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The renewable revolution runs on lithium. The metal is a key component in the batteries that power electric vehicles and store energy to stabilize electric grids as the makeup of global energy mixes increasingly relies on variable energy sources like wind and solar power. But while lithium has, in many ways, become synonymous with “clean energy” extraction of the metal is associated with a , not to mention sticky geopolitics. For these overlapping reasons, researchers have been looking into ways to move away from lithium, and a group of scientists at UNSW Sydney may have just made a major breakthrough. Their experimental battery model uses protons instead of lithium, using a novel organic material called tetraamino-benzoquinone (TABQ). The material facilitates the rapid movement of protons, which power the battery. “The battery offers quick energy storage, extended cycle life, and efficient operation even in sub-zero temperatures,” Interesting Engineering . “This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize energy storage, particularly for applications such as grid-scale storage and electric vehicles,” the article continues. If these batteries could be employed at a commercial scale, it could have sweeping benefits for clean energy supply chains as well as for the communities and ecosystems where lithium is produced. Currently, lithium production is all-but monopolized by China, creating major risks for the global economy on top of localized risks associated with its extraction. “China controls the vast majority of refining capacity for rare earth and lithium, which is used for ma king batteries. China needs these minerals to feed its expanding new energy vehicle (NEV) sector,” says Beatrix Keim, director of Germany-based Center Automotive Research. Lithium extraction is typically extremely water-intensive, which poses a major problem in the desert environments where it is frequently found. According to a 2018 report from WIRED magazine, extracting a single ton of lithium requires approximately . This kind of demand poses a direct threat to other water users in places such as South America’s so-called ‘lithium triangle,’ which overlaps with the Atacama, the world’s driest desert. What’s more, lithium extraction through the use of brine ponds – a common method – poses a further potential threat of contaminating existing, precious freshwater reserves. Water concerns are not the only environmental issue associated with lithium production. The chemicals involved in the metal’s extraction are extremely toxic. "The release of such chemicals through leeching [sic], spills or air emissions can harm communities, ecosystems and food production," a report from international environment activism group Friends of the Earth reports. "Moreover, lithium extraction inevitably harms the soil and also causes air contamination." Due to these issues, the expansion of lithium extraction in the salt flats of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile is a . Innovating away from the use of lithium in clean energy supply chains and manufacturing could be a critical solution to these issues, as well as larger market threats. Currently, the world is largely reliant on China for its lithium, posing serious problems for a free market as well as national security for any nation that is not in Beijing’s good graces. Already, China has been of overproducing lithium to flood the market and shut out any would-be competitors, giving them undue control over pricing and supply. The United States sees this as a major threat to national security, but its policies have to correct the issue. China has already moved to limit exports of certain rare earth minerals to the United States, and they are likely to double down on similar policies under the impending Trump presidential term. Diversifying supply chains away from Chinese monopoly is therefore more important and urgent than ever. While policy remains a murky area, scientific breakthroughs in non-lithium battery technologies could be our saving grace. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.comTrump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row
Africa needs nuclear energy for sustainable development, a UN official has said at a ministerial round table themed “Financing Africa’s Nuclear Energy Future” in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Claver Gatete on Monday highlighted Africa’s role as a global leader in uranium production, with Namibia and Niger ranked among the top five contributors. “Africa is a key player in uranium production. It’s crucial to bridge the energy gap and meet rising demands with clean, low-emission nuclear technology,” he said. According to Gatete, the African continent remains the world’s least electrified region, with nearly 600 million people lacking access to electricity while nuclear energy has the potential to become a “game-changer for Africa’s energy transition.” Noting that about 64 reactors are under construction in 15 countries globally, he added that African nations “are beginning to commit to nuclear energy development, and this trend is promising for the continent’s energy future.” Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda’s minister of infrastructure, emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to address Africa’s energy challenges. “Rwanda is committed to nuclear energy development, and we believe a sustainable and financially viable nuclear energy strategy is essential for securing Africa’s energy future,” Gasore said. Held from Monday to Tuesday, the ministerial conference attracted high-level government officials, private sector representatives, and energy experts from across Africa and beyond. Participants explored ways to unlock the financing necessary for nuclear energy projects, ensuring the continent can meet its growing energy demands while contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
Chinese VP meets Vietnamese deputy PM, vowing to maintain strategic communication
CHICAGO — In the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a self-defense kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm. It’s a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump ’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice” at women online and on college campuses. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. “The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad,” said Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin. “Women want and deserve to feel safe.” Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank focusing on polarization and extremism, said she had seen a “very large uptick in a number of types of misogynistic rhetoric immediately after the election,” including some “extremely violent misogyny.” “I think many progressive women have been shocked by how quickly and aggressively this rhetoric has gained traction,” she said. The phrase “Your body, my choice” has been largely attributed to a post on the social platform X from Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust-denying white nationalist and far-right internet personality who dined at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida two years ago. In statements responding to criticism of that event, Trump said he had “never met and knew nothing about” Fuentes before he arrived. Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law, said the phrase transforms the iconic abortion rights slogan into an attack on women’s right to autonomy and a personal threat. “The implication is that men should have control over or access to sex with women,” said Ziegler, a reproductive rights expert. Fuentes' post had 35 million views on X within 24 hours, according to a report by Frances-Wright's think tank, and the phrase spread rapidly to other social media platforms. Women on TikTok have reported seeing it inundate their comment sections. The slogan also has made its way offline with boys chanting it in middle schools or men directing it at women on college campuses, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue report and social media reports. One mother said her daughter heard the phrase on her college campus three times, the report said . School districts in Wisconsin and Minnesota have sent notices about the language to parents. T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase were pulled off Amazon. Perez said she has seen men respond to shared Snapchat stories for their college class with “Your body, my choice.” “It makes me feel disgusted and infringed upon,” she said. “... It feels like going backwards.” Misogynistic attacks have been part of the social media landscape for years. But Frances-Wright and others who track online extremism and disinformation said language glorifying violence against women or celebrating the possibility of their rights being stripped away has spiked since the election. Online declarations for women to “Get back in the kitchen” or to “Repeal the 19th,” a reference to the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote, have spread rapidly. In the days surrounding the election, the extremism think tank found that the top 10 posts on X calling for repeal of the 19th Amendment received more than 4 million views collectively. A man holding a sign with the words “Women Are Property” sparked an outcry at Texas State University . The man was not a student, faculty or staff, and was escorted off campus, according to the university’s president . The university is “exploring potential legal responses,” he said. Anonymous rape threats have been left on the TikTok videos of women denouncing the election results. And on the far-flung reaches of the web, 4chan forums have called for “rape squads” and the adoption of policies in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian book and TV series depicting the dehumanization and brutalization of women. “What was scary here was how quickly this also manifested in offline threats,” Frances-Wright said, emphasizing that online discourse can have real-world impacts. Previous violent rhetoric on 4chan has been connected to racially motivated and antisemitic attacks, including a 2022 shooting by a white supremacist in Buffalo that killed 10 people . Anti-Asian hate incidents also rose as politicians, including Trump , used words such as “Chinese virus” to describe the COVID-19 pandemic. And Trump’s language targeting Muslims and immigrants in his first campaign correlated with spikes in hate speech and attacks on these groups, Frances-Wright said. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported similar rhetoric, with “numerous violent misogynistic trends” gaining traction on right-wing platforms such 4chan and spreading to more mainstream ones such as X since the election. Throughout the presidential race, Trump’s campaign leaned on conservative podcasts and tailored messaging toward disaffected young men . As Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention over the summer, the song “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown blared from the speakers. One of several factors to his success this election was modestly boosting his support among men , a shift concentrated among younger voters, according to AP VoteCast, survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. But Trump also won support from 44% of women age 18 to 44, according to AP VoteCast. To some men, Trump's return to the White House is seen as a vindication, gender and politics experts said. For many young women, the election felt like a referendum on women’s rights and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ’ loss felt like a rejection of their own rights and autonomy. “For some of these men, Trump’s victory represents a chance to reclaim a place in society that they think they are losing around these traditional gender roles,” Frances-Wright said. None of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump or anyone in his immediate orbit. But Trump has a long history of insulting women , and the spike in such language comes after he ran a campaign that was centered on masculinity and repeatedly attacked Harris over her race and gender . His allies and surrogates also used misogynistic language about Harris throughout the campaign. “With Trump’s victory, many of these men felt like they were heard, they were victorious. They feel that they have potentially a supporter in the White House,” said Dana Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. Brown said some young men feel they’re victims of discrimination and have expressed mounting resentment for successes of the women’s rights movement, including #MeToo . The tension also has been influenced by socioeconomic struggles. As women become the majority on college campuses and many professional industries see increasing gender diversity, it has “led to young men scapegoating women and girls, falsely claiming it’s their fault they’re not getting into college anymore as opposed to looking inward,” Brown said. Perez, the political science student, said she and her sister have been leaning on each other, their mother and other women in their lives to feel safer amid the online vitriol. They text each other to make sure they got home safely. They have girls' nights to celebrate wins, including a female majority in student government at their campus in the University of Wisconsin system. “I want to encourage my friends and the women in my life to use their voices to call out this rhetoric and to not let fear take over,” she said.WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department's efforts to curb China's and Russia's access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a report published Wednesday by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia ability to access U.S.-made chips after Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The agency's Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce's export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government . President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle parts of the federal government. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. “While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be "better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.” In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee's findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments “missed clear warning signs” that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal wrote. It's not just Texas Instruments that's the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce's export control enforcement. The agency's current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities. Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department’s efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a report published Wednesday by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia ability to access U.S.-made chips after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The agency’s Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce’s export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government . President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle parts of the federal government. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. “While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be “better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.” In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee’s findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments “missed clear warning signs” that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal wrote. It’s not just Texas Instruments that’s the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce’s export control enforcement. The agency’s current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities. ___ Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- VIQ Solutions Inc. (“ VIQ ”, “ VIQ Solutions ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX: VQS), a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services, today announces the retirement of Susan Sumner as Chief Operating Officer and President of the Company. Ms. Sumner will continue as a part-time advisor to the Company until January 31, 2025. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Sumner has informed the Company that she will resign from her director position on the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) as of January 31, 2025. Ms. Sumner has served as Chief Operating Officer of VIQ since July 2018, President of VIQ since February 2021, and has been a member of the Board since April 2022. Sebastien Pare, Chief Executive Officer and Director of VIQ stated: “It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with Susan over the last number of years. Over the years, Susan has offered a lot of time, effort and encouragement while performing her roles at the Company and has been part of moving VIQ forward throughout her time with us. All of us at VIQ thank Susan for her contributions to our success over the years.” For more information about VIQ, please visit viqsolutions.com . About VIQ Solutions VIQ Solutions is a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services. VIQ offers a seamless, comprehensive solution suite that delivers intelligent automation, enhanced with human review, to drive transformation in the way content is captured, secured, and repurposed into actionable information. The cyber-secure, AI technology and services platform are implemented in the most rigid security environments including criminal justice, legal, insurance, government, corporate finance, media, and transcription service provider markets, enabling them to improve the quality and accessibility of evidence, to easily identify predictive insights and to achieve digital transformation faster and at a lower cost. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) under applicable securities legislation. Such forward- looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements (typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur). These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements with respect to finding a replacement for Susan Sumner. Forward-looking statements are based on several factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although VIQ believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because VIQ can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s annual information form and in the Company’s other materials filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. Such estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect or overstated. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to update or alter such statements, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210682802/en/ CONTACT: Jacob Manning VIQ Solutions Email:marketing@viqsolutions.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SECURITY DATA MANAGEMENT LEGAL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING TECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO CONSULTING ADVERTISING COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE NETWORKS SOURCE: VIQ Solutions Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/10/2024 05:30 PM/DISC: 12/10/2024 05:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210682802/en
Penn State rolls past Maryland, clinches berth in Big Ten title game
Pandi, Bulacan Mayor Enrico Roque —Photo from the Municipality of Pandi FB page PANDI, BULACAN — A Caloocan City court has suspended for 30 days the trial of Pandi, Bulacan Mayor Enrico Roque, municipal councilor Jonjon Roxas and driver Roel Raymundo who are facing two counts of rape pending the results of a reinvestigation being conducted by the city prosecutor’s office. Judge Rowena Alejandra of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 121 handed down the order on Monday as she granted the motion of the accused to quash the arrest warrant against them, leading to their release. READ: Pandi, Bulacan mayor, 2 others nabbed for rape At the same time, she directed the prosecutor’s office to submit its reinvestigation findings within 30 days. In her order, Alejandra sided with the accused who had claimed that their constitutional rights, including their right to due process, were violated. They said they were not informed of the facts and circumstances of the charges against them, adding that they were not properly notified of the proceedings. The accused also denied being residents of Caloocan City, which they said invalidated the serving of subpoenas against them. Roque reiterated that he has no house in Caloocan as he denied the alleged rape victim’s claim that she was abused in his supposed house on Langit Road, Bagong Silang, in the city. In her order, the judge noted the lack of evidence proving that subpoenas were served to the accused at their known addresses. “It shows that accused-movants were not duly notified of the proceedings. The records [are] bereft of any evidence showing even an attempt to have the subpoena dated April 29, 2019, served to the known address of the accused-movants as supplied by the private complainant,” Alejandra said. “This is evidenced by the absence of any return or transmittal. In the absence of such proof, this court finds the accused-movants were not given an opportunity to be heard.” Prosecutors had filed two counts of rape against the three men who, according to the victim, raped her on April 6, 2019, when she was still a minor. She filed a complaint with the police four days later. Roque said the accusation was politically motivated and meant to tarnish his reputation as he was running for a third term next year. He also denied the complainant was a minor, calling her complaint “purely lies and a made-up story.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Upon his release from the Northern Police District detention facility, Roque returned to Pandi where he was met by supporters at the municipal hall grounds.Diamcor and Tiffany & Co. Canada Sign Agreement to Amend Outstanding Loans
Startled, large flocks of pheasants burst into flight, exploding with colorful fuss and flutter from thickets of wild grass and fallen leaves. But this was decades ago, when California’s autumnal landscape was a mosaic of fallowed fields, diverse crops and weedy stubble – and the handsome birds were abundant, including in the Bay Area. Now the inconceivable is happening: Pheasants are vanishing. To understand why, the state’s wildlife biologists are taking tiny tissue samples from the tongues of hunted birds in California wildlands, hoping that a map of the species’ genetic diversity will help explain their loss, and suggest a solution. Birds will be sampled at seven different refuges over the weekend. Since November 2023, the scientific team has collected an estimated 330 to 350 samples; when the study wraps up after pheasant hunting season ends on Dec. 22, it hopes to have a total of 400 samples. Increasingly isolated from each other due to fragmented habitats, the birds may be suffering from dangerous inbreeding. Or perhaps wild birds are breeding with weaker farm-raised and released birds, creating less resilient offspring. Prized game animals, “they were so common at one time, and part of a longstanding traditional hunting heritage in California,” said Ian A. Dwight, principal investigator at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife . The research may inform future survival strategies, such as moving wild pheasants from one part of the state to another to increase genetic mixing. The state is also providing incentives to private landowners to improve the birds’ habitat. Their loss is part of a larger emptying out of our skies. Nearly one-third of wild birds in the United States and Canada have vanished since 1970, according to a comprehensive study in the journal Science by a team of scientists from seven research institutions in the United States and Canada. To study the pheasants, the wildlife department is sending staff to hunting “check stations” in the most rural swaths of the state, where game is inspected. A small tissue sample — the size of a pencil eraser — is cut from each bird’s pale red tongue, a muscle that is rich with genetic material. This does not harm the meat or feathers, which are of interest to hunters. The sample is placed in a protective vial and stored at a CDFW facility to be later shipped to the University of Nebraska lab of Robert Wilson, an expert in the genetics of game birds. Analyses will show whether the birds have long stretches of DNA where both copies of a gene are identical, indicating that they share a recent ancestor and are inbred. Gene variation is critical to a species’ healthy reproduction and immunity to disease. The study could also reveal to what degree, if any, birds are the offspring of domestic and wild mixing. Last autumn, the wildlife department collected tongue samples from pheasants at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Suisun City and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in Davis. This year, it is collecting samples at Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, Honey Lake Wildlife Area, Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, North Grasslands Wildlife Area and the Delevan, Sacramento and Tule Lake national wildlife refuges. Pheasants are popular game birds because their meat has a richer and more wild flavor than chicken but is less “gamey” tasting than duck. Naturalists love their iridescent plumage. “They are a delight for the eyes,” said Kirsten Holmquist of Sunnyvale, who in 2023 spotted a male bird posing on the side of a levee at the Sunnyvale Baylands. “The male has such a rich profusion of color. The female has a lovely complex pattern.” Native to China, pheasants were imported in the late 1800s by the then-California Fish Commission. By 1912, the species was well-established in alfalfa fields and pastures of California, including Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Historical records describe a massive flock of 150 birds near Morgan Hill and a smaller flock between Berryessa and Milpitas, according to William Bousman of the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance. Even as orchards replaced grain fields, there remained ample habitat, writes Bousman. The population of the species, which is related to other game birds like wild turkey and California quail, likely peaked from the 1930s to 1950s. Then housing and light industry began to replace agriculture. Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey shows that the number of pheasants in California has plunged by 94% since 1966, according to wildlife biologist Scott Taylor of Pheasants Forever Inc. Even in the early 1980s, “the birds were quite common in the Palo Alto Baylands, Sunnyvale ponds and other bayfront areas that were less travelled and grassy,” said Bird Alliance director Matthew Dodder. “Since then, they have had a steady decline.” Surviving birds can sometimes be spotted in some of the seasonal wetlands and grasslands of the San Francisco Bay Area, such as Harvey Marsh in Sunnyvale Baylands Park, East Palo Alto’s Ravenswood Preserve, Fremont’s Coyote Hills Regional Park and along eastern Contra Costa County’s Suisun Bay. What happened? In addition to urbanization, widespread stocking of the birds for hunting has slowed or stopped, said Dodder. And the intensity and efficiency of California agriculture has increased. Farmers no longer let land stand idle, so there’s less brush for birds’ shelter and food. Every pocket of land is put to use, eliminating the hedgerows between parcels, according to a 2016 study by a team led by Peter Coates of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center in Dixon. A diversity of crop types once supported the birds throughout the season. But today’s monoculture farms typically have just one crop per year; in the winter, after harvest, the ground stands bare. Rice is replacing cereal grains like wheat and barley, and pheasants can’t nest in flooded rice fields, according to the study. Increasingly popular nut tree orchards don’t provide a vegetative understory. Finally, our new harvesters are ultra-efficient, so seed isn’t scattered. Modern mowing leaves little stubble. And new state regulations prohibit post-harvest burning, so fields are blanketed with weed-killing herbicide. All of these factors are creating smaller islands of suitable habitat, shrinking and isolating bird populations, Dwight said. Hunting is considered an insignificant factor in reducing numbers, because only males are shot. “Pheasant populations are becoming more and more fragmented,” said Taylor, who is coordinating the National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan , a blueprint for restoring populations. “This kind of research will help us recognize the genetic implications of that process,” he said, “and, hopefully, the landscape conditions that may lead to population-level problems.” Where to find pheasants: If you’re lucky, pheasants can still be spotted in some of the seasonal wetlands and pastures of the San Francisco Bay Area. Hunting is prohibited or highly regulated in these areas. South Bay: Weedy fields along San Felipe Road in Gilroy or Harvey Marsh in Sunnyvale Baylands Park. Contra Costa County: Bay Point Regional Shoreline , Point Pinole Regional Shoreline and Jersey Island and Bethel Island in Oakley. San Mateo County: near Dumbarton Bridge in Ravenswood Preserve . Alameda County: Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont.
NoneHomeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina.
Nominees for Trump's administration continue to make their rounds on Capitol Hill, where they've been holding meetings and courting favor for days. Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to direct the FBI, was in meetings with lawmakers the same day that current Director Chris Wray announced he would resign at the end of President Biden's term. Patel met with Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, on Wednesday. Before the meeting, he told reporters he was ready to begin work immediately if he's confirmed. Wray's departure may make Patel's path to confirmation easier. And some Republican Senators have told Scripps News they see no reason their colleagues would object to Patel's nomination during confirmation hearings. "I think this is a great development," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, told reporters. "I think this is long overdue and much needed. I look forward to confirming his successor." "I don't know what the opposition to Kash Patel really is," Hawley said. "I understand he is a conservative, and I understand my liberal colleagues don't like that. But a conservative just won the election." RELATED STORY | FBI Director Christopher Wray says he will resign at the end of Biden's term Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, continues to meet with lawmakers. There is not as much discussion of potentially replacing Hegseth as the nominee as there was last week. Sen. Susan Collins told reporters on Wednesday that she had asked Hegseth numerous questions about allegations of sexual assault. His comments on Wednesday also suggested his stance on women serving in the military has shifted. Before he was nominated to be secretary of defense, Hegseth made comments on the Shawn Ryan Show Podcast that women do not belong in combat roles. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” he said at the time. On Wednesday, Hegseth told reporters "I look forward to being a leader for every single member of this Pentagon, men and women."
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calgary Health Foundation, a Calgary-based nonprofit which raises money for healthcare excellence, is being forced to adapt during its busiest fundraising period in response to the ongoing Canada Post strike . The Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike, starting one week ago today, means disruptions to mail, including the mailing of the Foundation’s most significant fundraising drive of the year, their ‘More Firsts’ holiday appeal. The appeal, which features the emotional story about the impact Foundation donors have had on one grateful Calgarian, is waiting at Canada Post processing centres to be mailed out to over 40,000 households this season. Sandy, a grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in the appeal, had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. Sandy spent 15 critical days in Rockyview’s Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity. “I almost didn’t make it,” Sandy remembers. “Thankfully, I had an incredible healthcare team looking after me. Caring and concerned community members were a huge part of the reason the team was able to save my life.” Last year, Calgary Health Foundation’s holiday appeal brought in over $250,000, an amount that accounts for a significant portion of its year-end fundraising. Without knowing how long the strike will last or what impact it will have on its operations, the Foundation is preparing for a substantial drop in donations. “As a registered charity committed to championing healthcare in Southern Alberta, we rely on the support of donors to bring to life the projects we commit to. The recent mail interruption limits our donors’ ability to give back to medical innovation and ensure we can continue to offer more healthcare firsts to patients. While this disruption affects traditional ways of giving, we still have many ways for donors to give. We encourage everyone to please call us, visit our website, or reach out for alternative ways to contribute.” Murray Sigler, President & CEO, Calgary Health Foundation. Calgary Health Foundation is currently committed to projects and programs advancing healthcare in the areas of, but not limited to, women’s health initiatives, endoscopic spine and breast cancer surgery, interventional radiology, minimally invasive heart surgery, Parkinson’s disease, Indigenous healthcare, mental health impatient treatment, and eating disorder programming. Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families. Donors can still give the gift of health this holiday season through on-line, phone and in-person donations. Donations received by December 31 st will be issued a 2024 tax receipt. To donate, go to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp . -30- FAST FACTS About Calgary Health Foundation Calgary Health Foundation is a community-based charity raising funds to advance healthcare across our city. We find opportunities to invest in excellence across the entire healthcare system and offer more firsts for care providers and patients, all to enhance outcomes and improve lives . calgaryhealthfoundation.ca How people can give to heath Online donations can be made by going to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp . Phone donations can be made by calling our office at 403-943-0615. In-person donations (by cash or cheque) can be made Monday-Friday between 8:00am-4:00pm at the Calgary Health Foundation head office at 800-11012 Macleod Trail (Southcentre Executive Tower). Alternatively, donors can call Calgary Health Foundation at 403-943-0615 to make alternative arrangements. Attachments Sandy, grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter Canada Post strike threatens to impact healthcare charity, and patients, this holiday seasonJudge dismisses whistleblower lawsuit against Missouri House speaker
Peavy's 24 help Georgetown beat Albany 100-68
EDMONTON - Alberta’s Opposition NDP says the province would become the most corrupt and secretive government in Canada if potential ethics rule changes become law. United Conservative Party legislature committee members are urging the government to exempt most political staffers from being bound by conflict of interest rules. Those rules currently limit how much staffers can accept in the form of gifts and spell out if they need to be reported. NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says if adopted, the proposals would mean no one would know who might be buying the government. He says loosened restrictions made last year already shield the government from being transparent and it would be worse if the new rules went ahead. The push comes after multiple ministers said they accepted hockey playoff tickets from a medical supplier involved in a $70-million deal to purchase medication from Turkey that has yet to be delivered. UCP backbencher Grant Hunter says Alberta is an outlier among the provinces in including senior public servants under ethics rules.Increasing Demand for Electric Vehicles: A Key Driver Transforming the Automotive SoC Market 2024