cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/34012622

Nations that have banned paraquat in white

Source from Feb, 2026 by EWG (Environmental Working Group). If anyone has a more updated version, feel free to share it

Notes:
Myanmar:

From 1 April [2026] onwards, paraquat will no longer be permitted to be registered, imported, sold, formulated or repackaged in Myanmar

Canada:

In Canada, Syngenta was the only paraquat manufacturer with a registered product. Syngenta discontinued registering its product in Canada in 2023 following updated risk-mitigation efforts. Although there is not an outright ban, no paraquat products are sold in Canada.

India:

The draft 'Banning of Paraquat Dichloride Order, 2026', issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was published in the Gazette of India on July 13 and will remain open for public comments for 30 days before a final decision is taken. Did it pass? I cant find much on it

In the USA before California's ban a couple of days ago:

A large-scale blast hit an ammunition factory in the Italian town of Colleferro, near Rome, on Aug. 13, local authorities and regional media reported.

The factory is operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the French-German defense firm KNDS. The facility produces 155 mm artillery shells supplied to Ukraine via European partners.

The explosion caused a fire and a loud blast that could be heard by residents in nearby districts, the Italian outlet AGI reported. The fire broke out in the plant's gunpowder processing and compression unit.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene and employees reached the designated safe zones in accordance with evacuation protocols, AGI reported. The incident caused no casualties.

...

KNDS Ammo Italy manufactures large- and medium-caliber munitions for land and naval forces. It also cooperates with Ukraine on the production of NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition under agreements with the European Defense Agency.

In addition to artillery, Ukraine receives multiple weapons systems produced by KNDS Group, including the Caesar artillery gun, the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun tank, and the PzH 2000 armored howitzer.

The defense firm opened its first office in Ukraine in October 2025.

...

The blast at KNDS Ammo Italy comes a week after a drone outfitted with explosives was found near a Ukrainian aircraft at the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. The so-called "modified drone" was discovered on Aug. 4 next to a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines An-124 transport plane, while a second drone collided with an incoming cargo plane.

A bomb disposal robot was deployed to carry out a controlled explosion at the airfield, preventing further damage.

...

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt also described the incident as a "hybrid attack scenario." While he did not name Russia, the incident is consistent with a pattern of Kremlin-linked hybrid warfare operations in European countries in recent years.

...

Archived

…new research published Friday and shared exclusively with the Guardian found that companies that resisted the pressure and kept their DEI practices, including Costco, Apple and Delta Air Lines, performed just as well as their competitors who pulled back.

General Atomics, the company that builds the electromagnetic aircraft launch system for the Ford-class carriers, said Trump’s decision to revert to steam “warrants careful reconsideration”. The company told the Journal its work on the new ship is nearly 50% complete and “changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks”.

Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and a former astronaut, was more blunt in his reaction to the news.

“I’ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times, have a Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and am a test pilot and even I wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships,” Kelly wrote on social media. “Donald Trump should stick to what he knows best – ballrooms, bankruptcy, and bullshit.”

Critical support

Here's the thing. The optometrist I went to retired and sold his practice to this big company. Basically, they've hired a brand new OD. He's part time, and he's only been there 3 months. It's literally not his fault the staff and company are toxic, but under my state professional regulation boards, the company itself doesn't have a license. I'd have to file the complaint against the OD. I don't feel great about that. I feel like making a mark against this OD does nothing to the company.

Donald Trump wants the Navy to rip out an electromagnetic launch system and replace it with a steam one.

Once again, the dimwitted President has gone full Juggalo.

True Grit

Also check this non-profit linked about protecting wild cat species.

https://panthera.org/

“We found absolute, iron-clad evidence that short-term rental regulations put downward pressure on rent. Lots of things cause housing to be expensive, but this is low-hanging fruit to manage those costs,” said David Wachsmuth, lead researcher and Associate Professor in the School of Urban Planning.

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10723829

A large-scale blast hit an ammunition factory in the Italian town of Colleferro, near Rome, on Aug. 13, local authorities and regional media reported.

The factory is operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the French-German defense firm KNDS. The facility produces 155 mm artillery shells supplied to Ukraine via European partners.

The explosion caused a fire and a loud blast that could be heard by residents in nearby districts, the Italian outlet AGI reported. The fire broke out in the plant's gunpowder processing and compression unit.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene and employees reached the designated safe zones in accordance with evacuation protocols, AGI reported. The incident caused no casualties.

...

KNDS Ammo Italy manufactures large- and medium-caliber munitions for land and naval forces. It also cooperates with Ukraine on the production of NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition under agreements with the European Defense Agency.

In addition to artillery, Ukraine receives multiple weapons systems produced by KNDS Group, including the Caesar artillery gun, the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun tank, and the PzH 2000 armored howitzer.

The defense firm opened its first office in Ukraine in October 2025.

...

The blast at KNDS Ammo Italy comes a week after a drone outfitted with explosives was found near a Ukrainian aircraft at the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. The so-called "modified drone" was discovered on Aug. 4 next to a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines An-124 transport plane, while a second drone collided with an incoming cargo plane.

A bomb disposal robot was deployed to carry out a controlled explosion at the airfield, preventing further damage.

...

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt also described the incident as a "hybrid attack scenario." While he did not name Russia, the incident is consistent with a pattern of Kremlin-linked hybrid warfare operations in European countries in recent years.

...

Archived

They had to be ragebaiting right?

The new order sweeps away decades of existing U.S. cybersecurity policy prohibiting private companies from conducting 'hack back' attacks or offensive cyber operations.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20260813215558/https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/13/in-a-first-us-will-allow-some-private-firms-to-carry-out-cyberattacks/

Ich hab vor kurzem den Film Der Astronaut (Project Hail Mary) gesehen und es hat mich nicht mehr losgelassen. Ich bereue ihn nicht im Kino gesehen zu haben.

Ich habe mir danach das Hörbuch und das E-Book gekauft (für Zeiten, in denen ich nicht gut das Hörbuch hören kann). So schnell habe ich noch nie ein Buch verschlungen… Ehrlich gesagt bin ich generell nicht so die Leserin. Ich hab seit der Depression noch mehr Schwierigkeiten mich zu konzentrieren und mein Buchgeschmack scheint sehr speziell zu sein. Ich hab schon einige Scifi-Bücher angefangen und mittendrin aufgehört, weil mir Sachen nicht gefallen haben (in einem wurde z.B. einfach zusammenhangslos eine Frau geschlagen - wtf?!). Das letzte, das ich angefangen hab, war eigentlich ok aber konnte mich irgendwie nicht richtig einfangen und ich hab die Lust verloren.

Aber dieses Buch… ich habe es gestern beendet und jetzt fühle ich mich etwas leer. Ich wusste nicht, dass ein Buch sowas in mir auslösen kann.