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The Russian Navy in Late 2019 Surged a Huge Number of Submarines Into the Atlantic
*David Axe* *Security, * NATO responded. The Russian navy in late 2019 surged a huge number of submarines into the Atlantic Ocean, prompting NATO to sortie patrol planes from Norway, Iceland and Scotland. The result was one of the biggest concentrations in years of submarines and anti-submarine-warfare aircraft. And a stark reminder that NATO and Russian naval and air activity is returning to Cold War-levels of intensity. The Russian navy in mid-October 2019 deployed submarines in the country’s biggest undersea exercise since the Cold War. The eight subs, including six nuclear... more »
How Surviving a Hurricane Turned Into Surviving Discrimination
*Bertin M. Louis Jr.* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Haitian migrants face deportation and stigma in hurricane-ravaged Bahamas. Haiti wasn’t on Hurricane Dorian’s slow-moving path of destruction across the Caribbean in early September, but Haitians are suffering in the storm’s aftermath anyway. In the Bahamas, which was flooded and flattened by the Category 5 Dorian on Sept. 1, 2019, a nationalist group called “Operation Sovereign Bahamas” is demanding the Bahamian government evict hundreds of Haitians from a shelter for hurricane victims. An estimated 76,000 people in t... more »
Is This Flaw In The Navy's Stealth Zumwalt-Class Destroyer Fatal?
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA--GF2E9BL1LL401.html] These "stealth" ships might not be worth the cost. *Key Point:* Costoverruns and a failure to match the ship with a proper weapons system has people scratching their heads on what the Zumwalt-class destroyers are actually useful for. In January 2019, the Navy will commission its second hi-tech *Zumwalt-*class stealth destroyer, the *USS Michael Monsoor*. The third and last, *USS Lyndon B. Johnson* was launched this December 2018 and will be commissioned in 2022. Traditionally, ... more »
Not Even an F-22 Can Withstand the Forces of Nature
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Especially hurricanes. *Key point:* Hurricane Michael in 2018 is but one example of how the weather can harm expensive military equipment. The F-22 Raptor may be the most elusive fighter ever built. It has a radar-cross section the size of a marble, and if it gets into trouble, it can rocket away traveling up to two-and-a-half times the speed of sound—so fast that the friction from the air would melt its radar-absorbent coatings right off its airframe. But this October, the Air Force discovered that a Raptor with its wings... more »
Why Isn't the $13 Billion USS Ford Aircraft Carrier Ready for Service?
*David Axe* *Technology, Americas* [image: Reuters] The Navy has a problem. *Key point: *2024 is the new projected deployment date for the Navy's latest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The U.S. Navy’s new aircraft carrier USS *Gerald R. Ford* might not be able to deploy until 2024. That’s years later than the Navy originally expected. The delay could further inhibit the ability of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet to deploy carriers. The nuclear-powered *Ford*, which cost no less than $13 billion to build, has been undergoing trials off the U.S. east coast since commissioning in 2017... more »
F-15X: A Few Billions Dollars Down the Drain (Why Not More F-35s Instead?)
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * Stealth really matters against modern air defenses. *Key point: *America needs more planes in the air, and there aren't enough F-35s and F-22s available. On December 21, Bloomberg Government reported that the Pentagon was planning to set aside $1.2 billion in the 2020 defense budget to procure twelve new F-15X fighters, a heavily upgraded model of the twin-engine jet first introduced into U.S. service in 1976. If this leads to full-scale procurement, multi-role F-15Xs could replace around 250 aging F-15C and D air-superiority fighters based in the... more »
Check out the Machine Gun Sig Sauer Wants to Make for the Army
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.sigsauer.com/sig-sauer-range-day-and-shot-show-2019/] A good plan? *Key point: *The military wants a new machine gun and Sig Sauer is happy to enter the contest. Sig Sauer, Inc. appears to be going all in on military contracts, following their recent success with the M17 pistol, SURG upper receiver, and limited usage of the Sig MCX. However, their latest design, the Sig SLMAG, is their first attempt at making a proper machine gun, going past the rifles and pistols they are known for. While the Swiss SIG made several machin... more »
The Reviews Are In: 31 Air Force Pilots Say Why They Love the F-35 Stealth Fighter
*John Venable* *Security, * This is better than checking Yelp. *Key Point:* No one knows the skills of a plane more than a pilot. Air Force Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, this week declared the F-35A fighter jet ready for combat. While many pundits and politicians have questioned the worth of this jet, the only people who know the ground truth are the pilots themselves. A total of 174 U.S. pilots currently have been trained to fly Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II. The Heritage Foundation *interviewed 31 *of these former F-15C, F-15E, F-16C, an... more »
The Best AR-15 Around? Here Is What We Can Say About Springfield's SAINT AR-15.
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Americas* [image: https://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ST975556B_R.jpg] A good weapon? *Key point:* This new weapon has few real drawbacks and delivers performance at a not unreasonable price. The AR-15 has long been the dominant semi-automatic rifle platform in the U.S., prized for its unparalleled modability and component diversity. The AR-15 platform’s immense popularity has spawned a fiercely competitive consumer market, with firearms manufacturers constantly searching for ways to innovate a better price-to-performance ra... more »
Sleaze Ball Lobbyists Work With Corporate Conservatives From Both Parties To Kill Medicare-For-All
You may have read some of the coverage about how anti-Medicare lobbyists are writing OpEds for conservatives willing to undercut Medicare-for-All messaging. Obviously, the willingness of the legislators to run the anti-healthcare OpEds under their own names comes with gratitude and pay-offs (bribes in the form of campaign contributions and, in some cases, worse). Yesterday progressive congressional candidate Morgan Harper called my attention to a specific case in Ohio, where right-wing state Senator Stephen Huffman of Miami County gave a lobbyist-penned OpEd to the *Sidney Daily ... more »
PISA: Brazilian Students Report High Rates of Bullying, Loneliness, Indiscipline
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Brazilian schools encourage competition. However, students report bullying and have less ease in solving problems, but agree that their teachers are enthusiastic about teaching. This is reflected in a survey by the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and . . . […] The post PISA: Brazilian Students Report High Rates of Bullying, Loneliness, Indiscipline appeared first on The Rio Times.
Why Liberation of Medicinal Marijuana Failed to Fully Please its Advocates
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) approved on Tuesday the marketing of medicines made from cannabis, the substance of marijuana, for medicinal use in pharmacies in Brazil. The measure was approved unanimously. It becomes effective 90 days after its publication in the Federal Gazette and is valid for three years, […] The post Why Liberation of Medicinal Marijuana Failed to Fully Please its Advocates appeared first on The Rio Times.
Uber Starts Renting Electric Scooters in Brazil to Compete with “Grin and Yellow”
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL - Uber has entered the electric scooter market in Brazil: vehicles can be rented in Santos (S . . . To read the full NEWS and much more, Subscribe to our Premium Membership Plan. Already Subscribed? Login Here Subscribe Login Here The post Uber Starts Renting Electric Scooters in Brazil to Compete with “Grin and Yellow” appeared first on The Rio Times.
Convincing Frozen People They Are Burning Up
Tony Heller on Twitter This year so far has been one of the five coolest on record in the US. Last year was the coolest October/November on record in the US, and this year will also finish in the coolest … Continue reading →
UN once again calls on Israel to withdraw from Golan Heights
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that Israel vacate the Golan Heights – Syrian territory it captured in 1967 and has occupied since – arguing its presence in the disputed region is an obstacle to peace. Passed in a 91-65 vote with 9 abstentions on Tuesday, the resolution called on Israel to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US military allegedly used secret ‘Ninja’ missile in Syria’s Idlib
US forces reportedly conducted another airstrike using the “Ninja” missile in Atmeh, located in Syria’s Idlib province, some five miles from the Turkish border and less than 10 miles from Barisha, where former Daesh* number-one terrorist and leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in a raid in October. According to The Drive media outlet, the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
SDF delegation meets with Saudi officials to discuss future of NE Syria: media
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:45 A.M.) – A delegation from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reportedly arrived in Saudi Arabia this week to meet with officials in the capital city of Riyadh, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya said on Wednesday. “A mission from the Syrian Democratic Forces, consisting mainly of Kurdish militias, arrived in Saudi Arabia to negotiate […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Hillary Clinton on Howard Stern
Update: The interview was excellent (Howard is a fantastic interviewer and had over an hour with the Secretary Clinton.) The interview to promote her new book about women throughout history with guts. I know so many women in our AofA... more »
How can you fight a war when you're not allowed to repair your own weapons?
I could hardly believe my eyes when I read this report in the New York Times. I've been aware of the problem from a civilian perspective, but I hadn't realized that the military procurement bureaucracy hadn't been able to avoid it, either. A few years ago, I was standing in a South Korean field, knee deep in mud, incredulously asking one of my maintenance Marines to tell me again why he couldn’t fix a broken generator. We needed the generator to support training with the United States Army and South Korean military, and I was generally unaccustomed to hearing anyone in the Marine ... more »
Radiation hot spots found at Tokyo 2020 Olympic games torch relay start, Greenpeace says
Just In - 16 hours ago
Radiation hot spots have been found at the J-Village sports facility in Fukushima where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay will begin, Greenpeace Japan says.
Firefighters control fire burning near Aboriginal community in Perth's north-east
Just In - 16 hours ago
Authorities downgrade a warning for a bushfire that came close to homes in the small Aboriginal community of Cullacabardee in Perth's north-east.
Public servant ‘heroes’ came forward over alleged $25 million corruption scandal
The head of WA's Department of Communities says Paul Whyte's arrest was a "moment of crisis" that sent "shockwaves" through the workforce, and a lot of work is required to restore public confidence in the organisation.
New From Prof. Chris Exley Aluminium Adjuvants in Vaccines: Missing Information
Below is an excerpt from the latest from Professor Chris Exley, in The Hippocratic Post blog. ### I have been researching human exposure to aluminium for over thirty-five years. I am (sometimes affectionately) known as Mr Aluminium. About ten years... more »
ESPN Gives V is For Vaccine Another Viral Touchdown
"As long as they spell your name right," is the saying about any publicity being good publicity. And THIS is another touchdown by the flash mobbing, grass rooted V is For Vaccine effort lead by Josh Coleman, father of a... more »
Untitled
*Universities have become padded cells for vulnerable inmates* Most university vice-chancellors, one suspects, if they subscribe to any paper read the Guardian by choice. But when that paper runs a story about their university, they are likely to suppress a groan: the news is unlikely to be good. Events three weeks ago at Birmingham University are a case in point. Three years ago, a female student living off campus (we will anonymise her as Alice) took a boyfriend (call him Ben), also a Birmingham student, home to her digs after some heavy drinking. They had consensual sex and sle... more »
Untitled
*Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose* Heat waves, Cold winters explained in the Oct. 18, 1877 issue of the Royal Cornwall Gazette, Truro, Cornwall, England. *The UN’s ‘Woke’ Climate Propaganda Is An Insult To Science* The climate change “emergency” is fake news. Many will roll their eyes in exasperation at the conspiratorial bombastry of yet another “denier”. But for years I have been a plastic recycling, polar bear cooing middle-grounder. In fact, Aristotle would probably turn in his grave at the logical fallaciousness of my long-held presumption that the truth must li... more »
Is The Earth Not A Planet?
Does enough junk impact and surround Earth such that the "clear the neighborhood" rule for planets says we don't make the cut? Continue reading →
Uptick in California lab-tested marijuana products met with both hope and skepticism from industry
The number of legal cannabis product batches undergoing lab testing in California each month has rebounded since a lull over the spring and summer and, as of late November, was on pace to grow even more before the end of the year. But the increase in legal product making its way through the supply chain met […] Uptick in California lab-tested marijuana products met with both hope and skepticism from industry is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Four Castles to Visit in Rio de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A great tip for Rio residents and tourists who love architecture, art, and culture: four castles filled with stories in the Marvelous City. 1 - CASTELO VALENTIM - Santa Teresa Built in 1879, it was home to Commander Antonio Valentim. His son, the architect Fernando Valentim, divided the castle into […] The post Four Castles to Visit in Rio de Janeiro appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazil’s Government Debt to Close 2019 Lower than 2018, Says Treasury Secretary
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The accelerated repayment by state-owned banks to the Treasury will lead to the Central Government's Gross Debt (DBGG) closing out 2019 between 76 and 77 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), said National Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida yesterday. The new projection is more optimistic than the one published last month, […] The post Brazil’s Government Debt to Close 2019 Lower than 2018, Says Treasury Secretary appeared first on The Rio Times.
Norwegian Sovereign Fund Removes Petrobras from Companies Under Scrutiny
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Bank of Norway announced yesterday, December 3rd, that it has removed Petrobras from the list of companies under scrutiny. The company was included in the list in January 2016, after the corruption cases uncovered during the operation Lava Jato's investigations. The bank followed the recommendation of the Ethics Council […] The post Norwegian Sovereign Fund Removes Petrobras from Companies Under Scrutiny appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazil’s PSL Suspends Eduardo Bolsonaro for One Year; 17 Other Deputies Punished
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The PSL confirmed on Tuesday, December 3rd, the punishment of deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro and 17 other deputies who attempted to remove the party's president, Luciano Bivar from the command of the legend. The president's son was handed the harshest punishment and will be one year away from party activities. Eduardo […] The post Brazil’s PSL Suspends Eduardo Bolsonaro for One Year; 17 Other Deputies Punished appeared first on The Rio Times.
After RCEP, farmers' body seeks termination of existing FTAs
bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
04-Dec-2019 After prevailing upon the Centre to drop out of the RCEP treaty, farmers organizations has urged the MPs to prevail upon the Union government to terminate the other existing FTA inimical to the livelihood of farmers in the country.
PH sees US FTA nego next year
bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
04-Dec-2019 The Philippines is optimistic that discussions on the proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the US could start next year after the US Congress has settled trade issues with Canada and Mexico.
World’s First AI Universe Simulator Knows Things It Shouldn’t
https://futurism.com/worlds-first-ai-universe-simulator
Dueling Impeachment Reports: Democrats Claim ‘Evidence’ of Trump Misconduct, Republicans Say There Isn’t Any (READ HERE)
Dueling Impeachment Reports: Democrats Claim ‘Evidence’ of Trump Misconduct, Republicans Say There Isn’t Any (READ HERE) by https://www.rt.com/ Impeachment hearings have shown evidence that US President Donald Trump solicited election interference from Ukraine for personal gain, says a new report by the House Democrats. Republicans say that no such evidence was given. – House Intelligence …
Nunes Sues CNN Over “Demonstrably False” Report During Impeachment Hearings
Nunes Sues CNN Over “Demonstrably False” Report During Impeachment Hearings by Tyler Durden, https://www.zerohedge.com/ Rep. Devin Nunes has sued CNN for defamation after the outlet alleged he met with a fired Ukrainian prosecutor in an attempt to obtain information that would be harmful to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, according to the Washington Examiner‘s Byron York. – …
Ukraine’s Zelensky: I Never Talked to Trump about ‘Position of a Quid Pro Quo’
Ukraine’s Zelensky: I Never Talked to Trump about ‘Position of a Quid Pro Quo’ by JOHN BOWDEN, https://thehill.com/ Ukraine’s president says in a new interview that he never discussed a “quid pro quo” with President Trump, but criticized any blocking of U.S. security aid for his country at a time when it is at war …
Sea-level rapidly rising, not!
Nils-Axel Mörner, Biology and Shore Morphology: Keys to proper reconstruction of sea level changes, J Marine Biology and Aquascape . Doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.31579/ 26415143/JMBA.2019 /020 Biological criteria and shore morphology do not lie. Therefore, they are key elements for a … Continue reading →
Big tech’s “affordable housing” donations won’t build new homes; fighting City Hall will
Whether it’s the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, or any other location where tech giants have a major presence, one thing these cities all have in common: Unless you are at the top of the income pyramid, you can’t afford to live there. The post Big tech’s “affordable housing” donations won’t build new homes; fighting City Hall will appeared first on CFACT.
Are China's 'Unsinkable Aircraft Carriers' in the South China Sea In Trouble?
*David Axe* *Security, * “Rumors suggest the new islands’ concrete is crumbling and their foundations turning to sponge in a hostile climate. And that is before considering what a direct hit from a super-typhoon might do.” China’s island outposts in the China Seas might have a major weakness. Since 2013 the Chinese government has dredged and mostly destroyed ecologically delicate reefs in disputed waters in order to build seven major military bases complete with ports, airstrips and radar and missile installations. The islands function as unsinkable aircraft carriers and help to... more »
Why Iran's 'Stealth' Qaher 313 Is Nothing to Fear
*David Axe* *Technology, Middle East* [image: Reuters] A sad excuse for a plane. *Key point: *Tehran's new "stealth" fighter is anything but. Tensions have escalated in the Persian Gulf region in the aftermath of U.S. president Donald Trump’s decision unilaterally to withdraw the United States from the agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. military has implicated Iranian agents in several summer 2019 attacks on civilian ships sailing near Iran. The U.S. Navy sent the aircraft carrier USS *Abraham Lincoln* and her strike group to the region. The U.S. Air Force deplo... more »
Crazy Fact: South Korea Still Uses Russian Tanks
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Asia* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/RUSSIA-DEFENCE--RC1EA7C8B0B0.html] What are the pros and cons? *Key Point:* The T-80U might be a relic, but it's served the South Korean army reliably. One of the great ironies of the military balance in the Koreas is the fact that South Korea operates more advanced Russian tanks than North Korea. This situation came about in the 1990s after Russia inherited a $1.5 billion debt to South Korea. A deal was made: Russia would give many items of then top-of-the-line military equipment, in exchange for Sout... more »
Fire! Why China's QBZ-95-1 Assault Rifle Is No Joke
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* [image: By July 14, 2016 - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2725606/multinational-vbss-exercise-rimpac, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57479160] A classic. *Key point: *Bejing relies on this rugged weapon even today. One of the most widely issued—but least known—infantry small arms is the QBZ-95-1 assault rifle. The QBZ-95-1 is the official rifle of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its various sub-branches, including the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps. Unorthodox in appearance, the bullpup QBZ-95-1... more »
Here's Another Reason You Should Take Your Kids to See Frozen II
*Elena Merenda* *Education, Americas* [image: Reuters] ‘Frozen II’ helps children weather risk. Disney’s *Frozen* has been a staple in my house since before it won an Academy Award for best animated feature in 2014. Before my girls could even talk, they were humming along to the famous “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” song. *Frozen* is about a fearless princess named Anna who journeys to find her sister, Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter. Anna’s quest to save the kingdom comes to an abrupt halt when she is frozen in a heroic act to save Elsa fr... more »
Think About This: A Nuclear Bomb on an Israeli F-35?
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/ISRAEL-MILITARY--RC1A76DCF7A0.html] A too imaginable superweapon. *Key Point:* Israel has all of the components to make it happen. By the end of this year, Israel is expected to become the second country after the United States to declare Initial Operational Capability for its F-35s. Already, Tel Aviv has taken possession of five of the multirole fighters, and following an agreement late last month to buy an additional seventeen planes, will ultimately purchase fifty planes. All fifty F-35s are ... more »
Solving information puzzle using replicas
Complexified Euclidean wormholes connecting the replicas save the day As Yair has pointed out, last week, 5+4=9 quantum gravity big shots who scooped each other – and who were building insights while standing on the shoulders of the remaining 8 replicas that have produced lots of important prerequisites recently – coordinated the publication of two closely related papers Replica Wormholes and the Entropy of Hawking Radiation (by AHMST, IAS+Ithaca) Replica wormholes and the black hole interior (by PSSY, Stanford) where they announced a great new way to look at the black hole interior... more »
Qanon - Foreign aid is used to Pay off legistlators and now everyone knows.
We continue to discover how money transfers overseas as aid is all taxed to the benefit of the enabling politicians. This happens to be the direct path in which our political class has been able to enrich themselves under the radar. This protocol made it impossible to actually audit it all either. Q is releasing a lot of this and i now expect to see a large number of the obvious beneficiaries in both congress and the Senate to be arrested for outright corruption and going back decades even. Sorry Harry Reid. Of course he could be cooperating. This must be also coming soon ... more »
Vitimin C Refresher
I am throwing this up for all to watch. What we do know is that massive doses of vitimin C is powerfully indicated for promoting general human health. Not least it counters the chronic vitamin C deficiency we all live with and obviously is progressive as we age. Throw in our Vitamin D shortage as well thanks to lack of sun exposure. This shortage is indicated as a prime cause of human aging deterioration. Recall that the rest of the animal kingdom does not lack natural vitamin C production and thus physically fail very late in their planned lifespan. Literally they remain in... more »
Reversing diabetes
First what is clear here is that the meds actually allow the diabetic disease to progressively become worse without ever addressing the disease itself. Obviously this is stupid. You must stop the disease. In fact, the best time to deal with the problem is when it is first diagnosed and typically still a case of modest insulin resistance. This is mostly brought on by the background dietary sugars which we are exposed to through our lifetimes. Diabetics is a dietary disease which has to be reversed by dietary methods. Amusingly the first such protocol mentioned is intermittent ... more »
The Making of an Artificial Kidney
This is great news. Real relief will not be too far away. There are so many technologies that are able to do just enough and then fail to vigorously reinvest. The original tech is older than I am. Perhaps it is overdue that we beat this one up. There is also still many of old legacy techs out there and particularly around the medical industry. These are huge business opportunities to identify with well established markets to exploit.. *THE MAKING OF AN ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY* *Qidni Labs is building an artificial kidney with the hope of dramatically improving survival rates... more »
News and Traditions
*Harris is Gone -* *Back to the US Senate* The donkeys she loves so dearly failed to give her lots of money and they failed to support her in the polls. That means that they threw the baby out with the dirty bathwater* (see below). She could be a contender for vice president depending on who the democrat nominee turns out to be. And we know that Harris has skills (wink). But if Mayor Pete, the ButtGuy, is their anointed one, will those skills work any magic on him? I think that Spartacus would have a better shot for Pete's #2. This frees up a slot for another white male billionair... more »
Why the UK Needs a Financial Transaction Tax
Claims that a financial transaction tax would be difficult to implement and raise little revenue are fake news.
National security and “immunising” Thais to political conflict
On the discourse of "immunity" against partisanship and contestation in Thailand’s 2019–22 National Security Policy The post National security and “immunising” Thais to political conflict appeared first on New Mandala.
China Demands Facial Recognition from Mobile Chip Purchasers
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The adoption of facial recognition by China has just reached a new level: as of December 1st, Chinese consumers contracting a new mobile plan or service must allow their face to be digitized during the registration procedure with the operator. The Chinese government has been using facial recognition for some […] The post China Demands Facial Recognition from Mobile Chip Purchasers appeared first on The Rio Times.
'Well-intentioned' cop took young nephew into prison lock-up to 'educate' him over bad behaviour
A former Tasmanian Police officer was under pressure from her refugee family when she took her 11-year-old nephew to a lock-up and asked he be stripsearched and treated "like an adult inmate", a magistrate says, sparing her a conviction.
Deborah Mailman stars at AACTA Awards, tells US shows to 'come chase' her
The Nightingale takes out best film at the annual AACTA Awards — which include a lifetime achievement award for Sam Neill — as controversy around a Netflix production dominates the red carpet chatter.
It's so hot in Western Australia that honey is melting out of the walls of a suburban home
It got so hot in Geraldton, that Gabby Forrester discovered honey melting down the wall of her house, revealing a large swarm of bees within the walls of her chimney.
Fans spot error in The Mandalorian hidden by moody lighting
Some fans of the Disney+ flagship program The Mandalorian have noticed something wrong about a scene in the fourth episode, but whether you can see it might depend on your screen settings.
When a Telstra driver gave Annabelle a lift near Claremont, she had a 'strong instinct to get out'
A woman who accepted a lift from a man in a Telstra-branded car at the height of the Claremont serial killings says she made an excuse to exit the car after feeling a "strong instinct to get out".
With Murray tap turned off, irrigator finds himself driving a school bus to make ends meet
A Riverina irrigator says it is "gut-wrenching" to watch the Murray flow past his property, which has a zero per cent water allocation. With farming next to impossible, he's been forced to find work away from his land.
Fake news election watchdog an Australian first, but expert says it will be toothless
A new body set up to call out fake news in Queensland's council elections will do little to help voters separate fact from fiction, a social media expert says.
Retirement village residents hit by anti-German hate mail
The war is not over for the author of anti-German hate mail within a Sunshine Coast over-50s village, with some residents receiving expletive-laden letters.
Dutch golfer, 21, makes history as first female player at Australian Open
It's taken more than a century, but Daphne van Houten will become the first female golfer to compete during the tournament, which dates back to 1904 and has been won by some of the sport's greats.
Fears of property loss from blaze affecting residents around Millmerran in Darling Downs
Just In - 19 hours ago
A fast-moving and erratic fire affects populated areas around Millmerran on Queensland's Darling Downs, with fire authorities saying there are unconfirmed reports two structures have been destroyed.
“Time is Something We Do, Not Something We See“
*“Time is Something We Do, Not Something We See“* by David Cain “If you could somehow go back and review your life, the way athletes study game film, you’d notice a particular trait shared by all the moments in which you felt content. Everyone knows the type of moment where everything is fine and nothing is missing. Often there’s nothing especially noteworthy happening. Standing on the porch as the rain turns from drizzle to downpour. Folding laundry on a sunlit bed. Making a sandwich in a hostel kitchen. When you’re experiencing contentment like that, sensory details seem signifi... more »
Opening of Formerly Secret FDA Database Exposes Medical Device Failures, Spurring Lawsuits
The FDA kept a database of medical device malfunctions secret for decades.
"Impermanence..."
"Life's impermanence, I realized, is what makes every single day so precious. It's what shapes our time here. It's what makes it so important that not a single moment be wasted." - Wes Moore
Jihadist rebels foil Syrian Army’s attempted advance in southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) attempted to advance their positions in the southeastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate last night after recovering all of the territory they lost to the jihadist rebels over the weekend. According to a military source near the front-lines, the Syrian Arab Army launched an attack […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Watch: Russian forces carry out special operation to arrest 7 terrorists
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of seven members of the Islamic Liberation Party (Hizb ut-Tahrir), a classified terrorist organization, who were active in Moscow and Chelyabinsk. The FSB said the seven were arrested in cooperation with units from the Interior Ministry, noting that most were Russian […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Ansarallah forces mobilizing for new offensive in Hodeidah: Yemeni Army
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 A.M.) – The Yemeni government forces on Tuesday accused the Ansarallah forces of mobilizing and escalating its military operations in the Hodeidah Governorate of western Yemen. According to the pro-government Yemeni Army, their troops “spotted movements of armed groups backed by the Houthis towards areas east of the Duraimi District in southern […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Pound attempts to make recovery after hitting all-time low
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:30 A.M.) – The Syrian Pound has significantly improved over the last 24 hours after reaching an all-time low, Al-Watan reported on Wednesday morning. According to Al-Watan, the Syrian Pound improved by more than 15 percent on Wednesday, reaching 850 SYP for every $1 (USD). The markets yesterday witnessed a severe recession, so […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Frontline footage of Syrian Army’s battle for southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:10 A.M.) – The southeastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate has recently experienced an influx of violence as both the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and jihadist rebels have traded offensives in this area. Over the weekend, the jihadist rebels took the offensive in southeast Idlib, seizing four towns, including ‘Aajaz, from the Syrian […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
France points the finger at Turkey for allying with ISIS during NATO talks
France points the finger at Turkey for allying with ISIS during NATO talks Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Emmanuel Macron of France didn’t mince his words in relation to Turkey and its tacit support of working with ISIS (Islamic State – IS) proxies. This is far from the ideal of […]
Day Two Schedule – President Trump Attends NATO Summit, London, United Kingdom…
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend day two of the 70th Anniversary NATO Summit in London, England. The U.K. is five hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. Day two includes: a general session for all members of … Continue reading →
Wealthy Countries’ Approach to Climate Change Condemns Hundreds of Millions of People to Suffer
Emerging economies want large scale subsidies from their richer brethren to pay for them to move to green energy sources.
Mexico under AMLO: At the Crossroads, Facing 100 Daily Homicides
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Mexico reaches the end of the year up to its neck with the violent events of October and November. On Sunday, December 2nd, several clashes between police officers and suspected criminals in Coahuila, in the north of the country, left 21 dead, including four police officers. This is only the […] The post Mexico under AMLO: At the Crossroads, Facing 100 Daily Homicides appeared first on The Rio Times.
"Crunchtime: When Events Outrun Plan B"
*"Crunchtime: When Events Outrun Plan B"* by Charles Hugh Smith "We all know what Plan B is: our pre-planned response to the emergence of risk. Plan B is for risks that can be anticipated, regular but unpredictable events such tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. In the human sphere, risks that can be anticipated include temporary loss of a job, stock market down turns, recession, disruption of energy supplies, etc. Hidden in most Plan B's are a host of assumptions that all the systems running in the background pf the economy will remain stable. Even if electrical and cell-phon... more »
Year-End Hotel Occupancy in Rio Has Reached 75 Percent
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Hotel occupancy in the state capital of Rio de Janeiro for the period between December 28th and January 1st, 2020 has so far averaged 75 percent, according to a survey released yesterday, December 3rd, by the Syndicate of Hotels of the City of Rio de Janeiro (Rio Hotels). Regions such […] The post Year-End Hotel Occupancy in Rio Has Reached 75 Percent appeared first on The Rio Times.
Administration Bill Would Exempt Companies from Disabled Worker Quota System
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Bolsonaro's government has submitted a bill to Congress that virtually eliminates the policy of quotas for people with disabilities or in rehabilitation. PL6.195/2019 enables companies to substitute hiring with the payment of two monthly minimum wages. On Tuesday, December 3rd, International Disabled Persons Day, a meeting in the Chamber of […] The post Administration Bill Would Exempt Companies from Disabled Worker Quota System appeared first on The Rio Times.
Court Sluggishness Cited in Study as Main Reason for Not Seeking Justice in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - According to a survey released yesterday, December 2nd, in Rio de Janeiro by the Association of Brazilian Magistrates (AMB) and the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), 64 percent of the population see court sluggishness and red-tape as the main factors that most discourage people from seeking justice. In addition, 28 percent […] The post Court Sluggishness Cited in Study as Main Reason for Not Seeking Justice in Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brief Shows the Dynamics of Cargo Theft in Rio de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A report compiled by the Institute of Public Safety (ISP) has provided an overview of cargo theft in the state of Rio de Janeiro during 2018. Based on historical data since 1991, the study gathers detailed information on the dynamics of thieves, how they act, and also the places where stolen […] The post Brief Shows the Dynamics of Cargo Theft in Rio de Janeiro appeared first on The Rio Times.
Darknet: Hacking Tools and Stolen Data at Bargain Prices
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Stolen data, weapons, drugs and particularly cybercrime services are not only moved via dark channels but are also offered via illegal platforms and relevant forums in the dark realms of the cyber world. The criminal services on offer are simplifying cyber attacks and are now available at surprisingly low prices, […] The post Darknet: Hacking Tools and Stolen Data at Bargain Prices appeared first on The Rio Times.
You're Nuked: Russian Tanks Are Now Sporting Depleted Uranium Shells
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Not good for the health of people living nearby. *Key point: *The rounds offer better penetration on thick armor. Russia is arming its tanks with controversial depleted uranium shells. While depleted uranium, or DU, is extremely dense and can punch through thick tank armor, many believe that these shells release small doses of radiation, like miniature neutron bombs. The U.S. has used DU shells in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. A Russian Defense Ministry bulletin said Russian T-80BV tanks would be armed with these powerful munitions, according to Russia... more »
Why the Navy's F/A-18 Fighter Pilots Might Not Be Ready for War
*David Axe* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Good news for Russia and China. *Key point:* Big changes are needed if America is to return to full peer-to-peer competition. The U.S. Navy’s fighter pilots lack the skills to defeat Chinese and Russian pilots in combat, one officer warned. To better prepare for high-tech combat, the sailing branch’s F/A-18 crews should fire more live missiles in exercises and better focus their training, Navy officer Graham Scarbro advised at *War on the Rocks*. “Current Navy strike-fighter squadrons do not fire enough air-to-air missiles, and ... more »
Is Genetic Enhancement a Dangerous New Tool or Just Science Being Science?
*Tess Johnson* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Human genetic enhancement might soon be possible – but where do we draw the line? The first genetically edited children were born in China in late 2018. Twins Lulu and Nana had a particular gene – known as CCR5 – modified during embryonic development. The aim was to make them (and their descendants) resistant to HIV. By some definitions, this would be an example of human enhancement. Although there is still a long way to go before the technology is safe, this example has shown it’s possible to edit genes that will continue bei... more »
When This Soviet Submarine Sank, The CIA Was There To Pick Up The Pieces (And An Intelligence Victory)
*Jeff Schogol* *Security, * A true test for America's impressive submarine detection technology. *Key point: While the idea of finding a missing submarine in the Pacific Ocean, even when they had a general idea of where to search, proved so daunting to the Soviets that they’d ultimately given up looking, Bradley was fairly optimistic. He had a better way of locating it.* For the better part of two weeks, the world has watched, in hope and horror, as 13 countries embarked on a frantic search for the ARA San Juan, the Argentine sub that went missing on Nov. 15 with a crew of 44 abo... more »
Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Tuesday 3rd December 2019
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily wind power generation data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click […]
Daily Beast Trashes Melania Trump, Christmas Display As ‘State-Sponsored Jingoism’
By Ryan Foley ~ On Monday, The Daily Beast published an article with the title “Melania Trump’s Joyless Christmas Decorations Are Back to Haunt Your Nightmares.” The author of the piece, Daily Beast style writer Alaina Demopoulos, went so far as to call the White House Christmas display “state-sponsored jingoism.” While the opening sentence of […]
Special Royal Privileges At COP 25 For The UN
By James Taylor ~ When it comes to the United Nations and climate change, it is all about the UN altruistically serving the people of the world. Or maybe not. Here in Madrid for the UN Conference of the Parties on climate change (COP25), UN attendees have special privileges. Arriving a day before the start […]
Joe Lieberman Explains
A Dry Bones Cartoon ~ Joe Lieberman is right. Hateful and divisive politics has destroyed what used to be called bi-partisanship…and, I’m sorry to report that Israel’s democracy has been infected by the very same “tit for tat” sickness. “If They’re for it, We’re against it” and “if They’re against it, We’re for it.” Read […]
"Debt Bubble to End All Bubbles"
*"Debt Bubble to End All Bubbles"* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com "Journalist and book author Michael Snyder says corporate debt is at record highs standing at $10 trillion. Snyder points out debt is setting records in every aspect of the economy and contends, “If you include all other forms of corporate debt not listed on the stock exchanges, that brings the total to $15.5 trillion, which is equivalent to 74% of GDP. We’ve never seen anything like this before in all of U.S. history. That is just one form of debt and how our society has grown the debt. People need to realize the... more »
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