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The European Space Agency's (ESA's) Member States commit €22.1 billion Euros in contributions at the annual ministerial meeting. Europe's Vega C rocket launched an advanced Korean Earth-observation satellite from French Guiana. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on November 28 from Vandenberg Space Force Base for the Transporter-15 mission, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Bailey Reichelt from Aegis Space Law and Matthew Linton from Linton Space Law bring us Space Law FAQs. Selected Reading ESA Member States commit to largest contributions at Ministerial Watch Europe's Vega C rocket launch an advanced Korean Earth-observation satellite to orbit today- Space South Korea's largest satellite launched on Nuri rocket in ambitious space mission SpaceX - Transporter-15 Mission Hatches Open, Station Crew Expands to 10 - NASA Russia accidentally destroys its only way of sending astronauts to space- The Independent CHAPEA Crew Begins Stay Inside NASA's Mars Habitat for Second Mission Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Breakthrough in Dark Matter Research: A potential game-changing discovery has emerged in the search for dark matter. An astronomer from the University of Tokyo has detected high-energy gamma rays that align with theoretical predictions for dark matter particle collisions. This intriguing signal could provide the first direct evidence of dark matter, specifically linked to the hypothesized WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles), marking a monumental step in understanding one of the universe's greatest mysteries.Busy Week for Rocket Launches: This week is set to be a thrilling one for space enthusiasts, with a total of seven launches from five different rockets worldwide. SpaceX leads the way with three Falcon 9 missions, while a Russian Soyuz rocket will carry new crew members to the ISS. Additionally, military payloads and satellite launches from South Korea and French Guiana round out this international showcase of space exploration.Perseverance Rover's Curious Find: The Perseverance rover has discovered a sculpted rock on Mars, nicknamed Phi Staxhla, which is composed of iron and nickel—indicative of a meteorite. If confirmed, this would be the first meteorite identified by Perseverance since its landing in February 2021, offering a fascinating glimpse into the planet's history.Osiris Apophis Explorer's Earth Philip: The Osiris Apophis Explorer spacecraft, previously known for its sample return from asteroid Bennu, recently completed a gravity assist flyby of Earth. Flying within 2,100 miles of our planet, the spacecraft successfully calibrated its instruments, capturing stunning images of Earth as it prepares for its new mission targeting asteroid Apophis.Escapade Mission's First Selfies: NASA's Escapade mission, featuring twin spacecraft, has sent back its first selfies, confirming that its camera system is functioning properly. This reassuring image marks a significant milestone as the spacecraft embark on their long journey, ready to explore the mysteries of our solar system.Boiling Oceans on Icy Moons: A groundbreaking study suggests that even small icy moons, previously thought to be frozen solid, might host boiling oceans. Tidal forces could generate enough heat in their cores to keep water in a liquid state, potentially creating environments suitable for life, even in total darkness. This discovery expands the search for habitable worlds beyond traditional boundaries.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesDark Matter Discovery[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Rocket Launch Schedule[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)Perseverance Rover Findings[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-rovers/perseverance/overview.html)Osiris Apophis Explorer Mission[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/overview/index.html)Escapade Mission Updates[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/escapade)Boiling Oceans Research[Science Journal](https://www.science.org/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.
Producers and multi-instrumentalists Cate Le Bon, from Wales, and Ouri, who was born in French Guiana, joined Marjorie Hache to discuss their new albums and how much – or how little – location shapes their work. Ouri has just moved back to Paris after spending the past decade in Montreal. She recently released the electro acoustic pop gem “Daisy Cutter”. Cate Le Bon has relocated to South Wales after the end of a relationship, though her 7th album, “Michelangelo Dying”, was produced in Hydra, Cardiff and Joshua Tree.
As the COP30 climate summit opens in the Brazilian Amazon city of Belem, Brazil is stepping up its race for oil. The government agency in charge of environmental protection recently authorised oil giant Petrobras to drill several oil wells at the mouth of the Amazon River. Environmental protection groups predict the move will lead to an ecological and social disaster. But on the border with French Guiana, many in the town of Oiapoque are eagerly awaiting the oil. FRANCE 24's Marine Resse, Fanny Lothaire and Jan Onoszko report.
Mike Maignan is more than a goalkeeper—he's the cornerstone of the modern defense and a true playmaker from the back. Join us as we track the phenomenal rise of the AC Milan and France international, from his roots in French Guiana to becoming one of Europe's elite. Discover the technical mastery behind his world-class reflexes and how his distribution initiates attacks, fundamentally changing the game. We dive into his clutch statistical output, dissecting his recent crucial penalty save against Roma, and explore why his leadership and style are inspiring the next generation. This is the definitive deep-dive into the man nicknamed Magic Mike. Mike Maignan, AC Milan, Modern Goalkeeper, Serie A, French National Team
The Amazon rainforest is home to billions of trees, animals and people. It's spread across nine countries in South America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela - but the majority of it, almost 60%, is in Brazil. As well as being rich in biodiversity, the Amazon is also very important in the world's fight against climate change; as it absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. But the Amazon has been declining. In fact, in 2022 Brazil set a new deforestation record for the amount of trees cut down in the rainforest in one month. This impact is being felt directly by the indigenous groups who have been living there for thousands of years, but also the world as a whole. In this episode we're joined by Graihagh Jackson, from the BBC's The Climate Question podcast, and Dr Erika Berenguer, who's a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford and Lancaster. We chat about why the Amazon is so important, and what's being done to protect it. This year's climate summit Cop30 is being held in Belem, in the Amazon, for the first time. So we also discuss what impact this could have on the world's largest rainforest. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Mora Morrison and Chelsea Coates Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde
Summary? Can ants be farmers? Join Kiersten to find out! For my hearing impaired followers, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean Show Notes: “Tales from the Ant World” by Edward O. Wilson “Adventures Among Ants” by Mark W. Moffett Music written and performed by Katherine Camp Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Kiersten - Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating. This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. Can ants be farmers? In this episode we are going to find out. The sixth thing I like about ants is their farming abilities. You may have heard of leafcutter ants. These are ants that cut leaves and carry them back to their colony. They are often highlighted in nature television programs. It's mesmerizing and charming watching a line of ants traveling with various sizes of leaf pieces held above their heads. Leafcutters will fall into one of two genera: Acromyrmex and Atta. There are 39 species that we currently know of and they are all found in the New World. Atta are most prevalent in the tropics of South America but there are two species that can be found in North America, one in Texas and Louisiana and one in Arizona. Leafcutter ant nests can extend 7 meters, or 22 feet, into the earth and contain eight thousand chambers. The largest chamber is typically the ant waste chamber which is buried as far down as they can make it. The title of this episode is farmers so how does that relate to our leafcutter ants? Well, leafcutter ants are farmers. I used to think that they cut those little pieces of leaves to eat themselves, but that is not what they are doing. They take the leaves back to their nest where they feed it to fungus. They tend the fungus like farmers and then they eat the fungus, or rather the larvae eat the fungus. So I guess every leaf cutter ant eats the fungus at some point in their life. The adult workers ants eat the sap from the leaf fragments that they cut. This is what energizes them to process the leaves. The leaves have to be mulched first before it is fed to the fungus. The fungus will grow and grow and grow in the leafcutter nest. It will fill up the majority of the chambers with a lightweight spongy structure that kind of looks like a human brain and is called a fungus garden. The ants tend the fungus by adding new leaves to the top and sides while they removed the older bottom portions. It is unusual that ants are completely dependent on vegetation, but leafcutter ants are. The fungus is actually high in protein and that helps the larvae grow big and strong. The largest nest that Mark Moffett ever came across during his studies was in the Kaw Mountains of French Guiana. The above ground soil mounds were chest high and ranged over a 14 meter wide area. It ranged over about 160 square meters in total. If we compared this to a human made structure, it would be bigger than the Empire State Building in New York City. This nest probably housed millions of workers. A nest of this size can require an excavation of 40 tons of soil. It must house the queen, the brood, and the workers but even with millions of ants it's the fungus gardens that take up most of the real estate. The ant population can weigh up to 15 to 20 kilograms and utilize 280 kilograms of leaves. That's enough plant matter to blanket a soccer field. Now, this is a lot of living things inside an enclosed space, so it gets hot and humid. To combat increasing heat and humidity which slows down fungal growth, the ants have installed air conditioning ducts. The long tunnels that open above ground are placed strategically around the nest to release humidity and heat. If it get too cold, the tunnels will be closed off. The only reason leafcutter ant nests can support millions of workers is because they are farmers. Just like humans, farming allows the ants to support a larger population by creating their own resources. These ants use incredibly advanced farming techniques. Humans will use various farming equipment to produce large quantities of crops, but for leafcutter ants its all hands on deck. The ants within this species are highly polymorphic, meaning sizes between workers vary greatly depending on your job. The largest soldier ant is 200 times bigger than that of a small worker. These colonies are run like assembly lines of self-directed individuals. Many steps are managed by ants in a variety of sizes. Mid-size workers cut the foliage, carry it into the nest, and deposit it onto the garden surface. Smaller ants with 1.6 millimeter wide heads take the next step which is shredding the greens into scraps.The next step is accomplished by even smaller ants who chew up the scraps into moist pulp. Still smaller ants will insert the pulp into the gardens. Then ants with 1 mm sized heads will lick the pulp and seed it with tufts of fungus from established fungal gardens. This is just like a human horticulturist using cuttings from a vine to establish a new crop! The smallest workers with a head width of 0.8mm remove contaminants from the gardens such as bacteria, yeast and spores. Just like any good farmer, the ants use fertilizer to help their gardens grow. They don't have to go far to get the fertilizer, they just poop on the leaves. The ammonia and amino acids in the feces helps breakdown the leaves and encourages growth. To retrieve the plant matter that grows the fungal gardens, leaf cutter ants will maintain almost permanent trails. Other species of ants trails vary depending on where they can find resources, but leafcutter ants are loyal to their grocery stores. Another caste of ants larger than the workers we have already discussed but smaller than soldiers that defend the nest are the maintenance crew for the paths. They will dismantle anything that gets in their way. They haul off debris that they can heft and chew through things they can't. They widen and smooth out the path until traffic is flowing again. They can do this quickly as they are present on the paths at all times! Boy, don't we all wish our highways were that well maintained! There is still one more layer to these superhighways. Worker ants that are smaller than the ladies hauling the leaf parts home will scamper about under the plant carriers and reinforce the pheromone trails. As we discussed before, these pheromone trail are super important for ant communication. With all of these layers of responsibility, levels of workers, and intricate cooperation, some believe that leaf cutter ants are the gold standard of superorganisms. Quoting from Edward Wilson's book, Tales from the Ant World, “So well-marked and powerful is the division of labor among members of a leaf colony that individual colonies can be reasonably called a superorganism.” The definition of a superorganism is an organized society that functions as an organic whole. Leafcutter ants must have every layer of worker functioning correctly to survive, any deviation and the whole organism dies. Edward Wilson goes on to say, “The leafcutters are superorganisms that succeed under natural conditions.” I think we have established that ants can be farmers and very successful farmers at that! Thanks for joining me for episode six because my sixth favorite thing about ants is their ability to farm. If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change. Join me next week for another exciting episode about ants. (Piano Music plays) This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, my very own piano playing hero.
Established in 1852, Devil's Island, one of six penal colonies in French Guiana, was finally closed on 22nd August, 1953. Nicknamed the ‘Green Hell' and the ‘Dry Guillotine', it earned a reputation as ‘The Alcatraz of South America': the world's most brutal prison. Established by Emperor Napoleon III to remove political opponents and jumpstart France's programme of colonisation, the horrors of the islands became more understood in France following the publication of memoirs by René Belbenoît and Henri ‘Papillon' Charrière. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why a spell on Devil's Island was potentially preferable to elsewhere in Guiana; reveal what the guards did with rebellious prisoners and their cadavers; and check out some contemporary perspectives - on TripAdvisor… Further Reading: • Why Devil's Island Was The World's Most Feared Prison (All Thats Interesting, 2021): https://allthatsinteresting.com/devils-island • ‘Notorious French Prison Turns Into a No-Man's Land' (LA Times, 2002): https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-15-adfg-devilisle15-story.html • ‘Devil's Island Prison Colony' (British Pathé, 1947): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_xCHbpkDss This episode first aired in 2023 Love the show? Support us! Join
A United Launch Alliance's (ULA's) Vulcan rocket launched from Cape Canaveral carrying the USSF-106 mission for the United States Space Force's (USSF's) Space Systems Command (SSC). Arianespace's Ariane 6 liftoff from the European Space Agency's (ESA's) spaceport in French Guiana carrying EUMETSAT's Metop-SGA1 satellite. The Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) has obtained its license to operate a Spaceport in Santa Maria, Azores, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Vulcan Rocket Ushers in New Era of National Security Space Launch Space Systems Command Prepares to Launch first Operational Vulcan Mission for the U.S. Space Force- Space Systems Command With Ariane 6, Arianespace successfully launches Metop-SGA1 satellite Successful Launch of Metop-SGA1 to Take Weather Forecasting to New Heights ASC secures Spaceport Licence NASA Awards Second Human Health, Performance Contract Momentus Secures NASA Contract to Study the Launch of Robotic Technologies for Future Space Exploration SaxaVord Spaceport Statement Exclusive: Pentagon Golden Dome to have 4-layer defense system, slides show- Reuters Ukraine successfully tests Starlink's direct-to-cell technology- Reuters Space Rock That Punched Through Roof Almost Struck Resident T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Revolutionary Satellite Launch for Climate Monitoring: Join us as we explore the successful launch of the Metop second generation satellite from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This innovative satellite, launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, aims to enhance global weather and climate monitoring with its sophisticated instruments, including the crucial Copernicus Sentinel 5, which will provide vital data on air pollutants and climate-related gases.- United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Rocket Milestone: Exciting developments from United Launch Alliance as they successfully launched their first fully operational Vulcan rocket, delivering two military satellites into space. This launch marks a significant transition for ULA as they replace their older fleet with this powerful, all-American launcher designed for high-altitude missions.- Potential Interstellar Encounter with Juno: Dive into the thrilling proposal for NASA's Juno spacecraft to intercept Comet 3I Atlas, the third interstellar object ever detected. Scheduled to approach Jupiter in 2026, this encounter could provide unprecedented insights into the origins and nature of interstellar objects.- AI Medical Assistant for Mars Missions: Discover the groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and Google to develop an AI medical assistant for astronauts heading to Mars. This innovative tool, known as CMODA, aims to help diagnose and treat medical issues when direct communication with Earth is not possible, showcasing the potential benefits of space technology for healthcare on Earth.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesMetop Satellite Launch[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)Vulcan Rocket Launch Information[United Launch Alliance](https://www.ulalaunch.com/)NASA's Juno Mission[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)AI Medical Assistant Development[Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here
This week, we discuss two films about people imprisoned overseas. The first is A Prayer Before Dawn (2017), which tells the true story of Billy Moore, a British boxer and heroin addict who spent a number of years incarcerated in Thailand in brutal conditions. The second is Papillon (1973), starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The film is based on the autobiography of Henri Charrière, a safecracker sentenced to life imprisonment in French Guiana. Timestamps What we've been watching (00:00:30) – Karen Pirie season two, Barry season three, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, King of the Hill season fourteen, The Naked Gun, Frozen 2, Aladdin, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight A Prayer Before Dawn (00:23:50) Papillon (00:54:00) Coin toss (01:28:20) Links Instagram - @callitfriendopodcast @munnywales @andyjayritchie Letterboxd – @andycifpod @fat-tits mcmahon Justwatch.com – streaming and rental links - https://www.justwatch.com
Arianespace launched the VV27 mission from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to carry out the preliminary design phase of a multipurpose habitation module for the lunar surface. The Australian Government invested $5 million in Gilmour Space to accelerate the development of Eris' next generation liquid rocket engine, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Parker Wishik from The Aerospace Corporation explores the future of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) on the latest Nexus segment. Parker is joined by Vanessa Clark from Katalyst Space, Joe Anderson from Space Logistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, and Gregory Richardson, Executive Director of the COnsortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC). Selected Reading ESA - Vega-C VV27 Arianespace to launch EUMETSAT's Metop-SGA1 satellite on August 12, 2025, with Ariane 6 Thales Alenia Space sign a contract with the Agency Space Italian (ASI) For the development of the first outpost human on the surface lunar Gilmour receives funding boost from Australian Government Mission: Eris Testflight 1 Tāwhaki aerospace venture is supported to grow NASA Welcomes Senegal as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory NASA says 20% of workforce to depart space agency- Reuters SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of launch to space station BAE Systems delivers NOAA's SWFO-L1 and NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellites for launch Eos X Space Buys Space Perspective to Expand Balloon Space Tourism - Travel And Tour World T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, I'm joined once again by travel writer, YouTuber, and author Dave Seminara to explore a country rarely found on bucket lists — Suriname. Tucked between Guyana and French Guiana on South America's northern coast, this former Dutch colony is bursting with untouched jungle, rich multicultural heritage, and wildly underrated adventure experiences.Dave recently spent eight days solo travelling across Suriname, from the capital, Paramaribo, to the remote Maroon villages deep in the rainforest. He shares everything — how to get there, where to stay, why the Upper Suriname River is a must-do journey, and why it may just be the friendliest country in the world.We dive into:The colonial history and ethnic diversity that make Suriname one of the most culturally layered countries in the AmericasUnique cultural practices like polygamy and menstruation houses in Maroon communitiesWhy Suriname is known as the most Asian country outside Asia and the most African country outside AfricaIncredible food: from roti to Indonesian cuisine — and why Suriname is a hidden foodie destinationThe realities of getting around Suriname, including limited flights, overland routes, and remote access pointsVisiting remote villages via dugout canoe and navigating rivers that cut through untouched rainforestWhy Paramaribo is worth a short visit — plus tips on markets, accommodation, and cultural etiquetteAn honest take on safety, infrastructure, friendliness, and why the locals are genuinely curious about travellersThis episode is full of inspiration for anyone dreaming of a more authentic, remote, and meaningful travel experience. Dave's storytelling is full of insight, humour, and practical tips — and by the end, you might be planning your own trip to Suriname.Thanks to Dave for coming on again, and he is welcome back anytime, as he is a much-loved guest on the podcast.
Michael Ferrari is Chief Scientific and Investment Officer at AlphaGeo. We focused on how resilience varies across geographies and what this means for long term regional investability. Accompanying this discussion is their web app. This is confronting. If you change the time slider to "End of Century", most of the world is red, indicating significant physical climate risk.Particularly alarming is when you change the toggle to "Resilience Adjusted Risk". This intensifies the red color in some parts of the world - Sub Saharan Africa, India, Pakistan, Yemen, Papua New Guinea and along the coast from French Guiana to Venezuela. This indicates that these countries have low resilience and limited capacity to combat the effects of climate change. There are implications here for population migrations, as illustrated by AlphaGeo here with regard to Africa. The conversation then turned to another app, produced in collaboration with Washington Post. Here one can input your location in the US and you will be given useful information from the perspective of a property investor on long term risk and resilience. Parag Khanna is the CEO. He has given several interesting TED talks such as how megacities are changing the map of the world.Perhaps the most fascinating idea of all though from Parag is Periodic Table of States, details here. For this analysis it all comes down to stability and they rank Eritrea as worst with a score of 2.36. They rank Switzerland best at 21.77. Overall, a fascinating crash course from Michael on the kind of spatial finance I like - using geography to inform investment decisions. It was a case of meeting my idols. I am glad we were able to hit it off and am keen to see what develops.
GB2RS News Sunday, the 13th of July 2025 The news headlines: The RSGB announces speakers for its annual Convention in October Get involved with chasing awards this summer RSGB Regional Representatives elect a new Regional Forum Chair The RSGB is delighted to announce that the Keynote Speaker for its 2025 Convention will be Professor Lucie Green. She is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory of the University College London. She has also presented many TV and radio programmes, including The Sky at Night and Stargazing Live. During her talk, Professor Green will provide an update on the proposed Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission, which she is working on with fellow UK researchers. The project will enable the team to study the conditions that create solar storms, leading to improvements in forecasts of space weather on Earth. As well as releasing details of the Keynote Speaker, the RSGB has published a teaser of its Convention programme. This includes Neil Smith, G4DBN, who will share his experience of taking complex ideas and turning them into stories that connect with wider audiences. Many of you will be familiar with Neil from the popular BBC series “The Secret Genius of Modern Life”, for which he recreated a device invented by Leon Theremin. Bill Rothwell, G0VDE, will show you that DXpeditions don't always need to involve masses of equipment, and that one person can make a successful trip with only the luggage they carry. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, will explore Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances, whilst Brian Coleman, G4NNS, will give you the latest update on the UK Meteor Radar System. Read the full list of confirmed speakers by going to rsgb.org/convention and selecting the “RSGB 2025 Convention speakers” option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB 2025 Convention is taking place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Book your ticket now and join like-minded people for a fun-filled weekend. Set yourself a challenge this summer and get involved with awards chasing. The RSGB awards are open to everyone, whatever your age, licence level and personal interests. They encourage you to push yourself further, learn something new and can even help you to make tweaks to your station to maximise performance. If HF is your mode, then visit rsgb.org/awards and get involved with the IARU Region 1 Award, which encourages you to make contacts with member countries. If VHF or UHF is your preference, then challenge yourself to the 50MHz Continents and Countries Award. Several Foundation awards are aimed at getting new licensees on the air and helping build confidence. For younger RSGB members, there are two awards designed to show the breadth that amateur radio offers. The RSGB Scouts, Cadets and Girlguiding Youth Champion, Samuel McCutchion, 2E1UEL, recently completed the Radio Surfer Award and shared his experience with us. Read how he got on by going to rsgb.org/award-stories At a recent meeting of the RSGB Regional Forum, the RSGB Regional Representatives elected George Crawford, MM0JNL, as the Regional Forum Chair. George represents Scotland South and Western Isles as the Representative for Region 1. He got involved in amateur radio in 2020 and gained his Full licence by March 2021. George has also been a GB2RS Newsreader. Along with the rest of the Regional Team, George is keen to continue to help RSGB members and the wider amateur radio community, and to promote amateur radio and the Society at public events. He will be attending Kirriemuir Show on the 19th of July to showcase amateur radio to the agricultural and rural communities. You can hear more details about that in the Special Event News section of this week's GB2RS News. Last week, senior RSGB staff and some members of the RSGB Board met for two days to discuss the next implementation phase of the Society's strategy. The discussions covered several topics, including how to ensure the Society stays relevant to the modern radio amateur. Those discussions led to some initial plans for the next six months that focus on one or two clear goals. More details of the plans will be shared over the coming weeks, including in strategy updates and at the ‘Meet the Board' session at the RSGB Convention in October. Following the RSGB's attendance at Dayton and Friedrichshafen, it was also noted that the Society is held in high esteem around the world and that many other national societies are keen to learn from the RSGB's achievements. Ben, M7FRS and John, G0JDL, are hoping to be operating aeronautical mobile in a Cessna 172 for about an hour tomorrow, Monday the 14th, over the skies of Norfolk and Suffolk. The pair will be departing from Beccles Airfield at around midday. They will initially be on the 2m band FM calling frequency of 145.500MHz before changing frequency. As per the new licensing arrangements, they will be using less than 500mW. Listen out for them, as they'd love to get you in their log! During this weekend's IARU HF World Championship, five stations will be active on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and CW and tested under field conditions. They will be using the exact planned equipment for the WRTC 2026 event as a trial. The operating location will be a cluster of sites within the grounds of the Euston Estate in Suffolk. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. There will be two awards available for chasers during this event, so listen out for the following callsigns: GB0WR, GB2WR, GB5WR, GB8WR and GB9WR. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/wrtctest The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July, from 12 pm to 3 pm. The event will have over 40 stations and 1,000 participants from all over the UK and Ireland. To take part on the day, simply call into a local net and make contact with others. You can find more information, including details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page. And now for details of rallies and events The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is taking place today, the 13th, at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8 am. The doors will be open for visitors from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance fee is £4 per person. A trader's table costs £15 and this includes admission for two people. Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Saturday, the 19th of July at Welwick Village Hall, North Lane, Welwick, HU12 0SH. The doors will be open from 10 am to 3 pm, and visitor entrance costs £3. Indoor tables are fully booked, but there is still outdoor space available at £5 per table. Please bring your own table. For more information, email rally@hfdxarc.com Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and £10 for traders. For more details, email secretary@bsears.co.uk The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking will be available. Over 50 tables of traders and special interest groups will be present. Booking a table costs £10. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Now the Special Event news On Saturday, the 19th of July, RSGB Region 1 Representative George, MM0JNL, will be hosting special event station GB4KAS at the Kirriemuir Show in Angus, Scotland, from 10 am to 5 pm. This new venture is intended to showcase the RSGB and amateur radio to the agricultural and rural community. It will also allow unlicensed guest operators to have some supervised radio operating time and, hopefully, have their first international radio contact. The station will be operating using SSB on the HF bands and FM on the 2m band. If you hear the operators on the air, give them a call! GB70RS is the special callsign helping to celebrate 70 years of the RSGB's News Service, GB2RS. This coming week, the callsign is being aired by Dave, G4IDF, on all bands from 80 to 6m, plus 4m and 2m, using SSB and FT8. If you hear Dave, give him a call! A special QSL card is available. See QRZ.com for more details. Now the DX news Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, NA-032, until tomorrow, the 14th. He is operating using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL or via Eric's home call, directly or via the Bureau. For more information visit QRZ.com Pierre, VK3KTB, is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 24th of July. He operates using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands when time permits. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The IARU HF Championship started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. The GR2HQ Challenge also started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. Today, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 15th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 16th, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 17th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 19th, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and the first two letters of your postcode. On Sunday the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 10th of July 2025 Last week was characterised by settled geomagnetic conditions, but a relatively low solar flux index. The Kp index hit 5.33 on the 6th and 7th of July but was otherwise around 1 or 2 for the rest of the week. These settled conditions were helpful to HF propagation, although the maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path didn't get much above 21MHz. This is likely to be due to the HF summer doldrums, and we are unlikely to see it rise much more until September, once the F2 layer has switched to autumnal propagation conditions. Meanwhile, the solar flux index remained steadfastly in the range of 115 to 120. This is enough to provide fair propagation, but not enough to set new DX records! But there was DX to be worked, including T30TT in western Kiribati, on the 20 and 15m bands using the FT8 Fox and Hounds mode. Also, ZD7FT was operating on St Helena Island on the 17m band using SSB, and C94RRC was active on the 10m band from Mozambique using FT8. Laurie, G3UML on the CDXC Slack group, commented that there was a lot of DX around, including FP/KV1J on the 17m band using SSB on Miquelon Island. Additionally, TY5AD was on the 17m band using CW from Benin. And FY4JI was on the 17m band using SSB from French Guiana. Now the bad news. A very large solar coronal hole will begin to face Earth this weekend. A solar wind stream flowing from this zone is expected to reach Earth with the main influence occurring today, the 13th, and tomorrow, the 14th. If the Bz of the plasma cloud points south, we can expect disturbed geomagnetic conditions and a reduction in the maximum usable frequency, or MUF for short. NOAA predicts unsettled conditions, with a Kp index of 4 between the 15th and 16th of July. The solar flux index is expected to be in the range of 105 to 125 for the next week. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The hot weather continues to set the agenda in the short term. Something to note is that for VHF and UHF Tropo ducting, the ideal is for warm, dry air to sit on top of cool, moist air. These conditions are commonplace over the nearby seas as hot, dry air moves out across the coast to overlay the cool, moist air near the sea's surface. Think of the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and Biscay as being very good Tropo paths in high summer. But the award goes to the Mediterranean, where very strong ducting conditions are pretty much a given if you happen to be sitting on an exotic holiday beach. Back at home... if you live inland, then you will be out of luck during the heat of the day since there is no cool, moist surface air. But in the evening, as the ground cools and perhaps cool sea air moves inland, you could find yourself coupled into the Tropo conditions that those on the coast have been enjoying all day. In other words, for most of the country, Tropo will be better overnight and early morning. The other modes are worth checking of course, especially Sporadic-E, which is continuing to give some paths on most days, at least for digital modes, but also for those using SSB or CW. Most days, there will be some direction available from the UK on the 10m band, and perhaps on the 6m band, with many online clusters to show you where the current paths are located. We really must get used to the idea that Sporadic-E can be very localised, and you will only know about it if someone calls CQ. If you do that, you may be surprised by how good conditions have been all along! Disturbed solar conditions should keep aurora as a possibility. Meteor scatter is often worth checking, with two showers peaking later in the month. The middle part of the coming week looks like turning more unsettled for a time, so rain scatter is also an option for the GHz bands. Moon declination is increasing again, reaching maximum on Tuesday, and path losses are falling. So, it's time to put the feeder back into the dish. 144MHz sky noise is moderate to start the week but decreasing to low after the weekend. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
A monumental new study has addressed the likely impacts of climate change on the activity of desert lizards in Africa and Australia. Hotter temperatures will likely ‘squeeze' the activity window of some lizards, especially those active during the day. We chat about the ramifications of this paper, before turning to news of dogs being attacked by anacondas. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Wild KH, Huey RB, Pianka ER, Clusella-Trullas S, Gilbert AL, Miles DB, Kearney MR. 2025. Climate change and the cost-of-living squeeze in desert lizards. Science 387:303–309. DOI: 10.1126/science.adq4372. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Starace, F., & Ineich, I. (2025). Predation on dogs by Green Anacondas, Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758): two cases from French Guiana. Herpetology Notes, 18, 415-419. Other Links/Mentions: Rhinella alata call from James LS, O'Mara MT, Touchon JC, Ryan MJ, Bernal XE, Page RA. 2025. The ontogeny of decision-making in an eavesdropping predator. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20250450. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0450. AmphibiaWeb - Rhinella alata. Available at https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-scientific_name=Rhinella+alata&rel-scientific_name=contains&include_synonymies=Yes (accessed June 19, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Murmur of Rain is a Gothic-tinged historical romance set in France and Haiti in the 1890s by Patricia Vaughn. Lauren Dufort is the daughter of a descendent of enslaved people in French Guiana and a white Frenchman. Her parents were deeply in love, but their marriage estranged them from society, so when Lauren is orphaned as a teen, she is raised by her paternal aunt, Claude, who runs a gentleman's club, knowing that her mixed-race identity may keep her from ever making a love match in 19th century France. But when handsome Haitian Roget de Martier arrives at Claude's club, Lauren is immediately smitten and he seems to reciprocate interests. There are hints of secrets about his past and family in Haiti, but when the rich gentleman proposes marriage instead of a mistress arrangement, Lauren's head and heart both feel like this is her best chance at happiness.Support us on our Patreon!Visit our website for transcripts and show notes: reformedrakes.comFollow us on social media:Twitter: @reformedrakesInstagram: @reformedrakesBluesky: @reformedrakesBeth's SubstackChels' SubstackEmma's SubstackThank you for listening!
Lecture 6 Part 2LECTURE OUTLINE: Reimagining the Caribbean — History, Identity & Invention1. Defining Key Terms & Unsettling MythsWhat is the Caribbean?What it is not:Not simply “a group of islands surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.”That colonial compass would erase Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.The Caribbean is not just geography — it's history, identity, and ideology.A Construct, An Invention:Ian Meeks and Norman Girvan argue the Caribbean is an invention, molded by the European gaze since 1492.The so-called “discovery” was really colonial construction — cultural erasure dressed as exploration.The Socio-Political Caribbean:Social scientists ask: In whose interest is society designed?Whose narrative dominates?Often, the Caribbean's story has been told through the lens of its colonizers — not its people.Economic Caribbean – A Dependent Capitalist Model:According to Neoliberalism (2021) and the "Washington Consensus", Caribbean economies were shaped to serve external interests.Ramesh Ramsaran: Structural Adjustment transferred power from local to global hands — a feature of life in the Global South.These are the legacies of debt, austerity, and manufactured dependency.Global South vs Global North:New language, same old hierarchies.The “Global South” replaces “Third World” — a more palatable term, but still denotes marginalization.2. A People in Paradox: Race, Identity & AgencyThe Problem of the Caribbean is the Problem of the Black and Brown PositionWherever Black or Brown bodies are found — so too is systemic exclusion.Not due to essence, but to constructed inferiority.Colonization as Psychological Violence:Fanon: Colonization turns man against himself.Du Bois: The Black soul peers through a veil, always asking: “Am I enough?”Morrison: We are told to strive toward whiteness — only to find we can never truly arrive.Depersonalization & Loss of Agency:Colonialism stripped humanity. The enslaved weren't just shackled in body — but in being.This leads to malady: acting against our own interests.Afrocentricity vs Eurocentricity:Afrocentricity: a way of seeing.Eurocentricity: the only way of seeing.The former offers liberation. The latter demands assimilation.Diaspora Realities:Caribbean immigrants are often seen as threats cloaked in exoticism — "two sharp teeth," as you wrote.Their potential is feared, their labor exploited.Kenneth Clark's “Dark Ghettoes”:Ghettoes aren't just places — they are conditions.Whether in Philly or Kingston, Harlem or Port of Spain, these spaces reflect economic colonization.Externally: Poor housing, crime, disease.Internally: Apathy, self-loathing, compensatory bravado.3. Postcolonialism – Not the End, But the EchoPostcolonial ≠ Post-ColonizationFanon in Black Skin, White Masks: Black and White locked in a tragic performance — each role scripted by Empire.In Wretched of the Earth: Freedom is radical; it requires rupture, not reform.The Paradox of Independence:Haiti and Cuba led revolutions — and were punished for their audacity.Independence does not equal inclusion.4. Center vs Periphery — Who Gets to Speak?Homi Bhabha's Lens:The center is the mainstream — the dominant culture, the "norm."The periphery is where African spirituality, literature, and lifeways have been cast.In the Caribbean, this leads to self-scorn: bleaching skin, abandoning roots, ridiculing Revivalists or Rastafari.5. Supplementary Content for Today's SessionReading & Discussion: CLR James – The Black JacobinsCLR James (a Trini) told the story of Haitian revolutionaries, but through a European framework.His education gave him tools, but not always the right lens.We question: Was this truly “history from below?”By Rev. Renaldo McKenzie, Professor of Caribbean Thought at Jamaica Theological Seminary, Author of NeoliberalismSubscribe https://anchor.fm/theneoliberalVisit us: https://theneoliberal.com https://renaldocmckenzie.com
What is the Caribbean?What it is not:Not simply “a group of islands surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.”That colonial compass would erase Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.The Caribbean is not just geography — it's history, identity, and ideology.A Construct, An Invention:Ian Meeks and Norman Girvan argue the Caribbean is an invention, molded by the European gaze since 1492.The so-called “discovery” was really colonial construction — cultural erasure dressed as exploration.The Socio-Political Caribbean:Social scientists ask: In whose interest is society designed?Whose narrative dominates?Often, the Caribbean's story has been told through the lens of its colonizers — not its people.Economic Caribbean – A Dependent Capitalist Model:According to Neoliberalism (2021) and the "Washington Consensus", Caribbean economies were shaped to serve external interests.Ramesh Ramsaran: Structural Adjustment transferred power from local to global hands — a feature of life in the Global South.These are the legacies of debt, austerity, and manufactured dependency.Global South vs Global North:New language, same old hierarchies.The “Global South” replaces “Third World” — a more palatable term, but still denotes marginalization.The Problem of the Caribbean is the Problem of the Black and Brown PositionWherever Black or Brown bodies are found — so too is systemic exclusion.Not due to essence, but to constructed inferiority.Colonization as Psychological Violence:Fanon: Colonization turns man against himself.Du Bois: The Black soul peers through a veil, always asking: “Am I enough?”Morrison: We are told to strive toward whiteness — only to find we can never truly arrive.Depersonalization & Loss of Agency:Colonialism stripped humanity. The enslaved weren't just shackled in body — but in being.This leads to malady: acting against our own interests.Afrocentricity vs Eurocentricity:Afrocentricity: a way of seeing.Eurocentricity: the only way of seeing.The former offers liberation. The latter demands assimilation.Diaspora Realities:Caribbean immigrants are often seen as threats cloaked in exoticism — "two sharp teeth," as you wrote.Their potential is feared, their labor exploited.Kenneth Clark's “Dark Ghettoes”:Ghettoes aren't just places — they are conditions.Whether in Philly or Kingston, Harlem or Port of Spain, these spaces reflect economic colonization.Externally: Poor housing, crime, disease.Internally: Apathy, self-loathing, compensatory bravado.Postcolonial ≠ Post-ColonizationFanon in Black Skin, White Masks: Black and White locked in a tragic performance — each role scripted by Empire.In Wretched of the Earth: Freedom is radical; it requires rupture, not reform.The Paradox of Independence:Haiti and Cuba led revolutions — and were punished for their audacity.Independence does not equal inclusion.Homi Bhabha's Lens:The center is the mainstream — the dominant culture, the "norm."The periphery is where African spirituality, literature, and lifeways have been cast.In the Caribbean, this leads to self-scorn: bleaching skin, abandoning roots, ridiculing Revivalists or Rastafari.Advocating a position of pre-colonial victory and agency.Reframes the narrative of discovery with African presence before 1492.CLR James (a Trini) told the story of Haitian revolutionaries, but through a European framework.His education gave him tools, but not always the right lens.We question: Was this truly “history from below?”We must not be content with being “included” in someone else's story.We must write our own — in our tongues, through our eyes, from our depths.As Toni Morrison said: “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.”Let us reclaim that power. End or Part 1.Rev. Renaldo McKenzie is Professor of Caribbean Thought and Author of Neoliberalism. Visit us at The Neoliberal Corporationhttps://theneoliberal.com
At its height, the French colonial empire was the second largest in the world. One of its legacies is Overseas France — parts of France scattered around the globe, from Tahiti in the South Pacific to French Guiana on the South American mainland. In the first of a series of episodes on this strange geographic anomaly that makes France the country with the most timezones in the world, we dive into the islands of the French Antilles: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Barts.
The end of the cruel Peace & the start of the desperate War.Based on ‘One In Ten' by FinalStand, adapted into 17 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.A frightened Mother Mouse will devour her young; similarly, a frightened culture will devour its future.It wasn't like a magic force field bubble protected us until our 16th birthday. I couldn't recall all the times after I was 13 some woman asked me, or my Mother, when my 16th birthday would be. Back then, I didn't think much about it. In hindsight, those women were wondering when I would become legally sexually vulnerable. In way too many cases, women with access to teenage boys didn't wait.Even if they did,"It was my Aunt," Barabbas confessed. "She and her boss."You would think a sixteen, or seventeen, year old guy getting to sleep with a Milf would be a trip. It could be. For the boys with better developed empathy, you started to realize a woman you trusted was using your sexuality for their own advancement. Then you began feeling like a whore."She got me a job, but I quit after four months, you know,” he trailed off."Yeah," I sighed sympathetically."Yeah," Lowry snorted, "when the rest decided you should be putting out for free.""That was completely unnecessary," I glared at him."But true," he defied me."True," Barabbas agreed with a familiar degree of rejection."Mom flipped out when she figured out what Tamara; my sister; was doing," Pierre picked up his tale. "I was seventeen by that time. She helped pay for my college." We assumed the 'she' was his sister; the one who pimped him out."I hit one once," Lowry bragged. I found that somewhat difficult to believe."What happened?" Pierre asked."She kicked my ass," he chuckled. "Ex-military Reservist. Beat me like I had a cock." I read somewhere in the old days it was more common to say 'like a little bitch.' Now it was 'like I had a cock' because they didn't like teaching men to be 'too violent' aka how to defend ourselves.No one else felt like inquiring, so Barabbas did the deed."Go to the cops?""For what?" he shook his head. "I threw the first punch, and the second. Fucking Bitch. We both looked pretty rough, but I lost."Another pause."What was it like to hit one with your stick?" Lowry shot me a look."Good, damn good, and stupid. I mean, I could have ended up like you with a crowd of women on a subway kicking and stomping on me and I would have ended up in jail too," I related. "Still, it felt good, just to tell one to keep her hands to herself, ya know?" I got nods all around. We were all young, healthy and relatively handsome."Yeah, you could have gotten your ass kicked," Barabbas reminded me."In fact, one of the major reasons I didn't, gave me the pistol I'm carrying," I twitched it slightly. "The first time they came for me, I asked them ~ the Vanishers ~ to wait, and they did.""Why in the fuck would you do that?" Lowry blurted out, shocked and skeptical."At the time, I didn't trust them since I figured they were nothing more than another bunch of women telling me what to do. I wanted to use them to escape. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life serving them if it meant the same fucked-up existence I was currently living," I shared the enlightenment."What changed your mind?" Pierre's eyes lit up."I figured out their prime motivation, the nature of the conspiracy and that I had no rational chance to escape them," I answered. "Every angle I was figuring out, they had figured out years ago. On the plus side, their core philosophy requires them to engage men as equals for both biological and social reasons ~ which means they are the best game in town. In case you missed it, the Vanishers didn't 'vanish' me. I escaped on my own. They have agreed to join forces with my group; no lie.""Your group has a lot of girls," Lowry drolly noted."Lowry, exactly how was I going to recruit any male to my cause without dropping the entire Metropolitan G E D (Gender Enforcement Division) on me?""Flyers?" Barabbas joked softly."He's got a point," Pierre rallied to my cause. "As far as any of you have confessed, none of us had any guy, or girl, friends. It is why we were selected.""Okay, fine. Now what?" Lowry conceded to the consensus."We wake up tomorrow working toward equality," I huffed. "We are all going to have to learn to fight and shoot because the entire group is going to be in danger for some time to come. Society, as in Global Society, is going to come crashing down. And that means anarchy, lawlessness and barbarism before it violently spasms off into extinction.""We have lived our lives effectively as slaves, though no woman inside that house will admit it truly in their hearts. For the first time in our lives, we can change our futures. I'm sure if we surrender to whomever kills the others, they will enslave us once more and leave us with far fewer illusions about our status. Or, we can chose to fight and, if worst comes to worst, die free. I'm not going back to what I was. That means I will need to learn how to survive; and that means fighting. Not because I hate women, but because there are several I love and respect and I don't want to let them down ~ as their equal.""Tonight, think about what I've told you. Tomorrow morning, I hope you join up with us," I concluded my 'pep talk.'"And if we don't?" Lowry stared defiantly."That is something you are free to do too," I shrugged. "I'm not going to tell you what to do. Let's go back inside. It is late."We'd almost made it back when Lowry put a hand on my shoulder."Can I see the gun now?""This thing? Like this?" I half-turned, made eye contact then flick my eyes down to the pistol then back to him again."Yeah.""Have you ever handled a loaded firearm before?" I requested."Yeah, plenty of times, in my dreams," he mocked me."You are a moron," I felt my blood simmering. "This isn't a game, this (the pistol) isn't a toy, and you have not been paying attention." I put both hands on the pistol, removed the magazine then removed the chambered bullet. Lastly, ass-first, I handed him the empty pistol with my left hand while keeping the ammunition in my right."Moron, huh?" he chuckled. "Gonna give me the bullets?""No, no, I'm not going to give you the bullets because you don't know what you are doing. Unlike you, I actually have had a firearm lesson. More to the point, I won't give you a loaded firearm because I think I've stressed the lady, or ladies, watching over us right now enough for one night.""Huh?" Lowry and Barabbas echoed. Pierre looked around."Wes didn't keep us inside to play '20 Questions' for her own amusement. She kept us occupied so her other teammate, or teammates, could move to this side of the house, so they could watch over us while giving you three the delusion we were alone. They are professionals in camouflage gear with night-vision goggles, so unless they had to move rapidly through the underbrush, we weren't likely to detect them.""I played along because I felt it was necessary for you three to open up a little bit. Life is only going to get tougher over the next few months. None of us want to have a chat with heavily armed women staring over our shoulders, so I took us outside where it would appear we were alone," I explained."You lied to us," Lowry snipped."No. My words were true. What I did was allow you to deceive yourself as to our level of security and amount of company. I did what I did for the good of the group, regardless of gender, Gentlemen. It is how we all need to start thinking. Something else you might want to think about is: everyone I love is with me here today. A good number of people who decided getting in my way was a good thing aren't even alive anymore. I will gladly embrace any one of you as brothers. If you are an obstacle, I will fucking see you gone, one way or another; clear?""We are guys," Lowry insisted smugly. Old thinking: women protected men."I; don't; care," I glared back. "You may be a sperm-shooter, but inside me is the only surefire cure for the Gender Plague. I repeat: people I love, and there are several, are all alive today because I cared and took an active hand in their survival. My enemies are mostly dead. Being a man will save you from the women in there. It won't save you from me.""You'd kill us?" Pierre whispered."Pierre, my Mother died over a year ago. Where are your Mother and Sister? You don't give a damn about a single fucking human being and yet you expect me to trust you? Why?" I challenged him. "I've already proved to multiple people I can reach beyond my shell and give a fuck. Until you rejoin the Human Race, I value the rest of those battling alongside me far more than you, or anyone else regardless of whether they have a penis, or a vagina. I'm not going to snap your neck, stab, or shoot you. I'm simply not going to bother trying to save you. The World is doing a bang-up job of killing the rest of Humanity off, without my assistance.""I really ought to punch you," Lowry threatened."Give it your best shot," I took a step toward him. That wasn't what he, or I, was expecting. I put down my poor judgment and combative demeanor to exhaustion."Don't, guys," Barabbas interceded."You are an Asshole," Lowry snarled."And you are consistently ignoring reality," I snapped back. "For instance, we are not alone out here, plus we are also at the door." I knocked once. The door swung open to reveal a rather attentive and unhappy Wes Prince. I handed her the bullet and magazine."You were listening in?" Lowry turned his anger on her. Wes' eyes went from me, to him, out into the darkness then back to me, though her words were to Lowry."Yes. Of course I was listening in. I wouldn't call him an Asshole. I'd go for Smart-ass." To me, "Do you enjoy being annoyingly correct?""No. I'd be ecstatic to realize I was completely wrong about everything and had lapsed into a mad delusion," I related, my own anger seeping away. "Being right means I have to keep appreciating and respecting you and your compatriots and taking responsibility for my own clumsy contributions to our current situation, which I don't want to do. I want to go to bed.""Come on in and go to bed then," she softened. She made a slight hand gesture. "My pistol, please, Mr. Pritchard?" she requested of Lowry. Grudgingly he gave her the firearm. She stepped aside. Lowry went first, Barabbas second. Pierre gasped slightly because as he went up the steps he noticed the two Vanishers coming toward us from outside ~ the ones I had predicted to be watching us.I went in after Pierre. Wes followed along. Capri and Kuiko were waiting. The lights had already been dimmed throughout most of the rest of the dwelling."Who were those other two guys?" Wes stopped me."Sergeant Major Daly was a Marine N C O and improv poet renowned for his battlefield musings. His most famous philosophical insight into the fighting spirit of men came in World War One. In his words "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" He also won two Medals of Honor, so he must have had some talent.""Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn was a Canadian; that was the country which now makes up the northern third of our current Federation; who found himself misplaced on the island of Hong Kong in late 1941; him, a handful of lads from Winnipeg and a shitload more Japanese. He and the Japanese ended up in a game of grenade tag,”"Grenade tag?" one of my two 'silent' guardians interrupted."Yes ~ grenade tag. Apparently in the olden days, grenades didn't airburst, or explode on impact. You pulled a pin and threw it at the enemy, then waited for the fuse to burn out and the grenade to go 'Boom!.' Quick, brave, and or stupid people could grab that grenade and toss it back. In some cases, one grenade might make two, or three trips before detonating.""Anyway, the Japanese were so very rudely throwing grenades into the position he and his Winnipeg Grenadiers were defending, so he kept returning them. After eight and a half hours of such fun, he came across one he couldn't toss back in time. He covered it with his body to shield his comrades from the blast, dying instantly. The British Empire gave him something called the Victoria Cross for his actions. He was the first Canadian in World War Two to receive it.""Why do you know such stuff?" she grinned. "Oh, I'm Scar and this is Nat," she indicated the third member of the Wes-Scar-Nat Vanisher trio."I considered myself a coward, so I read a lot about brave men. I was kind of hoping to figure out how I could be brave myself, one day," I disclosed."Mission success," the third one smiled. "Go to bed."I gathered up Capri and Kuiko and did as instructed. As I rested my head on the pillow, lights out and my mind gratefully shutting down."Less impressive sex, Bitch," Capri teased."No," I groaned."They definitely think you've got the 'sexy'," Kuiko enlightened me."Can we please just go to sleep?" I begged.Capri rolled onto her side, back to me, gave me a bump in the hip with her ass, then moved away a tiny bit. Kuiko wiggled close, kissed me lightly on the cheek, and then did the same. Unconsciousness took me before any other worries could steal my much needed slumber.The Larger World:As I struggled for sleep a second time, events unfolding in three different places around the Globe (Asia, the City and the Capitol) would impact my fate.Asia:First; the brutal agony still going on as the Sun disappeared over the horizon wasn't over when I woke up the next morning. It was largely misunderstood for some time afterwards, but was referred to as; the Battle for Shanghai.Five Chinese regular force divisions fought the garrison division of Shanghai, its 'reserve' division, hastily gathered volunteer female formations and a hodge-podge of ancillary forces the United Nations could throw into the fray. The goal for both sides was to seize a mother and her unborn child. Within them were the only other active resistant viral factory killing the T2 Gender Plague. By the time I woke up, both sides were sure the other side had killed them both, pretty much insuring the extinction of all sentient life in Eurasia.I say 'Eurasia' because by dusk of the previous day, the Federation knew for sure I, the other source of a cure for the T2, was still alive and kicking, as were my sons. My sons held a nebulous promise for a future date. I was of immediate importance since my adult body could produce enough antivirals to protect tens of thousands of people on a relatively continuous basis, or so it was projected.With, or without the mother and child, China was done for. Japan and Korea were rapidly circling the drain. North of China, the Plague was racing across Siberian Russia. Central Asia had never really recovered from the first round of the Gender Plague all those years ago so, now off the beaten path, would be longer in dying. India had too many outbreaks to even dream of containment. Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and the Levant Republic all had reported cases as well.Europe:Beyond the Urals, the Europeans were grappling with the looming fear of a global economic collapse along with the Specter of Death though 48 hours into the crisis, there were no cases to report yet. Civil order was teetering. Several nations had either closed their borders, or were considering doing so. Women began hording food, and men.Africa:
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv UK driverless cars unlikely until 2027 Uber says its ready now Joe Biden What we know about prostate cancer diagnosis India Pakistan tensions YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan Redcar and Cleveland ransomware Inside a council under cyber attack The US factory that lays bare the contradiction in Trumps policy Walking with dinosaurs Mystery of Pachyrhinosaurus mass grave in Canada The new UK EU deal at a glance Olympic gold swimmer left broken by coachs harsh regime and weight comments France to open new high security prison in French Guiana Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack
Joe Biden is diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, Nicușor Dan wins Romania's presidential runoff, Trump and Putin hold a two-hour call, The UK and EU strike a post-Brexit reset deal, Israel allows limited aid into Gaza, Trump's tax bill advances after a late-night budget vote, J.D. Vance, Giorgia Meloni and Ursula Von der Leyen hold trade talks in Rome, Wall Street futures slide after Moody's downgrades the U.S., At least three are killed in a blast targeting a police station in Syria, New RSV vaccines are found to have cut infant hospitalizations by up to 71%, and France announces plans to build a supermax prison in the jungle of French Guiana. Sources: www.verity.news
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv France to open new high security prison in French Guiana Walking with dinosaurs Mystery of Pachyrhinosaurus mass grave in Canada Joe Biden What we know about prostate cancer diagnosis India Pakistan tensions YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan The new UK EU deal at a glance UK driverless cars unlikely until 2027 Uber says its ready now Redcar and Cleveland ransomware Inside a council under cyber attack Olympic gold swimmer left broken by coachs harsh regime and weight comments Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack The US factory that lays bare the contradiction in Trumps policy
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Olympic gold swimmer left broken by coachs harsh regime and weight comments Redcar and Cleveland ransomware Inside a council under cyber attack Joe Biden What we know about prostate cancer diagnosis The new UK EU deal at a glance India Pakistan tensions YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan France to open new high security prison in French Guiana The US factory that lays bare the contradiction in Trumps policy Walking with dinosaurs Mystery of Pachyrhinosaurus mass grave in Canada UK driverless cars unlikely until 2027 Uber says its ready now Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv India Pakistan tensions YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan Redcar and Cleveland ransomware Inside a council under cyber attack Olympic gold swimmer left broken by coachs harsh regime and weight comments UK driverless cars unlikely until 2027 Uber says its ready now The US factory that lays bare the contradiction in Trumps policy Walking with dinosaurs Mystery of Pachyrhinosaurus mass grave in Canada Joe Biden What we know about prostate cancer diagnosis The new UK EU deal at a glance Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack France to open new high security prison in French Guiana
PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, May 20: Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book "Original Sin" shows that Joe Biden's cognitive decline was far more severe than portrayed. It comes as the Democrats are accused of covering for him during his presidency. Also, reactions after Britain and the EU sign agreements that effectively turn the page on Brexit. And, a sculpted bust of Jim Morrison, stolen from his Père Lachaise gravesite thirty-seven years ago turns up in a French police investigation! The reactions are coming in thick and fast from the press this Tuesday after the publication of journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's book, "Original Sin". The book explores Joe Biden's mental and physical decline during his time as US president. It comes just days after the Bidens' revealed that he has metastatic prostate cancer.As Rolling Stone notes, the book claims that Biden's cognitive decline was more severe behind the scenes than what was publicly visible. Furthermore, his inner circle actively engaged to cover up his diminishing memory. It's prompting much soul searching within the Democrat Party, Rolling Stone says. The authors have also faced backlash for not focusing on Biden's presidency while conservatives accuse the Democrats of a major cover up. For the conservative Wall Street Journal, the book reveals a "conspiracy in plain view". Democrat elites and the media couldn't or wouldn't see what everyone else saw: "a doddering, senescent president who was frequently incoherent and rambling". The paper adds that "an existential meltdown over Trump made Democrats cling to Biden as a talisman. This talisman that in the end was an almighty curse." The Washington Post has published readers' letters to the editors which paint a similar picture of outrage. One reader says it's time for Democrats to move on, find new candidates and relegate baby boomers to history. Another says Joe and Jill Biden and the Democrats owe the public an apology. The Economist offers a more tempered viewpoint, saying that Biden did not decline alone but that his party and the press lost altitude along with him.There are mixed reactions from the British papers this Tuesday after the EU and Britain shook hands on a deal concerning defence, fisheries and energy. The Independent is triumphant: Britain and the EU have turned a page with this Brexit reset deal, the paper declares on its front page. The Financial Times calls it a showpiece summit, hailing this first step towards the reconstruction of trade links between the two parties. It comes nine years after that fateful Brexit referendum vote. The Guardian says in this analysis piece that there are clear benefits but political risks for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He recognised for the first time yesterday something his predecessors denied for years: that Brexit has damaged Britain. This exposes him to the risk of being accused of betrayal by his rivals and possibly voters.Not everyone feels this is a victory, however. The pro-Brexit papers are furious. "Kiss goodbye to Brexit, the Daily Telegraph says sarcastically on its front page today, with a picture of Starmer and EU Commission President embracing each other. The Daily Express says that Starmer's ABJECT SURRENDER is a betrayal to Brexit. The paper is particularly angry over the fisheries deal. It says that in 2016, Britons votes to take back control of its fishing industry ... yesterday's deal will undo all of that. The Sun chooses to go with a fishing pun: Britain is done up like a kipper, it says on its front page.Here in France, the government is facing scrutiny over its plan to build a mega prison in French Guiana. This story garnered a lot of attention in France on the weekend and now in the international press. It was first reported on the weekend when French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build a max security wing during a visit to the overseas department and region. Weekend paper Journal du Dimanche reported that the prison wing would be reserved for Islamic terrorists and drug traffickers. The prison would be near the notorious Devil's Island, to where prisoners were sent by Napoleon Third in the 1800s. The announcement sparked outcry by Guyanese MPs, who called the decision insulting and disrespectful, The Guardian reports.The Doors frontman Jim Morrison knew a thing a thing or two about prison, having been sent to prison in 1967 for disrupting public order. He died four years later in Paris where he was buried at the Père Lachaise cemetery. For Morrison's 10th death anniversary, Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin sculpted a bust in his honour at his gravesite. For seven years, it became a symbolic tribute – fans graffitied the bust, chipped off parts of it to keep as a souvenir. Then it was stolen in 1988. Now 37 years later, French police came across the marble bust while carrying out a totally unrelated fraud investigation. No word yet on who did it, where it's been hiding for nearly forty years and whether it'll be returned to Jim's gravesite, Rolling Stone reports.Finally, The Times reports that you can now register for wedding gifts at Tescos, Britain's biggest supermarket chain. Among the choices are the really useful but totally unromantic bundle of luxury toilet paper, kitchen rolls, bin bags, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. According to Tesco, newlyweds would rather practical products than fancy ones these days. You can blame the high cost of living for that!You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.
GB2RS News Sunday, the 18th of May 2025 The news headlines: The RSGB announces new Convention Chair for 2025 RSGB members can now read over 300 RadCom editions in the RSGB web app Become a volunteer at the RSGB National Radio Centre RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, is delighted to announce the appointment of Pete Joyce, M0OFM, as the new volunteer RSGB Convention Chair. Pete is a regular attendee at RSGB Conventions and has a keen interest in balancing the different needs of attendees through a varied programme. He also understands the importance of making the Convention accessible to everyone, both in person and online. Pete brings to the role a range of experience in planning and managing events for other organisations. The RSGB Convention planning team look forward to supporting Pete as he takes on this challenging and important role. The RSGB is excited to announce that more RadCom editions have been added to its web app. RSGB members are now able to browse back to January 2000, which is over 300 magazines! Go to rsgb.org/radcom to explore all the RadCom content from this millennium. You'll need your RSGB membership portal details to access the editions. If your RSGB membership is due for renewal soon, why not swap to a digital membership? You'll still get all the great benefits of being a member, and you'll save money as well as RadCom storage space. If you're not yet an RSGB member, there's never been a better time to join the Society. Take out a digital membership and choose to read RadCom via our app, and you'll have easy access to 25 years of RadCom editions. The RSGB will be releasing mobile versions of the app soon, so you'll be able to download copies of its publications and read them on the go. Volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre is a wide-ranging and highly rewarding role. Thanks to the variety of visitors and the number of events and activities that the Centre is involved with, no two days at the NRC are the same. If you'd like to join the friendly and dedicated team, the NRC is currently looking for new volunteers. Full training is given, including the operation of the GB3RS radio station. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. If all of this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, and you can volunteer for one or two days per month, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB, via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk. You can find out more about the RSGB National Radio Centre by going to rsgb.org/nrc The RSGB Outreach Team is offering qualified amateur radio operators under the age of 18 the opportunity to take part in a new DMR project. The project's aim is to help young people get on the air and build their confidence in making QSOs. The Team has nine DMR handheld transceivers and hotspots available to borrow for three months, completely free. As part of the offering, the Outreach Team will be hosting regular youth nets that you would be welcome to join. You can apply for the DMR kit as an individual or as a school group, as long as one member of the group is licensed. Another part of the project is to support teachers who would like to take their amateur radio licence and set up a school club. In collaboration with the Radio Communications Foundation, the RSGB is offering to pay the licence exam fee for nine teachers to help get them and their school club started. If you're a teacher who is interested in discovering more about amateur radio and sharing that excitement with your students, get in touch. Once you have your licence, you can apply for the free DMR kit on loan for three months to help set up your club. If you are interested in applying for a DMR kit, fill out the application form by going to tinyurl.com/DMRyouth. If you are a teacher interested in starting your own radio club, please email RSGB Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, via youthchampion.school@rsgb.org.uk As we come to the end of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, let's remember to show the very best of amateur radio and make sure we are there for one another. Let's listen to each other, share our appreciation for our fellow radio amateurs and celebrate kindness within our community. You can read how amateur radio helped Lee Aldridge, G4EJB, in the July 2023 edition of RadCom. You can access mental health support by going to mentalhealth.org.uk Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on Saturday, the 24th of May at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. Traders can set up from 7 am, with doors open to the public between 9.30 am and 3 pm. There will be hot food and refreshments available. Free parking is located behind the hall. For more information and to book, please go to emerg.uk/rally The Durham & District Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday, the 25th of May at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. Doors will be open from 10.10 am to 2.30 pm, with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. Entry is £3. There will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering will be available on-site. For further information, please call Michael Wright, G7TWX, on 07826 924192 or email dadars@gmx.com Now the Special Event news Special event station GB0SAR is active until the 30th of May in support of SOS Radio Week. The station will mostly be using FT4 on the 20m band, but you might also catch it on the other HF bands using phone. For more information, visit QRZ.com Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is once again raising awareness for men's mental health through amateur radio. Club members will be operating special callsign GB0MMH. Other special call signs will also be active. The station is active today, Sunday the 18th of May, as well as the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of June. Please listen out for the operators and give them a call. Your support will help raise awareness of men's mental health. If you would like further information, please contact secretary@hfdxarc.com The International Amateur Radio Club will be active as 4U0ITU until the end of 2025. The club is celebrating the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. QSL is available via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or direct to P.O. Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. Now the DX news Antonio, DL4EA, will be active as FY/DL4EA from French Guiana between the 19th and 21st of May. Antonio plans to be active on QO-100 and RS-44 and maybe some HF QRP. Emir, E77DX will again be active as D4DX in Cape Verde on the 24th and 25th May for the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest. He'll be operating as Single Operator All Bands in the high-power category. QSL is available via E73Y and Logbook of the World. Morten, LA9GY will be active from Eswatini between the 22nd of May and the 2nd of June. He plans to be operating holiday-style as 3DA0GY mainly on CW but also some SSB. QSL is available via his home call LA9GY. Now the contest news Tomorrow, Monday, the 19th of May, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday, the 20th of May, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 21st of May, the 80m Club Championship data leg runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using data modes on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 24th of May and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 25th of May. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday, the 25th of May, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 15th of May 2025 This week, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Solar Cycle 25 maximum is now over. With a reduced solar flux index and an almost blank Sun, there was little to get excited about. By Thursday, the 15th of May, the SFI was 122, but previously, on the 12th, it had been down to 116, which is the lowest it has been for some time. There is still a lot of solar activity going on, but most of it is not conducive to good HF propagation. Over the past week, we have had two X-class solar flares and five M-class events. The X-class events were associated with coronal mass ejections, but these appear to have been directed away from Earth. A fast solar wind has resulted in the Kp index standing at four for a lot of the time, namely on the 9th and 10th of May and again on the 14th and 15th. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon at this point in the solar cycle and adds some evidence that we are now in the declining phase of Cycle 25. Next week, NOAA predicts that things may improve with the SFI set to rise from the 19th of May. It forecasts the SFI will start the week around 115, but then will climb steadily, reaching 145 by the 1st of June. After a brief rise on the 19th with a Kp of four, things then become more settled with a Kp of two between the 22nd and the 28th of May. A large elongated coronal hole became Earth-facing on 16th May, which could cause raised K indices and lower MUFs from today, the 18th of May, onwards. It looks like the best HF F2-layer conditions may occur between the 22nd and 28th of May. And don't forget, despite the HF doldrums, we are now well into Sporadic-E season with short-skip occurring, predominantly on 10m. But more of that shortly. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The prolonged spell of high pressure is likely to remain until near the end of this week, so there is plenty of time to get some more Tropo in the log. Cloudier and cooler air over eastern Britain at the end of last week may enhance the Tropo by adding moisture under the inversion. For most places, the strongest Tropo conditions will be overnight and early morning, then they will degrade as the daytime heating destroys the surface temperature inversion. Meteor scatter is declining a little, apart from a few stragglers from early May showers, so it's probably better to keep to the early morning period as your go-to time for meteor scatter to focus on any random input. Rain scatter is unlikely until next weekend, but it might be worth thinking about the GHz bands from this Friday, the 23rd of May, onwards. Aurora is a different matter, and the solar activity is likely to keep things interesting as a large sunspot group rotates into an Earth-facing position. Strong Es opened on Wednesday, the 14th of May, so it's definitely the season to be checking the upper HF and lower VHF bands for Sporadic-E. In this recent opening, the Dourbes ionosonde peaked at an Es critical frequency of 14 MHz, which is a very high value, even for mid-season. There were strong signals from the central Mediterranean on 6m CW, and some may have even got some 2m digital mode action from the brief opening. Check the Propquest NVIS tab for the day to see the details of this event. Although weak jet streams were present, the opening may well have been helped by some very intense, slow-moving thunderstorms over France. Remember to start checking on 10m and, if it's open, look to the higher bands of 6m, 4m, up to 2m. EME path losses are still falling. Moon declination ended last week at minimum but goes positive again this Thursday, the 22nd of May. Moon windows and peak elevation are again rising. 144MHz sky noise is high this weekend, falling back to low as the week progresses. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) launches the first batch of Amazon Project Kuiper satellites. Firefly launches the FLTA006 Message in a Booster mission for Lockheed Martin but experiences a second stage anomaly. Arianespace successfully launched the ESA's Earth Explorer Biomass satellite from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Dr. Debra Emmons, Aerospace Corporation's Vice President and CTO. You can check out the Aerospace Corp. on LinkedIn or on their website. Selected Reading United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Amazon's First Operational Satellites Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace Arianespace Successfully Launches ESA's Biomass Satellite Rivada Expands Outernet Access to 33 Countries, Secures $16 Billion+ in Global Business China launches internet satellite group - CGTN Lawmakers vote on controversial SpaceX beach closure bill amid backlash Radian Aerospace lays out its plan to create reusable re-entry vehicle for hypersonic tests When Satellites Go Dark - Persistent Cyber Assaults and The Growing Blind Spot T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In France's overseas departments, Creole language and culture are seen as a bulwark against racism and standardisation. The concept of "Créoleness" was developed in the late 1980s, in the wake of Aimé Césaire's writings on Négritude and Edouard Glissant's notion of "Antillanité", or a specifically Caribbean identity. Our reporters Florence Gaillard and Georges Yazbeck travelled to Martinique to hear from those who embody this complex identity. Following the Christian calendar, the four days before Ash Wednesday are known as "les jours gras" in Martinique: a time of celebration and mischief. Everyone is invited to the carnival: rich, poor, white, black, locals and tourists.The festivities are populated by some emblematic local characters: King Vaval, the Red Devils and Marianne La Po Fig, a mysterious creature made of banana leaves. According to Marie-Lyne Psyché-Salpétrier, president of the Recherches et Traditions association, Marianne La Po Fig is part of Martinique's spiritual pantheon, handed down by the island's Yoruba ancestors and belonging to its African roots. Philosopher Edouard Glissant called Martinique "the melting pot of the world". Like all Creole societies, it is the product of three centuries of colonisation and a mixture of European, African and Asian populations. The indigenous Amerindians, known as Kalinagos or Caribs, have all but disappeared. This physical and cultural intermingling has led to the emergence of a popular language: Creole. Long associated with slavery, Creole was forbidden in the classroom and frowned upon in polite society. Yet the language continued to evolve – largely thanks to songs and stories – and today it's a poetic, multi-layered idiom. We meet Jocelyne Béroard, a singer with the group Kassav', who told us more about the inherent poetry of Créole and how she uses it on stage and in daily life. Meanwhile, the "Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches en Espace Créole" has been working for almost 30 years to lay the written foundations of Creole, publishing dictionaries and novels in a Creole that borrows expressions from Martinique, French Guiana, Haiti and Reunion Island. More importantly, GEREC has fought to bring Creole to school textbooks and universities and thereby formalise its use beyond the oral sphere. In 1989, Raphaël Confiant, Jean Bernabé and Patrick Chamoiseau published "Eloge de la Créolité" or "In Praise of Creoleness". This manifesto celebrates Creole identity as the acceptance of all diversities and the endorsement of plural identities. For its co-author Confiant: "Creoleness is, in fact, the opposite of apartheid!"
In October 2012, the founding father of the European Space Agency was honoured when a spacecraft named after him was sent to the international space station. Within the probe – called the Edoardo Amaldi Automated Transfer Vehicle – was a letter which had been written by Edoardo in 1958 detailing his plans for an organisation which would bring together the continent's greatest minds in space science. It was in response to the brain drain Europe was facing in the years prior when its best scientists were flying off to work at NASA. His grandson, Andrea Amaldi, talks to Natasha Fernandes about the moment his grandfather's letter was sent into space and the role he played in translating it on behalf of the visionary behind the European Space Agency.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: ESA's ATV-3, Edoardo Amaldi, blasts off on March 23, 2012 from the European space centre at Kourou, French Guiana. Credit: JODY AMIET/AFP via Getty Images)
If at first you don't launch, try try again - due to a scrub from technical issues earlier this week and then unfavorable weather conditions, the launch of Crew 10 to the International Space Station is set for another launch attempt. The U.S. Air Force has rated United Launch Alliance's performance on its National Security Space Launch obligations as unsatisfactory. Rocket Lab has been on a roll this week. And, more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Today, we welcome Elysia Segal from NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading NASA, SpaceX Prepare for March 14 Crew Launch to Space Station (NASA) NASA, SpaceX try again to launch rocket set to bring back stuck astronauts (Reuters) SpaceX Rival Venture From Lockheed, Boeing Had Subpar Performance: Air Force (Bloomberg) Rocket Lab Unveils New Satellite Software for Ground Data, Spacecraft Operations, and Constellation Management (Business Wire) Transporter 13 rideshare (SpaceX) Sidus Space LizzieSat™-3 to Launch March 14, 2025, with Next Generation AI-Driven Space-to-Space Data Relay (Business Wire) Ursa Major and Palantir Announce Partnership to Bring Warp Speed Manufacturing Operating System to Accelerate Defense Technology Capabilities (Ursa Major) BlackSky Delivers First AI-Enabled Analytics Derived from Very High-Resolution Gen-3 Imagery Three Weeks Following Launch (Business Wire) Space Force wants six kinds of space weapons—including anti-satellite lasers (Ars Technica) Biomass
Arianespace's Ariane 6 lifted off from French Guiana carrying a French spy satellite to sun-synchronous orbit. AST spaceMobile, Kayhan Space and LeoLabs collaborated on a demonstration to reduce US Space Force tracking times. Red Hat and Axiom have collaborated on an on-orbit data center which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station this spring, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Tom Roeder, Senior Data Analyst, Space Foundation. You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Space Foundation on their website. Selected Reading LIVE: Launch of European Space Agency's Ariane 6 rocket AST, Kayhan, LeoLabs team to demo capability to reduce Space Force satellite tracking times Red Hat Teams Up with Axiom Space to Launch, Optimize the Space Company's Data Center Unit-1 On Orbit | Business Wire BlackSky Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results- Business Wire Firefly Aerospace Ready to Launch Alpha FLTA006 for Lockheed Martin's LM 400 Spacecraft No Earlier Than March 15 What time is SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 launch on today?- Space NASA Sets Coverage for Agency's SpaceX Crew-10 Launch, Docking UK Space Agency Awards SatixFy £1.8M for the Development of Advanced LEO Payload Software Ericsson, Qualcomm and Thales Alenia Space reach milestone in space-based connectivity Voyager Technologies Adds Space-Based Biopharma Company Space LiinTech to GWC Science Park NASA Turns Off 2 Voyager Science Instruments to Extend Mission T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textIn this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Judy Carvalhal.Judy Carvalhal is the Founder and CEO of Enchanted Expeditions, a company that helped to pioneer the modern tourist industry in the Galapagos Islands & Ecuador. She grew up in Guyana & French Guiana, and was educated at Canada's prestigious Queen's University before travelling to South America to become one of the first female park naturalists in Galapagos. Judy uses her knowledge of Ecuador & Galapagos to curate one-of-a-kind itineraries, ensuring that Enchanted Expedition's guests learn about the history, culture & eco-systems that make this part of South America such an incredible place to visit. After raising four children in Galapagos and Ecuador, Judy is more passionate than ever to ensure that this precious part of the world is protected.Christine and Judy discuss:· Judy's global journey and her evolving concept of home· Pioneering women in adventure tourism · The evolution of Galapagos tourism· Developing a love of travel with family· Self-care and the power of an attitude of continuous learningJoin Christine now for this soulful conversation with Judy Carvalhal.
NASA announces delays to the Artemis Program with Artemis II targeting April 2026 for the launch and Artemis III expecting to lift off in mid-2027. Europe's Vega C lifted off from French Guiana last night carrying the Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit for the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation program. The US National Science and Technology Council has released the 2024 National Plan for Civil Earth Observation, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Elysia Segal from NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading NASA Shares Orion Heat Shield Findings, Updates Artemis Moon Missions Europe's Vega-C rocket returns to space after two-year gap- Reuters 2024 National Plan For Civil Earth Observations Boeing announces layoffs across Florida including Kennedy Space Center Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window to Deploy Synspective Satellite- Business Wire Iran says it conducted a successful space launch in a program long criticized by the West Matt Dominick's X Account: A Visual Journey From Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Airbus announced that it is cutting over 2,000 job cuts in Defense and Space. The European Space Agency launched their Proba-3 Sun-observing mission aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV-XL rocket. Arianespace is targeting its VV25 launch attempt today, Thursday 5 December 6:20 p.m. local time in French Guiana, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Robert Zubrin, President of the Mars Society. You can connect with Robert on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Mars Society on their website. Selected Reading Airbus cuts 2,000 Defence and Space jobs, taming earlier plans- Reuters Space firms plot new European satellite venture to take on Starlink as job cuts loom- Reuters ESA - Eclipse-making double satellite Proba-3 enters orbit Arianespace 2 Flight Postponement of the Launch Northrop Grumman Completes Activation of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Capabilities, Including EPS-R Payloads Space Force activates component field command in Japan China launches new satellite group for Spacesail Constellation Muon Space Awarded Space Force Contract to Advance Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Capabilities SpaceX launches 350th mission using a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket booster during Starlink mission from California – Spaceflight Now Orbite Closes Series A and Launches Luxury Space Programs and Strategic Partnership- Business Wire T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SUAS Aerospace, the leading Irish aerospace company based in Cork, and T-Minus Engineering, a Netherlands-based company that develops, produces and launches rocket systems for research, observation and training purposes, have announced a strategic partnership to launch the Pathfinder mission in late 2025. Pathfinder is Ireland's first commercial rocket launch. This groundbreaking endeavour will serve to position Ireland as a key player in the European space industry. Up to now, European orbital rocket launches have primarily been conducted in South America from French Guiana. With the stated EU aim of having sovereignty in space, this Irish launch heralds a truly new era for the European space industry. To execute the Pathfinder mission, T-Minus will provide expertise in solid rocket propulsion, onboard electronics, and launch operations, while SUAS Aerospace will oversee the complex logistics of the launch, including site acquisition, licensing, and stakeholder engagement. T-Minus is the most prolific rocket launch business in Europe. The Pathfinder launch site will be on Ireland's west coast, which is an ideal destination for commercial rocket launches. Offering cost-effectiveness, easy access by sea and air, and a large safety zone over the Atlantic Ocean, the west coast location will establish Ireland's position in the European launch market and encourage state support for space infrastructure to capitalise on this once-in-a-generation opportunity. The project will demonstrate Ireland's geographical advantage and capability for delivering satellites to Northerly and Southerly low earth orbits and focus European awareness on the opportunity for commercial rocket launches from Ireland. T-Minus Engineering brings extensive expertise in the development, production, and launching of rocket systems, providing end-to-end solutions for both the scientific and defence markets. With capabilities in solid rocket propulsion, onboard electronics and telemetry, lightweight materials, and safety simulations, T-Minus Engineering has a proven track record, having launched various rockets from locations across the globe, including Australia, Scandinavia, and the UK. Rory Fitzpatrick, CEO of SUAS Aerospace, said: "The Pathfinder mission is a significant milestone for Ireland's space program. It will not only demonstrate the country's technical capabilities but also contribute to economic growth and job creation. By partnering with T-Minus, we are ensuring that the launch meets the highest safety standards and regulatory requirements, paving the way for future space activities. "Having collaborated on a project previously with T-Minus Engineering, they are the obvious choice for the Pathfinder mission, having conducted multiple suborbital launches within Europe and worldwide," he said. Hein Olthof, CEO of T-Minus Engineering, said: "As T-Minus seeks new opportunities outside the Netherlands due to space restrictions, the Pathfinder project presents a unique solution and will support our further expansion across Europe. We believe this partnership will open up new opportunities for our customers, and we are confident that our collaboration with SUAS Aerospace will lead to innovative and successful projects, fuelling the growth of Europe's space capabilities. Ireland can be a centre of this growth." "The establishment of new launch sites, such as Ireland, will encourage harmonization of launch operations within Europe, mainly in regulations, which in the end leads to better and more efficient legislation. This can give Europe the desired edge in the important field of space access." SUAS Aerospace was founded in 2019 and is supported by Enterprise Ireland. With an initial investment of €1.1 million to date, along with T-Minus Engineering, it has secured significant partnerships with major European Companies, including Skyrora and Pangea Aerospace. It is part of a successful consortium awarded a €5m grant from Horizon Europe to develop inter...
A shamanic ceremony in Paris prepares human remains to return to French Guiana. French villages finally get street names. And the 1970s court case that changed France's approach to prosecuting rape. Native Americans from French Guiana and Suriname were recently in Paris to demand the restitution of the remains of six of their ancestors who died after being exhibited in so-called human zoos. Corinnne Toka Devilliers, whose great-grandmother Moliko was exhibited at the capital's Jardin d'Acclimatation in 1892 but survived, describes holding a shamanic ceremony at the Museum of Mankind to prepare her fellow Kali'na for the voyage home. But there are still legal obstacles to overcome before the remains can leave the Parisian archives where they've spent the past 132 years. (Listen @3'30'')Until recently, French villages with fewer than 2,000 residents did not need to name their streets – but legislation that came into effect this summer now requires them to identify roads to make it easier for emergency services and delivery people to find them. While not all villages have jumped at the opportunity, we joined residents in a hamlet in the south of France as they gathered to decide their new street names. And geographer Frederic Giraut talks about how the law is impacting the culture and heritage of small, rural localities. (Listen @21'53'')The closely watched trial of a man accused of drugging his wife and inviting others to rape her while she lay unconscious at their home in southern France has become a rallying cry for those who say society needs to change the way it thinks about sexual assault. Fifty years ago, another rape case caused similar outcry – and led to changes in how France prosecutes and defines rape. (Listen @13'25'')Episode mixed by Cecile Pompéani. Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, Apple podcasts (link here), Spotify (link here) or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).
This week's episode is a celebration of life as we honour the legacy of the great Roy Cape. We also send birthday greetings to The Mighty Poser and take in some of his classics over the years.School reopening is a recurring decimal every year and this year is no different as Ryan Gadsby Dolly is under pressure in week 1. We offer some solutions that might take us out of this bandaid approach to school repair.Firing Angus Eve seems to have been an attempt to put a bandaid on a gaping wound as The Soca Warriors collect a hot 4 in Honduras ahead of their home game against French Guiana on Tuesday.Apparently the Grindr robberies have increased to mandemic levels and Newsday has come to the rescue by taking a walk on the rainbow side on our behalf,A special salute to our most decorated olympian. Akeem Stewart on his success!Enjoy!!
The last Vega rocket lifted off from the European Space Agency's spaceport in French Guiana transporting the third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite to orbit. China's space agency and its counterpart in Senegal signed an agreement on the Chinese-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). General Dynamics Missions Systems has been awarded a $491.6 million contract by the Space Development Agency (SDA), and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest is New Mexico State Representative and Aerospace Lawyer, Dayan Hochman-Vigil. You can connect with Day through the New Mexico Legislature website. Selected Reading ESA - Sentinel-2C joins the Copernicus family in orbit China's lunar research station initiative welcomes new global partners - CGTN General Dynamics Mission Systems Awarded $491.6 Million Design and Development Contract for Space Development Agency's Ground, Management and Integration Program Viasat Awarded Potential $150 Million Blue Force Tracker (BFT) Network Services Contract by Defense Information Services Agency (DISA) SpaceX Pulls Employees From Brazil, Discourages Travel There, as Musk Battles Court Over X - WSJ Blue Origin droneship arrives in Port Canaveral ahead of New Glenn launch Redwire Joins the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council to Support Greater Bilateral Collaboration in Space ALL.SPACE Appoints Paul McCarter as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Global Expansion, Drive Innovation and Meet Growing Demand Satellogic Welcomes Kelly Kennedy to Board of Directors | Business Wire Man Finds Space Debris While Snorkeling On Remote Island | IFLScience T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Zara Lachlan, a 21-year-old adventurer who's about to take on one of the most daunting challenges imaginable. This October, Zara will row solo and unsupported across 3,600 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, from Portugal to French Guiana. If successful, she'll set three world records: the first female to complete this crossing solo and unsupported, the youngest person to do so in any boat, and the youngest female to row from mainland to mainland across the Atlantic.But this isn't just about records. Zara will be rowing 15 hours a day through orca and shark-infested waters, battling waves up to 30 feet high—all on her very first ocean crossing. And the first time she'll ever row on the open ocean? The moment she leaves the shore in Portugal.This epic journey wouldn't be possible without the support of her sponsors, including Team Forces, Collins Aerospace, Telent, Civica, and Spectra Group. Zara's mission is also a fundraising effort for two causes close to her heart: Women in Sport and Team Forces.Tune in as Zara shares her top tips for pushing through limits and making dreams a reality. This is an episode you won't want to miss! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
PREVIEW: ESA: FRENCH GUIANA: Conversation with colleague Bob Zimmerman regarding the ESA and France realizing there is profit in launch pads. More tonight.
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to launch on August 26. Dawn Aerospace have completed another flight test campaign of the Mk-II rocket-powered aircraft. Rocket Lab has scheduled a 14-day launch window that opens on August 11th for its 52nd Electron mission which will deploy a satellite for Capella Space, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Kelly Haston, PhD, Commander of the last Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission which ended on July 6, 2024. You can connect with Kelly on LinkedIn and learn more about CHAPEA on NASA's website. Selected Reading https://x.com/PolarisProgram/status/1821260140210745531 Campaign 2-2 Update, and Our Journey Through Flight Test — Dawn Aerospace Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch Just Eight Days After Previous Mission- Business Wire Quarterly Results- Viasat, Inc. Redwire Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results- Business Wire MDA Space Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results BlackSky Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results- Business Wire Virgin Galactic Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results And Provides Business Update Air Force Research Lab eyes space data transport demo in 2026 PLD Space to start building French Guiana launch facilities next month - SpaceNews 10 Smallsat Startups to Watch in 2024- Via Satellite Find Out What God Needs With A Starship When William Shatner Hosts A Live 35th Anniversary Screening of "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" at GalaxyCon San José with First-Ever Live Commentary T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 85, where we explore the latest cosmic events and advancements in space exploration.- First, a groundbreaking new study suggests that Mars may have always been a cold, icy world, incapable of supporting life as we know it. This research, published in Communications Earth and Environment, challenges the long-held belief that the Red Planet was once warm and wet, potentially hospitable to life. By analysing Martian soils in Gale Crater, scientists found similarities to the cold, subarctic soils of Newfoundland in Canada, raising questions about Mars' ability to support life.- Next, Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space for the first time. After a decade of development and numerous delays, the Ariane 6 has finally launched, marking a new era for the European Space Agency's heavy-lift capabilities. This maiden flight from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana carried 18 satellites, demonstrating the rocket's versatility and potential for increased launch capacity.- Finally, the crew of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft remains aboard the International Space Station, but NASA insists they are not marooned. Despite experiencing thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, the crew is confident in their return home. NASA and Boeing are working diligently to resolve the issues, with a potential return date set for late July.- Follow our cosmic conversations on X @stuartgary, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of the universe, one episode at a time.- Sponsor Offer:This episode is proudly supported by NordVPN. Secure your digital journey across the cosmos with a VPN service you can trust. Find your stellar security solution at https://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn.- Listen to SpaceTime on your favourite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.Support SpaceTime:www.bitesz.com
The long-awaited Ariane 6 is scheduled to make its inaugural launch from Kourou, French Guiana. Gravitics has signed a $125 million contract to expand Axiom Space's planned space station. Japan's Space Agency is soliciting proposals as part of a new Space Strategic Fund established by the Japanese government which will offer one trillion yen ($6.2 billion) to Japanese companies to help expand the country's space industry, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Dr. Brien Flewelling, Director of Strategic Program Development at ExoAnalytic Solutions. You can connect with Brien on LinkedIn, and learn more about Exoanalytic Solutions on their website. Selected Reading ESA - Ariane 6 launch: how to watch and what to look out for Space station startup Gravitics lands $125 million order from Axiom Astroscale's ADRAS-J Conducts First Fly-Around Observation of Space Debris JAXA | 宇宙戦略基金事業 技術開発課題の公募を開始 SpaceX launches Türksat 6A satellite, Turkey's first domestically-build satellite – Spaceflight Now China-France astronomical satellite identifies three gamma-ray bursts - CGTN Redwire Developing Advanced Thruster Technology to Offer Reliable, High-Volume Production to Support DoD Small Satellite Supply Chain- Business Wire Exclusive: Japan must strengthen NATO ties to safeguard global peace, PM says- Reuters Capital Factory to Co-Host Micro Summit on Tech Innovation — and Special Announcement in the Nation's Capital- Business Wire NASA Moon Rocket Stage for Artemis II Moved, Prepped for Shipment NASA, Boeing Provide Next Update on Space Station Crew Flight Test AI vulnerabilities to space pirates: Cyberattacks in space can threaten life on Earth - Fast Company Max Space Appoints Space Program and Operations Veteran Kirsten Whittingham as President- Business Wire New HBO Original Documentary ‘Wild Wild Space' Features Planet's Origin Story and Space Industry Trajectory- Business Wire T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When butterflies not native to South America appeared on a beach in French Guiana, entomologists started sleuthing to prove where they came from—and how they might have got there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host, Anna, and today we've got an exciting lineup of space news you won't want to miss. From the latest updates on Boeing's Starliner mission to groundbreaking discoveries about our galaxy's star clusters and intriguing insights into changes occurring within Earth's inner core. We've also got news on Virgin Galactic's new commercial astronaut crew, the completion of the Ariane 6 rocket's final rehearsal, and revelations from NASA's Cassini spacecraft about Saturn's seasonal heat and storms. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the cosmos.Chapters- Boeing's Starliner Mission Delay: The first astronaut mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule has been delayed until at least July 2. Originally set to undock from the International Space Station on June 26, the mission has been extended to allow NASA and Boeing more time to assess several issues that have emerged.- Origins of Star Clusters: Astronomers from the University of Vienna have traced the origins of nearby star clusters to three primary star-forming regions in our Milky Way galaxy. These regions have been sites of massive star formation and subsequent supernova explosions.- Earth's Inner Core Slowing Down: Since around 2010, researchers from the University of Southern California have discovered that Earth's inner core has been slowing down. This phenomenon, which alters the length of our days by fractions of a second, offers intriguing insights into the planet's internal dynamics.- Virgin Galactic's New Commercial Astronaut Crew: Virgin Galactic has revealed a new commercial astronaut crew for its next-generation delta class planes, which are slated to commence flights in 2026. This pioneering crew features three notable members: past Virgin Galactic astronaut Kelly Girardi, Canadian Shawna Pandya, and Ireland's Nora Patton.- Ariane 6 Rocket's Final Rehearsal: The first Ariane 6 rocket has successfully completed its final wet dress rehearsal, marking an important milestone before its first skyward journey. This crucial test took place at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.- NASA's Cassini Spacecraft Findings: NASA's Cassini spacecraft has provided us with groundbreaking data that reveals Saturn emits heat in varying amounts depending on its seasons. This fascinating discovery outlines that Saturn fluctuates in the amount of heat it radiates into space.For an astronomical experience, visit our website at astronomydaily.io for the latest news, sign up for our free newsletter, and check out exclusive sponsor deals. Connect with us on YouTube, TikTok, X, and Facebook via @AstroDailyPod for engaging discussions with fellow space aficionados. This is Anna, reminding you to keep your gaze fixed on the heavens. Until our next stellar episode, let the cosmos ignite your curiosity and wonder. Clear skies and cosmic discoveries to all!Support:This podcast is better with your support:https://www.bitesz.com/show/astronomy-daily-the-podcast/support/www.bitesz.comSponsors:www.bitesz.com/nordpasshttps://www.bitesz.com/show/astronomy-daily-the-podcast/sponsors/
Episode Description Episode Description Sign up to receive this Unreached of the Day podcast sent to you: https://unreachedoftheday.org/resources/podcast/ People Group Summary: https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups//18495 #PrayforZERO is a podcast Sponsor. https://prayforzero.com/ Take your place in history! We could be the generation to translate God's Word into every language. YOUR prayers can make this happen. Take your first step and sign the Prayer Wall to receive the weekly Pray For Zero Journal: https://prayforzero.com/prayer-wall/#join Pray for the largest Frontier People Groups (FPG): Visit JoshuaProject.net/frontier#podcast provides links to podcast recordings of the prayer guide for the 31 largest FPGs. Go31.org/FREE provides the printed prayer guide for the largest 31 FPGs along with resources to support those wanting to enlist others in prayer for FPGs
Interview with Louis-Pierre Gignac, President & CEO of G Mining Ventures.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/g-mining-ventures-tsxgmin-producing-gold-by-year-end-4938Recording date: 23rd April 2024G Mining Ventures, led by President and CEO Louis-Pierre Gignac, has announced a merger with Reunion Gold to acquire the Oko West project in Guyana. This strategic move aligns with G Mining's goal of becoming an intermediate gold producer, targeting an annual production of 500,000 ounces.The Tocantinzinho mine, currently under construction by G Mining, is 89% complete and expected to start producing gold within the next three months. With an average annual production of 175,000 ounces, Tocantinzinho is projected to generate over $200 million in cash flow per year. The merger with Reunion Gold will enable G Mining to redeploy this cash flow towards the development of Oko West, minimizing shareholder dilution.Gignac and his team have conducted extensive due diligence on the Oko West project, including site visits and meetings with the President of Guyana. The Guyanese government has expressed strong support for the mining industry and the swift development of Oko West. G Mining's management expertise, coupled with the financial backing of major shareholders La Mancha and Franco, who have committed $25 million each to support early works, positions the company well to advance the project rapidly.Despite concerns about the "Venezuela factor" and a longstanding boundary dispute, G Mining remains confident in the stability of Guyana's mining sector. The dispute is expected to be resolved through international courts, with support from key players such as Brazil, the United States, and European nations.The merger between G Mining and Reunion Gold is expected to close in the beginning of the third quarter, following a shareholder vote. As part of the transaction, a spin-off company will be created to hold Reunion's exploration assets in French Guiana and Suriname, with G Mining retaining a 19.9% stake and the option to maintain its pro-rata share in future funding rounds.Gignac sees potential for the Oko West project to produce 200,000 ounces of gold annually, with a combination of open-pit and underground mining. The company plans to refine the trade-offs between the two mining methods and optimize the timing of underground development. The high-grade underground resource, with an average grade of 3 grams per tonne, is expected to complement the open-pit operation and create significant value.G Mining's institutional shareholders have responded positively to the merger announcement, recognizing the strategic fit and the company's ability to leverage its expertise and systems in developing the Oko West project. With a strong track record of building mines in the Guiana Shield and a network of experienced Guyanese expats, G Mining is well-positioned to integrate the Reunion Gold team and advance the project seamlessly.As gold prices continue to rise, reaching nearly $2,400 per ounce, the timing of this merger and the anticipated start of gold production at Tocantinzinho appears to be ideal for G Mining Ventures and its shareholders. The company's strong financial position, experienced management team, and strategic partnerships place it in an excellent position to capitalize on the growing demand for gold and create significant value for investors in the years ahead.—Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.com/companies/g-mining-venturesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com
We are most likely to think about environmental data as sets of facts, but have you thought of it as having a social life? In this episode, we explore how those who collect and prepare environmental data may not necessarily be the ones to use or benefit from it: Dr Tone Walford and Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant draw on their experiences of collecting data across the Amazon in Brazil, French Guiana and Peru, and more recently in Hampstead Heath in London, the UK, to consider more collaborative and equitable forms of environmental data. We discuss how bringing together anthropologists, artists, forest ecologists, remote sensing specialists, and the UK's Ancient Tree Forum, is helping to frame alternative modes of collecting, accessing, and sharing environmental data. Tone Walford is a Lecturer in Digital Anthropology, based in UCL's Anthropology Department. Their work explores the new forms of data politics that underpin current efforts in international observational science to measure, archive, and manage the Earth. Cecilia Chavana-Bryant is a forest ecologist and a National Centre for Earth Observation Postdoctoral Research Fellow, based in UCL's Geography Department. Her work broadly focuses on the ecology and function of temperate and tropical forests canopies. For the podcast transcript, details of our other podcasts and activities visit: http://tinyurl.com/mubmxu4n Date of episode recording: 2024-01-25T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:32:32 Language of episode: English Presenter: Lili Golmohammadi Guests: Tone Walford, Cecilia Chavana-Bryant Producer: Matt Aucott, Cerys Bradley