av Nuclear Tensions Must Not Be Sidelined During Coronavirus By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 11:18:35 +0000 1 May 2020 Ana Alecsandru Research Assistant, International Security Programme @anaalecs LinkedIn Although the pandemic means the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (RevCon) is postponed, the delay could be an opportunity to better the health of the NPT regime. 2020-05-01-Iran-Peace-Nuclear Painted stairs in Tehran, Iran symbolizing hope. Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images. Despite face-to-face diplomatic meetings being increasingly rare during the current disruption, COVID-19 will ultimately force a redefinition of national security and defence spending priorities, and this could provide the possibility of an improved political climate at RevCon when it happens in 2021.With US presidential elections due in November and a gradual engagement growing between the EU and Iran, there could be a new context for more cooperation between states by 2021. Two key areas of focus over the coming months will be the arms control talks between the United States and Russia, and Iran’s compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal.It is too early to discern the medium- and longer-term consequences of COVID-19 for defence ministries, but a greater focus on societal resilience and reinvigorating economic productivity will likely undercut the rationale for expensive nuclear modernization.Therefore, extending the current New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) would be the best, most practical option to give both Russia and the United States time to explore more ambitious multilateral arms control measures, while allowing their current focus to remain on the pandemic and economic relief.Continuing distrustBut with the current treaty — which limits nuclear warheads, missiles, bombers, and launchers — due to expire in February 2021, the continuing distrust between the United States and Russia makes this extension hard to achieve, and a follow-on treaty even less likely.Prospects for future bilateral negotiations are hindered by President Donald Trump’s vision for a trilateral arms control initiative involving both China and Russia. But China opposes this on the grounds that its nuclear arsenal is far smaller than that of the two others.While there appears to be agreement that the nuclear arsenals of China, France, and the UK (the NPT nuclear-weapons states) and those of the states outside the treaty (India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel) will all have to be taken into account going forward, a practical mechanism for doing so proves elusive.If Joe Biden wins the US presidency he seems likely to pursue an extension of the New START treaty and could also prevent a withdrawal from the Open Skies treaty, the latest arms control agreement targeted by the Trump administration.Under a Biden administration, the United States would also probably re-join the JCPOA, provided Tehran returned to strict compliance with the deal. Biden could even use the team that negotiated the Iran deal to advance the goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.For an NPT regime already confronted by a series of longstanding divergences, it is essential that Iran remains a signatory especially as tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated recently — due to the Qassim Suleimani assassination and the recent claim by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps to have successfully placed the country’s first military satellite into orbit.This announcement raised red flags among experts about whether Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles due to the dual-use nature of space technology. The satellite launch — deeply troubling for Iran’s neighbours and the EU countries — may strengthen the US argument that it is a cover for the development of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.However, as with many other countries, Iran is struggling with a severe coronavirus crisis and will be pouring its scientific expertise and funds into that rather than other efforts — including the nuclear programme.Those European countries supporting the trading mechanism INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) for sending humanitarian goods into Iran could use this crisis to encourage Iran to remain in compliance with the JCPOA and its NPT obligations.France, Germany and the UK (the E3) have already successfully concluded the first transaction, which was to facilitate the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran. But the recent Iranian escalatory steps will most certainly place a strain on the preservation of this arrangement.COVID-19 might have delayed Iran’s next breach of the 2015 nuclear agreement but Tehran will inevitably seek to strengthen its hand before any potential negotiations with the United States after the presidential elections.As frosty US-Iranian relations — exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic — prevent diplomatic negotiations, this constructive engagement between the E3 and Iran might prove instrumental in reviving the JCPOA and ensuring Iran stays committed to both nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.While countries focus their efforts on tackling the coronavirus pandemic, it is understandable resources may be limited for other global challenges, such as the increasing risk of nuclear weapons use across several regions.But the potential ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis for the NPT regime are profound. Ongoing tensions between the nuclear-armed states must not be ignored while the world’s focus is elsewhere, and the nuclear community should continue to work together to progress nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, building bridges of cooperation and trust that can long outlast the pandemic. Full Article
av We are leaving them behind By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 08:45:10 +0000 Never mind steel, We are creating new materials, Carbon nano-tubes, poly-ceramics, Twirl a ball above your head, we are Building elevators into space, Stringing massage parlours around the earth, We are engineering ourselves, Computer worlds and, Selling real estate, we Are leaving the old people, Behind, Stained curtains and they are, Walking into forests, […] Full Article Poetry age displacement japan poetry technology
av Leaving Afghanistan By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 20:38:20 +0000 I am the gate keeper. Two flags gone Marking bodies where they fell, Manure, Useful, Two flags fleeing loose rounds, Auras, Fleeting, Bring your palm, I can read it now, Unhinged as I am, The last are, Making their way home. -evocative short poetry- Full Article Poetry
av We cavort wildly with Language By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Sun, 24 May 2015 20:22:00 +0000 The fish comes steaming, and English is not the only language making sense. Here politics comes with dark green Kale spewing flavor, Kenyans having lunch on the Boulevard, Lakeshore strip, Victoria; Commitment is the idea that momentum cannot disrupt motion, that Committed, one moves forward, Becoming better, Choosing beyond the sound Of Visiting Americans, Prodigal […] Full Article Poetry Africa fish friendship Kenya language lunch poetry
av I have forgotten who I am. By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 12:18:32 +0000 My shoes are not where I left them. There is a dog howling in the distance, And the sound reverberates, Lifting the dew off the dense canopy of trees outside. The bamboo lamp beside the sofa, Sheds dull orange light across the Persian carpet, And I am not casting a shadow. I have, A […] Full Article Poetry Ghosts identity poetry
av The UK's Decision to Leave the EU: What Next for UK Energy and Climate? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Jun 2016 12:00:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 12 July 2016 - 3:00pm to 6:30pm Chatham House, London In May 2016, Chatham House published a research paper that assessed the options for the UK’s climate and energy policy in the event of a British vote to leave the EU. It determined that:The UK’s energy market is deeply integrated with that of its European neighbours and that it would be neither possible nor desirable to ‘unplug’ the UK from Europe’s energy networks. A degree of continued adherence to EU market regulations, energy efficiency standards of appliances, environmental and governance rules would be inevitable. The EU’s collective negotiation on international climate issues has given the UK greater political weight than any member state has alone.The EU’s coordinated approach in engaging with major fossil fuel producers such as Russia and countries in the Middle East has helped support price stability and security of supply, including through infrastructure investment to make existing pipeline systems more efficient and improve storage and capacity. In light of the decision to leave, Chatham House is hosting a roundtable to reassess the options for a future UK-EU energy and climate change partnership. The meeting will bring together those experienced on UK and EU policy in both climate change and energy and explore the short and medium-term climate and energy policy considerations. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme Owen Grafham Manager, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme +44 (0)20 7957 5708 Email Full Article
av Inner Circle gives thanks for Jacob Miller on his birthday - Singer would have caused ‘problem’ at King’s House, says former bandmate By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 00:19:16 -0500 Long before the existence of the Internet and going viral was a thing, reggae singer Jacob Miller, back in the ‘70s, coined a term that went viral – under heavy manners. Ian Lewis of Inner Circle band, the Bad Boys of Reggae, recalled that his... Full Article
av India Travel, Trip to India, Tour to India, Travel to India By investing.96.lt Published On :: Thu, 16 Jun 2016 05:02:54 UTC We are Delhi India based India Tour Operator and Travel Agent. We offer all kind of Holiday Packages in India, Tour Packages in India, Honeymoon Packages, India Package Tours, India Package Tour, Package Tours to India, Package Tour for India, Vacation Tours in India, India Vacation Tours. Full Article Entertainment
av LGBT India Tours| Gay Lesbian Tour | Gay Travel Packages By investing.96.lt Published On :: Thu, 24 Aug 2017 09:06:53 UTC LGBT India Tours offers best and full assurance services to the gay, lesbian and LGBT clients at affordable rates for reveling holidays and tourism packages to various destinations in India. Full Article Entertainment
av Norris McDonald | COVID-19 pandemic … The US must lift Cuban embargo to save lives By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:26:43 -0500 “The United States has launched a stunning attack on Cuba’s medical-aid missions, with the Trump administration pressing countries to reject them during the coronavirus pandemic,” Steve Sweeny reported in the Morning Star, March 26, 2020. Given... Full Article
av Norris McDonald | Coronavirus, faith-based medicine and quackery By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:16:35 -0500 Four companies involved in one of America’s “largest price-fixing cases” are now behind the anti-malaria drug touted by Donald ‘The Great Impeached’ Trump as a snake-oil, cure-all treatment for COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus. Several... Full Article
av Antoinette Davis: The Beauty Behind Ettenio By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:14:05 -0500 Everyone these days is so focused on the beauty behind hair and skincare lines that they neglect to really explore the science behind them. Creating revolutionary products that are not only innovative but eco-friendly is entrepreneur Antoinette... Full Article
av Ja’s women have combated and won in business By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:16:48 -0500 At age 13, Nadeen Matthews Blair, chief executive officer of the NCB Foundation, challenged the tide to prove to a guidance counsellor at her United States-based school, that black girls can overcome all odds to become powerful leaders. Matthews... Full Article
av Get ready to watch: MLB.TV available for 2019 By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 10:55:51 EDT Spring Training is imminent, Opening Day is within sight and the big league season isn't complete for fans without a subscription to MLB.TV. The most comprehensive streaming service in professional sports is now available for the 2019 season. Full Article
av Here's your guide to Braves Spring Training By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 13:16:13 EDT Here are answers to some of the primary questions you may have as the defending National League East champs prepare to begin Spring Training next week. Full Article
av Braves unwilling to meet Marlins' ask for J.T. By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 7 Feb 2019 22:59:32 EDT The Braves made it clear that, individually, each of their prospects was available in exchange for J.T. Realmuto. But they were not willing to provide the volume of prospects or the MLB-experienced asset sought by the Marlins, who ended an offseason-long saga by dealing the All-Star catcher to the Phillies on Thursday. Full Article
av Quiet offseason shouldn't nix Braves' potential By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 7 Feb 2019 13:49:07 EDT As the Mets, Nationals and Phillies have made multiple upgrades, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has thus far limited his offseason activity to giving Josh Donaldson a record one-year deal and bringing to fruition the desires of Brian McCann and Nick Markakis to play for the Braves. Full Article
av 10 players you forgot were Braves By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 8 Feb 2019 22:37:34 EDT Here's a look at 10 stars that you may have forgotten played for the Braves. Full Article
av Inbox: How to judge Braves' offseason? By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 8 Feb 2019 15:32:36 EDT Reporter Mark Bowman addresses the Braves' offseason as a whole, as well as identifying a Minor League who has a chance at making the club out of Spring Training. Full Article
av Healthy Donaldson could be force for Braves By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sat, 9 Feb 2019 09:30:00 EDT When the Braves open Spring Training next week, their bid to defend their National League East crown will be significantly influenced by whether Josh Donaldson is capable of reestablishing himself as one of baseball's elite superstars. Full Article
av Predicting the Braves' Opening Day roster By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Feb 2019 15:16:51 EDT At some point over the next six weeks, injuries, improvement or regression will inevitably alter the plan nearly every Major League club brings into Spring Training. The Braves must decide exactly how to round out their rotation and bullpen, but for now it looks like they won't have any position-player battles. Here's the first prediction of how Atlanta's Opening Day roster might look. Full Article
av Braves can still win the offseason By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:00:00 EDT We're reluctant to finalize our list of offseason winners because, as you may have heard, there are some prominent unsigned free agents. Not just Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, either. Full Article
av Brown is proud of Braves' rich history By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:18:29 EDT It didn't come as a surprise to anyone when Dana Brown left the Blue Jays as a special assistant to general manager Ross Atkins to join the Braves as vice president of scouting. Full Article
av 10 Braves to watch in Spring Training By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:54:10 EDT Here is a look at 10 Braves players sure to draw attention during this year's Spring Training. Full Article
av Braves notes: McCann, Soroka, Gohara By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:20:00 EDT Brian McCann still laughs about what transpired as he learned the Braves were calling him up to the Majors during the 2005 season. He remembers being summoned to Brian Snitker's room, where he found the then Double-A manager eating pizza while wearing nothing more than his underwear. Full Article
av Braves open camp with eyes on the prize By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:00:00 EDT As the Braves open camp, they'll provide a glimpse of how much they have progressed since claiming an unexpected division crown last year. Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies will once again be in a lineup that has been enriched by the addition of Josh Donaldson, the former American League MVP Award winner who thus far arguably ranks as baseball's top free-agent signee. Full Article
av Freeman pleased with Braves' offseason deals By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sat, 16 Feb 2019 14:17:17 EDT Freddie Freeman spent the offseason sharing excitement about the possibility that Josh Donaldson would not end up being the Braves' only significant offseason addition. Full Article
av Braves' Top 30 prospects list By m.mlb.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:40:23 EDT Who do the Braves have in the pipeline? Get scouting reports, video, stats, projected ETAs and more for Atlanta's Top 30 Prospects on MLBPipeline.com's Prospect Watch. Full Article
av Minter wants to be Braves' high-leverage option By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 17:41:15 EDT As Braves manager Brian Snitker evaluates who might serve as his closer, A.J. Minter has made it clear he wants to be the guy who is consistently called upon to handle high-leverage threats that develop in late innings. Full Article
av Donaldson ready to prove GM, Braves right By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 15:09:18 EDT While playing close to his Alabama home and enjoying a chance to once again work with Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the former American League MVP Award winner Josh Donaldson also understands the importance of rejuvenating his career with his deal. Full Article
av The Braves' Spring Training battle to watch By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:20:16 EDT The next five weeks will see lots of shuffling on Major League rosters. Here are the most intriguing positional battles on each of the 30 MLB clubs. Full Article
av Wave him bye bye: O's voice Angel retires By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 13:51:18 EDT Wave him bye bye. A legendary voice of Orioles baseball is calling it a career. Joe Angel, beloved play-by-plan man and voice of the Orioles' radio broadcasts for nearly two decades, announced his retirement this week. The decision caps a 41-year career in the booth for Angel, 71, a fixture for 19 seasons across two stints in Baltimore. Full Article
av Davis embracing data, new approach to improve By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:07:20 EDT Looking to preempt questions about his work ethic in a nightmare 2018 season, Chris Davis reported to Spring Training in Florida more than a week before Orioles position players were required to. That's when his efforts to rebound hit their first minor snag. Full Article
av Astros have unfinished business this season By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:40:00 EDT The Astros logo outside the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches really is something to see, all the way from Haverhill Rd. The closer you get the bigger it gets, the white "H" right there in front of the huge orange star. Underneath the "H" is the following message, white against orange: "2017 World Champions." It would have been a simple matter to put "2018" down there, too. There was room. Full Article
av Airbnb laying off 1,900 employees due to travel decline By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 14:14:35 -0500 Airbnb says it is laying off 25% of its workforce as it confronts a steep decline in global travel due to the new coronavirus pandemic. It’s a serious setback for the 12-year-old home-sharing company, which just a few months ago was... Full Article
av Putin-Trump call focuses on coronavirus, arms control, oil By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:19:49 -0500 MOSCOW (AP): United States (US) President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed progress in combating the coronavirus pandemic, along with arms-control issues and oil prices, in a phone call Thursday, the White House and the... Full Article
av Cancer screening - does it save lives? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:02:28 +0000 The claim that cancer screening saves lives is based on fewer deaths due to the target cancer. Vinay Prasad, assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, joins us to argue that reductions in overall mortality should be the benchmark and call for higher standards of evidence for cancer screening. Read the full... Full Article
av Zika virus - "it really felt like having bad sunburn, all over your body" By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Feb 2016 15:07:01 +0000 “Juliet”, a woman living in London, was diagnosed with a mysterious illness in November 2015, Ian Cropley, a consultant in infectious disease from The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, was there to investigate. In this podcast, we find out how Zika, once a little known virus causing a rash and fever, has subsequently become a global health... Full Article
av Travellers' diarrhoea By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 13 May 2016 15:23:21 +0000 Travellers’ diarrhoea is one of the most common illnesses in people who travel internationally, and depending on destination affects 20-60% of the more than 800 million travellers each year. In most cases the diarrhoea occurs in people who travel to areas with poor food and water hygiene. Mike Brown, consultant in infectious diseases and tropical... Full Article
av Having hip osteoarthritis By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Jul 2016 16:25:01 +0000 2.46 million people in England have osteoarthritis of the hip, and many of those go on to eventually have a hip replacement - which is now widely considered one of the most commonly performed and successful operations in the world. Jessamy Bagenal, clinical fellow with The BMJ, talks to Nick Nicholas, an obstetrician who has had OA and one of... Full Article
av Reprehensible, but the people carrying out atrocities have very low rates of mental disorders By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:46:46 +0000 Oversimplification and lack of evidence stigmatise people with mental illness and impede prevention efforts, says Simon Wessley, professor of psychiatry at King's College London, in an editorial published on thebmj.com. Read the full editorial: http://www.bmj.com/content/354/bmj.i4869 Full Article
av Helping Bereaved people By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:11:16 +0000 Loss of a loved one can be very painful. When seeking support, some people turn to their doctor. Because of their pivotal role in the community, physicians can provide excellent support for bereaved people and can often direct them to additional resources. Katherine Shear, a physician, and Stephanie Muldberg, a bereaved mother, join us to discuss... Full Article
av Telephone consultations - no cost savings, but increased GP workload By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:02:02 +0000 If you're a patient in the UK, increasingly, your first interaction with the healthcare system won't be the traditional face to fact chat with your doctor - instead you'll have a telephone consultation. The prevalence of these telephone consultations is increasing, and being promoted by CCGs and private companies who administer them - usually as... Full Article
av Have we misunderstood TB's timeline? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Aug 2018 09:46:24 +0000 The number of people estimated to be latently infected with TB - that is infected with TB, which has not yet manifested symptoms - is around 2 billion. That is 1 in 3 people on the planet are infected by the bacteria. The World Health Organization’s website notes that on average 5-10% of those infected with TB will develop active TB. That number... Full Article
av Don't save on transport at the cost of the NHS By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:49:38 +0000 Last week we heard about how evidence in policy making is imperilled - but today we’re hearing about a plan to make evidence about health central to all aspects of government. Laura Webber, director of public health modelling at the UK Health Forum, Susie Morrow, chair of the Wandsworth Living Streets Group and Brian Ferguson, chief economist at... Full Article
av How to have joy at work By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:56:02 +0000 Jessica Perlo is the Director for Joy at Work at the Institute for Healthcare Improverment, and James Mountford is direct or of quality at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Together they joined us at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare to discuss joy at work - what that concept actually means, and practically,... Full Article
av Could open access have unintended consequences? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Apr 2019 11:43:04 +0000 An “author pays” publishing model is the only fair way to make biomedical research findings accessible to all, say David Sanders, professor of gastroenterology at Sheffield University, but James Ashton and worries that it can lead to bias in the evidence base towards commercially driven results - as those are the researchers who can pay for open... Full Article
av Gypsy and Traveller health By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2019 14:15:08 +0000 In the UK, there's an ethnic group that is surprisingly large, but often overlooked by society, and formal healthcare services. The gypsy traveller community have poorer health outcomes because of systemic issues around access to health and education. In this podcast we're joined by Michelle Gavin and Samson Rattigan, who both work for Friend's... Full Article
av Helping parents with children who display challenging behaviour By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 17 May 2019 14:50:07 +0000 Looking after a young child is hard enough, but when that child has learning difficulties and displays challenging behaviour - the burden on parents can be extreme. That behaviour may prompt a visit to the doctor, and in this podcast we’re talking about how parents can be supported in that - what services are available. We’ll also be discussing... Full Article
av I have never encountered an organisation as vicious in its treatment of whistleblowers as the NHS By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:23:06 +0000 Margaret Heffernan has thought a lot about whistleblowing, and why companies don't respond well to it. She wrote the "Book Wilful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril". In this podcast she talks about how culture, and groupthink, leads to a culture where whistleblowers are ignored, and why the NHS needs to change the way it treats... Full Article