#announcements ;; renewed resolutions

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Another Palestinian terrorist attack today, this time we're talking about a shooter, who opened fire at an Israeli minibus, and managed to injure several people, at least one is critically wounded, and 2 are in serious condition. The terrorist has been neutralized after a 5 hour chase, and his identity has been confirmed. His past includes both having served time in an Israeli prison for terrorist activity, and having served in the Palestinian Authority chief's guard. According to the army, he was using a snipers rifle, and had prepared in advance several organized sniping posts.

Iran, the country which funds at least 3 of the terrorist organizations currently attacking Israel (Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis), and which has directly targeted Israelis as well (through cyber and physical attacks), has had its ambassador summoned over Iran's suspected complicity in the attempted synagogue attack by a German Iranian in 2022.

The US brought a resolution to the UN security council, which suggests an immediate ceasefire AND an immediate releasae of all the Israeli hostages. 11 countries voted for it, only Russia, China and Algeria voted against it. But because Russia and China used their veto, the resolution was rejected. Next time you hear an official from Russia, China or Algeria claim to care about the lives of those in this conflict, please remember they could have saved people on both sides of it (including kidnapped Israelis of Russian or Chinese descent), and chose not to. Russia's excuse for it is especially ludicrous. If Hamas had released the hostages immediately, then Israel would have been obligated by this resolution to cease fire, and then there'd be no operation in Rafah.

After Canada, Sweden and Australia, now Finland has announced that it would renew its financing of UNRWA, the UN agency whose employees are complicit in the Hamas massacre, and in having symbiotic ties to Palestinian terrorist organizations. That's while some countries have never stopped funding UNRWA, and Saudi Arabia has even announced an increase in it. And I will mention each one as often as I can, for their complete disregard of Israeli lives, because this IS a STAIN on the so-called morality of these countries.

Speaking of Canada. The same country happy to continue financing an organization complicit in anti-Israeli terrorism, which shows a complete lack of care for the lives of Israeli civilians, has also been doing a lot of posturing as if it's oh so moral, and therefore will no longer sell weapons to Israel. So here are a few reminders of why it's indeed nothing more than posturing:

As I mentioned, Canada is fine with resuming the funding of UNRWA, without this UN agency being properly investigated, and without any assuraance that the Canadian money going to it, won't end up responsible for the murder of innocent civilians in Israel, including ones with Canadian nationality.

Canada has resumed its sales of military-used systems to Turkey, despite the fact that its known these systems have been used against ethnic Armenians, simply because Turkey agreed to Sweden joining NATO, not because it promised to change in any way its use of these systems.

3. Canada isn't actually selling weapons to Israel, it's selling components for weapons, for an annual worth of about 22 million dollars. Meanwhile, Canada is buying weapon systems from Israel at an annual worth of about a billion dollars.

4. According to Israeli reporters, about 99% of Israel's weapons and weapon components are bought from 3 countries, Canada is not one of them. In other words, Canada's sales to Israel don't make up even 1% of Israeli military imports, and make little relative difference for Israel's ability to continue its war, but it does mean that while Canada says Israel has the right to self-defense, in practice it acts like Israel doesn't, which begs the question, why does the Canadian government think Israeli civilians don't deserve to be militarily defended from a genocidal, antisemitic terrorist organization? (to make the below screenshot clear: it shows the countries Israel has bought munitions from between 2019 and 2023, with Canada being just one of the countries that compose the yellow block of 1% of Israel's puchases. See how well you can spot it)

(here's a screenshot slightly zoomed in on the yellow block, to give you kind of a better view)

I'll add to this that Israel has already dealt in the past with full or partial weapons embargo from the US, France and 3 times from the UK. And Israel's still here, still with one of the strongest armies in the world (because we have no other choice). So yeah, that's how likely this embargo is to make a noticeable difference.

5. Here's an interesting op ed, suggesting that the ban was kind of in place anyway, explaining why Canada was selling so little to Israel in the first place, and that this official ban has more to do with internal Canadian politics, than whether Israel deserves the ban or not.

As US President Biden continues to berate Israel for not conducting our military operations well enough, obviously based on his extensive experience from his many years of not serving in the army, let alone leading one, I got to hear on TV an Israeli expert on our relations with the US reminisce on about the time when Biden was the Vice President, and in 2010 berated Israel for intending to take over a sailing ship by having IDF soldiers propel down ropes onto its deck. "You guys need to come here and learn from us how it should be done," Biden said, according to this expert. Israel took the suggestion seriously, and prepared a delegation of army seniors, ready to fly to Wasngton, meet up with US army seniors, and learn from them. Not long before the plane was about to take off, they got a phone call. "Don't come. Our apologies, but we've checked, and there's no other way our people would do it, either."

This is 22 years old Libby Cohen Meguri (on the left side of the pic) with her mom, Shelly.

On Oct 7, Libby was at the Nova music festival. Together with friends, she was fleeing the scene in a car, when the terrorists got to them. She managed to call her parents, and tell them that one of her friends is dead already, and she's been shot as well. "My biggest regret," Shelly said in a recent interview that I will never forget, "is that I didn't realize it was the end. I was screaming at my husband to do something, to save her, and that's how my daughter died, hearing me screaming instead of hearing me telling her that I love her. I'm not angry with myself for not understanding back then, because the truth is, I still don't understand. But I do regret it. Libby understood that it was the end. She was calm, she asked to talk to each one of us, to tell us all that she loves us. Then another group of terrorists got to the car. Her body was found outside the vehicle, with dozens of bullets in it. Killing her and her friends wasn't enough, they had to desecrate the bodies, too. But I'm not going to let those terrorists take being Libby's mom away from me. We work and do everything for our kids, so that's what I'll continue to do, I'll keep working to make sure that people know her, know who she was as a person. Libby's sister knew her IG password, so we turned her account into a commemoration page. Please, to anyone listening, go and have a look at it. Remember that such a wonderful girl as Libby existed. It would mean everything to us." I found Libby's IG page here.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

#israel #antisemitism #israeli #israel news #israel under attack #terrorism #anti terrorism #hamas #antisemitic #antisemites #jews #jew #judaism #jumblr #frumblr #jewish #resources #un #canada embargo #unrwa

[end-otw-racism]

The OTW Board Elections are over, and with that wraps up our second End OTW Racism action! Thank you to everyone who has participated over the last few months, whether by voting, attending the July 2 OTW Board Meeting, submitting questions for the candidates, sharing our posts, writing to the OTW Board, providing us critique and feedback, and more. 

Now that we’ve completed two End OTW Racism actions, we wanted to take a breath and tell you a little about how we started. We began as a team of five people in May who felt spurred by renewed conversations we’d seen on twitter about racism within the OTW and wanted to do something about it. As we’ve shared in our FAQ, the core organizers are all fans and users of AO3, including both people of color and white folks, who have been in fandom for decades. We’ve added new core organizers since May, but also some organizers have rolled off, so we remain a small and diverse team.

Since the beginning, we’ve had four specific demands for the OTW:

Harassment policies that can be regularly updated to address both on-site harassment and off-site coordinated harassment of AO3 users, with updated protocols for the Policy & Abuse Committee to ensure consistent and informed resolutions of abuse claims

A content policy on abusive (extremely racist and extremely bigoted) content; by abusive, we are talking about fanworks that are intentionally used to spread hate and harassment, not those that accidentally invoke racist or other bigoted stereotypes

Hiring a Diversity Consultant within the next 3-6 months

Committing to a policy of transparency on this topic, with quarterly updates on the progress of these projects including challenges and their plan for overcoming those challenges. These quarterly updates should be published on OTW News page and newsletters, not solely discussed in Board meetings

This may be surprising, but we only began planning our first action in May five days before we announced it! And we’ve been working really hard since then on top of our other individual life obligations. We also rolled straight from our first action into our second because of the timing of the OTW Board Elections, which made things even busier.

We’re very proud of all we’ve accomplished and everything that has happened since then - not only the work we’ve done and the progress we’ve made on our specific goals, but also the way that a larger conversation has opened up publicly about many other forms of racism and dysfunction within the organization. These conversations have, of course, been going on for years, both inside and outside the OTW, and more recent efforts have built on the work of fans of color calling out racism in fandom for decades, particularly Black fans. The discussions that have happened since May included thousands of people in fandom and have become wide-ranging, and we’re thankful to everyone who has been part of them. Organizing and running this campaign has also been a learning process, and we've grown so much from the feedback we've received. We look forward to being even better as we continue on with our specific anti-racist lens.

We couldn’t have done any of this without all of you, the community that has fostered and spurred these conversations and put them into action. We’re also really excited to see that other campaigns are coming up to address aspects of racism in fandom that are outside our narrow scope. We hope our example of what you can do as a small team can be an inspiration to anyone else who wants to start their own parallel antiracist efforts too.

Since it’s been an exhausting (but thrilling!) few months, our core team is going to be taking a pause for a few months to reflect and regroup before planning another action focused on our specific goals. We also want to figure out how to engage more of the community in our planning for future actions, since we know there are lots of people who are excited about this work, and we weren’t able to do that in the quick turnaround between the first and second actions.

In the meantime, we’re excited to announce that two partner projects will be launching next month! These will not be led by our core organizers, but by other fans who have volunteered to take them on. 

Anti-Racist Fanlore Project: An effort to update Fanlore, the fandom history wiki run by the OTW, with articles that flesh out the history of racism and anti-racism in fandom. This will be a collaborative project run through a new Discord server, and we welcome people of all levels of experience with Fanlore editing, including people who have never done it before! We’ll need people for a wide range of tasks: project management, research, drafting, reviewing, and posting to Fanlore.

Anti-Harassment Street Team: A group aimed at supporting people who are harassed for talking about racism in fandom, including developing de-escalation practices, creating resources on curating your own space, correcting misinformation, and more. This project will also be collaborative and run through a new Discord server.

You can sign up for these projects on our Volunteer Sign-Up Form. If you already signed up for either of these projects at any time in the last few months, you will receive an email with more information when each project kicks off. 

Apart from those projects, we’ll see you again for our next action in a few months. If you need to get hold of us in the meantime, you can email us at endotwracism [at] gmail [dot] com, though we may take a little while to get back to you. Thank you again for your passion and support in fighting racism in the OTW!

- The Fandom Against Racism Team

#end otw racism #vote to end otw racim #eotwr #ao3 #archive of our own #organization for transformative works #about us

[mechaknight-98]

Nova Grappler Ft Jinsoul

Authors note: this piece while silly to me is an important piece that I have been trying to finish for ages and means a lot to me personally. Overall I hope y'all enjoy it

In the well-loved mecha combat sport Nova Grappler, tonight's championship bout had all eyes fixed on you, the crowd was hoping for your defeat. Despite a year filled with turmoil and betrayal, you stood alone before the crucial fight. Your coach had deserted you after wrecking his other protege's mecha, unaware that protege was once your friend who orchestrated a scheme to break your arm before the match. Compounded by the media's negative portrayal since the incident and the absence of your girlfriend and family due to logistical constraints, you found yourself at the pinnacle of the world championship with no support. Yet, you reassure yourself that setbacks are part of the journey. However, amidst the solitude, you question the purpose of your fight. Uncertain of your motivations, you acknowledge your journey thus far and resolve to see it through. Suddenly, a familiar voice breaks through the silence—your ex-girlfriend and megastar, Jinsoul Despite the estrangement, she offers an apologetic smile, expressing regret for not knowing about the betrayal by Jordan, your former friend. Perplexed, you inquire about the revelation, to which Jinsoul reveals Jordan's admission to orchestrating the scheme to sabotage you. Despite the cold response, Jinsoul chooses to sit by your side, offering a silent but comforting presence.

She breaks the silence first, her tone heavy with apology. "I'm so sorry I didn't stand by you," she says, her words carrying the weight of regret.

"It's okay, Jinsoul," you respond, trying to alleviate her guilt.

"No, it's not. You needed me, and I abandoned you when Coach Kick left you when the media was attacking you. I left you with no one," she insists, her remorse palpable.

"Soul... it's okay. I'm just happy to have you here with me now," you assure her, appreciating her presence despite the past.

"So, how do you expect to win tonight?" she asks, injecting a touch of playfulness into the conversation.

"Honestly, I don't know, Soul. The fight prep has been hell. Everyone's always attacking me whenever I go to practice. I just haven't had it in me," you admit, weariness seeping into your voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Jinsoul says sympathetically.

"It's fine. I'll probably just go down around two like a good heel. I mean, I made it this far when no one said I could, so why can't I just lay down this one time?" you respond, feeling the weight of exhaustion.

Jinsoul's demeanor shifts abruptly as she pulls your face to hers, her voice rising with a rare intensity fueled by her determination. "No! You can't give up," she exclaims, surprising you with her sudden fervor. "You've worked too hard for this. To throw it all away when your dream is so close... you can't. That guy out there, he's looking for your blood, and you're just going to let him beat you after everything you've been through? No, I won't let you," she adds fiercely, her words igniting a spark within you.

You laugh, grateful for her unique brand of motivation. "So, what do you propose I do to get out of this funk?" you ask, eager to hear her perspective.

"Well, why don't you fight like how you used to before you met Kicks?" Jinsoul suggests.

"Throws and strikes?" you question, seeking clarification.

"Yeah, play to the high-flying antics you used to do," Jinsoul insists, her confidence in you unwavering.

"Okay, I'll do that," you agree, feeling a renewed sense of determination. Jinsoul smiles brightly, her encouragement fueling your resolve.

"Go get 'em," she says with a playful wink as you head to the loading pit. When the announcer calls for your intro card, you hand him your original one, eschewing the "Kicks improved" version.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a special presentation for the Nova Grappler Championship bout. We have the Resolute Queen Jisoo defending her title against the upstart from Jumpstart, the high-flying, death-defying Razor," the announcer declares as you enter the arena, taking in the magnitude of the moment. Despite the sparse support, you feel a sense of contentment knowing that you've persevered through a tough year to reach this point. As you face your opponent, you notice her corner filled with her group mates from BlackPink and her coach Teddy, ready to give their all.

Round one rings, and you're off. You barrel towards Jisoo and make your first strike. It's a calculated feint as she dodges, going for the parry. You slide to the side, grab Mech's arm, and slam her Machine into the ground.

"Oh, and Razor starts strong. A classic opener we haven't seen from the grappler in a while. I guess with no Coach Kicks, we get to see what Razor is made of tonight," the announcer Sakura Miyawaki says cheerfully. Jisoo gets up and attempts to make a solid connection, which you dodge flawlessly, giving a quick shoulder charge to Jisoo's mech.

"Oh my gosh, it is a blast from the past! Razor is executing all of his old moves – first, the Judo throw and now the Tsuburaya shoulder charge. Will we see the Landfall?" Announcer Miyawaki says with rigorous delight. You revel in the reaction and decide, while Jisoo is getting up, to give the fans who have been watching Nova Grappler as long as you have a little something extra.

"Oh my God, is that the legendary Blazing Lion pose of the Hall of Fame grappler and Pilot of the Beast Deity series 001 Gao-King: Cole Evans? Ladies and gentlemen, we may have a true Nova Grappler fan among us tonight. Where has this Razor been all this time? Forget the Demon Duke; this Historic Homegrown Hero is so much better," Announcer Daigo exclaims, leaving his co-announcer, Mrs. Miyawaki, gasping.

Jisoo gets up and runs towards you. You roll out of the way and get behind her. Using prominent leverage – the move popularized by Ace, who piloted Mecha-Kitsune – you slam her mech into the ground again. At this point, the crowd goes wild. It had been a long time since many of these moves had been seen due to their "flashiness" and lack of strategy. Now, to be fair, you've made some adjustments to them using modern techniques, but you understand the core appeal of why these moves and heroes were so beloved in the sport. Knowing now what you mean to these people, you decide to give them a finisher that everyone would recognize.

You spin your left arm three times to charge up the move, and the crowd goes silent as you keep your index finger pointed to the sky.

"No..." the announcers gasped.

"He wouldn't," they add. But you would. You wait for Jisoo to get close; she makes a very telegraphed strike, you dodge, and using the uncharged arm, you swing at the critical spot all Nova grappler mechs have – the "collarbone" area.

Your strike rings true as you nail the solid connection, causing a Critical Failure Knock-Out, the first in 15 years to be precise. The crowd erupts.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. Razor has pulled off the performance of the decade. He baits using the Super Galaxy Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann Pose into the United States of Smash for a C.F.K.O. Oh my goodness. Nova Grappler history was made today, ladies and gentlemen. Never to be repeated. Razor is the undisputed Worldwide Nova Grappler Champion," announcers Miyawaki and Daigo declare.

The after-battle interview is kind of a blur. The key questions you remember answering were, "How did you come up with tonight's style?" and "What gave you the courage to fight with such outdated techniques?"

Your reply was pretty stuck the entire night. "I just love the sport, and I feel like these moves have their place despite skill and technique improving," you figure ESPN and all the news outlets would have more to say tomorrow, but tonight was just about the moment.

You did it. You won, sticking to your guns and style. No one could take that from you.

After everything, Jinsoul met you back in your hotel for the night giddy and excited at your victory.

"I knew you'd win," she says happily, as the two of you cuddle, hoping to turn in early for the night.

"Well, if it wasn't for you and the rest of my support, I wouldn't have gotten this far," you reply.

"Joe, I assure you. You were destined to win the championship. All we did was accelerate the process. Jisoo couldn't touch you all night, and you hit her with the greatest hits of Nova Grappling," Jinsoul states.

"Well, the moves were modified," you reply.

"Yes, but the core moves were still the same, and even then, she couldn't hit you," Jinsoul retorts.

"Fair," You reply

"I know. Now, kiss me goodnight," Jinsoul demands.

"I take it this means we are back together?" you tease, and Jinsoul rolls her eyes. You kiss her goodnight.

#kpop fanfic #male reader #fanfic #loona jinsoul #artms jinsoul #jinsoul #jeong jinsoul

[ingravinoveritas]

I’m excited for the renewal of GO3 but I’m also kind of a little worried for David because he’s been performing McBeth for 6 six weeks now and rehearsals are also killer and now their set to film GO? Just thinking about this exhausts me so I can’t imagine how he would feel (and Michael also for that matter since he’s been rehearsing for his own show). Also, please please PLEASE don’t let GT and AL be in GO PLEASE

Hear, hear, and three cheers to the renewal of GO 3!

All I can say is, it's about damn time we finally got this announcement. I am ineffably thrilled as well to know that we will have our boys back together in Scotland to bring us the resolution to Aziraphale and Crowley's story.

In terms of filming, I did see the press release that said GO 3 filming would begin "soon," but I think "soon" is a relative term here. David's run in Macbeth goes until early February, and then Michael is in Nye at the National Theatre from the end of February until May 11th. So "soon" likely means a good six months from now at the earliest (i.e., mid 2024). Hopefully that means both David and Michael will have time to rest up and prepare for the start of filming GO 3, but I would imagine them both feeling a sense of excitement and anxiety at their forthcoming schedules.

What I think Michael and David likely do not feel anxiety about, however, is the prospect of getting to spend more time with each other. And we know they are already seeing each other at least somewhat regularly right now, what with Michael being in London at the moment, so it stands to reason that Michael and David are going to be frequent fixtures in each other's lives and worlds for a very good portion of the next year. Lovely.

In terms of Georgia and Anna possibly being in S3, I will echo what @thereallovebug previously excellently said, which is that it is very tiring to think that we haven't even had the GO 3 announcement for a day, and already people are calling for them to be cast in the show, and it's just...can we not even fully process/absorb this news before jumping to yelling at Neil to cast people? Or maybe just skip the "yelling at Neil to cast people" part completely? I'm just confused as to why there has to be an immediate call to have them in the show when there may not even be a place for them in it.

I also keep thinking of the discussion that took place when the news about GO 2 first came out, which was that having any family member of Michael's or David's would be distracting, and we saw what ended up happening with Peter Davison and Ty. I thought Peter did very well as Job, but Ty just seemed out of place the entire time and it was like you could "see" him acting instead of just...being, and as a result, his performance did not quite gel with the rest of the scene.

The takeaway point here is that the role of Ennon could have gone to any number of aspiring young actors, talented actors looking for a shot at the big time, but who did not get to have that opportunity due to nepotism. It only makes sense, then, that the same would hold true for GT and AL. And to me, it's disrespectful to the show, to Neil, and to Michael and David at this point to act as if GO 3 is somehow "not good enough" unless GT and AL are in it. As if the thousands of other talented actors in the UK aren't good enough simply because they're not Georgia and Anna. I've been accused on multiple occasions of only disliking Georgia and AL because of who their partners are, but the fact that so many people are only fans of theirs for the same reason is apparently not a problem.

(I will not go into detail here about the myriad of reasons why people are fans of Georgia and AL's because of who their partners are, but I suggest reading this post from @artificial-indulgence, who has perfectly enumerated my own thoughts on the subject.)

It is for the reasons that are mentioned in the post I just linked to that I feel many fans are unwilling to see the reality of things, which is that Georgia is a passable actor, but Anna is not, and any halfway decent casting director is not going to overlook that. I'm thinking back to an Ask I answered yesterday about her being edited out of the photo used for the I Talk Telly Awards and (more significantly) that no one actually seemed to notice that she was missing.

Given that, it's highly unlikely that someone whose performances are so unmemorable would be cast in the third installment of a major global TV show--at least purely based on merit. And knowing how important this third season is, how it's meant to resolve Aziraphale and Crowley's story and give us what Neil and Terry envisioned so many years ago, it would be truly unfortunate to see all of that overshadowed by other things.

But yes, today was very much a day filled with good news (and which I wholeheartedly appreciated, given that I am dealing with some difficult personal issues at the moment). More thoughts to come in a follow up post, so stay tuned...

#phantomstars24 #reply post #good omens #good omens 3 #david tennant #soft scottish hipster gigolo #michael sheen #welsh seduction machine #macbeth #nye the play #georgia tennant #trying to provide a balanced perspective #but i will leave it to my followers to make up their own minds #fandom woes #anna lundberg #thoughts #discourse #gif by me

[beautifulpersonpeach]

HYBE stocks are down so that means investors didn't believe HYBE's payola mediaplay of Jimin renewing his contracts. ONLY RM SIGNED HIS CONTRACT. It's shameful how you ot7s try to force people to doubt Jimin. Forcing people to think staying with the company after all the sabotages is good for him are we in upside down land? Well no and the stocks show it. Armys swallowed the purple koolaid but the investors live in the real world.

***

Please stop sending me asks like this.

Your ask is a very good example of something my friends and I were just talking about. This is the thread (linked here) that prompted our conversation.

Please read it.

HYBE is down ~5% in the hours following the contract renewal news.

Anon, I don't know how old you are or if you have your own bank account, but nobody who knows what they're doing looks at stock movements in isolation. It's a relative metric, by definition. And here's a few things that have happened in the last 48 hours that explain what stocks moved relative to:

The Market - All major Korean stock indices are down on the mixed resolution by the US Fed this week. It's a trend consistent with market movements in every country that does significant trade with the US and/or denominates trade in USD.

The Index - The index for entertainment companies (ex gaming) on the KRX is down ~3.5% over the same period.

The Peers - HYBE's closest peers for our purposes, i.e. JYP, SME, YG, Kakao, etc, are down on average ~6.5%. YG is the outlier here down ~13%. Excluding YG, the average return over the same period is HYBE's peers being down ~4.5%.

At market open following HYBE's contract renewal news there was a massive options call with a volume of about 8K at depressed prices relative to yesterday's closing. By its characteristics it's likely an event-triggered options call made for profit-taking. This is normal for retail and institutional investors who trade in liquid names. Excluding the options volume, HYBE's actual stock performance over the same period, is that they're down ~2.5%.

Meaning, HYBE actually outperformed their peers and the index (ex gaming) following the contract renewal news. The total entertainment index (including gaming) was only down ~1.9%, and so HYBE underperformed that index when you include gaming companies. But that's not a peer group that's usually considered for k-pop companies anyway.

So the stock movements you're referring to, are in effect showing the opposite of what you think.

*

This might be hard to believe, but I'm actually very neutral on HYBE. I have my own opinions about how they run their business, how the sub-labels are managed, etc. But when I see things I don't like, I don't go looking for any sliver of disjointed information to uphold my previously held belief. It's a sign that you're a living, breathing, thinking being, when the introduction of new information challenges a perception you have, you're able to meaningfully deduce the implications, and arrive at a more informed conclusion.

The new piece of information we received in the last 24 hours, is that HYBE's board has approved the resolution to renew BTS's exclusive contracts. Given the size of the payout to BTS, this is a customary requirement to finalize the renewals process. For the nature of company disclosures like this, there's the expectation of a time lag between when a deal is announced and when it closes, but the fundamentals of the deal do not change. The time lag is typically to hash out technicalities and to allow for other considerations (which we know in this case involves limitations due to 2seok's military service), but the fundamentals of the announcement do not change else HYBE will be charged for misrepresentation in their disclosures and for market manipulation at the Board level.

Basically, if HYBE was not at least 100% sure these renewals would be completed, that press release would literally be corporate suicide.

The quality of conversations here would be so much higher, whether in akgae or ARMY circles, if people actually knew what they were talking about.

Please don't spam asks like this in my inbox again. Take those ramblings to a blog that can tolerate it. I have extremely little patience for akgaes in general.

#Nearly every time I see k-pop stans talk about 'stocks' or stock movements I feel a migraine start to develop in my left temple.

[workersolidarity]

[ 📹 Scenes from destruction evident in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, following a week of Israeli occupation ground operations and non-stop bombardment of the camp, destroying the vast majority of the camp's residential buildings.]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚀🏘️💥🚑 🚨

CARNAGE IN THE GAZA STRIP CONTINUES AS ISRAELI OCCUPATION TARGETS NUSEIRAT CAMP BEFORE PLANNED ATTACK ON RAFAH

On the 196th day of "Israel's" ongoing special genocide operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) committed a total of 4 new massacres of Palestinian families, resulting in the deaths of no less than 42 citizens, mostly women and children, while another 63 others were wounded over the previous 24-hours.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated on Friday that over 730'000 Palestinian citizens of Gaza, in particular the north of the enclave, suffer from a severe lack of healthcare services and accused the Zionist occupation of deliberately destroying Gaza's healthcare system.

In the meantime, at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the United States vetoed a resolution which would have granted full membership status at the United Nations for the State of Palestine.

The Security Council overwhelmingly supported the measure to induct Palestine into the United Nations with full statehood rights, with 12 member-states voting in favor, two abstaining (UK and Switzerland), and only the United States voting against the resolution, vetoing the measure.

In other news, a battalion commander with the IOF announced on Thursday while speaking with his Battalion's soldiers, that the Israeli occupation army would be entering Rafah following the end of the current ground operation concentrated on the outskirts of the Al-Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army's 162nd military division said it had completed its ground operation inside the Nuseirat Camp, which lasted about a week, as occupation warplanes hammered the camp with endless airstrikes. The occupation army also attempted to isolate the two halves of the Gaza Strip from one another and prevented displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in the north of the enclave.

The Commander of the Israeli occupation forces' 932nd battalion said that following the end of its ground operations on the outskirts of the Nuseirat Camp, “We are going to Rafah, and the people of Israel are counting on you to implement this in the best way, as in Nuseirat, Zaytoun, and Burj al-Tuffah, and as in Al-Shifa (hospital), so in Rafah as well," portending future mass massacres of Palestinian civilians in the city of Rafah.

Elsewhere in Gaza, the carnage continued with the Israeli occupation forces renewing intense airstrikes targeting the Al-Shati Refugee Camp, west of Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip.

According to local reporting, at least four Palestinian were killed, and several others wounded, after Zionist occupation fighter jets bombed a residential home belonging to the Al-Sir family, which at the time of the bombardment was sheltering displaced Palestinians, including members of the Abu Jiyab family in the Al-Shati refugee camp.

At the same time, IOF warplanes bombed a residential building in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, north of Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinian civilians and wounding a number of others. Victims were transported to the Arab al-Ahli Hospital, also in Gaza City.

Similarly, occupation forces bombed 10th Street, south of Gaza City.

Yet another occupation airstrike targeted in the vicinity of the Al-Shati Camp, west of Gaza City, killing one Palestinian civilian and wounding at least three others.

In another bit of horrific news, the decomposing corpses of about 30 Palestinians were discovered in two mass graves dug in the courtyard of the Al-Shifa medical complex, in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, including the bodies of women and the elderly, while the fates of roughly 1'000 Palestinians who were present in the hospital during the Israeli raid remain unknown at this time.

Israeli occupation warplanes also bombed several sites in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

At the same time, Zionist soldiers opened gunfire on displaced Palestinians east of Jabalia, in the north of Gaza, martyring three civilians and wounding several others.

Elsewhere in Gaza, Zionist occupation aircraft bombarded a civilian residence belonging to the Qishlan family in the New Camp area of the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, after which, local paramedic and civil defense crews retrieved the bodies of two Palestinians killed in the strike. The bodies of the dead were taken to nearby Al-Awda Hospital in the camp.

As a result of a previous IOF airstrike, which targeted a tent belonging to the Ayyad family, east of Rafah City, in the southern Gaza Strip, the death toll rose to 11 overnight as victims succumbed to their injuries.

In the Khan Yunis Governate, local civil defense personnel managed to recover the decomposing bodies of four civilians from various areas of the city over the last day, while paramedic crews from the north of the Nuseirat Camp, in central Gaza, recovered the bodies of another 9 martyrs following the withdrawal of occupation forces from the area.

Additionally, warplanes with the Israeli occupation army bombed several sites in the Al-Mughraqa area, in the central Gaza Strip, wounding several citizens, while another young man was murdered by the bullets of the Israeli occupation's snipers east of Deir al-Balah, also in central Gaza.

As a result of "Israel's" ongoing special genocide operation in the Gaza Strip, the death toll among the population of Gaza now exceeds 34'012 Palestinians killed, including over 14'560 children and 9'582 women, while another 76'833 others have been wounded since the start of the current round of Zionist aggression, beginning with the events of October 7th, 2023.

April 19th, 2024

#source1

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#source8

#source9

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

#gaza #gaza strip #gaza news #war in gaza #genocide in gaza #israeli genocide #israeli war crimes #war crimes #crimes against humanity #israel #israeli occupation #israeli occupation forces #palestine #palestine news #palestinians #free palestine #end the occupation #occupation #middle east #war #israel palestine conflict #politics #news #geopolitics #world news #global news #international news #breaking news #current events #genocide

[jmdbjk]

Good news

The gist is, they announced their contract renewal and they'll be back with this new contract starting in 2025.

A Board resolution? Bottomline: "they will be making Shitloads Of More Money." Supposedly a signing bonus of over $15 million. Nice.

All the other noise about the details is ... noise. I think all the speculation about "technicalities" are ... speculation. No one knows the exact details. The attorneys or representatives may have signed as proxy for Jin and Hobi and they will add their official signatures when they are discharged.

Hybe would not make a public announcement if it wasn't a done deal. I'm more glad that any rumors are now moot.

They especially wouldn't emphasize the word "exclusive" if it weren't.

I hope they are happy and fulfilled. I hope they don't have to wait too long before they are back on stage together because they've all said they want that. Even if it's a short performance, I hope they are able to do something as soon as they are all discharged ... release a single and do a music show... anything,

I want them to feel the stage together again, as soon as possible.

The big tours will come, I just want them to get that first one soon soon for their sake.

#apobangpo #bts x army

[skylitcreations]

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone, but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Print Available Here

Full resolution on Patreon

Lyrics from Fix You by Coldplay

A year ago today, my brother passed away. It doesn't feel like it's been that long. Everything after has been a blur because I constantly feel like this entire reality has to be wrong. Truly reality couldn't exist without him? Right?

He was obsessed with Trigun when he passed. Obsessed. When they announced Stampede soon after he passed, I wanted to scream. He had spent so long wishing people knew what he was talking about cuz by this point, Trigun was pretty old. He wanted more people to appreciate it with and seeing this renewed interest in it is bittersweet.

The amount of effort he put into trying to have the closest he could get to Vash's gun irl, he did. He custom commissioned parts to put on the closest equivalent gun irl just to have it. He was even setting up a cosplay. He also had a fake one for the costume, of course, but this guy had, like, 5 different versions of Vash's glasses just cuz none of them felt truly 'right'. He was so particular about it, lol. Hell, he even had Wolfwood's glasses. He adored everything Trigun.

It took a long time before I could even will myself to watch it again, but I wanted my wife to see the original before seeing all of Stampede. Getting to this scene again after going through the grief I have gives it so much more meaning. I felt it deep in my soul.

After all, why does good food still taste good when they're no longer there to share it with you? It feels wrong. And the thought of you ever enjoying anything again after such a loss is extremely hard too. Everything feels like it's not even real or worth being happy about.

In the few days leading up to his death, I was drawing Vash for him as a bit of encouragement. That is, until I realized he couldn't see properly anymore and that there was actually no point in making it. I still haven't finished it to this day. However, it felt appropriate to draw Vash for this. Later on, when I have more time, maybe I can draw something more in his honor. For now, I hope maybe he can see this wherever he is.

I miss you.

#my art #trigun #vash the stampede #trigun fanart #meant to be gen but if you interpret it as vashwood that's fine by me go ahead #vash fanart #what else do I even tag this as? #beware spoilers for the original? I dunno nvfjdnvjf

[for-yoongi0309]

[NOTICE] BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE US Release announcement

We are excited to announce the release of BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE U.S.

BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE U.S. filled two cities – Los Angeles in 2021 and Las Vegas in 2022 - with a sea of purple lights and thunderous cheers. We’ve compiled these special memories between BTS and ARMY, with the first show in LA’s SoFi Stadium and the last show in LV’s Allegiant Stadium. As a token of appreciation for the unwavering love from ARMY worldwide and the long two-year wait, We present you with stunning 4K resolution videos that showcase BTS’s passionate performances and the incredible energy of the audience. And that’s not all – get ready dive deeper with behind-the-scenes footage from studio practices and rehearsals in both cities, d-day sketches, and heartfelt interviews with the members in LA. The renewed digital code, designed to let you relive these cherished memories, are made with recycled materials as a reflection of our commitment to sustainability. Also, don’t miss out on an array of special items that connect the purple wave and the orange passion, including a photobook set, a photo card set, a fold card, a postcard frame holder set, and a photo charm set! The pre-order for ‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE US’ begins on November 17, with the official release on January 05, 2024.

For those who want to enjoy the LA show to the fullest– The concert film for “Permission to Dance on Stage – LA” Day 2 is available for streaming on Disney+. [Weverse Shop-US] • PRE-ORDER DATE : From 11 AM, Friday, November 17, 2023 (KST) *WHILE SUPPLIES LAST* • RELEASE DATE : January 5, 2024 (PST)

- OUT BOX Size : 152x206x38mm Note: This outbox is designed to protect the product during distribution. Exchanges or refunds due to stains or damage during distribution is not available. [SPEC] 1. DIGITAL CODE+PHOTO CHARM SET DIGITAL CODE Size : 27x85mm [144p], [270p], [360p], [480p SD], [720p HD], [1080p FHD], 1440P[FHD] 2160P[UHD] KOREAN, ENGLISH, JAPANESE, CHINESE ABOUT 511 MINS *This product is made of recycled plastics, so the marbling pattern varies for all products. Furthermore, natural phenomena such as tiny spots and parting lines may occur naturally as part of the manufacturing process in some products, and they are not considered defects. PHOTO CHARM SET PHOTO CHARM Size : 50x78mmㅣ1EA (RANDOM 1EA OF 7EA) FRAME CHARM Size : 50x78mmㅣ1EA 2. PHOTOBOOK SET Size : 148x189mmㅣ2EA 1SET Los Angeles - 132P Las Vegas - 132P 3. PHOTOCARD SET Size : 54x86mmㅣ7EA 1SET 4. FOLDING CARD Size : 720x90mmㅣ1EA 5. POSTCARD+FRAME STAND SET POSTCARD Size : 152x102mmㅣ1EA FRAME STAND Size : 185x132mmㅣ1EA [CONTENTS] MAKING-OF FILM PTD Los Angeles PRACTICE & REHEARSAL SKETCH PTD Los Angeles D-DAY SKETCH PTD Los Angeles INTERVIEW PTD Las Vegas PRACTICE & REHEARSAL SKETCH PTD Las Vegas D-DAY SKETCH BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE US : 1st Concert @ Los Angeles ON Burning Up (FIRE) Dope DNA Blue & Grey Black Swan Blood Sweat & Tears + FAKE LOVE Life Goes On Boy With Luv Dynamite Butter Airplane pt.2 + Silver Spoon + Dis-ease Telepathy Stay So What I Need U + SAVE ME IDOL We Are Bulletproof : the Eternal Permission to Dance

BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE US : Last Concert @ Las Vegas ON Burning Up (FIRE) Dope DNA Blue & Grey Black Swan Blood Sweat & Tears + FAKE LOVE Life Goes On Boy With Luv Dynamite Butter Telepathy Wings Stay + So What IDOL Anpanman + Go Go Permission to Dance How To Watch “BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE in THE US” Watch the high definition VODs on Weverse by registering/verifying the digital code on the product enclosed with the merchandise. [How To Use The Digital Code] - MOBILE * QR code: Using the smartphone camera, scan the QR code to visit m.weverse.io/code/dc. Redeem the digital code and enjoy the video on the Weverse app!

※ This product is made of paper certified by Forest Stewardship Council and printed with biodegradable soy ink.

※ Please be aware that sizes and content are subject to change depending on production company circumstances.

※ Due to the nature of the materials, there may be cracks, discoloration or color bleeding in the product.

※ Please note that the perforations on the outbox may show signs of cracking due to the nature of the material.

ⓟ&ⓒ 2023 BIGHIT MUSIC & HYBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MADE IN KOREA.

#ultkpopnetwork #mgroupsedit #idolsincedits #btsdaily #bangtan #bts #namjoon #seokjin #yoongi #hoseok #Taehyung #jimin #Jungkook #dvd.bluray:ptd in us

[atxn8]

BTS RENEWED THEIR CONTRACT BEYOND 2025!!!!!!!There is a naver article about it. Hybe has announced saying: "We have completed the board of directors' resolution to renew the excluive of seven members of BTS, artists under Big Hit Music"

We don't know yet how many more years but I'm so happy!!!and now is time to end the dumb conspiracy theories that certain member don't want to be there, etc..that is treated bad. If they all, the 7, have renewed with their company is because they want to. They have been in the industry more than 10 years, and they know better than us what is better for them, they are adults and very smart adults.

And namjoon just posted this on his ig account 🥹💜💜💜

#bts #bangtan #namjoon #jin #yoongi #hobi #jimin #jungkook #tae

[kp777]

By Damian Carrington

The Guardian

June 15, 2023

Rich countries are signing a “death sentence” for millions of poor people around the world by failing to phase out fossil fuels, the climate activist Greta Thunberg has told governments. She warned on Tuesday that with annual greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time high, only a “rapid and equitable” phaseout of fossil fuels would keep global temperatures within the scientifically advised limit of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. “The coming months and years – right now – will be crucial to what the future looks like. It is what we decide now that will define the rest of humanity’s future,” she told a press conference at UN talks in Bonn, where governments are meeting to discuss the climate crisis. “If we do not [phase out fossil fuels], it will be a death sentence for countless people. It is already a death sentence for countless people,” she said. Thunberg last Friday announced the end of her school strikes, which she has been undertaking on Fridays since 2018 in protest at political inaction on the climate crisis. The campaigner has left school but intends to carry on speaking out on climate issues, while also giving the spotlight to youth voices from the developing world. She said a lack of political will to halt fossil fuel exploration and use was threatening to raise global temperatures by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, which could lead the climate to pass “tipping points”, a cascade of impacts that could create runaway global heating. “We are still rushing towards the cliff. We could trigger feedback loops that are beyond human control, that would throw countless billions under the bus,” she said. The question of phasing out fossil fuels is expected to be a flashpoint at the Cop28 UN climate talks later this year. The summit will take place in Dubai, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer. Many countries would like to see Cop28 produce a formal resolution to phase out fossil fuels, or at least to discuss such a phaseout as an official agenda item at the summit. But some countries, chiefly fossil fuel producers including Saudi Arabia, are staunchly opposed, and the UAE presidency has been cautious, saying there is not yet agreement on the agenda. Chairing the talks will be Sultan Al Jaber, a minister in the UAE government who is also chief of the country’s national oil company, Adnoc, which is planning a massive expansion of fossil fuel production capacity. Eric Njuguna, a climate justice organiser from Kenya, speaking with Thunberg, said Al Jaber’s dual role was a conflict of interest, and called on him to resign. “It is a stab in the back for poor countries to have a fossil fuel CEO on top of efforts to constrain the climate crisis,” he said. Al Jaber has told the Guardian he will bring a “business mindset” to the talks, and pointed to his role as co-founder of the Masdar renewable energy company in UAE. He visited the Bonn talks last Thursday, and told a public meeting: “The phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable.” But he stopped well short of promising to put a phaseout of fossil fuels on the Cop28 agenda. The talks in Bonn, which started last Monday and will end on Thursday, are to lay the groundwork for Cop28, the conference of the parties under the UN framework convention on climate change, which begins on 30 November. Progress at Bonn has been slow. Last week’s discussions were characterized by disputes over rich countries that are failing to provide financial assistance to developing countries, to help them cut their greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impacts of the climate crisis. Alden Meyer, a senior associate at the thinktank E3G, said: “Much more work remains to be done to land an agreement at Cop28 for a just and equitable reduction of fossil fuel production and use in a time frame that’s consistent with the Paris [agreement] 1.5C goal.”

#climate crisis #greta thunberg #climate change #climate activism #cop28 #sultan al jaber #paris agreement #fossil fuel production

[kafkaoftherubble]

突然觉得...好像很好玩那样？

// It actually does seem kinda exciting!

Seeing Crow's beloved Mononoke successfully getting a zine going is so swell! Really reminded me of that one time when a handful of people in the fandom were floating the idea of making a To Your Eternity zine.

I mean, for that one, I can at least contribute something in terms of content!

Sorta!

Kinda.

Maybe...?

Look, my confidence is not too high lately and it's still recovering, okay? Damn, I miss my yellow font. These quiet asides being visible just ain't right. If Tumblr wants to take away my yellow font, at least give me a spoiler tag function à la Discord.

Nukes has been nursing some really amazing fanfic ideas lately, which made me think it could get its debut in the zine or something. It would be so fucking cool (source: my imagination)!!! And I'm sure π could whip something up in both the writing and art department, too. AND—

Honestly? I doubt we're lacking in the art + writing department. Maybe I don't need to pitch in for the content, after all. Which is a relief, I guess, because bruh what can I even contribute

I mean, surely we can easily pass an interest check, right? TYE is not that small a circle! It's just smaller apropos of, I don't know, stuff of Jujutsu Kaisen's status. But there are quite a few of us; surely it's enough to get the train moving.

Hmm... It's the logistics and management that will be the problem, you say?

Agree. I recall Nova's got experience in this sorta thing, but who else is interested in taking up tiring positions like these? There ain't no way one manager is enough. And she seems busy with her life as it is.

M-Me? But I'm a total greenhorn! I don't even know what the fuck are zines until recently! And I have only learned more about it because I answered that Interest Check questionnaire for that Mononoke fanzine and read all of its items to make inferences. Bruh!

Hmm. Maybe the timing is not completely right. Maybe one should pick a time when most people might be a bit freer/less hectic with real-life shit like school and college. So, uh, during the summer? It's always summer here...

But according to the Mononoke zine's uber-transparent timeline projection, producing a zine actually takes quite a lot of months! Is the team playing it safe, or overextending the time it actually needs? I have no idea.

Hmm. Or shall we only suggest this idea in earnest when Season 3 is announced in more definite terms? To drum up the excitement for the dawn of a new era in the story, ya know? And renewed interest from the anime-only gang could mean more candidates for both content creation and manning the logistics team.

And then the zine preferably gets published right around the time Season 3 is out. Consolidate To Your Eternity food into one period! Tasty.

I don't know what Future Lyns will think, but this present one certainly thinks if this zine is a go, I'd love to help out with the logistics. I love statecraft watching people handle things from the shadow and doing it myself. And I can always ask Crow for advice. She's so charmed by my rizz, there's no way she would ignore me! Right?

...Right?

Either way! The experience will certainly be very intriguing!

It's not one of my New Year's Resolutions at all, though. Damn. Now we don't have the satisfaction of crossing it out on A List Of Some Kind.

#a piece to the rubble

[usafphantom2]

Modernized A-50U AWACS aircraft is delivered to the Russian Air Force

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/22/2023 - 16:00in Military

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) delivered to the Russian Air Forces a modernized aircraft of the A-50U Airborne Alert and Control System (AWACS) that will help in the detection of aircraft and missiles launched from Ukraine.

On July 3, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a conference call with officers of the Russian Armed Forces, highlighted the need for a rapid modernization of the A-50.

According to the government-controlled RIA Novosti, Shoigu said: “These flying radars are used in special military operations. The timely modernization of the fleet of these aviation complexes will significantly increase the effectiveness of troop groupings in solving the tasks they face."

The upgraded A-50U has undergone a comprehensive modernization, significantly improving its capabilities. This advanced version has the ability to detect and identify new types of aircraft, while tracking a greater number of targets, including hostile fighters, compared to its predecessor. The integration of state-of-the-art equipment resulted in the reduction of the aircraft's weight, thus expanding its flight range and mission durability.

The renewed aircraft features all-new electronic components with improved performance and speed, allowing improved functionality in its software. In addition, the use of larger and higher resolution LCD monitors has greatly improved the efficiency of the radar display system, improving the overall ergonomics of the aircraft to reduce crew fatigue. Notably, the A-50U is now equipped with an advanced flight and navigation system.

Rostec emphasized the vital role of the A-50U long-range surveillance and radar guidance complex in modern combat scenarios. Through this modernization effort, the aircraft received new technical equipment that significantly increases its speed and detection range of air, land and sea targets, thus increasing its effectiveness in combating potential threats. This modernization initiative is aligned with the plan of the state defense order to upgrade the AWACS aircraft fleet.

Concern Vega, operating under Ruselectronics, played a key role in the modernization process, while United Aircraft Corporation's TANTK also contributed to the effort.

Vyacheslav Mikheev, general designer of Concern Vega, said there are plans underway to complete the modernization of another A-50 complex in the near future.

Tags: Military AviationAWACSBeriev A-50UROSTECRussia

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 15, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 16, 2023

Extremist Republicans today shut down House business by refusing to pass a procedural vote to take up a spending bill, as they had threatened to do in retaliation for the passage yesterday of the continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year. This is the fourth time the extremists have defeated special rules in the House this year, and as deputy chief of staff for Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) Aaron Fritschner pointed out, their doing so is highly unusual. In the previous 20 years the House voted down no such measures at all. 

Although they were in the middle of a 17-vote series, the Republicans then recessed the House until after Thanksgiving. 

Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus made it clear they are angry that their own demands are not being met. “We’re sending a shot across the bow,” caucus chair Scott Perry (R-PA) told reporters. “[W]e are done with the failure theater here.” 

Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) angrily said to his colleagues: “One thing. I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing. One. That I can go campaign on and say we did. One! Anybody sitting in the complex, if you want to come down to the floor and come explain to me, one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done besides, ‘Well, I guess it’s not as bad as the Democrats.’” 

In contrast, the Democrats with the same slim majority in the last Congress passed a series of sweeping bills that are already changing the country. Today marks the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that invested $1.2 trillion—$550 billion of it new spending—in roads, water systems, electrical grids, broadband, bridges, and so on.

So far, that act has seen the start of more than 37,000 projects across the country. Bridges, airports, and supply chain projects are underway, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The Democrats today emphasized that they are delivering on the things that make people’s lives easier, and the White House listed a number of Republicans who voted against the measure only to boast of the benefits of the infrastructure investments to their constituents.

 “And,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a video in which he echoed the tagline of the administration: “the great news is, we’re just getting started.” 

The investment in infrastructure is part of what has created a booming U.S. economy. Growth is far better in the U.S. than in Europe or China, where a property bubble and local government debts have led to deflation. 

That economic strength is standing behind President Joe Biden in San Francisco, where he traveled yesterday for a summit of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum (APEC groups economies, not nations). APEC economies make up almost half of world trade and about 62% of global gross domestic product. 

Today, Biden met with Chinese president Xi Jinping in a much anticipated second meeting since Biden took office. But even before today’s discussion, the two leaders announced a new climate agreement. The U.S. and China are the world’s two largest climate polluters, accounting for 38% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

China did not agree to phase out coal, which is the dirtiest fossil fuel, but both countries agreed to ramp up renewable energy capacity around the world and to reduce emissions in their power sectors overall. This is the first time China has agreed to cut emissions. In two weeks the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Dubai. Observers hope the willingness of China and the U.S. to make this announcement, even with its limitations, will jump-start negotiations there. 

Remarks by Biden and Xi before their meeting were cordial but tense. Biden emphasized that their “meetings have always been candid, straightforward, and useful,” telling Xi: “I value our conversation because I think it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication. We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. And we also have to manage it responsibly—that competition.”

Xi responded that the China-U.S. relationship “is the most important bilateral relationship in the world,” and while it “has never been smooth sailing over the past 50 years and more…, it has kept moving forward amid twists and turns. For two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides.”   

In their four-hour meeting, the two leaders agreed to recommence military communications more than a year after China broke them off when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation on stopping the flow of what are known as precursor chemicals—the chemicals needed to make street fentanyl—which are produced in China and shipped to drug operations primarily in Latin America. The U.S. has cracked down hard on that trade; additional Chinese cooperation will be welcome. 

They agreed to continue to work together to address climate change, as well as to address the risks of artificial intelligence. 

On the rest of their discussions, concerning Taiwan, human rights, the Middle East, and Ukraine, the two leaders “exchanged views,” according to the White House readout. Later in the day, meeting with business leaders who have grown nervous about investing in China, Xi assured them that China wants to be friends with the U.S., and “does not seek spheres of influence, and will not fight a cold or hot war with any country.”

In his remarks welcoming APEC leaders this evening, in the city of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, Biden emphasized the power of building bridges to span space and time, the past and the future. He spoke of connecting diverse communities: “All across the traditions, cultures, and languages, we find the common dreams we share for ourselves and for our children.” 

Biden urged his audience to “take full advantage of this summit to make new connections and spark new partnerships, because every step we take to deepen our cooperation, to launch a new venture, to tackle the challenges that impact on all of us is a step toward realization of the enormous potential of our Asian Pacific future…, a future where our economics are strong, vibrant, and sustainable because our workers are empowered and protected; women and girls are full and equal participants in every aspect of our society; young people…can envision for themselves the lives and hope for unlimited possibilities.”

The strongest tools we have to meet this era’s challenges, he said, are “connection, cooperation, collective action, and common purpose. That’s why we’re all here.”  

Late tonight, by a vote of 87 to 11, the Senate passed the continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year. One Democrat and ten Republicans voted no.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#extremist republicans #MAGAnazi #Heather Cox Richardson #China #international relations #the economy #election 2023 #elections 2024 #Xi #Infrastructure #government shutdown

[techradar-247]

Unraveling the Mystery: 'Pluto' Season 2 and Its Ambiguous Fate

Introduction: In the dynamic world of anime, 'Pluto,' the animated adaptation of Naoki Urasawa's acclaimed manga, held its ground as a reigning favorite on Netflix in 2023. Yet, the question that lingers in every fan's mind is whether 'Pluto' Season 2 is on the horizon or if it will gradually fade into the backdrop of obscurity. This article aims to dissect the intricate factors influencing the decision-making process while exploring the potential trajectory of this beloved sci-fi thriller.

The Renewal Quandary: 'Pluto' stands adorned with praise for its captivating storyline, mesmerizing action sequences, and visually stunning animation. However, an imposing obstacle obstructs the path to a second season—the anime has exhaustively covered the source material derived from Urasawa's manga. With 65 chapters and eight volumes spanning from 2003 to 2009, the absence of a sequel from the creator introduces an air of uncertainty regarding Netflix's green light for another season.

Navigating the Netflix Landscape: Netflix, renowned for its thorough evaluation of metrics before renewing a series, confronts a distinct challenge with 'Pluto.' Despite the undeniable popularity of the show, the scarcity of fresh source material casts doubts on a seamless continuation. In an industry where swift renewals and abrupt cancellations are commonplace, the destiny of 'Pluto' teeters on the precipice.

Revealing the Intricacies of the Narrative: 'Pluto' thrusts viewers into the world of Gesicht, a robot detective with Europol, on a global quest to unravel a series of deaths impacting both humans and robots. The deaths share a peculiar thread—anomalous objects resembling horns inserted into the victims' heads. The plot gains complexity as evidence suggests the unprecedented possibility of a robot committing these crimes, marking the first instance in eight years.

Potential for Narrative Exploration: Within the realm of uncertainty, a glimmer of optimism persists for fans yearning for 'Pluto' Season 2. If Netflix chooses to give the green light, the series might embark on alternate narrative avenues. This could involve exploring a different era or presenting a prequel, injecting a sense of freshness and intrigue into the storyline for avid viewers.

The Ensemble and Eager Expectations: The exceptional cast, featuring Shinshū Fuji as Gesicht, Hiroki Yasumoto as Mont Blanc, and Mamoru Miyano as Epsilon, undeniably contributed to the success of 'Pluto.' Should the series secure a renewal, fans can eagerly anticipate the return of these talented actors, resurrecting their beloved characters with newfound vigor.

In Summation: The heightened anticipation surrounding the uncertain fate of 'Pluto' Season 2 keeps fans on the edge of their seats. While the scarcity of new source material poses a formidable challenge, the undeniable popularity of the series may propel Netflix to explore innovative possibilities. Until an official announcement shatters the silence, the destiny of 'Pluto' Season 2 remains veiled in uncertainty, intensifying the suspense for the passionate anime community eagerly awaiting its resolution.

#pluto season 2 #pluto anime #anime #netflix series #naoki urasawa

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MahaRERA 2024: All About Maharashtra RERA Website In Detail

March 20, 2024: The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) is proposing a new system requiring developers in Mumbai to maintain three separate bank accounts for each project, aimed at enhancing oversight of project funds and safeguarding buyer interests.

These accounts include a Collection Account for all payments from buyers, a Separate Account for 70 per cent of collected funds designated for specific project expenses, and a Transaction Account for the remaining 30 per cent for other project-related costs.https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvXOcgVvPQ8?autoplay=1&mute=1&rel=0

MahaRERA emphasises that this system will bolster transparency, financial discipline, and security of funds, inviting public input until April 15th, 2024. The proposed benefits for homebuyers include increased fund security, improved transparency, and streamlined dispute resolution, marking a significant stride towards consumer protection and trust-building in Mumbai's real estate sector.

March 2024: The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has announced plans to introduce a grading system for real estate projects, aimed at empowering homebuyers and enhancing transparency in the sector. Scheduled to commence between October 2023 and March 2024, the grading process will evaluate projects based on criteria such as project overview, technical snapshot, financial details, and legal status. 

MahaRERA To Launch Project Grading System To Enhance Homebuying Experience

MahaRERA's project grading system aims to empower homebuyers with transparent insights into real estate projects The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) had suggested last year, a project grading system in order to help homebuyers make an informed decision. That plan may soon see the light of the day, as MahaRERA is expec...

The first round of grading results is expected in April 2024, with subsequent updates biannually. Additionally, MahaRERA has revoked the licenses of over 13,785 real estate agents who failed to renew their registrations, emphasising the need for compliance with regulations. 

The grading system seeks to enable informed decision-making for homebuyers by considering factors like financial risk, legal complexities, technical feasibility, and timely completion prospects, drawing inspiration from successful models in other countries. 

MahaRERA has actively solicited public feedback to refine the grading framework, reflecting a collaborative approach.

Jan 2024: The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has implemented a new policy mandating a 'one stand-alone project, one MahaRERA number' approach to prevent developers from obtaining multiple registration numbers for the same project. Effective immediately, developers must submit a declaration confirming the absence of existing registrations or pending applications for the project site. This initiative aims to address challenges related to project completion and streamline the registration process, enhancing transparency and accountability in the real estate sector. 

Introduction

In the realm of real estate regulation in India, Maharashtra stands out for establishing the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). This regulatory body, formed under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), has brought about substantial changes in the state's real estate sector. In this article, we explore MahaRERA's functions, its influence, and the extensive online platform it provides via the Maharashtra  RERA website.

#MaharashtraRERA #MahaRERA2024 #RealEstateRegulation #RERACompliance #PropertyLaws #MaharashtraProperty #RealEstateTransparency