key figure at the Cuban Institute of Cinematic Art and Industry (ICAIC) and a close collaborator and personal friend of Alfredo Guevara, the founder of the institution. Since the 1970s, he played significant roles, including leading International Relations and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Among the highlights of his career is the support for films like Fresa y chocolate (1993), a work that questioned social intolerance and the persecution faced by homosexuals in Cuba, and which received significant international acclaim. In May 1994, while attending the Cannes Film Festival, Horta announced that he would not be returning to Cuba. This decision came amid a backdrop of social crisis on the island, including a rise in incidents of refugees seeking asylum in foreign embassies. In interviews, he expressed his frustration with the deteriorating conditions in Cuba, stating that "things have worsened significantly in recent months." This act marked his distancing from ICAIC and the official cultural environment, although he maintained his commitment to promoting Cuban culture from exile. His relationship with Guevara, although close, faced tensions due to the internal power dynamics at the ICAIC and the political pressures of the time. After emigrating to the United States, Horta founded the iconic Café Nostalgia on Calle Ocho in Miami in 1994. This bar-cabaret not only became a gathering place for the Cuban diaspora but also revitalized the music and traditional art of republican Cuba. Established and emerging artists found in this space a platform to connect with their roots and audience. The impact of Café Nostalgia transcended Miami, attracting figures from the international entertainment scene and contributing to the resurgence of interest in classic Cuban music. Later, Horta tried to replicate this success with a venue in Miami Beach, although the initiative did not have the same impact, and the cultural promoter turned businessman ended up selling both businesses, as recalled by the editor of Café Fuerte, Cuban journalist Wilfredo Cancio Isla. Horta was also known as a prominent art collector, possessing a valuable collection of contemporary Cuban works, which garnered him the envy of other officials, rumors about the origins of the pieces, and ultimately, an investigation into his assets following Guevara's death. The director of ICAIC, a member of the Communist Party and a close friend of the dictator Fidel Castro, was another avid art collector, known for his predatory intent among artists, the power elite of the regime, and officials of the State Security. In 2019, she brought her artistic vision to life with the creation of Villa Café Nostalgia in Viñales, Pinar del Río. This space combined her love for art and nature, offering concerts, cultural activities, and a unique experience in the Cuban countryside. In recent years, Horta split his time between Miami and Havana. Despite having been a victim of a violent assault in his home in Cuba, he continued to passionately promote Cuban culture. His passing has sparked a wave of condolences on social media, where friends, artists, and former colleagues have shared memories and tributes to his life and legacy. A team of journalists dedicated to reporting on current events in Cuba and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we strive to provide accurate news and critical analysis. A team of journalists committed to reporting on current events in Cuba and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we strive to provide accurate news and critical analysis. 2024 1:19 PM EDT“It was not really an assassination attempt,” says José Ramos-Horta Timor-Leste’s President is sitting on the breezy veranda of Galeria Memoria Viva the seafront bungalow in capital city Dili that now serves as his personal museum The walls are festooned with memorabilia spanning half-a-century of activism and politics: a watercolor by an incarcerated former comrade; a plaque commemorating his 1996 Nobel Peace Prize; photos of an Australian journalist slain during his nation’s tumultuous birth pangs But when asked about that fateful morning of Feb It was during his previous stint as president that rebel leader Alfredo Reinado entered his home at 6 a.m Ramos-Horta was out jogging on the beach and returned to a firefight between the intruders and his security staff during which he was shot at least twice (the rebels used banned “dum-dum” bullets that fracture on impact Ramos-Horta was airlifted to the Australian city of Darwin for medical treatment and nearly lost his life; one shrapnel fragment was lodged just 2 mm from his spine Ramos-Horta from his hospital thanked “all who prayed for me who cared for me following the assassination attempt on me by Mr “The guy came to my house trying to talk to me,” he says He said I was the only leader in the country he trusted But he was already renegade and so my security people shot him and one of his [companions] shot me because he thought I was involved.” will rip up orthodoxy during our conversation which takes place as Asia’s youngest nation prepares to mark 25 years since the end of Indonesian occupation Timor-Leste was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when the Carnation Revolution spurred Lisbon to divest its overseas territories But it was just nine days after formal independence that Indonesia invaded backed by a Cold War-consumed West terrified that Timor-Leste was set to become another communist enclave in Asia Few people had such a front-row seat to the ensuing tumult as Ramos-Horta who was born in Dili and helped found the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor serving as the resistance group’s exiled spokesman and chief diplomat In contrast to the movement’s ragtag AK47-totting freedom fighters the moderate and urbane Ramos-Horta championed the Timor-Leste cause in foreign capitals and especially at the U.N Ramos-Horta served as the fledgling nation’s first foreign minister Timor-Leste is a rare example of reconciliation and tranquility,” he says “I'm very happy that we are not at war with ourselves we have the best possible relations with our neighbors,” says Ramos-Horta adding with a grin: “We are not very competent with economics but that's not a crime!” Timor-Leste remains one of the world’s poorest nations with almost half the population wallowing in multidimensional poverty Two-thirds of Timorese survive by subsistence farming and the 2023 Global Hunger Index ranked the nation 112th out of 125 worldwide Most rural youth are stunted; over 1,000 children under five years old die from preventable conditions every year—30 times the total number of homicides Timor-Leste has relied on bountiful oil and gas reserves whose revenues have been funneled into a sovereign wealth Petroleum Fund invested in U.S Rather than be hostage to commodity prices and risk a boom-and-bust cycle the idea was to secure oil revenues for future generations the Petroleum Fund boasts over $16 billion though parched wells mean withdrawals now exceed deposits “We are among the suckers who keep the U.S “We have an excellent relationship with China as we have with Australia and the U.S.,” he says “We do not feel China is a threat to the world.” and Ramos-Horta inspect the honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on July 29 China.Vincent Thian—Getty Images)It’s a curious viewpoint for a life-long human-rights defender though perhaps unsurprising given Timor-Leste’s current predicament and Beijing’s swelling regional clout With every passing year since independence Dili has become ever more addicted to easy oil and gas revenue stymieing attempts to diversify the economy the Petroleum Fund contributes to 85% of government spending meaning consumption has taken precedence over production—dubbed the “Dutch disease” or “resource curse”—while entrenching structural issues such as low productivity and an inefficient bureaucracy Asked about weaning Timor-Leste away from its resource dependency Ramos-Horta replies that “all the positive changes [in the country] had to do with our investing petroleum revenues.” He also points to the shiny new Hilton hotel about to open in Dili as evidence of efforts to seed a nascent tourism industry Yet the fact remains that Timor-Leste’s two primary revenue streams—the Kitan oil and Bayu-Undan gas fields—are virtually depleted with next year’s revenues projected to be near zero Instead of just spending the Petroleum Fund’s interest the national budget relies on spending the capital meaning at current rates the fund will be exhausted by the early 2030s The aspirant petrostate has essentially run out of gas With efforts to diversify the economy floundering Timor-Leste is banking on more petrodollars via the $50 billion Greater Sunrise gasfield—mooted as one of the world’s largest untapped reserves—that lies between it and Australia despite a 2018 resolution with Canberra settling Greater Sunrise’s ownership the two sides remain deadlocked over Dili’s insistence on pumping the gas across a deep-sea trench to be refined at an as-yet-unconstructed facility wants to just pump the gas via an existing pipeline to its facilities in Darwin and has offered preferential royalties—80/20 instead of 70/30—to do so it will not employ many people,” says Charles Scheiner a Dili-based NGO for development monitoring and analysis “The jobs that Timorese are likely to get would be clearing land mopping floors and doing laundry for the international staff.” Yet Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão—a former revolutionary comrade—have invested enormous political capital into local refining with Gusmão in particular seeing Tasi Mane as his personal legacy that was a terrible mistake,’ would be an incredible loss of face and make it difficult for him to politically survive,” says Damien Kingsbury an emeritus professor at Australia’s Deakin University There’s even a chance that Timor-Leste could back Tasi Mane itself an all-or-nothing bet that would empty the Petroleum Fund and a move Kingsbury calls “lunacy.” It's this stalemate that has opened the door to geopolitical competition With Woodside balking at the cost of Tasi Mane Timor-Leste instead took the project to China’s main development investor that bank also rejected Tasi Mane as essentially unfeasible Timor-Leste has been fluttering its eyelids at the superpower to the chagrin of its longtime sponsor to the south “Timor-Leste faces enormous pressure both from Australia and Indonesia,” says Rui Graça Feijó a research fellow at the University of Coimbra “They are a little nation in the middle of two giants and try not to be blocked in by that polarity.”  September’s upgrading of relations with Beijing included efforts to “enhance high-level military exchanges … [and] the conduct of joint exercises and training.” The subsequent blowback was such that China clarified in subsequent days that it was not seeking closer military-to-military relations with Timor-Leste—yet the specter of enhanced security ties continues to bother Western powers would be apoplectic,” says Scheiner.  Already stung by the Solomon Islands security arrangement with China from 2022—which refocused Western attention on historically pro-Western Pacific states and the capitals of ASEAN—is that Timor-Leste was moving into Beijing’s orbit Although China’s local footprint is comparatively small it is helping with various infrastructure projects Ramos-Horta’s views of a Beijing government that consistently ranks amongst the world’s worst human-rights violators certainly beg questions It is not a threat to the world,” he insists seems to be searching for an enemy where there is none.” How about China’s backing of Vladimir Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine What about threats to the self-ruling island of Taiwan through whose air defense identification zone Beijing dispatched 1,709 warplanes last year “Taiwan is part of China as Hawaii is part of the United States,” he says. Should Taiwan’s 23 million people—67% of whom see themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese or some mix—have the same right to self-determination that Timor-Leste enjoyed don't for whatever reason feel [part of a country] doesn’t necessarily mean that they can just secede,” he says That is sadly reductive. Taiwan was administered as a Japanese colony between 1895-1945 and became politically self-ruling in 1949 at the end of China’s civil war. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has never ruled the island. But Ramos-Horta isn’t ignorant of this. As he told the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations in Taipei in 1997: “It is the people of Taiwan making use of their right of self-determination which should decide the future that best suits them.” talks to Fretilin freedom fighters in the remote mountains of East Timor on October 4 Ben Tweedie—Corbis/ Getty ImagesFor a staunch human-rights defender to parrot CCP disinformation could generously be put down to the inevitable compromises of office But that he should do so in the apparent hope of securing backing for the Tasi Mane vanity project is perplexing it’s a sign that despite China’s objectively minimal footprint in Timor-Leste—there’s no state investment and trade is only half the level of neighboring Indonesia—Beijing’s corrupting influence is already indelible here Yet a nation of Timor-Leste's size and isolation is no stranger to realpolitik The 25th  anniversary of the Indonesian withdrawal has rekindled dark memories of abuses suffered during occupation during which some 180,000 Timorese perished But not a single person has faced justice despite the U.N and two separate truth and reconciliation commissions recommending hundreds of charges “We had to make choices,” shrugs Ramos-Horta “The greatest justice done to us is that we are free today.”   Right across the street from Dili’s parliament building sits the Timorese Residence and Archive Museum whose harrowing displays include homespun weaponry and a mannequin behind the bars of a squalid cell face contorted in agony.  Just a mile to the southeast lies the ramshackle Santa Cruz cemetery where in 1991 at least 250 unarmed civilians were massacred by Indonesian troops sits a military cemetery for those same Indonesian soldiers whose neatly manicured graves sit in neat rows topped with a white and red ribbon of their national flag “The government position regarding past atrocities is completely different from most of the people in Timor-Leste particularly victims and civil society organizations,” says Hugo Fernandes an institution set up in 2016 to continue the work of earlier truth commissions of which Fernandes also played a key role says that people seeking accountability do so because they “are not in government” and “are not wise enough” to appreciate the stakes “Can you imagine if we didn't heal the wounds with Indonesia?” he asks “Had she spoken out, she would have been ousted in a matter of days, or hours, as simple as that,” he adds. “The military in complicity with the radical monks were just waiting for Suu Kyi to make a false move and speak out on the plight of the Rohingya I spoke with her privately two or three times Is Ramos-Horta perturbed by the prospect of another Trump term It’s easy to see why Ramos-Horta can sympathize with Suu Kyi and her Faustian pact with the military—even if it turned out to be a failed gambit The question is whether Timor-Leste will fare any better from the high-stakes gambles his government feels compelled to make That shooting by Alfredo Reinado’s rebels back in 2008 came amid two years’ of political turmoil that saw over a third of the nation’s armed forces going rogue over dissatisfaction with promotions and a dire economic picture In the wake of a coup attempt and widespread bloodletting reforms to boost spending—particularly by importing rice to mitigate the ravages of the “hungry season” when harvests are sparsest—helped usher in a period of stability But with a new fiscal cliff fast approaching, and neither Greater Sunrise nor other revenue streams close to fruition, the Dili government has already slashed the national budget by 18% With GDP so heavily reliant on government spending “that's going to hurt and there will be consequences,” says Kingsbury or food subsidies so people won't be able to eat enough that's going to engender a pretty sharp political backlash.” Ramos-Horta doesn’t share fears of a return to past unrest He points to an Abu Dhabi consortium perhaps opening five luxury resorts and potential ASEAN membership bringing greater access to the bloc’s 700 million people (despite Timor-Leste having precious little to sell) Angola and Mozambique have just opened embassies “So we are doing pretty well.” Even that shooting of 16 years ago belongs to a bygone era.  “Friends told me that I’d better remove out of that house because I’d have nightmares,” he says Write to Charlie Campbell / Dili, Timor-Leste at charlie.campbell@time.com Rodriguez Horta is a senior consultant at CvE the strategic advisory arm of Goodway Group He specializes in strategic marketing transformation enabling marketing to serve as a more effective growth engine for organizations The presidential ad campaign is another product of the rapidly changing media landscape Adweek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem Portuguese writer and journalist Maria Teresa Horta, 87, was listed by the British public broadcaster BBC, as one of the “100 most influential and inspiring women in the world.” A prominent feminist and award-winning author the honoree list includes distinguished artists which underlines her lifelong dedication to literature honors her legacy as an advocate for women’s resilience and rights and places her among global changemakers who continue to inspire women in the face of challenges Horta co-authored the groundbreaking book New Portuguese Letters (Novas Cartas Portuguesas) with Maria Isabel Barreno and Maria Velho da Costa which criticized the oppression of women during Portugal’s Estado Novo dictatorship (1933-1974) and support from figures like Simone de Beauvoir The groundbreaking book defied the censorship of the Estado Novo dictatorship boldly addressing women’s oppression and sparking an international feminist movement.  The case became one of the symbols of the movement leading to the dictatorship’s fall in the 1974 Carnation Revolution Among the honoree listed are Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad rape survivor and human rights advocate Gisela Pelicot Maria Teresa Horta is internationally acknowledged for her prolific literary work spanning poetry Her writing delves deeply into themes of female identity and resistance against patriarchal systems establishing her as a trailblazer in feminist literature She has received numerous accolades and awards including the Medal of Cultural Merit from the Portuguese Ministry of Culture in 2020 and the Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty in 2022 Follow  Maria Teresa Horta on Facebook Zinelsynzat Turgunbaiova – Kyrgyzstan Activist Against Sexual Violence in Conflict Roxie Murray – Advocate for the rights of disabled people Pooja Sharma – Advocate for dignity and respect for all Inna Modja – Environmental activist and musician Snehya Revanur – Founder of global movement for safe AI Johanna Bahamon – Social activist in Colombia Nijla Ashk – Leader in the fight against deforestation in Turkey Sharon Stone – Hollywood actress and humanitarian Sasha Luconi – AI scientist from Canada Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera – Diversity and Inclusion Activist (Uganda) Yumi Suzuki – Plaintiff in Forced Sterilization Case (Japan) Jemima Chelimo – Long-Distance Runner (Kenya/Romania) Ann Chomaphorn (Wodao) – LGBTQ+ Rights Activist (Thailand) Leticia McCruden – Irish Traveller Movement Activist (Ireland) Safaa Ali Mohamed Youssef – Maternity Expert (Sudan) Jezelle Pelicot – Rape Survivor and Human Rights Activist (France) Mahrang Baloch – Doctor and Political Activist (Pakistan) Noella Vialla Nwade – African Pop Musician (Ghana) Adienike Tetlop Oladosu – Environmental Justice Advocate (Nigeria) Edania Del Rio – Fashion Entrepreneur (Cuba) Chloé Zhao – Film Director (United Kingdom) Su Min – Traveler and Influencer (China) Lurdes Barreto – Sex Workers’ Rights Advocate (Brazil) Kemi Badenoch – Leader of the Conservative Party (United Kingdom) Zakia Khodadadi – Taekwondo Athlete (Afghanistan) Katalin Karikó – Nobel Laureate Biochemist (Hungary) Olga Rodniova – Founder of Superhuman Center (Ukraine) Hamida Aman – Media and Education Entrepreneur (Afghanistan) Brigitte Baptiste – Environmental Expert (Colombia) Huang Ji – Advocate for Gender Equality (Taiwan) Rukta Akhter Bano – Founder of Rukta Akhter Bano Learning Disability School (Bangladesh) Ruth Lopez – Chief Legal Officer of Cristosal (El Salvador) Hana Roheti Mepi Clarke – Youngest Māori Woman Elected to New Zealand Parliament (New Zealand) Medicine Tolen – Talk Show Host and Model Feng Yuan – Founder of Equality Beijing (China) Angela Rayner – Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) Rosemary Widler Walti – Co-president of Senior Women for Climate Protection (Switzerland) Olivia McVeigh – Alopecia Advocate (United Kingdom) Shelshila Acharya – Founder of Uni Ventures (Nepal) Hinda Abdi Mohamed – Chief Editor of Blan (Somalia) Dilruba Yeldosheva – Entrepreneur (Uzbekistan) Hadiqa Kiani – Musician and Humanitarian (Pakistan) Tracey Emin – Artist (United Kingdom) Svetlana Anokhina – Human Rights Activist (Russia) Zheng (Tania) Zheng – Table Tennis Player (Chile) Mahider Helisilasie – Photographer (Ethiopia) Allyson Felix – Track and Field Athlete (USA) Sara Birkai – Science Kit Designer (UK/Eritrea) Chloé Zhao – United Kingdom – Film Director Elaha Soroor – Afghanistan – Singer and Musician Allyson Felix – United States – Track and Field Athlete Naomi Watanabe – Japan – Comedian Inna Modja – Mali – Artist and Environmental Activist Gaby Moreno – Guatemala – Musician Sharon Stone – United States – Actress Zakya Khodadadi – Afghanistan – Taekwondo Athlete Vinesh Phogat – India – Wrestler Tracy Otto – United States – Archer John Chelimo – Kenya/Romania – Long-Distance Runner Rebecca Andrade – Brazil – Gymnast Noella Viiala Novadi – Ghana – African Pop Musician Megan Rapinoe – United States – Soccer Player Kirsty Balfour – United Kingdom – Swimmer exclusive offers and the latest news about Glory events and fighters Back to newsOsaro vs Horta : Fight Preview by UnibetNewsSep 18, 2024The preview of GLORY 95's co-main event is powered by Unibet. This saturday night, September 21, will see the return of GLORY to Croatia as GLORY 95 takes place in the Arena Zagreb in the heart of the land of a thousand islands. This event will feature 12 incredible bouts headlined by a five round title eliminator fight between Levi Rigters (18-2, 8 KO) and Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-3, 61 KO). The evening will be packed with heavyweight action including a very exciting co-main event between Tariq Osaro (25-4-1, 13 KO) and Nico Horta (23-9, 3 KO).  Tariq Osaro will make his first appearance in the GLORY ring since the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix in March where he fell short in the Quarterfinals. He is looking at this fight as an opportunity to bounce back and get back in the mix for the heavyweight title. On the other hand, Nico Horta accepted this fight on short notice just three weeks after his win at GLORY 94 against Sofian Laidouni (36-4-1, 18 KO).  Former interim-GLORY heavyweight champion, Tariq Osaro is no stranger to the biggest stages. The Nigerian powerhouse has main-evented both COLLISION 5 and COLLISION 6 in superfights and his shortcoming against Bahram Rajabzadeh in the Grand Prix came as a surprise to many. Eager to prove that March 9 was simply a bad night for him, he wants to put on a stellar performance in Zagreb to get back to title contention.  It’s the second time this year that Nico Horta agrees to save the day on short notice ! Back at GLORY 92, he made his debut against Levi Rigters, replacing Jahfarr Wilnis (33-14-1, 8 KO) and despite a decision loss, he won the crowd over with his incredible resilience, big heart and likable personality. He was then given an opportunity to showcase what he had in store with an entire training camp last month in Antwerp and he delivered in a big way.  Not only did he win as an underdog but he also demonstrated his capacity to keep a steady pace for 15 minutes and to force his opponent into tough inside range fights. Nico doesn’t throw with the most power of the division however, his capacity to withstand blows while maintaining a big pressure and high volume make him a nightmare matchup for a lot of heavyweights.  It will be very interesting to see who is going to take the control of the ring as Tariq Osaro likes to pressure his opponent as well. A very elusive fighter despite his stature, he is a very hard fighter to frame absorbing less than 5 strikes per minute, less than half his GLORY 95 opponent’s numbers.  More importantly, Nico Horta doesn’t want to underestimate Osaro’s power as his chin will likely get tested this week-end. With all of his GLORY wins coming by way of knockouts, Tariq is as lethal as they come and for all his cleverness and swift movements in the ring, he is not one to back down from a brawl if needed. He will have to use those movements to try and prevent Nico from establishing a pace he is comfortable in and land big shots on the cap verdien.  🤑 Take advantage of 40% off ticket prices to test Magritte: The Immersive Experience before it closes on May 11! And from Monday to Friday, for weekday visits, get 15% off ticket prices!🤑 What’s more, a workshop area lets you create your very own Magritte! To your pencils! Once you’ve created your own work, you can project it onto the walls and add your own touch to the exhibition. To discover the offbeat world of the Belgian surrealist painter, visit Galerie Horta today! *With the support of the Magritte Foundation. Lewis Jackson in Sydney and Colleen Howe in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Lewis is Reuters’ Chief Correspondent for China Commodities and Energy, based in Beijing. He leads a team covering agriculture, metals, and energy in the world's largest consumer of commodities. Before moving to China, he wrote for Reuters in Sydney. , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved but it contained multiple considerations for each option including financing technical and regulatory approvals."At present Woodside remains in discussion with the Sunrise Joint Venture participants about the outcome of the study and next steps," the company told Reuters adding the participants remained in talks with the governments of Australia and East Timor.Osaka Gas and Sinopec declined to comment while the office of Australia's Resources Minister Madeleine King did not respond to requests for comment.Ramos-Horta said a Kuwaiti private fund had visited Dili five times expressing interest in underwriting the entire investment in the pipeline to East Timor required if the LNG plant is built there."We have no problems in financing an LNG plant in Timor-Leste ourselves We have money," he said.Ramos-Horta said it was crucial that the Greater Sunrise agreement be signed before Australian federal elections in the first half of this year to prevent further delays but said a meeting between the two countries had not been scheduled."Three years into the office of the current prime minister have not yet signed the agreement to bring the pipeline to Timor-Leste what the real commitment of the government of Australia to Timor-Leste is," he said.Separately Ramos-Horta said he expected East Timor to become a member of regional grouping Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.East Timor has also issued rights to mine gold to joint ventures between Timorese companies and Australian miners and started exploring onshore natural gas in central and eastern Timor he said.Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in Dili; Additional reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Aizhu Chen in Singapore; Editing by Jamie Freed Sudarshan currently reports on the evolving energy landscape in Asia, as the region tries to strike a balance between ensuring reliable electricity supply and fighting climate change. In his previous avatar, he reported on sanctions-era global trade, human rights violations, labor movements, environmental offences and natural disasters in India for six years. During his nine years as a Reuters correspondent, he has attempted to lend a global perspective to small-town issues. Metrics details Expanding and intensifying agriculture has led to a loss of soil carbon As agroecosystems cover over 40% of Earth’s land surface they must be part of the solution put in action to mitigate climate change Development of efficient management practices to maximize soil carbon retention is currently limited Here we implement a diversity gradient by intercropping undersown species with barley in a large field trial ranging from one to eight undersown species We find that increasing plant diversity strengthens positive associations within the rhizosphere soil microbial community in relation to negative associations our results highlight how increasing plant diversity in agriculture can be used as a management strategy to enhance carbon retention potential in agricultural soils it becomes crucial to elucidate if findings observed within biodiversity experiments can be reproduced within an agricultural context The species with no nitrogen fixation and shallow roots are Lolium perenne and Phleum pratense N-fixers with shallow roots are Trifolium hybridum and Trifolium repens N-fixers with deep roots are Medicago sativa and Trifolium pratense and deep rooters with no nitrogen fixation capacity are Festuca arundinacea and Cichorium intybus Graphical visualization of our hypotheses that (1) a plant diversity gradient influences soil biotic associations in the rhizosphere and that (2) such changes influence the “balance” between growth and respiration increasing microbial community CUE Positive associations within the soil microbial community are shown in blue while negative associations are shown in red along the plant diversity gradient (a) Sampling design of Barley rhizosphere within the TwinWin field experiment Number of field plot replicates sampled for each treatment and within plot replication The number of rhizosphere samples collected within the same plot was adjusted to 6 or 8 (pseudo-replication) to yield twenty-four replicates for each specific treatment to allow the construction of association networks within each plant diversity treatment the sampling was focused on plots from four undersown species: M The total number of rhizosphere soil samples collected was 168 (b) Figure 1a was created with BioRender.com released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license total yearly above ground plant biomass (f) measured at the plot level within the TwinWin during two consecutive years respiration (h) and CUE (i) observed in the rhizosphere of barley along the undersown plant diversity gradient (log) Significant relationships were evaluated with linear mixed models with location in the field (block or plot) as random effect and are presented by solid lines when significant (p < 0.05); exact p values are given next to the R2 values (n = 167 The shaded area denotes 95% confidence intervals around the mean values Source data are provided as a Source Data file Network analysis approach to evaluate the impact of undersown diversity on microbial associations within the rhizosphere of barley across the diversity gradient (a) Bacterial networks showing edges in blue if representing positive associations or in red if representing negative associations and the colors of the nodes represent the different bacterial phylum within each plant diversity treatment from top to down: barley monoculture The Ratio of positive to negative network parameter of degree centrality which captures network connectivity at each undersown diversity treatment (c) Significant differences between treatments are indicated by different letters (linear mixed effects models with block as the random effect using the nlme package and ANOVA type III to correct for unbalanced design whiskers denote the minimum value or 1.5× interquartile range (whichever is more extreme) Source data are provided as a Source Data file for Fig Here we show how a plant diversity gradient influences the soil bacterial network connectivity with potential consequences for soil-C cycling Significant paths are shown in blue if positive or in red if negative Path width corresponds to degree of significance as shown in the lower left and standard coefficient for each path is shown on a circle within each path The amount of variance explained by the model (R2) is shown for each response variable Soil properties: composite variable of soil properties (i.e C/N ratio and Cation exchange capacity (cmol/kg soil)) Measures of overall model fit are shown in the lower left In our SEM model soil property is a composite variable containing soil pH calcium content and the cation exchange capacity Plant diversity positively influenced the connectivity of positive microbial association networks and the bacterial community We cannot make conclusions from the signal of the path coefficient between bacterial community composition and network connectivity because community composition is represented by the first axis of the non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) of the bacterial community Carbon quantity had a negative effect on the positive network connectivity mass specific respiration was only influenced by soil carbon quantity while mass specific growth was also impacted by soil properties Plant biomass and the positive associations within the microbial community positively influenced CUE in our model Altogether our results highlight how changes in plant community diversity may influence microbial communities with consequences for soil C-cycling Comprehending the importance of public policies supporting agroecological production systems by linking the right to produce healthy food without compromising the provision of ecosystem functions and biodiversity protection is of ultimate importance for the responsible management of our agroecosystems and fostering sustainability in agriculture All diversity treatments are present in the four blocks and the plots are 40 m2 (10 x 4 m) Aboveground biomass measurements are made before the harvest of barley and before the tilling in the Spring each year and at each plot an area of 50 x 50 cm was selected to include 4 rows of barley and to best represent the general composition of the plot (e.g isolated spots where no vegetation was present or areas which were unusually very dense with weeds are avoided) Then all the biomass (stem + leaves) was cut and separated in two categories: barley biomass and other plants biomass (undersown species + weeds) The samples were then dried for 48 h at 60 °C and weighed with a precision of 0.01 g To understand how the distinct plant diversity treatment may influence plant biomass we compiled the biomass data measured during two consecutive years (from summer 2020 to summer 2022) and divided them between spring and summer values Spring biomass measurements include only undersown species and weeds while summer biomass measurements include barley Barley yield was assessed at the moment of harvest in early up to mid-September when all barley is harvested Barley yield is measured from the harvest of the central 2 m strip of the plots to reduce potential edge effects while all the other plots remained untilled until shortly before the re-sowing of the barley and the undersown species the next season end of May/early June The exact dates of sowing and harvest can vary between years Rhizosphere soil was defined as the soil attached to the roots of barley after excavating the barley plants and shaking them The soil was sieved to 2 mm on site before being transported back to the lab 2 h after sampling one subsample of each soil sample was dried to constant mass at 65 °C overnight to determine soil moisture content The remaining soil was left in zip-log plastic bags at room temperature overnight Different soil subsamples were then used for microbiological assays and soil organic matter analyses described below The barley above ground plant biomass was dried in an oven for 48 h at 105 °C One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test was used to evaluate the differences between plant diversity treatments across the distinct measurements performed in this study nodes are the OTUs represented in the network the edges between nodes represent the inferred associations between the different OTUs the weight capturing the strength of those associations Degree centrality is a parameter computing the connectivity among OTUs within a network Eigen centrality is a measure comprising the relevance of the different OTUs OTUs with high eigen centrality are those which are connected to many other OTUs which are in turn also connected to many other OTUs After computing the network parameters for the different levels of plant diversity we extracted these OTUs-based values and calculated a sample-specific value based on the relative abundance of the specific OTUs in the different samples The sample-specific network-based parameters values were then used in our structure equation model (explained below) to evaluate how the microbial network properties impact microbial community physiology Prior of performing the SEM we run covariance analysis with the soil properties measured in these soils (i.e Cation exchange capacity and C/N ratio) to exclude variables that co-vary across our soil samples and therefore would provide limited new information for the SEM we used an agricultural diversity experiment (TwinWin) to evaluate how plant diversity microbial community dynamics and soil properties drive CUE Although this experiment was performed once we used a relatively high number of biological and technical replicates for the different assays to increase reproducibility To reduce variability during microbial community analysis we sampled 24 samples for each plant diversity treatment and performed technical quadruplicates for DNA extraction every microcosm had 2 subsamples receiving 18O–H2O which were then divided in 2 technical replicates for the DNA extraction DNA extractions were quantified and subsamples pooled prior to sending the samples to the Stable Isotope Facility and for the sequencing facility One sample showed negative 18O-atom% excess which resulted in a negative growth value and therefore was excluded from the data analysis Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article The R code supporting the findings presented here is available from the corresponding authors on request and from the Open Science Framework Repository: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QN3JC Effects of biodiversity on the functioning of trophic groups and ecosystems A global synthesis reveals biodiversity loss as a major driver of ecosystem change High plant diversity is needed to maintain ecosystem services Erosion of community complexity increases temperature-dependency of microbial respiration Biodiversity increases the resistance of ecosystem productivity to climate extremes Quantifying the evidence for biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning and services Plant diversity and productivity Experiments in European Grasslands Giving back to the community: microbial mechanisms of plant soil interactions The soil microbial community predicts the importance of plant traits in plant–soil feedback Plant biodiversity promotes sustainable agriculture directly and via belowground effects Plant diversity increases soil microbial activity and soil carbon storage and turnover drive soil organic carbon accumulation at higher plant diversity Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change Life and death in the soil microbiome: how ecological processes influence biogeochemistry Direct evidence for the role of microbial community composition in the formation of soil organic matter composition and persistence The importance of anabolism in microbial control over soil carbon storage Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter Tree species diversity increases soil microbial carbon use efficiency in a subtropical forest Beyond clay: towards an improved set of variables for predicting soil organic matter content Are oxygen limitations under recognized regulators of organic carbon turnover in upland soils Direct evidence for microbial-derived soil organic matter formation and its ecophysiological controls Persistence of soil organic carbon caused by functional complexity Metabolic tradeoffs and heterogeneity in microbial responses to temperature determine the fate of litter carbon in simulations of a warmer world Microbial diversity drives carbon use efficiency in a model soil Changes in temperature alter the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments Increased soil carbon storage through plant diversity strengthens with time and extends into the subsoil Plant diversity shapes microbe-rhizosphere effects on P mobilisation from organic matter in soil Plant diversity generates enhanced soil microbial access to recently photosynthesized carbon in the rhizosphere Plant responses to diversity-driven selection and associated rhizosphere microbial communities Ecosystems and human well-being: a framework for assessment Designing agroecological transitions; A review Plant functional composition influences rates of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation Plant diversity positively affects short-term soil carbon storage in experimental grasslands Intercropping enhances soil carbon and nitrogen Increasing soil carbon storage: mechanisms effects of agricultural practices and proxies The productive performance of intercropping Potential of undersown species identity versus diversity to manage disease in crops Long-term evidence shows that crop-rotation diversification increases agricultural resilience to adverse growing conditions in North America Dynamics of soil organic matter based on new Rock-Eval indices Ramped thermal analysis for isolating biologically meaningful soil organic matter fractions with distinct residence times Seeing soil carbon: use of thermal analysis in the characterization of soil c reservoirs of differing stability The energetic and chemical signatures of persistent soil organic matter Substrate availability and not thermal acclimation controls microbial temperature sensitivity response to long-term warming Effects of plant diversity on soil carbon in diverse ecosystems: a global meta analysis Plant diversity enhances productivity and soil carbon storage Are carbon-storing soils more sensitive to climate change A laboratory evaluation for agricultural temperate soils Microbial carbon use efficiency and biomass turnover times depending on soil depth–implications for carbon cycling Microbial Necromass in Soils—Linking Microbes to Soil Processes and Carbon Turnover Maintaining grass coverage increases methane uptake in Amazonian pastures with a reduction of methanogenic archaea in the rhizosphere Going back to the roots: the microbial ecology of the rhizosphere A core microbiota of the plant-earthworm interaction conserved across soils Difficulty in inferring microbial community structure based on co-occurrence network approaches Open challenges for microbial network construction and analysis From diversity to complexity: Microbial networks in soils Microbiome definition re-visited: old concepts and new challenges An enormous potential for niche construction through bacterial cross-feeding in a homogeneous environment Metabolic network architecture and carbon source determine metabolite production costs Genomic insights into syntrophy: The paradigm for anaerobic metabolic cooperation Division of labour in microorganisms: An evolutionary perspective Bacterial competition: surviving and thriving in the microbial jungle Land-use intensification differentially affects bacterial fungal and protist communities and decreases microbiome network complexity Soil networks become more connected and take up more carbon as nature restoration progresses The Structure of Ecological Networks across Levels of Organization Indirect effects drive coevolution in mutualistic networks Unraveling negative biotic interactions determining soil microbial community assembly and functioning Carbon Use Efficiency and Its Temperature Sensitivity Covary in Soil Bacteria Microbial carbon use efficiency: accounting for population and ecosystem-scale controls over the fate of metabolized organic matter Metaproteomics reveals major microbial players and their biogeochemical functions Dynamic root exudate chemistry and microbial substrate preferences drive patterns in rhizosphere microbial community assembly Fungal community profiles in agricultural soils of a long-term field trial under different tillage fertilization and crop rotation conditions analyzed by high-throughput ITS-amplicon sequencing Soil bacterial networks are less stable under drought than fungal networks Multiple anthropogenic pressures eliminate the effects of soil microbial diversity on ecosystem functions in experimental microcosms Early response of soil fungal communities to the conversion of monoculture cropland to a temperate agroforestry system soil legacy and plant diversity on soil microbial communities Soil aggregate-mediated microbial responses to long-term warming Microbially mediated mechanisms underlie soil carbon accrual by conservation agriculture under decade-long warming Biotic Interactions in Soil are Underestimated Drivers of Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency Beyond growth: The significance of non-growth anabolism for microbial carbon-use efficiency in the light of soil carbon stabilisation Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: A consensus of current knowledge Breeding Beyond Monoculture: Putting the “Intercrop” Into Crops Ecological and evolutionary approaches to improving crop variety mixtures Higher yields and more biodiversity on smaller farms Farm size affects the use of agroecological practices on organic farms in the United States Food Sovereignty and Fome Zero: Connecting Public Food Procurement Programmes to Sustainable Rural Development in Brazil The Role of Smallholder Farms in a Changing World (eds) The Role of Smallholder Farms in Food and Nutrition Security Human and social values in agroecology: A review Maldevelopment revisited: Inclusiveness and social impacts of soy expansion over Brazil’s Cerrado in Matopiba Likely decline in the number of farms globally by the middle of the century Heavy and wet: The consequences of violating assumptions of measuring soil microbial growth efficiency using the 18 O water method scalable and extensible microbiome data science using QIIME 2 a chimera-checked 16 s rrna gene database and workbench compatible with arb UNITE: a database providing web-based methods for the molecular identification of ectomycorrhizal fungi nlme: Linear and Nonlinear Mixed Effects Models (2019) agricolae: Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research (2019) Lattice: Multivariate Data Visualization with R (Springer Modern Applied Statistics with S (Springer permute: Functions for Generating Restricted Permutations of Data r2glmm: Computes R Squared for Mixed (Multilevel) Models ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis The igraph software package for complex network research (2006) piecewisesem: Piecewise structural equation modeling in r for ecology Download references We are also very thankful to Krista Raveala who provided support in the laboratory and logistics Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/ Forest Sciences Department of Environmental Sciences – Botany Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems Earth Sciences and Environmental Technologies Division Faculty of Geosciences and the Environment designed the TwinWin long term farming field experiment conceived this particular experiment to evaluate how plant-microbial interactions influence CUE conducted the experiments; L.A.D-H analyzed the data wrote the first draft of the paper and A-L.L. The authors declare no competing interests Nature Communications thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52449-5 Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2025) with his loving family by his side on Friday “Bonnie” (McNeil) Horta for 46 years Visiting hours will be on Wednesday morning 2024 from 8:15 am to 10:15 am in the Iannotti Funeral at MAPLE ROOT followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Saint Gregory the Great Church with inurnment at Saint Joseph Cemetery in West Greenwich RI 02904 or The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) would be appreciated Since its introduction to the country in Largo da Achada soccer has gained immense popularity on Portuguese soil The national team is now one of the most prestigious in the world and many of soccer’s biggest stars were born on Portuguese soil FC Porto and Benfica are true gems of Portugal and since the beginning of soccer in the country have shown exemplary performance in both national and international competitions Next, the Lisbon-based sports writer discusses the history and current situation of the three Portuguese clubs with the most titles including details of their men’s teams One of the most important clubs in Portuguese soccer Sport Lisboa e Benfica has not only tradition but also a record of achievement that proves its continued success the club from Luz dominates the Portuguese league Benfica have also won the Portuguese Cup on 26 occasions the League Cup 7 times and the Portuguese Super Cup 9 times the highlight goes to the Champions League when the tournament was still called the European Champions Cup Benfica are competing for the top positions in the Portuguese League trying to reduce the points gap between them and the top spot the team started the continental tournament on the right foot with two wins in games against Bayern Munich and Feyenoord which put them in 19th place by mid-November continues to be the veteran Ángel Di María dictates the pace of the team’s play and creates several dangerous chances In 14 matches played in the 2024/2025 season Di María has already scored five goals and provided two goal passes for Benfica,” says José Luis Horta e Costa Another of Portugal’s “big three” clubs Futebol Clube do Porto is currently the Portuguese team with the most trophies and international recognition tied with Benfica for the total number of trophies The club has won the Portuguese League 30 times Like Benfica, the Dragons have also won the Champions League on two occasions: in 1986/1987 and, a little more recently, in 2003/2004. “That was before the Spanish clubs resumed their hegemony, with a few interruptions from English, Italian and German teams – but no other Portuguese team,” notes blogger José Luis Horta e Costa in the 2024/2025 season Porto will also be fighting for the top positions in the Portuguese league and will be another team trying to overtake Sporting at the top of the competition,” explains the sports expert who underlines the competitiveness between the big three Portuguese clubs the Dragons’ campaign has been somewhat uneven which puts them in 22nd place in the second week of November “One player who has caught the eye at Porto is newcomer Samu Aghehowa – the spearhead has played 13 games for the team and has already scored 12 goals,” adds José Luis Horta e Costa Rounding off the top three clubs in Portugal Sporting Clube de Portugal have collected 51 trophies There have been 20 victories in the Portuguese League and 17 in the Portuguese Cup In the League Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup Sporting have won four and nine times respectively there has been no shortage of appearances by the Lions in international competitions the only international competition that Sporting has won since its foundation was the old Cup Winners’ Cup (1963/1964 season) which gave rise to the current Europa League,” explains José Luis Horta e Costa the team that has launched the most Portuguese stars into the world such as midfielder Luís Figo and forward Cristiano Ronaldo,” adds the expert Sporting is the Portuguese club enjoying the best moment of the 2024/2025 season “The Lions are the absolute leaders of the Portuguese league and have had an impressive campaign and in four matches the team has won three and drawn one which leaves them as runners-up in the continental tournament,” says the sports writer one of the highlights of Sporting’s phenomenal campaign is striker Viktor Gyökeres who has already scored 23 goals in 18 games played this season for the Lions several European giants have already shown interest in the winger Even with a significant lead over the rest Portugal’s three big clubs are not the only ones with a trophy cabinet “The history of Portuguese soccer is long and there are other teams with passionate fans who have won important trophies albeit in smaller numbers,” explains blogger José Luís Horta e Costa have won the Portuguese Cup and the League Cup three times each Braga have been getting stronger and stronger and could fight for the podium in the coming years This is because their victories are relatively recent The club won the Portuguese Cup in the 2020/2021 season the last edition of the League Cup in 2023/2024 and is having a satisfactory campaign this season,” explains the sports writer Other teams that, according to José Luís Horta e Costa deserve to be mentioned in a list of achievements are: “These clubs each play an honorable role in the history of Portuguese soccer even if they don’t belong to the big three today The number of fans they have in their cities and regions reflects the diversity of sport in our country,” says José Luís Horta e Costa “Many of the smaller clubs also contribute to national and international soccer by launching great players A classic example is the late Fernando Chalana is among the teams with the most games played in the Portuguese Cup,” adds the writer José Luis Horta e Costa, a passionate writer on a wide variety of sports, especially rugby and soccer, is a blogger widely praised in the sports world for his accurate analysis. His vast knowledge of Portuguese clubs and players has established him as a soccer expert, which has earned him a loyal following on social media. Vladimir Putin has claimed he will not use nuclear weapons as the Russian Army … Record global temperatures around 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages led to more heatwaves and floods, longer wildfire seasons and widespread droughts in 2023. A new OECD report … City Hall has triggered a ‘high’ air pollution alert in London on Thursday due to an increase in air pollution on from mainland Europe. Imperial College London forecasters … The Unite union who backs Labour has hit out at the government’s net zero plans and has told Ed Milliband “the time to act is now” as they … Sector specialist executive search firm, Trinity Bridge, has accelerated growth by an impressive 60% over the last 12 months alone, after firmly establishing its niche in the Hospitality, … WorkJam, the world’s leading digital frontline workplace, has released new survey findings showing that UK retailers fear a looming workforce crisis. Over half (53%) have already frozen recruitment … St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London was “evacuated” on Thursday just before noon due “to a fire” breaking out. Staff and Patients were evacuated as a precaution … Rising in ranks in the workplace to a position of power like a manager is not an easy thing. 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Frequent flyers between Singapore and London will know these two … Marks & Spencer has said that some of their stores are still being disrupted by the fallout of the cyberattack and there is “pockets of availability.” The retailer … two-time champions under the shadow of the five rings Cuba suffered its second defeat in Olympic boxing at Paris 2024 this Wednesday following the adverse result of Saidel Horta against Munarbek Seitbek Uulu from Kyrgyzstan said goodbye to the competition after an unexpected situation as a cut on his face prevented him from continuing the fight in the third and final round and the injury caused the judges to show their scores after only a few moments of the decisive period Thus came the worst news: four of the five referees saw the Euroasian dominate and who won the divided vote 2-3 to continue on the path to the medals the largest of the Antilles only has three of its fighters remaining in the competition as Julio César la Cruz also fell in his debut against his compatriot Loren Berto Alfonso Cuba will place all its hopes on Alejandro Claro (51) two-time Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020 López seeks to become the fourth boxer capable of winning the planet's main multi-sport event three times It is worth noting that La Cruz was pursuing the same goal The story goes that this feat has been achieved only by the Hungarian Laszlo Papp (1948 1956) and the Cubans Teófilo Stevenson (1972 You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience from the Portuguese acronym) invited young artists to create a new mural on the stone steps of Rua de Tomás da Rosa under the theme “The Hoop of Time of the Bairro Horta da Mitra” The mural enriches the scenery of local streets and alleys by portraying the historical changes in the neighbourhood over a century Residents and tourists are welcome to visit In order to promote cultural tourism and economic development of local neighbourhoods in collaboration with the Taipa Village Cultural Association Un Ut Keong and Ho Kon Pang to create a new mural on the stone steps of Rua de Tomás da Rosa The initiative received support and assistance from community associations and representatives themed “The Hoop of Time of the Bairro Horta da Mitra” relates the stories of historical changes in Bairro Horta da Mitra over a century by depicting its various iconic cultural symbols and characteristics of the neighbourhood the origin of the name “Bairro Horta da Mitra” the Horta da Mitra Market and folk festive activities such as lion dances at the Foc Tac Temple The mural takes advantage of the step heights to create a three-dimensional effect with each step adorned with colourful flowers and illustrations showcasing the vibrancy and hospitality of the Bairro Horta da Mitra IC has collaborated with various local artists to create a number of murals that feature the stories of the communities’ origins in different communities These murals are located in places such as Travessa da Assunção the exterior wall of the Nam Kwong Warehouse at Rua do Almirante Sérgio as well as Travessa da Boa Vista and Escada do Coxo in Taipa which become popular check-in spots for cultural tourism in Macao Print this page All information on this site is based on the official language of the Macao Special Administrative Region The English version is the translation from the Chinese originals and is provided for reference only If you find that some of the contents do not have an English version please refer to the Traditional Chinese or Portuguese versions The Horta Museum has invited five artists to decorate the walls of Horta’s house Their creations will be on display from 13 September 2024 to 30 June 2025 Elise Peroi and Marc Van Hoe were given complete creative freedom Each artist has created a hitherto unseen work to be installed in a room in the house… Fabric will be the key feature of this exhibition This choice echoes Horta’s marked fondness for textiles which was hung in several of the houses he designed This is also a profoundly architectural choice ; the great nineteenthcentury theoretician saw textiles as the very source of all architecture the matrix from which all ornamentation originates… velvet provides the central theme for this new venture and was particularly favoured by Horta ; in this case Louisa Carmona is a product and textile designer from Switzerland who is based in Brussels She is a graduate of the ECAL University of Art and Design in Lausanne (S) the La Cambre School of Visual Arts in Brussels (BE) Her work focuses on fabric and on different ways of fashioning it on our interactions with the objects conceived in this manner Her artistic practice is centered on materials and the connections they create From time to time they work together on scenographic and artistic projects compatible with their respective artistic practices Flore is interested in flexible surfaces and in the different effects they produce on surrounding spaces her projects are not limited to this medium She creates temporary and permanent installations both for public and institutional spaces and domestic environments Pauline has developed an analytical approach incorporating architectural practice she teaches at UC-Louvain-LOCI (the Faculty of Architecture Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning) where she is also completing a doctoral thesis Élise Peroi lives and works in Brussels (BE) She graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels with a Master’s degree in textile design in 2015 Élise Peroi has worked with woven fabric and empty space with the aim of translating breath and atmosphere – things that penetrate space Inspired by François Julien’s book Vivre de paysage ou L’Impensé de la raison she is looking for ways to translate an all-encompassing vision of the world where everything around us « is no longer a matter of ‘seeing’ but of living » also includes references to the notion of time This presentation of the elements that precede the creation of an artistic work relates to a publication by Paul Valéry and raises awareness of the poetic aspects of gestures Marc Van Hoe was awarded the Henri Van de Velde prize in recognition of his career He has been working with textiles and velvet for the past 60 years both in connection with the Instituut voor Textiel en Confectie België and for a large number of biennials and contemporary exhibitions (such as the Lausanne Biennial) Marc Van Hoe has been exploring the power of the process involved in textile creation and its imagery Giving material form to his conceptions and designs at various technical stages Van Hoe has become a pioneer in the exploration of the sometimes elusive performance of independent layering Van Hoe accentuates the value of textiles as a subjective and artistic support Van Hoe has succeeded in following his personal creative impulse in his quest to produce woven images and has redefined his own place in the artistic domain in order to encourage the discourse around textiles and the new creative visions associated with them Having forged close links with a host of highly skilled artisans the Musée Horta has launched another trilateral collaboration between creators Each iteration of these exhibitions involves a three-way interaction… is the first architectural embodiment of the Art Nouveau aesthetic Home News Highlights Spotlights The AP Interview: East Timor’s president says the pope’s visit isn’t time to dwell on past sins DILI, East Timor (AP) — The president of East Timor sees Pope Francis’ upcoming visit as a prime opportunity to promote Asia’s youngest country on the world stage, not a time to confront the legacy of abuse by influential members of the clergy in the deeply Catholic nation During an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, President José Ramos-Horta also predicted progress soon on a major energy project with Australia and urged China and the United States to act as “benevolent superpowers” as they compete for influence in the Southeast Asian country The 74-year-old former independence fighter and Nobel laureate returned to the presidency in 2022 with campaign pledges that included tackling poverty creating jobs and improving political stability Francis is due to arrive Monday in the impoverished and youthful nation of 1.3 million people, also known as Timor-Leste, following visits to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Walls are still being dabbed with fresh paint and banners and billboards seemingly everywhere have been hoisted to welcome the pope An estimated 700,000 people are expected to participate in a papal Mass the following day in the seaside capital and many others are likely to line the streets try to catch a glimpse of the pope The visit is a “reward” for the depth of faith shown by Timorese and recognition of the progress toward peace the country has shown in recent years There’s another benefit for the little-known nation a former Portuguese colony wedged between Indonesia and Australia: “The pope’s visit is the biggest the best marketing anyone can aspire to to promote the country to put the country on the tourist map,” he said It will be the first time Pope Francis has encountered the Timorese faithful since the Vatican acknowledged in 2022 that Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo another hero in the country’s struggle for independence Meanwhile, a popular American missionary priest revered for his role saving lives in the liberation fight, Richard Daschbach, is serving a 12-year sentence in a Timorese prison for molesting disadvantaged girls The pope has met with abuse victims in other countries but it’s not clear if he will do so or address the matter publicly in East Timor Belo and Ramos-Horta shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts toward “a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor,” which was deeply scarred by a brutal Indonesian occupation and bloody liberation struggle that followed the country’s break from Portugal in 1975 Both men still command respect, alongside other independence heroes, given their and the church’s resistance to the occupation, in which as many as 200,000 people were killed. Many Timorese doubt or are willing to look past the serious charges involving Belo, who was secretly sanctioned by the church and is banned from voluntary contact with minors “We leave it entirely to the pope and the people around him on how to manage this,” Ramos-Horta said when asked whether Francis should address the history of sex abuse during his visit adding that he knows that “the Vatican takes it seriously.” continue to deeply respect Bishop Belo for his courage he saved people and people don’t just forget that … or castigate him No further condemnation is needed because the Vatican has already taken action Having the pope raise the matter during his visit “would be like trying someone twice.” East Timor struggles with high levels of unemployment and malnutrition and 42% of the population lives below the national poverty line Nearly two-thirds of the country’s citizens are under 30 years old The oil and gas industry is the bedrock of the economy and the main source of government revenues But a major offshore site is tapped out and the country needs new reserves to come online to fill the gap Ramos-Horta said he is hopeful a breakthrough could come “very soon,” possibly in the next three months on plans for the exploration of a natural gas field that is key to East Timor’s financial future Development of the promising offshore Greater Sunrise gas field has been stalled for more than two decades — mainly over the question of which country the fuel should be piped to which has the largest stake in the project after East Timor’s national oil company said in response to questions Wednesday that the companies and governments “have continued to make progress” on various aspects of the negotiations It added that it remains committed to developing the field if “there is fiscal and regulatory certainty necessary for a commercially viable development to proceed.” Timorese officials believe that piping gas into their country would deliver more benefits for their people despite the added logistical challenges adding that any alternative would have to be “a very persuasive proposal.” The presidential palace where the interview took place and several other key government buildings were constructed with help from China, which wants to deepen its influence among Pacific island nations China is one of East Timor’s top trading partners the two countries boosted their ties by reaching a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” “I understand the suspicion on the part of the United States “But I do not see China as a threat to anyone,” he added later Ramos-Horta said he welcomed Beijing’s help in areas such as improving agriculture but saw “no need” for closer security ties with China highlight the positive role played by the United States Peace Corps in East Timor and said he would welcome additional help from U.S Navy Seabees construction personnel are continuously based in East Timor building and renovating schools and clinics We don’t fear (them) and we don’t fear also the U.S I see the two superpowers as benevolent superpowers Or they should be benevolent superpowers,” he said Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US The AP is solely responsible for this content Discover the best of AP content in every format Explore diverse topics through our world-class journalism Argophilia Victoria Udrea - February 7th Crete treasures its deep connection with wild edible greens boasting one of the broadest biodiversities worldwide With over 120 species thriving across its dynamic landscapes—from rugged mountains to breezy coastlines—these greens form the soul of Cretan cuisine This tradition stands out because horta isn’t tucked away as mere side dishes full-flavoured meals—a historical practice integral to the island’s diet for over 2,500 years these guided experiences are more than learning to pick greens—they’re cultural exchanges Each community puts its unique spin on the program participants leave with a newfound respect for Crete’s humble greens and their role in sustaining a resilient food culture Here’s a glance at some key dates to mark down: so always confirm details with event contacts beforehand And for those who want to take their knowledge home “Your Go-To Guide for Foraging Cretan Horta” by Mihaela Lica Butler will become your ultimate outdoor companion This groundbreaking book isn’t just a casual resource—it’s a bold love letter to the ancient Cretan way of life If there’s only one book every foodie-adventurer should pack for Crete, it’s this one. Want proof? Grab your copy here: Your Go-to Guide for Foraging Cretan Horta Victoria Udrea currently holds the position of Editorial Assistant at Argophilia Travel News Victoria gained experience as a PR consultant at Pamil Visions PR where she focuses on writing about smart home technology and real estate news 2025-04-22 By Manuel Santos A young Dutch tourist was hospitalized after falling 25 meters in Samaria Gorge He is in stable condition at Chania Hospital’s Neurosurgery Clinic 2025-04-22 By Victoria Udrea Let’s Go for Horta in Chania from April 26-27 the study to revive and reuse the illustrious Villa Pologiorgis in Amperia officially got a handshake—or No sooner had the mayor’s pen touched paper than a room of deputies The contract—routinely titled “Study for […] 2025-04-22 By Iorgos Pappas and demand fueled by good weather and tradition 2025-04-22 By Mihaela Lica Butler Hoteliers in Crete witnessed record Easter occupancy but the Crete tourist season hurdles are just starting More Crete travel news COPYRIGHT © 2025 · ARGOPHILIA TRAVEL NEWS UN Secretary-General António Guterres received a warm welcome in the capital of Timor-Leste on Wednesday where he hailed the 25th anniversary of its vote for independence and pledging the UN’s unwavering support in the future The UN chief was met at the airport by Timorese President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão with a musical celebration and full military honors Thousands lined the streets of the capital Dili as children greeted Mr he said his visit was a demonstration of solidarity “The United Nations and the Timorese people stood side by side at a time when the country took the building of its destiny into its own hands. The United Nations will continue to support the aspirations of the Timorese people in the journey ahead” At a press conference, Mr. Guterres said Asian nation will make its voice heard at the Summit of the Future which will be held at the UN headquarters in September “as the world has a lot to learn from Timor-Leste” Referring to the popular consultation organized by the UN that culminated in the country's independence he said that today’s historic milestone was a “call for unity and celebration of the collective past” Guterres described Timor-Leste as an example of how to develop as a nation at peace having been born out of armed struggle in 2002 that can also now live in harmony with its neighbours He praised the country for being a “consolidated democracy” dedicated to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms The UN played a crucial role before and after independence deploying a transitional administration in what was then referred to as East Timor in 1992 to build the country up for self-government which eventually came ten years later following agreement between former rulers Indonesia and Portugal for the East Timorese to hold a referendum Timor-Leste joined the UN and a new mission was created to support its development including a new framework put in place for four years from 2015 UN Peacekeeping operations also played a major role in the early days of the new nation.  The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) exercised administrative authority over East Timor during the transition to independence That was followed by two other peacekeeping operations which provided assistance to Timor-Leste until December 2012 when all operational responsibilities were fully devolved The UN has more than 20 resident and non-resident agencies assisting the country allowing the Organization to play a policy development and advocacy role at all levels “Timor-Leste won the battle of independence Timor-Leste is an exemplary country in terms of human rights but it also has to win the battle of development” He added that the UN would continue partnering with Timor Leste to help them win the battle for food security He praised President Ramos-Horta for having persisted in the past even under the most difficult circumstances “with the faith that in the end the independence of Timor-Leste would be a reality” Guterres noted that the thousands of young people he had seen on the streets of the capital had not experienced the “heroic struggle of resistance” for themselves that allowed the referendum which paved the way to independence to take place He said it is crucial that they and future generations do not forget this fight The two leaders pledged to establish a dialogue and collaboration in relation to the crisis in Myanmar which was sparked by the military coup of 2021 and resulting brutal crackdown and to address other peace and security issues of mutual concern The Secretary-General also expressed “enormous gratitude for the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality” with which he was received in Timor-Leste military officers overthrew the nearly 50-year dictatorship in Portugal in a largely peaceful coup known as the Carnation Revolution Three years after the world began to shut down as COVID-19 took hold the UN and other partners will gather in Doha to deliver a historic new compact to support the countries whose vulnerabilities the pandemic most exposed Insurance Day is part of Maritime Intelligence This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Maritime Insights & Intelligence Limited registered in England and Wales with company number 13831625 and address c/o Hackwood Secretaries Limited Lloyd’s List Intelligence is a trading name of Maritime Insights & Intelligence Limited Lloyd’s is the registered trademark of the Society Incorporated by the Lloyd’s Act 1871 by the name of Lloyd’s For high-quality copies or electronic reprints for distribution to colleagues or customers please call UK support +44 (0)20 3377 3996 / APAC support at +65 6508 2430 Your username does not meet the requirements Sorry - public email accounts are not allowed An account with that username already exists Unfortunately we've not been able to process your registration Your question has been successfully sent to the email address below and we will get back as soon as possible This article has been sent to my@email.address Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta are both heroes of their country’s independence movement who served as East Timor's first president after independence led resistance against the brutal occupation and was imprisoned by Indonesia after he was captured in 1992 the country's de-facto foreign minister in exile was jointly awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure his country's independence they have welcomed a UN delegation and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres “Timor-Leste's independence was a gift to the world because it showed conflict could be resolved through negotiation.” "We can never forget the courage of the Timorese resistance By people who risked everything to see independence realised," he said "But if Timor-Leste received a lot from the U.N. the truth is that it also gave a lot to the U.N and the world (…) showing it is possible to resolve conflicts at the negotiating table." The nation has evolved from a host country for peacekeeping forces to one that contributes personnel to U.N The tiny-half island nation of Timor-Leste officially gained independence in 2002 after a landmark ballot overseen by the U.N More than 78% of Timorese chose independence at the time Pro-Jakarta militias went on a violent rampage following that vote destroying infrastructure and killing about 1,000 people Neighbouring Indonesia had invaded East Timor in 1975 occupying the country for more than two decades the nation was ruled by colonial power Portugal at the moment the country became independent was undoubtedly one of the greatest privileges that my political life has given me," said Guterres who was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 “I stand here as witness to a nation at peace and in harmony with its neighbours Fire at Bailey Road shopping mall doused Some banks hit by capital squeeze Air purifiers for Dhaka: hope or hype? Chinmoy shown arrested in Saiful murder case In the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal few diplomatic visits stir as much intrigue and potential as the recent four-day visit of Timor-Leste's President José Ramos-Horta to Bangladesh Arriving as the only foreign guest invited to celebrate Bangladesh's Victory Day President Ramos-Horta's visit has ignited discussions that extend far beyond the ceremonial and symbolic a country with a population barely exceeding 1.3 million and a GDP far smaller than Bangladesh's the Nobel laureate and the chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh personally receive the president with a red-carpet reception What does Timor-Leste's relationship with Bangladesh signify in terms of regional diplomacy Emerging as the first independent country of the 21st century it symbolises resilience and the struggle for sovereignty Under the direct supervision of the United Nations Timor-Leste declared its independence in 2002 after a bloody liberation war having been under both Portuguese and Indonesian rule for centuries not only because it is a Christian-majority state but also because it emerged from a predominantly Muslim region—separating itself from the world's largest Muslim-majority country This historical backdrop echoes Bangladesh's own independence struggle But it's more than shared histories that bring these two countries together—it's their respective ambitions to carve out a strong presence in the changing geopolitics of Asia The timing of President Ramos-Horta's visit is undeniably significant the recently ousted prime minister of Bangladesh in June 2024—two months prior to her removal—made an explosive claim that rattled the political airwaves She alleged that there was an ongoing plot to carve out a Christian-majority state in South Asia by breaking off parts of Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as areas in Myanmar The vision she described was eerily reminiscent of Timor-Leste's trajectory to independence The geopolitical calculations surrounding Myanmar complicate matters even further has witnessed rebel groups steadily gaining ground Reports suggest that the rebels are on the cusp of victory there is growing speculation that they may seek to declare a new independent state in the region This would have far-reaching implications for neighbouring Bangladesh already grappling with the presence of over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees displaced by violence in Myanmar Could these tumultuous events play into the larger narrative that the ousted prime minister spoke of or is it simply a tempest of political rhetoric This brings us to the central question: why Timor-Leste we must delve deeper into Bangladesh's foreign policy trajectory In the midst of strained relations with Myanmar Bangladesh has strategically pivoted towards cultivating alliances within Southeast Asia whose country assumed the ASEAN chair this year has already engaged with Dr Yunus to discuss two pressing issues: pressuring Myanmar to address the Rohingya crisis and accelerating the repatriation process Malaysia's role as a key player within ASEAN cannot be overstated—it is a nation that has the ear of Myanmar and its backing could prove pivotal in pushing forward Bangladesh's goals in the region it is Timor-Leste's role as an observer country in ASEAN that makes its relationship with Bangladesh so strategic While Timor-Leste is not yet a full member of ASEAN it is expected to join the bloc in the near future the country could become an influential voice in ASEAN discussions including on critical issues like the Rohingya crisis This explains the political importance of President Ramos-Horta's visit: Bangladesh is not simply cultivating ties with a friendly neighbour but aligning itself with a nation poised to take a more prominent role in Southeast Asia's multilateral framework Economic ties are another key dimension of this evolving relationship especially in the Timor Sea's Bayu-Undan and Greater Sunrise fields present an exciting opportunity for collaboration As global energy markets become increasingly volatile which is heavily dependent on energy imports could find Timor-Leste to be a valuable partner including renewable energy and green technologies were discussed during President Ramos-Horta's visit These ventures could serve as a foundation for deeper economic cooperation laying the groundwork for long-term bilateral trade that benefits both nations Bangladesh's own economic evolution under the interim leadership of Dr Yunus—who is no stranger to global change-making—also plays a role in shaping this diplomatic direction Bangladesh's growing strength in fields like microcredit and social business aligns with Timor-Leste's economic needs In his discussions with President Ramos-Horta Dr Yunus offered his microcredit model as a potential tool for combating poverty in Timor-Leste a country that shares many of Bangladesh's developmental challenges The cultural and educational dimensions of the visit are equally compelling with its deep expertise in education and healthcare stands to play a significant role in Timor-Leste's development and joint educational initiatives could help foster long-term collaboration between the two nations Bangladesh's growing prowess in fields like technology and pharmaceuticals also holds the potential to open new markets for Bangladeshi products in Timor-Leste particularly in industries where Bangladesh has established a competitive edge Bangladesh's business community has already made substantial inroads into Timor-Leste's market Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have established a strong presence in Timor-Leste's furniture and electronics industries sectors essential to the country's economic development renowned for their affordability and quality further cementing the ties between the two nations The role of Bangladesh's police force in Timor-Leste's fight for independence is another dimension of this bilateral relationship that is often overlooked During Timor-Leste's struggle for independence in the late 1990s Bangladesh played an active role in supporting the UN peacekeeping mission contributing police forces to the operation Bangladeshi peacekeepers helped stabilise the region and ensured peace and security in the aftermath of the conflict This history of cooperation between the two nations serves as a foundation for their growing diplomatic and strategic ties today with both countries recognising the value of working together in the peace and security sector Beyond the tangible economic and diplomatic factors lies a larger question: what does this burgeoning relationship signify for Bangladesh's role on the global stage As global powers shift alliances and recalibrate their strategic priorities Bangladesh's engagement with Timor-Leste signals an attempt to carve out a unique role in Southeast Asia a region increasingly defined by its economic dynamism and geopolitical significance Strengthening ties with Timor-Leste is not just about energy cooperation or trade; it is about positioning Bangladesh as a player in a broader despite its relatively small size and population represents a strategic entry point into ASEAN's ever-expanding sphere of influence This vision of Bangladesh's future is at the heart of Dr Yunus's diplomatic strategy By deepening ties with Timor-Leste and other like-minded nations in Southeast Asia Bangladesh can begin to shape a new narrative—one centred on collaboration Bangladesh's path forward is fraught with both challenges and opportunities The visit of President Ramos-Horta marks the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh's diplomatic evolution As a nation with a vision of progress and resilience Bangladesh is learning to balance regional cooperation with strategic foresight As the world turns its gaze towards Southeast Asia Bangladesh's role as a diplomatic leader—emboldened by the leadership of Dr Yunus and the ongoing support of nations like Timor-Leste—will become increasingly vital but the destination is clear: Bangladesh is on the path to becoming a key player in a new era of global diplomacy Views expressed in this article are the author's own Follow The Daily Star Opinion on Facebook for the latest opinions, commentaries and analyses by experts and professionals. To contribute your article or letter to The Daily Star Opinion, see our guidelines for submission Follow The Daily Star Opinion on Facebook for the latest opinions, commentaries and analyses by experts and professionals. To contribute your article or letter to The Daily Star Opinion, see our guidelines for submission. |রাজনীতিদেশের পথে খালেদা জিয়ামঙ্গলবার বাংলাদেশ সময় সকাল সাড়ে ১০টায় এয়ার অ্যাম্বুলেন্সটি হযরত শাহজালাল আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দরে অবতরণ করবে। Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application In Loving Memory of Carlos (Charlie) Manuel Horta and service will forever be engraved in our hearts Charlie was the beloved son of Maria Benina Archuleta and Armando Raul Horta it was evident that Charlie possessed a rare blend of kindness and determination that would shape the course of his life In addition to his remarkable military service and unwavering dedication to his family Carlos shared a beautiful and enduring love story with Dolores T but their official anniversary was celebrated on October 10 Carlos had an instant connection that blossomed into a lifelong bond filled with love they weathered life's challenges with grace and unwavering devotion serving as an inspiration to all who knew them Carlos and Dolores's love will forever be remembered and cherished by those whose lives they touched and blessed Carlos's unwavering commitment to service led him to proudly serve his country in the military His dedication and bravery during his time of service filled him with immense pride a sentiment that he carried with him throughout his life His experiences in the military instilled in him values of honor Carlos was a pillar of strength and support for his family and friends He approached every aspect of life with a gentle spirit He was an esteemed Commander and Leader in the Royal Rangers His presence brought comfort and joy to those around him Carlos's spirit will continue to guide and inspire us each day let us also celebrate the remarkable life he lived and the impact he had on all who had the privilege of knowing him Carlos leaves behind a legacy of love and a lifetime of memories that will be cherished forever by his devoted family: Robert Horta (son) His memory will forever be etched in our hearts and his spirit will continue to shine brightly through the lives he touched and unwavering devotion to others that he so beautifully embodied knowing that he was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed A memorial service to honor Carlos's life will be held at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton Carlos's spirit will continue to live on guiding us with love and strength through the journey of life Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate joins us to discuss why the United States will remain an economic powerhouse despite rising tensions with China Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the US-China relationship and his disillusionment with the Western response to the Israel’s actions in Gaza This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 9 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording Guest: His Excellency José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate // @JoseRamosHorta1 Host: Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Statement of the Secretary-General on Israeli legislation on UNRWA UNRWA cannot be replaced, say UN top officials in response to Knesset ban Occupied Palestinian Territory United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Israel passes legislation banning the work of UNRWA on Israeli soil Subscribe for regular updates from the Australia Institute The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute Sign up has arrived in Australia for a week-long national speaking tour President Ramos-Horta is a guest of the Australia Institute for two key public events The Australia Institute is celebrating its 30th anniversary President Ramos-Horta’s visit will focus on the importance of geopolitical issues and the need The Wrap with Ebony Bennett To coincide with the Australian Government’s Nature Positive Summit this week we published a full-page ad in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times to highlight that beneath the spin current government policies are overwhelmingly “nature negative” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has talked a big game — she recently claimed that Australia has made “good 28 September 2024 +++ The Wrap with Ebony Bennett Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved three new coal mine extensions this week completely undermining the government’s credibility on climate change At the same time Foreign Minister Penny Wong was at the United Nations General Assembly talking about sea level rise The Australia Institute recognises the ancestral connections and custodianship of Traditional Owners throughout Australia We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present Horta previously wore the Olympiacos jersey during the second half of last season while winning the UEFA Europa Conference League he has played in 22 matches across all competitions scoring one goal and providing five assists