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6 go-to dinner recipes for busy weeknights
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:00:07 +0000
These dinner recipes are speedy, easy and delicious.
Match ID: 0 Score: 50.00 source: www.washingtonpost.com age: 1 day
qualifiers: 30.00 food, 20.00 recipes
‘That damned kitchen!’ How the inventor of the fitted kitchen eventually saw it as a curse
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:23:44 GMT
Her splashbacked, single-surfaced, cubbyholed, foldaway paradise revolutionised kitchen design. But Austrian architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky grew to regret her world-conquering creation
On the sixth floor of a quiet residential street in central Vienna, a tiny kitchen offers a masterclass in stylish functionalism. Every inch has been designed for efficiency, yet the first impression is one of warmth and comfort. The kitchen’s deep orange splashback and the dark green cabinets with red interiors are all bathed in natural light, with sweeping views of the city rooftops beyond.
This is the work of Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, the architect, activist and resistance fighter who in 1926 designed the Frankfurt Kitchen – the prototype for the modern fitted version now standard in the west. It introduced many features we now take for granted: continuous countertops, built-in cabinets and drawers optimised for storage, a tiled splashback – all designed as a complementary whole.
Continue reading...The 2024 Shonky awards also list a ‘green’ juice with food colouring and a stick vacuum that ‘sucks at sucking’
Consumer advocacy group Choice has named Meta for failing to protect social media users from scams and health insurer NIB for charging single parents more than couples in the 19th annual Shonky awards, which list the worst Australian products and services of the year.
The Choice CEO, Ashley de Silva, said Choice reported three suspicious Facebook ads as scams to Meta – the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – in 2024.
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Continue reading...Depending on how you use it, there are plenty of substitutes for coriander’s bright flavour
Everyone knows a coriander hater who won’t go near the stuff and describes its taste as “soapy” (some studies suggest there may be a gene that causes this). Itamar Srulovich, however, is not one of them: “I adore fresh coriander, and always have,” says the chef/co-owner of the Honey & Co group of restaurants, cafes and delis in London. “In Israel, and indeed in any of the coriander countries, if you go into someone’s house and there’s a bunch of coriander in the kitchen, you really know about it – it’s so potent. What we get in the UK is so tame by comparison, so when people say they can’t stand its strong smell and taste, I often think: what are you even talking about?”
Tame or not, when it comes to coriander substitutions, it all depends on what you’re making. If you’re using the fresh herb as a garnish, say, you could obviously just ditch it and call it a day, although, granted, you’d then miss that hit of freshness. Srulovich suggests looking at other soft herbs: “They’re often quite interchangeable, so if you’re told to finish something with chopped coriander, parsley will do pretty much the same job and bring that essential brightness.” If, however, you’re making something that’s highly spiced or seasoned, or that features lots of garlic, you might find parsley “a bit too polite”, in which case Thai basil, chervil or a mix of the two might make a good replacement: “You want something with a bit of funk.”
Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com
Continue reading...Industrial action at producer causes complaints about lack of Greek meze staple in supermarkets across country
When some UK supermarkets removed the lids from tubs of hummus, there were complaints from shoppers. But for many, the latest dip problem is arguably worse – a nationwide shortage of taramasalata.
Industrial action at Bakkavor, a large supplier of the fish roe dip, has caused a “short disruption” to the supply and availability of taramasalata at supermarkets across the country.
Continue reading...Dish up the rice-sized pasta grains in a cheesy, herby sauce
If I could choose just one dish for a cold autumn evening, it would be this calming, gentle pasta recipe with its creamy texture and mild smoky notes. The cheese melts into strings.
Peel and thinly slice 3 cloves of garlic. Warm 30g of butter in a deep saucepan over a moderate heat, stir in the garlic and fry for a few minutes until pale gold.
Continue reading...Brexit, the cost of living and the climate crisis are all making farmers’ lives much more difficult. Taxing us is not the answer
Last year, Keir Starmer looked farmers in the eye at the annual National Farmers’ Union (NFU) conference and said he knew what it meant to lose a farm. It is “not like losing any other business”, he said. “It can’t come back.” Since then, Labour has announced a number of new measures aimed at farmers, including dropping the inheritance tax exemption that many have enjoyed. This is a drastic shift for an already strained sector and has sparked heated debate among farmers I know. But one thing has been missing: an understanding of farming and the pressures it faces.
The modern UK farming industry has been shaped by decades of government policy aimed at ensuring we have enough food to survive. While agriculture isn’t directly state controlled, the government’s influence is felt through regulation and incentives. If you are old enough, you may remember rationing, which marked an era when governments prioritised access to cheap calories, driving the shift toward intensive farming. This focus, backed by successive governments, led to farmers ramping up production by using new technology and infrastructure, and chemicals such as DDT and glyphosate. But cheap food had vast environmental and social costs, posing a drastic threat to the sector’s sustainability and resilience in the long term, as soils were depleted and biodiverse habitats gave way to monocultures.
Tom Fairfax farms Mindrum Farm, a regenerative mixed farm in the Cheviot foothills in Northumberland
Continue reading...Odd-looking creatures called ciona are naturally rich in protein and one company aims to farm and process them for the table
At a seaside restaurant near the docks in Fredrikstad, Norway, there’s a selection of delicious looking entrees sitting in front of me. There is a cheesy lasagne, a savoury Mexican casserole, and a spicy chilli con carne. Biting in to each one in turn, I savour the familiar taste of ground beef. Or is it?
The dishes come from Pronofa Asa, a Scandinavian company whose purpose is to make new and sustainable protein sources. In 2022, it acquired the Swedish research company Marine Taste and expanded on its work turning ciona – or “sea squirts” to you and me – into mincemeat. The dishes in Fredrikstad were prototypes, but Pronofa plans to have its mincemeat on supermarket shelves in Norway and Sweden before the end of the year, it says, and will aim to expand throughout Europe in the coming years.
Continue reading...During the siege of Leningrad, botanists in charge of an irreplaceable seed collection had to protect it from fire, rodents – and hunger
Somewhere in the sky above, the mosquito drone of a plane’s propeller neared. Since Abram Kameraz had begun to commute by train from Leningrad (now St Petersburg) to the suburban town of Pavlovsk earlier in the summer of 1941, attacks by enemy planes had become a frequent cause of delay. Through the carriage window, Kameraz saw the road was littered with bodies. These men, women and children had been killed by German planes which had strafed and bombed the crowds of refugees as they fled towards the city. As Kameraz caught the silhouette of a German Stuka cresting the horizon, the driver stopped the train and ordered the passengers to run to a nearby ditch for cover.
Kameraz, 36, was a potato specialist, one of about 50 botanists who worked at the Plant Institute, the world’s first seed bank, situated off St Isaac’s Square in the centre of Leningrad. The institute’s potato collection contained 6,000 varieties, including many rare cultivars – the largest, most diverse potato collection yet gathered in history, a crop of inestimable scientific importance. And right now, hundreds of delicate South American specimens were planted in sheds in the fields on the outskirts of the city, in the path of the advancing German army.
Continue reading...Funny guy Phil Wang joins Grace this week for another helping of Comfort Eating. Phil has a textbook comedy career: president of Footlights at Cambridge University, graduating with agents sniffing at his heels; sell-out Edinburgh shows; and now purveyor of two Netflix comedy specials. Phil and Grace talk about how to supermarket shop with crocodiles in the aisles, how garlic sauce pervaded his student days and his justice campaign for reheating rice.
If you liked this episode then have a listen to Grace’s conversations with Jayde Adams, David Baddiel and Jamie Demetriou
New episodes of Comfort Eating with Grace Dent will be released every Tuesday
Continue reading...US government wrote to Israel a month ago threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies
The amount of aid reaching Gaza has dropped to the lowest level since December, official Israeli figures show, despite the US having issued a 30-day ultimatum last month threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies reaching the territory.
The ultimatum was delivered on 13 October, so will expire on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is unclear what measures Israel’s apparent failure to fulfil US demands will trigger, but they may include a temporary halt to the supply of some munitions or other military assistance.
Continue reading...Ivory Coast drinks festival aims to champion and change perceptions of alcohol made in the region
At an event in Abidjan in late October, Alexandre Quest Bede noticed someone staring at him. Then the stranger walked up to him with a T-shirt and asked for an autograph.
“He pointed at me excitedly and said: ‘You’re Monsieur Gnamakou, I know you from Instagram!’” recalls Bede at the poolside bar of Bissa, a boutique hotel in the upmarket Deux Plateaux neighbourhood on the eve of Abidjan cocktail week.
Continue reading...What do top chefs and food writers put on their Christmas wish lists? Here are the stylish, useful and delicious items they’d love to unwrap this year
Food gifts are arguably the best gifts. You can go all out like Itamar Srulovich, chef and restaurateur, who has been known to give copper pans smuggling homemade lasagne, or take an easier edible route by stocking up on beautifully packaged, top-quality tinned fish. After all, Srulovich says sensibly, “there’s no such thing as too many anchovies”.
Whether you’re shopping for people who love to cook or those who simply enjoy eating, these are the jars, books and kitchenware the UK’s top chefs and food writers would put on their gift list.
Continue reading...Israel cut ties with UNWRA, attacked the West Bank and Lebanon, and announced a pending “complete evacuation” of northern Gaza earlier this week.
The post While America Voted, Israel Set the Stage for Annexing Northern Gaza appeared first on The Intercept.
Harris could have focused on how U.S. foreign policy pushes immigrants to leave their homes. Instead, she ran on border security.
The post Harris Ran to Trump’s Right on Immigration — and Gained Absolutely Nothing For It appeared first on The Intercept.
Exclusive: a UN report will accuse the military of imposing ‘collective punishment’ on Rakhine state, more than three years after seizing power in a coup
Two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state could face starvation within months because fierce conflict and trade blockades have led to a “total economic collapse” and the imminent risk of famine, a senior UN official has warned.
Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh in the west, is on the brink of disaster, as people’s incomes crater, rice cultivation plummets, and military-imposed trade restrictions lead to severe food shortages and hyperinflation, according to forthcoming research from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which accuses the military of inflicting “collective punishment” on civilians.
Continue reading...The problem isn’t that cities like Reading are now Trump strongholds, but that Harris’s campaign gave few reasons for enthusiasm.
The post Trump Didn’t Win Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris Lost It. appeared first on The Intercept.
A weekly email from Yotam Ottolenghi, Meera Sodha, Felicity Cloake and Rachel Roddy, featuring the latest recipes and seasonal eating ideas
Each week we’ll send you an exclusive newsletter from our star food writers. We’ll also send you the latest recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi, Nigel Slater, Meera Sodha and all our star cooks, stand-out food features and seasonal eating inspiration, plus restaurant reviews from Grace Dent and Jay Rayner.
Sign up below to start receiving the best of our culinary journalism in one mouth-watering weekly email.
Continue reading...Style, with substance: what’s really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved, direct to your inbox every Thursday
Style, with substance: what’s really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved, delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday
Explore all our newsletters: whether you love film, football, fashion or food, we’ve got something for you
Continue reading... |
Imagine a world in which you can do transactions and many other things without having to give your personal information. A world in which you don’t need to rely on banks or governments anymore. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what blockchain technology allows us to do.
It’s like your computer’s hard drive. blockchain is a technology that lets you store data in digital blocks, which are connected together like links in a chain.
Blockchain technology was originally invented in 1991 by two mathematicians, Stuart Haber and W. Scot Stornetta. They first proposed the system to ensure that timestamps could not be tampered with.
A few years later, in 1998, software developer Nick Szabo proposed using a similar kind of technology to secure a digital payments system he called “Bit Gold.” However, this innovation was not adopted until Satoshi Nakamoto claimed to have invented the first Blockchain and Bitcoin.
A blockchain is a distributed database shared between the nodes of a computer network. It saves information in digital format. Many people first heard of blockchain technology when they started to look up information about bitcoin.
Blockchain is used in cryptocurrency systems to ensure secure, decentralized records of transactions.
Blockchain allowed people to guarantee the fidelity and security of a record of data without the need for a third party to ensure accuracy.
To understand how a blockchain works, Consider these basic steps:
Let’s get to know more about the blockchain.
Blockchain records digital information and distributes it across the network without changing it. The information is distributed among many users and stored in an immutable, permanent ledger that can't be changed or destroyed. That's why blockchain is also called "Distributed Ledger Technology" or DLT.
Here’s how it works:
And that’s the beauty of it! The process may seem complicated, but it’s done in minutes with modern technology. And because technology is advancing rapidly, I expect things to move even more quickly than ever.
Even though blockchain is integral to cryptocurrency, it has other applications. For example, blockchain can be used for storing reliable data about transactions. Many people confuse blockchain with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
Blockchain already being adopted by some big-name companies, such as Walmart, AIG, Siemens, Pfizer, and Unilever. For example, IBM's Food Trust uses blockchain to track food's journey before reaching its final destination.
Although some of you may consider this practice excessive, food suppliers and manufacturers adhere to the policy of tracing their products because bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella have been found in packaged foods. In addition, there have been isolated cases where dangerous allergens such as peanuts have accidentally been introduced into certain products.
Tracing and identifying the sources of an outbreak is a challenging task that can take months or years. Thanks to the Blockchain, however, companies now know exactly where their food has been—so they can trace its location and prevent future outbreaks.
Blockchain technology allows systems to react much faster in the event of a hazard. It also has many other uses in the modern world.
Blockchain technology is safe, even if it’s public. People can access the technology using an internet connection.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had all your data stored at one place and that one secure place got compromised? Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to prevent your data from leaking out even when the security of your storage systems is compromised?
Blockchain technology provides a way of avoiding this situation by using multiple computers at different locations to store information about transactions. If one computer experiences problems with a transaction, it will not affect the other nodes.
Instead, other nodes will use the correct information to cross-reference your incorrect node. This is called “Decentralization,” meaning all the information is stored in multiple places.
Blockchain guarantees your data's authenticity—not just its accuracy, but also its irreversibility. It can also be used to store data that are difficult to register, like legal contracts, state identifications, or a company's product inventory.
Blockchain has many advantages and disadvantages.
I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about blockchain in this section.
Blockchain is not a cryptocurrency but a technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible. It's a digital ledger that records every transaction seamlessly.
Yes, blockchain can be theoretically hacked, but it is a complicated task to be achieved. A network of users constantly reviews it, which makes hacking the blockchain difficult.
Coinbase Global is currently the biggest blockchain company in the world. The company runs a commendable infrastructure, services, and technology for the digital currency economy.
Blockchain is a decentralized technology. It’s a chain of distributed ledgers connected with nodes. Each node can be any electronic device. Thus, one owns blockhain.
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which is powered by Blockchain technology while Blockchain is a distributed ledger of cryptocurrency
Generally a database is a collection of data which can be stored and organized using a database management system. The people who have access to the database can view or edit the information stored there. The client-server network architecture is used to implement databases. whereas a blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, stored in a distributed system. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, timestamp and transaction information. Modification of data is not allowed due to the design of the blockchain. The technology allows decentralized control and eliminates risks of data modification by other parties.
Blockchain has a wide spectrum of applications and, over the next 5-10 years, we will likely see it being integrated into all sorts of industries. From finance to healthcare, blockchain could revolutionize the way we store and share data. Although there is some hesitation to adopt blockchain systems right now, that won't be the case in 2022-2023 (and even less so in 2026). Once people become more comfortable with the technology and understand how it can work for them, owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs alike will be quick to leverage blockchain technology for their own gain. Hope you like this article if you have any question let me know in the comments section
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US protectionism raises alarms, underscoring the need for balanced policies as wealthy nations’ tariffs can hurt developing economies
“To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff,” Donald Trump told business leaders in October. “It’s my favourite word. It needs a public relations firm.” Now, with his election victory, Mr Trump’s words send a shiver through global capitals. Many fear he may pull a curtain across the US economy, locking them out of the world’s largest market and cutting off access to US technology. These fears are amplified by last year’s contraction in merchandise trade – which was the first such shrinkage at a time when the global economy was growing.
However, it’s wise to take Mr Trump seriously, not literally. During his last term, he imposed tariffs on more than $400bn in US-China trade and renegotiated the North American free trade agreement (Nafta) in a push to reshore blue-collar jobs. In many ways, Joe Biden continued – and even accelerated – these trends. Mr Trump averaged 144,000 reshored jobs a year; in 2022, Mr Biden reached 364,000.
Continue reading...Seoul’s military says several vessels and dozens of civilian planes disrupted, a week after Pyongyang fired what it called its most powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, Seoul’s military said – an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea.
The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.
Continue reading...  | submitted by /u/SportsGod3 [link] [comments] |
Trump’s campaign line about ending taxes on tips could run into the GOP’s goal of extending his 2017 tax cuts for the rich.
The post The First Big Test for Donald Trump’s Promises of Economic Populism appeared first on The Intercept.
Kaja Kallas says Ukraine’s victory in war is ‘a priority for us all’, adding that it is also in the US interest
China should face “a higher cost” for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, the EU’s incoming foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said.
The former Estonian prime minister was speaking to MEPs during a three-hour hearing before she takes office, when she listed Ukraine’s victory as a priority – stronger words than vaguer formulas of support voiced by some EU politicians.
Continue reading...Man detained after incident on Monday night in Zhuhai, in which 35 people were killed and 43 injured
A driver killed 35 people and severely injured another 43 when he rammed his car into people exercising at a sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, police said on Tuesday.
Police had detained a 62-year-old man at the sports centre in Zhuhai after the ramming late on Monday, on the eve of an airshow by the People’s Liberation Army that is hosted annually in the city.
Continue reading...Ishiba’s governing coalition lost majority and needs to find new partner or get consent from opposition to enact policy
Japan’s parliament re-elected the prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, on Monday after his governing coalition suffered the worst election loss in more than a decade.
Ishiba’s ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, together lost their majority in the 465-seat lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-house parliament, in the 27 October election amid voter outrage over financial misconduct by his party and its lukewarm response.
Continue reading...England has long adopted the version of events informed by the Victorians’ biases and neuroses. But what is behind the flood of 21st-century retellings, including the new TV series The Mirror and the Light?
The TV adaptation of the third of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall novels – The Mirror and the Light – arrived on Sunday on BBC One to rave reviews. “Six hours of magic” was the Guardian’s verdict. The series had been eagerly awaited, but nothing like as eagerly as the book itself. Mantel’s legions of fans waited eight years from the publication of Bring Up the Bodies for the finale to arrive in 2020.
There was a rumour at the time that Mantel had had writer’s block – specifically, that she had been unable to bring herself to tackle (500-year-old spoiler alert!) Thomas Cromwell’s death scene. She denied this, but an atmosphere of truth clung to it. By the time she had finished with this unlikely hero – “a modern, rational, state-planning bureaucrat in the midst of all these over-ambitious nobles” is how the Oxford history professor Steven Gunn puts it, which is cool, but hardly Indiana Jones – Mantel had brought Cromwell so vividly to life that it made sense that she couldn’t bear to kill him.
Continue reading...House speaker says caucus will meet with Trump on Wednesday; judge postpones all proceedings in Trump’s hush-money case through 19 November
Joe Biden is meeting with two foreign leaders at the White House today.
At 11.15am, he will speak with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, then with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, at 2pm.
Continue reading...It is estimated that Trump played hundreds of rounds of golf during his first term as president of the United States
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is practising golf – for the first time in eight years – in preparation for future meetings with US president-elect Donald Trump, Yoon’s office has confirmed.
South Korean media said Yoon had visited a golf course on Saturday for a sport his office said he had last played in 2016.
Continue reading...Microsoft is warning Azure cloud users that a Chinese controlled botnet is engaging in “highly evasive” password spraying. Not sure about the “highly evasive” part; the techniques seem basically what you get in a distributed password-guessing attack:
“Any threat actor using the CovertNetwork-1658 infrastructure could conduct password spraying campaigns at a larger scale and greatly increase the likelihood of successful credential compromise and initial access to multiple organizations in a short amount of time,” Microsoft officials wrote. “This scale, combined with quick operational turnover of compromised credentials between CovertNetwork-1658 and Chinese threat actors, allows for the potential of account compromises across multiple sectors and geographic regions.”...
On climate, immigration, and Israel’s war on Gaza, Harris ran to the right — alienating voters.
The post Democrats Blow Their Chance to Block Trump’s Resurgence appeared first on The Intercept.
Tropical Storm Usagi is days away from making landfall, after Typhoon Toraji, Severe Tropical Storm Trami, Typhoon Yinxing and Super Typhoon Kong-rey
The Philippines issued new weather warnings on Tuesday as the fifth major storm in three weeks bore down on the archipelago, days after thousands were evacuated ahead of Typhoon Toraji.
Now a weakened tropical storm, Toraji blew out to sea overnight after causing relatively limited damage and no reported deaths.
Continue reading...Government drops opposition to case of 64 people, including 16 children, who fled persecution in Sri Lanka
Dozens of Tamils stranded on the remote Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia for more than three years are to be airlifted to the UK after the government dropped its opposition to their case, the high court has heard.
The 64 people, including 16 children, have been stranded on the island since October 2021, when a fishing boat they were using to flee persecution in Sri Lanka got into difficulties.
Continue reading...Election watchers in Europe, Asia and elsewhere will be tuning in – and some have a particular interest in the result
From Brazil to Ireland and Germany to the Caribbean, this year’s knife-edge – and more than usually momentous – US presidential vote will be watched at a multitude of election-night events, some with a particular interest in the outcome.
In St Ann Parish, Jamaica – and most particularly in Browns Town, where Harris’s father Donald was born and the Democratic candidate spent many happy childhood holidays – her supporters plan watch parties, drink-ups and other social gatherings.
Continue reading...Exclusive: a UN report will accuse the military of imposing ‘collective punishment’ on Rakhine state, more than three years after seizing power in a coup
Two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state could face starvation within months because fierce conflict and trade blockades have led to a “total economic collapse” and the imminent risk of famine, a senior UN official has warned.
Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh in the west, is on the brink of disaster, as people’s incomes crater, rice cultivation plummets, and military-imposed trade restrictions lead to severe food shortages and hyperinflation, according to forthcoming research from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which accuses the military of inflicting “collective punishment” on civilians.
Continue reading...Really interesting story of Sophos’s five-year war against Chinese hackers.
Heightened risk Cádiz river could overflow, with yellow and orange rainfall warnings for southern regions
The low-pressure system responsible for Spain’s most devastating floods in decades in Valencia also set new rainfall records across south-eastern Spain. In Jerez de la Frontera, 115mm of rain fell in 24 hours on Wednesday – the wettest day on record for the southern Spanish city. The deluge caused widespread flooding and road closures, and there is a heightened risk that the River Barbate in Cádiz could overflow as more rain is forecast through Friday and into the weekend.
While the rare red warning issued on Thursday for Valencia has expired, Spain’s national meteorological service, Aemet, has maintained yellow and orange rainfall warnings for southern and Mediterranean regions as storms continue to push in.
Continue reading...As air pollution hits toxic levels, one proposal is to introduce a ‘smog diplomacy’ initiative between Pakistan and India
As the smog descended over Lahore, people began to feel the familiar symptoms. First came the scratchy throat and burning eyes, then the dizziness, tightness in the chest and the dry racking cough.
“It’s become a physical ordeal just to go outdoors,” said Jawaria, 28, a master’s student living in the Pakistani city.
Continue reading...Parliamentary committee told of Narendra Modi ally’s alleged role in campaign of violence and threats
The Canadian government has publicly alleged that India’s home affairs minister, Amit Shah, the prime minister, Narendra Modi’s, closest political ally, was behind a recent series of plots to murder and intimidate Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.
Testifying before a parliamentary committee, the Canadian deputy foreign affairs minister, David Morrison, acknowledged he had leaked information to the Washington Post about Shah’s alleged role in a campaign of violence and threats against the Sikh diaspora over the last few years.
Continue reading...About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine, the US secretary of state has said, warning that Moscow is preparing to deploy those troops into combat 'in the coming days'. The announcement was the clearest statement yet from the US that it anticipated the first large-scale deployment of foreign troops into the Russia-Ukraine war since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Guardian's Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, explains why Russia plans to use North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine
Continue reading...Musk and Donald Trump propose a ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, crypto wins big in the election and a modern equivalent of Lysistrata takes hold on TikTok
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Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m Blake Montgomery, US tech editor at the Guardian. In this week’s newsletter: Elon Musk and Donald Trump want to create a “Department of Government Efficiency”, crypto wins big across the board, and a modern equivalent of Lysistrata takes hold on TikTok. Thank you for joining me.
Trump, president-elect of the US, said he wants to appoint Musk, the world’s richest man, as the country’s “secretary of cost-cutting” to reduce bureaucracy in the federal government by an order of $2tn, roughly a third. Trump announced in September that he would create a “Department of Government Efficiency”. Musk had pushed for the idea and has since relentlessly promoted it, emphasizing the acronym for the agency: Doge, a reference to a meme of an expressive Shiba Inu. Trump said the agency will be conducting a “complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government, and making recommendations for drastic reforms”.
The billionaire does not seem to be under illusions of what will happen after his proposed cuts.
Continue reading...“In all likelihood, crypto deregulation is coming,” said a consumer advocate. “It looks like a tragedy waiting to happen.”
The post Crypto Sweep Puts Congress on Notice: Vote With Us or We’ll Come After You With Millions appeared first on The Intercept.
Rise in unemployment comes amid concerns over increase in employers’ national insurance contributions
The UK’s jobs market has shown further signs of cooling after a rise in unemployment in September while pay growth slowed, as business leaders said the budget could hit hiring demand and lead to higher prices.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the rate of unemployment rose to 4.3% in the three months to September, up from 4% the previous quarter, amid broader signs of a slowdown in the jobs market.
Continue reading... |
Imagine a world in which you can do transactions and many other things without having to give your personal information. A world in which you don’t need to rely on banks or governments anymore. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what blockchain technology allows us to do.
It’s like your computer’s hard drive. blockchain is a technology that lets you store data in digital blocks, which are connected together like links in a chain.
Blockchain technology was originally invented in 1991 by two mathematicians, Stuart Haber and W. Scot Stornetta. They first proposed the system to ensure that timestamps could not be tampered with.
A few years later, in 1998, software developer Nick Szabo proposed using a similar kind of technology to secure a digital payments system he called “Bit Gold.” However, this innovation was not adopted until Satoshi Nakamoto claimed to have invented the first Blockchain and Bitcoin.
A blockchain is a distributed database shared between the nodes of a computer network. It saves information in digital format. Many people first heard of blockchain technology when they started to look up information about bitcoin.
Blockchain is used in cryptocurrency systems to ensure secure, decentralized records of transactions.
Blockchain allowed people to guarantee the fidelity and security of a record of data without the need for a third party to ensure accuracy.
To understand how a blockchain works, Consider these basic steps:
Let’s get to know more about the blockchain.
Blockchain records digital information and distributes it across the network without changing it. The information is distributed among many users and stored in an immutable, permanent ledger that can't be changed or destroyed. That's why blockchain is also called "Distributed Ledger Technology" or DLT.
Here’s how it works:
And that’s the beauty of it! The process may seem complicated, but it’s done in minutes with modern technology. And because technology is advancing rapidly, I expect things to move even more quickly than ever.
Even though blockchain is integral to cryptocurrency, it has other applications. For example, blockchain can be used for storing reliable data about transactions. Many people confuse blockchain with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
Blockchain already being adopted by some big-name companies, such as Walmart, AIG, Siemens, Pfizer, and Unilever. For example, IBM's Food Trust uses blockchain to track food's journey before reaching its final destination.
Although some of you may consider this practice excessive, food suppliers and manufacturers adhere to the policy of tracing their products because bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella have been found in packaged foods. In addition, there have been isolated cases where dangerous allergens such as peanuts have accidentally been introduced into certain products.
Tracing and identifying the sources of an outbreak is a challenging task that can take months or years. Thanks to the Blockchain, however, companies now know exactly where their food has been—so they can trace its location and prevent future outbreaks.
Blockchain technology allows systems to react much faster in the event of a hazard. It also has many other uses in the modern world.
Blockchain technology is safe, even if it’s public. People can access the technology using an internet connection.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had all your data stored at one place and that one secure place got compromised? Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to prevent your data from leaking out even when the security of your storage systems is compromised?
Blockchain technology provides a way of avoiding this situation by using multiple computers at different locations to store information about transactions. If one computer experiences problems with a transaction, it will not affect the other nodes.
Instead, other nodes will use the correct information to cross-reference your incorrect node. This is called “Decentralization,” meaning all the information is stored in multiple places.
Blockchain guarantees your data's authenticity—not just its accuracy, but also its irreversibility. It can also be used to store data that are difficult to register, like legal contracts, state identifications, or a company's product inventory.
Blockchain has many advantages and disadvantages.
I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about blockchain in this section.
Blockchain is not a cryptocurrency but a technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible. It's a digital ledger that records every transaction seamlessly.
Yes, blockchain can be theoretically hacked, but it is a complicated task to be achieved. A network of users constantly reviews it, which makes hacking the blockchain difficult.
Coinbase Global is currently the biggest blockchain company in the world. The company runs a commendable infrastructure, services, and technology for the digital currency economy.
Blockchain is a decentralized technology. It’s a chain of distributed ledgers connected with nodes. Each node can be any electronic device. Thus, one owns blockhain.
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which is powered by Blockchain technology while Blockchain is a distributed ledger of cryptocurrency
Generally a database is a collection of data which can be stored and organized using a database management system. The people who have access to the database can view or edit the information stored there. The client-server network architecture is used to implement databases. whereas a blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, stored in a distributed system. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, timestamp and transaction information. Modification of data is not allowed due to the design of the blockchain. The technology allows decentralized control and eliminates risks of data modification by other parties.
Blockchain has a wide spectrum of applications and, over the next 5-10 years, we will likely see it being integrated into all sorts of industries. From finance to healthcare, blockchain could revolutionize the way we store and share data. Although there is some hesitation to adopt blockchain systems right now, that won't be the case in 2022-2023 (and even less so in 2026). Once people become more comfortable with the technology and understand how it can work for them, owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs alike will be quick to leverage blockchain technology for their own gain. Hope you like this article if you have any question let me know in the comments section
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the most popular digital assets today, capturing the attention of cryptocurrency investors, whales and people from around the world. People find it amazing that some users spend thousands or millions of dollars on a single NFT-based image of a monkey or other token, but you can simply take a screenshot for free. So here we share some freuently asked question about NFTs.
NFT stands for non-fungible token, which is a cryptographic token on a blockchain with unique identification codes that distinguish it from other tokens. NFTs are unique and not interchangeable, which means no two NFTs are the same. NFTs can be a unique artwork, GIF, Images, videos, Audio album. in-game items, collectibles etc.
A blockchain is a distributed digital ledger that allows for the secure storage of data. By recording any kind of information—such as bank account transactions, the ownership of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), or Decentralized Finance (DeFi) smart contracts—in one place, and distributing it to many different computers, blockchains ensure that data can’t be manipulated without everyone in the system being aware.
The value of an NFT comes from its ability to be traded freely and securely on the blockchain, which is not possible with other current digital ownership solutionsThe NFT points to its location on the blockchain, but doesn’t necessarily contain the digital property. For example, if you replace one bitcoin with another, you will still have the same thing. If you buy a non-fungible item, such as a movie ticket, it is impossible to replace it with any other movie ticket because each ticket is unique to a specific time and place.
One of the unique characteristics of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is that they can be tokenised to create a digital certificate of ownership that can be bought, sold and traded on the blockchain.
As with crypto-currency, records of who owns what are stored on a ledger that is maintained by thousands of computers around the world. These records can’t be forged because the whole system operates on an open-source network.
NFTs also contain smart contracts—small computer programs that run on the blockchain—that give the artist, for example, a cut of any future sale of the token.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) aren't cryptocurrencies, but they do use blockchain technology. Many NFTs are based on Ethereum, where the blockchain serves as a ledger for all the transactions related to said NFT and the properties it represents.5) How to make an NFT?
Anyone can create an NFT. All you need is a digital wallet, some ethereum tokens and a connection to an NFT marketplace where you’ll be able to upload and sell your creations
When you purchase a stock in NFT, that purchase is recorded on the blockchain—the bitcoin ledger of transactions—and that entry acts as your proof of ownership.
The value of an NFT varies a lot based on the digital asset up for grabs. People use NFTs to trade and sell digital art, so when creating an NFT, you should consider the popularity of your digital artwork along with historical statistics.
In the year 2021, a digital artist called Pak created an artwork called The Merge. It was sold on the Nifty Gateway NFT market for $91.8 million.
Non-fungible tokens can be used in investment opportunities. One can purchase an NFT and resell it at a profit. Certain NFT marketplaces let sellers of NFTs keep a percentage of the profits from sales of the assets they create.
Many people want to buy NFTs because it lets them support the arts and own something cool from their favorite musicians, brands, and celebrities. NFTs also give artists an opportunity to program in continual royalties if someone buys their work. Galleries see this as a way to reach new buyers interested in art.
There are many places to buy digital assets, like opensea and their policies vary. On top shot, for instance, you sign up for a waitlist that can be thousands of people long. When a digital asset goes on sale, you are occasionally chosen to purchase it.
To mint an NFT token, you must pay some amount of gas fee to process the transaction on the Etherum blockchain, but you can mint your NFT on a different blockchain called Polygon to avoid paying gas fees. This option is available on OpenSea and this simply denotes that your NFT will only be able to trade using Polygon's blockchain and not Etherum's blockchain. Mintable allows you to mint NFTs for free without paying any gas fees.
The answer is no. Non-Fungible Tokens are minted on the blockchain using cryptocurrencies such as Etherum, Solana, Polygon, and so on. Once a Non-Fungible Token is minted, the transaction is recorded on the blockchain and the contract or license is awarded to whoever has that Non-Fungible Token in their wallet.
You can sell your work and creations by attaching a license to it on the blockchain, where its ownership can be transferred. This lets you get exposure without losing full ownership of your work. Some of the most successful projects include Cryptopunks, Bored Ape Yatch Club NFTs, SandBox, World of Women and so on. These NFT projects have gained popularity globally and are owned by celebrities and other successful entrepreneurs. Owning one of these NFTs gives you an automatic ticket to exclusive business meetings and life-changing connections.
That’s a wrap. Hope you guys found this article enlightening. I just answer some question with my limited knowledge about NFTs. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. Also I have a question for you, Is bitcoin an NFTs? let me know in The comment section below
In the rapidly advancing landscape of AI technology and innovation, LimeWire emerges as a unique platform in the realm of generative AI tools. This platform not only stands out from the multitude of existing AI tools but also brings a fresh approach to content generation. LimeWire not only empowers users to create AI content but also provides creators with creative ways to share and monetize their creations.
As we explore LimeWire, our aim is to uncover its features, benefits for creators, and the exciting possibilities it offers for AI content generation. This platform presents an opportunity for users to harness the power of AI in image creation, all while enjoying the advantages of a free and accessible service.
Let's unravel the distinctive features that set LimeWire apart in the dynamic landscape of AI-powered tools, understanding how creators can leverage its capabilities to craft unique and engaging AI-generated images.
This revamped LimeWire invites users to register and unleash their creativity by crafting original AI content, which can then be shared and showcased on the LimeWire Studio. Notably, even acclaimed artists and musicians, such as Deadmau5, Soulja Boy, and Sean Kingston, have embraced this platform to publish their content in the form of NFT music, videos, and images.
Beyond providing a space for content creation and sharing, LimeWire introduces monetization models to empower users to earn revenue from their creations. This includes avenues such as earning ad revenue and participating in the burgeoning market of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). As we delve further, we'll explore these monetization strategies in more detail to provide a comprehensive understanding of LimeWire's innovative approach to content creation and distribution.
LimeWire Studio welcomes content creators into its fold, providing a space to craft personalized AI-focused content for sharing with fans and followers. Within this creative hub, every piece of content generated becomes not just a creation but a unique asset—ownable and tradable. Fans have the opportunity to subscribe to creators' pages, immersing themselves in the creative journey and gaining ownership of digital collectibles that hold tradeable value within the LimeWire community. Notably, creators earn a 2.5% royalty each time their content is traded, adding a rewarding element to the creative process.
The platform's flexibility is evident in its content publication options. Creators can choose to share their work freely with the public or opt for a premium subscription model, granting exclusive access to specialized content for subscribers.
As of the present moment, LimeWire focuses on AI Image Generation, offering a spectrum of creative possibilities to its user base. The platform, however, has ambitious plans on the horizon, aiming to broaden its offerings by introducing AI music and video generation tools in the near future. This strategic expansion promises creators even more avenues for expression and engagement with their audience, positioning LimeWire Studio as a dynamic and evolving platform within the realm of AI-powered content creation.
The LimeWire AI image generation tool presents a versatile platform for both the creation and editing of images. Supporting advanced models such as Stable Diffusion 2.1, Stable Diffusion XL, and DALL-E 2, LimeWire offers a sophisticated toolkit for users to delve into the realm of generative AI art.
Much like other tools in the generative AI landscape, LimeWire provides a range of options catering to various levels of complexity in image creation. Users can initiate the creative process with prompts as simple as a few words or opt for more intricate instructions, tailoring the output to their artistic vision.
What sets LimeWire apart is its seamless integration of different AI models and design styles. Users have the flexibility to effortlessly switch between various AI models, exploring diverse design styles such as cinematic, digital art, pixel art, anime, analog film, and more. Each style imparts a distinctive visual identity to the generated AI art, enabling users to explore a broad spectrum of creative possibilities.
The platform also offers additional features, including samplers, allowing users to fine-tune the quality and detail levels of their creations. Customization options and prompt guidance further enhance the user experience, providing a user-friendly interface for both novice and experienced creators.
Excitingly, LimeWire is actively developing its proprietary AI model, signaling ongoing innovation and enhancements to its image generation capabilities. This upcoming addition holds the promise of further expanding the creative horizons for LimeWire users, making it an evolving and dynamic platform within the landscape of AI-driven art and image creation.
Sign Up Now To Get Free Credits
Upon completing your creative endeavor on LimeWire, the platform allows you the option to publish your content. An intriguing feature follows this step: LimeWire automates the process of minting your creation as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), utilizing either the Polygon or Algorand blockchain. This transformative step imbues your artwork with a unique digital signature, securing its authenticity and ownership in the decentralized realm.
Creators on LimeWire hold the power to decide the accessibility of their NFT creations. By opting for a public release, the content becomes discoverable by anyone, fostering a space for engagement and interaction. Furthermore, this choice opens the avenue for enthusiasts to trade the NFTs, adding a layer of community involvement to the artistic journey.
Alternatively, LimeWire acknowledges the importance of exclusivity. Creators can choose to share their posts exclusively with their premium subscribers. In doing so, the content remains a special offering solely for dedicated fans, creating an intimate and personalized experience within the LimeWire community. This flexibility in sharing options emphasizes LimeWire's commitment to empowering creators with choices in how they connect with their audience and distribute their digital creations.
After creating your content, you can choose to publish the content. It will automatically mint your creation as an NFT on the Polygon or Algorand blockchain. You can also choose whether to make it public or subscriber-only.
If you make it public, anyone can discover your content and even trade the NFTs. If you choose to share the post only with your premium subscribers, it will be exclusive only to your fans.
Additionally, you can earn ad revenue from your content creations as well.
When you publish content on LimeWire, you will receive 70% of all ad revenue from other users who view your images, music, and videos on the platform.
This revenue model will be much more beneficial to designers. You can experiment with the AI image and content generation tools and share your creations while earning a small income on the side.
The revenue you earn from your creations will come in the form of LMWR tokens, LimeWire’s own cryptocurrency.
Your earnings will be paid every month in LMWR, which you can then trade on many popular crypto exchange platforms like Kraken, ByBit, and UniSwap.
You can also use your LMWR tokens to pay for prompts when using LimeWire generative AI tools.
You can sign up to LimeWire to use its AI tools for free. You will receive 10 credits to use and generate up to 20 AI images per day. You will also receive 50% of the ad revenue share. However, you will get more benefits with premium plans.
For $9.99 per month, you will get 1,000 credits per month, up to 2 ,000 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 50% ad revenue share
For $29 per month, you will get 3750 credits per month, up to 7500 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 60% ad revenue share
For $49 per month, you will get 5,000 credits per month, up to 10,000 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 70% ad revenue share
For $99 per month, you will get 11,250 credits per month, up to 2 2,500 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 70% ad revenue share
With all premium plans, you will receive a Pro profile badge, full creation history, faster image generation, and no ads.
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In conclusion, LimeWire emerges as a democratizing force in the creative landscape, providing an inclusive platform where anyone can unleash their artistic potential and effortlessly share their work. With the integration of AI, LimeWire eliminates traditional barriers, empowering designers, musicians, and artists to publish their creations and earn revenue with just a few clicks.
The ongoing commitment of LimeWire to innovation is evident in its plans to enhance generative AI tools with new features and models. The upcoming expansion to include music and video generation tools holds the promise of unlocking even more possibilities for creators. It sparks anticipation about the diverse and innovative ways in which artists will leverage these tools to produce and publish their own unique creations.
For those eager to explore, LimeWire's AI tools are readily accessible for free, providing an opportunity to experiment and delve into the world of generative art. As LimeWire continues to evolve, creators are encouraged to stay tuned for the launch of its forthcoming AI music and video generation tools, promising a future brimming with creative potential and endless artistic exploration
Janet Savage went into cardiac arrest after injury to abdominal aorta during operation in August last year
A woman died during an operation after travelling to Turkey for slimming surgery, an inquest heard.
Janet Savage, 54, was undergoing a gastric “stomach sleeve” operation but never came around from the procedure.
Continue reading...Raft houses, known as ‘splavs’, became synonymous with the hedonistic nightclub scene in Serbia’s capital. Now they are being cleared from the river to make way for luxury flats, bars and shops
For 20 years, the raft bar Zappa Barka sat on a bend of the River Danube in central Belgrade. Revellers walked a gangplank to board the boat, then danced to live music and DJs on wooden floors, or stayed on deck all night to see the sun rise over the water. But in June 2024 the raft’s electricity supply was suddenly cut, and the barge was towed to a new destination far from the city centre.
Zappa’s existence was always unstable, but there was a sense of exception in Belgrade. That’s because this boat bar was one of Belgrade’s “splavs”, raft houses that have been built on Belgrade’s two rivers, the Danube and the Sava, since the 1960s. Locals use them in summer as waterside retreats, gathering with friends for barbecues when temperatures can hit 38C. Families buy their moorings for 99 years and can renovate their raft house within certain parameters.
Continue reading...Share details of accommodation near a main railway station in Europe including the UK – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
When you’re exploring Europe (including the UK) by train, finding a lovely place to stay near the station in the cities on route can really enhance your trip. We’d love to know about a characterful hostel, hotel or B&B you discovered that was in easy reach of a main railway station. Tell us where you stayed and what made it so special for the chance to win a £200 Coolstays holiday voucher.
If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition.
Continue reading...America has elected Donald Trump for a second time after a convincing victory over Kamala Harris. In the final instalment of Anywhere but Washington, Oliver Laughland and Tom Silverstone travel to Michigan to watch the final days of the race; as fervent Trump supporters hit the streets, young women mobilise behind Harris, and chaos and despair drive rival election night parties
Continue reading...The advocates say the laws conflict with the state constitution’s new protection for reproductive rights.
The post Missouri Advocates Sue to Overturn More Than a Dozen Laws on Abortion appeared first on The Intercept.
From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors. You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors.
You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
Continue reading...California just voted in harsher penalties despite low crime rates, thanks to TV news, a $16 million campaign, and a slow defense by criminal justice advocates.
The post How California Got Convinced to Lock More People Up appeared first on The Intercept.
House speaker says caucus will meet with Trump on Wednesday; judge postpones all proceedings in Trump’s hush-money case through 19 November
Joe Biden is meeting with two foreign leaders at the White House today.
At 11.15am, he will speak with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, then with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, at 2pm.
Continue reading...Postponement follows numerous successful attempts to delay case in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts
The judge in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal hush-money case has postponed deciding on whether to throw out the president-elect’s conviction on presidential immunity grounds.
Judge Juan Merchan told Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday that he would delay the ruling until 19 November after defense and prosecutors submitted a joint letter asking for a postponement.
Continue reading...At key moments throughout US history, white male anger has been privileged over national security, progress or basic welfare
A friend recently asked: “Do you think the United States will survive the anger of white men?” As blunt as the question is, the core element is not so far-fetched. In fact, the majority of white men (and women) who voted in the presidential election in 2024 have rallied around a man who has called for the “termination of the constitution”, vowed to be a “dictator”, and threatened to deploy the US military against Americans. They support a man who is a convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist, a proven liar, who has been fined nearly half a billion dollars for fraud, who incited an insurrection that injured 140 police officers, and who mismanaged the Covid-19 pandemic causing hundreds of thousands to die needlessly.
The fact that Donald Trump’s candidacy was even viable, given that horrific track record, was because of the support of white men. White men, whose anger was on full display at Madison Square Garden as they spewed racist, misogynistic venom. White men who attacked poll workers and also voters of Kamala Harris. White men who chafed at the thought that their wives and girlfriends would not vote for the man who thought it was “a beautiful thing” that reproductive rights had been destroyed. And, as the New York Times reported, the downwardly mobile, frustrated “white men without a degree, [who] have been surpassed in income by college-educated women”.
Carol Anderson is the Robert W Woodruff Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
Continue reading...Historic apology by PM Christopher Luxon comes after landmark report that exposed decades of abuse in state and faith-based care institutions
New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon has formally apologised to the more than 200,000 children and adults who suffered “horrific” and “heartbreaking” abuse and neglect while in state and faith-based institutions.
The historic apology follows a harrowing landmark report, released in July, which laid bare the scale of abuse that occurred across care institutions from the 1950s onwards. It was the most complex royal commission inquiry the country has held. The judge who chaired the inquiry, Coral Shaw, described the abuse as a “national disgrace and shame”.
Continue reading...Share details of accommodation near a main railway station in Europe including the UK – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
When you’re exploring Europe (including the UK) by train, finding a lovely place to stay near the station in the cities on route can really enhance your trip. We’d love to know about a characterful hostel, hotel or B&B you discovered that was in easy reach of a main railway station. Tell us where you stayed and what made it so special for the chance to win a £200 Coolstays holiday voucher.
If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition.
Continue reading...Arizona voted to grant state and local police the authority to make immigration arrests, going against Supreme Court precedent.
The post The Looming Fight to Make Local Cops Part of Trump’s Deportation Machine appeared first on The Intercept.
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Trump’s campaign line about ending taxes on tips could run into the GOP’s goal of extending his 2017 tax cuts for the rich.
The post The First Big Test for Donald Trump’s Promises of Economic Populism appeared first on The Intercept.
Environmental Protection Agency rule seeks to curb ‘super pollutant’ more potent than carbon dioxide in short term
Oil and natural gas companies for the first time will have to pay a federal fee if they emit dangerous methane above certain levels under a rule being made final by the Biden administration.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule follows through on a directive from Congress included in the 2022 climate law. The new fee is intended to encourage industry to adopt best practices that reduce emissions of methane – the primary component of natural gas – and thereby avoid paying the fee.
Continue reading...The House is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would let the administration destroy nonprofits it claims support terrorism.
The post Congress Is About to Gift Trump Sweeping Powers to Crush His Political Enemies appeared first on The Intercept.
“In all likelihood, crypto deregulation is coming,” said a consumer advocate. “It looks like a tragedy waiting to happen.”
The post Crypto Sweep Puts Congress on Notice: Vote With Us or We’ll Come After You With Millions appeared first on The Intercept.
Harris refused to distance herself from the Biden administration's support of Israel's war on Gaza. Tlaib railed against it.
The post In Dearborn, Rashida Tlaib Did Nearly Twice as Well as Kamala Harris appeared first on The Intercept.
For a decade, Congress has failed to rein in the surveillance state. Now Trump is promising to use the government against his foes.
The post Trump Might Get Unfettered Surveillance Powers. How Did We Get Here? appeared first on The Intercept.
Climate activist Nyombi Morris became outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights after his sister was outed as a lesbian and expelled from school. Last year, Uganda passed a new law that imposes up to 20 years in prison for 'recruitment, promotion and funding' of same-sex 'activities', and life imprisonment or the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. After Morris received an anonymous call threatening to rape and arrest him if he did not stop 'promoting homosexuality', the 26-year-old went into hiding for a few weeks and then, with the help of the Uganda-based human rights group Defend Defenders, fled to Denmark where he has applied for asylum.
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ESA and Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract amendment today at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan to extend the Lunar View refuelling module for the lunar Gateway.
The end to this bloody stalemate must come with negotiation, and Putin should not wait until Trump is in the White House
First the good news. The US is talking to Russia. Then the bad. Vladimir Putin has been phoned not by the current US president, but by a known admirer and sceptic of the US’s support for Ukraine, the president-elect, Donald Trump. Could these two facts offer a path to peace?
Two years ago, Putin made a terrible mistake. He thought he could invade Ukraine and topple its leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He failed utterly. Ukraine’s forces pushed him back to the supposedly pro-Russian territory of his 2014 invasion. At talks in Istanbul months after this failure, Putin’s representatives might have settled for a ceasefire and the acceptance of some western security guarantee for Kyiv. The talks broke down with the west encouraging Ukraine to fight on. In what amounted to a proxy war on Moscow, the west attacked Russia and its people with the severest sanctions ever seen, while donating to Ukraine huge sums of aid.
Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...It is estimated that Trump played hundreds of rounds of golf during his first term as president of the United States
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is practising golf – for the first time in eight years – in preparation for future meetings with US president-elect Donald Trump, Yoon’s office has confirmed.
South Korean media said Yoon had visited a golf course on Saturday for a sport his office said he had last played in 2016.
Continue reading...Green party says PM’s target of 81% emissions cut at Cop climate summit is welcome but not enough
Leadbeater introduces the next speaker, Nat Dye, who has terminal cancer. She says she thinks his views are the most important for people to hear at this press conference.
He says he has known “positive” experiences of death. His fiance and his mother both had relatively peaceful deaths. He says palliative care can work for some people.
Imagine I am dying and palliative care hasn’t improved. Well, I have no choice whatsoever: I die in pain or I die in pain.
I see this as a chance just to act with kindness and a choice for people at their darkest hour.
Continue reading...From the rousing leader dismissed for leading a walkout to the activists handing out free burgers, pizza and weed, an inspiring new documentary charts the long, hard fight to create the delivery giant’s first union
As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, US trades unions are among the many constituencies bracing themselves for impact. Cheered on by Elon Musk, Trump is expected to gut public regulators – including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which enforces unions’ right to organise in America’s workplaces. Musk, who rejects unions as creating “a lords-and-peasants sort of thing”, had already joined a legal claim, alongside Amazon founder and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, arguing the NLRB is “unconstitutional” and should be scrapped.
It is against this bleak outlook for US labour activists that a new documentary, Union, opens in the UK this week. It follows the David and Goliath battle of a ragtag group of workers at Amazon’s huge JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York, to create a union from scratch, and force Bezos’s retailing giant to the negotiating table.
Continue reading...Kaja Kallas says Ukraine’s victory in war is ‘a priority for us all’, adding that it is also in the US interest
China should face “a higher cost” for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, the EU’s incoming foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said.
The former Estonian prime minister was speaking to MEPs during a three-hour hearing before she takes office, when she listed Ukraine’s victory as a priority – stronger words than vaguer formulas of support voiced by some EU politicians.
Continue reading...So far, the president-elect’s rhetoric has been at odds with reality. If that changes, it would redraw the US electoral map
Donald Trump’s unpredictable style and electoral success reflect a turbulent era when neither progressives nor authoritarians have secured control. Far from signalling an autocratic takeover, his rise shows a political landscape in flux. The 2008 crash and its uneven recovery marked the decline of the old economic order. But in 2016, the rise of Trump on the right and Bernie Sanders on the left highlighted a real shift, as neoliberalism’s grip loosened, making space for once marginalised ideas.
Since then, two US presidencies have acknowledged the need to rebuild an economy that supports blue-collar workers affected by free trade, immigration and globalisation. While neither administration succeeded – and paid for it at the ballot box – the result has been a growing constituency on both sides of the American political divide that takes seriously, albeit often rhetorically, economic injustice. But for any political movement to become dominant, it has to shape the core ideas that matter to everyone, not just its diehard supporters.
Continue reading...US protectionism raises alarms, underscoring the need for balanced policies as wealthy nations’ tariffs can hurt developing economies
“To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff,” Donald Trump told business leaders in October. “It’s my favourite word. It needs a public relations firm.” Now, with his election victory, Mr Trump’s words send a shiver through global capitals. Many fear he may pull a curtain across the US economy, locking them out of the world’s largest market and cutting off access to US technology. These fears are amplified by last year’s contraction in merchandise trade – which was the first such shrinkage at a time when the global economy was growing.
However, it’s wise to take Mr Trump seriously, not literally. During his last term, he imposed tariffs on more than $400bn in US-China trade and renegotiated the North American free trade agreement (Nafta) in a push to reshore blue-collar jobs. In many ways, Joe Biden continued – and even accelerated – these trends. Mr Trump averaged 144,000 reshored jobs a year; in 2022, Mr Biden reached 364,000.
Continue reading...Agreement on rules paving way for rich countries to pay for cheap climate action abroad breaks years-long deadlock
Diplomats have greenlit key rules that govern the trade of “carbon credits”, breaking a years-long deadlock and paving the way for rich countries to pay for cheap climate action abroad while delaying expensive emission cuts at home.
The agreement, reached late on the first day of Cop29 in Azerbaijan, was hailed by the hosts as an early win at climate talks that have been snubbed by prominent world leaders and clouded by the threat of a US retreat from climate diplomacy after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election.
Continue reading...US government wrote to Israel a month ago threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies
The amount of aid reaching Gaza has dropped to the lowest level since December, official Israeli figures show, despite the US having issued a 30-day ultimatum last month threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies reaching the territory.
The ultimatum was delivered on 13 October, so will expire on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is unclear what measures Israel’s apparent failure to fulfil US demands will trigger, but they may include a temporary halt to the supply of some munitions or other military assistance.
Continue reading...California just voted in harsher penalties despite low crime rates, thanks to TV news, a $16 million campaign, and a slow defense by criminal justice advocates.
The post How California Got Convinced to Lock More People Up appeared first on The Intercept.
Seoul’s military says several vessels and dozens of civilian planes disrupted, a week after Pyongyang fired what it called its most powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, Seoul’s military said – an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea.
The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.
Continue reading...Harris could have focused on how U.S. foreign policy pushes immigrants to leave their homes. Instead, she ran on border security.
The post Harris Ran to Trump’s Right on Immigration — and Gained Absolutely Nothing For It appeared first on The Intercept.
As ever, don’t expect the Democratic Party to save us. Now is the time for grassroots action.
The post The Answer to Trump’s Victory Is Radical Action appeared first on The Intercept.
Prime minister stayed out of hot water by being short on detail – or opinions
If it’s Tuesday, it must be Baku. Keir Starmer’s Rolling Thunder Permatour has now hit Azerbaijan for Cop29. Next week he will be off to Brazil for the G20. And who knows, he might even drop in to see Joe Biden and Donald Trump on the way back.
After all it’s been almost a month since he was last in the US having dinner with The Donald in his understated golden penthouse. He wouldn’t want to appear too needy, of course, but why pass up an opportunity to persuade the president-elect that he had never really meant any of those beastly things he had said about him in the past. Just a joke. Hahaha. Lols.
Taking the Lead by John Crace is published by Little, Brown (£18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
Continue reading...House speaker says caucus will meet with Trump on Wednesday; judge postpones all proceedings in Trump’s hush-money case through 19 November
Joe Biden is meeting with two foreign leaders at the White House today.
At 11.15am, he will speak with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, then with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, at 2pm.
Continue reading...Trump’s campaign line about ending taxes on tips could run into the GOP’s goal of extending his 2017 tax cuts for the rich.
The post The First Big Test for Donald Trump’s Promises of Economic Populism appeared first on The Intercept.
Basic Liberty, a publishing imprint launched in the wake of Trump’s election win, will be helmed by Thomas Spence, an editor associated with Project 2025 thinktank The Heritage Foundation
Staff are protesting against a new US imprint of global publisher Hachette Book Group (HBG) specialising in conservative books, launched in the wake of Donald Trump’s election win.
A letter from an anonymous group of HBG employees has been published on social media, criticising the launch of Basic Liberty. It also expresses concern at the hiring of executive editor Thomas Spence. Spence is the former president of conservative publisher Regnery and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, the rightwing thinktank that coordinated the Project 2025 initiative, which sets out plans to reshape the US government and strip minorities of legal protections.
Continue reading...We spoke to activists and therapists across the US about how they were dealing with the news of Trump’s win and how they plan to take action
Last week, Donald Trump was elected president for a second time. The convicted felon, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women, has been open about his plans to take “revenge” against his political opponents, pursue mass deportations of immigrants, rescind federal LGBTQ+ non-discrimination policies and roll back climate protections.
Many Americans have been worrying about what a second Trump term would mean for their lives, communities and futures. We spoke to activists and therapists across the country about how they were dealing with the news and how they planned to take action going forward.
Continue reading...Incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly says Trump will reinstate signature policies of first presidency
Donald Trump will mark the first day of his return to the White House by signing a spate of executive orders to reinstate signature policies from his first presidency that were revoked by Joe Biden, according to his incoming chief of staff.
Susie Wiles’s disclosure came in a closed-door meeting in Las Vegas of the Rockbridge Network, a group of conservative donors co-founded by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, the New York Times reported.
Continue reading...Settlers have been dreaming of a return to Gaza for nearly 20 years – and Trump’s presidency may only embolden them
Last week, Brig Gen Itzik Cohen, a senior IDF officer, quietly admitted what the international community has long been reluctant to acknowledge: that Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, and deceiving the world about its true objectives in the besieged territory. He made the admission during a closed briefing to Israeli journalists last Tuesday regarding the army’s activities in the north of the strip. Israel’s forces, he boasted, were getting closer to the “complete evacuation” of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya – Gaza’s three northernmost cities, which have been under intense Israeli bombardment since early October. “There is no intention of allowing the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes,” Cohen continued, before adding that his “clear orders” were to “create a cleansed space”.
The army hastened to distance itself from Cohen’s comments after they garnered the attention of the international media: what may have sounded like war crimes, a spokesperson clarified, was merely a remark taken out of context. Yet what we see playing out on the ground in northern Gaza is exactly as Cohen described it: tens of thousands of civilians forced out of homes, shelters and hospitals, day after day, by airstrikes, artillery fire, quadcopter drones or armed battalions arriving at their door – who make sure to demolish or burn whatever is left behind.
Ben Reiff is a senior editor at +972 magazine
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...Postponement follows numerous successful attempts to delay case in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts
The judge in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal hush-money case has postponed deciding on whether to throw out the president-elect’s conviction on presidential immunity grounds.
Judge Juan Merchan told Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday that he would delay the ruling until 19 November after defense and prosecutors submitted a joint letter asking for a postponement.
Continue reading...Some liberals have a weird urge, based on the flimsiest evidence, to see conservative women as misled victims of Maga men
Her father may have been voted into the highest office in the land, but have the results of the US election left Ivanka Trump feeling low? Deep down, did the former first daughter hope Kamala Harris might prevail?
The idea that Ivanka, who appears to have made enormous amounts of money during her dad’s first term, might have secretly been rooting for Harris seems preposterous. But consider, for a moment, the evidence, which is this: a blue pantsuit. Ivanka, who was absent for much of her dad’s campaign, rocked up to Trump’s victory party – creepy “slumlord” husband in tow – wearing a bright blue ensemble. Since blue is associated with Democrats, tongues started wagging. Was this a fashion statement or a political statement? Was Ivanka trying to send a message that she was Team Kamala?
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
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Musk and Donald Trump propose a ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, crypto wins big in the election and a modern equivalent of Lysistrata takes hold on TikTok
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Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m Blake Montgomery, US tech editor at the Guardian. In this week’s newsletter: Elon Musk and Donald Trump want to create a “Department of Government Efficiency”, crypto wins big across the board, and a modern equivalent of Lysistrata takes hold on TikTok. Thank you for joining me.
Trump, president-elect of the US, said he wants to appoint Musk, the world’s richest man, as the country’s “secretary of cost-cutting” to reduce bureaucracy in the federal government by an order of $2tn, roughly a third. Trump announced in September that he would create a “Department of Government Efficiency”. Musk had pushed for the idea and has since relentlessly promoted it, emphasizing the acronym for the agency: Doge, a reference to a meme of an expressive Shiba Inu. Trump said the agency will be conducting a “complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government, and making recommendations for drastic reforms”.
The billionaire does not seem to be under illusions of what will happen after his proposed cuts.
Continue reading...South Dakota governor, whose VP chances evaporated after admitting shooting her dog, tipped as DHS secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has picked the South Dakota governor, Kristi Noem, to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing two sources.
Noem, once seen as a possible running mate for Trump, is currently serving her second four-year term as South Dakota’s governor after a landslide re-election victory in 2022. She rose to national prominence after refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continue reading...Harris and Trump voters share their election opinions from a Guardian callout that received more than a thousand responses
“It’s like being sucked into a tsunami,” said Vivian Glover, a Kamala Harris voter from South Carolina, about the realisation that Donald Trump had been re-elected as president.
“The contrast between the two campaigns couldn’t have been more stark. On the one hand an intelligent, highly qualified public servant with a unifying message, and the opponent someone who epitomizes corruption, immorality, dishonesty, incompetence, racism, misogyny, tyranny and has clearly indicated his willingness to embrace authoritarianism.”
Continue reading...The move follows a bitter Instagram post by Jack White condemning what the US can expect from choosing ‘a known, obvious fascist’
The White Stripes have dropped their federal lawsuit against Donald Trump for unauthorised use of their song Seven Nation Army in a video posted by campaign deputy director of communications Margo Martin in August.
Jack and Meg White are dismissing the case without prejudice and therefore could refile, Pitchfork reports. A lawyer for the band offered the website no comment.
Continue reading...At key moments throughout US history, white male anger has been privileged over national security, progress or basic welfare
A friend recently asked: “Do you think the United States will survive the anger of white men?” As blunt as the question is, the core element is not so far-fetched. In fact, the majority of white men (and women) who voted in the presidential election in 2024 have rallied around a man who has called for the “termination of the constitution”, vowed to be a “dictator”, and threatened to deploy the US military against Americans. They support a man who is a convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist, a proven liar, who has been fined nearly half a billion dollars for fraud, who incited an insurrection that injured 140 police officers, and who mismanaged the Covid-19 pandemic causing hundreds of thousands to die needlessly.
The fact that Donald Trump’s candidacy was even viable, given that horrific track record, was because of the support of white men. White men, whose anger was on full display at Madison Square Garden as they spewed racist, misogynistic venom. White men who attacked poll workers and also voters of Kamala Harris. White men who chafed at the thought that their wives and girlfriends would not vote for the man who thought it was “a beautiful thing” that reproductive rights had been destroyed. And, as the New York Times reported, the downwardly mobile, frustrated “white men without a degree, [who] have been surpassed in income by college-educated women”.
Carol Anderson is the Robert W Woodruff Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
Continue reading...Trump keeps winning because the Democratic party refuses to be the party of the working class.
The post Bernie Would Have Won. Seriously. appeared first on The Intercept.
After dismissing his defence minister, Yoav Gallant – and with Trump back in the White House – Benjamin Netanyahu’s position is stronger than ever. Julian Borger reports
It should have been a difficult week for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He started the week facing widescale protests against his leadership once more – this time after sacking his popular defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
Seen as the last independent figure in Netanyahu’s coalition, Gallant challenged the prime minister’s war goals and was seen as relatively moderate thanks to his wish to prioritise a hostage deal. When Netanyahu tried to dismiss him in the past he had to back down after demonstrators took to the street in huge numbers. This time, however, the prime minister successfully managed to oust his rival – and the final dissenting voice in his cabinet.
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Even if president-elect rolls back climate progress, John Podesta reaffirms commitment to a clean planet at Cop29
The US climate envoy John Podesta said the fight “for a cleaner, safer” planet will not stop under a re-elected Donald Trump even if some progress is reversed, speaking at the Cop29 UN climate talks on Monday as they opened in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Although under Donald Trump’s leadership the US federal government placed climate-related actions on the back burner, efforts to prevent climate change remain a commitment in the US and will confidently continue,” said Podesta, who is leading the Biden administration’s delegation at the annual talks.
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Lebanon’s National News Agency reports Israeli planes carried out airstrikes again overnight on locations in the south of the country. There are, as yet, no reports of any casualties.
Here are some of the latest images sent to us over the news wires from the Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel.
Continue reading...The House is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would let the administration destroy nonprofits it claims support terrorism.
The post Congress Is About to Gift Trump Sweeping Powers to Crush His Political Enemies appeared first on The Intercept.
Police say plans in place to deal with rise in border crossings as US president-elect pledges to remove 11m people
Canada is bracing for a surge of migrants to its southern border after Donald Trump doubled down on his pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation in American history.
On Thursday, Trump told NBC News there was “no choice” but to proceed in removing some of the estimated 11 million undocumented people in the United States.
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While Jake Paul’s big fight against Tinpot Mike Tyson on Friday is almost certain to be the most talked about sporting event featuring a Social Media Disgrace influencer to be staged this week, it won’t have been the first one. The sweet science has long since lost whatever credibility it had as a sport, with promoters finding new ways to debase it in their chase to the bottom line. Football has always purported to be above such publicity-grabbing stunts. Even if those who run and play it are as rapacious in their pursuit of cash as any of the smooth-talking hucksters behind the decision to put a long-past-his-best Tyson against some internet wonk 31 years his junior. A supposed meritocracy on the pitch at least, places on elite professional sports teams are supposed to be earned through blood, , sweat and tears, even if the inexplicable, ongoing presence of [insert your favourite team’s worst performing player here] in the lineup suggests otherwise.
And I’m so sick, so sick of those coaches saying, ‘Oh yeah, but the intensity [of the flamin’ A-League]’... OK, we will talk about someone who won the World Cup, won the Euro, [Bigger Cup], played in England for 10 years. He wasn’t quick, he wasn’t the strongest. So despite that, he was one of the best players in the world. And we’re talking about A-League intensity? You must be kidding. Put horses on the pitch, they will be running – but they can’t kick a ball, and they can’t play. They can’t pass the ball. Seriously, I’m disgusted to hear that kind of stuff” – it’s fair to say Juan Mata’s Mr 20%, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, is not best pleased with Western Sydney Wanderers boss Alen Stajcic’s sparse use of the 36-year-old Spaniard.
Bird-watchers fond of crying fowl will know that the coot (not the Coote) is clad almost entirely in black and, according to the RSPB, it ‘patters noisily … and can be very aggressive towards others’. Unlike the soon-to-be-rarely-seen Coote, the coot’s conservation status is secure and still has a future in which to ruffle feathers and stick its beak where it shouldn’t” – Mark McFadden.
Many years ago I was working in the kitchen of a hotel in the picturesque Peak District, where once a month a pair of stocktakers would arrive to ensure all was above board. On one occasion, one of the auditors turned out to be a football referee. As the morning went on it turned out he had recently sent off a feisty Norwich forward, describing him as ‘a mouthy little man’. Obviously my head chef took great pleasure in having me wait on them hand and foot purely for the joy of watching a Norwich supporter slowly lose his mind” – Phil Withall.
After the sunny and lovable Gary Lineker, Match of the Day needs a change; after all, as we look around we see that life in general is getting less sunny on every dimension. So what better candidate to reflect the new world we live in than our old friend José Mourinho? There we would have him, glaring balefully at his invited punters and treating their banalities with due sardonic bitterness, sneering at the camera and daring us to carry on watching. It would bring the end of the world a little closer, but since it’s almost here, what would that matter?” – Charles Antaki.
Totally fair to assume Gianni Infantino pulled the idea of a Supporters’ Shield out of his behind (yesterday’s Football Daily, full email edition), as this expanded Club World Cup appears to have been conceived in a similar fashion. However, the Supporters’ Shield is one of the most organic things about MLS, yet also quintessentially MLS because it has been co-opted by the league and means precisely squat. Teams don’t get stars over the crest for the Shield. That comes from an MLS Cup victory, which is subject to a Russian roulette-style playoff system the league changes almost every year in what is usually marketed as exciting, but actually ensures a number of the franchise owners in the playoffs are guaranteed one home match to squeeze their fans’ wallets. It’s a level of creativity Infantino clearly takes some inspiration from” – Colin Durant.
Can I be the 1,057th person to ask how if ‘it started to rain on the 17th day of the second month of Noah’s 600th year’ that he managed not to ‘walk on dry land again until the 27th day of the second month of his 101st year, some 375 days later’ (Andrew Kluth, yesterday’s Football Daily letters). Does Noah lie about his age on Tinder too?” – Peter Storch (and 1,056 others).
Continue reading...Twenty-nine-metre tall fir destined to be chopped down and transported to St Peter’s Square in the Vatican
Environmental campaigners in Italy’s northern Trentino province have started a campaign to stop the felling of a 200-year-old fir tree intended to form the centrepiece of the Vatican’s Christmas decorations.
The so-called “Green Giant” is 29 metres tall and is due to be chopped down next week in a forest in the Ledro valley before being transported to the Vatican and positioned in St Peter’s Square, where it will be unveiled on 9 December.
Continue reading...Counter-terrorism police chief says 250 officers were sent to Salisbury to investigate poisoning of former Russian spy
A counter-terrorism police chief has described how hundreds of investigators and scientists painstakingly worked to trace “ground zero” – the spot where the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with a nerve agent.
Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met police’s counter-terrorism command, told an inquiry into the novichok poisonings that a restaurant, pub and a car were suspected before the door handle of Skripal’s home was pinpointed as the source of the poisoning almost two weeks after the Skripals fell ill.
Continue reading...Ukraine-born Nadezhda Buyanova was accused of referring to young patient’s late soldier father as ‘legitimate target’
A Russian court has sentenced an elderly Moscow paediatrician to five and a half years in prison after the mother of one of her patients publicly denounced her for comments she allegedly made about Russian soldiers in Ukraine during a private consultation.
Nadezhda Buyanova, 68, was accused in January by the ex-wife of a soldier killed in Ukraine of referring to her child’s father as a “legitimate target of Ukraine” and saying Russia was “guilty” in the ongoing war.
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Storyville profiles Gena Marvin, who is challenging anti-gay and pro-war sentiment. Plus: Bake Off goes 1970s. Here’s what to watch this evening
10pm, BBC Four
Continue reading...During the siege of Leningrad, botanists in charge of an irreplaceable seed collection had to protect it from fire, rodents – and hunger
Somewhere in the sky above, the mosquito drone of a plane’s propeller neared. Since Abram Kameraz had begun to commute by train from Leningrad (now St Petersburg) to the suburban town of Pavlovsk earlier in the summer of 1941, attacks by enemy planes had become a frequent cause of delay. Through the carriage window, Kameraz saw the road was littered with bodies. These men, women and children had been killed by German planes which had strafed and bombed the crowds of refugees as they fled towards the city. As Kameraz caught the silhouette of a German Stuka cresting the horizon, the driver stopped the train and ordered the passengers to run to a nearby ditch for cover.
Kameraz, 36, was a potato specialist, one of about 50 botanists who worked at the Plant Institute, the world’s first seed bank, situated off St Isaac’s Square in the centre of Leningrad. The institute’s potato collection contained 6,000 varieties, including many rare cultivars – the largest, most diverse potato collection yet gathered in history, a crop of inestimable scientific importance. And right now, hundreds of delicate South American specimens were planted in sheds in the fields on the outskirts of the city, in the path of the advancing German army.
Continue reading...On climate, immigration, and Israel’s war on Gaza, Harris ran to the right — alienating voters.
The post Democrats Blow Their Chance to Block Trump’s Resurgence appeared first on The Intercept.
Arizona voted to grant state and local police the authority to make immigration arrests, going against Supreme Court precedent.
The post The Looming Fight to Make Local Cops Part of Trump’s Deportation Machine appeared first on The Intercept.
How the Democrats lost to Trump — again.
The post Kamala’s Fruitless Pursuit of the Mythical Moderate appeared first on The Intercept.
Israel cut ties with UNWRA, attacked the West Bank and Lebanon, and announced a pending “complete evacuation” of northern Gaza earlier this week.
The post While America Voted, Israel Set the Stage for Annexing Northern Gaza appeared first on The Intercept.
“In all likelihood, crypto deregulation is coming,” said a consumer advocate. “It looks like a tragedy waiting to happen.”
The post Crypto Sweep Puts Congress on Notice: Vote With Us or We’ll Come After You With Millions appeared first on The Intercept.
Greenpeace and Uplift say Rosebank and Jackdaw licences were granted unlawfully by former Tory government
Climate campaigners have urged a Scottish court to cancel the licence to drill the UK’s largest untapped oilfield, arguing it will cause “sizeable” and unjustified damage to the planet.
Greenpeace and Uplift accuse the former Conservative government of having unlawfully given the Norwegian oil giant Equinor a licence to exploit the Rosebank oilfield, which sits 80 miles (130km) north-west of Shetland and holds nearly 500m barrels of oil and gas.
Continue reading...Newly unearthed documents contain warning from head of Air Pollution Foundation, founded in 1953 by oil interests
Major oil companies, including Shell and precursors to energy giants Chevron, ExxonMobil and BP, were alerted about the planet-warming effects of fossil fuels as early as 1954, newly unearthed documents show.
The warning, from the head of an industry-created group known as the Air Pollution Foundation, was revealed by Climate Investigations Center and published Tuesday by the climate website DeSmog. It represents what may be the earliest instance of big oil being informed of the potentially dire consequences of its products.
Continue reading...After five years making Energy UK ‘noisier’ on green issues, Emma Pinchbeck has been picked to lead the UK’s fight against global heating
‘I was a risk when they hired me,” smiles Emma Pinchbeck. The chief executive of Energy UK, the voice of the industry, is hours away from a black-tie awards event that will serve as her unofficial leaving do. After almost five years in the role, she will join the government’s climate watchdog, the Climate Change Committee, in a matter of days.
“It’s pretty funny to remind people of this now, but I was an untested risk. I don’t think back in 2019 if you’d said to the energy industry, ‘who would you want as a spokesperson for the sector in a time of crisis?’ that they’d necessarily have chosen someone like me.”
Continue reading...America has elected Donald Trump for a second time after a convincing victory over Kamala Harris. In the final instalment of Anywhere but Washington, Oliver Laughland and Tom Silverstone travel to Michigan to watch the final days of the race; as fervent Trump supporters hit the streets, young women mobilise behind Harris, and chaos and despair drive rival election night parties
Continue reading...In every state it was on the ballot, reproductive care was more popular than Kamala Harris.
The post Voters Overwhelmingly Chose to Protect Abortion — Even When They Didn’t Choose Harris appeared first on The Intercept.
The problem isn’t that cities like Reading are now Trump strongholds, but that Harris’s campaign gave few reasons for enthusiasm.
The post Trump Didn’t Win Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris Lost It. appeared first on The Intercept.
Harris refused to distance herself from the Biden administration's support of Israel's war on Gaza. Tlaib railed against it.
The post In Dearborn, Rashida Tlaib Did Nearly Twice as Well as Kamala Harris appeared first on The Intercept.
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States in a political resurrection that sent shock waves through the US and around the world. As votes were counted overnight, Trump took North Carolina surprisingly early, the first battleground state to be called, and later won Georgia and Pennsylvania. After 2am ET, Trump emerged to speak, surrounded by his family, close aides and JD Vance, the hard-right Ohio senator he picked for vice-president. Trump defeated Harris, a Democrat who had been seeking to make history as the first woman, first Black woman and first south Asian American to become president in the US’s 248-year history
Continue reading...The governor waged an unprecedented campaign to block Amendment 4, which needed 60 percent support to pass.
The post Florida Abortion Amendment Falls Short Following Aggressive Opposition by Ron DeSantis appeared first on The Intercept.
The mercury has dropped and our homes are getting chilly. But if your finger is reluctantly hovering over the central heating dial, these electric heaters may be just what you need to efficiently warm the cockles
Are you in need of a stopgap stand-in for your central heating? Or perhaps you’re looking for an efficient appliance to heat a small space. If so, investing in one of the best electric heaters will rid the cold from your home.
Electric heaters range from compact, fast-acting fan-powered models to oil-filled radiators and wall-mounted panels. Some also have smart functionality, so you can ask Alexa to turn up the heat, and other advanced features such as air purification and adaptive heating. But which are best?
Best overall electric heater:
Beldray 2,000W Smart Ceramic Core Radiator
£275 at Argos
Best budget electric heater:
Russell Hobbs Oscillating Ceramic 2kW Heater
£49 at Very
Best fan heater:
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde
£549 at John Lewis
Best stove-style electric heater:
Everhot Electric Heater
£1,225 at Direct Stoves
The Intercept spoke to voters in the region grappling with the fact that neither party is promising change to U.S. policy in Gaza.
The post Americans in the Middle East: “The Most Unenthusiastic Vote I’ve Ever Cast” appeared first on The Intercept.
For a decade, Congress has failed to rein in the surveillance state. Now Trump is promising to use the government against his foes.
The post Trump Might Get Unfettered Surveillance Powers. How Did We Get Here? appeared first on The Intercept.
Election watchers in Europe, Asia and elsewhere will be tuning in – and some have a particular interest in the result
From Brazil to Ireland and Germany to the Caribbean, this year’s knife-edge – and more than usually momentous – US presidential vote will be watched at a multitude of election-night events, some with a particular interest in the outcome.
In St Ann Parish, Jamaica – and most particularly in Browns Town, where Harris’s father Donald was born and the Democratic candidate spent many happy childhood holidays – her supporters plan watch parties, drink-ups and other social gatherings.
Continue reading...About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine, the US secretary of state has said, warning that Moscow is preparing to deploy those troops into combat 'in the coming days'. The announcement was the clearest statement yet from the US that it anticipated the first large-scale deployment of foreign troops into the Russia-Ukraine war since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Guardian's Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, explains why Russia plans to use North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine
Continue reading...Many feel this US election cycle has been the dirtiest yet in terms of campaigning. Donald Trump has viciously attacked Kamala Harris, including questioning her racial identity and her mental resilience, and held rallies marked by racist comments, insults and dangerous threats about immigrants. But mudslinging has always beenpart of US politics. The Guardian's US politics editor in London, Chris Michael, digs into the history of personal attacks, why people feel things are getting worse and the dangers of Trump's 'nasty' tactics
Continue reading...Pennsylvania is set to be this election’s most vital swing state, with the world’s richest man injecting tens of millions of dollars into the race to help Donald Trump win. With just days before America decides, Oliver Laughland and Joel Van Haren visit the communities with most on the line; hitting the streets with working people out canvassing for Kamala Harris, speaking to top Trump surrogate Jim Justice, and visiting the town of Charleroi, which is mired in the immigration culture wars of the election
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