India: India has successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile, the Agni-V. The missile has a range of over 5,000 kilometers, which puts it within reach of targets in China and Pakistan.

#India #Pakistan #China

China: The Chinese government has announced that it will be conducting military exercises near Taiwan next week. The exercises are seen as a show of force in response to the US decision to sell arms to Taiwan.

#China #Taiwan

Ukraine: Russia continues its missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, causing widespread damage and civilian casualties. The city of Odesa was hit by a missile strike on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens more.

#Ukraine #Russia

Hastinapur #1 The Winds of Hastinapur by Sharath Komarraju

‘My hair is white and thin, now. In a few moons, the Goddess will claim me, and I do not have a fresh young virgin by my side to absorb my knowledge and take my place once I am gone. The Mysteries of Ganga and her Sight will vanish with me, and the Great River will become nothing more than a body of lifeless water … It is my intention, therefore, to tell you the story as it happened, as I saw it happen.’ #SharathKomarraju

Cairokee Band - تلك قضية

#Gaza
#FreePalestine
#Cairokee

#PDFDownload For the Glory: Eric Liddell's Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton

The untold and inspiring story of Eric Liddell, hero of Chariots of Fire , from his Olympic medal to his missionary work in China to his last, brave years in a Japanese work camp during WWII
Many people will remember Eric Liddell as the Olympic gold medalist from the Academy Award winning film Chariots of Fire . Famously, Liddell would not run on Sunday because of his strict observance of the Christian sabbath, and so he did not compete in his signature event, the 100 meters, at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was the greatest sprinter in the world at the time, and his choice not to run was ridiculed by the British Olympic committee, his fellow athletes, and most of the world press. Yet Liddell triumphed in a new event, winning the 400 meters in Paris.

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #8 Sorrow and Starlight by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

All stars must fall.
Bloody, lost, broken. We live to fight another day. But with so much stolen from us, can the fates ever twist in our favour again?
My sister and I have been torn apart by shadows and despair, and now we each stand alone.
Our sorrow is spun like a web, trapping us tight, and I fear our enemies will soon come to feast upon our souls.
But if I have my way, the merciless sky will have dealt us its final fortune. It’s time for us to take back the power that’s been ripped from our grasp and turn the tide of this war.
All stars must fall, and all Phoenixes must rise.
Long live the Savage Queens.
*This will now be book 8 of 9 in the series*
#CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #7 Heartless Sky by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

The winds of fate are shifting, and it finally seems like they’ve been twisted in our favour.
On the run and cast out from society, we’ve been forced to hide from the mad man who stole our throne. But as more secrets come to light and my sister and I work harder than ever before to reach our potential and claim our birth right, the end is finally drawing closer.
There is no turning from this path now. The curse chases on our heels as time rushes by and the blood drenched destiny of the man I love looms ever closer just like the monster who stole our throne.
We must prepare for the final battle, but three things are clear now.
The cards have already been dealt.
Blood will spill for a new future to rise.
And the stars themselves can’t help us.
#CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #6 Fated Throne by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

Fate has torn us apart and sometimes I believe the stars have given up on us altogether.
Without my sister, the world seems darker than ever before and the shadows loom thicker, rising up to answer the call of the Shadow Princess and changing the face of Solaria for good.
Now Lionel Acrux has the strength to make a move for the throne, I’m not sure how much time we have left to stop him.
Our only hope is to find the Imperial Star before he does. We made the sacrifice the stars called for and we’re paying the price for that decision so it can’t be for nothing. But with the stars turning against us at every move, and the last light in the world seeming to fade, I’m afraid we’re almost out of time. Hope is a dangerous thing. It’s the key to us fighting on. But it could be what destroys us in the end.
One thing is for certain, I won’t stop until I have been reunited with my other half and together we will fight to take our crowns.
A war is coming.
The throne is calling for a new monarch. And someone must answer its call. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #5 Cursed Fates by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this darker world we're faced with.
Lionel seeks to hurt us, the Nymphs seek to hurt the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we just have to try and survive each day as it comes.
I'm afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #4 Shadow Princess by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

After the events of the Lunar Eclipse, Tory and Darcy must learn to deal with the darkness which shadows their lives.
With a secret binding them to Darius and Orion, they must find a way to all work together for the greater good. But some things are easier said than done... #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #3 The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

The answer to your question will be revealed on the Lunar Eclipse. But when finding the truth, don't let the shadows take you.
The week of The Reckoning has begun. And senior students have been tasked with making the freshmen's lives pure hell as they prepare to take their fateful assessment.
With the Lunar Eclipse on the horizon, Tory and Darcy have more to worry about than just passing their exams. A dark plot is unfolding and the shadows are drawing closer... #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #2 Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

They tried to break us.
They almost did.
But we're not going anywhere.
The Celestial Heirs think the stars are on their side. But they don't know what's coming.
Fighting them one on one isn't an option so we have to be stealthy. Remaining under the radar won't be easy, but if we pull it off, they'll never suspect our involvement when their lives start falling apart.
Besides, they've already taken us to the brink of hell, what more can they really do? #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy 8.5 Beyond The Veil by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

The stars called us.
The Veil closed at our backs.
And now death holds us in its clutches.
We were torn from life before our time, a Savage King, his queen, a betrayed son, a wronged brother, a scorned wife and so many more. We watch those we left behind as they struggle against the grip of the stars, the answers to so many of their questions within our grasp and yet out of their reach.
But what if we could find a way to answer their pleas? What if we could find a way to help them from this side of the divide? And what price would such a thing come at?
***This is a bridging book which takes place beyond The Veil (in the land of the dead) during the events of book 8 in the Zodiac Academy series. It should be read after book 8 to avoid spoilers for that book and holds the answer to what takes place for the characters who are held within the clutches of death by this point in the story, as well as vital clues to the conclusion of this epic series*** #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy 5.6 Seth on the Moon by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

A free online chapter about the best day of Seth's life.
#CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy 5.5 The Big A.S.S. Party by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

Once upon a moon, the wild wind whispered in my ear that the true queens were returning to Solaria and I made it my mission to open up their path to the throne so that they could slip right in like an oily oyster. Now, on this most special and wonderous of days, the very day of their birth – I will prove myself to be the most loyal and dependable of their followers. Though of course, Venus is in my chart and Lady Petunia has caught sight of the bothersome barracuda once more.Max Rigel is my most sinful of temptations, the shark in the dark who wishes to lure me to his sea cave and I don’t know if I’m Fae enough to resist him for long. But one thing is for sure, I will make certain the Vegas get the big A.S.S. party they deserve for their birthday or I’ll die trying. Succulent squids be damned!This is a 25k novella set in the world of Solaria during Book 5 of the Zodiac Academy series, Cursed Fates, featuring Geraldine and Max as they attend the party of the century and try to resist the lure of the moon as it pushes them together once more. It’s full of slippery salmons and more buttery bagels than you can shake a stick at and is best read after Cursed Fates. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy 1.5 The Awakening as Told by the Boys by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

The Vega twins are alive.
Those five words circle in my mind like an oncoming storm. They change everything about the future we thought had been set in stone. They challenge everything we were raised to be and the stability of the entire kingdom.
They’re coming to our academy looking for the life that was stolen from them, but we can’t let them take it back.
So much hangs in the balance and we can’t risk the arrival of two naïve princesses destroying everything we worked so hard for.
I have trained in dark magic, overcome all challenges and stood in the shadow of Lionel Acrux for far too long already. I won’t let them come between me and his downfall.
Which means they have to go before they discover how powerful they truly are.
This is a retelling of the first book in the Zodiac Academy series from the point of view of Orion and the Heirs and should be read after you have finished the original story. It includes scenes from alternative points of view as well over 50k words of additional content and scenes which have never before been revealed. So prepare to step into the dark minds of the Zodiac boys and watch out for the heartbreak and carnage that will ensue. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy #1 The Awakening by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I’m Fae. But of course there’s a catch - all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could. The school they’ve sent me to is both dangerous as sh*t and one helluva party. Vampires bite weaker students in the corridors, the Werewolf pack has orgies in the Wailing Wood at every full moon and don’t even get me started on the dark and twisted ways the Sirens use their powers on people’s emotions, or how my sinfully tempting Cardinal Magic teacher hosts detentions that leave people needing therapy. Classes are totally interesting if you manage to live through them. And that Gemini star sign I mentioned? It now determines my elemental magic and affects my destiny, so learning astrology is essential if I’m going to beat down my classmates – which is actively encouraged by the way. My biggest problem is the drool worthy Dragon shifter who has his eyes on my throne. He and his three psycho friends are determined to make my time here hell. All I’ve got to do is survive. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload Zodiac Academy 0.5 Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully by Caroline Peckham , Susanne Valenti

Dark magic is forbidden at Zodiac Academy. That’s why I hide it so well.
But now I’m supposed to mentor Darius the son of the most ruthless Dragon Shifter in Solaria. If he’s caught using blood magic, he’ll lose his claim to the throne.
The problem is? Our families are up to something, and we’re determined to find out what.
No matter what dark power we must turn to…
Welcome to Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny. As the Fae of the future, you will soon learn the merciless way to claim your power. Life among the Vampires, Shifters and Sirens is no easy ride, but if you can make it through your exams, you might just be able to harness your inner strength and earn your place among the elite. #CarolinePeckham #SusanneValenti

#PDFDownload The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In by Hugh Kennedy

Today’s Arab world was created at breathtaking speed. In just over 100 years following the death of Mohammed in 632, Arabs had subjugated a territory with an east-west expanse greater than the Roman Empire. They did it in about one-half the time. By the mid-8th century, Arab armies had conquered the 1000-year-old Persian Empire, reduced the Byzantine Empire to little more than a city-state based around Constantinople, and destroyed the Visigoth kingdom of Spain. The cultural and linguistic effects of this early Islamic expansion reverberate today. This is the first popular English-language account in many years of this astonishing remaking of the political and religious map of the world. Hugh Kennedy’s sweeping narrative reveals how the Arab armies conquered almost everything in their path, and brings to light the unique characteristics of Islamic rule. One of the few academic historians with a genuine talent for story telling, Kennedy offers a compelling mix of larger-than-life characters, fierce battles, and the great clash of civilizations and religions. #HughKennedy

#PDFDownload The 100 Greatest Advertisements 1852-1958: Who Wrote Them and What They Did by Julian Watkins

Styles in advertising will change, but there is no copywriter, artist, or campaign planner who will not profit by studying proved successes, whether of 50 years ago or today. In this single volume are 100 of what are probably among the most successful advertisements ever to appear in print, plus an additiional 13 added especially for this edition.
These 113 ads are proven salesmen―almost every one had phenomenal results. They have not been included because of personal whim, or for their beauty. The ultimate criterion here is the only one that really counts: whether an ad did what it was supposed to do. These ads helped change the habits of a nation, built reputations, gave new expressions to the language and―first and foremost―sold millions of dollars of merchandise, from Rolls Royce automobiles to Lux Soap, from Riviera Pears to Steinway Pianos.

#PDFDownload The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte

In the first year of the doomed German invasion of Russia in WWII, a German military doctor, Paul Bauer, is assigned to establish a field hospital at Yasnaya Polyana - the former grand estate of Count Leo Tolstoy, the author of the classic War and Peace. There he encounters a hostile aristocratic Russian woman, Katerina Trubetzkaya, a writer who has been left in charge of the estate. But even as a tentative friendship develops between them, Bauer's hostile and arrogant commanding officer, Julius Metz, becomes erratic and unhinged as the war turns against the Germans. Over the course of six weeks, in the terrible winter of 1941, everything starts to unravel...
From the critically acclaimed and award-winning author, Steven Conte, The Tolstoy Estate is ambitious, accomplished and astonishingly good: an engrossing, intense and compelling exploration of the horror and brutality of conflict, and the moral, emotional, physical and intellectual limits that people reach in war time. It is also a poignant, bittersweet love story - and, most movingly, a novel that explores the notion that literature can still be a potent force for good in our world. #StevenConte

#PDFDownload Regency Faerie Tales #1 Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.
Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.
If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.
Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.
Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England! #OliviaAtwater

#PDFDownload From Manhattan with Love #1 Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan introduces a sizzling new trilogy about three best friends embracing life—and love—in Manhattan
Cool, calm and competent, events planner Paige Walker loves a challenge. After a childhood spent in and out of hospitals, she's now determined to prove herself—and where better to take the world by storm than in the exhilarating bustle of Manhattan? But when Paige is let go from the job she loves, she must face her biggest challenge of all—going it alone.
Except launching her own events company is nothing compared to hiding her outrageous crush on Jake Romano—her brother's best friend, New York's most in-demand date, and the only man to break her heart. When Jake offers Paige's fledgling company a big chance, their still-sizzling chemistry starts giving her sleepless nights. But can she convince the man who trusts no one to take a chance on forever? #SarahMorgan

#PDFDownload From Manhattan with Love #3 Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

It will take a Christmas miracle for two very different souls to find each other in this perfectly festive fairy tale of New York!
Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she's given an opportunity to house-sit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn't expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous—and mysterious—owner.
Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife's death looming, he's isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn't appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist? #SarahMorgan

#PDFDownload O'Neil Brothers #1 Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan

Once upon a time Kayla loved Christmas
Now she’s more dedicated to her job than decking the halls, and can’t wait for the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ to be over.
Until she arrives at the enchanting Snow Crystal ski resort, determined to win gorgeous owner Jackson as a marketing client.
But wooing Jackson professionally quickly turns personal as they spend flirty festive nights in this glittering winter wonderland.
With snowflakes swirling and sleigh bells ringing…could Jackson be the one to make Kayla fall back under the Christmas spell?
#SarahMorgan

#PDFDownload Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of a well-to-do Georgia plantation owner, must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of the poverty she finds herself in after Sherman's March to the Sea. #MargaretMitchell

#PDFDownload One of Us Is Lying #3 One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn't been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren't killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it's beginning again.
At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it's clear this 'game' just got serious - and no one understands the rules.
Everyone's a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly.
Simon was right about secrets - they all come out in the end.
The thing is, Simon was right about secrets-they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it's still hiding.

Amazon Rainforest at a Tipping Point: Can Conservation Efforts Avert Catastrophe?

The Amazon rainforest, the lungs of our planet, is in dire straits. Deforestation rates are at record highs, driven by insatiable demand for timber, cattle ranching, and soy production. Fires blaze relentlessly, fueled by dry seasons and human activity. Scientists warn that the Amazon is approaching a tipping point, beyond which it could transform from a lush rainforest into a savanna, with devastating consequences for global climate, biodiversity, and Indigenous communities.

The consequences of a lost Amazon are far-reaching. The rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating global climate by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Its loss would accelerate climate change, leading to more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to global ecosystems. Furthermore, the Amazon is home to an estimated 10% of the world's known species, many of which are yet to be discovered. Its destruction would unleash a mass extinction event, irrevocably altering the tapestry of life on Earth.

Indigenous communities who have called the Amazon home for millennia also stand to lose. Their traditional way of life, intricately woven with the rainforest ecosystem, faces imminent threat. Displacement, cultural erosion, and loss of ancestral land are the harsh realities these communities confront as the forest shrinks.

Despite the bleak outlook, a glimmer of hope remains. Conservation efforts are gaining momentum, fueled by awareness campaigns, international cooperation, and innovative solutions. Indigenous communities are taking the lead in protecting their territories, deploying ancestral knowledge alongside modern technology for sustainable forest management. Governments are implementing stricter regulations and creating protected areas to curb deforestation. Businesses are exploring sustainable alternatives to resource extraction and investing in responsible practices. #Ama

Macron Appoints France's Youngest Prime Minister: Fresh Start or Political Gambit?

French President Emmanuel Macron has shaken up the political landscape with his surprise appointment of Olivier Attal, a 34-year-old former digital minister, as the country's new Prime Minister. This unconventional choice has garnered mixed reactions, sparking both hope for a fresh perspective and concerns over political inexperience.

Attal, a skilled technocrat with a background in finance and consulting, represents a stark contrast to the traditional profile of French prime ministers. His youthful energy and digital expertise resonate with a younger generation increasingly alienated from established politics. This appointment is seen by some as a bold attempt to revitalize Macron's presidency after a turbulent midterm period.

However, critics point to Attal's lack of experience in navigating the complex world of French politics. They question his ability to manage a diverse coalition of lawmakers and address pressing issues like the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and social unrest. Furthermore, concerns linger about potential clashes between Attal's technocratic approach and the more ideological demands of Macron's party.

Despite the uncertainties, Attal's appointment undoubtedly creates a moment of renewed interest in French politics. The public yearns for a government that can effectively tackle challenges and offer a clear vision for the future. #French