#concrete cutting south australia

[stanleyhuds]

Underwater Concrete Market Share, Demand, Growth, and Forecast 2025-2033

Global Underwater Concrete Industry: Key Statistics and Insights in 2025-2033

Summary:

The global underwater concrete market size reached USD USD 184.6 Billion in 2024.

The market is expected to reach USD 256.2 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.52% during 2025-2033.

North America leads the market, accounting for the largest underwater concrete market share.

Aggregates represent the largest segment due to their crucial role in providing the necessary bulk, strength, and durability for underwater concrete mixtures.

Hydropower holds the biggest market share because the construction and maintenance of dams and other hydropower infrastructure require extensive use of underwater concrete.

Ongoing advancements in underwater construction are impelling the growth of the market.

The growing demand for marine infrastructure is offering a favorable market outlook.

Industry Trends and Drivers:

Technological Advancements in Underwater Construction:

Advancements in underwater construction are boosting the market. Innovations like new concrete mixes and additives improve underwater concrete. These technologies ensure concrete stays strong against high pressure and salt. Moreover, the rise of self-compacting concrete and special admixtures is making underwater construction faster and more reliable. This not only enhances underwater structures but also cuts labor costs and project times.

Increasing Demand for Marine Infrastructure:

Demand for marine infrastructure is rising, creating a positive market outlook. Urban growth and economic expansion boost maritime trade. This, in turn, calls for better ports and harbors. Coastal cities now invest in flood defenses, seawalls, and tunnels to combat climate change effects. These projects need special underwater concrete. It must resist harsh marine conditions. Additionally, the growth of offshore oil, gas, and wind projects increases the need for reliable materials.

Government Initiatives and Funding:

Government initiatives and funding significantly boost market growth. Worldwide, governments are investing in infrastructure to enhance economies and tackle environmental issues. They are allocating substantial funds for coastal protections like sea walls and breakwaters against climate change. Moreover, support for offshore renewable energy projects, which need extensive underwater concrete, is also growing. In developing regions, incentives and subsidies are encouraging the use of advanced materials, including underwater concrete.

Request for a sample copy of this report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/underwater-concrete-market/requestsample

Underwater Concrete Market Report Segmentation:

By Raw Material:

Admixtures

Cement

Aggregates

Others

Aggregates represent the largest segment due to their crucial role in providing the necessary bulk, strength, and durability for underwater concrete mixtures.

By Application:

Hydropower

Marine

Shore Protection

Underwater Repairs

Tunnels

Swimming Pools

Others

Hydropower holds the biggest market share because the construction and maintenance of dams and other hydropower infrastructure require extensive use of underwater concrete.

Regional Insights:

North America (United States, Canada)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)

Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Others)

Middle East and Africa

North America’s dominance in the underwater concrete market is attributed to its significant investments in marine infrastructure, coastal protection projects, and the expansion of offshore energy installations.

Top Underwater Concrete Market Leaders: 

The underwater concrete market research report outlines a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape, offering in-depth profiles of major companies. Some of the key players in the market are:

Buzzi Unicem S.p.A.

CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V.

CONMIX Ltd.

Five Star Products Inc.

Heidelberg Materials

Larsen Building Products

MUHU (China) Construction Materials Co. Ltd.

Rockbond SCP Ltd

Sika AG, Tarmac (CRH plc)

Unibeton Ready Mix (Al Fara’a Group)

Note: If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

About Us:

IMARC Group is a global management consulting firm that helps the world’s most ambitious changemakers to create a lasting impact. The company provide a comprehensive suite of market entry and expansion services. IMARC offerings include thorough market assessment, feasibility studies, company incorporation assistance, factory setup support, regulatory approvals and licensing navigation, branding, marketing and sales strategies, competitive landscape and benchmarking analyses, pricing and cost research, and procurement research.

Contact Us:

IMARC Group

134 N 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA

Email: sales@imarcgroup.com

Tel No:(D) +91 120 433 0800

United States: +1-631-791-1145

[decorworks]

Eight Australian houses with sculptural shapes and angular facades

Our latest roundup showcases innovative Australian homes, including a house with a fish-pond atrium and a residence with a faceted black-metal extension. Mostly located in Melbourne and Sydney, these eight homes are united by their sculptural designs. While some have unusually shaped floorplans, others use detailed facades, cantilevers, roof cutouts and geometrical aluminium awnings to create eye-catching details. Read on for eight examples of sculptural Australian houses from Dezeen's archive:

Photo by Timothy KayePeninsula House, Flinders, by Wood Marsh Designed to echo Australia's "windswept" coastline, this home south of Melbourne has curving walls of charred timber and rammed earth. Local studio Wood Marsh also drew on meandering paths leading to the site when creating the shape of the house, which has a curving form with long "arms" wrapping a swimming pool terrace and a driveway. Find out more about Peninsula House ›

Photo by Shannon McGrath and Timothy KayeSt Martins Lane, Melbourne, by Matt Gibson This Victorian home in the South Yarra suburb of Melbourne was given a sculptural update with a faceted extension clad in black metal. Architect Matt Gibson decorated the facade of the extension, which contains a living space, two bedrooms, a study and a cascading terrace, with a laser-cut pattern that references the original architecture of the house. Find out more about St Martins Lane ›

Photo by Rory GardinerMossy Point home, New South Wales, by Edition Office A cutout roof animates this fibre-cement-clad home, which architecture studio Edition Office elevated on parallel blockwork walls within a woody area in Mossy Point. The aperture in the roofline, designed to resemble a bird's mouth, creates a sheltered outdoor dining space. A void at the centre of the roof lets natural light into the gabled building. Find out more about Mossy Point ›

Photo by Tom RossMerricks Farmhouse, Melbourne, by Michael Lumby Architecture and Nielsen Jenkins Concrete blocks were used to construct Merricks Farmhouse, a home designed as a "refuge" in an exposed coastal setting on the Mornington Peninsula. South African studio Michael Lumby Architecture and Brisbane practice Nielsen Jenkins gave the home strong geometrical shapes by splitting it into a series of blocks that surround a courtyard. Find out more about Merricks Farmhouse ›

Photo by David ChatfieldTallowood Cabin, Queensland, by Fouché Architects Australian studio Fouché Architects created the angular Tallowwood Cabin to cantilever over its plot on a Queensland hillside. Its top-heavy geometric form, clad in black-cement boards, balances on a concrete plinth. A sloping walkway leads into the house, which is designed to "disappear" into the surrounding bushland. Find out more about Tallowood Cabin ›

Photo by Jack LovelProclamation House, Perth, by State of Kin The innovative facade of this Perth house was created by combining olive-coloured hemp render with aluminium awnings that add tactility to the exterior. It encases a sculptural concrete form with a rounded, sloping roof and is designed to exaggerate the traditional features of local cottages, architecture studio State of Kind told Dezeen. Find out more about Proclamation House ›

Photo by Derek SwalwellHelvetia, Melbourne, by Austin Maynard Architects One of the most unusual designs on the list, this Melbourne home has a fish-pond atrium in its entrance space and also features five distinct garden areas. At its rear, the building has a garage that Australian firm Austin Maynard Architects topped with an "urban farm". This is enclosed with a barrel-vaulted wire mesh to keep out possums. Find out more about Helvetia ›

Photo by Felix ForestMatopos, Sydney, by Atelier Andy Carson Local studio Atelier Andy Carson married a curved bronze facade with a sandstone podium at this home for a gallerist in the Sydney suburb of Freshwater. Called Matopos, the house has an undulating sculptural shape and large windows designed to frame views of the nearby sea. Find out more about Matopos › Read the full article

[newsbites]

News from Australia, 3 July

The Queensland opposition is demanding the state government to explain and fix the inadequate healthcare in Indigenous communities following a coroner's findings on the deaths of three Indigenous women with rheumatic heart disease.

The coroner's report highlighted the failure of health systems in remote Indigenous communities and emphasized that rheumatic heart disease is preventable and largely a result of poverty and social disadvantage.

The opposition leader is calling for a full review of the government's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework, release of the implementation schedule for the coroner's recommendations, and an independent review of the government's strategy to end rheumatic heart disease.

2. Scientists have developed an approach to select coral species for reef restoration programs, focusing on species that can optimize coral reef survival in a warming world.

The selection process considers both ecological characteristics and trait diversity to ensure species diversity and ecosystem function in future coral reefs.

This approach provides a simple framework for restoration practitioners to select target species based on spatial scale and available resources.

3. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise its interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.35% in order to combat high inflation.

Economists are divided on whether the RBA will hike rates or hold them steady, with a near split between those expecting a hike and those predicting a pause.

Despite a slight slowdown in inflation, the RBA is likely to continue tightening monetary policy due to strong employment growth and the need to address the disinflation task.

4. Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Australia near the end of his term is seen as an important statement for bilateral relations and the potential for concrete economic projects.

Talks between Australia and Indonesia may focus on the supply of minerals for battery and electric vehicle manufacturing, with opportunities for reciprocal trade and cooperation.

While there are concerns about the AUKUS defense pact, there is potential for positive steps in security cooperation between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

5. The Indonesian government is actively working to increase the number of Indonesian language learners in Australia.

Efforts are being made to support the development of Indonesian language learning in NSW, Queensland, and South Australia.

'Indonesia in Action Day' organized by AIYA NSW and the University of Sydney showcased the importance of promoting Indonesian language and culture.

[the-firebird69]

We thank you for your dumb ideas so generating company going to try and sleep out there we don't care he's an idiot I'm trying to block it is the Indians in the pipeline. So what's going on now said they're coming up with dumb ideas and I think that you're on their side. And right now there's a huge bunch of Mexicans South Americans want to come in and we're sitting down talking to them because we have a whole bunch of concrete work they do decent work they work long hours and what you suggest is not raising the price but we have to get a reputation so give me like a 3 or 4 day work week usually it's three and a week pay for the 3 days we're going to do that too they're not full shifts cuz they would not survive out here and we bring new chance and we bring drinks and they suddenly see something it's like building and we're going to sit around for a few days or half a week they like it kind of have to just recreational wears you out. So that's what we're up to there and they're probably five 100s that are ready to go in South Florida that's not that many but it's a start and hotels too we ensure the quality.

Moving forwards we have several things going on here that are unacceptable. This morning was a complete disaster they released probably 4000 cars to drive around our son. It was ridiculous and they say that so for us you have a point though they're keeping the clones off in the max and foreigners aren't here then again they're trying to bring the Australia but it's kind of lackluster and they did see what the clones were up to with their truck in front of him at the job site and plastic he's trying to get out of his truck and said no the sun said no backs up and leaves the guy's trying to get in gear and a son could hear him it was dicey. We got to move it had trouble this morning getting out of a street and you said risky technique and it works and people are amazed and then they started calling him stupid names gazelle and no that doesn't fit and then finally baby giant. Cuz they do that every scooters they push and they go fast and they don't want to see him out there cuz they get hurt real bad the cry out real loud and it's horrible.

Several things are happening here in punta Gorda and Port Charlotte and they're following suits throughout the globe but a slower Pace oddly enough but not that much slower now it's picking up and almost matched it by only about 10 or 15%

The sheriff is down to 100 in Charlotte county morlock and they're getting pushed out now by foreigners.

The police department is down to four and holding and they're holding it pretty extremely which is externally which is a mistake because if you do that they attract attention to themselves there's nothing I can Nelson they can do

A few things went wrong this morning for Mac is very upset I didn't show it and some kind of dumped on him ever since okay but the guy next door is a nut and the other one's the Sun they say it's going to makeshift weapon and he says okay he looks actually as a sheriff's office after the meeting no, it looks before inside and he saw that he had reported it twice and that they had put he doesn't know what he's talking about but they did hear it and then they wrote in the report you might get dismissed for not doing anything and it's a real gun and that's what they put so their eyeballing Dan trying to push him out to get one of them out real fight the other one and Trump is trying to do it

And a son says good that's movement. And there's a huge problem with him constantly trying to bully our son and people are starting to beat him up very badly and the other one it's a huge day

The government is cut down the size and it is now puny but that's just a more oxide taking over we're in there with foreigners statewide 15% more lock and that's 15% of what they were last week no it's 15% of the government of Charlotte county and that's all of it and it is about the same statewide about 17%. We're at 3400 this afternoon this is late afternoon and it is 3200 and we anticipate or drop the 3,000 this evening. The number at 15% the people in Charlotte county realizing we don't have hardly anybody working for us, statewide and Nationwide and shortly globally there's less but they're noticing it in the state the whole state and the county that they don't have that many people working. And they are getting trained of funds and items quite rapidly in the states all Max and they're telling foreigners and they're leaving too today

Is evacuation and it's huge okay it's gigantic it is one of the largest evacuations I've ever seen in my life it is probably the biggest but back in the day it's not the largest back then per percentage of the populace we had huge movements of people back then entire races left areas and the Indians left the United States entirely they completely left their invasion and cool was a failure and they admitted it and we accept them back and the other Asians accepted them back as heroes and it went on for a while but not really it was really all at once.

There's a few more issues going on this tables are coming with poop and nobody cleans them and it's just noticing that there's a huge number of people who know about it and then sit there watching people lean on it and the pipes are a little bit cleaner those people rub their shirts on it but it's really disgusting nobody bothers cleaning it's mean

There are other things happening Florida highway patrol is down to about 8,000 Florida law enforcement 7000 they used to be millions of warlock. If they don't notice it's a brain dead and a lot of them don't notice. They're about 400,000 more locks in Charlotte county $300,000 are here now and 100,000 coming out for real of the state but they are leaders all over the place and their areas are massively deteriorated and they sat here and he came to message and laughing at everybody and the place is a mess. But for real those numbers are diminishing yesterday it was $350,000 today is at 325,000 and it's from combat and combat here in the state and yeah it's ridiculous we anticipated to be less than that tonight A lot of people think $300,000 I think $250,000 if that because they're going to go into combat pretty quick fiercely realizing they lost tons of stuff and area.

There's a huge number of people calling for us to make more bikes in honor of people who are huge assholes and what we say is well I didn't think about it and we have a list of suggestions from our son and daughter's cadre. It is a huge list no it's a very refined list and they know he's been thinking of dan the whole time because he's a big boob. And it is the blue and silver production chopper and it was our son's assistant she was going to make it with and he made like 300,000 no he made about 30 trillion and he went on to make about 4,000 octillion and tons of people bought them they knew about 160 and it's about top speed and the stress to shake I think it's the back tire but it's really that he doesn't balance things it is the line things correctly and we would and we could go probably about 250 with the same motor and he did bounce the bike forward and backs and in the middle which is great you have to it's like a missile out of balance just won't work right. So go ahead with that something we put the image out and you can stop being a huge a****** that his father demands it and bate for a clones and most people will use them as lures and stuff it's effective.

Tomorrow's going to be huge he goes to the mall and tons of people plan to go there and bother him over taxes and other stupid things and we're going to be taking names going through the taxes and pulling them in and we're going into IRS the treasury I'm going to clean out cheeseman and Trump and others and blame them for getting him money which they intend to do the max intend to do that. Pay intend to use coded money and yeah the money he used when he's little and the money he earned was coded against his clan and against her clan and we knew about it and told them and it's it was against us but we counted it and we used a lot of espionage counter espionage well by him but they're very confident. Some of the Mac store confidence as well and 5% it's not the same that is playing with smaller by numbers it is not very good they have about twice as many competent people because there's so many of them still but it's kind of like that with foreigners too.

Consider wants us to publish which is probably a good idea we go ahead and do that

Thor Freya

Zues Hera

Olympus

[sueheaven]

Construction Machinery- market to Observe Strong Growth to Generate Massive Revenue in Coming Years

The Latest Released market study on Global Construction Machinery- market provides information and useful stats on market structure, size and trends. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and strategic insights to help decision makers take sound investment decisions and identify potential gaps and growth opportunities. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses changing dynamics, emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, opportunities and restraints in Construction Machinery- market. What’s keeping Caterpillar Inc. (United States)

Komatsu Ltd. (Japan)

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (China)

Sany Heavy Industries (China)

Zoomlion (China)

CNH Industrial NV (United Kingdom)

Deere & Company (United States)

JCB India Limited (India)

Volvo Group (Sweden)

Doosan Infracore (South Korean)

 Keep Growing in the Market? Benchmark yourself with the strategic moves and latest Market Share and Sizing of Global Construction Machinery- market recently published by AMA Construction machinery is mechanized equipment that is used to carry out construction tasks. Certain construction machines carry out a set of activities in a specific order to attain a specific goal. Excavating, roading, drilling, pile-driving, reinforcement, roofing, and finishing machinery, concrete-working machinery, and preparatory work machinery are the core groups of construction machinery. Loosening the soil and cleaning the area of bushes, trees, and rocks are all part of the preparation process. Construction machines placed on crawler-tractor chassis, such as rippers, brush cutters, and stump pullers, execute it. These machines typically include interchangeable, mounted equipment that is appropriate for the sort of work being done. Mechanical shovels and multi-bucket excavators, trench diggers, single-bucket loaders, and hydro mechanization equipment are among the machines employed. To compact earth in embankments and materials in roadbeds, vibration rollers and static road rollers with metal rolls and pneumatic tires are utilized.

The Construction Machinery- Market segments and Market Data Break Down by Type (Articulated Dump Truck, Asphalt Finisher, Backhoe Loader, Mini Excavator, Compactor, Road Roller, Other), Application (Commercial, Residential, Infrastructure), Category (Earthmoving, Material Handling, Concrete Mixing and transporting, Heavy Construction Vehicle, Other), Fuel Type (Diesel, CNG/LNG/RNG)

On the geographical front, the market has been segregated into North America (the United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia and others), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia and others), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and others), and Middle East and Africa. What’s Trending in Market : Growing adoptions of AI-powered machines Market Challenges: Lack of harmonized emission regulations globally Market Opportunities: Electric and autonomous construction equipment

Highlights of Influencing Drivers: Adoption of advanced construction machinery

Increasing construction and infrastructure investment

Presented By

AMA Research & Media LLP

[fuzzypenguintheorist]

Concrete cutting is the core material used in the building industry. It’s primarily used for making the floors, the foundation, and in most cases, the walls of the house as well. In its simplest form, concrete is just a mixture of ground rocks and aggregates. Once it hardens, concrete creates a very solid structure that prevents it from deteriorating due to wear and tear. Concrete is widely used in the building industry because it’s very sturdy and can be molded into numerous different shapes.

At National Contracting, we offer top of the line concrete grinding and cutting services. When it comes to concrete cutting in Adelaide, we are arguably the best company in the entire region. Having been in this industry for the better part of two decades, we have worked on a very large number of different projects. Our expert concrete cutters and professionals have worked with a host of building companies as well as with private homeowners. We have been providing a number of high-quality services along the way.

[melbmemories]

Our roads were paved with wood.

Sometimes known as Nicholson Paving, wooden blocks were used in St Petersburg in 1820 and Manchester in 1838.They were first suggested for Melbourne and Sydney streets in the early 1840s to overcome ongoing problems of sticky mud in winter and clouds of dust in summer.

But the honour of having Australia’s first wood paved streets goes to Echuca on the Murray River in 1867.  Test sections were laid in Melbourne at Spencer Street in 1880, and by March 1881 the wood paved intersection of Collins and Swanston streets was opened to traffic.

Hailed as being easy on horses hooves, clean, noiseless, low maintenance and durable solution to problems of street surfacing, hardwood blocks were laid vertically and coated annually with tar, a byproduct of the numerous coal-gas plants around the city.

Western Australian hardwoods were the undisputed kings of wood pavers, with Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Karri (E. diversicolor) used extensively to pave the streets of London in 1893 and later in Freemantle in 1898.

Blue Gum (E. globulus), Gippsland Grey Box (E. bosistoana) and River Red Gum, then known as E. rostrata were the most common species used for paving in Victoria because of their inherent strength, durability and hardness as well as their ready availability from State forest and private land.

The Forbes Sawmill at Briagolong was one of many that cut red gum for street paving during the 1880s, while the forests along the Murray River also produced millions of blocks.The Goodwood Sawmill in the Mullungdung State forest near Yarram was a big supplier of durable Yellow Stringybark (E. muelleriana) to the Public Works Department.In 1897, A. C. Mountain published "Wood-paving in Australia", in which he recorded 112 acres of wood paving in Melbourne streets.That roughly equates to a staggering twenty million blocks.

By 1915 wood paving extended to most streets of central Melbourne, as well as many in the inner suburbs.Wood paving blocks were also used to build a new electric tram route across South Melbourne to St Kilda as late as 1925.

Bluestone blocks were more common in laneways and along gutters.

But by the 1930s wood paving was being replaced with concrete and the old tar-impregnated blocks became a popular substitute for firewood.

In 1954 the Melbourne City Council distributed 500 tons to pensioners for winter fuel.

[declansxo]

welcome aboard, declan seo, student #8. we are excited to set sail with you ! has anyone told you that you look like hwang hyunjin? according to our records, you hail from adelaide, australia, prefer he/him, are cismale, and are here to study music production. we also see you received a spot on the ss university because of your online lottery win — we won’t tell anyone. during your first few weeks here, other students said you were + talented, + intriguing, but also - mysterious/aloof. it sounds like you spend most of your time at the zen room. upon checking your luggage, we noticed you packed a harmonica. hopefully your roommates don’t steal it!

hi hi lovie’s it’s nia again <3  declan now is my second muse !  you can find his full bio and information below the cut !  

ever since declan was a kid, he felt out of step with his peers. picture that kid who sat in the back of class with headphone cords slinked up the sleeve of his hoodie so he could listen to music instead of paying attention, never responded to any texts and was mysteriously not on any social media, and you’ll start to get a picture of the way declan looked from the outside.

declan grew up with a single father who worked two jobs. his relationship with his dad was pretty normal. they didn’t have many family traditions or spend lots of time with extended family. his dad sort of let him raise himself while he worked, and declan was fine with that. he never really questioned where his mother was; all he knew was that she lived in south korea and had given full custody to declan’s dad shortly after his first birthday. declan and his dad lived in adelaide, australia, so he never saw her after that. when declan was seventeen, his father married a woman he’d met at church. declan gained an older step-sister, but she was already living on her own with children and a family of her own, so declan didn’t ever bond with her. he was happy for his dad, he guessed, that he wouldn’t be alone once declan left.

the one place declan always felt he belonged was between his two ears, in his own mind, alone with his thoughts and, ideally, music. he really loves electronic music and can also play several instruments: harmonica, piano/keyboard, bass guitar, drums, and ukelele. he likes to make beats on his computer and operate one of those lo-fi beats accounts on youtube. since he didn’t have a lot of money  ( or friends )  growing up, he would go to pawn shops and thrift stores and buy cheap instruments and music books and teach himself how to mess around on them. now he plans to work in the music industry and produce music for a living because no other subject really holds his interest. also ... he’s really talented, though he doesn’t know it really. he thinks he’s pretty average, but he’s not insecure.

he’s a minimalist through and through, and that includes with friends and relationships. he’s definitely a loner  ( which gets to him sometimes, but he won’t admit it because ... well, who would he tell ? )  and he never grew out of his emo phase.  ( sadboi ? )   he uses sexuality as a way to connect with people, even if it’s all artificial and just on the surface. at least if he’s having sex or kissing someone, it’s concrete enough for him to understand he has their attention and understanding  ( something he feels he rarely gets in conversation. )  he’s bisexual and doesn’t have any preference in gender, and he’s had romantic relationships before, but never been in love. truthfully, he doesn’t even know how to be a boyfriend or how to fall in love. writing music about it is one thing, but actually doing it is a whole other thing. if you heard his music, you’d think he’s really deep and romantic, but actually getting to know him you’d find that he’s learned how to create art about others’ experiences, not his own. 

that all being said, declan yearns to be seen and understood, just like anyone else. he is a good listener, observant, soft-spoken and a little socially awkward in most situations. generally he is a good friend, but he may be unreliable if he is wrapped up in a project or his own thoughts. you may also find him with dark circles or bags under his eyes because he suffers from insomnia and rarely sleeps.

if u like this i will im you to plot !!!!!!!!!!! 

[greatworldwar2]

• Battle of Bardia

The Battle of Bardia was fought between January 3rd and 5th 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War.

Italy declared war on the United Kingdom on June 10th, 1940. Bordering on the Italian colony of Libya was the Kingdom of Egypt. Although a neutral country, Egypt was occupied by the British under the terms of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, which allowed British military forces to occupy Egypt if the Suez Canal was threatened. A series of cross-border raids and skirmishes began on the frontier between Libya and Egypt. On September 13th, 1940, an Italian force advanced across the frontier into Egypt, reaching Sidi Barrani on September 16th, where the advance was halted until logistical difficulties could be overcome. Italy's position in the centre of the Mediterranean made it unacceptably hazardous to send ships from Britain to Egypt via that route, so British reinforcements and supplies for the area had to travel around the Cape of Good Hope. For this reason, it was more convenient to reinforce General Sir Archibald Wavell's Middle East Command with troops from Australia, New Zealand and India. Nonetheless, even when Britain was threatened with invasion after the Battle of France. On December 9th, 1940 the Western Desert Force under the command of Major General Richard O'Connor attacked the Italian position at Sidi Barrani. The position was captured, 38,000 Italian soldiers were taken prisoner, and the remainder of the Italian force was driven back. The Western Desert Force pursued the Italians into Libya, and the 7th Armoured Division established itself to the west of Bardia, cutting off land communications between the strong Italian garrison there and Tobruk. On December 11th, Wavell decided to withdraw the 4th Indian Division and send it to the Sudan to participate in the East African Campaign. The 6th Australian Division (Major General Iven Mackay) was brought forward from Egypt to replace it and Mackay assumed command of the area on December 21st,1940.

After the disaster at Sidi Barrani and the withdrawal from Egypt, XXIII Corps (Generale di Corpo d'Armata (Lieutenant General) Annibale Bergonzoli) faced the British from within the strong defences of Bardia. Mussolini wrote to Bergonzoli, "I have given you a difficult task but one suited to your courage and experience as an old and intrepid soldier—the task of defending the fortress of Bardia to the last. I am certain that 'Electric Beard' and his brave soldiers will stand at whatever cost, faithful to the last." Bergonzoli replied: "I am aware of the honour and I have today repeated to my troops your message — simple and unequivocal. In Bardia we are and here we stay." Bergonzoli had approximately 45,000 defenders under his command. The Italian divisions defending the perimeter of Bardia included remnants of four divisions. Bergonzoli also had the remnants of the disbanded 64th "Catanzaro" Infantry Division, some 6,000 Frontier Guard (GaF) troops, three companies of Bersaglieri, part of the dismounted Vittorio Emanuele cavalry regiment and a machine gun company. These divisions guarded an 18-mile (29 km) perimeter which had an almost continuous antitank ditch, extensive barbed wire fence and a double row of strong points. The strong points were situated approximately 800-yard (730 m) apart. Each had its own antitank ditch, concealed by thin boards. They were each armed with one or two Cannone da 47/32 M35 (47 mm antitank guns) and two to four machine guns. The weapons were fired from concrete sided pits connected by trenches to a deep underground concrete bunker which offered protection from artillery fire.

Each post was occupied by a platoon or company. The inner row of posts were similar, except that they lacked the antitank ditches. The posts were numbered sequentially from south to north, with the outer posts bearing odd numbers and the inner ones even numbers. The actual numbers were known to the Australians from the markings on maps captured at Sidi Barrani and were also displayed on the posts themselves. The major tactical defect of this defensive system was that if the enemy broke through, the posts could be picked off individually from the front or rear. The defence was supported by a strong artillery component, yet the large number of gun models, many of them quite old, created difficulties with the supply of spare parts. The older guns often had worn barrels, which caused problems with accuracy. Ammunition stocks were similarly old and perhaps as many as two-thirds of the fuses were out of date, resulting in excessive numbers of dud rounds. Shortages of raw materials, coupled with the increased technological sophistication of modern weapons, led to production problems that frustrated efforts to supply the Italian Army with the best available equipment. As a "mobile reserve" there were thirteen M13/40 medium tanks and a hundred and fifteen L3/35 tankettes. The L3s were generally worthless, the M13/40s were effective medium tanks with four machine guns and a turret-mounted 47 mm antitank gun for its main armament that were "in many ways the equal of British armoured fighting vehicles". Bergonzoli knew that if Bardia and Tobruk held out, a British advance further into Libya eventually must falter under the logistical difficulties of maintaining a desert force using an extended overland supply line. Not knowing how long he had to hold out, Bergonzoli was forced to ration his stocks of food and water so that O'Connor could not simply starve him out. Hunger and thirst adversely affected the morale of the Italian defenders that had already been shaken by the defeat at Sidi Barrani.

On the Allied side, the 6th Australian Division had been formed in September 1939 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. Prime Minister Robert Menzies ordered that all commands in the division were to go to reservists rather than to regular officers, who had been publicly critical of the defence policies of right wing politicians. The result was that when war came, the Army's equipment was of World War I vintage and its factories were only capable of producing small arms. Fortunately, these World War I-era small arms, the Lee–Enfield rifle and the Vickers machine gun, were solid and reliable weapons that would remain in service throughout the war; they were augmented by the more recent Bren light machine gun. Most other equipment was obsolescent and would have to be replaced but new factories were required to produce the latest items, such as 3-inch mortars, 25-pounder field guns and motor vehicles; War Cabinet approval for their construction was slow in coming. The training of the 6th Australian Division in Palestine, while "vigorous and realistic", was therefore hampered by shortages of equipment. These shortages were gradually remedied by deliveries from British sources. Similarly, No. 3 Squadron RAAF had to be sent to the Middle East without aircraft or equipment and supplied by the Royal Air Force, at the expense of its own squadrons. Despite the rivalry between regular and reserve officers, the 6th Australian Division staff was an effective organisation. Brigadier John Harding, the chief of staff of XIII Corps, as the Western Desert Force was renamed on January 1st, 1941. Harding later considered the 6th Australian Division staff "as good as any that I came across in that war, and highly efficient." As it moved into position around Bardia in December 1940, the 6th Australian Division was still experiencing shortages. It had only two of its three artillery regiments and only the 2/1st Field Regiment was equipped with the new 25-pounders, which it had received only that month. Only A Squadron of the 2/6th Cavalry Regiment was on hand, as the rest of the regiment was deployed in the defence of the frontier posts at Al-Jaghbub and Siwa Oasis. The 2/1st Antitank Regiment had likewise been diverted, so each infantry brigade had formed an antitank company but only eleven 2-pounders were available instead of the 27 required. The infantry battalions were particularly short of mortars and ammunition for the Boys anti-tank rifle was in short supply.

To make up for this, O'Connor augmented Brigadier Edmund Herring's 6th Australian Division Artillery with part of the XIII Corps artillery: the 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, equipped with sixteen 25 pounders. Italian gun positions were located using sound ranging by the 6th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery. At a meeting with Mackay on Christmas Eve, 1940, O'Connor visited Mackay at divisional headquarters and directed him to prepare an attack on Bardia. O'Connor recommended that this be built around the 23 Matilda tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel R. M. Jerrram) that remained in working order. The attack was to be made with only two brigades, leaving the third for a subsequent advance on Tobruk. Mackay did not share O'Connor's optimism about the prospect of an easy victory and proceeded on the assumption that Bardia would be resolutely held, requiring a well-planned attack. The plan developed by Mackay and his chief of staff, Colonel Frank Berryman, involved an attack on the western side of the Bardia defences by 16th Australian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Arthur "Tubby" Allen) at the junction of the Gerfah and Ponticelli sectors. Attacking at the junction of two sectors would confuse the defence. The defences here were weaker than in the Mereiga sector, the ground was favourable for employment of the Matilda tanks and good observation for the artillery was possible. Most of the artillery, grouped as the "Frew Group" under British Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Frowen, would support the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade; the 17th would be supported by the 2/2nd Field Regiment. Much depended on the Western Desert Force moving fuel, water and supplies forward. The 6th Australian Division Assistant Adjutant General and Quartermaster General (AA&QMG), Colonel George Alan Vasey said "This is a Q war".

A series of air raids were mounted against Bardia in December, in the hope of persuading the garrison to withdraw. Once it became clear that the Italians intended to stand and fight, bombing priorities shifted to the Italian airbases around Tobruk, Derna and Benina. Air raids on Bardia resumed in the lead-up to the ground assault, with 100 bombing sorties flown against Bardia between December 31st, 1940 and January 2nd, 1941, climaxing with a particularly heavy raid by Vickers Wellington bombers of No. 70 Squadron RAF and Bristol Bombay bombers of No. 216 Squadron RAF on the night of January 3rd, 1941. A naval bombardment was carried out on the morning of the 3rd by the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships HMS Warspite, Valiant and Barham and their destroyer escorts. The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious provided aircraft for spotting and fighter cover. They withdrew after firing 244 15-inch (380 mm), 270 6-inch (150 mm) and 240 4.5-inch (110 mm) shells. The assault troops rose early on January 3rd, 1941. The leading companies began moving to the start line at 0416. The artillery opened fire at 0530. On crossing the start line the 2/1st Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Eather, came under Italian mortar and artillery fire. The lead platoons advanced accompanied by sappers of the 2/1st Field Company carrying Bangalore torpedoes—12-foot (3.7 m) pipes packed with ammonal—as Italian artillery fire began to land, mainly behind them. An Italian shell exploded among a leading platoon and detonated a Bangalore torpedo, resulting in four killed and nine wounded. The torpedoes were slid under the barbed wire at 60-yard (55 m) intervals. A whistle was blown as a signal to detonate the torpedoes but could not be heard over the din of the barrage. Eather became anxious and ordered the engineering party nearest him to detonate their torpedo. This the other teams heard, and they followed suit. The infantry scrambled to their feet and rushed forward, they advanced on a series of posts held by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Italian 115th Infantry Regiment. Posts 49 and 47 were rapidly overrun, as was Post 46 in the second line beyond. Within half an hour Post 48 had also fallen and another company had taken Posts 45 and 44. The two remaining companies now advanced beyond these positions towards a low stone wall as artillery fire began to fall along the broken wire.

The Italians fought from behind the wall until the Australians were inside it, attacking with hand grenades and bayonets. The two companies succeeded in taking 400 prisoners. The 2/2nd Infantry Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel F. O. Chilton) found that it was best to keep skirmishing forward throughout this advance, because going to ground for any length of time meant sitting in the middle of the enemy artillery concentrations that inflicted further casualties. The Australian troops made good progress, six tank crossings were readied and mines between them and the wire had been detected. Five minutes later, the 23 Matildas of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment advanced, accompanied by the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion. Passing through the gaps, they swung right along the double line of posts. The Italian defenders were cleared with grenades. By 0920 all companies were on their objectives and they had linked with 2/1st Infantry Battalion. However, several Bren gun carriers encountered problems as they moved forward during the initial attack. One was hit and destroyed in the advance and another along the Wadi Ghereidia. The 2/3rd Infantry Battalion was now assailed by half a dozen Italian M13/40 tanks who freed a group of 500 Italian prisoners. The tanks continued to rumble to the south while the British crews of the Matildas "enjoying a brew, dismissed reports of them as an Antipodean exaggeration". Finally, they were engaged by an antitank platoon of three 2 pounders mounted on portees. By midday, 6,000 Italian prisoners had already reached the provosts at the collection point near Post 45, escorted by increasingly fewer guards whom the rifle companies could afford to detach. The Italian perimeter had been breached and the attempt to halt the Australian assault at the outer defences had failed. Major H. Wrigley's 2/5th Infantry Battalion of Brigadier Stanley Savige's 17th Infantry Brigade, reinforced by two companies of Lieutenant Colonel T. G. Walker's 2/7th Infantry Battalion, now took over the advance. The battalion's task was to clear "The Triangle", a map feature created by the intersection of three tracks north of Post 16. Wrigley's force had a long and exhausting approach, and much of its movement forward to its jump off point had been under Italian shellfire intended for the 16th Infantry Brigade. Awaiting its turn to move, the force sought shelter in Wadi Scemmas and its tributaries. Wrigley called a final coordinating conference for 1030, but at 1020 he was wounded by a bullet and his second in command, Major G. E. Sell took over.

The artillery barrage came down at 1125, and five minutes later the advance began. The sun had now risen, and Captain C. H. Smith's D Company came under effective fire from machine guns and field artillery 700 yards (640 m) to the north east. Within minutes, all but one of the company's officers and all its senior non-commissioned officers had been killed or wounded. Meanwhile, Captain D. I. A. Green's B Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 26, 27 and 24. After Post 24 had been taken, two Matildas arrived and helped to take Post 22. As the prisoners were rounded up, one shot Green dead, then threw down his rifle and climbed out of the pit smiling broadly. He was immediately thrown back and a Bren gun emptied into him. Upon hearing of the losses to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion, Brigade Major G. H. Brock sent Captain J. R. Savige's A Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion to take "The Triangle". Savige gathered his platoons and, with fire support from machine guns, attacked the objective, 3,000 yards (2,700 m) away. The company captured eight field guns, many machine-guns and nearly 200 prisoners on the way, but casualties and the need to detach soldiers as prisoner escorts left him with only 45 men at the end of the day. That evening, Brigadier Savige came forward to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion's position to determine the situation, which he accurately evaluated as "extremely confused; the attack was stagnant." Meanwhile, Captain G. H. Halliday's D Company moved southwards against Post 19. He drew the defenders' attention with a demonstration by one platoon in front of the post while the rest of the company moved around the post and attacked silently from the rear. This maneuver took the defenders by surprise and D Company captured the post—and 73 prisoners—at 0230. Although the Australian progress had been slower than that achieved during the break-in phase, the 17th Infantry Brigade had achieved remarkable results. Another ten posts, representing 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of perimeter had been captured, the Switch Line had been breached, and thousands of Italian defenders had been captured. For the Italians, halting the Australian advance would be an immensely difficult task.

On the afternoon of January 3rd, Berryman met with Allen, Jerram and Frowen at Allen's headquarters at Post 40 to discuss plans for the next day. It was agreed that Allen would advance on Bardia and cut the fortress in two, supported by Frowen's guns, every available tank, MacArthur-Onslow's Bren gun carriers and the 2/8th Infantry Battalion, which Mackay had recently allocated from reserve. That evening, Berryman came to the conclusion that unless the Italian defence collapsed soon, the 16th and 17th Infantry Brigades would become incapable of further effort and Brigadier Horace Robertson's 19th Infantry Brigade would be required. The 2/1st Infantry Battalion began its advance on schedule at 0900, but the lead platoon came under heavy machine gun fire from Post 54, and Italian artillery knocked out the supporting mortars. The 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery engaged the Italian guns and the platoon withdrew. The Italian guns were silenced when an Australian shell detonated a nearby ammunition dump. The Australians then captured the post. About a third of its defenders had been killed in the fighting. The remaining 66 surrendered. This prompted a general collapse of the Italian position in the north. Posts 56 and 61 surrendered without a fight and white flags were raised over Posts 58, 60, 63 and 65, and the gun positions near Post 58. By nightfall, Eather's men had advanced as far as Post 69 and only the fourteen northernmost posts still held out in the Gerfan sector. The advance resumed, only to come under machine gun and artillery fire from Wadi el Gerfan. The brigade major, Major I. R. Campbell, ordered MacArthur-Onslow, whose carriers were screening England's advance, to seize Hebs el Harram, the high ground overlooking the road to the township of Bardia. By the end of the second day, tens of thousands of defenders had been killed or captured. The remaining garrisons in the Gerfan and Ponticelli sectors were completely isolated. The logistical and administrative units were being overrun. Recognising that the situation was hopeless, General Bergonzoli and his staff had departed on foot for Tobruk during the afternoon, in a party of about 120 men.

On the morning of January 5th, the 19th Infantry Brigade launched its attack on the Meriega sector, starting from the Bardia road and following a creeping barrage southward with the support of six Matilda tanks, all that remained in working order. The others had been hit by shells, immobilised by mines, or had simply broken down. The company commanders of the lead battalion, the 2/11th Infantry Battalion, did not receive their final orders until 45 minutes before start time, at which point the start line was 3 miles (4.8 km) away. As they advanced, they came under fire from the left, the right, and in front of them, but casualties were light. Most positions surrendered when the infantry and tanks came close, but this did not reduce the fire from posts further away. Meanwhile, the Italian garrisons in the north were surrendering to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the 7th Armoured Division outside the fortress; the 2/8th Infantry Battalion had taken the area above Wadi Meriega; and the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 10, 12 and 15. The only post still holding out was now Post 11. The 2/6th Infantry Battalion renewed its attack, with the infantry attacking from the front and its carriers attacking from the rear. They were joined by Matildas from the vicinity of Post 6. At this point the Italian post commander, who had been wounded in the battle, lowered his flag and raised a white one. Some 350 Italian soldiers surrendered at Post 11. Godfrey sought out the Italian post commander—who wore a British Military Cross earned in the First World War—and shook his hand. "On a battlefield where Italian troops won little honour", Gavin Long later wrote, "the last to give in belonged to a garrison whose resolute fight would have done credit to any army."

The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue their advance into Libya and capture almost all of Cyrenaica. As the first battle of the war to be commanded by an Australian general, planned by an Australian staff and fought by Australian troops, Bardia was of great interest to the Australian public; congratulatory messages poured in and AIF recruitment surged. In the United States, newspapers praised the 6th Division. An estimated 36,000 Italian soldiers were captured at Bardia, 1,703 (including 44 officers) were killed and 3,740 (including 138 officers) were wounded A few thousand (including General Bergonzoli and three of his division commanders) escaped to Tobruk on foot or in boats. The Allies captured 26 coastal defence guns, 7 medium guns, 216 field guns, 146 anti-tank guns, 12 medium tanks, 115 L3s, and 708 vehicles. Australian losses totalled 130 dead and 326 wounded. Bardia did not become an important port as supply by sea continued to run through Sollum but became an important source of water, after the repair of the large pumping station that the Italians had installed to serve the township and Fort Capuzzo. Axis forces reoccupied the town in April 1941, during Operation Sonnenblume, Rommel's first offensive in Cyrenaica. Bardia changed hands again in June 1942, being occupied by Axis forces for a third time and was re-taken for the last time in November unopposed, following the Allied victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein.

[jeannassif]

Jean Nassif | Jean Nassif Toplace | Now Is The Time For You To Know The Truth About Best Builder Australia

The story of success for Jean Nassif is an inspirational one for all aspiring property developers starting on their journeys. Early in his life, he began with similar aspirations to make a name in the property development arena.

Jean Nassif started his journey with a degree in Civil Engineering from Beirut, Lebanon. In 1989, he had to migrate to Australia due to the civil war in Lebanon. Before pursuing further higher education, Jean Nassif started working as concreting and establishing formwork and steel fixing company. He earned his Master’s of Science from Somerset University in Construction Management.

Further down his career, Jean Nassif founded the Toplace Group, a development company. Ever since then, he has been on an upward trajectory with high-quality value creation. With professional self-improvement and utmost care for Corporate Social Responsibility, Jean Nassif has carved out a path for himself full of brilliant success.

Let’s look at his professional portfolio and CSR efforts to get a better picture of his success.

Expansive Development Vision

With his utmost dedication and commitment to higher standards of professionalism, Jean Nassif’s Toplace Group has become a giant. He transformed the group from humble beginnings to one of Australia’s most significant privately owned construction, building, and property development business. It’s truly remarkable to see the massive progress despite cut-throat competition in the industry.

Jean Nassif Toplace works on a motto, ‘’Building tomorrows communities today’’.  He believes in working for the community developments on an expansive level. To give you a general magnitude of Toplace, note that the Toplace Group has developed every 1 in 10 Sydney based apartments. Moreover, the group proudly holds one of the oldest building licenses in Australia.

With a 4.500 plus experience network of consultants, suppliers, staff, and construction trade, Jean Nassif has delivered over 30,000 residential homes, commercial sites, and shopping centres in Sydney, New South Wales. He’s already finished 4000 apartments. Furthermore, with 15,000 apartments in the multi-billion dollar development pipeline, you can see the scale of success Jean holds.

Jean Nassif Toplace has a Knack for Value Creation

While following the vertical integration model, the Toplace group generates top quality value for all the stakeholders. They create value for investors, owners, and the community by effective location identification methods. This method involves a careful market analysis.

Architectural design excellence and strategic planning ensure a secure investment for Toplace owner-occupiers and investors alike. Moreover, the group also offers a convenient lifestyle in the connected communities.

While collaborating with the leading architects in Sydney, Toplace ensures remarkable buildings adaptive to lifestyle trends and evolving designs. Also, the ALCC awarded Jean Nassif the Business of the Year Award in 2002. The award category was construction.  

Jean Nassif’s Commitment to a viable CSR Culture

Jean Nassif rejects the old business models that only focus on profitability. He concentrates on more comprehensive employment creation and a reliable work environment. Jean Nassif believes that the contemporary business environment can be rewarding for employee and customer loyalty.  

Apart from his massive contributions to the Wiping Tears Charity, Jean Nassif also contributes to the environment with greener communities. Moreover, Jean Nassif’s Toplace operates on principles that ensure consistent building costs. Due to massive operations, the group avoids any surprise price hikes from the suppliers as a turn-key developer.

What’s more? One more example of Jean’s consideration for community-inclusive culture is his regard for the buyers. Toplace has come up with amicable solutions for buyers with an inability to pay on final purchase monies. In adherence to his fairness policy, Jean Nassif is always finding ways to avoid customers’ failures.

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[lu-undy]

Chapter 88 - SBT

Here it is!

"Mh, now I'm no expert on wines but that's a good one, I like it!" Mike said as he put his glass back on the table. "C'mon, boys, help yourselves to the nibbles, otherwise I'll eat everythin' and Caroline will tell me off…!"

"As I should!" She answered. "But yes, please, Lucien.. Micky, push the olives to him, dear."

"Sure…" Mundy obeyed. 

"I am glad you like the wine, Mike. Madame Caroline, what are your impressions?" Lucien asked. 

"Very good too, not too sweet and not too fruity."

Lucien nodded and smiled.

"So Mundy got his impressively delicate palate from you, Madame?" 

"Oh?" She answered. "And please, call me Caroline." 

"I shall. But oui, Mundy is gifted when it comes to tasting." Lucien went on and Mundy's cheeks turned pink. 

"Well… Uh��� I don't know… I mean…"

Caroline chuckled. 

"Well, he is my baby after all, aren't you Micky?" She pinched his cheek and he smiled.

"Château… des… Graves?" Mike deciphered with his English pronunciation.

"Château des Graves." Lucien corrected. "Made where I come from."

"Where's that?" Mike asked. 

"The region around Bordeaux, in the South-West of France." 

"Bordeaux…" Mike repeated. "Isn't that the region famous for its wine?" 

"Oui, the red kind in particular although our winemakers are getting better with white and rosé these days." Lucien commented as everyone snacked on between two sentences. 

"So what's your story?" Mike asked. "Micky told us you were French, and if may say so, I can quite hear it in your voice, eh."

"Oh yes, charming accent!" Caroline added. 

"Merci." Lucien nodded politely. 

"So yeah, how did you end up in Oz of all places? What were you doin' back in France?" 

"Well..." Lucien started. "I originally destined myself to the world of the stage." 

"You were an actor?" Caroline asked excitedly. 

"Almost," Lucien answered. "I was a singer." 

"Ooh!" She exclaimed, even more enthusiastic. 

"Back then, I was barely a man. But the war struck and as a young and capable man, I was drafted into the resisting forces of my country."

"Ah, sorry to hear that, son." Mike said. "I've had some mates go to fight and not return."

"I lost a lot of my brothers in arms too." Lucien said. 

"But you survived, eh?" 

"Oui, I did, and it was hard at first." 

"Excuse me, I'll bring the salad." Caroline said. 

"Hold on, Mum, I'll help." Mundy went with her. 

"Y'know, Lucien, " Mike looked his guest in the eye. "I understand that. Used to have a mate who made it back but could never really live normally again."

"Indeed, it is typical among soldiers. But I didn't leave the army, I moved ranks and services."

"Oh, so you stayed there?"

"Oui, I did, all the way until my life flipped." 

"Here we are with the salad!" Caroline entered. "Micky, put the chicken and potatoes on the side, thank you, sweetie." 

Mundy did as he was told. 

"Lucien, please?" 

"Oh, but of course." Lucien passed his plate and Caroline served him. When all the plates were filled, she sat down and they all started digging in. 

"Bon appétit." Lucien said. "And thank you very much for all of this effort."

"It's nothing, it feels nice to cook for Micky and his friend." 

They all had a go at the salad. 

"The lettuce's really fresh, Mum. Reminds me of the farm…" Mundy said with nostalgia. 

"It comes from the garden, sweetie."

"Does it? Hold on, you have a garden?" 

"Yeah, we do, son." Mike answered with a chuckle at Mundy's surprise. "Got a few things goin' on back there, you can have a look after dinner if you want." 

"Sure!"

"Lucien, ya like gardenin'?" Mike asked. 

"Oui, very much. I find that nurturing nature is fulfilling in an almost spiritual way." 

"Well said, son, well said…" Mike nodded. "People now all want fancy jobs in cities, with fancy suits and ties - uh…" Mike stopped when he realised that Lucien was in fact wearing exactly that. "No offense, eh?" His eyes darted to his wife, a bit ashamed, and Caroline glared at him.

"None taken," Lucien answered with a smile. "I see perfectly what you mean." 

"Yeah… Well they all want that and look at farmin' like it's dirty jobs. Let me tell you, it's honest work, honest pay, and you're helping yourself and the community… Makin' a positive difference, y'know what I mean?"

"But of course." 

The concerto of cutlery on plates went on as they moved on to the main course. Caroline had prepared a roasted chicken with baked potatoes and roasted vegetables. Mike stood up to cut the chicken. 

"Wanna do it, Micky?" 

Mundy raised his eyes like a child. He was shocked by his father's question as much as he was honoured. 

"Uh, I mean, really?" 

"Yeah, you're a big boy now, c'mon, do it…!" Mike handed him the large knife. 

"Right…" Mundy stood up and got busy with it, under his father's keen eyes. The Aussie looked at his mother with excited eyes for a second and she nodded, proud of him. His cheeks turned pink. "What bit d'you like, Lu'?" 

"Lu?" Mike repeated and Mundy blushed beyond his ears. 

"Y-yeah, it's uh…"

"It is a nickname." Lucien explained. "And of all the ways Mundy could have called me, he chose the name of a famous French biscuit brand." He chuckled and Caroline followed him in his laughter. 

"Really?" She asked. 

"Oui! They are everywhere in France and equally successful. So each time he calls me that way, I remember my childhood. But oui, Mundy, a bit of the breast please." 

The Aussie obliged. 

"Dad, still the thighs?" 

Mike smiled. 

"You remember?"

"Course I do." Mundy smiled and cut the chicken thigh. "Wings for Mum… And bits of the rest for me… There." 

"Thanks, sweetie." Caroline got busy with the roasted vegetables. When she finished filling the plates and resumed her seat, the conversation started anew. 

"So Micky told us you helped him…?" Mike started. 

"In what aspect?" Lucien asked. 

"With… That bloke."

"Oh," Lucien nodded. "Indeed, I did my best. I had some business to settle with him and Mundy has provided a critical helping hand." Lucien and Mundy exchanged a grin that was taken for a friendly smile. 

"Why were you after'im?" Mike asked. 

"Mike, that's personal…!" Caroline said. 

"Non, please." Lucien answered. "It is all fine. I am happy to answer." He wiped the corners of his mouth and took a sip of the wine to clear his throat. "As Mundy may have told you, I lost my fiancée and son because of that man." 

"I'm so sorry to hear that, son…" Mike answered, shaking his head. 

"Merci. After that, I quit my job and rented a small flat in Paris. Similarly to Mundy, I couldn't bring myself to do anything, so I just waited to heal." 

Caroline and Mike were listening carefully between the bites of food. 

"How old was your son?" Caroline asked. 

"Fifteen…"

"You had waited fifteen years with a kid to get married?" Mike asked. 

"Mike…!" Caroline glared at him. 

"What? I'm just askin'!"

"It is alright, Caroline, thank you." Lucien answered. "Oui indeed I did wait a long time. If I am truly honest, I should say that the news of my then partner being pregnant shocked me beyond belief. It made a man out of me instantly, if that makes sense."

"Oh yeah it does…" Mike answered. "Same when we got Micky."

"Suddenly you don't live as two free adults, but as the trunk of a family tree. You have to be sturdy enough to support everyone and you have the responsibility of the most fragile being in existence." Lucien added. Mundy noticed his dreamy eyes as he stared into Mike's eyes. It looked like Lucien was in fact looking in his own mind. 

"Well said, son, well said." 

"When Marie gave birth to Jérémy, she stopped working. I pursued my career, still climbing up in responsibility and honor until Jérémy was old enough to perhaps understand my position in the army. Unfortunately, I had to travel a lot and missed their company, and Jérémy's growth sorely."

"I'm sorry for you, son…"

"So am I." Lucien answered. "Marie hated my job and spent her time begging me to quit. She hated the risk that I put myself into everyday and she feared that if Jérémy learnt about it, he might want to join the army too." 

Caroline nodded. 

"I was on my last mission when the accident happened." Lucien frowned. "As Marie and Jérémy exited the house, in Boston, I was watching them from the window. It happened too fast but to me, it lasted ten years. They crossed the road when a 4-by-4 took a turn, drifted on the asphalt, and hit them. I saw Marie tackle Jérémy to try and put him to safety but she took the hit first. Both were then ejected away." 

Lucien paused and put his fork down. 

"I ran to them, barefoot in the street, as I saw their bodies fly; that of the woman of my life, and my son, my flesh and blood, my angel. When I reached them, Marie was still holding Jérémy in her soft limbs while his eyes were shut. The ambulance arrived and Marie smiled with a last tear before shutting her eyes." 

All the forks had been put down and the silence weighed on everyone's shoulders. Lucien took a deep breath. 

"After that, my story is both very similar and very different to Mundy's. I locked myself up both figuratively and concretely. I quitted my job and stayed in a small flat in Paris. Oddly enough, my isolation lasted as long as Mundy's, ten years." 

Caroline and Mike's eyebrows jumped. 

"We're really sorry for you, Lucien." Caroline said and Lucien raised his eyes to her, a distraught smile on his lips. 

"Thank you." He nodded slightly, still quite moved.

"Go on, dear." She encouraged him. He took a deep breath and went on. 

"One day, I came to learn that the man who took Marie and Jérémy away from me was here, in Australia. So I jumped in the first flight and landed here."

There was a moment of silence around the table before Mike dared speak.

"Micky said you also knew Maurice…?" 

"Ah, oui, indeed I do. He is an old friend, from my military service days." Lucien answered.

"That's quite incredible!" Mike said. "I've known Maurice for decades now and I'd never have guessed he spent some time in France!" 

The concerto of cutlery on plate resumed.

"Oh but he did. And having ears and eyes everywhere in the city, he helped me track down that man until I met with Mundy." 

"How did you meet exactly?" Caroline asked. 

"Well, I am not sure such a story is for feminine ears…" 

"Aw, please! I killed this chicken myself!" She answered and Lucien's eyebrows jumped. He chuckled at the enthusiasm of the old lady.

"In that case," He cast a glance over Mike who seemed as eager to know as his wife. "I had in mind to be caught by his… Well… employees and find a way to make it to Duchemin directly." 

"Dew what?" Mike asked. 

"Duchemin, Arthur Duchemin was the name of that man who took everything from you and me." Lucien explained. "The first part of my plan worked beautifully and I found myself tied up to a chair by his goons."

"Oooh!" Caroline's eyes were shining in excitement. 

"But I underestimated Duchemin and didn't realise he could have me killed then and there. I was blinded by my will for revenge and ignored the possibility that I could end up dead." 

"So what did you do?" She asked, buzzing on her seat. 

"Me? Nothing. But in an instant, the guards around me started falling one after the other. I did not understand what was happening but it caused enough of a distraction that I managed to free myself."

"Ooh, what happened?" 

Lucien gave that lopsided grin that could make flowers bloom. 

"Mundy tranquilised them all and saved me that day." 

"W-well… I saw a bloke takin' a beatin while being tied up. And you weren't wearing their uniforms so… Heh…"

"Why were you there?" Mike asked. 

"That hangar where Lu' was, that's where the alligators I was after were." Mundy answered. "There were two trucks. One empty, one with the 'gators. I got closer when I made sure all the guards were shot asleep. I opened the first truck, it was empty. When I opened the second one, I found the 'gators and Lu'."

They exchanged a conniving glance. 

"Indeed, that is how we met." Lucien confirmed. "And we each considered the other like an enemy, or competition at least. In the end, we realised that we needed each other to do the job, so we teamed up." 

Everyone grinned around the table. 

"And so now you live together, eh?" Mike asked. 

"Oui, we do. In fact, we work together too. Mundy helps with his many talents. I only take the responsibility of teaching children and teenagers."

"That's really nice of both of you." Caroline said. 

"As Mike said," Lucien answered. "We try to work to make a positive difference around us." 

"Yeah, honest work, and good souls." Mike said. "So you do the teachin'?" 

"Oui."

"Ever done that before?" 

"Oui, in the ex-colonies, a few decades ago."

"Whereabouts?" 

"Northern Africa."

"Did you like it there?" 

"Oui, I did. Beyond the sunny weather and warm temperatures, people's mindset and customs were and still are considerably different from ours. I learnt a lot from their simpler way of life."

"Sounds like you did an awful lot of things in your life, eh? Singer, soldier, teacher…?" 

"Oui, and many others." Lucien nodded. "But please, enough about me…"

"Yeah, Mike, stop interrogating the guest…!" Caroline added. "Sorry, dear, we haven't had visits for quite a while."

"I'm just curious, Caroline!" 

"Exactly!" She answered. 

Mundy and Lucien chuckled at their banter. 

"I am glad you survived." Lucien said as everyone was finishing their meals. "When Mundy told me the news, he was restless!" 

Mundy blushed. He guessed Lucien wanted to insist on the impact that Mundy's parents' survival had on him. He smiled at his lover, hoping that Lucien would read "thank you" on his lips.

"Aw, Micky is such a sweetheart. You know Lucien, he might seem tall and strong, our boy, but he's very sensitive, very compassionate." Caroline said and held her son's hand. 

"Oh, trust me, I know very well." 

"Really?" Mike asked. 

"Oui, he rescued a black cat and I saw the respect with which he treats him."

"Back in the days, we used to have a few dogs." Caroline explained. "They loved Micky and were so excited to be around him…!"

"I can very well see why." 

"You rescued a kitty too, eh?" Mundy said to Lucien. "She's snow white, with long hair, she's gorgeous! He got her when she was a kitten and raised her. Mum, Dad, you should see them one day, the cats."

"Aw," Caroline grinned sweetly. "You can bring them next time." 

"Sure. Oh and Lu' didn't tell you but he trained his cat to wait at crossroads!"

"Seriously?" Mike asked. "You can train a cat to do that?"

"Yeah, he did! And I trained Sooty boy to do the same." 

"Sooty boy?" Caroline asked. 

"Yeah, the black cat, he's called Soot, and the white princess is Pearl." 

"Do they get along well?" Mike asked. 

"More than well." Lucien answered with a smile. 

"They got kittens together!" Mundy added. 

"Oh bugger! That's great!" Mike said. "How many?" 

And the discussion went on about the cats and the kittens. 

"But what about you guys? What have you been up to?" Mundy asked. 

"We got the garden goin' on at the back." Mike answered. "It's more than enough for us so we have the surplus sold. We go to the market on marketday and have a little stand there. We usually sell everything, not that it's much, but it helps pay the bills, eh?" 

"Oh, that's great!" Mundy answered. 

"All the veggies and potatoes you had today come from the garden." He added. 

"The chicken too!" Caroline added. "By the way Micky, d'you want some more?" 

"Nah, Mum, thanks, I'm full. But you have chickens? Like before?"

"Nah, not as many, just a few ones. But come on, Micky, just a bit more chicken…? A little bit…? You won't even feel it!" 

"Mum, please, I wanna save some space for dessert…!"

"Fine, alright." She turned to Lucien. "And what about you, dear? You liked my roasted chicken, yeah?" 

"It was exquisite, Caroline." Lucien answered. "But like Mundy, not tasting your dessert would be an insult to your culinary talents."

"Well that's some very nice way of putting it…!"

Caroline stood up and started to empty the table. Mundy helped her and in no time, Caroline was back with tea and dessert. 

"And here we are…"

"Oh, Mum, is this your chocolate cake?" Mundy asked excitedly.

"Yes it is!"

"Yes!" Mundy exclaimed. "Mum, you have no idea how much I like that…!"

"Of course I do!" She answered. "Now, be a sweetheart and give everyone some tea while I cut the cake, yeah?" 

"Sure." 

Both got busy while Mike and Lucien leaned back on their chairs.

"So you guys continue farmin'? That's really good." 

"Yeah, keeps us busy." Caroline added.

"And you, you ended up livin' together, eh?" Mike asked. 

"Oui, after the events with Duchemin, we… lived separately for a year." 

Mundy blushed beyond his ears. He was uncomfortable with the idea of lying to his parents. Hiding Lucien's true identity was a big enough lie but now, the Frenchman was also not talking about the period of time where he was supposedly dead. Mundy wished he could be brutally honest and just burst out with all the truth. But of course he couldn't. No, not now, and maybe not in a million years. Now was the time to get along with his parents again. He would think about telling them the truth about Lucien later… or maybe never. Gosh… 

Everyone started with their dessert and Lucien couldn't hold back a smile seeing Mundy roll his eyes in bliss while eating his mother's cake. 

"We were both coming back from the nerve-wrecking experience of dealing with that man." Lucien went on. "And after a year, our paths crossed again. Mundy was already working for Maurice and I was looking for something to keep my days busy, and provide Perle with everything that she needs." 

"Back then, I was still living in my van with the cats."

"The cats?" Caroline asked. "You had other ones?" 

Mundy blushed. 

"Uh… I mean…"

"He was also feeding the strays." Lucien jumped in to his rescue. "A very compassionate soul he is, and the best of friends." 

Again, the gaze that Lucien gave to Mundy, with heavy lidded-eyes, spoke much louder to the Aussie than to his parents. And then Mundy realised that if Lucien managed to remain unfazed it was because for him, it was routine, or it had been routine for decades, with him being a spy…

"Maurice's pay isn't much, but with the two of us, we can afford the bills." Mundy said. "And well, I knew Lu', he knew me so the housemate choice was quick and easy."

"Aw, that's very nice… I can't remember the last time Micky brought a friend home to be honest." Caroline said. 

"And he chose one with great taste for his wines at least, eh?" Mike added with a smile. 

"Many thanks, I am truly honoured to meet you." Lucien nodded his head like a bow. 

The dinner went well and as the dessert plates were now all empty, the discussion naturally came to an end. 

"Thank you again for your delicious dinner and for having me to share it." Lucien said at the door while Caroline gave him his jacket. "Oh, thank you." 

"You're very welcome, boys." She tapped his arm and Lucien smiled. "You'll be safe on your way back, yeah?" 

"Yeah, Mum, don't worry…" Mundy kissed his mother on her head. 

"Right, right, be safe, boys, eh?" Mike added as hugs were exchanged and hands were shaken. 

"We will, Mike." Lucien answered. 

They made their way to the motorcycle and Lucien motioned Mundy to drive. The Aussie hopped on, and Lucien behind him.

"Come back and visit soon, Micky, eh?" Caroline asked. 

"I will, Mum, don't worry." 

Both slipped on their helmets and Mundy started the engine.

"See ya!" Mike and Caroline waved at Mundy and Lucien who flew away in the street. 

"Aw, such good boys they are… And Lucien…! Very polite, eh?" Caroline said as Mike and her made it back home. They cleared up the rest of the table and chatted about their dinner again. 

"Really seems like our boy Micky is a man now, eh? Only thing missin' is a good sheila and boom!" Mike said. 

"Aw, yeah… Can you imagine? Micky with a girlfriend…?" Caroline answered. 

"Can't really, he never brought anyone home before. It's the first time in… whew… Can you remember the last time he brought a friend home?" Mike brought more plates to the sink, where Caroline was washing the dishes. "Caroline?" 

He found her staring emptily in front of her and frowning. 

"What's wrong?" He asked. 

"There's something that doesn't add up…" She answered. 

"What?" 

"It's his jacket." 

"Micky's?"

"Nah, his friend's…" She put a hand on her hip. 

"What about it?" 

"They said that they moved in together to afford the rent, right?" 

"Yeah, and?"

"How come the brand of his jacket is Lemercier?" 

"Le-what?" Mike asked. 

"Lemercier, it's the expensive tailor in the old centre, he only does custom-made stuff…" 

"Bah, he might've got that at work with Maurice." Mike answered. "Y'know how rich folks can throw anything in the bin, Caroline." 

"Yeah…" 

She resumed her washing of the dishes and Mike helped her. Their conversation fell silent, and as Mike glanced at his wife again, he saw that her brow was still furrowed. 

"Not buyin' it?" He asked.

"No, I'm not. There's something that's missin', Mike."

"Ah, women…"

"Mike, I am being serious." She raised her eyes to her husband and pushed her glasses back with the back of her hand. "Lucien is polite, nice and all, but there is something we're missing."

[newstfionline]

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Florida Keys faces stark reality as seas rise (The Guardian) Long famed for its spectacular fishing, sprawling coral reefs and literary residents such as Ernest Hemingway, the Florida Keys is now acknowledging a previously unthinkable reality: it faces being overwhelmed by the rising seas and not every home can be saved. Following a grueling seven-hour public meeting on Monday, held in the appropriately named city of Marathon, officials agreed to push ahead with a plan to elevate streets throughout the Keys to keep them from perpetual flooding, while admitting they do not have the money to do so. If the funding isn’t found, the Keys will become one of the first places in the US—and certainly not the last—to inform residents that certain areas will have to be surrendered to the oncoming tides. “The water is coming and we can’t stop it,” said Michelle Coldiron, mayor of Monroe county, which encompasses the Keys. “Some homes will have to be elevated, some will have to be bought out. It’s very difficult to have these conversations with homeowners, because this is where they live. It can get very emotional.” The islands’ porous limestone allows the rising seawater to bubble up from below, meaning it just takes high tides on sunny days to turn roads into ponds, while global heating is also spurring fiercer hurricanes that can occasionally crunch into the archipelago.

Death toll in Florida collapse rises to 4; 159 still missing (AP) With nearly 160 people unaccounted for and at least four dead after a seaside condominium tower collapsed into a smoldering heap of twisted metal and concrete, rescuers used both heavy equipment and their own hands to comb through the wreckage on Friday in an increasingly desperate search for survivors. As scores of firefighters in Surfside, just north of Miami, toiled to locate and reach anyone still alive in the remains of the 12-story Champlain Towers South, hopes rested on how quickly crews using dogs and microphones could complete their grim, yet delicate task.

Study: 29% of tourists are looking forward to enjoying Mexico City’s beaches (Worldcrunch) A quick look at a map of Mexico will tell you that its capital, Mexico City, lies pretty much smack dab in the middle of the country. With the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico a five-hour drive in either direction, Mexico City is as landlocked as they come. Unlike many other major cities, it doesn’t even have a river. So this may come as a bit of a surprise that a study on tourism in the Mexican capital, conducted by the city’s business association COPARMEX, found that almost 30% of potential foreign visitors to the bustling megalopolis said they were particularly looking forward to enjoying "its beaches." As daily Publimetro reports, most respondents to the study, hailing from 17 different countries, even named names—citing "Cancún and Acapulco" (respectively 1,600 and 400 km away) as the beaches they couldn’t wait to go to. Alberto de la Fuente, the head of Moratti Strategic Business which compiled this “Macro Study on Reactivating the Tourist Economy” study, said the results showed the "potential" of tourists who know very little about Mexico but could be attracted with the right advertising campaigns.

Helicopter carrying Colombia’s president attacked; all safe (AP) Colombian President Iván Duque said Friday that a helicopter carrying him and several senior officials came under fire in the southern Catatumbo region bordering Venezuela, in a rare instance of a direct attack on a presidential aircraft. Duque said everyone on board the helicopter was safe, including himself, Defense Minister Diego Molano, Interior Minister Daniel Palacios and the governor of Norte de Santander state, Silvano Serrano. A video released by the presidency showed several bullet holes in the Colombian air force helicopter. Duque did not provide the time of the attack or say who he believed carried it out, but several armed groups are known to operate in the area.

3 dead, hundreds injured by rare tornado in Czech Republic (AP) A rare tornado tore through southeastern Czech Republic, killing at least three people and injuring hundreds, rescue services said on Friday. The tornado formed late Thursday as strong thunderstorms hit the entire country. Seven towns and villages have been badly damaged, with entire buildings turned into ruins and cars overturned. Over 120,000 households were without electricity.

Russia’s northern passage (WSJ) Melting ice in the Arctic Ocean is bringing a centuries-old dream closer to reality for Russia: a shipping passage through its northern waters that could put it at the center of a new global trade shipping route. After one of the warmest years on record, the Kremlin is near to realizing its controversial plans for a global shipping route in its high north—plans that have put Moscow at odds with the U.S. and could create friction with China, two countries that also have designs on the Arctic. Warming in the Arctic is happening twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Last year, ice coverage reached some of the lowest levels ever recorded, and it is only expected to shrink further in 2021. That is pushing Moscow to build infrastructure along the route, which can cut the distance of trips between Europe and Asia by a third compared with shipping through the politically fraught South China Sea or congested Malacca Straits currently used for cargo.

Russia vs. U.K. in the Black Sea (Foreign Policy) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said his country would respond aggressively to any attempts by other countries to enter waters off Crimea that it deems Russian territory. Referring to Russia’s allegation of measures it took to deter the HMS Defender, a British ship that sailed close to Crimea on Wednesday, he said Russian forces “may drop bombs and not just in the path but right on target.” Speaking to the BBC, the Defender’s captain, Vince Owen, said the vessel’s path was deliberately taken to uphold its right to navigation in an area it deems part of Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine and the United Kingdom deepened naval ties on Wednesday, when the two countries signed an agreement to boost Ukraine’s naval capabilities and create new naval bases in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

Russia mandates vaccinations for some as virus cases surge (AP) They tried grocery giveaways and lotteries for new cars and apartments. But an ambitious plan of vaccinating 30 million Russians by mid-June still has fallen short by a third. So now, many regional governments across the vast country are obligating some workers to get vaccinated and requiring the shots to enter certain businesses, like restaurants. At east 14 Russian regions—from Moscow and St. Petersburg to the remote far-eastern region of Sakhalin—made vaccinations mandatory this month for employees in certain sectors, such as government offices, retail, health care, education, restaurants, fitness centers, beauty parlors and other service industries. Moscow authorities said companies should suspend without pay employees unwilling to get vaccinated. As of Monday, all Moscow restaurants, cafes and bars will admit only customers who have been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months, or can provide a negative coronavirus test from the previous 72 hours.

Myanmar fighting since coup has displaced 230,000 people, UN says (Reuters) An estimated 230,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Myanmar and need assistance, the United Nations said on Thursday, as a major armed ethnic group expressed concern about military force, civilian deaths and a widening of the conflict. Myanmar has been in crisis since a February 1 coup ousted an elected government, prompting nationwide anger that has led to protests, killings and bombings, and battles on several fronts between troops and newly formed civilian armies. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said relief operations were ongoing but were being hindered by armed clashes, violence and insecurity in the country.

Parts of Sydney going into lockdown as virus outbreak grows (AP) Parts of Sydney will go into lockdown late Friday as a coronavirus outbreak in Australia’s largest city continued to grow. Health authorities reported an additional 22 locally transmitted cases and imposed a weeklong lockdown in four areas, saying people could leave their homes only for essential purposes. “If you live or work in those local government areas, you need to stay at home unless absolutely necessary,” said Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales state.

WHO warns of ‘humanitarian disaster’ in Syria if no cross-border aid renewal (Reuters) Failure to renew a cross-border aid operation into Syria which expires next month could result in a new “humanitarian disaster” for the country’s rebel-held region in the northwest, a World Health Organization spokesman said on Friday.

Child soldiers carried out attack that killed at least 138 people in Burkina Faso, officials say (Washington Post) The deadliest massacre that Burkina Faso has suffered since extremists invaded the West African nation was perpetrated by mostly children, officials said, injecting fresh tragedy into the six-year conflict that has killed thousands. A group of young boys helped carry out the early June attack that claimed at least 138 lives in the northeastern village of Solhan, government spokesman Ousseni Tamboura said. “The attackers were mostly children between the ages of 12 and 14,” he told reporters this week in the capital, Ouagadougou. The announcement comes as 10 percent of Burkina Faso’s schools have shuttered due to rising insecurity.

The art of Belgian zen (The Economist) Allowing a soldier to go AWOL is a misfortune. Allowing a soldier to go AWOL armed with stolen machineguns, four rocket-launchers and a pledge to “join the resistance” and kill Belgium’s top virologist looks like carelessness. The tale of Jurgen Conings, a 46-year-old army sharpshooter, who disappeared in May, has diverted Belgium. A month-long manhunt featuring special forces from five countries, drones and sniffer dogs turned up nothing. Instead, Mr Conings’ body was found on June 20th by a local mayor. He was mountain-biking nearby and noticed a smell.      Stuff happens in Belgium. From the outside, it is a grey country famous for fries, Magritte, chocolate and as the home of the EU—a project whose entire ethos is making European history one of dull process rather than bloody war. From the inside, it is chaos, to the point that a tooled-up anti-lockdown terrorist nicknamed “Belgian Rambo” roaming the woods seems par for the course. This is, after all, a country where someone sabotaged a nuclear-power station in 2014, without causing too much of a stir. Sometimes the disorder is merely amusing—trains being delayed because of a fire at a waffle factory, for example. Or when officials blamed the destruction of blueprints for Brussels’s tunnel system on hungry (and undiscerning) mice.      Surviving Belgium requires a certain state of mind. Call it Belgian zen: an ability to cope with a way of life that is sometimes disturbing, sometimes wonderful, but always weird. The country has survived happily without a federal government for up to two years at a time. It is the world’s most successful failed state. Belgians are almost as rich as Germans and better off than Britons or the French. Their health care is excellent. Property is cheap; wages are high. A Belgian life is, on average, long and prosperous. In such circumstances, a heavily armed soldier roaming the woods can be brushed off with dark jokes. As long as Belgium avoids true tragedy, nothing will disturb Belgian zen.

[irispublishersagriculture]

Iris Publishers - World Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science (WJASS)

Ailanthus Altissima (Mill.) and Varroa Destructor (Anderson & Trueman) - Two Alien and Invasive Species with Impact on the Environment and on the “Hive System”

Authored by T Gardi

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.), Is a genus of plants of the Simaroubaceae family, which includes seven species of trees originating in the tropical areas of Asia and Australia, which can reach heights just over 25m. The common name is ailanthus or tree of paradise.

Introduced in Italy also for ornamental purposes, it has proved over time to be a highly infesting, very aggressive plant, with a very rapid proliferation, whose roots extend in width up to thirty meters from the trunk, giving rise to colonies of new daughter plants both for root suckers than via gamic (from seed). The bad smell emanating from its leaves is known.

The stem, of very little commercial value, as it is soft and not durable wood, is generally erect and very branched with a lighter brown-gray bark on the young branches. The leaves are composed, pinnate, spiraled or opposite, and without stipules. The flowers, gathered in spike or panicle inflorescences, are generally unisexual.

The most widespread species in Italy, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.), Is dioecious, i.e. each tree of this species hosts only male or female only flowers. It produces winged dried indecent fruits (samare). It was introduced in Italy for an attempt to breed the moth Philosamia cynthia originating in the Far East for the production of silk, it is now found in the woods, on the ripe, on the greti, on arid, stony and unstable soils, along the roads and close to of the walls of buildings and in the splits of reinforced concrete pavements. Its spread goes from the plains to the mountains, becoming a very aggressive weed. It slowly replaces the existing native vegetation, forming colonies. It is also found more and more often in cities, where it is used, unexpectedly and thoughtlessly, as a quick remedy against the sun’s rays; the plant is in fact known also for the extreme rapidity of growth in height. Its weed characteristics, however, should suggest careful control of its propagation, which has long been ignored for too long. In fact, the ailanthus is spreading in an increasingly worrying way at the expense of the pre-existing indigenous vegetation, in Umbria we find it, in fact, also on the summit slopes of Subasio Mount, along the left side of the road that from the Eremo delle Carceri leads to Collepino – Spello (PG). The species is spreading so rapidly that today it is difficult to try to eliminate it as the cutting of adult plants leads to the issue of numerous shoots of radical origin even at considerable distances from the place where the adult is located. The only system to be able to contain and eliminate it from an area, respecting the environment, consists in cutting the trunks of the existing plants at about 1.5 meters in height and letting recesses form on the trunk; these must be eliminated by “crushing”, in the middle of summer, repeatedly and for several consecutive years, so as to obtain complete drying of the stump due to the weakening and rotting of the wood with a soft and centrally suber consistency. Clearly, this type of intervention can only be proposed in private properties and with still a low number of individuals settled, as it requires assiduity and availability of manpower. In all other cases, even if it is not environmentally possible, the only remedy is the use of synthetic systemic herbicides.

American studies [1] have shown that excellent results can be obtained by resorting to the use of 2 specific active synthetic ingredients: Picloram and Triclopir. These molecules are contained, respectively, in the commercial products available in Italy under the name: TORDON 22K®, a systemic herbicide with leaf and radical absorption, persistent in the soil and with a broad spectrum of action. Particularly used for weeding uncultivated areas, roads, industrial areas, etc.; in the reclamation of pastures, against ferns, romici, etc.; in maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of the nets and in any case of the fences. The product is highly phytotoxic for poplar, vines, orchards, arboreal and herbaceous crops in general. Absolutely to avoid treatments on windy days and pay attention to any neighboring crops avoiding them being affected. The second commercial product is GARLON EV®) whose active molecule, Triclopir, puts it into use as a systemic, non-residual herbicide. The synergy of the two active ingredients enhances the action on plants that are difficult to control, making it more effective than the well-known Glyphosate (Roundup®), banned in some EU countries and beyond (Malta, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Vietnam), for precautionary reasons as a substance believed to be at risk of procuring cancer and highly polluting for agro-ecosystems. The Triclopir molecule is quickly absorbed by plants and translocated both downwards and upwards. The product is most effective in the active growth phase. Compared to Picloram, Triclopir is rapidly degraded by soil microorganisms (2 hours). It is not volatile and can therefore be used near green areas to be protected without danger of drift damage. Its effect manifests itself after a few days. These herbicides given in succession and repeatedly during the summer (from May to September) must be applied to the green leaves and stems, including shoots and suckers, until these are completely wet, but not to the point of outflow of the mixture. The first lasting results are obtained six weeks after the treatment. Unfortunately, against this alien and invasive species, too long ignored by public institutions and private citizens, this turns out to be the only effective control method, as it is able to kill young trees born from seed and able to prevent regrowth from root suckers, as once moved to the root system, it kills the roots. In the case of isolated specimens, the fight can be conducted by directly injections with the aforementioned active ingredient, directly at the base of the trunk, thus avoiding that the molecule can reach different and neighboring plant species.

The only positive aspect attributable to ailanthus is that it is a nectariferous species from which, in certain vintages, good monoflora honey can also be obtained. In fact, contrary to the unpleasant smell emanating from the different parts of the plant (leaves and stem), given the spread of the species and its flowering that occurs in June, ailanthus honey tends to hide the flavor of many other types of honey, like acacia and linden, while adding a very pleasant note to many kinds of wildflower honey. Ailanthus honey looks like a thick product with an amber color, which tends to crystallize quickly within a few months. The aroma of this honey is generally associated with that of fresh mushrooms, with a consistent fruit note. The flavor, on the other hand, is considered as intense and enveloping and reminiscent of Muscat, managing to be easily combined with sweet dishes, fruit salads or fruit ice cream, obtaining a delicious and refreshing food for the summer.

Ailanthus honey also has the ability to harmonize and bind very different flavors: it should also be tried with aged cheeses; Furthermore, it seems that this honey also has antiseptic properties: according to traditional Chinese medicine, ailanthus and its honey can have positive effects against infections and dysentery. In reality, the leaves of the plant and the plant itself have no healing properties, they can actually be harmful to the human organism. However, the antiseptic properties of honey are definitely more plausible. It appears to be a soothing anti-cough: According to some “popular” legends it is claimed that ailanthus honey can be a good ally for fighting respiratory problems. Excellent sweetener: thanks to its intense “fruit flavor”, ailanthus honey is an excellent sweetener for herbal teas and more.

Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) - The Alien and Invasive Mite of the “Hive System”

Among the various pathologies affecting honeybee colonies, Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman), is today the most dangerous parasite because if left unchecked it can lead to the collapse of colonies over the course of one or two bee seasons. Four species associated with the Apis cerana (Fabr.) Belong to the genus Varroa: Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans, Varroa underwoodi Delfinado & Aggrawaal, Varroa rindereri de Guzman & Delfinado, Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman. The latter only recently in 2000, thanks to Anderson & Trueman it was possible to distinguish it from Varroa jacobsoni; discovered, however, in 1904 by Oudemans, on the island of Java and spread exclusively in Indonesia on Apis cerana and others, but it does not reproduce on A. mellifera and has little economic importance. Hence, most of the works published in the past on Varroa jacobsoni actually refer to Varroa destructor [2]. Originally, Varroa destructor, parasitized the Apis cerana to which it does not cause particular damage, but starting from the 1940s to increase bee production, European bees were introduced to South-East Asia; from that moment the parasite was also found on A. mellifera. Subsequently, it was reported in Russia and spread, in almost all the countries of southern and south-eastern Asia and subsequently in almost all the countries of the world (Figures 1&2) [2].

Direct Damage to the Honeybee Colony

The direct damage that varroa mite causes to bees, are mainly developmental alterations as well as effects of loss of orientation and weakening.

The main effect that has been found concerns weight loss that can exceed 10%, in the case of bees infested by a single parasite; and it has been shown that this loss does not only concern a reduction of the hemolymph stolen from the bee, but also the loss of water. In addition, parasitized bees are born with a reduction in the levels of protein concentration in the head and abdomen (20%). For these conditions, the life expectancy of bees is reduced by 50% [4]. As a consequence of this, there may be reductions in the population, evident flight difficulties, problems with the queen and also the presence of tracheal mites. In the brood, an irregularity of this can be observed above all, symptoms similar to European plague, American plague or sack brood and larvae out of place in the cell or dark-colored [2].

Indirect Damage on Adult Bees and on Broods

Direct damage is not insignificant but is of secondary importance with respect to the transmission of viruses, in fact, the main cause of mortality of the infested colonies is the viral infection that occurs.

Twenty viruses have been identified in the bee [7], the most harmful being the deformed wing virus (DWV) (Figure 10) and the acute paralysis virus (Acute Paralysis Virus, APV). Varroa is able to transmit and transfer viruses between bees and this assumes that the virus is able to replicate within the parasite, a capacity that is still uncertain, except for the deformed wing virus [4]. In 50-80% of cases, the mite transfers the virus from an infected pupa to a healthy one, therefore, as the infestation increases, the risk of spreading the virus itself increases [2]. Therefore, these transmissions must be avoided or at least reduced to keep the varroe in low numbers, generally treating the removal of the honey bees in late summer, avoiding dangerous delays in the treatments because this entails the birth of winter bees infected with viruses, and there is a risk that the colony succumbs during the winter.

According to a recent study conducted by Schroeder in 2015 on the deformed wing virus, it has been observed that, in England, some apiaries have an avirulent strain of DWV (called type b), and that they are also immune to the more virulent strain (type a ) which instead causes the colonies to collapse; the presence of a third strain (type c) has also been observed, the characteristics of which are not yet certain. This new interaction could be exploited to minimize the problems caused by this virus (Schroeder, 2015). Finally, the acute paralysis virus, in severely infested colonies, can also cause a considerable mortality of uncapped brood as well as shortening the life of adult bees which, following this virosis, present tremors and weakening. To date, unfortunately, beekeepers do not have a pest eradicating care system; so much so that the methods of struggle are based on the application of biotechnics (confinement of the queen, use of heat, etc ...) that allow interventions with low chemical impact on the hive system [8-10], or through the use of chemical molecules that do not always guarantee the health of bees and consumers [11-22].

To read more about this article: https://irispublishers.com/wjass/fulltext/ailanthus-altissima-Mill-and-varroa.ID.000586.php

Indexing List of Iris Publishers: https://medium.com/@irispublishers/what-is-the-indexing-list-of-iris-publishers-4ace353e4eee

Iris publishers google scholar citations: https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=irispublishers&btnG=

[lgwelding]

Some of the most beautiful structures in the world exist because of steel fabrication. Melbourne, Australia has its share of these structures. Whether it is one of the many high rise buildings that line Collins Street or one of the seven bridges that line the Yarra River, Melbourne is filled with structures that were created via steel fabrication. And this can be attributed to the fact that steel has a lot of properties that make it perfect for construction projects. This article is going to talk about steel and the importance of steel fabrication Melbourne.

Steel is an alloy that is made of iron, carbon and a few other things such as oxygen and manganese. It is a very sturdy element that will not rust, can stand up to high temperatures, can withstand wear and tear and is easy for quick design projects. Because it possesses these qualities, steel supplies are perfect to use on the framework of large buildings such as skyscrapers.

Steel supplies are always in great demand. Not only is steel very strong, but it is actually very cost effective and pleasing to the eye. Fabricators know how to cut, shape and change steel into some of the most magnificent structures in the world. These can range from everyday items such as cars and kitchen sinks to items such as airplanes, bridges, skyscrapers, tanks, cruise ships and weapons. All of these items were created with the help of steel fabrication.

Basically, steel fabrication can be defined as the process of cutting and shaping steel supplies for the purpose of building metal structures. Because it is a very strong alloy, architectural steel Melbourne is used in many building projects. For example, the Eureka Tower is a wonderful example. Melbourne, Australia can say that it has the tallest residential building in the world. It is 297 metres tall and has 92 floors. The building stands on land that was once swampland. It is for this reason that it has a special foundation that is reinforced with steel and concrete piles. This is just one of the many construction wonders of the world that is in existence because of steel fabrication. Melbourne is just one city with such wonders. Mobile welding Melbourne is a core aspect of steelwork. A skilled welder knows their way around the blowtorch. It requires a certain amount of expertise and skill to weld a broad range of metals. The endurance and strength of steel can be a testament to the skilled hand of the welder. We are proud to say that LG Welding has professionally trained welders who know their instruments and equipment. We live up to our name when it comes to welding and provide every reason for you to trust us.

The companies that work in the steel fabrication industry are there to bend and mold metals to be used in equipment and machines. They are able to meet strict specifications in their cuts and then shape them to fit the design that they were given. When someone buys steel to be finished, they are able to meet the specifications of their customers and provide a great product that is strong and will last a long time.

When you see metal that has been artfully designed into a piece of machinery, a piece of artwork, or any other design, it was likely made by steel fabrication. There are many steel supplies that are used to create a stunning piece of metal. Steel fabrication has been around for many years. Prior to the first automobiles being made, there was a big push to find ways to assemble steel so that it creates a solid frame for the designs. This was accomplished and history was changed from that point forward.

No matter what type of project is at hand, a steel fabricator knows how to cut, bend and weld steel supplies based upon specified drawings. Whether it is for a pipeline, vessel or bridge, the steel is shaped into the needed design. Many of Australia's largest and most amazing structures are standing because of steel fabrication. Melbourne has a lot of various examples of this. All a fabricator has to do is cut the steel supplie Melbourne, bend it into different shapes and then weld these pieces back together. However, this process requires automation as well.

We supply a wide range of steel products and services to builders in the residential and light commercial sectors with over 20 years experience in the industry LG Welding Melbourne was formed to supply steel work to builders. We are known for providing reliable, high quality, and cost efficient products and services resulting in significant repeat business from our loyal base of customers.

The main services that we provide include steel sales, cutting and drilling, steel fabrication, and installation of all steel work. We have extensive experience in steel fabrication from manufacturing small brackets to multi-level structures. The workmanship of our products is proven to be accurate and tidy. Providing steel to the correct standard, sizes, and dimensions for a quality finish product.

Our factory is based in Braeside in the south east of Melbourne’s suburbs, with facilities set up to supply customers with all their steel requirements.

In conclusion, steel is a favored component of many of the world's most daring construction projects. It has many different properties that make it a prime choice for such building projects. There are many structures around the world that would not have the capability to stand if it were not for steel fabrication. Melbourne's Eureka Towers needed steel to help solve its unique construction circumstances. But, if you were to do further research, there are probably thousands of buildings just like this one in other parts of the world.

[fuzzypenguintheorist]

Concrete cutting is the core material used in the building industry. It’s primarily used for making the floors, the foundation, and in most cases, the walls of the house as well. In its simplest form, concrete is just a mixture of ground rocks and aggregates. Once it hardens, concrete creates a very solid structure that prevents it from deteriorating due to wear and tear. Concrete is widely used in the building industry because it’s very sturdy and can be molded into numerous different shapes.

At National Contracting, we offer top of the line concrete grinding and cutting services. When it comes to concrete cutting in Adelaide, we are arguably the best company in the entire region. Having been in this industry for the better part of two decades, we have worked on a very large number of different projects. Our expert concrete cutters and professionals have worked with a host of building companies as well as with private homeowners. We have been providing a number of high-quality services along the way.

For more info please visit us on:

https://nationalcontracting.com.au/

[nationalcontracting]

At National contracting, we are a small family run business owned and operated in Adelaide South Australia which provides Floor Sawing Hackham services, with the idea to keep the company customer-friendly by showing politeness, professionalism, and a can-do attitude. I have been in the industry for 10 years then in 2016 purchased the business I worked for.

National Contracting is one of the most reputable concrete cutting, grinding and drilling contractors in South Australia. We offer a wide range of services catering to both commercial and residential customers alike. By making use of the latest advancements in technology, we are able to provide top of the line services to our customers. With over two decades of experience in the concrete cutting, drilling and grinding business, we are more than capable of handling all kinds of projects, big or small. We take pride in the fact that we have very good customer relations and are widely trusted by clients. Here are some of the services that we offer to our valued customers in South Australia.

For more info please visit us on:

https://nationalcontracting.com.au/

Core Drilling, Floor Sawing, Concrete Core Drilling, Concrete Grinding, Concrete Cutting, Core Drilling South Australia, Floor Sawing South Australia, Concrete Core Drilling South Australia, Concrete Grinding South Australia, Concrete Cutting South Australia