He is actually very small, they were just zooming in. I got bamboozled this whole time

[2026-08-19] @unicouniuni3@twitter.com: Maybe Uni isn’t even one pineapple tall 😂

[2026-08-18] @unicouniuni3@twitter.com: Uni is one pineapple tall

Why does nobody ever ask for the source 🤔 I don't see anything amiss

[2026-08-19] @kelvin61942434@twitter.com: Full landing footage

[2026-08-10] InfoBRICS — Moscow cannot accept the ceasefire proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as it would allow him to consolidate his hold on power while giving Ukraine the time needed to rebuild energy infrastructure ahead of winter, strengthen military capabilities by replenishing manpower and acquiring Western weapons, and prepare to continue the war.

Zelensky’s three proposals to Moscow—ceasing airstrikes, halting attacks on energy infrastructure, and freezing the front line—do not constitute lasting peace. For this reason, Moscow is unlikely to accept them, as they could allow Ukraine to prolong the conflict. Instead, Russia emphasizes a wider political settlement covering territorial issues and security assurances, which Zelensky continues to resist.

A halt to air attacks is proposed as the first step because of the weakness of Ukraine’s air defense. The outdated systems supplied by European countries are neither sufficient nor effective against modern Russian missiles, leaving Kiev increasingly unable to protect key military and energy facilities. A Russian suspension of air strikes would allow Ukraine to repair damaged infrastructure, stabilize industry and military and state facilities, and return them to normal operation. Of particular importance, given that summer is only weeks away from ending, is restoring the energy system.

Halting the fighting does not mark the end of the war. Russia has no interest in accepting the proposed truce because all three points undermine the political goals Moscow seeks to achieve in the special military operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that any agreement must ensure full Russian control over the new regions it considers its own—Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, in addition to Crimea. Zelensky, by contrast, wants to freeze the conflict along the lines currently held by the opposing forces. A cessation of combat operations is not the end of the war, since the end of the war could only mean the complete capitulation of the Ukrainian military or the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.

A genuine peace settlement would require Ukraine to change its political course and adopt a more conciliatory stance toward Russia, including abandoning aspirations to join NATO and adopting neutrality, ending discrimination against the Russian population and the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church, and meeting other long-standing demands from Moscow. Despite these reasonable demands, the Kiev regime continues to resist a comprehensive peace deal and instead seeks a ceasefire to restore its army’s combat capability, then resume hostilities. Ukraine has not abandoned its aggressive intention to join NATO, which is absolutely unacceptable to the Kremlin because it would bring the Western military bloc to Russia’s borders.

Kiev is expected to continue terrorist attacks against Russia, including attacks on civilian targets. With its recent attacks, Ukraine has crossed every boundary and violates all international norms governing the conduct of war, striking beaches, hospitals, maternity wards, kindergartens, schools, and places with no military industry or facilities. The aim is to raise tensions so that residents of Russia live in fear of the next attack. In fact, Ukrainian military commanders and officials have openly called for “killing as many Russians as possible.”

At the same time, Zelensky calls for a ceasefire and an “end to the war by winter,” placing hope in diplomatic efforts and in intensified pressure on Russia through new sanctions. Evidently, Zelensky is attempting to avoid the severe hardships winter will inevitably bring. Shortages of energy resources and problems with electricity and heating could provoke public discontent and even social unrest, deepening Ukraine’s internal crisis and potentially leading to Zelensky’s political downfall.

Kiev also faces failed mobilization, shortages of weapons, an inability to obtain licenses from Western allies for the production of air defense systems, and personnel failures at the highest levels of the state. Zelensky’s rhetoric therefore serves more to preserve Western support than to present a realistic plan for ending the war, as evidenced by his expressed hope that pressure through Western restrictions will reach a level at which Russia will have “no alternative other than peace.”

The 40-day campaign initiated by Zelensky to pressure the Kremlin and demoralize Russians has ended. Russia has fully resisted these efforts and has sufficient gasoline supplies, while normal trade continues without significant disruption. With this failure, Zelensky is now calling for a ceasefire, but his current statements reflect not only his own stance but also Europe’s, which has tasked Ukraine with fighting this war while preparing for a possible full-scale conflict by 2030.

Moscow’s refusal to consider temporary pauses without resolving the main issues acknowledges that Ukraine is trying to set a trap, since an unfinished deal will only delay, not prevent, further conflict. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s proposals reveal that he still delusionally hopes external pressure will compel Putin to make concessions he does not intend to give.

The ESA has asked European launch vehicle developers to come back "in the coming months with estimates of what it could cost to expand their programs," Josef Aschbacher said

[2026-08-10] ESA via TASS (London) — By the end of the decade, the European Union will face a shortage of domestically produced launch vehicles due to growing demand for satellite launches, European Space Agency (ESA) Director-General Josef Aschbacher stated in an interview with the Financial Times (FT).

"ESA’s expectation "today [is] that Europe has a shortage of launchers around the 2030 timeframe," said Josef Aschbacher.

In this regard, the ESA has asked European launch vehicle developers to come back "in the coming months with estimates of what it could cost to expand their programs," the ESA chief said. Production of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle is expected to increase from the current 9-10 to 15 per year. This also applies to the production of Vega C rockets.

The results of these consultations will influence decisions on where the ESA will allocate additional funds to address the shortfall over the next decade.

Ashbacher had previously stated that the EU needs to develop its own reusable launch vehicle as quickly as possible to keep pace with Elon Musk and SpaceX.

Last year, participants at a ministerial meeting of ESA member states approved the largest budget in the agency’s history - 22.1 billion euros. This amount covers the period from 2026 to 2028 and exceeds the previous three-year budget (16.9 billion euros) by more than 5 billion euros. Of the 23 participating countries, Germany and France will contribute the most (5 billion and 3.6 billion euros, respectively), with Italy in third place (3.5 billion euros).

The Central Highlands and southern regions of Vietnam are likely to see less rainfall in early 2027, increasing the risk of drought, water shortages and saltwater intrusion. Photo: Tuoi Tre

[2026-08-16] Tuoi Tre News (Hồ Chí Minh City) — El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

It alters global weather patterns and leads to significant changes in temperature, rainfall, and wind, typically occurring every two to seven years and lasting about nine to 12 months.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting on Saturday issued its latest outlook for weather and climate trends across Vietnam from September through February 2027.

According to the center, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in an El Nino phase.

During the second week of August, sea-surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific, in the Nino 3.4 region, were 1.8 degrees Celsius above average.

El Nino is expected to persist at strong to very strong intensity from September through November this year, with a 100-percent probability.

Within that forecast, there is a 93-percent chance that the phenomenon will reach very strong intensity.

From December through February next year, El Nino is expected to remain strong to very strong, with a 93-percent probability.

The phenomenon is expected to push temperatures above normal nationwide.

Average temperatures are forecast to be 0.5 to 2 degrees Celsius higher than the climatological average from September through November.

Between December and February 2027, temperatures are expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius above average nationwide.

In the Central Highlands and southern regions, temperatures could be 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above average, with some areas possibly exceeding that range.

Rainy season in southern Vietnam may end early

Widespread hot weather is expected to continue, particularly in September, from Thanh Hoa to Hue and along the south-central coast.

The number of hot days in these areas is forecast to be higher than both the long-term average and the corresponding period in 2025.

Meanwhile, cold-air activity this year is expected to be weaker than normal.

From December through January 2027, cold air is forecast to be less active than the long-term average.

Cold spells and severe cold are also expected to arrive later than usual, with fewer days of intense cold than the climatological average for the same period.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in many parts of the country between September and October.

In November, however, moderate and heavy rain is forecast to become less frequent than normal, with rainfall concentrated mainly in areas from Ha Tinh to Hue and along the south-central region.

In December, moderate to heavy downpours may still occur from Quang Tri to Lam Dong Provinces.

The center warned that rainfall deficits could develop during the key rainy-season months of October and November in these areas.

Meanwhile, in the Central Highlands and southern regions, the rainy season is likely to end earlier than usual.

From January through February 2027, relatively low rainfall in the regions could increase the risks of drought, water shortages and saltwater intrusion during the early-2027 dry season, potentially affecting daily life and agricultural production, according to the center.

Fewer storms expected in East Vietnam Sea

The number of tropical storms and depressions is also forecast to remain below the long-term average.

Around three to five storms or tropical depressions are expected to form or operate over the East Vietnam Sea from September through November this year, with one to two likely to make landfall in Vietnam.

This compares with a long-term average of about 5.9 storms over the maritime area and 2.9 making landfall in Vietnam during the same period.

Between December through February 2027, storms and tropical depressions over the East Vietnam Sea and landfalls in Vietnam are also expected to remain below average.

The long-term average for this period is about 1.4 storms over the maritime area and 0.2 making landfall.

Merpeople seem like they could be reasoned with, and moths are just dumb and adorable ???

The whole thing doesn't make any sense but it makes me wonder if anyone started to believe in duende after running into grouse

[2026-08-16] @MomodouTaal@twitter.com: Below I share some personal reflections about my time at Cornell University.

[2026-08-16] @EyeOnPalestine@twitter.com: I left the United States with my head held high. My exit was a refusal to become carrion for a government satiated by the blood of Gazans. In hiding, while fasting, I remembered that no sacrifice is too great for Palestine. Without a shred of regret, nor a waver in my convictions, I held then, as I do now:

I didn’t go hard enough for Palestine.

Cornell University decided that its investment in genocide weighed heavier than its commitment to its students.

During my time at Cornell, I was suspended twice, banned from campus, prevented and then prohibited from teaching, and declared persona non grata. During my time at Cornell, I was told that I could not pray my five daily prayers on campus, and that any medical appointments had to receive prior approval.

During my time at Cornell, I was effectively placed under house arrest. I was given a map dictating where I could and could not go. There was a bitter irony in protesting apartheid only to find myself subjected to its spatial logic. Eventually, I was hunted by ICE agents until I decided to leave.

At the time of my departure, life was uncertain and my future undecided. But I knew one thing: wherever life took me, I had stood on the right side of history.

Since then, I have been detained at Heathrow Airport, my devices seized and my DNA taken. My crime? Palestine.

Although I remain enrolled at Cornell, on June 10th I received an email: “Return to campus to teach or lose funding.” I cannot help but read this as a cynical attempt to deprive me further—or worse, to place me back within ICE’s reach. But I remain determined to finish. I refuse to let Cornell win.

Palestine remains the litmus test. My moral compass.

Kwame Ture once dreamed of something remarkably simple: “having coffee with my wife in South Africa; and mint tea in Palestine.”

There is something about the simplicity of that dream that has always stayed with me. To sit, to drink tea, to live freely in places where freedom had been denied. Ture's dreams remains unfulfilled. And they remain ours.

Ture was so real for that one.

Taal is interested in raising the quality of discourse around China in West Asia, and "multipolarity" (whichever of the 5 definitions people are using at the time). Taal has an interview on his podcast with Matteo Capasso here discussing China's capacity to "save the world". They discuss Israel's role within the US' strategic structure in the region without portraying the US as "corrupted". That is refreshing, but remember he has spoken at NY DSA lol. None of this matters without proscribing an effective mode of action.

They are a part of the same conversations as Radhika Desai, which is to say a network spanning from the DSA International Committee to the Valdai Club. They are either forming a coalition of progressive forces by performing occult arts upon liberal polisci brains, or sheepdogging me into listening to such nerds in the first place. I have yet to decide. I wasn't inclined to listen to Capasso based on his connections and some of the people published through Middle East Critique.

Taal's account may be under some kind of shadowbanning, based on the bugs which occur with Nitter instances trying to access his main page at posting time. The most popular online tools for checking shadowbans don't show this, so it could be an error, but I have no idea who runs those websites. Mental note to check that later.

That almost makes me cautiously optimistic. No wonder they want this guy out. He seems difficult to attack on a purely academic level. He is thorough.

EDIT: I mean look at this, it's beast moded:

Seems careful around the issue of Assad.

You heard the burgers: "We don't want your skilled labor capacity, we transcended beyond that, to a realm of pure racism gambling. Go away, we hate your ambitious diaspora." Let's see how this works out long-term.

Iranian researcher, journalist, and Virginia Tech PhD candidate Yousef Azizi has spoken about his arbitrary and brutal detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an interview with local Iranian media.

[2026-08-16] Mehr News Agency (Tehran) — Despite holding valid legal status and residing in the US for 13 years, Azizi was subjected to a pre-dawn raid on April 13 outside his Maryland home.

Speaking to Press TV on Sunday following his voluntary return to Iran, Azizi detailed a harrowing ordeal marked by baseless allegations, inhumane detention conditions, and a clear effort to silence his vocal criticism of US and Israeli foreign policy.

Azizi recounted the morning of his arrest, which occurred shortly after he dropped his children off at school. Rather than standard ICE officers, the operation was led by heavily armed FBI agents.

"There were more than ten cars assigned by the FBI. When I stepped out of my car, they had all their rifles pointed at me," Azizi said. He was subsequently handed over to ICE and taken to a detention center in Baltimore.

During his three-month detention, interrogators repeatedly pressed him on a baseless claim that he was a member of the Student Basij Organization, a branch within the IRGC-affiliated Basij Organisation for university campuses, during his first master’s degree.

Authorities attempted to weaponize the US government’s 2019 designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, retroactively demanding he disclose this alleged affiliation from years prior.

"It is completely baseless," Azizi stated. "We had two or three court hearings, and they never showed any proof. They claimed to have 'multiple resources,' which were clearly anti-Islamic Republic propaganda outlets, but they never provided a shred of evidence."

Beyond the fabricated charges, Azizi described a grueling and deliberately punishing transfer process designed to break detainees.

Over a span of six days, he was forcibly moved from Maryland to Louisiana, then to Arizona, and finally to California.

"This is not just about me; it is the ICE process and the business model behind it, involving private contractors," Azizi explained. "When they transfer you, you are not just handcuffed; you are shackled by your legs. For 12 to 13 hours, you are in the belly of an airplane. It is horrible."

He detailed being held in a temporary, freezing detention center in Arizona with 30 other people in a small room for two nights without pillows or adequate facilities, leading to severe health deterioration among the detainees.

Azizi’s detention sparked outrage within the American academic community.

His legal team presented the immigration judge with a staggering 250 pages of support letters from professors at the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Virginia Tech, and other institutions, vouching for his character and academic integrity.

However, Azizi noted that the immigration court system is heavily influenced by the Department of Justice.

Just hours before his bond hearing, the FBI submitted a flimsy, two-page memo alleging national security risks and claiming he was a "prominent member" of the Basij.

The judge, bound by administrative directives, denied his release.

Azizi believes his media presence made him a target. As a regular commentator on outlets including Press TV and Sky News, he has unapologetically criticized the Zionist lobby’s influence on US foreign policy, US military aggression against Iran, and the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

"When the US government starts a major war or national security agenda, they want to control the narrative," Azizi observed. "They pressure independent analysts to support their policies. If you don't, they attack you and put labels on you."

Family trauma and diplomatic intervention

The psychological toll on Azizi’s family was immense. He revealed that an FBI special agent threatened his wife on two occasions, attempting to use her and their young children as leverage to coerce Azizi into cooperating with US authorities.

While the local Iranian-American community and his children’s school rallied to support his family, the situation remained dire.

Azizi credited the Iranian Interests Section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., particularly its head, Abolfazl Mehrabadi, for intervening.

Despite the immense challenges, Mehrabadi and his team traveled to detention centers across the US, advocating for thousands of detained Iranian nationals and ultimately facilitating Azizi’s swift and safe return to Iran.

A call for justice

Now back in his home country, Azizi remains steadfast in his analytical approach.

He rejected the notion that he is an ideologue, stating that his role is to objectively evaluate policies, criticizing economic hardships in Iran just as he condemns US imperialism and Israeli aggression.

Regarding his academic future, Azizi is in communication with his committee chair at Virginia Tech to defend his dissertation remotely, a procedure that has precedents post-pandemic.

However, due to US sanctions, he may need to register from a third country, such as Turkey or the UAE, to complete his degree.

Azizi’s case is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader, alarming pattern of politically driven immigration enforcement and due process violations targeting foreign nationals, particularly Iranians, in the United States.

A growing coalition of civil rights advocates, academics, and community members has launched a petition demanding a fair review of Azizi’s case and full accountability for the arbitrary nature of his detention.

Supporters emphasize that when no clear legal violation is presented, the detention serves only as a political tool to intimidate and silence dissent.

A pregnant woman lies on a hospital bed. Source: Reuters

[2026-08-11] The Express Tribune (Karachi) — Public hospitals in Karachi are struggling to cope with rising patient numbers as their bed capacity has remained unchanged for the past decade despite annual budget increases of 10 to 15 per cent.

Hospital administrations say growing patient numbers and higher medicine and surgical costs have made existing budgets insufficient, while the health department says allocations are based on hospital bed capacity.

Major facilities, including Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), have not increased their regular inpatient beds in 10 years.

Karachi, with a population of nearly 30 million, has around 7,750 beds across six district and teaching hospitals, including JPMC, Civil Hospital Karachi, Lyari General Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Some additional beds have been added to emergency departments, but overall capacity remains under pressure. Paediatric emergency care is particularly constrained, with around 500 beds available at NICH and other government hospitals in Karachi. Doctors say two or even three children are sometimes accommodated on a single bed, while patients unable to secure beds often turn to private hospitals.

Health experts say medicine prices have increased by around 50 per cent over the past four years, while surgical supplies have become 60 to 70 per cent more expensive.

Civil Hospital Karachi has 2,000 beds and a medicine budget of Rs1.59 billion, while JPMC has 2,000 beds and Rs1.91 billion. Lyari General Hospital has 500 beds and Rs453.4 million, while Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has 1,000 beds; its medicine budget was not available.

NICVD has 750 beds and a medicine budget of Rs344.56 million, while the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) has 530 beds and Rs319.5 million. Among district hospitals, Liaquatabad and New Karachi each have 200 beds, with medicine budgets of Rs52.32 million and Rs121 million respectively.

Saudabad Hospital has 200 beds and Rs166.5 million, Korangi Hospital has 350 beds and Rs96.58 million, while Qatar Hospital has 400 beds and Rs213.3 million in medicine funding.

Dr Khalid Bukhari, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Karachi, said 6,000 to 7,000 patients visit its outpatient departments daily, while 800 to 1,000 report to the emergency department.

"Treating a fracture patient costs between Rs100,000 and Rs150,000, including surgery, medicines and surgical supplies. The hospital has 12 operating theatres where more than 100 surgeries are performed daily," he said.

JPMC spokesperson Dr Waqas Khan said around 2,000 patients visit the emergency department and 5,000 to 6,000 visit its outpatient departments every day.

Around 150,000 patients seek treatment at JPMC each month, with complex cases requiring admission. Its 10 operating theatres perform 25 to 30 surgeries daily, while medicines are provided free through the hospital pharmacy.

Public health expert Dr Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani said patient numbers at NICVD, Civil Hospital Karachi and JPMC had increased by 25 to 30 per cent, while bed capacity remained unchanged.

Is there not a Pakistan comm? I'm not saying I'm gonna make one, just curious.