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New Chrome Zero-Day
2024-09-10T11:04:29Z
According to Microsoft researchers, North Korean hackers have been using a Chrome zero-day exploit to steal cryptocurrency.
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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
The number of Americans opposed to sending arms to Israel has grown, month after month, as the brutal war on Gaza grinds on.
The post Most Americans Want to Stop Arming Israel. Politicians Don’t Care. appeared first on The Intercept.
Despite desire to improve relations with Europe, the president has put Iran back on the sanctions treadmill
Iran’s decision to sell Russia short-range missiles supplementing Moscow’s existing supplies appears, on the surface, to be a political reversal for Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s new reformist president.
He was elected on a promise to lift sanctions and develop more balanced relations with the east and west, especially Europe. The bulk of his diplomatic appointments, including the retention of the former foreign minister Javad Zarif as an adviser, underscored that intention, and already a lively debate had started in Tehran about the extent to which Iran and Russia’s interests truly aligned.
Continue reading...US and Europe impose new sanctions on Iran in response to supply of weapons that US says Russia could use in Ukraine
Russia has received new deadly ballistic missiles from Iran for use in Ukraine and is likely to use them, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, announced on Tuesday in London as he prepared to travel with the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, to Kyiv.
The news, confirmed by the US for the first time and seen as of huge significance to the battlefield balance ahead of Ukraine’s difficult winter, led the US and Europe to impose new sanctions on Iran, so apparently slamming the door on the prospect of a rapprochement between the new reformist Iranian government and the west.
Continue reading...Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, described by some in Congress as a “warlord,” is seeking to expand cooperation with the U.S.
The post Top U.S. General Meets With Alleged War Criminal in Libya appeared first on The Intercept.
Follow for fact-checking updates on key statements made by the presidential candidates
Donald Trump has repeatedly made false and misleading claims about immigrants “eating the pets” and his connection to Project 2025, among other topics, during his debate with Kamala Harris on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
At the first debate of this presidential election cycle in June – when Joe Biden was still the Democratic party’s nominee – moderators took a completely hands-off approach to factchecking. The light moderation meant that lies and half-truths, most frequently from Trump, went unchallenged during the primetime debate.
The economy lost 2.7m jobs. The unemployment rate increased by 1.7 percentage points to 6.4%.
Paychecks grew faster than inflation. Average weekly earnings for all workers were up 8.4% after inflation.
After-tax corporate profits went up and the stock market set new records. The S&P 500 index rose 67.8%.
The international trade deficit Trump promised to reduce went up. The US trade deficit in goods and services in 2020 was the highest since 2008 and increased 36.3% from 2016.
The number of people lacking health insurance rose by 3 million.
The federal debt held by the public went up, from $14.4tn to $21.6 tn.
Home prices rose 27.5%, and the homeownership rate increased 2.1 percentage points to 65.8%.
Continue reading...Candidates also clash on January 6 and Republican election lies as moderators fact-check Trump claims on air
Donald Trump arrived in Philadelphia earlier today for his debate with Kamala Harris.
Photographers captured him and his entourage deplaning:
Continue reading...Candidates clash on racism, January 6 and Republican election lies, abortion and wars in Gaza and Ukraine
Donald Trump arrived in Philadelphia earlier today for his debate with Kamala Harris.
Photographers captured him and his entourage deplaning:
Continue reading...Ex-president’s repetition of unsubstantiated claims prompts moderator to fact-check him on air
Kamala Harris hit Donald Trump where it hurts early in the debate.
“I’m going to actually do something unusual, and I’m going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trump’s rallies,” Harris began. “People start leaving his rallies early, out of boredom and exhaustion.”
Continue reading...In a video promoting her memoir, she declares ‘we need to uncover the truth’ about assassination attempt on Trump
Former first lady Melania Trump has raised questions around the law enforcement response to the attempted assassination of her husband, in a video she published on Tuesday to promote her new book.
In the 34-second video posted to her X account, Melania begins by describing the attempted assassination on her husband as a “horrible, distressing experience”. And now, she says in the video, which is overlayed with dramatic instrumental music, “the silence around it feels heavy”.
Continue reading...Melissa Petro interviewed 150 people about the feeling that ‘threatens us on a primitive level’ – and how pervasive it is
Shame is often weaponized against women – see Anita Hill, Amber Heard and Kamala “cat lady” Harris. Melissa Petro is all too familiar with the experience. In 2010, she was a public school art teacher in the Bronx and the New York Post published an exposé about her former sex work; she was removed from the classroom.
In her book Shame on You, Petro, 44, interviewed 150 subjects about their own shame spirals, exploring mom shame, financial shame, body shame and career shame.
Continue reading...The Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma resulted in the largest restoration of Indigenous land in U.S. history.
The post Justice for Indigenous Nations Is Rare. But This Supreme Court Decision Proves It Is Possible. appeared first on The Intercept.
Questions remain about the police response to the shooting of former President Donald Trump — questions that 911 logs may help answer.
The post The Intercept Sues to Release 911 Recordings From Trump Rally Shooting appeared first on The Intercept.
As more athletes publicly express their political views, politicians also referencing sports to boost their standing
Continue reading...Elon Musk turning you off Tesla? Here are 10 of the best electric cars, driven and chosen by our expert
Elon Musk is never far from a headline these days, from his recent inflammatory posts about the far-right riots in the UK to his endorsement of Donald Trump for president. But his increasingly toxic rhetoric is having a knock-on effect: some Tesla owners are starting to rethink whether they should own his electric cars any more. Sales fell in July for the second straight quarter.
It’s a shame, because Tesla makes great electric cars. I’d rate the latest Model 3 as one of the best around. It drives nicely, is built well (a previous Tesla foible), is efficient and Tesla sells it at a price that makes other EV makers do a cartoon double-take. But if you’re committed to electric cars, and Musk is turning you off Tesla, there are plenty of other good options. Established carmakers and newcomers have caught up with and, in many cases, overtaken Tesla with their electric offerings. Here are the 10 best non-Tesla EVs you can buy now; I’ve driven them all except the Renault 5, which is expected to arrive in the UK in the first quarter of 2025.
Continue reading...In this week’s newsletter: Most European users won’t be getting integrated AI on Apple devices, so are the updates offered by Apple just window dressing?
• Don’t get TechScape delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the full article here
Trying to figure out what to focus on for the first post-Alex Hern TechScape was tricky. (If you missed it last week, you can and should revisit his valedictory newsletter after 11 years at The Guardian). Why? Well, everything is happening all the time now – so there are any number of topics to dive into.
We could talk about the likelihood of Elon Musk running Donald Trump’s “government efficiency commission” if he is re-elected as US president. But that would involve doing another newsletter on Musk, and you may be as tired as Alex was of that. The likelihood of the latter is still a flip of the coin; the likelihood Musk would stop running his multi-trillion-dollar companies for a low-paying government job, less so.
Continue reading...Guardian columnist Mehdi Hasan talks through the debate strategy needed to face an opponent like Donald Trump
Mehdi Hasan, a Guardian US columnist and the author of Win Every Argument, tells Michael Safi why Donald Trump is such a difficult opponent in a debate.
“He basically produces a stream of nonstop, unrelenting, ceaseless bullshit, which he uses to spray over his opponent and any moderator or interviewer … It makes it almost impossible to interrupt him, to factcheck him, to respond to him, to get him to respond to your question, because it’s just a stream of consciousness.”
Continue reading...Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a human rights activist, was protesting an illegal West Bank settlement when she was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli soldiers.
The post Israel Just Killed Another American in the West Bank. Will the U.S. Ever Respond? appeared first on The Intercept.
Despite U.S. talk of peace and stability, and two decades of war, the people of Yemen are still suffering.
The post The U.S. Has Been at War in Yemen for 20 Years, but Houthis Can Still Choke the Red Sea appeared first on The Intercept.
Blinken to meet Zelenskiy with approval to hit targets inside Russia on agenda; air cordon against Iran for supplying missiles to Moscow. What we know on day 931
Continue reading...Figure is largely in addition to £7.8bn committed since Russia’s invasion, says National Audit Office report
Britain has donated arms and equipment to Ukraine that would cost £2.71bn to replace, largely in addition to the £7.8bn committed by prime ministers since Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a National Audit Office report.
The cost of replacing missiles, artillery and other munitions also significantly exceeds their £171.5m value on the government’s books, because the Ministry of Defence wants to replace the old weapons supplied at current prices.
Continue reading...Why did the Godfather live in a caravan park in Preston? Kemp traces the links between Italian and British hard men … then heads to Italy for a fascinating and revealing encounter
I could waste the bulk of this review describing what happens when Ross Kemp does his documentaries about violent criminals, but if you’re reading this, then you probably have a strong idea what Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain is going to be like. The ex-EastEnder has a question about something dodgy, talks to some experts about hard men, talks to some hard men, talks to some other hard men about hard men, looks off towards the horizon like a shooting-cap-wearing Philomena Cunk, then asks another, bigger question, setting off the whole chain of hard-men-on-hard-men once again.
But his bombastic style of documentary-making passes an hour very quickly, and Kemp and his team have found a fascinating subject to explore: do or did the mafia ever operate in the UK, despite a persistent belief that one of the oldest organised crime groups in the world never really got a foothold over here? He begins by going back to the early 80s, and the discovery of a body hanging beneath Blackfriars Bridge in the middle of London. I know about this case, having once taken family members on a tourist boat trip down the Thames, where we quickly learned that our cheerful tour guide was more interested in giving the full details of what is now assumed to have been a gruesome mafia hit than he was in pointing out Big Ben.
Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain aired on Sky History and is available on Now.
Continue reading...Lesley Hare and Simon Shaw say the obsession with detaining and returning people resulted in 12 people dying in one of the worst tragedies since the small boats crisis began
At the end of August, Care4Calais did its usual distribution in the mainly Eritrean settlement known as “the BMX site” (Police clear site where victims of Channel tragedy are said to have lived, 4 September). Our endeavours to support the community with a distribution of blankets, English lessons, games, facilitating haircuts and phone charging were, however, hampered as the police had placed huge boulders on the site as well as clearing tents. It is likely that these actions by the French state, funded partly by the British, hastened a decision to attempt a crossing.
The people we support in this settlement come from a nation that has been called the “North Korea of Africa”. When they claim asylum in the UK, Eritreans have a very high success rate – 99% in 2023.
Continue reading...Rising temperatures causing largest glacier in Dolomites to lose 7-10cm of depth a day, according to scientists
The Marmolada glacier, the largest and most symbolic of the Dolomites, could melt completely by 2040 owing to rising average temperatures, experts have said.
Italian scientists who are monitoring glaciers and the impact of climate emergency, and who took part in a campaign launched by environmentalist group Legambiente, the international commission for the protection of the Alps (Cipra), with the scientific partnership of the Italian Glacier Committee, said on Monday the Marmolada was losing between 7 and 10cm of depth a day.
Continue reading...The populism championed by Meloni and her allies casts freedom and human rights not merely as dangers but as targets
“Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day” and neither was the consensus for the neo-fascism of the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, in Italy. As the well-known activist and writer Michela Murgia warned, “Do not expect fascism to knock on your door, manifesting itself.” Her words highlight how the current government’s fascism has been creeping in over the years, creating enemies by instilling fear and promoting a racial and religious community that excludes those it deems different.
In this community, patriarchy serves as a perfect ally, providing a means of control under the guise of the Natural Order. It enforces “normality” through binary choices, centering the family around the man as the primary provider while relegating the woman to the role of the “object” who generates and cares.
Luisa Rizzitelli is the Italy coordinator of One Billion Rising, which campaigns to end violence against women
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Mothers in welfare shelters were forced to give up sometimes day-old children, commission finds
South Korea has found new evidence that mothers were forced to give up their children for adoption in countries including Australia, Denmark and the United States.
At least 200,000 South Korean children had been adopted abroad since the 1950s, but allegations have emerged that hospitals, maternity wards and adoption agencies systematically colluded to force parents – primarily single mothers – to give up their children.
Continue reading...As the Proms’ eight-week season comes to a close, we’d like to hear about your highlights
The end of the BBC’s Proms is in sight: the classical music festival closes on Saturday with the famous Last Night. These last eight weeks have seen 90 concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall but also this year in Bristol, Gateshead, Aberdeen, Newport, Belfast, and Nottingham, each one live on Radio 3 and online and streamable until 13 October. From the roof-raising sounds of Handel’s Messiah with six choirs on Choral Day, to starry debutants and the welcome return of a much-loved Proms regular, and daleks to Disco it’s been a hugely varied and lively season.
There was new music from Thomas Adès, Dani Howard, Hans Abrahamsen and Francisco Coll – among many others, and rareties included Busoni’s epic piano concerto and Julius Eastman‘s only surviving orchestra score. Our reviewers have loved the Berlin Philharmonic’s two concerts, also Klaus Mäkelä with the Orchestre de Paris, and the Aurora orchestra’s exploration of Beethoven’s choral symphony was another five-star review.
Continue reading...According to Microsoft researchers, North Korean hackers have been using a Chrome zero-day exploit to steal cryptocurrency.
The Chinese Football Association has banned 38 players and five club officials for life after a two-year investigation into match-fixing and gambling. The investigation, part of a crackdown on corruption in the sport, found that 120 matches had been fixed, with 41 clubs involved, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The report did not say whether all the matches were in China.
The former China internationals Jin Jingdao and Gu Chao and the South Korea midfielder Son Jun-ho were among those banned for life, according to findings made public on Tuesday.
Continue reading...On the shores of Lake Caldaro in South Tirol, the striking Seehotel Ambach has barely changed since 1973 – and is all the better for it
When I was about seven years old, my aunt brought me back a souvenir from her trip to America – a yellow trouser suit with yellow-and-purple zigzag-patterned flared trousers. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and, 50 years later, as I walk into the Seehotel Ambach in Italy’s South Tirol, I can’t help thinking how it’s just the kind of look I should be rocking in the 1970s lobby.
We are greeted by a riot of yellow and orange and a selection of the Italian design industry’s greatest hits from the 70s by Joe Colombo, Ettore Sottsass and others. More recognisable to those not in the know about Milan’s design elite are ashtrays advertising Cinzano, glasses promising the delights of Martini and evocative period commercial poster art. At first it’s hard to get your bearings. It’s not unlike walking into a packed vintage shop on Portobello Road or in Margate, except it’s 33C outside and I can see Lake Caldaro glistening through the window.
Continue reading...Two students, including one activist with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, were arrested in front of campus.
The post Columbia Welcomes Students Back to Campus With Arrests appeared first on The Intercept.
Ministers have much bigger problems to deal with than principled dissent, and that’s where the government’s attention should be directed
Sir Keir Starmer’s victory on Tuesday in a Commons vote to cut winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners was a pyrrhic one. The British prime minister defeated his internal critics – at a price. It turns out that many Labour MPs have an issue with depriving pensioners who struggle to pay their energy bills of help worth up to £300. More than 50 current and suspended Labour MPs did not vote with the government. One veteran leftwinger, Jon Trickett, a former aide to Gordon Brown, voted against it. Some ministers were permitted to stay away. But scores of Labour parliamentarians – from all wings of the party – conspicuously refused to back their government.
Sir Keir should take the win and let the matter rest there. Enough voices have been suppressed in the party that they have long supported. Ministers have much bigger problems to deal with than principled dissent, and it is there that the government’s attention should be directed. Sir Keir’s party ought to be basking in the afterglow of its sweeping electoral victory in July, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Instead, he is having to clean up after his vanquished opponents. The Tories governed like characters in The Great Gatsby, smashing up things only to retreat into their “vast carelessness … and let other people clean up the mess they had made”.
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Continue reading...Three pensioners tell us what they think about the vote and their concerns about the coming winter
All but the poorest pensioners will no longer receive the winter fuel allowance after MPs voted to make cuts to the payments. After a Conservative motion to prevent the change was defeated by 348 votes to 228, only those in receipt of benefits such as pension credit, universal credit or income support will receive the £200-300 payment to help with their heating bills.
Here, three pensioners tell us what they think about the vote, how the loss of the allowance will affect them, and their concerns about the coming winter.
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Conservative motion to strike down plan is defeated but more than 50 Labour MPs abstain
MPs have voted to remove the winter fuel allowance from all but the poorest pensioners in England and Wales, with a significant number of Labour MPs abstaining.
After a sometimes bad-tempered Commons debate, a Conservative motion to strike down the move was defeated by 348 votes to 228. Just one Labour MP, Jon Trickett, voted for the opposition motion but 52 abstained – at the higher end of predictions.
Continue reading...Promise to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ made at Cop28 climate talks has been left out of draft resolutions
Campaigners have claimed some of the world’s largest economies are turning their backs on a pledge made last year to transition away from fossil fuels.
Ministers from the G20 group of developed and developing countries, including the US, UK, China and India, will meet in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to discuss the global approach to the climate crisis.
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The source of new renewable energy is also a battleground over China’s cheap exports of panels that has split US firms
The Biden administration touts solar energy as one of its big success stories, a booming new industry that is curbing the effects of the climate crisis and creating high-paying jobs across the country. But the more complicated truth is that the United States is mired in a long-running trade war with China, which is flooding the market with artificially cheap solar panels that carry an uncomfortably large carbon footprint and threaten to obliterate the domestic industry.
The price of solar panels has plummeted 50% over the past year, largely, industry insiders say, because of deliberate Chinese overproduction of key components and a game of international cat-and-mouse over trade rules often likened to a game of “Whac-A-Mole”. As different sets of rules get established, Chinese companies have proved adept at moving their manufacturing plants to other countries, in south-east Asia, and shifting strategies to work around US tariffs and other deterrent measures.
This article was amended on 10 September 2014. An earlier version incorrectly stated that this year’s RE+ conference took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Continue reading...The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about Labour’s first big test in parliament over their winter fuel payments policy. Plus, will Keir Starmer’s trip to Washington be awkward after his decision on arms licences to Israel?
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The Pentagon buzzword can apply to anything from missiles to pepperoni pizzas inside the military — while papering over the corpses that “lethality” produces.
The post What Kamala Harris Meant by “Most Lethal Fighting Force” in Her DNC Speech appeared first on The Intercept.
Ryan Grim and David Sirota examine how a memo from 1971 laid the groundwork for enshrining corporate corruption in American politics.
The post Project 2025 Roots Date Back Half a Century appeared first on The Intercept.
After congressional criticism and subpoenas, Columbia suddenly decided to skip speaking to student protesters and go to hearings.
The post Columbia Cuts Due Process for Student Protesters After Congress Demands Harsher Punishment appeared first on The Intercept.
Videos leaked to The Intercept include both “Stand With Kennedy” and “Stand Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” campaign spots.
The post Why Is a Dem-Aligned Political Shop Making RFK Jr. Ads? appeared first on The Intercept.
The political press has doubled down on horse-race coverage of the election, overlooking the threat Trump poses to democracy.
The post Why the Media Won’t Report the Truth About Trump appeared first on The Intercept.
The Department of Homeland Security wants to use face recognition technology on drivers and passengers approaching the border.
The post Homeland Security Still Dreams of Face Recognition at the Border appeared first on The Intercept.
Indian PM says he respects and supports ‘sovereignty and territorial integrity’ of Ukraine during historic visit
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, made a historic visit to Kyiv on Friday and told Volodymyr Zelenskiy he was ready to work “as a friend” to bring about a peace deal that would end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Modi said he respected and supported Ukraine’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”. “It is our highest priority,” he said, adding that he had told Vladimir Putin during their meeting in July that “problems cannot be resolved on the battlefield”. The war could only end through “dialogue and diplomacy”, he stressed.
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