22+ min ago (442+ words) Trump remained tight-lipped on details of call with Venezuelan president as tensions rise between countries Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan president Nicol's Maduro, but he did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed. "I don't want to comment on it. The answer is yes," the US president said when asked if he had spoken with Maduro. He was speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One. The New York Times first reported Trump had spoken with Maduro earlier this month and discussed a possible meeting between them in the United States. "I wouldn't say it went well or badly. It was a phone call," Trump said regarding the conversation. The revelation of the phone call comes as Trump continues to use bellicose rhetoric regarding Venezuela, while also entertaining the possibility of diplomacy. On…...

28+ min ago (412+ words) American has won four straight World Cup slaloms Victory comes on home snow in Colorado Mikaela Shiffrin dominated her World Cup slalom on home snow in Colorado on Sunday to remain perfect in the discipline during the Olympic season. Shiffrin extended her winning streak in slalom to four races after also claiming the opening two races this season and the final event of last season. It was Shiffrin's record-extending 104th World Cup victory and her 67th in slalom " extending the discipline record, too. Skiing through moderate snowfall, Shiffrin added to her first-run advantage and won by 1.57 seconds ahead of Lena Duerr of Germany, who moved up from ninth after the opening leg. "Go Mikaela we love you," said one sign held up by fans in the finish area at Copper Mountain, a half-hour drive from Shiffrin's hometown of Edwards, Colorado. "I could…...

38+ min ago (11+ words) Continue reading... Quick crossword No 17,339 Crosswords are saved automatically....

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49+ min ago (945+ words) The Walkabout Creek hotel in Queensland's Gulf Country is still going strong " just don't expect crocodiles An enormous Bowie knife whirls through the air and thuds into a wooden bar, sending a shudder of excitement through the cluster of men wearing leather hats, blue jeans, flannelette vests and dirty tees carousing in an outback pub. Bursting through the front door, a man follows the knife, engaged, it seems, in mortal combat with a saltwater crocodile. But the drinkers erupt with laughter as the "mad bugger" " adorned in crocodile teeth and skin " wrangles the stuffed beast to the bar and orders two drinks: "One for me, one for me mate". Before the beers are poured, however, the man's eyes fall upon a woman. Her clean white shirt, flawless skin and Hollywood beauty so incongruous in this bar of rough and boozy…...

49+ min ago (139+ words) Pope Leo delivered a speech in Lebanon on Sunday where he repeated his call for representatives to do their part to help achieve peace in the region. Speaking in a room with several senior government and religious figures, the Pope praised the Lebanese people for their resilience, adding "you always know how to rise again with courage".Pope Leo urges Lebanese leaders to make peace highest priority Continue reading... Pope Leo tells Lebanese leaders 'peace is a desire and a vocation' " video Pope Leo delivered a speech in Lebanon on Sunday where he repeated his call for representatives to do their part to help achieve peace in the region. Speaking in a room with several senior government and religious figures, the Pope praised the Lebanese people for their resilience, adding "you always know how to rise again with courage"....

53+ min ago (796+ words) Arsenal would surely have taken a draw beforehand against a Chelsea team that have emerged as surprise title rivals in recent weeks " and especially when they realised they had to play without William Saliba, who injured himself in training on Saturday. It was a different story when everything changed in the 38th minute, Chelsea reduced to 10 men after Mois's Caicedo's X-rated challenge on Mikel Merino. It was one of those that made you wince upon each replay, the stand-in Arsenal striker fortunate to emerge unscathed. It was Chelsea's sixth red card of the season in all competitions " not including the one for the manager, Enzo Maresca, in the win over Liverpool in October. Now Arsenal had to be thinking about all three points; a result to give them a seven-point advantage at the top of the table. Except it did not…...

1+ hour, 8+ min ago (384+ words) President plans to honor Sarah Beckstrom, who was fatally shot, as well as Andrew Wolfe, who is in critical condition Donald Trump said on Sunday that he invited the family of a national guard member fatally shot last week to the White House, adding that he spoke to her parents and they were "devastated. US army specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in a shooting on Wednesday in Washington DC. Her fellow service member, US air force staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Vigils across West Virginia have taken place in their memory. The president said he's discussed a White House visit for the parents of both members of the West Virginia national guard. "I said: "When you're ready, because that's a tough thing, come to the White House. We're going to honor Sarah, Trump told reporters. "And likewise…...

1+ hour, 24+ min ago (359+ words) Paquet" critical of lack of support during spot-fixing case "It's ridiculous to have your life affected for two years' West Ham's Lucas Paquet" has accused the football authorities of a lack of support in an extraordinary outburst after he was sent off against Liverpool. The Brazil midfielder was shown two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession by the referee Darren England during his side's 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium. Paquet" had an FA investigation into spot-fixing allegations hanging over him for two years after he was accused of getting booked deliberately for betting purposes. He was cleared of the charges in July, but the case cost him a likely move to Manchester City two summers ago. He wrote on X: "I understand that now I have to come across as the villain; it's hard to live with everything that's been…...

1+ hour, 27+ min ago (612+ words) Letters: Dr Robin Lovell-Badge and Prof Emma Robinson respond to an editorial on using new technologies to reduce the reliance on animal experiments Why we have to continue with animal testing for medical research Dr Robin Lovell-Badge and Prof Emma Robinson respond to an editorial on using new technologies to reduce the reliance on animal experiments I write in response to your editorial on animals in research (The Guardian view on animal testing: we can stop sacrificing millions of lives for our own health, 23 November). I am supportive of many aspects of the strategy to aid the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to replace the use of animals. However, much of this is geared towards regulatory testing, where the goals are more readily achievable, rather than for discovery science. All scientists working with animals in the UK have…...