Foreign press

[Sergey S]

Tsunami advisory lifted after 6.9 magnitude earthquake rattles southwest Japan

     The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted a tsunami warning following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in southwestern Japan. The earthquake occurred shortly after 9: 19 pm local time (7: 19 am ET). The initial tsunami wave made landfall within 30 minutes of the earthquake. Authorities urged local residents to stay away from the sea and close to the coast. Cliff collapses and falling rocks can pose a threat to residents. Most of Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which makes it vulnerable to earthquakes. In 2011, the 9.1-magnitude Tohoku earthquake triggered a tsunami and nuclear disaster that killed at least 20,000 people.
Source: CNN.com

[Ann]

  About the Bafta 2025 Film Awards.

About Best British Film: Bird. The title seems to be familiar. There was a famous Hitchcock horror film known all over the world. The title was  ВIRDS.

BAFTA
Британская академия кино и телевидения.
Независимая общественно-благотворительная организация Великобритании, а также собственно награды, которые вручаются этой институцией за достижения в области кинематографии, телевизионного искусства, компьютерных игр и искусства для детей.

[Sergey S]

Bafta film awards 2025: full list of nominations

     The Bafta 2025 Film Awards include nominations in various categories.

Best Film: Anora, The Brutalist, Total Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Perez.
Best British Film: Bird, Blitz, Conclave, Gladiator II, Hard Truth, Kneecap, Lee, Love Lies Bleeding, Advance, Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of Most Domestic Birds.
Best Debut by a British Screenwriter, Director or Producer: Anna, Luna Karmun, Kneecap, Ape Man, Santosh, Sandhya Suri, Sister Midnight, Karan Kandhari.
Best Non-English Language Film: Everything We Imagine As Light, I'm Still Here, Kneecap, Sacred Fig Seed.
Best Documentary Feature: The Black Box Diaries, Daughters, No Other Land, Superman: The Christopher Reeve Story, Will & Harper.
Best Animated Feature: Inside-out Flow 2, Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of Most Domestic Birds, Wild Robot.
Best Children's and Family Movie: Flow, Kensuke Kingdom, Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of Most Domestic Birds, Wild Robot.
Best Director: Anora, Sean Baker, Brutalist Brady Corbet, Conclave, Edward Berger, Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve, Emilia Perez, Jacques Audiard, The Heart of the Case, Coralie Fargit
Best Original Screenplay: Anora, The Brutalist, Kneecap, Real Pain, Substance.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Totally Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Perez, The Nickel Boys, Sing, Sing.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Cynthia Erivo, Wicked, Carla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truth, Mikey Madison, Anora, Demi Moore, Saoirse Ronan, Advance.
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrian Brody, The Brutalist, Timothy Chalamet, The Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo, Sing, Sing, Ralph Fiennes, Conclave, Hugh Grant, Heretic, Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice.
Best Supporting Actress: Selena Gomez, Emilia Perez, Ariana Grande, Wicked, Felicity Jones, The Brutalist, Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Dancer, Isabella Rossellini, Conclave, Zoe Saldanha, Emilia Perez
Best Supporting Actor: Yura Borisov, Anora, Kieran Culkin, True Pain, Clarence Maclean, Sing, Sing, Edward Norton, Total Unknown, Guy Pearce, The Brutalist, Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice.

[Sergey S]

Thailand bans imports of plastic waste to curb toxic pollution

     Thailand has banned the import of plastic waste to combat toxic environmental pollution. The law came into force after years of campaigning by activists. Thailand has become the leading destination for plastic waste exports from Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan following China's ban. Japan is one of the largest exporters of plastic waste to Thailand. Banning the import of all plastic scrap is considered a triumph for civil society. The prohibition must be enforced and the law implemented. Thailand can be used as a transit State for sending waste. Failed attempts to agree on a global plastic waste compact continue. Plastic pollution is considered a threat to human health.
Source: The Guardian.com

[Sergey S]

Greens attack Woodside proposal to bury CO2 from WA gas project under pristine reef

     Party organizations criticize Woodside Energy's proposal to bury 4 million tons of CO2 a year under Scott Reef. Woodside Energy is proposing to use an underwater storage facility for CO2 disposal as part of the Browse project. The Federal Department of Environmental Protection plans to consult with the public before making a decision on conducting an environmental assessment. The Green Party and the Federal Party criticize the timing of the consultation and call on the Government to extend it. A representative of the Environmental Protection Party considers the proposal an "environmental washout" of the emissions caused by the Browse project. The Browse project involves drilling wells and laying a gas pipeline for gas processing at the Karratha plant. Woodside claims that their proposal will reduce CO2 emissions by 47%. The Marine Environment Protection Organization calls for a" quick abandonment " of the project and claims that it involves high costs and risks.
Source: The Guardian.com

[Sergey S]

King Charles marks 76th birthday at ‘surplus food festival’

     King Charles III opened two food distribution points as part of the Coronation Food project. The project aims to bridge the gap between food poverty and food waste. A new centre in south London will be used for a "surplus food festival". The second Coronation Food Hub was supposed to be opened in Merseyside, but the ceremony went virtual. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visited the new facility and met with beneficiaries and food bank representatives. The project provides for increasing the capacity of warehouses, cold storage facilities and financing transport for distribution. So far, 15 million pounds have been raised for the design, construction and launch of a network of 10 centers. The project collaborates with the charity organizations FareShare and the Felix Project, saving 940 tons of surplus food. The project has provided £ 715,000 in community food grants to 33 UK organisations.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

Mystery fault takes undersea internet cable between Germany and Finland out of service

     An unexplained fault in an underwater telecommunications cable has disrupted communications services in Finland and Germany. The C-Lion1 cable, which is almost 1,200 km long, is the only direct connection of its kind between Finland and Central Europe. While it is unclear what caused the crash, Cinia is still investigating the issue. T The extent of failures caused by the fault is unclear, and repairs usually take 5 to 15 days.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

Weather tracker: Philippines braced for landslides as fourth cyclone in three weeks hits

     The northern Philippines was hit by the fourth tropical cyclone in the last three weeks. Typhoon Toraji (also known as Nika) is moving westward over the island of Luzon. Toraji follows cyclones Trami, Kong Rei and Yinxing, which resulted in 159 deaths and displaced more than 700,000 people. Ongoing recovery efforts are being disrupted by adverse weather conditions. The Philippines is no stranger to cyclones, but it is unusual for them to be so numerous in a short period of time. The main concern is the huge amount of precipitation that has fallen in recent weeks. About 2,500 villages were evacuated due to the risk of landslides. The northern Philippines may have to prepare for another cyclone later this week.

Source: The guardian.com

[Sergey S]

This small suburban school was named the world’s best new building

     Darlington Public School in suburban Sydney was named World Building 2024 at the Singapore World Architecture Festival. The project combines a corner brick campus building with a distinctive sawtooth roof and landscaped open spaces. Metal screens surround the outdoor terraces, protecting students ' privacy and letting in daylight. The new design of the school has "radically transformed" it, offering "new and modern learning environments". The project is closely connected with indigenous peoples, preserving their cultural heritage through works of art. WAF awards in 18 categories, including sports, transportation, healthcare, and housing. Darlington School has become the second building in Sydney to win the competition in the past three years.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

From local pond to outback dunny, Australia’s biggest frog count is here – and researchers need your help

      In Australia, Frogs ' Week is held from November 8 to 17 , an event to collect frogs. The goal of the event is to collect thousands of records to study the state of frogs in the country. There are about 250 species of frogs in Australia, each with a unique cry. FrogID helps scientists better understand frogs and their distribution. Frog Week - a time to explore the sounds of nature and participate in a citizen science project. Thousands of calls recorded over the course of a week will help scientists better understand frogs. One of the main problems is the lack of knowledge about frogs and their condition.

Source: The Guardian.com

[Sergey S]

Pakistan province calls for ‘climate diplomacy’ with India as record smog chokes major city

     Punjab Province in Pakistan has asked India for cross-border cooperation due to severe air pollution. Punjab suffers from high levels of air pollution due to the easterly wind blowing from India. Environmental pollution increases in winter due to the burning of agricultural waste and coal-fired power plants. India and Pakistan are aware of their shared responsibility with regard to climate and toxic air. Air quality in Lahore and Delhi has reached dangerous levels due to ignoring local bans on fireworks and stubble burning. Air pollution can lead to serious diseases and shorten the life expectancy of hundreds of millions of people. Both countries are trying to crack down on illegal stubble burning, but the practice is still common.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

The ancient UNESCO-listed city that’s considered the cradle of Thai culture

     Loi Krathong is a holiday in Thailand, held during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. Sukhothai is home to Thailand's largest Loi Krathong festival. The Festival of Lights from November 8 to 15 includes traditional parades, light and sound shows, and fireworks. Sukhothai - the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam in the 13th-14th centuries, today Sukhothai Historical Park contains impressive Buddhist monasteries. UNESCO listed Sukhothai and its associated cities as a World Heritage Site in 1991. Sukhothai is known as the cradle of Thai culture, but is also known for its innovations in hydraulic engineering. The origin of the Loi Krathong culture is still a subject of scholarly debate. Sukhothai is about a 6-hour drive from Bangkok and offers many hotels and guided tours to explore the city's history.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

Elon Musk has met with politicians from at least 13 different countries: Here’s what he has talked about

    Elon Musk has met with presidents, prime ministers, lawmakers and political candidates around the world. Musk's meetings with world leaders include discussions on business opportunities, elections, trade, energy, education, and population management. Musk became an influential political figure in the United States, broadcasting live campaign events on Channel X. Musk is in regular contact with Russian government officials, including President Putin, about Starlink. Musk's meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro led to the launch of Starlink in the country. Musk held talks with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador about building a new Tesla plant in Nuevo Leon. Musk's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led to discussions about plans to build a Tesla factory in India. Musk also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss investment in their respective countries.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

Hurricane season is about to wake up again

     Three dangerous tropical hotspots are expected in the Atlantic basin in the coming days. One of them is located in the western Caribbean and may develop into a tropical depression. The next tropical storm, Patty, may follow, followed by Raphael and Sarah. Heavy rain and gusty winds are expected in the western Caribbean, Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula next week. The U.S. Gulf Coast may receive weather protection after devastating hurricanes. Next week, gale-force winds may rise over the Persian Gulf, which can destroy any system. November will be active, as the hurricane season usually ends this month, but this year is higher than the average number of storms. Storms that form in November usually occur in the Caribbean and the southwest and central Atlantic. The Gulf of Mexico is not a common source of tropical nuisance in November, but it is still warmer than the average for that month.

Source: CNN.com

[Sergey S]

The ancient UNESCO-listed city that’s considered the cradle of Thai culture

     Loi Krathong is a holiday in Thailand, held during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. Sukhothai is home to Thailand's largest Loi Krathong festival. The Festival of Lights from November 8 to 15 includes traditional parades, light and sound shows, and fireworks. Sukhothai - the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam in the 13th-14th centuries, today Sukhothai Historical Park contains impressive Buddhist monasteries. UNESCO listed Sukhothai and its associated cities as a World Heritage Site in 1991. Sukhothai is known as the cradle of Thai culture, but is also known for its innovations in hydraulic engineering. The origin of the Loi Krathong culture is still a subject of scholarly debate. Sukhothai is about a 6-hour drive from Bangkok and offers many hotels and guided tours to explore the city's history.

Source: CNN.com