Pakistan strongly condemned the latest Israeli attempt to dismantle the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday evening.
The ministry said that the latest step is yet another violation of international law and the UN Charter by Israel.
“Preventing UNRWA from carrying out its vital tasks is a manifestation of Israel’s systematic campaign to deny the much-needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people,” added the ministry.
According to the ministry, Pakistan urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to hold Israel accountable and to protect UNRWA’s work under UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 1949.
The statement emphasized that Israel’s actions represent a calculated effort to deny essential aid to the Palestinian population, especially those in Gaza.
In light of the humanitarian crisis, Pakistan also reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and for uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of people.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a law prohibiting the UNRWA from operating in Israel.
Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News reported that the new law, which received support from 92 out of 120 parliament members, passed despite opposition from the United States and several European countries.
The law stipulates that the UNRWA will not operate any representation, provide services, or conduct any activities, directly or indirectly, within Israeli territory.
Postal voting for Sri Lanka’s upcoming parliamentary election on Nov. 14 began Wednesday across polling centers nationwide.
The Election Commission announced that postal voting would be held at designated government institutions, including police stations, district secretariats and district election offices.
The Election Commission added that postal voting would continue on Nov. 1 and Nov. 4.
Sri Lanka only allows postal voting for government employees. According to Election Commission Chairman Ratnayake, the commission received 759,210 applications for postal voting, with 20,551 applications rejected.
Two people were taken to hospital after a “significant fire” broke out on Wednesday at the BAE Systems nuclear submarine shipyard in northwestern England, police said.
Local police said there was “no nuclear risk” and two people were sent to hospital after suffering suspected smoke inhalation.
Images circulating on social media showed large flames and thick smoke coming from a tall white building, purportedly at the shipyard.
Emergency services were called at about 0044 GMT to the site, located in the coast city of Barrow-in-Furness, where Britain’s nuclear submarines are built.
Local residents are being advised to remain inside with their doors and windows closed while the incident is ongoing, said police.
The craft that have been built here include the four Vanguard Class submarines that make up Britain’s Trident nuclear program, according to the BBC.
Four new nuclear submarines from the Dreadnought Class and the last of the Royal Navy’s seven new nuclear-powered submarines, part of the Astute Class, are also being built at the site.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
October 30, 2024
Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
October 30, 2024
Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
October 30, 2024
Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
October 30, 2024
Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
October 30, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the plenary session of the 3rd National Congress with International Participation “National Healthcare”
October 30, 2024
At the end of the plenary session, the winners of the All-Russian competition of young leaders – healthcare organizers were awarded
October 30, 2024
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Tatyana Golikova at the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the present day”
The central event of the third national congress with international participation “National Healthcare” took place in the Great Hall of the State Kremlin Palace – the plenary session “From N.A. Semashko to the Present Day”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding scientist and physician.
The plenary session of the third national congress with international participation “National Healthcare” was opened by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The moderator of the plenary session was Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. The event was attended by Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova, Governor of the Orenburg Region Denis Pasler, and TV presenter of the Russia 24 TV channel Alexandra Suvorova.
The plenary session included a discussion of key areas of development and achievements of the Russian healthcare system through the prism of the merits of the outstanding Soviet healthcare organizer N.A. Semashko: development of human health; accessibility of medical care regardless of place of residence; unity of prevention and treatment; public involvement in the implementation of state policy in the field of healthcare; ensuring sanitary well-being; healthcare management from a scientific point of view; provision of affordable healthy food for everyone and modern affordable medical products.
“The peculiarity of this congress was its dedication to one of the significant organizers, the first People’s Commissar of Health Nikolai Aleksandrovich Semashko, who laid the foundations of the world’s first state health care system and formed a hierarchical state centralized model with a district principle of providing primary health care, which was subsequently implemented in many countries of the world – Great Britain, Norway, France, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and others. We carried the main principles of Semashko’s system through the years and laid them at the foundation of our Russian health care system,” emphasized Tatyana Golikova.
The state character of the Russian healthcare system, its free nature and accessibility for citizens, has been preserved.
“Every year, the state’s expenses on paying for medical care alone increase and by the end of 2023 amounted to 4 trillion rubles. Over the past five years, compared to 2018, expenses on paying for medical care have increased by 1.5 trillion rubles. And by the end of 2024, such expenses are preliminarily estimated at 4.5 trillion rubles,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Currently, medical care is provided by 7 thousand state and municipal medical organizations, including more than 300 federal ones.
The federal law “On the Fundamentals of Health Protection of Citizens in the Russian Federation” establishes an approach to the formation of human health from birth and throughout the entire period of his life.
The entire population of our country is attached to medical organizations. And at least 118 million people use their capabilities annually, including almost 31 million children. Medical organizations annually perform more than 1 billion cases of medical care.
As Tatyana Golikova noted, in order to implement the main principle of Soviet medicine – disease prevention and prophylaxis – since 2024, the volume of medical care provided in outpatient settings has been increased, and dispensary observation at the workplace has been introduced. “But so far only 36 regions of our country have taken advantage of this opportunity. I ask all regions to more actively implement this approach to dispensary observation,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. She emphasized that the principle of accessibility of medical care at the place of residence, work or study is the main one in Russian legislation.
Accessibility of medical care and its provision itself are impossible without medical personnel. “Until 2023, we noted a decrease in the number of doctors. Therefore, a whole range of measures was implemented at the federal level, which allowed us, by the end of 2023, for the first time in the last five years, to stop this decline and increase the number of doctors by 7.5 thousand people without taking into account new regions,” Tatyana Golikova emphasized.
Developing and continuing the foundations laid by Nikolai Aleksandrovich Semashko, the primary health care system is being actively modernized, which in 1978 was recognized by the World Health Organization as the best in the world, which was recorded in a specially adopted declaration. Therefore, the federal project for the modernization of the primary health care system is the most resource-intensive project of the new national project “Long and Active Life”.
“Over the past three years, we have already modernized over 18,000 healthcare facilities, which affected over 24 million of our citizens. By the end of 2025, within the framework of current regional programs, we will modernize almost 2,000 more facilities. The plans for 2025-2030 include over 30,000 more facilities, where over 80 million residents of the country receive medical care, including those living in rural areas, urban-type settlements and small towns,” noted Tatyana Golikova.
The priority of prevention in health protection has been established by law, the unity of prevention and treatment has been regulated. Almost 5 thousand medical prevention departments and health centers have been opened in its development. 35.5 million people have applied to these departments for training in the principles of a healthy lifestyle. Another 9 million people have been trained in so-called schools.
The population is provided with medical examinations and preventive check-ups.
Since 2024, as part of the Year of the Family, a medical examination to assess reproductive health has been introduced for the first time. Over 3 million men and women of reproductive age have already been examined. In 11% of cases, diseases that negatively affect reproductive function were detected. Additional examination and treatment of such patients is being carried out.
“We have preserved and strengthened the state system of ensuring sanitary well-being and social hygiene, the foundations of which were laid by Nikolai Aleksandrovich. We have launched a new federal project, “Sanitary Shield of the Country”. We have formed a single centralized system for responding to possible infectious threats. As a result, we have ensured a multiple reduction in infectious diseases. Last year alone, such a reduction was 30%. More than 17 million cases of infectious pathology were prevented,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Since 2019, a separate project aimed at promoting healthy eating has been implemented within the framework of the national project “Demography”. The project’s activities have already covered more than 40 million people.
Research for the development of medical science is conducted by over 400 scientific, medical and educational organizations. These organizations perform almost 5.5 thousand studies for medicine. 120 billion rubles have been allocated from various sources for these purposes.
“We have created conditions for the development of the medical and pharmaceutical industries. In 2023 alone, Russian medical products worth over 1 trillion rubles were produced,” said Tatyana Golikova.
The participants of the discussion presented information in the format of “was – became – will be” on each thematic area of the session: since the time of N.A. Semashko, achievements of the present time and what will be implemented in the future, in focus on the advantages of the Soviet and Russian health care system and the replication of the Soviet experience of building a health care system in other countries.
The final plenary session included an award ceremony for the winners of the All-Russian Competition of Young Leaders – Healthcare Organizers. The competition was held by the Central Research Institute of Healthcare and Informatics with the support of the Ministry of Healthcare. The award ceremony was held by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko.
The plenary session ended with an opera ball featuring artists from the Helikon Opera musical theatre.
The third national congress with international participation “National Healthcare” was held with the support of the Russian Government. The event was organized by the Ministry of Healthcare and the Roscongress Foundation. The organizational partner of the event was the Central Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Informatization of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia.
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.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Denis Manturov held a meeting with the Governor of Omsk Region Vitaly Khotsenko
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov met with the Governor of Omsk Region Vitaly Khotsenko, with whom he discussed issues of industrial development in the region.
In particular, the head of the region told Denis Manturov about the progress of the project to build a branch of the CITO high-tech prosthetics center in Omsk. Assistance here will be provided, in particular, to wounded SVO participants.
In addition, the meeting discussed an important project of the Titan Group of Companies for the region. Last year, the company began implementing a large-scale investment project to create a new EP-600 olefin complex in Omsk, which will create up to a thousand additional jobs in the region, as well as increase tax revenues to the budget and create a raw material base for industrialists and consumer goods manufacturers. The total volume of expected investments in the project is over 500 billion rubles.
The meeting also discussed a project to organize serial production of promising small-sized turbojet engines based on the branch of JSC UEC – the Omsk Engine-Building Association named after P.I. Baranov.
Vitaly Khotsenko thanked the First Deputy Prime Minister for assistance in regularly updating the vehicle fleets of schools and hospitals in the region as per the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In recent years, 342 school buses and 176 ambulances have arrived in Omsk Oblast. Denis Manturov expressed his readiness to continue to provide support to the region in this matter.
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.
Michael Callan becomes High Commissioner in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Callan replaces Arif Keshani.
Michael Callan (BA Hons [Political Studies], Queen’s University, 2000; MSc Econ [International Security], University of Wales, Aberystwyth, 2002). Prior to joining Global Affairs Canada, Michael Callan served in the Canadian Armed Forces and worked with the Aga Khan Foundation in Bangladesh and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Moscow. Upon joining the Canadian International Development Agency in 2004, Mr. Callan took on assignments with the Humanitarian Assistance Division and the Afghanistan Task Force. Abroad, Mr. Callan was the Government of Canada’s first civilian deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he served as director, development, for Canada’s Provincial Reconstruction Team (2005 to 2006). His subsequent deployments included assignments as head of aid in Khartoum (2008 to 2010) and director, development, for the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo and Amman (2012 to 2016). He was then seconded to the Privy Council Office (2016 to 2017) before taking up a fellowship with the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University (2018). Mr. Callan served as director of conflict prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding (2019 to 2021) prior to his most recent assignment as ambassador to Algeria (2021 to 2024).
These eerie forests, filled with standing dead trees, tell a story on the effects of sea level rise and extreme flooding. And scientists with the USGS are investigating!
When coastal forests are inundated with salt water or frequently flooded, trees can be stressed to levels they can’t withstand. If trees don’t survive, coastal forests can transform into different types of settings such as marshes or open water, creating ghost forests and leaving behind remnants of the ecosystems that once were.
What the USGS knows…
Coastal ghost forests typically occur in low-lying areas, and USGS scientists are studying how and where these shifts are happening across the nation. The USGS and partners are also working to forecast what areas might be impacted in the future, considering various sea level rise scenarios.
Changes can lead to potentially positive or negative impacts. Healthy coastal forests provide numerous benefits such as supporting wildlife habitat, filtering pollutants and offering flood protection along coastlines, while marshes also provide species habitat, improve water quality and absorb floodwaters, among many other purposes.
A ghost forest stands in Goose Creek State Park in North Carolina. This is an example of a freshwater forested wetland that is transitioning to open water. Photograph by Melinda Martinez, USGS.
USGS science can be used by decisionmakers such as land and wildlife managers as they consider the costs and benefits of conservation and restoration.
An example: The Chesapeake Bay
The eastern U.S. is a particular concern, as these transitions are taking place up and down the Atlantic coast. The USGS has projects in several areas, including, for example, ongoing research in the Delmarva Peninsula within the Chesapeake Bay. This region consists of several low sloped landscapes, which allows for rapid change to occur.
Drilling into the trees
Here’s where it gets even more interesting! The USGS and partners recently drilled into trees to see what’s inside. Why? To understand the role of ghost forests in greenhouse gas fluxes.
Trees are known to naturally absorb and release gases, but there’s limited research on whether and how that process changes when coastal forests die. A recent study finds that standing dead trees in ghost forests have tiny organisms that actually convert methane, a potent greenhouse gas, to carbon dioxide, which is less potent.
This insight is another piece of the puzzle as officials consider the trade-offs for how to manage these landscapes.
The USGS is a coauthor on that study, which was led by Hollins University.
Share the tale
Don’t forget to share what you learned with friends! Do they know ghost forests are real?
Ghost forest on the Delmarva Penninsula. Photograph by Kyle Derby, USGS.
A ghost forest stands in Goose Creek State Park in North Carolina. This is an example of a freshwater forested wetland that is transitioning to open water. Photograph by Melinda Martinez, USGS.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jamie Goldenberg, Professor of Psychology and Area Director, Cognitive, Neuroscience and Social Psychology, University of South Florida
Hurricane Milton flooded parts of the Tampa Bay region just days after Hurricane Helene made landfall nearby.Bryan R. Smithy/AFP via Getty Images
As TVs across Florida broadcast the all-too-familiar images of a powerful hurricane headed for the coast in early October 2024, people whose homes had been damaged less than two weeks earlier by Hurricane Helene watched anxiously. Hurricane Milton was rapidly intensifying into a dangerous storm, fueled by the Gulf of Mexico’s record-breaking temperatures.
Many residents scrambled to evacuate, clogging roads away from the region. Officials urged those near the coast who ignored evacuation warnings to scrawl their names on their arms with indelible ink so their corpses could be identified.
The two hurricanes were among the most destructive in recent memory. They are also stark reminders of the increasingly extreme weather events that scientists have long warned would be the consequence of human-driven climate change.
Still, many people deny that climate change is a worsening threat, or that it exists at all. As its impacts grow more visible and destructive, how is this possible?
Views of Hurricane Milton’s damage across Florida.
One answer lies in a unique facet of human psychology – specifically, in how people manage the fear aroused by existential threats. For many people, denying the existence of a climate crisis is not only convenient, but may feel psychologically necessary.
Terror management theory
The Pulitzer Prize-winning anthropologist Ernest Becker put it this way: “The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else … to overcome it by denying it in some way is the final destiny for man.”
In plain terms, he was saying that most people struggle to accept their mortality and take pains to distort their perception of reality to avoid confronting it.
In the 1980s, social psychologists developed “terror management theory,” showing the lengths people go to deny death. Hundreds of experiments have tested its implications. In a common method, participants reflect on their own death, while control groups consider less threatening topics, like dental pain. The key question: What does death awareness do to people?
After writing about death, people tend to quickly move on, pushing thoughts of it from consciousness with distractions, rationalizations and other tactics. Health care professionals see this every day. For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.
Skidmore College psychologist Sheldon Solomon discusses Ernest Becker’s ‘The Denial of Death’ and terror management theory in the context of humanity’s history of brutal behavior.
But here’s the rub: Terror management theory suggests that when people are not thinking about death, it nevertheless holds influence. The unconscious mind lingers on the problem even after people have used strategies to quiet the fear by pushing it from awareness.
Social psychology experiments show that people often cope with the specter of death by attaching themselves to cultural ideologies, such as religious, political or even sports fandom. These worldviews imbue life with meaning, values and purpose. And that can ease the terror of mortality by connecting people to an enduring and comforting web of ideas and beliefs that transcend one’s own existence.
When people are made aware of death, those systems of meaning become even more critical to their psychological functioning. Existential threats make us cling even tighter to the meaning systems that sustain us.
From our perspective, it is not surprising that climate-related disasters disappear from the public consciousness almost as soon as they have passed. Google Trends data exemplifies this: Incoming storms instigated an uptick in searches for “climate change” and “global warming” in the days before Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 25, 2024, and Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, 2024. Then those searches quickly declined as people shifted their focus away from the threat.
Unfortunately, climate change isn’t going away, no matter how hard anyone tries to deny it.
While climate denial allows people to protect themselves from feelings of distress, terror management theory suggests that denying death is just the tip of the iceberg. For some people, accepting the reality of climate change would necessitate reevaluating their ideologies.
Terror management theory predicts that individuals whose ideologies conflict with environmental concerns may ironically double down on those beliefs to psychologically manage the existential threat posed by climate-related disasters. It’s similar to how mortality reminders can lead people to engage in risky behavior, such as smoking or tanning. Hurricanes may reinforce denial and commitment to a worldview that rejects climate change.
A path forward: Building new worldviews
Although denial may be a natural psychological response to existential threats, the U.S. may be getting to a point where even deniers can’t ignore the existential threat associated with climate change.
A terror management analysis suggests that overcoming this crisis requires weaving a solutions-focused narrative into the ideologies that people rely on for comfort. As psychologists who work on terror management, we believe the fight against climate change should be framed not as an apocalyptic battle that humanity is destined to lose, but as a moral and practical challenge that humanity can collectively overcome.
Tampa, Florida, meteorologist Denis Phillips had the right idea as the two hurricanes headed for his community: His fact-based social media updates eschew partisan critique, encourage neighbors to support one another and emphasize preparedness and resilience in the face of incoming storms.
As Milton approached, Phillips told residents to remember his Rule #7: Don’t freak out. That doesn’t mean do nothing – it means evaluate risks without letting emotion interfere, and take action.
Shifting the narrative from helplessness to collective empowerment and action can help people confront climate change without triggering the existential anxieties that lead to denial – offering a vision for a future that is both secure and personally meaningful.
The authors 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.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
This week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will host South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun for the Security Consultative Meeting to deepen and modernize our ironclad alliance with the ROK. Later, they will join Secretary of State Blinken and ROK Foreign Minister Cho for a 2+2 Ministerial at the State Department. Watch as Dr. Jay Finch, Director of the Korea Office at the Pentagon, discusses this important meeting.
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Your military is an all-volunteer force that serves to protect our security and way of life, but Service members are more than a fighting force. They are leaders, humanitarians and your fellow Americans. Get to know more about the men and women who serve, who they are, what they do, and why they do it.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
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Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!
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The Research Bulletin features a selection of recent work on policy-relevant topics by ECB economists. Published on a monthly basis, the articles in the Research Bulletin are intended for a general audience.
The views expressed in each article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the European Central Bank and the Eurosystem.
Each institution is essential to promoting the National Call to Maritime Service by building the Department of the Navy’s civilian maritime workforce and enhancing the Navy’s warfighting capability by equipping service members through education opportunities.
“Our Navy is committed to building a diverse warfighting team of not only Sailors and Marines, but also talented civilians to bolster warfighting capabilities across the Department of the Navy that operates around the globe,” said Parker. “This begins by seeking motivated students who take interest in maritime service, in or out of uniform.”
Mr. Parker began the trip by visiting Cal State Maritime Academy and highlighting the opportunity for maritime service at a pivotal point in their education. The school offers a unique pathway to maritime service and underscores the importance of U.S. Maritime Heritage, Military Sealift Command and Military to Mariner transition.
The visit comes at a fundamental time as the Department of the Navy seeks to encourage civilian commitment to the maritime service. The Navy aims to educate Americans on the careers available to them across a broad range of industries and government agencies that directly support the United States global standing as a maritime nation.
Mr. Parker also visited the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) highlighting the school’s recent successes and progress implementing the Secretary of the Navy’s Naval Education Strategy, such as the efforts modernizing education programs, and enhancing partnerships. One example of the Department taking action to implement the Secretary of the Navy’s guidance is the Department’s Naval Innovation Center at NPS, which is a collaborative academic facility, applied research, and innovation capability that will bring industry, academia, and the Department together to develop technological talent throughout the total Naval Force and accelerate the creation of relevant defense solutions at speed and scale. The Naval Innovation Center at NPS will provide a venue for NPS
students and faculty to further hone innovative research and an intellectual edge that will permeate the fleet.
The trip culminated with a visit to the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University. In a partnership with the Office of Naval Research, the center features a network of national security professionals, all dedicated to mentoring and nurturing the future generation of leaders.
Education is a critical warfighter enabler and the Department of the Navy is committed to providing a range of learning opportunities for service members and the Department’s civilian workforce across the fleet.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On October 30, the Polytechnic University opened the 16th RusHydro scientific and technical conference “Hydropower. Hydraulic engineering. New developments and technologies.” Over 600 experts from 200 Russian and foreign organizations will discuss the most important problems of the industry over three days. The event was organized by PJSC RusHydro, JSC VNIIG im. B. E. Vedeneyev, and SPbPU.
The conference “Hydropower. Hydraulic engineering. New developments and technologies” is the largest industry event in our country for specialists in the field of hydropower and hydraulic engineering.
The event is attended by specialists from RusHydro hydroelectric power plants and other hydroelectric power plants in the country, representatives of hydraulic engineering construction industries, as well as employees of Russian universities, research institutes in the construction field, marine and port facilities, and transport infrastructure. Experts from other countries also speak at the conference.
At the opening of the conference, the greeting from the Chairman of the Board – General Director of PJSC RusHydro Viktor Khmarin was read by his First Deputy – Chief Engineer of RusHydro Sergey Kondratyev.
Hydrotechnics and hydropower engineering respond to the challenges of the time and develop in accordance with the course taken on technological registers. In the conditions of growing demand for electric energy, we are faced with even more ambitious tasks today. The construction of modern power plants requires new solutions. This gives scientists and engineers an incentive for development and creates a wide field for research activities, the application of innovations. I am confident that a constructive exchange of opinions will allow us to develop practical recommendations and proposals that will contribute to the successful development of the country and the industry as a whole, said Sergey Kondratyev.
The first projector of SPbPU, Vitaly Sergeev, gave a welcoming speech.
This conference always arouses great interest. And it has already become a good tradition that such a large-scale event is regularly held at our university. The Polytechnic University has always been famous for its great scientists in the field of hydropower and hydraulic engineering. The Civil Engineering Institute is now the legal successor of the hydrotechnical faculty and maintains its reputation, interacting with RusHydro and other organizations. I hope that the energy that is at the Polytechnic, the aura of new knowledge, innovative developments and youthful spirit will contribute to your work, – noted Vitaly Sergeev.
The conference started with a plenary session, where experts discussed issues of design, construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants and hydraulic structures for various purposes. Top managers of PJSC RusHydro made reports. The winners of the competition for the best research work in the field of hydropower were also awarded at the session.
The work continued with scientific sections and round tables, where scientists and engineers discuss the most pressing issues of industry development, exchange experiences and build professional contacts. The conference’s thematic areas include: equipment for hydroelectric power plants and hydraulic structures, scientific and practical issues of hydraulics and hydrology, concrete and reinforced concrete structures of hydraulic structures, environmental issues in energy and hydraulic engineering, new materials and technologies in construction, ensuring the safety of hydraulic structures, small hydropower, hydraulic engineering construction in the Arctic, personnel training, etc.
Representatives of SPbPU actively participate in the conference. The co-chairman of the section “Scientific and Practical Issues of Hydraulics and Hydrology” was Professor of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Power Engineering Alexander Bolshev. Director of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Power Engineering Galina Kozinets, Associate Professors Vita Belousov and Irina Frolova presented the report “Analysis of the Environmental Monitoring System of the GTS Safety”. Also Galina Kozinets, Leading Engineer of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Power Engineering Viktor Chechevichkin, Engineers Leonid Yakunin and Alexey Chechevichkin spoke about the possibilities of using nature-like technology for cleaning surface wastewater at hydropower facilities. Professors of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Power Engineering Viktor Elistratov, Vladimir Maslikov and Mikhail Shilin presented the results of a study related to the impact of the Kolyma Hydroelectric Power Plant on the ichthyofauna of the reservoir. Associate Professor of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Power Engineering Armen Girgidov presented the report “Improvement of End Devices of Bottom Spillways”. Associate professors of the Higher School of Hydroelectric Power Engineering Andrey Chusov and Svetlana presented a forecast of the water quality of the Svetlinskaya hydroelectric power station reservoir based on forest clearing options.
An important part of the conference will be the youth day, which will take place on November 1. Participants will share their work experience, discuss current tasks and future challenges.
Following the three-day work, collections will be published, including plenary reports, section reports, and the final decision of the conference.
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.
As you gather for the 2024 Global Education Meeting, you confront a critical global challenge.
Education is the key to unlocking opportunities, equality, prosperity and peace.
But for millions of people around the world, that door remains shut tight.
Seventy per cent of 10-year-olds are unable to understand a basic text, while 250 million children and young people are out of school altogether. This is worsened by a huge financing gap of $97 billion annually for education in low and middle income countries.
We don’t have a moment to lose. At the Transforming Education Summit in 2022, governments committed to ending the learning crisis, and boosting investment in quality education systems that can reach every learner, throughout their lives.
Your meeting is an opportunity to measure how governments are — and are not — living up to this commitment.
In particular, I welcome your focus on closing the financing gap for education through more effective resource mobilization and innovative financing initiatives. I call on governments to arrive at next year’s Conference on Financing for Development and the World Social Summit with concrete solutions that can deliver the education systems all people need and deserve.
Through the recently adopted Pact for the Future, governments committed to investing in accessible, safe, inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The United Nations is proud to stand with you in this essential global effort.
The 19th Eco Expo Asia opened today and will run until November 2.
Themed “Fostering Green Innovations for Carbon Neutrality”, some 190 officials from around 40 official delegations from various cities and provinces in Mainland China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Belt & Road countries have been invited to showcase cutting-edge green solutions, exchange views and share experiences.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan said: “Eco Expo Asia is a golden opportunity for us to discuss and advance our shared commitments to a sustainable future.
“Green innovation solutions are of paramount importance in our decarbonisation journey. During the expo, we will see the latest innovations and technologies around the world in new energy, climate adaptation and other environmental areas.”
Mr Tse also stressed that although Hong Kong’s carbon emissions peaked in 2014, achieving carbon neutrality in Hong Kong by 2050 is still a significant challenge. As such, he said the Government is boosting the promotion of green low-carbon transformation as well as the development of new energy, new productive forces and green scientific research industries through multiple measures, with a view to leading the city towards carbon neutrality.
The Environment & Ecology Bureau, which continues to participate in the expo this year, has set up four exhibition zones: Smart Technology, Energy-saving & Green Buildings, Community Waste Reduction, and Green Transportation, to highlight the Government’s measures and achievements in decarbonisation.
Additionally, to tie in with the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong announced by the bureau this year, visitors can ride on the hydrogen fuel cell double-deckers on October 31 and November 2 during the expo.
The expo will be open to the public for free on its final day, to encourage citizens to participate in environmental protection and promote green living, the bureau noted.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, today (October 30) met with the Director General in Shenzhen Customs District, Mr Zheng Jugang, in the Customs Headquarters Building (CHB) to exchange views on further deepening co-operation between the two Customs administrations.
Ms Ho welcomed Mr Zheng’s visit to Hong Kong Customs with his delegation and chaired a meeting with the delegation. During the meeting, the two Customs administrations discussed multiple issues, including refining the point-to-point express co-operation and liaison between Shenzhen and Hong Kong Land Boundary Control Points, strengthening information exchange and mutual assistance in law enforcement amongst boundary control points, combating smuggling activities of parallel traders, mounting joint operations in fighting against cross-boundary crimes, improving the prevention and control of risks, and promoting the Single E-lock Scheme.
Ms Ho said that Hong Kong Customs will continue to promote and deepen high-level collaboration with the Shenzhen Customs District in different areas, thereby enhancing the enforcement capabilities of both administrations and contributing to the developments of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the country.
The delegation today also toured the CHB Exhibition Gallery and Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory to learn about the department’s historical developments, key functions and work on tackling advanced technology crimes.
Gov. Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum will welcome Halloween trick-or-treaters on Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Governor’s Residence, continuing a long-standing tradition.
Children and accompanying adults are invited to come to the east entrance of the residence between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Parking is available in the Capitol mall loop. The residence is in the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck.
This year’s theme for Halloween at the Governor’s Residence is tourism. Displays featuring North Dakota destinations will provide an interactive experience for children.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 30 — China released a plan on Wednesday for the establishment of a big-data center system for new materials, with a projected date of 2035 for completion and steady operation.
The country aims to build a system consisting of one major platform and multiple data-resource nodes by 2027, according to the plan jointly released by three government authorities including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The new-material big-data center is a new type of research and development infrastructure to promote the innovation and development of the new-materials industry.
The plan details tasks for constructing the center, which include establishing the data circulation application system and optimizing the application ecology of new-material big-data technology.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Government Skills announces programme of events to mark Parliament Week.
Daniel Wood, Parliamentary Capability lead
First Parliamentary Counsel Jessica de Mounteney will kick off a programme of events open to all civil servants to mark Parliament Week later this month.
The programme has been devised by Government Skills’ Parliamentary Capability Team and is designed to promote the work that takes place in Parliament and its relevance to civil servants’ day-to-day roles.
At the inaugural event, Jessica will discuss her work leading the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, a group of government lawyers specialising in drafting legislation and working with departments to turn policy ideas into clear and readable laws.
Other events include archivist Dr Mari Takayanagi from the UK Parliament’s Archives telling the untold history of women in Parliament, and the leader of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, and the Leader of the House of Lords, Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Basildon discussing their roles in government and Parliament, and the importance of Parliament to civil servants.
Join us on Wednesday 20 November between 9.30am and 11.00am, as we are joined by
“Whatever your role, your work as a civil servant is directly affected by what goes on in Parliament,” said Parliamentary Capability lead, Daniel Wood (pictured).
“That’s why we run a raft of parliamentary courses to help civil servants get the knowledge and insight they need about different aspects of Parliament to do their jobs.
“The programme we’ve put together for Parliament Week will have something for everyone who wants to join with us, get involved and mark this special event.”
Parliament Week gets underway on Monday, 18 November, and anyone with a gov.uk email address can book events here.
One of the perplexing aspects of the surge in witch trials that took place in Europe between the 15th and the 18th centuries is the question of how much the personal experiences of that era’s legal personnel influenced the practice of criminal justice throughout the period. In a previous post on this blog, we saw that the political philosopher and witchcraft theorist Jean Bodin cited the existence of a (mostly) invisible guiding spirit that helped to steel his resolve against demonic foes. In this post, we will take a look at Joost de Damhouder, the author of an important 16th century handbook on criminal law, who described an anomalous experience involving an amulet that shaped his views on the use of torture, a story that seems actually to have taken place.
In the first half of the 16th century, the legal field underwent a process of professionalization throughout much of Western Europe. This was driven in part by the expansion of the use of the printing press, which gave legal practitioners access to a much wider body of legal texts and information than was possible before the age of printing. That change also triggered new demand for small-format general practice guides that could put immediate and practical knowledge in the hands of the lawyers, magistrates and lower officials that managed the daily business of the law in Renaissance Europe.
Within a couple decades, the market for subject-specific practice books and treatises began to expand as well. On the subject of criminal procedure, two important examples of this literature appeared in Venice, Italy to solid commercial success, Practica causarum criminalis of Hippolytus de Marsiliis [Venice, 1529] and Practica Nova Causarum Criminalium of Lodovico Carerio (Venice, 1546). These were joined by others in short order. For example, Joost de Damhouder (1507-1581), a lawyer from Bruges who had worked in criminal law and who was a member of the fiscal council of the Netherlands in Brussels (which is now in Belgium), seized the opportunity to capitalize on this trend. He published in 1554 a work that captured the current state of criminal practice law in his home region of Flanders. (Dauchy et. al., ch. , 3sect. 26.) That work was Praxis rerum criminalium (Criminal Matters Practice).
Damhouder’s book contains images of various categories of crime, one of which, depicted here in this full-page woodcut illustration from Damhouder’s 1554 Enchiridion rerum criminalium, is the crime of parricide. Photo by Nathan Dorn.
Damhouder first published Praxis rerum criminalium under the title Enchiridion rerum criminalium (Guidebook of Criminal Matters) in Leuven in 1554 and changed the title in subsequent editions. It went on to be printed many times and became over a handful of years perhaps the most influential short handbook on the subject of criminal law in Europe. (Dauchy et al., ch. 3, sect. 26.) In some respects, this was because of the qualities of the text, which presented succinct and clear statements on a number of areas within the subject of criminal law, including rules governing accusation, investigation of crime, torture, incarceration, and various categories of criminal activity. Some of these categories are very familiar: theft, fraud, assault and battery, murder, rape, arson, and more. Others sound antiquated: throwing waste out of a window, adultery, banditry, and grave robbery, for instance. (Dauchy et al., ch. 3, sect. 26.) Some belong to a world that is distinctly alien to most of the audience of this post: blasphemy, sacrilege, treason against God, and witchcraft. Categories along these lines sufficed, apparently, to make the book widely useful.
A large measure of its success, however, must also be due to the 57 wood engravings that Damhouder commissioned for the book’s publication. Unlike many books of that format and price point, Praxis rerum ciminialium was more-or-less festooned with images. These depicted crimes, tribunals, and penalties suffered by the convicted. Illustrations of this or any quality were more typically found in books that sold at luxury prices. This title, however, was both offered in a less expensive format and illustrated with fascinating images of the world of crime and punishment. (Dauchy et. al., ch. 3, sect. 26.)
This image from Damhouder’s 1554 Enchiridion rerum criminalium depicts the crime of harming passersby through carelessly hurling waste out of the windows of city houses. Photo by Nathan Dorn.
An interesting point about Damhouder’s book is that it is, almost in its entirety, a Latin translation of a pre-existing manuscript that was written by another author. The original that stands behind Praxis rerum criminalium, was a Flemish work by Philips Wielant (1441 or 1442-1520), a magistrate who served on the Council of Flanders. That book was called Corte instructie in materie criminele. (Dauchy et al., ch. 3, sect. 26.) Wielant prepared a first version of the text in 1510 and a second, augmented version, in 1515. A French version dating to 1519 also exists. (Monballyu, p. 293.) Wielant, who was a couple generations older than Damhouder, never had the book printed, and it did not appear in print until an edition of Wielant’s works was made from existing manuscripts in 1872. That publication led to the discovery that Damhouder’s book cannibalized Wielant’s text. (Dauchy et al., ch. 3, sect. 26.)
The originality of Damhouder’s work has to do first with its publication in the Latin language, which made it far more accessible to the overall European community than the Dutch original, and secondly with the images that he added, which had something like the same effect. But we do see a flash of independence in another area, in a place in which Damhouder deviates from Wielant’s text. That is regarding the crime of witchcraft. (Monballyu, p. 299 and following.)
Damhouder places witchcraft in the category of lèse-majesté divine, treason against God. This image from Damhouder’s 1554 Enchiridion rerum criminalium depicts blasphemous acts. Photo by Nathan Dorn.
Where Damhouder provides a bit of original material is in his chapters on torture. (Monballyu, p. 293.) Of interest to him is that people who practice magic sometimes use magical means to avoid suffering the pain of torture. And if the torture victim suffers no pain from the ordeal, then she will not be compelled to answer the investigator’s questions. This renders the magistrates helpless to produce a confession. If this is allowed to take place, many accused will escape punishment. To avoid this, Damhouder makes a particular plea that investigators should never neglect to shave the entire body of a person accused of witchcraft. The purpose of this surprising measure is simple: one must expose to sight any place on the body of the accused where she might hide a talisman or a charm, since magical objects were often used to nullify the pain that the investigators were trying to inflict. Damhouder is especially insistent that shame and embarrassment should not prevent investigators from shaving the accused entirely. (Monballyu, p. 293.) In the French version of the book, Pratique judiciaire des causes criminelles, published in Anvers in 1564, Damhouder relates an experience he claims to have had that convinced him of the need for this precaution. The story appears in chapter 37 of the 1564 work, from paragraph 19 onward (ff. 38v.-41r.).
This image from Damhouder’s 1554 Enchiridion rerum criminalium depicts a tribunal attempting to extract a confession from the accused by torture. Photo by Nathan Dorn.
The story he tells took place when Damhouder resided in Bruges, a period between 1537 and 1550, during which time he was a city alderman. There was an old woman living in town who was said to be able to effect miraculous cures for people who had injuries or illnesses. In general, she was highly regarded by the public, which valued her healing skills and tended to think of her as a quite devout, even saintly, Christian, “an apostle of Christ,” in Damhouder’s telling. This reputation did not impress certain aldermen of Bruges who sought to have her investigated on grounds she might be using illicit magic to work her cures. In consequence of this, she was apprehended in the middle of the night and incarcerated with a view to questioning her. The interrogation was, at first, entirely useless, despite the investigators’ use of torture. The old woman insisted throughout that she was doing nothing at all out of line and that she was a devout Christian. In a strange episode, the mayor of Bruges, who was present, gasped several times on account of suffering a severe case of arthritis. When the woman commented on it, he offered her payment to cure him. She agreed, and when one of the men present asked what means she would use, she assured the mayor that he needed to do nothing but believe that she could heal him. These were fateful words. Upon hearing them, the men who were present warned the mayor that her answer revealed that she was not relying on God, but on some other power to effect her cures and that he should have nothing to do with it. Apostles of Christ, they said, always mention God’s name.
What followed was a series of fruitless interrogations assisted by torture. In the third session, Damhouder tells us, she mocked her captors and even fell asleep during the questioning. At length, it was noticed that while her hair was shaved in preparation for the fourth round of questioning, that the interrogators had neglected to shave all of her body hair before continuing. When they finally did so, they discovered, hidden on her person, a small parchment on which was written strange writing and the symbol of the cross. Once it was removed from her body, she was returned to be tortured again. During that session, she confessed to relying on the aid of the devil to perform her cures. In view of her age and gender, the authorities agreed to subject her to a brief public humiliation and then to banish her from the city rather than to execute her. In time, she was arrested again, this time by magistrates in Middlebourg, a town in
Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) – The government of Japan, whatever it may be, “should be the first to approve the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”, says the Archbishop of Tokyo, Isao Kikuchi (SVD), recently appointed Cardinal by Pope Francis, while his country is going through a period of political uncertainty.In the elections held in Japan on Sunday 27 October, the coalition that had previously ruled, made up of the Liberal Democratic Party and the small Buddhist Komeito Party, lost its majority in Parliament, which it had held continuously since 2012. According to analysts, a period of uncertainty is now beginning for Japanese politics, normally characterized by great stability. The Archbishop points out some points that, in his opinion, should guide the policy of the Japanese government, regardless of which party or politician is in power now or in the future: “We hope that the Japanese government will continue the discussion on how to build trust among nations to abolish nuclear weapons, drawing inspiration from the recent award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Nihon Hidankyo organization, which brings together the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons. “As a Catholic Church, we actively call for the abolition of nuclear weapons, especially during the annual Ten Days of Prayer for Peace in August. The Ten Days of Prayer begin with the commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, August 5, and continue until August 15, the commemoration of the end of the war in the Pacific in 1945,” stresses the Archbishop.This prayer goes hand in hand with a commitment to peace. The Archbishop of Tokyo notes: “Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to Hiroshima in 1981, which sent a strong message of peace. The Japanese bishops were encouraged by this message from the Pope and therefore launched the Ten Days of Prayer for Peace”. Pope Francis’ visit in 2019 confirmed and renewed this approach: the Pope called for “never again war, never again the noise of weapons, never again so much suffering” and reiterated during his trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki: “The use of nuclear energy for war purposes is immoral, just as the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral”. “Today”, continued the Archbishop of Tokyo, “the Diocese of Hiroshima and the Diocese of Nagasaki, and with them the entire Catholic community of Japan, call together for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the establishment of peace, also involving the Bishops of the United States in a step of great symbolic value”. He concludes: “The Church in Japan will continue to work with all men and women of good will who seek peace, to call on world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons and thus create lasting peace.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 30/10/2024)
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Dar es Salaam (Agenzia Fides) – “They will not silence us, Tanzania belongs to all of us and we will fight for our right to be heard,” said opposition politician John Mnyika, referring to the current government led by Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country’s first female head of government.Tanzania is at a dangerous crossroads on the eve of the 2025 parliamentary elections. The electoral campaign is marked by political unrest. According to local press reports, last year’s political violence raised fears that the country could fall back into authoritarianism. Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took over the presidency after the death of John Magufuli (2015 March 2021) and once presented herself as a reformer, is now facing accusations of using the same repressive methods as her predecessor.With her appointment, the country had begun to raise hopes of a rebirth. Suluhu had, among other things, promised a new era of democratic reforms and in the meantime lifted the ban on political demonstrations and allowed the media to reopen, demonstrating her commitment to freedom of expression. For a brief moment, it seemed as if Tanzania was emerging from the shadow of autocracy. Opposition parties, long suppressed under Magufuli, were allowed to hold demonstrations again. Political debate resumed, and for the first time in years, the country seemed to be moving toward genuine democracy. But now, as local elections in November 2024 approach, those hopes are beginning to fade. Promises of government reforms have given way to a resurgence of authoritarian tactics. The optimism that had accompanied Samias Suluhu’s rise to power has gradually been replaced by fear and uncertainty. Political violence is on the rise, opposition leaders have been silenced, and dissent is once again brutally repressed.For many Tanzanians, the future looks bleak, local media report. The escalation of political violence has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. And as the nation awaits the upcoming elections, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher. For opposition leaders like John Mnyika and Tundu Lissu, the fight for democracy has never been more dangerous. But despite the risks, they remain determined. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 30/10/2024)
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “The problem is how to ensure that the Sacrament of Confirmation is not reduced, in practice, to “last rites”, that is the Sacrament of “departure” from the Church, but is rather the Sacrament of participation, of active participation in the life of the Church”. This is what Pope Francis said at today’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square, continuing his catechesis on the Holy Spirit and today reflecting on the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church through the Sacraments.Last week the Pope spoke about the action of the Holy Spirit in marriage, today he reflected on Confirmation, which “par excellence, according to Pope Francis, is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit”. The Pope recalls that in the New Testament, in addition to baptism with water, “another rite is mentioned, that of the imposition of hands, which has the purpose of communicating the Holy Spirit visibly and in a charismatic way, with effects analogous to those produced by the Apostles at Pentecost”.With the passing of time, “the rite of anointing took shape as a Sacrament in itself, assuming diverse forms and content in the various ages and different rites of the Church”. To better suggest what this sacrament represents, the Pope quotes the Catechism of adults of the Italian Episcopal Conference. It states: “Confirmation is for all the faithful what Pentecost was for the entire Church. … It reinforces the baptismal incorporation into Christ and the Church and the consecration to the prophetic, royal and priestly mission. It communicates the abundance of the gifts of the Spirit. … If, therefore, Baptism is the Sacrament of birth, Confirmation is the Sacrament of growth. For this very reason it is also the Sacrament of witness, because this is closely linked to the maturity of Christian existence”.”The problem,” said the Bishop of Rome, “is how to ensure that the Sacrament of Confirmation is not reduced, in practice, to “last rites”, that is the Sacrament of “departure” from the Church.” “It is said that it is the farewell Sacrament, ” cintinued the Pope, “because once young people do it they go away and then return for marriage. This is what people say”. On the contrary, Confirmation is “the Sacrament of participation, of active participation in the life of the Church”. The Bishop of Rome continued: “It is a milestone that can seem impossible, given the current situation throughout the Church, but this does not mean that we should stop pursuing it. It will not be so for all Confirmands, children or adults, but it is important that it is at least for some who will then go on to be the animators of the community”, continues the Pope who proposes that it can be useful, for this purpose “to be helped in preparing for the Sacrament by lay faithful who have had a personal encounter with Christ and have had a true experience of the Spirit. Some people say that they have experienced it as a blossoming of the Sacrament of Confirmation received as children”.But this, he stresses, “does not relate only to future Confirmands; it relates to all of us and at any time. Together with Confirmation and anointing, we have received” what Saint Paul calls “the first fruits of the Spirit”.”We must “spend” this bond, savour these first fruits, not bury underground the charisms and talents received. Here is a good goal for the Jubilee year! To remove the ashes of habit and disengagement, to become, like the torchbearers at the Olympics, bearers of the flame of the Spirit. May the Spirit help us to take a few steps in this direction!”, the Pope concluded.Before the final blessing, Pope Francis once again recalled the countries at war and asked for constant prayers for peace: “War is increasing, let us think of the countries that are suffering so much, such as the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, North Kivu. Let us pray for peace. Peace is a gift of the Spirit, war is always a defeat. In war, no one wins, everyone loses”.”Yesterday,” the Pope added referring to the recent massacre in the Gaza Strip, “I saw 150 innocent people shot with machine guns. What do children and families have to do with it? They are the first victims of war, let us pray for peace,” the Pope concluded. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/10/2024)
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N’Djamena (Agenzia Fides) – Three days of national mourning in Chad in memory of the victims of the jihadist attack on a military base near Lake Chad were declared by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who personally traveled to the site of the attack on October 28 and announced the start of a counter-offensive, called “Haskanite”, to find the perpetrators of the massacre.On the night of October 27-28, an armed group attacked the Chadian army garrison on the island of Barkaram, on the border with Nigeria. Of the 200 soldiers present, 40 were killed, including their commander. The attackers occupied the base until dawn and left with a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Chadian authorities claim that the attack was carried out by the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram, which has long experienced several splits, the most important of which led to the creation of ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province). Following the death of Boko Haram’s historic leader Abubakar Shekau in 2021, who reportedly committed suicide to avoid falling into the hands of ISWAP’s rivals, the leadership was taken over by Bakura Modu. The group he led continues to lose fighters who join ISWAP and others who join the Nigerian army’s demobilization and reintegration program for jihadists and lay down their arms. If the Barkaram attack was indeed carried out by militiamen led by Bakura Modu, it is seen as an attempt by this militia to assert its leadership role and show the outside world that it is alive and capable of carrying out wide-ranging actions. The Chadian President, in turn, must show determination in the face of the challenge that faces him, as his predecessor Idriss Déby did after the massacre of about 100 soldiers in March 2020 at the Bohama base, also in the Lake Chad region, by Boko Haram (see Fides, 28/3/2020). The father of the current president had gone to the site of the massacre and launched Operation Wrath of Bohama to pursue the perpetrators. Chad is today the only country in the Sahel where Western troops, especially French and American, are stationed. The three countries where military juntas came to power through coups (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger), grouped in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have expelled foreign military missions from their territories (except for the Italian contingent still stationed in Niger). All these countries are facing offensives by various jihadist groups. Chad is trying to maintain good relations both with the West and with countries such as Russia and China, as well as with its AES neighbors. Today it was announced that an important Chadian delegation is visiting Niger. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/10/2024)
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Manila (Agenzia Fides) – In October, the month dedicated to the protection of indigenous peoples in the Philippines, the Catholic Church organized various events, meetings and local celebrations aimed at calling institutions to address the problems faced by these peoples in continuing their lives on their ancestral lands, a life threatened above all by mining exploitation.The Philippines has emerged on the international scene as a major supplier of raw materials for the global energy transition, with reserves of minerals such as nickel, a key material for electric car batteries. However, this boom and the mining concessions granted by the government in Manila to multinational companies are leading to displacement and habitat destruction among indigenous peoples, who are being deprived of their ancestral lands and their livelihoods. According to the 2023 State of Indigenous Peoples Address report published by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre (LRC), land and environmental conflicts have increased by 6% in one year, with more than 70,000 additional hectares of land affected. Resource conflicts, especially those related to mining, “have a direct impact on the lives of indigenous peoples themselves. Their lives are truly at stake,” the LRC notes, explaining that between 2022 and 2023, over 45,000 indigenous people were victims of land theft in areas such as the islands of Palawan or Mindoro. Another example concerns the mountainous Cordillera region (north of Luzon island), where the Philippine government has approved 99 hydroelectric projects that are part of a broader plan to develop renewable energy sources. The projects have divided rural communities into those who believe that the dams will bring jobs and money and those who fear damage to water sources and cultural sites.The Philippines is estimated to be home to between 14 and 17 million indigenous people belonging to 110 ethnic-linguistic groups. In the various regions where they are located – such as the Cordillera (in Luzon, in the North), the Visayas (in the center of the archipelago), the Bagsamoro region (in Mindanao, in the South) – these peoples are subject to social discrimination, economic marginalization and political deprivation, phenomena that are exacerbated by mining, which deprives them of their land rights. Over the last hundred years, the Philippine government has increasingly taken away land from indigenous peoples precisely because it is rich in natural resources. The country has begun to promote the dignity and rights of these peoples, thanks in part to the educational work carried out by the Catholic Church and missionaries. Under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), passed in 1997, indigenous peoples have ownership rights to their ancestral lands if they receive a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title. The holder of this certificate has the power to approve or reject projects that affect the land, such as in the mining sector. However, obtaining the certificate involves a lengthy bureaucratic process that requires legal representation, and is a process that many indigenous groups have not even begun. In 2003, the government declared October as “Indigenous Peoples’ Month,” establishing a Day of Recognition for Indigenous Peoples, set for October 29, to renew the commitment to ensure fair treatment of these peoples. The Catholic Church in the Philippines, through the Episcopal Commission for Indigenous Peoples, Diocesan Groups and Religious Institutes, has undertaken to “listen to our indigenous brothers and sisters who are members of the family of God, to respond to their aspirations as members of our society” and to protect their lives. An example of this commitment is the award of the National Prize named after Saint Theresa of Calcutta to Sister Minerva Caampued for her work in favor of the indigenous peoples in the province of Cagayan, after thirty years of tireless work for the indigenous Agta community in the areas of environmental protection, health care, nutrition and educational programs. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 30/10/2024)
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Waskesiu Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 63-year-old Margaret (also goes by Harder) Sinclair from Southend, Saskatchewan. She was reported missing on October 29 around 9:00 p.m.
Margaret/Harder was a passenger in a vehicle and got out on Highway #2 near Weyakwin this evening – we don’t have a specific location.It is unknown if she caught a ride with anyone.
RCMP are concerned for her well-being, especially given the cold temperatures.
Margaret/Harder is described as: 170 pounds, 5’1″ tall, brown and grey coloured hair, wearing a black jacket. She was not dressed for the weather. She had a walker with her, which she requires for mobility.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Margaret/Harder is asked to contact their nearest police service or Waskesiu RCMP at 310-RCMP or 911.
Oct. 30, 2024 Release Number 20241030-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command forces conducted a series of strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria, in the early evening of Oct 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed.
The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders.
There are no indications of civilian casualties.
The airstrikes will disrupt the ability of ISIS to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians, as well as U.S., allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond. CENTCOM, alongside allies and partners in the region, will continue to aggressively degrade ISIS operational capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat.
Donald Trump hugs an American flag as he arrives at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 24, 2024, in Baltimore. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States in January 2017, George Orwell’s 1949 novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” shot to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list. Apparently, lots of people thought Orwell had something relevant to say in that political moment.
Nearly eight years later, the United States once again faces the prospect of a Trump presidency.
In 2016, many Americans were caught off guard by Trump’s win, leading them to grapple with the potential consequences of a Trump presidency only after he was elected. But this time, more people seem to be thinking about the ramifications of such an outcome in advance.
In my work as a professor of philosophy and law, I’ve spent a lot of time studying Orwell’s writing. I think people were correct eight years ago to conclude that Orwell could provide insight into a Trump presidency.
Here are three such insights that I think are useful for Americans to keep in mind as they prepare to vote for their next president.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Brent Stirton/Getty Images
Nationalism is not patriotism
In his 1945 essay “Notes on Nationalism,” Orwell distinguishes between the terms nationalism and patriotism.
For Orwell, nationalism was “the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”
He was quick to point out that this was distinct from the concept of patriotism, which he defined as “devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people.”
To understand Orwell’s conception of patriotism, I find it useful to consider an analogy. Many parents think that their kids are the best kids in the world. This doesn’t mean that they think there are objective metrics that could be used to rank children. Most parents recognize that there is no such thing, and they don’t go around saying other children aren’t as good as theirs. Yet there is still a real sense in which they see their own kids as the very best.
There is something similar in the attitude of Orwell’s patriot. They may think that their country or their way of life is the best, but – and this may be the most important part – they have no wish to force their views or way of life on others.
Not so with the nationalist. Orwell claims, “Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power.” The nationalist is like a parent who goes around tearing other people’s kids down in order to lift theirs up.
Mere love of country is not inherently dangerous. Making advancement of one’s nation or culture one’s top priority is extremely dangerous. Patriotism sticks to the former. Nationalism goes in for the latter.
Orwell insightfully recognizes that when the nationalist makes advancement of their way of life their top priority, they inevitably end up placing that goal “beyond good and evil.” This makes the nationalist susceptible to endorsing unethical means for advancing their own way of life.
Donald Trump does exactly what Orwell predicts the nationalist will do. He conceptualizes everything, as Orwell put it, “in terms of competitive prestige” and “his thoughts always turn on victories, defeats, triumphs and humiliations.”
Fixation on competitive prestige is not patriotic. It’s unadulterated nationalism.
An autocrat is easy to underestimate
In a 1942 essay written during the middle of World War II and reflecting on his experiences as a volunteer soldier in the Spanish Civil War, Orwell wrote that “our traditions and our past security have given us a sentimental belief that it all comes right in the end and the thing you most fear never really happens,” and that “we believe half-instinctively that evil always defeats itself in the long run.”
Orwell was worried by these optimistic instincts because he thought they ran counter to the evidence. The evidence, on the contrary, suggested that things typically don’t turn out right on their own. Rather, social improvements normally require concerted effort and vigilance against backsliding.
In another essay from the same year, Orwell criticized various intellectuals who treated Hitler as “a figure out of comic opera, not worth taking seriously.” And he criticized many English-speaking countries for being places where it was “fashionable to believe, right up to the outbreak of war, that Hitler was an unimportant lunatic and the German tanks made of cardboard.”
Yet many Americans excuse such talk, failing to treat it as the evidence of a threat to democracy that it is. This seems to me to be driven in part by the tendency Orwell identified to think that truly bad things won’t happen – at least not in one’s own country.
Orwell thought it was worth taking the possibility of bad outcomes seriously. This is one way to understand what he was up to in his most famous books, “Animal Farm” and “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Americans would benefit from taking potential threats to U.S. democracy seriously, too.
George Orwell, whose writings from the middle of the 20th century have relevance in 2024. Ullstein Bild/Getty Images
Nationalism can attack within
You can read “Nineteen Eighty-Four” as Orwell’s attempt to think about what a ruling political party completely captured by nationalism might look like.
In “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” orthodox party members in the fictional nation of Oceania are obsessed with “competitive prestige” and “the desire for power.” Activities such as the Two Minutes Hate, where party members were encouraged to scream and jeer at a video of a political opponent, prompt party members to focus their thoughts on “victories, defeats, triumphs and humiliations.”
A notable feature of the party is how often it turns on its own members through kidnapping, torture and murder. The occurrence was so frequent in Oceania that it had a name: being “vaporized.” Nationalists are a threat not only to those outside the nation but also to those inside the nation who don’t fully support the nationalist’s pursuit of power at any cost.
Orwell’s writing suggests that voters should take such threats seriously.
Mark Satta 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.
Colin Wong, a blind Ph.D. student, can’t forget having to pay US$100 for an Uber when he needed to take a standardized test. There was no testing center in San Francisco, where he lived, that could accommodate his disability.
That kind of expensive hassle isn’t unusual. It costs nearly $7,000 more per year to live in the U.S. with his disability, according to research I, a social work scholar, conducted with four experts at the American Foundation for the Blind – a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion for people with blindness or low vision.
For our research, we looked at survey data from a representative sample of Americans, focusing on how people with visual impairments answered. We considered anyone who said they live with a vision disability – or said that they have a lot of trouble seeing or can’t see at all, even with glasses – as a person with low vision or blindness.
We calculated that people with blindness or low vision spend, on average, 27% of their household income on expenses related to their disability – about $7,000 per year.
Low-income Americans with disabilities are shouldering an even bigger burden. The people who took this survey and were earning less than $25,000 per year said they spent about 40% of their income on costs related to their disability, on average, compared with 16% for those with higher incomes.
That leaves them with less money for other essentials such as food and housing. About 1 in 4 of the people we surveyed said they spent less on food to cover their expenses associated with their disability.
And about 2 in 3 of the people we surveyed said they frequently go without goods and services they need, including medical care, assistive technologies and transportation to get to school or go to work.
One reason for the higher costs of living is that people with disabilities tend to incur many other extra expenses, such as spending more on transportation, prepared foods and grocery delivery services. Others struggle to afford the prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements they need.
Politicians and policymakers appear to be paying more attention to this problem, which my research team calls the “disability squeeze.” Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, announced in October 2024 a proposal to expand Medicare to cover the long-term care needs for older adults and people with disabilities.
Denise Chamberlin and her guide dog, Ridley, emerge from a Toronto subway station. AP Photo/Business Wire
What still isn’t known
Our survey included 288 people with blindness or low vision. Studies with larger numbers of participants could greatly expand upon what’s known about this problem and what can be done about it.
Expanding accessible public transit, making assistive technologies more affordable and increasing disability benefits might be enough for some people with disabilities to have an opportunity to thrive, but not for others.
Future research could shed a brighter light on the cracks in the U.S. health and social welfare systems. For example, researchers could look into why people with health insurance from Medicaid or Medicare told us they had more unmet needs rather than fewer than those with coverage through private insurers. Other studies could examine how the disability squeeze affects the health and employment of people with disabilities over the long term.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
Zachary Morris’ research presented here is funded from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents of this survey do not necessarily represent the policy of the federal government or any government agency.
Many offices make a point to celebrate diversity, but what does that look like when it comes to faith?FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images
Since we spend so much of our lives at our jobs, it’s only natural that conversations with colleagues go beyond the work in front of us. People share interests and hobbies, family struggles, health concerns, and hopes or goals, from the silly to the serious.
The topic of religion, however, can provoke anxiety. Many people might second what the Muslim CEO of a technology company told us: “If you want to express faith, do it! Just do it on your own time.” Uncertainty surrounding religion’s role in the workplace tends to lead to silence. Even among researchers who study workplaces, religion is often ignored.
Yet for many people, faith is a core component of their identity – part of the “whole self” that employees are increasingly encouraged to bring to work. It’s an important piece of diversity but one that managers often tiptoe around. And for many Americans, faith is part of why they show up at their job each day: 1 in 5 consider their work a spiritual calling.
We are social scientists who spent the past five years conducting research on the role of faith at work. Our findings – from more than 15,000 surveys with a nationally representative population, and nearly 300 in-depth interviews with some of those workers – confirm that there are many challenges when religion comes into the workplace. However, the costs of ignoring or suppressing workers’ faith often exceed those risks and challenges.
Conflict and discrimination
The most common concern we heard about bringing up religion in the workplace is that it will lead to conflict – including conflict from people trying to change each other’s beliefs. A Catholic woman who works in eldercare told us, “I think we shouldn’t talk about religion at work because that’s when the problems arise. I’m going to defend what I think, and they will defend what they think, their way of being, their religion.”
Several other people we interviewed also expressed concerns that some forms of religious expression could make people uncomfortable, or even turn into harassment. A nonreligious security guard noted that during Christmas and Easter some of his Christian co-workers will say, “‘God bless,’ ‘Let’s pray,’ and stuff like that. It becomes very uneasy for me, uncomfortable.”
Asking workers to bottle up their faith when they start the workday may seem like the easiest way to avoid these problems. Some workers we interviewed agreed with this sentiment. As one Muslim federal employee told us, “If I wear my religion as a badge on my shoulder, it will rub somebody the wrong way. So, why do that?”
What’s more, silence around religion may seem like a neutral request. If no one expresses their faith, after all, then no one can be discriminated against, no one can be offended, and no one is seen as getting special treatment for their religious beliefs.
Not so neutral
There are a few problems with this logic, however.
What’s more, vague expectations about not acknowledging faith at work aren’t necessarily so neutral and often tend to disproportionately harm minority groups.
In our survey, we asked individuals whether they “conceal their religious beliefs at work for fear of others’ perceptions.” Nineteen percent of Jewish workers, 51% of Hindus, 29% of Muslims and 28% of Buddhists said they did. By contrast, only 9% of evangelical Protestants, 15% of nonevangelical Protestants and 13% of Catholics reported that they conceal their faith at work.
A Jewish project manager at an engineering firm told us how she has tried to conceal her faith from others: “The times that I did have to pray, I actually walked outside into a closed corner in the hallway to do it.”
In the same survey, we asked individuals if they “have been treated unfairly” at work due to their “religion or non-religion.” Overall, 31% of U.S. adults agreed, and such experiences are most common among Muslim and Jewish workers.
One Muslim woman we interviewed described how her colleagues made life extremely difficult for her, calling her names that were derisive, and said she’s received little support from her employer. Indeed, during one meeting her boss “got up and talked a lot about me being Muslim, and it was all negative.”
One of our surveys, for example, asked workers whether they “turn to faith for support through stressful times in their work life.” Nearly half agreed.
For many Americans, faith is also part of why they do their work in the first place. According to another one of our surveys, 20% of U.S. adults “see their work as a spiritual calling.” This percentage is higher among certain groups, such as evangelical Protestants and Muslims: 33% and 30%, respectively. Viewing work in spiritual terms is also more likely among women, at 24%, and Black workers, at 31%.
And it is not just workers in explicitly religious jobs who view their work this way. One marine biologist explained to us, “I think that all truth is from God and, as a scientist, I try to understand and reveal the truth of how the world works.”
Social science research has found that people’s well-being, social interactionsand performance are harmed when they feel the need to suppress an important part of themselves within a group or organization. In other words, everyone suffers when individuals are not allowed to bring their whole selves to work.
Welcome at work
Despite such evidence, our research finds that many organizations are not taking even basic steps to accommodate individuals’ religious lives.
In one survey, we asked workers whether their “workplace provides accommodations that allow people to practice their religion.” Almost one-fifth of workers disagreed. This percentage was highest among Muslim workers: 54%.
Workers appreciate when their employers take active steps to let employees know that religious accommodations are available and that religious expression in general is not forbidden. Having upfront conversations about what is or is not appropriate – not only legally but socially – can go a long way toward setting boundaries.
A Muslim optometry technician we interviewed, for example, recounted how appreciative she was when her boss told her, “If you ever do prayers or anything, feel free to go to that room – it can be your space, you can leave your mat in there.”
Ideally, however, organizations would take active steps to establish and communicate policies to all employees, rather than reacting to situations as they arise.
While we recognize the challenges when it comes to addressing individuals’ faith in the workplace, proactively engaging in conversations about the appropriate role of religion at work is better for workers and workplaces.
Christopher P. Scheitle receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation.
Denise Daniels receives funding from the Lilly Endowment.
Elaine Howard Ecklund receives funding from the Templeton Religion Trust and the Lilly Endowment.
