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(The Center Square) – House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has opened an investigation into the Federal Emergency Management Agency over reports that it discriminated against supporters of Donald Trump. Comer said whistleblower reports suggest anti-Trump discrimination is rampant and has been going on for years. “[O]n the condition of anonymity, a FEMA official stated that the practice avoiding ‘white or conservative-dominated’ areas is an ‘open secret at the agency that has been going on for years,’” Comer said in a letter to FEMA. The investigation comes after FEMA fired one of its hurricane response supervisors after news went viral that she told her workers to avoid “Trump houses.” However, that employee has publicly said she was only following orders and acting according to the culture at FEMA. Comer and more than two dozen Republican lawmakers sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell demanding documentation, from internal policies to spending figures to incident reports. Lawmakers have pointed toward more anonymous sources backing up the fired employee’s claims. “Additionally, another whistleblower contacted the Committee during the hearing," the letter said. "This individual informed the Committee that a FEMA contractor warned a disabled veteran’s family in Georgia to remove Trump campaign materials from their home because FEMA supervisors viewed Trump supporters as domestic terrorists. At a hearing this week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., pointed to 35 of his constituents who shared similar stories with him. Lawmakers grilled Criswell over the discrimination reports at the hearing as well as FEMA’s recent focus on Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts, something FEMA named as its number one goal in its latest strategic report. Lawmakers also raised concerns about the agency spending hundreds of millions of dollars on helping migrants. Defenders of FEMA have said the migrant funds do not take directly from disaster relief, while critics insist it shows missplaced priorities for the emergency relief agency. “In the fiscal year of 2023, FEMA spent nearly a billion dollars, $789 million, to shelter illegals in the United States,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., said at the hearing, as The Center Square previously reported . “This past year it was $641 million, and this money is largely distributed through NGOs...and this was to house illegal aliens," she added. "Not Americans, who by the way all that money, that comes from Americans bank accounts when they write their checks to pay their taxes." At the hearing this week, Criswell also said she will request the Inspector General investigate the question of political discrimination at FEMA. She also said she does not think this fired employee is indicative of a broader problem in the agency but is looking into it. Criswell said FEMA workers went back to the homes that were skipped over by the fired employee and promised to ensure it doesn't happen again. “The Committee is in the process of investigating these claims,” the Oversight letter said. “If they are true, they would corroborate concerns that political discrimination extends beyond [the fired FEMA employee]. Furthermore, they suggest an apparent culture, whether sanctioned or not, within FEMA to politically discriminate against disaster survivors, specifically those who support President-elect Donald Trump.”Man sentenced to death for killing 35 people after driving into a crowd
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Indecisive Legislation
More than 828 million people worldwide suffered from the severe impacts of famine in 2021, with one in ten facing critical situations and struggling to access nutritious food. In this context, the loss and degradation of soil used for crop cultivation exacerbate global hunger, according to the press release of the Food and Agriculture Organization. The growing global population and soil degradation may result in less individual sown acreage by 2025, potentially amounting to just a quarter of the land available in 1960, according to the United Nations FAO. This highlights the critical role soil plays in the agricultural sector to ensure a steady food supply for the world. Although agricultural technologies are improving, excessive use of chemicals is degrading the soil layer, leading to the loss of arable land and deforestation. Additionally, the process of global warming is further degrading fertile soil. To date, 33 per cent of the world’s soil has been deteriorating. Scientists have warned that if countries do not take action to conserve soil layers in time, the world will face food shortages, which could lead to significant social problems. Myanmar is facing deforestation, unregulated mining practices, and unsystematic slash-and-burn methods, all of which contribute to soil erosion. Natural disasters, such as flooding and landslides, also cause significant soil loss. While humans cannot fully prevent the impacts of these disasters, storms and floods exacerbate the destruction of soil layers. Soil erosion is primarily caused by torrential rains and the rapid flow of water in creeks and rivers. Steep slopes can accelerate the movement of water from hilly areas to the plains, leading to the erosion of soil layers. As a result, the quality of soil declines, reducing fertile land available for crop cultivation. This can lead to food shortages and reliance on low-quality food. Additionally, soil erosion may contribute to desertification, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity. These environmental challenges can further worsen the socioeconomic conditions of affected communities. Everyone should recognize that the soil layer is an invaluable natural resource for society, essential in producing agricultural food. Healthy soil is the lifeblood of the Earth. Scientists have stated that it takes more than 500 years to form just one inch of soil. Therefore, all countries worldwide must implement effective policies to prevent soil degradation as a crucial strategy. Only when people round the world prioritize soil protection will the loss of arable land for food production be halted.Instagram is allowing creators to test their reel ideas on new audiences before sharing them with followers. Trial reels will be shown to non-followers first, providing engagement data, including views, likes, comments, and shares, approximately 24 hours after publishing to help creators determine whether it’s worth sharing with people following their account. The feature aims to help users try out new ideas and expand their audiences without negatively impacting their established following on the platform, which may be useful for creators who feel chained to a particular style of content. Instagram will provide insights that monitor how trials are performing compared to previous trials that the user has shared. Creators can choose to share the trial reel with their followers if it’s performing well or set Instagram to automatically share it based on the views it receives within the first 72 hours. “We often hear from creators that they feel nervous about posting too much to their audience or trying out new content that’s outside of their niche on Instagram, for fear of it not resonating with their followers,” Instagram said in its announcement. “Now, if you want to try out a new genre, storytelling format or topic, you can easily get a gut check on how your content might perform.” Trial reels are rolling out starting today and will be globally available to “all eligible creators in the coming weeks,” according to Instagram. As described on a support page, the feature is enabled via a “Trial” toggle before publishing a regular reel, and will appear alongside a user's drafts once live. Only the creator can see that the reel is a trial, and it won’t appear on their main grid or reels tab, or in the feeds or reels tabs of their followers.
Raiders find winning formula again in topping SaintsAmid growing instability and uncertainty in the world, China and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to pragmatic cooperation and enhanced multilateral coordination to benefit the people of both countries while contributing to regional and global peace, stability and development. When Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday in Beijing, the two diplomats underscored the strength and resilience of the bilateral ties and pledged to make concerted efforts to navigate regional and global challenges. The two-day visit, which began on Friday, was the first for Araghchi since he took office in August. Araghchi was also the first official of the new Iranian government, which was established in July, to come to China. Regarding the Middle East, China and Iran have agreed that the region belongs to its people and should not serve as a battleground for major powers' rivalry or fall victim to geopolitical competition and conflicts among countries outside the region. "The international community must respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate concerns of nations in the Middle East," Wang said, urging countries to honor the choices of the people in the region while respecting their rich historical and cultural traditions. Wang expressed hope that all parties could contribute constructively to peace and stability in the Middle East, rather than point fingers or arbitrarily impose sanctions, exert pressure, instigate confrontation or resort to force. The two foreign ministers also emphasized the need to address the Palestinian question by respecting and restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and ending the occupation. They also stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire, full troop withdrawal and emergency humanitarian assistance to transform the region from chaos to order. Regarding Syria, both countries reiterated that Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected, calling for joint promotion of combating terrorism, advancing reconciliation and facilitating the humanitarian process. Li Shaoxian, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, said: "Intervention by major powers looms large behind the Gaza conflict and drastic change in Syria, which touch the nerves of the international community. China reiterating its support for Middle East countries in rejecting external interference demonstrates its crucial role in upholding justice in international affairs." On the Iran nuclear issue, Wang reiterated China's advocacy of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and resuming negotiations with a constructive approach, saying that Beijing opposes sanctions and coercion, and supports Iran in defending its legitimate rights and interests. Araghchi acknowledged China's vital contribution to facilitating and preserving the JCPOA, saying that Teheran will maintain close communication with Beijing. Developing and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China remains a priority in Iran's foreign policy, he said, pledging the country's staunch support for China's positions on its core interests. In a signed article by Araghchi that was published by People's Daily on Friday, the Iranian foreign minister said that cooperation between the two ancient civilizations in Asia has withstood the test of time. He also highlighted the importance of the visit in shaping the "next golden 50 years" of strategic cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to advance the implementation of a comprehensive cooperation plan signed in March 2021. China has remained Iran's largest trading partner for many years and has become an important export market for Iranian products. The two countries have inked multiple agreements and deepened Belt and Road cooperation. Li, from the China-Arab Research Institute, said that "the long-standing partnership between China and Iran enjoys a solid foundation, and the two nations have maintained close dialogue over the years on various issues to address shared concerns". Furthermore, it is imperative for the two nations to reinforce cooperation amid escalating tensions in the region and numerous international challenges, Li said. Experts noted that Iran and China share common interests and concerns, not only at the bilateral and regional levels, but also on trans-regional and international platforms, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, of which both countries are member states. During the talks, the two sides vowed to further strengthen collaboration within the SCO and BRICS to uphold common interests. China has assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO, which Araghchi said in the article will open new opportunities for collective cooperation. He added that the two countries will work with other Global South nations and stand on the right side of history to resist unilateralism and bullying.