Fresno State earns Seal of Excelencia recertification
Excelenciain Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, announced that Fresno State earned the prestigious Seal of Excelenciarecertification. The Seal is a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latino students.
The Seal of Excelencia framework represents a rigorous assessment of certified institutions’ intentionality and impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice and leadership. Ultimately, this process strengthens efforts to serve all students. Seal certification remains valid for three years, after which institutions have the opportunity to recertify progress. Fresno State first earned this distinction in 2021.
This year’s cohort of newly certified and recertified institutions belongs to a collective of 46 colleges and universities that have earned the seal. Together, they represent less than 1% of all institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latino students nationwide.
Fresno State’s Survivor Advocacy Services will kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month (recognized in October) with a resource fair, with campus and community tables in the middle of campus between the Memorial Fountain and the Fresno State Library, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. INFO: [email protected].
Fresno State ranks in CollegeNet’s top 20 for social mobility
Fresno State is ranked among the top 20 best universities nationwide for being a driver of social mobility — how well universities provide a college education at an affordable price to create opportunities for students to move from one socioeconomic class to another. The university ranked No. 16 out of 1,205 schools in the 2024 Social Mobility Index published Sept. 23 by CollegeNet, a provider of web-based on-demand technologies for higher education.
Tuition, economic background, graduation rate, early career salary and the size of a school’s endowment are used to determine the rankings. The index also uses ethos, a metric used to measure how a school’s messaging and communications teach faculty, students and the public about the institution’s attention to advancing social mobility.
In September, Fresno State ranked No. 31 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings and No. 4 in the nation for social mobility in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings. In August, the university was No. 22 among the top public and private universities nationally in Washington Monthly’s 2024 annual list of top universities.
In the past, studio lighting was for professional photographers and videographers. Now, photography lighting kits are used by content creators, product photography, online conferencing, and, of course, taking pictures and videos.
Lighting equipment can get very expensive, but you can get good quality lights or lighting kits for a reasonable price. Plus, lighting equipment is an investment, and with proper use and care, your photography lighting kit will pay for itself in the quality and clarity of your photos and videos and will last as long as you need it to.
Benefits of Using Studio Lighting for Photography
Good photography lighting can really elevate your photos or videos. The best photography lighting kits will provide you with everything you need to create beautiful photos and stunning videos.
Get Creative – Good studio lighting can let you be a lot more creative. Studio flash heads are very powerful, allowing you to manipulate the light in different ways, and use other light modifiers.
Day or Night – Using a studio light kit means you aren’t limited by the time of day when shooting photos or videos. You have total control over the strength, direction, and shape of your lighting, allowing you to get great shots in artificial lighting or natural lighting.
Get Amazing Shots – Seriously, using professional studio lighting can turn your photos and videos into true masterpieces. That is why they are becoming increasingly popular with retailers, content creators, streamers, and both amateur and professional videographers and photographers.
Types of Lighting for Studio Photography
There are four general kinds of studio lighting that are always used. Studio lights will always either be continuous lighting, where the subject is always lit, or strobe lighting, which is controlled by an on/off button.
Key Light: The Key Light is the “main” light. It provides continuous lighting – any other lights will simply enhance or compliment the light given by the key light.
Fill Light: The fill light is used along with the key light to brighten shadows and show dimension.
Hair Light: The hair light provides a very narrow beam and is only meant to fall on a small part of your subject.
Background Light: The background light is used to eliminate shadows and brighten up the background of the video or photo, especially if several other lights are being used.
Best Photography Lighting Kit for Business
There are a considerable amount of lighting kits available, and a lot of factors to consider when searching for the best studio lighting kit. We’ve scoured through the listings to come up with the best studio lighting kit and lights for your photography studio, retail store, YouTube videos, etc. Take a look at our 12 picks for the best studio lighting kit for your business.
Elgato Key Light Air + Stream Deck Mini Bundle
Top Pick: Our number one pick for the best photography lighting kit is this bundle by Elgato. The kit includes an Elgato Key Light Air, a professional 1400-lumen desk light, and the Stream Deck Mini – a live content creation controller. The light is wifi enabled, allowing you to control the settings on the Elgato app. The color can be adjusted from sunset amber to arctic blue.
The Stream Deck is fully customizable and has 6 LED tap keys that witch scenes, launch media, adjust audio, and more. Customers have high praise for this set, proclaiming it to be a professional lighting kit that has the added bonus of being controlled via the app.
Lume Cube RGB Panel Pro Full Color Mountable LED Light
Runner Up: The Lume Cube Panel Pro is said to be one of the most powerful LED panel lights available, with 263 LED lights to keep your space lit, as well as soften, add effects, and more. The light is as thin as a smartphone and features a 4+ hour battery life, making it a great portable option.
This light has a full-color LCD display for easy customization and adjustment, and can easily be mounted to a camera or computer. You get the Lume Cube Panel PRO, softening diffuser, DSLR Mount, USB-C to USB-A cable, and a convenient travel pouch.
Best Value: For a budget lighting kit, Raleno sells this studio lighting kit that includes a high-quality soft 5070 Nylon cloth for smooth light flow, a foldable light stand, and 2 85W E27 socket bulbs, with a power output equivalent to 800W incandescent bulbs.
This softbox lighting kit sells for under $100 – a much lower price than other studio lighting kits or lighting equipment. It is ideal for use by novices and professionals alike and can be used for multiple applications.
This studio lighting kit by StudioFX is a 3pc continuous softbox lighting system that comes with 2 softbox flash heads and 1 overhead hairlight boom softbox.
The boom overhead light provides inobtrusive home studio lighting, and the 4-light bank holder provides superior performance by eliminating glare and distributing even lighting. Control the brightness with multiple on/off switches. Also included are 12 45-watt photo video fluorescent 5500k Daylight Balance Bulbs.
ith wireless capability, the Dazzne LED portable lighting kit lets you remotely access brightness/color temperature settings and channel/group selection, and other functions. The bi-color temperature of the light varies from warm to cool, and the brightness can be adjusted from 0% – 100%.
This light kit has a plug-in power mode for indoor photography and a battery-powered mode for outdoor photography. The kit includes 2 LED light panels, 2 foldable light stands, 2 power cords, 1 carrying bag and wireless remote control.
NEEWER Bi-color 660 LED Video and Photography Lighting Kit
With 330 warm white and 330 cool white LEDs, this light features a maximum illuminance of 3300 lux, adjustable color temperature and brightness, and a color rendering index of 96+. The aluminum alloy construction of the barn door eliminates the need for a fan. Dual power options are available for indoor or outdoor use.
This lighting kit includes 2 660 LED video lights, 2 light stands, 2 power adapters, 2 power cables, and 2 carrying bags. This photography lighting kit receives rave reviews for being well-made and cost-effective.
This light kit includes two LED lights with U brackets and diffuser boxes, 2 light stands, 2 power cables, 2 power adaptors, and a carrying case. The 880RS RGB lights can be controlled wirelessly through GVM’s app, and the heat dissipation design allows for continuous use.
The bulbs have a variable white balance from tungsten-daylight 3200-5600K color temperature. Reviewers say this studio lighting kit is particularly great for product photography and can be used by beginner photographers, professional photographers, and everyone in between.
For streamers and content creators who use their computers, the Logitech Litra light is a great option. Instead of messing with multiple lights or lighting setups, the Litra gives you all the features you need in one compact design.
The Litra attaches to your monitor with a 3-way mount, allowing you to adjust the angle, height, etc to your preference. Logitech’s TrueSoft technology promises full-spectrum LED light with cinematic color accuracy and the Litra Glow’s frameless diffuser radiates soft, flattering light.
Neewer 60W Continuous LED Lighting with Bowens Mount and Remote
If you need lights that can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, Neewer produces this 60W LED light with an 80°-tilt light mounting bracket.
This light produces 60W of continuous lighting for photography and videography. Its 5600K daylight temperature will keep your shots in uniform temperature. You can turn the light on and off and adjust the brightness with the included 2.4GHz remote.
GVM’s LED light kit offers RGB full-color light output, a built-in LCD display, and a unique LED bead design, which the company states make them brighter than other SMD RGB panel lights. The U bracket allows for 360° free rotation, and the GVM app allows you to control the lights, use scenes and effects, and save light preferences.
This professional photography kit includes 2 RGB led panel lights, each with a light stand, 2 soft diffusers, and a carrying case. It can be used indoors for studio lighting or outdoors using a battery.
Godox’s lighting kit features a color rendering index of over 95, illumination of up to 32100 lux, and an intuitive user interface. There are 11 built-in lighting effect modes, as well as a built-in umbrella mount and a Bowens mount for compatibility with light modifiers and other equipment.
This LED light is big in brightness but compact in size – great for use in smaller spaces. You receive the light body, reflector, protection cover, and power cord – a great value for a quality studio light.
This photography lighting kit is a bit pricey, but it has everything you could possibly want in a home studio lighting kit. The 150W modeling lamp adjusts from 5% to 100%, while the Bowens mount design allows it to be compatible with all the accessories used by photographers.
The built-in Godox 2.4G wireless X system allows for remote control and adjustment of the light. This light kit includes 3 Godox moonlight flash heads, 3 light stands, 2 soft boxes with grids, a black silver umbrella, a transparent umbrella, a reflector, a carrying bag, and more. This is said to be one of the best lighting kits for product photography, and portrait/lifestyle photography.
What to Look for In Studio Lights and Studio Lighting Kits
Several different components are part of a studio lighting system. At the same time, you can always add more pieces to achieve the lighting you desire.
Type of Lights: Studio lighting kits have 3 types of lights – continuous lighting, flash strobe lighting, and monolight strobe lighting. More on that below.
Type of Bulbs: Halogen bulbs create bright white light that is dimmable, and are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. However, they can get very hot. LED bulbs are also energy efficient and have a longer life span than halogen bulbs, but they can be expensive. There are also tungsten bulbs, which are used for outdoor photography lighting.
Light stands: Light stands are essential since lights can get heavy and hot. A good light stand should be durable, adjustable, and compatible with other camera gear.
Filters: Some kits will come with filters that allow you to further customize the lighting.
Power supply: Power can be an issue depending on the type of light you purchase. This is especially the case if you are working outdoors. Look for lights and kits that can support your lighting needs with its power supply source.
Wired and wireless systems: With a wired system, the signals from the camera to the lights are sent through cables for all the lights simultaneously. A wireless system uses infrared, WiFi, and Bluetooth technology to send the signal from the camera to the lights.
Color Temperature: The color temperature of light is measured by the Kelvin scale which ranges from 2700K to 6500K. Using the Kelvin scale will help you determine the hue a specific light source emits, and understanding the Kelvin scale will help you customize the look and feel of your photo shoot.
Color Rendering Index: CRI is a rating index commonly used to represent how well a light source renders the colors of objects that it illuminates. CRI is measured on a scale from 1-100; the lower the number, the less accurate color will be portrayed.
What kinds of light modifiers can be used with a studio light kit?
Modifiers can be added to your lighting setup for even more customization. There are different kinds of light modifiers and they do different functions. The most common are the umbrella, softbox, and skrim.
Umbrella – Umbrellas create soft, flattering, and abundant light. This is the best light modifier for beginning photographers.
Softbox – Softboxes also create soft, flattering light, but allow for more control over the light. Softbox lighting most accurately recreates soft, natural light.
Skrim – A scrim is a square or rectangular frame with fabric stretched across. They create large areas of soft, diffused light and diffusing flash, continuous light, and sunlight.
How many lumens do you need for studio photography?
Many experts claim a good studio lighting kit should be about 200-300 watts, or 3000-4000 lumen for a small commercial photographic shoot. For a larger photography studio and multiple subjects, lights around 400-500 watts, or 5000-6000 lumens will do the job. However, the number of watts you require varies according to what you shoot and the setting.
What lights are used in a studio?
As we discussed above, studio lights will either be continuous light, flash strobe, or monolight strobe. Each has its purpose and is a matter of preference and lighting needs:
Continuous Light – Continuous lighting uses fluorescent, LED or tungsten lights to keep the subject lit until the light is turned off. This allows the user to see the lighting effects in real-time, is easy to manipulate, and is usually the most cost-effective option.
Flash Strobe – A flash strobe acts like a camera flash – a burst of high-intensity light that allows you to freeze a moving subject. They need to be attached to a digital camera, either wirelessly or with a cord. For them to work at their best, you can’t use faster shutter speeds than your camera’s high-speed sync speed. Unfortunately, these kinds of lights are only meant for photography lighting.
Monolight Strobe Lighting – Monolights are self-contained studio strobe lights that contain flash heads, power controls, and electronics in a single unit. They also usually include modifiers and tripods, plus they tend to be among the cheaper kits. They connect directly to a power source and are meant to deliver a short, powerful burst of light.
Videos show dozens of missiles flying over Tel Aviv, some of them landing. The Israeli military says the missiles were fired by Iran and that a “large number” had been intercepted.
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You’re going to love my take on the viral sheet-pan, Roasted Butternut Squash Feta Soup, in which you roast butternut squash and feta cheese and blend until smooth.
Roasted Butternut Squash Feta Soup
Who knew butternut squash soup would taste so good with roasted feta cheese?! The roasted garlic, onions, and herbs take this soup to the next level. Next time, I might even eat these vegetables without turning them into soup—the flavor is that good! For more butternut squash soup recipes, try my Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk, Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Pear Soup, and Butternut Squash Lentil Soup.
Why You’ll Love This Butternut Squash Feta Soup Recipe
If you remember the viral tomato feta pasta made all on one sheet pan? Well this is very similar only made with butternut squash and pureed into a soup! It’s so good, and will be on my soup rotation!
Rich, Creamy Flavor: The combination of roasted butternut, feta, herbs, onion, and garlic creates a complex, savory soup.
Nutritious: Butternut squash is packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and the feta adds protein.
If you make this roasted butternut squash feta soup recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!
Butternut Squash Feta Soup Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make this delicious fall soup. The exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
Butternut Squash: You need a large, sharp knife to cube the butternut squash. However, if you want to make it easier, I have a tip for peeling and cutting winter squash–microwave it for a few minutes first.
Onion: The sweet onion gets even sweeter as it roasts.
Herbs: Sage, rosemary, and thyme are hearty fall herbs that smell amazing as they cook.
Seasoning: Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Garlic: Cut a whole head of garlic in half lengthwise and roast it with the veggies. Garlic’s strong flavor mellows as it roasts.
Feta is the secret ingredient that makes this butternut squash soup creamy without any milk or cream. Buy a whole block, not crumbled cheese.
Olive Oil enhances the flavor and prevents the vegetables from sticking to the baking dish.
Broth: Use vegetable or chicken broth to turn the roasted veggies into soup.
How to Make Feta Butternut Squash Soup
This easy roasted feta and butternut squash soup has two main steps: roasting the squash and feta and blending them with broth. The result is a creamy soup with the best flavor. The complete instructions are below in the recipe card.
Roast the vegetables and feta cheese on a sheet pan.Add vegetables and broth to the blender.Puree the soup in the blender.
Prep the Vegetables: Combine the squash, onion, and herbs in a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan. Toss the mixture with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Nestle each half of the garlic head into the vegetables, cut side down.
Feta: Create a space in the center of the squash mixture and place the feta block. Drizzle with the remaining oil.
Roast the butternut and feta for 30 to 35 minutes at 400°F.
Blend: Remove the herbs and squeeze out the roasted garlic. Add the vegetables and cheese to a blender. Pour in the broth and blender until smooth.
How to Serve: Transfer the soup to a pot and warm on the stove until ready to serve. Garnish with extra feta and fresh thyme leaves.
Variations
Butternut: Buy frozen or fresh precut squash to save time.
No squash? Substitute sweet potatoes or pumpkin.
Herbs: If you’re missing an herb, use more of another.
No blender? You can also use an immersion blender in a pot on the stove, but the soup will be less smooth.
Thicker Consistency: If you prefer a thicker soup, heat it on the stove with the lid off to let it reduce.
Spiciness: Garnish with Calabrian chili paste or chili crisp.
What to Serve with Butternut Squash Feta Soup
Storage
Butternut squash soup will last for 5 days in the refrigerator and can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove.
More Butternut Squash Recipes You’ll Love
Prep: 25 minutesmins
Cook: 35 minutesmins
Total: 1 hourhr
Yield: 6servings
Serving Size: 1generous cup
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Combine butternut squash, onion, sage, rosemary and thyme in a large baking dish & toss with 2½ tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt & fresh cracked black pepper. Nestle each half of the garlic head into the vegetables, cut side down.
Create a hole in the center and place feta block, drizzle with remaining olive oil.
Roast until squash is tender and feta is caramelized, about 30-35 minutes.
Remove herbs and squeeze out roasted garlic. Transfer vegetables and cheese to the blender; add broth and blend until smooth. Warm on the stove when ready to serve. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with extra feta and fresh thyme leaves.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.
Makes 7 cups. Alternatively, the blending can be done with an immersion blender directly in a pot on the stovetop– the soup won’t be as creamy, but will have the same great flavor. Soup can/should be transferred to a pot to keep warm or reduce to a thicker consistency if desired. A bit of calabrian chili paste or chili crisp makes for a delicious garnish.
Lower food and oil prices as well as distortions from high base effects might have pulled down inflation to the 2-percent level in September, giving the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) space to further slash borrowing costs.
In a statement, the BSP said consumer price increase last month likely settled between 2 and 2.8 percent.
If the projection of the central bank comes true, the figure that will be reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Oct. 4 will be slower than the 3.3-percent inflation recorded in August. At the same time, it means that price increases last month averaged within the 2 to 4 percent target range of the central bank.
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Rallying peso
The BSP said most of the downward price pressures in September came from cheaper food items like meat, vegetables and rice, a staple grain for Filipino households. Other drivers of the softer inflation last month include lower oil prices and a rallying peso, which brings down the cost of importation of key commodities.
The central bank also explained that the drop in inflation last month might have been induced by “negative base effects” from a year ago, when the price hike was at a high of 6.1 percent.
“These are expected to offset the higher prices of fish and fruits and electricity rates,” the BSP said.
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As it is, a faster decline in inflation helps create the right economic conditions for further cuts to the benchmark rate of the BSP.
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An Inquirer poll of economists had pegged a September inflation reading of 2.5 percent.
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The policymaking Monetary Board last August kicked off a “calibrated” easing cycle with a quarter-point reduction to the key rate, which is now at 6.25 percent.
And further easing looms as BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. hinted at more reductions to the policy rate at the last couple of meetings of the Monetary Board this year in October and December.
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Measured approach
“Going forward, the Monetary Board will continue to take a measured approach in ensuring price stability conducive to balanced and sustainable growth of the economy and employment,” the BSP said.
In a commentary, Metrobank Research said inflation might have fallen to 2.3 percent in September “considering the slowdown in rice inflation and oil prices.”
“The forecast inflation rate, if realized, would provide a more favorable economic environment, suggesting that government efforts to manage rice prices and global oil price trends are having a positive impact,” Metrobank said.
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“This also provides more space for the central bank to deliver two more 25-basis-point cuts each at the remaining Monetary Board meetings this year to help economic growth as inflation slows,” it added. INQ
Beirut, Lebanon – On Friday evening, a sudden explosion heavily damaged Dina’s* home in the Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. It was caused by the shock wave of an Israeli air attack, during which dozens of bombs were dropped at once on a nearby apartment complex in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of the capital that is about two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from the refugee camp.
The huge attack killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and an unknown number of civilians after it levelled several residential buildings, leaving thousands more destitute. The blasts shattered the glass of small shops and cars in the camp, blew doors off their hinges and devastated nearby buildings and homes, explained 35-year-old Dina.
The explosions triggered mayhem as thousands of people and vehicles in the camp rushed towards its narrow exits. Dina grabbed her 12-year-old brother and ran down the stairs from their home, where she saw their elderly mother lying on the ground covered in debris.
Initially fearing that their mother was dead, Dina’s brother broke down. However, it turned out she was still conscious.
“My mother was confused and delirious, but I helped her up and told her that we had to run. I knew more bombs were coming,” Dina told Al Jazeera from a cafe in Hamra, a bustling neighbourhood in central Beirut that has absorbed thousands of displaced people from across Lebanon.
Unprecedented crisis
Israel escalated its conflict with Hezbollah in the second half of September, devastating southern Lebanon and triggering mass displacement.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), one million people have been uprooted from their homes due to Israel’s attacks, 90 percent of them in the last week.
But Lebanon’s caretaker government – operating without a president and reeling from a severe economic crisis – has struggled to respond to people’s needs. Thousands are sleeping on the floors of classrooms after the government converted more than 500 schools into displacement shelters.
Thousands of others are sleeping in mosques, under bridges and in the streets. But the crisis could get even worse now that Israel has begun a ground offensive.
“A ground invasion will compound the problem,” said Karim Emile Bitar, a professor of international relations at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. “We already have more than one million people who left their homes. That is around the same number we had in 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon and reached Beirut.”
Beirut – facing Israeli air attacks itself – is ill-prepared to deal with the influx of displaced people from southern Lebanon [Philippe Pernot/Al Jazeera]
Moments after Israel announced its ground offensive, it ordered civilians to evacuate 29 towns in south Lebanon.
Nora Serhan, who is originally from southern Lebanon, said that her uncle remains in one of the border villages. He refused to leave when Hezbollah and Israel began an initially low-scale conflict on October 8, 2023.
Hezbollah had begun firing projectiles at Israel with the stated aim of reducing pressure on its ally Hamas in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 41,600 people and uprooted nearly the entire 2.3 million population.
The devastating war on Gaza followed a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which 1,139 people were killed and around 250 taken captive.
After Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire, Serhan’s uncle chose to stay put. She suspects that he did not want to abandon his house and surroundings, even though the conflict cut off his water and electricity. But since Israel announced its ground offensive, Serhan’s family lost contact with him.
“When [Israel escalated the war last week], I think that maybe it became safer for my uncle to stay in the village than to risk fleeing on the roads,” she told Al Jazeera.
Losing home
Hundreds of thousands of people have abandoned their homes and villages to seek safety in Beirut, as well as in towns further north.
Abdel Latif Hamada, 57, fled his home in southern Lebanon last week after Israel began bombing the region. He said that a bomb killed one of his neighbours, while another was trapped inside his home after rubble and debris piled up outside the entrance.
Hamada risked his own life to clear the rubble and save his neighbour. He said that they were able to flee five minutes before Israel bombed their own homes.
“I didn’t rescue him. God rescued him,” said Hamada, a bald man with a nest of wrinkles around his eyes.
Despite fleeing just in time, Hamada wasn’t safe yet. He hitched an exhausting and terrifying 14-hour ride to Beirut – the journey typically takes four. Thousands of cars were squeezed together trying to reach safety, while roads were obstructed by rubble and stones that were blown off nearby homes and buildings.
“Israeli planes were all over the sky and we saw them drop bombs in front of us. I often had to get out of the vehicle to help clear the debris and stones obstructing our car,” Hamada told Al Jazeera.
As he took another drag from his cigarette, Hamada said that he wasn’t scared when Israel escalated its attacks. Over the course of his life, Israel has displaced him three times from his village, including during its invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and its devastating assault on the country in 2006.
In the latter war, an Israeli bomb fell on his home and killed his wife Khadeja.
“I’m not scared for my own life anymore. I’m just scared of what awaits the generation ahead of me,” Hamada said.
Permanent displacement?
Civilians and analysts fear that the ongoing displacement crisis could end up being protracted – even permanent.
According to Michael Young, an expert on Lebanon with the Carnegie Middle East Centre, Israel’s objective over the last two weeks has been to create a major humanitarian crisis for the Lebanese state and particularly for Hezbollah, which represents many Shia Muslims in the country.
Civilians fleeing the Israeli attacks have found limited supplies for them in the capital Beirut [Philippe Pernot/Al Jazeera]
“What’s worrisome is what will Israel do when it does invade? Will they begin dynamiting homes as they did in Gaza? In other words, do they make the temporary humanitarian crisis a permanent one by ensuring that nobody can return [to their homes]?” Young asked.
“This is a big question mark,” he said. “Once the villages are emptied, what will the Israelis do to them?”
Hamada and Dina both vow to return to their homes again, when they can.
Dina said her father and sister have already gone back to Burj al-Barajneh – now a ghost town – due to the terrible conditions in the displacement shelters, where there are few basic provisions and no running water.
She added that there is a growing feeling among everyone in the country that Israel will turn large swathes of Lebanon into a disaster zone, just as they did in Gaza.
“They are going to do the same thing here that they did in Gaza,” Dina said.
“This is a war on civilians.”
*Dina’s name has been changed to protect her anonymity.
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Delicious Jalapeño Chicken will become an instant favorite with the very first bite. Tender chicken pieces are cooked with jalapeños and then coated in a sticky, sweet, and spicy sauce. Serve over rice for an easy meal. You’ll be craving it on repeat!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
So MuchFlavor: Imagine perfectly cooked tender chicken coated with the most incredibly spiced sauce. This meal is full of flavor you’ll want to share with everyone.
Simple: The ingredient list might seem long, but most of the ingredients are pantry staples. Plus, this meal comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Versatile: Feel free to customize this jalapeño chicken to fit your taste preferences and use the ingredients you have available.
Ingredients for Making Jalapeño Chicken
If you love spicy food, then this Asian-inspired jalapeño chicken is for you! The recipe starts with breaded pieces of chicken and sauteed with jalapeño slices, diced onion, and minced garlic. Then, add the sweet, savory, spicy sauce and cook everything together until it’s warm and flavorful. Everyone will be begging for seconds! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
Chicken
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Cut these into cubes that are similar in size so that they cook evenly.
Breading: A mix of cornstarch and all-purpose flour coats the chicken so that it’s crispy on the outside.
Saltand Pepper: To flavor the chicken.
Vegetable Oil: This is a great oil for cooking the chicken and veggies.
Onion: Diced and sautéed to provide the recipe with a complex depth of flavor.
Jalapeños: Sliced and sautéed with the chicken to release their heat and flavor the dish.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic infuses the meal with a wonderful savory flavor!
Sauce
Chicken Broth: Creates the perfect base for the sauce while providing savory flavor.
Soy Sauce: Adds major savory, salty flavor to the sauce. Use low-sodium if desired.
Shaoxing Wine: This is a common rice wine used in Chinese cooking. It has a slightly sweet and briny flavor. You can sub with sherry wine, if you’d like.
Brown Sugar: Balances out the spicy and savory flavors with a hint of sweet.
Ground Ginger: Adds a peppery spice and sweetness.
Jalapeño: Gives an extra kick of heat to the sauce.
Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce.
Rice: Try serving the chicken over my perfect instant pot white rice.
How to Make Jalapeño Chicken
Get ready for a huge punch of flavor with this jalapeño chicken recipe! It’s a breeze to make, uses simple ingredients, and is beyond delicious! I love how the chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Then, it’s drenched in the sauce, which really takes it to the next level!
Make the Sauce: Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper.
Bread the Chicken: Dice the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Toss the cubed chicken into the cornstarch and flour mixture until every piece is coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Cook: Carefully place the breaded chicken into the skillet. Cook the chicken, stirring continuously, until it has all been seared evenly, about 5 minutes.
Sauté the Veggies: Add in the onion and jalapeños, and continue to sauté until tender and the chicken is browned. Add in the garlic and sauté for another minute.
Add the Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.
Serve: Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh over rice. Enjoy!
Tips and Variations
Even though this recipe is easy to follow, here are some tips to make it perfect for you!
Chicken Thighs: Feel free to swap the chicken breasts for bonelesschicken thighs for juicer chicken.
Soy Allergy: If you have a soy allergy, then use tamari or coconut aminos to replace the soy sauce
Reduce the Heat: Remove the seeds from your jalapeños to reduce the heat slightly. But remember, this will be a spicy dish either way.
Add Oil: You may need to add more oil after cooking the chicken before adding the jalapeños and onions.
Storing Leftover Jalapeño Chicken
Leftover jalapeño chicken stores well and is great for quick lunches and dinners over the next few days! Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
No boring chicken recipes around here! We have tons of flavorful ways to serve a protein-packed meal. Here are a few of my family’s favorites. They are all so easy and tasty!
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Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper.
Dice the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Toss the cubed chicken into the cornstarch and flour mixture until coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Carefully place the breaded chicken in the skillet. Cook the chicken, stirring continuously, until seared evenly, about 5 minutes.
Add the onion and jalapeños, and continue to saute everything together until tender and the chicken is browned. Add in the garlic and saute for another minute.
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.
Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh over rice.
This is a spicy recipe, to reduce some of the heat you can remove the seeds from the jalapeños before using them.
BROOKLYN — The New York Liberty host the Las Vegas Aces for Game 2 of the WNBA semi-finals on Tuesday night, in a rematch of last year’s finals. It’s one of the two remaining series in this year’s playoffs, and it’s a pivotal game that will determine whether Las Vegas can tie things up before heading home.
Last time out, in Game 1, the Liberty defeated the Aces 87-77, powered by 34 points from Breanna Stewart and 21 points from Sabrina Ionescu. The Liberty led by double-figures for much of the way and were able to at least somewhat contain A’ja Wilson, who still finished with 21 points but scored nearly 6 points less than her regular season average.
In turn, New York now holds a 1-0 lead in the series, and has the opportunity to extend that further at 7:30pm ET on Tuesday. No WNBA team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series — so this game is as crucial as it gets for Las Vegas.
The Aces are the two-time defending champions for a reason, and they will likely have a response to a lackluster Game 1 outing. There’s a lot to improve on and it’s possible that the Liberty simply won’t play as well as they did in the series opener.
But, if Las Vegas wants to even this series and , here are five things that will (most likely) need to happen.
The Aces will have to shoot better from three-point range
Given the sheer level of talent and weapons on the Liberty side, the margin of error for the Aces is razor-thin. In Game 1, Las Vegas shot just 7-25 from three-point range, good for 28% from behind the arc. Kelsey Plum had more than half of those makes — she hit 4-8 from downtown — but Las Vegas is going to need to see better shooting across the board to stay in it. New York shot 8-19 from three in Game 1 (42.1%).
Tiffany Hayes will be key in making up the deficit — Hayes shot 40.2% from downtown this season, but went 0/2 in Game 1. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young didn’t have their best shooting seasons (33.8% and 33.7%, respectively), but both have the ability to get hot despite combining for 2-10 from in Game 1. On Sunday, the easy ones weren’t falling, and that’s going to have to change for Las Vegas to have a chance.
A’ja Wilson and the rest of the cast need to contain Breanna Stewart (somehow)
Breanna Stewart had her way in Game 1, putting up 34 points on 12-19 shooting. The Aces are going to have to make life more difficult for the two-time MVP in Game 2, and the difficult thing is that A’ja Wilson, their best defender, has her hands full with Jonquel Jones. Jones posted 13 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, and the former MVP can certainly do damage if slowing her down isn’t prioritized. But, Stewart got way too many easy looks in the opener — points in transition, wide-open threes, baskets on mismatches. Las Vegas is going to have to take those away.
Las Vegas will need to be much better on the glass — or transition defense — or both
Aces head coach Becky Hammon acknowledged after Game 1 that her team lost both the battle on the glass and was outran in transition. The Liberty out-rebounded the Aces 31-22, and scored 16 fast break points to the Aces’ 6.
One — or both — of those things is going to have to change in Game 2. A’ja Wilson grabbed more rebounds than any player in the WNBA this season, but had a season-low 6 boards in Game 1. Not one Aces player racked up more than 6 rebounds.
Addressing that could involve lineup changes — we didn’t see Megan Gustafson or Queen Egbo in Game 1, and both could provide some much-needed size against the Liberty’s length. It could also just be a point of emphasis across the board — Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum each finished with just 2 rebounds, and Chelsea Gray with 3. Expect the Aces to come out more aggressive on the glass from the jump.
Vintage Chelsea Gray will (probably) need to make her return
In 26 minutes of action, Aces point guard Chelsea Gray finished with 4 points and 1 assist. That’s not going to cut it. Gray needs to be more aggressive and more involved, and we’ve already seen how she can impact games when she’s at her best (see: 2022 Finals MVP).
Kelsey Plum said after the first round series against the Seattle Storm that Chelsea Gray was back to her regular self — and that’ll need to be the case against New York here in Game 2.
“A lot of people put up numbers — and that’s no fault of them. But Chelsea impacts winning,” Plum said. “Ask any player in the league, any high-level player, I guarantee they want Chelsea Gray on their team with five minutes left.”
Kelsey Plum with high praise for Chelsea Gray postgame:
“A lot of people put up numbers — and that’s no fault of them. But Chelsea impacts winning. Ask any player in the league, any high-level player, I guarantee they want Chelsea Gray on their team with five minutes left.” pic.twitter.com/P0pLW1a7Z7
Gray has shown flashes of brilliance this postseason — she averaged 14 points and 8 assists in the first round — and she will likely need to assert herself in this one. Las Vegas has pulled together plenty of wins this year with Chelsea Gray serving as more of a role player, but the reality is that this team’s ceiling is different when Gray is living up to her ‘Point Gawd’ nickname.
A’ja Wilson should assert herself as the best player on the floor
Wilson was the unanimous MVP for a reason this past year, averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.8 steals. She had multiple 40+ point outings, and posted career-highs in nearly every category. And, while she’s been solid in these playoffs, she still has another gear she can go to. She’s averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds in three postseason games so far — and shot a very respectable 50% from the field — but we haven’t seen a big-time performance like Stewie’s in Game 1, or Napheesa Collier’s 38- and 42-point outings against the Mercury. Wilson is obviously capable, and tonight would be a great start.
This Liberty team has been the best all season long for a reason, so it’ll be difficult for any team to defeat them in a five-game series. Becky Hammon said Game 2 was “do-or-die”, and while it’s not quite an elimination game, the fact that no team has ever come back from an 0-2 hole is reason enough to treat it as such. It’s going to take a lot for Las Vegas to pull off a win — but this Aces team has shown time and again it shouldn’t be counted out.
