Do not crowd, there will be enough interesting things for everyone! Who ordered a cat that has two "Eyes of Sauron" at once? What about a white moth with a chicken on its back? And this is just the tip of the iceberg, because we have prepared for you a lot of interesting photos with stories that will tell you about something that you have not seen yet. Some people are constantly striving to learn something new, while others are keen to share their experiences. Fortunately, there is a thread on Reddit that caters to the needs of both. We hope you are also from inquisitive minds who are eager to learn something new and interesting.

Make a coffee, sit back, we're getting started!

This piece of foam floated in the ocean for so long it looked like a stone.

"This tree that I met in Tokyo has grown over a fence and it looks like it put its elbows on it to lean back and relax."

"A friend of mine found a green stem growing out of a shell. It was a grain of popcorn."

"I just finished this puzzle that has no picture."

"It rained at night and washed away all my child's chalk drawings, except for the one under the sheet."

"The disappearing stain on my thumb looks like the development of a deadly virus."

Beets with a flawless heart shape

"The alarm clock at this hotel has three displays so you can see the time while lying on any bed in the room."

"I just landed in Berlin and the plane lights are colored."

Traffic light showing how long you have to wait

"Alien DJ on my coffee cup"

"Green bread with the addition of pandanus leaves is sold in Malaysia"

Perfectly trimmed tree in Seville, Spain

"Found a set of round playing cards"

"My grandparents measure time on the dial with one week instead of 24 hours."

Clear hot sauce

"My friend looks like a giant"

A cat with two "Eyes of Sauron"

A boat that has a part for underwater views

Single egg tray

"Bumped into a Danish door leading to a field"

Someone crocheted a cover for this tree

Butterfly with transparent wings

This is a building that looks like a huge open cardboard box.

Fleet of delivery robots at work

The leaves of this tree grow in such a way that it feels like it was blurred in Photoshop.

White moth with a picture of a chicken on the back

"The color of my red pen is exactly the same shade as the margins in the notebook."

Babies sleep on the street in the courtyard of a hospital to strengthen the immune system, Moscow, USSR, 1958

Raindrops only cling to the colored areas of this poster.

National Geographic's door handles are shaped like the brand's logo

"My oatmeal became smooth and egg-shaped after I ran to work."

There is a miniature copy of it near this temple so that blind people can get acquainted with its architecture.

Tiny starfish

Pizza box opening from the center

Smoke from the fire painted the cobweb black

"Gradient colors on eggs that I collected from my chickens"

The photographs on the walls of this pub curve along with the walls

These chairs have a recess so you can hang your bag

"My coffee with milk came out the same color as my mug."

"This cactus has been growing from the metal roof of my friends for 4 years now."

Tiny seashell in sea salt

It says "Closed"

Funny patterns on ventilation grilles in new Swedish trains

A bench and a table made of rails. Vandalism level: 100

Toilet paper that helps you learn English

Stone before and after polishing

This is what bags of potato chips look like in a store located at an altitude of 2250 meters.

Here's what $ 1 million looks like in 10 dollar bills.

Plain 2D graffiti, but it looks like it's three-dimensional

From the inside, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is hollow

Wolves can be very large

At a time when there were still no clocks, people used candles with marks, each of which marked 1 hour. If it was necessary to set an alarm, then people simply stuck nails into the candle and put it on a metal surface.

Another alternative to the alarm clock was special people who were paid to spit frozen peas at windows to wake people up for work.

How much Shanghai (China) has changed in just 20 years

Jupiter and Saturn's Northern Lights compared to Earth

These two photos are exactly the same - they were taken from the same angle, they have the same crop and contain the same pixels, but the second one looks different

There is a truck on the left in this photo.

Inside the fire alarm is the usual small toggle switch.

The annual presentation of new Apple products took place in Cupertino. The head of the company started the event not with the technical innovations, as usual, but with promotional series on the Apple + platform, for example, the spectators waited for the new project with Will Farrell and Paul Rudd. After that, it moved on to the long-awaited presentation.



So, here are the new Apple products:

iPad with updated processor and Center Stage technology, the price starts at 329 USD.

iPad mini in new colors. Price 499 USD.

The Apple Watch will come out with a 40% smaller frame, but the screen itself will be 70% brighter. The watch will also charge faster than other models. The price is 399 USD.

Now let's move on to the iPhone.

iPhone 13 will be launched in several new colors and with the most durable glass of all models. The phone display became 28% brighter. Of course, the gadget's camera has improvements. Now the battery lasts 2.5 hours longer. The 13th series will come in two sizes: mini, priced at $ 699 and standard at $ 799.

iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, which some lucky ones will receive for their birthday or winter holidays, are available in four colors, including the new Sierra Blue color. It has three updated cameras, improved video quality, a new ultra-wide camera and a few gadgets with a nicer design. Another important innovation of the new phone: a memory capacity of 1 TB. Prices for new items: starting at $ 999 for iPhone 13 Pro and $ 1099 for iPhone 13 Pro Max.

According to rumors circulating on the internet, Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant, could be replaced by Sam. It is difficult to find accurate information about the origin of images on social networks. But according to our research, they were published by mistake by the illustration studio Lightfarm.

According to an article published by mistake, Lightfarm allegedly signed a collaboration with Cheil - a communications agency belonging to Samsung. The article and associated images were removed immediately after publication, but an archive saved online can be viewed here at any time to see that the news is substantiated.

Sam is said to be a virtual female character with features reminiscent of a Pixar character. Many people expect Bixby to be replaced in the future, but rumors circulating online bring other surprises.

As you may have noticed, the new Korean assistant will have a female gender. This would mean that Samsung will reinforce stereotypes based on this aspect. Therefore, will the big company be able to get rid of the criticisms that will appear? Because there is a risk that such a feminized assistant will amplify sexism.

In April 2021, Apple removed the categorization of its Siri assistant's voices by gender. Now they are called "Voice 1" and "Voice 2" instead of "Male" and "Female". In addition, there is no default setting. When an iPhone is set up, you are now asked to choose one of the voices.

In short, Assistant Sam is a rumor that should be viewed with skepticism (at least until we learn more about him). It could be a simple proposal mistakenly published by the Brazilian studio.

1.Time to go

2.Going to sale

3.Sam be like

4.Woops

5.That's why

6.It be like

7.Release

8.We need him

9.Marketing

10.Rename

11.Buy sony

12.Me

13.Here we go again

14.Who you are

15.The reality

16.Write down

17.Timeline

18.Who you are

19.Sam is my girlfriend

20.She is so cool

21.Virtual assistant

22.Super stonks

23.Not her

24.4 days?

25.Bixby bye

26.We have a choice

27.Samsung girl

28.Where waifu?

29.So hot

30.Monke forever

What is Reddit? It's a site that calls itself the "first page of the Internet." The most popular things on the web get here with the help of users. The process is simple.

Reddit is thus a kind of social aggregator of news and content, which is based on the popular vote. The community is known to be very pretentious and tough, but the entrance is harder, because Reddit catches on quickly, through the addiction it creates.

What can be uploaded to Reddit? Almost anything. At the end of this material we have put some links to subreddits, ie subcategories of the site, based on common interests. But these are a tiny part. Anyone can open a Subreddit and moderate it. The important thing is for users to come to it, just like you would a news sub-bred.

Thus, Bemorepanda collected the top 30 news on reddit.

1.China Uses Rape as Torture Tactic Against Uighur Detainees, Victims Say

Upvotes: 61.8k

According to testimonies obtained by the BBC, women inmates in China's "re-education camps" for Muslim Uyghurs have been systematically raped and tortured.

The US government said it was deeply alarmed by BBC material detailing allegations of systematic rape of Uyghur women in Chinese camps.

"These atrocities are shocking and should have serious consequences," a government spokesman said.

British Government Minister Nigel Adams also on Thursday condemned in parliament the practice described in the material in the camps, calling it a clear evil.

It is estimated that over a million Uyghurs and other minorities are being held in camps in China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the material, based on the testimony of several former prisoners and one guard, a fake.

Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that there is no systemic violence against women in China and that China runs all of its institutions in accordance with human rights guidelines.

"China is a country ruled by law, our constitution guarantees and protects human rights, this is embodied in our legal system, according to which governments operate," he said.

2.Police killed baby when shooting at father's truck, Canada watchdog finds

Upvotes: 18,2k

Police in the American city of Cleveland shot a 12-year-old boy who was holding a pneumatic pistol that was outwardly indistinguishable from a combat one.

Police said the teenager Tamir Rice was shot after failing to comply with a request to raise his hands in the air.

The police were called by a passerby who said that the teenager scares people by brandishing a pistol. The caller added that he did not know if it was a real pistol.

The police fired two shots. The boy died in hospital shortly after the incident.

Cleveland Deputy Chief of Police Ed Tomba said Tamir Rice did not shout any threats or point a pistol at the police.

According to law enforcement officers, the boy had an air pistol that lacked an orange safety indicator that would distinguish him from the real one.

The head of the Cleveland Police Association, Jeff Vollmer, said the police did not know the gun might not be real.

At the moment, the incident is being investigated. Both police officers are sent on administrative leave - this is standard practice in such cases.

3.Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza's 2015 and 2017 poisonings linked to the same FSB Unit that poisoned Navalny.

Upvotes: 6.6k

Bellingcat's team of investigators found that FSB officers who followed Alexei Navalny on the day of his poisoning also systematically monitored the movements of opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. both before his first and second hospitalizations.

The opposition politician was allegedly poisoned twice. In 2015, Kara-Murza suddenly became ill while meeting with colleagues. The doctors diagnosed him with acute renal failure due to intoxication. For a long time, the politician was in a state of artificial coma, was connected to artificial life support devices.

"Unidentified substance" and "aggressive inaction": poisoning of oppositionists in Russia

Kara-Murza is sure that he was poisoned. An examination carried out in France established a significant excess of the norm for the content of heavy metals in the politician's body, but the Russian forensic medical examination was unable to confirm the poisoning.

Two years later, in February 2017, Kara-Murza was hospitalized in critical condition in a Moscow hospital with the same symptoms as the first time. Kara-Murza survived. As he later said, doctors claimed that his chances of survival were about 5%.

After the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, Kara-Murza said in an interview that the symptoms described by Navalny "coincide one to one with those symptoms" that he himself had with both poisonings.

4.Global salmon farming harming marine life and costing billions in damage |

Upvotes: 4,4k

The global salmon farming industry estimates that salmon farming destroys marine ecosystems through pollution, parasites and high fish mortality, causing billions of pounds a year.

Collectively, these costs totaled about $ 50 billion between 2013 and 2019, according to a report released Thursday.

Fish mortality has more than quadrupled, from 3% in 2002 to about 13.5% in 2019, only on Scottish salmon farms. About one-fifth of these deaths are reported as a result of sea lice infestation, but about two-thirds are not taken into account, so the actual mortality of sea lice feeding on the skin and mucus of salmon, in fact consuming live fish, it can be much superior. ...

Scotland is one of the largest producers of farmed salmon in the world and generates around £ 2 billion a year for the Scottish economy. But from an environmental perspective alone, it is estimated that Just Economics spent £ 1.4 billion between 2013 and 2019, which conducted research on a report called Dead Loss for the Changing Markets Foundation.

The large amount of wild fish used on salmon farms is also a growing concern. About a fifth of the world's annual catches of wild fish, about 18 million tonnes of wild fish per year, are used to produce fishmeal and fish oil, of which about 70% goes fishing. This poses problems for fishermen in developing countries, who see their stocks dwindle to feed Western consumption of farmed fish, according to the report.

5.Second Victim Dies Of Ebola In Congo, Marking Virus's Return

Upvotes: 3,3k

The second person to contract the Ebola virus died this week in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was another outbreak just three months after the country experienced the second worst outbreak of the virus in history.

The youngest victim came from North Kivu province, the World Health Organization and the Ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said on Thursday.

The death came a week after the death of a 42-year-old woman from Ebola. As the wife of an Ebola survivor, she was admitted to intensive care on February 4 and died the same day. She was buried on February 5, but not according to good burial practice to prevent the spread of Ebola. In previous outbreaks, body manipulation has been minimized and carried out by trained teams.

The lab confirmed that she tested positive for Ebola the day after her funeral.

6.Shell says its oil production has peaked and will fall every year

Upvotes: 2,4k

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) has announced that oil production and carbon emissions have peaked as there are detailed plans for phasing out fossil fuels. Climate activists have said this is not enough.

The Anglo-Dutch company said in a statement on Thursday that it expects its oil production to fall by 1-2% annually, after a peak in 2019. Total carbon emissions are likely to increase in 2018, he said.

In September, Shell announced plans to become a zero-emission business (including its own and marketed products) by 2050 and switch to clean energy with European competitors BP (BP) and Total (TOT).

Oil giants have canceled billions of dollars in assets based on forecasts that global oil demand will never return to pre-pandemic levels due to changes in lifestyle and movement of people, as well as growing fears about the climate crisis .

Shell is now determining how he will achieve his goals. It wants to sell more clean energy by investing in carbon capture and reforestation projects to offset emissions. In addition, the business for the production and sale of biofuels will be expanded.

7.Iranian nuke scientist killed by Israeli 1-ton automated gun

Upvotes: 2.0k

Leading Iranian scholar Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in November by a Mossad group using one-ton automatic weapons that were smuggled into Iran in parts, according to a report published in the Jewish Chronicle in London on Wednesday.

The report says the US was not involved in an operation that could have led to the cancellation of Iran's nuclear program for years.

The veracity of the message cannot be independently verified.

Apparently based at least in part on unnamed Israeli sources, the report came in time to send a signal to both Iran, which is openly violating the 2015 P5 + 1 nuclear deal, and the new US administration, which intends to renegotiate the agreement, stressing, that Israel's decision to take any action is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Fakhrizadeh was killed on a road outside Tehran on November 27. Iran accused Israel of striking.

8.Senate votes to expand Canadians' access to assisted death; amendment allows people who fear losing mental capacity to make advance request

Upvotes: 1,8k

On Wednesday, senators voted to expand Canada's dying regime so that people who fear mental loss can seek medical attention in advance to commit suicide.

The amendment to Bill C-7 was approved by 47 votes to 28, with eight abstentions.

Senator Pamela Wallin, a member of the Canadian senatorial group that proposed the amendment, said the law now captures Canadians in a "twisted diagnostic lottery." She noted that someone diagnosed with terminal cancer may receive help in the form of death, but someone with Alzheimer's or other conditions that affect cognitive function may have already lost the mental capacity to consent at the time of diagnosis.

“As someone with a history of dementia in my family, I am looking for peace of mind that will give prior request and consent,” Wallin told the Senate.

“I am certainly not alone in this belief. Most Canadians have come to the same conclusion. "

Giving people the opportunity to submit written requests in advance indicating when they would like death assistance “would give those who fear losing their conscious abilities the confidence that they can access MAID (Assisted Death). where consent may not be possible, ”Wallin said.

9.EU Starts Work on Russia Sanctions Over Navalny Imprisonment

Upvotes: 1,7k

The European Union is working on a proposal to impose sanctions on Russia over the imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was subjected to a near-fatal attack on a nerve agent that he and Western governments blamed Russian intelligence for.

EU ambassadors discussed punitive measures at a meeting on Wednesday, according to two diplomats familiar with the discussion. No Member State objected to the proposal, said one person, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations were private.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano declined to comment on the talks, but added that "work is underway" on possible actions. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that the EU's next steps could include sanctions and "presenting concrete proposals."

The sanctions deal came after Borrell was heavily criticized for a humiliating trip to Moscow last week, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used a joint press conference to condemn the bloc, criticizing the EU as a reliable partner. Russia simultaneously announced the expulsion of three diplomats from Poland, Germany and Sweden for "registered participation" in protests against Navalny's prison. EU countries reciprocated.

10.China bans BBC for 'content violation'

Upvotes: 1,9k

The Beijing regulator said early Friday that it had banned the BBC World Service from China for what state media called “grave content violations,” and RTHK also decided to stop the broadcaster's live coverage.

The ban by mainland officials comes amid a controversy over British broadcaster reporting on the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and following a decision by the British broadcasting regulator to revoke Beijing-backed CGTN license.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted the National Radio and Television Administration as saying, “Since the channel does not meet the requirements for broadcasting in China as an overseas channel, BBC World News cannot continue to operate in China.

11.Saudi Activist who led the campaign to legalize Driving for Women is Released from Jail

Upvotes: 1,0k

According to her family, Saudi Arabia has released the detained activist Lujain al-Khatlul, best known for spearheading a campaign to legalize driving for women in Saudi Arabia. She was held in custody for almost three years.

The 31-year-old activist was detained in May 2018 along with several other activists, just weeks before the Saudi Arabian government lifted the ban.

In December, a judge sentenced al-Khatlul to five years and eight months in prison under broad anti-terrorism law. The charges against her include exchanging information with foreign diplomats and journalists and trying to change the Saudi system.

The judge suspended part of her sentence and gave time for another part, which led to her release on Wednesday. Al-Khatlul has already appealed her conviction under the anti-terrorism law.

12.A group of tourists have gone missing in an infamous Russian mountain pass where nine people died under mysterious circumstances more than 60 years ago.

Upvotes: 892

A group of tourists disappeared during the infamous roller coaster ride in which nine people died mysteriously over 60 years ago.

Eight Moscow tourists who ventured to the Dyatlov Pass in the Urals region did not return until Wednesday morning, as expected, a local resident told E1.RU.

The source said: “They were supposed to leave at eight o'clock this morning. But they have not returned yet and there is no contact with them. "

According to the source, tourists came to visit the crossing to honor the memory of the nine people who died on it in February 1959.

13.Undercover footage at French pig farm shows 'abusive' conditions

Upvotes: 795

French veterinary officials have been accused of publishing the results of a "hopeful" inspection after secret footage of a farm in December showed pigs in conditions that continued to break regulations following allegations of abuse.

The farm is a supplier of the Herta de Frankfurter brand, partly owned by Nestlé, which is sold in most major UK supermarkets.

In December 2020, French nongovernmental organization L214 released classified images that appear to show pig cannibalism and other serious problems at a farm supplying Herta-branded pigs. The brand is 60% owned by the Spanish food company Casa Tarradellas and 40% by Nestlé.

The allegations led Waitrose to suspend sales of Herta products and Nestlé to suspend shipments from the Herta farm pending an investigation. Separately, the Allier region government has launched its own investigation.

On December 16, Allier effectively dropped all charges of mistreatment from the pig farmer. His statement said: "Overall, the inspection concluded that the farm is in good condition and there are no major inconsistencies."

However, new secret images, which were allegedly captured in January 2021 and released today, appear to show pigs in conditions that still violate French rules, L214 reports. The violations cited by NGOs include: lack of hay, straw or other bedding, lack of obvious fresh water, pigs with tied tails, and inappropriate floors.

14.Australian state of Victoria to go into Stage 4 Lockdowns from Midnight after 12 community transmission cases of UK COVID-19 Strain detected.

Upvotes: 766

Health Secretary Martin Foley has said bluntly that the blockade is an attempt to avoid the “third wave,” a language that Victorian politicians usually try very hard to avoid, so I would say this is a sure indicator of how seriously they take it. flash.

“The important need to overcome this virus and make a short and abrupt transition is that we don't have a third wave. And the third wave will be a disaster, especially for our vulnerable Victorians. these people feel bad in hospitals. "

15.A leader of the Polish Women’s Strike, the movement that has led mass nationwide protests against a near total abortion ban in Poland, has been charged with criminal felonies. Marta Lempart was formally read the charges at the district prosecutor’s office in Warsaw

Upvotes: 488

The leader of the Polish Women's Strike, a movement that has led massive protests across the country against Poland's near-total abortion ban, is accused of crimes.

Marta Lempart told The Associated Press on Thursday that the allegations were made public at the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

The charges against Lempart include insulting a police officer and provoking an epidemiological threat to organize protests during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Polish law, a person can receive from six months to eight years in prison for creating an epidemiological threat.

Lempart was also accused of praising church vandalism and "malicious obstruction" of religious services after positive comments in a radio interview that protesters sprayed paint on church facades and thwarted the masses during protests.

Lempart told The Associated Press that he sees the allegations as increasing political pressure on his movement.

Development is underway as the European Union has repeatedly expressed concern about the undermining of democratic rules in a member state. LGBT and independent media are also under intense pressure from the right-wing government.

16.Biden says call with Chinese leader Xi lasted two hours

Upvotes: 400

President Joe Biden said he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping for two hours on Wednesday night.

“They will, if we don't move, they will eat our lunch,” Biden told reporters. It was their first phone call as leaders, and Biden said that a free and open Indo-Pacific region is a priority and that a standoff with Xi's warning would be a "disaster" for both countries.

17.Nepal has banned two Indian climbers and their team leader for six years from mountaineering in the country after an investigation found they had faked their 2016 climb up Mt Everest.

Upvotes: 483

Nepal has banned two Indian climbers and their team leader from climbing the country for six years after an investigation showed they provoked a climb to Mount Everest in 2016.

The ascent of Narendra Singh Yadav and Sima Rani Goswami was certified by the tourism department at that time.

A lawsuit was brought against them when they did not provide any evidence after Yadav was nominated for the award.

Mr Yadav and Ms Goswami have yet to comment on Wednesday's statement.

Reaching the top of the mountain at 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft) is considered a brilliant thing for climbers around the world.

18.These satellite images capture the enormity of India's devastating glacier collapse

Upvotes: 641

Rescuers continue to hunt for survivors after severe floods in the Indian Himalayas, scientists were busy collecting pieces of data to figure out what happened.

Research is ongoing, but early reports suggest it was the result of what is known as a glacial lake eruption flood, and appears to have been premature.

The natural disaster that has dropped rocks, ice and water into river systems in northern Uttarakhand has already killed more than 20 people, and local reports suggest that at least 100 people are still not expected.

19.From Myanmar to Ethiopia, internet shutdowns become favoured tool of regimes

Upvotes: 368

When Myanmar's army generals staged a coup last week, they briefly turned off internet access in an apparent attempt to thwart the protests. In Uganda, residents have been unable to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media for several weeks after the recent elections. And in the northern region of Ethiopia, Tigray, the Internet has been on the decline in a matter of months due to wider conflict.

Globally, shutting down the Internet is becoming an increasingly popular tactic of repressive and authoritarian regimes and illiberal democracies. Digital rights groups say governments use it to suppress dissent, silence opposition voices, or cover up human rights abuses, raising fears of restrictions on free speech.

Regimes often cut access to the network in response to protests or civil unrest, especially in relation to elections, as they try to maintain power by restricting the flow of information, researchers say. It is the digital equivalent of the control over local television and radio stations that was part of the pre-Internet despots' manual.

“Over the years, the shutdown of the Internet has not been reported or reported incorrectly,” said Alp Toker, founder of Internet monitoring organization Netblocks. The world "begins to understand what is happening" by documenting such efforts.

20.B.C. man ordered to pay $7 million for brutal beating of teenager

Upvotes: 378

The Kamloops man was forced to pay nearly $ 7 million to cover health care costs and missed the opportunity of a teenager he nearly beat to death with a baseball bat because he broke into his yard.

Jesse Simpson was 18 and weighed about 135 pounds when she got lost in Christopher Teichreib's yard on June 19, 2016 after celebrating her high school graduation with a group of friends.

Teichrib, who was 39 years old and weighed 220 kilograms, was worried about a burglary next door.

According to B.C. According to the Supreme Court ruling, an elderly man punched and kicked Simpson and then beat him with a bat strong enough to inflict injuries, which an RCMP officer called "the worst he has ever seen," including when the victim was beaten to death. of death ".

21.Over 60% of S. Korean youth say unification with NK necessary: survey

Upvotes: 218

The poll showed that more than six in 10 young people in South Korea find it necessary to unite with North Korea.

In a survey conducted by the Ministries of Education and Education of 68,750 elementary, middle and high school students across the country from November 2-30 last year, 62.4 percent said the two Koreas should be reunited.

This result is 6.9 percentage points higher than a similar survey conducted a year ago. Among the students who saw the need for unification, 28.4% cited a reduction in the threat of war, and 25.5% named common ethnic roots as the reason.

The proportion of those who considered merging unnecessary also rose to 24.2 percent, compared with 13.7 percent in 2018 and 19.4 percent in 2019. Potential economic and social problems that could sweat at the event were the most common reasons they cited for their opposition. 27.6 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

Of the total number of respondents, 13.4% stated that they had not decided on this issue.

54.7% of those surveyed said they consider North Korea a cooperative partner, up 10.9% annually. The share of those who considered the North a country to be wary of fell by 11.6 percentage points to 24.2 percent.

The share of those who rated the Seoul-Pyongyang relationship as “inconvenient” was 35.2%, an increase for the second year in a row.

The two Koreas are technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty. Seoul and Pyongyang have made progress in cross-border trade since the North's participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics, which has subsequently led to historic high-level bilateral diplomacy.

But the peace did not last long as the summit of former US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi in February 2019 collapsed without a peace deal. (Yonhap)

22.Ozone layer recovery back on track after China slows CFC-11 production

Upvotes: 236

In recent years, scientists have been alarmed by the unexplained sudden increase in the amount of ozone-depleting chemicals in the atmosphere. Higher levels of trichlorofluoromethane, also known as CFC-11, are found in air samples despite being officially banned worldwide since 2010.

Scientists were concerned that this growth is slowing efforts to provide a thin layer of protection from the Earth's atmosphere, which absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. Unfiltered exposure to sunlight can contribute to DNA damage and increase the long-term risk of skin cancer and other health problems.

23.New Zealand schoolkids helping save butterfly on the verge of extinction

Upvotes: 257

An initiative led by Christchurch elementary school students helped create a new home for a local butterfly, so rare that it has no scientific name.

Fifteen copper boulder butterflies, relatives of the Canterbury copper butterflies, were released Thursday into purpose-built habitat at Burnside Elementary School.

Science teacher Bianca Voyak said the project was born after science students in grades 3 and 4 became "obsessed with insects," in part due to an advertisement for an insect collection at Countdown supermarket.

Voyak managed to convince Animal Planet's Ruud Kleinpaste to talk to the students.

24.Millions of counterfeit N95 masks distributed to health care workers in the U.S.

Upvotes: 185

Thousands of fake 3M respirators have passed by American researchers in recent months, reaching the cheeks and beards of healthcare professionals and perplexed experts who say they are not much below reality.

N95 masks are prized for their ability to filter 95% of the smallest particles that coronavirus can carry. But the lies that have poured into the country have deceived health officials from coast to coast. According to the state hospital association, up to 1.9 million fake 3M masks have been shipped to about 40 hospitals in Washington state, prompting officials to alert employees and remove the masks from the shelf. Cleveland's elite clinic recently admitted that it has accidentally distributed 3M counterfeits to hospital staff since November. The Minnesota hospital did the same.

Nurses at the University of Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ have been extremely suspicious since November that the deformed and odd-smelling 3M masks they were given were knockoffs, and their concerns were fueled by the number of batches of masks. matches the number of batches of masks the company has listed on the Internet as possible fakes.

25.Trudeau's criticism of Trump cited at U.S. impeachment trial | CBC News

Upvotes: 170

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's critical comments about Donald Trump following the January 6 attack on the Capitol were recorded in the process of overthrowing the former US president.

Democrats, urging the U.S. Senate to condemn Trump for inciting insurgency and prevent him from running for office again, said Thursday the attack on the Capitol damaged the reputation of American democracy around the world.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas MP who is one of the layoff managers acting against Trump, argued that the circumstances surrounding the January 6 uprising could have devastating consequences for democracy around the world.

He said the US is at risk of losing the ability to promote free government beyond its borders.

Castro cited comments from China, Russia, and Iran, ridiculing the United States and suggesting that you think about your own business from now on. He quoted one senior Russian parliamentarian as saying: "The celebration of democracy is over ... America is no longer on its course and therefore has lost all rights to establish it."

26.ISIS could regain capacity to orchestrate attacks in 2021: UN official - Times of India

Upvotes: 155

Deputy Secretary General, head of the Counter-Terrorism Directorate Vladimir Voronkov said this at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Today, the UN Security Council, chaired by Tunisia, held a ministerial meeting on “Trends, Challenges and Opportunities” to mark the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1373 (2001), which, among other things, established the Counter-Terrorism Committee. This decision was made after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States - in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.

Since then, as Voronkov noted, the threat of terrorism has not disappeared. Despite the loss of many leaders, Al-Qaeda is not only still functioning - it has turned into a dangerous transnational model of regional formations that parasitize on conflicts and deprivation of the population. In addition, new terrorist groups have emerged, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

ISIS is actively using social media to recruit followers around the world, create overseas cells and "nurture" foreign fighters.

“ISIS fighters were defeated in Iraq and Syria, having lost control over [occupied] territories. However, this grouping continues to pose a threat to the region, carries out attacks and tries to return to operations outside the region, "Voronkov stressed.

Today, he said, the priority is to bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed by ISIS, as well as to ensure the repatriation of thousands of foreign nationals with ties to ISIS, mostly women and children who are huddled in overcrowded camps, mostly in Syria.

“We must remain extremely vigilant, constantly remembering that for many states the terrorist threat remains very real,” the Deputy Secretary General warned.

According to him, today terrorists parasitize on the difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and also use "manifestations of polarization and hate speech that have become more frequent during the pandemic."

27.Employees of Iron Ore mine in Canada's artic, stranded by indigenous protests write letter in support asking for expansion to be called off. Company theatens to fire workers who support indigenous protesters.

Upvotes: 174

The CBC received an open letter, written by a "sizable minority" of the Mary River mine currently stranded in Nunavut to protest, saying they recognize the Inuit as "the guardians of the country."

About 700 employees in the southern provinces have been stuck in the Nunavut mine after a group of protesters staged a blockade last week, blocking roads and runways. Protesters are protesting against my proposed expansion of the Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation and fearing the consequences for the water and surrounding areas.

CBC verified the authenticity of the letter and recognized the anonymity of the miners. The letter was edited in style:

This is an open letter to the Baffinland Mary River protesters from a group of miners.

Our managers have warned us that a public statement about this may lead to its termination, so this letter must remain anonymous.

We are writing to express our full support for the efforts, means and purposes of your protest. We do not pretend to represent the views of the majority of Baffinland workers, but we represent a significant minority.

We recognize the Inuit as the legal custodians of this land and the people who must make decisions about how to use it.

Your protest has sparked a lot of talk among the workers here. Many of us are disappointed that our return flights have been delayed, but some also consider this a small thing compared to the hundreds of years of colonization and cultural destruction that Aboriginal people have experienced - and continue to experience - at the hands of Canadians. government and private sector.

This country saw the consequences of law and greed that led to the destruction of land for profit, and we are glad that you are fighting for the autonomy of your land.

You said that you are not dissatisfied with the workers, but the directors of Baffinland, and we would like to say that we also support not the bosses in the company, but you.

Many times we have looked back at huge piles of iron ore surrounded by kilometers of rusty snow, colossal diesel tanks and clouds of exhaust gases hanging over the camp, and thought, "What the hell are we doing here?"

We strongly believe that the company should listen to your requests and give you what you want, even though that won't be enough. Given the horrific history of this country and how your voices were drowned out in the process, what could be enough?

Despite the order now requiring you to clear the runway, we hope you can achieve your goal of preventing the doubling of production and the construction of the railroad in the second phase of the Baffinland project.

Pond Inlet Protesters Say Mine Expansion Ignores Nunavut Agreement

This expansion will obviously affect wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem, which will be another step towards destroying the means to support you through hunting. We see the importance of protecting the lifestyles that you have been practicing for millennia.

A message to the public only after learning of this: Baffinland workers are safe and not endangered at any stage of this situation.

The protesters from the very beginning said they would release flights in case of an accident. We have enough food to last for a long time, and although we are disappointed with the cancellation of our flights, as I said earlier, this is nothing compared to how important it is to listen to the voices of these people as they fight to protect their land and culture.

28.Twenty Israelis suspected of selling advanced missiles to Asian country — the suspects, who include former Israeli defense officials, 'developed, manufactured and tested' the weapons before clandestinely selling them

Upvotes: 140

More than 20 Israelis, including former employees of Israeli defense firms, have been prosecuted for illegally selling weapons to their American rival in Asia.

Most of the details of the investigation, including information about the country in which the investigation is ongoing, were not disclosed. Sources familiar with the investigation said the case was extremely delicate as it could affect Israel's foreign relations and lead to a superpower crisis.

According to a statement by Israeli police on Thursday, an investigation by Shin Bet security found the suspects "have developed, produced, tested and sold military missiles to an Asian country."

The suspects, Shin Bet said, received instructions from "elements" in the Asian country in exchange for substantial sums of money and other perks. Contacts were maintained in secret. Some Shabak officials said there were fears that information about the missiles could reach enemy countries because the country to which they were sold has ties with them.

29.Ukraine bans registration of Russian COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19-related drugs, as a measure against Russian agression

Upvotes: 135

Ukraine has officially banned registration of the coronavirus vaccines developed by Russia, according to a government decree released Wednesday.

Ukraine, one of the poorest countries in Europe, has lagged behind in launching a vaccination program against COVID-19, which has infected more than 1.25 million Ukrainians and killed 23,934 since February 10.

But the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that the country will not use Russian vaccines such as Sputnik V, calling them "Russia's hybrid weapon against Ukraine."

Kiev and Moscow have been under control since the annexation of Crimea by Ukraine in 2014 and its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"Registration of vaccines, ... the production of which was carried out in a state recognized by the Ukrainian parliament as an aggressor state, is prohibited," the decree says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that Kiev has received 20 million doses of the vaccine from the Indian Serum Institute and the global COVAX scheme, and that the government hopes to begin vaccinating its 41 million population in mid-February.

In December, he agreed to buy 1.9 million doses of Sinovac Biotech in China for $ 18 per picture through a Ukrainian reseller. Ukraine also expects to receive 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Poland.

Ukrainian investigators have launched an investigation into whether the government was buying the vaccines at high prices. Health Minister Maxim Stepanov said on Wednesday that the government is open and transparent about procurement.

30.100-year-old man charged with Holocaust atrocities

Upvotes: 249

German prosecutors accused the 100-year-old former SS concentration camp guard of aiding the murder of 3,518 people.

According to the Neuruppin Prosecutor's Office in Brandenburg, the man is accused of witnessing the "knowingly and voluntarily" murder of prisoners in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, from January 1942 to February 1945.

The man's name is not disclosed due to German privacy laws.

The charges include involvement in the execution of Soviet prisoners of war in 1942 and support and incitement to the killing of detainees using the poisonous gas Zyklon B, as well as other shootings and murders of prisoners by creating and maintaining hostile conditions in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Sachsenhausen was founded in 1936. It is estimated that of the roughly 200,000 inmates who passed through it, about 100,000 died there. During World War II, the number of prisoners in the camp ranged from 11,000 to 48,000.

Prosecutors believe the man could face trial despite his advanced age, Cyril Clement, Neuruppin's senior prosecutor, told CNN.

Clement told CNN that the Neuruppin District Court consulted with a forensic psychiatrist and found that the man could attend the trial, albeit only for a few hours a day, with interruptions.

Now the court is considering the possibility of continuing the trial. The defendant first has the opportunity to answer the indictment.

According to the Central Office for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes, German prosecutors are investigating several more cases related to the concentration camps in Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, Mauthausen and Stutthof.

Just last week, the former secretary of the Stutthof concentration camp was charged with complicity in the murder of 10,000 people. Itzejo's prosecutors did not name the woman, but a statement said they charged her with “aiding and abetting murder in more than 10,000 cases,” as well as complicity in attempted murder.

Last year, the Hamburg District Court sentenced former concentration camp guard Bruno D. to two years probation. It turned out that he worked as an SS guard in Stutthof and, according to the court, helped and supported the murder of 5,232 people there.

Approximately 6 million Jews were killed in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Hundreds of thousands of Roma and people with physical disabilities or learning difficulties were also killed.