Kurdish Parents' Tragedy: One Child Killed, Two Disabled in Syria Shelling

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Kurdish Parents' Tragedy: One Child Killed, Two Disabled in Syria Shelling 

"I am not going to go to school anymore after losing my leg. People will make fun of me," screamed Sara Yusuf Hossein, 8, as her mother tried to console her. 
 
Sara lost her right leg and her left leg was fractured when a rocket hit her home in Qamishli, Syria, on Oct. 10. Her older brother Muhammed, 13, died immediately in the strike, and her younger brother Ahmed, 7, lost vision in his right eye. 
 
They are some of the victims of the conflict that broke out in northeastern Syria last month as a result of the Turkish military operation against Kurdish forces. 
 
Nariman Adil, the children's mother, recalled to VOA the moment the rocket landed on their home. The children were playing in their front yard in the Qudorbak neighborhood of Qamishli when the shelling happened. 
 

Qamishli Family video player.

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"I could not see anything when I went out. Smoke blocked out everything. I felt some liquid under my feet. I looked down and saw my daughter on the floor. Her blood was running on the ground. When I looked out the door, I saw Muhammed's blood was running on the street," said the grief-stricken Adil, who said she had barely been able to eat or sleep since the incident. 
 
Traumatized by the attack, their father, Yusuf Hossein, is unable to talk. The couple and the remaining two children fled to Iraqi Kurdistan's Sulaymaniyah province, where they were receiving treatment.   
 
Adil told VOA it was a hard decision for the family to leave Mohammed's body behind. He had to be buried in Qamishli before the rest of the family could begin the dangerous 55-mile journey to the Iraqi Kurdistan border. 
 
"When we took Muhammed to the hospital [in Qamishli], they said he was dead. ... We took Muhammed home and buried him later," she said, sobbing. 

Not in 'safe zone'
 
One of the largest Kurdish cities in northern Syria, with an estimated population of 400,000, Qamishli serves as the administrative capital of Syrian Kurds. Despite its closeness to the Turkish border, the city has been excluded from the "safe zone" area agreed upon on Oct. 17 by the U.S. and Turkey, as well as on Oct. 22 in a Russia-Turkey agreement. 
 
Through the agreements, Turkey aims to create a 30-kilometer (19-mile) zone across its southern border where the Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will be forced to withdraw. 
 
Turkish officials say they cannot tolerate along their borders any presence of the Kurdish fighters known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as a terrorist organization.  

Syrian Kurd Yusf Hussein shows a photo of his son Muhammed, 13, who was killed by Turkish mortars in Turkey's incursion into northern Syria, in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, Oct. 30, 2019. (Rebaz Majeed/VOA)

The United States, however, considers the YPG a key ally that did the bulk of the fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria. 
 
The United Nations has warned that the recent offensive by Turkey in the region could spark a humanitarian crisis leading to "another catastrophe" in Syria, which has been wracked by violence since 2011. The U.N. estimates dozens of civilians have been killed and more than 180,000 displaced since the beginning of the Turkish operation last month. 
 
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), last month said the organization would remain in Qamishli, despite the deteriorating security situation, to provide essential aid to those affected by the conflict. 
 
The U.N. will stay to deliver humanitarian assistance to Qamishli's affected residents "until it becomes absolutely impossible to do so," Laerke told reporters during a briefing in Geneva on Oct. 15. 

No return
 
For Adil and her family, going home to Qamishli is out of the question for a long time, even if life in the city returns to normal. 
 
"In the house where we lived in Qamishli's Qudorbak, there was no military," she told VOA, adding that she felt Kurds in the region were being targeted under the pretext of fighting terrorism. 
 
"Who are terrorists? Am I a terrorist? Were my daughter, that boy [Ahmed] and my 13-year-old son terrorists?" she asked. 

November 03, 2019 at 07:46AM

Christopher Scott (scientist)

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Christopher Scott (scientist)

Heliophysics: /* Public outreach and citizen science */

---

Christopher John Scott (né Davis) is a British scientist and professor of space and atmospheric physics at the [[University of Reading]].<ref name=":0"> University of Reading|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> His research focuses on the boundary and links between the atmosphere and space. He is the former project scientist for the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]] instruments on [[NASA]]'s twin [[STEREO]] spacecraft.<ref></ref><ref></ref>

== Education and research career ==
Scott attended [[Brockenhurst College|Brockenhust College]]<ref> Brockenhurst College Brock is one of the most successful Sixth Form colleges in the UK, offering A levels, Vocational, Adult Learning, Apprenticeships, Business courses.|last=College|first=Brockenhurst|date=2015-12-09|website=www.brock.ac.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>, before completing a BSc in Physics with Planetary & Space Physics at [[Aberystwyth University]] in 1989. He was awarded a PhD in upper atmosphere and auroral physics at the [[University of Southampton]] in 1993.<ref name=":0" /> After his PhD, he moved to the [[Rutherford Appleton Laboratory]] (RAL), initially to support the [[EISCAT]] inospheric radar, before taking up a number of research posts, including project scientist for the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]]<nowiki/>s on the twin [[STEREO]] spacecraft.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> At RAL, Scott worked closely with [[Richard Harrison (scientist)|Richard Harrison]] and [[Michael Lockwood (physicist)|Mike Lockwood]]. In 2010, Scott moved to the [[University of Reading]].

== Research highlights ==
Scott's primary research focus is on the [[ionosphere]], particularly perturbations from below by atmospheric phenomenon. Scott was the first scientist to demonstrate [[lightning]] perturbation of the '[[Sporadic E propagation|sporadic E]]' layer; transient, localized patches of relatively high electron density in the mid-ionosphere, which significantly affect radio-wave propagation<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>. He subsequently investigated the relation between [[lightning]] occurrence and magnetic structures in the [[solar wind]]<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>. Scott has also used novel datasets to study how pressure waves from the lower atmosphere can lead to disturbances in the ionosphere, most notably using records of the London [[The Blitz|Blitz]] [[World War II]] bombing raids and ionospheric measurements from [[Slough]]<ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 2, expected 1)</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>.

Using the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]] instruments on the [[STEREO]] spacecraft, Scott made the first observations of a [[Coronal mass ejection|solar eruption]] tracked continuously from the Sun to the Earth.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

== Public outreach and citizen science ==
Scott is actively involved in the public communication and promotion of science. He has made numerous appearances on TV and radio, most notably the BBC's [[Sky at Night]]<ref></ref>, [[Newsnight]], BBC [[Radio 4]]'s Today programme<ref></ref>, BBC2's James May's Man Lab<ref></ref>, [[ITN|ITN news]], and the [[Discovery Channel]]. He was science adviser for episode 1 of the BBC series 'Seven Wonders of the Solar System'

Scott is the co-founder of the [[citizen science]] "[https://ift.tt/2xj4S9S Solar Stormwatch]" project, to track solar eruptions in [[heliospheric imager]] data<ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2) UNESCO World Heritage Site In London|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>.

== References ==
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Space physicists]]

November 03, 2019 at 06:26AM

Mayor of Lyttelton

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Mayor of Lyttelton

Schwede66: 1870

---

The '''Mayor of Lyttelton''' was the head of the municipal government of [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]]. The position existed from 1868, when the Borough of Lyttelton was formed.

The Borough of Lyttelton was inaugurated on 28 May 1868.<ref></ref> The borough council was preceded by the Lyttelton municipal council, and Thomas Merson was its last chairman.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> At the first meeting of the borough council on 10 June 1868, council members unanimously voted for Merson to become the first mayor of Lyttelton.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

==List of Mayors of Banks Peninsula==
Banks Peninsula District had three mayors:

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Name
!Term
|-
|1
| Thomas Merson
| align=center | 1868
|-
|2
| John Smith Wilcox<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
| align=center | 1868–1870
|-
|3
| ?
| align=center |
|}

==References==




[[Category:Mayors of places in New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Lists of mayors of places in New Zealand|Lyttelton]]
[[Category:Politics of Canterbury, New Zealand]]
[[Category:People from Lyttelton, New Zealand]]

November 03, 2019 at 07:30AM

Sao Chingcha Subdistrict

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Sao Chingcha Subdistrict

171.98.39.70:

---

[[file:เสาชิงช้า01.jpg|thumb|250px|The eponymous Sao Chingcha.]]
[[file:Bangkok Government Building.jpg|thumb|250px|Bangkok City Hall and Townspeople Ground.]]
[[file:เทวสถาน (โบสถ์พราหมณ์) เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Brahma]] Shrine inside Devasathan.]]

'''Sao Chingcha''' () is an one of 12 ''[[khwaeng]]'' (subdistrict) of [[Phra Nakhon]] District, [[Bangkok]].

==History==
Its name after "[[Sao Chingcha]]" or internationally known as "Giant Swing", a towering structure in [[Hinduism]]. It was built in the early [[Rattanakosin]] era, after the establishment of Bangkok as the new capital by King [[Rama I]], only two years. Sao Chingcha was created to perform a Hindu ritual known as "[[Triyampawai ceremony|Triyampawai]]", believed to welcome Mahesh ([[Shiva]]) and [[Narayana]] (Vishnu) to visit the human world.

After the [[ Siamese revolution of 1932|Siamese revolution in 1932]], this ritual were reduced in importance, which was held for the last time in 1934 during King [[Rama VII]]'s reign. However, Sao Chingcha still stands in the same place and has been renovated many times. It was listed as a registered [[Cultural heritage conservation in Thailand|national ancient monument]] by [[Fine Arts Department]] in 1949.<ref name=so></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

Currently, Sao Chingcha is well-known in one of Bangkok's symbols and landmarks.<ref name=so/>

The area around Sao Chingcha was formerly a community and market in the name of "Talat Sao Chingcha". In 1972 after amalgamating theactivities of the Metropolis of Krung Thep (Phra Nakhon) and [[Thon Buri]], The Krung Thep and Thon Buri Provincial Administrations, the Metropolitan City Municipality and Sanitation Administration into the "[[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration]]" (BMA), Bangkok City Hall therefore was built on the site of Talat Sao Chingcha. It was designed by a Thai architect Prince Samaichalerm Kridakorn. Traders of Talat Sao Chingcha has to move to a new location, which is the nearby [[Trok Mo Market|Talat Trok Mo]] in present day.<ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

==Geography==
Sao Chingcha is considered to be an area in the inner city of Bangkok or [[Rattanakosin Island]].

It is bordered by neighbouring subdistricts (from the north clockwise): Bowon Niwet ([[Khlong Lot]] Wat Ratchanadda is a divider line), [[Samran Rat]] ([[Bamrung Mueang Road]] is a divider line), Wat Ratchabophit (Bamrung Mueang Road is a divider line), San Chaopho Suea ([[Tanao Road]] is a divider line), respectively. All in its district.

A world-class tourist attraction [[Wat Suthat]], indeed, it is located in the area of Wat Ratchabophit.<ref name=chin></ref>

==Places==
*Giant Swing
*[[Devasathan]]
*Bangkok City Hall and Townspeople Ground
*[[Wat Mahannapharam]]<ref name=chin/>

==References==



[[category:Phra Nakhon District]]
[[category:Subdistricts of Bangkok]]

November 03, 2019 at 07:29AM

The circus of the sun

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The circus of the sun

Bergetim: Copied in everything I'd worked out in my sandbox

---

"'''The''' '''Circus of the Sun'''" is a poem by American poet [[Robert Lax]] (1915-2000). First published in 1959 by Journeyman Press<ref></ref><ref name=":02">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> it consists of a cycle of 31 short poems that tell the story of a traveling circus. The poem is included in the collections: ''33 Poems'' (1987), ''Love Had a Compass'' (1997) and ''Circus Days and Nights'' (2000).

The poem follows a day in the life of a circus as they arrive in a new town, set up, rehearse, perform and take down the circus. It is arranged according to the phases of the day (morning, afternoon, evening, the midway, and night) which deliberately align with the [[canonical hours]]<ref></ref> and the title alludes to the song written by [[Francis of Assisi]], "[[Canticle of the Sun]]."<ref name=":32"></ref> Lax used his own experience traveling with the Cristiani Brothers Circus, where he would sometimes perform as a clown<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> as inspiration for the poem. In writing about the circus Lax is able to write about theological ideas of creation<ref></ref> and Christian allegory.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

Widely considered his best poem it marks the conclusion of the early, lyrical phase<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> of Lax's career before he started writing experimental, minimalist poetry.

== Background and Origin ==
Lax first met the Cristiani family when his friend Leonard Robinson was sent to write a piece about the family of acrobats for the "Talk of the Town" section of the ''[[The New Yorker]].''<ref></ref> The Cristiani family left a lasting impression on Lax. Several years after meeting them he suggested to ''The New Yorker'' that he travel with the Cristiani family and write a "Reporter at Large" story for the magazine. In 1948 Lax was given a $500 dollar advance for the project and spent the next month traveling with the Cristiani family and their circus.<ref></ref> Over the next three years he would work on what wold become "The Circus of the Sun."<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

In the summer of 1949 after having left the circus, Lax, along with his childhood friend [[Ad Reinhardt]] went to live with artist Robert Gibney and writer/editor [[Nancy Flagg Gibney]] in [[Henley Cay]].<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> There Lax worked on writing his account of traveling with the circus. After Henley Cay, Lax returned to his hometown of [[Olean, New York|Olean, NY]] and set up in the basement of the library at [[St. Bonaventure University|St Bonaventure University]] and worked on the poem everyday.<ref></ref><ref>Spaeth, Paul. 2000. "Introduction." ''Circus Days and Nights.'' New York: The Overlook Press, p. 13</ref> In 1950 an excerpt of "The Circus of the Sun" was published in ''New Story'' and presented as part of a forthcoming novel.<ref name=":02" /> When published 7 years later by Journeyman Press, the excerpt published in ''New Story'' was included, now as a poem known as "The sunset city..." Another excerpt, this time containing nearly a third of the completed poem and titled "The Circus", was published in ''New World Writing #13'' in 1958.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

After completing the poem Lax struggled to find a publisher. Eventually, Emil Antonucci, an artist who had made illustrations "The Circus of the Sun" offered to use the money he received from a Guggenheim grant to found Journeyman Press and publish the poem. This began a life long collaboration between Lax and Antonucci began.<ref> Commonweal Magazine|website=www.commonwealmagazine.org|access-date=2019-10-24}}</ref><ref name=":12"></ref>

== Themes and Tone ==
The poem relies on several Biblical allusions to develop what Michael McGregor called an "analogy between circus and Creation."<ref></ref> Paul Spaeth identifies the opening of "The Circus of the Sun" as a "reworking of the Genesis account of creation."<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> While James Uebbing sees the same lines as an improvisation "on the prologue of [[Gospel of John|St. John's Gospel]]" before calling the overall tone of the poem reticent and distinctive.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Strengthening the connection between the Bible and the circus, [[Thomas Merton]] wrote that the circus was, "symbol and sacrament, cosmos and church."<ref name=":42"></ref>

In her assessment of "The Circus of the Sun" in the ''Encyclopedia of Catholic Literature'' Jeannine Mizingou writes that Lax uses the circus as a "microcosm of the universe" that "manifests variety and difference and yet a constant unity and community." McGregor supports this view of the poem when he writes, "the Cristianis remained his vision of how to live in the world as individuals and as a community."<ref></ref> The theme of individuals and community is reinforced through the structure of the poem itself, where the poems are individual, various, and different while also unified as a whole. As [[Denise Levertov]] wrote in her 1961 review in ''[[The Nation]]'' the poem is, "not a collection of entirely separate poems but a unified book of variations on a theme."<ref name=":32" /> Another central theme identified by Mizingou is grace, writing that in the poem the circus is a place where, "grace enables human beings to relate to others without dominance and without violence."<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Mizingou's reading builds off of the way Thomas Merton saw the poem demonstrating, "the importance of human love."<ref name=":42" />

== Critical Reception ==
Shortly after "The Circus of the Sun" was published, [[E. E. Cummings|ee cummings]], having also written poems about the circus, invited Lax over to his house to drink tea and talk about the circus.<ref name=":12" /> Despite cummings kind invitation and many other poets stated admiration of the poem, "The Circus of the Sun" was not widely reviewed. A fact lamented by Thomas McDonnell in ''[[Commonweal (magazine)|Commonweal]].'' In the same article McDonnell calls the poem a "praise of creation" and compares it to [[Gabriel Marcel]]'s "concept of ''man's nuptial bond with being."''<ref name=":22">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Although not heavily review, when it was reviewed it generally received high praise. Denise Levertov writing for ''The Nation'' called the poem "dreamlike and vivid" before drawing favorable comparisons to [[Gerard Manley Hopkins|Gerard Manly Hopkins]].<ref name=":32" /> In a review for ''Stars and Stripes'' William Claire said the poem evoked "the wonder and beauty of motion and people and ideas and faith..."<ref>Claire, William. "Letter to Robert Lax." 4 April, 1960. Robert Lax Papers, Columbia University.</ref> Thomas Merton told Lax in a letter that it was, "one very fine book"<ref></ref> while poet and critic, R.C. Kenedy wrote of the "The sunset city..." section, "[it] must be one of the greatest poems in the English language" and called it's rhythm "the most blood-curdling... yet devised by poet."<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> In his introduction to the collection ''Circus Days and Nights'' Paul Spaeth quotes another appreciation penned by Kenedy referring to "The Circus of the Sun" as one of "the finest volume of poems published by an English-speaking poet of the generation which comes in the wake of T.S. Eliot."<ref>Spaeth, Paul. 2000. "Introduction." ''Circus Days and Nights.'' New York: The Overlook Press, p. 21.</ref> [[William Packard (author)|William Packard]], writer and editor of [[New York Quarterly]] described the effect of the poem, "the same as... the first chapter of Genesis: there is movement and truth because there is order and purpose."<ref>Packard, William. (1999). "The Circus of the Sun by Robert Lax." ''The ABCs of Robert Lax''. Exeter: Stride Conversations, p. 178.</ref>

== References ==

November 03, 2019 at 07:22AM

Christopher Scott (scientist)

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Christopher Scott (scientist)

Heliophysics: /* Public outreach and citizen science */

---

Christopher John Scott (né Davis) is a British scientist and professor of space and atmospheric physics at the [[University of Reading]].<ref name=":0"> University of Reading|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> His research focuses on the boundary and links between the atmosphere and space. He is the former project scientist for the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]] instruments on [[NASA]]'s twin [[STEREO]] spacecraft.<ref></ref><ref></ref>

== Education and research career ==
Scott attended [[Brockenhurst College|Brockenhust College]]<ref> Brockenhurst College Brock is one of the most successful Sixth Form colleges in the UK, offering A levels, Vocational, Adult Learning, Apprenticeships, Business courses.|last=College|first=Brockenhurst|date=2015-12-09|website=www.brock.ac.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>, before completing a BSc in Physics with Planetary & Space Physics at [[Aberystwyth University]] in 1989. He was awarded a PhD in upper atmosphere and auroral physics at the [[University of Southampton]] in 1993.<ref name=":0" /> After his PhD, he moved to the [[Rutherford Appleton Laboratory]] (RAL), initially to support the [[EISCAT]] inospheric radar, before taking up a number of research posts, including project scientist for the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]]<nowiki/>s on the twin [[STEREO]] spacecraft.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> At RAL, Scott worked closely with [[Richard Harrison (scientist)|Richard Harrison]] and [[Michael Lockwood (physicist)|Mike Lockwood]]. In 2010, Scott moved to the [[University of Reading]].

== Research highlights ==
Scott's primary research focus is on the [[ionosphere]], particularly perturbations from below by atmospheric phenomenon. Scott was the first scientist to demonstrate [[lightning]] perturbation of the '[[Sporadic E propagation|sporadic E]]' layer; transient, localized patches of relatively high electron density in the mid-ionosphere, which significantly affect radio-wave propagation<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>. He subsequently investigated the relation between [[lightning]] occurrence and magnetic structures in the [[solar wind]]<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>. Scott has also used novel datasets to study how pressure waves from the lower atmosphere can lead to disturbances in the ionosphere, most notably using records of the London [[The Blitz|Blitz]] [[World War II]] bombing raids and ionospheric measurements from [[Slough]]<ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 2, expected 1)</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>.

Using the [[Heliospheric imager|Heliospheric Imager]] instruments on the [[STEREO]] spacecraft, Scott made the first observations of a [[Coronal mass ejection|solar eruption]] tracked continuously from the Sun to the Earth.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

== Public outreach and citizen science ==
Scott is actively involved in the public communication and promotion of science. He has made numerous appearances on TV and radio, most notably the BBC's [[Sky at Night]]<ref></ref>, [[Newsnight]], BBC [[Radio 4]]'s Today programme<ref></ref>, BBC2's James May's Man Lab<ref></ref>, [[ITN|ITN news]], and the [[Discovery Channel]]. He was science adviser for episode 1 of the BBC series 'Seven Wonders of the Solar System'

Scott is the co-founder of the [[citizen science]] "[https://ift.tt/2xj4S9S Solar Stormwatch]" project, to track solar eruptions in [[heliospheric imager]] data<ref></ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2) UNESCO World Heritage Site In London|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>.

== References ==
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Space physicists]]

November 03, 2019 at 06:26AM

Thai cave where soccer team was dramatically rescued reopens to tourists

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Thai cave where soccer team was dramatically rescued reopens to tourists Thailand's government has officially reopened the cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped during a rescue saga that received worldwide attention last year.
November 03, 2019 at 04:23AM

Demi Moore waited years to release her tell-all memoir for this reason

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Demi Moore waited years to release her tell-all memoir for this reason Demi Moore had the idea to write a memoir years ago but held back.
November 02, 2019 at 08:00PM

Soil in Tanqwa Abergele

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Soil in Tanqwa Abergele

Jnyssen: new page

---

[[File:Chromic Vertisol in Agbe.jpg|thumb|Chromic Vertisol in Agbe (D is location of Colluvic Calcic Luvisol F Lithic Leptosol)]]
The '''soils of the [[Abergele (woreda) |Tanqwa Abergele]] ''woreda''''' (district) in [[Tigray Region|Tigray]] ([[Ethiopia]]) reflect its longstanding agricultural history, highly seasonal rainfall regime, relatively high temperatures, overall dominance of [[Precambrian]] [[metamorphic]] rocks and steep slopes.<ref name="plosone">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref></ref>

== Factors contributing to soil diversity ==
=== Climate ===
Annual rainfall depth is very variable with an average of around 600-800&nbsp;mm.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Most rains fall during the main rainy season, which typically extends from June to September.
Mean temperature in woreda town [[Yechila]] is 25.4&nbsp;°C, oscillating between average daily minimum of 14.6&nbsp;°C and maximum of 35.6&nbsp;°C. The contrasts between day and night air temperatures are much larger than seasonal contrasts.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

=== Geology===
[[File:Black meta-limestone outcropping near Taget.jpg|thumb|Black meta-limestone outcropping near Taget]]
From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
* [[Adigrat Sandstone]]
* [[Edaga Arbi Glacials]]
* [[Precambrian]] [[metamorphic]] rocks
* [[Quaternary]] [[alluvium]] and freshwater [[tufa]]<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

=== Topography ===
As part of the [[Ethiopian highlands]] the land has undergone a rapid [[tectonic uplift]], leading the occurrence of mountain peaks, plateaus, valleys and gorges.

=== Land use ===
[[File:Meta limestone hills at Sh&#039;ate Hegum.jpg|thumb|Meta limestone hills at Sho'ate Hegum]]
Generally speaking the level lands and intermediate slopes are occupied by cropland, while there is [[rangeland]] and shrubs on the steeper slopes. Remnant forests occur around [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Orthodox Christian]] churches and a few inaccessible places. A recent trend is the widespread planting of [[eucalyptus]] trees.

=== Environmental changes ===
Soil degradation in this district became important when humans started deforestation almost 5000 years ago.<ref name=''esr''>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Depending on land use history, locations have been exposed in varying degrees to such land degradation.

== Geomorphic regions and soil units ==
Given the complex geology and topography of the district, it has been organised into [[land systems]] - areas with specific and unique geomorphic and geological characteristics, characterised by a particular soil distribution along the [[catena (soil)|soil catena]].<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Soil types are classified in line with [[World Reference Base for Soil Resources]] and reference made to main characteristics that can be observed in the field.

==== [[Adigrat Sandstone]] cliff and footslope ====
[[File:Adigrat Sandstone cliff and footslope in Avergele.tif|thumb| upright=2|Typical catena on the Adigrat Sandstone cliff and footslope in and near Abergele]]
[[File:Lithic Leptosol in Agbe Ethiopia profile.jpg|thumb|left|Lithic Leptosol profile]]
[[File:Lithic Leptosol in Agbe Ethiopia.jpg|thumb|left|Lithic Leptosol in Agbe]]
[[File:Haplic Planosol near Abiy Addi.tif|thumb|left|Haplic Planosol along the road to Abiy Addi]]
* Associated soil types
** complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic) [[Leptosol]]) (1)
** shallow, stony sandy [[loam soils (Eutric [[Regosol]] and [[Cambisol]]) (21)
* Inclusions
** shallow, dry soils with very high amounts of stones (Leptic and Skeletic [[Cambisol]] and [[Regosol]]) (4)
** deep, dark cracking [[clay]]s with good fertility, but problems of [[waterlogging (agriculture) |waterlogging]] (Chromic and Pellic [[Vertisol]]) (12)
** soils with stagnating water due to an abrupt textural change such as [[sand]] over [[clay]] (Haplic Planosol]]) (34)

==== Alluvial plain of Giba River in Abergele ====
[[File:Alluvial plain of Giba River in Avergele.tif|thumb| upright=2|Typical catena in the alluvial plain of Giba River in Abergele]]
* Associated soil types
**deep dark cracking [[clay]]s with very good natural fertility, [[waterlogging (agriculture) |waterlogged]] during the wet season (Chromic [[Vertisol]], Pellic [[Vertisol]]) (12)
** brown loamy sands developed on alluvium along Giba River ([[Fluvisol]]) (30)
* Inclusion: stony, dark cracking [[clay]]s with good natural fertility (Vertic [[Cambisol]]) (10)

====Gallery: soils in Tanqwa Abergele====
<gallery>
File:Colluvic Calcic Luvisol in Agbe Ethiopia profile.jpg||Colluvic Calcic Luvisol profile
File:Colluvic Calcic Luvisol in Agbe Ethiopia.jpg|Colluvic Calcic Luvisol in Agbe
File:Calcaric Rendzic Leptosol in Taget Ethiopia profile.jpg|Calcaric Rendzic Leptosol profile
File:Calcaric Rendzic Leptosol in Taget Ethiopia.jpg|Calcaric Rendzic Leptosol in Taget
File:Pellic Vertisol in Taget Ethiopia profile.jpg|Pellic Vertisol profile
[[File:Pellic Vertisol in Taget Ethiopia.jpg|Pellic Vertisol in Taget
</gallery>


==== Catena on metamorphic limestone in Abergele ====
[[File:Metamorphic limestone catena in Abergele.tif|thumb| upright=2|Metamorphic limestone catena in Abergele]]
[[File:Epileptic Protovertic Cambisol in Taget Ethiopia profile.jpg|thumb|left|Epileptic Protovertic Cambisol profile]]
[[File:Epileptic Protovertic Cambisol in Taget Ethiopia.jpg|thumb|left|Epileptic Protovertic Cambisol in Taget]]
* Associated soil types
** moderately deep, stony, dark cracking clays on calcaric material (Calcaric Vertic [[Cambisol]]) (17)
** shallow, stony, dark clay loamy soils (Epileptic Protovertic [[Cambisol]]) (18)
** imperfectly to poorly drained, shallow to very shallow, dark soils developed on calcaric material with a moderate natural fertility (Vertic Endoleptic [[Calcisol]]) (27)
* Inclusions
** shallow, stony, dark, [[loam]]y soils on calcaric material (Rendzic [[Leptosol]]) (3)
** shallow, very stony, silt loamy to loamy soils (Skeletic [[Cambisol]], Leptic [[Cambisol]], Skeletic [[Regosol]]) (4)
** deep dark cracking [[clay]]s with very good natural fertility, [[waterlogging (agriculture) |waterlogged]] during the wet season (Chromic [[Vertisol]], Pellic [[Vertisol]]) (12)
** Brown to dark, silty clay loams to loamy sands developed on [[alluvium]], with good natural fertility ([[Fluvisol]]) (30)

==== Catena on metamorphic sedimentary rock in Abergele ====
[[File:Metamorphic sedimentary rock catena in Abergele.tif|thumb| upright=2|Metamorphic sedimentary rock catena in Abergele]]
* Associated soil types
** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils on limestone (Calcaric [[Leptosol]]) (2)
** Shallow stony dark [[loam]]s on calcaric material (Calcaric [[Regosol]], Calcaric [[Cambisol]]) (22)
* Inclusions
** Brown to dark, silty clay loams to loamy sands developed on [[alluvium]], with good natural fertility ([[Fluvisol]]) (30)


==== Severely incised granite near Giba mouth ====
[[File:Severely incised granite near Giba mouth.tif|thumb| upright=2|Typical catena on severely incised granite near Giba mouth]]
* Dominant soil type: rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic [[Leptosol]]) (1)
* Associated soil type: shallow, very stony, silt loamy to loamy soils (Skeletic [[Cambisol]], Leptic [[Cambisol]], Skeletic [[Regosol]]) (4)



==== Severely incised metamorphic sedimentary rock====
[[File:Severely incised metamorphic sedimentary rock.tif|thumb| upright=2|Severely incised metamorphic sedimentary rock in Abergele]]
* Dominant soil type: rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic [[Leptosol]]) (1)
* Associated soil type: shallow, stony loam soils (Eutric [[Regosol]] and [[Cambisol]]) (21)
* Inclusion: [[clay]]s of floodplains with very high [[watertable]] with moderate to good natural fertility (Eutric [[Gleysol]], Gleyic [[Cambisol]]) (33)



==== Metamorphic volcanic rock in Abergele====
[[File:Metamorphic volcanic rock in Avergele.tif|thumb| upright=2|Typical catena on metamorphic volcanic rock in Abergele]]
* Dominant soil type: rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic [[Leptosol]]) (1)
* Associated soil types
** shallow, very stony, silt loamy to loamy soils (Skeletic [[Cambisol]], Leptic [[Cambisol]], Skeletic [[Regosol]]) (4)
** shallow, stony loam soils (Eutric [[Regosol]] and [[Cambisol]]) (21)
* Inclusion: sandy clay loams to sands developed on sandy colluvium (Eutric [[Arenosol]], [[Regosol]], Cambisol) (24)

== References ==

[[Category:Soil]]
[[Category:Types of soil]]
[[Category:Pedology|Classification, soil]]
[[Category:Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Tigray Region]]
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Geomorphology]]
[[Category:Geography]]

November 02, 2019 at 03:45PM

Neanderthals used eagle talons as jewelry, scientists say

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Neanderthals used eagle talons as jewelry, scientists say The toe bone of a 39,000-year-old eagle suggests that Neanderthals made pendants and ornaments from the birds' talons.
November 02, 2019 at 08:37AM

Turkey and Russia Launch Joint Patrols in Syria

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Turkey and Russia Launch Joint Patrols in Syria

Turkey and Russia have held their first round of joint patrols in Syria as part of a deal that forced Kurdish forces away from Turkey's border.

The patrols began Friday near the border town of Derbasiyeh, where Kurdish fighters have already pulled out.

The Turkish Defense Ministry said an initial patrol covered an area 87 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide and said, "The first joint patrol was completed as planned." The Russian Defense Ministry said the joint patrol included nine military vehicles, protected by an armored personnel carrier.

The patrols follow an agreement that Russia and Turkey signed last week, which gave Kurdish forces 150 hours to withdraw from territory along Syria's border with Turkey.

Turkey and Russia launched joint patrols, Nov. 1, 2019, in northeastern Syria, under a deal that halted a Turkish offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters.

That deal halted a Turkish offensive against the Kurdish forces that followed U.S. President Donald Trump's withdrawal of 1,000 U.S. troops from northern Syria in early October.

The Kurdish forces had been aiding the U.S. in the fight against Islamic State fighters, and many Kurdish leaders criticized the United States for the withdrawal. Turkey views the Kurdish fighters as terrorists.

The cease-fire deal also allowed Syrian government forces to move back into border regions that they had been absent from for years.

Also Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Istanbul about Ankara's plans to repatriate Syrian refugees to a proposed northeastern "safe zone" in Syria.

Guterres said the United Nations would study the plan and "stressed the basic principles relating to the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees," the U.N. said in a statement.

Turkey has long wanted to create a "safe zone" just across its border in Syria to resettle some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it has taken in during the conflict. Turkish officials say the "safe zone" could house up to 2 million refugees and has said that all returns would be on a voluntary basis.

November 02, 2019 at 07:50AM

Facebook and Instagram ban ‘sexual’ use of eggplant and peach emojis

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Facebook and Instagram ban 'sexual' use of eggplant and peach emojis Facebook, which has been caught in a bipartisan battle over political ads, is waging a different type of war against eggplants and peaches.
November 02, 2019 at 06:48AM

US to End Cameroon's Preferential Trade Status

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US to End Cameroon's Preferential Trade Status

The White House plans to end Cameroon's preferential trade status in 2020 because of alleged human rights violations, a charge the West African nation's government disputes.  

U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision in a written message to Congress on Thursday, saying Cameroon's government "engages in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights … [including] extrajudicial killings, arbitrary and unlawful detention, and torture." 
 
As of Jan. 1, Cameroon would be removed from the list of countries benefiting from the African Growth and Opportunity Act.  The 2000 law aims to stimulate U.S. trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa and bolster economic growth in the region, primarily by enabling participating countries to market goods to the United States duty-free.

Participants' responsibilities

Cameroon was among 39 countries participating as of last January. Participants must show evidence of working toward a market-based economy, upholding core labor standards, establishing the rule of law and respecting human rights. 
 
Activist groups such as Human Rights Watch have reported "credible accounts of torture and abuse" in Cameroon, where a two-year crisis over Anglophone-speaking regions' push for separation from the predominantly French-speaking country has left at least 2,000 people dead. 
 
In August, for example, HRW said Cameroonian authorities had held more than 100 detainees for weeks in overcrowded conditions, subjected them to torture and delayed trials. Detainees complained of beatings "with wooden clubs and machetes."  

FILE - Cameroon President Paul Biya is pictured in Yaounde, Oct. 7, 2018.

Trump blamed rights violations on the administration of Paul Biya, president since 1982. 
 
Cameroon's information minister, Rene Emmanuel, defended the government. 
 
"We think Cameroon is certainly one of the countries in Africa [that] has done a lot in terms of democracy, in terms of promoting liberties," he told VOA in a phone call Thursday from the capital, Yaounde. 

But, he added, "Maybe there is a lot of injustice in our country where the respect of human rights is concerned. So I think we will have to look into this decision."

Critical of treatment 
 
Emmanuel said Cameroon's government was being treated unfairly. 
 
"Bad things are committed by separatists and not widely condemned. The humanitarian organization ... behaves as if they don't see anything concerning all the atrocities or forces who are there to take our citizens," he said, suggesting government security forces were "there to preserve the integrity of the country." 
 
Cameroon is the United States' 128th-largest trading partner, with $413 million worth of goods exchanged in 2018, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Last year's top U.S. exports to Cameroon included machinery, steel and iron products, and plastics. The top imports from Cameroon included mineral fuels, wood products and cocoa. 
 
Gabrielle Hernandez, a VOA Africa Division intern, contributed to this report. 

November 02, 2019 at 06:42AM

UN Confirms Madrid as New Location for Climate Summit

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UN Confirms Madrid as New Location for Climate Summit 

The United Nations global climate meeting next month will take place in Madrid rather than Chile, which had to bow out as host on short notice, officials said Friday. 

U.N. climate chief Patricia Espinosa said representatives of the body that organizes the annual conference had accepted Spain's offer to host it in the country's capital Dec. 2-13. 

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that he was canceling plans to host the meeting, as well as a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, to focus on restoring security in his country following weeks of protests in which at least a dozen people have died. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office offered Thursday to step in, sending delegates from around the world scrambling to change their travel plans. 

Sanchez, who is facing a national election Nov. 10, celebrated Friday's decision. 

``Excellent news: Madrid will host the global climate meeting from Dec. 2-13. Spain is already at work to guarantee its staging of COP25. Our government firmly keeps its commitment to lasting progress and a just ecological transition,'' Sanchez wrote on Twitter. 

FILE - Environmental activist Greta Thunberg of Sweden addresses the Climate Action Summit in the U.N. General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 23, 2019.

Among those who were planning to attend the conference in Chile was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, whose climate protests have helped inspire tens of thousands of mostly young people to take to the streets demanding greater efforts from world leaders. 

The teenager made a high-profile crossing from England to New York by sailboat earlier this year and planned to travel overland to Santiago to speak at the meeting. Thunberg refuses to fly because of aviation's big carbon footprint. 

A little help?

After the move to Madrid was confirmed Friday, Thunberg appealed for help. 

``It turns out I've traveled half around the world, the wrong way,'' she tweeted. 

``Now I need to find a way to cross the Atlantic in November. … If anyone could help me find transport I would be so grateful,'' she added. 

Thunberg voiced regret about not being able to visit Central and South America as planned, saying she had been looking forward to doing so. 

``But this is of course not about me, my experiences or where I wish to travel. We're in a climate and ecological emergency,'' she said. 

The scale of the Madrid conference wasn't immediately clear. More than 20,000 people attended last year's climate conference in Katowice, Poland. 

The 25th Conference of the Parties, or COP25, is meant to work out some of the remaining unresolved issues on the rules that countries must follow in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The meetings have also become a venue for countries to announce new initiatives to respond to global warming. 

November 02, 2019 at 03:37AM

Trump Says US Knows True Identity of New IS Leader

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Trump Says US Knows True Identity of New IS Leader

Just a day after the Islamic State terror group revealed the name of its new leader, President Donald Trump said the U.S. knows the man's true identity.

"We know exactly who he is!" the president tweeted Friday, without elaborating.

ISIS has a new leader. We know exactly who he is!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2019

An audio message distributed on social media Thursday by IS' Amaq news agency called the new leader only by his kunya, or nom de guerre, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
 
The name, according to analysts, indicates the new leader is a descendant of the Hashemite clan of the Qurashi tribe, which by bloodline would link the new leader to the Prophet Muhammed – an IS requirement for any would-be caliph.
 
The announcement, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, also suggests al-Qurashi is both a scholar and a warrior, calling him a "scholar of scholars," while saying he "has attacked the protector of the Cross America."
 
But while U.S. intelligence agencies have been examining Thursday's audio message, officials have yet to make a public determination about al-Qurashi's real identity.
 
Some officials and analysts have speculated al-Qurashi may be Hajji 'Abdallah, one of IS' most senior ideologues.
 
Also known by other aliases, including Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, he is a religious scholar who rose through the group's ranks and is thought to have been one of the architects of the slaughter and abduction of the Yazidi religious minority.
 
Another name that has been mentioned is Abdullah Qardesh, thought to be a former Iraqi military officer, though experts disagree over whether he and Hajji 'Abdallah are actually different people.
 
But for now, analysts say IS will likely try to keep the new leader's true identity a mystery for as long as possible.
 
"My prediction would be that the new caliph would just be just as secretive and just as recluse as Baghdadi was," said Amarnath Amarasingam, a terrorism researcher and assistant professor at Queen's University in Ontario Canada, who has interviewed active members of the movement.

Positive identification information on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is displayed as U.S. Central Command Commander Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie speaks, Oct. 30, 2019, at a joint press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington.

"From a security perspective, it makes sense for them to be careful," according to Aaron Zelin, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noting that for years after he took over, Baghdadi's actual identity was in doubt.
 
Already, the United States, working with Syrian Democratic Forces, has killed one potential successor to former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
 
Baghdadi's spokesman, Abu Hassan al Muhajir, was killed in a follow-up operation in the northern Syrian town of Jarablus less than a day after the raid that killed Baghdadi.
 
U.S. officials also may have learned the identities of other IS leaders in line to replace Baghdadi during the raid Saturday on his compound in Syria's Idlib province, when they recovered what has been described as "highly sensitive material" regarding the group's future plans.
 
The general who oversaw the operation, U.S. Central Command's General Kenneth McKenzie, said the material included documentation and electronics, like floppy disks or thumb drives.
 
President Trump also suggested the U.S. was familiar with the IS line of succession when he announced Baghdadi's death this past Sunday.
 
"We know the successors," he said at the time. "And we already have them in our sights."
 

November 02, 2019 at 01:59AM

Lebanese Banks Reopen After 2-Week Closure Due to Anti-Government Protests

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Lebanese Banks Reopen After 2-Week Closure Due to Anti-Government Protests

Lebanese banks reopened Friday after closing two weeks ago amid nationwide anti-government protests that have crippled the country.

Much of the protesters' ire has been directed at the banks, which they perceive to be part of the political establishment that has been accused of rampant corruption and the provision of poor public services.

Officials were concerned the reopenings would prompt widespread savings withdrawals, but the banks appeared to have been operating normally by midday.

The reopenings came as the demonstrations entered a third week, during which  protesters and security forces have faced off in an ongoing civil disobedience campaign to oust the country's ruling elite.

Citizens demanding political change have been maintaining roadblocks across the tiny Mediterranean country, only allowing security and medical personnel through.

Protesters are standing in rare national unity, also demanding a complete overhaul of Lebanon's sectarian-based politics.

Jordanian political analyst Labib Kamhawi says the widespread discontent among Lebanese citizens and their demands to end the entire structure of governance have been expected for some time, and now the Lebanese — be they Christian, Sunni, Shi'ite or Druze — say they have had enough.

"The continuous deterioration in all aspects of life, including environmental issues, rampant corruption, the garbage issue a couple of years ago, now the fires that hit Lebanon and destroyed a good lot of its greenery, unfair taxation introduced by the draft budget, which was canceled, created a feeling amongst Lebanese that they are all in the same boat and a general conviction that they cannot trust the political status quo," Kamhawi said. "All of these guys are corrupt, and they have to go. This prosperous nation has become really poor."

Clients wait outside a bank for its re-opening after a two-week closure, in Beirut, Lebanon, Nov. 1, 2019.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned earlier in the week, a key demand of protesters who followed the destruction of their tents by Shi'ite Hezbollah forces, but President Michel Aoun has asked him to stay on as a caretaker prime minister. In Lebanon's delicate religious mosaic, where the president is a Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament a Shi'ite, some believe that Hariri might lead a technocratic administration to address the financial crisis and meet protester demands.

But Maha Yahya, who heads the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, doesn't see that happening. Protesters, she said, do not accept it, adding that Hariri is in a "standoff with Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah." She said that "without the full support of Lebanon's political class … any government could be doomed."

Kamhawi says that now that the Lebanese are unified in their revolt, without reference to their religious affiliations, they will likely demand a new political system and will not accept Aoun as president.

"A new system has to be rebuilt as a Lebanese system and not as a confessional system," Kamhawi said. "If Aoun feels that he has to leave, he might entrust the formation of the government to the head of the army and he will be serving as acting president. The government headed by the military could oversee a new referendum or a new constitution. It could happen. I don't see any other way out, if they insist that Aoun should resign."

Analysts say that Lebanon faces a looming financial and economic crisis.

"If there is an economic collapse and the Lebanese pound loses value," Yahya said, "the fallout, in terms of public anger, could pale in comparison to what we've seen so far."

Lebanon is $86 billion in debt, which accounts for 150% of its gross domestic product.

The crisis has raised concerns among within the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration.

In a Thursday interview with VOA Persian in Washington, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said he worries about the situation in Lebanon. "We need to make sure that we don't see a situation where it descends into a civil war again," he said, referring to Lebanon's 15-year conflict that raged from 1975 to 1990. "My view is the United States should remain very engaged with Lebanon both in terms of security issues but also economically," Van Hollen added.

Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement calling on Lebanon's political leaders to "urgently facilitate the formation of a new government that can build a stable, prosperous, and secure Lebanon that is responsive to the needs of its citizens."

Pompeo echoed what he said were the Lebanese people's demands for an "efficient and effective" new government that carries out economic reform and ends "endemic" corruption. He went on to say, "Any violence or provocative actions must stop, and we call upon Lebanon's army and security services to continue to ensure the rights and safety of the protesters."

VOA Persian's Shahla Arasteh contributed to this report from Washington. 

 

November 02, 2019 at 01:07AM

Ethiopia Government: Up to 78 Killed in Ethnically-Motivated Violence

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Ethiopia Government: Up to 78 Killed in Ethnically-Motivated Violence

As many as 78 people have been killed in ethnically motivated clashes in the Oromia region, Harari region and the city of Dire Dawa in the past week, the Ethiopian government confirmed Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the activist at the center of the dispute told VOA that the situation seems to have become calmer.

The violence began Oct. 23 after Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed alleged that security forces were plotting an attack against him. The announcement prompted protests by his supporters. Violent clashes occurred between protesters, security forces and members of other ethnic groups. 

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Billene Seyoum, spokeswoman for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, described the events of the past week as having "claimed the lives of up to 78 civilians."

"We don't take any life for granted," she said. "So, I think it is also important that their lives also rest in peace."

"As a nation, these kinds of incidents have a tendency to rattle many people but at the same time, it is through these kinds of incidents, as well, that we evaluate how we respond and how we react to certain issues."

በወቅታዊ ሁኔታ ላይ የተሰጠ መግለጫ

ከጥቅምት ዐሥራ ሁለት ጀምሮ በኦሮሚያና ሐረሪ ክልሎች እንደዚሁም በድሬደዋ ከተማ በተካሄዱ የተቃውሞ ሰልፎችና በተከሰቱ ሁከቶች የ78 ሰዎች ሕይወት ማለፉን የኢትዮጵያ መንግሥት አስታወቀ። ከ400 በላይ ሰዎች በቁጥጥር ስር መዋላቸውንም በጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ጽ/ቤት የፕሬስ ክፍል ቋንቋዎችና ዲጅታል ዘርፍ ኃላፊ ቢልለኔ ስዩም ለጋዜጠኞች ተናግረዋል። https://bit.ly/2JFvrNJ #Ethiopia #VOAAmharic

Posted by VOA Amharic on Thursday, October 31, 2019

Billiene said 409 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks. 

Referring to the violence as "senseless acts," she called for dialogue rather than violence. Abiy has allowed greater freedoms for political speech and nonviolent protest in the country since coming to power in April 2018. 

"So many spaces have opened up politically for people, for political parties to engage in a meaningful way," Billene said. The violence threatens this new openness, she said, adding that it is "working against Ethiopia and working against Ethiopians and all that people have labored for." 

'Calm has returned'

Jawar told VOA by Skype on Saturday that the situation seemed to be quieting down.

"All reports we have indicate calm has returned to almost all cities," he said.

"Two days ago, almost all the opposition leaders, elders, clergymen and myself appealed for people to remain calm, to return home, to open roads and be patient. So people quickly responded by disbanding protesters, removing roadblocks and returning to their home to their normal lives. So, normal business activity has resumed as of yesterday," he said.

Eskinder Firew contributed to this report.

November 01, 2019 at 11:25PM

Britt McHenry: New NCAA rules are the right call – Why? Because we live in a capitalist society

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Britt McHenry: New NCAA rules are the right call – Why? Because we live in a capitalist society We live in a capitalist society. As such, true talent should reap the financial benefits of its product.
November 01, 2019 at 10:59PM

Haiti Police Fire on Protesters Blocking National Palace Entrance

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Haiti Police Fire on Protesters Blocking National Palace Entrance

Haitian National Police fired on protesters who attempted to keep them from removing a makeshift roadblock made of large tree branches and metal fences blocking two entrances leading into the National Palace.
 
"Keep your distance," a masked officer from the national palace guard unit shouted at a group of protesters, gun in hand. "Stay back!"

But the protesters refused to back down. The shooting began after they pelted the officers with rocks as they began dismantling the barricade. It is unclear if anyone was wounded or killed.
 

#Haiti police @pnh_officiel did fire on protesters near the National Palace after they pelted them with rocks for dismantling their barricades. Here's the video. Reporters had to lay down on the ground, protesters shouted Jovenel must go! 📹Matiado Vilme pic.twitter.com/bPj7sao5Dl

— Sandra Lemaire (@SandraDVOA) October 31, 2019

 
Non-stop protests

Haiti has seen daily protests for weeks, with most sectors of society — including some members of the national police force — hitting the streets nationwide to demand President Jovenel Moise's resignation. As a result, businesses have shuttered, schools remain closed and basic necessities are running out.
 
The mobilization was originally sparked by a fuel price hike last summer. But a corruption report implicating the president's businesses, high inflation, double-digit unemployment and the president's seeming inability to put order to chaos has stoked anger.
 
On Wednesday, the country's medical sector added its voice to the call for his resignation.
 

Today it's #Haiti's health sector that is protesting in the streets of Port au Prince to demand the president resign. Video by Matiado Vilme @VOAKreyolpic.twitter.com/9WRr2bZgPD

— Sandra Lemaire (@SandraDVOA) October 30, 2019

But Moise, who is on year two of a five-year term, has refused to resign and called instead for reforms and a national dialogue to discuss forming a new government. The opposition flatly rejected the offer.
 
In an exclusive interview with VOA Creole on Tuesday, Jon Piechowski, deputy assistant secretary of state overseeing public diplomacy in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, reiterated that the United States backs Haiti's democratic institutions and is "urging all political stakeholders to sit down together as soon as possible and enter into dialogue to discuss forming a government."

WATCH: VOA Creole interview with Jon Piechowski (in Creole)

Cesar-Piechowski Interview video player.

 
Piechowski said if the opposition doesn't participate in a dialogue to get things moving forward again, the situation will only get worse.
 
"We would like to see conditions in the country that will allow (U.S.) cooperation to be completely restored. But until the country has a functional government, we will not cooperate with Haiti," he said.
 
Congressman Andy Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, tweeted his concern about what's happening in Haiti Wednesday and said he had met with a group of Haitian lawmakers who are visiting Washington.
 
"Our discussion confirmed my fears that the situation there has reached a breaking point," he said on Twitter.

"I will accelerate my efforts in Congress to change U.S. policy to demand (for) the Haitian people what citizens of any country deserve: freedom from violence, transparency, accountability for wrongdoing and timely elections of authentic, democratic representatives." 

I was so glad to meet with this brave delegation from #Haiti. Our discussion confirmed my fears that the situation there has reached a breaking point. pic.twitter.com/jaRxqpUtHI

— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) October 30, 2019

 

I will accelerate my efforts in Congress to change U.S. policy to demand for the Haitian people what citizens of any country deserve: freedom from violence, transparency, accountability for wrongdoing, and timely elections of authentic, democratic representatives.

— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) October 30, 2019

 
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida also tweeted concern.
 
"The ongoing social & political unrest in #Haiti should be a cause of grave concern for the stability & democratic future of our region. The U.S. stands in support of the Haitian people & their desire of finding a peaceful & negotiated solution to resolve the current crisis."

The ongoing social & political unrest in #Haiti should be a cause of grave concern for the stability & democratic future of our region. The U.S. stands in support of the Haitian people & their desire of finding a peaceful & negotiated solution to resolve the current crisis.

— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) October 30, 2019

 
 
But with the opposition, anti-corruption activists and the protesters who support them refusing to back down, the crisis drags on.  
 

Protesters use machetes to cut down tree branches for their makeshift barricade to block the entrance to the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 31, 2019. (Photo: Matiado Vilme)

Earlier Thursday, the scene near the National Palace was calm as protesters climbed trees, machetes in hand, chopping branches then placing them across the road to make it impassible.
 
"This is a new strategy," a protester told VOA Creole. "The guys who do nothing but talk have it too easy in the shade (of these trees). They don't want to fight. So, we decided to chop the trees to keep Jovenel out so he understands he has to go."
 
"We want to live in peace. We want a normal life," a protester standing next to him said.
 
 

November 01, 2019 at 08:13PM

Earthquake Bird review – psych-noir with aftershocks

Earthquake Bird review – psych-noir with aftershocks

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Earthquake Bird review – psych-noir with aftershocks ... Tokyo in the late 1980s, where the threat of intermittent earthquakes is treated as a fact of life.
November 01, 2019 at 03:00PM

Balzer Peter Vahl

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Balzer Peter Vahl

LouisAlain: ←Created page with ''''Balzer Peter Vahl''' (28 August 1718 in Lassan – 1792) was burgomaster of Greifswald. He founded the Greifswald merchant family...'

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'''Balzer Peter Vahl''' (28 August 1718 in [[Lassan, Germany|Lassan]] – 1792) was [[burgomaster]] of [[Greifswald]]. He founded the Greifswald merchant family [[Vahl (Adelsgeschlecht)|Wahl]]

He became a merchant on 18 April 1744 in the first estate citizens of Greifswald. The merchant belongs from 1747 to the fifty men and from 1751 to the of the city. In 1755 he became member of the town council and from 1762 the city's treasurer. From 1785 he was the third mayor and held this office until his death in 1792. He supervised the deconstruction decided by the city council in 1782 and the transformation of parts of the into a green area (Wallpromenade).<ref>''.'' 1887, .</ref>

He was married to Christine Elisabeth Venthien (1723-1782). Beside several daughters, das Ehepaar had two sons: Gottfried Michael (1748-1811) and [[Balzer Peter von Vahl|Balzer Peter]].

== Further reading ==
* ''Bericht des literarisch-geselligen Vereins zu Stralsund über sein Bestehen während der Jahre 1860 und 1861.'' Hingstsche Buchhandlung, Stralsund 1862, ([https://ift.tt/2oAUKsZ Google books]).
* [[Heinrich Berghaus]]: ''Landbuch des Herzogthums Pommern und des Fürstenthums Rügen''. part 4, vol. 1, W. Dietze, Anklam 1866, ([https://ift.tt/2JC1YnS numerised]).
* Heiko Schäfer: Bemerkenswerte Funde aus dem frühen 14. Jahrhundert vom Grundstück Markt 12 in Greifswald. In '''' (edit.): . Neue Folge vol. 81, N. G. Elwert, Marburg 1995, ([https://ift.tt/2Nuz0aP numerised]).

== References ==





[[Category:German merchants]]
[[Category:1718 births]]
[[Category:1792 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Mecklenburg]]

November 01, 2019 at 06:59PM

China’s Economy Struggles as Consumers Tighten Their Belts

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China's Economy Struggles as Consumers Tighten Their Belts

With home sales crashing, real estate agent Zhang Yonggang is tightening his belt, part of a plunge in Chinese consumer demand that is a bigger threat to economic growth than Beijing's tariff war with Washington.

Zhang, who works in the central city of Taiyuan, said his office sold no apartments last month after Beijing tightened lending controls in July to rein in housing costs and debt. Zhang, 42 and married with a teenage son, said his income has fallen by half from a year ago.

"I have no money to buy a home and no plans to change cars," Zhang said. "It is definitely the toughest time I've ever seen."

Communist leaders are counting on consumers to power China's economy, replacing trade and investment. But shoppers, spooked by the tariff war and possible job losses, are cutting spending on cars, real estate and other big-ticket purchases.

An employee dusts merchandise at a jewelry store in a shopping mall in Beijing, Oct. 31, 2019. Chinese leaders are counting on consumers to power the economy, replacing trade and investment as Beijing fights a tariff war with the U.S.…

Economic warning signs

Economic growth sank to a three-decade low of 6% over a year earlier in the quarter ending in September. That is stronger than most major countries but a strain for Chinese companies that need to repay debt.

Factory activity shrank more than expected in October, according to an official trade group, the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing. Analysts said that suggested an uptick a month earlier didn't mark the start of a recovery.

Communist leaders express confidence China can survive President Donald Trump's tariff hikes on its exports.

On Thursday, the ruling party's Central Committee affirmed support for private business within an economy dominated by state industry and gave no sign of plans to change economic strategy.

But leaders openly fret over slumping consumer spending and other domestic activity.

Premier Li Keqiang, the top economic official, told local leaders last week to fight "downward pressure" on the economy and "make sure targets for this year are achieved."

"Many real economic entities are struggling amid weak domestic demand," the premier said at a meeting with provincial governors, according to a Cabinet statement.

People walk by a shopping mall reflected in a window of a subway station in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province, Oct. 31, 2019. China's factory activity shrank more sharply than expected in October amid weak consumer demand and a tariff war.

Beijing has tried to stick to plans to nurture self-sustaining, consumer-driven growth instead of resorting to stimulus, which usually means splurging on construction paid for with bank loans. That might re-ignite a surge in debt that forecasters estimate has risen as high as the equivalent of 300% of China's annual economic output.

"China is willing to accept slower growth, but only up to a point," Rory Green of TS Lombard said in a report.

If job losses spike, "of course Beijing will have to step in with a major stimulus," Green said.

Trade war's uneven effects

Trump's punitive duties on billions of dollars of Chinese goods in a fight over Beijing's trade surplus and technology ambitions have battered exporters. But their impact on the rest of the economy has been smaller than some forecasters expected.

And trade overall is stronger than expected. Shipments to the United States fell nearly 11% in the first nine months of 2019, but exports to the whole world were off only 0.1%.

Retail sales rose 8.2% over a year earlier in the nine months ending in September. But some industries suffered painful contractions: Auto sales fell 11.7%.

The pressures are reflected in Anna Li's dilemma. The 28-year-old employee of an information technology company in Beijing plans to buy an apartment, but first she wants a new job. She has looked since last year and found nothing because companies have cut hiring.

"I used to have a plan to buy an apartment next year, but now it depends on the success of my job hunting," Li said.

Growth forecasts

The International Monetary Fund is forecasting annual growth of 6.1% this year, down from last year's 6.6% and just above the official minimum target of 6%. Next year, the IMF expects a further decline to 5.8%.

Some analysts question whether China really is achieving even that growth and say the real rate may be closer to 3%. They blame flaws in data collection and political pressure to make results look better.

Economic activity might be up to 21% smaller than official data show, according to Yingyao Hu and Jiaxiong Yao at Johns Hopkins University.

Government data assume all investment pays off, but much spending in 2012-17 went into unproductive projects, say Hu and Yao. They cite evidence including satellite photos that show nighttime cities darker than they should be with more activity.

That could mean Chinese debt is higher relative to the size of the economy than thought. That might further depress consumer demand because more national income must be diverted to repay debt.

Xi rolls out welcome mat

Leaders are trying to reassure U.S. and other foreign companies that have postponed or moved planned investments out of China to avoid tariff hikes.

Li, the premier, has told a string of American, European and other visiting business leaders they are welcome despite Beijing's 15-month-old war with Trump.

Beijing has announced market-opening measures over the past two years including abolishing limits on foreign ownership in securities trading, auto manufacturing and some other industries.

The tariff war has made Beijing determined to adapt to slower growth and less reliance on debt in what it views as a period of strategic competition, said Green of TS Lombard.

Chinese leaders don't want to use credit-fueled stimulus and "leave themselves vulnerable to future economic and financial sanctions," he said.

Plus, Green said, Trump is "the perfect scapegoat" to blame for slower growth.

November 01, 2019 at 05:51PM

Why Vietnam Can’t Stop Risky Migration to Richer Countries

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Why Vietnam Can't Stop Risky Migration to Richer Countries

Vietnam's prime minister has ordered an investigation into whether 39 people found dead in a truck in the United Kingdom last month were trafficked out of his country illegally.

While the order may mollify outraged Vietnamese citizens, experts fear it masks the government's longer-term powerlessness to stop people from being smuggled into wealthier countries for money.

The discovery by police in southeastern England quickly cast attention on human trafficking from Vietnam to Europe where incomes are higher. Several arrests have been made in the United Kingdom, and one man was charged with conspiracy to traffic people.

But an elaborate international chain of command to move people out of Vietnam for high-paid work offshore has grown so mature, dating back to when Vietnam was poorer than it is today, that government officials will find it hard if not impossible to stop, experts say.

"This is a never-ending fight," said Carl Thayer, Southeast Asia-specialized emeritus professor of politics at The University of New South Wales in Australia. "The rewards to the smugglers are too great and the nirvana lifestyle they offer to the people (who) are desperate."

In Vietnam's less-developed towns, like Da Lat, brokers post signs offering to take locals abroad to find work. (Ha Nguyen/VOA)

Efforts to stop human trafficking

After the 39 deaths were discovered, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told his Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to start an investigation into human smuggling and create "citizen protection measures" if needed, state-run Viet Nam News reported Thursday.

Last year, the news service said, British and Vietnamese governments had signed a memorandum of understanding "to tackle modern slavery."

When a Vietnamese foreign minister telephoned a British official Tuesday to discuss the recent case, the two agreed they would "call on the international community to strengthen co-operation to combat the crime."

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks with Chief Constable of Essex Police, Ben-Julian Harrington, as they prepare to lay flowers, during a visit to Thurrock Council Offices in Thurrock, east of London, Oct. 28, 2019.

Barriers to a crackdown

Public security officials could publicize the issues further and root out more smuggling organizers, Thayer said. They catch people only occasionally now, he added.

But victims of discovered smuggling attempts lack the means to identify the heads of trafficking rings, he said, while Vietnam's special economic zones with neighboring countries make it easy for citizens to leave.

"The borders are porous and people can cross over," Thayer said.

Trafficking networks have thrived in Vietnam since at least the 19th century, often taking women and children to Hong Kong or mainland China for sale into marriage or prostitution, according to the 2015 book Human Trafficking in Colonial Vietnam.

To stop women from entering abusive marriages with citizens of richer Asian countries, government officials in Vietnam now do rigorous background checks on marriage applications, said Frederick Burke, partner with the law firm Baker McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City.

"For sure they will be looking at what kind of controls (they can take)" after the case in England, he said. "They have huge issues with sale of wives. These are not new issues."

Common Vietnamese still see the UK deaths last month mainly as just a case of people being cheated by their group leader, Burke said. Looking at emigration for work overall, he said, a lot of Vietnamese still hold a "grass is greener on the other side of the fence mentality."

A portrait of Bui Thi Nhung, who is feared to be among the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain, is kept on a prayer altar at her house in Vietnam's Nghe An province, Oct. 27, 2019.

Economic incentives miss the extreme poor

At home, Vietnamese officials effectively improve people's livelihoods by encouraging foreign investment in export manufacturing, which creates jobs. The Southeast Asian country's $300 billion economy will grow by up to 6.8% this year, SSI Research in Hanoi says. It expanded 7.1% in 2018, the highest rate in 11 years.

Blue-collar wages of less than $200 per month, however, hardly compare to wages in the countries where trafficked people often end up today. Vietnamese still jump at chances to work in factories in Russia, do construction work in Libya and get hired on British farms.

About 10% of Vietnam's 95 million people live in poverty, sometimes in "pockets of extreme poverty" far from industrial job centers, IHS Markit Asia-Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas said.

The government should address these pockets, some in the remote mountains, but will find it hard, he said.

"Now the issue I think for Vietnam is addressing these pockets of poverty in mountain areas, which is quite difficult to do because (of) their ability to work in industrial jobs — they don't have access to that kind of work," Biswas said.

November 01, 2019 at 06:30PM

October Jobs Report to Show if Hiring Still Fueling Growth

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October Jobs Report to Show if Hiring Still Fueling Growth

The government's October jobs report being released Friday will help show whether hiring remains a key source of strength for a U.S. economy that's been weakened by trade wars and a global slowdown.

It will also provide a glimpse of whatever short-term damage the now-settled strike against General Motors inflicted on the economy.

Analysts have forecast that employers added 90,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5% to 3.6%, still near a 50-year low, according to a survey of forecasts by data provider FactSet.

The predicted gain is an artificially low one because of the GM strike. The strike is thought to have caused roughly 60,000 idled workers to be temporarily counted as unemployed during October, meaning that the expected job gain would otherwise be far higher, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody Analytics.

Hiring has slowed this past year, though it remains high enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising in an otherwise mostly lackluster economy. On Wednesday, the government estimated that the economy grew in the July-October quarter at a modest 1.9% annual rate.

Employers cautious

Surveys suggest that employers have turned cautious in large part because of heightened uncertainties caused by President Donald Trump's trade conflicts. The president has imposed tariffs on many goods imported to the U.S., and other nations have retaliated with import taxes on U.S. exports.

One result is that companies, especially in manufacturing, construction and retail but also in some other sectors, have slowed their hiring or have stopped hiring altogether.

"The fundamental outlook for payrolls is deteriorating, with all the surveys we follow pointing to weaker labor demand," said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Layoffs are still very low and stable, but the downshift in hiring is substantial."

Still, consumers, who drive about 70% of U.S. economic activity, have remained generally resilient. In September, they modestly stepped up their spending, and their incomes grew fast enough to let them save more, too. A rising saving rate is encouraging because it suggests that households have leeway to keep spending and supporting an economic expansion that has entered a record-breaking 11th year.

A drag on the economy

At the same time, businesses have been a drag on the economy in recent months. Collectively, they have slashed their spending on industrial machinery and other equipment, mostly because the U.S.-China trade war has made them reluctant to commit to big purchases. The tariffs between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies, have also reduced U.S. exports.

So far this year, job growth has averaged roughly 161,000 a month, down from a monthly average of 223,000 jobs in 2018, according to Labor Department figures.

October is the usual start of hiring for the holiday shopping season. But the rise of e-commerce and increasing concentration of wealth in large U.S. metros have corresponded with the loss of more than 70,000 jobs at retailers this year. This trend could further diminish hiring by the retail sector, said Richard Moody, chief economist at Regions Financial.

"Given the ongoing structural changes within retail and this year's late Thanksgiving, there was likely much less seasonal hiring this October than in past years," he said.

Pay growth slows

Sluggish pay growth is another source of concern. The low unemployment rate and a shortage of qualified workers in many industries have nevertheless failed to accelerate wages across the job market as traditional economy theory would suggest. Average annual hourly pay growth has slipped from 3.4% in February to 2.9% in September.

Still, data tracked by the jobs site Glassdoor indicates that wage gains should start to rebound as companies continue to compete for workers in the hottest job markets.

Noting an upward trend in wages in his company's data, Glassdoor economist Daniel Zhao said, "The labor market is showing no signs of stopping in October."

November 01, 2019 at 02:23PM

Trump Becomes Florida Resident

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Trump Becomes Florida Resident

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is no longer a New York resident.

The New York Times first reported the story, and Trump confirmed it in a series of Tweets late Thursday, saying he has decided to make Palm Beach, Florida, his permanent residence.

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I have come to love and will stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will be making Palm Beach, Florida, our Permanent Residence. I cherish New York, and the people of.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2019

"... despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year," the president tweeted, "I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both New York city and state..."

It is not clear how much Trump has paid in New York taxes, since he refuses to release his tax information.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo did not seem upset about Trump's change of address.

"Good riddance," the governor tweeted. "It's not like Mr. Trump paid taxes here anyway. He's all yours, Florida."

Good riddance.

It's not like @realDonaldTrump paid taxes here anyway...

He's all yours, Florida. https://t.co/9AX0q1aBkQ

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 1, 2019

Trump and his wife, Melania, filed separate "declaration of domicile" documents in September with the Palm Beach County Circuit Court to change their residence to Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, the president's resort in Palm Beach.

President Trump has been at Mar-a-Lago 99 days since he took office, according to NBC News, and visited his New Jersey golf club 90 days and spent just 20 days at Trump Tower in New York City.

Observers believe the president's move from New York to Florida is likely motivated at least in part by the southeastern state's lower taxes.
 

November 01, 2019 at 02:08PM