Israel passes budget with controversial cash for ultra-Orthodox

SO CALLED DEMOCRACY FUNDS FASCISM

AFP
Wed, 24 May 2023 

Thousands of Israelis march through Jerusalem to protest against controversial cash handouts to ultra-Orthodox Jews in the annual budget

Israeli lawmakers passed an annual budget Wednesday with controversial allocations for ultra-Orthodox Jews, in a concession to a religious party in the governing coalition that drew protests from the opposition.

Thousands of Israelis marched through Jerusalem on Tuesday to protest the government's plans to hand more cash to the ultra-Orthodox minority, accusing the coalition of "looting" state funds.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the state would grant married ultra-Orthodox Jewish men engaged in religious study rather than work a total of 250 million shekels ($67.5 million).

The grant was part of an agreement with United Torah Judaism, one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, to ensure its support for the budget.

The 2023-2024 budget was ultimately passed early Wednesday with the support of all 64 coalition lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament.

"We won the elections, we passed the budget, we'll continue for four more years," Netanyahu wrote on Facebook.

The premier spent recent weeks cutting deals with his ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right coalition partners, to meet a May 29 deadline to pass the budget or face fresh elections.

The cash handouts to the ultra-Orthodox have sparked anger as Israelis of all backgrounds contend with soaring prices and increased interest rates. Opposition chief Yair Lapid described the budget as "destructive".

Asher Blass, a professor of economics at Ashkelon Academic College, said Israel needed more "growth engines" rather than "transfer payments" to ultra-Orthodox institutions that effectively discourage higher education.

Speaking ahead of the parliamentary vote, he told AFP "the trajectory is not good" but Israel has seen worse budget deficits.

In February, the Bank of Israel estimated the deficit would be close to one percent of gross domestic product in 2023 and 2024.

dms/rsc/kir

THE PETRO STATE PROTECTS ITS OWN

German Police In Nationwide Raids Against Climate Activists


By AFP - Agence France Presse

May 24, 2023

German police on Wednesday carried out raids across seven states targeting climate activists of the "Letzte Generation" (Last Generation) group, which has sparked controversy with street blockades involving protesters glueing themselves to the asphalt.

The raids were ordered in an investigation targeting seven people aged 22 to 38 over suspicions of "forming or supporting a criminal organisation", said a joint statement by Bavaria's police and prosecutors.

Fifteen properties were searched, two accounts seized and an asset freeze ordered.

The suspects are accused of "organising a donations campaign to finance further criminal acts" for the group via its website.

At least 1.4 million euros ($1.5 million) had been collected in the campaign, said the authorities, adding that "these funds were according to current information mostly used for the committing of further criminal action of the association".

The authorities did not specify the "criminal action" it was referring to but said two of the suspects are alleged to have tried to sabotage an oil pipeline between Trieste, Italy, and Ingolstadt, Germany, deemed a "critical infrastructure" in Bavaria.

Dozens of climate activists from the group have found themselves before the courts in recent weeks over their traffic blockade actions.

The controversial tactics of Letzte Generation, from hunger strikes to throwing mashed potato on paintings in museums, has resulted in the group being described by some German politicians as "climate terrorists".

The activists argue however that their protests are vital in the face of inadequate action taken by the government and society in general to protect the environment and prevent catastrophic global warming.

© Agence France-Presse

German police conduct raids on climate activists as impatience mounts

Geir Moulson
AP

A police officer enters a house during a raid in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Prosecutors in Germany say authorities have raided 15 properties across the country and seized assets in an investigation into the financing of protests by the Last Generation climate activist group. 

(Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — Authorities raided 15 properties across Germany on Wednesday and seized assets in an investigation into the financing of protests by the Last Generation climate activist group, prosecutors said — a move that comes as impatience with the organization’s tactics mounts.

Munich prosecutors said they were investigating seven people, ranging in age from 22 to 38, on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organization. They launched the inquiry following numerous criminal complaints from the public that they received since mid-2022.

 

Police officers carry a cardboard box to a vehicle during a raid in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 24, 2023. 

Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP

Police officers use hammers and chisels to remove a climate activist who has glued himself to a road during a climate protest in Berlin, Germany, Monday, May 22, 2023.
AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

Prosecutors in Germany say authorities have raided 15 properties across the country and seized assets in an investigation into the financing of protests by the Last Generation climate activist group. 

Members of Last Generation have repeatedly blocked roads across Germany in an effort to pressure the government to take more drastic action against climate change.

In recent weeks, they have brought traffic to a halt on an almost daily basis in Berlin, gluing themselves to busy intersections and highways. Over the past year, they have also targeted various art works and exhibits.

APTOPIX Germany Climate Protest

A climate activist shows his hand, covered with asphalt, after policers remove is hand with hammer and chisel from a road in Berlin, Germany, Monday, May 22, 2023.

 AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

Their tactics have drawn sharp criticism. On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he thought it was “completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painting or on the street.” Leading figures with the environmentalist Green party, which is part of his governing coalition, have said the group’s actions are counterproductive.

The Bavarian inquiry adds to an investigation launched last year by prosecutors in Neuruppin, outside Berlin, over actions against an oil refinery in eastern Germany. That investigation is considering suspicions that Last Generation activists formed a criminal organization, a label that some conservative-leaning regional officials also are mulling.

Munich prosecutors said the people under investigation are accused of organizing and promoting a campaign to “finance further criminal offenses” by the group and collecting at least 1.4 million euros ($1.5 million). Two of them also are suspected of trying to sabotage an oil pipeline that connects the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt with the Italian port of Trieste in April 2022.

Wednesday’s searches — accompanied by orders to seize two bank accounts and other assets — aimed to secure evidence on the membership structure of Last Generation and on its financing. There were no arrests.

Last Generation has acknowledged that its protests are provocative, but it argues that by stirring friction it can encourage debate within society about climate change.

In a Twitter post on Wednesday, the group wrote: “Nationwide raid. #completelynutty.”

“Searches of lobby structures and seizures of government’s fossil money — When?” it said.

Another climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion, voiced solidarity with Last Generation. It contended in a tweet that the main aim of conducting raids on the grounds that it was a criminal organization was “to distract attention from the true criminals.”

Thailand's Sex Workers Hope Election Will Change Their Lives

Thailand’s sex workers are looking to the upcoming election on 14 May as a potential catalyst for positive change in their lives. This article explores their hopes and expectations and the challenges they face, providing insight into their perspective.

Introduction: The Anticipation of Change

Sex work is a contentious and complex issue in societies worldwide, and Thailand is no exception. With the country’s general election on the horizon, Thailand’s sex workers are hopeful.

They eagerly anticipate a potential transformation in their lives as they yearn for greater recognition, improved working conditions, and increased legal protections.

In this article, we delve into the hopes and aspirations of Thailand’s sex workers, shedding light on their struggles, dreams, and expectations. Join us as we navigate their stories, challenges, and the election’s potential impact on their lives.

Thailand’s Sex Workers Hope Election Will Change Their Lives

The sex workers in Thailand are optimistic that the forthcoming election will be a turning point in their lives. They anticipate significant improvements in their circumstances, aiming to secure the recognition they deserve and obtain legal safeguards to protect them from exploitation. Let’s explore the reasons behind their hope and the changes they yearn for.

1. Seeking Recognition: A Call for Acknowledgment

Thailand’s sex workers hope the election will bring them much-needed recognition as legitimate workers, acknowledging their societal role. They yearn to end the daily stigma and marginalization and aspire to be seen as individuals deserving of respect and understanding.

By gaining societal recognition, they believe they can foster a more inclusive environment that acknowledges their rights and dignity.

2. Improved Working Conditions: A Safe and Fair Environment

Thailand’s sex workers strive for better working conditions in a safe and regulated environment.

They aspire to see the implementation of laws and policies that protect their rights, promote occupational safety, and ensure fair treatment.

They hope to reduce the risk of exploitation, violence, and abuse by establishing clear guidelines and standards.

3. Legal Protections: Safeguarding Vulnerable Workers

The election represents an opportunity for Thailand’s sex workers to push for legal protections to shield them from harm. They advocate for laws that address their unique needs and vulnerabilities while providing avenues for redress and justice.

By obtaining legal recognition and protection, they aim to combat exploitation, human trafficking, and other illicit activities that often plague the industry.

4. Access to Healthcare: Promoting Well-being

The election also promises improved access to healthcare services for Thailand’s sex workers. They hope for comprehensive healthcare programs that address their specific health concerns, including regular check-ups, sexual health services, and counseling support.

They believe they can lead healthier lives and ensure their long-term physical and mental health by prioritizing their well-being.

5. Financial Empowerment: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Many sex workers in Thailand face economic hardships, often trapped in a cycle of poverty with limited opportunities for advancement. They look to the election as an opportunity to advocate for initiatives that empower them financially.

By supporting vocational training programs, alternative employment options, and access to financial services, they hope to break free from the cycle and build a more sustainable future.

6. Combating Human Trafficking: A Unified Front

Thailand’s sex workers recognize the urgency of combatting human trafficking, a grave issue affecting vulnerable individuals within the industry. They hope the election will increase efforts to prevent and address this heinous crime.

By collaborating with law enforcement agencies and NGOs, they strive to create a united front against human trafficking, ensuring the safety and protection of all individuals involved in the sex industry.

Challenges and Obstacles Faced

While Thailand’s sex workers hold onto hope for change through the election, they are well aware of the challenges and obstacles they face in their pursuit of a better future. Understanding these difficulties provides a comprehensive view of the issues at hand.

Societal Stigma: Thailand’s sex workers continue encountering societal stigma that hinders their acceptance and integration into mainstream society. Overcoming deep-rooted biases and prejudices remains an ongoing battle.

Legal Ambiguity: The ambiguous legal status of sex work in Thailand creates a challenging environment for sex workers. The lack of clear regulations and legal protections exposes them to exploitation and abuse.

Lack of Support Systems: Sex workers often lack support systems, such as access to healthcare, counseling services, and financial resources. These deficiencies further perpetuate their vulnerability and make it difficult for them to escape the cycle of exploitation.

Human Trafficking: The sex industry in Thailand, like in many other countries, faces the scourge of human trafficking. Sex workers hope that the election will bring renewed efforts in combatting this criminal activity and protecting those most at risk.

Limited Employment Opportunities: Without alternative employment opportunities, many sex workers feel trapped in their current profession. They hope that the election will open doors for vocational training and job placement programs, offering them viable alternatives for a sustainable livelihood.

Intersectional Challenges: Sex workers from marginalized communities, such as transgender individuals, face additional challenges due to discrimination and societal bias. They hope for intersectional support that recognizes their unique struggles and provides targeted assistance.

Thailand's Sex Workers Hope Election Will Change Their Lives: Exploring Hopes And Challenges

Brazil's Lula fears 'more ferocious war,' says Zelenskyy was no-show

From Ukraine to China, leftist president's worldview clashes with G-7's

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a news conference after attending the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima on May 22. 

 © AP

MITSURU OBE, 

Nikkei Asia chief business news correspondent

May 22, 2023

HIROSHIMA, Japan -- As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swooped into the Group of Seven weekend in Hiroshima, a focal point was how he would engage with two invited leaders who remain on the fence between Russia and the West -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Zelenskyy and Modi sat down for what appeared to be a cordial discussion on the impact of Russia's invasion and potential paths forward. On the other hand, no meeting with Lula happened, and when asked if he was disappointed, Zelenskyy shot back that maybe the Brazilians are.

On Monday, Lula told his side of the story: Zelenskyy, he said, did not show up.

"I was going to have a bilateral with Ukraine" on Sunday afternoon, he told to reporters. "We waited. And then we found out that they were running late." Lula said he went ahead and met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chin for an hour. Still, there was no sign of Zelenskyy.

"Maybe they had another commitment," Lula said. "That's what simply happened."

Lula, a trade unionist and left-wing politician who was president from 2003 to 2010 and returned to power last year, is frequently at odds with the West. The war in Ukraine is a case in point: He has argued that both sides bear responsibility and that Western support is prolonging the conflict and death. Many developing countries have also become weary of the war's resultant spike in food and energy prices.

Asked if he was disappointed, as Zelenskyy had suggested, Lula denied it but said he was "upset a little bit because I would like to enjoy talking with him." He said he is looking for an opportunity to meet the Ukrainian president some other time.

Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukraine's ambassador to Japan, on Monday said he did not know whether it was a "technical" issue that prevented a meeting. "I have no idea, but they didn't talk," he said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden speak during the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima on May 21. 

 © Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters

Korsunsky argued that Lula "should be ready to meet President Zelenskyy at least to understand what's going on." He lamented the attitude of some world leaders, raising the example of what Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did during Zelenskyy's address to the Arab League Summit in Jeddah on Friday. The Syrian president "took off his interpretation headset to send a message that he doesn't want to listen," Korsunsky said.

Calling Brazil a "big important player," he said, "They should meet, they should talk."

But in any conversation, Lula and Zelenskyy would be coming from diametrically opposed perspectives.

While Zelenskyy asks for more advanced weapons to defeat Russia, Lula argues against such assistance. "My fear is that we are moving toward the possibility that we can have a more ferocious war with more powerful weapons," Lula said on Monday.

While Zelenskyy demands a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of his country's territorial integrity, which he says is not negotiable, Lula is calling for a cease-fire and negotiations.

"Both parties want 100% from each other," Lula said. "Every party will have to concede a little. Russians should not have the right to [invade]. Ukraine is right in defending its own territory. But this will last until they are willing to talk."

Major countries with no direct stake in the war could serve as mediators, Lula added, naming China, India, Indonesia and Brazil.

Lula used his Monday news conference to hammer home a worldview that highlighted other points of friction with the G-7 -- a vision of more autonomy from the U.S. and deeper partnership with China, in contrary to the industrialized economies' efforts to "de-risk" from Beijing.

Lula says he wants the BRICS grouping to create its own currency like the euro. 

(Photo by Kohei Fujimura)

In 2024, Brazil will host leaders of the Group of 20 and BRICS -- two major forums including countries of the so-called Global South. Lula was one of the driving forces behind the creation of BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and later South Africa.

High expectations for the BRICS economies have soured recently, with Russia under international sanctions while China faces trade restrictions and intensifying competition with the U.S. over emerging technologies. But Lula said Brazil wants to do more business with China, already its top partner, and hopes to create a common BRICS currency.

This is one of several currency ideas he has floated as he seeks to reduce dependence on the dollar. Earlier this year, Brazil and Argentina said they were starting preparatory work on a common currency unit of account for denominating trade, and that they hoped to invite other Latin American nations to join -- a proposal that has met with considerable skepticism and even derision.

While visiting China in April, Lula also called for ending dollar dependence, as Brasilia and Beijing move to enable direct trade in their respective currencies.

"We can't continue to rely on one currency that you can't print," Lula stressed on Monday, referring to the greenback. "I hope that the central banks of the BRICS will create a new currency, like the euro. We can do it."

The first job, he said, is to lay a foundation of the right "political and economic conditions."

Additional reporting by Andrew Sharp.

An empty station, a burning countryside, soot raining from the sky: This is what it's like to ride Laos' gleaming new $6 billion railway in April

Marielle Descalsota/Insider
Mon, May 22, 2023 

Slash and burn in the Laotian countryside.

I traveled to Laos to experience its new China-made railway.


The one-hour trip revealed a countryside that's burned from farming.


The air was so toxic that soot and ash were falling from the sky.

Laos is one of the few remaining communist  STALINIST countries in the world. Some two-thirds of Laotians still live in rural communities. But a shiny new railway funded by China now cuts through the countryside.

The train's driver's cab.

The Laos-China Railway is the biggest infrastructure project in the history of Laos. It's a massive 1,000-kilometer, or 621-mile train network that aims to connect Laos with Thailand and Kunming in southern China.

The railway is controversial. It's been criticized for evicting more than 4,400 Laotian families from their homes in the countryside. Despite being one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, Laos took on a $1.8 billion loan from China to build the railway. China paid for the remaining $4.2 billion.

I flew to Laos from Singapore in early April to experience first-hand how the historic railway is developing. It was my first time traveling on a cross-country train since my trip from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on a sleeper train in Thailand.

When I visited Laos, the entire line had not yet been completed. It was only the Laotian portion, that runs from the capital city of Vientiane to the border town of Boten, that I was able to experience. The line opened for cross-border service on April 13.

My journey started in Vientiane, the largest city in Laos where most of the urban population lives.

An aerial shot of Vientiane, Laos.

Laos is popular among backpackers for its natural landscape of waterfalls, mountains, and rivers. It's the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. On TikTok, travelers share clips of its gorgeous scenery of clear skies and thick jungle. But when I first arrived at Wattay International Airport, I noticed that a thick haze was obscuring views of the dirt roads and clusters of homes made with tin roofs.

On that day in Vientiane, the PSI — or Pollutant Standards Index, which indicates air quality — hovered around 230. The National Environment Agency in Singapore categorizes any reading higher than 200 as "very unhealthy." It turned out that I had visited at the wrong time — there were several active fires during the week that I was in Laos. Vientiane is at the border with the northeastern province of Nong Khai in Thailand, right across the Mekong River. But on that day the border town was hidden behind the haze.

The smell of smog was deeply embedded in nearly everything — from the towels and bedsheets in my hotel room to my clothes and hair. There was no way to escape it, but hundreds of locals were out in the open–air markets, most of whom didn't wear masks.

Vang Vieng, around 80 miles north of Vientiane, was set to be my final destination. I was hoping that there, I would find countryside air that might be cleaner than it was in the city.

A first-class train ticket to Vang Vieng was 200,000 Laotian kip, or around $12.

Vientiane Railway Station.

While a first-class ticket costs just $12, I ended up paying around $7 more as I booked online through 12Go, a Thailand-based travel agency. I overpaid a bit for my convenience, but if you do have time, it's worth heading to the ticket station to buy tickets in person — although it's best if you do it in advance as the seats are often sold out.

The railway is an expensive project – it cost $6 billion to construct. The hefty price tag could be seen in the grandeur of Vientiane Railway Station.

Inside Vientiane Railway Station.

Vientiane's railway station looked to be one of the most modern structures in the entire city, which was reminiscent of an airport terminal. The rail line's ownership is split between three Chinese state-owned companies and the Laotian government.

While most of the travelers were locals, the Chinese influence was ubiquitous as the signs around the station were in Chinese and Lao, and announcements were said in both languages. Some announcements were made in English too — but there were times it was broken and mistranslated.

"We love the train line," one local, who only wanted to be known as Sang, told me. "Last time it took six hours before I could go to Luang Prabang, now it's only two," he said, referring to the city north of Vientiane.

The train to Vang Vieng was punctual. Passengers rushed to line up and board, but it was orderly — no one skipped the lines.

There appeared to be very few tourists taking the train that day, save for a handful of backpackers. Most of the passengers were locals traveling between cities — some of them didn't even have much with them, save for a backpack.

The train was impressive. It looked shiny and new, and there was staff dressed in Lao-inspired uniforms flanking each door.

The entrance to the train's cabins.

The CR200J, which is constructed by state-owned rolling stock manufacturer CCRC, can travel up to 100 miles per hour. It's nicknamed "the Hulk" for its green-colored design, similar to the Marvel superhero.

Inside the cars, dozens of staff greeted passengers, reminiscent of flight attendants on board an aircraft.

I made my way to the first-class cabin in the train's first car. It wasn't luxurious per se, but it was spacious and clean.

The first-class car in the train.

In July last year, I rode on one of Thailand's longest train rides. My first-class cabin wasn't particularly comfortable, considering I had to travel for 13 hours. But here in Laos, I was more comfortable than ever, thanks to the roomy plush seats — which made the short-haul trip a breeze.

The seats in first-class were much wider than in second-class. The latter was more private too, as there were limited seats available in the first car. Apart from that, my seat was basic: it could recline, had a footrest, and foldable a tray table for meals — but for the price, I couldn't complain.

According to online photos of the CR200J cabins in China, some configurations also have sleeper cars, with private cabins and beds.

Each car was replete with a washbasin and bathroom.

The bathroom in the train.

While the toilet was cleaner than the one in Thailand, it still had an unpleasant stench. The bathroom isn't designed with a shower, but for short-haul trips, it worked fine.

As the train began to depart the station, the view revealed trash, dirt, and bald trees.

The view right outside the train station.

The view was a stark contrast to the glitzy train station, including dark-colored water in the canals and half-dead foliage.

The construction of the railway has led to the pollution of local waterways, making it difficult for residents to fish and bathe in the water, according to a 2020 report by Radio Free Asia.

As the train traveled deeper in the Laotian countryside, acres of crop fields could be seen, against the backdrop of smog covering the jungle and sky.

The countryside in Laos.

There wasn't anyone — or anything — out in the field of burned crops, save for a lorry driving through.

Some 63% of Laos' population of 7.5 million people live in rural areas, many of whom work in agriculture. The industry made up around 17.2% of the country's gross domestic product last year, per the Vientiane Times.

Some of the things cultivated in Laos include rice, coffee, and, at one point in time, opium — which was only outlawed in 2006.

The countryside showed how the majority of Laotians live – in houses surrounded by jungle.

What houses look like in the Laotion countryside.

Laos is far from densely populated, so many people live in remote villages, which comprise dozens of families who are often from the same ethnic group. In Vientiane, however, many locals live in apartments, like in other capital cities in the region.

"In the countryside, a very limited number of locals speak English, but they will always make efforts to share something with you: food, beverage, smiles or just time," Mathieu Thaeron, a Frenchman who has lived in Vang Vieng since 2012, told me.

According to a 2015 report by Laotian architect Xayaphone Vongvilay, houses in Laos are influenced by French colonial architecture. A typical home is often made up of a multi-purpose area on the lower level, and a veranda and bedrooms on the upper floor. These homes are often elevated from the ground, although there are exceptions, like the one photographed above.

I had a glimpse of the gorgeous landscapes of Laos, with the edge of the jungle curving into Nam Lik, a river and reservoir.

A highway across a river in Laos.

Like its railway, many of Laos' highways are constructed and funded mostly by China. These highways plan to stretch from Vientiane to Boten — which mirrors the train route — and are expected to cost $7.1 billion.

The Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway (pictured above) is owned by state-owned Yunnan Construction Engineering Group, save for a 5% stake by the Laos government.

While thousands of cars are expected to use the massive expressway in the future, I only saw a single car on the road that day.

As the train crept closer to Vang Vieng, the darker side began to emerge — and revealed the cause of the country's thick smog.

Slash and burn in the Laotian countryside.

As the train began to approach Vang Vieng, the PSI was over 320, with active fires just 5 miles away, the reading on the Swiss tech company IQAir's app showed.

Many farmers in Southeast Asia resort to slash-and-burn farming to cultivate their crops — and Laos is no exception. Amidst acres of thick jungle were mounds of burnt ground (pictured above), remnants of forest fires that have been suffocating residents for years.

In late March alone, some 9,600 hotspots, which indicated forest fires, were recorded in Laos, according to Nikkei Asia, citing Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.

In the aftermath of the forest fire, black-gray soot remained. I spotted a handful of farmers on the burned land, observing their surroundings.

Slash and burn in the Laotian countryside.

"It's been smoggy because the farmers are burning their fields and rice paddies. When they burn the fields, the fire spreads to other places," an official of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told Radio Free Asia.

After being burned and cultivated, the land can no longer be used for crops.

The Laos government hasn't released official numbers on how many people have been affected by the smog. But in neighboring Thailand, where slash-and-burn is also commonplace, over 1.7 million people said they experienced issues like respiratory problems and burning eyes, per Nikkei Asia's report.

After around an hour, the train arrived in Vang Vieng. But what I saw was reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic film, with pale-white ash covering everything, from the buildings to the trees.

Vang Vieng covered in ashes.

The town's gorgeous cliffs were also obscured by the dense smog. It was 104 Fahrenheit, which made the thick haze even more suffocating. The heat was immense, unbearable even, and visibility was extremely low. Black soot fell from the sky.

I had left Vientiane to escape the smog, but instead had just gotten closer to it — the tracker on IQAir's app showed there was an active fire just 3.7 miles away.

"What happened this year was truly exceptional; I've never experienced such bad conditions," Thaeron said.

I came to Laos expecting picture-perfect scenery of valleys and limestone cliffs, like the ones I saw in dozens of TikToks. But the tropical landscape looked more like a desert.

Haze in Vang Vieng, where an active fire was just 6 kilometres away.

Having grown up in Singapore, I've had to live with varying degrees of haze almost every year. But this was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Many residents I saw seemed unfazed though, several of whom were still outdoors, without masks or protection from the smog.

Despite the dire weather conditions, many Laotians stayed resilient, still peddling their tuk-tuks, working out in the sun, and serving guests at the hotels. The smog has become so much a part of their lives that they appear to carry on with their daily life unfazed.

But as the region continues to swelter in record-breaking heat waves, I wondered if it's only a matter of time before the smog becomes too much for even the most hardened of locals.

PHOTOS Marielle Descalsota/Insider

SEE

EVEN AND UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT TROTSKY

Filmmakers At Cannes Grapple With 'Tectonic' AI Shift

By Fran BLANDY

May 23, 2023

The generative AI tool ChatGPT is revolutionising filmmaking

At an AI talk on a Cannes beach, a presenter's voice is cloned and used to say a random phrase in three languages, while another's face is replaced live on screen as they speak.

Few of the film buffs attending the premiere industry festival are shocked.

Ever since the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT took the world by storm six months ago, spurring an AI race among tech giants, the technology has shaken up the film industry.

The use of AI to write scripts is one of the leading concerns among Hollywood movie and TV writers who are in their third week of a strike that has upended productions.

However the technology is revolutionising everything from voice acting, to analysing scripts and coming up with a budget, to creating mock-ups of scenes before you even pick up a camera.

"New things are created every single day," says Quinn Halleck, a 25-year-old filmmaker who is about to release a three-part short movie called "./ Sigma_001" which is about a sentient AI being, and uses AI from conception to marketing and distribution.

"It's not just one tool, it's sort of sprinkled throughout the workflow process," he tells AFP on the sidelines of a panel on AI.


The use of AI in scriptwriting is a major concern among striking Hollywood writers

This ranges from asking ChatGPT what a character could be like, what her backstory is, and "riffing" off that to create ideas.

Telling an anecdote about a showrunner who hires writers by giving them the same prompt as he gives ChatGPT and seeing if they perform better, he argues the "bar has been raised" to come up with great ideas.

But while some assistant roles may disappear, he believes a human director remains essential.

"You still have to come up with the ideas, you have to create the prompts and curate the answers."

The world's leading film festival, taking place on the French Riviera, got a hefty dose of AI with a lengthy scene de-aging Harrison Ford, 80, in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny".

While producers have ruled out using AI to keep the role going, actors like Tom Hanks believe it will allow him to keep acting long after his death.

Hanks is currently being de-aged in his upcoming movie "Here", with help from deepfake, face-swapping technology from AI firm Metaphysic.

The company's co-founder Tom Graham says technology has bridged the so-called "uncanny valley" -- the visceral human rejection of less-than-realistic androids -- and is now creating deepfakes where you "absolutely can't tell the difference".


"Deepfake" videos that manipulate reality are becoming more sophisticated and realistic

The company is behind Deepfake Tom Cruise, a TikTok account that perfectly imitates the actor, and also created a hyper-real Elvis Presley who morphed into Simon Cowell and his co-judges on an episode of "America's Got Talent".

While filmmakers are brimming with excitement over the technology's potential, questions of its abuse hang over the session.

"This set of technologies represents, you know, a set of tectonic social shifts like the industrial revolution, which will play out over the next 20-50 years and people should be worried about what happens," Graham tells AFP.

"Unfortunately, I don't believe that you can stop the advancement of the technology because a lot of it is open source. There's not really anything to turn off."

His advice: "You should try to own and control the rights to your biometric data, how you sound, how you look, and really kind of lock that down."

Magdalena Zielinska of ElevenLabs in Poland which claims to have created the "most expressive" AI voices available, says tools to check if a voice is synthetic will be essential.

Unlike the robotic AI voices of the past, models have learned to replicate the pace and intonation of human voices.

She says the tool allows directors to see how a scene will sound, or advertisers to see what kind of voice resonates most with clients. It can also be used to fix problems in post-production.

Zielinska says the technology could allow an actor to license their voice and do more projects at the same time.

A voice actor who fled the war in Ukraine was struggling to find work in Poland, and is "now making money", she says, after using the technology to clean up his English accent.

French director Mathias Chelebourg foresees that 90 percent of overall production will eventually be done by AI on movie sets.

"Hire right now an AI specialist in your team, whatever your job is, and hire it now, because in one year you will regret it," he warns.

© Agence France-Presse

US Top Health Official Sounds Alarm On Child Social Media Use

By AFP - Agence France Presse

May 23, 2023

America's top health official said there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people's mental health

The top US health official on Tuesday issued a stark warning to parents, tech companies and regulators, saying the evidence is growing that social media use may seriously harm children.

In a lengthy advisory, US surgeon general Vivek Murthy said that while not without benefits, "there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents."

Social media use by young people in the United States is nearly universal, with up to 95 percent of adolescents reporting using a social platform and more than a third saying they do so "almost constantly," according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Murthy's report said social media can help children and adolescents find a community to connect, but that it also contains "extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content," which can "normalize" self-harm and suicide.

It can perpetuate body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and depression and expose children to online bullying while they are undergoing a critical stage in brain development, the report warned.

Murthy called on policymakers to strengthen safety standards around social media and urged tech companies to responsibly assess the impact of their products on children and share data with researchers.

He also advised parents to establish tech-free zones at home in order to promote in-person communication, and to educate children by modelling healthy, responsible online behavior.

The report comes at a time when authorities across the United States are searching for ways to regulate social media use, and curb its ill-effects on young people in particular.

Earlier this month, the US state of Montana banned the use of TikTok on its territory. The Chinese-owned video sharing giant is challenging the decision in court. And in March, Utah became the first US state to require social media sites to get parental consent for accounts used by minors.

"We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis -- one that we must urgently address," Murthy said.

md/ec

© Agence France-Presse

ADDICTION AND EMOTIONAL PLAGUE
Pupil started deadly Guyana dorm fire over confiscated phone: source

Denis Chabrol
Tue, May 23, 2023

Relatives of the school dormitory fire sob during a meeting with Guyana President Irfaan Ali in Mahdia, where the tragedy happened

The weekend school dormitory blaze that killed 19 minors in central Guyana is believed to have been started by a disgruntled pupil angry at having her mobile phone confiscated, a government source told AFP on Tuesday.

Sunday's inferno gutted the building in the regional capital of Mahdia, which housed girls aged 11-12 and 16-17. Some are still hospitalized.

An official police report confirmed that "a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away."

The government source, speaking anonymously, said the teenage pupil in question had admitted to the arson attack and was under police guard at the district hospital in Mahdia.

Police are seeking advice on whether to charge her, the official said.

On Monday, Guyana Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had already stated that investigators believed the fire was "maliciously set."

According to the government source, students aren't allowed to have phones in the dormitory.

After the staff took away the girl's phone, she "threatened the same night that she will burn down the building and everybody heard her," the government source said.

The official said that minutes later the girl went to the bathroom area and sprayed insecticide on a curtain before lighting a match.

Several pupils had recounted the same version of events, the official said.

The Guyanese government declared three days of mourning after the dormitory fire in Mahdia killed at least 19 people © Keno GEORGE / AFP

- Locked inside -

The girls were locked in for the night, and a house mistress told police that in her panic she could not find the front door key. The building had metal bars on the windows preventing pupils from escaping through them.

The house mistress "locks up every night at nine o'clock to ensure the girls don't get away from the building," the official said.

"According to the female students, they were asleep and were awakened by screams," said the police report.

Despite efforts by other students to extinguish the blaze, the official said the fire quickly swept through the wooden ceiling and eventually engulfed the entire building.

Some pupils, including the girl who allegedly started the fire, managed to escape when some men broke down a door.

"Upon checking, they saw fire/smoke in the bathroom area, which quickly spread in the building, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and smoke inhalation, while several managed to escape," the police report said.

The police report said there were 57 pupils in the dormitory, which was "a one-flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with several windows, all grilled, and five doors."

Firefighters did not arrive on the scene until 25 minutes after the fire took hold.

The house mistress' son apparently also died in the fire.

Thirteen young girls and the boy died in the building, while five more pupils died later at the hospital.

As well as the dead, around 20 children were taken to hospital. Seven remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition, according to a hospital source.

Six autopsies performed so far revealed the minors died from smoke inhalation and burns, according to the police. The other 13 unrecognizable bodies were being transported to the capital, Georgetown, for DNA testing to confirm their identities.

National security advisor Gerry Gouveia said that a forensic team from Barbados had arrived in Guyana to help with the identification. Another team from the United States is expected.

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said that Cuba also offered to provide medical support.

Guyana, with a population of 800,000, is South America's only English-speaking nation. It is a former Dutch and British colony, which recently discovered it holds the world's largest per-capita oil reserves.

dc-pgf/bc/nro/md

Mexico keeps close watch on ash-spewing volcano

AFP
Tue, May 23, 2023,

A soldier sweeps ash in the street in a town near Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano

A volcano southeast of the Mexican capital spewed more gas and ash into the sky on Tuesday as authorities maintained their warning level at one step below red alert.

Dozens of shelters have been opened near Popocatepetl -- located around 70 kilometers (about 45 miles) from Mexico City -- which has seen various periods of increased activity since awakening from decades-long slumber in 1994.

The government is monitoring Popocatepetl "day and night," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said after the volcano put on another fiery show overnight.

He said the volcano's activity had decreased slightly since the alert level was raised on Sunday, helping to calm nerves in nearby towns and villages that have been covered with ash.

"Last night I slept a little better because the other three days my house's windows and door vibrated," said Francisca de los Santos, a 56-year-old living in a town close to the volcano.

"We're used to it, but it always scares us a bit," she told AFP, adding that she had no plan to leave her home.

Roughly 25 million people live within a 100-kilometer radius of Popocatepetl, the second tallest volcano in Mexico, rising nearly 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) above sea level.

Mexico's National Center for Prevention of Disasters said Tuesday that over the previous 24 hours, 22 volcanic exhalations of water vapor, volcanic gasses and ash had been detected, along with two explosions.

The increase in the alert level on Sunday to "yellow phase three" came a day after two Mexico City airports temporarily halted operations due to falling ash.

The next level, a red alert, would trigger mandatory evacuations in communities near the volcano, whose name means "smoking mountain" in the indigenous Nahuatl language.

bur-jg/axm/dr/nro/md

PHOTOS

Popocatepetl: Ashes over Mexico – DW – 05/24/2023

SEE

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2023/05/silent-b-movie-mexicos-popocatepetl.html

'Modern slavery' most common in North Korea and Eritrea: study
NOT SOCIALISM BUT STALINISM
AFP
Tue, May 23, 2023

The 2023 Global Slavery Index says modern slavery has got worse since its last survey

North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index published Wednesday, which noted a "worsening" situation globally since its last survey five years earlier.

The report said an estimated 50 million people were "living in situations of modern slavery" in 2021, an increase of 10 million over 2016, when the problem was last measured.

The figure includes some 28 million people in forced labour and 22 million living in a forced marriage.

The situation is worsening "against a backdrop of increasing and more complex armed conflicts, widespread environmental degradation" and impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, among other factors, the investigation said.

Compiled by the human rights charity Walk Free, the report defines modern slavery as encompassing "forced labour, forced or servile marriage, debt bondage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and exploitation of children."

Slavery's core principle entails "the systematic removal of a person’s freedom" -- from the right to accept or refuse labour to the liberty to determine if, when and whom to marry.

By this benchmark, reclusive and authoritarian North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery (104.6 per 1,000 population), according to the report.

It is followed by Eritrea (90.3) and Mauritania (32), which in 1981 became the last country in the world to make hereditary slavery illegal.

The 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery have some common characteristics, including "limited protections for civil liberties and human rights".

Many of the countries are in "volatile" regions experiencing conflict or political instability, or home to a large populaton of "vulnerable people" such as refugees or migrant workers.

- 'Mirror held to power' -

Also in the top 10 globally were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where migrant workers' labour rights are restricted by the "kafala" sponsorship system.

Other countries in the top 10 are Turkey, "which hosts million of refugees from Syria", Tajikistan, Russia and Afghanistan.

While forced labour is more common in low-income countries it is "deeply" connected to demand from higher-income countries, the report said, noting that two-thirds of all forced labour cases are linked to global supply chains.

The report said G20 countries -- made up of the EU and the world's 19 top economies -- are currently importing $468 billion worth of goods that are at risk of being produced with forced labour, up from $354 billion in the previous report.

Electronics remain the highest value at-risk product, followed by garments, palm oil and solar panels, in a sign of high demand for renewable energy products.

"Modern slavery permeates every aspect of our society. It is woven through our clothes, lights up our electronics, and seasons our food," the group's founding director Grace Forrest said.

"At its core, modern slavery is a manifestation of extreme inequality. It is a mirror held to power, reflecting who in any given society has it and who does not," she added.

acl/phz/ri