#Digital Issue- Oct 2023

[veganism]

The genocide is also experimentation on living beings

Israel is currently testing new weapons in Gaza, some of which will soon be sold globally as "battle-tested," according to Antony Loewenstein, an author who has written a widely acclaimed book on the issue.

For years, the Israeli defense sector has used Palestine as a laboratory for new weapons and surveillance tech, he told Anadolu, adding that this is also the case in the current ongoing war on Gaza.

One of the main reasons why "many nations, democracies and dictatorships support Israeli occupation" of Palestine is because it allows them to buy these "battle-tested" weapons, asserted Loewenstein, author of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World.

Another aspect of Israel's war on Gaza has been the use of artificial intelligence technology, he said.

According to Loewenstein, AI has been one of the key targeting tools used by the Israeli military in its deadly campaign of airstrikes, leading to mass killings of Palestinians-now over 28,500-and damage on an unprecedented scale.

The current war on Gaza is "inarguably one of the most consequential and bloody," he said.

He described Israel's use of AI against Palestinians as "automated murder," stressing that this model "will be studied and copied by other nation-states" and Tel Aviv will sell them these technologies as tried and tested weapons.

In the last 50 years, Israel has exported hi-tech surveillance tools to at least 130 countries around the world.

To maintain its illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and blockade of the Gaza Strip, Israel has developed a range of tools and technologies that have made it the world's leading exporter of spyware and digital forensics tools.

But analysts say the intelligence failure during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks casts doubts over Tel Avis's technological capabilities.

Israel's reliance on technology "is an illusion of safety, while imprisoning 2.3 million people under endless occupation," said Loewenstein, who is Jewish and holds Australian and German nationalities.

He described Israel's response in Gaza as "apocalyptic," stressing that the killings of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, is "on a scale of indiscriminate slaughter."

- 'BLOOD MONEY'

Loewenstein, who is also a journalist, said Israel has honed its weapons and technology expertise over decades as an occupying power, acting with increasing impunity in the Palestinian territories.

This led a small country like Israel to become one of the top 10 arms dealers in the world, he said, adding that Israeli arms sales in 2021 were "the highest on record, surging 55% over the previous two years to $11.3 billion."

In his book, Loewenstein explores thoroughly Israel's ties with autocracies and regimes engaged in mass displacement campaigns, and governments slinking their way into phones.

The Israeli NSO Group sold its well-known Pegasus software to numerous governments, a spyware tool for phones that gives access to the entire content, including conversations, text messages, emails and photos even when the device is switched off.

Israeli drones were first tested over Gaza, the besieged enclave that Loewenstein referred to as "the perfect laboratory for Israeli ingenuity in domination."

Surveillance technology developed in Israel has also been sold to the US in the form of watch towers now used on the border with Mexico.

The EU's border agency Frontex is known to have used Israeli drone technology to monitor refugees.

Loewenstein explains in his book that the EU has partnered with leading Israeli defense companies to use its drones, "and of course years of experience in Palestine is a key selling point."

"So again, one sees how there are so many examples of nations that are wanting to copy what Israel is doing in their own area in their own country on their own border," he said.

These technologies and "are sold by Israel as battle-tested," he said.

In other words, he contends that Palestinians essentially have become "guinea pigs," and despite some nations and the UN publicly criticizing the Israeli occupation, in reality "they're desperate for this technology for themselves for their own countries."

"And that's how in fact, the Palestine laboratory has been so successful for Israel for so long," he said.

In his exhaustive probe into Israel's dealings with arms sales around the world, he noted that the country has monetized the occupation of Palestine, by selling weapons, spyware tools and technologies to repressive regimes such as Rwanda during the genocide in 1994 and to Myanmar during its genocide against the Muslim Rohingya people in 2017.

"This to me is blood money. I mean, there's no other way to see that and again, as someone Jewish, who has spent many, many years reporting on this conflict, both within Israel and Palestine but also elsewhere, it's deeply shameful that Israel is making huge amounts of money from the misery of others," he said.

"This is not a legacy that I can be proud of."

- 'NO NATION ACTUALLY HOLDING ISRAEL TO ACCOUNT'

Profiting from misery is to some extent the nature of what capitalism has always been about, but Israel does this with a great deal of impunity, "because Israel does what it wants," said Loewenstein.

"There is no accountability, there is no transparency, there is no nation actually holding Israel to account," he added.

Israel's regime is shielded from any political backlash for years to come because nations are reliant on Israeli weapons and spyware, said the author.

Israel may not be the only player employing surveillance technology that leads to human rights violations, but it still plays a dominant role, which is why Loewenstein insists that it deserves singular attention.

Israel's foreign policy has always been "amoral and opportunistic," he said, calling on all nations to take a stand and hold Israel accountable, and acknowledge that the world is buying what Israel is selling.

[broadsandbroadswords]

the zines have arrived!

Hi all!

We're happy to report that the zines have arrived from the printers-- all nine boxes of them:

We're in the process of doing a spot check QA on them for any issues like the ones we had with the binding for Volume 1, but they're looking beautiful so far:

We intend to create shipping labels and then pack up the zines for shipping this weekend (7-8 October), so keep an eye out next week for a tracking number for your shipment.

If you need to change your shipping address, this is your last chance to let us know: please send an email to broadsandbroadswordszine@gmail.com with the order number and the new shipping address by 6:00 PM GMT-5 tomorrow, October 6.

We will be posting here and on Twitter to announce once we have shipped all of the zines and again when we send out the digital zines.

Thanks so much to everyone who made this zine possible-- our incredible participating artists and even more incredible folks who have purchased the zine. We're so excited to get them all shipped out for everyone to enjoy!

(5 Oct 2023)

[dragoneyes613]

In medicine, there’s a diagnosis known as conversion disorder in which a psychological conflict manifests itself as a physical symptom. That, in a nutshell, is what afflicts the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), whose moral dysfunction is so deeply rooted that it now presents as bureaucratic incompetence.

IFMSA recently acknowledged that its suspension on Aug. 6, 2024, of the Federation of Israeli Medical Students (FIMS) was not grounded in legitimate rationale but in procedural irregularities. Translation: They botched the paperwork.

What they haven’t admitted and likely never will is that this so-called “suspension” was an attempted ideological amputation. And it wasn’t sterile.

Let’s not kid ourselves: FIMS was not excised from IFMSA over any clerical confusion. It was removed like a problematic organ because FIMS president Miri Shvimmer challenged the systemic anti-Israel infection festering within the global medical community.

Her sin? Reminding fellow future physicians that medical ethics should transcend politics. Shvimmer had the audacity to suggest that the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, might warrant a condemnation from those studying to enter the medical profession.

Instead of receiving empathy or even neutral collegiality, she and her organization were diagnosed as the problem. Accused of “genocide,” they were ignored and silenced. It was akin to a digital lobotomy, performed not with scalpels but Zoom mutes and procedural anesthesia. And after the World Medical Association applied pressure like a defibrillator to the heart of this scandal, IFMSA sheepishly reinstated FIMS—not out of repentance, not because the fever broke, but because it had violated its own code of conduct.

In medical terms, the disease was not treated; it merely retreated under duress. But here is what is most clinically disturbing: There was no apology. No retraction. No penance. No gracious walkback. Not even a placebo statement to soothe the reputational hemorrhage inflicted on Israeli medical students. Instead, IFMSA tried to suture the wound with silence, hoping the scar tissue of injustice would simply fade.

This isn’t just bad medicine; it’s malpractice. IFMSA took an oath, as all medical institutions implicitly do: to protect life, uphold human dignity and treat all patients (and peers) with impartial care.

What we saw instead was ideological triage—treat the causes they approve of and ignore the ones they don’t. This isn’t about “procedural missteps.” It’s about metastatic antisemitism hiding behind the white coat of international cooperation. It’s about a global organization failing to live up to the very ethics it pretends to teach. It is, in short, a chronic case of moral arrhythmia.

If the IFMSA wants to regain its ethical pulse, it must do more than quietly reinstate FIMS. It must issue a full, public apology. It must disinfect its own ranks of political bias. And it must remember that the Hippocratic Oath is not a fig leaf for cowardice but a binding moral code.

Because in the end, silence in the face of this discrimination is not just complicity, it’s criminal malpractice.

[solarpunkmagazine]

Solarpunk Magazine 2024 Funding Announcement

Pleased to share that our crowdfunding campaign for our 2024 issues goes live on October 10th! Hit the pre-launch to get notified when we go live. Our annual campaign ensures we can pay 8 cents a word for fiction for another year with the same amount content.

We have four main, basic perk tiers this year. The first two, of course, are our basic annual subscription (six issues) and our lifetime subscription.

Our third main tier for this campaign is a 2024 subscription plus a copy of the solarpunk comicbook ANTICIPATION OF HOLLOWNESS, story by Renan Bernardo, script by Michelle Paris, art by Lorenzo Livrieri.

Our fourth main perk tier is a 2024 subscription plus a copy of the first annual BEST OF UTOPIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION ANTHOLOGY.

In addition, all backers get digital copies of our latest Editor's Anthology with stories by our editorial team, as well as our 2023 Micro Fiction Anthology, and more.

Live Oct 10th! Please share, and thank you for reading! 🌞💚

[mappingthemoon]

Zines Read 2024

The Desert Sun #53 / Billy (Dec. 2023)

The Desert Sun #54 / Billy (Jan. 29, 2024)

Proof I Exist #45: A 2023 Reading Log / Billy McCall (Jan. 2024)

Proof I Exist #46: Looking Back at 2023 / Billy McCall & Ed Kemp (Jan. 2024)

Trent Reznor, the Girls Who Wanted to Fuck Him, and the Boys They Grew Up to Be / David Leo

Behind the Zines #17 / Billy McCall (ed.) (Mar. 2024)*

The Desert Sun #55 / Billy (Feb. 29, 2024)

Lifecycle of the Moon Jelly / Qufu-lee

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 1 / Alyx White (2020)

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 2 / Alyx White (2020)

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 3 / Alyx White (2020)

KnowhutIzine: An Attempt to Document All Things Worrell / Dakota Floyd & Rick V. (June 2021)

Notes on Anarchism / Noam Chomsky (x)

The Desert Sun #56 / Billy (Mar. 2024)

[private]

[private]

Self-Harm: A Zine About NSSI / Sharaya O

Leave Me Alone, Mom! How Conservative Christianity Ruins Everything / Sharaya O

People Think I’m Weird / Billy McCall

What Is Home?

Local Honey / Madison Greer (ed.) (2020)*

A Zine for Pride: Archiving LGBTQ+ History at UGA! / Kathryn Manis (2024)

Lover’s Eye / Mandy Mastrovita (Jan. 2023)

I’m Blue / Mandy Mastrovita (Mar. 2024)

[private]

The Desert Sun #58 / Billy (May 29, 2024)

Love Letters to ATL / Haley Lazerface & Tazza Moon (eds.) (June 2024)

Voting Vs Direct Action / crimethInc (2004)

[You will see your own reflection…] / SAD (2024)

Grow Your Own (for, like, cheap): The Ultimate Space Bucket DIY Guide (x)

C.U.N.T.S. Magazine: The Women’s Issue (2024)

The Desert Sun #59 / Billy (June 30, 2024)

[Tax Forms Enclosed: 1040EZ, 1040A, 1040] / S. Brooks (1996) (x)

Super/Simple Majority / Tony White (dir.) (July 2024)*

Notes on Libraries, Lesbians, and Pulp / Aiden M. Bettine (2023)

IT? / Jamison Lung

ZiNetwork Invitation / Dr. Tambone

Leftist Leaflets in Little Libraries #1 / Peter Miles Bergman (Summer 2017; 5th ed., 2023)

The East Village Inky #66 / Ayun Halliday (June 2022)

Pirate Jenny (2nd ed.) / Ina Wudtke (2024)

Rut Zine #296 / Bianca Martin (x)

Rut Zine #343 / Bianca Martin (x)

Sappy Gazette #1: Transpiring Time & Space / Abbie (2024)

Culays [Heavy] / Mustafa Saeed (2024)

Offset Printed Artists' Books: A Chronology, 1960-2005 / Tony White (cur.) (Jan. 2018)

Robert Blackburn / [Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop]

The Desert Sun #60 / Billy (July 30, 2024)

Overdue Books; Returning Palestine’s “Abandoned Property” of 1948 / Hannah Mermelstein (2014)

The Desert Sun #61 / Billy (Aug. 24, 2024)

Lost Constellations of Athens: Five Legends / Lauren Fancher (2024) (x)

If These Walls Could Talk: A PhotoJournal Look Inside the Crumbling Campus of Central State Hospital, Milledgeville, Georgia / Janet Fugett (2015)

The Booty Keeps the Score: The Disorganized Attachment Dating Skillbuilder Workbook / tawnee smith (Spring 2021)

Cathode Ray Mission #3 / K Ratticus (ed.) (Fall 2024)*

The Desert Sun #62 / Billy (Sept. 29, 2024)

The Desert Sun #63 / Billy (Oct. 29, 2024)

The Desert Sun #63.5: Political Edition / Billy (mid-November 2024)

Behind the Zines #18 / Billy McCall (ed.) (Sept. 2024)

Tin Can Telephone #9: Test Cards & Radio Phonics / DJ Frederick Moe

where you from? #7: this is how I know I will be okay. / hope amico (Sept. 2024)

Straightaway Tangent #3: In Parallax / Sheila B. Ackerman & August Personage (Nov. 2024)

The Desert Sun #64 / Billy (Nov. 28, 2024)

The Desert Sun #65 / Billy (Dec. 24, 2024)

Zines read in 2024; asterisks * denote zines I’m in! When available, I have tried to provide links for: a digital version of the zine, a page from which to purchase the zine, the author’s website or social media, an alternate version of the text online, or further information about the author/title. I’m not cluttering the list up with individual links for all of Billy’s zines; his stuff can be found at Behind the Zines Distro.

[saintseiya-zone]

We’re happy to announce the next SSZ Zine!

The theme will be autumn-oriented and you can collaborate with fanarts, fanfics, photos and cosplays. Stay updated by joining our Discord!

Sign-up timeframe: 1-15/Aug/2023 (extraordinary sign-up 16-23/Aug 23:59 UTC -6, Costa Rica time)

Sign-up form: here

Taken Character list: here

Deadline: 22/Oct/2023 23:59 UTC -6 (Costa Rica time)

Description (in text) and FAQ under the cut

[About the Zine]

Description: Autumn is coming, and with it, spookiness is rising. Imagine your favourite Saint Seiya characters in autumn-themed scenes from around the world!

Participation: You will submit one (1) original, new fanwork (older/already published work is not accepted) to be compiled into a zine. Please do not share your final work until the zine has been properly published by SSZ (you may, however, share WIPs, previews, and/or close-ups as you work on it)

Type: The final compilation of all fanworks will be a free, digital PDF file (no physical versions will be made, no money will be earned or paid)

Character: restricted to one (1) character to be the main focus of the fanwork submitted (for fics: 1-2 characters)

The Taken Character List will be updated daily at 19:00 UTC -6 (Costa Rica time) until the sign-up period is concluded. We appreciate your patience while this occurs. Once you are added to the list and your character is confirmed, you may start working on your submission.

** Please note this zine does not review/approve/reject sign-ups, everyone is welcome to take part in the activity as long as they sign up and follow guidelines. If there are any issues, we'll get back to you.

Deadline: 22/Oct/2023 23:59 UTC -6 (Costa Rica time). Fanworks submitted after this will not be included (this is non-negotiable). However, if you are facing challenges with your submission, let the staff know ASAP.

Submission: Send via email to saintseiyazone@gmail.com. The email subject should be "Saint Seiya in Autumn Zine, [Creator], [character/fic name]", and the file name should be:

Visuals: [Character name] - [Creator]

Fics: [Creator] - [Fic title]. Writers, please also include a 400x400 px image you want us to use in the credits page

Examples: 

Email Subject: Saint Seiya in Autumn Zine, El Cadejos, Alioth Fenrir 

Fic file: Zeuse - “Encallar”

[About the Submissions]

Art/Photography Canvas size: 300 dpi, JPEG 

2480 x 3508 px (portrait orientation) OR

3508 x 4960 px (landscape orientation)

Fics: docx file, prose, it doesn't have to be in English. You must include a title (please keep it short), but it won’t be considered towards final count

4 OR 6 full pages in total as exact as possible, Arial font, 11 pt, single space

Margins: 1 in (each)

Paper size: Letter (8.5 in x11 in)

There must be spaces between your paragraphs 

Allowed:

Age reinterpretation (e.g., an adult character as a child)

Alternative Universes

Other applicable characters (including OC), please check FAQ

Not allowed:

AI-generated content of any kind

NSFW/Explicit content (contact staff for case-by-case reviews)

Non-official genderbends

Crossovers with non-StS series

[Frequently Asked Questions]

May I draw whichever character I want? As the purpose of this zine is to include as many characters from the Saint Seiya universe as possible to bring variety into the final product, submission types have the following limitations:

Fanarts: 1 main character per submission (restricted ✪)

Fics: focus on 1-2 main characters per submission (not restricted)

Cosplays: 1 main character per submission (not restricted)

Merch Photographs: 1 main character per submission (not restricted)

Before filling out the sign-up form, check the Taken Character list. For fanarts, you'll input 5 different options, from your top choice to least. Your final selection will be made visible later that day. This is on a First Come, First Served basis.

✪ This means there will be only 1 fanart per character, no duplicates

May I include more than one character in my submission? Yes, as long as there is a clear hierarchy where your chosen character is the main focus. Original Characters (OCs) may also be included in the background as long as they follow this guideline. There is no problem if those secondary characters are already taken, or if the mix of characters would not make sense in the official material (for example, Sasha interacting with Hilda).

May I use spinoff characters? Sure! All characters officially included in the Saint Seiya universe are applicable (except those without an official visual design, like Chronos). Please note that even though there are characters with different versions across the franchise [ex: Aiolia], they are not counted as different options for the Zine, so if said character is already taken, no other version of them will be available. The only exceptions to this rule are Milo (Legend of Sanctuary) and Shaun (Knights of the Zodiac).

I changed my mind about the character I chose, and the new one is still available. Can I switch? To prevent confusion and misunderstandings, all character selections are final and cannot be changed/traded.

Can I switch from one contribution type to another (e.g., fanart to fic) after I signed up? To prevent confusion and misunderstandings, all contribution type selections are final.

Am I allowed to change certain aspects of a character’s official design? It depends on the aspect, and should be reviewed case-by-case.

Example 1: as a Latin American, Io could differ in skin tone to the one seen on the official materials. However, characters like Hagen and Aldebaran, who have darker skin tones, should not be given lighter tones.

Example 2: if due to a personal headcanon, you believe a character has a certain scar or marking that is not seen in official materials, it can be included, but once again, please reach out to Staff for a case-by-case review.

What qualifies as "autumn-themed"? This season is experienced differently all around the world, which is why the theme is broad on purpose. Any activity, scenery, meal, clothing, and celebration that is typical of this season is applicable. That includes (but is not limited to) All Hallow's Eve, Día de Muertos, Thanksgiving, Diwali, leaf color change viewing, and more.

What is the difference between an Alternate Universe [AU] and a Crossover? Some AU use popular tropes as a base, while a Crossover uses an already existing material as base.

Examples:

Popular tropes for an AU: magic school, space fantasy/sci-fi

Existing material: Twisted Wonderland, Mass Effect [games], Little Witch Academia, Star Trek [series], Heralds of Valdemar, Dune [books]

So making a fanwork of the general "Saint Seiya × Magic School" or “Saint Seiya x space fantasy/sci-fi” concepts is an AU, but "Saint Seiya × Twisted Wonderland" or “Saint Seiya x Star Trek” are considered a crossover. In essence, heavy references to other existing fandoms are not allowed. Could you please elaborate on what is/isn’t considered Not Safe For Work (NSFW)? If it is not appropriate for a general, non-specialized office work environment, then it is not accepted.

Examples: ✅ blood depictions/mentions of it ❌ graphic/detailed gore, mutilation, or body horror  ✅ sensual themes (e.g., pin up) ❌ sexual themes (including, but not limited to: genitalia, specifically erotic gestures like blowjob, etc.) 

May I submit more than one work?  If, after the sign-up period is over, you would like to collaborate with a second submission, reach out to us. You may send different submission types if you want (e.g., 1 fanart and 1 fic). Please bear in mind the second character must still be available for you to take.

The sign-up timeframe already passed. Can I still join? The extraordinary period is 16-23/Aug. Please check the Taken Character List first to ensure the one you want is available, fill out the form, and contact staff (El Cadejos, Zeuse) so we can add you to the list. After this extraordinary period, sign-up will be officially closed.

May I include a watermark on my submission? Yes, we encourage you to submit already watermarked fanworks to the zine.

I’m a writer! What is an acceptable image for the credits page? You can send an official StS work, fanarts (as long as it is made by you, gifted to you, or commissioned by you), or a picrew-generated image (as long as the picrew allows that use)

What are check-ins? Do I need to send something?  Nope. Our check-ins act as reminders only, so you know exactly how much time you have left to send your submission.

I’m unable to complete my submission and would like to withdraw. Is that okay? Yes, you can withdraw at any time, for any reason (you don’t need to explain). Please just let us know in advance.

[reasonsforhope]

Holy shit it's real.

--

From the first linked source:

"The US government aims to restore sweeping regulations for high-speed internet providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, reviving “net neutrality” rules for the broadband industry — and an ongoing debate about the internet’s future.

The proposed rules from the Federal Communications Commission will designate internet service — both the wired kind found in homes and businesses as well as mobile data on cellphones — as “essential telecommunications” akin to traditional telephone services, said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The rules would ban internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down access to websites and online content.

In addition to the prohibitions on blocking and throttling internet traffic, the draft rules also seek to prevent ISPs from selectively speeding up service to favored websites or to those that agree to pay extra fees, Rosenworcel said, a move designed to prevent the emergence of “fast lanes” on the web that could give some websites a paid advantage over others.

With Tuesday’s proposal, the FCC aims to restore Obama-era regulations that the FCC under Republican leadership rolled back during the Trump administration...

The logic behind the rules

Beyond their immediate impact to internet providers, the draft rules directly help US telecom regulators address a range of consumer issues in the longer run by allowing the FCC to bring its most powerful legal tools to bear, Rosenworcel said. Some of the priorities the FCC could address after the implementation of net neutrality rules include spam robotexts, internet outages, digital privacy and high-speed internet access, said Rosenworcel in a speech at the National Press Club Tuesday to announce the proposal.

Rosenworcel said reclassifying internet service providers as essential telecommunications entities — by regulating them under Title II of the FCC’s congressional charter — would provide the FCC with clearer authority to adopt future rules governing everything from public safety to national security.

Rosenworcel argued, “without reclassification, the FCC has limited authority to incorporate updated cybersecurity standards into our network policies.”

She added that traditional telephone companies currently cannot sell customer data, but those restrictions do not apply to ISPs, which are regulated differently. “Does that really make sense? Do we want our broadband providers selling off where we go and what we do online?”

Regulating internet providers using the most powerful tools at the FCC’s disposal would let the agency crack down harder on spam robotexts, Rosenworcel said, as spammers are “constantly evolving their techniques.”

And the proposed rules could promote the Biden administration’s agenda to blanket the country in fast, affordable broadband, she argued, by granting internet providers the rights to put their equipment on telephone poles.

“As a nation we are committed, post-pandemic, to building broadband for all,” she said. “So keep in mind that when you construct these facilities, utility poles are really important.”

Timeline info

The FCC plans to vote Oct. 19 on whether to advance the draft rules by soliciting public feedback on them — a step that would precede the creation of any final rules."

The latest net neutrality rulemaking reflects one of the most visible efforts of Rosenworcel’s chairwomanship — and one of her first undertakings since the US Senate this month [September 2023] confirmed Anna Gomez as the agency’s fifth commissioner, breaking a years-long 2-2 partisan deadlock at the FCC that had prevented hot-button initiatives from moving forward.

The draft rules also show how a continued lack of federal legislation to establish a nationwide net neutrality standard has led to continued flip-flopping rules for ISPs with every change of political administration, along with a patchwork of state laws seeking to fill the gap.

If approved next month, the FCC draft would be opened for public comment until approximately mid-December, followed by an opportunity for public replies lasting into January. A final set of rules could be voted on in the months following.

-via CNN, September 26, 2023

--

Cannot overstate how big this would be. I'll be posting the link when the proposal opens up for public feedback, because we should flood this thing as hard as we can (we've got some giant internet companies to drown out, after all)

source 1

source 2

[darkmaga-returns]

Scott Ritter

The 2024 Brics summit is now in the books. To better understand its significance, one should turn back the pages of history and reflect on the lessons of the past. The 1955 Bandung Conference stands out in this regard, not only because it provides the proper historical foundation for the modern-day Brics phenomenon, but also because the underlying principles of that gathering never went away.

From Oct. 22-24, leaders from 35 nations gathered in the Russian city of Kazan to participate in the 16th Brics summit. Following the 2023 meeting in Johannesburg, which saw Brics expand from its five core members (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to nine (adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates), expectations for the event were high. Geopolitical tensions placed even greater emphasis on the challenges that Brics posed to the deeply entrenched US-dominated rules-based international order, which has been the centerpiece of global economic and political dynamics since the end of World War II.

Maintaining Currency

In the digital age, where results are often judged on whether they manifest themselves in near-instantaneous fashion, some observers might have been disappointed in the Kazan summit for failing to meet expectations. This is very much the case for anyone who expected the birth of a new currency that would challenge the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. While the idea of such a currency was floated (indeed, a mock-up Brics banknote was presented in Kazan as a visual manifestation of the concept), Brics members were united in their belief that much work still needed to be done before a new monetary system would be ready. The takeaway, however, is not that Brics failed to issue a new currency, but that it unanimously agreed that there is a legitimate need for such a currency to offset the dominance of the dollar.

[marketresearchnews1242]

Optical Current Transformer Market Set to Reach USD 63.5 Million by 2031 with 8.0% CAGR Growth

The global optical current transformer market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for accurate and reliable power monitoring solutions, advancements in optical sensing technology, and the growing emphasis on grid modernization and energy efficiency. As of 2022, the market was valued at US$ 32.1 million, and it is estimated to advance at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% from 2023 to 2031, reaching a valuation of US$ 63.5 million by the end of 2031.

Market Overview: Optical current transformers (OCTs) represent a groundbreaking innovation in the field of power instrumentation, offering high accuracy, wide bandwidth, and immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) compared to conventional electromagnetic current transformers. By utilizing fiber optic technology and optical sensing principles, OCTs enable precise measurement of electrical currents in medium and high-voltage power systems, facilitating efficient grid monitoring, protection, and control.

Market Size and Growth: The growth of the optical current transformer market is driven by several factors, including the increasing deployment of smart grid technologies, the need for grid resilience and reliability, regulatory mandates for power quality monitoring, and the rising adoption of renewable energy sources and distributed generation. As utilities and industries seek advanced solutions for power management and monitoring, the market for optical current transformers is expected to witness steady growth in the forecast period.

Market Segmentation: The global optical current transformer market can be segmented based on various parameters:

Regional Analysis: Geographically, key regions driving growth in the global optical current transformer market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Factors such as infrastructure development, grid modernization initiatives, renewable energy integration, and industrial expansion contribute to market expansion in these regions, with emerging economies offering significant growth opportunities due to increasing investments in power infrastructure and technology.

Market Drivers and Challenges: Key drivers influencing market growth include the need for accurate and reliable power measurement and monitoring, grid modernization initiatives, the expansion of renewable energy installations, and the growing demand for digital substations and smart grid solutions. However, challenges such as high initial costs, interoperability issues, and the complexity of optical sensing technology may impact market adoption and require industry collaboration to address.

Market Trends: Noteworthy trends in the global optical current transformer market include the development of compact and lightweight OCTs, the integration of digital communication interfaces for data exchange and remote monitoring, and the emergence of multi-channel and multi-purpose optical sensors for enhanced functionality and flexibility in power monitoring applications.

Future Outlook: The outlook for the global optical current transformer market remains positive, with sustained growth expected as utilities, industries, and infrastructure developers prioritize grid modernization, energy efficiency, and reliable power monitoring solutions. By leveraging advancements in optical sensing technology, investing in research and development, and collaborating with key stakeholders, manufacturers and suppliers can capitalize on emerging opportunities and drive innovation in the evolving power instrumentation market.

Key Market Study Points: Key areas for market study include technology trends and innovations in optical sensing, market segmentation and targeting strategies, regulatory landscape and standards compliance, competitive benchmarking and product differentiation, and opportunities for integration with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing.

Competitive Landscape: The global optical current transformer market features a competitive landscape with a mix of established players and innovative startups, including manufacturers, system integrators, and technology providers. Key players in the market are focusing on product development, strategic partnerships, and customer engagement initiatives to enhance their market presence and address evolving customer needs in the power monitoring and instrumentation space.

About Us Transparency Market Research

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Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

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[kimdoyeon03]

CTS-B | Week11 Compulsory Question 1

"If you only do what you can, you will never be more than what you are now." is our manifesto. This assertion exhorts people to venture outside their comfort zones. Comfort zones can hinder our development, erecting imperceptible obstacles that impede growth. This manifesto serves as a powerful reminder to transcend our predetermined boundaries.

To promote progress, we must broaden our horizons by welcoming fresh viewpoints and creative thinking. The key takeaway is clear: do not adhere strictly to traditional approaches; instead, take the chance to break the mold and embrace a challenging mindset.

Design ought to inspire significant change and go beyond aesthetics. "Let my designs inspire change, not just aesthetics," exemplifies this idea. It urges us to look beyond superficial beauty and contribute positively to our communities. Although aesthetics are important, designers must consider the wider implications of their work to address urgent societal concerns and improve people's lives. Design has a power for social creativity and transformation, significantly enhancing human experiences.

My manifesto emphasizes the designer's need to use their work for a greater purpose rather than merely focusing on aesthetics. By incorporating critical thinking and social consciousness into the creative process, designers can become change agents. I propose to refine our manifesto to make it more detailed. "99% of what you want to create already exists; 1% is your potential creativity," is a statement that merits further exploration. This 1% represents the unknown aspects of our creativity as designers that we must identify and develop.

Attending classes alone is not enough to foster creativity; it requires introspection, critical analysis, and in-depth study. Engaging in these activities allows me to discover and cultivate our unique creativity. This approach enhances analytical skills, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking alongside aesthetic appeal.

I realized that design is much more than simply creating something new; it also involves using our skills to spread awareness and promote positive change. My exploration of innovative approaches to convey global challenges, particularly in my brief film project, demonstrated how design can benefit society from a designer's perspective.

I began considering designs that address larger societal issues rather than just personal creativity after connecting this concept with the CTS B subject. The Ttareungyi bike-sharing program in Seoul is a noteworthy illustration. From 2015, it promotes sustainable urban transportation as a solution to traffic congestion and elevated GHG emissions.

Apple's Assistive Access feature on iOS also exemplifies how design improves accessibility by simplifying the user interface for those with cognitive difficulties, providing a streamlined experience and necessary features.

Having learned the value of texture through embossing, I plan to integrate both digital and real textures in the future to enhance audience emotional responses. I will also focus on sustainable design to address societal challenges like environmental issues and create products that improve daily life through user experience design.

(Word count: 467)

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References:

Kim, Sujin. “How Seoul Eased Traffic Congestion and Reduced Pollution through Bike Sharing.” Development Asia, Seoul Urban Solutions Agency, 30 May 2023, https://development.asia/case-study/how-seoul-eased-traffic-congestion-and-reduced-pollution-through-bike-sharing.

“Seoul Public Bike.” SEOUL Metropolitan Government, https://english.seoul.go.kr/service/movement/seoul-public-bike/.

“The Benefits of the IPhone’s Assistive Access for People With Disabilities.” Focus Care, 14 Oct. 2023, https://focuscare.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-the-iphone-s-assistive-access-for-people-with-disabilities.

“‘Universal Design’ Mandatorily Applied to Public Buildings and Facilities in Seoul.” SEOUL Metropolitan Government, 18 Nov. 2020, https://english.seoul.go.kr/universal-design-mandatorily-applied-to-public-buildings-and-facilities-in-seoul/.

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Image references:

Apple previews iOS 17 accessibility features. from: Chance Miller, 16 May 2023 https://9to5mac.com/2023/05/16/apple-ios-17-accessibility-features/

Mo Farah’s words of inspiration as part of Nike’s #makeitcount campaign. from: HJ McQuarrie, 30 January, 2012 https://redheadontherun.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/dont-dream-of-winning-train-for-it/

Nike's outdoor advertising; Yesterday, you said tomorrow. from: Jordan Schilleci, 9 Mar, 2024 https://joandcoaching.medium.com/yesterday-you-said-tomorrow-one-of-my-favorite-nike-ads-0d6897afddd8

On-board devices and QR-based payment systems are installed on all bicycles to improve user convenience and increase bicycle usage. from: Seoul Urban Solutions Agency, 30 May 2023 https://development.asia/case-study/how-seoul-eased-traffic-congestion-and-reduced-pollution-through-bike-sharing

[bllsbailey]

Senate Republicans mark Oct 7 attack 1 year out as Israel-Hamas war continues

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, led the entire Senate GOP conference in introducing a resolution on Monday to condemn the Hamas terrorist attack against Israeli civilians exactly one year prior on Oct. 7, 2023. 

The full conference-backed resolution condemns the "brutal Hamas-led terrorist attack" and supports "an outcome that ensures the forever survival of Israel" as well as "the complete denial of the ability of Hamas to reconstitute in the region, and the safe release of United States hostages from the Gaza Strip." 

"This time last year, I woke up in the Middle East to the unbearable news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed terrorists and Americans were being killed and taken hostage," Ernst said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"I immediately traveled into Israel to show that our nation’s friendship is unwavering, in good times and bad. Regardless of whether I have been in Jerusalem, Washington, or Iowa, I have worked around the clock to hold the White House accountable to its ‘ironclad’ commitment, bring our hostages home, and cut off the source of terrorism in Tehran. One year since that day, as Israel remains under attack on all fronts, Senate Republicans stand united with our greatest ally in the Middle East."

The 2023 attack perpetrated by Hamas terrorists saw about 1,200 die and hundreds be taken to Gaza as hostages. 

There are roughly 100 hostages reported to still remain in Gaza, and it is believed that fewer than 70 of them are alive, according to the Associated Press. 

This view shows a destroyed home riddled with bullets in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Israel, on Nov. 2, 2023, after the deadly attack by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

In the lead-up to the attack's anniversary, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a public service announcement warning of hate crimes or violence: "Jewish, Muslim, or Arab institutions – including synagogues, mosques/Islamic centers, and community centers – and large public gatherings, such as memorials, vigils, or other lawful demonstrations, present attractive targets for violent attacks or for hoax threats by a variety of threat actors, including violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators," it stated.

A new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), also released before the attack's one-year anniversary, revealed that after Oct. 7, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose more than 200% from the year prior. 

Anti-Israel protesters rally at Moore Square in Raleigh, N.C., on Oct. 5, 2024. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)

According to the ADL, there were more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents after the Hamas terrorist attack, which was more than any other year since the ADL began recording them in 1979.

The year before the Oct. 7 attack saw 3,325 incidents.

In a Hebrew message to Israeli citizens after Rosh Hashanah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recounted the months of war on multiple fronts and touted recent military successes in taking out key Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist leaders.

"Citizens of Israel, as the New Year dawns upon us, we do not forget, and I do not forget, our 101 hostages in Gaza, to whom we are fully committed to bringing back home," he said in a translated quote.

[jiarou0713]

Common Module - AY24.25 CTS A / Week 02 Collaborative Skills✏️

🧩Q1. Describe your strengths and weaknesses as a collaborator. What did you do well, and what are some areas to improve? Discuss with reference to today's activities

During today’s critical thinking session, I recognized my strength in being open to integrating others’ ideas. Embracing diverse perspectives can fuel creativity and improve problem-solving, aligning with my approach to accepting others’ ideas (Berkeley Exec Ed, 2023). I supported my teammates by contributing creatively, especially in our discussion of social issues during the pandemic. Recognizing my strength in sketching, I shared this skill and took the initiative to draw a COVID-19 monument, focusing on the pillar no one else had addressed, while also assisting teammates with their tasks. Initially, I felt shy and hesitant, which limited my participation and public speaking confidence. However, I engaged more actively as the session progressed. I plan to become more extroverted and confident in group settings by learning to be proactive, as suggested in the article on overcoming teamwork challenges (Collaboration in the Workplace).

🧩Q2. If you had more time and an unlimited budget, how would you design the monument differently? Include pictures of the group work, and your personal re-design.

The COVID-19 monument aims to highlight the social and public health challenges brought by the pandemic. With unlimited resources, I would redesign it as a “Tree of Life,” symbolizing resilience and unity in the face of adversity (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The branches would be shaped like vaccines, representing their essential role in combating the virus. The trunk would feature textured surfaces, capturing the diverse and widespread impacts of COVID-19 across the globe. Inside, a digital display would show real-time COVID-19 data, reminding viewers of the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. The base, designed like a syringe, would offer visitors a reflective space, emphasizing the significance of science and unity in overcoming this crisis. This design is partly inspired by the “Survivor Tree” at the 9/11 Memorial, symbolizing rebirth and hope (9/11 Memorial & Museum).

（272words）

References：

Tree of Life.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/tree-of-life-religion. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

9/11 Memorial & Museum. Survivor Tree. 9/11 Memorial & Museum, 2011, www.911memorial.org.

Jostle. “Why Collaboration Is Important.” Jostle Blog, 15 May 2019, blog.jostle.me/blog/why-collaboration-is-important#:~:text=Collaboration%20helps%20people%20learn%20from%20each%20other&text=Learning%20from%20colleagues%20is%20not,to%20understand%20each%20other’s%20perspective. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

“Collaboration in the Workplace: How to Overcome Common Challenges.” Atlassian, 2021, www.atlassian.com/blog/communication/collaboration-in-the-workplace.

Berkeley Exec Ed. “Teams That Collaborate, Innovate.” Berkeley Executive Education, 2023. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024. https://executive.berkeley.edu/thought-leadership/blog/teams-collaborate-innovate

[dragoneyes613]

In the fall of 2022, the left-leaning mainstream media did almost everything they could to help the flagging senatorial candidacy of John Fetterman. Nearly three years later, liberal corporate outlets seem to be intent on destroying him with reports claiming to detail his aberrant behavior, questionable health and devastating comments from former staffers, and even from his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman.

What’s behind the change in their attitude?

One thing known for sure is that it’s not the ostensible issue driving a flood of stories casting doubt on Fetterman’s state of mind and fitness for office. And, just like the same outlets’ disgraceful cover-up of former President Joe Biden’s mental incapacity—something that became obvious during his disastrous presidential debate with Donald Trump in June 2024—ended once it was clear that he couldn’t win re-election, the turn against Fetterman is devastating evidence of the media’s lack of credibility. The shifting narrative about the senator is an object lesson in how to read the contemporary liberal press. It’s why even those most reluctant to write off legacy media as partisan propaganda outlets need to acknowledge that 21st-century journalism is broken beyond repair.

The same outlets now skewering him as a sick man who has lost control of himself and hinting at the need for him to resign were singing a far different tune in 2022, when they steadfastly stuck to the story that there was nothing wrong with a man who had suffered a devastating stroke only days before he won his party’s nomination for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. That support from liberal outlets required some journalists to blatantly lie about his condition, alleging that any reporting to the contrary about his health was Republican disinformation. This helped him win that November, though a lot of the credit for his victory also belongs to the dismal, out-of-touch performance of his GOP opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz.

The liberal press never budged from that line even after Fetterman took office in 2023, endured some difficult first weeks on Capitol Hill and was then hospitalized for depression. He recovered and returned to his regular duties, albeit still relying on digital devices with closed-captioned technology as a result of what he said was a temporary speech impediment related to the stroke. Anyone who questioned whether a U.S. senator ought to rely on this method to conduct conversations and listen to speeches was damned as a bigoted “ableist” opponent of the disabled.

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But by the end of his first year in office, the cheerleading and/or covering for Fetterman ceased. Why was that? The answer can be summed up in one word: Israel.

Standing with Israel

Fetterman reacted to the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terror assaults on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, not just with anger and horror. Unlike most Democrats, who spent the subsequent months demanding a ceasefire that would allow the Hamas terrorist organization to emerge as the victor of the war it started, Fetterman was having none of that. He immediately made it clear that he was determined to support the Jewish state’s efforts to defeat and eradicate Hamas, and that blame for all of the casualties in the post-Oct. 7 war belonged to the Islamist group and not the Jewish state.

Indeed, Fetterman has become a hero to the pro-Israel community in the last 19 months for his unwavering support, which is undiluted by any willingness to pay lip service to the left’s false claims that the Jewish state is committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. Along with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), he is among the few Democrats who have stood by Jerusalem during the crisis without wavering. Nor has he talked out of both sides of his mouth, damning the Israelis for “overreacting” to the events of Oct. 7 or praising the idealism of the pro-Hamas mobs on college campuses, as did former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

To say that his stand on Israel has come as a shock to fellow Democrats, especially the left-wing activists who carried him to victory in a May 2022 Pennsylvania Democratic primary against a credible moderate alternative and an attractive representative of the African-American community, is an understatement. It’s hard to imagine any Pennsylvania Democrat, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish (Fetterman is not), trolling pro-Hamas demonstrators at his office and home by waving an Israeli flag while they chanted about “genocide.” Or by hanging outside the door of his Washington office posters of men, women and children of different nationalities who were kidnapped by Hamas and murdered there or along the way, or held captive for days and months. Even more to the point, as numerous accounts make clear, Fetterman’s staff and even his wife have become outraged by his support for Israel, a position that marks him as an outlier in his party.

Fetterman has shown some other signs of moderation since Oct. 7, notably his willingness to meet with President Donald Trump after his November 2024 election victory and to vote for a couple of his cabinet appointees. But on the whole, he’s stuck to his liberal positions on a host of other economic and even social issues, such as his support for trans rights, and voted against most of Trump’s choices. That stance even started a boomlet among some pro-Israel Democrats, proposing Fetterman as a long-shot possibility for the 2028 presidential nomination in which he would be the centrist alternative in a party increasingly dominated by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Pro-Israel stands as a form of mental illness?

That unlikely prospect aside, it is his supposed “apostasy” about Israel that is driving the anger against him from the progressive wing of his party. This is the only explanation for liberal journalists’ volte-face on the question of his health and fitness for office.

The story that started the tsunami of negative coverage of Fetterman was a lengthy profile in New York Magazine, titled: “All by Himself: John Fetterman insists he is in good health. But staffers past and present say they no longer recognize the man they once knew.”

The main on-the-record source for the piece was his former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, a veteran left-wing Democratic operative. Like most Democratic congressional staffers on Capitol Hill, Jentleson is an opponent of Israel, who thought the Biden-Harris ambivalent stand on the post-Oct. 7 war was insufficiently hostile to the Jewish state. He ultimately resigned and, along with others who didn’t speak on the record, is at pains to hint that Fetterman’s backing for Israel and refusal to play along with Hamas talking points signify signs of his mental instability.

That story spawned other articles in outlets like The New York Times, The Atlantic, Politico, NBC News, CBS News in which Democrats—both anonymous and on-the-record—shaded Fetterman and depicted him as a deeply disturbed and unstable person in need of medical care. And, they say, he has no business being in the Senate.

Is there a possibility that they are at least partially correct about Fetterman’s health? Maybe.

Press hypocrisy

As someone who cast doubt on his fitness for office when liberals were pretending that there was nothing to see, I’m prepared to accept that some of the current reporting about his health might be accurate. But I also know that the sudden interest in his well-being on the part of the liberal press has nothing to do with any alleged change for the worse in his condition.

While he may still be impaired, as journalists like Salena Zito have reported, since his hospitalization in early 2023, he has managed to do his job for the past two years as reasonably well as most of his colleagues. Though, admittedly, that is a pretty low standard by which to judge anyone.

As such, it’s blatantly obvious that the motivation for the media offensive against Fetterman is about politics, not health. The reason that the same publications, networks and journalists that spent four years declaring that there was nothing wrong with Biden are now sounding the alarm about the senator is because he isn’t useful to them anymore. If he were behaving like other left-wing Democrats and criticizing Israel, the odds that New York magazine, the Times or any of the other outlets seeking to depict him as unworthy of a Senate seat would today be ignoring any concerns about his condition.

While this single demonstration of the media’s corruption and utter lack of credibility is disturbing in and of itself, it’s just another instance of why so much of what the mainstream corporate media publishes should be read with a truckload of salt. Media bias is nothing new, but it’s gotten to the point where stories that are clearly part of a partisan information operation are the norm rather than unusual. As Ruthie Blum wrote in JNS about a recent media attempt to sow dissension between the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government in Israel, this sort of thing is now ubiquitous. At least in America, we have come to the point where it’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that much of what is printed in the mainstream press must be discounted as nothing more than political disinformation.

In the meantime, regardless of concerns about his health, Fetterman still deserves the applause and gratitude of voters for his courage in standing up against the political fashion of his party when it comes to the war against Israel. Whatever else you might think of him, he is an authentic, if eccentric character (his penchant for wearing hoodies and shorts to work is something that has angered his Senate colleagues) who connects with ordinary working-class voters in a way that most Democrats cannot. While he may well face a tough left-wing primary challenge when he runs for re-election, those who underestimate his political appeal in a state and a country sick of partisan ideological polarization do so at their own peril.

Liberals tolerated an infirm and incapable president simply because they thought it helped keep Trump out of the White House. Friends of the Jewish state should therefore be forgiven for being willing to put up with an irascible and moody senator from Pennsylvania who needs technological assistance to do his job but has shown integrity and character when it comes to the post-Oct. 7 surge of antisemitism that other members of his party have either tolerated or encouraged.

[optionperks]

SEBI Settles Elcid Investments' Case Over Disclosure Lapses

Elcid Investments Ltd. has entered a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, in a case pertaining to failure to maintain structured digital database and lapses in disclosure, by paying a settlement amount of Rs 17.3 lakh. The application for a settlement order was submitted to the markets regulator by Elcid Investments, seeking resolution of the adjudication proceedings related to the alleged violations. The instant adjudication proceedings initiated against the company has been disposed of, SEBI said in its settlement order. A show-cause notice, dated Oct. 31, 2023, had accused Elcid Investments of not maintaining a structured digital database throughout the investigation period. The notice also highlighted the company's failure to report the joint shareholding of 50 shares between Jatin Saraiya, a member of the promoter group, and his spouse in the December-January quarter of fiscal 2022. This led to the alleged violations of insider trading rules and Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements norms, it said. The notice was issued after SEBI conducted an investigation to verify compliance with the provisions of securities law by Elcid Investments, after receiving complaints through SCORES. The period of the investigation was between March 9, 2022 and May 13, 2022.