#alert 2021! Report on conflicts

[daily-coloring]

Best of 2023 - Movies

Seems like I did run into more than one almost perfect movie this year, but the number one, definitely one of the most brilliant film I ever watched. And no, it's not the new Basic Instinct but I can see a little bit of resemblance.

01. Anatomy of a Fall - Dir: Justine Triet - 2023 - "Marriage, the film suggests, is like a mosaic. One or two highly coloured tiles might catch the eye but they can’t, on their own, show the whole picture. The reports we get of Sandra and Samuel’s life together (there is only one flashback in the film; most of what we learn comes from the evidence presented in the court) suggest a relationship that gets chillier and spikier by the minute. But then the prosecution’s case relies on cherrypicking the trauma and the deep-seated unhappiness in the marriage, and foregrounding the character traits in Sandra that might make her capable of murder. A choice of other, sunnier moments, as Sandra reasonably points out, would paint an entirely different picture of her relationship with her husband." - The Guardian

02. Saltburn - Dir: Emerald Fennell - 2023

03. Aftersun - Dir: Charlotte Wells - 2022

04. Past Lives - Dir: Celine Song - 2023 = "Towards the end of Celine Song’s Past Lives, two old friends wait for a cab in front of a bright blue garage door. In the two minutes it takes for a car to arrive, both everything, and nothing happens. Writer and director Song is perhaps more attuned to rhythm of dialogue than most: like Nora Moon (Greta Lee), the protagonist of this feature debut, she made her name as a playwright. But Song is also sharply aware of the power of the unsaid, of what can be articulated through pauses and gestures. As the film swells to its emotional climax, not a word is spoken." - British Film Institute

05. Tár - Dir: Todd Field - 2022

06. Leave the World Behind - Dir: Sam Esmail - 2023

07. Bros - Dir: Nicholas Stoller - 2022

08. Rurangi - Dir: Max Currie - 2020 - "Director Max Currie lets the bleak landscape and the conflicted characters tell the story, and the plot resolution, when it comes, is incomplete but full of hope. There are some terrific lines of dialogue: Jem tells Caz: “you’re like the same, but you’re not”, and he adds: “ gender-it’s complicated; you were never exactly girly”. In a sickbed reconciliation, father Gerald tells Caz:” It’s not my world… I want you here”. Anahera has the final word on this: “ most people are just idiots about other people’s sexuality. You just do you”." - Scene Magazine

09. Spoiler Alert - Dir: Michael Showalter - 2022

10. Saint Maud - Dir: Rose Glass - 2019

11. The Innocents - Dir: Eskil Vogt - 2021

12. Lamb - Dir: Valdimar Jóhannsson - 2021

13. The Whale - Dir: Darren Aronofsky - 2022

14. Athena - Dir: Romain Gavras - 2022

15. Possessor - Dir: Brandon Cronenberg - 2020 - "It’s all very compelling, well-acted and presented, although there’s a chilliness and a clinical edge that is very Cronenberg-ian, but might keep audiences at arm’s length. Ditto the violence. Stabbings, shootings, pokerings (use your imagination) — it’s all here, bar exploding heads. A strong stomach is required. If you don’t have one, just use someone else’s." - Empire

16. What's Love Got To Do With It - Dir: Shekhar Kapur - 2022

17. Nuovo Olimpo - Dir: Ferzan Özpetek - 2023

18. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret - Dir: Kelly Fremon Craig - 2023

19. Joy Ride - Dir: Adele Lim - 2023

20. Earthquake Bird - Dir: Wash Westmoreland - 2019

21. Cruella - Dir: Craig Gillespie - 2021

22. The Daughter - Dir: Simon Stone - 2015

23. Nope - Dir: Jordan Peele - 2022

24. Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool - Dir: Paul McGuigan - 2017

25. Don't Worry Darling - Dir: Olivia Wilde - 2022

26. A Hero - Dir: Asghar Farhadi - 2021

27. You Hurt My Feelings - Dir: Nicole Holofcener - 2023

28. Anaïs in Love - Dir: Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet - 2021 - "The pleasures of Anaïs in Love largely derive from the nuanced performances by Demoustier and Bruni Tedeschi. The latter, for once, is not required to be tearful or neurotic, and the growing attraction between her and Anaïs is convincingly handled – even if one could quibble at a couple of cliché moments, such as the two women’s encounter under an apple tree (in which Anaïs gives Émilie an apple) and the nowadays seemingly obligatory sea-shore setting for the lesbian love scene. The excellent Demoustier sustains the entire film, indeed named after her. Her choice was not accidental: Bourgeois-Tacquet had already cast her as the lead in her 2018 short Pauline asservie. (Both the short and Anaïs in Love were shown at Cannes in 2021 – quite an accolade.) Ebullient and ‘cute’ especially when seducing Daniel or Émilie, Demoustier is equally believable as an aggrieved daughter when she finds out that her mother’s lethal illness has returned. Her irrepressible energy and artless beauty underline her precise rendition of a modern young woman bent on following her own desire, straight or queer – at times to the point of insensitivity. Indeed, it’s hard to think of another actress who could have made Anais’s exasperating unreliability, egocentricity and excessive volubility forgivable, let alone endearing, as they are evidently supposed to be. Fans of Eric Rohmer may be reminded of some of the young heroines in his ‘Comedies and Proverbs’ (1980–1990) and ‘Tales of the Four Seasons’ (1990 – 1998) series, a filmic heritage also suggested by the literary references and cultured dialogue. This is marivaudage with an intellectual bent – Anaïs and Émilie share a love of Duras’s 1964 novel The Ravishing of Lol Stein – and a feminist twist: “I don’t want to meet interesting people,” Anaïs says, “I want to be interesting.” Thanks in large part to Demoustier, she is." - British Film Institute

29. Flora + Son - Dir: John Carney - 2023

30. Explanation of Everything - Dir: Gábor Reisz - 2023

[pannaginip]

Tinig ng Plaridel (student publication) on Twitter @/tinigngplaridel:

WATCH: Media groups gather in front of the Department of Justice to call for the immediate release of Tacloban journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been detained for almost four years now due to trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms.

Cumpio was arrested on February 7, 2020, alongside four human rights leaders during a series of raids on what the military claimed were “identified communist terrorist group safe houses."

Journalists have since clamored for Cumpio's release, saying that her imprisonment is an attack meant to intimidate members of the press.

#FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio #DefendPressFreedom

2024 Jan. 23

Also arrested were activists Marielle Domequil, Alexander Philip Abinguna, Marissa Cabaljo, and Mira Legion. They were all charged with illegal possession of firearms and were tagged as suspected members of the New People’s Army.

The manner of her arrest is consistent with how others like her have been detained across the country.

First there is a search warrant. Then a raid. Then the police find explosives.

From 2018 up to her arrest in 2020, Cumpio reported on a wide variety of human rights issues that covered the killings of farmers in Northern Samar; the violent conflict fueled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s Memorandum No. 32, or the deployment of more military personnel in alleged rebel hotbeds, including Samar; Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental; land-grabbing; and post-disaster relief operations.

By the end of 2019, Cumpio reportedly alerted her colleagues in Altermidya that she was being tailed by unidentified men aboard motorcycles in Tacloban. Padilla said she informed them during an Altermidya meeting in December 2019, the last time the two interacted before her arrest.

“The ordeal of Frenchie Mae is part of the increasing persecution of the critical media by the forces of a government so intolerant of criticism and dissent that the mere exercise of democratic rights is enough for one to be branded an ‘enemy of the state,'” the statement [by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines] read.

2021 Feb. 9

[warningsine]

Oct 10 (Reuters) - An artillery strike that hit a refugee camp near Myanmar's border with China has killed at least 29 people, including women and children, media and sources said on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since the return of military rule.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a brutal conflict in multiple regions in the wake of a 2021 coup, with ethnic minority armies and a resistance movement battling to undermine military rule after a fierce crackdown by security forces.

Sources including the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) blamed the military for the shelling, which took place close to midnight on Monday in Kachin State.

A spokesperson for the junta said the military was not responsible.

"We are investigating. We always take care of border peace situation," Zaw Min Tun told People Media, adding that the explosion may have involved an ethnic rebel group's own munitions.

Sources said artillery hit a camp for internally displaced people about 5 km (3 miles) from a base in the border town of Laiza run by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has been in conflict for years with Myanmar's military.

Kachin media outlets said 30 people were killed. Reuters could not independently verify the death toll and spokespersons for the KIA could not immediately be reached for comment.

The NUG condemned what it called a vicious attack on civilians and said the world must take action to halt the atrocities and put Myanmar's generals on trial.

"This act of military council is war crime and crime against humanity," NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said, adding an attack at the border with China showed the junta did not respect its neighbour's demand for peace and stability.

The United Nations in Myanmar said on Facebook it was deeply concerned by reports of the incident, adding that "civilians should never be a target".

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Laiza is the capital of KIA, among the largest of dozens of ethnic groups that have been battling the military for decades.

It sits close to the Chinese border and is home to many civilians living in displacement camps in and around the town. The UN says more than 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Myanmar.

A student activist currently in Laiza said the whole town was "shaken" by the explosion and residents were evacuating.

"We are on alert because we worry that there can be second bomb attack," said Justin, who declined to provide a last name. "The locals are worried about that and so people are relocating now."

Kachin media shared a series of graphic images on Facebook of destruction, which could not immediately be verified by Reuters. One showed casualties on the floor, another more than a dozen body bags lined up.

Others showed men in military attire sifting through wreckage and a man carrying the body of a small child.

The incident was the deadliest since an air strike in Myanmar's volatile Sagaing region in April that killed scores of people including civilians.

Khon Ja, a local activist with the Kachin Peace Network Civil society group told Reuters she had visited the local hospital and was told 29 people were dead and 59 wounded.

"The bomb was too strong ... the village was totally destroyed and disappeared," she said.

[paddy603]

US On High Alert Amid Israel-Iran Shadow War: Origins Of Conflict Explained; The roots of Iran-Israel shadow war trace back to the overthrow of Iran's last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979.

In fact having read" The Modern Middle East " by Jeremy Bowden. He was the BBC's Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem between 1995 and 2000[2] and the BBC Middle East editor from 2005 to 2022.

In his book I was reminded that this all started back in 1890 when Herzl an Austro Hungarian Jew was talking with a fellow scholar and former Mayor of Jerusalem during the Ottoman period. Talks with Yusaf Diya al-Din al-Khilidi about the prospect of introducing Jews from Europe back into the then Palestine. (renamed Syria-Palestinia by the Romans when the Jews were sent into exile.

In 1948 the reality of that conversation and the Balfour agreement, all changed as Israel became a state. But if peace were ever to come, Israel would first have to survive the military campaign to eliminate it — five Arab armies attacked on May, 15, 1948, Israel’s first full day of independence. Hence that conflict has never been quelled but continued to fester as with these latest threats from Iran, Lebanon and Syria with threats from Hezbollah, and Hamas to annihilate Israel.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, there’s an intriguing incident where Jesus encounters a fig tree that is full of leaves, despite it being too early in the season for fig trees to be so lush. Upon closer inspection, Jesus finds that the tree bears no fruit. In response, He curses the fig tree, saying, “May you never bear fruit again!” Later, the disciples discover that the tree has withered.

This seemingly puzzling event holds deeper symbolism:

1. Israel: The fig tree represents the nation of Israel. Just as the tree bore leaves but lacked fruit, Israel would experience periods of fruitlessness despite its advantages 2. Jesus’ action serves as a parable, 3. foreshadowing the judgment that would befall Jerusalem.

A prophecy that He goes on to explain in it's fulfilment of when Israel's return to their land: The phrase “this generation shall not pass” appears in the Gospel of Matthew. It’s part of Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Olives, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse. Let’s delve into its meaning: The specific passage containing this phrase is Matthew 24:34. Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions about the signs of His coming and the end of the age.

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near.

Context

The Lesson of the Fig tree.

Jesus declares, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). The phrase “this generation” refers to those living during that time. A generation is generally regarded as three score and ten, seventy years. Is that generation not ours Israel became a state in 1948 I was born in 1949 my generation, surely that makes one think when will this happen who will start the war on Israel.?

"Iran gives USA a chilling warning to 'stay away so you won't get hurt' as it vows revenge on Israel. 'Stay away so you won't get hurt,' Iran warned the US after vowing to get revenge for a strike widely attributed to Israel which killed Iranian military staff at the country's consulate in Syria." By Benjamin Lynch News Reporter & Charlie Jones News Reporter 16:57, 6 Apr 2024 UPDATED 00:21, 7 APR 2024. The Mirror.

Tensions mount between Iran, Israel amid Vienna nuke talks, Analysis; TEHRAN, Dec. 25 2021 (Xinhua) — Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) completed on Friday the final stage of the five-day “Great Prophet 17” military drills, sending through the words of its commanders a warning message to Israeli threats.

The threat of war seems so much closer now as one mad man is threatening the world with his finger poised on the Nuclear button to our Annihilation. Wars and rumours of wars, climate change, warnings of financial collapse, famines and floods. All of these are happening now so what happens next?

"And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8.

"Ezekiel ch. 38,39 prophecy is looking to be fulfilled in our lifetime. The Middle Eastern invasion led by Iran, Russia, and Turkey is on the horizon. Jesus is returning for His Church (the Rapture) sooner than we realize. Be watchful and ready." Val Waldeck,

Many of today’s Bible prophecy teachers and students are devoting a lot of their attention to the prophecies written over 2500 years ago in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This increased interest is driven in large part by a general consensus among them that the details of the prophecy are drawing near to fulfilment. This article will take a look at the final fulfilment of Ezekiel 38 and 39. The following time periods will be examined to see which one best fits the descriptions provided by the Hebrew prophet. Most think that time has come and that prophecy about to be fulfilled in our time.

The Iranian regime has spent billions of dollars on weapons and fighters shipped to Syria since the start of the Syrian revolution in March 2011. It has also financed a large part of the economy in the regime-controlled parts of Syria through loans and credit lines worth billions of dollars. The Assad regime would have collapsed were it not for this Iranian support.

One result of this heavy Iranian involvement in the war in Syria has been a change in the nature of the relationship between the Syrian and the Iranian regimes. From historically being mutually beneficial allies, the Iranian regime is now effectively the dominant force in regime-held areas of Syria, and can thus be legally considered an “occupying force,” with the responsibilities that accompany such a role.

Another book that highlights the volitivity of the Middle East is in Jeremy Bowen's own story on the "Modern Middle East." I also to tended to question David Cameron's return as Foreign Secretary with his past failed handling of Middle Eastern states at war and in crisis during his premiership.

He made a total hash of Libya by deposing Gadhafi and not helping to bring about change to fill the political void left in his absence. The same in working with Baraka Obama with their failed bid to remove Bashur Al Assad from power in Syria. In the end unable to get the backing of his Parliament to enter the war to then actually being mocked by Bashur Al Assad who is still in power thanks to the Russian's backing him.

Will War in Ukraine Further Destabilize Syria? Where are Israel in this Conflict?'

Israel has increasingly gone public with its support for Ukraine while avoiding public condemnation of Russia, the primary backer of the Syrian regime, which is classified by Israel as an enemy state on its northern border.

Israel against Gaza where do they fit in? As one who studies the regional conflicts I have to ask has the world once again taken it's eye off what we are not seeing with this conflict. How will it end?

Are Russia and Israel on a collision course with Iran threat and Israel's conflict with Syria? To repeat "Iran warned the US after vowing to get revenge for a strike widely attributed to Israel which killed Iranian military staff at the country's consulate in Syria." By Benjamin Lynch News Reporter & Charlie Jones News Reporter 16:57, 6 Apr 2024 UPDATED 00:21, 7 APR 2024. The Mirror.

Recent Russian statements have prompted speculation about Moscow's response to Israeli strikes in Syria. If there's a shift, it could pose problems for the US, as the situation between Israel and Russia is also very fragile and complicated.

There is reason to believe that violence in Ukraine and global geopolitical wrangling could spiral into other parts of the world—including Syria that both Iran and Russia think they have a right to as well as Russia's claim to Ukraine.

NATO Boss' 'Compromise With Putin' Remark Shocks Zelensky As Russian Army Advances At Frontline.

Avery recent statement from NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said "Ukraine may have to agree to some kind of compromise with Russia to end the conflict. In an interview with the BBC published on April 6, Stoltenberg said "It was up to Ukraine to choose when and under what conditions to seek peace with Russia." He also added, "At the end of the day, it has to be Ukraine that decides what kind of compromises they’re willing to do." Watch INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

The fact that one man—one man—is responsible for this huge geopolitical shift is deeply significant. It wouldn’t have happened without him using his power and having the will to step out and shake the nations, But does this imply bible prophecy is actually the case here and he is that Prince of Rosh, or is it is simply more conspiracy speculation.“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him’” Ezekiel 38:1-2

As one who studies the bible maybe the world needs to refocus on what next. For as we normalize relations with Iran due to our need of oil and as a result the United States' willingness to renegotiate the Iran Nuclear deal have we taken our eye off the eye of the storm to come.

Jesus said of this time "Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

[rohitpalan]

Digital Battlefield Market Soars: A Comprehensive Analysis of the $61.7 Billion Industry in 2024

The digital battlefield market is expected to be valued at US$ 61.7 billion in 2024. The demand is expected to progress at an exemplary rate over the forecast period, with a CAGR of 17.8%. By 2034, the value of the market is forecast to record a valuation of US$ 319.0 billion.

With army training becoming more extensive and military planning assuming an even more elevated stature, the digital battlefield space is becoming a prime concern for militaries. With geopolitical conflicts rising, militaries are becoming even more alert and spending on technology, thus laying out the groundwork for the digital battlefield. Governments, too, are encouraging the use of digital battlefields by granting more budget to technology adaption in militaries.

Technologies like AI, robotics, and drones are accelerating the use of digital battlefields. Software like AR/VR is aiding in the training of soldiers by replicating real-life battle situations with increasing accuracy. 5G technology is being used to improve the communication between various army elements.

Request for a Sample of this Research Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18824

Digital battlefield solutions allow military personnel to take on-the-fly decisions and better execute strategies. The tracking of own and enemy soldiers with the help of GIS and GPS technologies is also seeing the digital battlefield gain more prominence.

“The avenues for the digital battlefield are rapidly expanding. In addition to traditional land strategies, digital planning is also helping armies in naval, air, and even space platforms. Thus, the scope of investment in the market remains wide,” says an analyst at FMI.

Key Takeaways from the Digital Battlefield Market

The digital battlefield market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 61.7 billion in 2024.

Land remains a prominent platform in the digital battlefield market. From 2024 to 2034, the segment is forecast to progress at 17.6%.

Hardware is the leader in the solution segment. Hardware is predicted to progress at a CAGR of 17.4% for the forecast period.

South Korea is one of the promising countries in the market. The CAGR for South Korea over the forecast period is anticipated to be 20.1%.

Japan and China are other Asian countries poised to be lucrative for the market. For the 2024 to 2034 period, the CAGR for Japan and China is pegged at 19.6% and 18.7% respectively.

The market is expected to register a CAGR of 18.2% in the United States over the forecast period.

Competition Analysis

Market players focus on securing lucrative contracts from governments, with relationship building also an area of focus. Partnerships among players are also often seen for critical infrastructure, cyber threats, and technology. Some prominent companies in the market include Raytheon Technologies Corporation, BAE Systems, Elbit Systems Ltd., and General Dynamics Corporation.

Recent Developments

In June 2022, BAE Systems developed the Mobility Air Forces Automated Flight Planning Service, or MAFPS, for the United States Airforce.

In April 2021, Raytheon Technologies launched the Stinger Virtual Trainer System to equip soldiers with training for the Stinger Missile Launcher.

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Key Segments

By Platform:

Land

Naval

Aircraft

Space

By Solution:

Hardware

Software

Solutions

By Technology:

Artificial Intelligence

Internet of Things (IoT)

Robotic Process Automation

Cloud Computing and Master Data Management

5G

Others

By Application:

Warfare Platform

Cyber Security

Surveillance and Situational Awareness

Command and Control

Mobile Communication

Simulation and Training

Design and Manufacturing

Electronic Warfare

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Oceania

The Middle East and Africa (MEA)

[environmentindia]

Today's Trending Environment News Alert

◆ Numerous organizations intensified their protests Sunday at Hariharpur village in the state of Chhattisgarh in India, raising demands to cancel the Parsa coal mine as it threatens large-scale deforestation of the Hasdeo forests of Chhattisgarh, also known as the lungs of Chhattisgarh.

◆ In a concerning revelation in the Kerala Forest department's annual administrative report of 2021-22, over 5,000 hectares of forested land in the state has been encroached upon.

◆ According to the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden Samir Sinha, the tiger population density in Uttarakhand is among the highest in the world. The tiger population, which stood at 178 in 2006, rose to 560 in 2022, recording a rise of 314%.

◆ According to data compiled by the Wildlife Protection Society of India, a staggering 206 tigers and 565 leopards lost their lives during the year. Notably, Maharashtra recorded the highest tiger mortality with 52 deaths, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh with 45.

◆ Bird species in northeastern India have started shifting to higher elevations due to increasing temperatures owing to deforestation, a new study showed.

🌱🌏🌱

[thesecrettimes]

IEA Report: Oil Prices on the Brink of Soaring as Supply Narrows and Demand Shatters Records

IEA Report Sheds Light on Skyrocketing Oil Demand in the Face of Production Slump According to the IEA’s projections, the world’s thirst for oil is set to swell by 2.2 million barrels per day (mb/d), reaching a new peak of 102.2 mb/d in 2023. In stark contrast, OPEC+ saw its supply contract by 1.2 mb/d in July, plummeting to 50.7 mb/d, due to Saudi Arabia’s voluntary reductions. This downtick in production occurs as U.S.-led non-OPEC production inches up a mere 1.5 mb/d for the entire year. Refineries are feeling the pinch, grappling to keep up, as margins for gasoline and diesel touch multi-month peaks. The depletion of crude and product stocks is accelerating, with OECD inventories falling over 100 mb below 5-year averages in July. The IEA anticipates that stocks may plunge an additional 3.4 mb/d in the latter half of 2023 if OPEC+ sticks to its slashed output objectives. With the world’s cushion of spare capacity wearing thin, extra OPEC barrels will be vital to bolster refining operations. In a significant move, U.S. president Joe Biden authorized the withdrawal of 180 million barrels from the nation’s strategic oil reserve in March 2022, depleting the stockpile to its most anemic levels since the 1980s. Yet, with oil prices stealthily climbing above $80 a barrel, the Biden administration made a calculated decision to postpone replenishing the country’s vital strategic oil reserve. Moreover, OPEC’s prudent stance implies that supplies might continue to be stretched thin. “If the bloc’s current targets are maintained, oil inventories could draw by 2.2 mb/d in and 1.2 mb/d in , with a risk of driving prices still higher,” the IEA report states. Much like the U.S., the United Kingdom finds itself with dwindling reserves and a reliance on imports. In terms of proven petroleum reserves, the U.K. is estimated to have a back-up of roughly four times its annual consumption. Europe’s oil supply has historically been sourced from various regions, but until 2021, Russia held the crown as the EU’s principal petroleum supplier. The dynamic shifted dramatically, however, with the onset of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, leading to the U.S. supplanting Russia as Europe’s foremost provider of crude oil. In the meantime, an RT report further indicates that leading importers such as China and India are capitalizing on discounted Russian crude in record amounts, as Western sanctions redirect trade currents. RT staff writers explain that Russia, having held onto its position as China’s primary supplier for half a year, accounted for a fifth of China’s June imports. India, too, sourced a staggering 45% of its June crude from Russia, maintaining it as the top provider for a full year. The IEA’s study concurs with the RT report and notes, “Russian oil exports held steady at around 7.3 mb/d in July, as a 200 kb/d decline in crude oil loadings was offset by higher product flows.” It goes on to note, “Crude exports to China and India eased month-over-month but comprised 80% of Russian shipments.” This combination of strained supplies, depleted reserves, and burgeoning Asian markets sketches an alarming scenario of looming price surges. As the global economy finds its footing, any proliferation of Russian crude sales to major importing nations could potentially magnify the peril. For the time being, the IEA alerts that the market teeters on the brink, dangerously skewed towards price amplification. What do you think about the IEA’s latest report? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below. Read the full article

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Global hunger enters a grim ‘new normal’ (Washington Post) While the fact that there wasn’t a major increase in global hunger between 2021 and 2022 could be viewed as a positive sign, there are a lot more negative trends to be gleaned from the United Nations’ annual flagship report on global food security, which was released last week. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that between 691 million and 783 million people faced hunger last year. The midrange of that calculation, about 735 million, is 122 million more people going hungry than in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic shook the world. This year’s report—“The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023”—also found that nearly 30 percent of humanity, or roughly 2.4 billion people, lacked access to adequate food in 2022, while an even greater number—3.1 billion people—were unable to afford a healthy diet. It projected that by the end of the decade, despite significant poverty alleviation initiatives, some 600 million people will still be chronically undernourished, a blow to U.N.-outlined goals of eliminating hunger by 2030. Qu Dongyu, director general of the FAO, said in a statement. “This is the ‘new normal’ where climate change, conflict, and economic instability are pushing those on the margins even further from safety.”

Air quality warnings return in U.S. as Canada deploys troops for wildfires (Washington Post) Canada deployed its military to help overwhelmed local authorities and emergency workers fight intensifying wildfires, which have burned nearly 25 million acres of the country’s land so far this year and prompted authorities in parts of the United States to issue air quality warnings. The Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard will deploy to British Columbia, in the west of the country, after the province submitted a request for federal assistance that the Canadian government approved, it said Sunday. Smoke from the fires turned the sky orange in parts of the U.S. East Coast last month, prompting local health authorities to issue air quality warnings and ask people, especially the most vulnerable, to stay indoors. Parts of the U.S. Northeast, Midwest and South, as well as the Great Plains, were forecast to reach air quality levels Monday that are unhealthy for vulnerable people, including Pittsburgh, Chicago and Nashville, according to AirNow, a tracker maintained by a group of U.S. government agencies. Parts of Iowa and cities on the northeast border with Canada—including Cleveland and Buffalo—were expected to experience “unhealthy” air quality levels, according to AirNow. Louisville, the most populous city in Kentucky, was under an Air Quality Alert on Monday.

Rumbles in Alaska (1440) Alaskans spent the weekend experiencing an uptick in seismic activity, with a series of volcanic eruptions from the remote Shishaldin Volcano Friday followed by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake late Saturday morning off the southwestern coast. The volcano is nestled in the middle of the sparsely populated Aleutian Islands, part of the archipelago making up the Alaskan peninsula. Shishaldin started exhibiting low-intensity eruptions Tuesday but began Friday with a burst that sent an ash cloud nearly 40,000 feet in the air. Meanwhile, the Saturday earthquake was the strongest to hit the area since an 8.2 magnitude quake in 2021. The region sits along the northeastern ridge of the “Ring of Fire”—a set of tectonic boundaries that encircle the Pacific basin, giving rise to numerous volcanoes and frequent earthquakes along its perimeter.

Weeks of extreme heat are straining aging infrastructure. (WSJ) A streak of 110-degree days is frying Phoenix, and an unrelenting heat wave is punishing Texas and other parts of the South. Some of the hardest-hit areas will face hotter temperatures in the coming days, forecasters say. The heat wave is testing the U.S. electric grid, which is being asked to deliver more power for running air conditioners without much of a break for routine maintenance. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a nonprofit that monitors the health of the bulk power system, says large portions of the U.S. could face blackouts this summer.

American Paychecks Grow, Europeans Become Poorer (WSJ) Americans’ growing paychecks surpassed inflation for the first time in two years, providing some financial relief to workers, while complicating the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame price increases. Inflation-adjusted average hourly wages rose 1.2% in June from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department. That marked the second straight month of seasonally adjusted gains after two years when workers’ historically elevated raises were erased by price increases. Europeans, meanwhile, are facing a new economic reality: They are becoming poorer. The French are eating less foie gras and drinking less red wine. Spaniards are stinting on olive oil. Finns are being urged to use saunas on windy days when energy is less expensive. German meat and milk consumption has fallen to the lowest level in three decades. With consumption spending in free fall, Europe tipped into recession at the start of the year, reinforcing a sense of relative economic, political and military decline.

A National Treasure, Tarnished: Can Britain Fix Its Health Service? (NYT) Fifteen hours after she was taken out of an ambulance at Queen’s Hospital with chest pains and pneumonia, Marian Patten was still in the emergency room, waiting for a bed in a ward. Mrs. Patten, 78, was luckier than others who arrived at this teeming hospital, east of London: She had not yet been wheeled into a hallway. For months, doctors at Queen’s have been forced to treat people in a corridor because of a lack of space. As the ambulances kept pulling up outside, the doctor supervising the E.R., Darryl Wood, said it was only a matter of time before nurses would begin diverting patients into the overflow space again. “We’re in that mode every day now because the N.H.S. doesn’t have the capacity to deal with all the patients,” Dr. Wood said. As it turns 75 this month, the N.H.S., a proud symbol of Britain’s welfare state, is in the deepest crisis of its history: flooded by aging, enfeebled patients; starved of investment in equipment and facilities; and understaffed by doctors and nurses, many of whom are so burned out that they are either joining strikes or leaving for jobs abroad. Interviews over three months with doctors, nurses, patients, hospital administrators and medical analysts depict a system so profoundly troubled that some experts warn that the health service is at risk of collapse.

Riots in France Highlight a Vicious Cycle Between Police and Minorities (NY) Years before France was inflamed with anger at the police killing of a teenager during a traffic stop, there was the notorious Théo Luhaka case. Mr. Luhaka, 22, a Black soccer player, was cutting through a known drug-dealing zone in his housing project in a Paris suburb in 2017 when the police swept in to conduct identity checks. Mr. Luhaka was wrestled to the ground by three police officers, who hit him repeatedly and sprayed tear gas in his face. When it was over, he was bleeding from a four inch tear in his rectum, caused by one of the officers’ expandable batons. Mr. Luhaka’s housing project, and others around Paris, erupted in fury. He was held up as a symbol of what activists had been denouncing for years: discriminatory policing that violently targets minority youth, particularly in France’s poor areas. And there was a sense that, this time, something would change. Instead, the relationship between the country’s minority populations and its heavy-handed police force worsened, many experts say, as evident in the tumultuous aftermath of the killing in late June of Nahel Merzouk, 17, a French citizen of Algerian and Moroccan descent. After multiple violent, publicized encounters involving the police, a pattern emerged: Each episode led to an outburst of rage and demands for change, followed by a pushback from increasingly powerful police unions and dismissals from the government. “It’s a repeating cycle, unfortunately,” said Lanna Hollo, a human rights lawyer in Paris who has worked on policing issues for 15 years. “What characterizes France is denial. There is a total denial that there is a structural, systemic problem in the police.”

Wind-fanned wildfires force thousands to flee seaside resorts outside Greek capital (AP) Wildfires outside Athens forced thousands to flee seaside resorts, closed highways and gutted vacation homes Monday, as high winds pushed flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by days of extreme heat. Authorities issued evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities as two major wildfires edged closer to summer resort towns and gusts of wind hit 70 kph (45 mph). The army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers freed retirees from their homes, rescued horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames.

Russia blames Ukraine for attack on key Crimea military supply bridge that kills 2 (AP) Traffic on a key military supply bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s mainland came to a standstill Monday after one of its sections was blown up, killing two people and wounding their daughter. Russian officials blamed the attack on Ukraine, but Kyiv officials didn’t openly admit it. The strike on the 19-kilometer (12-mile) Kerch Bridge was carried out by two Ukrainian sea drones, Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said. Ukrainian officials didn’t claim responsibility for the attack, which is the second major strike on the bridge since October, when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections. The $3.6 billion bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for enabling Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine during the almost 17-month-long war.

Russia halts wartime deal that allows Ukraine to ship grain (AP) Russia said Monday it has halted an unprecedented wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced halting the deal in a conference call with reporters, adding that Russia will return to the deal after its demands are met. “When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal,” Peskov said. Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its exports of food and fertilizer—also critical to the global food chain.

China’s youth unemployment hits record high (BBC) As China’s post-pandemic recovery falters, last month 21.3% of 16 to 24 year olds in the nation’s urban areas were unemployed. The second largest economy only grew 0.8% in the three months, with demand for Chinese goods falling while local government debt and the housing market skyrocketed.

13 found dead in flooded tunnel as South Korean storm toll rises to 40 (Washington Post) Thirteen bodies were recovered from a tunnel in South Korea as the flooding death toll across the country rose to at least 40. Cars were trapped in a tunnel underpass in Osong near the city of Cheongju, about 70 miles south of Seoul, when the Miho River burst its banks on Saturday. More than 10 vehicles including a bus were flooded and 13 people were killed, with nine rescued at the scene, the Ministry of Public Administration and Safety said in a statement on Monday. Up to 23 inches of rain has fallen on South Korea since Thursday, triggering landslides and road collapses, wiping out crops, and damaging homes and other buildings.

[craftycamouflaged]

Society’s Response to Online Harassment: Sensitivity and Moderation

Ah, online harassment. Existing as an extension of digital citizenship, it can result from any forms of discrimination as a means of exerting power over others. But what has the community’s response to online harassment been? For this discussion we’ll go through a few different responses, and how they combat harassment. Buckle up!

By now you’re probably familiar with the term ‘snowflake generation’. Nowadays online harassment is seen as a natural part of the social media world, so any complaints or actions against it are seen as hypersensitive whining by ‘snowflakes’. (Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern, 2021) The term, for lack of better words, is a tool used by bigots to invalidate the concerns of marginalised people. It’s not surprising when you consider how the targets of this harassment are often women, people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA+ community or neurodivergent people. Using women as an example, a study from 2020 details how women receive harassment in countless different forms, like misogynistic comments, unwarranted nude photos and even ‘revenge p*rn’, a tactic where perpetrators post sexual photos of the victim without their consent. 

Moderation teams are a vital part of any social media space, as they exist to combat the spread of harmful posts and reduce harassment. However, these teams are far from perfect, often incorrectly flagging innocent content or failing to properly silence trolls. An article on the effectiveness of Twitter blocklists states, ‘...Many Twitter users feel that existing moderation tools on Twitter fail to provide them with adequate protection from online abuse…’ (Jhaver, 2018) Fortunately, when it comes to a user’s individual experience, several functions exist on social media sites for users to use against harassment. On Twitter, reporting a post or comment alerts the moderation team of its existence, and the block function can bar that user from seeing or commenting on any of your posts. Sometimes blocking and reporting a troll without responding to their comments is the most efficient way people deal with harassment. 

Now matter how we respond to hate, it seems that conflict within digital communities is inescapable. Conflict is a part of being human, after all. Perhaps the refinement of moderation systems and a shift in the attitude towards marginalised voices will finally make the Internet a kinder place to be on. Or maybe billionaires will ruin everything like they ruined Twitter and Tumblr. Only time will tell.

References: 

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). #NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture. Convergence, 27(5), pp 1418–1438. 

Jhaver, Shagun et al, ‘Online Harassment and Content Moderation: The Case of Blocklists’ (2018) 25(2) ACM transactions on computer-human interaction 1

Chadha, Kalyani et al, ‘Women’s Responses to Online Harassment’ [2020] International journal of communication (Online) 239

[reasoningdaily]

Gun battles and mass protests have engulfed parts of Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-biggest region, after a move to centralise the regional security forces of the country’s 11 states.

The federal government announced the policy last Thursday, in pursuit of building “a strong centralised army”. People from several towns in Amhara responded with protests, while some units of the region’s security forces refused to disarm and clashed with the federal military.

On Sunday, two aid workers employed by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) were shot and killed while driving near the town of Kobo. “Details of the murders are still unknown,” the group said. The Ethiopian Red Cross said that one of their ambulances was shot at “by unknown armed forces” in Amhara’s Central Gondar zone on the same day, injuring a midwife and a driver. Aid workers in other hotspots across the region have been told to “hibernate” while the World Food Programme has suspended operations.

A US embassy alert reported “serious exchanges of gunfire, involving heavy weapons” in “several areas of the region”, including the towns of Kobo, Woldia and Sekota. Shooting was also heard in the towns of Debre Birhan, Dessie, Debre Tabor and the regional capital, Bahir Dar, in recent days.

Elsewhere, protesters burned tyres and blocked roads as banks and shops closed. The Amhara regional government has responded by imposing a curfew and blocking mobile internet services in some areas, including Gondar, a popular tourist town.

The Amhara region’s security forces were prominent in the civil war against Tigray, fighting alongside the federal military. The conflict erupted in 2020 and ended with a ceasefire signed in November, leaving tens of thousands dead.

Ethiopia’s constitution allows its federal member states to run a “police force” to maintain peace, law and order. But some states have also built powerful security services resembling small armies that sometimes clash.

The prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has vowed to push on with dismantling these regional security forces, calling them a threat to Ethiopia’s integrity. “This decision will be implemented for the sake of the multinational unity of Ethiopia and the peace of its people, paying a price if need be,” Abiy said.

Abiy has lost support among the Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-largest group, who feel let down by his failure to stop an offensive by the Tigray rebels into their region in 2021 and prevent a series of ethnically motivated attacks against Amhara people in the state of Oromia. Many Amharas say they need their own security force to protect themselves against these twin threats.

This week, the National Movement of Amhara, the region’s main opposition group, called the federal government’s decision to dissolve the regional force “completely irresponsible” and demanded its reversal.

[qrtumb]

Global Military Antenna Market Outlook, Overview, and Report

The Global Military Antenna Market is expected to grow from US$ 15.6 Billion in 2021 to US$ 26.5 Billion by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.23% from 2021 to 2027.

An alternating current (AC) or "alternating current" transducer is what makes up a military antenna. Antennas are employed in military missions for several crucial tasks like communication, electronic warfare, and the unmanned system, which requires a strong signal to operate. Signals are sent between the sender and receiver via antennas.

Get a Sample Copy of this Report@ https://qualiketresearch.com/request-sample/Military-Antenna-Market/request-sample

Drivers: Increasing demand for high-frequency military antennas is being driven by the ability to provide better security and surveillance, as well as by advancements in tracking, ground mapping, and interference alerts. The recent escalation of international conflicts, asymmetric warfare, and international terrorism has led several nations to bolster their military and defence capacities. Major corporations are making major investments in modernising current weapons and arms to meet the demand from the military and defence industries to create a strong first line of defence. Rising instances of electronic warfare and border infiltration have increased demand for high-frequency military antennas.

Restraints: A difficult aspect of the military antenna market is the high cost involved in developing military antennas. Even if there are difficult market-affecting variables, the military antenna market is expected to overcome them in the approaching years due to widespread demand.

Opportunities: Due to the widespread usage of military antennas among various countries, there are numerous opportunities in this market. The government's purchase of military hardware even creates enormous market opportunities. The military antenna market will be stimulated by the rise in sophisticated antennas used in military operations.

Impact of Covid-19

The epidemic has resulted in a huge financial loss for the Military Antenna Market Outlook. The market was faced with a difficult issue when the government imposed a global lockdown. The production process and the manufacturing facility were shut down as a result of the rigorous lockdown regulations. Even the conveyance of the finished product and the raw material supply were delayed. The major players found it difficult to deal with these circumstances, but they are working to resolve them and resume market expansion. The market for military antennas will overcome the challenge and project the anticipated CAGR during the anticipated period.

Segmentation By Type: The market is divided into Dipole Antennas, Monopole Antennas, Array Antennas, Loop Antennas, and Other Antennas based on Type. The market share that belonged to the dipole antenna category was highest. Dipole antennas are frequently employed in radar systems for use in the military. Due to the rising use of phased array antenna in military ships, the market sector for array antennas is projected to be the one with the quickest growth.

Segmentation By Platform: The market is divided into Airborne, Marine, and Ground segments based on Platform. Due to an increase in border security concerns among various countries and technological developments in radar systems, the ground sector held the largest market share. The market for sophisticated antenna-based systems is predicted to grow at the quickest rate in the airborne sector.

Segmentation By Application: The market is divided into Communication, Surveillance, Electronic Warfare, and Others based on Application. Due to a rise in the demand for military systems and equipment, the communication segment held the largest market share. The market for enhanced radar and antenna systems is rising at the quickest rate in the electronic warfare sector.

Segmentation By Region: Military Antenna Market is classified on the basis of Region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Due to the United States' rising modernization of military hardware, the strong presence of important companies, and the implementation of advantageous regulations in the region, North America is anticipated to dominate other regional markets throughout the projection period. Increasing defence budgets and spending as well as the quick development of cutting-edge military infrastructure are some other major drivers propelling the market's expansion.

Competitive Landscape: The key players of Military Antenna Market are Alaris Holdings Limited, Amphenol Corporation, Antcom Corporation, Antenna Products Corporation, Cobham plc, Cojot Oy, Comrod Communication AS, Eylex Pty Ltd, Harris Corporation, Hascall Engineering and Manufacturing Co, and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Industrial Development

A contract between Eutelsat and Airbus to develop EUTELSAT 36D, equipped with 70 Ku-band transponders, a steerable antenna, and roughly five downlink beams, was signed in March 2021. EUTELSAT 36D enables flexibility and performance optimization for service delivery throughout Europe, Russia, and Africa.

L3Harris Technologies was chosen by NASA in October 2021 to carry out a second, advanced study to significantly improve the timeliness and accuracy of the US weather. Production of antennas and avionics components is involved here.

Get Discount on this Report@ https://qualiketresearch.com/request-sample/Military-Antenna-Market/ask-for-discount

Market Taxonomy

By Type

Dipole Antennas

Monopole Antennas

Array Antennas

Loop Antennas

Others

By Platform

Airborne

Marine

Ground

 By Application

Communication

Surveillance

Electronic Warfare

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Key Questions Addressed by the Report

What are the Key Opportunities in Military Antenna Market?

What will be the growth rate from 2021 to 2027?

Which segment/region will have highest growth?

What are the factors that will impact/drive the Market?

What is the competitive Landscape in the Industry?

What is the role of key players in the value chain?

Browse Full Report https://qualiketresearch.com/reports-details/Military-Antenna-Market

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Deep Concern About Food Security in Eastern Africa The rains have failed in Eastern Africa for four consecutive seasons. That has not happened in 40 years of satellite records. Scientists and aid agencies are now alerting the world to an unprecedented level of food insecurity in 2022 for Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. With forecasts suggesting the next rainy season will also be inadequate, climate and agriculture experts are advising governments and relief agencies to expect a significant need for food assistance. According to a July 29 report from the international Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, the worst drought in 70 years has left more than 16 million people across the Horn of Africa coping with a shortage of drinking water. Yields of key crops are down for the third year in a row, milk production is in decline, and more than 9 million livestock animals have died or been culled due to a lack of water and suitable forage land. At the same time, regional conflicts, COVID-19, locusts, and the Ukraine War have caused price spikes and shortages of basic commodities. An estimated 18–21 million people now “face high levels of acute food insecurity” in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, the working group noted. Tropical countries within the Horn of Africa tend to have two rainy seasons: the October, November, and December (OND) “short rains” and the March, April, and May (MAM) “long rains” (which sometimes extend to August in some areas). The 2020 and 2021 OND rainfall was substantially below normal, and the 2021 MAM season was also drier than normal. Then the 2022 MAM season brought the lowest rainfall on record for much of the region. At the same time, the region has endured extremely warm air temperatures that desiccate soils and evaporate already diminished water supplies. The map at the top of the page—based on the Climate Hazards Center InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) dataset—shows how rainfall in March, April, and May 2022 compared to the long-term average accumulation. Areas in dark brown were well below the average rainfall for the time of year, with many areas more than 50 percent below normal. The NASA FLDAS team generates and analyzes data on moisture at the land surface and in the top few centimeters of soil to show existing conditions and to predict them for upcoming months so that farmers and agriculture agencies can prepare for deficits or surpluses. The FLDAS Forecast is a custom product of the NASA Hydrological Forecast and Analysis System (NHyFAS) developed under a NASA Applied Science grant to support the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). The Horn of Africa is especially prone to drought, so FEWS NET and related agriculture and climate teams have invested significant research and modeling time into trying to predict rainfall patterns there. Scientists who study climate and weather teleconnections note that human-induced climate warming in the western Pacific, and a now-likely third year of La Niña conditions are contributing to the current drought. The La Niña cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific and the warming of the western Pacific disrupts weather patterns all over the world. In a forecast released on August 16, the FEWS NET agroclimatology team wrote: “Sea surface temperature predictions indicate a perfect ocean for drought. There is a very high probability of both strong Indian Ocean Dipole and West Pacific Gradient conditions, and hence it is very likely that the eastern Horn of Africa will experience very poor rains and very dry soil moisture and streamflow conditions in October-November-December.” This would constitute an unprecedented fifth season of drought. The successive rainfall deficits in eastern Africa since 2020 have had a cumulative effect: smaller crop harvests and shortages of forage; depleted water supplies for people and animals; and weakened and depleted livestock herds. While reducing food and water sources, the drought also makes it hard for citizens to earn a living from their crops and herds. On top of that, the region has not fully recovered from the losses of a deep drought in 2016–17. The lower map based on a data analysis by FEWS NET, shows the current levels of food insecurity across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. To describe the degree of insecurity, FEWS NET analysts use the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which is a standard used by the humanitarian assistance community. Another failed rainy season in late 2022 could push the region closer to catastrophe. According to the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, more than 560,000 children were treated for severe malnutrition between January and June 2022. If conditions continue to decline, 23 million to 26 million people could face high levels of acute food insecurity by February 2023, and 6.5 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) was created in 1985 by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). FEWS NET assembles global and regional analyses of food security (particularly conditions for farming and livestock husbandry) to help governments and relief agencies plan for and respond to humanitarian crises. Several U.S. agencies support FEWS NET; NASA provides satellite imagery and climate, weather, and hydrologic data. NASA Earth Observatory maps by Lauren Dauphin, using Acute Food Insecurity Phase data from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network and rainfall accumulation data from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS). NASA animations by Trent Schindler, NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, using data from the FEWS NET Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS). Story by Michael Carlowicz.

[melojzx]

Zixuan Jiang s3884448 VART3615 Dossier Critical Annotation, June 2022

I have been studying feminism all semester. I was hesitant to choose this topic because it is a very sensitive and controversial topic. Then I thought of something that made me angry. In a quadratic metagame I played called Genshin, a Chinese feminist organization reported the clothes of some of the characters. I like these characters just because of their clothes. As a result, they have been changed into a look I don't know, completely divorced from the role setting. Feminists said that game makers drew such characters to please men, and questioned why they did not expose the reproductive organs of the male characters. A large number of players feel angry about this, while others feel that it has nothing to do with them. And I also find it funny. This is the true face of women's rights in China today. It’s difficult for it to reach a balance and it can be said that it’s a little polarized.

I think other countries may have the same problem, not only in China. It seems difficult to reach a consensus on women's rights recently, both between men and women. Today's postmodern feminist view is that no category of women can represent everyone. They believe that we should be alert to the macro analysis of the concepts of gender, race and class, because there are thousands of differences within each group. They advocate respect for multiple values. Although this view seems very fair and harmonious, it is not so perfect in practice. In fact, few people can reach a consensus with it, because there are great differences between everyone's living environment and cultural customs.

This theme gives rise to the problem of women's fear of marriage. This is also a problem in many Asian countries, and it has become more and more serious in recent years. On May 3, 2021, the Chinese government launched the three child policy. It aims to improve China's population structure and alleviate the problem of population aging. Once the policy was launched, there were a lot of street interview videos of unmarried and married women on the Internet, asking them whether they would respond to the national call. Almost all the answers were "no". This is a modern problem and the product of the development of the times. I think the main reason is that contemporary women often need to play multiple roles in marriage. The load of responsibility and pressure makes them unbearable. From the perspective of women themselves, on the one hand, modern society provides them with the same employment opportunities as men. On the other hand, they are still required by traditional family role norms. This has brought them strong role conflict and psychological pressure.

In fact, under the influence of modern fast-paced life, I am also a little afraid of marriage. I know this should belong to radical feminism, but it is really difficult to improve. I think this needs a social consensus, and people need to work together to give women a chance to breathe.

[mobogiant]

Jose Andres Says : Missile impact on humanitarian cocaine in Ukraine

Jose Andres Says : Missile impact on humanitarian cocaine in Ukraine

A video shot by the Associated Press shows a community kitchen in Kharkiv, Ukraine, completely destroyed by Russian missiles on Saturday. The mayor of Kharkiv told the AP that three people were killed and 34 wounded. Jose Andres, a celebrity chef, is the executive director of World Central Kitchen, which establishes feeding systems in war and disaster zones.

[coochiequeens]

Don’t let age fool anyone. This guy can still commit acts of violence

CA — Princeton, British Columbia. A 73-year-old whose history of preying on women dates from 1966 to a murder committed 10 years ago while under court-ordered supervision for abduction, sexual violence and strangulation, recently came up for parole. Roger Dale Badour has been in prison since 2011, when he was arrested on an outstanding nationwide-warrant amidst Royal Canadian Mounted Police alerts to the public that a high-risk offender who posed a particular threat to women was on the loose. At the time the warrant was issued, Mr Badour was the subject of a long term supervision order due to previous sex crimes. His most recent conviction was for a 2008 incident in which he forcibly confined a pregnant woman and fellow Penticton rooming house boarder over a six-hour period, during which he sexually assaulted her with a weapon, strangled and threatened to kill her. Although the parole board noted that Mr Badour had behavioral issues during incarceration, he was paroled to a halfway house in Victoria and given orders to abstain from friendships with women.

Defying the order, Mr Badour skipped town without notice. Again posing as a minister, he met 56-year-old Gisele Duckham, a grandmother of two described by friends as a generous and trusting woman. Mr Badour moved into a trailer on her Princeton property in 2011 in exchange for labor. He initially worked as a painter and then as security for a grow operation. One night, Mr Badour and Ms Duckham had an argument. He shot her twice and wrapped the body in material before fleeing in her car. The 64-year-old was arrested in Penticton during a routine traffic stop on the night on the killing. Police discovered evidence linking him to Ms Duckham, who was found deceased inside her residence. Mr Badour was booked for various offenses, including murder, identity theft, impersonation, resisting a police officer, possessing a firearm contrary to a court order, and possession of stolen property. Mr Badour had previously served a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the November 1, 1999 sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in the back of his van on Munson Mountain. While serving his latest prison stint for the murder of Ms Duckham, Mr Badour began identifying as a woman, and claimed his “new gender identification led to conflict and mistreatment” in his living unit. He was placed in a unit with other male inmates who identify as women. The inmate recently came up for parole, which was denied. The parole board found that the inmate’s violent and aggressive behavior is a lengthy pattern that has continued in prison “despite completing programs during several periods of incarceration.” Outside of prison, Mr Badour had “an extensive and lengthy criminal history” dating back to 1966 “that includes violence and sexual violence with use of weapons.” He “planned crimes and also reacted impulsively by attacking victims verbally, physically, and often times with weapons (rope, knife, guns).” While in prison, he threatened fellow prisoners and staff and was “uncooperative with his case management team.” As recently as August 2021, he twice said he would kill a parole officer. While issues with Mr Badour’s behavior had decreased in the new unit, the parole board decided: “Overall, given [Badour’s] extensive criminal history, lack of programming and limited progress reported during this incarceration, the Board assesses [Badour’s] aggravating factors significantly outweigh the mitigating circumstances, and that a release at this time will pose undue risk and will not protect society.”

[ingek73]

‘Royal revolutionary’ Duchess Kate’s exploitation of a murder victim was a ‘triumph’

April 05, 2021

By Kaiser

sarah everard kate

This was on everyone’s timeline over the holiday weekend and it’s just the WORST. Like, offensively bad, rage-inducing, and defying all logic. The Times of London decided to proclaim the Duchess of Cambridge “the real royal revolutionary,” because don’t you get it, Meghan was and is a feminist, a businesswoman, a self-made woman and she was torn to shreds, so now Kate wants to assume Meghan’s energy and pretend that she’s just like that, only white and therefore better. First, look at the artwork which accompanied the piece:

Absolutely offensive to actual revolutionaries, socialists, activists, advocates and basically EVERYONE. The actual article takes it to a bold new level though, suggesting that Kate’s exploitation of a murder victim (Sarah Everard) combined with her blatant Single-White-Femaling of a Black woman somehow makes Kate good, smart, keen and perfect in a sugary, gross, white supremacist way. These piece was written by Tony Allen Mills, who clearly hates women and is doing heavy drugs.

Kate’s maskless appearance at Sarah Everard’s memorial: For a moment it seemed as though the Duchess of Cambridge might become embroiled in yet another messy, polarising ruckus about pampered royals suiting themselves at the expense of the rest of us. She turned up at an unlawful gathering at Clapham Common in the middle of lockdown! She wasn’t wearing a mask! Her protection team seemed strangely unaware that earlier that Saturday morning last month, a senior police officer had warned that the vigil in south London for Sarah Everard, 33, who was abducted and murdered as she walked home at night, might be “attractive for terrorists”.

Kate was still keen to exploit: Yet somehow, the duchess still showed up, casually dressed with minimal security, with a bouquet of flowers she had picked from her palace garden. Later it was reported that she had sent a private letter of condolence to the family of the murdered woman. Hang on a minute, are we talking about the right duchess? A feminist campaigner, showing solidarity with vulnerable women, with seeming disregard for police advice and lockdown regulations?

This still doesn’t make any sense: There was an embarrassing muddle at Scotland Yard last week as senior commanders offered conflicting accounts of whether Britain’s future queen had attended the vigil legally, and whether the police had known of her attendance in advance. It emerged from an independent report into policing of the event that the senior officer in charge of the operation learnt that the duchess had been present only from a television news report after she had left. Yet Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, told the BBC that “the Met did know [about the visit], absolutely”. Palace sources have described Kate’s visit as private, but Dick said she was there “in the course of her duties; she’s working”.

Exploiting a murder victim is great PR for Kate: What emerged most clearly from Kate’s modestly controversial outing was not another disaster for the House of Windsor. It has turned into something of a triumph. “I think she’s played a blinder,” says Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent and author of several books on the Windsors. Unlike some of her royal relatives, Kate, 39, has barely put a foot wrong in her public embrace of worthy causes over the past few years. “She’s widely admired now as a public figure,” says Bond, “and I think she’s demonstrating that she’s very much in touch with the mood of the country.”

Penny Junor on Kate’s exploitation of Everard: Junor describes Kate’s visit to the vigil as a “wonderful gesture”. What might have turned into a made-for-tabloid tempest instead became the story of a young woman who lived in London before marrying a prince, and may have remembered what it was like to have to walk home alone at night. After the manufactured theatrics of the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah Winfrey, Junor adds, “Kate was making a very subtle point. You don’t need to make a song and dance about things. She showed up at Clapham quietly with absolutely no fanfare. I just thought it spoke volumes.”

Kate is a free spirit, you guys: The burden of royal expectation has crushed many a free spirit. The closer Kate gets to becoming Queen, the more she may be expected to conform; to be careful with her words, to avoid spontaneous excursions in the middle of a health crisis. Can she really carry on being Kate, the increasingly daring duchess? Or must she prepare to be Catherine, our smiling but silent queen? “I think what William and Kate have demonstrated is that you can have a much greater impact if you go large on a smaller number of causes,” says Bond, who like many royal watchers believes Kate will stick to non-controversial issues such as child development and mental health. She’s naturally engaged and comes across as genuine because she is genuinely interested in the topics she has espoused,” Bond adds. “I think she’ll be wise enough to stick to issues quite specific to her personality and knowledge.”

[From The Times of London]

I don’t understand the transparent attempt to obfuscate the issue of Kate’s attendance at the Everard memorial, and how Kate tried to pretend it was a private visit, when everything about it (including the sugary, offensive PR) shows that Kate was working, that she showed up maskless to a murder victim’s memorial with her security, having alerted Sky News of her presence, and then leaving the rest of the mourners to be brutalized by cops. She then leaked the information about a letter she sent to the family, which is gross and invasive, especially since AGAIN, it was clear that this is just about “work” for her. The work of repairing her battered image of a Karen who fake-cries white woman tears and tries to copy Meghan and assume Meghan’s experiences and persona as her own. As I’ve been saying, there’s something really wrong going on with Kate psychologically. It’s not *just* stupidity and laziness. She’s actively being creepy. Kate’s communications team is actively putting all of this out there, that Kate’s exploitation of the tragic murder of a young woman was “something of a triumph.” It’s offensively tone-deaf.