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Magyarország
2017. X. 25. Bejelentette programjának legújabb verzióját az Infogram, a világ egyik legismertebb adat-vizualizációs oldala. Az új verzióban az egyszerű, úgynevezett drag-and-drop megoldással különböző tartalmakat lehet elhelyezni 40 különböző típusú sablonon. Ezzel az üzleti felhasználók adatokon keresztül is látványos és érthető formában tudnak elmesélni egy-egy történetet. Az Infogram legfrissebb verziójával a korábbinál többféle vizuális elemet lehet létrehozni – marketing-eszközöktől kezdve különböző social média kampányokon át, egészen a pénzügyi beszámolókig vagy web-lapokig. A 2012-ben alapított lett Infogram-nak San Franciscóban és Rigában van irodája. Felhasználói eddig 5 millió info-grafikát készítettek, havi látogatóinak száma pedig 50 millió feletti. A céget tavasszal vette meg a magyar alapítású Prezi, melynek több mint 85 millió felhasználója van a világ 190 országából. A Prezinek 320 dolgozója és három irodája van: Budapesten, San Franciscóban és Mexikóvárosban. (Forrás: Forbes): https://tinyurl.com/ydcz9gv4
2017. X. 21. Az elmúlt egy évben összesen 80 miniszteri, 5 miniszterelnöki biztos volt, illetve 17 miniszterelnöki megbízott. Ezenfelül 12 minisztert, 56 államtitkárt és 113 helyettes államtitkárt, valamint 13 kormánybiztost fizetnek az adófizetők. (Forrás: HírTv): https://tinyurl.com/y8afyrll
2017. X. 21 Az Örömóda dallamára, vagyis az EU himnuszára vonult be Szél és Gémesi az Új Kezdet párt gödöllői nagygyűlésén. Az LMP és az Új Kezdet vezetőinek közös belépője, majd kézfogása is jelezte, hogy a két párt szorosabb együttműködésre készül. Gémesi szerint pártja még túl fiatal az önálló induláshoz, a Lehet Más a Politikát viszont sok mindenben tudják segíteni. „Azzal tudunk hozzájárulni, hogy polgármesterek vagyunk, tudunk az emberek nyelvén beszélni. Ezt a lokalitást visszük be az együttműködésbe'. A tervek szerint az LMP és az Új Kezdet novemberben írja alá azt az együttműködési megállapodást, mely minden részletet szabályoz majd. Az már most biztossá vált, hogy a közös miniszterelnök-jelölt Szél lesz. (Forrás: HírTv)
Franciaország
2017. X. 24. Több a francia áldozat Franciaországban, mint Afganisztánban. A franciák 70 embert vesztettek el afganisztáni terrorista támadásokban. Viszont 239 ember halt meg iszlám terror-támadásokban Franciaországban. Az afganisztáni francia veszteségeket a világ egyik legveszélyesebb iszlám térségében több mint egy évtized alatt szenvedték el. Franciaországban a francia veszteségek kevesebb mint két év alatt következtek be. Valami nagyon nem stimmel, amikor Afganisztán biztonságosabb, mint Párizs. Sokkal biztonságosabb az al-Kaida ellen harcoló francia katonának lenni egy muzulmán országban, mint egy párizsi polgárnak, aki a saját városában koncertre jár. Franciaország háborúban áll. Ezért vannak katonák az utcán. Az új terrorizmus elleni törvényjavaslat állandósítja a rendkívüli állapotot. Franciaország az új Izrael. Franciaország csak azért jár az élen, mert ott a legnagyobb a probléma. Franciaország leghosszabb rendkívüli állapotát éli az algériai háború óta. Franciaországban már polgárháború van. És ez a polgárháború vallási különbségeken alapul. Ahogy az iszlám gyarmatosítók és a világi francia kormány közötti vallási szakadék mélyül, az erőszak fel fog erősödni. A háború kimenetele meghatározza majd, hogy Franciaország világi állam lesz-e, vagy iszlám állam. A dzsihadistáknak van tervük a háború megnyerésére. A francia hatóságoknak nincs. És ami igaz Franciaországgal kapcsolatban, igaz Nyugat-Európára és az egész Nyugatra. Európa következő világháborúja Franciaországban kezdődik. (Forrás: FaceBook/ dzsihádfigyelő)
Spain
27 October 2017 The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region. A motion declaring independence was approved by with 70 in 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia. But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the US, UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. European Commission chief Juncker said the EU "doesn't need any more cracks, more splits". Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia. Soon after the vote at the regional parliament, the Senate - Spain's upper house - made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence. (Source: BBC)
Europe
28 Oct. 2017 A map reveals the other regions across the continent desperate for autonomy. The aftershocks of the Catalonia crisis could further splinter the EU with dozens of regions hoping to return to autonomy and fighting their own battle to regain control. In Basque Country where nationalists have wanted political unity for all Basque-speaking people in Spain and France since the 19th century. A new generation of young Basques who feel ignored by Madrid could decide to revisit Eta’s unilateral 2010 ceasefire. The group killed more than 800 people in a 50-year campaign for an independent state. The Orkney Islands, which is exploring independence from Scotland and the UK following Brexit. More than half of the local politicians have demanded an investigation into “greater autonomy or self-determination” after the vote to leave the European Union. Orkney has traditionally been against Scottish independence and prefers Westminster government to Holyrood. The Galicia independence movement is a political movement, which supports the independence of the region. Some groups also propose a unification with Portugal, the military organisation is called ‘Restistencia Galega’. Isle of Man Cornwall and Scily In 2014, 89 per cent of people in Venice in Italy voted for independence in an online petition, which led to the forming of a party called ‘Veneto Si’. Before the First World War, South Tyrol in Italy belonged to Austria, but became part of Italy when the conflict ended. Many people feel closer to the Austrians and there are strong voices calling for independence. In Scotland the Scottish National Party (SNP) has been campaigning for full independence since it was founded in 1934. The leader of the SNP, Sturgeon, has said another referendum is likely since the Brexit vote. The Welsh Nationalist Party has been campaigning for independence since it was founded in 1925. According to a recent poll, 40 per cent of Welsh voters support more powers for the assembly and around 25 per cent are in favour of full independence. (Source: SundayExpress): https://tinyurl.com/yaek9b3c
Africa
30th October 2017 Some 1,300 cases of the pneumonic plague, which is transmitted by air, have now been confirmed. Countries affected include South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Comoros, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion. The virus has killed 124 people. The World Health Organisation, which has been working with Madagascar’s Ministry of Health, has warned the risk of the epidemic spreading is “high” at national level. "Plague, though terrifying, is nothing new in Madagascar, where about 600 cases are reported annually," the organisation said on its website. Air Seychelles, one of Madagascar's biggest airlines, stopped flying earlier in the month. Nearly 1.2 million doses of antibiotics and L11.4 million worth of emergency funding have been sent by the WHO to fight to plague. (Source: DailyStar)
North Korea
October 2017 Amidst the growing threat of North Korea’s nuclear program, the assassination of Kim’s half-brother via VX nerve agent in February 2017 brought renewed interest in North Korea’s other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs - chemical and biological weapons. While nuclear programs can be monitored by the number of nuclear tests and the success of missile tests, weaponizing and cultivating pathogens can stay invisible behind closed doors. Moreover, equipment used for BW production are often dual-use for agriculture, making external monitoring and verification virtually impossible. North Korea has had limited participation in the Biological Weapons Convention. /Full report// (Source: BelferCenter): https://tinyurl.com/yabyften
31th October 2017 The catastrophic collapse of North Korea’s nuclear testing site may lead to a planetary radioactive disaster that kills millions of people. At least 200 people were killed when a “unfinished” tunnel collapsed at the underground Punggye-ri nuclear test base on September 10, Japanese media report. The collapse killed around 100 workers who were working on the construction of a new tunnel at the site in the north-east North Korea. A further 100 people were killed in a second collapse during a rescue operation. There are fears the collapse could have triggered a Fukushima-Chernobyl radioactive leak that threatens lives across the world. Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause loss of hair, sickness, heart failure and brain damage. (Source: DailyStar)
Saudi Arabia
October 31, 2017 Saudi Arabia has sent a request for information (RFI) to international suppliers to build two nuclear power plants, a first step towards a formal tender. The kingdom is considering building 17.6 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity by 2032, the equivalent of about 17 reactors. If a tender proceeds, Saudi Arabia would become the second Gulf Arabic state to turn to nuclear power after the United Arab Emirates, which is building four South Korean-designed reactors, with the first due to start in 2018. The four plants will provide up to 25 percent of the UAE's "clean energy" needs by 2021. Saudi Arabia was reaching out to suppliers from South Korea, China, France, Russia, Japan and the United States for its first two reactors. Other potential suppliers are Toshiba-owned Westinghouse <6502.T>, Russia's Rosatom, China's CGN and South Korean firms, such as Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) (Source: Yahoo)
United States
Oct 31, 2017 Details are emerging about the man who deliberately plowed down pedestrians in New York City in what authorities described as an act of terror. At least eight people died and at least 13 people, including the suspect, were injured. The suspect, 29-year-old Saipov, is a truck driver and has known addresses in both New Jersey and Florida. Investigators believe Saipov, who arrived in the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010, was acting as a "lone wolf". A note was left the truck that was used in the attack and that it referenced the islamic state of Iraq and Syria (isis). In Uzbekistan is an extremist organization called the IMU, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Established in 1998, IMU moved from being an affiliate of al Qaeda to isis in 2015. /Source: CBSNews/
30 October 2017 Trump campaign chairman Manafort is indicted on $75 million money-laundering charge related to his work for Ukraine's former president and accused of conspiring against the U.S. as Mueller probe ramps up. Manafort and his firm, which Gates helped run, spent years as Yanukovych's political consultants. They controlled $75 million in slush funds, buying tailored suits, cars, rugs and antiques. Other charges are being an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, making false and misleading Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) statements and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. The indictment is purely focused on alleged financial crimes. Trump's name is not mentioned in the 31-page document. Trump says it all happened 'years ago', called the probe 'a witch hunt' and the special counsel's focus should be on 'Crooked Hillary & the Dems'. Gates is surrendered to face charges, too. Mueller also revealed that a former Trump foreign policy aid, Papadopolous pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contact with the Russians who promised 'dirt' on Clinton and 'thousands' of her emails. An Obama-appointed judge, U.S. District Judge Jackson who was confirmed unanimously in the U.S. Senate has been assigned the case. Trump tweeted about a report that Obama's campaign organization funneled nearly $1 million to the law firm that served as a pass-through last year between Democrats and an opposition research firm that produced the salacious and discredited 'dirty dossier' on the president. 'Report out that Obama Campaign paid $972,000 to Fusion GPS. The firm also got $12,400,000 (really?) from DNC. Nobody knows who OK'd!". (Source: Mail)
Oct 29, 2017 President Trump unleashed a tweetstorm about the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, praising Republican unity, rejecting claims of “collusion” and urging an investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s possible links to Moscow. “Never seen such Republican anger & unity as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier (now $12,000,000?), the Uranium to Russia deal, the 33,000 plus deleted Emails, the Comey fix and so much more,” he wrote on Twitter. ”Instead they look at phony Trump/Russia ?”collusion,” which doesn’t exist. The Dems are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the R’s ?are now fighting back like never before. There is so much guilt by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. Do something!,” he said. He also brought up the Uranium One deal, donations to the Clinton Foundation and the 33,000 emails missing from a private server she used when she was secretary of state. Trump also railed about former FBI Director Comey’s clearing Clinton of charges for using the server. (Source: TheNewYorkPost): https://tinyurl.com/y9ax6a93
Oct. 28, 2017 Five possible outcomes of first Mueller indictments. Manafort, Flynn, Page at top of potential indictment list; Mueller’s firing a long shot. (Source. RollCall): https://tinyurl.com/y7w84ejr
October 27, 2017 Feldman says his life is in danger because he wants to expose 'pedophile ring' that abused him, Haim. (Souurce: FoxNews)
10/27/2017 The full indictment (Source: Politico):: https://tinyurl.com/y74z72nz
October 26, 2017 President Trump delayed the release of thousands of pages of classified documents related to the Kennedy assassination, bowing to pressure from the CIA, FBI and other federal agencies still seeking to keep some final secrets about the nearly 54-year-old investigation. (Source. TheWashingtonPost): https://tinyurl.com/ydc5bpra
October 22, 2017 The U.S. Air Force is preparing to put nuclear-armed bombers back on 24-hour ready alert, a status not seen since the Cold War ended in 1991. The alert order had not been given, but that preparations were under way in anticipation that it might come. That decision would be made by Gen. Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, or Gen. Robinson, the head of U.S. Northern Command. STRATCOM is in charge of the military’s nuclear forces and NORTHCOM is in charge of defending North America. Barksdale and other bases with nuclear bombers are preparing to build storage facilities for a new nuclear cruise missile that is under development. Putting the B-52s back on alert is just one of many decisions facing the Air Force as the U.S. military responds to a changing geopolitical environment that includes North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear arsenal, President Trump’s confrontational approach to Pyongyang, and Russia’s increasingly potent and active armed forces. Already, various improvements have been made to prepare Barksdale - home to the 2d Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s nuclear forces - to return B-52s to an alert posture. The long-empty B-52 parking spaces will soon get visits by two nuclear command planes, the E-4B Nightwatch and E-6B Mercury, both which will occasionally sit alert there. During a nuclear war, the planes would become the flying command posts of the defense secretary and STRATCOM commander, respectively. If a strike order is given by the president, the planes would be used to transmit launch codes to bombers, ICBMs and submarines. At least one of the four nuclear-hardened E-4Bs - formally called the National Airborne Operations Center, but commonly known as the Doomsday Plane - is always on 24-hour alert. (Source: DefenseOne): https://tinyurl.com/ycjo8mwz
22 October 2017 The Air Force could recall up to 1,000 retired pilots after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at addressing what the Pentagon has described as an "acute shortage of pilots." Under current law, the Air Force is limited to recalling just 25 pilots. The order signed by Trump temporarily removes that cap for all branches of the military. (Source: FoxNews)
Globalization
October 31, 2017 Google said in a statement that it had "made a code push that incorrectly flagged a small percentage of Google Docs as abusive, which caused those documents to be automatically blocked. A fix is in place and all users should have full access to their docs." Although the error appeared to be a technical glitch, the fact that Google is capable of identifying 'bad' Google Docs at all is a reminder: Much of what you upload, receive or type to Google is monitored. While many people may be aware that Gmail scans your emails - for instance, so that its smart-reply feature can figure out what responses to suggest - this policy extends to other Google products, too. (Source: TheWashingtonPost)
Oct. 28, 2017 Virtual reality gets naughty. By 2025 pornography will be the third-largest VR sector, according to estimates prepared by Piper Jaffray, an investment and management firm. Only video games and N.F.L.-related content will be larger, it predicted, and the market will be worth $1 billion. (Source: TheNewYorkTimes): https://tinyurl.com/yaoldmab
2017. X. 24. A hatodik fajkihalási hullám – főemlős-búcsúk. Első durva kihalás: hosszan elnyúló jégkorszak az ordovícium-szilur idején, amely esetleg egy távoli hipernova-robbanás következménye lehetett, amelynek gamma-kitörése megsemmisítette a Föld ózonrétegének jelentős részét (447-444 millió éve) – pörgekarúak, mohaállatok, trilobiták, konodonták és graptoliták nem bírták. Ötödik: aszteroida becsapódás (Chicxulub-kráter) a kréta-tercier korban (66 millió éve) – növények, növényevő állatok, majd nagytestű ragadozók kihalása (lásd dinoszaurusz-búcsú). Talán ideje búcsúzni az antropocén korban a főemlős rokonainktól (csimpánz, bonobó, gorilla, orangután), aztán az oroszlántól, az afrikai elefánttól, az orrszarvútól, a jegesmedvétől, és azoktól, akiktől érzelemmentesen elvettük az élőhelyüket. (Forrás: DarvasBélaÁtlátszó)
Space
October 23, 2017 Many nations de-orbit old spacecraft over the most remote place on Earth, called Point Nemo or Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. This "spacecraft cemetery" is about 1,450 miles away from any piece of land and home to hundreds of dead satellites. Most precisely, its exact coordinates are 48 degrees 52.6 minutes south latitude and 123 degrees 23.6 minutes west longitude in the Pacific Ocean. Between 1971 and mid-2016, space agencies all over the world dumped at least 260 spacecraft into the region. Since the year 2015 the total was just 161. Buried under more than two miles of water is the Soviet-era MIR space station, more than 140 Russian resupply vehicles, several of the European Space Agency's cargo ships (like the Jules Verne ATV), and even a SpaceX rocket. The problem is larger objects, like Tiangong-1: the first Chinese space station, which launched in September 2011 and weighs about 8.5 tons. China lost control of the 34-foot-long orbital laboratory in March 2016, and it is now doomed to crash by early 2018. Where, exactly? No one yet knows. Hundreds of pounds of the spacecraft - like titanium scaffolding and glass-fiber-wrapped fuel tanks - could be falling at more than 180 miles per hour before slamming into the ground. A large object like Tiangong-1 can break apart into an oval-shaped footprint of debris that extends 1,000 miles long and dozens of miles wide. Meanwhile, the land-free zone around Point Nemo stretches more than 6.6 million square mile. Some 4,000 satellites currently orbit Earth at various altitudes. Thousands of uncontrolled rocket bodies orbiting Earth, along with more than 12,000 artificial objects larger than a fist. That's not to mention countless screws, bolts, flecks of paint, and bits of metal. Satellite collisions are rare but do happen; one occurred in 1996, another in 2009, and two in 2013. These accidents - along with the intentional destruction of space satellites - have generated countless pieces of space debris.Someone needs to get nations together to agree on a treaty that spells out laws-of-the-sea-like salvage rights to dead or uncontrollable objects in space. (Source: BusinessInsider): https://tinyurl.com/yae3qwl5
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