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Doomsday Plane Purchase: Balancing Security, Innovation, and Global Cooperation for Sustainable Development

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:23:07 -0500

From an economic standpoint, this purchase reflects substantial investment in defense infrastructure, aligning with Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The development and production of these aircraft, under a $13 billion contract awarded to Sierra Nevada, will likely create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the aerospace industry.

Furthermore, the upgrade to newer 747-800 airframes signifies a commitment to modernization and innovation in military technology, fitting Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. By investing in advanced aircraft technology, the US military aims to enhance its strategic capabilities while promoting advancements in aerospace engineering.

However, the implications of these developments extend beyond economic and technological domains, touching upon broader questions of security and global stability. The existence of Doomsday planes underscores the persistent threat of nuclear conflict and the need for robust defense mechanisms, implicating Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Ensuring effective command and control capabilities in times of crisis is essential for maintaining international peace and security.

Moreover, the potential use of these aircraft in nuclear scenarios highlights the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and mitigate the risk of conflict, aligning with Goal 17: Partnerships. International cooperation and diplomacy are crucial for addressing complex security challenges and fostering a safer, more stable world.

In summary, while the acquisition of Doomsday planes represents a significant step in enhancing military capabilities, it also underscores the interconnectedness of security, innovation, and global cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals. As nations navigate the complexities of modern warfare and security threats, it becomes increasingly imperative to prioritize collaborative efforts towards peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Former passenger jets bought by US firm tasked with creating

next generation of nuclear ‘Doomsday’ planes

Seoul, South KoreaCNN —

That economy-class seat you once occupied while flying in Asia might one day be the very place from where the United States nuclear weapons arsenal is controlled.

That’s because five Boeing 747 passenger jets once operated by the South Korean flag carrier Korean Air have been purchased by the Sierra Nevada Corporation, the contractor for the replacements for the US Air Force’s current fleet of strategic command and control military aircraft, more commonly known as “Doomsday” planes.

Also known as the E-4B “Nightwatch,” the Doomsday planes are designed to be command-and-control centers for the US military in the event of a national emergency that sees command facilities on the ground destroyed or incapacitated, such as nuclear war.

They could become what amounts to a Pentagon in the sky, taking aboard the US president, secretary of defense and members of the Joint Chiefs among more than 100 other people with the ability to control US forces worldwide from the aircraft, according to an Air Force fact sheet on the E-4Bs.

The Doomsday planes are built to withstand the effects of an electromagnetic pulse, the burst of energy released by a nuclear explosion that can “disrupt and permanently damage electrical components and entire systems within most critical infrastructure sectors and impact large-scale infrastructure,” according to the US Department of Homeland Security.

At least one Doomsday plane is on alert 24/7 at a US military base somewhere in the world, the Air Force says.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Colorado-based Sierra Nevada confirmed the purchase of the Korean Air jets but would not give any further details.

A Korean Air Boeing 747-800 landing at Rome Fiumicino airport.

Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

However, on April 26 the Air Force awarded Sierra Nevada a $13 billion contract to develop and produce the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, the official name of the new Doomsday plane. Work on the project is to be completed by 2036, according to a Defense Department release.

On Friday, an Air Force spokeswoman confirmed the contract had been awarded in April.

“The development of this critical national security weapon system ensures the Department’s Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications capability is operationally relevant and secure for decades to come. To satisfy operational requirements, the weapon system will be comprised of a Commercial Derivative Aircraft that will be hardened and modified to meet military requirements,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told CNN.

Last year, Sierra Nevada opened a 100,000-square-foot aircraft repair, maintenance and overhaul facility at Dayton International Airport in Ohio, and construction on a second hangar of similar size has begun.

An artist’s rendering of the Dayton facility showed a 747-800 inside.

The 747-800s would be an upgrade on the older and smaller 747-200 airframes of the current Doomsday fleet, which entered Air Force service in the 1980s.

Earlier this week, Korean Air announced the $675 million sale of five of its aircraft to Sierra Nevada. The decision to sell the jets was part of a “mid- to long-term introduction plan for new aircraft,” the airline said in a statement, adding it expects the deal to be completed by September 30, 2025.

Korean Air had nine 747-800 passenger jets in its fleet as of October 2023, according to its website.

By Brad Lendon, CNN

CNN’s Yoonjung Seo and Haley Britzky contributed to this report.

Mexico's Presidential Race and the Path to Sustainable Development

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:59 -0500

The article highlights the narrowing lead of Claudia Sheinbaum, the former Mexico City mayor and candidate of the ruling Morena party, ahead of Mexico's presidential election. Sheinbaum's lead has decreased slightly according to an opinion poll conducted by Parametria between April 25 and 29, 2024. Despite this decrease, she remains the frontrunner with 44% support, ahead of Xochitl Galvez, the candidate of a right-left alliance, who garnered 31% support.

One notable aspect of the poll is the increase in support for Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the opposition center-left Citizens' Movement, who saw a three-point increase in backing compared to the February survey, reaching 8%. This suggests a potential shift in voter preferences towards Maynez, indicating a dynamic and competitive electoral landscape.

In the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), several goals are relevant to this article:

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The narrowing lead in the presidential race reflects the dynamics of political and economic aspirations in Mexico. The outcome of the election could impact the country's economic policies and growth trajectory, influencing the creation of quality jobs and economic opportunities for its citizens.

Goal 5: Gender Equality: Claudia Sheinbaum's potential presidency could mark a significant milestone as she could become the first woman to rule the country. Her leadership would contribute to advancing gender equality and empowering women in political leadership roles, aligning with the SDG's aim of promoting gender equality as a fundamental human right.

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The electoral process and the eventual outcome are crucial for ensuring stability, justice, and effective governance in Mexico. A peaceful transition of power and the establishment of strong, accountable institutions are essential for sustainable development and achieving peace and justice for all citizens.

Overall, the evolving political landscape in Mexico, as reflected in the narrowing lead of presidential candidates, holds implications for various aspects of sustainable development, including economic growth, gender equality, and the strength of institutions. As the election date approaches, the focus will remain on how these developments align with Mexico's progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Mexico's Presidential Frontrunner Sheinbaum's Lead Narrows

Slightly, Poll Shows

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Former Mexico City mayor and ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum's lead has narrowed slightly ahead of Mexico's presidential election scheduled for June 2, an opinion poll showed on Friday, even as she remains the clear frontrunner.

The April 25-29 survey by polling firm Parametria showed Sheinbaum of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) with 44% support, well ahead of Xochitl Galvez, candidate of a right-left alliance of three parties, with 31%.

A survey in February by the same firm showed Sheinbaum with 49% support and Galvez with only 29%.

The poll gave a third contender, Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the opposition center-left Citizens' Movement (MC), backing of 8%, a three-point increase over the February survey.

It showed 17% of respondents offered no preference.

The face-to-face poll of 800 people had a 3.5% margin of error.

Francisco Abundis, head of Parametria, said the increase in Maynez's support was notable and suggested he may ultimately capture a double-digit percentage of the vote in the election.

Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old scientist who has been a close ally of the current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for decades, could become the first woman to rule the country.

(Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey; Editing by Chris Reese)

Pro-Palestinian Student Protests: Navigating Campus Activism and the Path to Global Equity

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:54 -0500

The article delves into the intensifying pro-Palestinian student protests on college campuses across the United States and globally, particularly in response to Israel's actions during the war in Gaza. It highlights the multifaceted nature of the protests, the responses of universities, and the broader societal implications.

Relating this to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), several goals are relevant:

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities: The protests reflect students' concerns about inequality and injustice, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinians. By advocating for divestment from Israel and raising awareness about the Palestinian cause, students aim to address systemic inequalities and injustices.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The protests raise questions about justice, freedom of speech, and the role of institutions in managing conflicts and upholding human rights. They also highlight the need for peaceful resolutions to conflicts, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Goal 4: Quality Education: The article mentions resources provided to help students better understand the protests and the underlying issues. This aligns with Goal 4, which emphasizes the importance of quality education in promoting understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
Goal 5: Gender Equality: While not explicitly mentioned in the article, student activism often intersects with gender equality issues. Therefore, efforts to address inequalities and promote justice in the context of the protests can contribute to advancing gender equality.
Goal 17: Partnerships: The article mentions various perspectives, resources, and strategies used to understand and address the protests. This highlights the importance of collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders, including educators, students, activists, and institutions, to address complex challenges and promote sustainable solutions.

Overall, the article underscores the interconnectedness of social, political, and humanitarian issues, and the role of education, activism, and collaboration in addressing them in alignment with the UN SDGs.

Teaching and Learning About the Pro-Palestinian Student

Protests on College Campuses

A collection of resources and critical-thinking questions to help students better understand the protest movement and consider the complex issues it raises.

By The Learning Network

May 9, 2024

Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, students at scores of colleges and universities across the United States and in other countries have protested in support of Palestinians and called for their schools to divest from Israel.

As the war in Gaza has escalated, universities have been caught in an often bitter debate over how to handle the protests. And over the past few weeks, students at many universities have intensified their protests and built encampments on campus. Several universities have begun calling in the police to arrest the protesters and to clear these encampments.

In this teaching resource, we draw on recent articles, photos, audio, video and maps to help students understand what is happening and why. Use the list below to choose the topics and materials that are right for your students. (For instance, some teachers may wish to begin with the personal questions we pose in our final section, about high schools, rather than to end with them.)

You might also borrow from the advice and strategies suggested by Facing History and Ourselves in centering humanity while following news of the Israel-Gaza war, or via the many teacher guides on the conflict offered by Solutions Not Sides.

Part I: What’s happening on college campuses

Image

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University this month.Credit...C.S. Muncy for The New York Times

Over the past few weeks, tensions have escalated over pro-Palestinian student encampments at college campuses nationwide, with a growing number of colleges and universities turning to the police to remove protesters and threatening them with disciplinary action.

Here are some Times resources to help students understand these events:

Overview: An explainer article “What to Know About the Campus Protests Over the Israel-Hamas War” addresses some basic questions: who, why, where and how.

Photos and videos: The collection “Scenes From the Student Protests Churning Across the Country” is regularly updated.

Audio: “The Crackdown on Student Protesters,” the April 25 episode of “The Daily,” features both a Times reporter and the editor in chief of Columbia’s college newspaper. A May 4 episode, “The Protesters and the President,” includes President Biden’s response.

Map: See where protesters have been arrested or detained on U.S. college campuses since April 18.

Voices of student journalists: If your students are already familiar with what is happening and why, perhaps the best way to get fuller context is to hear from student reporters on the ground. Below, some places to start:

PBS NewsHour, in the above video: “Student journalists discuss covering the campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.”
Columbia Daily Spectator: “Our Campus. Our Crisis.” Inside the encampments and crackdowns that shook American politics. A report by the student journalists of the Columbia Daily Spectator in collaboration with New York magazine.
NPR: “How these University of Texas-Austin students view Gaza war protests on their campus.”
Teen Vogue: “Student journalists covering the campus protests at U.C.L.A., the University of Texas-Austin, City College of New York are writing history” and “College students reflect on graduation amid massive campus protests.”
Politico: “What’s really happening on college campuses, according to student journalists.”
In addition, students might consult the campus newspapers of any of the colleges or universities that interest them, whether of the City College of New York, U.C.L.A., University of Texas-Austin or any other.

Responding and Discussing

Students might begin by “noticing” and “wondering” about what they read and saw, using questions like the ones below. They can do this privately in their journals, as partners, via small group discussions, as a whole class — or in some combination:

What do you notice? What quotes or images stand out for you, and why?
What do you wonder? What questions do you have about what is happening and why it is happening?
What connections can you make? How does this issue relate to you and your community?

However you handle class discussion of these sensitive topics, Facing History has additional ideas for protocols. You might consider trying strategies like Save the Last Word for Me; Head, Heart, Conscience; or Big Paper.

Part II: More background and context

Image

Students who are not themselves Palestinian say they have joined the demonstrations for a wide variety of reasons.Credit...Bing Guan for The New York Times

To give your students a bit more context for what is happening on college campuses, and to help them appreciate some of the underlying issues and questions, we provide brief explanations of various topics as well as links to related Times articles. (Please remember that all links from The Learning Network to Times content are free, but only if you access them by clicking directly from our site.)

Background

Hamas’s attack on Israel: On Oct. 7, Hamas, the Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip, mounted a highly coordinated invasion of Israel, with terrorists attacking towns and killing people in their homes and on the streets. More than 1,200 Israelis died, including more than 100 young revelers who were dancing at an outdoor rave. Over 240 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas, around 100 of whom remain in Gaza. The attack was the deadliest on Israel since its founding.

Israel’s war in Gaza and the ensuing humanitarian crisis: In response, Israel launched in Gaza one of the most intense military campaigns in modern history. So far, Israel’s forces have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, a majority of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, and have displaced more than 80 percent of the enclave’s surviving population, according to the United Nations. The leader of the World Food Program recently said that parts of the Gaza Strip were experiencing a “full-blown famine” that is spreading across the territory.

A long, contested history: The current war is part of a long history of conflict in the region. Students can learn more in this detailed Times explainer from The Times. It uses as a starting point 1920, when the British mandate for Palestine was established: “Over the following decades, two nationalisms, Palestinian and Jewish, took root on the same land and began to compete in a way that has ever since proved irreconcilable. The Arab population wanted what every native majority wants — self-determination. Jews who immigrated in growing numbers wanted what persecuted minorities almost never attain — a haven, in their ancient homeland.”

Understanding the Protests

Calls for a cease-fire: Most immediately, protesters are demanding an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. They say that Israel is committing what they see as genocide against the Palestinian people, and they aim to keep a spotlight on the suffering in Gaza. (Facing History provides an explainer for what genocide means.)

Demands for university divestment: Students are also calling on their colleges and universities to make transparent all financial holdings and to divest from, or cut financial ties with, Israel or companies they say are profiting from its invasion of Gaza. But, as the Times has reported, divesting can be challenging for universities to do, even if they want to.

Links to a broader global struggle: In many activists’ eyes, the Gaza conflict is a struggle for justice, tied to issues closer to home, such as policing, mistreatment of Indigenous people, discrimination toward Black Americans and the impact of global warming.

Key Issues and Questions

Charges of antisemitism: Many Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe on campus — either because of overt threats or attacks, or because of speech that the students consider offensive and antisemitic. Part of the problem for universities is defining when pro-Palestinian political speech during a time of war crosses the line into antisemitism. And the question is made even more complicated because there is no consensus about what, precisely, constitutes antisemitism. Students can read this article about how universities are struggling to define what makes a protest antisemitic, and this article about how even the definition of antisemitism is the subject of bitter debate.

Concerns about freedom of speech: Protesters on college campuses have often cited the First Amendment as grounds for allowing their protests to continue unhampered. But while college administrators have called the right to free speech “vital,” they have also pointed out that it is not unlimited. And universities have said that they needed to call in the police, arrest students and clear encampments to restore order. Students can read this article to learn more about the thorny issues related to freedom of expression on college campuses. And they can read this Opinion piece about freedom of speech and prohibitions of harassment, including against students because of their identity.

Campus disruption and the police response: Protests have been taking place at college campuses since the war began in October. However, the nature and tenor of the protests and of universities’ responses changed on April 18, when Columbia University called in the police, who arrested more than 100 protesters and removed dozens of tents that protesters had set up. Within hours, a new group of protesters pitched tents at Columbia, and within days, protesters at other schools across the country established their own pro-Palestinian encampments. The demonstrations have also attracted counterprotesters, and clashes between the two groups have occasionally become violent, as seen at U.C.L.A. In the weeks since, universities have cracked down on these escalating protests and encampments, citing issues of safety and campus disruption, and more than 2,700 people have been arrested or detained on campuses so far. Students can read this article about how administrators at some of the country’s most influential universities have struggled to calm campuses torn by this conflict.

After reading, students might discuss the following questions:

In your own words, what did you learn?
What questions do you still have?
What might you need to research further to better understand?
How does what you read change your understanding of or thinking about these issues?

Alleged Hate Crime in Lockport Township Exposes Persistent Inequalities and Justice Gaps

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:46 -0500

The incident reported in Lockport Township, Illinois, where a woman was allegedly shot by her neighbor, highlights several critical aspects related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The victim, Melissa Robertson, and her family have endured years of harassment from the accused, John P. Shadbar, allegedly culminating in this violent act. According to reports, Shadbar subjected the family to racial slurs and intimidation, targeting them because of their race. The victim's son recounted instances where Shadbar used racial epithets and brandished firearms, creating a hostile environment for the family.

This tragic incident underscores the persistence of racial inequalities and the urgent need to address systemic discrimination. Goal 10 aims to reduce inequalities by advocating for universal policies that consider the needs of marginalized populations. However, the failure to effectively address the reported harassment despite previous complaints reflects a gap in achieving this goal.

Furthermore, the shooting incident raises concerns regarding access to justice and the functioning of institutions. Despite the family's repeated attempts to seek intervention from authorities, the harassment allegedly persisted without resolution. Goal 16 emphasizes the importance of building effective, accountable institutions and ensuring access to justice for all. The fact that the victim's family felt unheard and unprotected suggests a failure in meeting these objectives.

In conclusion, the alleged hate crime in Lockport Township underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing racial inequalities and ensuring justice and security for all individuals, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts to combat discrimination and strengthen institutional frameworks are imperative to creating a more equitable and peaceful society.

Illinois man who allegedly shot neighbor, a white woman with

Black sons, charged with hate crime

John Shadbar was also charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

By Minyvonne Burke

An Illinois man was arrested and charged with a hate crime after he allegedly shot his neighbor several times in what authorities say is a racially motivated incident.

Around 5:37 p.m. Tuesday deputies were called to an area in Lockport Township for reports of shots fired. The responding deputies were told that the victim, a 45-year-old woman, had been shot by her neighbor, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Facebook.

Witnesses identified the shooter as John P. Shadbar and said he had "shot the victim outside and was walking around his property with a rifle," according to authorities. They said he allegedly fired dozens of rounds at the woman "from different outside locations."

The shooting was captured on video from security cameras in the area. The sheriff's office said they believe it was racially motivated.

John P. Shadbar is facing nine felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, felony possession of a firearm and a hate crime after he allegedly shot his neighbor.WMAQ

Deputies provided life-saving measures to the woman and she was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities said she had been shot in the chest and hand and underwent surgery. She is currently recovering, the sheriff's office said.

The victim was identified by family members as Melissa Robertson. The family told NBC Chicago that they have been harassed by Shadbar since they moved in 10 years ago. Robertson is white and her sons are Black.

Mikeal Johnson, one of Robertson's sons, told the news station that during one incident Shadbar allegedly yelled slurs like "dead n-words, n-word this, n-word lover."

"[He] called me the n-word straight to my face," Johnson said. "My mom made him apologize. A few days later he comes out holding a gun in his underwear."

Other times, Shadbar would allegedly fire his gun in his yard and toss fireworks between the homes, the family said.

During Tuesday's incident, he was yelling "dead n-word" and was trying to get into the family’s backyard, Robertson’s aunt, Jeanne Beyer, told NBC Chicago. Robertson’s 8-year-old son witnessed the shooting, the family said.

Authorities said Shadbar, 70, barricaded himself inside his residence after the shooting. After speaking with him on the phone, a crisis negotiator convinced him to exit with his hands up, according to the news release.

Deputies said Shadbar made "several incriminating statements" while speaking to the crisis negotiator.

He was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and a hate crime. The sheriff's office said additional charges are likely.

The family said that they contacted authorities several times over the years about the alleged harassment, but nothing was ever done about it. NBC News reached out to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

"This did not need to happen at all. Not just our lives, but his life and his wife’s and our neighbors are all affected by it," Johnson told NBC Chicago.

Shadbar appeared in court on Thursday and was denied pretrial release.

Northern Lights Spark Reflection on Sustainable Development Goals

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:41 -0500

The recent announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center regarding a severe solar storm expected to supercharge the northern lights on Friday has drawn attention to both the marvels of nature and the potential risks associated with such events. This celestial spectacle, while awe-inspiring, also raises concerns about its impact on various aspects of life on Earth, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Firstly, the forecasted severe geomagnetic storm underscores the significance of Goal 13: Climate Action. Solar storms, driven by fluctuations in solar activity, remind us of the interconnectedness of Earth's systems and the urgency of addressing climate-related challenges. While the northern lights themselves are a natural wonder, the underlying solar events highlight the need for proactive measures to mitigate the broader impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, the potential disruption to communication and power grids due to strong geomagnetic storms underscores the importance of Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. In an increasingly interconnected world reliant on technology and communication networks, ensuring the resilience of infrastructure is paramount for sustainable development. Adequate investment in infrastructure and innovative technologies can help mitigate the risks posed by such natural phenomena.

Moreover, the mention of potential disruptions to satellites in space highlights the relevance of Goal 17: Partnerships. Collaborative efforts between space agencies, meteorological organizations, and governments are essential for monitoring and managing the impacts of space weather events. By fostering global partnerships and information-sharing mechanisms, we can better prepare for and respond to such challenges.

Lastly, the article serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between human activities and the broader natural environment, emphasizing the importance of Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Responsible stewardship of resources and sustainable production practices can contribute to minimizing our ecological footprint and enhancing resilience to natural hazards.

In summary, while the anticipated display of the northern lights offers a moment of wonder and awe, it also prompts reflection on the imperative to address climate-related challenges, bolster infrastructure resilience, foster global partnerships, and promote responsible consumption and production practices in pursuit of sustainable development.

Severe solar storm expected to supercharge northern lights

on Friday

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued its first "severe geomagnetic storm watch" since 2005. Auroras might be seen as far south as Alabama.

By Denise Chow and Evan Bush

A severe solar storm is expected to supercharge the northern lights on Friday, with forecasts indicating that auroras could be seen as far south in the United States as Alabama.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said Thursday that a series of solar flares and eruptions from the sun could trigger severe geomagnetic storms and “spectacular displays of aurora” on Earth from Friday evening through the weekend.

It was the first severe geomagnetic storm watch the agency has issued since 2005.

“We have a rare event on our hands,” said Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. "We're a little concerned. We haven't seen this in a long time."

People view the northern lights, or aurora borealis over Lake Washington, in Renton, Wash. on Saturday.Lindsey Wasson / AP

Because strong geomagnetic storms have the power to disrupt communications and power grids on Earth, as well as satellites in space, Dahl said satellite and grid operators have been notified to prepare.

He said forecasters predict the storm could arrive as soon as about 8 p.m. ET on Friday.

"We’re less certain on the timing of these events, because we’re talking about something for 93 million miles away," Dahl said, referring to the distance from the sun to the Earth.

A NASA spacecraft orbiting about 1 million miles from Earth, called the Advanced Composition Explorer, will help forecasters measure the solar wind and understand the timing and potential effects more precisely.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, come from charged particles that spew from the sun during solar storms. The colorful displays are created when clouds of these energetic particles slam into Earth’s magnetic field and interact with the atoms and molecules in the planet’s upper atmosphere.

The northern lights typically light up the night sky at high latitudes, but during intense periods of solar activity, they can be spotted farther south than usual.

The Space Weather Prediction Center’s forecast said it’s possible that auroras on Friday night could be seen “as far south as Alabama and Northern California.”

Northern Lights are seen in Fredericton, Canada on Saturday.Hina Alam / The Canadian Press via AP

The agency maintains an aurora dashboard that provides short-term forecasts of the northern lights. If conditions are clear, auroras are best viewed from locations that are dark and far from city lights.

As night descended on parts of Australia and Europe, early photos began to emerge of dramatically colorful skies.

Dahl said smartphones might even be able to capture imagery of the aurora at southern locations where the human eye can't see anything unusual.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, several “moderate to strong” solar flares have been detected since Wednesday morning. Solar flares unleash clouds of plasma and charged particles, called coronal mass ejections, into space. At least five flares and their associated coronal mass ejections appear to be directed at Earth, the center said.

“Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend,” it said in a statement.

When directed at Earth, this geomagnetic and solar radiation can induce currents on high-voltage transmission lines and cause problems for transformers on the power grid.

One of the most damaging geomagnetic storms occurred in 1989, when roughly 6 million people in Montreal, Canada, lost power for nine hours, according to NASA. Some parts of the northeastern U.S. and Sweden were also affected in that event.

The northern lights are visible from Berga, near Barcelona, Spain on Saturday. Albert Llop / AP

In 2002, a coronal mass ejection knocked out 38 commercial satellites.

The sun goes through 11-year cycles from minimum to maximum activity. The current cycle, which began in late 2019, is predicted to peak with maximum activity in July 2025, according to NOAA and NASA forecasts.

Tesla's German Gigafactory: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Concerns in Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:36 -0500

This incident resonates particularly with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and Goal 13: Climate Action. Tesla's Gigafactory represents a significant investment in clean energy technology, aligning with the aim of Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. However, the expansion plans have faced opposition from environmental activists who argue that the factory's construction involves clearing acres of forest, raising concerns about its impact on biodiversity and local ecosystems.

Moreover, the protests raise questions about Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. While economic development projects like Tesla's Gigafactory can bring opportunities for job creation and infrastructure development, they must also ensure that communities have a say in decision-making processes and that development is carried out in a sustainable manner, balancing economic growth with environmental and social considerations.

Additionally, the clashes between protesters and authorities highlight the importance of Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Effective governance and access to justice for all are essential for resolving conflicts and addressing grievances in a fair and transparent manner. The involvement of police forces from neighboring states and national levels underscores the need for coordinated responses to maintain public order while upholding fundamental rights.

In summary, the events at Tesla's Gigafactory in Germany illustrate the intricate interplay between economic development, environmental conservation, social equity, and governance, highlighting the challenges and opportunities inherent in pursuing sustainable development goals.

Protesters attempt to storm Tesla’s factory in Germany

LondonCNN —

As many as 800 activists gathered outside Tesla’s factory near Berlin Friday to protest its expansion plans, and some of them clashed with police as they attempted to break into the plant.

“There are currently 800 activists on the Tesla Gigafactory site as part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days,” Disrupt, a coalition of self-declared anti-capitalist groups that organized the protest, said in a statement on its website.

Police officials said in a press release Friday that, “people from the previous protest march ran through the forest towards the Tesla company premises. As they were in the immediate vicinity of the Deutsche Bahn railroad tracks at the time and partially entered them, rail traffic between Erkner and Fürstenwalde had to be temporarily stopped.”

Police also said they had prevented the group from entering the Tesla premises.

Ole Becker, a Disrupt spokesperson, told CNN: “It was a good day for activists. We saw a lot of police violence unfortunately,” he added. “I saw a lot of injured people… I have seen things today which I haven’t seen for many years.”

Neither Tesla (TSLA) nor police in the German state of Brandenburg, where the plant is located, have responded to a CNN request for comment.

But Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in a post on X Friday: “Protesters did not manage to break through the fence line. There are still two intact fence lines all around (the factory).”

Disrupt argues that Musk’s plans to more than double the production capacity of Tesla’s only factory in Europe would damage the local environment.

The group says the expansion would require clearing swathes of the surrounding forest and would further strain local water supply. It has planned four days of protests, which started Wednesday.

Police officers stand in front of activists protesting against the expansion of the Tesla factory near Berlin, Germany on May 10, 2024.

Christian Mang/Reuters

Tesla shut the factory Friday to all employees in anticipation of crowds gathering outside in protest against the planned expansion.

A stoppage of the plant’s production lines this Friday was announced back in January, CNN affiliate RTL reported earlier this week, quoting a Tesla spokesperson. But with the protests “in mind,” the electric vehicle maker has decided that all other workers at the factory should also stay at home, RTL said.

In early March, Tesla was also forced to close the plant, that time for a week, after a high-voltage electricity pylon delivering power to the factory was set on fire. A group of far-left activists claimed responsibility for the arson attack.

A police officer tries to push back protesters running toward the Tesla factory near Berlin on May 10, 2024.

Christian Mang/Reuters

Police in Brandenburg said Wednesday that they had prepared for “extensive” operations, noting that they would be supported by federal police and several other state police forces.

“Disruptive protests as well as criminal acts typical of this kind of gathering cannot be ruled out,” they said in a statement. “Consequently, the police are prepared for both a peaceful and non-peaceful outcome. If crimes are committed, the police will intervene resolutely.”

- CNN’s Chris Stern contributed to this report

Colorectal Cancer Trends Among Youth: A Call to Action for Health Equity and Innovation

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:29 -0500

First and foremost, the increase in colorectal cancer cases among individuals under 50 years old intersects with Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being. This goal emphasizes the importance of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. The rising incidence of colorectal cancer in younger demographics signifies a significant public health challenge that demands attention and action to safeguard the well-being of individuals across all age groups.

Furthermore, the study's findings prompt considerations related to Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. While the exact causes behind the uptick in colorectal cancer cases among younger generations remain uncertain, the speculation regarding environmental factors, such as changes in food processing methods or exposure to plastics, underscores the need for further research and innovation in understanding the complex interplay between environmental factors and human health.

Additionally, the article touches upon the importance of timely screening and access to healthcare services, resonating with Goal 3 and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. Ensuring equitable access to screening and healthcare services is essential to mitigate disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes among different demographic groups, thereby advancing the overarching objective of reducing inequalities and promoting universal health coverage.

Moreover, the study's implications extend to Goal 17: Partnerships. Addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by rising colorectal cancer rates among younger individuals requires collaborative efforts among healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and communities. By fostering partnerships and knowledge-sharing initiatives, stakeholders can enhance prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies to mitigate the impact of colorectal cancer on public health.

In conclusion, the findings of the study underscore the interconnectedness between health outcomes and broader sustainable development objectives. Addressing the rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger populations necessitates a holistic approach that aligns with the principles and targets outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Colon cancer rates have been rising for decades in younger

people, study finds

Researchers saw a sharp increase among teenagers but noted that the overall number of cases in that age group are very low.

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Colorectal cancer rates have been rising for decades among people too young for routine screening, new research finds.

Routine screening is recommended every 10 years starting at age 45; the new study focused on rates of the disease in children and adults ages 10 to 44, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases of colorectal cancer were on the rise in all age groups, the researchers found.

“It means that there is a trend,” said Dr. Islam Mohamed, an internal medicine resident physician at the University of Missouri-Kansas City who led the research. “We don’t know what to make of it yet, it could be lifestyle factors or genetics, but there is a trend.”

The findings, which have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, will be presented later this month at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Washington, D.C.

Despite the increases, the overall number of cases in people younger than 40 was still low. In people under age 30, cases remained exceedingly rare.

But with such low rates to begin with, any increase can take on a larger significance.

The study found that colorectal cancer diagnoses in children ages 10 to 14 jumped from 0.1 cases per 100,000 in 1999 to 0.6 per 100,000 in 2020, a 500% increase. Cases among 15- to 19-year-olds jumped by more than 300%, from 0.3 per 100,000 to 1.3 cases per 100,000 people. In people ages 20 to 24, cases rose from 0.7 to 2 per 100,000 people, a 185% rise.

“When you are starting off with a very rare disease in 15-year-olds and you add a couple cases, you are going to have a huge percentage increase,” said Dr. Folasade May, an associate professor of medicine in the University of California, Los Angeles Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases.

The increases were smaller for people over 25, but they also started with higher rates in 1999 than the younger groups. People older than 25 saw a more moderate, but still significant, rise in cases. The age group that was just too young to be routinely screened — those ages 40 to 44 — saw an increase of 45%, from about 15 per 100,000 people to about 21 cases per 100,000 people in 2020.

“We know this disease is age-related, as you get older you are more likely to develop polyps and those polyps are more likely to develop into cancer,” said May.

May said that although the overall trend is alarming, it’s reassuring to see that the oldest group had the smallest percentage increase, since that group started with the largest number of cases. The data is still important, she said.

“Anybody who is 15 to 19 years old getting a colorectal cancer diagnosis is bad,” May said.

‘Changing the face of colorectal cancer’

Colorectal cancer rates have been rising in people younger than 50 over the last few decades. At the same time, cases and deaths from the cancer that was once thought to only affect older people is decreasing in people in their 60s and beyond.

“This reflects the changing face of colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Christopher Lieu, co-director of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

The increasing rates in younger people means that the greater risk for the disease will likely stick with them for the rest of their lives, a phenomenon called the birth cohort effect, Lieu said. That means that a 40-year-old born in 1984 has a higher risk of colorectal cancer than someone born in 1950 did when they were 40.

“It’s not like when you become a 50-year-old that risk diminishes, you carry that risk with you,” he said. “As younger people age, I worry that we will see increases in colorectal cancer cases in the groups that are getting screened.”

Doctors are still searching for answers as to why colorectal cancer cases are on the rise among younger generations. But the reason does not appear to be genetic, May said.

“There are a few cancers where we are now seeing an earlier onset and they are probably linked. We don’t know why, but I think what we all agree on is that it is something environmental over something genetic,” she said, noting that it may be tied to more recently developed food processing methods or exposure to plastics.

The experts agreed that the increases in colorectal cancer rates among younger generations were alarming, but did not support lowering the screening age for people who have an average risk. In 2018, the American Cancer Society dropped its recommendation for routine screening from age 50 to 45.

“Before we talk about lowering the screening age from 45, we need to get those people screened. Less than 60% of people 45 and over have been screened,” May said.

Lieu said the data reinforces the importance of everyone, in every age group, being aware of the warning signs of colorectal cancer, and that doctors understand the importance of screening even their young patients if symptoms arise.

“Young patients wait longer to go to the doctor and also have to wait longer to establish their diagnosis because many of our patients get told they are too young to have colorectal cancer,” Lieu said. “We don’t want our patients to experience that any more, especially based on this data.”

The most common symptoms patients in the study diagnosed with early onset colorectal cancer reported were changes in bowel habits — either constipation or diarrhea — abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and signs of anemia. Lieu said if anyone, especially a young person, has blood in their stool, that is reason to schedule an appointment with a doctor.

One of the most powerful things a person can do for their health is to understand their family history, Mohamed said.

“Knowing their family history can provide them with valuable insights into their own health,” he said, noting that people who have a family history of colorectal cancer should start getting screened 10 years before a sibling or parent was diagnosed.

Greek Court Sentences Former Turkish Consulate Official on Spying Charges: Implications for Regional Stability

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:21 -0500

The recent sentencing of a former official at the Turkish Consulate by a Greek appeals court on spying charges underscores the delicate diplomatic relations between Greece and Turkey, both NATO allies. The court's decision, which sentenced the Greek national employed with the Turkish consulate on the island of Rhodes to five years in prison, aligns with the principles of Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

The case, which dates back to 2020, highlights the tensions between the two nations, rooted in longstanding issues such as the divided island of Cyprus and disputes over exploration rights in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The accused, along with another Greek national who worked as a cook on a passenger ship, were under surveillance for months before their arrest. They were charged with photographing the movements of Greek armed forces in the Aegean Sea, reflecting concerns over national security and territorial integrity.

Despite these tensions, both Greece and Turkey have made recent efforts to improve relations. In December, they agreed to reboot their relations, aiming to establish a roadmap for closer ties. However, incidents like this underscore the challenges in achieving sustainable peace and cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the importance of Goal 17: Partnerships in revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Greek Court Sentences Former Official at Turkish Consulate

to Prison on Spying Charges

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek appeals court has sentenced a man who worked for a Turkish consulate to five years in prison on spying charges, legal sources said on Friday, in a case that had strained relations between the NATO allies.

The man, a Greek national employed with the Turkish consulate on the island of Rhodes, was arrested in 2020.

He had denied any wrongdoing and Turkey's foreign ministry had condemned the arrest, saying it violated the then consular official's rights.

A second Greek national, who worked as a cook on a passenger ship operating the Rhodes-Kastelorizo line, and who was arrested at the same time, has also been sentenced to three years in prison. He had also denied any wrongdoing.

Kastelorizo is a small Greek island just off the Turkish coast.

The two had been under surveillance for months before their arrest and they were accused of photographing the movements of Greek armed forces in the Aegean Sea.

Greece and Turkey have long-running issues that divide them, ranging from the divided island of Cyprus to exploration rights in the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea.

In December, both countries agreed to reboot their relations, establishing a roadmap designed to usher in a new era of closer ties between them.

Biden's Weapons Pause in Israel Conflict: Impact and UN SDG Perspective

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:16 -0500

The article discusses President Joe Biden's decision to pause shipments of bombs to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While this move has garnered praise from some critical Democrats, it's unlikely to quell the protests against Israel's actions, according to organizers and strategists.

The protests, largely led by a coalition of young voters and people of color, demand a suspension of military aid to Israel, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and divestment from companies supporting Israel's actions. Despite Biden's temporary ceasefire call and support for a two-state solution, billions more in weapons shipments remain in the pipeline.

From the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this situation primarily relates to Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The ongoing conflict in Gaza underscores the need for access to justice for all and the establishment of effective, accountable institutions to address such conflicts. Additionally, it highlights the importance of Goal 17: Partnerships, as revitalizing global partnerships is crucial for sustainable development and resolving conflicts like the one between Israel and Gaza.

Biden's Israel Weapons Pause Won't Dent Gaza Protests,

Organizers Say

By Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

Biden's decision last week marks the first time he has withheld U.S. military aid from Israel since the country began attacking Gaza seven months ago, pursuing Hamas militants. Republicans and some Democrats have accused Biden of putting the security of the U.S.'s closest ally in the region at risk.

It is also too little, too late, to satisfy the left-leaning coalition of young voters and people of color who have led the protests against Israel's attacks, many say.

Pro-Palestinian protests have swept college campuses across the country, followed Biden at private events and pushed Democrats in key battleground states to vote "uncommitted" to signal their unhappiness as deaths in Israeli-occupied Gaza climbed to 35,000.

"We welcome Biden's words and this gesture toward taking responsibility for U.S. complicity in these crimes," said Stephanie Fox, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, a group whose members are involved with protests around the country, including on college campuses.

"If his words are to mean anything, rather than a one off pause, this needs to be the start of a sea change in U.S. policy," Fox said.

Protesters are seeking suspension of military aid

"I think Biden's comments yesterday moves the needle... but what we don't know is if it's a PR move to try to placate some of his opponents on this issue or if it's real because he has also said his support for Israel is ironclad," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, another group whose members have been participating in protests all over the country.

"We will continue protesting," Benjamin said.

to Israel, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for universities to divest from companies that support Israel's actions in Gaza. Israel is retaliating for Hamas militants attacks on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200.

Biden has called for a temporary ceasefire and said he supports an eventual two-state solution. While he has been increasingly critical of the Israeli government, billions more in weapons shipments remain in the pipeline.

On Friday, Israeli troops took their ground war with Palestinian fighters into city of Rafah, as the United Nations warned that aid for the devastated Gaza Strip could grind to a halt in days.

ISRAEL IS A TOP ISSUE FOR SMALL GROUP

Stanley Greenberg, a veteran pollster who has worked for top U.S. Democrats and Israelis, held a focus group on Wednesday with voters under 45 years old, and Gaza was one of the top issues raised after rising prices.

"It was top of mind for them," he said about Gaza. Asked whether "the U.S. has gone too far in support of Israel, a plurality say yes."

Some pollsters and the Biden reelection campaign believe the issue only resonates for a small group of people. "It's very important to some people, but they're in the minority in the electorate," said Patrick Murray, director of the Polling Institute at Monmouth University.

The campaign’s message is that Biden is experienced in diplomatic matters and going to make tough and necessary decisions regardless of the polls, according to a person familiar with their thinking.

Americans' support for military aid to Israel has dropped in recent months, as has young voter support for Biden, polls show. He has struggled with tepid approval for most of his term in a sharply divided country.

Biden's margin of victory in some key battleground states was slim, and it would not take much of a slip in support from many such voters who backed him in 2020 to throw his reelection bid into question, analysts say.

Waleed Shahid, a Democratic adviser to the national "uncommitted" movement asking voters to pick another candidate in state primaries, called Biden's comment a "small step forward" and said it shows the U.S. has leverage in its dealings with Israel.

Shahid, however, said "until actions are taken to stop the arms sales for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's war, a lot of Biden's base, a lot of the Democratic Party is going to continue to be fractured on this issue."

Other groups urged Biden to act more decisively in confronting Israel instead of looking for a middle ground if he wants to put the Democratic coalition back together.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason. Editing by Heather Timmons and Josie Kao)

Conflict Escalation in Ukraine Highlights Urgent Need for Peace and International Cooperation

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:22:08 -0500

This war escalation development directly relates to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on peace, justice, and strong institutions (Goal 16), as well as partnerships (Goal 17).

Goal 16, which emphasizes the importance of access to justice for all and the need for effective, accountable institutions at all levels, is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing conflict. The situation underscores the necessity of resolving disputes through peaceful means and upholding international laws and agreements. The UN's involvement in mediating conflicts and promoting dialogue between conflicting parties is crucial for achieving lasting peace and stability.

Furthermore, Goal 17 emphasizes the revitalization of global partnerships for sustainable development. The conflict in Ukraine highlights the interconnectedness of global security and development, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and collaboration to address conflicts and their underlying causes. Sustainable development cannot be achieved in regions affected by conflict, making peacebuilding efforts essential for progress towards all SDGs.

The article also indirectly touches upon other SDGs such as Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The escalation of conflict can disrupt economic activities, undermine stability, and threaten the well-being of communities. Therefore, efforts to resolve conflicts and promote peace are essential for fostering sustainable economic growth and ensuring the well-being of affected populations.

In summary, the recent escalation of conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the importance of international efforts to promote peace, justice, and cooperation, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving these goals requires a concerted global effort and a commitment to resolving conflicts through peaceful means.

Russia mounts surprise assault on northern Ukraine in most

serious cross-border offensive in two years

CNN — By Victoria Butenko, Olga Voitovych, Andrew Carey, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Nick Paton Walsh and Zahid Mahmood

Russian forces have made two cross-border assaults inside northern Ukraine, according to information from Ukrainian sources and officials, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling a “new wave of counteroffensive actions” by Russia.

In the first development, Russian soldiers penetrated at least one kilometer towards the town of Vovchansk, a Ukrainian military source told CNN. The aim, the source said, “was to get 10 km deep and create a buffer zone at the border to secure Russian territory from feeling the war.”

In an official statement, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Russian soldiers supported by armored vehicles had moved across the border at about 5 a.m. Friday, following a day of stepped-up attacks on the border area with guided aerial bombs and artillery.

The statement added that Ukrainian reserve units had been deployed to strengthen defenses in the area. On Saturday, local authorities said more than 20 air glide KAB bombs had been launched at the town and its surrounding settlements. The region’s governor Oleh Syniehubov said two civilians were killed when the bombs hit private houses.

A second Ukrainian source with direct knowledge of frontline developments told CNN that Russian forces had also penetrated 5 kilometers inside Ukraine towards the village of Krasne, which lies about 75 km along the border, west of Vovchansk.

The source said the Russian ground assault towards Krasne was carried out by four Russian battalions - about 2,000 men.

Ukrainian officials have not given much information about the second Russian push, though Ukraine’s General Staff, in its Friday evening update, did note Russian attacks in the area of Krasne and two neighboring villages.

It is also noteworthy that DeepStateMap, a Ukrainian monitoring group which updates frontline developments daily, showed four villages next to each other - including Krasne - in the grey area, representing territory currently contested rather than under full Ukrainian control.

DeepStateMap also noted on its Telegram channel that the number of Russian forces deployed in the two cross-border pushes was not enough for a deeper advance into Ukrainian territory, but it also drew attention to the fact Moscow has many more troops positioned along the border - estimated to be around 40,000.

Asked about developments, Zelensky did not downplay their seriousness but said Ukraine’s military had been expecting such a move.

“Russia launched a new wave of counteroffensive actions in [northern Kharkiv region]. Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades and artillery,” he told reporters early Friday afternoon.

“But our military and military command were aware of this and anticipated their forces to meet the enemy with fire. Now there is a fierce battle in this area […] I think as of now we have stopped the enemy with artillery fire,” Zelensky said.

In an address Saturday evening local time, Zelensky said Ukraine was “strengthening our positions” and adding forces to the Kharkiv region.

Residents of border villages have been told to evacuate by authorities. National police posted photos and a video on social media showing officers helping people pack their belongings into police vehicles ahead of being driven to safer locations.

A total of 1,775 people have so far been evacuated from Kharkiv region, a day after Russia’s surprise assault, the head of the region’s military administration said Saturday.

The developments mark the most serious cross-border ground assault by Russia since Ukraine re-captured the northern Kharkiv region in the late summer of 2022, after it was first taken by Russia in the opening weeks of its full-scale invasion.

It also comes after several months of increased Russian air attacks on the city of Kharkiv, which have knocked out all the city’s power-generating capacity, as well as its sub-stations.

Governor Syniehubov insisted the latest Russian ground assaults did not put the city, which lies just 30 km south from the Russian border, under heightened risk.

“The enemy group does not pose a threat to Kharkiv city, its forces are only enough for provocations in the northern direction.”

However, analysts note that if Russian forces were able to push much further south, that could bring the northern edge of the city within range of Russian artillery, which can fire about 20 km.

Human Rights Abuses in Israeli Detention Centers: Undermining Sustainable Development Goals

Clark Howard — Fri, 10 May 2024 13:58:23 -0500

First and foremost, the treatment described in the article directly contravenes Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being. The conditions within the detention center, including lack of proper medical care, neglect of wounds, and even allegations of amputations without proper medical justification, contribute to the deterioration of the detainees' physical and mental health.

Moreover, Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions are undermined by the reported abuses. Access to justice for all, as outlined in this goal, is clearly lacking for the Palestinian detainees described in the article. The secrecy surrounding the detention camps, refusal to disclose the number of detainees, and the suppression of information through censorship and military control all undermine the principles of justice and transparency.

Furthermore, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities is starkly contradicted by the treatment of the detainees. The article highlights the disproportionate power dynamics at play, with detainees subjected to abusive treatment by Israeli guards. Such disparities in power and treatment perpetuate and exacerbate existing inequalities.

Additionally, Goal 4: Quality Education is undermined by the reported mistreatment. The denial of basic human rights, including the right to education, contributes to a cycle of deprivation and marginalization, hindering opportunities for personal and societal development.

Lastly, Goal 17: Partnerships is compromised by the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the detention centers. True progress towards sustainable development requires collaboration and partnership between governments, civil society, and international organizations. However, the secretive nature of the facilities and the lack of cooperation in addressing allegations of abuse hinder the possibility of meaningful partnerships to address these issues.

In conclusion, the reported abuses in the detention center not only violate fundamental human rights but also undermine key principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and respect for human dignity in all aspects of governance and conflict resolution.

Strapped down, blindfolded, held in diapers: Israeli whistleblowers detail abuse of Palestinians in shadowy detention center

Sde Teiman, IsraelCNN —

At a military base that now doubles as a detention center in Israel’s Negev desert, an Israeli working at the facility snapped two photographs of a scene that he says continues to haunt him.

Rows of men in gray tracksuits are seen sitting on paper-thin mattresses, ringfenced by barbed wire. All appear blindfolded, their heads hanging heavy under the glare of floodlights.

A putrid stench filled the air and the room hummed with the men’s murmurs, the Israeli who was at the facility told CNN. Forbidden from speaking to each other, the detainees mumbled to themselves.

“We were told they were not allowed to move. They should sit upright. They’re not allowed to talk. Not allowed to peek under their blindfold.”

Guards were instructed “to scream uskot” – shut up in Arabic – and told to “pick people out that were problematic and punish them,” the source added.

A leaked photograph of the detention facility shows a blindfolded man with his arms above his head.

Obtained by CNN

CNN spoke to three Israeli whistleblowers who worked at the Sde Teiman desert camp, which holds Palestinians detained during Israel’s invasion of Gaza. All spoke out at risk of legal repercussions and reprisals from groups supportive of Israel’s hardline policies in Gaza.

They paint a picture of a facility where doctors sometimes amputated prisoners’ limbs due to injuries sustained from constant handcuffing; of medical procedures sometimes performed by underqualified medics earning it a reputation for being “a paradise for interns”; and where the air is filled with the smell of neglected wounds left to rot.

According to the accounts, the facility some 18 miles from the Gaza frontier is split into two parts: enclosures where around 70 Palestinian detainees from Gaza are placed under extreme physical restraint, and a field hospital where wounded detainees are strapped to their beds, wearing diapers and fed through straws.

“They stripped them down of anything that resembles human beings,” said one whistleblower, who worked as a medic at the facility’s field hospital.

“(The beatings) were not done to gather intelligence. They were done out of revenge,” said another whistleblower. “It was punishment for what they (the Palestinians) did on October 7 and punishment for behavior in the camp.”

Responding to CNN’s request for comment on all the allegations made in this report, the Israeli military, known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said in a statement: “The IDF ensures proper conduct towards the detainees in custody. Any allegation of misconduct by IDF soldiers is examined and dealt with accordingly. In appropriate cases, MPCID (Military Police Criminal Investigation’s Division) investigations are opened when there is suspicion of misconduct justifying such action.”

“Detainees are handcuffed based on their risk level and health status. Incidents of unlawful handcuffing are not known to the

authorities.”

The IDF did not directly deny accounts of people being stripped of their clothing or held in diapers. Instead, the Israeli military said that the detainees are given back their clothing once the IDF has determined that they pose no security risk.

Reports of abuse at Sde Teiman have already surfaced in Israeli and Arab media after an outcry from Israeli and Palestinian rights groups over conditions there. But this rare testimony from Israelis working at the facility sheds further light on Israel’s conduct as it wages war in Gaza, with fresh allegations of mistreatment. It also casts more doubt on the Israeli government’s repeated assertions that it acts in accordance with accepted international practices and law.

CNN has requested permission from the Israeli military to access the Sde Teiman base. Last month, a CNN team covered a small protest outside its main gate staged by Israeli activists demanding the closure of the facility. Israeli security forces questioned the team for around 30 minutes there, demanding to see the footage taken by CNN’s photojournalist. Israel often subjects reporters, even foreign journalists, to military censorship on security issues.

Detained in the desert

The Israeli military has acknowledged partially converting three different military facilities into detention camps for Palestinian detainees from Gaza since the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel, in which Israeli authorities say about 1,200 were killed and over 250 were abducted, and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza, killing nearly 35,000 people according to the strip’s health ministry. These facilities are Sde Teiman in the Negev desert, as well as Anatot and Ofer military bases in the occupied West Bank.

The camps are part of the infrastructure of Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, an amended legislation passed by the Knesset last December that expanded the military’s authority to detain suspected militants.

The law permits the military to detain people for 45 days without an arrest warrant, after which they must be transferred to Israel’s formal prison system (IPS), where over 9,000 Palestinians are being held in conditions that rights groups say have drastically deteriorated since October 7. Two Palestinian prisoners associations said last week that 18 Palestinians – including leading Gaza surgeon Dr. Adnan al-Bursh – had died in Israeli custody over the course of the war.

The military detention camps – where the number of inmates is unknown – serve as a filtration point during the arrest period mandated by the Unlawful Combatants Law. After their detention in the camps, those with suspected Hamas links are transferred to the IPS, while those whose militant ties have been ruled out are released back to Gaza.

CNN interviewed over a dozen former Gazan detainees who appeared to have been released from those camps. They said they could not determine where they were held because they were blindfolded through most of their detention and cut off from the outside world. But the details of their accounts tally with those of the whistleblowers.

“We looked forward to the night so we could sleep. Then we looked forward to the morning in hopes that our situation might change,” said Dr. Mohammed al-Ran, recalling his detainment at a military facility where he said he endured desert temperatures, swinging from the heat of the day to the chill of night. CNN interviewed him outside Gaza last month.

Al-Ran, a Palestinian who holds Bosnian citizenship, headed the surgical unit at northern Gaza’s Indonesian hospital, one of the first to be shut down and raided as Israel carried out its aerial, ground and naval offensive.

He was arrested on December 18, he said, outside Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, where he had been working for three days after fleeing his hospital in the heavily bombarded north.

He was stripped down to his underwear, blindfolded and his wrists tied, then dumped in the back of a truck where, he said, the near-naked detainees were piled on top of one another as they were shuttled to a detention camp in the middle of the desert.

The details in his account are consistent with those of dozens of others collected by CNN recounting the conditions of arrest in Gaza. His account is also supported by numerous images depicting mass arrests published on social media profiles belonging to Israeli soldiers. Many of those images show captive Gazans, their wrists or ankles tied by cables, in their underwear and blindfolded.

Al-Ran was held in a military detention center for 44 days, he told CNN. “Our days were filled with prayer, tears, and supplication. This eased our agony,” said al-Ran.

“We cried and cried and cried. We cried for ourselves, cried for our nation, cried for our community, cried for our loved ones. We cried about everything that crossed our minds.”

A week into his imprisonment, the detention camp’s authorities ordered him to act as an intermediary between the guards and the prisoners, a role known as Shawish, “supervisor,” in vernacular Arabic.

According to the Israeli whistleblowers, a Shawish is normally a prisoner who has been cleared of suspected links to Hamas after interrogation.

The Israeli military denied holding detainees unnecessarily, or using them for translation purposes. “If there is no reason for continued detention, the detainees are released back to Gaza,” they said in a statement.

However, whistleblower and detainee accounts – particularly pertaining to Shawish – cast doubt on the IDF’s depiction of its clearing process. Al-Ran says that he served as Shawish for several weeks after he was cleared of Hamas links. Whistleblowers also said that the absolved Shawish served as intermediaries for some time.

They are typically proficient in Hebrew, according to the eyewitnesses, enabling them to communicate the guards’ orders to the rest of the prisoners in Arabic.

For that, al-Ran said he was given a special privilege: his blindfold was removed. He said this was another kind of hell.

“Part of my torture was being able to see how people were being tortured,” he said. “At first you couldn’t see. You couldn’t see the torture, the vengeance, the oppression.

“When they removed my blindfold, I could see the extent of the humiliation and abasement … I could see the extent to which they saw us not as human beings but as animals.”

A leaked photograph of an enclosure where detainees in gray tracksuits are seen blindfolded and sitting on paper-thin mattresses. CNN was able to geolocate the hangar in the Sde Teiman facility. A portion of this image has been blurred by CNN to protect the identity of the source.

Obtained by CNN

Al-Ran’s account of the forms of punishment he saw were corroborated by the whistleblowers who spoke with CNN. A prisoner who committed an offense such as speaking to another would be ordered to raise his arms above his head for up to an hour. The prisoner’s hands would sometimes be zip-tied to a fence to ensure that he did not come out of the stress position.

For those who repeatedly breached the prohibition on speaking and moving, the punishment became more severe. Israeli guards would sometimes take a prisoner to an area outside the enclosure and beat him aggressively, according to two whistleblowers and al-Ran. A whistleblower who worked as a guard said he saw a man emerge from a beating with his teeth, and some bones, apparently broken.

That whistleblower and al-Ran also described a routine search when the guards would unleash large dogs on sleeping detainees, lobbing a sound grenade at the enclosure as troops barged in. Al-Ran called this “the nightly torture.”

“While we were cabled, they unleashed the dogs that would move between us, and trample over us,” said al-Ran. “You’d be lying on your belly, your face pressed against the ground. You can’t move, and they’re moving above you.”

The same whistleblower recounted the search in the same harrowing detail. “It was a special unit of the military police that did the so-called search,” said the source. “But really it was an excuse to hit them. It was a terrifying situation.”

“There was a lot of screaming and dogs barking.”

Strapped to beds in a field hospital

Whistleblower accounts portrayed a different kind of horror at the Sde Teiman field hospital.

“What I felt when I was dealing with those patients is an idea of total vulnerability,” said one medic who worked at Sde Teiman.

“If you imagine yourself being unable to move, being unable to see what’s going on, and being completely naked, that leaves you completely exposed,” the source said. “I think that’s something that borders on, if not crosses to, psychological torture.”

Another whistleblower said he was ordered to perform medical procedures on the Palestinian detainees for which he was not qualified.

“I was asked to learn how to do things on the patients, performing minor medical procedures that are totally outside my expertise,” he said, adding that this was frequently done without anesthesia.

“If they complained about pain, they would be given paracetamol,” he said, using another name for acetaminophen.

“Just being there felt like being complicit in abuse.”

The same whistleblower also said he witnessed an amputation performed on a man who had sustained injuries caused by the constant zip-tying of his wrists. The account tallied with details of a letter authored by a doctor working at Sde Teiman published by Ha’aretz in April.

“From the first days of the medical facility’s operation until today, I have faced serious ethical dilemmas,” said the letter addressed to Israel’s attorney general, and its health and defense ministries, according to Ha’aretz. “More than that, I am writing (this letter) to warn you that the facilities’ operations do not comply with a single section among those dealing with health in the Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law.”

An IDF spokesperson denied the allegations reported by Ha’aretz in a written statement to CNN at the time, saying that medical procedures were conducted with “extreme care” and in accordance with Israeli and international law.

The spokesperson added that the handcuffing of the detainees was done in “accordance with procedures, their health condition and the level of danger posed by them,” and that any allegation of violence would be examined.

Whistleblowers also said that medical team were told to refrain from signing medical documents, corroborating previous reporting by rights group Physicians for Human Rights in Israel (PHRI).

The PHRI report released in April warned of “a serious concern that anonymity is employed to prevent the possibility of investigations or complaints regarding breaches of medical ethics and professionalism.”

“You don’t sign anything, and there is no verification of authority,” said the same whistleblower who said he lacked the appropriate training for the treatment he was asked to administer. “It is a paradise for interns because it’s like you do whatever you want.”

CNN also requested comment from the Israeli health ministry on the allegations in this report. The ministry referred CNN back to the IDF.

Concealed from the outside world

Sde Teiman and other military detention camps have been shrouded in secrecy since their inception. Israel has repeatedly refused requests to disclose the number of detainees held at the facilities, or to reveal the whereabouts of Gazan prisoners.

Last Wednesday, the Israeli Supreme Court held a hearing in response to a petition brought forward by Israeli rights group, HaMoked, to reveal the location of a Palestinian X-Ray technician detained from Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza in February. It was the first court session of its kind since October 7.

Israel’s highest court had previously rejected writs of habeas corpus filed on behalf of dozens of Palestinians from Gaza held in unknown locations.

The disappearances “allows for the atrocities that we’ve been hearing about to happen,” said Tal Steiner, an Israeli human rights lawyer and executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.

“People completely disconnected from the outside world are the most vulnerable to torture and mistreatment,” Steiner said in an interview with CNN.

Since October 7, more than 100 structures, including large tents and hangars, appeared within these areas of the Sde Teiman desert camp. Planet Labs PBC

Satellite images provide further insight into activities at Sde Teiman, revealing that in the months since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, more than 100 new structures, including large tents and hangars, have been built at the desert camp. A comparison of aerial photographs from September 10, 2023 and March 1 this year also showed a significant increase in the number of vehicles at the facility, indicating an uptick in activity. Satellite imagery from two dates in early December showed construction work in progress.

CNN also geolocated the two leaked photographs showing the enclosure holding the group of blindfolded men in gray tracksuits. The pattern of panels seen on the roof matched those of a large hangar visible in satellite imagery. The structure, which resembles an animal pen, is located in the central area of the Sde Teiman compound. It is an older structure seen among new buildings which have appeared since the war began.

CNN reviewed satellite images from two other military detention camps – Ofer and Anatot bases in the occupied West Bank – and did not detect expansion in the grounds since October 7. Several rights groups and legal experts say they believe that Sde Teiman, which is the nearest to Gaza, likely hosts the largest number of detainees of the three military detention camps.

“I was there for 23 days. Twenty-three days that felt like 100 years,” said 27-year-old Ibrahim Yassine on the day of his release from a military detention camp.

He was lying in a crowded room with over a dozen newly freed men – they were still in the grey tracksuit prison uniforms. Some had deep flesh wounds from where the handcuffs had been removed.

“We were handcuffed and blindfolded,” said another man, 43-year-old Sufyan Abu Salah. “Today is the first day I can see.”

Several had a glassy look in their eyes and were seemingly emaciated. One elderly man breathed through an oxygen machine as he lay on a stretcher. Outside the hospital, two freed men from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society embraced their colleagues.

For Dr. Al-Ran, his reunion with his friends was anything but joyful. The experience, he said, rendered him mute for a month as he battled an “emotional deadness.”

“It was very painful. When I was released, people expected me to miss them, to embrace them. But there was a gap,” said al-Ran. “The people who were with me at the detention facility became my family. Those friendships were the only things that belonged to us.”

Just before his release, a fellow prisoner had called out to him, his voice barely rising above a whisper, al-Ran said. He asked the doctor to find his wife and kids in Gaza. “He asked me to tell them that it is better for them to be martyrs,” said al-Ran. “It is better for them to die than to be captured and held here.”

Credits
Executive producer: Barbara Arvanitidis
Senior investigations writer: Tamara Qiblawi
Chief global affairs correspondent: Matthew Chance
OSINT reporter: Allegra Goodwin
Photojournalist: Alex Platt
Reporters: Abeer Salman, Ami Kaufman, Kareem Khadder, Mohammad Al Sawalhi and Tareq Al Hilou
Visual and graphic editors: Carlotta Dotto, Lou Robinson and Mark Oliver
3D designer: Tom James
Photo editor: Sarah Tilotta
Video editors: Mark Baron, Julie Zink and Augusta Anthony
Motion designers: Patrick Gallagher and Yukari Schrickel
Digital editors: Laura Smith-Spark and Eliza Mackintosh
Executive editors: Dan Wright and Matt Wells

Editor’s note: Tamara Qiblawi wrote and reported from London. Matthew Chance, Barbara Arvanitidis and Alex Platt reported from Sde Teiman; Ami Kaufman and Allegra Goodwin reported from London; Abeer Salman and Kareem Khadder reported from Jerusalem; and journalists Mohammad Al Sawalhi and Tareq Al Hilou reported from Gaza.