Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HAIKOU, Sept. 27 — An exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea kicked off on Friday afternoon in Qionghai, a city in the island province of Hainan in southern China.
These artifacts, which had been submerged in the sea for over 500 years at a depth of more than 1,500 meters, are being showcased for the first time.
Located at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea, the exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442.
The most eye-catching exhibit is Fahua-colored porcelain, with 13 pieces (sets) on display. The archaeological discovery of Fahua-colored porcelain is very rare, and it is the first discovery in a shipwreck.
These archaeological discoveries prove that Jingdezhen colored porcelain was exported in the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), providing facts for finding the kiln sites.
The exhibition also features one red and green bowl with the mark “made in the year of Bingyin.” This confirms that the sunken ship belonged to the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, which is of great value and contributes to the study of trade routes in the South China Sea.
Further investigation of the two shipwrecks will be conducted, so the exhibition will adopt a dynamic update mode and update the cultural relics on display according to the new archaeological findings.
The exhibition also sets up a special zone for the protection of cultural relics, presenting cultural preservation work via multimedia to allow the audience to understand its process and significance.
These two ancient shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty were discovered near the northwest continental slope in the South China Sea in October 2022.
More than 900 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved from the two ancient shipwrecks during three investigations from 2023 to 2024.
Xin Lixue, curator of the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea, said this collection of high-grade cultural relics is substantial in size, diverse in variety, and well-preserved.
“Through this exhibition, we hope to show the social and economic development in the middle of the Ming Dynasty and inform the audience about the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road in ancient China and the exchanges between Chinese and foreign civilizations,” said Xin.
The exhibition will officially open to the public starting on Saturday.
There will be fun for all the family at a series of events across the city, starting with the city centre switch on in Queen Square on Saturday 16 November.
The festivities start at 3pm with a funfair, real reindeer, face painting, food and drink and much more! Get set for a full afternoon of entertainment that you won’t want to miss with the lights switch on as the finale.
The Grinch and Cindy Lou will be there entertaining the crowds throughout the event before X Factor and musical theatre star Niki Colwell and Jake Nelson Music take to the stage performing an array of songs.
They will then be joined by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, and Father Christmas to switch on the lights at 6pm.
The city centre fun is not the only festive celebration in Wolverhampton – Christmas lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield, Tettenhall, Bilston and Bantock House with Father Christmas and the Mayor of Wolverhampton doing the honours, plus entertainment from local artists and Wolverhampton’s very own Dicky Dodd.
Councillor Chris Burden, Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills said: “It’s been another fantastic year of events in the city, and the Christmas lights is a great way to end what has been a busy events season.
“Thousands of families year on year attend our light switch ons to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas – they are great free events for all the family.”
Wolverhampton based not for profit Health Cash Plan provider Paycare –which gives policy holders the chance to claim back up to 100% of what they spend on healthcare, as well as access to an online GP app, support helpline and discounts on everyday spending – have been announced as headline sponsor for the five events.
Anna Bamford, Paycare Marketing Manager, said: “We’re delighted to support such a wonderful set of festive events, bringing together our wonderful communities to share in the light and cheer of the holiday season!
“Paycare are on a mission to make our communities happier and healthier, so we are delighted to be sponsoring the Christmas lights that bring so much pleasure and joy to the city and surrounding areas.”
The full list of switch on events is as follows:
Saturday 16 November: Wolverhampton City Centre, Queen Square – event 3pm to 7pm, lights switch on at 6pm
Thursday 21 November: Wednesfield, High Street – event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on at 6.30pm
Friday 22 November: Bilston, Church Street – event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on at 6.30pm
Saturday 23 November: Tettenhall, Upper Green – event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on at 6.30pm
Sunday 24 November: Bantock House, Finchfield Road – event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on at 6.30pm
To find out more about Christmas in the City of Wolverhampton, including details on local artists performing at each of the switch on events, visit Christmas in Wolverhampton.
Support for Liz Truss, attacks on Scottish democracy, and the undermining of climate action. The Scottish Conservative’s new leader plays all the old hits.
The election of Russell Findlay as leader of the Scottish Conservatives shows their determination to hold onto the title of the nasty party, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie.
After a contentious leadership contest where his supporters were accused of lying to members about other candidates, Russell Findlay was elected with 61.7% of the vote.
“I’d obviously congratulate Russell Findlay on his election, but it does seem to confirm that the Scottish Tories are determined to hold on to the title of the nasty party, and to lurch ever further to the right.
“Like his colleagues, he was a cheerleader for Liz Truss, urging the Scottish Government to copy her disastrous plans. He backed the undermining of the Scottish Parliament through Section 35 and the new Internal Market Act. He’d rather cut taxes on the rich than fund public services. He’s an enthusiastic supporter of the Tory culture war agenda, punching down against marginalised people at every opportunity. And in the midst of the climate emergency he wants to hand multinational corporations more licences to drill for fossil fuel – something the world’s scientists are screaming at us to stop doing.
“In short, he’s probably a good fit for all the worst instincts of the Conservative Party.
“We’ve all seen the catastrophic consequences of Tory leadership over the last 14 years. Whether it’s Douglas Ross or Russell Findlay, I’m confident Scotland will continue its long and proud history of rejecting them at the ballot box.”
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – What role do the “civilian militias” or “vigilantes” of the Islamist party “Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan” (TLP) play, who roam the streets of Pakistani cities to punish people accused of blasphemy or contempt of Islam? This is the question analysts and representatives of politics and civil society are asking in view of a phenomenon that is shaking Pakistani society. In this context, members of non-governmental organizations, social organizations and religious communities of various faiths are asking the government for clarification in the face of the “extrajudicial” actions of groups that are terrorizing the population and threatening the security of citizens and their right to live freely.Three of the recent cases have sparked a heated debate in the Pakistani media. These are cases related to the accusation of “blasphemy on social media”, an area that TLP members seem to be paying a lot of attention to. One case concerns Shah Nawaz Kumbhar, a doctor from Sindh province, who is accused of sharing blasphemous content on Facebook.Another case concerns 50-year-old Abdul Ali, owner of a hotel in Quetta, in Balochistan province, who was also arrested for allegedly posting derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad on social media and killed while in police custody. The third case concerns 40-year-old Christian nurse Shagufta Kiran, mother of four children, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy on WhatsApp (see Fides, 20/9/2024). In these and other cases, the active involvement of TLP members was found, appearing publicly or through intimidation attempts.The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is an Islamist party banned by the government in 2021. In the autumn of the same year, the TLP entered into an agreement with the Pakistani government, pledging to respect the constitution and not support violent protests. In November 2023, it was officially re-recognized by the Pakistani government as a “political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan.”The government entered into an agreement with the TLP “with a view to the overriding national interest and long-term perspective to ensure that violence does not recur in the future.” The agreement stipulated that Section 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 1997 (charges of terrorist acts) would be applicable to persons accused of blasphemy under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (defamation of the Prophet Muhammad). In addition, the parties involved agreed to set up a special department called the Counter Blasphemy Wing within the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The department was set up with the aim of improving the ability to monitor “desecration of religions,” but because Pakistan’s blasphemy law is designed this way, it actually applies specifically to Islam, especially to content spread online.The agreement also guarantees an impartial and speedy trial for defendants accused of blasphemy, which “should actually protect against extrajudicial actions and lynchings that are still carried out by militants,” notes Farzana Imran of the Christian organization LEAD Pakistan (Legal Evangelical Association Development), calling on the authorities to ensure the rule of law and not allow a para-state militia of “moral or religious police” to obstruct the work of the police or ordinary justice.Muhammad Amir Rana, a Muslim scholar and co-founder of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, who writes as a columnist for the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, recalls that last July the TLP called for violence against the Supreme Court of Pakistan after the acquittal of a member of the Ahmadiyya community (considered “heretical” by Islam). And he asks: “Why does the state compromise and tolerate a group that is responsible for mass violence, vandalism, the killing of innocent citizens and damage to property, and that tarnishes the country’s international image by promoting extremism?” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 27/9/2024)
Share:
Poll data shows that Kamala Harris now leads Donald Trump in the US presidential election campaign. She has an average vote intention score of 48.2%, compared with Trump’s 45.8%, according to FiveThirtyEight, a website that looks at a range of polls.
She leads in the race, although the margins are still tight. A poll of polls like this one is likely to be more accurate than a single one, giving a much better indication of any trends.
Many factors are at work when people decide how to vote, but four things really matter. These are voter evaluations of the candidates; their perceptions of the major issues; identifying with the Democratic or Republican parties, or being independents; and whether they think of themselves as liberals, conservatives or moderates.
To look closely at these factors we can examine the details of an Economist/YouGov survey of the US electorate completed on September 17. The survey puts Harris on 49%, with Trump on 45% in voting intentions.
There are significant variations in support among different groups and as the figure below shows, there is a large gender gap with women much more likely to vote for Harris than men. In addition, white people favour Trump, whereas Hispanic and black people lean heavily towards Harris. Harris is also strongly supported by those under the age of 45 with Trump leading Harris by a small margin in the 45-64 group – and by a large margin among the over 65s.
Voting intentions for the upcoming US election:
When it comes to judging candidates, voters use several criteria including perceptions that they are strong, competent, honest and in touch with people like themselves. But a good overall measure is the extent to which they like or dislike a candidate. In the Economist/YouGov poll 48% liked Harris and 47% disliked her. In Trump’s case 42% liked him and 55% disliked him. Clearly, Harris has the edge in leadership evaluations in the race.
Existing ideological positions are a very important factor in influencing the vote as the chart below shows. When it comes to ideological preferences liberals overwhelmingly support Harris and conservatives do the same with Trump.
However, 57% of moderates favour Harris compared, with only 30% who favour Trump. Trump’s problem is that his style of campaigning may energise his core supporters, but it tends to alienate many moderates.
In the case of political partisanship, again Democrats overwhelmingly support Harris and Republicans Trump. In this case the independents are neck and neck, with Harris ahead of Trump by only 1%. But she does get more Republicans (5%) than Trump gets Democrats (1%).
Voting intentions among independents and other groups
Harris has the edge when it comes to three of the really important factors that explain voting behaviour. However, she is weak on some issues compared with Trump. When asked about their most important issue, respondents ranked inflation first, immigration second, and jobs, the economy and abortion tied in third place.
The problem for Harris is illustrated by the most salient issue of inflation. Some 96% of respondents thought that this is important, but only 33% approved of the way that Joe Biden had handled the issue, compared with 59% who disapproved.
Since Kamala Harris is the vice-president, she shares responsibility for this. That said, 56% think that Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants are eating pet dogs is false, while 27% think it is true. So there is a question over his credibility when it comes to issues as well.
More generally, 25% approved of the general direction the country was headed, while 58% thought that America was on the wrong track. When asked if they felt better off or worse off than a year ago, only 12% said better off, 42% said about the same and 40% said worse off. The US economy has been growing rapidly since Biden took office, but clearly many voters still don’t feel the benefits.
Biden stepped down as the Democratic nominee for president following his disastrous performance in the debate with Donald Trump. But the polling shows that discontent with the Biden administration was a lot more widespread than just concerns about his age and ability to communicate.
In relation to the recent TV debate, 56% of respondents thought that Harris won, compared with only 27% who thought the winner was Trump. As a result, she has made a strong start to her campaign. When asked who they thought would win the election in November, 42% said Harris and 32% Trump with 26% unsure.
With that kind of momentum, Harris can be optimistic, though not certain, about the outcome.
Paul Whiteley has received funding from the British Academy and the ESRC.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Giang Nguyen-Dien, Postdoctoral Fellow in American Culture Studies, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
Members of St. Paul’s Hmong community protest in 1998 after a local radio host said on air that Hmong immigrants needed to ‘assimilate or hit the goddamn road.’Bruce Bisping/Star Tribune via Getty Images
After Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, much of the media coverage zeroed in on Walz’s Midwestern roots, with some pundits using the phrase “Minnesota nice” to describe his appeal.
In the popular imagination, Minnesota nice describes a culture of neighborliness and amicability that’s commonly seen as characteristic of the state. In policy terms, that might mean bigger investments in education, better public health, access to affordable housing and stronger worker rights – an extension of Walz’s achievements as Minnesota governor. Many Americans would probably like to see these values have primacy in the rest of the nation.
I think Minnesota nice, whether represented in policies or in being kind to neighbors, is a worthy ideal. But as someone who has studied the experiences of Vietnamese refugees in Minnesota, I’ve written about how the trope of Minnesota nice has a more complex history – especially when it comes to nonwhite people.
According to Atkins, Minnesota nice denotes “a polite friendliness, an aversion to confrontation, a tendency toward understatement … and emotional restraints.” These traits can be found in Scandinavian literature, film and art, as well as in 19th- and early 20th-century Lutheran values.
To ease those concerns, government officials instituted a dispersal policy to spread out Southeast Asian refugees to ensure they wouldn’t be concentrated in any one region, town or city. They implemented this policy to reduce social and economic impacts on local communities – and also compel Southeast Asian refugees to assimilate into American culture.
In Minnesota, while many newcomers were given a helping hand, many of them also experienced isolation and rejection.
From 1979 to 1999, about 15,000 Vietnamese refugees arrived in Minnesota. My research shows that media outlets often ran articles highlighting the goodwill and generosity of locals, whether they were helping these refugees learn English, acquire job training, find work or secure housing.
The Minneapolis Tribune reported in 1975 that the state was able to avoid any major public reactions against refugees because they posed “no major job threat,” since they were spread out across the state.
Even as locals seemed largely supportive, the dispersal policy wasn’t ideal for many refugees. Many of them ended up in remote areas of Minnesota, far from a familiar ethnic community that could provide much-needed psychological and emotional support. Those in isolated areas often lacked access to social services and English language programs.
For refugees, a more complicated view of Minnesota nice emerges, one that I think depends on being not too visible and not too much of a threat to the existing order. Many refugees were certainly grateful for the state and local support they received. But gratitude also became an “unspoken condition” for acceptance, as Iranian refugee Dina Nayeri reports in her book “The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You.”
In Minnesota, locals could seem largely unsympathetic to the complicated struggles of refugees trying to settle in a strange, new land. Rather than complain, they ought to be happy for the “small blessings” they received, as one local St. Cloud resident wrote to the Minneapolis Tribune in 1975.
When there was a sudden influx of refugees into one area, some residents could become even less welcoming.
That’s what happened with the state’s Hmong refugees.
An ethnic group originally from China, the Hmong arrived in Southeast Asia during the mid-19th century. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. government recruited the Hmong to fight in the Secret War in Laos, where the U.S. had been covertly providing aid and military assistance to anti-communist forces. After the war, some Hmong fled, fearing persecution. Many of them ended up in Minnesota. In 1980, there were about 2,000 Hmong people in Minnesota. By the end of 1981, their numbers had grown to 8,000, raising some alarm.
“Some cynics say our problem is that we are too nice and have provided too many services,” a local resettlement official was quoted saying in a 1980 State Department report. In that same report, an official with a local charity suggested that Minnesota would soon be known as “Hmong-nesota.”
In 1985, the Minnesota Star Tribune published a special report, “Hmong in Minnesota: Lost in the Promised Land,” that explored how many Hmong refugees had become “targets of racial epithets, harassment and violence” in the Twin Cities. The article noted that the Hmong came to realize that most Americans had never heard of them or their roles in the secret war in Laos. Instead, they often found themselves “resented, misunderstood and victimized by their neighbors.”
To me, the anxiety over “Hmong-nesota” recalled the history of “yellow peril” – the imagined threat of Asian invasion and cultural disruptions that first emerged in the 19th century and shaped many U.S. immigration policies.
Benevolence and violence
My own research explores how feel-good tropes that are prominent in the U.S., such as Minnesota nice, usually mask a more complicated story.
The U.S. government has often used the language of goodwill as a cover for violence – a phenomenon I call “bene/violence.”
For example, the U.S. occupation of the Philippines, which began in 1899, was sugarcoated in the rhetoric of benevolence. William McKinley, who was U.S. president at the time, insisted that “the strong arm of authority” would promote “the blessings of good and stable government upon the people of the Philippine Islands under the free flag of the United States.” The story of conquest became the story of “uplifting” those deemed less civilized and incapable of self-governance.
The same sort of talk was also used to justify U.S. military intervention in Vietnam. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s State of the Union address on Jan. 4, 1965, implored Americans to secure the “peace of Asia” and “the progress of humanity.” The government promoted the war in Vietnam as a just war, in part by claiming Americans were granting the Vietnamese the “gift of freedom,” as Asian American studies scholar Mimi Nguyen has written.
In the end, Minnesota nice signals that there’s something special about the state, just as “spreading democracy” and “protecting freedom” signal American exceptionalism on the international stage.
But the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis illuminated what economist Samuel L. Myers calls the “Minnesota Paradox” – a history of inequality that is totally divorced from the way niceness operates in the cultural imagination of the state’s residents.
“African Americans are worse off in Minnesota than they are in virtually every other state in the nation,” Myers writes.
In a 2021 essay, sociologist Amy August also highlighted the state’s persistent racial disparities in housing, health care, income and education to argue that whatever progressive promises the state makes, Minnesota is not apart from America but rather a part of America.
Ultimately, I think the concept of Minnesota nice can create the illusion of a utopian society largely devoid of the ills of racism and inequality. It reinforces American kindness as a core aspect of national identity and, in doing so, I believe glosses over parts of the country’s history – while hampering its ability to address the very real problems that plague the nation today.
I don’t reject what Minnesota nice purports to offer. But it is not a simple and straightforward cultural value adopted by – and equally applied to – everyone.
Giang Nguyen-Dien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aaron X. Smith, Assistant Professor of Africology and African American Studies, Temple University
‘A Radiant Light,’ by Philly-based Afrofuturist artist Mikel Elam, celebrates cultural roots and the infinite possibilities of the future. Mikel Elam, CC BY-NC-SA
From the creation of the Liberty Bell in the 1750s to the world-famous Philadelphia Sound soul music of the 1960s and ’70s, artistic innovation has long been a staple in Philly history. Today, the city’s thriving Afrofuturist scene is continuing this legacy.
“Afrofuturism” is a term coined in the 1990s by American cultural critic Mark Dery. Dery used the label to describe “speculative fiction that treats African American themes and addresses African American concerns in the context of 20th-century techno culture.”
“Call it the power of the subconscious or the predominance of soul culture gone cyber pop,” Womack writes, “but this dance through time travel that Afrofuturists lived for is as much about soul retrieval as it is about jettisoning into the far-off future.”
Here are five local Philly artists whose innovative aesthetics and ideas are contributing to the still-emerging field of Afrofuturistic art.
Rasheedah Phillips and Camae Ayewa
Rasheedah Phillips, an artist and housings rights attorney, and Camae Ayewa, a poet and musician who performs as Moor Mother, attended high school in Philadelphia and graduated from the Beasley School of Law at Temple University. In 2015 they founded the Black Quantum Futurism collective, which could be considered the artistic cornerstone of Afrofuturist art in Philadelphia.
Rasheedah Phillips’ latest book will be published in January 2025. AK Press
This collective hosts various events and creative projects. On their website, Phillips and Ayewa describe their movement as “a new approach to living and experiencing reality by way of the manipulation of space-time in order to see into possible futures.” They blend ideas and beliefs from quantum physics and Black and African cultural traditions of consciousness, time and space.
Although the Black Quantum Futurism website is less active than in previous years, Phillips and Ayewa continue to organize and participate in Afrofuturist events both in Philadelphia and around the world. Phillips has a new book, “Dismantling the Master’s Clock: On Race, Space, and Time,” set for release in early 2025.
Mikel Elam
Though he’s a New York transplant, figure painter and Afrofuturist visual artist Mikel Elam has become an asset to the Afrofuturist art scene in Philadelphia.
“I have a special interest in Africa (which is) considered by many anthropologists to be the origin of all life,” he explains. “In many ways, science, spirituality and art are essential to our cultural and mental development. They are more compatible than we might think.”
In his pieces, Elam often incorporates cultural masks he’s collected from his world travels, as well as shiny metal keys. His work on display at Philadelphia International Airport combines both. The keys are positioned to reflect the flow of people in transit – sometimes they move in harmony and other times in opposite directions. Unapologetically optimistic, Elam also surrounds the heads with keys to suggest halos or auras.
‘Bliss Consciousness’ by Mikel Elam depicts the artist’s meditation practice and belief that the keys to universal connection come from within. Mikel Elam, CC BY-NC-SA
Serena Saunders
Serena Saunders is a mural artist, Philly native and owner and operator of Passion Art Designs LLC. She transforms walls throughout Philly and beyond into futuristic visions of hope, struggle, Black joy and justice.
Her paintings emphasize the potential for a more peaceful and equitable future. Her “Camo” collection includes a painting that displays a map of Africa hovering over an ocean of streaming colors, including elements of the American flag. The continent appears to be dripping blood into the waters below.
A major component of the Afrofuturist arts movement involves reimagining existing symbols relating to Black culture and life. Saunders’ “Heart” collection incorporates elements of transhumanism – the belief that humans should use technology to enhance their minds and bodies – which are common in Afrofuturist art. Images of the precious blood-pumping organ are merged with pipes, a faucet head and even a grenade.
Avant-garde jazz musician Sun Ra is an Afrofuturist icon who lived in Philly for 25 years. Leni Sinclair via Getty Images
One of the greatest avant-garde jazz musicians of the 20th century, Sun Ra is also an Afrofuturist icon who once occupied a modest Philadelphia row home at 5626 Morton St. in Germantown.
Sun Ra led the Sun Ra Arkestra, a jazz group, from the late 1950s until his death in 1993 at age 79. With songs including “Love in Outer Space,” “Door of the Cosmos,” “Saturn” and “UFO,” Sun Ra kept intergalactic reimaginings of life and love at the forefront of his creative expression. From his lavish futuristic outfits to the astrological symbolism “Astro Black,” he remains a meaningful pioneer of Afrofuturist art.
In 2022, the house where he and bandmates lived and rehearsed was designated a historic landmark. Though not open to the public, it serves as a reminder of the creative, resilient spirit that often resides in humble and unassuming environments, and why we can think of Philadelphia, the city known for being the birthplace of the United States, also as the city of tomorrow.
Aaron X. Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Todd Allen, Professor of Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan
Steam billows from two cooling towers serving Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in 2005.AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Constellation, an energy company that provides electricity and natural gas to customers in 16 states and Washington, announced on Sept. 20, 2024, that it plans to restore and restart Unit 1 at Three Mile Island, a nuclear plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, that was shut down in 2019. Microsoft has signed a 20-year agreement to purchase electricity generated by the plant to offset power demand from its data centers in the mid-Atlantic region.
Three Mile Island was the site in 1979 of a partial meltdown at the plant’s Unit 2 reactor. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission calls this event “the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history,” although only small amounts of radiation were released, and no health effects on plant workers or the public were detected. Unit 1 was not affected by the accident. University of Michigan nuclear engineering professor Todd Allen explains what restarting Unit 1 will involve, and why some other shuttered nuclear plants may also get new leases on life.
What is the history of TMI-1?
Three Mile Island Unit 1 is a large nuclear power station with the capacity to generate 837 megawatts of electricity – enough to power about 800,000 homes. It started commercial operations in 1974 and ran until September 2019.
After the accident at Unit 2 in 1979, Unit 1 was shut down for six years, until the operator at the time, Metropolitan Edison, demonstrated to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it could operate the reactor safely.
Constellation closed Unit 1 down in 2019, even though the plant’s operating license had been extended through 2034 and it had no operational or safety problems. TMI-1 could not compete economically at that point with natural gas-fueled power plants because gas had become extremely cheap.
The 1979 accident at Three Mile Island had broad, lasting effects on nuclear power regulation.
What is the reactor’s current condition?
Since the shutdown in 2019, the plant has sat idle. The NRC calls this status safe storage, or SAFSTOR. The plant is shut down, uranium fuel is removed from the reactor, and the facility is maintained in a safe, stable condition. Irradiated fuel is stored in large steel and concrete casks on a physically secured portion of the site, known as an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation.
In addition to the fuel, other materials in the plant are radioactive, such as structural channels that direct the cooling water during operation and the large vessel in which the reactor is housed. Radioactive decay occurs during the SAFSTOR period, reducing the plant’s radioactivity and making it easier to dismantle the plant later.
The United States does not have a licensed long-term disposal site for spent nuclear fuel, so it is stored in large dry casks on-site at operating and closed reactors. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, CC BY
What will Constellation need to do to prepare the reactor to restart?
Constellation will need to ensure that it has enough fuel and sufficiently trained personnel. It also will have to ensure that the reactor’s components are still in a condition that allows for safe operation.
This will require detailed inspections and mandatory maintenance actions to ensure that all components are running correctly. In some cases, the company may need to install new equipment.
The exact work will depend on the results of inspections but could include upgrading or replacing the reactor’s major components, such as the turbine and associated electricity generator; large transformers that move the electricity from the reactor out to the grid; equipment used to cool the reactor during operation; and systems for controlling the plant during startup, shutdown and power generation.
As an analogy, imagine that you move to a city and stop driving your car for five years. When you decide to resume driving, you’d need to ensure you have gas, that your driver’s license is still valid and that all of the car’s components still operate correctly. It would probably need new oil, air in the tires, new filters and other replacement parts to run well.
What will the NRC consider as it decides whether to relicense the reactor?
The agency needs to independently confirm Constellation has enough fuel and trained personnel, and that the plant can run safely. These checks must be approved by the commission before the plant can operate.
In my view, Constellation will need to show that the plant is in a condition to operate at the same levels of safety that existed there in September 2019 when the company terminated operations.
Do you expect other utilities to try this type of restoration at closed reactors?
Constellation is not the only utility considering restarting a nuclear plant. Holtec International, an energy technology company, bought the closed Palisades nuclear plant in southwest Michigan in 2022 with the intent to decommission it, but then the company decided to restore and reopen the plant.
That work is underway now. Recently, in its first major inspection at the plant, the NRC found a number of components that it said required more testing and repair work.
Wolverine Power Cooperative, a not-for-profit energy provider to rural communities across Michigan, plans to purchase electricity from the restored Palisades plant, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America program. Holtec is receiving support for restoring Palisades from the U.S. Department of Energy and the state of Michigan.
As the presidential election approaches, the race is ramping up – including on social media. Although Meta reported in 2022 that only about 3% of the content on Facebook is political, Americans have already begun bracing themselves for a deluge of political news stories, ads, AI deepfakes and arguments on their feeds over the next few weeks.
Despite the tensions building on users’ digital feeds, an impending election doesn’t mean that people need to avoid social media altogether. When used wisely, social media can still be an important source for political information and an outlet to express opinions. I’ve studied how people navigate social media during elections, and I want to share three strategies to help you prepare your accounts for this election season so you can stay connected to what’s important without drowning in partisan back-and-forth.
1. Audit your feeds
While elections can be stressful, they also offer a chance to take ownership of the content that you consume online – or, as digital culture scholar Jessa Lingel says, “be your own algorithm.” Take the time to audit your social media ecosystem before November by considering the accounts that you follow and the settings that you have in place.
Social media platforms and their algorithms have inspired widespread concerns about their role in political polarization, because they enable people to isolate themselves in echo chambers that reinforce their own views. People with different political views can end up with substantially different material on their social media feeds.
While research suggests that echo chamber experiences are generally limited to highly partisan people, it is worthwhile to take a critical look at your feeds. Consider diversifying the content you see on social media, including following people whose life experiences differ from your own.
On the other side of the coin, take a breather before unfollowing people you disagree with during tense moments. While encountering political dissent online can be uncomfortable, studies demonstrate that deliberately blocking it out can contribute to polarization.
Platforms are taking steps behind the scenes, however, to limit users’ exposure to political content. For example, Meta recently implemented features that limit the amount of political content that users see on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Since earlier this year, the setting has been turned on by default. Now is a great time to double-check that your accounts’ settings reflect the content and ad personalization preferences that work best for you. If you want, you can turn the political content back on using the “content preferences” settings available through Facebook and Instagram.
2. Stay skeptical and practice stepping away
Misinformation on social media remains a constant concern during elections. This year, AI-generated images pose a particular misinformation threat, especially when they’re shared by the presidential candidates themselves.
The News Literacy Project has established a 2024 election misinformation dashboard that has already compiled over 600 examples of inaccurate viral content related to this election, which include items such as misleading memes, altered photos and videos, and out-of-context quotes.
It’s not enough to hope the platforms’ systems protect users. You should approach information about the election with a skeptical eye, especially when it sparks an emotional response from you.
One study found that people who had stronger emotional reactions to fake news headlines expressed greater intentions to comment, share or like items than those who were not emotionally moved to respond. Pay attention to your emotional reactions to the headlines and images you encounter on social media, and take time to step away, process and fact-check information using sources you know are reliable before sharing.
Especially during elections, ideals of “good citizenship” put pressure on people to stay informed about the latest political news. Social media can provide endless election updates, but just because the information is widely available doesn’t mean you need to engage with it all the time. It’s possible to stay informed while also staying in touch with the enjoyable aspects of social media, even when the election rises to the top of everyone’s minds.
Different platforms can serve different political functions, which could include helping you to set boundaries around political information. Just as you might choose to take a break from intense circumstances by taking a walk or calling a friend, you can also designate some social media spaces primarily for decompressing, while still engaging with political information on others.
This might mean joining a new platform or creating an alternative account on a platform that you already use. While people tend to turn to X, Reddit, TikTok and Facebook for politics, you can choose to curate some accounts with less focus on political content for times when you need an escape.
Regardless of how you choose to prepare your social media feeds for the election, keep in mind that feelings of stress around election time are normal. Many aspects of elections can feel out of control, but taking control of your social media feeds allows you to manage your political information diet for the better.
Chelsea Butkowski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Beijing – The proliferation of initiatives in which Chinese priests walk their spiritual journey together is an eloquent sign of a new normality in pastoral and spiritual life in many dioceses, following the ordination of bishops appointed according to the procedures of the Provisional Agreement in force between the Holy See and the Chinese government. The example of the dioceses of Henan Province is a clear example of this return to normality in the pastoral life of Chinese Catholic communities.According to information received by Fides, about fifty priests from the four dioceses of Henan Province took part in the spiritual retreat held for a week in September between the liturgical feast of the Nativity of Mary and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Bishop Thaddeus Wang Yuesheng, appointed by Pope Francis on December 16, 2023 and consecrated on January 25, 2024, and Joseph Zhang Yinlin, Bishop of the Diocese of Anyang, consecrated with a papal mandate in 2015, accompanied the retreat under the direction of Fr. John Baptist Zhang, founder of the charitable institution and church information organization “Xinde” in Hebei Province.In an atmosphere of exchange and community, the priests prayed and meditated together on biblical and missionary themes and the teaching of the Church. In this context, the priests were also able to exchange their experiences as pastors of grassroots communities.After the resumption of church life in the late 1970s, the Diocese of Zhengzhou no longer had bishops, only diocesan administrators. The consecration and installation of a new bishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome, more than seventy years after the expulsion of his predecessor, was an objective sign of the restoration of normality to ecclesial life and diocesan community, and promoted a missionary flourishing.In recent months, Bishop Thaddeus Wang has visited the parishes of his diocese and reorganized the diocesan structure with various commissions according to pastoral needs. The bishop focuses great importance on communion and reconciliation, as well as the spiritual growth of priests and lay people.In September, similar spiritual retreats for priests and lay people dedicated to the priestly vocation and the personal encounter with Jesus were also held in the dioceses of Weinan, Hanzhou and the diocese of Beijing.
On September 26, a meeting of the HSE management with a delegation from Azerbaijan took place in the historic building of the National Research University Higher School of Economics on Pokrovsky Boulevard — the Durasov House. Representatives of higher education institutions discussed possible areas of cooperation. An agreement was also signed between the Higher School of Economics and Baku State University.
Before the official part, the guests were given a tour of the Pokrovka building and the Durasov House. Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the HSE, gave a welcoming speech and spoke in detail about the HSE. In particular, he noted the multidisciplinary nature of the university, drawing attention to the fact that, in addition to economic departments, the HSE has departments of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, computer science and creative industries, as well as engineering training areas. He emphasized that the Higher School of Economics is the first choice university for talented applicants from both Russia and other countries. Nikita Anisimov expressed confidence that cooperation with Azerbaijani universities will allow for the creation of high-quality academic exchange and student mobility programs.
Adalat Jalal oglu Muradov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, greeted those present and thanked them for the warm welcome. He introduced his university: “We have more than 20 thousand students. We conduct training in the main educational programs in several languages. We also have 10 training programs within the framework of two diplomas.”
He also noted that the Azerbaijan State University of Economics sees demand for education in Russian and the creation of new joint programs, including online, which could lead to increased attractiveness of education.
“We can think about creating a joint faculty, if you are interested. I am ready to transfer all powers to the HSE within the framework of this faculty. Our students will be happy to come to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities,” Adalat Jalal ogly Muradov is confident.
Elchin Safarali oglu Babayev, rector of Baku State University, noted that HSE is famous not only for the quality of education and research, but also for its infrastructure. “We are interested in cooperation, we need to move forward and expand the horizons of interaction. We are interested in your scientists and professors to teach here,” he said.
At the same time, the rector of Baku State University emphasized that the name “Higher School of Economics” does not reflect the entire spectrum of areas of study and the diversity of levels of education that are represented at the university. “The university could be called the Higher School of All Sciences,” said Elchin Safarali oglu Babayev.
Rector of the Azerbaijan Technological University Yashar Adil oglu Omarov, in turn, expressed a desire to create dual degree programs with Russian universities, including the Higher School of Economics. “We have a faculty of economics and management, where we could establish cooperation, and there are also programs in design and IT,” he noted.
The Azerbaijani delegation expressed interest not only in opening dual degree programs, but also in joint publications.
At the end of the official part, the Higher School of Economics and Baku State University signed a cooperation agreement.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/edu/967246868.html
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
The authority has accepted an invitation from the Playing Out initiative to become a Play Streets Beacon.
Playing Out is a resident led organisation allowing people to apply for temporary road closures with help from their local councils, so that neighbours and children can come together as a community.
Through working with the city council, many Wolverhampton streets have successfully held Playing Out days allowing children to play outside their homes in a safe and inclusive environment.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for digital and community, said: “I have seen the positive impact that Playing Out can have on an area.
“It is not just brilliant for children; it can have a positive impact on the entire community.
“Many residents have noted how Play Streets have brought their streets together, strengthening relationships and fostering a greater sense of belonging.
“We are delighted to accept the invitation to become a Play Streets Beacon and look forward to sharing our expertise in this field with others.”
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, said: “This is a fantastic way of supporting our physical activity strategy by inspiring young people to move more in fun events right on their doorstep
“We have an ambition to increase physical activity participation rates across the city and initiatives such as Playing Out days will help us to realise that.”
The Beacon recognition highlights City of Wolverhampton Council as an example of best practice, and it will now share its experience and knowledge of Playing Out events with other organisations and residents.
As a Play Streets Beacon, the council will:
Residents organising an event receive a free promotional pack containing hi-vis vests, guidance on organising a Play Street, a giant skipping rope and chalks.
Applications for a road closure must be made at least 8 weeks before the date of the event.
Some roads within Wolverhampton, such as main roads or roads which are on a bus route, may not be suitable.
More information about Playing Out can be found at Playing Out.
Our research, published in June 2024, used data on the racial composition of drivers on every street in Chicago. We then compared who is driving on roads with who is being ticketed by the city’s speed cameras and who is being stopped by the Chicago police.
Our findings show that when speed cameras are doing the ticketing, the proportion of tickets issued to Black and white drivers aligns closely with their respective share of roadway users. With human enforcement, in contrast, police officers stop Black drivers at a rate that far outstrips their presence on the road.
For instance, on roads where half of drivers are Black, Black drivers receive approximately 54% of automated camera citations. However, they make up about 70% of police stops.
On roadways where half of the drivers are white, white drivers account for around half of automated citations – and less than 20% of police stops.
Driving while Black
Our research adds to other evidence that shows racial bias is a problem in traffic enforcement – a problem sometimes summarized as “driving while Black.”
The civil rights era of the 1960s was rife with law enforcement incidents that targeted Black drivers. As the scholar and historian Gretchen Sorin details in her 2020 book “Driving While Black,” the car simultaneously opened new possibilities of freedom as well as new hazards for Black people.
By the 1990s, the whole world witnessed the punishment that could await those caught driving while Black. In 1991, a Black man named Rodney King was stopped after a high-speed chase and beaten by police in Los Angeles. The violent encounter, captured on videotape and shared on local media, became national news.
In recent years, the police killings of Daunte Wright, Tyre Nichols and other Black drivers have shown how traffic stops can escalate quickly and sometimes lethally.
In September 2024, Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill was pulled over by local police on his way to a game at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Police officers physically pulled Hill from his vehicle and handcuffed him. The incident raised questions about the officers’ aggressive use of force.
A screenshot from body cam footage of officers pulling Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill from his car after stopping him for speeding on Sept. 9, 2024. Miami-Dade Police Department
Fairer enforcement and safer streets
All humans have biases. These biases can become dangerous when those humans are police – agents of the state who are armed and empowered to make our cities safer.
To reduce enforcement disparities and improve how traffic violations are handled, more fundamental reforms are likely necessary.
What can more ambitious policy reforms look like?
Several recent potential reforms of traffic enforcement center on decriminalization and de-escalation.
Legislators in Illinois recently proposed a bill that would prohibit traffic stops solely based on noncriminal and minor offenses such as improper vehicle registration, seat belt violations or lane usage mistakes.
Berkeley, California, is considering using trained civilians for traffic enforcement to reduce the opportunity for escalation. The idea is akin to how parking enforcement is done in many cities, including Chicago, which has unarmed parking units separate from the police.
More reliance on automated traffic enforcement could improve traffic safety and transform policing.
Red-light cameras like this one detect and punish reckless drivers without requiring person-to-person interactions. John M. Chase via Getty
Cameras can detect dangerous moving violations, such as serious speeding and running red lights, without the need for immediate police involvement. Automated enforcement alone won’t guarantee safe streets, but cameras have reduced fatal and serious injury crashes substantially where deployed, including in Chicago.
Over half of police stops in Chicago for 2023 were license plate, registration or equipment related. Automating enforcement of such nonmoving violations would eliminate a major reason for police-driver interaction, reducing the potential for bias and escalation.
This, in turn, would free police resources to focus on nontraffic priorities.
And as our data shows, cameras are equal opportunity ticketers: They don’t have racial bias and carry no risk of escalation.
David Levinson has received research funding from ARC, UDIA-NSW, iMOVE, and Sydney Metro. He is affiliated with WalkSydney and Peaceful Bayside.
Nebiyou Tilahun has received funding from the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Michael J Smart and Wenfei Xu do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The decision by the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board to place convicted murderer Najwa Petersen on parole has been referred to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board (CSPRB) for review.
The referral was made by Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald in terms of section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act.
Peterson is serving a 28-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her husband, popular artist, Taliep Petersen.
“The CSPRB is tasked with reviewing the original decision made by the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board and must confirm or replace it with its own decision.
“This referral suspends the decision to place her on parole, effective from the 27th of November 2024, pending the outcome of the CSPRB,” the department said.
Furthermore, the department explained that the referral follows representations made by Taliep Petersen’s family.
“The discrepancies in Marius van der Westhuizen’s case have led to a lack of public trust. As a result, I am exercising my discretion under the provisions of the Act to ensure that Parole Boards consider all reports comprehensively to prevent future occurrences of such issues,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Government has welcomed the marginal employment growth and expansion of South Africa’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of this year.
“The growth bears testament to the government’s commitment made during the State of the Nation Address in February to ensure positive economic growth that will encourage business development and provide more employment opportunities,” Acting Director-General of Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Nomonde Mnukwa ,said on Friday.
According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) this week, the total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 42 000 in the second quarter of 2024, bringing the level of employment to 10.7 million.
While the survey shows that 144 000 jobs were lost between June 2023 and June 2024, the total number of employees grew by 42 000 (0.4%), with employment rising from 10.67 million in March 2024 to 10.72 million by June 2024.
“The positive developments mean that government’s structural reforms are unlocking the bottlenecks and removing red tape to drive inclusive growth and job creation. South Africa’s business-friendly approach paves a positive sentiment, signalling that South Africa is becoming more and more of an investment destination,” Mnukwa said.
The GCIS said this growth shows commitment by government to work with social partners to stabilise the economy.
“The prudent economic path pursued to turn around our economy is starting to show improvement,” GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “Certain realities of life can only be seen with eyes washed by tears”. These words of Pope Francis during the meeting with young people in Manila are the key to understanding the documentary entitled “Risurrection” which will be screened on Saturday 28 September 2024 at 11 a.m. in the Pius XI Hall of the Pontifical Lateran University at the end of the Week of Korean Culture, a series of events organized by the Embassy of Korea to the Holy See to celebrate the “Day of the Foundation of Korea” which falls every year on October 3.The documentary shows the spiritual legacy of Father John Lee Tae-seok, a Korean Salesian who worked as a missionary and doctor in the community of Tonj in what is now South Sudan for almost a decade, from 2001 to 2009 (he was already a doctor when he became a Salesian, ed.). In Africa, he had a profound impact on the lives of the people he accompanied. At the time, these people were children or teenagers. Today they are adults, and some have followed his example and wanted to follow in his footsteps, not only in their profession as doctors, but also in their medical training, some even studying medicine at his university in Korea.And it is precisely these students from the Faculty of Medicine at Busan University in South Korea who are the protagonists of the film by Korean director Goo Soo Hwan, who also directed the famous film “Don’t cry for me, Sudan”, also dedicated to Father Lee and which was an extraordinary success in his own country (it was also shown at the Vatican in December 2011).”Risurrection” can be described as a sequel to “Don’t cry for me, Sudan”. Goo Soo Hwan’s new work begins after the death of Father Lee in 2010. These sad moments are narrated by his students, young people who were plunged into despair by the news of his death. A despair that did not last long, however: they soon realized that their task was to continue his mission, albeit in different ways.This is the key to the whole film: in South Sudanese culture, it is embarrassing to cry in public, but the students cannot hold back their tears when they think of their teacher. And it is precisely by sharing with him the love he gave them that tears soon give way to joy, and today gratitude towards Father Lee shines through in the gestures of his students. “Certain realities of life can only be seen with eyes washed clean by tears.”The director is keen to stress that the film does not only show the path of the missionary’s students to the profession of doctor: “They have become people who give: it is about how they live their lives. And they live exactly the life of their ‘spiritual father’. They showed me what happiness is and what authority really means.” “I wanted to know if the tears had changed the students. Well, their lives have changed a lot,” adds the director, who also has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/9/2024)
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Various civil society groups in Nigeria have declared a “National Day for Survival” for October 1. The date has a high symbolic value as it coincides with the 64th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.The initiative was presented to the press on September 26 at the “International Press Center” in Ogba, in Lagos, by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, coordinator of the “Education Rights Campaign (ERC)”, one of the organizations opposing the economic policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu, which were already the subject of a ten-day protest in August organized through social media under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance (see Fides, 1/8/2024).The organizers of the day of action are calling on the government to “say no to the neoliberal policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), restore fuel prices and electricity tariffs to pre-29 May 2023 levels, operate state-owned refineries to ensure affordable petroleum products, reduce food prices and support farmers to ensure sustainable food production.”The organizers are also calling for the unconditional release of protesters and journalists arrested during the August protests, tackling insecurity, including by providing adequate support to soldiers and police officers, introducing a minimum wage and cutting the high salaries of senior officials.“We call on the Nigerian people, progressive organizations, groups, unions, student associations and youth movements to take to the streets on October 1 and protest and demonstrate peacefully,” said Hassan Taiwo Soweto. The October 1st action is an urgent warning and a call to the Tinubu government to “meet our demands immediately. If our demands are not met, further protests will follow on National Survival Day.” He added: “We need a different way of governing our country, one that ensures that national wealth benefits the needs of all and not the greed of a few.”The demands of the organizers of the “National Survival Day” are also to be seen in the context of widespread corruption in the country, which is one of the richest countries in Africa thanks to oil production. A wealth that seeps into countless channels, which in turn has fueled the country’s foreign debt. In the face of the demands of international creditors, President Tinubu has initiated an economic policy focused on higher taxes and cutting state subsidies, which has severely worsened the living conditions of the majority of Nigerians.In his speech to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, President Bola Tinubu called on world leaders to consider “comprehensive debt relief” for Nigeria and other developing countries to enable them to progress economically.”We must ensure that any reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief to enable sustainable development financing. Countries in the global South cannot make meaningful economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current debt burden,” warned Tinubu. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/9/2024)
Share:
Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Raleigh, N.C. — This week, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) met with the families of North Carolinians who were awarded the Carnegie Medal, an honor bestowed by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission on “individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others.”
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“The Carnegie Medal is inscribed with the Holy Words of John 15:13, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ Those words perfectly describe the North Carolina citizens I met. It was nothing short of inspiring to hear their stories, hear their love for others, and their act of courage that brought them this honor. North Carolina is a special state to have produced such heroes. It was my absolute honor to spend time with them and thank them on behalf of our state.”
Below are stories of the two honorees with photos of their meeting with Senator Budd:
Daniel L. Weiss – Stokesdale, NC
Daniel L. Weiss saved a woman from burning, Greensboro, North Carolina, May 17, 2022. The woman, 29, was unconscious in her two-door coupe after an accident in which the car left a rural road and continued down an embankment for about 25 feet, where it struck two trees and caught fire. Weiss, 59, facility technician, was working on a utility pole nearby and responded. He reached the driver’s door and saw the woman in the driver’s seat, unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel. He reached in through the window opening and shook her in an attempt to wake her, but she did not respond. Weiss felt for a pulse, then noticed flames burning at the hood and spreading inside through the dashboard and air vents. He called to his co-worker for a fire extinguisher, which the man provided. Weiss emptied the extinguisher, but the flames at the hood continued to burn. He pulled on the handle of the driver’s door, but the door would not open. He then ran to the passenger side and fully entered the car, knelt on the front passenger seat, and turned the woman so she faced away from him. From behind, Weiss reached his arms around her front, clasped his hands together, and lifted her over the center console onto the passenger seat. Flames again burned through the air vents and spread toward the passenger side, coming within a foot of them. Weiss backed through the passenger door opening and fell with the woman to the ground. Two men responded and, with Weiss, carried her to a point about 20 feet away after seeing fire envelop the front seats. Flames grew to engulf the vehicle’s entire cab. The woman was not burned but was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the accident. Weiss suffered minor smoke inhalation and recovered.
Antwaun M. Jackson – Jacksonville, NC
Antwaun M. Jackson died helping to save two women and two children from drowning, North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, July 9, 2022. In the afternoon, several relatives, including two women, 33 and 24, and two girls, 7 and 6, were in the New River Inlet near its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean as the group of four reached a location where they no longer could touch the bottom. Suddenly struggling in a strong current after helping the girls use a bodyboard in shallow water, the women called out for help, alarming their relatives at the nearby beach, including Jackson, 40, production worker. A cousin of the two women and two girls, Jackson waded into the water, first moving toward other children closer to shore, then he swam to the area of the women, along with another female cousin, who helped the girls onto a bodyboard. The women recalled Jackson, who had moved beyond them, trying to push them from behind toward shore. Seeing a cluster of distressed swimmers, including Jackson, other men from separate groups also entered the water and helped to aid the women, girls, and female cousin back to safety in wadable water. All recovered without injury. Jackson remained stranded in the rough current and beyond the reach of some men and responding police officers, who took a rescue disc attached to a rope into the water which was thrown in Jackson’s direction to no effect. Ultimately, Jackson submerged, did not resurface, and could not be found by rescue crews that afternoon or in the days afterward. Jackson’s body has yet to be recovered.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today additional resources and flexibilities available in response to Hurricane Helene in Florida. CMS is working closely with the state of Florida to put these flexibilities in place to ensure those affected by this natural disaster have access to the care they need – when they need it most.
Congratulations and best wishes for the job to Massimiliano Giansanti, elected President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations of the European Community. Giansanti’s recognized experience and the cohesion demonstrated by the Italian System and all Italian agricultural organizations – starting with those with the right to vote such as Coldiretti, Confagricoltura and CIA – were decisive in the choice.
This is a very important result that allows Italy to return after thirty years to express the leadership of Copa, an organization that brings together the main entities of the sector and represents tens of millions of European farmers. I thank the Minister of Agriculture Lollobrigida and the agricultural organizations for the great work they have carried out, and that have allowed us to reach this goal.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
On 27–29 September, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard is taking part in a Canada-Nordic strategic dialogue.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly will host a strategic dialogue between Canada and the Nordic countries (the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue). The aim is to strengthen the dialogue between Canada and the five Nordic countries on issues of mutual interest in the new international situation.
“Relations between Sweden and Canada have become increasingly significant. Canada is an important strategic partner to Sweden with regard to NATO and Ukraine, security in our neighbourhood, and bilateral investment in green transition, new technologies, AI and innovation,” says Ms Malmer Stenergard.
Transatlantic security is one of the main items on the agenda as the meeting begins in New York on 27 September. The ministers will then undertake a joint visit to the city of Iqaluit on Baffin Island. Iqaluit is the capital of the Nunavut Territory, the easternmost part of the Canadian Arctic.
Sweden and Canada have long enjoyed excellent relations, which are now being further enhanced with Sweden as a NATO member. Canada is an important country for Sweden, the Nordic region and the EU, and one with which we share values with regard to democracy, human rights, gender equality, sustainability and the rules-based international order.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi attended the UN Summit of the Future with world leaders in New York this week and addressed its Plenary meeting. The Summit adopted a “Pact for the Future” designed to improve the present and build a better future. Mr Grossi’s speech outlined how the IAEA is a concrete instrument that can help fulfilling the goals of the Pact. While in New York, Mr Grossi also held multiple meetings with world leaders to expand the work of the IAEA in using nuclear science and technology to further peace and development.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award more than $4.3 million in cooperative agreements to states and territories to help fund and provide technical assistance to suicide mortality review committees, which aim to identify and characterize local suicide deaths to better inform Veteran suicide prevention strategies.
This fiscal year’s cooperative agreements will support 10 states and two territories in establishing local understanding of Veteran suicide, identifying populations or locations of special concern, and informing data-informed suicide prevention strategies for Veterans. These awards advance VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to reduce military and Veteran suicide, and the newly published National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Federal Action Plan.
“It is our responsibility to be at the forefront of researching the drivers of Veteran suicide, all with the goal of ensuring no Veteran is lost to suicide,” said Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “We are working with our intergovernmental partners to establish suicide mortality review committees, which will tailor our efforts to the unique and diverse needs of all Veterans.”
These agreements help advance President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation and are part of VA’s broader efforts to prevent Veteran suicide, and contribute to the objectives of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families — an effort between VA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to create enhanced suicide prevention action plans across 50 states and five U.S. territories. This month, VA awarded another $52.5 million in grants to community organizations implementing tailored suicide prevention programs and services for Veterans and their families. VA has also launched a new webpage with resources for suicide loss survivors. VA intends to award up to an additional $10 million through the Suicide Mortality Review Cooperative Agreements program in FY 2025. Learn more about the program and the Governor’s Challenge.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders,Dial988 then Press 1, chat online atVeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text838255.
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Contact us online through Ask VA
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
Learn about our chatbot and ask a question
Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.
More from the Press Room
News Releases
September 26, 2024
VA makes tele-emergency care available nationwide, offering Veterans more virtual care options
Tele-emergency care is now available nationwide, a step that increases timely access to virtual emergency care options for Veterans enrolled in VA health care.
News Releases
September 25, 2024
VA to review possible service connection between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer
VA will conduct a scientific assessment to determine if there is a relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure during military service and kidney cancer among Veterans.
News Releases
September 24, 2024
VA has housed more than 43,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness this fiscal year
Between between October 2023 and August 2024, VA housed 43,116 Veterans experiencing homelessness, surpassing its fiscal year 2024 goal to house 41,000 Veterans one month before the end of the fiscal year.
Headline: FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Soon Closing in South Dakota – Help Will Still be Available
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Soon Closing in South Dakota – Help Will Still be Available
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in South Dakota are soon closing permanently. The Mitchell location will end operations on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. The Canton and North Sioux City locations will end operations on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.
Hours of operation up until the permanent closures are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. The Centers are closed on Sundays.
Davison County (Permanently closing Sept. 28, 4 p.m.)
Davison County Fairgrounds
3200 West Havens Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301
Lincoln County (Permanently closing Oct. 4, 6 p.m.)
Canton Depot
600 W. 5th St.
Canton, SD 57013
Union County (Permanently closing Oct. 4, 6 p.m.)
305 S Derby Lane
North Sioux City, SD 57049
After the Disaster Recovery Centers close, personalized assistance with FEMA-related questions will still be available to residents over the phone and virtually.
Many of the services that have been available at the Disaster Recovery Center are available through DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app or by calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) anytime from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Shorter wait times are more likely in the mornings or evenings. Multilingual operators are available. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
Individuals can do the following online or by calling the helpline:
Apply for federal disaster assistance
Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers, and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays
Receive information about FEMA home inspections
Ask questions about a letter from FEMA
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision
# # #
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @femaregion8
WASHINGTON — Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) awarded Jacobs Engineering CH2M Hill/Clark Nexsen Energy Partners Joint Venture a $3.7 million contract for an electrical microgrid study as part of the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) Sept. 13.
The study, expected to be completed in October 2025, will assess all four public shipyards and develop proposed courses of action for ensuring up to 14 days of electrical power in the event of a power grid or utility outage. It will include assessing the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of implementing a microgrid system to enhance energy efficiency, reliability, and resilience within shipyard facilities.
“This study is foundational to providing energy resilience at our naval shipyards,” said Capt. Luke Greene, SIOP program manager. “Off-grid survivability is critical to maintain the shipyards’ operations under adverse conditions and deliver ships and submarines back to the fleet on time.”
The study is part of SIOP’s holistic recapitalization effort that integrates all infrastructure and industrial plant equipment investments at the Navy’s four public shipyards to meet nuclear fleet maintenance requirements, as well as improve Navy maintenance capabilities by expanding shipyard capacity and optimizing shipyard configuration.
Leveraging the structure and rigor of the Department of Defense’s Major Defense Acquisition Program process — a first for an infrastructure program — SIOP established infrastructure performance criteria to evaluate potential solutions to facilities challenges at the shipyards. These criteria include the ability to operate independently of the electrical grid for up to 14 days.
To date, SIOP has completed 30 facilities projects totaling $867 million, with an additional 40 projects worth a total of $6 billion under contract. This includes four dry docks under construction. SIOP work continues to strengthen the naval shipyards’ resiliency in the face of sea level rise and other adverse conditions.
NAVFAC EXWC, the specialized engineering support and contracting activity for the study, provides research, development, testing and evaluation; in-service engineering; and life-cycle management for shore, oceans, and expeditionary domains to accelerate innovation enabling fleet lethality both at sea and ashore.
“This microgrid study will support infrastructure modernization of our naval shipyards by providing a course of action to increase resilience and provide uninterrupted critical power,” said Andy Vasquez, NAVFAC EXWC program manager. “NAVFAC EXWC is proud to provide the required specialized engineering services to support SIOP.”
For more information about the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, visit https://www.navfac.navy.mil/PEO-Industrial-Infrastructure/PMO-555-SIOP/.
ATLANTIC OCEAN– The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) hosted student naval aviators from Training Air Wing (TW) 1 composed of Training Squadron (VT) 7 and VT-9 from Naval Air Station Meridian and TW-2 composed of VT-21 and VT-22 from Naval Air Station Kingsville, as a part of carrier qualification (CQ) training, Sep. 24, off the coast of Florida.
For the VT students, CQs represents an important milestone in their training as it is the first time the students will land on an operational aircraft carrier.
During the evolution, students completed 256 recoveries aboard IKE in T-45C Goshawk training aircraft. This evolution is the culmination of the advanced phase of strike pilot training. The success of the students will earn them their wings of gold and designation as naval aviators, setting them up to fill operational commands across the fleet.
Throughout CQs, safety and emergency preparedness were paramount to both the student naval aviators and IKE personnel, especially those operating on the flight deck.
“In preparing for this CQ process, we have done numerous briefs and [simulations] of the T-45 models,” said Lt. j.g. Terrance Wever, IKE’s flight deck officer. “We planned for 20 aircraft but ended up with 14, so we knew how to manage the flight deck and the real estate available to us. Ultimately, it’s on all of us to make sure we stop anything that is unsafe. We are preventative and not reactive.”
In the air, the students’ safety is carefully managed. From the tower to the ground, a network of IKE personnel and VT instructors keep a close eye on the performance of the students.
Despite oversight at every level, the instructors have a high level of trust in their students and expect a high level of performance.
“If they’re having difficulty, we’ll talk to them in plain English,” said Lt. Cory “Venus” Morgan, a VT-7 landing signal officer. “Otherwise, it’s usually pretty silent; there’s not much noise. We’re letting them cook, so-to-speak; letting them get reps and sets, because they don’t know what to expect until after the first couple [of recoveries]. Then, they start to loosen up a bit and think ‘I can do this.’”
Although the students are nearing the end of their advanced training pipeline, nerves are inevitable ahead of their first CQ. This is something even the most experienced pilots in the fleet can attest to.
“The first few passes from behind the ship, I barely remember,” said Cmdr. Tyler “McGruber” McQuiggan, IKE’s air department head, also known as “Air Boss.” “My nerves were there and I realized after my first arrested landing, when my feet and hands were shaking from the gravity of what I had just accomplished. Your nerves start to cool over time but I don’t think you ever really get comfortable as a student out there.”
In addition to technical support, instructors play a key role in helping the students manage their nerves during the evolution.
“I think everyone is nervous going to the boat, especially if they haven’t done it in a while,” said Morgan. “It’s a healthy nervousness but we meter their nerves by emphasizing their training will set them up properly for landing on the boat.”
While the students set their sights on earning their wings of gold, IKE’s air department continues to practice their warrior tradecraft at a high level behind the scenes.
“Carrier aviation is always going to have risk and our job is to minimize the risk out here,” said McQuiggan. “We have to keep our head on a swivel, be safe and look out for one another.”
With CQs in the rearview mirror, IKE will return to Naval Station Norfolk and begin preparation for a scheduled maintenance period.
In this week’s look around the Air Force, CSAF Gen. Allvin praises Airmen for embracing and advancing efforts to reoptimize the force, and CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman reflects on historical lessons to guide the future of the Space Force.
It is hereby notified for information of the public that in exercise of powers vested in it under sub section (1) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide Directive Ref. No. CO.DOS.SED.No. S4800/12-23-151/2024-2025 dated September 26, 2024, has issued certain Directions to Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-operative Credit Bank Ltd., Gokak, (the bank) whereby, as from the close of business on September 27, 2024, the bank shall not, without prior approval of RBI in writing, grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets except as notified in the RBI Direction dated September 26, 2024. Considering the bank’s present liquidity position, the bank has been directed not to allow withdrawal of any amount from savings bank, current accounts or any other account of a depositor, but set off of loans against deposits is allowed, subject to the conditions stated in the above RBI Directions. The bank may incur expenditure in respect of certain essential items such as salaries of employees, rent, electricity bills, etc. as specified in the said Directions.
2. These directions are necessitated due to supervisory concerns emanating from the recent adverse material developments in the bank, and to protect the interest of depositors of the bank.
3. The eligible depositors of the bank would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount for their deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakh only) in the same capacity and in the same right, within 90 days, from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), subject to the provisions of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961 based on submission of willingness by the concerned depositors and after due verification. Details may also be accessed on the DICGC website: www.dicgc.org.in. As per the information currently available with the Reserve Bank, more than 94 per cent of the depositors of the bank will be covered by DICGC for their entire account balance.
4. The issue of the above Directions by the RBI should not per se be construed as cancellation of banking license by RBI. Subject to the restrictions specified in the said Directions, the bank will continue to undertake its banking business, including recovery of loans. The Reserve Bank is monitoring the position of the bank and will continue to take necessary steps, including modifications of these Directions depending upon circumstances, in the interest of depositors.
5. These Directions shall remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on September 27, 2024 and are subject to review.
The Northern Cape has something new to offer tourists and it is a first for the African continent, says Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
“Beyond all the history, culture and beauty the Northern Cape has to offer, we are here today to launch something new the Northern Cape has to offer — Astronomy or Astro Tourism. We at the Department of Tourism, along with the Department of Science and Innovation, are launching the National Astro-Tourism Strategy, the first country on the African continent to do so,” said the Minister.
She was speaking at the launch of the National Astro-Tourism Strategy on National World Tourism Day on Friday in Carnarvon, in the Northern Cape.
“The Astro Tourism Strategy also aims to enhance the synergy between humans and conservation and a creative link between our origins of life on earth and the origins of the universe,” said the Minister.
The Astro Tourism Strategy, she said, is expected to position South Africa as a world-class astro-tourism destination, focusing on infrastructure development, the optimal functioning of astronomy-tourism streams and community transformation.
The Gazetting Notice was published today.
“We invite the public, including the tourism and astronomy stakeholders to participate and contribute towards to strengthening this very important work by submitting their comments.
“Collaboration and partnership are critically important to take this work forward and we are thankful for national, provincial and local government working together as well as the private sector to ensure sustainable growth and local community development,” said the Minister.
She said the Square Kilometre Array telescope, the largest radio telescope in the world, was a remarkable leap towards the future, and all on African soil.
She said it was exciting that the province was leading South Africa’s proactive stance in leveraging the significant advances made in the development of the world’s largest space telescope array, with a comprehensive astro-tourism strategy.
“Today, we are here to cast the spotlight on these experiences and more and to invite South Africans, and indeed visitors from the rest of the world, to come explore this province and to engage with living cultures and traditions that continue to thrive here in the Northern Cape.
“We want to use the SKA and the Astro Tourism as a catalyst to develop the Karoo and provide opportunities for rural tourism as well as agri-tourism to develop rural areas further. The Northern Cape is the prime location to launch this strategy as 50% of the world’s population cannot see the beauty of the night sky but the African sky still remains at an advantage, by having the clearest and darkest night sky.”
The vision of the Astro Tourism strategy aims to develop and position an inclusive Astro-Tourism sector that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising on marketing efforts and enhancing visitor experience in South Africa.
The National Astro-Tourism strategic pillars were developed through a multi-discipline consultancy process involving both the tourism and astronomy stakeholders in South Africa.
The Implementation Plan’s goal is to grow astro-tourism in South Africa will be implemented, monitored and evaluated according to the three strategic pillars:
· Pillar One: Indigenous Celestial Narratives and Human Capacity Development
· Pillar Two: Infrastructure Development
· Pillar Three: Inclusive Tourism Growth and Partnerships
“There is so much untapped potential in our tourism market and we must work together on all levels of government, with the private to promote our hidden gems and give more business to SMEs and community tourism,” added the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za
Canada’s health sciences innovation sector continues to lead on developing innovative ideas and products that will lead to a better and healthier future. The Government of Canada is supporting businesses and organizations in this vital sector with the support they need to drive impactful health solutions for Canadians.
Government of Canada invests in specialized programming to benefit 75 SMEs in southern Ontario’s health sciences sector
September 27, 2024 – Hamilton, Ontario
Canada’s health sciences innovation sector continues to lead on developing innovative ideas and products that will lead to a better and healthier future. The Government of Canada is supporting businesses and organizations in this vital sector with the support they need to drive impactful health solutions for Canadians.
Yesterday, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), attended the 14th annual LiONS LAIR hosted by Innovation Factory. More than 400 members of the Hamilton Life Sciences ecosystem gathered to celebrate innovation in the Hamilton-Halton region.
While at the event, Minister Tassi announced a Government of Canada investment of over $5 million for Innovation Factory in collaboration with the Synapse Life Sciences Consortium to support the continued delivery of the Southern Ontario Pharmaceutical and Health Innovation Ecosystem (SOPHIE) program, which opened for applications yesterday. The program will assist up to 75 health sciences SMEs in southern Ontario as they commercialize their products and scale their businesses. Participating businesses will have access to mentorship and advisory services, seed funding, and new partnerships. This critical work will help accelerate their product development, and anchor health sciences companies here in southern Ontario.
This project aligns with the Government of Canada’s priority to support emerging growth opportunities in this important sector. Innovators and organizations that create healthcare technologies are helping to keep Canadians healthy while strengthening Canada’s health sciences sector and creating new job opportunities for Canadians.
Quotes
“Innovation Factory is undertaking critical work that will support 75 SMEs expand and grow their businesses, all while helping to anchor health sciences companies here in Canada. The investment made today demonstrates the Government of Canada’s dedication to supporting innovators in health sciences and moving towards a healthier future for Canadians.” – The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“The renewal of funding for Innovation Factory’s SOPHIE program is a testament to the remarkable impact it has had on Ontario’s health sciences sector over the past few years. This continued support from the Government of Canada enables us to build on this success, driving further innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness in the health sciences industry. We are excited to see SOPHIE continue to transform the landscape for health science entrepreneurs and strengthen Ontario’s position as a leading hub for health innovation.” – David Carter, CEO of Innovation Factory
Quick facts
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator, serving as the catalyst for technology innovation in the Brant, Halton, Hamilton and Norfolk regions since 2010.
Innovation Factory provides business services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to drive market adoption, leverage intellectual property, and increase revenues, investment, and jobs. Innovators can also access sector-specific resources including exclusive smart transportation test environments and data; and a formal health science and health innovation ecosystem.
FedDev Ontario previously provided Innovation Factory with an investment of $7 million to deliver the first intake of the SOPHIE program. To date, through SOPHIE, 166 innovative Ontario-based health science start-up and scaling companies in the health, medical device, and pharmaceutical sectors, received support to develop and commercialize new products and services.
Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $237 million in 58 life science projects, supporting over 7,700 jobs.
Associated links
Contacts
Edward Hutchinson Press Secretary Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Edward.Hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
