🇨🇳 Fantasy or future? World Science Fiction Convention kicks off in China

The 81st World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Worldcon, is a prominent annual event being held in Chengdu, China this year, from October 18-22, 2023. Each year, the convention takes place in a different city, serving as a platform for celebrating and nurturing global interest and a passion for speculative fiction.

As the world's largest and most influential science fiction carnival, Worldcon 2023 brought together a global community of science fiction enthusiasts, writers, and creators. Among the distinguished guests of honor were notable writers like Cixin Liu, Sergey Lukyanenko, and Robert J. Sawyer.

Check out Sputnik's gallery to learn more about the 2023 World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu.

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🇨🇩🇬🇧 Human zoo almost 120 years later: Remains of Bambuti infant off medical study list in the UK museum

Despite the removal from the Hunterian Museum's available objects for medical research list, the infant's remains are still in possession of the London museum, with no plans in place for repatriation to its home country almost 120 years after the baby's death.

The move comes after criticism from Nadifa Mohamed, an author shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and a production team of the forthcoming documentary on the history of "human zoos" in the UK.

The museum's spokesperson stated to the media that they will guarantee no authorization is given for legitimate medical study on the remains of the stillborn infant until the Bambuti representative contacted by the documentary makers can take action.

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🇺🇸 US President Joe Biden invoked the language of a “new world order,” saying Washington has the ability in the next few years to ensure that it will remain the dominant global power for the next several decades.

“For Biden, the new world order that he's contemplating is basically, the US will make up the rules as it goes along, everyone else will have to go along. So that's not really a rule of law, that's more the rule of the mighty … Given the emergence of the multipolar world, I think, the US ultimately is going to have to find a way to comply more with the wishes of other countries. It's not going to have the same ability to dictate to the world. I think those days are over,” former adjunct professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh and author Dan Kovalik told Sputnik.

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Joe Biden during his Bidenomics speech: "I have to go to the situation room. Another issue I have to deal with."

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 US Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn and other US military officers are on the ground advising Israeli forces on their operation in Gaza, an American news agency reported.

The advice has largely been focused on expected ground operations in Gaza, the report stressed.

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Attacks on US military in Syria: What is known so far

▪️ The al-Tanf base in Homs province was attacked by drones on Monday, as reported by the media;

▪️ This is an important facility of the US-led 'coalition' near the border with Iraq and Jordan;

▪️ One drone managed to hit the base, but it was then neutralized; the other two were intercepted by air defense away from the facility, according to media reports;

▪️ There was an attack on US and 'coalition' forces in Syria; there were no casualties or destruction, a Pentagon representative told Sputnik;

▪️ The Iraqi Islamic Resistance, which is linked to Iran, took responsibility for the attack;

▪️ Last week, two bases in Iraq where US troops are stationed were attacked.

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🇮🇱 The Israeli army reported striking 400 targets in 24 hours, killing many Hamas members, including several commanders

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🇺🇸 The US is preparing for the possibility that hundreds of thousands of American citizens will have to be evacuated from the Middle East if the conflict in Gaza cannot be contained, the Washington Post reported, citing four officials familiar with the US government's contingency planning

Over 600,000 Americans living in Israel and Lebanon are of particular concern, the officials reported.

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While Israeli forces continue to pound the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and artillery, the Lebanese-based Hezbollah movement threatened to join the conflict if Israeli ground troops were to be sent into Gaza.

Whether or not Hezbollah enters the fray largely depends on Iran, Russian military intelligence veteran and military analyst Rustem Klupov believes.

He also suggested that some third party, such as the United States, may stage a provocation that would trigger a conflict involving Hezbollah.

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The Biden administration manufactured crises in Israel and Ukraine helped line the pockets of American defense contractors, however, the world has recognized the destructive power of such policies which is why US global leadership is in decline, experts told Sputnik

💬 "Manufactured chaos is always useful for a morally and financially bankrupt government," former Pentagon analyst and retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Karen Kwiatkowski, told Sputnik.

🗣 The massive funding to Israel and Ukraine is yet another illustration as to how the military industrial complex shapes White House strategy, former Pentagon analyst Chuck Spinney said.

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🧐 Who are the eight Republicans running to become US House speaker?

Having spent weeks at a stalemate, House Republicans are now sifting through quite the crowded field as eight party members have announced they are running to clinch the chamber's speakership.

Jack Bergman, Michigan, 76
A former US Marine who flew a helicopter in the Vietnam War and spent 40 years in the service.

Byron Donalds, Florida, 44
The youngest and least experienced on congressional matters among the eight candidates.

Tom Emmer, Minnesota, 62
Originally from Indiana, he is a staunch ally of McCarthy and has received his endorsement.

Kevin Hern, Oklahoma, 61
He was initially floated by media outlets as a potential candidate shortly after McCarthy was booted from the House speakership.

Mike Johnson, Louisiana, 51
A former radio talk show host.

Gary Palmer, Alabama, 69
An adamant supporter of Ukraine, one of the more hawkish Republicans regarding China.

Austin Scott, Georgia, 53
He was one of only two speaker candidates that voted to certify Biden’s election win, drawing ire from Trump and his supporters.

Pete Sessions, Texas, 68
He has more experience in Congress than any other speaker candidate.

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 Latest updates on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

▪️ At least 2,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the recent escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict two weeks ago, humanitarian organization Save the Children said;

▪️ Israel would not grant permission to transport fuel to the Gaza Strip as there are concerns Palestinian group Hamas could steal it, Israeli official said;

▪️ The US is preparing for the possibility that hundreds of thousands of American citizens will have to be evacuated from the Middle East if the conflict in Gaza cannot be contained, the Washington Post reported;

▪️ The Israeli army reported striking 400 targets in 24 hours, killing many Hamas members, including several commanders;

▪️ Israel confirms release of two hostages by Hamas, PM’s office reports.

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🚫 Telegram has blocked the official Hamas channel for Apple and Android users

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Google reportedly turned off display of traffic conditions in Israel and Gaza at the request of the Israeli army

🇪🇬 Egypt plays key role in negotiations over Gaza hostages. Cairo's efforts are effective, Israeli army reported

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The Israeli President, at a meeting with Macron, said that Hamas is holding 30 children hostage

Yesterday the Israeli army reported that a total of 222 people were being held hostage.

🗣 In a conversation with David Sacks, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk called for an end to the needless sacrifice of Ukrainian youth in the trenches and stressed that Russia and Ukraine are fraternal peoples, not enemies

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📊 Russia's foreign debt-to-GDP ratio fell below 15 percent for the first time in history, reaching $343.4 billion at the end of June this year

Bank of Russia has published data on external debt per capita based on the results of the second quarter: the figure decreased by four percent - to $2.3 thousand. This is the lowest level since 2006, when it was $2.2 thousand.

As shown in the following infographic, the external debt per capita in the US is over $73 thousand.

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🇹🇲 At sea, on land and in the sky: rare footage of large-scale military exercises in Turkmenistan has appeared online. The drills were attended by President Serdar Berdimuhamedow (1:01) (1:28), all formations of the Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces, as well as units of the special forces "Turkmen edermen", according to the country's state media.

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