Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios wins Miss Universe 2023 title in San Salvador
San Salvador: Sheynnis Palacios, the contestant from Nicaragua, has been crowned Miss Universe 2023 at an event held at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador on Sunday.
Palacios is the 72nd Miss Universe and the first Nicaraguan to win the title, and was crowned by R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States, who was Miss Universe 2022 at the event, reports India Today.
Thai contestant Anntonia Porsild was the first runner-up in the race for the title, while Moraya Wilson from Australia secured the third place in the beauty pageant.
Eighty-four countries and territories sent their contestants for the pageant in San Salvador, which had been hosted by American TV star Jeannie Mai and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo as well as American TV presenter Maria Menounos.
Miss India Shweta Sharda reached the list of the top 20 contestants. Incidentally, this is the first time that Pakistan participated in the Miss Universe contest.
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Karnataka: Home Department asks motorists to drive on highways with caution to avoid robbery
Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
