Although it has yet to begin work, the first finding of the forthcoming royal commission into New Zealand’s COVID-19 response has probably just been written by Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier. The royal commission will likely agree with his finding: while it was justifiable for the government to restrict and control the flow of people coming into the country during the global pandemic, this should have been done with more finesse and empathy than actually occurred. The Ombudsman’s report comes on the heels of the High Court’s April decision in a case brought by lobby group Grounded Kiwis. That decision found…
Author: World News Intel
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The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) is an alternative to the existing economic model of capitalism, including the pursuit of profit and constant growth. The ultimate goal is a good life for all people. The idea: the state supports companies that produce in an environmentally friendly way and pay their employees fairly. Through favorable loans and tax breaks, they receive a clear advantage and can thus operate even more successfully. Piece by piece, this could lead to a sustainable and socially just economic system. Let’s imagine that a small café, a local carpentry shop and a family bakery are…
As the focus on a transition to renewable energy intensifies, wind farms are being touted as an optimal way to produce electricity. Wind energy is emissions-free (once the turbines are up and running), sustainable, and relatively efficient; turbines are increasingly dotting both the landscape and seascape. But wind energy’s pitfall is that it’s expensive, particularly offshore. Some studies have gone so far as to proclaim offshore wind’s “dismal economics” unsustainable, particularly without massive government subsidies to keep it afloat. Rather than giving up, though, some companies are trying to innovate their way through this problem. One of these is a…
Hundreds of Oath Keepers said they are or were employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a report published Monday found—a revelation that comes about two weeks after two leaders of the far-right militia were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6 insurrection.”Extremism within our government is always alarming, but even more so in a department with a law enforcement and national security nexus like DHS.”In a joint investigation with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) found that more than 300 people on a leaked Oath Keepers membership…
A rare winter sandstorm swept over northern China on Monday, December 12, 2022, causing Beijing to suffer its worst bout of air pollution in nearly two years. This is the latest sand and dust warning signal issued by Beijing since 2015. A thick cloud of dust blanketed the capital Beijing on December 12, causing the air quality index (AQI) of PM10 particles to hit 999 — meaning it exceeded the top of the scale, far beyond the point deemed hazardous to health.1 Concentrations of PM10 particles exceeded 561 micrograms per cubic meter by 08:00 LT, according to Beijing’s environmental monitoring…
(2022 XX)2022-Dec-14 10:43 ± 00:090.542 | 0.001396.654.9 m – 11 m (2022 XB)2022-Dec-02 21:31 ± 00:010.982 | 0.002529.064.9 m – 11 m (2022 XL)2022-Dec-01 05:26 ± 00:010.394 | 0.001019.843.7 m – 8.2 m (2022 WE11)2022-Nov-29 02:34 ± < 00:010.771 | 0.001989.942.8 m – 6.3 m (2022 WM7)2022-Nov-28 02:24 ± < 00:010.204 | 0.0005311.582.8 m – 6.4 m (2022 WN9)2022-Nov-27 22:32 ± < 00:010.126 | 0.0003216.933.3 m – 7.4 m (2022 WS10)2022-Nov-27 05:44 ± 00:020.712 | 0.001839.5213 m – 30 m (2022 WO6)2022-Nov-23 00:07 ± 00:020.83 | 0.002137.424.3 m – 9.7 m (2022 WR4)2022-Nov-22 02:52 ± 00:020.692 | 0.001788.442.8 m -…
Student debt cancellation advocates renewed calls for relief Thursday after the right-wing U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments for a case challenging President Joe Biden’s forgiveness plan in February.”It is up to SCOTUS to grant borrowers the greater opportunity for upward mobility that is so often out of reach for those burdened with student debt.””We must cancel student debt,” the NAACP tweeted. “The Biden administration did their part in taking the first step. Now, it is up to SCOTUS to grant borrowers the greater opportunity for upward mobility that is so often out of reach for those burdened…
Activity at Guatemala’s Fuego volcano increased on December 11, 2022, producing intense explosions, heavy ash and notable lava flow in the Ceniza ravine. According to Washington VAAC, dense volcanic ash reached an altitude of 5.5 km (18 000 feet) above sea level at 01:50 UTC. By 07:10 UTC, this dense plume was rising to 7.3 km (24 000 feet) a.s.l. and extending approximately 100 km (62 miles) northeast of the summit. A large volcanic ash emission was registered again at 11:30 UTC, moving east and rising to 4.6 km (15 000 feet) a.s.l. by 20:50 UTC. Image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, Zoom…
Selena Gomez has entered the chat. The “Same Old Love” singer has subtly responded to a TikTok video that alleged her weight is affected by her ex Justin Bieber. The clip, posted Nov. 29, featured a montage of throwback photos of Selena labeled, “The reason why Selena is always skinny when she dates Justin.” In the caption, the creator claimed the “Baby” singer—who has been married to Hailey Bieber since 2018—”rathers models” and pitied Selena calling her, “My poor baby.” On Dec. 11, Selena reacted to the post by dropping a sad emoji face in the comments. While some fans interpreted the 30-year-old chiming in as agreeing with the TikTok’s claim, many…
Compared to men, we know much less about how women experience disease. Biomedical research helps us understand the timeline of diseases and how we can treat them. In the past, most of it has been conducted on male cells and experimental animals, such as mice. It has been assumed the results from such “pre-clinical” research on males apply to females too. Yet men and women experience disease differently. That includes how diseases develop, the length and severity of symptoms, and the effectiveness of treatment options. Smaller bodies? Although these differences are now widely acknowledged, they are not fully understood. And…