March 18, 2022

Guardian: 'The week in wildlife - in pictures March 18, 2022

The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a rescued goat, a leaf monkey cub,
otters, seals, a baby elephant, fishing cats and more.'

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2022/mar/18/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures

March 18, 2022

BBC: 'Africa's week in pictures: 11-17 March 2022.

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond:'

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60777278

Ah, Africa, where the human race got its start. And judging by these weekly photo
galleries it's still going on in a big way.

March 17, 2022

It's time for Full Moon Fever tomorrow, March 18, 2022 at 1:17 am*

*U.S. Mountain Daylight Saving time

https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/

March: Worm Moon

The last Full Moon of the winter season in March is the Worm Moon because of the earthworms that come out when the soil warms up. Native American tribes called it the Crow Moon for the crows coming back, Snow Crust Moon, and Sap and Sugar Moon for when the maple sap runs.

The Anglo-Saxons called it Lenten Moon after the Germanic Lenten for spring. The Celts called it the Wind Moon and Plough Moon. In Old English, it was known as the Death Moon and the Chaste Moon referring to the purity of the spring season.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/full-moon-names.html

March 17, 2022

Guardian: Ukrainian children's drawings boost soldiers' morale - in pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2022/mar/16/glory-to-the-heroes-ukrainian-childrens-drawings-boost-soldiers-morale-in-pictures

This photo gallery presents images of Ukrainian refugees of all ages and focuses on
the artwork created by the children.

March 17, 2022

'UK spies who allegedly passed questions to CIA torturers subject to English law, court rules

Abu Zubaydah, tortured at CIA ‘black sites’ in six different countries, has right to sue UK government.'

From The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/mar/16/abu-zubaydah-uk-spies-cia-torture-english-law

[UK intelligence services who allegedly asked the CIA to put questions to a detainee who was being tortured in “black sites” were subject to the law of England and Wales and not that of the countries in which he was being held, the court of appeal has ruled.

The three appeal judges were asked to decide whether Abu Zubaydah, who was subjected to extreme mistreatment and torture at secret CIA “black sites” in six different countries, has the right to sue the UK government in England.

At the high court last year, Mr Justice Lane had ruled that the applicable law was the law of the various places where the claimant’s ill-treatment occurred, namely Thailand, Lithuania, Poland, Afghanistan, Morocco and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. But on Wednesday Lord Justice Males, Lady Justice Thirlwall and Dame Victoria Sharp unanimously allowed the appeal.

In Males’s written judgment, he said: “These are strong connections connecting the tortious conduct with England and Wales. They reflect also the parties’ reasonable expectations. While it is true that the claimant himself had no connection with this country, he could reasonably have expected, if he had thought about it during the 20 years in which he has been detained, that the conduct of any country’s security services having to do with him would be governed by the law of the country concerned. As for the services, they would reasonably have expected that their conduct here would be subject to English law.”]

There's more text and a photo at the link. For background see this DU op from two days ago: https://www.democraticunderground.com/117814948

March 17, 2022

To honor the Farmer's Citizen Volunteer Battalion of Ukraine here's two tractor songs:

1. Big Green Tractor, sung by Jason Aldean, written by Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy.

2. She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy, written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney.

March 16, 2022

Guardian: 'Mask rules to stay in force in Scotland as Covid cases rise.

Nicola Sturgeon says increase driven by Omicron sub-variant means rule must remain beyond 21 March.'

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/15/mask-rules-to-stay-in-force-in-scotland-as-covid-cases-rise

[The requirement to wear face masks on public transport, in shops and other enclosed public spaces will remain in place in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said, as a sharp increase in cases driven by the Omicron sub-variant prompted her government to delay scrapping the measure entirely.

With all legal restrictions due to end in Scotland on 21 March, the first minister told MSPs she needed to “ask everyone to be patient for a little while longer on face coverings”.

She said this would be reviewed in a further two weeks and she expected the law – which has been in place since June 2020 – to be converted into guidance in early April, if there is evidence that the spike in cases has stabilised.

“I know this will be disappointing for businesses and service providers such as day care services”, Sturgeon said, but added that retaining the protection was “very much in the spirit of solidarity and mutual concerns to each other that has characterised the public response to this pandemic over the past two years.”.]

There's more text and a photo at the link. I approve of this common-sense approach
to make sure as many people as possible will survive this latest world-wide increase
in covid infections.

March 15, 2022

Guardian: Ukrainians take comfort from their animals as they flee the conflict - in pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2022/mar/15/pets-of-war-ukrainians-take-comfort-from-their-animals-as-they-flee-the-conflict-in-pictures

"At the Polish border, thousands of Ukrainian refugees arrive each day with only what they can carry. For many that is their dog, cat, hamster or bird – a small connection to the homes they have left behind."

Let's all support the people of Ukraine and their pets.

March 14, 2022

Guardian: Anti-war protests, an elephant buffet: the weekend's best photos, March 13, 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2022/mar/13/anti-war-protests-and-an-elephant-buffet-the-weekends-best-photos

This gallery presents recent news photos and is very informative.

March 14, 2022

Guardian: Bafta* Awards 2022 ceremony - in pictures

*British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2022/mar/14/baftas-2022-ceremony-in-pictures

This gallery presents names and faces that were pretty much unknown to me before. The
only name I recognized was Shirley Bassey, but not her present photo. It's good to learn
new things so have a go at it.