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28.06.2023
THEME: WORLD

A Landmark Week in Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Strikes, Rebellion, and Military Advances

Last week was a pivotal period in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, characterized by deadly missile strikes, a rebellion within the Russian military, and significant progress made by Ukrainian forces.

On a tragic Tuesday evening, a missile strike by Russian forces devastated the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, claiming the lives of eight people, including three children. The strike occurred at 19:30 local time, impacting a busy restaurant and shopping area, and causing substantial damage to nearby apartment buildings. Among the 56 injured were an eight-month-old baby, three foreigners, and a 17-year-old girl. This attack is one in a series that has targeted Kramatorsk since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the White House both condemned the attack. Zelensky stated that the strike proved Russia deserved "only defeat and a tribunal", reflecting the White House's condemnation of Russia's "brutal strikes" on Ukraine.

Simultaneously, a rebellion was stirring within the Russian military. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private army group Wagner, led a mutiny against the Russian government, protesting against government plans to take direct control of Wagner and defense officials' errors during the war with Ukraine. This rebellion, which was halted near Moscow to prevent bloodshed, revealed significant security issues within Russia. Although quelled without overthrowing President Vladimir Putin, it led to Putin's vow to bring the revolt's organizers to justice and his accusation of the West's desire for bloodshed in Russia. US President Joe Biden denied any involvement in the rebellion.

On the Ukrainian front, there were notable victories. According to the UK's Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian forces likely reclaimed territory occupied by Russia since 2014, making headway near the Russian-occupied village of Krasnohorivka, near Donetsk. The US pledged an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more than 50 heavily armoured vehicles and missiles for air defense systems.

The United Nations reported widespread and systematic torture of civilians by Russian forces in Ukraine, including summary executions, with over 900 cases of arbitrary detention. Ukrainian forces were also reported to have detained 75 people, some of which were enforced disappearances. More than half of those detained by Ukrainian forces reported being tortured or mistreated.

As the tumultuous week concluded, the future of the conflict remains uncertain. The upheaval within the Russian military and the significant advances by Ukrainian forces could potentially alter the power dynamics in the ongoing conflict. The world continues to observe, hoping for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that has already caused immense suffering.

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27.06.2023
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Dolphin Mothers Use High-Pitched "Baby Talk" with Their Calves, New Study Reveals

A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has discovered that dolphin mothers use a high-pitched baby talk when communicating with their young ones. This fascinating finding not only adds to our understanding of the complex social lives of these intelligent marine mammals but also highlights the similarities between dolphins and humans in terms of how we communicate with our offspring.

Dolphins are known for their unique and complex communication skills, which include a signature whistle that each individual uses, similar to calling out their own name. Researchers recorded the signature whistles of 19 mother bottlenose dolphins in Florida's Sarasota Bay and found that the mother's whistle pitch is higher and her pitch range is greater when directed at her calves. The data for this study were collected over more than three decades using special microphones on wild dolphin mothers in the area.

The study was co-authored by Laela Sayigh from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Peter Tyack from the University of St Andrews, and Frants Jensen from Aarhus University. They focused on the bottlenose dolphin population in Sarasota, Florida, where dolphin calves stay with their mothers for an average of three years. This extended period of bonding allows the researchers to study the communication between mother and calf more thoroughly.

Baby talk, or motherese, is a common phenomenon in the animal kingdom. It is believed to help offspring learn to pronounce novel sounds or catch their attention. For example, humans use a higher pitch and exaggerated intonation when talking to babies, which is thought to help them learn the language more effectively. Similarly, the high-pitched baby talk used by dolphin mothers could serve a similar purpose in helping their calves learn to vocalize the many sounds needed for effective communication.

However, it remains unclear if dolphins use this baby talk for other exchanges or if it actually helps their offspring learn to "talk." Further research is needed to determine the exact purpose and benefits of this unique form of communication among dolphins. So, the next time you find yourself cooing at a baby, remember that you might not be the only species using baby talk to connect with the younger generation.

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