ice Gold, prices, and jobs: What's at stake in Ghana's elections? By www.bbc.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:36:02 GMT In an echo of the US, the current vice-president is up against an ex-president in the 7 December vote. Full Article
ice Silence falls for Armistice Day commemorations By www.bbc.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:12:07 GMT Those who died in two world wars and other conflicts are remembered on Armistice Day across the UK and internationally. Full Article
ice Europe marks Armistice Day with two-minute silence By www.bbc.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 13:42:27 GMT The prime minister was in Paris, while Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh led events at the National Memorial Arboretum. Full Article
ice Rice and Saka injuries 'don't look good' - Arteta By www.bbc.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 20:32:51 GMT Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that injuries to Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice "don't look good" after they came off against Chelsea. Full Article
ice Police watchdog lead defends Chris Kaba decision By www.bbc.com Published On :: Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:57:38 GMT Sal Naseem tells the BBC he wasn't convinced Mr Kaba presented a sufficient danger to justify being shot. Full Article
ice The London pub where prices jump £2 after 10pm By www.bbc.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:35:10 GMT Drinkers at a Soho pub have to pay more for late-night pints as part of a dynamic pricing policy. Full Article
ice Police Bodycam Footage Released Shows Trump 2020 Adviser Brad Parscale Bodyslammed During Arrest By hispolitica.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 22:49:24 +0000 Police bodycam footage of Trump 2020 campaign Advisor Brad Parscale’s arrest was released on Monday showing officers bodyslamming Parscale once he emerged outside his home shirtless with a beer in his hand during a tense scene after his wife told the police that he was suicidal. “Listen, I’m not trying to kill myself. She’s lying, I didn’t […] The post Police Bodycam Footage Released Shows Trump 2020 Adviser Brad Parscale Bodyslammed During Arrest appeared first on Hispolitica. Full Article President Donald Trump Body Camera Brad Parscale florida Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Trump 2020 Campaign
ice Princess of Wales to host Christmas carol service again this year By www.bbc.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:18:51 GMT The princess has begun to return to some public duties since finishing chemotherapy in September. Full Article
ice Keane 'advice' for future son-in-law Harwood-Bellis By www.bbc.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:14:34 GMT Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis says his future father-in-law Roy Keane has played a part in his recent development. Full Article
ice velocityconf: RT @OReillyAnimals Advice, please! Elephant Listening Project asks for ideas/solutions/help with 3 practical problems http://t.co/Y90YP3maoz By twitter.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Jun 2013 03:15:10 +0000 velocityconf: RT @OReillyAnimals Advice, please! Elephant Listening Project asks for ideas/solutions/help with 3 practical problems http://t.co/Y90YP3maoz Full Article
ice Best early Black Friday MacBook deals: Lowest-ever prices on top models By www.businessinsider.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:50:38 +0000 The best early Black Friday MacBook deals include all-time low prices on the latest MacBook Air models. Full Article Deals (Reviews) Reviews Black Friday & Cyber Monday (Reviews) Tech (Reviews) black-friday cyber-monday insider-picks ip-deals deals insider-reviews product-card black-friday-2024
ice When my job required me to return to the office, I used my emergency fund to quit. It worked out, but I should have saved more. By www.businessinsider.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:15:01 +0000 When my job announced we were returning to the office, I was able to quit and rely on my emergency fund while job searching. I still wish I had saved more. Full Article Personal Finance rto pfi-sp pfi-storytelling pfi-news-test edit-series editorial-sponsorship es-statestreet milestone-moments freelance-illustration alyssa-powell sp-freelance
ice Apple's reported new smart home device will use its AI to help it catch up with Google By www.businessinsider.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:27:17 +0000 Apple's smart home device, featuring AI and FaceTime, could enter the market by March, Bloomberg reported, and could compete with Google and Amazon. Full Article Tech apple apple-home ai apple-intelligence google google-nest-hub amazon-echo
ice 4 Omnichannel Marketing Best Practices for eCommerce By blog.avangate.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Nowadays many shoppers don’t even remember how they learned about an eCommerce brand in the first place. If you ask them, the most popular answer is “I found it somewhere on the Internet”. Commercial information is all over the place, so nobody cares about the “channel” they use to find it anymore. Full Article
ice News24 | Teargas, smoke in Maputo as police crack down on demonstrations By www.news24.com Published On :: Thursday Nov 07 2024 12:49:50 In some parts of the capital, protesters negotiated with police. In other parts there was no talking. Full Article
ice Factoring In PayPal Fees When Sending Money Using the Goods and Services Option By www.tipsandtricks-hq.com Published On :: Wed, 12 May 2021 00:48:45 +0000 With more and more online marketplaces popping up, many individuals prefer to pay for items, whether they be new or second hand using the PayPal Goods and Services option. The PayPal ‘Goods and Services’ option gives buyers further peace of mind with the PayPal guarantee. If the seller does not provide what they have described, […] The post Factoring In PayPal Fees When Sending Money Using the Goods and Services Option appeared first on Tips and Tricks HQ. Full Article General Shop Admin Tips Paypal paypal donation PayPal Tutorials Transfer Money
ice News24 Business | Huawei 'super fans' annoyed at lack of supply as pricey phone hits China stores By www.news24.com Published On :: Sunday Sep 22 2024 18:30:16 Many fans of Huawei on Friday were disappointed that its much-anticipated phone, Mate XT - more than twice the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max - was not available for walk-in customers. Full Article
ice News24 Business | Facebook, Instagram group bets on normal-looking AR glasses, celeb AI voices By www.news24.com Published On :: Thursday Sep 26 2024 11:49:14 Meta launched AI chatbots voiced by Hollywood celebrities including Judi Dench and John Cena on Wednesday, betting its billions of users are eager to embrace artificial intelligence. Full Article
ice News24 Business | Microsoft beefs-up its AI assistant with voice, vision By www.news24.com Published On :: Thursday Oct 03 2024 12:31:25 Microsoft on Tuesday doubled down on deploying artificial intelligence to consumers, releasing an updated version of its Copilot chatbot that can hold voice conversations and interpret images. Full Article
ice News24 Business | Nigeria to punish Musk's Starlink for unauthorised price hike By www.news24.com Published On :: Thursday Oct 10 2024 11:45:01 Nigeria began a process to sanction Starlink after the satellite-internet service owned by billionaire Elon Musk increased its prices without approval from the regulator. Full Article
ice News24 Business | PlayStation 5 Pro goes on sale: But will gamers pay hefty prices? By www.news24.com Published On :: Wednesday Nov 06 2024 14:00:18 The PlayStation 5 Pro hits shops on Thursday with a price tag that has raised eyebrows among gamers, but growing sticker shocks in the tech industry have yet to deter consumers. Full Article
ice News24 | 'Explainer-in-chief': Rasool aims to amplify SA's voice globally in second stint as ambassador in US By www.news24.com Published On :: Wednesday Nov 13 2024 06:13:33 When Ebrahim Rasool returns to Washington in December as South Africa's ambassador, one of his primary goals is to reposition Pretoria as a "moral superpower" Full Article
ice News24 | WATCH | KZN cops to conduct probe after police assault video goes viral By www.news24.com Published On :: Wednesday Nov 13 2024 08:51:38 KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has ordered an "immediate investigation" after a video went viral on social media of a police officer slapping and pulling around a man. Full Article
ice Online Event Services Industry Continues Evolution By communicationtransformation.blogspot.com Published On :: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:40:00 +0000 Steve Vonder Haar recently released an outstanding research report about the online webcasting event services business. He states that consumers of webcasting services have been motivated by two priorities: 1) the desire to keep costs low; and 2) the desire to keep involvement of their own IT departments to a minimum. For this reason, major webcasting event service providers, like ON24, have enjoyed their greatest success at the ends of the market spectrum: low cost self-provisioning services and high touch premium webcasting services.The premium end of the market has been bolstered by the complexity of the client's needs, which has kept fees high and competition at bay. The low end of the market had become increasingly commoditized.He concludes that service providers are going to have to push more to the middle of that spectrum and identify more companies that require well-produced webcasts for the market to continue growing.He also mentions that the complexity of webcast events that has traditionally protected the major service providers is no longer a significant barrier to entry. Sophisticated webcasting software offered on a Software as a Service (SaaS) basis allows any number of production companies, agencies, and event companies to compete on an equal footing with the ON24s and the OnStreams.According to Hoovers, the US marketing and services industry includes about 35,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $80 billion. The industry is fragmented because the top 50 companies generate less than 40 percent of that revenue. In other words, there are a large number of potential buyers of enterprise webcasting software that want to compete for online event services business at a time when traditional advertising revenues are falling and internet advertising revenues are growing. Internet communications are definitely going to become a greater point of emphasis for these companies.I am unable to attached the report, but you can request a copy at the Interactive Media Strategies website. Full Article
ice Convicted Jihadi Terrorist Hired As Social Justice Prof In Western University By clashdaily.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 04:39:39 +0000 For anyone thinking that 'social justice' is less about 'justice' and more about being a delivery system for a poisoned ideology, the story of Dr Hassan Diab, is the proverbial 'Exhibit A'. The post Convicted Jihadi Terrorist Hired As Social Justice Prof In Western University appeared first on Clash Daily. Full Article News Clash
ice Democratic Politician Crashes Her Car While Allegedly Drunk, Hurls Vile Insults at Responding Officer: Police Report By www.westernjournal.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:35:14 +0000 A Chicago-area Democrat hurled an insult at police Sunday after being charged with drunken driving, according to local news reports. Samantha Steele represents the Second District on the Cook County […] The post Democratic Politician Crashes Her Car While Allegedly Drunk, Hurls Vile Insults at Responding Officer: Police Report appeared first on The Western Journal. Full Article News Alcohol Chicago Democrats Investigation Police U.S. News
ice Commentary: Secret Service Agents Placed on Leave After Trump Assassination Attempt By deneenborelli.com Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:57:50 +0000 Commentary by Susan Crabtree originally published by RealClearPolitics and RealClearWire Three weeks ago, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe angrily pushed back on senators’ calls to immediately fire or discipline key agents directly responsible for the security failures that led to the assassination attempt against former President Trump at last month’s campaign rally in Butler, … Full Article Commentaries News
ice Investigation: Waste of the Day – Chicago Police Misconduct Costs Taxpayers Millions By deneenborelli.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:16:45 +0000 Investigation by Jeremy Portnoy originally published by RealClearInvestigations and RealClearWire Topline: Chicago spent over $384 million settling lawsuits alleging misconduct by police officers between 2019 and 2023, according to WTTW News Key facts: A federal court ordered Chicago in 2019 to change the way it trains and disciplines police officers after an investigation found that … Full Article Commentaries News
ice Commentary: Second Assassination Attempt Forces New Reckoning for Trump, Secret Service By deneenborelli.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:23:52 +0000 Commentary by Susan Crabtree and Philip Wegmann originally published by The second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump while he was golfing at one of his Florida courses on Sunday is forcing the United States Secret Service to further tighten security around the Republican presidential nominee and to reevaluate just how much Trump should … Full Article Commentaries News
ice Climate justice with Chinese characteristics? By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Mon, 07 Nov 2022 11:36:21 +0000 Climate justice with Chinese characteristics? Expert comment NCapeling 7 November 2022 China’s latest grand concept, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), claims to be making sustainability a key feature of the programme. Since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China has regularly unveiled a grand new strategic concept every four years or so. Each has been deeply rooted in the Chinese political system and communicated via ambitious slogans, such as A Harmonious World, or New Types of Great Power Relations. And all have reliably generated both excitement and confusion abroad and within China. China’s latest grand concept, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), is no exception. When Chinese president Xi Jinping introduced it at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2021, it made hardly any splash in the West, perhaps because China has already signalled its determination to shape international development in the post-COVID era. But the GDI is more than just a new label for an ongoing project. One of its core political functions is to deflect some of the fierce criticism directed at its older sibling, the gigantic Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has a tarnished reputation for being neither transparent nor sufficiently ‘green’. Focus on grants and capacity-building According to the Chinese government’s initial description of the GDI, sustainability is a key feature of the programme. Unlike the BRI, the GDI will focus less on physical infrastructure projects – such as roads, bridges, digital networks, and coal-fired power plants – and more on sustainable-development grants and capacity-building. China may be ruled by one party, but that doesn’t mean its central administration system can always speak with one voice in supporting sustainable development abroad In his remarks about GDI in 2021, Xi placed special emphasis on advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and helping developing countries manage the transition to a low-carbon economy. On paper, then, the GDI appears a laudable initiative. While ongoing geopolitical tensions have deepened divisions between China and the US, derailing collaboration on combatting climate change, China at least is adjusting its diplomacy and aid programmes to position itself as a more attractive partner for those seeking climate security. Since launching the GDI, it has already created the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Centre to help some of the world’s most vulnerable countries mitigate the damage from climate change. But the GDI is still very much in line with China’s past grand initiatives. Its implementation is opaque and there is considerable flexibility in how it will deliver projects and offer grants. This approach is well understood and frequently practiced by Chinese political elites, following Deng Xiaoping’s famous reform ethos of ‘crossing the river by feeling the stones’. Xi has clearly adopted this approach in introducing the GDI. But whereas Deng was steering China’s domestic economy during a period of isolation after the Cultural Revolution, Xi needs to involve many other countries in his vision. That will not be easy now that Russia’s war in Ukraine and other recent developments have complicated many of China’s international relationships. China’s leaders recognize the BRI was not warmly received in global development circles, owing partly to its role in increasing both climate and financial risks. In implementing the GDI, they need to rethink some basic assumptions. Although gigantic infrastructure investments drove China’s own economic miracle, the same approach is not necessarily applicable everywhere. Nor should China’s development aid be relentlessly used to seek diplomatic endorsement from other countries. Instead, producing a clear, concrete action plan with specific regional and thematic points of focus would enhance the GDI’s clarity and credibility. Consider Xi’s recent pledge to add $1 billion to the $3.1 billion South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, which will be renamed the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. If China is serious about the GDI’s green credentials, this money should go towards supporting the clean-energy transition in response to the current oil and gas price crunch. But the GDI’s success ultimately depends on how China deploys not just financial but political capital. It needs to show it can cooperate constructively with countries in the ‘GDI Friends Group’ launched at the UN in January 2022. Producing a clear, concrete action plan with specific regional and thematic points of focus would enhance the GDI’s clarity and credibility For many group members, the pandemic showed that existing development assistance programs urgently need to be updated to account for their recipients’ specific interests and priorities. After years of hollow diplomatic rhetoric, there is a craving for more meaningful assistance to help countries build resilience against climate-driven natural disasters and other growing threats. China could help meet this demand, but it also will need to manage expectations. Many in the Global South assume a grand-concept policy such as the GDI will be meticulously planned from within Xi’s cabinet and thus executed to deliver large-scale, rapid results. But the GDI will require broad coordination across a wide range of ministries, agencies, and state-owned banks. One party but not one voice China may be ruled by one party, but that doesn’t mean its central administration system can always speak with one voice in supporting sustainable development abroad. Since launching the BRI in 2013, China has showered the Global South with hundreds of billions of dollars in physical infrastructure investment. With the global climate debate increasingly focusing on the need to mobilize international financing for climate mitigation and adaptation in low and middle-income countries, many will be looking to both China and the advanced economies to provide the necessary support. Full Article
ice Calpain activation mediates microgravity-induced myocardial abnormalities in mice via p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways [Molecular Bases of Disease] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-12-04T00:06:06-08:00 The human cardiovascular system has adapted to function optimally in Earth's 1G gravity, and microgravity conditions cause myocardial abnormalities, including atrophy and dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms linking microgravity and cardiac anomalies are incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated whether and how calpain activation promotes myocardial abnormalities under simulated microgravity conditions. Simulated microgravity was induced by tail suspension in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Capns1, which disrupts activity and stability of calpain-1 and calpain-2, and their WT littermates. Tail suspension time-dependently reduced cardiomyocyte size, heart weight, and myocardial function in WT mice, and these changes were accompanied by calpain activation, NADPH oxidase activation, and oxidative stress in heart tissues. The effects of tail suspension were attenuated by deletion of Capns1. Notably, the protective effects of Capns1 deletion were associated with the prevention of phosphorylation of Ser-345 on p47phox and attenuation of ERK1/2 and p38 activation in hearts of tail-suspended mice. Using a rotary cell culture system, we simulated microgravity in cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and observed decreased total protein/DNA ratio and induced calpain activation, phosphorylation of Ser-345 on p47phox, and activation of ERK1/2 and p38, all of which were prevented by calpain inhibitor-III. Furthermore, inhibition of ERK1/2 or p38 attenuated phosphorylation of Ser-345 on p47phox in cardiomyocytes under simulated microgravity. This study demonstrates for the first time that calpain promotes NADPH oxidase activation and myocardial abnormalities under microgravity by facilitating p47phox phosphorylation via ERK1/2 and p38 pathways. Thus, calpain inhibition may be an effective therapeutic approach to reduce microgravity-induced myocardial abnormalities. Full Article
ice Targeted Peptide Measurements in Biology and Medicine: Best Practices for Mass Spectrometry-based Assay Development Using a Fit-for-Purpose Approach By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2014-03-01 Steven A. CarrMar 1, 2014; 13:907-917Technological Innovation and Resources Full Article
ice In conversation with James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Technology and Society at Google By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:57:14 +0000 In conversation with James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Technology and Society at Google 12 December 2024 — 11:15AM TO 12:45PM Anonymous (not verified) 29 October 2024 Chatham House and Online A conversation on AI’s global, societal and economic impacts. 2024 has been a landmark year for Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, deployment and use, with significant progress in AI-driven science, governance and cooperation. Looking ahead, AI continues to demonstrate economic promise and potential to expand on scientific breakthroughs in areas such as climate and health. This wave of innovation is occurring against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and not all countries are fully able to participate. Heading into 2025, there are urgent questions about how best to maximise shared opportunities when it comes to AI and to advance global cooperation.James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Technology & Society at Google, will unpack what 2025 will bring for AI in science, economics, global governance and international cooperation. Key questions include:What will be AI’s global societal and economic impact in 2025 and beyond? What are the ways AI could help increase economic growth and economy-wide productivity? What factors must be in place for this to happen?How best can we maximise shared opportunities and advance global cooperation when it comes to AI? Where can public-private partnerships unlock scientific breakthroughs for societal progress, combatting shared global challenges such as climate change and global health issues? What are the principles of safe, responsible AI, and how should companies remain responsive to their evolution and integrate them into technology design and implementation? What is the current – and ideal – role of technology companies in emerging mechanisms for global cooperation and national governance on AI?This event is being held in partnership with Google.You will receive notice by 13:00 on Wednesday 11 December if you have been successful in securing an in-person place.The institute occupies a position of respect and trust, and is committed to fostering inclusive dialogue at all events. Event attendees are expected to uphold this by adhering to our code of conduct. Full Article
ice Cyber Security Series: Comparing Best Practice Across Europe By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
ice Voices of Jordan: The Kingdom in the Centre of the Middle East By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
ice Icebreaker Lecture: China’s Financial Sector – Reform and Opening Up By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
ice Human Rights Priorities: An Agenda for Equality and Social Justice By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
ice Undercurrents: Episode 41 - Personalized Political Advertising, and Climate Justice in Chile By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Fri, 29 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
ice Iceland and the Wellbeing Economy By f1.media.brightcove.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
ice Undercurrents: Episode 50 - The Coronavirus Communications Crisis, and Justice in Myanmar By brightcove.hs.llnwd.net Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
ice Marked reduction in bile acid synthesis in cholesterol 7{alpha}-hydroxylase-deficient mice does not lead to diminished tissue cholesterol turnover or to hypercholesterolemia By www.jlr.org Published On :: 1998-09-01 Margrit SchwarzSep 1, 1998; 39:1833-1843Articles Full Article
ice Quantitation of atherosclerosis in murine models: correlation between lesions in the aortic origin and in the entire aorta, and differences in the extent of lesions between sexes in LDL receptor-deficient and apolipoprotein E-deficient mice By www.jlr.org Published On :: 1995-11-01 RK TangiralaNov 1, 1995; 36:2320-2328Articles Full Article
ice Adipocyte death defines macrophage localization and function in adipose tissue of obese mice and humans By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2005-11-01 Saverio CintiNov 1, 2005; 46:2347-2355Research Articles Full Article
ice Renata Dwan Joins as Deputy Director and Senior Executive Officer By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 18 Aug 2020 23:47:09 +0000 Renata Dwan Joins as Deputy Director and Senior Executive Officer News Release sysadmin 19 August 2020 Renata Dwan has been appointed deputy director and senior executive officer of Chatham House. Full Article
ice Learnings must become practice as the Taliban return By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 07 Sep 2021 21:29:52 +0000 Learnings must become practice as the Taliban return Expert comment NCapeling 7 September 2021 There is greater awareness of the adverse impact of counterterrorism measures and sanctions on humanitarian action. It is time to apply lessons learned. The 9/11 attacks prompted the international community to adopt a wide range of counterterrorism measures. Debate continues over their compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, and their effectiveness. What has become clear is that some of these measures have made it difficult for humanitarian assistance to be provided to the millions of people living in areas under the control of armed groups designated as terrorist, or where such groups have a significant presence. These include Al-Qaeda in Yemen’s Arabian peninsula, ISIL affiliates in Syria, Al Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, Hamas in Gaza, and various Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel. The lessons painfully learned need to be applied to Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Impeding humanitarian work Traditionally, legal counterterrorism measures criminalized acts of violence but, in recent years, measures adopted by the UN Security Council, the European Union (EU), and some states unilaterally, have expanded to address broader forms of support for terrorist acts and to groups designated as terrorist. Policymakers implementing sanctions – and considering their expansion – cannot ignore their potential adverse impact on humanitarian action When these measures apply in situations of armed conflict – and in the absence of adequate safeguards – they can impede humanitarian organizations from operating as foreseen by IHL and in accordance with humanitarian principles, which require life-saving assistance to be provided in an impartial manner. Restrictions in sanctions imposed for policy objectives other than counterterrorism create similar tensions. Prohibitions on making funds or other assets available directly or indirectly to persons or groups designated as terrorist can capture incidental payments made during humanitarian operations and relief consignments which are diverted and end up in the hands of these designated groups. The most extreme restrictions cover the provision of medical assistance, in violation of the foundational principle of IHL that everyone who is wounded and sick – civilian or fighter – is entitled to medical care without discrimination, and those who provide it must not be punished. Humanitarian organizations have been highlighting these problems for more than a decade. Recent developments give cause for cautious optimism that a turning point has been reached, as the bodies imposing counterterrorism measures and sanctions internationally and domestically have begun to demand compliance with international law and IHL. In 2019 the UN Security Council unanimously issued a binding demand to member states to ensure all counterterrorism measures they adopt comply with obligations under international law, including IHL. Recent renewals of UN country-specific sanctions have included similar demands with regards to measures taken by member states to give effect to them. Although this still falls short of an express exception for humanitarian action, it is a significant development, and a strong encouragement to include appropriate safeguards when implementing UN measures domestically. Similar encouraging practice is discernible at EU level, and new domestic counterterrorism laws adopted by several states include safeguards for humanitarian action. Applying lessons learned to Afghanistan It is too soon to know what policies the Taliban will adopt, and the measures that the international community will take to promote compliance with IHL, human rights, and counterterrorism objectives. Nonetheless, policymakers implementing sanctions – and considering their expansion – cannot ignore their potential adverse impact on humanitarian action. They must bear in mind five key lessons. The chilling effect of sanctions is far broader than the actual restrictions they impose. Commercial actors in particular limit their activities in areas they perceive as high risk First, there must be clarity on current legal restrictions, starting from who is designated under sanctions and counterterrorism measures. The UN Security Council has never designated the Taliban per se. Instead, it has listed ‘individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban’. At present this list includes 135 individuals and five entities, four of which are ‘hawalas’ – money changers – the other being the Haqqani Network, a Sunni Islamist group. UN financial sanctions require states to freeze the assets of designated persons and groups and ensure no funds, financial assets, or economic resources are made available to them, either directly or indirectly. EU and UK sanctions simply replicate the restrictions and designations imposed by the UN, but the US has designated the Taliban as a ‘specially designated global terrorist’ which makes the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations applicable. These prohibit US nationals from making any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services to, or for, the benefit of the Taliban. Second, while listed individuals may play a role in the forthcoming Taliban administration, sanctions do not prohibit providing resources to a government department headed by a designated person. There is a distinction between an individual and a department, and prohibitions in counterterrorism measures or sanctions on the provision of funds or other assets apply to the designated person, not to the department they may head. Problems may arise if a designated person appropriates resources for personal benefit or to undermine policy objectives for which the sanctions were imposed. But this does not bring the department within the scope of the designation. Instead, the issue must be addressed from a prevention of diversion perspective. Third, sanctions and counterterrorism measures must be designed so as to minimize their adverse impact on humanitarian action. One way of doing so is designating leadership figures rather than groups. The new US administration took this approach towards the Houthi in Yemen, with the designation of the group being revoked and new designations focusing on its leaders. The chilling effect of sanctions is far broader than the actual restrictions they impose. Commercial actors in particular limit their activities in areas they perceive as high risk. In view of this, the effect of expanding existing designations to list the Taliban, now that it is in control of Afghanistan, would be to turn targeted sanctions into comprehensive ones. In parallel, sanctions or counterterrorism measures should include express safeguards, which exclude funds, assets, and other support provided during humanitarian action from the restrictions – ideally in the form of exceptions or, if an option, general licences. The adverse impact of the US Global Terrorism Sanctions has been limited until now, as only a small number of humanitarian actors subject to US measures operated in areas under Taliban control. This has now changed, and it is imperative the US issue a broad general licence to exclude assistance provided during humanitarian action from the sanctions. Subscribe to our weekly newsletterOur flagship newsletter provides a weekly round-up of content, plus receive the latest on events and how to connect with the institute. Enter email address Subscribe Fourth, restrictions in funding agreements must not be more onerous than the underlying measures they aim to promote compliance with – in particular, they must not require screening or exclusion of final beneficiaries from the assistance they have been determined as requiring. Finally, engagement with non-state armed groups for humanitarian purposes is essential for conducting operations effectively and safely, both for humanitarian organizations and the people they are trying to assist. Counterterrorism measures and sanctions do not prohibit such contact even when such groups or their members have been designated. The past two decades have given states ample time to learn to avoid the adverse impact of sanctions and counterterrorism measures on humanitarian action. The people of Afghanistan deserve that these lessons now be applied. Our research paper IHL and the humanitarian impact of counterterrorism measures and sanctions identifies the principal points of friction between these bodies of law, clarifies outstanding issues and misunderstandings, and offers practical recommendations for resolving tensions. Full Article
ice The ICC response to Russia’s war gives hope for justice By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 19:33:21 +0000 The ICC response to Russia’s war gives hope for justice Expert comment NCapeling 19 March 2023 The ICC’s arrest warrants against Putin and Lvova-Belova show the commission of international crimes is not without consequences. Warrants of arrest for Russian president Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, commissioner for children’s rights in the president’s office, have been issued because the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reasonable grounds to believe they have committed war crimes. Following an independent investigation and evidence-gathering by the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in his first new case since taking office, the pair are accused of committing two different war crimes – the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia, and the unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The focus on those two war crimes is likely due to clear evidence that deportation and forcible transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children have occurred, as the Russian government was overt about its policy of taking Ukrainian children to Russia and placing them in camps or putting them up for adoption by Russian families. Furthermore, in line with the Office of the Prosecutor’s policy on children, crimes against children are prioritized given their particularly vulnerable status. Jurisdiction and enforcement The ICC does not have jurisdiction over crimes committed fully in Russia by Russian nationals, as Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC. However, it does have jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Ukraine irrespective of who committed them, pursuant to two declarations lodged by Ukraine in 2014 accepting the Court’s jurisdiction over its territory from November 2013. Making the warrants public enables the ICC to reclaim itself as a key avenue for ensuring accountability for international crimes, following a wave of criticism and disenchantment about its work Although a prosecution has been initiated, it is ultimately for the judges of the ICC to decide on the accused’s fate. But the chances of Putin getting arrested or tried for these offences are slim. The ICC lacks enforcement or police powers and depends on state cooperation to execute arrest warrants. Also, because it cannot try individuals in their absence, a trial or conviction cannot occur without Putin and Lvova-Belova being in custody. But by issuing and unsealing these arrest warrants, the ICC is relying on the symbolic function of international criminal law – it is publicly naming and shaming Putin and Lvova-Belova for the commission of serious atrocities, and it is sending a message to other leaders and the international community that such actions are not without consequence. The arrest warrants also give victims some form of vindication or recognition for their suffering and hope for justice in the future. And making the warrants public enables the ICC to reclaim itself as a key avenue for ensuring accountability for international crimes, following a wave of criticism and disenchantment about its work in Africa and delays in advancing its investigation on Afghanistan. International courts gearing into action This ICC case is the latest in a series of ongoing cases related to Russia’s war in Ukraine before different international courts and tribunals. Others include at least four cases before the European Court of Human Rights for events that occurred before Russia was excluded from the Council of Europe, such as the MH17 flight case and the annexation of Crimea. They showcase an important feature of the global legal system and its judicial architecture that cannot be underestimated – the ability to quickly swing into action in response to violations of international law Two cases have also been brought by Ukraine against Russia before the International Court of Justice – in 2017 and 2022 – with hearings scheduled for June. An unprecedented number of states parties have sought to intervene in one or more of these cases. Each case must be considered on its own merits and the decisions cannot be prejudged. But they showcase an important feature of the global legal system and its judicial architecture that cannot be underestimated – the ability to quickly swing into action in response to violations of international law. In this case, the response was prompted by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in breach of the United Nations Charter and fundamental principles of international law. A starting point for a bigger case The ICC prosecutor already has a broader investigation into other international crimes committed in Ukraine since 21 November 2013. So this is likely to be just the starting point of a much bigger case against Putin and other senior Russian officials for international crimes committed in the context of the war in Ukraine and within the ICC’s jurisdiction. These potentially include other war crimes such as the indiscriminate or disproportionate targeting of civilians, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Full Article
ice Quantum representation theory and Manin matrices I: The finite-dimensional case By www.ams.org Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:21 EDT A. V. Silantyev Trans. Moscow Math. Soc. 83 (), 75-149. Abstract, references and article information Full Article
ice Flexible Distribution Systems: New Services, Actors and Technologies By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 31 Jul 2018 12:10:01 +0000 Flexible Distribution Systems: New Services, Actors and Technologies 4 September 2018 — 9:00AM TO 10:30AM Anonymous (not verified) 31 July 2018 Chatham House, London The pace of the energy transition is accelerating. Solar and wind are dramatically falling in cost and displacing fossil fuel generators. Simultaneously, the rapid uptake of electric vehicles and battery storage systems are beginning to send shock-waves through the electricity sector. As the proportion of distributed energy resources (DERs) connected to the distribution network grows, a significant opportunity is beginning to present itself. What if the concerns of renewable integration and associated costs could be solved by the smart integration of these DERs? By properly valuing the services DERs can provide, actively managing the distribution system and creating new market places, might a truly renewable electricity system capable of supporting the electrification of heat and transport be possible?During this roundtable, Andrew Scobie, CEO of Faraday Grid, will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities faced within the distribution network and explain why the current system is no longer fit for purpose. This is the inaugural event in the Energy Transitions Roundtable (ETR) series. Full Article
ice Youth voices on climate action By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:40:49 +0000 Youth voices on climate action 22 April 2021 — 12:30PM TO 2:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 22 March 2021 Online To celebrate Earth Day, youth activists, local change-makers, innovators and entrepreneurs discuss opportunities and challenges for youth-led climate activism. Young people will bear the brunt of the intensifying impacts of climate change over time. Facing this challenge, youth around the world have emerged at the forefront of climate activism at an unprecedented scale. School strikes, marches, and declarations complement youth engagement in diplomacy, technology, science, and law. Providing a platform for young people involved in climate action at the local, national and global levels is essential to promote collaboration, generate new policy ideas, and demand accountability from political and business leaders. Panellists engage in critical conversation about COP26; global leadership in climate mitigation, adaptation, and finance; and how to develop the full potential of youth-led global initiatives going forward. Full Article
ice Prioritizing equity and justice in climate action By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:45:31 +0000 Prioritizing equity and justice in climate action 30 June 2021 — 11:00AM TO 12:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 10 June 2021 Online London Climate Action Week event: Why understanding equity and justice is essential to the ability to meaningfully inform climate politics. Citizen-led climate activism is demonstrating the need to think about climate change ‘not just as a problem for science to solve’ but also as a problem of equity, human rights and justice. The disproportionate impacts of climate change on the poor and the marginalized across the world means that understanding equity and justice is essential for the ability to meaningfully inform climate politics. Excluding these issues risks ignoring, or intentionally omitting, the consequences of policies, tools and frameworks on those who are most likely to face the severe costs of any climate action or inaction. In a pivotal year for climate decision-making, this event explores the necessity of equity and justice in climate action and how the world can move the political conversation to one that is more inclusive. The speakers explore how communities themselves articulate the justice dimensions of climate change and how fairness can create a greener future for current and future generations. This event is being hosted as a part of Strengthening Climate Diplomacy, a series of events from Chatham House during London Climate Action Week 2021. Full Article