Core Focus Group

Warning bells: In an open letter to the United Nations General Assembly, business leaders from the International Chamber of Shipping, IATA and other transport groups (that account for more than $20T of annual global trade) sounded the alarm on the risks of a supply chain meltdown. "We are witnessing unprecedented disruptions and global delays and shortages on essential goods including electronics, food, fuel and medical supplies. Consumer demand is rising and the delays look set to worsen ahead of Christmas and continue into 2022. Our calls have been consistent and clear: freedom of movement for transport workers, for governments to use protocols that have been endorsed by international bodies for each sector and to prioritize transport workers for vaccinations... before global transport systems collapse."

Business leaders warn of supply chain collapse, solar tariffs delayed (NASDAQ:FSLR) Things appear to be getting worse, not better, along the global supply chain, which was upended by the coronavirus pandemic over a year ago

Turkey declares war on Syria.

"After suffering its worst casualties in years, Turkey is openly declaring war against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad."

ISTANBUL — Turkey said on Sunday that it was launching a major counteroffensive against the Syrian government, for the first time openly declaring war on the government of Bashar al-Assad and steeply escalating Ankara’s involvement in Syria’s nine-year war.

The announcement came three days after Turkey suffered its worst military losses in a single attack of the war, with at least 36 soldiers killed and more than 30 wounded in Syrian and Russian air and artillery strikes. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, vowed retaliation and demanded that Syrian troops withdraw beyond a previously agreed upon de-escalation boundary.

Turkey’s defense minister, Hulusi Akar, announced the counteroffensive on television in a statement distributed by the state-run Anadolu news agency, saying that the operation in northern Syria was intended to end the war and stop a Syrian government offensive that was displacing thousands of Syrians."

Turkey Declares Major Offensive Against Syrian Government After suffering its worst casualties in years, Turkey is openly declaring war against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

Here, 93 million miles from the nearest star — the one we call the sun — the creatures of Earth eke out a living on the edge of almost incomprehensible violence. Every second, thermonuclear reactions in the center of the Sun turn 5 million tons of hydrogen into pure energy.

These Images Show the Sun’s Surface in Greater Detail Than Ever Before A new telescope in Hawaii takes aim at our nearest star and its mysteries.