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ForexLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: USD pumps higher

The continuing US dollar uptrend … continued.

USD/JPY traded, above 156.00, to a high not seen since July. EUR/USD, meanwhile, dropped under 1.0550 to a low not seen in a year. AUD, NZD, GBP, CHF, CAD, yuan all moved lower. As did hapless gold. BTC/USD dropped back from above US$93.5K, but this thing is a beast, it gets a free pass ;-) .

On the data front the release of note was Australia’s job report for October. Job growth slowed down and the unemployment report steadied at 4.1%. It was a solid report without being spectacular. Slowing wage growth (data released yesterday) and a steady job market leaves the Reserve Bank of Australia to focus on bringing inflation down. RBA Governor Bullock spoke during the session. Bullock was not dovish, signalling that rates are restrictive enough but will not be coming down imminently.

The People’s Bank of China once again set the USD/CNY reference rate weaker (stronger for CNY) than estimates indicated.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.




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OSCE Project Co-ordinator lights up central Tashkent with 20 solar-powered street lamps

TASHKENT, 29 July 2016 - A central area of Tashkent is to be lit by 20 autonomous street light systems fully powered by solar energy as part of a pilot project officially launched today by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The Co-ordinator is supporting the host country in the area of green economy policies, including the analysis of costs and benefits in using environmentally-friendly and sustainable systems in street lighting and urban planning.

Senior Project Officer at the OSCE Project Co-ordinator Hans-Ullrich Ihm said that urban street lighting powered by solar energy is one of many possibilities that contribute to preserving our environment by reducing the consumption of fossil fuel and emissions. He added that the Project Co-ordinator strives to support the government in implementing policies advocating for such technologies.

Related Stories




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Psychologists and professionals working with domestic violence victims trained at OSCE-supported events in Moldova on both banks

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held the final in a series of three training sessions for 12 psychologists and professionals working with domestic violence victims. The session took place on 27 June 2016 in Rybnitsa, a town on the left bank of the Dniester/Nistru River.

The event aimed to equip participants with essential skills in family counselling and post-traumatic stress rehabilitation. Participants studied means to identify family violence, various coaching techniques to use when working with families, as well as methods for handling trauma and post-traumatic stress among domestic violence victims.

In the past week, similar training events have been held in Chisinau and Tiraspol with the total participation of 50 professionals from Bender, Causeni, Chisinau, Comrat, Drochia, Rybnitsa and Tiraspol.

Participants in the training sessions included psychologists, teachers, medical professionals, lawyers and social workers, all of whom encounter cases of domestic violence in their work through Moldova’s referral system.

The training events were held as part of the Mission’s project to strengthen the capacity of those who provide crisis services to women and families on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. The project was developed following a country-wide assessment conducted in 2014 and 2015. The assessment identified a number of challenges in this field in Moldova, most notably the difficulties in accessing domestic violence services – including shelters and crisis centres – for those living in rural areas, and a lack of state resources. 

Related Stories




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Tajik Border Troops Officers complete OSCE patrol leadership course

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.




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OSCE Presence helps Albanian police better respond to irregular migration

The OSCE Presence in Albania on 24 March 2016 launched a series of workshops for the Albanian border and migration police with the aim of raising their capacity to respond to the challenges of irregular migration, particularly in light of the increased migrant flows through the Western Balkans.

The first of the workshops, which are being organized in close partnership with the Directorate of the Albanian State Police and the General Directorate of Border and Migration, took place in Korça, where 20 border and migration police were trained on measures to be taken to cope with the situation.

The subjects were based on trends as identified by Frontex and EUROPOL, and included migrant routes, the pre-screening of migrants, profiling of possible terrorist fighters, and the detection of criminal offences. The workshop was conducted by experts from the Albanian Europol National Unit and the Albanian Border and Migration Police.

The OSCE Presence, together with its Albanian partners, will organize similar workshops in the coming days with the border and migration police in Gjirokastra and in Shkodra. 

Related Stories



  • OSCE Presence in Albania
  • Policing
  • South-Eastern Europe
  • News

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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Washington DC and New York to explore avenues to consolidate partnerships in the area of conflict prevention

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Washington DC and New York City from 25 to 29 April 2016, where she explored opportunities to strengthen co-operation in conflict prevention, implementing early action policies and in fostering inclusion within diverse societies.

Thors met with officials from the United States and representatives of international organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat, Funds, Programmes and Agencies, as well as members of the academia, think tanks and human rights organizations.

During her visit, Thors welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of the Resolution 2282 (2016) on the Review of United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture as renewed meaningful support to conflict prevention worldwide. In discussions, it was also noted that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the data provided during their implementation are very relevantpertinent for building just and inclusive societies.

“I am pleased with the strengthened partnerships with the wider international community achieved during my trip, in particular in thematic areas such as access to justice and education, both highly relevant to national minorities and conflict prevention,” Thors concluded.

Related Stories



  • High Commissioner on National Minorities
  • Conflict prevention and resolution
  • Minority rights
  • News

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Tajik Border Troops Officers complete OSCE patrol leadership course

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

Related Stories




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OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports workshop on crime prevention through partnerships between police, civil organizations and the public

Fifty-two representatives of Local Crime Prevention Centres (LCPCs) in Kyrgyztsan, including members of the courts of Aksakals (local elders), women and youth councils completed a two-day workshop supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek  on 7July 2016 in Osh, with the aim of enhancing interactions between the police, civil organizations and the public.

Participants improved their practical skills on analyzing security situations and applying problem-solving methods, and in strengthening effective communication with the police and other stakeholders. LCPC members learned about the development and implementation of crime prevention projects and programmes. Participants also revised the normative-legal documents that regulate LCPCs and crime prevention activities.

“Preserving public order and preventing crime is the shared responsibility of the police, local self-government bodies, and local communities,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of Police Affairs at the OSCE Centre. “This training course seeks to strengthen this collective, consultative approach and the LCPCs’ capacity to foster community engagement in crime prevention and to strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership with police in addressing community security concerns.”

The workshop was conducted at the Community Policing Training Centre by a local expert and trainers from the Main Directorate for Public Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and of the Ministry’s Academy.

Related Stories




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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Washington DC and New York to explore avenues to consolidate partnerships in the area of conflict prevention

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Washington DC and New York City from 25 to 29 April 2016, where she explored opportunities to strengthen co-operation in conflict prevention, implementing early action policies and in fostering inclusion within diverse societies.

Thors met with officials from the United States and representatives of international organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat, Funds, Programmes and Agencies, as well as members of the academia, think tanks and human rights organizations.

During her visit, Thors welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of the Resolution 2282 (2016) on the Review of United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture as renewed meaningful support to conflict prevention worldwide. In discussions, it was also noted that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the data provided during their implementation are very relevantpertinent for building just and inclusive societies.

“I am pleased with the strengthened partnerships with the wider international community achieved during my trip, in particular in thematic areas such as access to justice and education, both highly relevant to national minorities and conflict prevention,” Thors concluded.

Related Stories



  • High Commissioner on National Minorities
  • Conflict prevention and resolution
  • Minority rights
  • News

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Tajik Border Troops Officers complete OSCE patrol leadership course

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

Related Stories




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1kg Whole Bean Coffee $28, 40% off Chocolate & Chai, 30% off Syrups + Shipping ($0 with $60 Order) @ Di Bella Coffee

We are part of Click Frenzy and have the below products on sale:

1kg Beans $28 - Code CLICKFRENZY28
1kg Hot Chocolate $10.20 - Code CLICKFRENZY40
1kg Chai Powder $16.80 - Code CLICKFRENZY40
750ml Vanilia, Hazelnut and Caramel Syrups $13.96 - Code CLICKFRENZY30

Free shipping for orders over $60




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TWL 2-Finger Karbon Grips $20 a Pair (Save $65) + $9.99 Shipping ($0 with $199 Order) @ The WOD Life

If you need any lifting gloves/straps for the gym, I normally purchase a pair of these leather ones every year around this time for around $26 - https://www.thewodlife.com.au/products/twl-leather-gymnastic…

However for an even cheaper price and bigger saving, the (supposedly better/higher quality) karbon version is currently on sale for $20 (which is a $65 saving) - https://www.thewodlife.com.au/products/twl-2-finger-karbon-g…. I actually bought these last week for $26, and now they are even cheaper in price :(

I don't like to wear full gloves, but still like to wear something to prevent too many calluses and also so my hands are not completely black from the dirty gym equipment. They come in a pouch as well so they get aired out and don't come into direct contact with the other items in your gym bag.

Lots of other deals on like Nano's, Metcon, etc for their Black Friday Sale.




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20x Lorrex Diarrhoea Relief Liquid Caps, 2mg Loperamide $3.99 Delivered @ PharmacySavings

Hi Ozbargainers,

I was watching in amazement as the TravelKon sim card deal clocked over 300+ votes, great deal and also indicative of the number of Ozbargainers thinking about taking off overseas in the next 3 months, so on this note being the ambulance chaser entrepreneur that I am, I thought - what a great time for a deal on Diarrhoea relief. I reached out to a new supplier and asked for a deal so I could offer an ATL on diarrhoea relief. Nova Pharma came good and after scouring the web I think I can say, this is by FAR the best price for this item delivered anywhere in Oz - At this price, why risk taking off without a box in your hand luggage.

The box says: "Lorrex acts to restore normal bowel function", and we all want that!

Item: 20x Lorrex Liquicaps, Loperamide Hydrochloride 2mg
Link: https://pharmacysavings.com.au/products/travel-essentials-tr…
Price: $3.99
Code: Not required
Exp: End July 2025
Delivery: FREE

I'm going to give a special shout out to a very Shorted dated product, but I know many of you don't mind buying short dated at the right price:

Item: 70x Fexit 180mg, Fexofenadine Hydrochloride
Price: $4.99
Delivery: FREE
Exp: End November 2024
Link: https://pharmacysavings.com.au/products/trust-fexit-180-fexo…

Ozbargains Favourites have again been restocked:

These bulk deals are still powering along as well:
140x Cetirizine + 140x Loratadine + 140x Fexofenadine https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/866620




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Futurama's Fry Looked Too Much Like One Simpsons Character In Early Designs

The character design for Futurama's Fry originally looked too much like a certain character from The Simpsons, but a simple fix gave them enough leeway.








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Five Steps to Generating Leads Through Content

If you're a roofing contractor trying to learn how to market effectively in the digital age, you've probably come across the term "content marketing."




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Les mentides del PSC

Un ciudadano recuerda los incumplimientos socialistas con Cataluña




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GT Sport: el simulador de PS4 se pone serio

Estuvimos en la presentación de GT Sport en Londres, donde Sony ha dejado claro que su simulador de conducción pasa a un nuevo nivel: a la competición de eSports más profesional.




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No dejéis que Alarte lleve al PSPV a la nada

Después de la última y más dolorosa derrota cosechada por Alarte, ha llegado el momento de dar un giro total a la política socialista en nuestra Comunidad. Para ello, vosotros, los militantes, tenéis que ser los protagonistas de la línea política en los tiempos venideros. 

 




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How Curiosity and Innovation Fuel Success With PepsiCo

In this episode of the Brave Commerce podcast, hosts Rachel Tipograph, founder and CEO of MikMak, and Sarah Hofstetter, president of Profitero, sit down with Meghan Archer, vice president of digital commerce at PepsiCo. Archer shares her unique career journey from consumer electronics at T-Mobile, to a dynamic decade at Amazon, to her current role...




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Trump taps Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for defence secretary in surprise move

Trump taps Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for defence secretary in surprise move




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MEPs debate future EU-US relations against backdrop of US administration change

MEPs debate future EU-US relations against backdrop of US administration change




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Fiery Tesla Crash Traps And Kills Four After Electric Doors Couldn’t Open




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Ops Trainee

Savannah, GA United States - High School Diploma or GED required. Entry level position. Strong mechanical aptitude. Enrollment in a Technical Aviation program preferred. Essential communication skills include the ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, and listening and... View




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Slog AM: Dow Constantine Bows Out, Balducci Steps Up, Trump Appoints Fox News Host to Run Military

The Stranger's morning news round-up. by Nathalie Graham

Windy in Washington: High winds swept across the Olympic Peninsula overnight. The gustiest gales reached nearly 70 miles per hour in Hoquiam. Winds remain higher than normal and Washington State Ferries says it could impact ferry rides today. If anything, the ferry rides will be bumpier than normal.

Rain, rain, rain: Soggy conditions continue to saturate Seattle. Don't think about when you will see a clear day again—it's not worth it. 

Moderate to heavy rain will continue to move into the region this morning as a strong system moves across W WA. Have a morning commute? Best to slow down and give yourself a little extra time to get to your destination. Rain will transition to showers through the day. #wawx pic.twitter.com/k2PrlLJE5Z

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 13, 2024

Ashley's got some news you can use.

We’ll miss you, Dow: King County Executive Dow Constantine announced last night he would not seek a fifth term in 2025. It’s the end of an era for the county, which Constantine has helmed since 2010. During that time he’s championed funding transit, early childhood education, and housing. He also promised to end youth detention and close the child jail, which he’s kind of skipping out on. But all in all, Constantine pushed for pretty progressive policies and deserves a solid pat on the back for consistency and knowing that when you have power, you can just do stuff and make people accept the results. And you can get lots of haircuts. That’s cool, Constantine. Grab drinks with me and Hannah soon. 

But, onward: King County Council Member Claudia Balducci announced Wednesday she planned to run for Constantine’s seat. I rode around with Balducci ahead of her announcement on a little tour of everything she’s done for the Eastside, from her years as a Bellevue City Council Member to her time as Mayor and finally to her time on the King County Council. Balducci, a transit buff, plans to ride a train straight through King County’s glass ceiling and become the first woman to earn the title of King County Executive.

Thanks, Ashley! Back to the rest of the news.

Low voter turnout: Washington state had the lowest voter turnout this election since 2000. According to the Seattle Times, fewer than 78% of the state's registered voters cast a ballot. That's down significantly from the 84% of people who voted in 2020.

Kum & Go? More like Kum & Gone: The midwestern gas station chain is changing its name after 49 years of cum jokes.

Oh, we are so cooked: President-elect Donald Trump is in the midst of hand-picking his cabinet in a process that feels like the Avengers assembling except instead of superheroes these Avengers are the worst people you've ever heard of. On that list now is our new defense secretary. The person Trump picked to lead the world's biggest and most powerful military is, you guessed it, Fox News host Pete Hegseth. The move stunned the Pentagon. The Fox & Friends Weekend co-host is a National Guard officer. He is against "woke" diversity and inclusion programs, is skeptical about women in combat, and has spoken about pardoning war crimes. 

Trump apparently just named Fox News host Pete Hegseth his secretary of defense?

[image or embed]

— Parker Molloy (@parkermolloy.com) November 12, 2024 at 4:11 PM

Dog killer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who infamously shot her dog instead of training it after it misbehaved, to lead the DHS. The role should be important in an administration that wants to conduct mass deportations and clamp down on border security. 

The Department of Government Efficiency: Trump announced the creation of a new government office designed to "dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies." Elon Musk and failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the office. During his campaign, Ramaswamy said he wanted to cut down on government spending and discussed eliminating the FBI, the Department of Education, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do that. Musk, meanwhile, wants to just meme about it all. The acronym for the department is DOGE, Musk's favorite meme. Will the two be able to keep the posts despite clear conflicts of interest? We'll see. Please, someone stop the edge lords. 

wait why does the dept of government efficiency have two co-chairs

— Caitlin Gilbert (@caitlingilbert.bsky.social) November 12, 2024 at 6:15 PM

So much for justice: Special counsel Jack Smith, the guy in charge of the Justice Department cases against Trump, announced he will resign before the beginning of Trump's term. During his campaign, Trump promised to fire Smith within “two seconds” of taking office. Smith has two outstanding cases against Trump, and he plans to write a final report on both before stepping down.  

Hell is empty and the devils are here: A Michigan community theater put on a production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Several Nazis gathered outside waving swastika flags and shouting racist and antisemitic slurs.  

Something to listen to: A friend recently turned me onto this radio drama about a space mission. I've barely scratched the surface of the series, but so far it's a nice escape. 




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Artistic Chameleon: Christina Spann keeps her career fresh

Artist Christina Spann considers art a conversation or a symphony…



  • Arts & Culture/Arts: Feature

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Kendra & the Bunnies drops authenticity with "Manic Pixie Nightmare"

Kendra Muecke from Kendra & the Bunnies is someone's muse. In her latest single, "Manic Pixie Nightmare," she takes a sledgehammer to a crazy pixie's dream girl. By refusing to…





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Tweets media crawl data 2024-11-14T04:22:40PST to 2024-11-13T20:27:52PST

Internet Archive crawl data from the Tweets Media crawl, captured by crawl917.us.archive.org:tweets-media from Thu Nov 14 04:22:40 PST 2024 to Wed Nov 13 20:27:52 PST 2024..

This item belongs to: web/tweets-media.

This item has files of the following types: Metadata



  • web/tweets-media

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Reddit crawl data 2024-11-14T08:54:34PST to 2024-11-14T01:00:58PST

Internet Archive crawl data from the Reddit crawl, captured by crawl907.us.archive.org:reddit from Thu Nov 14 08:54:34 PST 2024 to Thu Nov 14 01:00:58 PST 2024..

This item belongs to: web/reddit-com.

This item has files of the following types: Metadata, Text



  • web/reddit-com

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CIA Reading Room cia-rdp83-00415r007200120005-3: AUSTRIAN MAPS

No Description.

This item belongs to: texts/godaneinbox.

This item has files of the following types: Archive BitTorrent, Image Container PDF, Metadata




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Tweets media crawl data 2024-11-14T04:24:49PST to 2024-11-13T20:28:40PST

Internet Archive crawl data from the Tweets Media crawl, captured by crawl917.us.archive.org:tweets-media from Thu Nov 14 04:24:49 PST 2024 to Wed Nov 13 20:28:40 PST 2024..

This item belongs to: web/tweets-media.

This item has files of the following types: Metadata



  • web/tweets-media

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php-static-analysis/phpstan-extension: PHPStan extension to read static analysis attributes




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REVIEW: The Children of Men, by P.D. James - by John Psmith




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Argentina's Inflation Drops to 2.7% in October, Lowest in 3 Years

The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) revealed on Tuesday that it had documented an inflation rate of 2.7 percent in the country for October.

The post Argentina’s Inflation Drops to 2.7% in October, Lowest in 3 Years appeared first on Breitbart.




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South Korea Says North Korean Troops in Russia Engaging in Combat with Ukraine

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on Wednesday that North Korean troops sent to Russia as mercenaries have moved to the frontlines in Kursk over the past two weeks and are “already engaging in combat” against Ukrainian forces.

The post South Korea Says North Korean Troops in Russia Engaging in Combat with Ukraine appeared first on Breitbart.




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As California taps pandemic stockpile for bird flu, officials keep close eye on spending

By Don Thompson, KFF

California public health officials are dipping into state and federal stockpiles to equip up to 10,000 farmworkers with masks, gloves, goggles, and other safety gear as the state confirms at least 21 human cases of bird flu as of early November. It’s the latest reminder of the state’s struggle to remain prepared amid multibillion-dollar deficits.

Officials said they began distributing more than 2 million pieces of personal protective equipment in late May, four months before the first human case was confirmed in the state. They said they began ramping up coordination with local health officials in April after bird flu was first detected in cattle in the U.S. Bird flu has now been confirmed at more than 270 dairies in central California, and traces were recently detected at a wastewater sampling site in Los Angeles County. Bird flu was also recently detected in a flock of commercial turkeys in Sacramento County.

California is putting a number of lessons from the covid-19 pandemic to use, such as coordinating emergency response with local health officials and tracking infectious diseases through wastewater surveillance, as the state tries to limit the spread of bird flu to humans. It’s striving to maintain an adequate emergency stockpile to withstand the first wave of any new public health disaster without hemorrhaging the state budget.

“We are far better prepared to respond to a pandemic than we were in 2020,” said Amy Palmer, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

For instance, before the coronavirus struck in 2020, the state’s emergency supplies stockpile was barely big enough to crowd two basketball courts.

By the time California ramped up its pandemic response, it had enough personal protective equipment and other disaster supplies to fill 52 football fields. California spent $15.6 billion on direct pandemic response during the covid crisis years, much of it provided by the federal government.

Today, the stockpile fits into about 12½ football fields, though it can seesaw from month to month.

According to the state, the current stockpile includes 101 million face masks, 26 million more than the 90-day supply recommended by the state’s pandemic preparedness guideline.

That includes 88 million N95 masks, more than the emergency services agency said was needed last year. The high-efficiency masks are considered crucial to protect against airborne viruses such as covid-19.

Although the state is building up its stockpile, Palmer could not say if the additional masks are related to fears of bird flu, only that planners are always working “to keep pace with the current risk environment.”

The state’s goal, Palmer said, is to have “an initial supply during emergencies to allow us the time to secure resources,” whether through the federal government or by buying more.

There is no indication of spread between humans in the recent California bird flu cases, and health officials say public risk remains low. Human transmission of bird flu is among several worst-case scenarios for a new pandemic, alongside the possibility of a resurgent mutant coronavirus; wider international spread of mpox, Marburg virus, or Ebola; or an entirely new virus for which there initially is no immunity or vaccine.

Yet, health officials nationwide have struggled to track bird flu transmission. And California has a history of swinging back and forth on preparedness.

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered an increase in California’s pandemic preparedness in 2006 in response to an earlier threat from bird flu. That included three mobile hospitals that could immediately be deployed during disasters.

Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, ended the program in 2011 as state finances went bust. By the time covid struck, the state released 21 million N95 masks, some so old they were past their expiration date.

Now hospitals are required to maintain their own three-month supply of masks, gowns, and other personal protective equipment under a state law passed in 2020. California’s aerosol transmissible disease standard also uniquely requires hospitals and other high-risk workplaces to follow precautions such as using negative pressure isolation rooms and the highest level of protective equipment until more is known about a new pathogen.

“It is difficult to overstate the level of unpreparedness exhibited by hospitals both in and outside of California in dealing with the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19,” according to a legislative analysis. “Harrowing images of nurses walking the corridors of hospitals in makeshift masks and garbage bags became commonplace.”

California Hospital Association spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea said hospitals “continuously prepare to respond to all types of disasters, including outbreaks of transmissible viruses.”

In addition, Palmer said California has five mobile hospitals acquired from the federal government, though they got little use during the pandemic. She said they have to be maintained, such as making sure pulse oximeters have working batteries.

But, once again, the current deficit has the state trying to strike a balance.

While lawmakers rejected most of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $300 million proposed cut to public health funding, the state slashed funding for its stockpile of personal protective equipment by one-third a year ago after it determined that no additional covid-related purchases were necessary, according to the Department of Finance. California eliminated funding this year for eight 53-foot-long trailers that would have moved stockpiled items between warehouses. It’s also cutting nearly $40 million over the next four years from its $175 million disaster stockpile budget.

The state’s preparedness wasn’t good enough for Californians Against Pandemics, which gathered more than 1 million signatures to put a ballot measure before voters in November. The measure would have increased taxes on people with incomes over $5 million and used that money for pandemic prevention and response.

But that effort collapsed after one of its key financial supporters, former cryptocurrency executive Sam Bankman-Fried, was convicted of defrauding customers and investors. In exchange for initiative backers dropping the measure, state officials agreed to broaden the scope of the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, which was created in 2015 to focus on developing new medicines and therapies, to include technologies for preventing another pandemic.

“By harnessing the power of precision medicine, California is moving to the forefront of pandemic preparedness and prevention,” Newsom said at the time.

Rodger Butler, a spokesperson for the state Health and Human Services Agency, said it’s unclear if the precision medicine initiative will receive additional funding.





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Colorado high school football playoffs: Chalk, toss-ups and upset alerts in the second weekend of postseason play

Upsets happen all the time in prep football. But in regards to these matchups, we’ll go with “highly unlikely” the underdog wins.




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Avalanche’s “Big Three” helps grind out another win against against the Kings

The Colorado Avalanche got dragged into a defensive slog Wednesday night with the Los Angeles Kings, but having more world-class players than the other team works in those types of contests, too.




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Liberty Team Relay Championships Results

The Liberty Mutual mixed team relay national championships took place at the Clearwater Beach. The mixed senior team 11+ age group division saw the Double Trouble team of Sanchez Smith and Naomi MacGuinness clock a winning time of 56:45, team Shepherd/Wright that featured Ella Shepherd and Jacob Wright finished second in 59:48, and the Transition […]




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James, Radford In 4th At National Championships

The 2022 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships got underway without fans at TD Place due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in Ontario. Vanessa James and Eric Radford took to the ring for the Short Program, and finished that portion in 4th place with 63.33 points. Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro, are on track for […]




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Video: Bryan Brothers Ready For Championships

American brothers and social media sensations Wesley and George Bryan IV will be among the star-studded field for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course. Wesley, who is already a familiar face on the PGA Tour, and George have garnered 459,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel, Bryan Bros Golf, which features golf trick-shots, […]




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BSSF Drama Scholarships For Vickers & Smith

The Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival [BSSF] will award two major scholarships to two outstanding drama students, with Rowan Vickers and Marcus Smith set to receive assistance to continue their studies. Every year BSSF, now in its seventh year of operation, invites applications for scholarship support from any student who has participated in one of their […]




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Martin Bartkovský: Věřme dále v toleranci. Demokracie je sice nesrozumitelná, ale přesto nejlepší

Je to zvláštní přelom roku. V září bylo 35 let mně. V listopadu je 35 let tuzemské demokracii. A v dubnu bude 35 let Reflexu. O sobě mluvit nechci, ty druhé dvě další věci jsou důležitější a jako stejně starý člověk si je dovolím hodnotit. I když se to tak ve vašem okolí nemusí zdát, současný politický sy­stém je stále to nejlepší, co dokázalo lidstvo vymyslet. A časopis Reflex má pořád co říct.




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Chips, fleas, lovers, colors, and crusts

La 9e édition du Dictionnaire de l’Académie française: La 9e édition du Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, dont la publication a commencé dans les années 1980, s’est achevée en novembre 2024, avec la parution du tome 4 aux éditions Fayard. The 9th edition of the Dictionary of the French Academy, whose publication began in the 1980s, […]



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Cardinals’ Kyler Murray playing his best football as pro, jumps into MVP hunt

Kyler Murray's efficient play has Arizona on a four-game winning streak and atop the NFC West. It also has put him in the MVP conversation.