Thursday, June 30, 2016
The Antarctic ozone hole has finally started to ‘heal,’ scientists report
(washingtonpost) - In a major new paper in the influential journal Science, a team of researchers report strikingly good news about a thirty year old environmental problem. The Antarctic ozone “hole” — which, when it was first identified in the mid-1980s, focused public attention like few other pieces of environmental news — has begun, in their words, to finally “heal.”
“If you use the medical analogy, first the patient was getting worse and worse, and then the patient is stabilized, and now, the really encouraging thing, is that the patient is really starting to get better,” said MIT atmospheric scientist Susan Solomon, lead author of the study, and former co-chair of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
And moreover, that patient — the Earth’s vital ozone layer — is getting better directly because of our choices and policies.
The initial, Nobel Prize winning discovery that ozone depleting chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) carried in refrigerants, spray cans, foams and other substances could damage the stratospheric layer that protects us from ultraviolet solar radiation (and thus, skin cancer) came in 1974. But it wasn’t until the sudden discovery of a vast seasonal ozone “hole” over Antarctica in 1985 that the world was shocked into action.
The so-called “hole” represents a region of the stratosphere over Antarctica, between about 10 and 25 kilometers in altitude, where “the ozone gets destroyed completely,” explains Solomon, who conducted the new research with scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Leeds in the UK. However, some ozone remains above and below this region, amounting to a 40 or 50 percent loss of atmospheric ozone overall in a very large area of air.
Ozone has been depleted in the stratosphere all across the globe, to be sure. But Antarctica in the spring (which is autumn in the northern hemisphere) presents uniquely conducive conditions for it to happen, as extremely cold polar stratospheric clouds provide a surface that enables the chemical reactions in which destructive forms of chlorine are created. (Full Text)
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
A Little Butter Won't Kill You, Study Finds
(nbcnews) - A little butter isn't going to kill anyone, but it's not a health food, either, nutrition experts found in a big study released Wednesday.
Before you sigh and complain about science flip-flopping, the researchers want to point out that they took a new approach to answering the classic question about healthy food. They looked at actual foods that people ate, rather than the ingredients that make up those foods, like saturated fats.
Their upshot? There are better things to worry about than butter.
"I would say butter is neither good nor bad," said Laura Pimpin of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, who led the study.
"If you can replace it with the more healthful plant-based oils, do so."
So many studies look at saturated fat or unsaturated fat or omega-3 fatty acids or calcium. Pimpin's team set out to find studies that looked at whole foods that people actually eat and then calculated their risks for overall death, heart disease and diabetes.
"We did the most up-to-date review that we could," Pimpin told NBC News. "We only found nine studies looking at the effect of butter. That's a finding in itself."
But they did their best and found no clear evidence that butter does any harm or good by itself. People who ate the most butter were slightly more likely to die during the various study periods than were people who ate little or none, but the risk was very slight, the team reported in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS ONE.
"We found a very small protective effect of butter intake on type-2 diabetes — not enough to tell people to eat it, but enough to say this might not be of huge concern for policymakers to be concerned with," Pimpin said.
The team wrote: "Our findings suggest a major focus on eating more or less butter, by itself, may not be linked to large differences in mortality, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. In sum, our findings do not support a need for major emphasis in dietary guidelines on butter consumption."
What might be more useful to focus on is the stuff people eat butter with, Pimpin said.
"It may be the case that the bagel you spread your butter on or the bread you spread it on may be more of a concern than the butter itself," she said.
"It's common sense. We do know that there are other foods that are healthful. If you can switch to cooking with olive oil, that could be beneficial," she said. (Source)
Before you sigh and complain about science flip-flopping, the researchers want to point out that they took a new approach to answering the classic question about healthy food. They looked at actual foods that people ate, rather than the ingredients that make up those foods, like saturated fats.
Their upshot? There are better things to worry about than butter.
"I would say butter is neither good nor bad," said Laura Pimpin of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, who led the study.
"If you can replace it with the more healthful plant-based oils, do so."
So many studies look at saturated fat or unsaturated fat or omega-3 fatty acids or calcium. Pimpin's team set out to find studies that looked at whole foods that people actually eat and then calculated their risks for overall death, heart disease and diabetes.
"We did the most up-to-date review that we could," Pimpin told NBC News. "We only found nine studies looking at the effect of butter. That's a finding in itself."
But they did their best and found no clear evidence that butter does any harm or good by itself. People who ate the most butter were slightly more likely to die during the various study periods than were people who ate little or none, but the risk was very slight, the team reported in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS ONE.
"We found a very small protective effect of butter intake on type-2 diabetes — not enough to tell people to eat it, but enough to say this might not be of huge concern for policymakers to be concerned with," Pimpin said.
The team wrote: "Our findings suggest a major focus on eating more or less butter, by itself, may not be linked to large differences in mortality, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. In sum, our findings do not support a need for major emphasis in dietary guidelines on butter consumption."
What might be more useful to focus on is the stuff people eat butter with, Pimpin said.
"It may be the case that the bagel you spread your butter on or the bread you spread it on may be more of a concern than the butter itself," she said.
"It's common sense. We do know that there are other foods that are healthful. If you can switch to cooking with olive oil, that could be beneficial," she said. (Source)
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
US Secret Wildlife Killing Program Killed 3.2 Million Animals in 2015
Shocking!
(natureworldnews.com) - Amid public protest against animal killing practices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services killed a total of 3.2 million animals in 2015.
The number was revealed in a report conducted by its highly selective arm.
Aside from highlighting the numbers, the report also detailed whether the animals were killed, euthanized, relocated or dispersed. It also described whether the acts were intentional or unintentional.
Figures show that red-winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds at the top of the list, with 708,486 and 475,905 kills respectively.
The group also slaughtered 69,905 coyotes, 385 gray wolves, 480 black bears, 284 mountain lions, 731 bobcats, 492 river otters, 3,437 foxes, two bald eagles and 21,559 beavers. Oone critically endangered Mexican wolf was also killed.
Former Wildlife Services employees estimate that these numbers are likely hugely short of the actual numbers.
According to the Center for Biodiversity, the century-old Wildlife Services was created in 1915 to eliminate invasive species that weaken the livestock and agricultural sector. But for the past years, the agency had been highly criticized because it targets even innocent animals, including pets.
It has reportedly killed 32 million native animals since 1996.
The killings destroy the balance of nature as many of the species they kill are at the top of the food chain, making them beneficial to the health of ecosystem.
"It is a tragedy that our government continues to needlessly slaughter America's wildlife year to year," said Kelly Nokes, carnivore campaign lead for WildEarth Guardians. "Wildlife Services' cruel killing of native animals is based on disproven anti-wildlife bias and undermines the critical natural systems upon which we all depend."
The program uses inhumane ways to kill; some of which include the use of cruel tools, including trapping, poisoning and shooting from airplanes.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Russia and China: Friends Without Benefits?
(wsj.com) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has just concluded a visit to Beijing, where, after announcing a few big-sounding energy deals, he said that Russia and China were “friends forever.” These days everyone wants a good relationship with China, but Mr. Putin does so from a disadvantageous position. Russia is one of the few countries in the world with few friends besides China. (North Korea and Pakistan are other examples–anyone else?) I’ve argued before that when China is your only friend it’s hard to have a mutually respectful relationship. Most matters will be resolved on Chinese terms, and Beijing can drive a hard bargain because you’ve got nowhere else to go. A plugged-in Chinese scholar once told me how his country’s intelligence officials viewed Russia: “We think Putin has misjudged his power position in the world.”
Was this imbalance on display during Mr. Putin’s visit? Chinese decorum is famous, even when receiving down-on-their-luck visitors, so President Xi Jinping was polite. But it’s not hard to imagine what was on his mind.
Suppose Mr. Putin broke the conversational ice by gloating about the U.K.’s Brexit vote and the stupidity of decision-making by referendum, perhaps invoking his own 80% approval rating as a guarantee of policy steadiness. Mr. Xi might smile, but he’d be aware that Russian parliamentary elections are coming in September and that Mr. Putin’s party, United Russia, has only 35% popular approval.
Mr. Putin might also have derided Western governments for their inability to stick with long-term strategies. Mr. Xi might totally agree—but he’d make a mental note that just last week the European Union renewed its sanctions against Russia through 2017. “That’ll be three years,” he’d think. “Does Putin not know I know that?”
Mr. Xi would doubtless have a similar reaction when his guest urged deeper cooperation between Russia and China. To explain how much both sides would benefit, Mr. Putin might note that China’s economic growth has dropped from double digits to less than 7% annually. But Mr. Xi would know full well that Russia’s own economic outlook is far worse. Without drastic policy changes, Mr. Putin admitted recently, growth is likely to “hover around zero.”
Mr. Putin might then get to his point: Because Russia needs Chinese investment to revive growth, it’s been really disappointed that Beijing’s investment since 2014 has fallen by 85%. Mr. Xi’s inner reaction to Mr. Putin’s appeal isn’t hard to guess: With the ruble having lost more than half its value, China can buy what it wants for less! But no need to rub that in. If, with no other buyers on the horizon, Russia is now ready to sell off parts of its oil and gas sector, then China is ready to pick up a few bargains. That was the real news of this summit. It’s what being “friends forever” actually means. (Source)
Was this imbalance on display during Mr. Putin’s visit? Chinese decorum is famous, even when receiving down-on-their-luck visitors, so President Xi Jinping was polite. But it’s not hard to imagine what was on his mind.
Suppose Mr. Putin broke the conversational ice by gloating about the U.K.’s Brexit vote and the stupidity of decision-making by referendum, perhaps invoking his own 80% approval rating as a guarantee of policy steadiness. Mr. Xi might smile, but he’d be aware that Russian parliamentary elections are coming in September and that Mr. Putin’s party, United Russia, has only 35% popular approval.
Mr. Putin might also have derided Western governments for their inability to stick with long-term strategies. Mr. Xi might totally agree—but he’d make a mental note that just last week the European Union renewed its sanctions against Russia through 2017. “That’ll be three years,” he’d think. “Does Putin not know I know that?”
Mr. Xi would doubtless have a similar reaction when his guest urged deeper cooperation between Russia and China. To explain how much both sides would benefit, Mr. Putin might note that China’s economic growth has dropped from double digits to less than 7% annually. But Mr. Xi would know full well that Russia’s own economic outlook is far worse. Without drastic policy changes, Mr. Putin admitted recently, growth is likely to “hover around zero.”
Mr. Putin might then get to his point: Because Russia needs Chinese investment to revive growth, it’s been really disappointed that Beijing’s investment since 2014 has fallen by 85%. Mr. Xi’s inner reaction to Mr. Putin’s appeal isn’t hard to guess: With the ruble having lost more than half its value, China can buy what it wants for less! But no need to rub that in. If, with no other buyers on the horizon, Russia is now ready to sell off parts of its oil and gas sector, then China is ready to pick up a few bargains. That was the real news of this summit. It’s what being “friends forever” actually means. (Source)
Sunday, June 26, 2016
US Supreme Court Verdict: Refusing Breathalyzer Is A Crime
(techtimes.com) - ...The impact of drunk driving on the country's roads is "grisly," killing thousands of people, injuring more, inflicting billions of dollars in property damage annually, Alito said.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report in August 2015 revealed that about 4.2 million people in the United States drive under the influence of alcohol at least once in a month. This translated to 121 million instances of drunk-driving in the country.
In the state of North Dakota, the situation is much worse. Records show that from 2005 to 2014, there had been about 112,998 people were killed because of drunk driving in the state.
"North Dakota has suffered more than its share of this carnage," state attorneys said.
The law in the state was passed after a drunk driver named Wyatt Klein, who had taken three shots of tequila and seven or eight bottles of beer, struck the car of Allison and Aaron Deutscher, instantly killing them and their daughter. Police said Klein has had a history of drunk driving violations.
Meanwhile, advocates praised the Supreme Court's decision to charge motorists who refuse a breathalyzer test with misdemeanor, emphasizing that breath tests are a "critical tool" to eliminate drunk driving.
"The Court recognized that breath tests are minimally invasive and confirmed that driving is a privilege, not a right," said Adam Vanek, the general counsel for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
However, one defense attorney questioned the extent to which the safety of the public should negate civil liberties.
Criminal defense lawyer Doug Hazelton from Minnesota, who is a specialist in alcohol-related traffic offenses, acknowledges that drunk driving is a "bad thing," but he also adds: "Is the club so big you need to bend the Constitution, and ignore how big other [traffic] crimes are?" Hazelton mentions other offenses such as texting while driving and overspeeding. (Source)
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Study Claims that Men Are Less Likely to Use Protection During Sex If They Think Their Female Partner is Attractive
(hngn.com) - According to a recent scientific survey, men are much likelier to forgo condoms when they are sleeping with a beautiful woman, than if they think their fling is with a less-attractive partner. Researchers at the University of Bristol and University of Southampton asked heterosexual men to document their desire to have condom-free sex with 20 women. The participants were showed photographs of women's faces and the scientists discovered that the men were much less inclined to wear a condom if they thought their hypothetical sexual partner had an appealing face.
While the study was conducted on a small scale, it does add to the growing evidence that men and women are willing to bend a few safe-sex rules if their partners are good looking.
"Men are more willing to have condomless sex with attractive women," wrote lead author and University of Southampton public health researcher Anastasia Eleftheriou in an email. They are prepared to do so "even though they might believe that those women are more likely" to have a sexually transmitted disease, she said.
Through this study, two surprising incongruities came to surface. Some women who rated women at high risk of STIs, also considered themselves likely to have unprotected sex. Simply put, it means that even though the thought of having sex with a woman was considered risky, they still would not go the extra mile to protect themselves.
To explain this irregularity, Eleftheriou's co-author Roger Ingham, a sexual health expert at the University of Southampton, gave two potential reasons. He explains in an email toWashington Post, "men want to reproduce with women they find to be more attractive," he said. Or it could be that young men attach high status to having sex with attractive women, "and so are willing to take more risk to acquire this status." Or, perhaps, it is a mixture of both motivations.
When asked if men are likely to use condoms with women whom they find less attractive, Eleftheriou replied, "Yes. We found a strong correlation between the two variables that works both ways." (Source)
While the study was conducted on a small scale, it does add to the growing evidence that men and women are willing to bend a few safe-sex rules if their partners are good looking.
"Men are more willing to have condomless sex with attractive women," wrote lead author and University of Southampton public health researcher Anastasia Eleftheriou in an email. They are prepared to do so "even though they might believe that those women are more likely" to have a sexually transmitted disease, she said.
Through this study, two surprising incongruities came to surface. Some women who rated women at high risk of STIs, also considered themselves likely to have unprotected sex. Simply put, it means that even though the thought of having sex with a woman was considered risky, they still would not go the extra mile to protect themselves.
To explain this irregularity, Eleftheriou's co-author Roger Ingham, a sexual health expert at the University of Southampton, gave two potential reasons. He explains in an email toWashington Post, "men want to reproduce with women they find to be more attractive," he said. Or it could be that young men attach high status to having sex with attractive women, "and so are willing to take more risk to acquire this status." Or, perhaps, it is a mixture of both motivations.
When asked if men are likely to use condoms with women whom they find less attractive, Eleftheriou replied, "Yes. We found a strong correlation between the two variables that works both ways." (Source)
Friday, June 24, 2016
Britain votes to leave EU, Cameron quits, markets rocked
(Reuters) - Britain has voted to leave the European Union, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow since World War Two to the European project of forging greater unity.
Global stock markets plunged on Friday, and the British pound saw its biggest one day drop in history, as results from a referendum defied bookmakers' odds to show a 52-48 percent victory for the campaign to leave the bloc Britain joined more than 40 years ago.
The United Kingdom itself could now break apart, with the leader of Scotland, where nearly two-thirds of voters wanted to stay in the EU, saying a new referendum on independence from the rest of Britain was "highly likely".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet French, German and Italian leaders in Berlin on Monday to discuss future steps, and the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, will meet on Saturday morning.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday tried to limit the fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union which threatens to harm the U.S. economic recovery and distract U.S. allies from global security issues. Obama, who had argued passionately against the UK leaving the EU in a trip to the Britain this year, vowed that Washington would still maintain both its "special relationship" with London and close ties to Brussels.
In an emotional speech on Friday, UK Prime Minister Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in Europe to defeat, after promising the referendum in 2013, said he would leave office by October.
"The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction," he said in a televised address outside his residence.
"I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination," he added, choking back tears before walking back through 10 Downing Street's black door with his arm around his wife Samantha.
The British pound fell as much as 10 percent against the U.S. dollar on Friday to levels last seen in 1985 on fears the decision could hit investment in the world's fifth-largest economy, threaten London's role as a global financial capital, and usher in months of political uncertainty. The euro slid 2.0 percent against the U.S. dollar. [MKTS/GLOB]
World stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value. European stocks ended down 7.0 percent STOXX, the biggest one day fall since 2008. U.S. stocks fell suffered the largest selloff in ten months sharply, with the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI losing 3.4 percent. [.N]
Investors rushed to put their cash in the safety of gold which clocked up its biggest daily gain the global financial crisis of 2008, ending Friday up 5.0 percent at $1,315 an ounce. (Full Text)
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Related: (Reuters) EU's Tusk says 27 EU leaders determined to keep unity after Brexit
Thursday, June 23, 2016
BlackBerry makes $670m loss as it considers smartphone exit
(Telegraph) - BlackBerry has reported its biggest loss in over two years as the Canadian mobile company’s handset business continues to struggle, raising the chances that the once-mighty smartphone maker will stop selling phones.
The company’s keyboard-enabled smartphones were once de rigeur among professionals, but it has struggled to adapt to a world dominated by touchscreen competitors from Apple and Samsung.
Under chief executive John Chen, BlackBerry has focused its efforts on corporate software and services, and made cuts to its smartphone business in an attempt to make it profitable.
For the three months to end of May, the company reported a $670m (£450m) loss, compared to a $73m profit a year earlier and and a $256m loss in the previous quarter. Although much of the loss was down to restructuring charges, sales also fell to $400m, down 39pc on a year earlier.
Last year, BlackBerry attempted to revitalise its handset business by releasing a smartphone running Android, the operating system developed by Google, rather than its own.
However, early sales figures have been disappointing amid criticism the device is too expensive. Although it plans to release cheaper phones later this year, BlackBerry has said it will decide whether to stop making phones for good by September.
“The device business must be profitable, because we don't want to run a business that drags onto the bottom line,” Mr Chen said at BlackBerry’s annual meeting. “We've got to get there this year.”
He appeared to suggest, however, that the company’s future lies in the security and identity software services it sells to businesses, rather than smartphones. “I don’t personally believe handsets will be the future of any company,” Mr Chen said.
Shares rose despite the loss as investors welcomed evidence of cost cutting and better-than-expected software revenue. (Source)
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Britain gears up for EU referendum on last day of heated campaign
(thestar.com)
LONDON—Campaigners on both sides of the crucial vote on whether or not Britain should remain in the European Union crisscrossed the country Wednesday, their last day to win support from the undecided.
Prime Minister David Cameron outlined his vision for a future with Britain retaining its place in the 28-nation bloc, bristling at the notion that the country would be headed in the wrong direction if it stayed in. He flatly rejected the notion that the institution is moribund.
“We are not shackled to a corpse,” Cameron told the BBC. “You can see the European economy’s recovery. It’s the largest single market in the world.”
The most notable figure in the “leave” campaign, former London Mayor Boris Johnson, kicked off a whirlwind tour of England as he pushed for a British exit — or Brexit. Touring the Billingsgate Fish Market, Johnson mugged for the cameras with fish in hand — a not-so-subtle reminder that this is an island nation — and one very proud of its independence and self-assurance.
“It’s time to have a totally new relationship with our friends and partners across the Channel,” Johnson said. “It’s time to speak up for democracy, and hundreds of millions of people around Europe agree with us. It’s time to break away from the failing and dysfunctional EU system.”
Britain goes to the polls Thursday after a campaign that has been both heated and complicated. The reach of the EU into every aspect of life has meant that all sorts of groups — from scientists to CEOs — have registered opinions on whether to stay or go.
The stakes are high as the vote is final — unlike an election in which the results can be reversed in the next term.
Amid the uncertainty, the fierce campaign within Britain has also spread to continental Europe. On Tuesday evening, Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science was illuminated in the colors of the Union Jack accompanied by the hashtag: “Vote Remain.”
Perhaps the strongest support for Britain remaining in the European Union has come from Germany. Germans fear that a Brexit could become a precedent for other countries with similar movements, and could have a negative impact on trade relations.
Last week, a group of young entrepreneurs flew from Berlin to London to hand out free bratwurst on the streets of the British capital, apparently unaware of British campaigning rules which prohibit giving out food or beverages.
“Bratwurst against Brexit,” attracted some curious looks — but will likely not have a decisive impact on the outcome of the referendum on Thursday.
A similar initiative of French campaigners, who wanted to give out free croissants on Wednesday, was adapted after police informed them about the strict British rules. Instead, the French campaigners handed out postcards at King’s Cross station signed: “with love, from Paris.” [Full Story]
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Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Teen marijuana use in Colorado found lower than US average
DENVER – Marijuana consumption by Colorado high school students has dipped slightly since the state first permitted recreational cannabis use by adults, a new survey showed on Monday, contrary to concerns that legalization would increase pot use by teens.
The biannual poll by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also showed the percentage of high school students indulging in marijuana in Colorado was smaller than the national average among teens.
According to the department, 21.2 percent of Colorado high school students surveyed in 2015 had used marijuana during the preceding 30 days, down from 22 percent in 2011, the year before voters statewide approved recreational cannabis use by adults 21 and older. The first state-licensed retail outlets for legalized pot actually opened in 2014.
Nationwide, the rate of pot use by teens is slightly higher at 21.7 percent, the study found.
"The survey shows marijuana use has not increased since legalization, with four of five high school students continuing to say they don't use marijuana, even occasionally," the department said in a statement.
The biannual poll by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also showed the percentage of high school students indulging in marijuana in Colorado was smaller than the national average among teens.
According to the department, 21.2 percent of Colorado high school students surveyed in 2015 had used marijuana during the preceding 30 days, down from 22 percent in 2011, the year before voters statewide approved recreational cannabis use by adults 21 and older. The first state-licensed retail outlets for legalized pot actually opened in 2014.
Nationwide, the rate of pot use by teens is slightly higher at 21.7 percent, the study found.
"The survey shows marijuana use has not increased since legalization, with four of five high school students continuing to say they don't use marijuana, even occasionally," the department said in a statement.
Monday, June 20, 2016
World Refugee Day Marked as a Record 65 Million People Displaced
(voiceofamerica) GENEVA— It's not just that the doors of Europe are closing to refugees; for those who have survived sniper fire, minefields, swift-moving rivers and roadside bombs, just trying to get into overflowing refugee camps in their home countries is proving impossible.
They are among the record 65.3 million people worldwide displaced from their homes, according to the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR — a 10 percent increase over last year. Half of them are children.
"Twenty-four people are displaced every minute," said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi. "Two-thirds of the forcibly displaced are internally displaced. Ninety percent of the forcibly displaced are displaced in poor or middle-income countries, not in the rich world."
Close to 10 million of the world's refugees are Syrian. Three million have fled to neighboring countries; the rest are internally displaced within Syria.
While Syria remains the largest forcibly displaced crisis in the world, neighboring Iraq has been overwhelmed by people fleeing Islamic State-held territory.
"They've been eating rotting, expired dates and drinking from the river, which is unfit for drinking, and now they are finding themselves out there and we are unable to cope and help everyone," said Karl Schembri, a spokesman for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Baghdad.
For those who have found haven in the camps, an atmosphere of despair is descending. Like many others, the Harsham refugee camp in northern Iraq is taking on an air of permanence. Camp manager Ahmed Abdo says the residents have lost hope of returning home.
"The people have been trying to improve their life by adding more rooms to their living areas, including guest rooms, as well as other facilities attached to the house, because honestly these people have given up hope that they can go back to their homes and houses in the near future."
It's not just the Middle East. In Kenya, the Dadaab camp is slated for closure, leaving hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in limbo.
"Young people, who have been living here for more than 25 years, whose only known home is here, are now worried about their future," says camp official Ruqiyo Ali Raage, noting that the prospect of returning to Somalia is raising alarms.
High commissioner Grandi tells VOA that new areas of displacement keep popping up. While Burundi has been in and out of conflict for decades, he says that over the past year, there has been a surge of internally displaced people and refugees.
"Then there are crises like South Sudan that have also gone through different phases. We are, unfortunately, in an upsurge phase," Grandi said. "There is a new movement out of Afghanistan. Even people that have been refugees in Iran for a long time — Afghans — are moving on."
During the past year, millions of refugees and migrants have tried to reach Europe, and the UNHCR is warning of a "climate of xenophobia" across the continent.
In May, 19,000 migrants came ashore in Italy from North Africa. The European Union is seeking to cooperate with Libyan coast guards to stem the flow, but that is not the right way to deal with the crisis, argues Gauri van Gulik of Amnesty International. [Full Story]
Related: Six Diseases Return To US as Migration Advocates Celebrate ‘World Refugee Day’
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Oh Canada!: Canada’s national anthem is likely to become ‘gender neutral’
{Washingtonpost} - Canada's lower house of Parliament voted Wednesday (June15) to tweak the words to the national anthem so that it is "gender neutral." The bill will now move to the Senate.
Currently, the English version of "O Canada" contains the words "true patriot love, in all thy sons command" — and the second clause would be replaced with "in all of us command."
Canada's new prime minster, Justin Trudeau, has been hailed as a feminist leader and made his cabinet the first to have equal numbers of men and women. His Liberal Party controls the House of Commons, and the vote to change the anthem was passed resoundingly. Patty Hadju, the Status of Women minister, said of the move: "I think it’s really important as a very strong symbol of our commitment to gender equality in this country."
The bill was introduced by Mauril Bélanger, who has championed the cause for many years. The bill was tabled once before, in 2010, and it was voted down by the previous Conservative-led government. But the move has gained greater urgency since Bélanger received a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease is terminal.
There are concerns that the Canadian Senate, which usually does pass bills sent to it by the House of Commons, won't get around to the bill before Bélanger passes away.
"O Canada" was composed in 1880, and its original version was in French. The English version is an adaptation, not translation, of the French, and was written decades later. It didn't become the national anthem until 1980. The French version has gender-neutral language.
Lawmakers in the House of Commons stood and sang the anthem in both national languages after the vote passed Wednesday. It wasn't clear whether the English version they sang had the amended clause. (Full Story)
Related: Jack Knox: Oh, Canada! A tale of two anthems
Currently, the English version of "O Canada" contains the words "true patriot love, in all thy sons command" — and the second clause would be replaced with "in all of us command."
Canada's new prime minster, Justin Trudeau, has been hailed as a feminist leader and made his cabinet the first to have equal numbers of men and women. His Liberal Party controls the House of Commons, and the vote to change the anthem was passed resoundingly. Patty Hadju, the Status of Women minister, said of the move: "I think it’s really important as a very strong symbol of our commitment to gender equality in this country."
The bill was introduced by Mauril Bélanger, who has championed the cause for many years. The bill was tabled once before, in 2010, and it was voted down by the previous Conservative-led government. But the move has gained greater urgency since Bélanger received a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease is terminal.
There are concerns that the Canadian Senate, which usually does pass bills sent to it by the House of Commons, won't get around to the bill before Bélanger passes away.
"O Canada" was composed in 1880, and its original version was in French. The English version is an adaptation, not translation, of the French, and was written decades later. It didn't become the national anthem until 1980. The French version has gender-neutral language.
Lawmakers in the House of Commons stood and sang the anthem in both national languages after the vote passed Wednesday. It wasn't clear whether the English version they sang had the amended clause. (Full Story)
Related: Jack Knox: Oh, Canada! A tale of two anthems
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Missouri man gets probation for threatening to shoot blacks at university
Possible Psy-op?
(Reuters) - A Missouri man was sentenced to probation for threatening African Americans on social media including a pledge to "shoot every black person I see" after the University of Missouri president resigned during protests over his handling of reported racial abuse, a prosecutor said on Thursday.
Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane sentenced Hunter Park, 20, to five years probation after he made the threats in November, Boone County assistant prosecuting attorney Brouck Jacobs said.
Prosecutors were satisfied with the length of the sentence, even though they originally recommended three years in prison for Park, who is from the St. Louis suburb of Lake St. Louis.
"You can't make terrorist threats online," Jacobs said in an interview. "If you do, there's a strict consequence for that."
The charge is a felony, he said.
Park's attorney, Jeffrey Hilbrenner, said he felt probation was appropriate.
"Hunter is a good person who made a terrible mistake, posted some terrible stuff on the Internet," Hilbrenner said, "but, the Hunter I've gotten to know is a really good person."
Unrest at the university, widely known as "Mizzou," started last September after reports of racial abuse on campus led to student demonstrations over what they called the administration's weak response. The unrest came to a head in November when the university's football players refused to practice or play until Tim Wolfe, then president, stepped down.
Two days after Wolfe's exit in early November, police arrested Park in Rolla, Missouri, about 95 miles south of Columbia, where the main University of Missouri campus is located. He was a sophomore studying computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, which is part of the University of Missouri system.
Police said Park's threats had circulated on social media, including Yik Yak, where an anonymous post tagged 'Columbia' had read, "I'm going to stand my ground tomorrow and shoot every black person I see."
"Some of you are alright. Don't go to campus tomorrow," another post read. “We’re waiting for you at the parking lots,” read a third post. “We will kill you.”
Friday, June 17, 2016
Rio state declares financial emergency, requests funding for Olympics
[Reuters] - Rio de Janeiro's governor declared a state of financial emergency Friday and requested federal funds to help fulfill obligations for public services during the Olympics that start Aug. 5.
Emergency measures are needed to avoid "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," a decree in the state's Official Gazette said.
The state's revenue, largely tied to the petroleum industry, slumped in the last two years as global oil prices collapsed.
The announcement followed this week's visit to Rio by Brazil's Interim President Michel Temer, who said the federal government would ensure all obligations are met for a successful Games.
Rio is expecting about 500,000 foreign visitors during the Olympics, which has coincided with Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s and a political crisis that last month led to the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff.
"The state's financial emergency in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio," Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Twitter.
He also underscored that legacy construction projects, with the exception of an 8.79 billion-real expansion of Rio's metro that is expected to be finished just days before the Games open, are the responsibility of the city and that most have been completed.
The local organizing committee for the Games said the state's fiscal situation did not impact its actual running of the Olympics, which relies entirely on private funds.
While the majority of Olympic infrastructure costs have been spread across city, state and federal budgets, with some financing from private companies, the state is responsible for most day-to-day security and health services in Rio.
The financial pinch resulted in a 30-percent cut in the state's security budget - just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics.
The state of Rio expects a budget deficit of over 19 billion reais ($5.56 billion) this year as spending planned before oil prices fell outstrips revenue that is tumbling during Brazil's recession.
Rio state's debt has been downgraded several times.
On Wednesday, Fitch Ratings downgraded Rio's debt rating to 'B-' from 'B+', saying the state was suffering "a fast-deteriorating liquidity position."
Since late last year, the state has been forced to delay pension and salary payments and shutter some schools and hospitals, where crucial supplies, including medicines and syringes, are lacking.
Brazil is also facing an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly in which babies are born with abnormally small heads frequently associated with developmental issues. [Source]
Emergency measures are needed to avoid "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," a decree in the state's Official Gazette said.
The state's revenue, largely tied to the petroleum industry, slumped in the last two years as global oil prices collapsed.
The announcement followed this week's visit to Rio by Brazil's Interim President Michel Temer, who said the federal government would ensure all obligations are met for a successful Games.
Rio is expecting about 500,000 foreign visitors during the Olympics, which has coincided with Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s and a political crisis that last month led to the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff.
"The state's financial emergency in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio," Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Twitter.
He also underscored that legacy construction projects, with the exception of an 8.79 billion-real expansion of Rio's metro that is expected to be finished just days before the Games open, are the responsibility of the city and that most have been completed.
The local organizing committee for the Games said the state's fiscal situation did not impact its actual running of the Olympics, which relies entirely on private funds.
While the majority of Olympic infrastructure costs have been spread across city, state and federal budgets, with some financing from private companies, the state is responsible for most day-to-day security and health services in Rio.
The financial pinch resulted in a 30-percent cut in the state's security budget - just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics.
The state of Rio expects a budget deficit of over 19 billion reais ($5.56 billion) this year as spending planned before oil prices fell outstrips revenue that is tumbling during Brazil's recession.
Rio state's debt has been downgraded several times.
On Wednesday, Fitch Ratings downgraded Rio's debt rating to 'B-' from 'B+', saying the state was suffering "a fast-deteriorating liquidity position."
Since late last year, the state has been forced to delay pension and salary payments and shutter some schools and hospitals, where crucial supplies, including medicines and syringes, are lacking.
Brazil is also facing an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly in which babies are born with abnormally small heads frequently associated with developmental issues. [Source]
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Exhausted Nation Unsure It Has Stamina To Continue Gun Control Dialogue For Fifth Consecutive Day
WASHINGTON—Appearing visibly drained as they pushed well beyond their previous best for rational discourse on the issue, the exhausted American public told reporters Thursday they were uncertain whether they had the stamina to continue a national dialogue on gun control for a fifth consecutive day. “It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been going at this nationwide conversation on sensible gun control measures pretty hard since Sunday, so I really don’t know how much longer we can keep this up before we hit a wall,” said Arthur Handler, 37, of Portland, ME, who explained that the population was only used to discussing gun laws for two, or at most three days before running out of steam, so they were now stretching themselves to their physical and mental limits. “It’s not that we don’t want to keep going—we do. It’s just that we tend to wrap up our typical national dialogue in 48 hours or so, and right now, we’re nearing a full week of this kind of constructive talk. I’m not even sure how we’ve pushed ourselves this far. I really hope we have more than just a few hours of engaged debate left in us.” At press time, the clearly worn-out nation could feel itself faltering slightly in its efforts to push for expanded background checks and was desperately hoping for a second wind
The man who invented the AR-15 never imagined it would end up in civilians' hands
{theweek} - The family of the man who invented the AR-15 assault rifle has spoken out to say the weapon was never intended to be in civilians' hands. "Our father, Eugene Stoner, designed the AR-15 and subsequent M-16 as a military weapon to give our soldiers an advantage over the AK-47. He died long before any mass shootings occurred. But, we do think he would have been horrified and sickened as anyone, if not more by these events," the family told NBC News.
While the National Rifle Association has dubbed the AR-15 "America's rifle," the weapon has also been the gun of choice for mass shooters, including the killer in the Orlando nightclub. It was also used in the massacres in Newtown, Connecticut, Aurora, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California.
Eugene Stoner was focused on creating a military rifle with the AR-15; although he was an avid "sportsman, hunter, and skeet shooter," he never even owned an AR-15, much less kept one around for hunting or personal defense, the family said. Only after his death in 1997 and the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004 did the gun become popular with civilians.
While the National Rifle Association has dubbed the AR-15 "America's rifle," the weapon has also been the gun of choice for mass shooters, including the killer in the Orlando nightclub. It was also used in the massacres in Newtown, Connecticut, Aurora, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California.
Eugene Stoner was focused on creating a military rifle with the AR-15; although he was an avid "sportsman, hunter, and skeet shooter," he never even owned an AR-15, much less kept one around for hunting or personal defense, the family said. Only after his death in 1997 and the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004 did the gun become popular with civilians.
Coca-Cola Changed Its Iconic Cans and People Are Drinking It Up
[thestreet.com] - People overseas seem to like the new look of Coke, so much so they are buying more soda.
At least that is the early read from Coca-Cola (KO) Chief Operating Officer James Quincey. "The new packaging drove extra sales of light and zero-calorie soda," said Quincey during a presentation to investors at Deutsche Bank Thursday, referring to consumer response to new can designs that recently launched in Spain, Mexico and northern Europe.
The beverage giant unveiled its "one brand'' graphic for its iconic soda bottles and cans in late April. In the new design a large red circle takes up most of the landscape, with the tops of the labels identifying whether the product is Coke Zero, Diet Coke or Coke Life. Historically, silver has been the main packaging color for Diet Coke. Coca-Cola Zero has carried black packaging while Coca-Cola Life, a mid-calorie soda, has been wrapped in green.
The new packaging will roll out to other markets in 2016 and 2017. One of those markets may be the United States.
"This [new packaging] is part of a strategy. We will learn and evolve from the implementations. We will be bringing it to the U.S," Quincey told TheStreet in an April interview.
Quincey added, "What's important here is not just the look of the packages, but how we connect the strategy to set trademark Coca-Cola up for growth over the long-term by allowing consumers to enter the franchise and then be able to move between the variances of Coca-Cola more easily."
A Coca-Cola spokesman, however, denied Americans would soon see a new look for Coke. "Coca-Cola North America is exploring a variety of 'One Brand' packaging graphics for the Coca-Cola Trademark," said the spokesman, adding, "Due to an already packed promotion and marketing calendar, there will not be any changes made in 2016 -- the results of testing in North America will inform their packaging considerations for the Coca-Cola Trademark in 2017 and beyond."
Coke's bread-and-butter cola business could use the lift from any buzz surrounding the new packaging, especially as soda tax wars rage on in the United States.
First-quarter sales of trademark Coca-Cola declined in every country except for the Asia Pacific region, where sales rose 3%. In the U.S., sales of diet Coke declined. [Full Story]
Monday, June 13, 2016
Major Terrorist Attack Strikes America
{thetrumpet.com} - America suffered its worst mass shooting in the union’s history and the worst terrorist attack since 9/11 this weekend. In the early hours of June 12, a jihadist killed 49 people and injured at least 53 others at a homosexual nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, entered the club armed with a high-powered AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun. Some sources allege he was also armed with a suicide vest. The ensuing standoff lasted until around 5 a.m., at which time Mateen was killed in a shootout with police.
Before beginning his attack, Mateen had called the 911 emergency service to pledge his allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi. It wasn’t long after the attack that the Islamic State used Amaq news agency to claim responsibility for the shooting.
During the 911 call, Mateen referenced the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing carried out by the Tsarnaev brothers. The Boston bombing claimed the lives of three people, injured more than 260, and put the city on lockdown for more than a day.
Mateen, an American citizen who lived in Port Ste. Lucie, Florida, held an associates degree in criminal justice and worked as a security guard for a company called G4S. In 2006, he registered as a member of the Florida Democratic Party. But the normal appearance was a facade for his radical Islamic ideology.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation labeled Mateen “a person of interest” in 2013 and 2014. The investigation was canceled after the FBI failed to find evidence that would warrant further investigation. Mateen was also known for domestic violence, having allegedly assaulted his former wife on a number of occasions.
Although born in American, Mateen’s parents were both Afghan immigrants. Mateen’s father, Mir Seddique, issued a public apology via an NBC interview and claimed that the attack was not religiously motivated. Seddique said his son had been revolted by the sight of homosexual men kissing, which Seddique suggested was the reason behind the attack.
But Seddique’s own credibility is being questioned with the emergence of videos of him showing gratitude to the Taliban and denouncing the Pakistani government. He has also posted videos of himself posing as the Afghan president, and has declared his candidacy for the office despite living in Florida.
United States President Barack Obama weighed in on the attack. The president offered condolences and prayers for the victims, as well as his gratitude to the responders. He gave an overview of the attack to-date, and although he stopped short of mentioning Islam, Mr. Obama said the shooting was “an act of terror and an act of hate.” The president also used the opportunity to advocate tougher gun-control: “This massacre is … a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said that Mateen legally purchased two weapons within the last week.
Both presidential candidates released statements. Donald Trump focused on radical Islam, while Hillary Clinton backed President Obama by not mentioning Islam and instead focused on gun control. Clinton stated that the attack “reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.”
The attacks also came during the Islamic month of Ramadan, occurring just two weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex “marriage.” It also occurred during “Pride Month,” on a weekend when a number of U.S. cities were hosting homosexual-pride festivals.
Police arrested another man on his way to a homosexual festival in Santa Monica, California. The man was carrying three assault rifles and chemicals used to make explosives. The event he was heading to usually draws tens of thousands of spectators. It is yet unclear what motivated the suspect.
The first victims of the Orlando shooting have already been named. Among them are drag queens and promoters of a homosexual cruise company. Many more victims are yet to be identified, as investigators continue the grisly task.
The shooting was the most deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers crashed planes into the towers of the New York World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. {Source}
Before beginning his attack, Mateen had called the 911 emergency service to pledge his allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi. It wasn’t long after the attack that the Islamic State used Amaq news agency to claim responsibility for the shooting.
During the 911 call, Mateen referenced the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing carried out by the Tsarnaev brothers. The Boston bombing claimed the lives of three people, injured more than 260, and put the city on lockdown for more than a day.
Mateen, an American citizen who lived in Port Ste. Lucie, Florida, held an associates degree in criminal justice and worked as a security guard for a company called G4S. In 2006, he registered as a member of the Florida Democratic Party. But the normal appearance was a facade for his radical Islamic ideology.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation labeled Mateen “a person of interest” in 2013 and 2014. The investigation was canceled after the FBI failed to find evidence that would warrant further investigation. Mateen was also known for domestic violence, having allegedly assaulted his former wife on a number of occasions.
Although born in American, Mateen’s parents were both Afghan immigrants. Mateen’s father, Mir Seddique, issued a public apology via an NBC interview and claimed that the attack was not religiously motivated. Seddique said his son had been revolted by the sight of homosexual men kissing, which Seddique suggested was the reason behind the attack.
But Seddique’s own credibility is being questioned with the emergence of videos of him showing gratitude to the Taliban and denouncing the Pakistani government. He has also posted videos of himself posing as the Afghan president, and has declared his candidacy for the office despite living in Florida.
United States President Barack Obama weighed in on the attack. The president offered condolences and prayers for the victims, as well as his gratitude to the responders. He gave an overview of the attack to-date, and although he stopped short of mentioning Islam, Mr. Obama said the shooting was “an act of terror and an act of hate.” The president also used the opportunity to advocate tougher gun-control: “This massacre is … a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said that Mateen legally purchased two weapons within the last week.
Both presidential candidates released statements. Donald Trump focused on radical Islam, while Hillary Clinton backed President Obama by not mentioning Islam and instead focused on gun control. Clinton stated that the attack “reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.”
The attacks also came during the Islamic month of Ramadan, occurring just two weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex “marriage.” It also occurred during “Pride Month,” on a weekend when a number of U.S. cities were hosting homosexual-pride festivals.
Police arrested another man on his way to a homosexual festival in Santa Monica, California. The man was carrying three assault rifles and chemicals used to make explosives. The event he was heading to usually draws tens of thousands of spectators. It is yet unclear what motivated the suspect.
The first victims of the Orlando shooting have already been named. Among them are drag queens and promoters of a homosexual cruise company. Many more victims are yet to be identified, as investigators continue the grisly task.
The shooting was the most deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers crashed planes into the towers of the New York World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. {Source}
Sunday, June 12, 2016
UK: Grieving parents whose sons died from MDMA overdose back campaign to legalise drugs
[Telegraph.co.uk] - A couple who lost both their children on the same night after they took a lethal overdose have backed a campaign to legalise drugs.
Ray and Sarah Lakeman’s lives were torn apart when their two sons died from taking six times the lethal dose of ecstasy after attending a football match.
Jacques, 20, and Torin, 19, from the Isle of Man, had bought powdered MDMA, the chemical name for ecstasy, and amphetamine from a dealer on the so-called dark web, which cannot be discovered through normal search engines.
The brothers were found dead above a pub in Bolton following a Manchester United game in November 2014.
Their parents, retired primary school teacher Ray, 66, and 52-year-old Sarah, a languages teacher, have now backed Anyone’s Child, a group of similarly bereaved parents campaigning to avoid such tragedies by legalising and regulating drugs.
“I don’t want others to suffer from the pain and memories,” said Mr Lakeland in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.
“Children need protection but the law is not stopping them taking drugs, so we need a safer approach.”
The Anyone’s Child campaign was founded three years ago by Anne-Marie Cockburn, an Oxford mother whose 15-year-old daughter died after taking ecstasy.
The group says that making drugs illegal puts the market in criminal hands, increasing the risks for users and fuels crime.
“The only thing that would have saved my boys was to have a safer system so they knew what they were taking,” said Mr Lakeman.
“We insist on the safety and control of alcohol, tobacco, even sugar – so why not with drugs?”
The MDMA had been ordered by Torin Lakeman off a website called Agora from an anonymous vendor called Stone Island.
Mrs Lakeman said: “The only comfort I take is knowing they were having a nice time, that they were happy and together when they died.” [Full Story]
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Brexit: Should They Stay or Should They Go?
{time.com} - The polls you’re reading on Brexit—the United Kingdom’s June 23 referendum on whether it should exit the European Union—aren’t telling you the whole story.
While the commentators focus on the horse race, there’s something deeper and longer-lasting happening across the U.K. Brits have become canaries in the coal mine, offering Europe, America and the developed world a glimpse of what is coming in our elections.
The Brexit question represents the political conflict rapidly spreading across the globe: Do hardworking, taxpaying citizens fundamentally trust or reject half a century of globalization, integration and innovation? Have the promises of the political and economic elite helped improve their daily lives? Or is it time for a rethinking and redrawing of our political and economic systems from the ground up?
That’s why the majority of British voters’ heads may be with Remain, but their hearts are with Leave—and those hearts are winning out in these final days before the vote.
Public sentiment on the ground is evenly divided. In a nationwide survey my firm completed June 8, Leave had 49% of the vote, Remain 47%, and only a handful of voters (4%) remain truly, totally undecided. Anybody who tells you today that they can predict the final outcome is either fooling or fibbing. It is truly too close to call. That, in itself, is an incredible story—given the range and resources available to the ‘Remain’ campaign. If David Cameron’s ulcers were giving him trouble before the Scots referendum, just imagine how many Zantacs he ploughs through today.
The underlying currents are moving in Leave’s favor—and they are doing so worldwide. Having conducted extensive polling and focus groups in the U.S., U.K. and across Europe, it is clear that more and more people have come to reject traditional theory and party orthodoxy, wreaking havoc on the politicians and political structures standing in its way. In Britain, the choice is between whether we want to “put ourselves first,” or “continue contributing to the global community.” In America, the fundamental question for the upcoming election is similar, and just as significant: whether to seek changes at the margins, or blow it all up and start over—in the name of “Making America Great Again.”
Consider also the recent elections in Austria, where the far-right “Freedom Party” came within 1% of capturing the presidency. Or the current polling in France that has national-conservative candidate Marine Le Pen tied or ahead. People may not be taking to the streets, but they are using the electoral process to have their (increasingly extreme) voices heard.
But unlike in America, the underlying issue in the upcoming Brexit vote isn’t clouded by candidates or even political parties. That’s why the outcome of the referendum is so important not just across the English Channel but also across the Atlantic Ocean. This is a pure vote, up or down, on the question of being nation-first or a global participant. {Full Story}
Related - How would Brexit affect Northern Ireland and Scotland?
While the commentators focus on the horse race, there’s something deeper and longer-lasting happening across the U.K. Brits have become canaries in the coal mine, offering Europe, America and the developed world a glimpse of what is coming in our elections.
The Brexit question represents the political conflict rapidly spreading across the globe: Do hardworking, taxpaying citizens fundamentally trust or reject half a century of globalization, integration and innovation? Have the promises of the political and economic elite helped improve their daily lives? Or is it time for a rethinking and redrawing of our political and economic systems from the ground up?
That’s why the majority of British voters’ heads may be with Remain, but their hearts are with Leave—and those hearts are winning out in these final days before the vote.
Public sentiment on the ground is evenly divided. In a nationwide survey my firm completed June 8, Leave had 49% of the vote, Remain 47%, and only a handful of voters (4%) remain truly, totally undecided. Anybody who tells you today that they can predict the final outcome is either fooling or fibbing. It is truly too close to call. That, in itself, is an incredible story—given the range and resources available to the ‘Remain’ campaign. If David Cameron’s ulcers were giving him trouble before the Scots referendum, just imagine how many Zantacs he ploughs through today.
The underlying currents are moving in Leave’s favor—and they are doing so worldwide. Having conducted extensive polling and focus groups in the U.S., U.K. and across Europe, it is clear that more and more people have come to reject traditional theory and party orthodoxy, wreaking havoc on the politicians and political structures standing in its way. In Britain, the choice is between whether we want to “put ourselves first,” or “continue contributing to the global community.” In America, the fundamental question for the upcoming election is similar, and just as significant: whether to seek changes at the margins, or blow it all up and start over—in the name of “Making America Great Again.”
Consider also the recent elections in Austria, where the far-right “Freedom Party” came within 1% of capturing the presidency. Or the current polling in France that has national-conservative candidate Marine Le Pen tied or ahead. People may not be taking to the streets, but they are using the electoral process to have their (increasingly extreme) voices heard.
But unlike in America, the underlying issue in the upcoming Brexit vote isn’t clouded by candidates or even political parties. That’s why the outcome of the referendum is so important not just across the English Channel but also across the Atlantic Ocean. This is a pure vote, up or down, on the question of being nation-first or a global participant. {Full Story}
Related - How would Brexit affect Northern Ireland and Scotland?
Friday, June 10, 2016
76 million Americans are struggling financially or just getting by
[cnnmoney] - Wages are finally rising. Unemployment is the lowest it's been since 2007. Inflation remains muted.
But 31% of American adults, or 76 million people, say they are struggling to get by or just barely making it, according to the Federal Reserve Bank's latest survey on Americans' economic well-being, which looked at 2015.
And that's actually good news. Two years earlier, the Fed found that 38% of Americans were in weak financial shape.
Seven years after the end of the Great Recession, millions of Americans have yet to find firm financial footing. That's one reason why the economy remains a top concern in the 2016 presidential election.
"It's important to identify the reasons why so many families face continued financial struggles and to find ways to help them overcome them," said Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard.
The Fed survey highlights many of Americans' continuing economic worries. Some 46% of adults say they can't cover an unexpected $400 expense or would have borrow or sell something to do so.
While lower income Americans said they'd have the toughest time handling this emergency charge, some 38% of middle class Americans reported they'd have trouble too. Even 19% of those raking in over $100,000 a year said they couldn't pay the bill promptly.
About one-third of Americans also say that their income varies month-to-month, mainly because they have an irregular work schedule. Some 45% say their expenses shift each month. Some 42% of those with these volatile income streams or expenses say they struggled to pay the bills at least once in the past year.
Many Americans want to work more or are already holding down multiple jobs. Some 35% of those who are not self-employed said they'd prefer to work more hours (at their current wage). This was particularly true of lower-income respondents, non-Hispanic blacks, younger folks, Hispanics and and those with less education.
And though wage growth began picking up last year, only 23% of those surveyed felt their income would be higher in the coming year. That's down from 29% last year. [Full Story]
But 31% of American adults, or 76 million people, say they are struggling to get by or just barely making it, according to the Federal Reserve Bank's latest survey on Americans' economic well-being, which looked at 2015.
And that's actually good news. Two years earlier, the Fed found that 38% of Americans were in weak financial shape.
Seven years after the end of the Great Recession, millions of Americans have yet to find firm financial footing. That's one reason why the economy remains a top concern in the 2016 presidential election.
"It's important to identify the reasons why so many families face continued financial struggles and to find ways to help them overcome them," said Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard.
The Fed survey highlights many of Americans' continuing economic worries. Some 46% of adults say they can't cover an unexpected $400 expense or would have borrow or sell something to do so.
About one-third of Americans also say that their income varies month-to-month, mainly because they have an irregular work schedule. Some 45% say their expenses shift each month. Some 42% of those with these volatile income streams or expenses say they struggled to pay the bills at least once in the past year.
Many Americans want to work more or are already holding down multiple jobs. Some 35% of those who are not self-employed said they'd prefer to work more hours (at their current wage). This was particularly true of lower-income respondents, non-Hispanic blacks, younger folks, Hispanics and and those with less education.
And though wage growth began picking up last year, only 23% of those surveyed felt their income would be higher in the coming year. That's down from 29% last year. [Full Story]
Thursday, June 9, 2016
U.S. women surge ahead of men in obesity, study shows
{sacramentobee} - New studies published in the journal JAMA this week present an alarming picture of the shifting demographics of the country’s obesity problem. For nearly three decades, American men and women have been mostly growing fatter together. But in recent years, for reasons researchers still don’t understand, women have broken away with more of them becoming fatter faster.
According to an analysis of the latest government statistics, a staggering 40 percent of women now meet the criteria for being obese. That means that their body mass index, or BMI, is 30 or higher. So, a 5-foot-9-inch woman would weigh more than 203 pounds. The numbers, published Tuesday, were based on data collected in 2013 and 2014 from a nationally representative sample of 2,638 adult men (with an average age of 47 years) and 2,817 women (with an average age of 48 years).
A second study in the same journal found a small increase in teenagers with obesity during those same years.
In an editorial accompanying the study, JAMA editors Jody Zylke and Howard Bauchner wrote that a lot of research and attention have been directed toward treating obesity through drugs and procedures. But, they argue, this won’t solve the problem.
“The emphasis has to be on prevention, despite evidence that school- and community-based prevention programs and education campaigns by local governments and professional societies have not been highly successful,” they said.
Among the major findings of the study:
- For men, current smokers were more likely to be obese. This same association was not seen in women.
- Women with an education beyond high school were significantly less likely to be obese.
- For all U.S. children ages 2 to 19, the prevalence of obesity in 2011-2014 was 17 percent.
- Over the past 25 years, there has been a positive shift in the very youngest Americans – perhaps signaling that efforts such as first lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to get kids to move more are working – with the obesity prevalence decreasing among those ages 2 to 5 and leveling off in children ages 6 to 10.
- Unfortunately, it has increased among adolescents ages 12 to 19. {Full Story}
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
$15-per-hour wages go to US capital: What's next?
[csmoniter.com] - The District of Columbia has approved a measure to raise its official minimum wage to $15 per hour, a possible solution increasingly cited for the stagnation of wages in low-paying jobs.
The Fight for $15 movement's controversial solution for income inequality has rallied fast-food, home care, and retail workers to protests around the country and successfully convinced a number of cities and states around the country to adopt the experiment.
The city council of Washington, D.C., voted unanimously to join in, passing a measure on Tuesday to move the district's minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020. The final vote is set for later in June, but Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has already promised to sign the bill.
"Raising the minimum wage will help address the issues of residents being pushed out of the District due to rising costs of living and income inequality," said co-sponsor Councilmember Vincent Orange in a hearing.
Mr. Orange and other supporters of the bill – including unions – said the district's rapid growth and healthy economy make a swift move economically viable. The district's current minimum hourly wage is $10.50, up from the federal minimum of $7.25, but it will rise by a full dollar as of July 1. Increases tied to inflation are planned after the $15 goal is reached. [Full Story]
The Fight for $15 movement's controversial solution for income inequality has rallied fast-food, home care, and retail workers to protests around the country and successfully convinced a number of cities and states around the country to adopt the experiment.
The city council of Washington, D.C., voted unanimously to join in, passing a measure on Tuesday to move the district's minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020. The final vote is set for later in June, but Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has already promised to sign the bill.
"Raising the minimum wage will help address the issues of residents being pushed out of the District due to rising costs of living and income inequality," said co-sponsor Councilmember Vincent Orange in a hearing.
Mr. Orange and other supporters of the bill – including unions – said the district's rapid growth and healthy economy make a swift move economically viable. The district's current minimum hourly wage is $10.50, up from the federal minimum of $7.25, but it will rise by a full dollar as of July 1. Increases tied to inflation are planned after the $15 goal is reached. [Full Story]
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Fish Can Recognize Your Face Acording To Researchers
[nbcnews.com] June 7 16 - Fish can be trained to recognize human faces, researchers reported on Tuesday.
Fish don't have the brain structure, called the neocortex, that people and domestic animals use to recognize faces. But the team at the University of Queensland in Australia managed to train fish to tell one human face from another, anyway.
The fish were up to 89 percent accurate in telling apart human faces on a computer screen, the team reported in the journal Scientific Reports.
"We show that archerfish (Toxotes chatareus) can learn to discriminate a large number of human face images, even after controlling for color, head-shape and brightness," they wrote.
The fish were already trained to recognize images on a computer screen suspended over the tank, Cait Newport of Queensland and Oxford universities and her colleagues said.
They used archerfish, which spit streams of water to knock down insects and other goodies to eat. This means they need to have good vision to start with. "This species, known for knocking down aerial prey with jets of water, relies heavily on vision to detect small prey against a visually complex background and demonstrates impressive visual cognitive abilities," the team wrote.
So they trained the fish, rewarding them with food pellets when they got it right. The fish became very good at recognizing the different faces.
It must be a different brain function than people and other animals use.
"There is evidence from a range of studies that some non-primate mammals can discriminate human faces. Species which have been tested include sheep, dogs , cows and horses," the team wrote. [Full Story]
Monday, June 6, 2016
Does Plain Packaging on Tobacco Products Work?
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a detailed guide for countries considering plain packaging for tobacco products.
The move is part of an ongoing push by WHO to reduce the number of preventable tobacco-related deaths that occur each year.
“Strip back the glamour and glossy packaging that contain tobacco products and what is left? A product that kills almost 6 million people every year,” WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said in a statement to mark World No Tobacco Day 2016.
The WHO publication tries to anticipate every roadblock that countries might face in passing laws to help reduce the public health burden caused by tobacco.
As part of that plan, WHO officials recommend prohibiting the use of logos, colors, and brand images on tobacco packaging. Instead, standard colors and fonts should be used for the packaging and product and brand names — the same for all manufacturers.
Legal challenges are expected. It’s “an example of the tobacco industry’s broader strategy of using litigation to contest regulation, rather than a new phenomenon,” WHO officials say.
And the scientific evidence supporting plain packaging is clearly laid out.
This includes scientific studies, surveys, and focus group studies, along with early evidence from Australia — which introduced plain packaging legislation in 2012 to become the first country to do so.
The move is part of an ongoing push by WHO to reduce the number of preventable tobacco-related deaths that occur each year.
“Strip back the glamour and glossy packaging that contain tobacco products and what is left? A product that kills almost 6 million people every year,” WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said in a statement to mark World No Tobacco Day 2016.
The WHO publication tries to anticipate every roadblock that countries might face in passing laws to help reduce the public health burden caused by tobacco.
As part of that plan, WHO officials recommend prohibiting the use of logos, colors, and brand images on tobacco packaging. Instead, standard colors and fonts should be used for the packaging and product and brand names — the same for all manufacturers.
Legal challenges are expected. It’s “an example of the tobacco industry’s broader strategy of using litigation to contest regulation, rather than a new phenomenon,” WHO officials say.
And the scientific evidence supporting plain packaging is clearly laid out.
This includes scientific studies, surveys, and focus group studies, along with early evidence from Australia — which introduced plain packaging legislation in 2012 to become the first country to do so.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Lost city under sea? Nah, bacteria built it
- When tourists snorkeling near the Greek isle of Zakynthos first spotted mysterious structures about 20 feet under the sea, they thought they might have stumbled upon a lost city. And who could blame them? The site features what appear to be clusters of cobblestones and symmetrical stone cylinders with Hellenic flair. It's easy to see the waterlogged structures and imagine a bustling square full of artists and philosophers.
A study published in the most recent Marine and Petroleum Geology confirms what archaeologists have suspected since the discovery of this "city": It isn't a city. But its real origin is just as cool, and perhaps even more surprising. These structures, which seem so obviously human-made to the untrained eye, were actually built by bacteria.
Archaeologists who dove down to see the site for themselves immediately noted a lack of coins, pottery fragments or other signs of life. So they got to work finding another explanation, analyzing the mineral content of the "pillars" and "streets." And it turns out that the structures have a perfectly natural origin story -- no humans required.
The structures contain a mineral called dolomite, a calcium byproduct produced by microbes that feed off methane. When bacteria huddle around a reliable source of the gas, their calcium excrement can react with methane to produce the cementlike substance.
"Essentially what you've got are bacteria that are fossilizing the plumbing system," study co-author Julian Andrews of the University of East Anglia told Smithsonian Magazine.
The lost city shows the remains not of an ancient people but of an ancient leak, as gas seeped in through subsurface faults. The tubular structures were likely formed as microbes piled up around focused jets of methane, while the slabs that built the city's "streets" may have been the result of large, sloppy spews of gas.
There's no natural methane leaking out of the area today, but there must have been when the structures formed during the Pliocene, an epoch 2.6 to 5.3 million years ago. The phenomenon isn't uncommon, but structures like these are generally found much deeper, where natural gas is more likely to seep into the water.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
UK man gets 15 years in U.S. prison for smuggling North Korean drugs
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A British citizen who worked for a Philippines-based global criminal organization was sentenced on Friday to over 15 years in a U.S. prison for conspiring to import 100 kilograms of North Korean methamphetamine into the United States.
Scott Stammers, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan. He was one of five defendants who pleaded guilty last year in a case stemming from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation.
His case is one of several prosecutions to flow out of the 2012 arrest in Liberia of Paul Le Roux, the head of a multinational drug and weapons trafficking enterprise who turned into a top government informant.
On Monday, Joseph "Rambo" Hunter, a former U.S. Army sergeant who prosecutors said oversaw contract killings for Le Roux, received a 20-year prison term for conspiring to kill a federal drug agent and an informant.
Prosecutors said Stammers, while living in the Philippines, managed drug and weapons trafficking for an organization led by Zimbabwe-born Le Roux, who participated in the sting that resulted in his arrest.
Prosecutors said in 2012, Le Roux tasked Stammers and British citizen Philip Shackels with storing and protecting a large amount of North Korean-produced methamphetamine obtained from members of a Hong Kong-based organization.
Law enforcement in Thailand and in the Philippines later seized the methamphetamine.
Friday, June 3, 2016
U.S. unveils guidelines to reduce salt in restaurant, packaged food
(Reuters) - From pizzas and soups to deli meats, dips and hamburgers, Americans' diets are often packed with salt. On Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration moved to cut average salt consumption by a third in an effort to reduce heart attacks and strokes.
The agency issued draft guidelines for major food manufacturers and big chain restaurants designed to reduce salt in hundreds of products, with separate sodium reduction targets set for two and 10 years.
More than 70 percent of the salt in the average diet comes in the form of processed and prepared food. The FDA's goal is to lower sodium in those foods and give consumers the choice to add salt later if they want to. Excess sodium raises blood pressure and is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The goal is to cut average adult salt consumption from 3,400 milligrams a day to 2,300. The average American consumes almost 50 percent more sodium than recommended by most experts, the FDA said. (See sodium content in a typical meal here.)
Many U.S. food companies, including Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N), General Mills Inc (GIS.N) and Kraft Heinz Co (KHC.O), have already cut salt levels to some extent in anticipation of the guidelines, which have been in the works since 2011.
The FDA said it looks forward to a robust discussion with the public and industry before finalizing the guidance. Susan Mayne, director of the FDA's food safety and nutrition division, said the discussion is needed "to make sure we have the right targets." She declined to predict when the guidance would be finalized. (Full Story)
The agency issued draft guidelines for major food manufacturers and big chain restaurants designed to reduce salt in hundreds of products, with separate sodium reduction targets set for two and 10 years.
More than 70 percent of the salt in the average diet comes in the form of processed and prepared food. The FDA's goal is to lower sodium in those foods and give consumers the choice to add salt later if they want to. Excess sodium raises blood pressure and is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The goal is to cut average adult salt consumption from 3,400 milligrams a day to 2,300. The average American consumes almost 50 percent more sodium than recommended by most experts, the FDA said. (See sodium content in a typical meal here.)
Many U.S. food companies, including Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N), General Mills Inc (GIS.N) and Kraft Heinz Co (KHC.O), have already cut salt levels to some extent in anticipation of the guidelines, which have been in the works since 2011.
The FDA said it looks forward to a robust discussion with the public and industry before finalizing the guidance. Susan Mayne, director of the FDA's food safety and nutrition division, said the discussion is needed "to make sure we have the right targets." She declined to predict when the guidance would be finalized. (Full Story)
Thursday, June 2, 2016
The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Scientists Thought
- The universe is expanding 5 to 9 percent faster than astronomers had thought, a new study suggests.
"This surprising finding may be an important clue to understanding those mysterious parts of the universe that make up 95 percent of everything and don't emit light, such as dark energy, dark matter and dark radiation," study leader Adam Riess, an astrophysicist at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a statement.
Riess — who shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery that the universe's expansion is accelerating — and his colleagues used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to study 2,400 Cepheid stars and 300 Type Ia supernovas
These are two different types of "cosmic yardsticks" that allow scientists to measure distances across the universe. Cepheids pulse at rates that are related to their true brightness, and Type Ia supernovas — powerful explosions that mark the deaths of massive stars — blaze up with consistent luminosity.
This work allowed the team to determine the distances to the 300 supernovas, which lie in a number of different galaxies. Then, the researchers compared these figures to the expansion of space, which was calculated by measuring how light from faraway galaxies stretches as it moves away from Earth, to determine how fast the universe is expanding — a value known as the Hubble constant, after famed American astronomer Edwin Hubble.
The new, unprecedentedly precise value for the Hubble constant comes out to 45.5 miles (73.2 kilometers) per second per megaparsec. (One megaparsec is equivalent to 3.26 million light-years.) Therefore, the distance between cosmic objects should double 9.8 billion years from now, the researchers said.
The new figure is 5 to 9 percent higher than previous estimates of the Hubble constant, which relied on measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation — the light left over from the Big Bang that created the universe 13.8 billion years ago.- See more at: www.space.com
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Blind man sues McDonald's over car-only drive-thru policy
CHICAGO (AP) — A blind Louisiana man is suing McDonald's for the right to get served at the chain's drive-thru windows.
The Chicago Tribune reports the lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court on behalf of Scott Magee claims McDonald's is violating the American with Disabilities Act by refusing to serve customers at its drive thru windows who aren't in a vehicle.
Many McDonald's locations only serve customers at the drive-thru window during late night hours. Magee's lawyer, Roberto Costales, tells the Tribune that getting a late night snack at McDonald's is "a quintessentially American activity that should not be denied to someone because of their disability."
The Oak Brook, Illinois, company tells The Associated Press it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
The Chicago Tribune reports the lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court on behalf of Scott Magee claims McDonald's is violating the American with Disabilities Act by refusing to serve customers at its drive thru windows who aren't in a vehicle.
Many McDonald's locations only serve customers at the drive-thru window during late night hours. Magee's lawyer, Roberto Costales, tells the Tribune that getting a late night snack at McDonald's is "a quintessentially American activity that should not be denied to someone because of their disability."
The Oak Brook, Illinois, company tells The Associated Press it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
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