Since 20230806

Rare Tropical Storm Hits Southern California After Landfall in Baja In an unusual turn of events, Tropical Storm Hilary has made landfall along Mexico’s Baja coast, triggering flash flood warnings in both Mexico and Southern California. The storm struck a sparsely populated area approximately 250 kilometers south of Ensenada. Deadly floodwaters have inundated streets across arid Baja California, and experts are concerned about potential flash floods reaching as far north as Idaho, an area unaccustomed to heavy rain. Tropical Storm Hilary marks the first instance of a tropical storm hitting Southern California in over 80 years, with predictions of flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds, and power outages. The storm's initial landfall occurred in a less populated region along the Mexican coast, posing a threat to Tijuana, known for its susceptibility to mudslides, and improvised hillside homes near the U.S. border. Flash-flood warnings have affected around 9 million ...

Delays Expected Despite US Commitment to Provide F-16 Fighter Jets In a recent development, the timeline for Ukraine's acquisition of F-16 fighter jets appears to be facing delays despite the United States' decision to provide them. CNN reported on the 19th that even though the U.S. has shifted towards supplying F-16s to Ukraine, the actual delivery may take more time. The report highlighted Ukraine's pressing need for F-16s due to Russia's aerial dominance, yet despite commitments from Western powers, the country has not even initiated the training process. While news broke on the 17th that the U.S. had approved the transfer after completing F-16 training, it's projected that Ukraine may not receive the aircraft until the following year. The delay is attributed to Ukraine's requirement to establish the necessary maintenance capabilities for F-16 fighter jet operations. This might involve assistance from NATO personnel or potentially bringing the aircraft to NAT...

Unrelenting Wildfires Shake Regions from Arctic to Tropics, Posing Grim Consequences of Climate Change In a stark manifestation of the relentless impacts of climate change, wildfires have been wreaking havoc across the world, spanning from the Arctic to tropical landscapes, leaving regions grappling with unprecedented challenges. Canada, known for its stunning landscapes, has been grappling with an unprecedented onslaught of wildfires that have led to mass evacuations. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands, a sunny haven off Spain's coast, has also fallen victim to rampaging fires amid intense heatwaves. As the globe warms, from Hawaii's tropical paradise to the polar expanse, the rising threat of wildfires underscores the urgent need for climate action. Reports from Canadian news outlets, including The Globe and Mail, and the UK's BBC, detail the scenes of Yellowknife residents fleeing their homes, leaving nearby roads congested with vehicles. With the nearest shelter over 1,000 k...

Brazil, Argentina, and Russia Increase Yuan Payments, Spotlight on 'De-dollarization' As the upcoming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit approaches, the spotlight is on China's initiative to lead a movement towards 'de-dollarization' among emerging economies, including Brazil, Argentina, and Russia, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 19th. According to the report, the Netherlands-based ING Bank's recent report projected that the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for the summer, will likely resonate with the idea of 'de-dollarization.' The BRICS summit is set to take place in South Africa from the 22nd to the 24th. Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa, except for Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, who has an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, are expected to attend, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Collectively, BRICS accounts for 8.3% of the global economy and 41.9% of the w...

A Glimpse into the Emerging Competition in the EV Industry Exploring BYD's Rapid Expansion and Global Competitiveness The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, no longer dismisses China's electric car manufacturer BYD. This company has not only effortlessly surpassed Tesla in the world's largest automotive market, China, but is also expanding its influence internationally. BYD now claims it must compete with long-established legends in the industry as it globalizes and faces other Chinese automakers. One such legend is the American automaker Ford, with Chairman Bill Ford Jr. believing that "U.S. car companies aren't fully ready to compete with Chinese rivals that the world is paying attention to in the electric vehicle space." Just this June, he told Fareed Zakaria, "They have progressed very quickly, they have developed them on a large scale, and now they are exporting them." Musk once ridiculed BYD's car quality in a 2011 interview, but he tweeted that it w...

Discovering a Massive Subterranean Ocean Encased in Ringwoodite Intriguing Science Unveils Massive Ocean Beneath Earth's Crust In recent times, the scientific community has been consistently delivering mind-boggling revelations, leaving us astounded. From a menacing black hole's direct alignment with our planet to a colossal void discovered on the sun's surface, and the rediscovery of a lost continent after vanishing for nearly four centuries – each development has stretched the boundaries of our understanding. Now, a groundbreaking revelation has dawned upon us: an enormous ocean lies concealed beneath the Earth's crust. This realization has only recently begun to sink in among researchers and enthusiasts alike. Scientific studies have unraveled a colossal water reserve, nestled a staggering 400 miles below the Earth's surface, ensconced within a mineral structure called 'ringwoodite'. Prior research had unearthed the existence of water confined within the ...

Bradley Cooper 'Jewface' controversy Accusations of Antisemitism Surround Cooper's Prosthetic Nose in Netflix's 'Maestro' Biopic In a surprising turn of events, actor Bradley Cooper finds himself entangled in a controversy over his portrayal of the iconic American composer Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming Netflix biopic 'Maestro'. Cooper, who is not of Jewish descent, has come under fire for donning a prosthetic nose to visually emulate the Jewish composer's distinctive features. Leonard Bernstein's family, as well as a prominent Jewish advocacy group, have stepped forward to defend Cooper against allegations of antisemitism stemming from his makeup choice. The portrayal has sparked intense online discussions, with critics drawing comparisons between Cooper's appearance and historically hurtful caricatures of Jewish individuals with exaggerated noses. However, the Anti-Defamation League has issued a statement dismissing these concerns, notin...