Vipshop (NYSE:VIPS) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”By COLLEEN SLEVIN DENVER (AP) — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family’s home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey.” In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. “What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come into detectives,” he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the “media circus” surrounding the case. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet’s clothing that pointed to the involvement of an “unexplained third party” in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys “victims of this crime.” John Ramsey has continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado’s governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he has been advocating for several items that have not been prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators have identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn’t been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be “consumed” if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review had ended but that police continue to work through and evaluate a “lengthy list of recommendations” from the panel. Amy Beth Hanson contributed to this report from Helena, Montana.
1. A compact cutlery organizer with stacked, angled compartments that take up *much* less room than traditional silverware organizers. You can free up more space for those larger cooking utensils that take up an entire drawer or are sitting on your counter. Promising review: "Yes, this little utensil tray is really that good! I went from using 12 inches of horizontal space in a lovely but huge wooden utensil tray to about using about four inches (whatever the width of this godsend is). It stores my butter knives, steak knives, spoons, forks, and a slew of little teaspoons. I'd guess that the max capacity for each slot is about 10 pieces. For example, I fit four butter knives and four steak knives into the first/knife slot easily, with good wiggle room. This is such a great design. Using this tray opened up about half of my 18-inch wide drawer, which allowed me to decompress the other drawers in my kitchen a bit. I highly recommend this item. It's worth every penny." — Kathleen Cooke Get it from Amazon for $9.69 . 2. A shower curtain liner that has nine mesh pockets because the bathtub ledge has run out of room (and bottles are always falling off of it anyway). This is especially great for people who share a bathroom and have different sets of shower products to organize. Prefer a traditional shower caddy? Check out this corner tension-rod caddy . Elizabeth: I own this and *adore* it. Yes, this is my shower and I live alone. I just have lots of products, OK?! I have even more today than when I took this pic more than a year ago! It holds lots of heavy bottles of body wash and conditioner, and helps me find where my pumice stone or razor is in my pre-contacts morning haze. If I could marry an object, it'd be this shower curtain. Check out my *full* Maytex Quick Dry Mesh Pockets Waterproof PEVA Shower Curtain or Liner review . Get it from Amazon for $15.91 (available in two colors). 3. A medicine cabinet organizer so you can actually find what you need without digging through a pile of half-used ointments and expired pain relievers. It'll tidy up your toiletries, and who knows — you might even free up a drawer! Promising review: "This fits perfectly on the bottom of my medicine cabinet. It is very sturdy plastic with a great design. I can't believe how many jars, tubes, etc., it has managed to corral. Everything looks so neat! If they make a smaller one for upper cabinet shelves, I'm buying it. Wonderful little product!" — Alex Get the organizer on the bottom shelf from Amazon for $12.45 (available in two sizes and three styles). 4. A ceiling-mounted garage shelf to store all your seasonal decor, bulky coats, luggage, and any other things you only occasionally use. It’s the perfect way to clear out some closet space and don't worry, it won’t block your garage door from opening. This shelf model has an adjustable 18–33-inch ceiling drop and holds up to 600 pounds. Safe Racks is a small biz that makes handy garage storage products. Promising review: "This fits our garage perfectly. We have 24 inches of clearance from our ceiling to the top of our garage door track. We set ours at 19 inches and still have room. We bought the 18–33-inch version and had some confusion with the product description stating 25–45 inches of drop down, but it fit perfectly with a little room to spare. If you need extra storage space and to declutter your garage floor, I would highly recommend these racks." — Alyssa Gibson Get them from Amazon for $199.99+ each (available in three sizes, packs of two, and in two colors). 5. A pack of tiny Command hooks you can stick just about anywhere for some custom organization. Pop them inside your cabinet to hang measuring cups, or on your wall to show off your purses (just a heads-up, they hold up to half a pound, so maybe keep it to the smaller ones). You'll get 10 hooks and 12 small clear indoor strips. Elizabeth: Yes, this is my kitchen cabinet and this trick helps me find the correct measuring cup so much faster than back when I used to stack them in a drawer! Just be sure to account for the cups' depth while arranging the cabinet's contents. Since I took this pic my 1/2 cup met its doom in a tub of sugar so I swapped in some measuring cups with *engraved* measurements on the cups, which makes my setup even better! Get a 10-pack of hooks from Amazon for $8.34 . 6. A set of reusable vacuum storage bags for all those extra linens that take up a whole shelf. Just pack your items in, vacuum out the air, and boom — you’ve got a compact, airtight package that’s easy to store under the bed, in the attic, or even in the back of your closet. And don't worry: It works with ~any~ vacuum! Elizabeth: I'm linen closet-less in my one-bedroom apartment, so all my spare linens are folded up inside my rolling luggage underneath my bed. Set includes two jumbo, five extra large, four large, and four medium bags. Promising review: "These bags are freaking great. My fiancé and I recently moved from a 2 bed/2 bath to a 1 bed/1 bath. We lost a lot of storage space and didn't want to get rid of our guest bedding when we are planning to buy a house within the next year. We use the jumbo and large bags for our guest linens/extras. I think the medium bags could come in handy for packing luggage for extended trips back home." — Kyra Get 15 bags from Amazon for $24.87 (available in five pack sizes). 7. Or some hanging vacuum bags to store those off-season dresses and skirts that are crowding your closet and free up space for all the cozy sweaters you’re finally ready to wear. And as a bonus — they’ll keep your clothes safe from moths while they’re hanging out in the back of your closet. Promising review: "Bought these storage bags two weeks ago to pack my winter clothes for summer, and they did the job perfectly. They are large and sturdy. I like its five-hook design. I can store five women's jackets or four big men's jackets in ONE bag. The long bags also fit my dresses. The biggest reason I bought these bags is that I do not need to fold my seasonal clothes; just hang, zip, vacuum, done! Super convenient. Extremely happy with this space bags. I will definitely order more!" — Jia Yan Get a four-pack from Amazon for $ 28.99 + (available in four colors and in a six-pack). 8. A corner sponge organizer so you can condense all the cleaning products scattered across the edge of your sink (and also keep them from falling in). Reviewers love it and say it makes their kitchen look much more organized! This is also a better option than an organizer that hangs over your faucet because the weight of those can mess with your water flow! Promising review: "This fits our sink perfectly! It's not too big and holds a sponge and two bottles of soap. We have a standard apartment sink and it fits perfectly , it also holds very well. We have it suctioned on the sink not the counter." — Erin Johnson Get it from Amazon for $29.99 . 9. A pack of innovative moldable glue reviewers use to hang lights, fix cracked cups, organize their cords, and so much more. It’s waterproof and works on just about anything — plastic, wood, ceramic, metal, rubber, you name it. The DIY lovers are gonna eat this one up (just don't actually eat it)! Apply it to whatever you need to fix, and it'll take about 30 minutes to set and 24 to 48 hours to fully dry. Promising review: "I've used it to mount things, organize wiring in stereo cabinets, stop rattles (license plate rattled when closing trunk, two little balls of Sugru to back of plate did the trick). Even made tool hangers in the garage with it. Wonder if I could build a boat with it." — fastrnu Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $26.35 (available in seven colors). 10. An adjustable closet doubler so you can shop your closet like it's a department store instead of tearing through jam-packed drawers and creating a big mess. It hooks to the built-in rod, and you can adjust the height to hang an extra level of clothes, making it easier to find what you need (or get rid of what you don't)! Promising review: "This product has been one of my favorite Amazon finds, I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it sooner. It has doubled my closet space in my apartment where I can’t make any damage in terms of adding another permanent shelf — so this has been a perfect solution. It was easy to assemble and is sturdy. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now with no issue. Your closet has to be pretty high for this to work or else your shirts above are going to get caught on the hangers below and for my case, some of my shirts are dragging on the floor — just keep this in mind when you’re thinking about purchasing." — Alex Get it from Amazon for $16.97 (available in three colors). 11. A corner shelf to show off your keepsakes instead of letting them collect dust in a drawer. It's a sleek, simple design that fits with any aesthetic and is six feet tall to really use up that ~vertical space~. Also check out this similar cheaper option ! Promising review: "This is one of my new favorite pieces of furniture! It's looks great, is durable, and is a great space saver in our apartment. I love it!" — Zachary James Speck Get it from Amazon for $106.46 (available in two finishes). 12. A floating bookshelf because your book collection that's been sitting on the floor deserves to be properly displayed. These hold up to 15 pounds, and reviewers say they are super easy to install. Now all your books can look like they've been perpetually Wingardium Leviosa-ed! Promising review: "These are so much fun! We ordered the small size, which fits standard hardback books (approximately 5–7 hardbacks in my experience). They're a great way to add some extra storage to our very small home, and we've placed them in our hallway so people ask us about them all the time. I'd highly recommend!" — LaBuenaVidaMere Get it from Amazon for $11.50 (available in two colors and sizes, and in packs of three). 13. A mounted wineglass rack to take advantage of the vertical space in your cabinets so you can fit more in there. Reviewers say it's super easy to install and securely holds their glasses — no more "whining" about broken stems. Elizabeth: I lucked out with some similar racks already mounted in my apartment (like these! ) and I adore them. Promising review: "I live in a small apartment, and try to use as much vertical storage as possible. This fits perfectly under the cabinet that is over my kitchen sink- installation was perfectly straightforward. It's very sturdy and beautifully displays the glasses that I received for Christmas." — DanaM Get three rows (enough for nine glasses) from Amazon for $18.99 (available in two colors and two sizes). 14. A bike hoist so you can actually park your car in the garage (a novel idea, right?). It’s got a safety lock to keep your bike from taking a tumble, and rubber hooks so your ride stays scratch-free. Plus, it can hold up to 100 pounds, so you can trust it with your gear. Check out more garage organizing tips . Promising review: "I did a lot of research and bought this mount based on the reviews. This was NOT a quick and simple project like hanging a flat panel TV. This installation took some time to do all the measuring, finding the joist location in the attic, pre-drilling holes, painting the 2X4, etc. but it looks and works great. My only advice is to take your time and measure several times. We did not use the supplied screws we used longer wood screws for the 2X4 and better quality screws for the mounting plates. We also bent the hooks a little bit to hold my bike seat better." — Freya Get it Amazon for $16.97 (also available in a two-pack and four-pack). 15. A pair of sturdy kayak straps reviewers say make getting their kayak up and down a breeze. Think of all the things you can do with the extra space now that kayaks aren’t taking up half the garage! The boat hanger attaches to the wall with four screws (mounting screws for wood studs are included). Just make sure to mount it into the wall studs, or if you're putting it on a concrete wall, you'll need to use the right molly screws. Promising review: "Great product! Easy to install, easy to manage to hang our kayaks. Bonus is it holds our paddles. We didn't have room in the garage and our fence needs redone. So my guy hung it on the side of the house in the backyard. He did a great job! Out of the way and off the ground." — ShOpPInG_mAdE_cOnVeNiEnT Get it from Amazon for $55 . 16. A leather bedside storage caddy if your water bottle takes up your entire nightstand. It has five pockets to keep all your essentials right where you need them while you're relaxing. Promising review: "One of the most useful items I have ever purchased. The pockets are the right size to hold a tablet, phone, remote, or book. My bedroom is too small for bedside tables so I use this organizer to hold anything that I might need right by my bed. I was surprised at how well it stay in place just by sliding the flat end in between the mattress and box spring." — Hannah Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and in four colors). 17. A light, but sturdy bed frame that'll give you 14 inches of room underneath to stash extra blankets, luggage, and any other things you don't need all the time. Reviewers love how easy it is to assemble and really appreciate the extra storage space. Elizabeth: Cover it with a bed skirt and no one'll know your clever secret. I own this and love it. It's super easy to assemble and very sturdy, and has plenty of space for me to store all my luggage packed with out-of-season clothes and spare linens (as described in #6!). Promising review: "This bed frame is amazing...no hassle set up is true! No noise and no box spring needed. Great storage space underneath as well . I am so glad i found this. :)" — Dana Get a full size from Amazon for $75 (available in seven sizes and three styles). 18. Or some adjustable bed risers because it's all about using that vertical space! These give you an extra three, five, or eight inches of space under your furniture — perfect for hiding stuff you don’t want anyone to see (like that pile of laundry 😉). They work on couches and futons too, and you can just hide them with a dust ruffle to keep things cute. And don't worry these are super sturdy and hold up to 1,300 lbs! Here are some handy under-bed storage ideas . Home It is a small business that makes all kind of products for your home! Promising review: "These blow my mind. They've added so much storage under our bed. I worried about them being durable enough to withstand our weight but there was no need to worry. Just this past weekend, both my husband and I were on the bed when two of our teenage sons ran and jumped on the bed with us. I didn't even hear a creak from these bed risers. There must have been close to 800 lbs. on our bed at that point and these risers held up like champs." — Kelly McHone Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in white and brown). 19. A mixer attachment mount to efficiently store the odd-shaped KitchenAid attachments that take up too much precious drawer space. It's especially great for maximizing the space in small kitchens. This Texas-based small business stocks lots of helpful kitchen organization products , so check them out! Promising review: " Some of the best money I spent on Etsy. Durable and effective. I'm a frequent baker (even more so this time of year) and I was constantly having to go through my cabinets to find the attachment I needed (not so much an organization issue as a small kitchen/storage issue). This keeps the attachments out of the way, easily accessible, and ready to use when it's time to bake. I highly recommend." — esposi26 Get it from 3D Home Solution on Etsy for $11 (available in three colors and with your choice of Command strips or wood screws for mounting). 20. A three-pack of heavy-duty bungees for keeping charging cables and extension cords neatly bundled so they don’t tangle into a mess. This reviewer even uses them to hang their rakes and shovels! Promising review: "I really like this organizer. I used them in my garage to hang two 150-foot outdoor electrical cords, and folding patio chairs. Great idea and much stronger than bungee cords." — Ann Lajuan Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in six colors). 21. And a wall-mounted rack to handle those annoying brooms, mops, rakes, and shovels that are always falling over. This rack has five slots and can hold up to 38 pounds, so it’ll keep everything neatly stored and off the floor. Included with the garage organizers are screws, anchors, a drilling template, and a guide – everything you'll need to set this up. Home It is a small business that makes all kind of products for your home! Promising review: "It's a broom rack and it performs its job well. The springs holding the mechanisms are strong. The plastic feels durable and like it would last. It came with mounting hardware but the screws were too long for my hollow core door, so I used toggle bolts instead (some folks call them 'butterfly' screws). As you can see in my images it can be loaded full of various tools and holds everything in place, feels sturdy once bolted to the door. The fold away hooks are a nice touch. We turned our unused hot water tank room as an efficient use of space to store vacs, brooms and mops. I plan on adding a small shelf in here for some cleaning detergents and whatnot like extra filters and mop heads etc." — Jakobe Get it from Amazon for $11.98 (available in two styles). 22. A set of fishing rod racks that hook onto the back of your garage door, cleverly making use of space you never knew you had. Reviewers love how easy they are to install and how much room they free up! Hardware included for easy, no tool installation on standard garage doors. If the door is a hard insulated or wood door, self tapping screws are not included but can be shipped at no cost. Can also be installed on walls and ceilings. Promising review: "I love these racks. They work just like they say. I have two sets with all of my best poles. It works with my surf rods and with my casting rods wonderfully. I did have to move my hurricane braces down a couple of inches from the top edge of the panels. That was my door installer's fault for trying to save on screws. I have no problems with mine falling out and I use my garage like a front door." — amo Get them from Amazon for $39.99 . 23. An under-cabinet paper towel holder to free up some counter space and make it significantly easier to grab a paper towel when your hands are covered in food. You can screw it in or use a sticky adhesive (if you're renting). Promising review: "We don't have a ton of counter space so I hated that a large portion of it was always being used by a paper towel holder and it was never in the same spot. I finally caved and bought this. Best. Decision. EVER! Now it's always in the same spot, easy to swap out rolls because of the open end, and looks nice! The only thing I'd say is I wish it came with two different length screws for wall vs. under cabinet installation. We had to purchase some because the ones that came with it were too long for under cabinet install and went through our cabinets. It was easily hidden though so not a big deal to us!" — Amber Waldecker Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in sets of two, four, and in six colors). 24. A T-shirt roll holder that allows you to use your bedroom, closet, or even bathroom door for extra storage and free up that much-needed space in your drawers! It has adjustable loops to neatly display your T-shirts, leggings, towels, and more. The Roll Keeper is owned by Kelso, Washington's resident crafter, Traci. Traci has been crafting for over 40 years and created her storage design to help organize vinyl, soon realizing that it was the perfect organization solution for much more. Her shop has versions for bottles, wrapping paper, pens, and more. My colleague Mallory Mower owns this and loves it. Here's what she has to say: "Before getting this I was driving myself up the wall with my bad folding habits. I basically shoved all my shirts into the storage drawers under my bed, because I have a teeny tiny closet (the picture above gives you a solid idea of how small it is). This has given me a massive amount of clothing storage I didn't have before. The quality is stellar and Traci is 10/10 the most thoughtful person I've purchased an Etsy product from!" Get it from The Roll Keeper on Amazon for $23.99 (available in black or white). 25. An outlet shelf to turn your basic outlet into a mini shelf — perfect for holding your electric toothbrush, mini diffuser, or whatever little gadgets you’re constantly using. It installs just like a regular outlet cover, and you can choose whether to have the shelf above or below the outlet. Promising review: "I absolutely love this thing! I have much less clutter on my sink thanks to this. If there's anyone not sure if it will fit due to an object, all you need is 1.25 inches of space between the edge of your existing outlet plate and the piece of furniture. I have a GFCI with a standard wall plate." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four colors and in a pack of two or four). 26. A charming fruit hammock that'll free up counter space and be a fun conversation starter. Just screw it into the underside of your cabinets, and voilà — your bananas get their own little vacation spot 🏖️. Oh, to be a piece of fruit lying in a hammock. macraYAYmacrame is an Indianapolis, Indiana-based shop that makes a variety of cool macrame accessories. Promising review: "Beautiful and functional! This is the perfect addition to our beachy kitchen. We spray painted the hooks matte black to match our other hardware. It’s so cute!" — Melissa Wilkes Get it from macraYAYmacrame on Etsy for $33 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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Technology stocks helped pull stocks lower on Wall Street Wednesday, handing the market its first loss in more than a week. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, even though more stocks in the index notched gains than ended lower. The loss snapped a seven-day winning streak for the benchmark index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, its first loss after five gains. The Dow and S&P 500 remain near the all-time highs they set on Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite, which is heavily weighted with technology stocks, fell 0.6%. Losses for tech heavyweights like Nvidia, Microsoft and Broadcom were the drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia fell 1.2%. Its huge value gives it outsized influence on market indexes. Microsoft fell 1.2% and Broadcom finished 3.1% lower. Several personal computer makers also helped pull the market lower following their latest earnings reports. HP sank 11.4% after giving investors a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast for its current quarter. Dell slid 12.2% after its latest quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts. Gains for financial and health care companies helped temper the market's losses. Berkshire Hathaway rose 0.9% and Merck & Co. added 1.5%. All told, the S&P 500 fell 22.89 points to 5,998.74, while the Dow dropped 138.25 points to 44,722.06. The Nasdaq fell 115.10 points to 19,060.48. Traders also had their eye on new reports on the economy and inflation Wednesday. The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September, according to the Commerce Department, leaving its original estimate of third-quarter growth unchanged. The growth was driven by strong consumer spending and a surge in exports. The update followed a report on Tuesday from the Conference Board that said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Consumers have been driving economic growth, but the latest round of earnings reports from retailers shows a mixed and more cautious picture. Department store operator Nordstrom fell 8.1% after warning investors about a trend toward weakening sales that started in late October. Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters jumped 18.3% after beating analysts’ third-quarter financial forecasts. Weeks earlier, retail giant Target gave investors a discouraging forecast for the holiday season, while Walmart provided a more encouraging forecast. Consumers, though resilient, are still facing pressure from inflation. The latest update from the U.S. government shows that inflation accelerated last month. The personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE, rose to 2.3% in October from 2.1% in September. Overall, the rate of inflation has been falling broadly since it peaked more than two years ago. The PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, was just below 7.3% in June of 2022. Another measure of inflation, the consumer price index, peaked at 9.1% at the same time. The latest inflation data, though, is a sign that the rate of inflation seems to be stalling as it falls to within range of the Fed's target of 2%. The central bank started raising its benchmark interest rate from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023 and held it there in order to tame inflation. The Fed started cutting its benchmark interest rate in September, followed by a second cut in November. Wall Street expects a similar quarter-point cut at the central bank's upcoming meeting in December. “Today’s data shouldn’t change views of the likely path for disinflation, however bumpy," said David Alcaly, lead macroeconomic strategist at Lazard Asset Management. "But a lot of observers, probably including some at the Fed, are looking for reasons to get more hawkish on the outlook given the potential for inflationary policy change like new tariffs.” President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China when he takes office in January. That could shock the economy by raising prices on a wide range of goods and accelerating the rate of inflation. Such a shift could prompt the Fed to rethink future cuts to interest rates. Treasury yields slipped in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Tuesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely follows expected actions by the Fed, fell to 4.22% from 4.25% late Tuesday. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday.
Share Tweet Share Share Email Despite appearing sidelined and even abandoned by Nicolás Maduro’s government while detained in the United States, Colombian businessman Alex Nain Saab Morán has regained significant influence within Venezuela’s power structure, now relentlessly pursuing those who betrayed him. Many of his informers, who had enjoyed a sense of respite while Saab was in U.S. custody, now find themselves in his crosshairs once again. Recently, President Maduro appointed Saab as Minister of Industry and National Production, replacing Pedro Tellechea, who shortly after his dismissal was detained by SEBIN (Venezuelan intelligence service) and charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Tellechea stands accused of having “handed over the Automated Control and Command System, known as the brain of PDVSA, to a company linked to U.S. intelligence services.” Tellechea’s removal is yet another example of Saab’s ongoing purge of rivals, many of whom are now behind bars. Last year, former business partner Álvaro Pulido Vargas , and earlier this year, former finance minister Simón Zerpa, were both arrested. Zerpa’s arrest was reportedly an act of retaliation after he disclosed details about the flight carrying Saab to Iran to U.S. authorities—a flight that led to Saab’s detention in Cape Verde during a refueling stop. Zerpa had a close connection with U.S. prosecutor Kurt Lunkenheimer, while Pulido Vargas cooperated with the DEA, providing information about Saab and Venezuelan government figures in exchange for an end to his prosecution in the U.S. The South Florida prosecutors, initially Michael Nadler and later Lunkenheimer, oversaw Saab’s case from his indictment to his trial. Through his lawyers, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Joseph M. Schuster, Saab accessed the entire case file, gaining detailed information about all those who had contributed to his incarceration. He is now focused on seeking retribution against them. Tellechea, meanwhile, has privately been accused by Saab of selectively awarding contracts to suppliers for the government’s oil-for-food program, which Saab himself managed until his detention. Among the primary beneficiaries of this new arrangement was businessman Jorge Giménez Ochoa, a close ally of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and the president of the Venezuelan Football Federation. Giménez is currently under investigation in Spain as part of the “Aldama plot,” where he allegedly profited from selling overpriced masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another figure linked to the redistribution of this program is businessman Antonio González Morales, who attempted to take over the food distribution business under the CLAP system. According to the investigative outlet ArmandoInfo , both Giménez and González Morales share partnerships in various ventures, including Alimentos Fruca, Turismo Real, Constructora 2GM, and Alimentos Lual, among others. Now, several businessmen who rival Saab are under his scrutiny as he seeks retribution against those who crossed him. The execution of Saab’s vendetta has been supported by Diosdado Cabello, recently appointed Minister of Interior and Justice, who appears to be reclaiming influence within Maduro’s inner circle at the expense of siblings Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez. Shortly after assuming office, Cabello appointed Major General Javier Marcano Tábata as head of the Military Counterintelligence Directorate, replacing Iván Hernández Dala, and his cousin, Major General Alexis Rodríguez Cabello, as head of SEBIN, taking over from General Gustavo González López. These shifts have sidelined the Rodríguez siblings, whose influence is now diminished by the alliance between Cabello and Saab, as they consolidate their power. With the backing of Attorney General Tarek William Saab—recently reaffirmed in his position by the National Assembly—the formidable alliance between Cabello and Saab has established a powerful judicial arm. This duo now has free rein to compile cases and detain those they see fit, continuing their strong and unyielding control over the apparatus of Venezuelan state power. Related Items: Saab , Tightens Grip Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments
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Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are an essential tool for those looking to privately and securely use the internet. They encrypt your online traffic and hide your true IP address from would-be hackers or other snooping third parties. While the best VPNs are usually dedicated apps, you may have also heard about VPN browser extensions. They look appealing due to their ease of use and affordable price. But which should you choose? Below I'll give you a rundown of what a VPN browser extension does and help you decide which is the best option for you. What is a VPN browser extension? A VPN browser extension is essentially a VPN that protects the browser that it's a part of, and only that browser. For example, a Chrome VPN browser extension will cover only that Chrome browser. Other apps that connect to the internet outside of the browser, such as games or streaming apps, won't be protected by the extension. It might help to think of a VPN app as a fortress that protects all of your assets and a VPN browser extension as more like a small personal safe that only protects a few carefully selected items. Pros and cons of a VPN browser extension Pros A VPN browser extension can be a nice upgrade to your personal privacy and security while online. It might not come with the complete coverage of a VPN app, but it does have its advantages. VPN browser extensions are typically lightweight and don't take up nearly as many resources as a full VPN app. As a result of this simplicity, they are also extremely easy to use. While most VPN apps require you to pay a premium for a subscription, a VPN... Sam Singleton
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On November 23, Christian Cueva celebrated his birthday in the middle of a special evening with Pamela Franco. Prior to this event, in one of the concerts of the renowned Peruvian singer in the Callao the couple unleashed the public’s euphoria by showing their unreserved affection. Between laughter and complicity, both shared a kiss that left the audience screaming with excitement. This gesture marked the first time that the couple was so close publicly. The event quickly became a viral topic, especially after Samuel Suárez, founder of ‘Instarandula’ released a video of the emotional moment. In the images, Pamela Franco He appears with a bottle in hand while dancing to “Aladdin”, the nickname by which the Peruvian midfielder is known. Despite the crowd, the couple did not hesitate to express their love, which caused a wave of reactions both in the place and on social networks. Pamela Franco steals a kiss from Christian Cueva During her concert in Callao, Pamela Franco surprised her audience by inviting Christian Cueva to be part of the celebration. Although the soccer player preferred to stay off stage, he couldn’t escape the curious glances when the singer called him “my love” for the first time in public. This detail, added to the kiss that both shared minutes later, confirmed that their relationship is no longer a secret. The attendees captured the moment in which the couple, between laughter and knowing glances, left behind the “almost kisses” that they used to engage in on previous occasions. After the gesture, Pamela and Christian continued celebrating naturally, while the audience did not stop cheering and applauding. Christian Cueva wanted privacy on his birthday Although the footballer enjoyed part of his birthday with Pamela Franco in Callao, he also organized a more private celebration in Trujillo. According to reports, Christian Cueva strictly requested that attendees avoid recording or taking photographs during the event, a measure that sought to protect their privacy. However, a video circulating on social networks shows the footballer enjoying the music and dancing happily at the meeting. The situation changed when Cueva realized that he was being recorded; at that point, he motioned to the person behind the camera to stop. Join our entertainment channel