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21/07/2022 ---- 20/08/2022

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20.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Heat wave continues in the northern hemisphere. Are nations prepared?

This summer EU, US, and China have been hit by scarcity of rainfalls and record high temperatures. Photographs from satellites show major rivers have been drying up considerably (see CNN): Colorado (US), Yangtze (China), Rhine (Germany), Po (Italy), Loire (France), Danube (Romania). Water rationing is already in place in some municipalities of Italy, while more than 100 municipalities in France are short of drinking water and need to receive shipments. In Germany boat transport has now a reduced capacity, impacting pricing and supply chain of essential materials (such as coal). Even in the Netherlands the government had to introduce restrictive measures for agriculture. Analogous measures are in place in south China to guarantee the autumn harvest. Climate change and unsustainable water management are leaving lakes dried up all over the Middle East and beyond, but the Israeli government is hopeful it has a solution: it plans to pump water from the Mediterranean sea. Israel, already a water-insecure nation since decades, has learned to treat sea water at scale to produce drinking water. This strategy has issues - one above all it is energy intensive - but it may be the best future option for many if the weather conditions of the past few months become the standard in the future. Since desalinization takes energy, it is even more important now to improve sustainable energy production. Experts’ analysis of the consequences on the economy are not bright: on one hand the current conflicts exacerbate the energy pricing, at the same time the supply chain is negatively impacted and slows down operations.

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20.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

Kim Yo-jong slams South Korea’s “audacious initiative”

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol proposed, in his first Liberation Day speech marking the 77th anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, that Seoul offer economic aid to Pyongyang in exchange for the North taking steps toward denuclearization. This was referred to as an “audacious initiative”. Unfortunately this attempt added to an already long list of failed negotiations - with a very short notice. The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected the proposal saying that Yoon's plan is “the height of absurdity" as it is unpractical. She added that Yoon should “shout his mouth” and that “although he may knock on the door with a large plan in the future, his 'bold plan' does not work. We make it clear that we will not sit face to face with him”. South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se has expressed regret over the reaction and added that her criticism is a disservice to North Korea as well as peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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19.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

“Asian block” nations cooperation grows as Russia-China relationship strengthens

As tensions with US over Ukraine and Taiwan continue, it is no surprise that Russia-China relationships grow stronger. The two nations declared recently a “no limits” partnership. Besides economic agreements on energy import, they are now organising joint military drills in Vostok. At this event - taking place from August 30 to September 5 - more nations will be present: Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and India. Despite India-China relationship is tense due to border issues, their current talks are aimed at setting a long term collaboration. All these nations constitute a large block - the majority of Asia - and their relationships are currently strengthening. The G20 in Bali, taking place in November, will see the leaders of these nations face to face with EU and US leaders for the first time since the Ukraine war started.

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18.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Dog infected with monkeypox prompts isolation warning

Monkeypox was declared a global public health emergency by the WHO in July. Currently, around 35,000 cases have been confirmed around the world, with most in Europe and north and south America. There have been 12 deaths linked to the outbreak. It has been reported in the Lancet journal the first case of human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox in Paris. The dog has been infected after catching the virus from his owner. There are no evidences the dogs can transmit the virus to other dogs or even humans. However, the big concern is if the virus gets into animals in countries that don't normally have monkeypox - then those creatures could become a long-term source of infection.

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18.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

Ukraine war: a summary of recent events

Ukraine war is continuing. After the agreement to unlock grain transportation in the Black Sea, tension is still escalating. Military activity near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine has caused increasing concern in recent days as cases of shelling rise and experts warn that the risks of a serious nuclear incident are very real. In the meantime, attacks on Russian military sites in Crimea show that Ukraine is refusing to resign itself and instead choosing a tactic that could force the hand of its aggressor. In the meantime economic sanctions continue and are now impacting the ordinary Russia population with travel restrictions in EU. Overall, the Russian economy is shrinking, but it’s not the only one.

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17.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

Menstruation: a good start for a mindset change?

Menstruating women in India still have to live under several restrictions - they are considered impure and are excluded from social and religious events, sometimes even their own kitchens. In some rural and tribal communities, women have to stay in separate menstrual huts when they get their period. Recently, some young women have begun displaying their "period charts" on the walls or doors of their homes. The charts, that mentions the dates and duration of their periods, are not only helping them keep track of their monthly cycles - they are also helping break walls of shame that surround the topic in the country. A different idea is coming from Scotland which became the first country to make period products free. It may take time for mindsets to change but this can be a good start to make the difference.

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16.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

Aung San Suu sentenced to more prison as Myanmar’s coup strengthens

Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the world’s most prominent political prisoner. As secretary of the National League for Democracy she played a vital role in Myanmar’s transition to momentary democracy a decade ago. In 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Prize “for Peace for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights”. She is now detained since the military coup in 2021 and she has already been sentenced for a number of charges to 11 years. Today her prosecution continues and she has been sentenced to additional 6 years in prison in a trial held with closed doors. The trials handing down one guilty sentence after another to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate are widely seen as an attempt by the military to remove her from politics in view of the promised elections next year.

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15.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Leaders meet to try to pass a UN treaty to protect oceans

World leaders meet at the UN in New York for more talks to save the world's oceans from overexploitation. The UN High Seas Treaty has been through 10 years of negotiations but has yet to be signed. If agreed, it would put 30% of the world's oceans into conservation areas by 2030. Campaigners hope it will protect marine life from overfishing. Moreover, human activities like deep-sea mining and the access to marine genetics resources (MGR) will be regulated. The treaty would place parts of the world's oceans into a network of Marine Protected Areas. We hope such treaty will be signed (and enforced).

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14.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

Women protest in Afganistan after 1 year of Taliban’s government

About one year ago the US army was completing its caotic exit from Afganistan. Since then a new Taliban government took place and enforced their interpretation of Islam. So far, it meant a lot to women’s rights and freedom. In a short time the government instructed women to cover their faces in public and government employees to grow beard, blocked secondary school for girls, established days when women can visit public parks (only days when men don’t). On Saturday about 40 women protested in Kabul demanding right to work, education, and political participation. Taliban forces fired shots in the air to disperse the group. Allegedly, some protesters have been detained.

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13.08.2022
THEME: SPORT

Bill Russell dies at 88. In his honour the NBA retired his N.6 jersey throughout the league

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced today that they will honour the life and legacy of 11-time NBA champion and civil rights pioneer William Felton Russell by permanently retiring his uniform number 6 throughout the league. The iconic Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer will be the first player to have his number retired across the NBA. Born in Louisiana in 1934, Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. His life was impacted by racism since he was a child. Later, his basket skills earned him a place in the Boston Celtics where he won 11 championships and became the league's first black (playing) coach, marking several NBA records. He leveraged this unique position in favour of civil rights and he was active in the Black Power movement. A prominent civil rights activist, he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, condemned racial segregation and advocated for Muhammad Ali's refusal to be drafted in the Vietnam War. Ex US president Barak Obama awarded to him the Medal of Freedom in 2011.

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12.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change is happening and damage will be huge, experts say

In the last month several articles reported record atmospheric events. Experts say that these are linked to the ongoing climate change effects, and that in the future such events will be the "new normal". Reported events include arctic melting faster than predicted, record high temperatures in England and China, arctic storms, record rainfalls in Korea, extreme drought in EU. As pointed out by some articles, the climate risks are expected to have effects much worse than the recent economic crisis seen in the past (including pandemic and the energy crisis caused by war).

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12.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Homemade baby food contains as many toxic metals as store-bought options, report says

Researchers tested 288 foods bought at stores and farmers markets across the United States including grains, fruits, vegetables, snacks, teething foods, and family items that babies eat, such as cereals and rice cakes for lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. Those heavy metals are among the World Health Organisation’s top 10 chemicals for infants and children. Results showed 94% of manufactured baby foods, family foods and homemade purees made from purchased raw foods contained detectable amounts of one or more heavy metals. So… what can we do to avoid that? The pediatrician Dr. Mark Corkins, chair of the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests to feed baby with as many different types of foods as possible. “If you spread foods out, and offer a wide variety of options, you'll have less toxicity," Corkins said. "And nutritionally that's always been the right thing to do to get the most micronutrients from the food you eat."

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11.08.2022
THEME: ENTERTAINMENT

Japan’s Ghibli Park about to open its doors

Ghibli’s anime movies made history of children’s entertainment. They arguably are the equivalent of Disney’s for the oriental culture. Ghibli Park is located on the site of the 2005 Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture - two hours from Kyoto. Tickets are now for sale and the opening is foreseen in early November.

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11.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

North Korea's Kim Jong Un declares victory against Covid

North Corea leader Kim Jong declared a shining victory against the virus. He ordered restrictions to be lifted since North Corea has not reported any new suspected cases since July 29th. However,international observers say the country has limited testing. Moreover, the country has one of the world's worst healthcare systems with few intensive care units and no Covid treatment drugs or vaccines. The country has not rolled out any vaccination programme during the pandemic, relying instead on lockdowns, homegrown treatments, and what Mr Kim has called the "advantageous Korean-style socialist system".

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10.08.2022
THEME: TECHNOLOGY

US government invests 280 Billions in semiconductor high tech

The US government has just approved investments for a total of 280 Billion dollars in order to ramp up the internal production of semiconductors and boost research in robotics and wireless communications through the National Science Foundation. Some journals report the news as an attempt in weaking the Chinese economy due to the current tension in Taiwan, which is indeed a world leader in the semiconductor industry.

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09.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Seoul faces the heaviest rainfall since decades

Record rainfalls hit Seoul, South Korea's capital, submerging vehicles and flooding homes and subway stations. The situation is critical with at least 8 people dead so far and many more injured. Seoul's Dongjak district recorded more than 141.5 mm of rain per hour - the highest rate since 1942, according to Korea's Meteorological Administration (KMA) - the highest rate since authorities began keeping records. The Korea Meteorological Administration said up to 300 mm of more rain is forecast for the capital area through Thursday, with southern Gyeonggi Province likely to see rains surpassing 350 mm. Wether or not this results from climate change, it reminds us that the force of nature is not to be taken lightly.

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09.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

US doctor issues warning of many undiagnosed polio cases

A health official in New York State has announced that there could be hundreds or even thousands of undiagnosed cases of polio there. It follows an announcement last month that an unvaccinated man had been paralysed by the virus in Rockland Country, New York. The vaccination is the only weapon against this virus. We should be all vaccinated, especially our children. In some areas of US the access to health care and therefore vaccination are limited due to the high cost of health insurance. Unfortunately, there are still many countries where vaccination is not mandatory and still many children are not vaccinated against polio. The position of the World Health organization is clear and states that "All children worldwide should be fully vaccinated against polio, and every country should seek to achieve and maintain high levels of coverage with polio vaccines in support of the global commitment to eradicate polio."

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08.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

Colombia: New left-wing leader wants global drugs rethink

Colombian President Gustavo Petro was elected for a fresh global strategy to combat illegal drugs trafficking. Mr Petro told a crowd of his supporters in Bogota that it is time for a new global convention that "accepts the war on drugs has failed.It has left a million dead Latin Americans during 40 years," he said, "and it leaves 70,000 North Americans dead by overdose each year.”

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08.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Extreme water shortage hits the EU

Multiple European countries are experiencing historic drought conditions amid low precipitation and high temperatures made more likely due to climate change. Water shortage, cause of allert in EU nations during the whole summer, is now showing its most concrete effects. More than 100 towns in France have no more drinking water and must receive deliveries by truck. In Italy the waters of Italy's River Po are running so low they revealed a previously submerged World War Two bomb. Scientists believe such conditions will be the "new normal".

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06.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

Amnesty International reports that Ukrainian fighting tactics violate international humanitarian law

Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas, including in schools and hospitals, as they repelled the Russian invasion, Amnesty International reported on August 4. Oksana Pokalchuk, head of Amnesty International Ukraine, said in a Facebook post late Friday that the report “became a tool of Russian propaganda”. Similar accusations appeared in many western news, while Russians media reacted with praise and vindication over Amnesty's report. It is worth to note that Amnesty's report strongly condemn the invasion and does indicate that Russia committed war crimes.

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05.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Great Barrier Reef sees record coral cover, but it is highly vulnerable

Great Barrier Reef is in trouble. Two-thirds of Australia's Great Barrier Reef showed the largest amount of coral cover in 36 years, but the reef remains vulnerable to increasingly frequent mass bleaching. Another mass bleaching event is occurring after the two recorded before 2016. Authorities must intervene seriously to protect and preserve the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Life on earth relies on life in oceans.

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05.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

Missiles fired across Taiwan strait

Japan lodged a formal protest with China after five projectiles landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Statements from the US and the Chinese government continue to rise in tension. In the meantime eastern news report proof of PLA's Taiwan lockdown ability. Japan PM Kishida discusses these issues with US House Speaker Pelosi.

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05.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

US declares outbreak a public health emergency

Shortly after the Illinois state department, the US government has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency following a spike in cases, 6600 according to health officials. Officials in the US and elsewhere have recommended that people at the highest risk of exposure - including some gay and bisexual men, as well as some healthcare workers - should get the jab on a priority basis.

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04.08.2022
THEME: TECHNOLOGY

Pig organs partially revived hour after death

An improvement for organs transplant? A study published on the scientific journal Nature shows that the technology called OrganEx was able to partially restore the functionality of pig organs an hour after death. This technology could help to preserve human organs for longer therefore allowing more peoples to receive transplant. Let’s hope that this is going to work soon!

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04.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Monkeypox first death in India, more cases worldwide

Kerala government on Monday confirmed the first fatality for monkeypox in India (a 22 year old man who died on July 30). At the same time a state of emergency has been declared in US Illinois, and cases continue to increase worldwide as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) already in May. It is worth to note that 98% of cases so far are among men who have sex with men, therefore mainly impactin gthe LGBT+ community.

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04.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

China started live-fire military drills around Taiwan

After the visit to Taiwan of White House Speaker Pelosi the chinese government announced military drills, which have now started. Military excercises are intended to show that the PLA (People Liberation Army) is capable of blockading the entire island and of resolving the Taiwan question through non-peaceful ways. While western news report the drills as mere excercises without evidence of such power, eastern journals present them more seriously as a "rehearsal of unification operation", suggesting that if such drills continue it will constitute a substantial blockage of Taiwan. The situation is supposed to not change for at least the next five days. Live-fire is expected across the Taiwan strait thorugh the eastern side of the island.

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03.08.2022
THEME: ECONOMY

China suspends 2,000 food products from Taiwan as Nancy Pelosi visits

China has suspended imports of several categories of food from Taiwan including fish and seafood, edible oils, citrus fruits and biscuits and cakes, hitting publicly listed companies such as instant noodle and soy sauce producer Ve Wong and Chi Mei, which makes frozen foods. China also announced fresh military drills near Taiwan.

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03.08.2022
THEME: ENTERTAINMENT

Amber Heard losses to Johnny Depp's claims amount to millions

The famous trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp concluded positively for the interpreter of the famous captain Jack Sparrow. Further, Amber Heard bid for new trial with Johnny Depp has been rejected, making the verdict final. The star of "Aquaman" has been sentenced to pay defamation damages and trial expenses for a total amount of several millions dollars.

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02.08.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Cognitive decline linked to ultraprocessed food

It is well recognised nowadays that eating processed food can increase the risk of obesity, cancer, cardiovascular problems and diabetes. A recent study presented Monday 1st august at 2022 Alzheimer’s Association international Conference in San Diego shows that people who consumed more than 20% of daily calories from processed foods had a 28% faster decline in global cognition and a 25% faster decline in executive functioning compared to people who ate less than 20%. If you want to preserve your brain: start to cook your own food!

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02.08.2022
THEME: POLITICS

China-US tensions to escalate witht House Speaker Pelosi visit to Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is being discussed since days. Not supported officially by the White House, her visit could be sparkling further tensions with China over Taiwan. The situation is not promising as Chinese and Russian journals already describe this visit as an unacceptable provocation. Will the governments of US, China, and Russia understand that a peaceful interaction is the only one acceptable in 2022? Let's hope so, to be verified in the next few months.

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01.08.2022
THEME: ECONOMY

EU braces for the upcoming energy crisis

European nations prepare for the likely upcoming energy crisis. Some nations are approving the extraction of resources from owned land, so far avoided for environmental reasons. Those (like Switzelrand) who are entirely dependent on the neighboring nations are working to secure purchase deals and have contingency plans in case the supply does not meet the demand. Overall, all nations are preparing themselves to face scarcity of gas supplies.

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01.08.2022
THEME: WORLD

Grain crisis has been averted

Russia and Ukarine have reached the very first agreement from the beginning of the conflict. After the signature in Instanbul, the first Ukrainian ship has finally left its port towards the black sea. Grain export is resuming, famine for millions people has been averted.

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