Tag Archives: May 2023

Documentary: The ‘Hidden Volcano Abyss’ In Tonga

NOVA PBS Official (May 10, 2023) – In January 2022, one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history rocked the Pacific islands of Tonga, sending shockwaves around the world.

Video timeline: 00:00 Introduction 01:47 The Day of the Eruption in Tonga: Firsthand Accounts 08:44 Geologists Study the Volcano to Determine the Cause of the Eruption 20:49 Understanding the Unpredictability of Submarine Volcanoes. 27:00 The Tsunami Caused by the Eruption in Tonga 41:55 Studying Tofua: The Volcanic Twin of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai 50:10 How Communities Can Prepare for Future Eruptions and Tsunami

Through first-person accounts of the disaster and eyewitness footage, experience the terrifying power of the eruption and the devastating tsunami that struck the shores of Tonga. Why was this eruption so big, how did it cause the tsunami, and could another disaster loom?

News: Imran Khan Arrest Roils Pakistan, Norway To Lead The Arctic Council

The Globalist, May 11, 2023: The arrest of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan ignites protests across the country. Plus: Russia hands over chairing the Arctic Council to Norway, and the latest aviation news.

Front Page: The New York Times —- May 10, 2023

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George Santos Is Charged With Fraud and Lying in 13-Count Indictment

Representative George Santos pleaded not guilty to all counts on Wednesday.
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The first-term congressman pleaded not guilty to charges that included accusations of fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits.

F.D.A. Advisers Say Benefits of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Outweigh Risks

An advisory committee to the F.D.A. voted unanimously on Wednesday that the agency should approve a birth control pill for over-the-counter use for the first time in the United States.

The agency is expected to decide this summer whether to allow the first nonprescription sales of an oral contraceptive in the United States.

Open-Armed Chicago Feels the Strains of a Migrant Influx

Asylum seekers are pouring in at a fraught moment, when Chicago is changing mayors, its shelters are full, and a pandemic-driven restriction at the southern border is expected to end.

Aboard ‘the Beast’ on a Journey to America

Migrants slip onto a freight train in Mexico headed north to Ciudad Juárez, where most will try to cross into the United States.

Research Preview: Nature Magazine – May 11, 2023

Volume 617 Issue 7960

nature Magazine – May 11, 2023 issue: The human reference genome has been the backbone of human genomics since the release of the draft sequence in 2001. But it has its limitations: one genome cannot hope to capture the diversity of the human species. In this week’s issue, the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium presents the first draft human pangenome, which combines genetic material from 47 genetically diverse individuals to provide a more complete picture of the human genome.

They’re a couple: JWST is first to spot pair of mysterious ‘Y dwarfs’

A dark brown sphere with lighter bands seen against a starry sky.

Two extremely cool examples of ‘failed stars’ called brown dwarfs are found orbiting each other.

Politics: The Guardian Weekly – May 12, 2023

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The Guardian Weekly (May 12, 2023) – The name Geof frey Hinton was little known outside the tech industry until last week, when the so-called “godfather of AI” gave an interview after leaving Google in which he warned that machine learning is leading us into uncharted territory.

So is now the time to get properly frightened about the capabilities unleashed by machine learning? Technology writer John Naughton in this week’s big story says an unequivocal yes as he explores a worrying near future, and what prompted Hinton to speak out. 

Britain spent last weekend watching avidly or determinedly avoiding the exuberant display of ancient ceremony around the coronation of King Charles III. Our coverage takes a fondly amused look at all the pageantry, personalities and gold braid with Rachel Cooke, while columnist Nesrine Malik unpicks the game of divide and rule, display and disguise through which the institution hangs on to popular support. We also visit Belize to find out how arguments about reparations for slavery are linked to its relationship to the British crown.

Travel In Poland: Top 3 Things To Do In Kraków

DW Travel (May 10, 2023) – Kraków is Poland’s second-largest city, and we’ve collected three things any visit there must include!

Video timeline: 0:00 Intro 0:30 Krakow’s Main Market Square 0:46 Cloth Hall 1:00 Poland’s National Museum 1:12 St. Mary’s Basilica 1:56 Must eat: Pierogi 2:05 Kazimierz 2:15 Starka Restaurant 3:06 Must visit: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory 4:05 Krakus Mound

Kraków, a southern Poland city near the border of the Czech Republic, is known for its well-preserved medieval core and Jewish quarter. Its old town – ringed by Planty Park and remnants of the city’s medieval walls – is centered on the stately, expansive Rynek Glówny (market square). This plaza is the site of the Cloth Hall, a Renaissance-era trading outpost, and St. Mary’s Basilica, a 14th-century Gothic church.

Arts/Books: Times Literary Supplement – May 12, 2023

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Times Literary Supplement (May 12, 2023) – This week’s @TheTLS, features Peter Thonemann on The Triumph of the West; @joemoransblog on imagination; @michaelscaines on The Motive and the Cue; @DrAliceKelly on graphic novelizations of Gatsby; @helenlpgordon on stones; @rinireg on surveillance – and more.

Tours: Historic Gardens Of Wightwick Manor, UK

National Trust (May 10, 2023) – The gardens surrounding Wightwick Manor, cared for by the National Trust, are influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement, which started in Britain during the late 19th century.

This means the garden design extends into the house, where visitors can see flowers such as roses used as motifs for interiors and artworks. Watch this video to discover how politics has also left its mark on the gardens that are still enjoyed by visitors today. You’ll see architectural artefacts from the Houses of Parliament and a tree planted by Clement Richard Attlee, the Labour Prime Minster who served from 1945 to 1951.

You’ll also learn about the history of the estate and its planting schemes and find out more about what the National Trust is doing to make the gardens more accessible for visitors.

News: ASEAN Summit In Indonesia, China-Canada Political Rift, Swiss Trains

The Globalist, May 10, 2023: The Asean summit kicks off in Indonesia. Plus: the tit-for-tat diplomatic spat between China and Canada, train trouble in Switzerland and a special interview with Slovenia’s Eurovision entrant.

Front Page: The New York Times — May 10, 2023

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Donald Trump Sexually Abused and Defamed E. Jean Carroll, Jury Finds

“Today, the world finally knows the truth,” Ms. Carroll said after court. “This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”

The ex-president must pay Ms. Carroll $5 million. More than a dozen women have accused Mr. Trump of sexual misconduct, but this civil case was the only one tested before a jury.

George Santos Is Said to Face Federal Criminal Charges

Representative George Santos has been charged by federal prosecutors.

The first-term Republican congressman’s extensive lies on the campaign trail and questionable financial dealings were the focus of criminal and ethical inquiries.

Biden and McCarthy Reach No Consensus as a Possible Default Looms

In their first meeting in three months, the president and House speaker remained at loggerheads over the debt ceiling and spending cuts. But they agreed to meet again.

William Burns, a C.I.A. Spymaster With Unusual Powers

Mr. Burns, a key figure in bolstering the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine, has amassed influence beyond most previous spy chiefs.