Latest news with #Chile
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate Gets Good News on Thursday
Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate Gets Good News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Hannah Stuelke is preparing for her senior season at the University of Iowa and will be traveling later this month. The 21-year-old from Cedar Rapids is often referred to as a former teammate of Caitlin Clark, but she's also built a strong basketball career of her own. Advertisement The former Iowa Miss Basketball averaged 29.1 points per game in high school. She's played three seasons with the Hawkeyes, reaching the NCAA Tournament title game twice. Her sophomore year was her best yet, averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting an impressive 62.7% from the field. Now, Stuelke has another accolade to add to her resume. Iowa women's basketball recently shared the good news: "Spot secured — @StuelkeHannah will compete for Team USA in the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup!" The tournament begins later this month in Santiago, Chile, with the final scheduled for July 6. Team USA has participated in the AmeriCup eight times, winning the tournament four times, second only to Brazil, which leads with six titles. Advertisement Stuelke is one of 12 players selected for the team. According to USA Basketball, the roster includes six athletes who have previously won gold medals with various national squads, including: Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts as forward Hannah Stuelke (45).Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images 2024 USA U18 Women's National Team: Joyce Edwards, Kennedy Smith 2023 USA U19 Women's National Team: Madison Booker, Edwards, Hannah Hidalgo, Grace VanSlooten 2022 USA U18 Women's National Team: VanSlooten 2022 USA U17 Women's National Team: Booker, Hidalgo 2021 USA U16 Women's National Team: Booker 2019 USA U16 Women's National Team: Olivia Miles Duke head coach Kara Lawson will lead Team USA, with DeLisha Milton-Jones (Old Dominion) and Jennie Baranczyk (Oklahoma) serving as assistants. The U.S. is in Group B alongside Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Related: Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate Lands New Team After 0 Minutes with Indiana Fever Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to Lexie Hull in New Post on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
After a shock diagnosis, Carlos attained an Australian visa only after an 'intrusive' process
In Australia, the 'significant cost threshold' for immigration health requirements is currently $86,000 over 10 years. Although some types of visas, such as a couple's visa, allow for applicants to seek a 'medical waiver' the process is long and complex. An attorney from the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre warns that people with HIV are often rejected without being properly informed of their legal rights or alternatives. When Carlos Araya Perez arrived in Australia in 2018 from Chile with an industrial engineering degree and a postgraduate visa, he hoped to improve his English, find a fulfilling job and grow professionally. 'I had lived in Ireland for a year and wanted to continue travelling. Among the options I looked for was Australia. I wanted something that aligned with my profession and would give me more opportunities,' Perez told SBS Spanish. Carlos Araya Perez arrived in Australia in 2018 from Chile. Credit: Supplied by Carlos Araya Perez But when he arrived, his lack of local experience and contacts led him away from the engineering field and into informal employment. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Perez says he was out of a job and out of savings, living without benefits at a friend's studio. It was then that a HIV diagnosis made his situation even more precarious. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, and can lead to AIDS if untreated. "It was the icing on the cake, but I saw it as an opportunity to grow," he said. "I am resilient, and from the first week I felt like it was something I couldn't change. I focused on what I could do: take care of my health and change my perspective on myself." He began his treatment through a compassionate access program, albeit with a level of uncertainty. 'I was concerned about access to medication. It wasn't free, and the program was renewed from time to time. That insecurity scared me the most.' What is the 'significant cost threshold'? What Perez didn't realise initially was that his diagnosis would have migratory consequences. When he applied for permanent residency, he discovered that his medical condition would exclude him because he exceeded the government's 'significant cost threshold' of $86,000 over 10 years. According to Vikas Parwani, a lawyer at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, there is a lack of information about visa options for migrants with chronic health conditions. "The cost of HIV was estimated at approximately $11,000 per year (by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth). Across 10 years, that's $110,000. That exceeds the limit and is a reason to refuse a permanent visa,' he explained. The threshold, which is reviewed biannually, was increased from $51,000 to $86,000 in July 2024. "The Australian Government administers the health requirement to protect the community from public health and safety risks, contain public expenditure on health care and community services, and safeguard the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to health care and community services in short supply," a Home Affairs spokesperson said. The spokesperson said having a health condition does not always mean an individual will not meet the health requirement due to significant costs, and the "majority" of visa applicants who are required to undertake Immigration Medical Examinations meet the health requirement. "The estimated costs are based on the health care and community services a hypothetical person with the same condition and level of severity as the visa applicant would require while in Australia." Learning this, Perez chose to extend his student visa, while seeking alternatives. An 'intrusive' process That's when his Australian boyfriend proposed to sponsor him for a partner's visa, and Perez began the process of applying for a medical waiver. He said he had to gather letters of support, demonstrate economic stability and present compassionate reasons. 'They asked me for letters from friends, from family members, from organisations where I volunteer. I had to prove that I wouldn't burden the system," he said. "It was a super-intrusive process ... it makes you question why you want to stay in a country that treats you like that." According to Vikas Parwani , a lawyer at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre who handled Perez's case, many migrants with chronic health conditions are left out of the system due to lack of information and the complexity of the process. 'Carlos was lucky to be able to apply for a couple's visa, which does allow for a waiver. For other people with Carlos's condition, a waiver is often not even offered." According to a Home Affairs spokesperson, "the decision to limit health waiver provisions to certain visas is in recognition that waiving the need to meet the health requirement can have significant implications for Australia's health care and community services." Parwani said Perez's social ties, community work, income shared with his partner and compassionate care that his partner provides weighed heavily to build a "strong case'. 'Although we (the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre) have a high success rate, the process is not easy. A lot of personal and medical documents are required, and it can take years," he said. "Not all lawyers know how to do this. And there are a lot of people who can't afford private counsel or access free help.' According to the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, over the past four years, it has provided around 508 legal services related to health waivers, including direct representation for at least 59 clients navigating the waiver process. The centre said all clients who reached the health waiver stage during this period were successful. However, in earlier years, success rates were lower — particularly when the significant cost threshold was set lower than it is today. Approval and a fresh start In May 2025, Perez received the news he had been waiting for: the waiver was approved and he was granted a temporary partner visa. At the end of the year, he can apply for permanent residency. I was super-happy and felt a lot of relief. As the process took so long, it was about a week before it sunk in. Carlos Araya 'This was the most difficult visa to obtain. The next one, in theory, is automatic. I just have to prove that my relationship is still genuine. But you have to send photos, letters, joint accounts ... all over again,' he said. Perez now works for Living Positive Victoria, a non-governmental organisation that supports people with HIV. He guides newly diagnosed migrants, and promotes access to information and connection networks. 'Connecting with other migrants, speaking from a shared experience, helps you feel less alone. We often feel responsible, but if the same thing happens to all of us, maybe the system is the one that has failed,' he said. 'If you're going through the same thing and don't know what to do, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are communities and organisations that we are here to support.' People seeking support in the event of a crisis can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service at 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 (for young people up to 25 years old). More information and mental health support are available at and 1300 22 4636.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Europe's lithium quest hampered by China and lack of cash
Europe's ambition to be a world player in decarbonised transportation arguably depends on sourcing lithium abroad, especially in South America. Even the bloc's broader energy security and climate goals could depend on securing a steady supply of the key mineral, used in batteries and other clean energy supply chains. But Europe has run into a trio of obstacles: lack of money, double-edged regulations and competition from China, analysts told AFP. China has a major head start. It currently produces more than three-quarters of batteries sold worldwide, refines 70 percent of raw lithium and is the world's third-largest extractor behind Australia and Chile, according to 2024 data from the United States Geological Survey. To gain a foothold, Europe has developed a regulatory framework that emphasises environmental preservation, quality job creation and cooperation with local communities. It has also signed bilateral agreements with about 15 countries, including Chile and Argentina, the world's fifth-largest lithium producer. But too often it fails to deliver when it comes to investment, say experts. "I see a lot of memoranda of understanding, but there is a lack of action," Julia Poliscanova, director of electric vehicles at the Transport and Environment (T&E) think tank, told AFP. "More than once, on the day that we signed another MoU, the Chinese were buying an entire mine in the same country." The investment gap is huge: China spent $6 billion on lithium projects abroad from 2020 to 2023, while Europe barely coughed up a billion dollars over the same period, according to data compiled by T&E. - Lagging investment - At the same time, the bottleneck in supply has tightened: last year saw a 30 percent increase in global demand for lithium, according to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). "To secure the supply of raw materials, China is actively investing in mines abroad through state-owned companies with political support from the government," the IEA noted. China's Belt and Road Initiative funnelled $21.4 billion into mining beyond its shores in 2024, according to the report. Europe, meanwhile, is "lagging behind in investment levels in these areas", said Sebastian Galarza, founder of the Centre for Sustainable Mobility in Santiago, Chile. "The lack of a clear path for developing Europe's battery and mining industries means that gap will be filled by other actors." In Africa, for example, Chinese demand has propelled Zimbabwe to become the fourth-largest lithium producer in the world. "The Chinese let their money do the talking," said Theo Acheampong, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. By 2035, all new cars and vans sold in the European Union must produce zero carbon emissions, and EU leaders and industry would like as much as possible of that market share to be sourced locally. Last year, just over 20 percent of new vehicles sold in the bloc were electric. "Currently, only four percent of Chile's lithium goes to Europe," noted Stefan Debruyne, director of external affairs at Chilean private mining company SQM. "The EU has every opportunity to increase its share of the battery industry." - Shifting supply chains - But Europe's plans to build dozens of battery factories have been hampered by fluctuating consumer demand and competition from Japan (Panasonic), South Korea (LG Energy Solution, Samsung) and, above all, China (CATL, BYD). The key to locking down long-term lithium supply is closer ties in the so-called "lithium triangle" formed by Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, which account for nearly half of the world's reserves, analysts say. To encourage cooperation with these countries, European actors have proposed development pathways that would help establish electric battery production in Latin America. Draft EU regulations would allow Latin America to "reconcile local development with the export of these raw materials, and not fall into a purely extractive cycle", said Juan Vazquez, deputy head for Latin America and the Caribbean at the OECD Development Centre. But it is still unclear whether helping exporting countries develop complete supply chains makes economic sense, or will ultimately tilt in Europe's favour. "What interest do you have as a company in setting up in Chile to produce cathodes, batteries or more sophisticated materials if you don't have a local or regional market to supply?" said Galarza. "Why not just take the lithium, refine it and do everything in China and send the battery back to us?" Pointing to the automotive tradition in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, Galarza suggested an answer. "We must push quickly towards the electrification of transport in the region so we can share in the benefits of the energy transition," he argued. But the road ahead looks long. Electric vehicles were only two percent of new car sales in Mexico and Chile last year, six percent in Brazil and seven percent in Colombia, according to the IEA. The small nation of Costa Rica stood out as the only nation in the region where EVs hit double digits, at 15 percent of new car sales. avl/mh/np/jxb/sco
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers discover the largest comet from the outskirts of the solar system is exploding with jets of gas
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers have discovered that the largest comet from the Oort Cloud, a shell of icy bodies at the very edge of the solar system, is bursting with chemical the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, the team discovered that C/2014 UN271, an 85-mile-wide (137 km) body around 10 times the size of the average comet and also known as Bernardinelli-Bernstein, is erupting with complex and evolving jets of carbon monoxide gas. Now located halfway between the sun and the solar system's furthest planet, Neptune (or 16.6 times the distance between the Earth and our star), C/2014 UN271 becomes the second-most distant comet originating from the Oort Cloud that has been seen to be chemically active. The observations are also the first direct evidence of what drives cometary activity when these icy bodies are far from the sun. "These measurements give us a look at how this enormous, icy world works," team leader and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center researcher Nathan Roth said in a statement. "We're seeing explosive outgassing patterns that raise new questions about how this comet will evolve as it continues its journey toward the inner solar system." ALMA was able to observe C/2014 UN271 despite its distance from the sun via the carbon monoxide in its atmosphere and its thermal emissions. Previously, the sensitivity of this ground-breaking instrument, composed of an array of 66 radio antennas located in the Atacama Desert region of northern Chile, allowed scientists to determine the size of the core or "nucleus" of the comet. Building upon this, the team was able to precisely determine the comet's entire size and the amount of dust that envelopes its core or "nucleus." This confirmed the status of C/2014 UN271 as the largest Oort Cloud comet ever to the clearer picture painted of this giant comet by ALMA was the first detection of molecular outgassing for C/2014 UN271. This has afforded scientists a rare look at the chemistry of icy bodies from the very edge of the solar system. Related Stories: — The sun is a 'runaway world collector' that can trap passing rogue planets — The solar system is teeming with 1 million 'alien invaders' from Alpha Centauri — Watch asteroid 2024 YR4 zoom harmlessly through space after risk of hitting Earth falls to near zero (video) C/2014 UN271 is approaching the sun, and as it does, the comet will begin to heat up, and more frozen material within it will turn gaseous and erupt from its icy comets are thought to be composed of unspoiled material left over from the formation of the solar system around 4.6 billion years ago, this could offer a glimpse at the conditions in which Earth and the other planets were team's research was published on June 12 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paula Dinamarca of Cannes Un Certain Regard Winner ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' Joins Buzz Pic ‘A Decorous Woman' (EXCLUSIVE)
Chilean trans actress-activist Paula Dinamarca, who starred in Cannes' Un Certain Regard Grand Prix winner, 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,' has joined the stellar cast of the upcoming 'A Decorous Woman.' Pic was one of the more anticipated projects to be showcased at the 2025 Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production event (MAFF). Dinamarca also starred in 'Flamingo' director Diego Céspedes' acclaimed short film 'The Melting Creatures,' which Rodrigo Díaz of Parina Films produced. More from Variety 'The King's Speech' Exec Producer Deepak Sikka Boards U.K.-Costa Rica Co-Production Starring 'The Liberator's' Jose Palma (EXCLUSIVE) Francisca Alegría's 'Nativity' Sees Chile's Madre Content Join Quijote Films on the Magical Realist Fable of a Violent Man's Rebirth (EXCLUSIVE) Rai Cinema Celebrates 'Heads or Tails?' at Cannes and Readies for More Hits: 'Cinema Without Audience Doesn't Exist' News of Dinamarca's casting comes as Díaz is presenting a new project, 'Don't Let Me Die Alone,' participating in the Costa Rica Tres Puertos Lab, which runs June 18-23 in the build-up to the Costa Rica Media Market, which takes place June 24-25. 'Paula has a presence that resonates on and off screen. She brought depth, sensitivity and a powerful emotional honesty to her role in 'The Melting Creatures,'' said Díaz. 'Paula doesn't perform emotions – she channels experiences in a way that feels immediate and fully lived. Her work is guided by an acute awareness of the character's internal world, as she engages with the material from a place of truth. Watching her inhabit moments of joy or sorrow with such openness reveals the kind of presence that gives real meaning to her performance,' he added. Dinamarca will play opposite lead Catalina Saavedra, best known for her lauded career-launching performance in Sundance Grand Jury prizewinner, 'The Maid.' The debut feature of Chilean-Spanish director Natalia Luque, 'A Decorous Woman' melds drama and comedy, reality and imagination through the point of view of a recent empty nester hairdresser. Set in present-day downtown Santiago, in a shopping mall seemingly frozen in time, the film centers on Marta María (Saavedra), a 55-year-old hairdresser facing an empty nest after her only daughter departs for a year in France. To cope with the loneliness, she immerses herself in her work, finding solace and connection by living vicariously through her clients' stories. 'I have followed Paula Dinamarca's trajectory and I've always been fascinated by her capacity for conveying deep emotions through her gaze. Her acting is impressive – she can achieve deep layers of characterization. In this film, she plays Lola, a numerologist and client of the protagonist, who, just by looking at you, knows what you are feeling and has a special gift for telling stories,' said Luque, adding: 'I think Paula is perfect for this role, not only because of her presence in the scene but also because her connection to the audience is moving' The co-production, involving Parina Films (Chile), France's Tomsa Films and Madre Content from the U.S., is set to start filming by April next year, with its debut targeted for the first semester of 2027. Madre Content, a Latinx company launched in 2023 by Chilean filmmaker Francisca Alegría ('The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future'), was able to tap a grant from the Chilean Audiovisual Fund 2024 in its Feature Film Production category, securing 30% of its budget. In her previous work, Luque has often explored underrepresented spaces and nuanced characters, often delving into the intimate worlds of middle-class women in their workplaces. Her most recent short film, 'So They Say,' premiered at the 2023 Palm Springs ShortFest and was also selected at Telluride and POFF Shorts, among others. 'Don't Let Me Die Alone' ('No me dejen morir solo') is set to be directed and produced by Francisco Rodríguez Teare ('Otro Sol') of Axolotls Cine, where Diaz is a minority shareholding partner. Rodriguez Teare's second feature centers on Mamani, a miserable delivery boy in the northern coastal city of Iquique, Chile who survives his own suicide attempt and meets Jordi, a retired thief, and Sofía, his niece. Drawn into mummy trafficking, Mamani unexpectedly finds purpose and the possibility of belonging to a family. 'Don't Let Me Die Alone' is lead produced by Axolotls Cine alongside co-producers Michigan Films (Belgium), co-producers of Rodríguez Teare's docu-fiction hybrid 'Otro Sol,' and by Chile-based Mimbre Films. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
