#National Capital District Commission

[maslows-pyramid-scheme]

The household was fast asleep when the six men broke in. They sought out Sobia Batool Shah, 22, and one of them attacked her with a hatchet, chopping at her limbs in an effort to sever her legs. “He was relentless and must have hit me at least 15 times,” she says. “I screamed in pain and pleaded with him to stop, but he was like a man possessed,” she adds. “I even told him I will not seek a divorce.” Shah was attacked by men from her own family – including her father, Syed Mustafa Shah, her uncle and cousins – who broke into the house, in Naushahro Feroze, in Pakistan’s Sindh province, as “punishment” for refusing to withdraw her application to divorce her husband. ... “It’s all about power control,” says Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq, chief police surgeon in Sindh’s capital, Karachi. Syed Tariq, who also heads the Sindh police medico-legal department, has seen hundreds of women physically and mentally abused, raped, burned and murdered over the last 26 years. “We are nurturing abusers who are worse than animals,” she says. On an average day, the department receives reports of about six cases of sexual violence and 10 to 15 cases of domestic violence across the medico-legal centres at three public hospitals in Karachi. “In the case of sexual violence against minors, my assessment is that for every three cases that come to us, seven more go unreported. And I am not counting the dead bodies that we receive,” Syed Tariq adds. Gender inequality is a global problem, but Pakistan’s indicators reflect especially alarming rates of disparities and violence faced by women. According to this year’s World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, Pakistan is ranked second from bottom out of 146 countries, behind only Sudan. It ranked 164 out of 193 countries on the 2023-24 UN gender inequality index. Abdullah Lakhair, deputy superintendent of police in Naushahro Feroze, says the victim’s father admitted the attack, telling police his daughter had brought “dishonour” to the family by filing for divorce. She had asked the authorities for protection after her father threatened to kill her previously. “Earlier last month, the district judge had referred her to a women’s shelter, where she stayed for two weeks, but then decided to return to her mother. The incident happened soon after,” Lakhair says. Shah says her father had left her mother and siblings and cut all ties with them. “Had it not been for my maternal grandfather and my uncle, we would not have had a roof over our head all these years. How dare he talk about his honour being sullied by my divorce,” she says. Lakhair says Shah’s father is awaiting sentencing and could face up to 14 years in prison. The incident has sparked angry reactions from the public and civil society organisations in Pakistan. Anis Haroon, a women’s rights activist and former chair of the National Commission on the Status of Women, travelled from Karachi to visit Shah in hospital. She is sceptical about the case sparking any meaningful change. “Like so many harrowing incidents in the past, this will soon be forgotten,” she says. Pakistan has the laws but no “political will” to implement them, she adds. “The legislators think their work ends after laws are passed in assemblies. They fall short of putting efforts towards their implementation,” Haroon says. After the attack on Shah, her mother went to neighbours for help, thinking her unconscious daughter had lost so much blood she must have died. “After giving her immediate medical help, we sent her to Nawabshah, an hour and a half from here,” says Lakhair. “She had to be given 10 bags of blood, which the police arranged. She is in safe hands, for now.” Although her father is in prison awaiting sentencing, Shah has been provided with round-the-clock police protection in the hospital. “My father has been apprehended but his brother has been granted bail. I am very scared,” she says.

[mimi-0007]

****†** EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BEFORE YOU VOTE. ****Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a collection of policy proposals to thoroughly reshape the U.S. federal government in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Established in 2022, the project aims to recruit tens of thousands of conservatives to the District of Columbia to replace existing federal civil servants—whom Republicans characterize as part of the "deep state"—and to further the objectives of the next Republican president. It adopts a maximalist version of the unitary executive theory—which asserts that the president has absolute power over the executive branch upon inauguration. Unitary executive theory is a disputed interpretation of Article II of the Constitution of the United States. Project 2025 envisions widespread changes across the entire government, particularly with regard to economic and social policies and the role of the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ), dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor of fossil fuel production, eliminating the Department of Commerce, and ending the independence of various federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The blueprint seeks to institute tax cuts, though its writers disagree on the wisdom of protectionism. .

Project 2025 recommends abolishing the Department of Education, whose programs would be either transferred to other government agencies, or terminated. Scientific research would receive federal funding only if it suits conservative principles. The Project urges the government to explicitly reject abortion as health care and to restrict access to contraception. The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank that leads the development of Project 2025, asserted in April 2024 that "the radical Left hates families" and "wants to eliminate the family and replace it with the state" while driving the country to emulate totalitarian nations, such as North Korea. The Project seeks to infuse the government with elements of Christianity, stating in its Mandate that "freedom is defined by God, not man." Project 2025 proposes criminalizing pornography, removing protections against discrimination based on sexual or gender identity, and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as affirmative action. The Project advises the future president to immediately deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and to direct the DOJ to pursue Donald Trump's adversaries by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807. It recommends the arrest, detention, and deportation of undocumented immigrants across the country. It promotes capital punishment and the speedy "finality" of such sentences. Project director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, explained that Project 2025 is "systematically preparing to march into office and bring a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially weaponized conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state." Dans admitted that it was "counterintuitive" to recruit so many people to join the government in order to shrink it, but pointed out the need for a future President to "regain control" of the federal government. Although the project does not promote a specific presidential candidate, many contributors have close ties to Donald Trump and his presidential campaign. The Heritage Foundation has developed Project 2025 in collaboration with over 100 partners including Turning Point USA, led by its executive director Charlie Kirk; the Conservative Partnership Institute including former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as senior partner; the Center for Renewing America, led by former Trump Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought; and America First Legal, led by former Trump Senior Advisor Stephen Miller. The Project is detailed in Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, a version of which Heritage has written as transition plans for each prospective Republican president since 1980. Critics of Project 2025 have described it as an authoritarian Christian nationalist movement and a path for the United States to become an autocracy. Several experts in law have indicated that it would undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers. Some conservatives and Republicans also criticized the plan, for example in the contexts of centralizing power, climate change, and foreign trade.

[militantinremission]

Kamala Harris 4 President: Is She ready 4 Prime Time?

Joe Biden has literally slipped on a banana peel. Following his dismal performance at the 1st Presidential Debate, he has made a series of blunders that now has him under a microscope. It's gotten so bad, that folks are criticizing the way he walks up the stairs of Air Force One... Biden made several appearances to shore up his Social Capital, but few were effective. From his interview w/ George Stephanopoulos, to his 'Big Boy NATO Summit' to his telephone interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe'; Joe Biden has raised more questions than providing answers. An increasing number of Congressional Democrats, Elites, & Big Money Donors- from Chuck Schumer, to Jeffrey Katzenberg, George Clooney & Rob Reiner are asking him to step down. Political Pundits across many platforms have expressed publicly how Joe Biden is weakening Congressional Democrats running for Re-Election.

Biden has been adamant about staying in Office, but has recently said that he's open to discussion. Black Politicians & Democratic Shills like Whoopi Goldberg, Roland Martin, Symone Sanders, D.L. Hughley & Joy Reid continue to Circle the Wagon, but hardcore Biden advocates like Joe Scarborough & Van Jones have admitted that his Poll #s are damaging the overall Democratic Party. The Question being asked is: if Joe Biden steps down, WHO is capable of defeating Donald Trump in the General Election? California Governor Gavin Newsome, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, & Maryland Governor Wes Moore have been tossed around; but none of them have enough National Recognition to compete against Trump. 'The View's' Sunny Hostin has stated that Black Women will abandon the Democratic Party if Kamala Harris is not chosen as the heir apparent, but is Kamala Harris 'Presidential Material'?

Presidential Politics IS a Blood Sport. When a Candidate runs for POTUS, their Record of Service is on full display. There is a reason why Kamala Harris hasn't been mentioned before now. Many assume that she is being left out because of her Race, but Political Pundits admit that NO ONE really likes her. Kamala has wore several hats during her Political Career, but she has few accomplishments to tout for her Years of Service. As District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, & U.S. Senate Member, Kamala Harris has been detrimental to Black Californians. Her Record is one of disenfranchisement & incarceration of Blackfolk. Harris, Nancy Pelosi, & Dianne Feinstein share responsibility for the Current State of Black America in The Bay Area. She was originally touted as the '1st South Asian (i.e. Indian) American Woman elected into the U.S. Senate', but has somehow been mysteriously transformed into a 'Black Woman'.

For The Record, Kamala Harris is neither Afrikan American or Black. Her Mother is Brahmin & her Father is Brahmin & Irish Jamaican; her Father's Irish side were Slaveholders. She was born in Oakland & later relocated to Berkeley, after her parents separated. Kamala was bused to a predominantly White Elementary School, before her Mother relocated to an affluent Community in Montreal. She attended Junior High & High School in Montreal before returning to America, to attend Howard University. THIS is where Kamala's 'Black Experience' begins. Rumor has it that she became a Sweetheart of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (a Kappa Diamond) & later pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Post Grad, Kamala returned to The Bay Area, where she became associated w/ Democratic Party Power Broker & former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. The former Mayor positioned Kamala on a couple of Commissions (that paid $400K over 5Yrs) & her 1st run to become San Francisco District Attorney.

Kamala Harris has been very fortunate during her Political Career, but her tenure as Vice President has exposed her flaws. She's had a revolving door of Staffers that cite factions & infighting w/i her Camp. Harris has been described as crass & vulgar towards her Staff- dropping F- bombs & denigrating them during Meetings. Former Speech Writers say they were confounded by her inability to follow Scripts. Aside from Abortion Rights, no one can point to an Issue that Harris has championed w/ consistency. Her tenure as Vice President has been compared w/ Dan Quayle's. Joe Biden put Kamala in charge of the Southern Border, but he was forced to issue an Executive Order; to clean up her inability to stop the flood of Illegal Immigrants coming from All Four Corners of The World. Kamala Harris is not known for promoting Pet Policy Projects, like Al Gore or Michelle Obama; She's better known for:

Wearing Chuck Taylors w/ Pearls

Putting hot sauce on her Collard Greens & washing them in the bathtub (???)

Cos Playing Black Americans &

Cackling when she's flummoxed

Currently, Kamala Harris is a weaker opponent against Donald Trump, than Joe Biden. She's only being considered, because the Biden- Harris Campaign Fund can't be accessed if another group of Candidates are selected. Somewhere between $100M- $300M is at stake. A DNC Super PAC is withholding another $90M in anticipation of Biden stepping down. Michelle Obama's name has been tossed around as a potential Candidate for POTUS, but she has said on several occasions that she's NOT interested. I would be surprised if she changed her mind. Personally, I don't think ANY MAN can beat Donald Trump & the only Woman that could give Trump a Real Fight, is Tulsi Gabbard. She's a Generational Candidate that has the pedigree of Military Service, plus the Political & Social Capital needed to get Voters to the Voting Booths. Tulsi is far from being 'The Perfect Candidate', but People can visualize her having meaningful discussions w/ World Leaders. By contrast, Kamala Harris looks like a cartoon character on The World Stage; few actually believe that she can command the respect of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, & EU Leaders.

At this point, Democrats are in a No Win situation. Joe Biden campaigned in 2020 as a One Term President, but now he dares ANYONE to take him on at the Democratic National Convention. His selfishness & egocentrism has damaged the Democratic Party's chance of holding on to The White House. He says that he wouldn't have chosen Kamala Harris to be his VP if she wasn't capable of being President, but We KNOW that he only chose her because Black Women DEMANDED a Black Female Running Mate, in return for their vote. Ironically, Kamala doesn't fill that slot figuratively or literally. She let Black Women know early in her 2020 Campaign that she wasn't going to do ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY for Black Americans. Like Joe Biden, Harris offered a 'Lift Act' that promised Blackfolk more of the same 'Rising Tide' Democratic jargon. Despite this, roughly 86% of Black Americans supported the Biden- Harris Ticket; hoping this Administration would reward their loyalty & support w/ Real Policy.

Like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris NEEDS the Black Vote to win the General Election. The Problem is, Democrats have NO INTENTION of offering anything tangible to Black America. Despite the Doom & Gloom scenarios being pushed by Democratic Shills, an increasing number of Black Americans are refusing to vote Blue w/o getting something tangible in return. Democratic Elites thought they could play 'Chicken' w/ Blackfolk, but are beginning to realize how serious We are. Black Democratic Shills have been trying to corral The Black Vote, but they don't have the same influence that they held in previous years. Kamala Harris didn't help her Cause, when she said: 'We all know about the 20 Acres & a Mule'... Her casual disregard of Black Specific Issues rivals Joe Biden's. The Fact that Democrats have been forced to admit Biden's physical & mental decline will set The Party back at least 4 Years.

As I said before, Black America sits in the Catbird Seat! The rest of the Country may dread a 2nd Trump Presidency, but it's just 'Another Day in The Life' for Us. Our Ancestors survived 8 Years of Woodrow Wilson & over 50 Years of J. Edgar Hoover. We KNOW what a Dictator looks like. We also know that Every City will burn before We comply w/ The Heritage Foundation's 'Wish List' known as Project 2025. We just have to Get On Code & Stand Our Ground. Unlike the Millions of Colonists that occupy This Land, We're INDIGENOUS & have a Spiritual Connection to it; Millennia of Blood & Bones in The Soil. Unlike the newcomers, Perseverance is in Our Genetic Memory. Donald Trump is just the Latest 'Flavor of The Month'... We already survived a Trump Administration.

The acknowledgement of Joe Biden's decline puts Democrats in a bad position so late into the Election Season. It's not even clear if Dems can take him off The Ballot in several States. The fact that Kamala Harris cannot make a seamless transition into The Oval Office is creating a Civil War w/i The Party. I heard someone classify this 'War' as a battle between Black Shills & White Donors; The Shills want Biden to Stay, while The Donors want him to Resign. If Kamala Harris was truly 'Ready for Primetime', Sunny Hostin wouldn't have to say anything- EVERYONE would be on The Same Page.

-Ultimately, Money Talks.

[beardedmrbean]

At least 17 young children were killed in a fire that ripped through their primary school dormitory in central Kenya overnight, with initial reports Friday indicating it was overcrowded in breach of safety standards.

The blaze in Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county broke out at around midnight, police said, engulfing rooms where more than 150 children were sleeping.

Police said the average age of the victims was around nine years old.

"There are 17 fatalities from this incident and there are also others who were taken to hospital with serious injuries," national police spokesperson Resila Onyango told AFP.

"The bodies recovered at the scene were burnt beyond recognition," she said.

"More bodies are likely to be recovered once (the) scene is fully processed," she added.

Kenya's Citizen TV showed images of what appeared to be the aftermath of the blaze, with blackened corrugated iron roofing that had collapsed in on itself.

The cause of the fire was not yet known.

But Kenya's National Gender and Equality Commission said initial reports indicated the dormitory was "overcrowded, in violation of safety standards" and called for an immediate inquiry. 

President William Ruto, currently in Bejing for a China-Africa summit, expressed his condolences in a post on X. 

"Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy," he said.

"This is devastating news."

Ruto instructed officials to "thoroughly investigate this horrific incident", and promised that those responsible will be "held to account". 

The school, which caters for about 800 pupils, is located in a semi-rural area around 170 kilometres (100 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.

Around 100 parents were gathered outside the gates of the school, an AFP journalist at the scene reported, anxiously waiting for updates on their children.

The dormitory was sealed off by yellow police tape, with officers stationed at all access points.

'Heartbreaking' 

The Kenyan Red Cross said it was on the ground assisting a multi-agency response team.

In a post on X, it said it was "providing psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers and affected families".

"Heartbreaking news from Kenya as a school fire has caused devastation. Our thoughts are with all affected," said Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

There have been numerous school fires in Kenya and across East Africa.

In 2016, nine students were killed by a fire at a girls' high school in the sprawling slum neighbourhood of Kibera in Nairobi.

In 2001, 67 pupils were killed in an arson attack on their dormitory at the Kyanguli Mixed Secondary School David Mutiso in Kenya's southern Machakos district.

Two pupils were charged with the murder, and the headmaster and deputy of the school were convicted of negligence. 

In 1994, 40 school children were burned alive and 47 injured in a fire that ravaged the Shauritanga Secondary School for Girls in the northern region of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

[newstfionline]

Monday, October 21, 2024

Billions in election bets raise the stakes of the presidential race (Washington Post) Scott Owens, an amateur watchmaker in Madison, Wis., waited years for a chance to legally bet money on U.S. politics. Earlier this month a federal court opened the way, by ruling that federal financial regulators could not block New York start-up Kalshi from accepting such wagers. A few days later, Owens put down about $100 on several potential outcomes in the popular vote and electoral college from the presidential ballot on Election Day. Tarek Mansour, CEO of Kalshi, said in an interview this week that the site’s user base has been “doubling day over day” since the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia early this month ruled against a Commodity Futures Trading Commission order banning bets on politics. Around $2 billion in cryptocurrency has been wagered on predicting the next president on Polymarket as of Friday. As of Friday, pricing on Polymarket suggested former president Donald Trump had a 60 percent chance of winning the presidency and Kamala Harris had a 40 percent chance. On Kalshi, Trump was trading at 56 percent and Harris at 44 percent.

Halloween: Retail Monstrosity (NYT) On Nov. 1, 1876, The New York Times declared Halloween “departed,” destined for the grave. In 2024, consumers are expected to spend $11.6 billion celebrating the holiday, up from $3.3 billion in 2005. Halloween has transformed from a pagan feast to a celebration with lovingly homemade costumes and treats to one of the largest consumer spending holidays in the United States. Every October—or even earlier—millions of Americans are spending on costumes, decorating their homes and lawns with garish skeletons and spiders and doling out candy bars to little superheroes and witches. Halloween is a marketer’s dream, said Tom Arnold, a finance professor and retail expert at the University of Richmond. It falls on the same day every year, Halloween items are largely consumable (candy needs to be replenished every year and kids outgrow costumes), and pop culture trends can help predict which costumes will be the must-haves each season.

Cuba Suffers Second Power Outage in 24 Hours, Realizing Years of Warnings (NYT) The experts had warned for years: Cuba’s power grid was on the verge of collapse, relying on plants nearly a half-century old and importing fuel that the strapped Communist government could barely afford. On Friday morning their dire predictions came true, as the entire island plunged into the most prolonged blackout it has suffered in the three decades since its former benefactor and steady fuel supplier, the Soviet Union, collapsed. Cuban energy officials managed to get power back up briefly to some parts of the island on Friday night. But early Saturday the state’s utility company reported another “total disconnection” of the system, the second in less than 24 hours.

Historic Droughts in South America (NYT) Electricity cuts across an entire nation. A capital rationing water. A mayor encouraging people to shower together to save precious drops. The world’s largest river system, the Amazon, which sustains some 30 million people across eight countries, is drying up. A record-breaking drought that is well into its second year is punishing much of South America, including the Amazon rainforest, upending lives and local economies and providing an alarming glimpse into the future as the effects of climate change become more apparent. In Brazil, wildfires fueled by searing heat and prolonged dry conditions have consumed vast swaths of forest, wetlands and pastures, with smoke spreading to 80 percent of the country. It has led to canceled classes, hospitalizations and a black dust coating the inside of homes. To the south, in Paraguay, the Paraguay River has hit new lows. Ships are stranded and fishermen say their most valuable quarry—including the enormous surubí catfish—have all but disappeared, forcing many people to look for work elsewhere to feed their families. With much of South America dependent on hydropower, electricity production has plunged. In Ecuador, people are enduring energy cuts of up to 14 hours per day, knocking out the internet and sapping the country’s economy.

Kyiv launches more than 100 drones over Russia as a missile strike on Ukraine injures 17 (AP) Russian air defenses shot down more than 100 Ukrainian drones Sunday over Russia’s western regions, Moscow officials said, while 17 people were injured in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in a ballistic missile attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said 110 drones were destroyed in the overnight barrage against seven Russian regions. Many targeted Russia’s border region of Kursk, where 43 drones were reportedly shot down. Social media footage appeared to show air defenses at work over the city of Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod region, close to a factory producing explosives.

Moldova votes in election, EU referendum in shadow of alleged Russian meddling (Reuters) Moldovans cast their ballots on Sunday in a presidential election and EU referendum at a pivotal moment that could bolster the small agricultural economy’s drive to join the European Union, after allegations of Russian election meddling. As the war in Ukraine rages to the east and turns the political and diplomatic spotlight on the former Soviet republic, it has accelerated its push to escape Moscow’s orbit and embarked on the long process of EU accession talks. Polls show pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu has a comfortable lead over her 10 rivals on the ballot, though the race will go to a Nov. 3 run-off if she fails to reach the 50% threshold to win outright. The campaign has been overshadowed by election-meddling allegations. The police have accused Ilan Shor, a fugitive tycoon who lives in Russia, of trying to pay off a network of at least 130,000 voters to vote “No”. And law-enforcement agencies said they had uncovered a programme in which hundreds of people were taken to Russia to undergo training to stage riots and civil unrest.

Japan’s beloved former Empress Michiko marks her 90th birthday as she recovers from a broken leg (AP) Japan’s beloved former Empress Michiko received greetings from her relatives and palace officials to celebrate her 90th birthday Sunday as she steadily recovers from a broken leg, officials said. Michiko is the first commoner to become empress in modern Japanese history. Catholic-educated Michiko Shoda and then-Crown Prince Akihito married on April 10, 1959. The couple retired after Akihito abdicated in 2019 as their son, Emperor Naruhito, ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne and his wife, Masako, became empress. Since then, Akihito and Michiko have largely withdrawn from public appearance to enjoy their quiet life together, taking daily walks inside the palace gardens or occasionally taking private trips, hosting small gatherings for book reading and music. The couple broke with traditions and brought many changes to the monarchy: They chose to raise their three children themselves, spoke more often to the public, and made amends for war victims in and outside Japan. Their close interactions have won them deep affection among Japanese.

Indonesia swears in Prabowo Subianto as the country’s eighth president (AP) Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated Sunday as the eighth president of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, completing his journey from an ex-general accused of rights abuses during the dark days of Indonesia’s military dictatorship to the presidential palace. The former defense minister, who turned 73 on Thursday, was cheered through the streets by thousands of waving supporters after taking his oath on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in front of lawmakers and foreign dignitaries. Banners and billboards to welcome the new president filled the streets of the capital, Jakarta, where tens of thousands gathered for festivities including speeches and musical performances along the city’s major throughfare.

Lebanese Christians caught in crossfire (Washington Post) While much of southern Lebanon falls under the de facto control of Hezbollah, the ancient valleys here hold a scattering of towns and villages that are predominantly Christian, Druze or Sunni Muslim. None of them have rallied to support Hezbollah. Their neutrality largely protected them during the first 11 months of the conflict, but now the war is creeping quickly toward them. While most residents have evacuated, people in some Christian towns—and their priests—are refusing to leave their homes again. Their reasons are a kaleidoscope of defiance, resolve and generational trauma. Some say they can’t afford to relocate. Some believe their presence deters attacks on their lands. Some fear they won’t be able to return. For many across the country, this war in particular has brought feelings of complete helplessness: Lebanon’s five-year-long economic crisis has left them unable to escape the danger zone of a war they do not even support.

Fighting Rages in Gaza and Lebanon, Despite Killing of Hamas Leader (NYT) Israeli forces pounded targets in the northern Gaza town of Jabaliya on Saturday, killing at least 33 people and injuring dozens of others in the bombardment, a Palestinian emergency services group said. Israel has surrounded Jabaliya for a week as it seeks to root out Hamas fighters who it says have reorganized in the area. Since Friday, approximately 20,000 Palestinians have fled the neighborhood, according to UNRWA, the main United Nations agency aiding Palestinians in Gaza, amid Israel’s bombardment. Fighting also escalated in Lebanon on Saturday, as the Israeli military targeted several areas outside of Beirut in airstrikes that covered the area in clouds of dust. The resurgence in attacks, after several days of relative calm, came after Hezbollah warned of “a new and escalating phase” in the conflict with Israel. In Gaza, the Gazan Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces had targeted the entrance of the laboratory at Kamal Adwan Hospital, a major facility near Jabaliya, killing one person and injuring several others. The ministry has warned of a crisis in Gaza’s hospitals, citing fuel shortages and a lack of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Dog spotted atop ancient Egyptian pyramid delights paragliders (Washington Post) An Egyptian dog found viral fame after it was filmed frolicking atop one of the pyramids at Giza, spotted by a group of paragliders. Marshall Mosher, one of the paragliders, said he had flown over the pyramids several times but it was his first sighting of a dog at the summit, hundreds of feet from the ground. “We really didn’t know what it was at first—this thing running back and forth along the top,” he told The Post. “So, that was hilarious and unexpected.” Social media users fell in love with the adventurous animal, as videos taken by the event participants accumulated more than a million views.

[ausetkmt]

Barbados Announces Creation Of A Transatlantic Slavery Museum - Travel Noire

Fresh off the country’s status as the world’s newest republic, Barbados is breaking ground on a transatlantic slavery museum with the largest collection of British slave records outside the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced the creation of the Barbados Heritage District, which includes a “memorial, a major global research institute, and a museum located in Newton Plantation outside the country’s capital, dedicated to accurately recounting the historic and contemporary impact of slavery on Barbados and on the lives of individuals, cultures, and nations of the Western hemisphere.”

The first phase of the project will be the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground Memorial. This monument will serve as a tribute to the country’s enslaved ancestors and provide an avenue to remember and honor those impacted by the effects of forced migration. The development is expected to be a catalyst for significant job growth across multiple industries.

“Barbados is authentically enshrining our history and preserving the past as we reimagine our world and continue to contribute to global humanity,” said Mottley in a statement. “It is a moral imperative but equally an economic necessity.”

David Adjaye, who has been commissioned to design the project, shared his vision for the Barbados Heritage District.

“Drawing upon the technique and philosophy of traditional African tombs, prayer sites, and pyramids, the memorial is conceived as a space that contemporaneously honors the dead, edifies the living, and manifests a new diasporic future for Black civilization that is both of the African continent and distinct from it.”

At the inauguration of Barbados’ new president Dame Sandra Mason, who replaced the Queen as head of state, Prince Charles acknowledged the UK’s role in Barbados’ grim beginnings.

“From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” he said. “Emancipation, self-government, and independence were your way-points. Freedom, justice, and self-determination have been your guides. Your long journey has brought you to this moment, not as your destination, but as a vantage point from which to survey a new horizon.”

[90363462]

NEWS

Home › Race Matters

D.C. Becoming ‘Chocolate City’ Again After Pandemic ‘White Flight’ Reverses Gentrification Trend

The Census Bureau released new data this week.

Written By Bruce C.T. Wright

Posted July 1, 2022

@bctw

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Double dutch jump roping is shown during D.C.’s Chocolate City Experience around Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 27, 2020. | Source: The Washington Post / Getty

There are now fewer white people who call the nation’s capital home than there were before the pandemic in a demographic shift that is helping to restore the “Chocolate City” nickname that had increasingly become a misnomer in recent years.

During 12 months in the middle of the COVID-19pandemic, more than 10,000 non-Hispanic white people fled Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Post, which cited newly released Census data. Those findings show a serious reversal of white people moving to the city that is part of a larger heated debate about the effects that gentrificationhas had on the District of Columbia’s Black population.

MORE: The Fight For D.C. Statehood Is A 21st Century Civil Rights Issue

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“In the four years preceding the pandemic, the city had been adding non-Hispanic White residents at a rate of around 4,000 to 5,000 each year,” the Post reported. “But between July 2020 and July 2021, it lost 10,285 people from that group, according to the bureau’s annual population estimates for the nation, states and counties by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.”

The apparent so-called “white flight” — the phenomenon of white people fleeing urban areas in droves — was consistent with trends in other major cities ravaged by the coronavirus.

Those numbers may not be reflected on the official Census Bureau page for Washington, D.C., which shows the city has a Black population of 45.8% compared to a white population of 45.9%.

While that margin is as slim as can be, the number of white people eclipsing Black people in a city renowned for its Black population has prompted a number of questions.

Back in the 1980s, as much as 70% of the city’s population was estimated to be Black people. Decades later, that majority was threatened before finally being eclipsed by white residents in 2015.

The number of white people living in D.C. had been steadily increasing until the Census Bureau released its new findings Thursday.

A glaring example of the surge of white people living in Black D.C. neighborhoods came in 2019 when Howard University students and community residents attended an Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting to voice concerns with white, local residents using the historically Black college campus to walk their dogs.

And separately nearby, new residents living in a luxury apartment building complained about a decades-long tradition of a store on the corner of Florida Avenue and 7th Street in the Shaw neighborhood playing go-go music from speakers outside the business.

A 2017 study published by Georgetown University analyzing the impact of the district’s booming economy on Black residents painted a picture of profound economic disparities between the city’s Black and white residents. The average net worth of a white household was $284,000 compared to just $3,500 for Black households.

There was also a huge gap in median annual incomes: Whites with $120,000 and Blacks with $41,000.

The disproportionate number of new jobs in D.C. requiring at least a bachelor’s degree stood in stark contrast with the 12% of Black D.C. residents being college graduates as of 2014, the study noted.

Consequently, White residents were able to pay more for housing, which has driven up costs and reduced available affordable housing.

Those types of inequalities stem from a history of discrimination that pushed the District’s Black residents to the fringes of the economy, the study said. Historic discriminatory practices have ranged from segregated schools to redlining, a racist practice in which banks refused to lend money to Black entrepreneurs and home buyers.

SEE ALSO:

‘New Soul Of Harlem’: Restaurant Ad Showing Only White Patrons Sparks Outrage, Briefly

Gentrification In Detroit: Non-Black Residents Sue For Housing Discrimination

Watch Gentrifier Whitesplain Why He Wants D.C. To Lose Some Of Its Black Culture

15 PHOTOS

BLACK PEOPLE , CENSUS , DC GENTRIFICATION , GENTRIFICATION , NEWSLETTER , WASHINGTON D.C. , WHITE PEOPLE

MORE

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[fls-international]

About FLS Boston Commons

One of America’s most attractive cities, Boston offers a unique blend of historical sites, such as the fascinating Freedom Trail, and modern attractions, like the innovative Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Considered America’s education capital, Boston hosts the world’s largest college student population. Prestigious universities such as Harvard, MIT, Tufts, and the University of Massachusetts are just a few of the many educational institutions in and around the city. Boston is also home to some of the best sports teams in the nation, giving students an opportunity to catch the Red Sox at Fenway Park or experience American football at a New England Patriots game. 

Our Boston Commons center is ideally located in the bustling Downtown district, overlooking America’s oldest park, Boston Common, which residents consider to be the heart and pulse of the city. Students can step outside to hop on the subway at the conveniently located Government Center station or stroll across the street for a quick bite or shopping trip in Quincy Market. 

Our partner agreements with numerous nearby colleges and universities give students many options for pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree after completing their studies at Boston Commons.

Why Study at FLS International Boston Commons?

Small class sizes ensure individual student attention

College and university placement assistance at no additional charge

Programs using the immersion method of language instruction emphasizing spoken English

Structured Pathway programs to effectively prepare students for college entrance

Eighteen levels of English study

Expert academic counselors

Accreditation by CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation)

Centers located in safe and secure environments

Monthly Language Extension Day, letting students use their English in new settings

Highly qualified teaching staff with all faculty holding Master’s Degrees or TESOL credentials

Programs Offered

General English

Intensive English

Academic English

TOEFL Preparation

Executive Business

English

Concurrent Enrollment

High School Completion

Discover Boston

[lboogie1906]

Major Charles Remond Douglass (October 21, 1844 – November 23, 1920) was the youngest son of Frederick Douglass and Anna Murray Douglass. He was the first African American man to enlist in the military in New York during the Civil War and served as one of the first African American clerks in the Freedmen’s Bureau.

He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He attended public school in Rochester. He worked delivering copies of his father’s newspaper North Star. He worked as a soldier, journalist, government clerk, real estate developer, and secretary and treasurer for the DC school district. He married Mary Elizabeth Murphy (1866-79). The couple had six children. Of these six, Joseph Henry was the only one to live to adulthood, becoming a famous violinist. He married Laura Haley (1880). The couple had one son, who became a school teacher at Dunbar High School in DC and mayor of Highland Beach, Maryland (1922-54).

Due to illness, he was not able to deploy with the troops. He joined another Black military regiment, the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry, in which he rose to the rank of first sergeant. President Abraham Lincoln discharged him due to poor health, at the request of his father. He helped to organize the Capital City Guards’ Battalion, in which served as a captain and major. He held several commands in the DC National Guard, along with several high posts in the Grand Army of the Republic.

He served as a clerk to the Santo Domingo Commission and returned to the Caribbean when President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him consul to Puerto Plata. He became a clerk in the US consulate in Santo Domingo. He moved to Corona, New York, and entered the West India commissions business. He began working as an examiner for the Pension Bureau. He employed the first African American teachers in the county’s schools and assured them they received equal pay.

He became a correspondent for the paper. He became a real estate developer. He served as president of the Bethel Literary and Historical Association. He became a member of the DC branch of the NAACP.

He was survived by his wife Laura, and his two sons. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[journeyman-jack-in-ecuador]

04OCT24 #ECUADOR Recent state of exception - "The president has declared a new 60-days state of exception in the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Orellana, Santa Elena, the Quito Distrito Metropolitanan District, and the canton of Camilo Ponce Enríquez because of “conmoción interna” and “conflicto armado interno”.

There will be a curfew from 10 pm until 5 am in the cantons of Camilo Ponce Enríquez, Durán, Balao,

Babahoyo, Buena Fé, Quevedo, Pueblo Viejo, Vinces, Valencia, Ventanas, Mocache, Urdaneta, Baba, Palenque, Quinsaloma, Montalvo,

La Joya De Los Sachas, Puerto Francisco de Orellana, Loreto, and the parish of Tenguel in the province of Guayas.

See Presidential Decree 2024/4/10 for the whole text: https://minka.presidencia.gob.ec/portal/usuarios_externos.jsf

Below an article from Primicias about this state of exception (that is erroneously called a “state of emergency” in the article):

These are the 19 cantons with a curfew in Ecuador, according to the government's new state of emergency

Amid the national electricity crisis and power outages, Daniel Noboa’s government issued a new state of emergency, which includes a curfew in 19 cantons and one parish.

On the morning of October 3, the government issued a new emergency decree, as noted on the official website of the Presidency, though no authority had reported the document as of Thursday morning.

The new state of emergency now includes Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and will last for 60 days.

According to the government, the measure was taken due to "the increase in hostilities, the commission of crimes, and the intensity of the presence of armed groups" in Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Orellana, Santa Elena, El Oro, and the metropolitan district of Quito.

The measure again includes the canton of Ponce Enríquez in Azuay, where groups involved in illegal mining are present.

Additionally, Article 8 of Decree No. 410 imposes a curfew or restriction on freedom of movement every day from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for 60 days.

This curfew will be applied in 19 cantons across four provinces, as well as one parish in Guayaquil. Here are the affected locations:

- Ponce Enríquez

- Durán

- Balao

- Tenguel

- Babahoyo

- Buena Fe

- Quevedo

- Pueblo Viejo

- Vinces

- Valencia

- Ventanas

- Mocache

- Urdaneta

- Baba

- Palenque

- Quinsaloma

- Montalvo

- Joya de los Sachas

- Puerto Francisco de Orellana

- Loreto

The decree reminds that people circulating during the restricted hours will be placed at the disposal of the competent authorities." -

https://www.primicias.ec/seguridad/cantones-toque-queda-ecuador-decreto-excepcion-80348/

[agnesconaty]

The Laurel Inner Space

The Laurel Independent Newspaper, October 2024 Issue

Written in stone: Geology in our region

By AGNES PASCO CONATY

Many structures in the District — the monuments and museums, the federal buildings — reveal much of the underlying geological history of this region. Take the Washington Monument, for instance. The marble exterior faces have a number of characteristics, including shades of color, that indicate the stone was sourced from different quarries, including two right here in Maryland. The core of the structure is bluestone gneiss and granite, also quarried in Maryland, while the interior walls are faced with Maine granite. When finished in 1884, this 554-foot-7-inch monument was the tallest structure in the world. It’s the world’s tallest obelisk and predominantly-stone structure to this day.

And right here in Laurel, we can take a geologic walking tour of historical landmarks, too, that might be seen as monuments, of a sort, to our region’s geology: The Montpelier Mansion and St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church are two good examples of how geology influenced both architecture and construction in earlier eras. Like most of the city’s historic buildings still standing, the mansion and church were constructed of bricks and clay, which were standard materials in the 18th and 19th centuries.

I’m fascinated by these historic examples of local geology, and my fascination prompted me to learn more about the ground my home in West Laurel stands on. What lies beneath its foundation — and even beneath my own feet? To answer these questions, I turned to easy-to-access, reliable sources including the U.S. Geological Survey (pubs.usgs.gov) and the Maryland Geological Survey (mgs.md.gov).

The state’s site has a map showing six distinct but connected landforms, five of which, stretching from the state’s western border east to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic, we can explore on foot. (The sixth is the Atlantic Continental Shelf, which is offshore.) Laurel, along with the greater D.C. region, is located along the north-south border between the Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the landform that gives way to the continental shelf.

Rocks found in Maryland’s Piedmont, to our west, are primarily igneous and metamorphic; igneous rocks form from volcanic activity and, with sufficient pressure over time, transform into metamorphic rocks.

The Atlantic Coastal Plain, spreading out to out to the east, has primarily sedimentary rocks (i.e., sandstone, limestone and shale). Sedimentary rocks form when small rock fragments, typically resulting from weathering or erosion, are compressed over thousands of years. Many sedimentary rocks in our area, for instance, have formed from deposits of the Patuxent and Patapsco rivers.

Dinosaur Park, a 22-acre tract under the auspices of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, offers us an unusual geological glimpse into our region’s history. In 1858, African American workers mining iron ore at the site discovered dinosaur fossils, the first ever found in Maryland.

Since those first finds, scientists have discovered hundreds of dinosaur teeth and bones at the site; most are from sauropods (long-necked herbivores), and theropods, which, like the Tyrannosaurus rex, were large predatory carnivores. The majority of these fossils date to the Cretaceous period, which followed the Jurassic period, taking place 145 million to 66 million years ago.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased the tract and established Dinosaur Park in 1995.

And dinosaurs roamed far beyond the bounds of that 22-acre tract, of course. (Indeed, they inhabited most of the Mid-Atlantic region during a period that lasted roughly 158 million years.) I work at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and we have an exhibit (pictured below) of dinosaur artifacts, most of which were found right here in Greenbelt by Ray Stanford, an amateur paleontologist with an extraordinary knack for finding dinosaur tracks.

During excavation of a Goddard parking lot in 2012, Stanford unearthed the footprint of a nodosaur, a heavily armored plant-eating dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, some 145 million years ago. (You can read Stanford’s account of his finds in this article in Nature magazine: tinyurl.com/yuw8p56t). Subsequent excavations at Goddard have uncovered sauropod tracks like those found at Dinosaur Park, as well, and scientists excavating the parking lot also found pterosaur tracks. Not the ancestor of a bird or bat, and not a dinosaur (though on a branch of the same family tree), the pterosaur was the earliest-known vertebrate capable of flight.

My office at Goddard is a few yards from this intriguing exhibit of digs, and sometimes I spend my lunch break looking at a cast of a fossilized dinosaur poo!

If you’re eager to learn about rockhounding, there are clubs you can join to connect with others who share your interests. I can recommend three clubs right here in Maryland: the Maryland Geological Society (mdgeosociety.org/), the Baltimore Mineral Society (tinyurl.com/2hpe3z3h) and the Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club (smrmc.org/).

A quick search online will turn up numerous guides to common rocks and minerals, including specimens you may easily find in our area. Rockchasing.com has a particularly good section about Maryland’s rocks and minerals that includes a list of sites where you can find each type. Rockchasing’s Maryland resources are at tinyurl.com/yfrw7d2b.

And one of the very best ways to experience rockhounding is to start in your own backyard (like I did) — you may be surprised what you can find right under your feet! If you live near a creek (like I do), you may find rocks and minerals, maybe even shells, that have been polished as they’ve been tumbled, over time, by moving water.

I encourage you to get a nice journal so you can describe your digs and draw them in detail. And if you catch the rockhounding bug, consider investing in a hand lens and a rock pickaxe, too. It’s never too late to follow your curiosity and dig right in!

Photo:

Agnes Conaty holding her team’s 2024 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award for Excellence in Outreach in front of the exhibit of dinosaur digs at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Credit: Kristen Weaver

[brainware-success-stories]

Essential Admission Guidelines for International Students at Brainware University

Location of Brainware University

Visit here for more details.

Brainware University (BWU) is situated in Barasat, an important town and district headquarters near Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The university is about 14 km from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum, and can be reached within 30 minutes. The campus spans 9 acres, known for its lush, green, and clean environment.

Before Coming to India International students who wish to study in India must obtain a Student Visa prior to their arrival. Upon receiving an admission letter from Brainware University, students should promptly apply for their Student Visa.

Student Visa Information India offers various types of visas, including the Student Visa for those wishing to pursue higher education. Typically, Student Visas are granted for the duration of the academic course or a maximum of five years, whichever is shorter, based on the admission letter from an Indian university or recognized educational institution. However, the duration of the visa is ultimately decided by the Indian High Commission.

Children of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) cardholders do not require a Student Visa, but all other international students, including doctoral candidates, must apply for a Student or Research Visa.

Requirements for Obtaining a Student Visa To apply for a Student Visa, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Government of India scholarship recipients are advised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to obtain a Student Visa once admission is confirmed.

Self-financed students must present confirmed admission letters from recognized universities or institutions in India.

Research students must submit a research synopsis approved by the sponsoring institution in India, along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from relevant Indian ministries.

The processing time for a Visa application typically ranges from 3 to 8 weeks.

Student Visa Application Process Applicants must complete an online Visa Application at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in, print the form, and visit their nearest Indian embassy with the required documents.

Required Documents

Passport valid for at least six months

Passport-sized photographs

Photocopy of passport

Proof of residential address

Copy of the completed online Visa form

University admission letter

University details

Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not need a visa to enter India. However, Nepali citizens require a visa if entering from China.

During the visa period, students cannot change the purpose of their stay or transfer to a different institution. Students staying in India for more than 180 days must register with the local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) or FRO (Foreigners Registration Office) within 14 days of arrival to obtain a residence permit.

Documents Required at the Time of Admission At the time of admission, international students must submit the following documents (self-attested photocopies, unless otherwise stated):

Class 10 Marksheet (2 copies)

Class 10 Certificate (2 copies)

Class 12 Marksheet (2 copies)

Class 12 Certificate (2 copies)

Graduation Marksheets (for all years/semesters) (for PG courses) (2 copies)

Graduation Certificate (for PG courses) (2 copies)

School Leaving Certificate (for UG courses) (2 copies)

Migration Certificate (original, for PG courses) (1 copy)

Recent Character Certificate (2 copies)

Passport (notarized) (2 copies)

Nationality Certificate (for NRI/PIO/FN students) or Guardian’s Nationality Certificate (for PIO) (2 copies)

Blood Group Report (2 copies)

Physical Fitness Certificate from a registered physician (2 copies)

Caste Certificate (where applicable) (2 copies)

Stamp-sized color photographs (name on the back of each photo) (2 copies)

Disability Certificate (where applicable) (2 copies)

Equivalence Certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) (2 copies, if required)

Brainware University will accept self-attested copies of documents, but any falsified records will result in the student being barred from the university. Original certificates must be presented at the time of admission, or the admission may be canceled.

Affidavit Requirements At the time of admission, students must submit the following affidavits:

Anti-ragging affidavit signed by the student

Anti-ragging affidavit signed by the student’s parents or legal guardian

Induction/Orientation Program To help international students acclimate to both Brainware University and Indian culture, an induction and orientation program is held at the start of the academic session. This includes a presentation on life at Brainware University, university policies, and an introduction to Indian culture and demographics. International students are strongly encouraged to attend this program.

Helpline for International Students

Mobile: +91 88202 04372

Email: sb.sro@brainwareuniversity.ac.in

[beardedmrbean]

Mozambique's capital Maputo awoke to wreckage on Friday as protests overnight turned violent following the ruling party Frelimo's re-election after 49 years in power.

Hundreds of opposition supporters demonstrated, rejecting what they called a ballot "stolen" by a "corrupt" electoral commission, which on Thursday announced that Frelimo's candidate Daniel Chapo had won the October 9 election with 71 percent of the vote.

As the election authority, widely accused of acting in the ruling party's favour, was announcing the results, crowds gathered in multiple cities.

Protests escalated, with rioters setting fire to tyres to block avenues in Maputo and scaling Frelimo's election billboards and destroying them.

Some also threw stones at riot police, who fired tear gas to disperse them, an AFP reporter saw.

Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor with no experience in national government, was little known before his surprise nomination as Frelimo's candidate. He will take over from President Filipe Nyusi in January.

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane -- who has declared himself the winner, claimed irregularities and urged demonstrations -- officially won just over 20 percent.

"We absolutely reject these results," said Mondlane, during a Facebook live broadcast Thursday evening.

"They do not reflect the will of the people," he added, calling the political situation in the southern African country "rotten, doctored and fake".

Several cities saw isolated incidents take place overnight.

In northern Nampula, one person died in clashes between law enforcement and protesters, police said.

In Maputo, demonstrators vehemently opposed the results.

"This country must be led by Venancio," a protester who declined to give his name told AFP.

"We did not vote for these leeches, we did not vote for this man," he said, referring to the triumphant Chapo. "We are tired of all this."

Poll observers have deplored concerning irregularities in the electoral process while the Catholic Church has gone so far as to warn of at times "foul" fraud.

A European Union poll observer mission earlier this month noted "net favouritism" in favour of Frelimo.

EU officials have raised concerns about the polls' legitimacy, noting "irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level".

They also stressed that the numbers did not "add up" across about a third of recounts.

More than 17 million out of a population of 33 million were called to vote on October 9.

That figure was surprising as the median age of Mozambicans is 17 and the legal voting age is 18, experts previously said.

A total of 104 percent of the adult population of voting age was registered on electoral rolls, the EU mission stressed.

Chapo, 47, will be the first president not to have been a fighter during the 16-year civil war between Frelimo and Renamo that ended in 1992, which claimed around a million lives.

While Renamo has traditionally been the main opposition group, the emergence of Mondlane and the Podemos party was a novel development in this election.

[phoenixx-news]

Cryptocurrency Under Scrutiny as U.S. Elections Approach

The cryptocurrency sector is facing intensified scrutiny from regulators, with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler describing it as “rife with fraud and hucksters.” In a recent interview, Gensler emphasized that the investing public has lost significant amounts of money due to non-compliance with existing laws by many crypto firms.

As the November elections draw near, the cryptocurrency industry is investing heavily in political donations to influence the legislative landscape. This includes the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as well as all 435 House districts and 33 Senate seats up for grabs.

A Divided Political Landscape

The cryptocurrency debate has revealed stark differences in policy approaches between Trump and the Biden administration. Trump has actively sought support from crypto enthusiasts, promising to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and proposing a “strategic national bitcoin stockpile,” reminiscent of the country’s gold reserves. Recently, he launched a new crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, stating, “I think crypto is one of those things we have to do,” a notable shift from his previous skepticism about Bitcoin.

In contrast, the Biden administration, with Kamala Harris as vice president, has adopted a tougher stance on cryptocurrency regulation. This year has seen significant enforcement actions, including the 25-year prison sentence for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who defrauded customers globally. Additionally, Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, received a four-month prison sentence and a hefty fine for facilitating illicit activities on his platform.

Regulatory Landscape and Public Sentiment

Gensler highlighted the need for compliance with long-standing financial regulations, which aim to protect investors. He cautioned that while crypto is just a small segment of the broader financial market, it could undermine trust in these systems if not properly regulated. Despite the potential benefits of cryptocurrency, a recent Federal Reserve survey revealed a decline in U.S. users, from 12% in 2021 to just 7% last year.

While Harris has been relatively quiet on crypto issues, her advisors have indicated a willingness to support policies that foster growth in emerging technologies. Recent discussions between her team and industry leaders suggest a desire to build trust and possibly create a more favorable regulatory environment, regardless of who wins the upcoming election.

Industry Spending and Influence

The crypto industry has recognized the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment, spending an unprecedented $119 million on political contributions, according to research by Public Citizen. This funding aims to support pro-crypto candidates and challenge critics, regardless of their political affiliation. Rick Claypool, research director at Public Citizen, stated that this spending reflects an effort to pressure Congress into reducing oversight and consumer protections.

Global Context

This regulatory push in the U.S. mirrors actions in Europe, where the European Union has also introduced new laws aimed at mitigating the risks of crypto-related crime. However, other international regulatory bodies, such as the G20, are still formulating non-binding standards.

In the U.S., a regulatory bill has passed in the House but remains stalled in the Senate, with critics arguing it could reduce consumer protections. Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, supports the bill, advocating for equal treatment of cryptocurrencies compared to other financial assets.

As the political landscape evolves ahead of the elections, the future of cryptocurrency remains uncertain, with both opportunities and challenges on the horizon for the industry.

[libraryofcirclaria]

Combrian Qors

Library of Circlaria

Blog Posts

Article Written: 11 April 1453

The "qors" currency was established by the Kingdom of the Great North as a way to standardize credit. In fact, the term "qor" is an acronym standing for "quantity of revenue," and was originally based on a standard unit of silver. However, it became a fiat currency by the middle of the eleventh century.

Combria: 1086-1184

With the establishment of the nation of Combria in 1086 came the establishment of the Combrian Qor currency. It was originally a direct exchange with the Great Northern Qor, matching the value exactly. But after about ten years, economic growth in Combria led to inflation, decreasing the value of the Combrian Qor gradually.

Such decrease in value entered a more rapid trend in the years of President Chadwick, as con artists and criminals began running amok and forming cartels that laundered money. This problem exploded in the years following Chadwick's departure in 1165.

It was when Jacob Henry became President of Combria that the issues surrounding the value of the Combrian Qor began to be addressed. By that time, it had decreased to one percent of what it was in 1086. President Henry's solution was to keep the currency system but to change the base unit of credit from one qor to one hectoqor, or 100 qors. He termed this officially the "hectoqor," but it was also referred to as the "merchant qor," later shortened to "marq."

Combria: 1184-1238

Shortly after becoming President, Jacob Henry enacted a law to establish 1.00 Combrian Marq per hour as the base pay of a starting laborer. However, this was not officially a minimum wage law. Under Combrian law, all official businesses were officially financed and established by government charters headed by appointed departments. However, there was no established minimum base pay increase. And the only entities to establish such increases were workers unions in various workplaces.

Another caveat was that there was permitted to be free-standing businesses established by capital from sources outside of the Combrian government, so long as these businesses paid "compensation taxes" to the Combrian government. These organizations were not bound by the laws governing charter contracts to pay a minimum base compensation to its workers, and were usually keen to convince those in "desperate demographics" to accept lower wages either through "golden life" progoganda or through coercive moves within local community politics.

Nevertheless, the economy grew between 1185 and 1200. And so wages and prices followed suit. By 1200, the average minimum pay with established businesses was 2.00 Combrian Qors per hour. Despite the economic hardships of the first two decades of the 1200s, the value of the Combrian Qor remained relatively stable. By 1231, minimum pay averages had risen to 3.00 qors per hour.

However, established businesses, bound to their contracts to establish minimum pay, produced employment positions that were rather competitive. Meanwhile, free-standing businesses were eager to step in and hire millions of Combrian workers for lower pay. This created a three-tiered Combrian social class structure, comprised of the notoriously wealthy presidential department heads at the top, the comfortably affluent workers of the established businesses, and the "scrap-workers" of the free-standing businesses.

Some free-standing businesses would be commissioned by the President Henry Administration to carry on certain projects adhering to temporary mutual contracts. Such a commission was granted to two business partners: Thomas Reyshack and James Shawtun. The commission came to be known as the Basin Project, which constructed what would become the Basin District and city of Retun. Reyshack and Shawtun were keen on providing establishment-standard pay to laborers for the Basin Project. However, they were convinced to sign into their commission contract a provision for their business to pay employment compensation to the Estate Department of the President Henry Administration. The Estate Department then decided to pay employees directly via planned lump sum payments.

The Department, during the Project, provided food, needs, and housing to the Basin Project laborers on a very minimal level as well as paid minimal living wages. However, the laborers were anticipating this, for they were promised a large sum of payment upon completion of the Project in five years time. Based on the notion that these laborers worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, and thirty weeks a year, the Department promised to pay these workers a total lump sum of "45000 hqs" and grant each worker a comfortable place of residence in the new Basin District with a lifetime retirement pension.

This was appealing to the laborers, and many of them committed to the Project despite the harsh conditions. In January 1236, the Project was complete, and laborers learned that their lump sum payments would be made in monthly installments beginning that year and going through the year of 1237.

These monthly installments, however, were quite small, amounting each to about 23.70 marqs. Furthermore, the houses provided were offered for sale at unaffordable prices, and subsequently became home to members of the middle and upper classes. Laborers, also experiencing harassment from some of the wealthier patrons, began filing collective petitions against the Estate Department, who responded with a statement that the payments would be adjusted after the last payment made in December 1237. This led to widespread disgruntlement among the laborers.

Thomas Reyshack and James Shawtun, after a falling-out with the Department over other business exploitations implemented within the bounds of the charter contract, rallied the unhappy laborers and began a collective movement. On 3 September 1237, an unusual darkfire event on the nearby peak Mount Carris prompted widespread panic in the Basin District and gave the Department an opportunity to falsely place blame for the darkfire incident on the two figures, leading an officer, claiming to have misheard orders, to shoot the two figures dead. Meanwhile, the laborers were forcibly divided by President Henry's dispatched forces into perimeters.

In January 1238, the Estate Department released a statement to the laborers, stating that the promised payment of "45000 hqs" was in reference to 45000 "house qors" another term for the original Combrian Qor, and not "hectoqors." In other words, laborers were being paid a total of 450 marqs for their five years of labor. This enraged the working class, who joined forces with loyal affluent figures opposed to President Henry's other oppressive policies and led the Basin District and its surrounding territories to gain independence from Combria, forming the Federal Estates of Retun.

By that point, 1.00 Remikran credit was worth 6.00 Combrian Merchant Qors. And after the war, when the new Republic of Retun established its official currency, the Retunian Qor, the Retunian Council set that new currency to equal 1.00 Remikran Credit.

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Industrial Plots at Reliance MET call @ +91-9650389757

Industrial Plots at Reliance MET are part of Model Economic Township Limited, 100% subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited by Sh. Mukesh Ambani Group, the largest Indian company in the private sector.in Delhi NCR is of 8250 acres (3340 hectares) of industrial land township on DMIC (Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor) ) in the district of Jhajjar and Gurgaon Haryana. As part of the first phase of development the Reliance Industrial Plots Jhajjar has obtained licenses. Reliance MET Industrial Plots Jhajjar is engaged in the development of an Integrated Industrial Township on State Highway 15-A near Farukhhnagar Town,Haryana. The total township is spread over 8500 acres of which we have received license from Haryana Govt. to develop 2000 acres. The anchor industries are Panasonic , Denso and Amber and Tirupati and many other MSME and nearly about 30% of the area is occupied by Overseas companies from Japan France and Korea .. we have till date sold more than 1200 acres to 200+ industrial units, of which Consumer Durables, Plastics, Auto Components General Engg and footwear sectors dominate and manufacturing of garments.The area has strong linkages to the major urban areas amongst the surrounding developments of the north Indian region as well as other regions through national and state highways, expressways as well as rail corridors also has Rail connectivity to the Northern Railway line Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).MET Project is strategically located in the industrially backward Jhajjar district and adjoining parts of Gurgaon district of Haryana State covering 30 revenue villages, of which 22 are in Jhajjar district and 8 in Gurgaon district.Power requirements will be met from the State distribution grid. Haryana state is aggressively on a mission to becoming a power sufficient state. The project will establish 220 KV GIS substations, as these are connected to the national grid, hence ensuring good reliability of power.Reliance MET is a green field project developed in the area comprising 22 villages within its identified boundary in Jhajjar. The villages have a total population of 48,471 (2011 census). There is no history of any disturbances based on religion denomination in the area. People are hardworking and industrious and the joint family system which was in vogue is slowly giving way to nuclear families. Girls are making major strides in education and service sectors. Farukhnagar town is steeped in history for being one of the locations for holding prisoners captured by the British in the 1857 mutiny. The Delhi-Farukhnagar rail link is one of the oldest in the country having been commissioned in the year 1873. There are six pair of trains that operate daily to and from Farukhnagar connecting Delhi and other cities in North India. It is part of the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) and shares it border with the Delhi State.5 Advantages to truly invest in Industrial Plots at Reliance MET, we have a tendency to create an investment or maybe when we have a tendency to area unit shopping for plots and lands. What if we are able to get each hand in hand, an ideal plot at associate degree impeccable worth? Reliance MET in Gurgaon is one such investment that will prevent years of worrying. The benefits or let’s say few reasons why are best for the investment area unit provided.

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