Amnesty: Global Rule of Law on Brink of Collapse, Fueled by AI
By Henry Ridgwell LONDON —A breakdown in the international rule of law is being accelerated through rapid advancement in technology and artificial intelligence, which risks a “supercharging” of human rights violations, according to an annual report, by Amnesty International, published April 24. “The international rules-based order is on the brink of collapse. The violations of […]
US Senate Passes Possible TikTok Ban
By Evie Steele & Sun Cheng WASHINGTON — Among a package of military aid bills it passed Tuesday, the U.S. Senate approved a bill that requires TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell the video hosting platform or risk the government banning the app for all U.S. users. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law […]
China’s Global Lending Lures Countries Into a Debt Trap
By Polygraph.info Lin Ming Spokesperson of China International Development Cooperation Agency “No country has fallen into debt difficulties because of cooperation with China.” Source: X, Global Times, April 18, 2024 (FALSE) Earlier this month, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, told lawmakers that Washington is stepping up efforts to help […]
That Rainwater Thing
By Allen L Phillips We’ve always noticed the effect of rainwater on our gardens over the years. There’s just something about it that plants love. So it was with some anticipation that we set out the last week of April to visit Pat’s step-daughter in San Jose, and my daughter in San Francisco. We picked […]
Isabella of Portugal (1503–1539): A Renaissance Tour de Force in Politics and Culture
By Josh Longster Isabella of Portugal (1503–1539) stands as a notable figure in the Renaissance era, known for her impactful role in European politics and her contributions to cultural patronage. Born in 1503 in Lisbon, Portugal, she was the daughter of the Portuguese king Manuel I and Maria of Aragon. Isabella’s life took a significant […]
Parterres and Paths in Versailles
At the foot of the Palace on the garden side there are three large parterres: North Parterre, South Parterre and Water Parterre. The latter is composed of two large rectangular pools. From here the North and South Parterres, as well as Latona’s Parterre, can be seen from above, offering a point of view which best […]
How to Break Bad News to Children About a Parent’s Health
By Wendy L. Patrick Delicate Discussions About a Parent’s Illness or Death Mandate Preparation Recently, Princess Catherine, affectionately known as “Kate,” the Princess of Wales, publicly announced that she has cancer. She has three young children. As she begins chemotherapy, she reminded the world that she and her husband Prince William also have to explain […]
Ghostly Star Tendrils Captured in the Largest Image Ever Released (Video)
NOIRLab Dark Energy Camera captures remains of a massive star that exploded nearly 11,000 years ago in huge gigapixel image This colorful web of wispy gas filaments is the Vela Supernova Remnant, an expanding nebula of cosmic debris left over from a massive star that exploded about 11,000 years ago. Located around 800 light-years away […]
Belling the Cat
Adapted from Aesop LONG ago all the Mice came pattering from fields and pantries to hold a council meeting. They sat around under a washtub with a candle for a light and very solemnlyasked: “What shall we do to keep ourselves safe from Pussy? She hides in secret places and suddenly springs out on us […]
Luca Giordano, The “Presto”
Luca Giordano (1634-1705) was an Italian late Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Born in Naples, Giordano was the son of the painter Antonio Giordano. In around 1650 he was apprenticed to Ribera on the recommendation […]