#The Guardian USA

[xtruss]

Muslim Pilgrims Gather on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia – In Pictures

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims have crowded on to Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia. The ritual is the high point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions

— Tuesday June 27, 2023

Pilgrims will spend hours praying and reciting the Qur’an on Arafat and in the surrounding area amid high temperatures. Thousands of health workers were on alert for cases of heat stroke and exhaustion. After sunset, pilgrims will travel the short distance to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, to sleep in the open air. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

Water mist is sprayed on pilgrims. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

This year, a maximum age limit has also been removed, giving thousands of elderly people the chance to attend. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

So far, more than 1.8 million pilgrims from around the world have gathered in and around Mecca for the hajj, and the number was growing as more pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia joined, said a spokesperson for the Saudi hajj ministry, Ayedh al-Ghweinim. Authorities have said they expect this year to approach pre-Covid levels of more than 2 million. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

In 2019, more than 2.4 million pilgrims participated in the hajj. In 2020, amid worldwide coronavirus lockdowns, Saudi Arabia limited the pilgrimage to a few thousand faithful and local people. Last year, just under 900,000 attended as Saudi Arabia allowed limited numbers of pilgrims from abroad. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

Pilgrims pray on the rocky hill. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

As dawn broke, groups of worshippers recited verses from the Qur’an on the rocky rise, where the prophet Muhammad is believed to have given his final sermon. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

Pilgrims arrive in Arafat for part of the five-day hajj pilgrimage in which an estimated 2 million Muslims will embark on a series of rituals around the desert city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

A pilgrim makes a video call from the mountain, also known as Jabal al-Rahmah or Mount of Mercy. Photograph: Amr Nabil/AP

[wearenotjustnumbers2]

The consistent dehumanization language used in describing Palestinians in western media is unfathomable. The consistent denial of seeing our children as children. For everybody seeing this, don't fall into this, seek out the truth and educate yourself because that's the best and only way we can help people in Palestine. We have to amplify their voices.

[kamapon]

How it started (1993)- How it is going (2024)

[ginabiggs]

Chibi Moon and her senshi, the Sailor Quartet: Sailor Ceres, Sailor Juno, Sailor Vesta, and Sailor Pallas! And, of course, that cutie, Helios!

[oshiokiyopod]

If you know, you know

[vyorei]

Live coverage of the 18th of December 2023 is now closed.

Here are the final reports of the day and a recap of today's major events.

It is 12am in Ireland now so I have to go to bed.

I'll be back to resume live updates in the afternoon, in batch format like today should I wake up still-ill

For continuous updates while I'm gone, click the link below:

[jo-sleepycrow]

Thinking about how in the usa family can teach each other how to drive - imagine Nicky teaching Andrew how to drive:

- Andrew desperately needing a way to get freedom for the first time in his life and Nicky being the one to be able to give him that

- Andrew feeling a bit scared of being in a car after the accident and trying not to shake the first times he sat down, but Nicky giving him time and security to fail and put himself together, allowing him to get the courage to do it.

- Andrew being so determined to learn and Nicky worried if he would be a good teacher

- Andrew picking up some driving habits from Nicky, like bumping his finger to the music or bad mouthing other drivers under his breath

- Nicky being there for him on the day of the exam and being * so proud * of him for having accomplished something he wanted so much!

- Andrew picking up Nicky's favourite fast food on the drive through on the way back home that day, as a thank you

I just love and need more Andrew + Nicky interactions!

[pale-grunge-dark]

[jacks-weird-world]

Jack's political opinion on Thursday's Presidential debate: BIDEN SLAY.💅🏽 🤩👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[satoshi-mochida]

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma launches in spring 2025 for Switch, PC - Gematsu

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will launch for Switch and PC via Steam in spring 2025, Marvelous announced.

Pre-orders for the “Earth Dancer Edition” will be available soon via the Marvelous USA store and at participating retailers for an MSRP of $99.99. It includes a custom outer box featuring art of a battle high above Azuma, as well as a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, the downloadable content bundle “Seasons of Love,” additional downloadable content costumes for the protagonists and their sidekick Woolby, and a plush Woolby keychain.

The standard edition of the game will also be available to pre-order for an MSRP of $59.99. Details on digital editions and pricing will be announced at a later date.

Here is an overview of the game, via Marvelous USA:

Story

The Celestial Collapse—a calamity caused by a colossal object crashing into the eastern lands known as Azuma. The devastating impact sent fragments of terrain to the skies above and the seas below. With the earth shattered, the power provided by the runes ceased to flow. The gods of nature vanished soon after. Mountains crumbled and fields withered, leaving the people with nothing…not even hope. You awaken, startled by a dream of dueling dragons. You don’t remember how or why, but a voice resonates within you. “Accept the power of an Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.”

About

The classic action-RPG and life-simulation gameplay beloved by Rune Factory fans across the globe is boldly reimagined in Guardians of Azuma. This all-new adventure takes place in the never-before-seen eastern country of Azuma where you will assume the Earth Dancer powers and fight against the corruption spreading throughout Azuma to bring hope back to this once-prosperous land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose destinies are intertwined by mysterious forces. Use sacred treasures to fight against the Blight’s many forms to restore the people, and even gods, to their natural glory. Take farming further, as you’ll manage more than a plot, rebuilding entire villages and cultivating new allies and resources along the way. Explore seasonal-themed villages heavily inspired by traditional Japanese culture, each with brand-new festivals and revamped fan-favorites, as well as charming romance candidates. Embrace your fate. The adventure of a new world awaits.

Key Features

Bold New Abilities and Weapons – As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talisman to purify the land, your farms, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village – Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings, enticing people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life – Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships – Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid you in battle, too.

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Reveal Trailer

English

[xtruss]

Silvio Berlusconi, Scandal-ridden Former Italian Prime Minister, Dies Aged 86! Health of Flamboyant Media Tycoon Who Led Three Italian Governments Had Deteriorated in Recent Years

The media tycoon, who led three governments between 1994 and 2011 and whose Forza Italia party is a junior partner in Italy’s ruling coalition, had been diagnosed with leukaemia some time ago.

Berlusconi was one of Italy’s most flamboyant politicians, making a comeback in 2017 despite a career tainted by sex scandals, allegations of corruption and a tax fraud conviction.

He died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, where he had spent six weeks this spring undergoing treatment for a lung infection linked to a chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia before being readmitted.

Born in Milan in 1936 to a middle-class family, Berlusconi began his business career in property development before going on to found Mediaset, Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster. He also owned AC Milan football club between 1986 and 2017.

Forza Italia was founded in 1993. A year later, Berlusconi was the first prime minister to be elected without previously having held a government office. His second term in office, between 2001 and 2006, was the longest served by any Italian leader since the second world war. He returned to power in 2008 but was forced to resign in 2011 amid an acute debt crisis.

Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in late 2012, for which he served his year-long sentence doing part-time community service at a residential home in Milan. His ban on running for office was lifted in time for the general elections in 2018, when Forza Italia ran in coalition with the League and Brothers of Italy but fell short of the 40% required to govern.

In 2019, Berlusconi won a seat in the European parliament, and in general elections in October 2022 his party returned to power in a coalition led by Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy. Berlusconi was also elected as a senator.

Meloni said on Monday: “Silvio Berlusconi was above all a fighter. He was a man who was never afraid to stand up for his convictions, and it was exactly that courage and determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy.”

The two had recently disagreed over the war in Ukraine, with Berlusconi announcing that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had sent him bottles of vodka for his birthday. On Monday, the Russian embassy in Rome described Berlusconi as a great statesman and visionary, while Putin said he was a “dear person, a true friend”.

Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister, described Berlusconi as “a great friend and a great Italian man”.

Nicknamed Il Cavaliere (the knight), Berlusconi was often considered the “kingmaker” in Italian politics. In 2016, he had surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve, and was admitted to hospital with Covid in September 2020. He had lingering complications related to the virus, an experience he described as “the worst of my life”.

He married twice, and was in a relationship with Francesca Pascale, 37, for seven years before a relationship with 33-year-old Marta Fascina, an MP with Forza Italia with whom he had a “symbolic marriage” in March 2022. He is survived by five children.

Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, described Berlusconi’s death as “a great, enormous pain”. “He leaves a huge void because he was great. An era is over, an era is closing. I loved him very much. Goodbye Silvio.”

His rivals, too, united in paying tribute. One of the first to react was the former European Commission president Romano Prodi, perhaps Berlusconi’s bitterest political foe.

“We represented different and opposing worlds, but our rivalry never turned into sentiments of animosity on a personal level, and the debate remained within the sphere of mutual respect,” Prodi said.

The secretary of the centre-left Democratic party, Elly Schlein, expressed her party’s “deepest condolences”.

“Everything has divided us and divides us from his political vision, but the human respect to a person who was a protagonist of our country’s history remains,” she said. “Deepest condolences from the Democratic party.’’

Italy’s former prime minister Matteo Renzi described Berlusconi as a history-maker. “Many loved him, many hated him; today everyone must recognise that his impact on political life but also on economic, sporting and television life was unprecedented.”

Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolences to Berlusconi’s family voicing “heartfelt participation in the mourning for the loss of a protagonist of Italian political life, who held public responsibilities with energetic temperament.”

The world of sport also paid tribute. “I have lost my brilliant friend,” said the former football coach Arrigo Sacchi, whose Milan team won the Champions League in consecutive years.

Berlusconi left AC Milan ownership in 2017 and bought the Monza football club, taking it from Italy’s second division to the top flight. A statement from Monza said: “Forever with us. A void that can never be filled. Thanks for everything, president.”

Berlusconi’s body would be transferred to his home at Villa San Martino in Arcore, north of Milan, sources said. His funeral is likely to take place at Milan Cathedral.

— Monday June 12, 2023 | The Guardian USA

[itzraylartz]

My pieces for the @dotzines Pris-M-agic zine! 💙💗 My favorite is totally the Chibiusa art I did! Probably one of my favorite artworks just ever!

I might make more magical girl art inspired by this zine I already have 2 scrapped WIPs I didn't wanna finish

[vestal-spirit]

Chibiusa

Lineart

[drsonnet]

‘I was lying on the ground beside a wall of cops’: student photographers’ best images of the campus protests

READ

‘I was lying on the ground beside a wall of cops’: student photographers’ best images of the campus protests | US campus protests | The Guardian

by Gail Fletcher and Julius Constantine Motal with text by Erum Salam

[kursed-arcana]

Black lady and her fashion inspo

[master-ray5]

The King's (Chibi) Crisis

While I plan on posting something bigger tomorrow for Usamamo Week 2024 (run by @random-mailbox and @lilliebellfanfics), I decided to use the prompt for "Free Day" to finally post something I have had in mind for a while. I'm putting in my "Innocent Royal Affairs" series but the prompt helped me finally get it down on paper. Links first but then I'll post the whole fic underneath:

     “ACHOO!” 

     Mamoru’s eyes went wide and he jumped out of bed as the sound came over the baby monitor. He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure his wife was safe before he ran out the room, across the hall, and into the nursery. Mamoru was by the crib of Princess Chiba-Usa in record time. He opened a drawer, pulled out digital medical gloves, and ran a complete diagnosis by scanning his daughter. 

HR: Normal

BP: 95/58

Temp: 100.1

    “Dear lord,” Mamoru gasped as he read the results. “Computer, open a channel to the family of wisdom.” 

     “Boss,” Zoisite grumbled as he answered the call, slowly rousing. “It’s late. What’s wrong?” 

     “Chibi-Usa is ill,” Mamoru reported firmly. 

     “What’s her symptoms,” Ami asked, as she sat up in bed next to Zoisite when she heard Mamoru’s words. “What’s wrong with the little princess?” 

     “She has a 100.1 fever and is sniffling,” Mamoru explained, his eyes darting from the results to his daughter and back multiple times. “She’s sleeping peacefully now.” 

     “So let me get this straight?” Zoisite groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She has her first cold?”

     “Yes! I want a full workout to make sure it's not magic related,” Mamoru ordered, a plan forming in his head. “I want you to run a comparison on the database of all known youmas, droids, and known monster types. I need to make sure she hasn’t been poisoned in someway” 

     Zoisite exchanged a look with his wife before he responded. “I’m hanging up now.” 

     “What?” Mamoru grunted, his body becoming tense at his friend’s response. “My daughter is sick. She needs a complete diagnosis.” 

     “Mamoru,” Ami sighed as she laid her head down on her pillow. “You are a former doctor, so you are blessed with an abundance of information. You need to get a handle on it or it will consume you.” 

     “That being said my wife needs her own sleep for the baby she’s carrying,” Zoisite sighed as his hand reached out and caressed Ami’s stomach. “Just get a washcloth, dab her head, and try to get some rest.”

     “What about,” Mamoru countered but the line went dead. “Hello? Damn it! Computer, dial the family of strength.” 

     “Mmmhuhm,” Nephrite grumbled as the call connected. “Wuh, wuzzup?” 

     “My daughter is displaying a low grade fever,” Mamoru reported, his eyes locked on Chibi-Usa’s vitals. “Have there been any anomalies sighted in the area in the last few days?” 

     “Numh, Mumuh,” Makoto replied in something between a snort, yawn, and a groan. “Mmm.” 

     “I want you to get to the control room and do a full city wide search to make sure there are no disturbances,” Mamoru commanded. “If you run every scan possible it should only take like…5 hours.” 

     A loud crunching sound came through the speaker which Mamoru could only assume was Nephrite destroying his communicator again. The replacement he received would be the 4th one this year alone. Mamoru intended on making sure they came out of his paycheck. 

     Chibi-usa grumbled and began to roll in her sleep causing Mamoru’s heart to clench. She was uncomfortable he could tell and he wanted to make sure everything was fine with her. He immediately dialed the next group in his contact. 

     "Jadeite,” Mamoru called when his general picked up. “I need you to hit the library. I want you to look through all the research materials and see if a minor fever may be related to any known curse."

     “I’ve got a curse I can show him,” Rei hissed before turning over and pulling a pillow over her head. 

     “Boss, you need to calm down,” Jadeite insisted, picking up his communicator to talk into it properly. His other hand reached over and stroked his wife’s back affectionately. “Zoisite already messaged everyone and let us know you are freaking out and overreacting. I’m going to turn off my communicator now and nothing short of a Class Five, world ending disaster is going to turn it back on.” 

     “I am not freaking out or overreacting,” Mamoru stated firmly. “Now come make sure my baby hasn’t been cursed by a demon or I will banish you to the frigid depths of space.” 

     “Good night Mamoru,” Jadeite replied before ending the call. Mamoru felt his entire body tense from the lack of respect he was receiving. 

     "What the hell? Call the family of leaders,” Mamoru ordered the computer. “Kunzite I want…"

    “Damn it Mamoru!” Minako roared. Not through the communicator but instead her voice carried from her and Kunzite’s wing of the castle. “It’s three in the morning! Some of us are trying to have sex!” 

     “Blast it all,” Mamoru roared as he turned towards the door and began to head towards pulling all of his generals out of bed by their hair. “I swear when I get a hold of them….” 

     Mamoru stopped as the door to the nursery opened and his wife came in with a sleepy look in her eyes. 

     “I can hear you through the baby monitor.” Usagi yawned as she moved past her husband and towards the cradle. “You‘re freaking everyone out.”

     “But Usa…,” Mamoru stumbled, his mind still going a mile a minute. “Chibi-Usa could have been poisoned by a demon, cursed by a youma, or…” 

     “Or maybe she caught a cold when we took her out for a ride in the stroller,” Usagi suggested as she placed the washcloth she had brought in against her daughter’s warm head. She picked up her tiny daughter and sat in the rocking chair close by. “She’s going to be fine Mamo. Calm down.” 

     “But…,,” Mamoru struggled, his mind overwhelmed with all the possibilities of everything terrible fate which could befall his baby. “She’s…”

     “It’s okay little one,” Usagi sang to her daughter as she began rocking her. With her hair down nursing their daughter back to health and wearing her white nightgown, Mamoru thought his wife looked like an angel. He often thought of her as such but moments like this made it even harder for him to think she was absolutely sent from heaven. “Daddy is just being silly.”

     “I’m just…,” Mamoru stopped as he watched how Chibi-Usa stopped fusing as she was rocked back to sleep. His gaze dropped to the med gloves he was still wearing and a smile formed on his face as he realized just how foolish he had been acting. “You’re right…daddy is just being silly.”

O.O.O

Come back tomorrow when my first Non-Senshi AU story finally drops. It's a nice light read clocking in at...11k!!