Gaia Series 80: Year-End Sales Season For Horned Fish

Photo by Luke Hunt discusses Myanmar as a failed state, with the military lacking control over much of the country and struggling to provide basic necessities to the population. The concept of a state's "monopoly of violence" is highlighted as key to understanding failed states, with the military in Myanmar failing to uphold this principle. Despite plans for elections, support from some neighboring countries, and uncertainty surrounding US foreign policy, the situation in Myanmar remains...

Over the weekend, more than two dozen wildfires erupted in southeastern South Korea, resulting in four deaths and nine injuries. Thousands of firefighters and helicopters were deployed to combat the 29 fires, which burned through 22,000 acres, damaged 162 buildings, and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,000 people. By Monday morning, all but five fires had been extinguished, with the largest blaze in Euiseong County 65% contained. Full Article

In 2025, cinema operators are hopeful for continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with the release of anticipated films like Tom Cruise's potential final Mission: Impossible, a new Superman movie, and the return of the Avatar sci-fi series to theatres. Despite box office receipts being 25% below pre-pandemic levels, industry experts are optimistic about the future of moviegoing. The annual CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas will bring together top names in the industry to discuss...

The US has lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures, including the interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, known for planning deadly attacks against Afghanistan’s former government. The Haqqani network, responsible for bombings and criminal activities, saw the removal of rewards by the US government, signaling a shift towards improving bilateral relations with the Taliban. The release of a US prisoner and the revocation of bounties indicate efforts to move beyond wartime hostilities and towards progress in...

At the KSI World Women Economic and Business Summit, Malaysia's workforce challenges for women were highlighted, with underrepresentation in leadership and ownership of businesses. Tech companies in Malaysia are leading the way in promoting gender equality, with a focus on empowering women in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing disparities, making it crucial to implement strategies to support women's career development and create a thriving workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. Full...

Paul Roberts, former CEO of Kubient, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for financial fraud, including faking a $1.3m transaction and creating false revenue. The company, specializing in programmatic advertising and fraud detection, went public in 2020, raised over $32.5m, but was delisted and filed for bankruptcy by 2023 due to the fraud. Roberts, along with Kubient’s CFO and Audit Committee Chair, was charged by the SEC for failing to...