NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids.
The Atlanta Hawks were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday after a league investigation into star guard Trae Young missing an NBA Cup game two weeks ago. The NBA found the Hawks violated the league's Player Participation Policy when the 26-year-old American missed a November 12 contest at Boston. The probe, which included a review by an independent physician, determined the Hawks held Young out of a game, in which he could have played, under the medical standard clause of the policy, which is aimed at having top NBA talent play in regular-season contests. The Hawks, who beat Boston 117-116, said Young was unavailable due to tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon. Three-time NBA All-Star Young, who has not missed another game this season, has averaged 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and an NBA-best 11.9 assists so far this season. At 7-11, the Hawks are 11th in the Eastern Conference. The NBA also fined Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown $35,000 for aggressively pursuing a referee during his team's 108-103 home loss to Brooklyn on Sunday. The Kings are 8-10, 12th in the Western Conference after dropping four games in a row. js/bsp
By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration. As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information. Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed. Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement. “Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.” Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss. “We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.” “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement. The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed. That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data. Trump’s team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition. The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information. For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts. “The signing of this agreement is good news, and a positive step toward an effective transfer of power,” said Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “This agreement unlocks direct access to information from federal agencies, which is vital for the incoming administration to be ready to govern on Day One and critical to the transition’s success.”The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By and large, the nominees don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: CDC pick Dr. Dave Weldon represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated . Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The man who ended Nadal's career helps the Netherlands beat Germany to reach the Davis Cup final
For many people watching the Davos public programme, it can seem overwhelming. Much like a COP or G20, it can be hard to relate to any tangible outcomes. There are around 300 sessions covering a plethora of topics, from EV supply chains to the global debt burden, and from carbon pricing to reinventing retirement. Accords and initiatives are announced, pledges made, and prognoses given. But it’s what happens during the other 51 weeks of the year that the impact of the meeting and the World Economic Forum gathers speed. Davos, like the Forum itself, is a sum of many parts. It is the hard work of thousands of people year-round – whether they are a business leader advocating for change, a Forum expert managing an initiative or one of the many individuals who make up its communities worldwide and take action locally – that generate the progress that ultimately makes a difference in the world. Many face hurdles made all the more difficult by the current challenging geopolitical and security environment, but they are united in trying their best to deliver change for the better. The Forum seeds hundreds of ongoing initiatives. Some of these remain managed by expert teams in house, others take on a life of their own. One of the best examples of this is Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. What began as an idea to reverse declining immunization rates resulting from unaffordable vaccines, has, 25 years later, become an international network, responsible for vaccinating more than one-half of the world’s children. Davos has witnessed the launch of scores of initiatives in its more than 50-year history. Here are some of the most memorable in recent years – and ones that are already having a sizeable effect. Tackling the issue of unlocking climate finance, GAEA has spent the past year raising awareness of what it describes as the ‘4P approach’ – public, private and philanthropic partnerships. By bringing philanthropy into the more traditional public-private dynamic, not only is this initiative helping give rise to new funding streams, but also a different mindset and type of expertise. Broadly, philanthropies are typically more comfortable with the risk of trialling new ideas and providing seed capital, which offers a good basis on which to then bring in private capital and a public-sector partner to construct the enabling environment. During Davos 2025, the initiative will reach a new milestone with the launch of the GAEA Awards, celebrating the successes of the scheme since its founding. Cybercrime is as ubiquitous as the internet users on which it feeds. A significant problem for those tackling cybercrime is its pervasive, yet disjointed nature. Typically, cybercriminals operate without borders, and yet often, measures to counter them are localized. Out of this problem emerged the Cybercrime Atlas, which as the name suggests, seeks to map the cybercriminal ecosystem. Using open-source research, the Forum’s team is piecing together cybercriminal groups’ activities and structures worldwide, which in turn, makes them easier to disrupt. Decarbonizing the world’s most hard-to-abate sectors is a primary challenge for policy-makers. Without major progress in this area, we will struggle to meet net-zero targets. With this in mind, the Forum helped launch the Mission Possible Partnership, an alliance of climate leaders seeking to supercharge efforts within a decade. The Forum is now one of four partners, the others being the Energy Transitions Commission, RMI and We Mean Business Coalition, offering support to a community that includes the CEOs of carbon-intensive industries, and their financiers, suppliers and customers, to agree ways to decarbonize industry and transport. In the spirit of inventor and businessman, Thomas Edison, the forefather of electric power generation, the EDISON Alliance seeks to provide equitable access to the digital economy. With a focus on education, financial inclusion and health, the Alliance is working with academia, business, civil society and policy-makers to address the challenges of improving access to the internet, making data and smart devices affordable, and facilitating digital literacy. As the name suggests, the goal of this global initiative is to grow, restore and conserve one trillion trees around the world. Activity takes place in many countries, but there is a focus on areas that are home to large percentages of forest, including Canada, Europe, Mexico and the US. Forests are vital to planetary health, helping to sequester carbon, regulate global temperatures, recharge groundwater, and act as flood barriers. The aim is to restore this element of biodiversity, in turn, countering climate change. The workplaces we inhabit and the jobs that we do are changing exponentially in an era defined by the rapid growth and development of emerging technologies. Millions of new opportunities are emerging, but access is unequal and many are finding their livelihoods at risk. Reskilling and upskilling is already invaluable to current and future education and job prospects, and with this in mind, the Reskilling Revolution aims to empower one billion people with better education, skills and with this, economic opportunity, by 2030. Inventors and early-stage entrepreneurs rarely have the finances or business networks to bring their ideas to life, and yet in an era where innovation is essential to tackling climate-related challenges, their potential solutions are vital. UpLink is a platform that seeks to marry eco ideas with support. Innovation challenges are regularly posted, and a team of subject experts, investors and partner organizations assess the viability of these before selecting a number of winning entries. These then appear on UpLink with the ambition to be nurtured into action. Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) are set to represent 90% of the growth in global energy demand by 2035, while hosting the lion’s share of the global population. Yet, to date, they account for less than one-fifth of global clean energy investments. Since its launch in Davos, the Network to Mobilize Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South’s 45+ members, have shed light on 100+ concrete policy interventions, de-risking tools, and finance mechanisms that can help increase capital for clean energy in the Global South. These were compiled in the Playbook of Solutions, launched by the World Economic Forum at the occasion of and as a direct contribution to 2024’s G20 and Clean Energy Ministerial Meetings, in October. Source: World Economic ForumFousheé, Girls Rock! Covers, and More: City Lights for Nov. 27–Dec. 4
HAMILTON, N.Y. (AP) — Dejour Reaves' 20 points helped Iona defeat Colgate 79-73 on Sunday. Reaves also contributed nine rebounds and six steals for the Gaels (4-8, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Yaphet Moundi added 13 points while finishing 6 of 8 from the floor while they also had five rebounds. Adam Njie had 12 points and shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 1 for 4 from the line. The Raiders (3-10) were led in scoring by Nicolas Louis-Jacques, who finished with 27 points. Jalen Cox added 16 points, four assists and two steals for Colgate. Parker Jones also had seven points and two steals. Reaves scored 11 points in the first half for Iona, who led 36-32 at the break. Iona used a 7-0 run in the second half to build an eight-point lead at 43-35 with 16:42 left in the half before finishing off the win. Up next for Iona is a matchup Sunday with Harvard at home. Colgate hosts Army on Thursday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .PITTSBURGH (AP) — Technically, the standings still show the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North. It just doesn't exactly feel that way at the moment. While the Steelers still have everything in front of them even after a 34-17 loss in Baltimore on Saturday in which a pair of Russell Wilson turnovers and a battered defense starting to show signs of wear allowed the Ravens to pull away, the grasp they had on the division two weeks ago is now far more tenuous. There were no excuses offered afterward. Yet there's also no time to pout either. Not with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs visiting Acrisure Stadium on Christmas Day. “The one thing I’m not going to do is keep my head down," Wilson said shortly after a fourth-quarter pick-6 allowed Baltimore to pull away. "I know for us, we got so much great confidence in who we are and what we can do and how we’re going to respond.” If Pittsburgh wants the home playoff game that capturing a division title for the first time since 2020 would provide, it doesn't really have a choice. To do it, the Steelers will likely have to beat the two-time defending Super Bowl champions on three days' rest and then the Bengals in the regular-season finale, not exactly ideal opponents for an injury-marred defense that has given up more than 400 yards in consecutive weeks for the first time since the first three games of the 2019 season. Beating Philadelphia and Baltimore on the road even in the best of times is a tough ask. The Steelers came up empty twice in six days, and while Wilson's turnovers didn’t help, Pittsburgh’s inability to match up with either team in the trenches could be a far bigger problem going forward if it can't find a way to regain the physicality it showed earlier this season. True, the Ravens and Eagles have the two best running games in the league led by backs who are putting together Hall of Fame resumes. Still, every team the Steelers figure to face in the postseason will almost certainly try to follow the blueprint Philadelphia and Baltimore used so effectively. Pittsburgh's truncated schedule — the visit by the Chiefs will be its third game in 11 days — means the tackling issues that have popped up of late will have to be addressed more in theory than in practice. It's a less-than-ideal situation. Yet despite the step or two back recently, the Steelers believe that everything they want to do this season is still in front of them. That's certainly true. Wilson — who knows a thing or two about winning this time of year — remains upbeat. “We can’t let a tough game like this take us into a negative state of mind because there’s a lot more to play for and a lot more we’re searching for, and we can still win the (AFC) North,” he said. "There’s still a lot of opportunity there, too, as well. And so we just got to buckle down and get back to work.” What's working Being disruptive in the red zone. Minkah Fitzpatrick's fourth-quarter pick of Lamar Jackson — his first in 26 games — was the fifth takeaway by the Steelers inside their 20 this season, tied for second most in the NFL. What needs help Just about everything else in the red zone. The Steelers allowed Baltimore to score touchdowns on its first three drives that reached the Pittsburgh 20. The other two ended with Fitzpatrick's interception and a chip-shot field goal by Justin Tucker in the final minutes. Two short touchdown throws from Jackson to tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews bothered Steelers coach Mike Tomlin the most. “It is just too late in the year to have guys running open like that, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. “So we’ve got some work to do this week and try to shore some of that up.” Stock up Calvin Austin III is the only wide receiver who seems capable of being a difference-maker with George Pickens out of the lineup. The 5-foot-9 Austin has nine receptions for 130 yards over the past two games, and while Wilson's fourth down heave to Austin at the goal line in the third quarter fell incomplete, it also symbolized the faith Wilson has in a highly motivated player who thrives on being underestimated. Stock down Complementary football. The Steelers surged to the top of the division by having a team that thrived in all three phases. That hasn't happened of late. The Ravens turned Wilson's fumble into a 96-yard touchdown drive. Fitzpatrick's interception appeared to give the Steelers momentum only to have Wilson give it right back with a poor throw that Marlon Humphrey turned into the clinching score. Injuries Pickens could return from the hamstring injury that has forced him to miss the past three games. Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) could also play after sitting out against Baltimore. The news isn’t as positive for starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip), both of whom left against the Ravens and did not return. Key number 39 — field goals this season by Chris Boswell, five short of the NFL record set by David Akers with San Francisco in 2011. Next steps Try to heal up quickly and beat Mahomes for the first time. The Kansas City star is 3-0 against the Steelers with 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated PressPatralekha Chatterjee | Dirty air could be a blow to India’s $5 trillion dreams
Man City blows 3-goal lead and gets booed by fans in draw with Feyenoord in Champions LeagueAfter delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff
Georgia prison reforms get Senate committee backing
Firefighting foam from last summer’s spill at Brunswick Executive Airport floated on the wind in the days after the discharge. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer This article is the first in a series, A Fire Hose of ‘Forever Chemicals,’ which can be seen in entirety here . The series was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship Program, first appeared on the Maine Morning Star site . During 21 years working as a municipal firefighter, “I had hyper-exposure” to foam, recalled Jim Graves, director of training at the Maine Fire Service Institute. Graves entered the fire service at age 17 and was later sent to “foam firefighting school,” a week-long training in the selection and use of these chemical fire-suppression agents. Fires are classified by the material ignited, and only Class A fires – involving wood, cloth, rubber and some plastics – respond well to water. Class A foam is typically used on structural fires because it penetrates into materials to quell flames quickly. Class B or aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF, called “A triple-F”) targets flammable and combustible fuel fires, which water can spread. A cascading arc of AFFF, formed by mixing a small percentage of concentrate with a high volume of water, can slide quickly across the surface of a fuel spill, creating a thin barrier that effectively deprives flames of oxygen and suppresses fuel vapors. The efficiency of AFFF relies on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a vast class of thousands of synthetic chemicals characterized by nearly unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds. First used in World War II, PFAS were subsequently added to hundreds of types of consumer and industrial products due to the chemicals’ ability to repel water and oil, resist heat, and reduce surface tension. Corporate documents reveal that chemical manufacturers like 3M and DuPont knew a half-century ago that fluorinated chemicals posed serious health risks. PFAS persist indefinitely in the environment and accumulate in bodies–potentially disrupting hormonal, immune and reproductive systems, and increasing the risk of various cancers. AFFF became a staple on military bases in the 1970s, not long after its development by 3M and the U.S. Navy. By 1988, the federal government mandated its use at commercial airports (a stricture that held until May 2023). Use of AFFF foam increased among Maine fire departments in the 1980s and 1990s, with 70% of departments in a recent survey reporting that prior to 2022 they used the foam, at least occasionally, primarily for combustible fuel fires, vehicle fires and routine trainings. Brendan Bullock/Maine Morning Star Some municipal fire departments, particularly those near highways, industry and airports, also kept stocks on hand for vehicular and other fuel fires and for use in periodic training. A recent survey of Maine fire departments (see sidebar) found that 70% used AFFF prior to 2022, at least occasionally, primarily for combustible fuel fires, vehicle fires and routine trainings. When military bases in Maine closed, they gave some AFFF (made to military specifications, high in PFAS) to municipal departments around the state. “Smaller departments always had access to that ‘mil-spec’ foam,” one fire chief observed. AFFF became a staple tool for many departments because it worked remarkably well. “It was a truly amazing chemical engineering accomplishment,” Graves said, “but horrible, as we have now learned.” NOT ‘SAFE AS DISH SOAP’ In 2001, a consultant told a technical committee of the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that the toxicity and persistence of two PFAS compounds that Class B foams can degrade into – PFOA and PFOS – could be a “death warrant.” Manufacturers changed methods to produce PFAS formulations with shorter carbon chains, and marketed those AFFF concentrates to fire departments as a “sustainable substitute.” But over time, many of the newer compounds proved to be just as toxic, and more mobile and persistent in ecosystems. States began to control AFFF use in 2019, and in 2021 Maine banned its manufacture, sale and distribution (temporarily exempting airports and oil terminals), and mandated containment and reporting of any use. Maine also banned AFFF in firefighter training, but through the preceding decades “we trained with foam because it was required,” Graves said, referring to the voluminous standards the NFPA sets for fire departments. “If we had known, we would have stopped using [foam] way earlier.” Firefighters were assured that AFFF was safe as dish soap, and the concentrate looked similar – a pale amber liquid stored in sparsely labeled 5-gallon pails, 50-gallon drums or translucent 250- to 330-gallon totes. The concentrate could become viscous at times, congealing around valves. Graves recalls once having to reach into a tank of AFFF concentrate up to his shoulder to release a clog. Convinced that all firefighting foams were harmless, departments used them – not only at live fires and trainings – but occasionally, when requested, for recreational purposes. Various foams (of unknown class) were spread for birthday parties and at parks for community events so that children could slide and romp in what seemed like a bubble bath run wild. Worker cleaning up foam concentrate from a spill at the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick on Monday, August 19. Ed Friedman/Friends of Merrymeeting Bay Recent research indicates that some legacy PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS may transfer readily into aerosol form. When the State of Michigan tested foam at a highly contaminated lake, it found PFAS levels as high as 220,000 parts per trillion (ppt). Yet little research has been done on health effects from inhaled particles of AFFF, according to a spokesperson for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “For many firefighters, AFFF may be the most significant source of exposure to PFAS,” a working group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the World Health Organization) concluded. In 2023, the IARC classified PFOA as carcinogenic and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Cancer has become the leading cause of death among active firefighters. North America’s largest union of first responders, the International Association of Fire Fighters, reports that in 2023 occupational cancer accounted for 72% of the line-of-duty deaths among its U.S. members. Firefighters are 9% more likely than the general population to develop cancer and 14% more likely to die from it, a federal study found. A fire station sign reads: “You can’t train too hard for a job that can kill you.” Brendan Bullock/Maine Morning Star Through training, appropriate equipment and careful practices, firefighters work to minimize the hazards inherent in fires, smoke and diesel truck fumes. But they were never warned that chemicals in the AFFF spewing out of firehoses and blowing about them like snow could get into nearly all of their organs and remain for years. “It freaks me out so bad that the firefighters of Maine had no clue,” Graves said. “Honestly, I’m scared for a lot of my generation.” He has already lost many firefighter friends to cancer. Colleagues in the fire service share Graves’ sense of being trapped in what he terms a “bad lottery,” expecting not a winning ticket but a devastating illness: “Many of us are sadly waiting for the day that we get a diagnosis.” RISKS OF SCATTERED AFF STOCKS The threats posed by AFFF extend far beyond the fire service. “AFFF is responsible for some of the largest PFAS releases to the environment,” Washington State’s Department of Ecology wrote recently in a 260-page environmental impact statement. “These are also the most complex, costly, and difficult to investigate and remediate.” The longer AFFF concentrate sits at dispersed locations around Maine, Graves said, the greater the likelihood it will get spilled or dumped. Public awareness of that risk rose after a hangar fire suppression system at Brunswick Executive Airport malfunctioned last August, mixing water with roughly 1,450 gallons of PFAS-laden concentrate to fill the massive structure four to five feet deep in foam. That spill, which could affect the community and watershed for generations, was far from anomalous. Brunswick Landing, the converted compound of a former U.S. Navy air station, has had at least a dozen other inadvertent AFFF spills recorded during and after its military use, including another hangar spill in 2019 and a 2012 hangar spill of 2,000 gallons of concentrate discovered by the Brunswick Sewer District. The August 19 AFFF spill at Hangar 4 of Brunswick Executive Airport, the site of a former U.S. Navy air station, was one among at least a dozen other AFFF spills recorded during and after the military’s tenure there. Photo by Martha Spiess For 30 years ending in 1990, the former station hosted fire trainings (many of which likely involved foam discharge), according to an environmental assessment prepared for the Brunswick Armed Forces Reserve Center. The report also noted that “expired AFFF would be discharged to various grassy areas around [the Naval Air Station] from fire vehicles for routine maintenance.” In an assessment of airport fires at Department of Defense facilities nationwide, the U.S. Air Force found that just one fire had occurred over three decades (extinguished by a water deluge system) while chemical foam had discharged accidentally once every two months on average over 15 years, resulting in one death, 21 injuries and more than $24 million in “mishap” costs. Two months prior to the Brunswick accident, 800 gallons of foam concentrate spilled at an Air National Guard facility in South Burlington, Vermont. Fire suppression systems used in oil and gas storage and transport, many of which rely on AFFF, can also malfunction. Rack systems used to transfer oil and gas from storage tanks to trucks have built-in sprinkler systems that are prone to accidents, according to Philip Selberg, chief of the South Portland Fire Department. Oil terminals are subject to Maine’s AFFF law as of January 1, 2025, but to Selberg’s knowledge, only one local terminal has transitioned to a fluorine-free substitute. (That terminal owner, Global Partners, declined Maine Morning Star’s request for an interview.) Awareness of risks associated with AFFF has increased since the state restricted its use in 2021, but deliberate dumping of foam concentrate remains a concern. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has spent several years overseeing the remediation of a site where intentional dumping occurred in 2020. A U.S. Air Force Assessment found that chemical foam systems at military installations discharged accidentally once every two months on average over 15 years, resulting in one death, 21 injuries and more than $24 million in “mishap” costs. Foam from the recent Brunswick spill carried PFAS chemicals into surrounding ecosystems. Photo by Steve Walker During routine well monitoring at a closed demolition debris landfill in Gorham, DEP staff learned that the town’s public works staff had dumped 500 gallons of AFFF concentrate from the fire station into the landfill several months earlier. That discovery led to a protracted investigation and remediation (with costs borne by the municipality), involving multiple environmental assessments and removal of contaminated soil, according to agency records. AFFF can also be deployed inadvertently, due to confusion among firefighters (many of them volunteers) who face a vast and ever-changing array of foam formulations. In New Hampshire, contractors for the state recently identified about 250 AFFF formulations from roughly 40 manufacturers. Maine fire departments received clear guidance not to use AFFF in training and to report its use to the DEP, but they never got instructions on separating AFFF stocks and storing them carefully until they can be collected – to reduce chances of unintended use. Some AFFF containers in Maine far exceed the product’s long shelf life, which ranges from 10 years to 25 years. Plastic drums of PFAS-laden concentrate stored at the Brunswick Executive Airport (as of November 2023) had production dates in the mid- to late 1980s. NOT A SIMPLE SWITCH A wide range of fluorine-free foams (called F3) are now available, and two independent entities have tested some of these products to ensure that they are not – unlike earlier PFAS reformulations – “regrettable substitutions.” Anila Bello, a researcher with the Department of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who surveyed fire-training facilities nationally, has observed how that earlier deception left fire professionals skeptical about current marketing claims. Having been told that shorter-chain PFAS were safe during the foam transition that occurred in the mid-2000s, “[firefighters] are very hesitant transitioning to F3 foam; they want it to be truly safe for human health and for the environment,” she said. “They’re concerned that they’ll be in the same situation 10 or 20 years from now.” A toxicological study of six PFAS-free foams concluded that the new formulations, when compared to earlier products with PFAS, “appear to have a lower likelihood of environmental persistence and bioaccumulation and to have lower oral human health toxicity.” However, the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council cautions that all Class B foams (including F3 ones) can be problematic “if the foam reaches drinking water sources, groundwater [or] surface water” with the potential for “acute aquatic toxicity” and “nutrient loading.” Even fire departments ready to adopt F3 alternatives can be slowed by the costs and the logistical hurdles of selecting appropriate foam, training staff in its use, and purging AFFF from existing equipment so it does not contaminate the new foam. Fire departments ready to adopt F3 alternatives can be slowed by the costs and the logistical hurdles of selecting appropriate foam, training staff in its use, and purging AFFF from existing equipment so it does not contaminate the new foam. Brendan Bullock/Maine Morning Star In South Portland’s case, the needed foam research took considerable time and expense, including sending staff members to different out-of-state product demonstrations to determine which new formulas might work best – knowledge that fire departments can’t derive from “white papers written for chemical engineers,” Selberg said: “It’s a bit of a leap of faith to be sure that what you buy is going to work for you.” The South Portland Fire Department recently settled on a replacement foam that Selberg has confidence in, but now the department needs to coordinate with seven oil terminals, each of which is mandated to keep a reserve of AFFF on-site but all of which rely on the city for fire services. The foam that terminals select for replacements, he said, “needs to be something we as a department are familiar with so if we respond to a facility, we can all work together.” One of the largest concentrations of AFFF still stored in Maine is in South Portland, where seven oil terminals along the Fore River are mandated to keep reserves on hand for the City’s fire department to use. Legislation that prevents oil terminals from purchasing new AFFF takes effect January 1, 2025. Photo by Alex MacLean Once departments acquire F3 foams, they need to rid foam equipment of residual AFFF. That process, typically involving a series of rinses, is complicated by the need to save rinse water for safe disposal (a process outlined in detail by states like Washington and Connecticut). Maine has no central clearinghouse for information on the foam transition so departments like South Portland’s have been fielding frequent calls since the August 19 airport hangar spill. “Brunswick has upped the ante for everybody: I can’t tell you how many calls I’ve gotten from departments wanting to know what to swap, how to swap,” Selberg said. “Suddenly, it’s a big deal. Honestly, it should have been a big deal for us five years ago, right? Until Brunswick happened, we’ve all been sitting around waiting to figure out if someone would take the lead. And sadly, we haven’t.” A MISSED OPPORTUNITY Five years ago, Graves and two dozen other individuals knowledgeable about Class B foam were invited to serve on an AFFF Working Group of the Governor’s PFAS Task Force, which formed to develop a strategic plan for the state’s PFAS response. The working group drafted recommendations, endorsed by the task force and published in January 2020, that could have set Maine on a path toward gathering and securing all remaining AFFF stocks, a step that might have prevented the Brunswick spill. The task force recommended in part “that all fire departments in the State of Maine be required to disclose the type and quantity of current inventory of Class B AFFF,” and that protocols be established for safe storage and routine inspection. It called for a state-level funding mechanism that would allow the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the DEP to “develop and execute a Class B AFFF takeback and/or replacement program that does not financially burden Maine fire departments or their municipalities.” The state-level funding mechanism, a prerequisite for many of the other working group recommendations, was never established. In response to inquiries from Maine Morning Star, spokespersons for MEMA and the DEP indicated that any progress toward an AFFF inventory and takeback (or buyback) program await funding. Even the mandated reporting of AFFF use is in essence “voluntary,” according to DEP spokesperson David Madore, because it was an unfunded initiative. “We do not have the financial resources or staff required to implement the program,” he wrote. Fourteen states have now taken action to limit uses of AFFF, according to the nonprofit Safer States, but few states have created the sort of dedicated revenue source that the Maine task force envisioned. Funded by a tax on tanker fuel transport, Colorado helps fire departments cover foam replacement costs by buying back AFFF at $40/gallon. The tax also supports a grant program that helps public water systems, private well owners and local governments sample waters for PFAS contamination, including those affected by past AFFF use. Connecticut appropriated $3 million to help fire departments transition off fluorinated foams, providing grants for disposal of AFFF concentrate and rinsate from decontaminating trucks and equipment. Manufacturers marketed AFFF to fire departments as being ‘safe as dish soap,’ so firefighters took few precautions handling the concentrate or the foam created when concentrate was mixed with high volumes of water. Brendan Bullock/Maine Morning Star Without a provision to cover municipal costs for foam replacement, budgetary pressures or the Yankee penchant to use things up before acquiring replacements could drive fire departments to retain their remaining AFFF stock. As South Portland has learned, the foam transition entails extensive labor and costs – in research, retraining and equipment cleaning – that extend beyond replacement foam purchases. Asked what the fire department would like going forward, Selberg replied: “The best-case scenario is the State comes in tomorrow and says ‘Inventory what you have, we’ll come down and get it, and we’ll credit you so you can buy what you need. Right now, that burden is going to be on our city to do all those things.” DETERMINING HOW MUCH AFFF IS IN MAINE The AFFF Working Group discovered during its 2019 research that completing a statewide inventory would prove challenging. An initial survey sent to 305 fire departments by the Office of the State Fire Marshal garnered just 61 responses. Among 20 “industry partners” with potential AFFF (like paper mills and oil terminals), eight responded. Incomplete state-level data complicates the work of undertaking an inventory. Maine currently lacks a comprehensive database of all the state’s fire departments, and only 259 out of an estimated 378 departments report to the state. MEMA and staff of the Fire Marshal both informed Maine Morning Star that they have no current contact information for industry partners. As of 2022, the Maine Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan documented more than 19,000 gallons of AFFF stored in just four communities. Former military bases represent another significant source, with an estimated 6,000 gallons of AFFF concentrate at Brunswick Landing alone (although numbers are still in dispute). Factoring in other military sites, airports, helipads, paper mills and fire departments, AFFF accounting becomes speculative. The DEP estimated the total volume statewide in 2022 at 48,000 gallons but that was simply an extrapolation from the limited responses to the AFFF Working Group survey. A recent survey completed by Maine Morning Star, which like the state’s 2019 survey had only a 20 percent response rate, reported roughly 4,000 additional gallons at municipal departments beyond those counted in the oil spill plan. A similar extrapolation, adding in the 25,000 gallons from industry and military sources, would total 45,000 gallons–close to the DEP’s original estimate. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR COLLECTION For Maine to successfully gather back most of the remaining AFFF, it will need an accurate inventory of where the foam concentrate is stored. Achieving a high response rate on an inventory is clearly challenging – but not impossible. North Carolina undertook an AFFF inventory with roughly three times the number of fire departments Maine has (1,217 departments spanning 2,119 sites, when counting multiple stations) and achieved a 100% participation rate. Brian Taylor, the State Fire Marshal, said he knows what Maine is up against, given that his office typically gets a 10% return rate on surveys and both states have a high proportion of departments staffed entirely or mostly by volunteers. In North Carolina, Taylor said, the AFFF inventory was mandated and strongly supported with “boots on the ground” – regional resource people (affiliated with the North Carolina Collaboratory) who could help local departments compile the needed information. The state also has three “foam research analysts” to help gather and manage data, at an annual cost of roughly $300,000, according to Taylor. North Carolina plans to conduct an annual AFFF inventory until all remaining stocks are collected, with about 11% gathered and stored by the State to date). Its foam analysts are also helping gather data for a state investigation of water quality at wells located near fire departments and training areas. To make AFFF reporting easier, Taylor’s office encouraged the development of a new application within a software system already used to report fire incidents by many fire departments nationally. That AFFF management application is now available to any state at no added cost. Use of that reporting software is mandated in North Carolina but remains optional in Maine, according to State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler. It was given to departments in 2014 and 91 percent of reporting departments in the state now use that software, according to the Fire Marshal’s office. GETTING RID OF AFFF Following up on Maine’s AFFF law, the DEP delivered a progress report to the Legislature in March 2022 that identified obstacles to disposing of the foam concentrate stocks. The primary options at that time involved incineration or transport to a hazardous waste dump. Incineration of surplus AFFF by the Department of Defense had already generated PFAS contamination downwind of incinerators, indicating that temperatures in a typical incinerator do not fully break down PFAS (a concern confirmed by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance document last spring). Transporting PFAS out of state to hazardous waste facilities in fenceline communities runs counter to the environmental justice provision Maine must apply in its own siting decisions regarding solid waste facilities. Landfills can contaminate groundwater and surface waters with PFAS from leachate and can emit PFAS in a gaseous form. Since 2022, experimental approaches to break down AFFF into relatively benign elements have advanced, with some methods now being piloted at a commercial scale. Two states, Ohio and New Hampshire, have sent their AFFF stocks to a new plant in Columbus, Ohio that uses superheated water to break apart the strong fluorine-carbon bonds in PFAS, a process known as supercritical water oxidation (SCWO). This highly energy-intensive process is still new and while it doesn’t appear to generate problematic PFAS byproducts, it does produce hydrofluoric acid, which the EPA notes “may require protections for worker health, emission controls, and reactor care.” A 2022 U.S. Government Accountability Office report noted that “maintenance can also be difficult and costly because of the intense heat, pressure and corrosive by-products generated during treatment.” New Hampshire’s contract to dispose of 9,924 gallons of AFFF using SCWO is costing roughly $500,000, according to Andrew Gould of the state’s Department of Environmental Services. Once the material is processed, the state will be provided per-batch confirmation of destruction to help protect the participating fire departments and airports from liability. (PFOS and PFOA are now listed as hazardous waste under the federal “Superfund” law, but the EPA has issued a policy explicitly stating that it does not intend to pursue entities such as fire departments, local airports and water utilities.) In its 2022 report to the Legislature, the DEP indicated that it “does not recommend pursuing long-term consolidated storage of waste AFFF at this time. Until the U.S. EPA provides final guidance on management of this waste stream, the Department recommends ensuring that existing stocks of AFFF are stored safely in place.” Nearly three years later, the EPA appears no closer to issuing final guidance, having just updated its “interim” guidance in April 2024. The August foam spill at Brunswick Landing undercut public confidence that remaining AFFF stocks can or will be “stored safely in place.” By mid-September, Maine Rep. Dan Ankeles (D-Brunswick) had submitted three bill titles to the Legislature, including ones that would mandate and fund both an AFFF inventory and a takeback program. Details are still being finalized in concert with the DEP and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The foam spill at Brunswick Landing last August undercut public confidence in the safety of dispersed storage of AFFF stocks. Photo by Steve Walker Maine could collect AFFF and store it until a thorough analysis of emerging technologies is completed. Now that oil terminals in Maine are becoming subject to the AFFF law, they will be transitioning off fluorinated foams. Staff of the South Portland Fire Department have been meeting with oil terminal representatives and are considering disposal options for the City’s remaining stocks of AFFF. “We don’t have the facilities to keep it other than how we keep it,” Selberg said. The department’s AFFF containers are stored in climate-controlled settings, but they’re not bermed off or protected with secondary containment to catch leaks. Planning for the removal and replacement of 3,000 or so gallons of foam concentrate, he adds, “the logistics and cost of that are pretty burdensome.” The city recently allocated $125,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funds to begin that transition. “I’ve been approached by some of the terminals here about going in with them and getting rid of [AFFF stocks] through one of the waste contractors,” Selberg said, “but I don’t really know where it’s going. So am I just sending it to some poor county in the middle of nowhere and making it their problem?” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
A resolution for progress: focus on what worksKey posts 5.02am Penny Wong responds to ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas leader 4.34am Up to 80,000 non-citizens could be deported under proposed law 4.12am Former treasurers sent in to bat for and against Future Fund changes 3.52am Social media age ban coming ‘as soon as possible’: PM 3.41am ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader 3.32am What’s making news this morning Hide key posts Posts area Latest 1 of 1 Latest posts Latest posts 5.02am Penny Wong responds to ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas leader By Josefine Ganko Foreign Minister Penny Wong has responded to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. “Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law,” Wong wrote in a statement posted to X. “Australia is focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed ceasefire.” 4.55am Employment minister ‘confident’ Woolworths strike will be resolved By Josefine Ganko Supermarket giant Woolworths has told customers it doesn’t expect any “immediate” impact on stock levels at its stores in two states, after a strike by warehouse workers. Up to 1500 unionised workers at three of the retailer’s distribution centres in Victoria and another in NSW walked off the job indefinitely on Thursday. The workers want better pay amid a cost of living crisis and an end to a performance framework the United Workers Union says pushes them to work faster in ways that risk safety. Striking Woolworths workers warn their industrial action could impact supermarket shelves at Christmas. Credit: Louie Douvis With Christmas just over a month away, the union warned the liquor, frozen and refrigerated goods shelves at Woolworth could run bare unless its conditions are met. But Woolworths, and its distributor Primary Connect, said there would be little impact. Employment Minister Murray Watt was asked about the strikes on Seven’s Sunrise, where he said these types of disputes weren’t unusual, and that he was confident the issue would be resolved. “I would encourage, obviously, the parties to keep trying to work it out,” Watt said. “It is in the interests of workers at Woolworths to come to an agreement about the wages, and it is in the interest of Woolworths to make sure operations keep going, not to mention the rest of us who want to keep shopping at Woolworths.” With AAP 4.34am Up to 80,000 non-citizens could be deported under proposed law Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries under the Albanese government’s plan to pay countries to accept its deported non-citizens, as legal experts criticise the bill. The Albanese government has not detailed which countries it has been in discussions with, in a bill that passed the House of Representatives and was examined in a Senate inquiry on Thursday. At the inquiry, several human rights and legal groups, including the Law Council of Australia, slammed the sweeping powers. Greens senator David Shoebridge questioned how many non-citizens could be deported under the bill at a senate inquiry on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen “Detaining individuals pre-emptively [in Australia or overseas] to prevent them from committing future crimes must not become normalised in an otherwise free and liberal society,” council president Greg McIntyre told the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation committee. The proposed amendments to the Migration Act seek to deport non-citizens, including not just those convicted of crimes, and to pay those third countries for their part in the removal regime. It would also grant extensive immunity to government officials and those in third countries involved with the removals as well as reversing protection findings for refugees. Loading Greens senator David Shoebridge pushed Department of Home Affairs officials to clarify which categories of visa holders who were not citizens would be affected. They said that 4452 people on Bridging Visa E, 986 in immigration detention, 193 in community detention, 246 on Bridging Visa R from the NZYQ cohort, a further 96 individuals also on the same visa and potentially “a fluid cohort” of up to 75,400 people could be included. Earlier in the hearing, former Manus Island detainee and award-winning Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani said the proposed bill was draconian, citing his personal experience being detained in Papua New Guinea. He pleaded with the senators to vote down the bill: “What Australia has done is to banish refugees to be out of sight and out of mind.” AAP Advertisement 4.12am Former treasurers sent in to bat for and against Future Fund changes By Josefine Ganko and Shane Wright Former treasurer Peter Costello has rounded on Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ plan to have the $230 billion Future Fund favour investment in housing, renewable energy and cybersecurity infrastructure, labelling it a “very bad” idea that would ultimately hurt taxpayers. Costello, who created the fund in 2006 and served as its chairman until this year, said the proposal – which the Coalition has vowed to overturn if it wins office – would reduce international respect for the fund. In an opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review , Costello said Labor never raised the proposal with him during his decade as the chair of the fund’s board and that if they had, he “would not have agreed to it”. “A key reason why [the Future Fund] has done so well is because of its independence from government,” Costello wrote. Loading Meanwhile, in comments given to The Australian, former prime minister John Howard says the changes are “fiscal vandalism with a great dollop of hypocrisy”. But coming in to defend the government was another former treasurer, ALP president Wayne Swan, who questioned “how desperate” the Liberal Party is to “drag out” Howard and Costello. “The fact is, the government has not changed the mandated investment return at all. And that is the critical point,” Swan told Nine’s Today. “I think Australians want their money invested in this country if they can get the required return. What’s wrong with saying that there are some national priorities? “This is just absurd political criticism in the lead-up to the next election. Nothing more, nothing less.” 3.52am Social media age ban coming ‘as soon as possible’: PM Popular social media platforms Tiktok, Snapchat and Instagram are among the sites that will have to ban children younger than 16, with reforms likely to pass parliament by the end of the fortnight. Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced world-first legislation to the House of Representatives on Thursday, saying it would make the online environment safer for young people. TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) will have to impose age limitations on users. But Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom and YouTube are expected to be classified as “out-of-scope services”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government wanted this “action to happen as soon as possible”, as the opposition confirmed it would work constructively to see the bill passed next week. Concerns with the speed at which the bill is slated to pass through the parliament have been raised, with only 24 hours allowed for submissions to a Senate enquiry initiated on Thursday. It will report its findings on Tuesday. Advocacy groups, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, have come out against the ban. The AHRC said it would likely have negative human rights impacts on young people: “If there are less restrictive options available to achieve the aim of protecting children from harm, they should be preferred over a blanket ban.” Companies that breach the minimum age obligation will face fines of up to $49.5 million. Under the draft laws, the onus will be on social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children younger than 16 from having accounts. There will be a minimum lead-in period of 12 months before the ban is activated. Parents will not be able to give consent for their children to use social media, and users will not be required to hand over sensitive ID documents to platforms. Australia would be the first country to have an age ban on social media. Age verification trials are underway to determine how the ban will be enforced. AAP with Josefine Ganko 3.41am ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”. Read the full story here. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Credit: AP Reuters Advertisement 3.32am What’s making news this morning By Josefine Ganko Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. As always, my name is Josefine Ganko, and I’m here to guide you through the news as it develops through the first half of the day. It’s Friday, November 22. There’s been plenty of international news overnight, so here’s what you might have missed. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Far-right Republican Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his bid to become Donald Trump’s attorney-general amid ongoing revelations of alleged sexual misconduct involving an underage girl. A British woman has become the fifth victim of a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos after Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones died on Thursday. In Australia, Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan dined with education and migration agents at a breakfast to discuss immigration issues the day before sinking Labor’s bill to crack down on private colleges and education providers. The major parties are preparing their campaign war rooms , as Labor MPs in Canberra are speculating about an election being called for March. Latest 1 of 1 Latest Most Viewed in National Loading
2,306 Shares in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) Acquired by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.Shoppers at the Wood Village Walmart in Oregon, hoping to find groceries or holiday gifts, also learned that employees could soon be wearing body cameras. “I think if it helps with theft, then that makes sense. It wouldn’t bother me if they were wearing them,” shopper Jennifer Robinson said. The nation’s largest retailer is currently testing the technology at one store in Texas, and it could soon be seen in Walmart stores across the Pacific Northwest. “The retail industry continues to contend with increasing levels of shoplifting and violence, often due to the involvement of organized retail crime groups,” said David Johnston with the National Retail Federation. Walmart is not saying much except: “This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any long-term decision.” CNBC reported that a company document instructs employees to “record an event if an interaction with a customer is escalating.” Earlier this year, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls began equipping some of their workers with body cameras. “Retailers have implemented a number of safety and security measures, including adding or increasing uniform security or law enforcement presence in stores,” Johnston added. Many stores are also locking up products that require a clerk to open shelves. Retailers reported a 93% increase in shoplifting incidents last year compared to before the pandemic, costing them more than $121 billion. Back in Wood Village, Alice Bailey hopes body cameras will improve the customer experience. “It kind of makes sense — so they can keep an eye on things because the people that are shoplifting and taking things, that’s trickling down to the people that’s actually paying for the stuff,” she said. “It’s always good to try something because everything else is not working.” Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.( MENAFN - PR Newswire) NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumary, an innovator in smart lighting and smart home technology, will make its in-person debut at CES 2025, showcasing its creative products: the Permanent Outdoor Light Max, UFO High Bay Light, and the Next-Generation 4-Zone Solar Watering Timer. These industry-first products, developed based on market demand forecasts, mark Lumary's entry into various segments of the smart home industry. During the event, Lumary will exhibit at the Lumary CES Experience Center, located at Booth #40548 in the South Hall 3. The Redesigned Permanent Outdoor Light Max Simplifies Installation and Enhances Nighttime Illumination. Following the success of Lumary's first-generation permanent outdoor light on Amazon in 2023, Lumary developed the new permanent outdoor light max based on user feedback. The latest model features a split design, innovatively separating the base from the light body. Installation is as simple as securing the base under the eaves and sliding the light body into place. Additionally, the LED beads have been upgraded, with reduced spacing between them, resulting in significantly increased brightness and a more vibrant decorative ambiance at night. Industry-First Smart UFO High Bay Light : Simplifying Complex Wiring and Enabling Group Control for Workspaces Lumary introduces the concept of smart lighting to traditional UFO high bay light, addressing the challenges of complex wiring and lack of centralized control in workspaces like garages, workshops, warehouses, and barns. With the Lumary App and remote control, users can easily configure and flexibly group lights, allowing groupings to be customized, split, or reorganized based on different task requirements. Equipped with a three-level motion sensor, the product enhances workspace safety while optimizing energy and time savings. The sensor detects motion up to 60 feet away, eliminating the need for manual switches, and offers adjustable illumination times ranging from 5 seconds to 60 minutes. Industry-First Four-Zone Solar-Powered Smart Watering Timer: Revolutionizing Home Garden Watering Following the launch of its first battery-powered smart irrigation system in April 2024, Lumary has further enhanced the user experience with the introduction of a Wi-Fi direct connection version, eliminating the need for a Bluetooth gateway. The new Wi-Fi module features low-power design, with energy consumption as low as 400μA/h. The system is equipped with an adjustable solar panel and two 4V 550F super capacitors, significantly extending its battery life (with a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours). Additionally, a highly requested water usage monitoring feature has been added, offering more intelligent management for home garden irrigation. CES Showcase At Lumary's booth (#40548), CES attendees will have the opportunity to experience the latest smart lighting and smart home products from Lumary. They will also have the chance to engage with Lumary's team to discuss how the brand has evolved to meet the growing demands of smart living enthusiasts. About Lumary Lumary is a leading brand in premium smart lighting and smart home solutions. Driven by technology and focused on customer experience, we seamlessly combine cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design. Our products are compatible with voice assistants and mobile apps, offering a convenient, efficient, and exceptional user experience. Contact Us Lumary PR Team Learn More Visit Us at CES 2025 See how Lumary is transforming the smart lighting industry-one innovation at a time. We can't wait to welcome you at Booth #40548 in South Hall 3 . SOURCE Lumary MENAFN22122024003732001241ID1109022090 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National ChampionshipPelote's 24 lead Western Carolina over Milligan 78-69
American Electric Power: Light Up Your Income Portfolio With This Mission Critical Utility‘Abundance in Scarcity: Exploring Ladakh’s Sustainable Ingenuity’, an immersive exhibition showcasing Ladakh’s innovative solutions to environmental and cultural challenges, is on display at Samba Square as part of the Serendipity Arts Festival ADITHI SHARMA | NT kuriocity Ladakh is often celebrated as a bucket-list destination for its breathtaking beauty and dramatic landscapes. However, its fragile ecosystem and the delicate balance required to sustain life in this region often go unnoticed. This lesser-known narrative lies at the heart of Abundance in Scarcity: Exploring Ladakh’s Sustainable Ingenuity’, curated by Sandeep Sangaru. A designer with a deep passion for traditional practices, Sangaru’s journey with Ladakh began in 2007 when he first visited the region, captivated by its resourceful way of life. “What struck me,” he recalls, “was how people survive in harsh conditions with scarce resources. Summers last barely three to four months, a time used to grow crops and tend livestock, while the long winters demand meticulous planning and preparation.” Over seven years and numerous trips, Sangaru’s fascination grew, eventually leading him to the idea of sharing Ladakh’s story with a wider audience. The exhibition explores the ingenious interplay of scarcity and resourcefulness that defines Ladakhi culture. Rather than simply displaying artefacts, it offers a custom experience that captures life in this Himalayan region. Themes of migration, cultural resilience, and environmental responsibility are intricately woven with traditional practices like wool weaving and mud-based architecture. The exhibition showcases how Ladakhi architecture blends tradition with modern ideas. It traces the transition from the nomadic Chalpas’ mobile tents to permanent buildings made from local mud and stone, designed to fit the harsh Ladakhi environment. However, as urbanisation brings more concrete buildings, the exhibition highlights the environmental and practical issues these changes cause. Architects Suril and Faisal, who have worked in Ladakh, demonstrate how traditional methods can be adapted for modern needs. As Sangaru points out, while mud construction is more labour-intensive, it is far more sustainable and better suited to Ladakh’s climate. Weaving, an important part of Ladakh’s culture, is a main highlight of the exhibition. Wool from yaks and sheep is turned into beautiful and useful textiles, with Pashmina—made by the Changpa nomads—being the most valuable. The exhibition celebrates this craft while also showing its connection to the environment. One impressive display uses old weaving tools in the fabric, showing the strong link between the artisans, the materials, and nature. The exhibition also highlights local artisans and performers. Craftsman and musician Serin Amchuk, along with his partner Kalzang Tunduk, bring traditional Ladakhi string instruments like the Dranyen to life. “Music is integral to Ladakhi culture, especially during the long winters,” Sangaru. Their performances add a sensory dimension, immersing visitors in the rhythm of Ladakhi life. Film also plays a critical role in the storytelling. A commissioned short film by vlogger Saravana of “India in Motion” documents Ladakh’s resourceful practices, from water-powered mills to winter harvests. These visuals provide a vivid window into a world where every resource is precious, every action deliberate. “Through his lens,” Sangaru says, “the ingenuity and joy of Ladakhi life comes alive, offering insights that are difficult to replicate in static displays.” The exhibition also focuses on current issues in Ladakh. Migration and the dreams of younger people, influenced by technology and global connections, are changing the region’s way of life. Sangaru highlights that the aim is not to keep traditions for the sake of nostalgia, but to make them fit modern needs. Projects, like partnerships between young furniture designers and local artisans, are creating products that mix traditional style with modern use, helping Ladakhi crafts stay important in the future. Bringing Ladakh’s story to Panaji, Goa, where the exhibition is being held, was no small feat. Limited resources in Ladakh meant raw materials had to be carefully sourced, and the short summer season added logistical challenges. “Life in Ladakh is slow-paced,” Sangaru explains. “Craftspeople often create their own raw materials before production even begins.” Despite these obstacles, the exhibition authentically captures the essence of Ladakhi life. Abundance in Scarcity is more than just an exhibition; it’s a space for conversation. Sangaru hopes visitors will gain a deeper understanding of Ladakh’s sustainable ways of living and cultural strength. “Our modern lifestyles often ignore the importance of local traditions,” he says. “By learning from these practices, we can find ways to live more sustainably.” The exhibition encourages people to take part actively, with interactive displays meant to inspire curiosity and conversation. “This isn’t just about watching,” says Sangaru. “It’s about creating an experience that invites people to explore and engage.” In the end, Abundance in Scarcity asks visitors to rethink how they connect with resources and the environment. By celebrating Ladakh’s creativity in challenging conditions, it shows how tradition and progress can go hand in hand. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of the need to protect the planet’s delicate ecosystems for future generations.CVB Financial approves new stock repurchase program