Latest news with #Jorge
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
MotoGP champion Martin rides again and plots return
PARIS: Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, who has not finished a race this season after a series of heavy crashes, climbed back on his bike yesterday (July 9), the Aprilia team said. Martin missed the first three races of the season after two pre-season crashes. He started in Qatar in April, but crashed on lap 14, suffering injuries including 11 broken ribs. He has missed the last six races. During that time he has been in dispute with Aprilia, who he joined from Ducati satellite team Pramac after winning last season's world title. "The goal of the day is to reacquaint Jorge with a MotoGP bike... after months of inactivity," said Aprilia, adding that the Spaniard completed 29 laps yesterday morning and 35 in the afternoon at the Misano track in Italy. There are races in Germany this weekend and in Brno in the Czech Republic the following week before MotoGP's summer break. "Jorge, next week, will be travelling to Brno to take part in the Grand Prix of Czechia after the official medical check," said Aprilia. Martin said he was happy to be riding again. "It's been a difficult journey," he said. "After more than three months I am back on a MotoGP bike." "Really looking forward to come back really soon because the feeling today was great," he added. "The plan is to come back in Brno." The Spaniard has been at odds with the Italian manufacturer after making it known that he intended to activate a release clause in his contract at the end of the season.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
MotoGP champion Jorge Martin returns to bike after injury setbacks
REIGNING MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has resumed riding after a season marred by injuries and crashes. The Aprilia team confirmed that Martin completed 64 laps during a test session at Italy's Misano circuit, marking his first time on a MotoGP bike in over three months. Martin, who joined Aprilia from Ducati satellite team Pramac after winning the 2024 title, has not finished a race this season. He suffered two pre-season crashes, forcing him to miss the first three races. His return in Qatar ended abruptly with another crash, resulting in 11 broken ribs. Since then, he has been sidelined for six races while also engaging in a contract dispute with Aprilia. 'The goal of the day is to reacquaint Jorge with a MotoGP bike after months of inactivity,' said Aprilia. The Spaniard completed 29 laps in the morning and 35 in the afternoon, showing promising progress. Martin expressed relief at being back on track. 'It's been a difficult journey,' he said. 'After more than three months I am back on a MotoGP bike. Really looking forward to come back really soon because the feeling today was great.' Aprilia confirmed that Martin will travel to Brno for the Czech Grand Prix pending medical clearance. 'Jorge, next week, will be travelling to Brno to take part in the Grand Prix of Czechia after the official medical check,' the team stated. The 27-year-old has been at odds with Aprilia after revealing plans to trigger a release clause in his contract at season's end. His return could influence negotiations as he seeks to prove his fitness before the summer break. - AFP
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Jorge? BLACKPINK Jennie's Like Jennie song producer sparks fanwar after controversial remarks about TWICE
Fanwars - a battleground in the K-pop world - often unfold online, where fans fiercely defend their favourite idols over everything from minor style choices to major controversies. And while most of these battles stay within fandom circles, things tend to escalate when industry names jump in, sometimes unintentionally fanning the flames. That's exactly what happened recently after TWICE, the popular nine-member girl group, released a teaser for their upcoming album This Is For. Fans were quick to praise the group's stunning visuals and speculate about the concept. But soon after, some BLACKPINK fans alleged that TWICE's teaser bore a strong resemblance to Jennie's solo debut Like Jennie, accusing the group of copying her style and aesthetic. BLACKPINK vs TWICE: Fanwar ignites online The tension exploded across social media, with BLINKs and ONCEs taking sides - defending their artists while throwing shade at the other group. In the middle of the debate, some ONCEs pointed out that Like Jennie itself wasn't free from controversy when it dropped. Back when Jennie's solo track was first released, it drew criticism for its similarities to Rani's Intro Theme from the Bollywood film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. While some fans cried plagiarism, others - including the original composer Pritam - dismissed the claims, saying that overlapping influences in music are common and often coincidental. Jorge enters the chat As the online debate escalated, Jorge Antonio Alfonzo Sr., one of the co-producers of Like Jennie (alongside Diplo and LeClair), stepped in with a comment that only intensified the situation. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Jorge responded to accusations that Like Jennie was a sample by posting: "I made Like Jennie who the f*ck is TWICE lol." talk once get smacked TWICE The post didn't sit well with many. TWICE fans quickly pushed back, calling his comment disrespectful and unprofessional. Realizing the backlash, Jorge attempted to clarify his tone, writing: "Damn I didn't mean to be rude but you guys must try to know how music actually works - much love," before deleting the original post. "Defending his work" He was EXTREMELY disrespectful not only towards Twice; He was disrespectful towards the other producers that worked on Like Jennie and on This is for, he was disrespectful towars the compositors, Towards JENNIE AND TWICE A Producer should've NEVER say this Past controversies resurface Despite the clarification, the criticism didn't stop. Some fans began digging into Jorge's past post. One of the screenshots doing the round was of him taking about Like Jennie where he said, "I made those drums & synths on Like Jennie. It's ok, it's just a Brazilian drum rhythm. If they use a similar melody I could lawsuit them". So Jennie's producers are just like her fans, fre@ks obsessed with clout and yourself admitted it's "just a Brazilian rhythm" a few days tf are you?? Not just that, ONCE even unearthed alleged instances of him using racist language, including repeated use of the N-word. Outraged fans began contacting his workplace, questioning how such comments could be overlooked. This is the kind of people you are working with... @maddecent As the backlash grew, Jorge ultimately made his X account private, stepping back from the public eye - at least for now. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$40 billion real estate tycoon made his son get an MBA, work elsewhere, and climb the ranks for 13 years to prove he's not a nepotism hire
Billionaire real estate tycoon Jorge Pérez put his two millennial sons through a nearly 20-year-long succession plan before handing over the reins as Related Group's CEO in March. Jon Paul and Nick—now leading the empire managing a $40 billion development portfolio—had to get an MBA, work for a competitor for five years, and work their way up the ranks. By making his kids cut their teeth on the industry, they skirted nepotism criticism and family drama. Miami has a diverse real estate landscape, from the gleaming high-rises in Paraíso Bay, to mixed-income communities in Marti Park. But many of these buildings have one thing in common: They were built by real estate mogul Jorge M. Pérez, who just handed down his empire to his sons. The Argentine-American entrepreneur first launched Related Group in 1979, erecting everything from affordable housing to luxury skyscrapers in cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The real estate empire with a $40 billion development portfolio has built more than 120,000 residences during the past four decades, with over $50 billion in property sold so far. Pérez has been instrumental in changing the Florida landscape—dubbed the 'Condo King of Miami'—by building housing projects integrated with art and culture. After 46 years at the helm, Pérez was ready to pass the torch to his sons, Jon Paul and Nick—but he didn't make it easy for them. To make sure his company was in good hands and to sidestep nepotism claims, the 75-year-old billionaire sent his kids on a quest: get an MBA, work for a competitor for five years, and spend over a decade rising the ranks. The succession process stretched around 18 years. 'When I felt particularly—beginning with Jon Paul—that they could come to work in the company, what I didn't want is for people in the company to feel that they were entitled, that the reason that I gave them a position is because they were just my sons,' Jorge tells Fortune. Jon Paul became CEO of the company in March, while Nick is president of Related Group's condominium division. Jorge now sits as founding executive chairman, providing wisdom to his sons, but stepping aside for them to lead the company. The plan was perfectly curated to make the transition as smooth, drama-free, and advantageous as possible, Jorge says. 'What I try to do very consciously is let the world know that my two sons were ready for those jobs. That the company was not going to suffer one iota in the transition, but it was actually going to become better,' Jorge says. 'They still have me with the 45, 50 years of experience in real estate, plus now they have the new blood that has new ideas, that knows how the younger market thinks better than a 75-year-old.' Most children in successful families may expect to be handed the keys to the company—but Jorge wanted Jon Paul and Nick to cut their teeth in the real estate world. 'I required each of them to work five years outside the company in something they liked, and they both went to New York,' Jorge says. 'In addition to that, because I wanted them to be well-prepared educationally, I made them do an extra two years getting an MBA.' Jon Paul set out on his journey to CEO by starting in 2007 as an analyst at Related Companies, a New York-based real estate firm owned by family friend Stephen Ross. Until 2022, Ross also owned a minority stake in Pérez's business. During Jon Paul's five-year stint, he worked on luxury rentals and condos from Hudson Yards and the Time Warner Center. In 2008 when development had slowed, he worked on the purchasing and finishing of hundreds of projects. The president of Related Companies, Bruce Beal Jr., became a mentor for Jon Paul. 'I was put into an environment that was very high strung—12 to 14 hours a day. A lot of technical finance, financial underwriting,' Jon Paul says. 'The time there was really good for me, as far as understanding the economic side of the business, which helped me when I came down here.' By 2012, Jon Paul finally had a foot in the door at Related Group; starting off in the rental group, he spent the next 13 years rising through the ranks, learning the ins-and-outs of the business. While working at the family business, he earned an MBA in 2015 from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, one of the top business programs in the U.S. When COVID-19 hit and teams were sequestered to their home offices, Jon Paul assumed an executive role as president, finally stepping into leadership in 2020. 'Even when they came here, they first became an assistant manager to a project, then a project manager, so they would see both sides of the company,' Jorge says. 'Then he started running the day-to-day of the business. I felt that I no longer needed to be the CEO, in which there was a greater amount of decision making.' Jorge says through this rigorous and gradual succession plan, Jon Paul earned his stripes, and the senior team felt his sons proved they can lead Related Group. The real estate founder also tracked public sentiment, ensuring the transition would be made without hurting the business. 'People always ask, 'Are you nervous? You have such big shoes to fill.' I tried not to think about that, and just show my worth with my results,' Jon Paul says. 'It was never, 'You come here and you automatically get that.' It was step by step, allowing me to grow and at the same time earn the respect of the people within the company.' When planning a family succession, it's one thing to try and quell public and board room tension—but it can be a whole other battle at home. Jorge says he's seen other businesses get caught up in family drama, but he made sure there would be no bickering over Related Group. 'You talk to a lot of friends that had issues. Many of them, the succession has turned [family members] into enemies, as opposed to friends, and families that split up over it. I'm very hard headed, so if I told you it's an easy process, it's not right,' Jorge says. Jorge notes 'some people can never let go'—especially if they built the company from the ground-up, like he did with Related Group. And as a father, it's natural for children to want to disregard the advice of their parents to pave their own way. He says succession is a give-and-take; his younger sons may have never lived through market downturns or company crises, but it's still time for them to lead. Maintaining that balance has been key to the Pérez family keeping a healthy family dynamic. 'Those tensions happen. We've been very lucky that we've been able to work around all of those,' Jorge says. 'It takes part of them saying, 'Wow, he's got 45 years experience.' And for me to say, 'Hey, this has got to be a cooperative effort, in which you guys are becoming more and more the decision makers. We're still very close, all of us, as a family.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
National Geographic
01-07-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
After 41 years in captivity, this celebrity sea turtle is finally swimming home
Jorge, a 60-year-old, 220-pound loggerhead turtle, is a unique case of an animal who spent so long in captivity, yet managed to reacquaint himself to his natural habitat. Photograph By Pablo E. Blasko By María de los Ángeles Orfila The waves were rough on the morning of April 11, but Jorge didn't hesitate. With steady strokes, the 220-pound sea turtle dove into the Atlantic Ocean—his first swim in open water in 40 years. After spending more than half his life in a shallow aquarium tank in Mendoza, Argentina, hundreds of miles away from the ocean, Jorge is doing what once seemed impossible: He has relearned his natural instincts as he makes his way to the warm waters of Praia do Forte in northern Brazil—the place he once called home. Watching Jorge's remarkable journey from afar is Mariela Dassis , a researcher at the National University of Mar del Plata who is in charge of his satellite monitoring. Dassis is overseeing the final phase of a meticulous three-year re-education and release project developed by several Argentine institutions to prepare Jorge, rescued as a juvenile in 1984, for life back in the wild. Jorge holds the record for the longest time spent in captivity of any sea turtle in the world. The first night, Dassis barely slept, anxiously waiting for Jorge to emit a signal. Now, more than 70 days into his oceanic voyage, she feels calmer because Jorge has already traveled over 1,700 miles and has less than 760 miles left to reach his destination—proving himself a true master of resilience. (Sea turtles are surviving—despite us.) Relearning the ocean life At 60 years old, Jorge, a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), weighs about 220 pounds. He's spent more than half his life in a 5,300-gallon pool barely 1.5 feet deep, living on hard-boiled eggs and beef in water that was salted to simulate the ocean he lost when he was accidentally captured in 1984. That year, a group of fishermen found him entangled in fishing nets, injured, and cool-stunned in Bahía Blanca, a port city in the province of Buenos Aires and a frequent stopover for his species along the migratory route. (Meet the dog who can find rare sea turtle nests at a shocking success rate.) At the time, sea turtle rehabilitation and reintroduction were not common practice, so Jorge was put in a wooden box and flown to the Andes. In Mendoza, he became a celebrity: Families went to see him at the aquarium for decades, and even mayors handed over the responsibility of caring for him to their successors as they began their terms in office. Pressure to return him to the sea grew so intense that more than 60,000 people signed a petition for his release, and a group of environmental lawyers eventually filed a lawsuit in 2021. Jorge in his first enclosure shortly after arriving in Mendoza in 1984. He was caught in fishing nets earlier that year by a group of fishermen. Photograph Courtesy of the Municipality of Mendoza City The Mendoza Municipality took up the challenge of preparing Jorge for a return to the ocean, enlisting researchers from the Mar del Plata Aquarium, the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Institute of Marine and Coastal Research at the National University of Mar del Plata. Together, they set a goal: to get Jorge swimming freely again. But could he survive the attempt? During those decades in captivity, Jorge's natural survival instincts faded, leaving him unfamiliar with hunting live prey or reacting to ocean currents—a dangerous handicap for any wild sea turtle. 'In three years, we managed to get him to recover the instinct he had almost lost,' explains marine biologist Alejandro Saubidet, who led Jorge's re-education—a rehabilitation that typically lasts a year and is designed for turtles that reach the coast with an injury or after ingesting plastic. 'We had to see if it was feasible to return him to the environment.' The first step was to re-adapt him to saltwater. Over several months, the salinity of the pool he lived in was gradually increased until it reached 3.3%, which is the equivalent to the salinity that loggerhead turtles can tolerate in their natural habitat. Blood tests accompanied this process to determine how well Jorge could excrete the salt; x-rays were also taken to assess the health of his joints. Once Jorge passed these tests, he boarded his second plane and flew to Mar del Plata, where a more comfortable pool awaited him, filled with seawater and kept at a controlled temperature between 68°F and 75°F. This temperature range was chosen to closely match the conditions he would encounter in the Atlantic Ocean during his first few months at sea. The pool held 40,000 gallons of water and was 10 feet deep. The amount of water was gradually increased to make sure Jorge would be able to reach the surface to breathe. Throughout the process, Jorge's diet also changed: Hard-boiled eggs and beef were replaced with live food, such as crabs and snails, which the turtle had to hunt. According to Saubidet, this wasn't easy. 'Little by little, we taught him to chase after prey,' he says. Other animals were later added to the pool to compete with him for food. 'The first time we threw in a ray, Jorge thought it was food and went after it, but when he saw it move, he got scared,' notes Saubidet. Over time, Jorge became a skilled hunter, started making more sounds, and even built shelters—just like loggerhead turtles do in the wild to rest, hide from predators, and protect themselves from currents. The researchers even created currents in the pool that Jorge became accustomed to. All of these behaviors indicated that Jorge was returning to his natural state, and each challenge he overcame prepared him for the great adventure that awaited him at sea. Jorge being released into the Atlantic Ocean on April 11. He's expected to travel about 2,500 miles to northern Brazil. Photograph By Mauro V. Rizzi / La Nación A beacon of hope for conservation Although it was already autumn, the water was still warm enough on April 11 for Jorge to orient himself and catch the current that would carry him to Brazil, his final destination—that is, unless he decides to settle somewhere else along the route. He left the aquarium with a rangefinder attached to his shell, boarded a ship belonging to the Argentine Naval Prefecture, and sailed 15 nautical miles into the Atlantic Ocean, where he finally touched the ocean for the first time in four decades. As fate would have it, it was a day of rough seas, and Dassis endured the anguish of not knowing anything about Jorge's whereabouts until 10 a.m. the next day, when the rangefinder emitted its first signal from offshore. Jorge was heading in the right direction: north, toward Brazil. 'The most beautiful thing of all is that Jorge shows us reintegration is possible," says Dassis. "Nature can find its place again." Since his initial release, Jorge has sent at least two signals a day, with an accuracy ranging from 500 to 3,300 feet. From this, researchers learned that in the first month, Jorge 'stepped on the gas' to cross the coast of Uruguay and enter Brazil, slowing down once he reached warmer waters. He's now swimming off the coast of Santa Catarina State. Laura Prosdocimi, a researcher at the Laboratory of Ecology, Conservation, and Marine Mammals at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences—who conducted the genetic studies that revealed Jorge's origin from a population of turtles in Praia do Forte—believes Jorge is returning to the nesting areas he knew as a hatchling and juvenile, just like adult specimens do. 'When Jorge entered captivity as a subadult, he already had much of the information about migratory routes,' she explains. The rangefinder is expected to keep working for at least another four months. By the time the battery dies, researchers will have gathered completely unprecedented information, as science has very little data on the movement patterns of male sea turtles, particularly of this species. 'Jorge is a unique case in the world,' says Prosdocimi, noting that there are no records of another animal that spent so many year in captivity and then adapted so well to life in the wild. 'He's already overcome the greatest challenges," says Dassis. 'And since he's still of reproductive age—Caretta carettas live to around 80, but they can reach 100—maybe we'll see some Jorgitos and Jorgitas.'
