美國副總統賀錦麗（Kamala Harris）原定24日下午自新加坡飛往越南訪問，然而近日，美國駐越南大使館卻傳出「異常衛生事件」（anomalous health incident）。雖然在經過謹慎考量後，賀錦麗未取消越南行程，但班機仍比原定時間晚三個多小時才抵達河內內排國際機場（Noi Bai International Airport）。 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 根據外媒報導，駐越大使館聲明中的「異常衛生事件」就是代指「哈瓦那症候群」（Havana syndrome），最早是2016年由美國和加拿大駐古巴外交人員通報，但近年卻陸續在各國出現案例，包括中國、俄羅斯、波蘭和台灣境內的美國外交及情報人員皆出現此症狀。美國大使館在仔細評估後，仍會繼續副總統的訪問行程，發言人桑德斯（Symone Sanders）也在副總統專機「空軍二號」上表示，「賀錦麗和其他一切狀況都很好」。 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📍2016年，作為歐巴馬政府與哈瓦那當局恢復關係正常化計畫的一環，美國國務院外交人員被派往古巴，然而部分人員卻出現一連串難以解釋的醫學症狀，包括頭痛、暈眩、噁心、焦慮、認知困難及嚴重程度不一的記憶喪失。之後，派駐在不同國家的外交和情報人員也陸續出現類似症狀，甚至一些華府官員也受到影響。根據美國國家學院（National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ）公布的完整報告指出，這些症狀「與定向脈衝射頻能量（directed pulsed RF energy）所造成的效果一致」。「紐約客」（New Yorker）就曾披露，調查人員發現有外國情報機構將能量裝置瞄準美國官員，目的是蒐集其電腦和手機中的資料。 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🇺🇸由於目前「哈瓦那症候群」在各國都有通報案例，因此引發美國政府對此議題的高度關注，國務院和中央情報局（CIA）皆已成立內部專案小組進行調查。參議院也在6月通過《哈瓦那法案》（Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act，HAVANA Act），為受影響的美國外交和情報人員提供額外醫療和支援。 ———————————— #越南 #美國 #河內 #哈瓦那症候群 #外交 #賀錦麗 #國際時事 #國際新聞 #國際內世鏡 #vietnam #usa #kamalaharris #hanoi #havanasyndrome #diplomacy #usandcanada #insightintoissues- - 資料來源：自由時報、上報、美聯社、The Economist、South China Morning Post、BBC News 圖片來源：路透社 - 🌐補充資料： U.S. VP Harris forges on with Vietnam trip despite mystery 'health incident'（路透社）｜https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/eve-harris-trip-vietnam-tells-china-it-does-not-pick-sides-2021-08-24/

ONE MORE DAY TO #SG55!!! 🎉✨ Happy birthday my country, the place I call #home 🇸🇬 . This year has been a year of uncertainties, challenges, ups and downs in unprecedented times. 😞 The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many anomalous situations to our daily lives, looking at the empty malls and roads during rush hour feels nothing but surreal. Currently mask-wearing and gatherings in small groups look like its becoming normalcy in months to come and there is nothing much we can do about it, it seems. 🥺 . The only thing we can do is do keep our spirits high, hope and pray for this to be over soon. 🙏🏻 Staying home might not be so bad after all - at least we get to spend time with our families and loved ones. ❤️ (though my family drive me nuts at times 😝) . 🥂To safety, peace and health - ✨ Hope you’re enjoying the long weekend with the people you love. Majulah, Singapura! Together, we can. 💪🏻💯🇸🇬✨ #Singaporeplan 😆 . Featuring @partydivaco x @nasilemakindulgence limited edition #nasilemakcake with ingredients to represent our ethnic groups - Sambal Goreng Tempeh Anchovies Peanuts in Kicap Manis (Malay), Papadum (Indian), Fried Shrimp Paste (Chinese) and Blue Pea Rice (Peranakan) - really ❤️ this idea 🇸🇬 #onepeopleonenation #sg55 #foodsg #savefnbsg

On Astrology: A Queer Framework to Combat Internalized Shame⁣ ⁣ “What’s your sign?” is something I hear even in Taipei now! But, definitely moreso in queer communities. Back in the US, among queer PoC. Sometimes the heteros (esp cisgender men lmao) always cast doubt on the “validity” of astrology without realizing that this same doubt contributed to the same violent colonization and erasure of previous sciences. (Btw, yes “violence” comes in hidden forms). ⁣ ⁣ I really do enjoy astrology b/c for queer people it allows us to bring to the forefront our very own flaws in words that aren’t shameful. As queer people, we’re constantly told that we simply cannot be ourselves. That we must express everything about us in a cisheteronrmative way. That as long as we fit into cishet-normative standards of beauty, we can be accepted. That as long as we’re not “too” queer, we will be accepted. That as long as we don’t speak up for our rights, we can just “let go” and “have fun”.⁣ ⁣ So instead of saying you’re a vindictive, messy binch who craves emotional intimacy while simultaneously building walls to keep some distance…you’re just a (lunar) scorpio. We interpret and place meanings onto these. We’re able to create communities or “homes” for ourselves as queer people who are anomalous to the heteronormative idea of “home”.