green-pulse trashed-or-treasure-will-deep-sea-mining-ruin-ocean
Monday, December 30, 2024
Commentary
Why the IPCC’s upcoming special report on cities matters for South-east Asia
Winston Chow and Mukesh Gupta
Winston Chow and Mukesh Gupta
STRAIT TIMES
A resident wading through flood waters at a convenience store in Chiang Mai on Oct 6 after Typhoon Yagi swept through Northern Thailand in September.
UPDATED Dec 30, 2024
SINGAPORE – In September, Typhoon Yagi swept through Vietnam, the Philippines, Northern Thailand and Laos, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.
Millions living in cities across the region watched helplessly as water breached their front doors and flooded their homes.
The South-east Asian region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with millions of people living in low-lying coastal cities.
Rapid urbanisation in South-east Asia also brings added urgency, with a significant estimated increase of today’s urban population from 335 million to 542 million by 2050.
As such, cities such as Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur will experience growing demands on infrastructure, housing and resources, all while facing rising sea levels and more extreme weather events.
But, at the same time, cities also have tremendous potential to develop and implement climate solutions.
Other than the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which is the city-state’s blueprint for sustainability, other South-east Asian cities have also taken the lead in urban climate action.
Penang, in Malaysia, has implemented comprehensive green initiatives like the Penang Green Agenda, focusing on waste reduction, renewable energy and urban biodiversity.
The coastal city of Semarang, Indonesia, has adopted inclusive community-driven approaches to reduce its urban flood risk from flooding and sea level rise, in addition to developing solar and waste-to-energy plants as renewable energy options.
This duality of cities – being at greater vulnerability and risk to climate impacts but also having an influence on stopping the causes of global warming – means that it is critical for policymakers to have the most up-to-date science on what climate adaptation and mitigation actions can work in this context.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN’s top climate science body, will be releasing an upcoming special report on climate change and cities, scheduled to be released in 2027.
This report is not just another climate document – it hopes to be a tailored guide for cities in regions like South-east Asia to navigate their specific climate challenges, providing critical information such as successful cases of climate risk and emissions reduction, among others.
How cities are affected by climate change
This is the first time cities will be the focal point of a dedicated report.
Previous special reports focused on other contexts, such as the impact of climate change on the oceans and the cryosphere – the frozen parts of the planet – as well as on land.
But cities are hot spots of emissions and climate impacts and, at the same time, constitute the convergence of key actors in mitigation, innovation and resilience.
More on this Topic
A flooded street in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sept 11.
A resident wading through flood waters at a convenience store in Chiang Mai on Oct 6 after Typhoon Yagi swept through Northern Thailand in September.
PHOTO: AFP
UPDATED Dec 30, 2024
SINGAPORE – In September, Typhoon Yagi swept through Vietnam, the Philippines, Northern Thailand and Laos, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.
Millions living in cities across the region watched helplessly as water breached their front doors and flooded their homes.
The South-east Asian region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with millions of people living in low-lying coastal cities.
Rapid urbanisation in South-east Asia also brings added urgency, with a significant estimated increase of today’s urban population from 335 million to 542 million by 2050.
As such, cities such as Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur will experience growing demands on infrastructure, housing and resources, all while facing rising sea levels and more extreme weather events.
But, at the same time, cities also have tremendous potential to develop and implement climate solutions.
Other than the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which is the city-state’s blueprint for sustainability, other South-east Asian cities have also taken the lead in urban climate action.
Penang, in Malaysia, has implemented comprehensive green initiatives like the Penang Green Agenda, focusing on waste reduction, renewable energy and urban biodiversity.
The coastal city of Semarang, Indonesia, has adopted inclusive community-driven approaches to reduce its urban flood risk from flooding and sea level rise, in addition to developing solar and waste-to-energy plants as renewable energy options.
This duality of cities – being at greater vulnerability and risk to climate impacts but also having an influence on stopping the causes of global warming – means that it is critical for policymakers to have the most up-to-date science on what climate adaptation and mitigation actions can work in this context.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN’s top climate science body, will be releasing an upcoming special report on climate change and cities, scheduled to be released in 2027.
This report is not just another climate document – it hopes to be a tailored guide for cities in regions like South-east Asia to navigate their specific climate challenges, providing critical information such as successful cases of climate risk and emissions reduction, among others.
How cities are affected by climate change
This is the first time cities will be the focal point of a dedicated report.
Previous special reports focused on other contexts, such as the impact of climate change on the oceans and the cryosphere – the frozen parts of the planet – as well as on land.
But cities are hot spots of emissions and climate impacts and, at the same time, constitute the convergence of key actors in mitigation, innovation and resilience.
Developed nations must uphold historical climate responsibilities, says S’pore
The upcoming IPCC special report on cities will provide a much-needed road map, with strategies tailored to urban contexts, allowing cities to scale successful models and share insights.
The IPCC’s work might seem complex, but understanding its process is key to appreciating the importance of this special report.
The IPCC draws on the voluntary expertise of thousands of scientists and practitioners worldwide, synthesising diverse insights into comprehensive reports that guide global climate policy and action.
The IPCC is divided into three working groups. Working Group I deals with the physical science basis of climate change, Working Group II with climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and Working Group III with climate change mitigation.
Working Group II is split into two offices, one in Singapore and one based in Delft, Netherlands.
We, in the Singapore-based technical support unit of the IPCC, together with Delft, have been tasked to lead the report and are keen to ensure that this special report is as inclusive as possible.
That aspiration underpins our aim to actively involve experts, urban practitioners and civil society in developing the report.
There are multiple opportunities to participate, and we are inviting early-career scientists, urban planners and regional policymakers to contribute insights and perspectives, ensuring that the report reflects the unique challenges and opportunities faced by cities in diverse physical, spatial and social contexts.
We hope that these efforts will foster a stronger sense of ownership among urban stakeholders in the region and beyond, to ensure that they feel represented by the report, and make its findings more relevant for action.
The upcoming IPCC special report on cities will provide a much-needed road map, with strategies tailored to urban contexts, allowing cities to scale successful models and share insights.
The IPCC’s work might seem complex, but understanding its process is key to appreciating the importance of this special report.
The IPCC draws on the voluntary expertise of thousands of scientists and practitioners worldwide, synthesising diverse insights into comprehensive reports that guide global climate policy and action.
The IPCC is divided into three working groups. Working Group I deals with the physical science basis of climate change, Working Group II with climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and Working Group III with climate change mitigation.
Working Group II is split into two offices, one in Singapore and one based in Delft, Netherlands.
We, in the Singapore-based technical support unit of the IPCC, together with Delft, have been tasked to lead the report and are keen to ensure that this special report is as inclusive as possible.
That aspiration underpins our aim to actively involve experts, urban practitioners and civil society in developing the report.
There are multiple opportunities to participate, and we are inviting early-career scientists, urban planners and regional policymakers to contribute insights and perspectives, ensuring that the report reflects the unique challenges and opportunities faced by cities in diverse physical, spatial and social contexts.
We hope that these efforts will foster a stronger sense of ownership among urban stakeholders in the region and beyond, to ensure that they feel represented by the report, and make its findings more relevant for action.
A flooded street in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sept 11.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A call to action
A report that offers solutions is key as we need science to be translated into decisions that can help cities achieve their sustainability targets.
Cities will not reach their climate goals without the support and active engagement of those who live, work and make decisions within them.
For policymakers, the responsibility of building sustainable cities lies largely with those who shape policies and allocate resources.
The special report will encourage policymakers to implement progressive policies that both reduce physical climate risk and promote low-emissions living by default.
Imagine a city where energy-efficient housing is the standard, public transportation is widely accessible and affordable, and green spaces are integrated into every neighbourhood. Such environments reduce the need for individual emissions-related decisions and make climate-friendly living the norm.
For urban practitioners, such as architects, engineers and urban planners, and scientists, they have the expertise to reimagine cities in ways that are functional, resilient to climate risk and sustainable in lifestyle.
The IPCC report will provide these professionals with the scientific evidence needed to design and implement urban infrastructure resilient to heat, droughts, floods and other hazards, ensure energy efficiency and renewable energy, and incorporate nature-based solutions into urban landscapes.
Cities are made by and for the people who live in them, and urban residents can play a crucial role by supporting sustainable local initiatives, advocating for green policies and making low-carbon choices in their daily lives.
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By sharing regional insights, the special report will provide a toolkit of best practices, showing cities how to tackle climate challenges in ways that resonate with local contexts.
Now is the time for urban residents, businesses, civil society organisations, policymakers and professionals to get involved.
For residents, this means staying informed, advocating for policies that prioritise sustainability and participating in local climate initiatives.
For policymakers and urban practitioners, it means contributing to the report’s recommendations to create environments where people and nature can thrive together.
Ultimately, the cities we shape today will determine the lives we lead tomorrow.
The IPCC special report on cities is a call to action for all of us to harness the full potential of our cities in the climate fight, ensuring that they are resilient, inclusive and sustainable for generations to come.Dr Winston Chow is the co-chair of Working Group II of the UN’s leading climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr Mukesh Gupta is the science officer of the working group, which focuses on climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation. Both authors are based at Singapore Management University, and their research looks into climate resilience and strategies to adapt to climate change.
ISRAEL
Court rejects police request for access to phones of arrested anti-government activists
Judge says no grounds for far-reaching measure against protesters nabbed on Saturday night; court also rebukes police for detaining one protester overnight in prison without cause
By Jeremy Sharon
29 December 2024
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
Judge says no grounds for far-reaching measure against protesters nabbed on Saturday night; court also rebukes police for detaining one protester overnight in prison without cause
By Jeremy Sharon
29 December 2024
TIMES OF ISRAEL (TOI)
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
(Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)
The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Sunday rejected a police request to obtain access to the phones of several anti-government demonstrators who were arrested on Saturday night, saying that the crime of which they are suspected, disturbing the public order, does not justify such measures.
The activists’ attorney had strongly opposed the intrusive action, insisting it bore no connection to the protesters’ alleged violation and warning that it would open the door to further abuse of such powers by the police.
The judge also rejected the police’s request to bar the activists from participating in protests outside the homes of public figures and denied a request by the police for a restraining order against them.
In a further setback for the police, the same judge rebuked the force for holding one of the protester overnight in a women’s prison in Ramle, without justification, in violation of police procedure.
The woman was arrested for disturbing the public order and the unlawful use of fire or flammable substance for using what the police said was a smoke grenade, but what the judge determined to be a legal smoke candle.
The judge rejected the police’s claims that the woman was dangerous and said she should not have been detained overnight, but rather released on restricted conditions.
The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Sunday rejected a police request to obtain access to the phones of several anti-government demonstrators who were arrested on Saturday night, saying that the crime of which they are suspected, disturbing the public order, does not justify such measures.
The activists’ attorney had strongly opposed the intrusive action, insisting it bore no connection to the protesters’ alleged violation and warning that it would open the door to further abuse of such powers by the police.
The judge also rejected the police’s request to bar the activists from participating in protests outside the homes of public figures and denied a request by the police for a restraining order against them.
In a further setback for the police, the same judge rebuked the force for holding one of the protester overnight in a women’s prison in Ramle, without justification, in violation of police procedure.
The woman was arrested for disturbing the public order and the unlawful use of fire or flammable substance for using what the police said was a smoke grenade, but what the judge determined to be a legal smoke candle.
The judge rejected the police’s claims that the woman was dangerous and said she should not have been detained overnight, but rather released on restricted conditions.
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
(Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
The police arrested the five activists on Saturday following demonstrations held outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem, and in Kikar Safra outside City Hall, where they were calling for a deal for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
In the arrest of the activists from the Prime Minister’s Residence protest, police officers in a patrol car initially detained and questioned the protesters, just after they left the demonstration in their vehicle, but then sent them on their way.
Several minutes later, however, the same patrol car pulled them over again, officers searched the car for an effigy that had been used at the protest, and although they did not find it or anything else incriminating, arrested the four activists.
While the four were subsequently released, the police insisted on keeping their phones.
The police’s justification for the request to obtain access to the phones was to check whether there had been “illegal organization ahead of the demonstration.”
In reply to a question from Judge Chavi Toker, the police representative acknowledged in court that the only illegal activity at the demonstration allegedly committed by the activists was “disturbing public order” and the unlawful use of a megaphone.
Attorney Yoni Nussbaum, who represented the activists, warned that if the court acceded to the police request, “Tomorrow morning, they’ll take everyone’s phone from them.”
He also objected to the strict conditions for release set by the police, including a restraining order from being present in Jerusalem for 15 days and a ban on participating in a protest against a public figure for 15 days.
Toker said that the allegations against the protesters did not justify the police request to gain access to their phones, and rejected the measure.
She also rejected the police’s request for a ban on the suspects’ participation in protests against public figures.
The police arrested the five activists on Saturday following demonstrations held outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem, and in Kikar Safra outside City Hall, where they were calling for a deal for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
In the arrest of the activists from the Prime Minister’s Residence protest, police officers in a patrol car initially detained and questioned the protesters, just after they left the demonstration in their vehicle, but then sent them on their way.
Several minutes later, however, the same patrol car pulled them over again, officers searched the car for an effigy that had been used at the protest, and although they did not find it or anything else incriminating, arrested the four activists.
While the four were subsequently released, the police insisted on keeping their phones.
The police’s justification for the request to obtain access to the phones was to check whether there had been “illegal organization ahead of the demonstration.”
In reply to a question from Judge Chavi Toker, the police representative acknowledged in court that the only illegal activity at the demonstration allegedly committed by the activists was “disturbing public order” and the unlawful use of a megaphone.
Attorney Yoni Nussbaum, who represented the activists, warned that if the court acceded to the police request, “Tomorrow morning, they’ll take everyone’s phone from them.”
He also objected to the strict conditions for release set by the police, including a restraining order from being present in Jerusalem for 15 days and a ban on participating in a protest against a public figure for 15 days.
Toker said that the allegations against the protesters did not justify the police request to gain access to their phones, and rejected the measure.
She also rejected the police’s request for a ban on the suspects’ participation in protests against public figures.
Police clash with demonstrators during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, December 28, 2024.
(Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
In the hearing for the fifth woman arrested, for the use of the smoke candle at the demonstration in Kikar Safra, the police representative conceded that the smoke device the woman used was not dangerous, but accused her of having thrown it during the protest.
The woman was arrested on charges of the unlawful use of fire or a flammable substance, and for disturbing the public order.
Nussbaum, who represented this protester as well, insisted that the video footage the police representative showed the court did not show her throwing the object, and said that it was a completely legal smoke device available for purchase in regular shops for around NIS 50.
Nussbaum also pointed out that when he got to the police station at 12:30 a.m., the woman was ready to admit to the charges, and that there was, therefore, no need to detain her overnight in prison.
“I cannot understand why she was [held] overnight in Neve Tirtza [women’s prison]. Why?” demanded the lawyer.
Toker appeared to side with Nussbaum, saying that in light of the fact that the woman was not dangerous, “the [police] officer has no authority to detain [her], even until the detainee is brought before the court.”
She added that the proper procedure was to establish restricted release conditions at the police station, not while the suspect is in prison.
In the hearing for the fifth woman arrested, for the use of the smoke candle at the demonstration in Kikar Safra, the police representative conceded that the smoke device the woman used was not dangerous, but accused her of having thrown it during the protest.
The woman was arrested on charges of the unlawful use of fire or a flammable substance, and for disturbing the public order.
Nussbaum, who represented this protester as well, insisted that the video footage the police representative showed the court did not show her throwing the object, and said that it was a completely legal smoke device available for purchase in regular shops for around NIS 50.
Nussbaum also pointed out that when he got to the police station at 12:30 a.m., the woman was ready to admit to the charges, and that there was, therefore, no need to detain her overnight in prison.
“I cannot understand why she was [held] overnight in Neve Tirtza [women’s prison]. Why?” demanded the lawyer.
Toker appeared to side with Nussbaum, saying that in light of the fact that the woman was not dangerous, “the [police] officer has no authority to detain [her], even until the detainee is brought before the court.”
She added that the proper procedure was to establish restricted release conditions at the police station, not while the suspect is in prison.
China: Blogger Liu Hanbin detained for one month after exposing a land seizure scandal
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
29 December 2024
A police officer maintains order at a site in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, 17 February 2022. Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images
The blogger posted a video in which he mentioned a case of farmers protesting against the seizing of their land by officials.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 27 December 2024.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Chinese regime to immediately release Liu Hanbin, a blogger detained for a month after publishing information about a protest by farmers opposing forced land seizures. Liu is the 125th journalist detained by Beijing.
This 27 December 2024 will mark one month since Chinese blogger Liu Hanbin, also known by his pen name Wen Yi Fan, has been detained by the police. He was arrested in the capital of Inner Mongolia Hohhot in northern China, and is currently being held at the city’s Detention Centre No. 1.
The 52-year-old blogger has been charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, after he published a video on the Chinese social media WeChat in which he mentioned a case of farmers protesting against the seizing of their land by officials. On 6 December, police denied Liu’s request for bail, claiming the case was “significant and complex.” The blogger has also been denied access to his lawyer.
Liu is well-known for his reports on regional news in Inner Mongolia, which he shared on his WeChat account. His recent posts include reports on illegal sand mining, and various wrongdoings by local authorities, such as a recent case of police violence against a teenager.
In China, independent journalists and press freedom defenders who address issues deemed sensitive by the regime often face charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Zhang Zhan, a journalist sentenced to four years in prison in 2020 for reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak, is an emblematic example. Released in May 2024, she has been criminally detained under the same charge since August 2024, this time after posting information on social media about the harassment of activists in China.
Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he has fostered a media culture reminiscent of the Maoist era, where seeking information or sharing it freely is criminalised. RSF’s report ”The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China”, reveals the regime’s extensive efforts to control media outlets and the dissemination of information — both domestically and internationally.
China, the world’s biggest prison for journalists and press freedom defenders with at least 125 media workers currently behind bars, is ranked 172nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
29 December 2024
A police officer maintains order at a site in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, 17 February 2022. Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images
The blogger posted a video in which he mentioned a case of farmers protesting against the seizing of their land by officials.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 27 December 2024.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Chinese regime to immediately release Liu Hanbin, a blogger detained for a month after publishing information about a protest by farmers opposing forced land seizures. Liu is the 125th journalist detained by Beijing.
This 27 December 2024 will mark one month since Chinese blogger Liu Hanbin, also known by his pen name Wen Yi Fan, has been detained by the police. He was arrested in the capital of Inner Mongolia Hohhot in northern China, and is currently being held at the city’s Detention Centre No. 1.
The 52-year-old blogger has been charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, after he published a video on the Chinese social media WeChat in which he mentioned a case of farmers protesting against the seizing of their land by officials. On 6 December, police denied Liu’s request for bail, claiming the case was “significant and complex.” The blogger has also been denied access to his lawyer.
“Chinese blogger Liu Hanbin was only serving the public interest by shedding light on abuses linked to land seizures, and should never be detained, let alone denied the right to meet with his lawyer. We call on the international community to build up pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure Liu’s release alongside the 124 other journalists and press freedom defenders detained in the country.”
Cédric Alviani, RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
Liu is well-known for his reports on regional news in Inner Mongolia, which he shared on his WeChat account. His recent posts include reports on illegal sand mining, and various wrongdoings by local authorities, such as a recent case of police violence against a teenager.
In China, independent journalists and press freedom defenders who address issues deemed sensitive by the regime often face charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Zhang Zhan, a journalist sentenced to four years in prison in 2020 for reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak, is an emblematic example. Released in May 2024, she has been criminally detained under the same charge since August 2024, this time after posting information on social media about the harassment of activists in China.
Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he has fostered a media culture reminiscent of the Maoist era, where seeking information or sharing it freely is criminalised. RSF’s report ”The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China”, reveals the regime’s extensive efforts to control media outlets and the dissemination of information — both domestically and internationally.
China, the world’s biggest prison for journalists and press freedom defenders with at least 125 media workers currently behind bars, is ranked 172nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
CRYPTOZOOLOGY IS DANGEROUS
Sam Courtney-Guy
Published December 29, 2024
METRO UK
The victims’ families grew fearful after they failed to return home on Christmas Eve
Two men have been found dead after setting off on an expedition to find the mythical Bigfoot creature, police in the US state of Oregon said.
The victims, aged 37 and 59 and from the city of Portland, were found in a wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State, according to authorities.
The pair, who told relatives they would get home on Christmas Eve, appeared to have died of exposure after failing to prepare adequately for the trek.
They were reported missing at around 1am on Christmas Day, prompting a three-day search involving 60 volunteers and rescue experts who used dogs and drones.
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said the pair’s family told police the men were likely in danger because they were looking for the so-called Sasquatch.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers a vast area of 1.3 million acres and its winter conditions can be challenging even for experienced hikers.
The men were found after the search area was narrowed down when CCTV footage led authorities to their car.
Two men have been found dead after setting off on an expedition to find the mythical Bigfoot creature, police in the US state of Oregon said.
The victims, aged 37 and 59 and from the city of Portland, were found in a wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State, according to authorities.
The pair, who told relatives they would get home on Christmas Eve, appeared to have died of exposure after failing to prepare adequately for the trek.
They were reported missing at around 1am on Christmas Day, prompting a three-day search involving 60 volunteers and rescue experts who used dogs and drones.
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said the pair’s family told police the men were likely in danger because they were looking for the so-called Sasquatch.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers a vast area of 1.3 million acres and its winter conditions can be challenging even for experienced hikers.
The men were found after the search area was narrowed down when CCTV footage led authorities to their car.
The pair’s disappearance sparked a huge three-day search
Bigfoot, generally described as a large two-legged human-like or ape-like creature, has featured widely in folk tales and unverified ‘sightings’ in America and Canada.
No scientifically accepted evidence of the creature’s existence has ever been uncovered, but surveys have found more than 1 in 10 Americans believe it is real.
The belief is thought to be most popular in the Pacific Northwest (which includes the state of Oregon) where Bigfoot is seen as a cultural icon.
Expiditions to find the Sasquatch are said to be a popular past-time among Bigfoot believers.
‘The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the loved ones lost in this tragic incident,’ authorities said.
Bigfoot, generally described as a large two-legged human-like or ape-like creature, has featured widely in folk tales and unverified ‘sightings’ in America and Canada.
No scientifically accepted evidence of the creature’s existence has ever been uncovered, but surveys have found more than 1 in 10 Americans believe it is real.
The belief is thought to be most popular in the Pacific Northwest (which includes the state of Oregon) where Bigfoot is seen as a cultural icon.
Expiditions to find the Sasquatch are said to be a popular past-time among Bigfoot believers.
‘The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the loved ones lost in this tragic incident,’ authorities said.
'Nuclear demolition': Columnist flags 'MAGA's real World War III' the media is missing
David McAfee
December 29, 2024
David McAfee
December 29, 2024
RAW STORY
MAGA hats are laid out on a bench outside of the White House, after Republican Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
While mainstream media is talking about potential invasions of Greenland and Panama, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are making advancements in their real war effort, according to a columnist's analysis.
National opinion columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Will Bunch, is no stranger to issues related to the president-elect.
Bunch Sunday published an opinion piece in which he argues we should "forget Greenland" and Panama.
"In a world where the news doesn’t stop getting more bat-guano crazy just because it’s Christmas, where a phony war between the United States and Denmark consumes more electrons than the heartbreakingly real ones in Gaza and Ukraine, you might have missed a major escalation in the world conflict that matters most," Bunch writes. "The unrelenting and wildly successful war on facts, also known as truth."
Bunch goes on to call out specific news outlets he says are missing the bigger picture.
"This significant surrender on the war against propaganda, and the campaign against a holdout pocket of resistance in Wikipedia, got scant attention in a mainstream media that was decimated both morally and economically over the course of 2024. Instead, the scribes at the New York Times, Washington Post and elsewhere were on the scavenger hunt for a new batch of shiny objects planted by the nominal president-elect: wild threats to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland and maybe even Canada," the piece states. "Forget Greenland. My strong — and maybe naive? — hunch is that Denmark’s vast, mineral-rich Arctic territory won’t prove to be 2025’s Sudetenland, but Trump’s blustery and out-of-left-field pitch for American lebensraum is important as the leading edge of Team MAGA’s real World War III — against any consensus on objective truth."
He then adds, "The tactical goals for Musk (lower taxes, the end of government regulations, preferential deals with the U.S. government, and — yes, Bond fans — global domination) and for Trump (disappearing his criminal cases while monetizing the American presidency) are very much in sight. Their strategy for getting there — the real WWIII that doesn’t involve storming Panama — is the nuclear demolition of objective reality."
Read the piece here.
MAGA hats are laid out on a bench outside of the White House, after Republican Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
While mainstream media is talking about potential invasions of Greenland and Panama, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are making advancements in their real war effort, according to a columnist's analysis.
National opinion columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Will Bunch, is no stranger to issues related to the president-elect.
Bunch Sunday published an opinion piece in which he argues we should "forget Greenland" and Panama.
"In a world where the news doesn’t stop getting more bat-guano crazy just because it’s Christmas, where a phony war between the United States and Denmark consumes more electrons than the heartbreakingly real ones in Gaza and Ukraine, you might have missed a major escalation in the world conflict that matters most," Bunch writes. "The unrelenting and wildly successful war on facts, also known as truth."
Bunch goes on to call out specific news outlets he says are missing the bigger picture.
"This significant surrender on the war against propaganda, and the campaign against a holdout pocket of resistance in Wikipedia, got scant attention in a mainstream media that was decimated both morally and economically over the course of 2024. Instead, the scribes at the New York Times, Washington Post and elsewhere were on the scavenger hunt for a new batch of shiny objects planted by the nominal president-elect: wild threats to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland and maybe even Canada," the piece states. "Forget Greenland. My strong — and maybe naive? — hunch is that Denmark’s vast, mineral-rich Arctic territory won’t prove to be 2025’s Sudetenland, but Trump’s blustery and out-of-left-field pitch for American lebensraum is important as the leading edge of Team MAGA’s real World War III — against any consensus on objective truth."
He then adds, "The tactical goals for Musk (lower taxes, the end of government regulations, preferential deals with the U.S. government, and — yes, Bond fans — global domination) and for Trump (disappearing his criminal cases while monetizing the American presidency) are very much in sight. Their strategy for getting there — the real WWIII that doesn’t involve storming Panama — is the nuclear demolition of objective reality."
Read the piece here.
Trump or Musk should buy Greenland themselves instead of US annexation: Senior Russian official
Dmitry Medvedev says president-elect or his billionaire friend 'could just buy land, making it their private property'
Elena Teslova |29.12.2024 - TRT/AA
MOSCOW
A senior Russian official on Sunday weighed in on US President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the US government to purchase Greenland or other foreign territories, saying that instead, Trump or his close ally Elon Musk should personally open their wallets to buy the land they want.
"Not sure why the US, as a country, needs to annex Canada, Greenland, or even Britain, and take back the Panama Canal. There's a more civilized way: @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk could just buy the land, making it their private property," Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and premier, and currently deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X.
It was not clear if the post was written as a serious proposal.
This month Trump reiterated his stated wish from his first term to control the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity.” Denmark quickly rebuffed his proposal.
Since winning his ticket back to the White House in November, Trump has also repeatedly called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "the governor of the great state of Canada,” as if it were a US state.
He also said the US may retake control over the Panama Canal if the current conditions of its use are not reviewed.
Musk, the owner of electric carmaker Tesla and social media platform X, is currently ranked the world’s richest man, with a worth of some $219 million, though it is doubtful if any of the territories in question would go for sale at any price.
Dmitry Medvedev says president-elect or his billionaire friend 'could just buy land, making it their private property'
Elena Teslova |29.12.2024 - TRT/AA
MOSCOW
A senior Russian official on Sunday weighed in on US President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the US government to purchase Greenland or other foreign territories, saying that instead, Trump or his close ally Elon Musk should personally open their wallets to buy the land they want.
"Not sure why the US, as a country, needs to annex Canada, Greenland, or even Britain, and take back the Panama Canal. There's a more civilized way: @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk could just buy the land, making it their private property," Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and premier, and currently deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X.
It was not clear if the post was written as a serious proposal.
This month Trump reiterated his stated wish from his first term to control the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity.” Denmark quickly rebuffed his proposal.
Since winning his ticket back to the White House in November, Trump has also repeatedly called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "the governor of the great state of Canada,” as if it were a US state.
He also said the US may retake control over the Panama Canal if the current conditions of its use are not reviewed.
Musk, the owner of electric carmaker Tesla and social media platform X, is currently ranked the world’s richest man, with a worth of some $219 million, though it is doubtful if any of the territories in question would go for sale at any price.
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved
CAN'T BE A WORLD TOURNAMENT WITHOUT THE WORLD GM
AP |
Dec 30, 2024
NEW YORK — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans
AP |
Dec 30, 2024
NEW YORK — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans
.
Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code.
He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.”
Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday.
“I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown.
“I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.”
The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed.
An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play.
Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships.
In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.”
“Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code.
He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.”
Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday.
“I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown.
“I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.”
The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed.
An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play.
Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships.
In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.”
“Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M
By Nick Koutsobinas | Sunday, 29 December 2024 | NEWSMAX
A sweeping fraud investigation in China has led to prison sentences for multiple AstraZeneca executives, including Leon Wang, the company's former international chief, and has led to the implication of more than 100 of the company's employees, Highwire reported Friday.
The case centered around pushing fraudulent genetic testing to qualify patients for AstraZeneca's lung cancer drug Tagrisso.
In 2019, according to court documents, two AstraZeneca sales reps advocated for a partnership with Genowise Corp. Genowise Corp, a Chinese genetic testing company, would provide fake positive test results to qualify patients for AstraZeneca's lung cancer drug.
Chen Bin, AstraZeneca's East China sales director for oncology drugs, encouraged sales staff to send cancer patients' biopsy samples to "partnered genetic testing institutions" to "convert" the samples to test positive for the genetic mutation T790M.
The drug company's sales representatives and regional managers have admitted to altering the test results. The Chinese investigation has led to multiple decade-long prison sentences for senior-level employees and arrests of the executives and shareholders. Notably, 13% of the pharmaceutical company's revenue comes from China.
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
Op-Ed: People don’t want to work? Guess again, morons.
By Paul Wallis
December 29, 2024
DIGITAL JOURNAL
How will digital workspaces progress? — Image by © Tim Sandle
Years of idiotic generation-bashing have led to this particularly stupid statement: “People don’t want to work.” Great minds will no doubt come up with a dumber assessment but let’s stick to this one.
Let’s start with the obvious.
WRONG. They don’t want to work for nothing, and they want to have lives.
The constant bleating self-righteous headlines tell a long irritating story of ignorance and ineptitude. Wages are now useless. The workplace environment is often hellish and absurdly stressful. People turn over fast due to multiple good reasons.
The paranoid penny-pinching surveillance-obsessed management culture is utterly insufferable for many.
Unrealistic and absurdly costly demands like “back to the office” don’t help people struggling to pay rent, health, and power. You can pay for your long time-consuming commute or eat, apparently.
This imbecility effectively turns 8 hour days into far more expensive 12 hour days and bites deeply into wages and savings. That can never be sustainable in this massively overpriced economy.
Thanks to the cost of living, the ordinary job, particularly a low-wage job is now a form of extended torture, and it looks like it’s about to get a lot worse.
It’s not a complete mystery how this happened. The banal, simplistic certainties of jobs and careers were completely blindsided. A job now means nothing and a career is, at best, likely to be patchy.
People have been infamously working more than one job just to meet rent and living costs for well over a decade. Food banks are supporting incredible numbers of people. According to one person I spoke to from a food bank, they say more people should be using them.
Contrast this cluster of stupidities with the “one job was enough to raise a family and own a house” of 60 years ago. That was pretty much true.
You couldn’t call it flashy, but it worked. People had lives, too. The society was healthier, crime was much lower, and there were actual opportunities.
You could at least convince yourself that you had a credible future.
Not anymore.
The Millennials and Gen Z don’t and can’t believe it. They can’t own homes, and it’s a miserable, unhygienic, and hyper-neurotic living environment in so many ways.
How are they supposed to achieve anything?
They’re trying to live in an economic environment that no longer functions. Ground-level data is all bad. If you look at the global medication stats, you’ll see that things aren’t great. Some of these meds are even dietary supplements, used to manage deficiencies in basic nutrition.
Gen Alpha will be totally feral, with so many good reasons. They have nothing but economic hardship to look forward to, particularly with AI hoovering up so many jobs.
They have no reason to do anything but go into survival mode. “The system” is effectively dead. I doubt you could convince the Mills, Z or Alphas that the system ever worked because the system has basically killed their chances.
We’ll leave out the politics.
Suffice to say that the word “politics” is now a synonym for “insanity”
For progressives like me, that’s incredibly infuriating. Who told you sanctimonious morons to just babble on while civilization collapsed? You’re as bad as they are.
What’s needed is the exact opposite, The world needs a lot of competence on the job. That’s what jobs are supposed to do, and who’s supposed to be doing them, in case the topic ever comes up. Not ridiculous greedy little nobodies who screw up everything they touch and get overpaid for it.
A gang member said years ago that there was no point in working a low-wage day job when he could make thousands a day illegally. Sound familiar? I remember hearing that 50 years ago.
So let’s get back to this “Nobody wants to work” idiocy. In the absence of leadership which has taken mediocrity to new heights of ineptitude, what are you supposed to do?
The only thing you can do.
Create a life for yourself. Go indie.
Be a contractor or whatever so you can work on your own terms doing work you’re good at. Just make sure you get paid. Get useful skills like a trade or something that can’t be automated overnight. Be your own boss, if for no other reason than it’s much less annoying.
It can be quite frustrating and worrying working with “whatever” in the market.
if you know how to hustle, you can work on your terms.
Good luck.
______________________________________________________
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
By Paul Wallis
December 29, 2024
DIGITAL JOURNAL
How will digital workspaces progress? — Image by © Tim Sandle
Years of idiotic generation-bashing have led to this particularly stupid statement: “People don’t want to work.” Great minds will no doubt come up with a dumber assessment but let’s stick to this one.
Let’s start with the obvious.
WRONG. They don’t want to work for nothing, and they want to have lives.
The constant bleating self-righteous headlines tell a long irritating story of ignorance and ineptitude. Wages are now useless. The workplace environment is often hellish and absurdly stressful. People turn over fast due to multiple good reasons.
The paranoid penny-pinching surveillance-obsessed management culture is utterly insufferable for many.
Unrealistic and absurdly costly demands like “back to the office” don’t help people struggling to pay rent, health, and power. You can pay for your long time-consuming commute or eat, apparently.
This imbecility effectively turns 8 hour days into far more expensive 12 hour days and bites deeply into wages and savings. That can never be sustainable in this massively overpriced economy.
Thanks to the cost of living, the ordinary job, particularly a low-wage job is now a form of extended torture, and it looks like it’s about to get a lot worse.
It’s not a complete mystery how this happened. The banal, simplistic certainties of jobs and careers were completely blindsided. A job now means nothing and a career is, at best, likely to be patchy.
People have been infamously working more than one job just to meet rent and living costs for well over a decade. Food banks are supporting incredible numbers of people. According to one person I spoke to from a food bank, they say more people should be using them.
Contrast this cluster of stupidities with the “one job was enough to raise a family and own a house” of 60 years ago. That was pretty much true.
You couldn’t call it flashy, but it worked. People had lives, too. The society was healthier, crime was much lower, and there were actual opportunities.
You could at least convince yourself that you had a credible future.
Not anymore.
The Millennials and Gen Z don’t and can’t believe it. They can’t own homes, and it’s a miserable, unhygienic, and hyper-neurotic living environment in so many ways.
How are they supposed to achieve anything?
They’re trying to live in an economic environment that no longer functions. Ground-level data is all bad. If you look at the global medication stats, you’ll see that things aren’t great. Some of these meds are even dietary supplements, used to manage deficiencies in basic nutrition.
Gen Alpha will be totally feral, with so many good reasons. They have nothing but economic hardship to look forward to, particularly with AI hoovering up so many jobs.
They have no reason to do anything but go into survival mode. “The system” is effectively dead. I doubt you could convince the Mills, Z or Alphas that the system ever worked because the system has basically killed their chances.
We’ll leave out the politics.
Suffice to say that the word “politics” is now a synonym for “insanity”
For progressives like me, that’s incredibly infuriating. Who told you sanctimonious morons to just babble on while civilization collapsed? You’re as bad as they are.
What’s needed is the exact opposite, The world needs a lot of competence on the job. That’s what jobs are supposed to do, and who’s supposed to be doing them, in case the topic ever comes up. Not ridiculous greedy little nobodies who screw up everything they touch and get overpaid for it.
A gang member said years ago that there was no point in working a low-wage day job when he could make thousands a day illegally. Sound familiar? I remember hearing that 50 years ago.
So let’s get back to this “Nobody wants to work” idiocy. In the absence of leadership which has taken mediocrity to new heights of ineptitude, what are you supposed to do?
The only thing you can do.
Create a life for yourself. Go indie.
Be a contractor or whatever so you can work on your own terms doing work you’re good at. Just make sure you get paid. Get useful skills like a trade or something that can’t be automated overnight. Be your own boss, if for no other reason than it’s much less annoying.
It can be quite frustrating and worrying working with “whatever” in the market.
if you know how to hustle, you can work on your terms.
Good luck.
______________________________________________________
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Mr Donnelly said: “We introduced the free contraception scheme in recognition of the barriers that many women faced in accessing contraception affordably.
“No-one should have to bear disproportionate financial costs because of their gender.
“I’m very pleased by the strong uptake in the scheme, which is providing women with financial freedom when making choices about their reproductive health.
“Since its launch in September 2022 we have expanded it rapidly in response to clear demand.
“It’s one of many developments in women’s health in recent years that reflect our ongoing efforts to provide a quality, accessible and equitable health service for all, regardless of ability to pay.”
The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.
Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies are providing services under the scheme.
Minister hails uptake of free contraception scheme
Stephen Donnelly has highlighted the uptake of the free contraception scheme in 2024 (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA
Stephen Donnelly has highlighted the uptake of the free contraception scheme in 2024 (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA
Today
It is projected that 320,000 women in Ireland will have accessed an expanded free contraception scheme in 2024, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said.
The minister highlighted the uptake of the scheme, with data from January to September this year showing that approximately 245,000 people accessed it at least once.
This compares to just under 189,000 women who accessed the scheme in 2023, when it was available to women aged 17–30.
In January, it was extended to women aged 31, and was further expanded in July to include women aged 32 to 35.
It is projected that 320,000 women in Ireland will have accessed an expanded free contraception scheme in 2024, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said.
The minister highlighted the uptake of the scheme, with data from January to September this year showing that approximately 245,000 people accessed it at least once.
This compares to just under 189,000 women who accessed the scheme in 2023, when it was available to women aged 17–30.
In January, it was extended to women aged 31, and was further expanded in July to include women aged 32 to 35.
It’s one of many developments in women’s health in recent years that reflect our ongoing efforts to provide a quality, accessible and equitable health serviceStephen Donnelly
Mr Donnelly said: “We introduced the free contraception scheme in recognition of the barriers that many women faced in accessing contraception affordably.
“No-one should have to bear disproportionate financial costs because of their gender.
“I’m very pleased by the strong uptake in the scheme, which is providing women with financial freedom when making choices about their reproductive health.
“Since its launch in September 2022 we have expanded it rapidly in response to clear demand.
“It’s one of many developments in women’s health in recent years that reflect our ongoing efforts to provide a quality, accessible and equitable health service for all, regardless of ability to pay.”
The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.
Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies are providing services under the scheme.
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