The president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has threatened - in statements to the newspaper "Bild" - to "gift" 20,000 elephants to Germany as a protest against the ban on bringing hunting trophies into the European country.
Masisi says that he sees elephants and their controlled hunting as an economic resource that also prevents the number of elephants from increasing exorbitantly, endangering the population.
Now, according to the president, the German Environment Minister, Steffi Lemke of the Greens party, wants to ban the entry of trophies.
"If the Greens and Lemke know more about everything than the others, then they have to show how to live with elephants. I propose sending 20,000 wild elephants to Germany, it is not a joke," declared the president, who maintains that in the attitude of the Greens there are racist tendencies.
According to Masisi, Botswana has more than 130,000 elephants and the population grows by 6,000 annually and they have donated thousands of animals to neighboring countries such as Angola and Mozambique.
"We want to make a similar offer to Germany and we will not accept a negative response," he said.
Taiwan suffers the strongest earthquake in 25 years: multiple deaths and injuries, collapsed buildings and destroyed roads are reported
Taiwan suffered its strongest earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday, a deadly 7.4 magnitude quake that shook the island's east coast, toppling several buildings, causing landslides and injuring more than 800 people.
Taiwan's National Fire Agency reported that at least nine people were killed, 882 injured and 131 others remain trapped. The deaths occurred in Hualien County, where a hiker was among the dead.
According to Taiwanese authorities, buildings have collapsed in Hualien County, thousands of homes have been left without power and a major highway on the east coast has been closed due to landslides and rockslides.
Several aftershocks have been recorded in Taiwan, including one with a magnitude of 6.5, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In addition, the island's Central Meteorological Administration warned that aftershocks are expected over the next three or four days, which could have a magnitude of 6.5 to 7.0, an agency spokesperson added.
In this image, taken from a video posted by TVBS, a partially collapsed building is seen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, on Wednesday, April 3. (Credit: TVBS/AP)
The world's attention turned to Taiwan , a country located in East Asia east of China, which suffered one of the worst natural disasters in history after being shaken by a powerful earthquake . It is the strongest earthquake in the last 25 years, which caused deaths and hundreds of injuries .
What happened in Taiwan
04/03/2024 VIDEO: Taiwan.- At least four dead and 57 injured after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks in Taiwan. The authorities of Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines withdraw the tsunami alert SOCIETY ASIA ASIA TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN SEISMOLOGICAL CENTER (EMSC) - Credits: @EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN SEISMOLOG
The tremor that shook the Asian island occurred early this Wednesday, April 3, at precisely 7:58 in the morning. According to Taiwan 's seismological agency , the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale . Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed it at 7.5 and indicated that it had its epicenter 18 km south of the Taiwanese city of Hualien, with a depth of 34.8 km. “The earthquake was close to the ground and is shallow. It was felt throughout Taiwan and the islands (...). It is the strongest in 25 years,” Wu Chien-fu, director of the Taiwanese Seismological Center, told reporters , referring to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in September 1999 that left 2,400 dead.
Local authorities indicated that they only anticipated a relatively mild earthquake of magnitude 4 and for that reason they did not send alerts, since it is an area accustomed to this type of natural phenomena and they usually carry out evacuation drills. That is why in the hours that followed, its inhabitants remained calm and followed the protocols.
At least nine people died, 821 were injured, 127 remain trapped or stranded and 28 buildings collapsed after the strong earthquake registered this Wednesday in Taiwan, which has already left more than a hundred aftershocks. different magnitudes, official sources reported.
The earthquake, whose magnitude was 7.2 according to the Central Meteorological Agency (CWA) of Taiwan and 7.4 according to the United States Geological Survey, occurred at 7:58 on Wednesday (23:58 GMT on Tuesday) in the sea, specifically 25 kilometers southeast of the eastern county of Hualien.
This area has been the most affected by the earthquake, both in loss of life and in material damage, since numerous buildings and infrastructure have suffered damage and at least two blocks of houses were partially collapsed.
As of 4:30 p.m., the island had recorded 123 aftershocks of varying intensity, including nine with a magnitude of between 5 and 6, according to the CWA.
Likewise, according to the state electricity company Taipower, a total of 371,275 homes were left without electricity after the earthquake, although around 99% have already recovered electricity supply.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen asked the population to remain calm and take extreme precautions, since new aftershocks of between 6.5 and 7 degrees of the earthquake are likely to occur in the coming days.
This earthquake is the most intense that Taiwan has suffered since September 21, 1999, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake killed 2,416 people.
Taiwan sits at the confluence of the Philippine and Eurasian plates, so earthquakes are frequent on the island.
Taiwan was shaken on Wednesday by the most powerful earthquake in the last 25 years. At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured , while buildings and streets were damaged and train service was disrupted. The truth is that Taiwan is no stranger to powerful earthquakes, but it has managed to relatively contain a catastrophe for the island's 23 million residents thanks to its excellent earthquake preparedness, experts say.
Wednesday's earthquake measured 7.2 according to Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimated it at 7.4. It damaged several buildings in Hualien, but caused only minor losses in the capital, Taipei, although it was strongly felt there.
A rescue worker stands near the cordoned off site of a leaning building after an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. - Credits: @Johnson Lai
According to a count by the island's fire department, cited by The New York Times , one building completely collapsed, 15 others were in a state of partial collapse, and 67 others were damaged.
Furthermore, it occurred in the middle of the morning rush hour, but it only slightly affected normal transportation. A few minutes later, parents were returning to accompany their children to school and workers were heading to the offices.
“Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world ,” said Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The island has implemented strict building codes, a world-class seismological network and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety.”
“ The skills, capabilities, equipment and training are second to none ,” said disaster response expert Steve Glassey.
Taiwan's strongest earthquake in a quarter-century shook the island during Wednesday morning rush hour, damaging buildings and roads
The area is particularly vulnerable to tremors due to the tension built up by the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can cause sudden releases in the form of earthquakes.
The region's mountainous landscape can amplify ground shaking and cause landslides. Several such landslides occurred on Taiwan's east coast, near the epicenter of Wednesday's earthquake, as debris fell into tunnels and roads, crushing vehicles and causing several deaths.
The government continually reviews the level of seismic resistance required for new and existing buildings (which can increase construction costs) and offers subsidies to residents who wish to test the seismic resistance of their buildings.
Following a 2016 earthquake in the city of Tainan, on the island's southwest coast, five people involved in the construction of a 17-story apartment building that was the only major structure that collapsed, killing dozens, were found guilty. of negligence and imprisoned.
Today, transgender and non-binary people around the world commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility .
This is what you should know.
How it began?
Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall, a Michigan-based transgender activist and executive director of Transgender Michigan. It began as an awareness day to celebrate the successes of transgender and gender non-conforming people and is an important day for the LGBTQ community.
While Transgender Day of Remembrance is held every year on November 20 to commemorate transgender people who have lost their lives as a result of anti-transgender violence , Transgender Day of Visibility is a day dedicated to honor and empower the lives of transgender and non-binary people.
The day is celebrated annually on March 31.
The importance of transgender representation
This day illustrates the importance of transgender representation around the world, especially as transgender and gender non-conforming people face risks every day.
According to a 2021 Gallup poll, 11.3% of LGBT adults identify as transgender; However, when it comes to media representation, there are only 29 transgender characters in original primetime, cable and streaming broadcasts, according to the media advocacy organization GLAAD.
Why it matters: Recent surveys show that a quarter of people in the U.S. say they personally know someone who is transgender, meaning most Americans learn about the transgender community from what they see in entertainment media. Because of this, GLAAD says, it is imperative that entertainment media do a good job when addressing transgender stories.
How to be a good ally
Here are some ways to support the transgender community today:
Look for stories from transgender creators . Look for authentic stories and media that have been created by the transgender community, such as the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit organization that supports transgender filmmakers and their projects.
Call your local LGBTQ center . See what kind of help they need, whether it's volunteering or offering a service you're good at.
Educate yourself. Allies can start by learning the basic terminology surrounding the transgender community. For example, people often confuse sexual orientation and gender identity. There are many places online that share tips on how to be a good ally.
Many transgender people are happy to talk about their experience, but allies should not always assume that is the case. There are so many resources available to help you if you want to learn more about the community and how to provide support.
The reactions to the video of Kate Middleton announcing that she has cancer and has started preventive chemotherapy treatment do not stop. After the words of support from Charles III, who is going through a similar situation, and the emotional message from her little brother, James Middleton, it has now been the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who have spoken out on the matter . From California, where they have resided since 2020, they have sent a statement addressed to her sister-in-law.
We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and we hope that they can do so privately and in peace ," can be read in the text that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have sent to the Princess of Wales, with whom they were last once in September 2022. Then, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with the entire Royal Family on the occasion of the State Funeral of Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey and at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Prince Harry, alone, saw his sister-in-law again almost a year ago: on May 6, 2023, the date of the historic coronation of Kings Charles and Camilla .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are experiencing from a distance all the changes that the British monarchy is going through due to the illness of the sovereign and the princess of Wales. When on February 5 Charles III announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer during an operation for a benign enlargement of the prostate, his youngest son took an emergency flight to be by his side. Prince Harry put aside the reproaches and traveled from Los Angeles to London, where he spent 45 minutes with the Kings at Clarence House. He was not accompanied by his wife or his children, Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana.
Blake Lively, the star of Gossip Girl , made a joke about the Princess of Wales and had to apologize. The actress made a statement on her social networks in which she was very sorry for having made a joke about the failed image that Kate Middleton published on her social networks on Mother's Day - and which became the center of controversy for excessive digital retouching - after finding out he has cancer. “She has me mortified,” she said.
Actress Blake Lively made a joke about Kate Middleton's retouched photo and came out to apologize - Credits: @CHARLY TRIBALLEAU
It all started with the photo that Middleton uploaded to her social networks on March 10 after a long period of time without being seen in public. Although the image was intended to dispel speculation about her health, it ended up generating a new scandal: the large number of modifications that the image underwent led the British princess herself to confess that she had been the one who had edited it and to apologize. Immediately, social media was filled with memes, jokes and comments about it, and Blake Lively couldn't avoid the temptation to ride that wave.
“I am very excited to share this new photo that I just took today to announce our four new products,” the actress wrote along with a rudely retouched image in which she is seen lying on a lounge chair, with a pool in the background and a can of its brand of “gourmet sodas.” “Now you know why I have been missing,” she concluded, alluding to the Princess of Wales.
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, announced in a recorded video on Friday that she is receiving preventive chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer following tests following scheduled abdominal surgery she underwent in mid-January.
In a video pre-recorded by the BBC in Windsor, and broadcast on the couple's social networks, Prince William's wife said that tests after the intervention revealed that cancer had been found, but she said that she was fine and getting stronger. .
“It's been an incredibly difficult couple of months for our entire family, but I've had a fantastic medical team who have taken very good care of me, so I'm very grateful,” Kate said in the video filmed on Wednesday.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found that there was cancer. Therefore, my medical team recommended that I undergo preventive chemotherapy treatment and now I am in the early stages of that treatment,” the princess said in a two-minute and twenty-second video. She did not specify what type of cancer it was.
“Of course, this was a big shock, and Guillermo and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the good of our young family ,” she said, in a video in which she appears thinner. , sitting on a garden bench.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery to be able to start my treatment,” he commented, in a video that seeks to put an end to weeks of speculation about his health, in the absence of official information. She also mentioned that it was a challenge to explain the illness to his three children, Jorge, Charlotte and Luis “in a way that was appropriate for them” and assure them that I will be fine.
With all the commotion around the disappearance from public life and the scandal over an altered photo of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, due to an unknown health condition after a mysterious abdomen surgery, the other daughter-in-law of King Charles, the American actress Meghan Markle , who knew how to be the center of attention more than once for her forceful statements against the British royal family, had remained under the radar.
However, Prince Harry's wife made headlines again this Friday with her return to Instagram after a four-year hiatus with her new lifestyle brand , American Riviera Orchard .
The presentation of American Riviera Orchard on Instagram.
In the Duchess of Sussex's first social media post since 2020, the launch of American Riviera Orchard was announced across nine Instagram posts that together showcase the brand's logo and gold crest. Within hours, the account had more than 370,000 followers .
After a confusing promotional video, it's still unclear what the new project is about. However, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a trademark application was filed for “American Riviera Orchard” on February 2, 2024, Vogue reported . Goods and services listed included tableware, cookbooks, textiles, and edible items such as jams and fruit preserves .
Rumors began circulating late last year that the Duchess of Sussex was looking to revive her former lifestyle blog, The Tig .
The Ukrainian body that deals with prisoners of war warned this Friday of the high number of Cubans fighting with Russian troops in the war in Ukraine, and reproached the Havana authorities for their tolerance. in the face of Russian recruitment operations on the island.
“We see photographs, videos from the Russian side where many mercenaries from Cuba are seen,” said the press chief of the Ukrainian Committee for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Petro Yatsenko, in a press conference held in Kiev, who warned of the growing number of mercenaries from countries of the so-called Global South recruited by Russia.
Asked by EFE about the Cuban Government's position regarding Russia's actions to attract Cuban citizens to the ranks of its Army, Yatsenko declared that Ukraine has no evidence of Havana's official participation in this type of efforts.
“We cannot affirm that it is a (Cuban) state program, but we know that no one (in Cuba) opposes it,” declared the Ukrainian official, who also said that “Russian agitators” work without restrictions in Cuba. .
“If I am not elected it will be a bloodbath for the United States ,” former US President Donald Trump said this Saturday at a rally in Ohio, where there were no shortage of other controversial statements, such as when he said that immigrants “in some cases are not people, but I can't say that because the radical left says that it is a terrible thing to demonstrate . "
He also defined those arrested and convicted for the assault on Congress, on January 6, 2021, as “hostages” and “patriots . ”
“We will take care of them as soon as we get to the White House,” Trump promised.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden was defined as a “threat to democracy, and he is because he is incompetent.”
After Kate Middleton took an image with her children George, Charlotte and Louis, which she published last Sunday on the occasion of Mother's Day in the United Kingdom, and in which sees him without a wedding ring, all kinds of hypotheses were unleashed, including one in which her husband, Prince William (William) was being unfaithful with Rose Hanbury.
The Princess of Wales had not been seen since January when she underwent abdominal surgery, so her health began to be a focus of concern; In the weekend photo she wrote the message: "Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support from her these past two months."
However, news agencies realized that the photo was retouched, then the princess admitted that she had edited the image herself.
China activated an emergency response to control a forest fire that began to spread this Saturday in the province of Sichuan, in the center of the country, and left 3,396 evacuees.
As reported this Sunday by the provincial emergency management department, the fire began on Saturday afternoon in Baizi village, Yajiang county, Garze Tibetan prefecture.
At this time no casualties have been reported as firefighters continue working to extinguish the fire.
Prince Harry paid tribute to his mother, Princess Diana, at a glitzy awards ceremony in Beverly Hills on Friday.
The Duke of Sussex was celebrated as a living aviation legend at the event for his work as a helicopter co-pilot and gunner in the British Army.
He received the award from actor John Travolta and spoke about the star's meeting his late mother, Princess Diana, at a White House dinner for President Ronald Reagan in 1985.
With just a week to go until the debut rodeo hosted at Petco Park, the San Diego City Council is looking to initiate a proposal to ban equestrian competition within city limits.
Councilor Kent Lee announced his intention to introduce the measure in a statement published this Thursday, after enormous criticism from animal defenders.
"The city of San Diego has a history of caring for animals, including investing in our shelters, community veterinary clinics, and providing grants to local animal rescue nonprofits," Lee said. "This ordinance will ensure that no more animals suffer unnecessarily under the guise of entertainment in San Diego.
