#Radio Slovakia International

[stadtfunk]

Radio Slovakia International

Hey there, Happy New Year and all that. I hope you had a good holiday and I wish you all the best for 2022.

I spent most of Christmas and the New Year at work, but one of the positives of that was that I got to spend time with the many international radio podcasts I’ve subscribed to, either through radio360.eu, radiobenengineering or direct from the broadcasters themselves.

Incidentally, do you have trouble with Google Podcasts not liking RSS feeds? If you do, do you have any tips or ideas on alternatives?

Anyway, I digress. As I said, I spent a lot of time listening to podcasts of the various English services and it gave me an idea. I should write about one station every month, in a friendly review kind of way. I did have this one planned out, but I’ve forgotten what I was going to say, and I’m a bit tired so my brain has slowed down!

To start, I’ll be looking at Radio Slovakia International, because that was the first station I subscribed to, back in the days of the UK lockdown.

To me, Radio Slovakia International (RSI) is more than just a 30 minute broadcast. I’ve spent so much time listening to the voices of Zuzana, Jonathan, Mojmir, Romana, Martina, the late Anca, and Natalia, RSI’s former 2021 intern, that it’s almost as if they’re familiar and close friends.

I really like the features and current affairs issues that they report on, and of course my favourite broadcast is the Sunday Listener’s Tribune show. I’ve been mentioned on it a couple of times during the year, and my voice has also been heard on it too.

The podcasts feature significant historical events in Slovakia, including the times when it was Czechoslovakia, issues affecting the country, technological developments and many other topics. It really is a great listen.

If you’d like to give it a go, you can subscribe through your normal podcast app

Apple/iTunes | Android/Google | Spotify

Dopočutia.

[head-post]

Storm Boris devastates Central Europe, death toll rises

Storm Boris caused widespread destruction in Central and Eastern Europe, killing at least 15 people. The storm swept across Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany and parts of Austria, causing heavy rain, flooding and strong wind gusts.

Romania

In Galati county in eastern Romania, the hardest-hit region of the country, heavy rains caused widespread damage, affecting about 5,000 homes and leaving at least 25,000 people without electricity.

Romania’s emergency department confirmed the discovery of six bodies, including three elderly women and one man over the past two days.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis deplored the situation, saying:

“We are again facing the effects of climate change, which are increasingly present on the European continent, with dramatic consequences.”

Rescue teams rescued hundreds of people in 19 areas of the country.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, heavy rains fell for three consecutive days and flooding affected mainly northern parts of the country, leaving more than 50,000 homes without power.

Authorities reported one death, but said seven people in the country were missing, The Guardian reported.

The risk of flooding remains critical for rivers such as the Odra, Opava, Branna and Novohradka, especially in Jeseníky and Pardubice, Radio Prague International reported.

Although water levels in the upper reaches of the rivers are decreasing, the flood wave continues to travel downstream, threatening lower areas such as Uhretice and Chroustovice, the station added.

Austria

Austria has also been hit hard, with 24 villages in Lower Austria declared “disaster zones” and the death toll rising to three, the country’s vice-chancellor Werner Kogler told TV X.

“We have just received the terrible news of two more fatalities in Lower Austria,” he stated, expressing his “thoughts and deepest sympathy” for the relatives, families and friends of the deceased. He also added:

“The situation in the areas affected by the #Hochwasser (flood) remains very critical,” he warned, calling on the whole country to “follow the instructions of the emergency services on site.”

On Sunday, he said a firefighter had died battling flooding in Lower Austria after authorities declared the province surrounding the capital Vienna a disaster zone.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer noted on X:

“The Austrian Armed Forces are deployed in the storm-hit regions wherever help is needed.”

Rail services in the eastern part of the country were suspended and several metro lines in Vienna were closed due to the threat of the overflowing river Wien, APA news agency reported.

Poland

One person has drowned in Poland’s Kłodzko region, bringing the country’s death toll to five, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

He said on X:

“I have ordered the Minister of Finance to prepare funds for emergency aid and flood damage removal. The Minister for European Affairs will apply for European aid.”

He said he had asked the defence minister to “deploy additional forces to the threatened areas.” The Polish prime minister also added:

“After consultations with the relevant ministers and services, I have instructed to prepare a Council of Ministers resolution on the introduction of a state of natural disaster.”

According to The Guardian, around 1,600 people have been evacuated in Klodzko.

Because of all this, Warsaw is expected to declare a state of natural disaster, although it has not done so during previous difficulties such as the COVID-19 pandemic or major floods in 1997 and 2010, Polish Radio reported.

Hungary

In Budapest, officials have raised the forecast for water levels in the Danube River to rise to 8.5 metres (27.9 feet) in the second half of this week, nearing the record high of 8.91 metres recorded in 2013, The Guardian reported.

Zoltan Kovacs, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, said on X:

“Amphibious tracked vehicles are en route from Szentes to Pilismarot to support flood defense efforts. The Hungarian Defence Forces are playing a key role in the flood protection efforts, deploying various equipment. Nothing is more important than the safety of the Hungarian people.”

Slovakia

Concern has been mounting in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, where authorities have been taking protective measures to contain the surging waters of the Danube. Police have extensively “warned the public about the danger” of walking along the river, a Bratislava Police spokesperson told CNN on Monday.

Extreme rainfall events are likely to become more frequent and intense as the planet warms, science shows.

An analysis of a 2021 heavy rainfall event in Europe, in which more than 200 people were killed, found human-caused climate change had increased the likelihood and intensity of these events in the region. The World Weather Attribution initiative — a group of scientists who study extreme weather and published the analysis — concluded “these changes will continue in a rapidly warming climate.”

Read more HERE

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.29

Holidays

Bishop James Hannington Memorial Day (Uganda)

Black Salsify Day (French Republic)

Bob Ross Day (Abeldane Empire)

Candies Day

Coronation Day (Cambodia)

C6HO Day (Kentucky)

Cumhuriyet Bayrami (North Cyprus, Turkey)

Cyrus the Great Day (Iran)

Feed the Birds Day (UK)

Festival of Global Climate Change

Fiestas Patrias begins (Honduras)

Halloween Eve Eve

Hermit Day

Hide From Everyone Day (a.k.a. Hermit Day)

International Day of Care and Support (UN)

International Day of Degrowth

International Internet Day

Laugh Suddenly For No Reason A Lot Today Day

Ľudovít Štúr Day (Slovakia)

Military Financier Day (Ukraine)s

Naming Day (Tanzania)

National Boner Day

National Book Day (Brazil)

National Cat Daddy Day

National Cat Day

National Hermit Day

National Martina Day

Oatmeal Day

PSC Awareness Day

Sea Slug Day

Security Guard Day (Kazakhstan)

Separation of Church and State Day

Turkish Republic Day (Turkey)

Vote Early Day

World Online Networking Day

World Psoriasis Day

World Stroke Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

National Disgusting Little Pumpkin-Shaped Candies Day

National Oatmeal Day

Poperinge Beer & Hop Festival begins (Belgium) [Every 3 years, 3rd Friday]

Independence & Related Days

Constitutional Referendum Anniversary Day (Serbia)

Turkey (from Ottoman Empire, 1923)

Westarctica (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Tuesday in October

Mix It Up at Lunch Day [Last Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Teriyaki Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Transformation Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 29 (Last Week of October)

None Known

Festivals Beginning October 29, 2024

The Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue (Des Moines, Iowa) [thru 10.31]

Feast Days

Abraham of Rostov (Christian; Saint)

Andrei Ryabushkin (Artology)

Bill Mauldin (Artology)

Blažej Baláž (Artology)

Bob Ross (Artology)

Chef (a.k.a. Theuderius; Christian; Saint)

Chiara Badano (Christian; Blessed)

Colman mac Duagh (Christian; Saint)

Desmond Bagley (Writerism)

Dominick Dunne (Writerism)

Douai Martyrs (Christian; Saint)

Gaetano Errico (Christian; Saint)

Ghatasthapana begins (Nepal)

Harriet Powers (Artology)

Isis/Osiris Mysteries II (Pagan)

James Hannington (Anglicanism)

Kojagrat Purnima [15th Day of Dashain]

Lazarus Long Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lee Child (Writerism)

Mary of Edessa (Christian; Saint)

Maximillian (Christian; Saint)

Narcissus of Jerusalem (Roman Catholic Church)

Niki De Saint Phalle (Artology)

Nut Day (Pastafarian)

Robertson (Positivist; Saint)

Second Fiddle of the Mounth (Shamanism)

Shin Saimdang (Artology)

Theuderius (a.k.a. Chef; Christian; Saint)

Warren the Warthog (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Historically Unlucky Day [10 of 11]

Historically Bad Day (Stock Market Crash, Hurricane Sandy & 8 other tragedies) [10 of 11]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [58 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

All I Want for Christmas Is You, by Mariah Carey (Song; 1994)

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, with Alex Haley (Biography; 1965)

Being John Malkovich (Film; 1999)

Blue Moon, 24th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2019)

Boy Pest with Ash (Modern Madcaps Cartoon; 1963)

Bullwinkle Busts a Brush or The Cleft Palette (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 226; 1963)

BUtterfield 8, by John O'Hara (Roman à clef Novel; 1935)

Create Dangerously, by Albert Camus (manifesto; 1957)

Don Giovanni, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Opera; 1787)

Fido Beta Kappa (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1954)

The Fleischmann’s Yeast Hour (Radio Series; 1929)

Get Nervous, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1982)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Film; 2010)

Halloween Is Grinch Night (DePatie-Freleng Animated YV Special; 1977)

The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury (Novel; 1972)

Hemispheres, by Rush (Album; 1978)

Hulu (Streaming Network; 2007)

The Huntley-Brinkley Report (TV News Show; 1956)

Jingle Bell Rock, recorded by Bobby Helm (Song; 1957)

Keeping Up Appearances (UK TV Series; 1990)

Last Night in Soho (Film; 2021)

Man of the Century (Film; 1999)

The Marbleheads, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 13 & 14; 1966)

Maruhi Gekiga, Ukiyoe Senichiya (Japanese Animated Film; 1969)

Mind Games, by John Lennon (Album; 1973)

The Music Lesson (Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog MGM Cartoon; 1932)

My Generation, by The Who (Song; 1965)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Animated Film; 1993)

The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James (Novel; 1880)

Portrait of a Moose or Bullwinkle Gets the Brush (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 225; 1963)

Princess Mononoke (Anime Film; 1999)

Ray (Film; 2004)

Red Riding Hoodwinked (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

The Saw Mill Mystery (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1937)

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You Now! (WB Animated Film; 2021)

The Sentinel, 25th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2020)

Trip for Tat (WB MM Cartoon; 1960)

The Valiant Tailor (Ub Iwerks ComiColor Cartoon; 1934)

Welcome to the Pleasure Dome, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Album; 1984)

What’ll I Do?, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1947)

Wild Target (Film; 2010)

The Woody Woodpecker Polka (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1951)

Today’s Name Days

Ermelina, Hermelindis, Melinda (Austria)

Časlav, Honorat, Ida, Narcis (Croatia)

Silvie (Czech Republic)

Narcissus (Denmark)

Alf, Alfred, Fred, Fredi (Estonia)

Alfred, Urmasimo (Finland)

Narcisse (France)

Ermelinda, Franco, Grete, Melinda (Germany)

Abramios, Melina (Greece)

Nárcisz (Hungary)

Ermelinda, Michela, Massimiliano (Italy)

Elva, Elvijs, Fortuna, Laimonis (Latvia)

Gelgaudas, Narcizas, Tolvydė, Violeta (Lithuania)

Noralf, Norunn (Norway)

Euzebia, Franciszek, Longin, Longina, Lubogost, Narcyz, Teodor, Wioletta (Poland)

Anastasia (Romania)

Zinaida (Russia)

Klára (Slovakia)

Narciso (Spain)

Viola (Sweden)

Garrison, Cyrano, Cyrena, Narcissa, Narcissus (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 303 of 2024; 63 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 44 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 27 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 25 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 3 Wood; Threesday [3 of 30]

Julian: 15 October 2024

Moon: 7%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 23 Descartes (11th Month) [Dunoyer / Adam Smith]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 37 of 90)

Week: Last Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 6 of 30)

[mariacallous]

The Slovak parliament’s approval on Thursday evening of a controversial government bill to dissolve the public service broadcaster RTVS and replace it and management with a politicised entity has drawn sharp criticism from employees, opposition politicians and media advocacy groups.

“Today the [Slovak] Parliament definitively abolished the free public media – RTVS. From July 1 it will be replaced by the docile and tame STVR. It is a disgrace to the ruling coalition and a disgrace to Slovakia. But we say – you can’t silence us or the free media! We will challenge this law in the Constitutional Court,” said Michal Simecka, head of the largest opposition party Progressive Slovakia and a former vice-president of the European Parliament.

With the new president, Peter Pellegrini, a member of the coalition Hlas party, assuming office last week, there is wide acceptance that he will sign the bill into law by July 1.

The legislation, which will dissolve RTVS and replace it with a new body called STVR (Slovak Television and Radio) fully under the control of the government, is seen as part of a trend by populists like Robert Fico and Viktor Orban in Hungary to turn public service broadcasters into government mouthpieces and stifle the critical media. The annual Medium Freedom Poll, which surveyed people in each of the four Central European countries on March 13-24, found that a majority in each expressed concern about the current state of media freedom, with Slovaks displaying the highest concern (65 per cent) followed by Hungary (62 per cent).

Sona Weissova, part of the RTVS employee initiative fighting the reform, warned that the public broadcasting bill pushed through by the Smer-led coalition of Prime Minister Fico “is not just a simple change of letters”.

“We are afraid that the new act has a single goal – to take full control of broadcasting,” Weissova said on Friday. “There is pressure not just on the public broadcaster, but on private media and other culture and democratic institutions as well. Analysts say the Slovak government took Viktor Orban’s ‘playbook’ and what happened in Hungary in 10 years, in Slovakia could happen in one year.”

The three-party coalition defends the legislation as a way of “strengthening the public-law character of [the broadcaster] and ensuring respect for plurality and the principles of democracy and free creation,” Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, an openly pro-Russian member of the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), told reporters on Thursday.

But critics point out that Smer and its allies have made no secret of their desire to neuter RTVS, which they consider biased and concerned only with “mainstream” opinions. During its stints in power, including the current one, Smer has normalised attacks against the country’s independent media, specifically targeting the director general of RTVS, Lubos Machaj, whose term in office will be prematurely ended by the legislation. Machaj called it a “black day” for Slovakian media.

Media advocacy groups cite the provisions in the legislation as clearly designed to politicise the public broadcaster and restrict media freedom. For example, the new oversight board of STVR will consist of nine members, five of whom will be appointed by parliament (currently controlled by the Smer-led coalition) and four by the Ministry of Culture.

“This would hand the ruling majority effective control over the board and, therefore, the director general, leading to the likely rapid politicisation of the new public television and radio channels,” said the International Press Institute (IPI), a global press freedom advocacy group.

However, the fate of the legislation may not be settled by the president’s signature. Despite changes made by the coalition to the bill as it wended its way through the legislative process, analysts argue it still falls foul of the EU’s new Media Freedom Act (MFA), which is designed to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU, and is due to come into force by the end of this year.

The director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Noel Curran, said the “composition and powers granted to the new governing council of STVR would be in breach of the MFA, which lays down strict safeguards for the independent functioning of [public service media].”

The German Journalists Association (DJV) on Friday called on the European Commission to initiate rule-of-law proceedings against Slovakia. “The Slovak government majority is thus acquiring a meek broadcaster from which it can expect no criticism,” said DJV Federal Chairman Mika Beuster. “Freedom of broadcasting has been abolished with the current parliamentary decision. This is a serious violation of the fundamental values ​​of the European Union. The EU Commission must take action.”

The European Commission has yet to respond publicly to the vote in Slovakia’s parliament.

[tobacconist]

TOO MANY FUCKING ACRONYMS

THERE ARE TOO MANY ACRONYMS IN THE WORLD

STOP IT. ITS GONE TOO FAR

Sub-Saharan Africa? Safe Schools Alliance, a British advocacy group? SSA Global Technologies, American software company acquired by Infor Global Solutions? Shan State Army, a former insurgent group in Burma? Slovak Society of Actuaries (Slovak: Slovenská spoločnosť aktuárov), professional association in Slovakia? Soaring Society of America, American sporting society founded in 1932? Society of Scottish Artists, artists society founded in 1891? Swedish Society of Radio Amateurs, an amateur radio organization? Singapore Scout Association, youth movement founded 1910? Seismological Society of America, international scientific society founded 1906? Scottish Socialist Alliance, a coalition of left-wing bodies, fore-runner to the Scottish Socialist Party? Shipconstructors' and Shipwrights' Association, a former British trade union? Sainsbury's Staff Association, of Sainsbury's, UK? Sudan Studies Association, US professional association? Society for the Study of Addiction, UK learned society with charitable status? Steamship Authority, a Massachusetts ferry service and regulatory body? School of Saint Anthony, Quezon City, Philippines? Secular Student Alliance, US? Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US? Social Security Administration of the US government? Social Security Agency (Northern Ireland)? State Security Agency (South Africa), the South African intelligence service? Selective Service Act of 1917, an American piece of legislation signed by President Woodrow Wilson during WWI that established nationwide conscription? Software Security Assurance? Serial Storage Architecture? Singular Spectrum Analysis? Stationary Subspace Analysis? Static single-assignment form, a property of intermediate representations used in compilers? Stochastic Simulation Algorithm? Strong subadditivity of quantum entropy? SubStation Alpha and .ssa file format, a video subtitle editor? Super systolic array? Start of Selected Area, a control character in the C1 control code set? Solid State Array, in flash data storage using solid-state drives? Semantic structure analysis? Single-strand annealing in homologous recombination? Specific surface area, a property of solids? Side-side-angle in geometry for solving triangles? Senile systemic amyloidosis? Sessile serrated adenoma, a type of pre-malignant intestinal polyp? Special somatic afferent? Anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies? Sulfosalicylic acid? SSA, Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of South Africa? Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport, IATA Airport code? Same sex attraction? Safe Sex Always? Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Government of India's Education for All programme? Self-sampling assumption? Shared services agreement? Slippery slope argument, a rhetorical device (and often a fallacy)? ESA Space Situational Awareness Programme? Special services area or business improvement district? Special Service Agreement between the UN and a contractor? Supervisory Special Agent? Serious Sam Advance, a 2004 video game?

WHICH OF THESE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????????

[eurovision-revisited]

Jerusalem 1999

Oooooh, dusky! We've come to Jerusalem as the sun sets, Shabbat ends, and the festivities can begin!

Welcome to the International Conference Centre in Jerusalem, last host of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979. First impressions are that it's still bright and vaguely purple - like Birmingham. There's a Toshiba sponsored scoreboard mounted on a poop deck, high above the main stage to the right - like Birmingham. There's a cheering crowd with flags and signs situated to the front of the audience - like Birmingham.

But what's this? Where's the orchestra? It's gone. No more conductors in humorous costumes doing their bow! All competitors must now supply a backing track and won't have live orchestral backing. Looking down the list of entrants, and another shock. Most of them are singing in English. Half the songs are in English with another two partly in English - the EBU have lifted the language rule again. Countries can sing in any language they like, and that language would appear to be English.

This year's voting, like last year's, is 100% televote where available. This time there are four countries unable to provide the technology, but everyone else is going to the phones and the public. There's also an intermission. Our hosts entertain us with a little song on stage while those countries that have broadcasters that wish to, can run ads in the middle of the contest. It's difficult to call this an innovation, but the push for broadcasters to reap some reward for devoting channel time and the resources to select and send an act every year, is increasing.

So many changes! One thing the EBU are sticking to however is their statistically complex relegation system. This year's victims are Finland, Greece, Switzerland, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia. That list is getting long... Returning are Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark and Iceland with Lithuania are back for the first time since their debut in 1994.

After bravely plumping for the televoting revolution, the EBU are pressing the accelerator hard to the floor in 1999 and introducing a whole boatload of new changes to aim solidly for relevance in a music industry that had been moving on without Eurovision for years. Bye-bye ballads!

Another little change is that for the first time there are three presenters. Dafna Dekel (who sang Israel's 1992 entry), Sigal Shachmon (presenter, dancer and model) and a little out of place, Yigal Ravid (radio and television presenter, and current affairs report)

[brookston]

Holidays 4.3

Holidays

American Circus Day

American Creed Day

Armenian Appreciation Day

Corrupt Society Day

Day of the Bride (Argentina)

Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day

A Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold

Fan Dance Day

Find A Rainbow Day

Good Deeds Day

Independent Artist Day

International Day Against Victim Blaming

Jane Goodall Day (Los Angeles)

Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus; Japan)

Love A Muslim Day (UK)

National Chalk Day

National Film Score Day

National Grey Day

National Inspiring Joy Day

National Library Week begins

National Pac-Man Day

National Shoot Your Shot Day

Overcome a Handicap Day

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

Peace Day (Angola)

Pony Express Day

Second Republic Day (Guinea)

TV Guide Day

Tweed Day

Weed Out Hate: Sow the Seeds of Greatness Day

World Aquatic Animal Day

World Cloud Security Day

World Party Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day

Fish Fingers and Custard Day

National Chocolate Mousse Day

1st Monday in April

National Bake Week begins [1st Monday]

National Fun Day [1st Monday]

Public Library Day [Monday of Library Week]

School Librarian Day [Monday of Library Week]

Sweet Potato Day [1st Monday]

Tater Day (Kentucky) [1st Monday]

Independence Days

Declaration of the Second Republic (Guinea)

Malinovia (Declared 2018) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Agape, Chionia, and Irene (Christian; Martyrs)

Aristæus (Positivist; Saint)

Burgundofara (Christian; Saint)

Captain Cabbage (Muppetism)

Day of Sheela-Na-Gig (Pagan)

Doris Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Pak Tai (Macau) [3rd Day of 3rd Lunar Month]

Goof Friday (Church of the SubGenius)

Holy Monday [6 Days before Easter]

Luigi Scrosoppi (Christian; Saint)

Nicetias (Christian; Saint)

Plato (Christian; Saint)

Proserpina’s Rise from the Underworld Day (Ancient Greece)

Richard of Chichester (Christian; Saint)

Seize a Sausage Day (Pastafarian)

Ulpin of Tyre (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sizdar-Bedah (Unlucky to stay indoors; Iran)

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Adventureland (Film; 2009)

Beethoven (Film; 1992)

The Druid of Shannara, by Terry Brooks (Novel; 1991)

Fast & Furious (Film; 2009) [F&F #4]

Furious 7 (Film; 2015) [F&F #7]

It Happened at the World’s Fair (Film; 1963)

It’s Now or Never, recorded by Elvis Presley (Song; 1960)

The Long, Hot Summer (Film; 1958)

Louisiana Hayride (Radio Music Series; 1948)

Mercury Rising (Film; 1998)

My Hero Academia (Anime TV Series; 2016)

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregor (Novel; 2008)

Piano Concerto in A Minor, by Edvard Grieg (Concerto; 1869)

Planet of the Apes (Film; 1968)

Planning for Good Eating (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

Rock-A-Doodle (Animated Film; 1992)

Rumple of the Bailey (UK TV Series; 1978)

The Sea-Wolf (Novel; 1904)

2001: A Space Odyssey (Film; 1968)

Today’s Name Days

Richard, Sixtus (Austria)

Radojko, Ratko, Rikard, Siksto (Croatia)

Richard (Czech Republic)

Nicæas (Denmark)

Uko, Uku (Estonia)

Sampo, Veeti (Finland)

Richard (France)

Irene, Lisa, Richard (Germany)

Illyria’s (Greece)

Buda, Richárd (Hungary)

Riccardo, Sisto (Italy)

Daira, Dairis, Ferdinands (Latvia)

Kristijonas, Ričardas, Rimtautė, Vytenis (Lithuania)

Gunnvald, Gunvor (Norway)

Antoni, Cieszygor, Jakub, Pankracy, Ryszard (Poland)

Nichita (Romania)

Richard (Slovakia)

Ricardo (Spain)

Ferdinand, Nanna (Sweden)

Dick, Dickson, Dix, Dixie, Dixon, Doris, Ricarda, Ricardo, Rich, Richard, Richelle, Richman, Rick, Rickey, Ricky, Rosamond, Rosamund, Ryan (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 93 of 2024; 272 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 14 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Second Month 2 (Gui-Mao), Day 13 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Nisan 5783

Islamic: 12 Ramadan 1444

J Cal: 2 Aqua; Twosday [2 of 30]

Julian: 21 March 2023

Moon: 93%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 9 Archimedes (4th Month) [Aristæus]

Runic Half Month: Ehwaz (Horse) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 15 of 90)

Zodiac: Aries (Day 14 of 30)

[blog-24news]

Sanctions-hit IIB admits it is suffering a liquidity crisis

The Russian-dominated International Investment Bank (IIB), which was hit by US sanctions last week, announced on April 17 that it was unable to meet its obligations but would nevertheless still try to “honour its commitments towards its partners in full”.

“IIB states that currently, because of the imposed US sanctions, it has been deprived of the possibility to fulfil obligations to its counterparties,” it said in a brief statement. “Nevertheless, the bank has accumulated enough financial resources and assets to honour commitments towards its partners in full. IIB has already begun to contact corresponding authorities with a view to obtain appropriate licences and other necessary decisions to be able to fulfil these undertakings.”

The Budapest-based international development bank has in effect finally officially admitted that it is facing a liquidity crisis after being frozen out of international financial markets. At the same time it insists that it is not insolvent. Its statement implies that it will try to renegotiate terms with its bondholders to make its payments.

A spokeswoman told bne blog-24news that liquidity was less the issue than how to make the actual payments under sanctions. "There is enough liquidity in this bank to fully meet all obligations for a rather long perspective. It’s the execution of payments which is now a huge problem," she said.

The announcement marks the end of both Russia’s attempt to build a counterpart to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s dream of turning Budapest into an international financial centre. It also symbolises the collapse of Orban's pro-Kremlin policy, which has so damaged the country’s reputation in the West.

Last week Orban said the future operation of the bank had "become impossible" after US sanctions were imposed on April 12.

Hungary, the largest shareholder after Russia, therefore had had to reluctantly leave the IIB, Orban said on April 14 in an interview to state radio. Hungary was the last EU member, following the withdrawal of Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Leaked internal documents show that even before the imposition of sanctions the bank had been teetering on the brink of collapse after it was completely cut off from Western financial systems. The market expectation is now that IIB will soon cease operations due to insolvency.

Imre Boros, a Hungarian board member of IIB, said in a television interview the US sanctions against the bank would render its operation impossible. IIB's accounts will be blocked, it will not be able to transfer money, he said. It will be virtually destroyed by the punitive measures, "like a terrorist bombing", he added.

The Hungarian connection

IIB was originally established in 1970 as the Comecon bank, serving the then Soviet bloc’s economic area and Third World countries. The then Moscow-based bank went dormant during the collapse of the Soviet Union and was revived only in the early 2010s to support the expansion of Russia’s financial interests.

Hungary renewed its membership in IIB in October 2014, after a decade-long absence, following Orban’s second supermajority victory. This came nine months after the prime minister’s trip to Moscow, where he sealed the largest deal in Hungary’s history, assigning construction of the €12.5bn expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant without a tender to Russian state-owned Rosatom as the main constructor. Budapest and Moscow amended the terms of the contract last week.

Political analysts see 2014 as the turning point and the beginning of the end of liberal democracy in Hungary and the pivot to a Russian-style illiberal regime, which Orban openly acknowledged in a speech in the summer of 2014.

According to a leading Hungarian geopolitical analyst, Csaba Kancz, it was Orban’s former chief foreign adviser and former diplomat, Janos Balla, who proposed to the prime minister to raise the question of having the bank’s HQ relocated to Budapest in talks with the Russian president back when Hungary rejoined the bank.

The Hungarian government argued that moving the IIB’s seat to Hungary would strengthen the country’s role as an international financial centre. It also fitted well into the government's “Opening to the East” policy, which aimed to bolster economic ties with Russia, China and other emerging markets outside the EU.

"There are five supra-national development banks headquartered in the EU, but none of them are in Central Europe”, Orban said after meeting with IIB chairman Nikolay Kosov in Budapest in 2019.

Russia, as the biggest shareholder in the bank, also endorsed the idea to make IIB appear as less of a Kremlin operation.

IIB management sought to tap the advantages of moving to an EU capital and being the only multilateral development bank based in Central Europe. It began focussing much more of its lending in the Europe Union and sought to spread its client network to Western European multilaterals as well as to companies based in its member states. It was particularly strong in trade finance and lending to local SMEs.

It successfully issued several bonds in local currencies and euros in its member states to fund its activities, achieving low yields. In 2020 the IIB became the first multilateral bank to launch two forint-denominated bond issues on the Budapest Stock Exchange. It participated in the issuance of the first Hungarian sovereign green bond in June, and then became one of the largest investors in the first green corporate bond issued by CPI Hungary Investments in August.

Credit rating agencies were also positive about the move. In a November 2018 note, Fitch said that the bank’s decision to relocate to a EU capital could lead to a positive rating action due to the improvement of the bank's business environment. Fitch then upgraded its rating to ‘A-‘ in September 2020 after the move.

In 2018 December IIB member states unanimously voted for the proposal to relocate to Budapest. IIB officially started its activity in Budapest on April 2019.

In February 2021, IIB inaugurated its new Budapest HQ in the landmark Lanchid Palota building, next to the iconic Chain Bridge endowed by the government. Speaking at the ceremony, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said the relocation had helped to raise Hungary's international profile as well as support its economic players.

US opposes bank from the outset

However, the IIB never really posed a financial challenge to the Western banking infrastructure. The bank remained tiny compared to the EU’s EIB or the Western-dominated European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

According to the IIB’s 2021 annual report, issued in February last year, the bank’s paid-in capital reached €424.9mn, compared to €6.2bn for the EBRD. Its assets amounted to €1.8bn, compared to the EBRD’s €34.3bn in operating assets. While it made a record ­– though still tiny – profit of €7.9mn, the EBRD made €2.5bn net profit in 2021.

Moreover, the United States had expressed grave reservations over the relocation from the onset, and quickly moved to make the bank's position impossible after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Washington successfully blocked the lender from having its HQ alongside the US Embassy in Hungary at the landmark Freedom Square, close to the parliament building. According to investigative news site Direkt 36, Orban assured then US Ambassador David Cornstein in May 2019 that the IIB could not pick a location for its office near the US embassy or any other Nato member country. Later, Cornstein told a congressional delegation visiting Budapest that US and Hungarian intelligence services would cooperate in monitoring IIB.

Critics warned that the IIB could serve intelligence and political purposes for Russia, particularly because of the diplomatic immunity granted to bank employees and guests.

In the spring of 2019, the government stipulated that much like the staff of other international financial institutions, IIB staff in Budapest would enjoy broad diplomatic immunities. However, it was forced to reduce the number of staff with immunity under pressure from the United States.

The family roots of the IIB chairman also added to speculation that the Russian-dominated lender would operate as a spy nest for the Kremlin. Chairman Nikolay Kosov’s parents moved to Hungary in the early 1970s when his father was appointed head of the operation of the KGB, the Soviet Union’s security and intelligence agency, in Hungary. The KGB office was on the same floor as the Ministry of the Interior in the centre of Budapest.

Hack attack reveals IIB’s financial woes

As a multilateral institution, the bank was not directly hit by the sanctions introduced against Russia for its annexation of Crimea. However, the IIB’s position quickly deteriorated. Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania announced plans to exit the bank. The four EU members had €134.6mn in total paid-in capital in IBB and demanded it back.

Following the announcement of the exit of the four countries, Fitch Ratings withdrew the IIB's ratings, and Moody’s downgraded the bank to non-investment grade.

Worse, Belgian-based Euroclear, a financial service provider that registers and administers securities transactions, blocked IIB’s accounts linked to the EU sanctions against Russia, as the IIB account was opened by a Russian lender Rosbank. According to a 2022 year-end summary, €75mn of money in IIB’s accounts were blocked.

The impact of this on the bank’s liquidity was revealed in February, when hackers attacked IIB’s IT network, resulting in an unauthorised mass fake e-mail distribution on behalf of certain IIB officials. More importantly, hackers gained access to internal correspondence, documentation and sensitive information, shedding light on the bank’s financial troubles.

The leaked files, which included email correspondence and internal memos of the management, were reported on by regional investigative and news outlet VSquare. According to these files, the blocking of the IIB’s Euroclear account had created liquidity problems that were so severe that by March 2022 IIB was close to bankruptcy.

An internal letter to management highlighted the devastating effects of the decision: "IIB used up almost all other liquidity reserves in 2022 and as such, without access to its bonds in Euroclear, the bank will be forced to default or restructure its bonds as soon as May 2023," the leaked letter said. The letter claims that the bank faces a financial shortfall so severe that it is "a near impossible task" to make it better.

The leaked documentation also showed that the bank was seriously considering a"zero option" proposal of the management, in which the exiting shareholders would leave the bank empty-handed.

The exits had strengthened Hungary’s stake in the bank, which is based on paid-in capital of around €108mn. Hungary had 9.9% of shares when it rejoined the bank in 2015, which rose gradually to 17.3% in 2022, and after it took over the shares of Czechia and Slovakia it grew to 25.3%, making it the second-largest shareholder after Russia, with a 45.4% stake.

Hungary tried to assist the stricken development bank. There were discussions – now largely moot – about engineering the shareholdings so that Russia did not become a majority owner, which would have triggered EU sanctions.

Moreover, according to leaked documents, Hungarian Minister of Economic Development Marton Nagy lobbied to have the Euroclear accounts unfrozen in a letter sent to Belgian Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem, and a Hungarian delegation was also ready to travel to Brussels to discuss the issue. The bank calculated that if they had access to securities, they could meet their obligations to their European and Russian creditors up until mid-2025.

However, Belgian authorities turned down the Russian’s request, saying several members of the IIB’s governing bodies are currently linked to the Russian government, like the Russian deputy finance minister, who is a member of the bank’s board of governors.

After the negative response, CFO Elliott Auckland outlined an "evacuation plan". The bank would agree with the European authorities to somehow get its money back from Euroclear, in return for which it would be used exclusively to pay off their European investors. This plan does not seem to have progressed and it now looks too late.

Last week the US placed the IIB and three of its senior executives resident in Hungary, Nikolay Kosov, Georgy Potapov, and Imre Laszloczki on its sanctions list.

IIB’s presence in Budapest enables Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe, opens the door for the Kremlin’s malign influence activities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations, according to the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Given the US’s importance in the world financial system, these sanctions will make it impossible for the IIB to operate in the international environment. The IIB’s statement on April 17 merely recognises this fact.

[cyberbenb]

Kuleba: Path to victory 'purely military'

The path to Ukraine's victory against Russia amid Moscow's full-scale war is "purely military," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Radio Svoboda on July 12, noting that Russia must first withdraw its troops from Ukraine to facilitate negotiations.

He also called the delivery of F-16 jets a "very difficult technical point," adding that Ukraine could receive the jet fighters by March 2024 if the training begins in August.

"I think that if by the end of the first quarter of next year, the first F-16s fly in Ukrainian air, piloted by Ukrainian pilots, then it will be according to the schedule," he said.

"We do everything together to speed up this process as much as possible."

An international coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets has been formed, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on July 11.

At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Reznikov signed a memorandum outlining the training terms with 11 coalition members.

Those are Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

"I'm especially grateful to Denmark and the Netherlands for their outstanding leadership in this process," the defense minister added.

According to Reznikov, Ukrainian pilots, technicians, and support staff will learn to operate and maintain F-16 jets and possibly other types of combat aircraft.

The program will start in Denmark as early as this August, and a training hub will also be set up in Romania, allies announced at the summit, Reuters reported.

In May, allies agreed to build the coalition to help procure the U.S.-built F-16 jets for Ukraine and train Ukrainian fighter pilots.

Ukraine has received Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland and Slovakia but has been pushing for more advanced aircraft. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has previously said it requires at least 48 F-16 fighter jets to liberate territory from Russia.

Editorial: Arming Ukraine won’t escalate war. Reluctance to do so will

First it was the tanks, now it’s the fighter jets. As Ukraine braces for another possible major Russian offensive in the upcoming weeks, Western leaders are yet again coming up with a variety of excuses why this time, they cannot justify supplying F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

[apptworadioapps]

Radio Slovakia - Slovak Radio Online FM & AM + (Radio Android Application 🇸🇰📻)

 Certainly, here is an article for all radio stations in Slovakia:

Slovakia is home to a diverse range of radio stations that cater to a variety of audiences. From music and entertainment to news and current affairs, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of the top radio stations in Slovakia.

Radio Expres

Radio Expres is a popular commercial radio station that plays contemporary hits and classic tunes from the 80s and 90s. It is known for its lively presenters and fun competitions, making it a popular choice for listeners of all ages. The station also provides news updates and traffic reports, ensuring that listeners stay up-to-date with the latest information.

Fun Radio

Fun Radio is another popular commercial radio station in Slovakia that plays the latest hits and dance music. It is well-known for its exciting live events and concerts, which attract huge crowds of music lovers from all over the country. The station also offers interactive shows, where listeners can call in and participate in discussions and competitions.

Rádio Slovensko

Rádio Slovensko is the flagship radio station of the Slovak public-service broadcaster RTVS. It offers a mix of news, current affairs, and cultural programming, making it a reliable source of information for listeners across the country. The station also features interviews with experts and opinion leaders, providing listeners with valuable insights and perspectives on the issues that matter most.

Radio Regina

Radio Regina is another public-service radio station that focuses on regional news and culture. It offers a range of programming in different regional languages, including Slovak, Hungarian, and Roma, reflecting Slovakia's diverse linguistic and cultural heritage. The station also features music and entertainment shows, making it a great choice for listeners who want to stay connected to their local communities.

Radio_FM

Radio_FM is a non-commercial radio station that plays alternative and indie music. It is known for its cutting-edge music programming and its commitment to supporting emerging artists and local music scenes. The station also provides news updates and cultural programming, making it a popular choice for listeners who are interested in more than just music.

In conclusion, Slovakia's radio landscape is diverse and vibrant, offering listeners a wide range of programming choices. From commercial to public-service radio, and from music and entertainment to news and current affairs, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you prefer pop hits or indie music, local news or international affairs, you can find it all on the airwaves of Slovakia's top radio stations.

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[radioslovakiainternational]

Can you speak more than one language?If so, why not meet us! Radio Slovakia International has a stand at LingvaFest 2018, at the University of Economics, Bratislava.

There's heaps to see and learn, open until tomorrow night!

[stadtfunk]

International Correspondence and Stuff

Over the past few months, my travels around the radio dial have introduced me to many different international broadcasters and their podcasts.

When I’m out on the road, most of my listening is made up of podcasts from the English sections of stations such as Radio Prague International, Radio Si (Slovenia), Radio Slovakia International, Radio Ukraine International, Bulgarian National Radio and Radio Romania International.

A few months ago I wrote to all of my favourite stations, and, included in the envelope was a postcard from here in Worthing.

I didn’t expect to get anything back, the letters were sent as a recognition and appreciation of the work and effort put in by the respective teams. Well, Radio Prague sent me a nice little envelope with a bookmark and some other Czech Republic/Radio Prague related bits. I also got a mention on Radio Slovakia International during the Listener’s Tribune.

Also recently, I bought some other radio related bits and pieces from eBay, for radio corner – some retro QSL cards from Radio Moscow, Radio Poland and Radio Kyiv, as well as some Radio Praha CSSR pin badges.

Radio corner now looks something like this, with posters from Radio Berlin International, Radio Sofia and Radio Praha, complete with a Radio Poland Jedynka Salamander and a DDR Strela Konkret RR 1401.

Earlier on in the year, back in July, I was excited to win the monthly “Once there was a castle” competition on Radio Slovakia International. My prize? A fantastic painting of the Červený kláštor monastery.

Meanwhile, more recently, having found somewhere that actually still sells cassette tapes, I’ve started going full radio nerd and have been recording radio stations for nostalgia. The collection of tapes is growing.

[head-post]

Slovakia approved dissolution of public broadcaster RTVS

Slovakia’s parliament approved a controversial law to dismantle public broadcaster Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS), according to bne IntelliNews.

All 78 lawmakers of the ruling coalition in the 150-member parliament reportedly backed the law. It will allow the government to exercise tighter control over the broadcaster and appoint a new director general.

However, the move will cause the government difficulties with the European Commission. Věra Jourová, outgoing European Commission for Values and Transparency, stated that the Commission would take action if the law was adopted, despite the fact that it was softened since it had been originally proposed.

Opposition MPs left parliament in protest. Prime Minister Robert Fico‘s cabinet, consisting of his Smer party, the centre-left Hlas and the SNS, faced criticism from the international press and media organisations over the law. The opposition also claimed that it violated EU public media standards. However, Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová stated:

I assure you that all the content makers, who are interested in working in the public space and maintain the principle of objectivity and plurality, can really work freely and independently.

Šimkovičová, a former host of the Slovan TV channel, submitted the bill in April. However, parliament postponed approval after Fico suffered an assassination attempt in mid-May, with parliamentary sessions suspended.

RTVS employees went on strike, with some marching through Bratislava with their mouths taped shut to protest the law. It supposedly paves the way for the end of public television and the creation of state broadcasting. The bill comes into force on 1 July, when RTVS will cease to exist and be replaced by the new Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). Its immediate outcome will also be the dissolution of the current management led by director general Ľuboš Machaj.

Journalists report that other Slovak media outlets also cut their sales in line with the new political wave, notably the TV station TA3 and the Pravda newspaper.

Read more HERE

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 4.18

Holidays

Adult Autism Awareness Day

Anal Sex Day (Jim Jeffries)

Army Day (Iran)

Banyan Tree Birthday Party (Maui, Hawaii)

Celebrate Ben Solo Day

Coma Patients’ Day (Poland

Friend’s Day (Brazil)

I Love CSU Day (Colorado)

International Amateur Radio Day

International Day For Monuments and Sites (UNESCO)

International Erasure T-Shirt Day

International Juggler's Day

International No Declaw Day

Invention Day (Japan)

Laundromat Day

National Columnists’ Day

National Exercise Day

National Financial Advisor Day

National Lineman Appreciation Day

National Lydia Day

National Send Nudes Day

National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day

National Transfer Money to Your Daughter’s Account Day

National Transgender HIV Testing Day

National Velociraptor Awareness Day

Newspaper Columnists' Day

Paul Revere Day

Pet Owners Independence Day

Piñata Day

Real People Day

Sleep Apnea Awareness Day

Smile Big and Say Hi For No Particular Reason Day

Superman Day

Tax Freedom Day

Third World Day

Ushibuka Haiya Matsuri (Dance Festival; Japan)

Victory Over the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of the Ice (Russia)

World Amateur Radio Day

World Artisan Day

World Heritage Day

World Trifle Day

Youth Homelessness Matters Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Animal Crackers Day

World Food Travel Day

3rd Tuesday in April

Transportation Tuesday [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Earth’s Kingdom (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Pinang (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Zimbabwe (from UK, 1980)

Feast Days

Agapitus (Christian; Saint)

Agia (Christian; Saint)

Apollonius the Apologist (Christian; Saint)

Bun-Bun Brothers’ Day (Muppetism)

Carista: Day of Peace in the Family (Pagan)

Corebus (Christian; Saint)

Cyril VI of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Eleutherius and Antia (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Matsu (a.k.a. Mazu; Taoist Sea Goddess)

Galdino della Sala (a.k.a. Galdin; Christian; Saint)

Lady Macbeth Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Laserim, Bishop of Laighlin, Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Max Weber (Artology)

Molaise of Leighlin (Christian; Saint)

Nihilism Day (Pastafarian)

Perfectus (Christian; Saint)

Plato of Sakkoudion (Christian; Saint)

The Underlings (Muppetism)

Vitruvius (Positivist; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [18 of 37]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [15 of 30]

Premieres

Absolute Beginners (Film; 1986)

Alice’s Circus Dance (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

Apes of Wrath (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Baggage Buster (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Barnyard Olympics (Disney Cartoon; 1932)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Film; 2008)

Gorky Park, by Martin Cruz Smith (Novel; 1981)

Holes (Film; 2003)

Legend (Film; 1986)

Mare of Easttown (TV Series; 2021)

Muscle Tussle (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

The Razor’s Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham (Novel; 1944)

The Simple Things (Disney Cartoon; 1953)

Straight Shooters (Disney Cartoon; 1947)

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Three Little Wolves (Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Winged Migration (Documentary Film; 2003)

Today’s Name Days

Werner, Wigbert (Austria)

Viktor, Viktoriya (Bulgaria)

Atanazija, Eusebije, Hermogen, Roman (Croatia)

Valérie (Czech Republic)

Eleutherius (Denmark)

Valdek, Valdeko, Valdemar, Valdo, Valdu, Valdur, Valmar, Valmer, Voldemar, Volli, Volmer (Estonia)

Valdemar, Valto (Finland)

Parfait (France)

Werner, Wigbert (Germany)

Andrea, Ilma (Hungary)

Galdino (Italy)

Dana, Hildegarde, Jadviga, Laura, Nameisis (Latvia)

Apolonijus, Eitvilas, Girmantė, Undinė (Lithuania)

Eilen, Eilert (Norway)

Apoloniusz, Bogusław, Bogusława, Flawiusz, Gościsław (Poland)

Ioan (Romania)

Valér (Slovakia)

Perfecto (Spain)

Valdemar, Volmar (Sweden)

Anthea, Ayana, Ayanna, Warner, Werner (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 108 of 2024; 257 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 16 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Second Month 2 (Gui-Mao), Day 28 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Nisan 5783

Islamic: 27 Ramadan 1444

J Cal: 17 Aqua; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 5 April 2023

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 24 Archimedes (4th Month) [Vitruvius]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 30 of 90)

Zodiac: Aries (Day 29 of 30)

[mariacallous]

Following a series of high-profile failures and mass expulsions of uniformed “diplomats,” Russian intelligence has turned to more subtle methods, including leveraging scientific organizations with international ties. One such espionage “front” is the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications (NIIRK), which is led by ex-SVR and FSB officers. In Europe and neighboring countries, the institute organizes numerous conferences and internships. Here, intelligence officers and pro-Kremlin propagandists, under the pretense of promoting good neighborly relations, spread the notion that the West is an enemy, and that prosperity lies in friendship with Russia. The main targets are promising students and young scientists, who are ultimately groomed for espionage activities.

On June 19, 2023, Moscow’s usually quiet Korobeinikov Lane was unexpectedly closed off. Athletic-looking men with radios were bustling around its perimeter. Soon, an honor guard and official cars with flashing lights appeared. People carrying carnations gathered in front of the building that houses the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications (NIIRK). The last to arrive for the festivities was SVR head Sergey Naryshkin, who presided over the installation of a memorial plaque for former SVR director Vyacheslav Trubnikov. Speeches followed: “Vyacheslav Ivanovich worked here for two years,” “an outstanding intelligence officer and diplomat,” “a legend of intelligence,” “a knight of the Cold War,” and so on.

Before the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the house was home to actors Alexander Lensky and Alexander Yuzhin-Sumbatov of the Maly Theatre. Later, it was occupied by the NKVD, MGB, and KGB; the mansion hosted clandestine meetings with agents. After 1993, several businesses were based there, but over time, the place fell into disrepair, and homeless people took over the vacant premises. In April 2020, the restored mansion became the new home of NIIRK. Cars belonging to the embassies of Central Asian and Transcaucasian republics began appearing outside.

What kind of institute is this? According to its website, NIIRK’s primary mission is “the development of multilateral dialogue among peoples, cultures, religions, states, international scientific and educational organizations, and civil society to strengthen peace and harmony.” The institute’s expert research and analysis are utilized by the Presidential Administration's Office for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign aid and cultural exchange agency Rossotrudnichestvo, the FSB's 5th Service, and the SVR.

The institute’s first official director was Irina Zavesnitskaya, co-founder of the PoiskSidelki LLC. A year later, she was succeeded by her husband, former FSB general and overseer of the Transcaucasian region, Vladislav Gasumyanov.

Friends of the Kremlin

As per The Insider's findings, over the past eighteen months, NIIRK has organized a total of twelve off-site conferences, forums, and roundtable discussions across various countries including Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Transnistria, Tajikistan, and Slovakia. Moreover, NIIRK has welcomed several delegations from these nations to Moscow for internships, with plans to host approximately ten more this year.

The institute primarily targets young scientists — aged 20 to 40 employed in research or academia. As one Armenian student shared with The Insider, “Throughout the internship, we were constantly reminded that without Russia, we would be doomed to become slaves to the West. Once, they casually asked me if I had relatives in Europe. Upon hearing my negative response, they lost interest in me.”

Key speakers at these conferences include General Gasumyanov, former SVR Academy head Nikolay Gribin, and former Slovak Prime Minister Jan Černogurský, who chairs the “Friends of Crimea” association. Černogurský frequently appears on Russian propaganda TV shows, where he advocates a pro-Kremlin agenda for his country of citizenship while predicting the imminent collapse of the dollar and the subsequent disintegration in the United States.

[usafphantom2]

U.S. says Ukrainian pilots now have more fighter jets available, but no jet has been donated to Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force has gotten even bigger. Someone gave Kiev more parts for its MiG jets.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 04/21/22 - 10:24 AM in Military, War Zones

This week, U.S. Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby said that Ukrainian pilots now have more jets available than in early April, although no "complete" aircraft have been donated to Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian Air Force has more operational fighter planes than two weeks ago,” Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.

For this, donations of aircraft parts made this possible, although Kirby talked about aircraft donations. "I would just say, without going into what other nations are providing, that they have received additional platforms and parts to be able to increase the size of their fleet," Kirby said.

The Ukrainian air force later clarified Kirby's claim, tweeting on Wednesday morning that he had "officially" received only spare parts, not entire fuselages. The Pentagon on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that, yes, Ukrainians received strictly spare parts.

This shipment of spare parts helped the Ukrainian air force put more than 20 fighter jets back into flight, a U.S. defense officer told reporters.

Some previous reports indicate that the parts were supplied by the governments of Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia, which weeks ago signaled some degree of willingness to transfer to Ukraine old MiG-29 or spare parts for them.

Despite some diplomatic speeches, probably intended to isolate countries from Russian retaliation, it seems that some or all three possible donors have delivered some of their stocks of MiG parts.

It remains to be seen how much the Ukrainian Air Force can with the current jets in operation, as it continues to lose its planes at high speed.

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been trying to gain air superiority by targeting the infrastructure and air bases of the Ukrainian Air Force and destroying several aircraft.

Between February 24 and 26, 2022, missile attacks at the country's southwestern Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport (IFO) significantly damaged at least six Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets stationed in the courtyard, according to unconfirmed images.

In 54 days of war, the Russians shot down no less than 15 Ukrainian jets that analysts were able to visually confirm. This total verified includes four MiG-29. The real losses, without a doubt, are greater. The vast majority occurred in the first few days.

In addition, Russian forces also attacked support facilities. On March 18, Russian cruise missiles damaged the State Aircraft Repair Factory in Lviv, western Ukraine. This installation was reviewing the MiG-29.

Russia has also been attacking Kiev's fuel tanks. In the fourth week, Ukrainian squadrons were launching only five to 10 missions a day, against the 200 or more missions that the Russian air force was able to carry out in or around Ukraine. "Every time I fly, it's for a real fight," Andriy, a Ukrainian Su-27 pilot, told The New York Times. “In all Russian jet fights, there is no equality.”

It is not yet known for sure how many parts received by Ukraine and how many jets could be relocated in flight. Ukraine still repeatedly requests that it needs more weapons and aircraft to be able to defend its country.

Ukraine has summoned its allies to provide additional Soviet-era aircraft, such as the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighters, or Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer and Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft.

MiG-29 jets of the Bulgarian Air Force.

Poland has 28 old Soviet-made MiGs, which the country is replacing with new F-35 poachers from the United States. Bulgaria has 15 and Slovakia has 12. Bulgaria and Slovakia are replacing their Soviet fighter jets with American-made F-16s.

The three second-hand MiG-29 fleets are somewhat distinct, such as exclusive radio and avionics configurations. Fleets use a pool of slightly different spare parts. This apparently would not have been a big problem for Ukraine.

But in addition to aircraft, Ukraine is also missing pilots trained to fly on the MiG-29. Retraining and preparing inactive pilots or reservists takes time, and Ukraine does not have this. Also add a stock of missiles and bombs so that the jets can carry out their missions and the puzzle only increases the difficulty.

Thus, Ukraine continues to use drones - both TB2 manufactured in Turkey and ready-to-use octocopters - to carry out the attacks on the Russian military, achieving admirable success.

On April 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced that it will provide Ukraine with newly authorized equipment and supplies, including AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air surveillance radar systems, as well as 11 Mi-17 helicopters and 300 Switchblade drones.

Tags: Military AviationUkrainian Air ForceMiG-29 FulcrumWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation

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