Nearly 3 dozen countries face food emergencies UN agency reports
The May issue of “Foodcrops and Shortages,” a publication of the Global Information and Early Warning System, blames the situation largely on civil conflict and adverse weather, particularly drought. It also notes that in many of these countries, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a major contributing factor.In western Sudan, civil conflict which has displaced over 1 million people is leading to a grave humanitarian crisis, the agency warns. Desert locusts remain a serious threat to crops in northern and western Africa, where control operations are hampered by a lack of resources, according to the report. In southern Africa, delayed, inadequate and erratic rains caused flood damage and left many people in need of emergency food aid to survive. Zimbabwe could face acute food shortages as early estimates of 2004 food production indicate a potential deficit of up to 1 million tonnes of cereals.The report also warns that a serious humanitarian crisis continues in North Korea because of chronic food shortages. Donations have still left 600,000 core beneficiaries without their full rations in April, and new pledges are urgently needed to cover needs over the next six months.According to the report, Sri Lanka has been seriously affected by drought with rice production falling 18 per cent in 2004. Thousands of families are in need of food assistance there.The FAO reports that food assistance deliveries in Haiti had been returning to normal following improved security, until torrential rains and severe flooding struck that country as well as the Dominican Republic. Food assistance continues to be delivered in several Central American countries to rural families affected by a depressed coffee sector, the study found.
Although the Rock Band developer may be suing its former bosses for shady profit withholding, that lawsuit hasn’t stopped Viacom from successfully selling Harmonix off, which they managed to do right before the holidays.Word first popped up that Viacom was looking to sell Harmonix — creators of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, whose games have sold tens of millions of copies to date — back in November for unstated reasons.AdChoices广告Supposedly, the issue is profitability, which is a bit hard to believe. The revenues for the last three Rock Band games are commonly cited as being over $1 billion. I suppose it depends on how much Viacom was pumping into the company after the $175 million sale back in 2006, but e already know that Viacom is being accused of withholding bonuses. Perhaps things were bleaker than they first appeared.Either way, the new owner of Harmonix is a private investment firm in New York. Viacom says they’re now getting out of the rhythm music game market, but Harmonix has no intention of stopping: they’re currently working on a new music game for the Nintendo 3DS.Read more at LA Times
WILMINGTON, MA — Below are 5 things to do in Wilmington on Wednesday, September 4, 2019:#1) Town Yardwaste Center OpenThe Town’s Yardwaste Center is open from 8am to 2pm. Residents need to purchase a punch-card for $15 in order to enter the yardwaste center. Punch-cards are available for purchase through the Collector’s Office at Town Hall and will allow up to 5 vehicle trips to the Yardwaste Center per card. NO GRASS CLIPPINGS OR STUMPS ARE ACCEPTED. Commercial vehicles are not allowed. Make sure to bring photo identification to show you are a Wilmington resident.#2) Wilmington Conservation Commission MeetingThe Wilmington Conservation Commission meets at 7pm in Town Hall’s Room 9. Read the agenda HERE.#3) Cub Scout Pack 56 Registration NightCub Scout Pack 56 is holding a Registration Night at 6:30pm at Villanova Hall. Contact Kelly James at kellymarie583[at]gmail.com or 978-604-9753 for additional information. For kids entering K through Grade 5.#4) Book Store Next Door OpenThe Friends of the Wilmington Memorial Library’s Book Store Next Door (183 Middlesex Avenue) is open from 10am to 4pm. All books are $2 or less! Every penny of every sale benefits the Wilmington Memorial Library. Learn more HERE.#5) Car Seat Installs At Public Safety BuildingThe Wilmington Police Department offers safety seat installs at the Wilmington Public Safety Building (1 Adelaide Street) every Wednesday, 10am-2pm. No appointment is necessary, but calling ahead at 978-658-5071 is recommended. Learn more HERE.Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading… Related5 Things To Do In Wilmington On Wednesday, August 7, 2019In “5 Things To Do Today”5 Things To Do In Wilmington On Saturday, August 10, 2019In “5 Things To Do Today”5 Things To Do In Wilmington On Saturday, September 7In “5 Things To Do Today”
Three Alaska Native tribal organizations have won nearly $3 million in federal housing grants to improve living conditions in more than 100 homes.Listen nowThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the Tribal Healthy Homes Production grants Monday in Juneau. The recipients hope to use the money for home repairs, education and to deal with mold and mildew issues.The Organized Village of Kake and the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority each received $1 million. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium won almost $870,000.Housing Authority Executive Director Joyce Niven said the organizations will work together and with partners to improve living conditions in their regions.“We all have different skill sets that we’ll need to use to execute the grant … because it’s ‘Healthy Homes,’ it’s not just going in and repairing homes,” Niven said. “It’s educating people about managing their homes in a healthy manner.”One issue she said they frequently deal with in Southeast is mold and mildew. With the area’s wet climate, respiratory issues can result from poor ventilation in people’s homes.Niven said the Healthy Homes grant funding will help the organizations address those problems more thoroughly.“When we’re in the homes there’s often so much to be done that we have to set priorities and figure out what’s the most critical thing to get fixed. These funds will help us not have to set so many priorities and maybe get the entire home fixed,’” Niven said.Niven said she and her staff will start work on an implementation plan due back to the federal government in 90 days.The Healthy Homes grants are the first of their kind. HUD awarded $12 million in total to 13 tribal organizations across the country.
Europe’s biggest industrial group Siemens expects a double-digit rise in earnings for its current fiscal year provided that markets pick up for some of its key businesses.The trains-to-turbines group, which is the first of its peers to give an outlook for the year ahead, forecast a moderate full-year rise in revenue and a book-to-bill ratio above 1 after beating expectations for fourth-quarter profit.”Siemens anticipates further softening in the macroeconomic environment and continuing complexity in the geopolitical environment in 2016,” it said in a statement on Thursday.”This outlook assumes that momentum in the market environment for Siemens’ high-margin short-cycle businesses will pick up in the second half of fiscal 2016.”Siemens said basic earnings per share should rise by at least 14 percent on a comparable basis to 5.90 to 6.20 euros. EPS for the year to end-September was boosted by the disposals of Siemens’ hearing aids and household appliance businesses.The company exceeded its industrial profit margin target of 10-11 percent with a result of 11.3 percent in its fourth quarter to the end of September, and renewed the goal for the current year on Thursday.
Detective Branch of police produces Shahidul Alam, who was picked up by plainclothes men earlier, before a Dhaka court Monday. Photo: Shuvra Kanti DasAward winning photographer Shahidul Alam has again been taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office after a medical test was conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).Physicians at the BSMMU found him in good health, so he has been taken back to the DB office, police said.Deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman said Shahidul Alam was taken to BSMMU following an order of the High Court. The medical board formed for Shahidul’s treatment will submit a report on his health condition on Thursday.The HC on Tuesday asked the authorities to send detained photographer Shahidul Alam to BSMMU for treatment.It also asked the BSMMU authorities to submit a medical report on his health to the court by 10:30am Thursday. A HC bench of justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing a writ petition.Earlier, Shahidul’s friend Rahnuma Ahmed filed a writ petition with the HC challenging a lower court order that put him on a seven-day remand in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act. Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up photographer Shahidul from his Dhanmondi flat on Sunday night after he had given an intervew to Al Jazeera where he spoke on the recent students’ demonstrations demanding safe roads.Shahidul was sued under the controversial section 57 of the ICT Act for his alleged involvement in spreading propaganda against the government. On Monday, Dhaka additional chief metropolitan magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur placed Shahidul Alam on a seven-day remand for interrogation in a case filed under the controversial Section 57 of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Act.
Neil ConwayMore women are ending up in Texas prisons and jails, and a criminal justice reform advocacy group wants policymakers to address the problems that led them there.The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition released a report Thursday to highlight common issues the more than 12,000 imprisoned women in the state face and propose gender-specific support, treatment and diversion options. The organization said in the report that although the female population is increasing, most programs that aim to help prisoners are geared toward men.Women only accounted for less than 9 percent of those in the Texas prison system in 2016, but the organization said that their population is increasing while the state lessens the overall number of prisoners. Between 2009 and 2016, the men’s prison system population decreased by more than 8,500 inmates, while the number of women went up more than 500.“The vast majority of women in Texas prisons have extensive trauma histories, and most of them are mothers,” Lindsey Linder, a policy attorney for the group and the report’s author, said in a news release. “It is critical that we help these women address the root causes of their criminality through community supports and services, rather than through incarceration.”In a survey of more than 400 incarcerated women, the organization found that nearly 60 percent said they suffered from sexual abuse or assault as a child and more than half said their household income before taxes was less than $10,000. More than 80 percent were mothers.To combat the rising female prison population, the group recommended that lawmakers and local officials emphasize pretrial diversion programs for non-violent crimes, especially for pregnant women or those with primary custody of a child, and invest in support programs at the community level to help women deal with trauma before being introduced into the criminal justice system. The report also recommended specialized treatment for women on probation or with substance abuse issues, and, more generally, reforming the bail system to help women in poverty.Andrea Button, a sociology professor at Midwestern State University who is analyzing the inmate survey responses with the Texas organization, said poverty is a massive factor for the incarcerated women because it also correlates with other traumas, like abuse.“When women leave incarceration … they get plunged back into that same system of poverty,” she said, adding that there need to be re-entry programs targeting women specifically to connect them to effective jobs and childcare. “If you go at it with this blanket approach, you’re going to trigger them right back to prison.”State Rep. James White, a Republican from Hillister and chairman of the House Corrections Committee, said the uptick in the female prison population is something his committee is going to dive into before the next legislative session. House Speaker Joe Straus issued an interim charge to the committee last year to look into treatment options and programs for incarcerated women.Though White’s committee often deals with women who are already entrenched in the system, he said he likes the idea of the state giving funding to local jurisdictions to use for pretrial diversion programs, especially for non-violent drug offenses.“I like the idea of giving our local jurisdictions the funding,” White said. “I’m hearing from probation officers and judges that pretrial diversion across the state is usually a very, very effective tool.” Share
Education leaders in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County, Md. are reacting negatively to a bill proposed by an Iowa U.S. representative that makes substantial changes in the administration of public education.On Jan. 23, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced HB 610, “The Choices in Education Act.” This legislation would repeal “The Elementary and Secondary School Act of 1965” that supports public schools with federal dollars. It also weakens nutritional standards in the nation’s public school cafeterias and authorizes a federal voucher program.“As the spouse of a former Iowa teacher, I understand that it’s the right thing for our children to take education decisions out of the hands of the federal government and back into the rightful hands of parents who know best to meet the educational needs of our own children,” King said.Markus Batechelor represents Ward 8 on the D.C. State Board of Education. (AFRO File Photo)Regarding the voucher program, King said “the freedom of choice will result in parents being able to send their children to safer, better schools by taking federal dollars from failing programs like No Child Left Behind and Common Core” and giving parents the choice to use those dollars to send their children to public, private, or home-schooled institutions.On the nutrition standards, King wants to get the United States Department of Agriculture out of feeding school children. He wants the states to make those types of decisions so that “schools must be serving our students as much nutritious food as they need, so that our students can grow, learn, and excel, in school and out of school-in the classroom and on the playing field.”Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) wants to expand the state’s school voucher program by $7 million, while Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III, is opposed to the voucher concept. Baker believes taxpayer funds should be used to strengthen Prince George’s County public schools.Others in the Washington metropolitan area are also critical of King’s bill. “I don’t support this legislation at all,” Markus Batchelor, a Ward 8 D.C. State Board of Education member, told the AFRO. “The promise of America is a good quality education, no matter where you live.”The District was the first jurisdiction in the country to have a federally-supported school voucher program in 2003, despite some reservations by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D). The program, known as the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, was authorized in 2003 and expired in 2009.The program was resurrected in 2011 despite Norton’s chief argument that the D.C. Council, not the Congress, should decide on school vouchers.Batchelor isn’t a fan of vouchers. “Voucher programs don’t necessarily help students achieve academically,” he said. “What is needed and what I support is a good quality school in walking distance or close proximity in every neighborhood in the city.”“Those in support of HB 610 posture that it will ‘systematically’ fix what is wrong with public schools,” Barbara Dezmon, education committee chairman of the Maryland Conference of NAACP Chapters, told the AFRO. “The MSC would suggest that most of the bill’s supporters should try to fix those perceived wrongs rather than adopt measures that encourage ‘flight’ from public schools. With already diminishing resources and cuts in federal funding to education for the public greater good, we just can’t afford investment in voucher programs.”“Additionally, it raises further questions about equity in schools for Black and other minority and poor students,” she said.Dezmon agrees with Batchelor that the value of vouchers is questionable. “Vouchers also have a doubtful history as related to poor students and students with disabilities,” she said. “Often the private schools cannot accommodate these students, so they don’t have the same opportunity. The MSC observes inequities even in public education; however, moves such as those suggested in this bill will only exacerbate problems in this area.”Regarding the watering-down of nutritional standards, Batchelor said that HB 610 “would be a death knell for our kids.”“I represent a ward where children are living in food deserts and obesity is a problem,” he said.King’s bill is in line with the beliefs of President Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the panel that will look at King’s bill if it is scheduled, hasn’t taken a public stand on the legislation but has made it clear through statements that he supports public education.
An exhibition here titled Resurgence: Revival of Indian Embroideries displays a variety of Indian embroideries enhanced with newly-developed techniques.The exhibit is the result of 20 years of effort by Asif Shaikh, an Ahmedabad-based expert in Indian textiles.‘I have sourced these pieces from different parts of India. I work closely with artisans and learn their techniques. Then, I improve on it to enhance the quality of embroidery. The idea is to promote Indian embroideries to the world,’ Shaikh said. ‘I have been working on it for over 20 years and the idea is to use these traditional textile techniques in a contemporary style,’ he added. Also Read – ‘Playing Jojo was emotionally exhausting’Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch inaugurated the exhibition Monday. She appreciated Shaikh’s efforts to curate the best of embroideries from most states, but felt he had completely neglected the Northeast region.‘It is a great effort, but he has not included Northeastern traditional embroideries. They have many interesting tribal things and clothes that are very fashionable. Perhaps he should now come up with a tribal exhibition to show what these states have to offer,’ she said.On display are intricate weaves of zardozi, Parsi style embroidery, danka embroidery with zardozi work, bead work, ajrak with embroidery, soof embroidery, rabari embroidery, gotta-patt Mughal designs and many more.WHERE: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the ArtsWHEN: On till 15 September
LAS VEGAS – Snowboarding is about to get a bit more high tech.At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Cerevo, a company known for creating network consumer devices, unveiled its new XON SNOW-1, a smart snowboard bindings that provide real-time analysis of your ride.When connected by Bluetooth to the company’s iOS or Android app, the bindings report back in real-time details like where you’re distributing your weight on the board, your acceleration and center of gravity.Related: This Shopping Cart of the Future Creepily Follows You Around StoresAt the end of each run, you can check out a report of how you did. The idea being that you review your stats while you’re on a lift back up the mountain, so you can improve your technique of your next trip down.Image credit: CerevoWhile you’re headed down the slopes, LED lights on the bindings (one of each heel and toe) light up to guide you into making small adjustments along the way. Data captured by the bindings can be laid over a video of your run for a complete picture while built-in GPS will track your exact path.Image credit: CerevoRelated: These ‘Smart’ Ballet Shoes Digitally Paint Dancers’ Fancy FootworkThe information can not only improve your technique and overall experience but also help increase your skill level and assist in learning new tricks. Think about how much easier it would be to learn something, if you could see where you were screwing it up.The XON SNOW-1 bindings will be available for snowboarding trips later this year and most likely be priced between $400 and $600.For a more in-depth look, check out the video below.Related: A Watch That Shoots Lasers? Yes, Please. January 5, 2015 Free Workshop | August 28: Get Better Engagement and Build Trust With Customers Now 2 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. This hands-on workshop will give you the tools to authentically connect with an increasingly skeptical online audience. Enroll Now for Free
Tags: Peregrine Adventures, Scotland << Previous PostNext Post >> Monday, September 18, 2017 Posted by TORONTO — Peregrine Adventures is giving travellers the opportunity to see the 2018 Scottish Highland Games on the new 14-day ‘Limited Edition Scottish Highland Games’ itinerary.The Games are an annual Scottish tradition dating back to the 11th century. On Peregrine’s trip, open to just 15 people, travellers will experience Scotland’s culture and traditions with most of the trip being preplanned, including: four-star accommodation, private transportation, some local meal experiences and daily activities.Travellers will attend a full day of the Games at Braemar, frequently attended by the British Royal Family, as well as practice activities like hammer throwing and caber tossing. “This adventure offers more than just a front-row seat for the Games; travellers will also get a heavy dose of Scottish culture and a look at this country of myths and mist,” says Peregrine Adventures. “They will be immersed in Scottish traditions and learn about the history of Scotland’s famous garment, the kilt, from a local kilt fitter – with the opportunity to be fitted for a kilt.”More news: Canada raises travel warning amid escalating protests in Hong KongAlso included in the 14-day trip:A whiskey tasting at a local distilleryLessons in traditional Scottish dance and a Ceilidh dance at a village hall (men required to wear kilts!)A food walking tour in Glasgow of local restaurants and businesses, which benefits local food banksA trip aboard the scenic Jacobite Steam Train for a 135-kilometre roundtrip through some of Scotland’s most picturesque landscapesA day to explore Edinburgh and enjoy a bagpipe demonstrationA tour of the Isle of SkyeA visit to Glencoe, featured in movies like ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’A match of the Scottish sport of ‘shinty’, a cross between Lacrosse and field hockey, in Fort WilliamThe chance to look for ‘Nessie’ at Loch Ness“The limited-edition tour to the Scottish Highland Games will offer travellers an opportunity to experience one of Scotland’s oldest traditions and a firsthand experience of its heritage with local communities and international athletes,” said Leigh Barnes, regional director for the Intrepid Group.More news: TRAVELSAVERS welcomes Julie Virgilio to the teamPricing for the Scottish Highland Games starts at $6,030 per person, double occupancy, including 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners; train and other private transport; 11 nights in a hotel and 2 nights of a featured stay; and activities and entrance fees.
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The signature overwater bungalow, first invented in the Islands of Tahiti and now the quintessential icon of paradise, celebrates its 50th birthday this year. For travellers looking for the perfect South Pacific escape, staying in an overwater bungalow is a ‘can’t miss experience’. From direct access from a private deck into the world-renown Tahitian lagoons, to lounging on the balcony of a thatched-roof hideaway with all the amenities and service of a first class hotel, the overwater bungalow is the symbol of an ultimate private getaway.To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts in French Polynesia is offering a complimentary lunch for two people per stay for every booking made in an Overwater Bungalow. This exclusive offer is valid now until 31 December 2017.The overwater bungalow was first conceived and built in the lagoon of Raiatea in 1967 by three American hotel owners known as ‘The Bali Hai Boys’. They took traditional local Polynesian grass huts and set them on concrete stilts over the water’s edge. Soon after, Hotel Bora Bora was conceived and it became the first luxury overwater bungalow resort on the island of Bora Bora. In the ’90s, scientific research indicated that overwater bungalow stilts offered an artificial shelter for fish, which in turn contributes to the protection of the fragile lagoon ecosystem.Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort built its first overwater bungalow in 1996. Since 2006, the hotel has been participating in a local program which forbids all motorised activities around the property in a bid to protect its beautiful lagoon.Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort was originally built in 1979 for the Hurricane movie produced by Hollywood filmmaker Dino de Laurentiis and features 13 overwater bungalows. While, Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island, the only boutique hotel on Bora Bora and on its own private island, has 20 overwater bungalows facing glorious Mount Otemanu.Sofitel Hotels & Resorts in French Polynesia recently introduced a new ‘Horizon amenities’ programme, which is available at Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort and Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island. The amenities include a bottle of Champagne on arrival, private in-room checkin, Lanvin amenities, priority seating at all restaurants, shoe shining, express ironing services, and butler service.