Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios Wins Miss Universe Crown

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned as Miss Universe during the coronary ceremony in San Salvador, El Salvador, 18 November 2023. Palacios became the first Central American to win the contest, succeeding R'Bonney Gabriel from the US.  EPA/Rodrigo Sura
Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned as Miss Universe during the coronary ceremony in San Salvador, El Salvador, 18 November 2023. Palacios became the first Central American to win the contest, succeeding R'Bonney Gabriel from the US. EPA/Rodrigo Sura
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Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios Wins Miss Universe Crown

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned as Miss Universe during the coronary ceremony in San Salvador, El Salvador, 18 November 2023. Palacios became the first Central American to win the contest, succeeding R'Bonney Gabriel from the US.  EPA/Rodrigo Sura
Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned as Miss Universe during the coronary ceremony in San Salvador, El Salvador, 18 November 2023. Palacios became the first Central American to win the contest, succeeding R'Bonney Gabriel from the US. EPA/Rodrigo Sura

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios won the Miss Universe competition late Saturday night in El Salvador, the first to wear the crown from her country.
Palacios is a 23-year-old communicologist, who said she wants to work to promote mental health after suffering debilitating bouts of anxiety herself.
Miss Thailand, Anntonia Porsild, was first runner-up and Miss Australia, Moraya Wilson, the second runner-up.
Eighty-four women competed for the crown in the 72nd edition of the competition.
Palacios appeared to secure the win when she confidently answered the question of which woman's shoes would she like to spend a year in by saying Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th-century English writer and philosopher. Wollstonecraft was an advocate of women’s rights and is considered one of the forerunners of feminism.
Palacios said she wants to work to close the salary gap between the genders so that women can work in any area.



KAUST Study: More Large Mammals Roamed Arabian Peninsula than Previously Thought

According to KAUST, the study serves as a key scientific reference supporting the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. SPA
According to KAUST, the study serves as a key scientific reference supporting the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. SPA
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KAUST Study: More Large Mammals Roamed Arabian Peninsula than Previously Thought

According to KAUST, the study serves as a key scientific reference supporting the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. SPA
According to KAUST, the study serves as a key scientific reference supporting the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. SPA

A new study by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), published in the Journal of Biogeography, has identified 15 large mammal species that inhabited the Arabian Peninsula over the past 10,000 years - three times more than previously recognized.
According to KAUST, this study offers the most comprehensive list to date of large mammals from this period and establishes a benchmark for rewilding efforts in the region. It also serves as a key scientific reference supporting the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, as well as the programs of the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.
"Restoration is not just about plants, for animals play a key role in vegetation communities. In highlighting which large mammals became extinct, we are providing information that will help governments decide which mammals to reintroduce in the future,” said KAUST senior project manager and contributor to the study Christopher Clarke.
During the study, researchers analyzed thousands of petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) collected during field expeditions as well as from shared social media content, which gave researchers access to a large collection of petroglyphs unknown to the scientific community.
The study revealed that most of the 15 mammal species come from Africa, including lions and cheetahs, and identified two species never previously recorded in the Arabian Peninsula: the greater kudu and the Somali wild donkey.
This study aligns with national efforts to restore ecological balance, particularly in light of the pioneering initiatives launched by NCW, including the reintroduction programs for the Arabian oryx and the cheetah.