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Sprouts Farmers Markets in Aurora and Englewood, CO, earn regional award for making significant progress in reducing food waste in America

By www.epa.gov
Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

DENVER (April 23, 2020)) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Sprouts Farmers Market Store #305 in Aurora, CO and Sprouts Farmers Market Store #325 in Englewood, CO, with 2019 Food Recovery Challenge Regional Awards.


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EPA Honors University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for Outstanding Community Asthma Care Program

By www.epa.gov
Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

DALLAS – (May 1, 2020) In celebration of Asthma Awareness Month, the U.S.


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Small tribes seal borders, push testing to keep out virus

By www.sltrib.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:51:04 +0000


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Neemias Queta’s return to Utah State has the Aggies thinking about a third Mountain West title

By www.sltrib.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 19:12:50 +0000


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Unhinged man shouts he has HIV, then punches, spits at train operator in Brooklyn

By www.nydailynews.com
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:24:04 +0000

The C train reached its last stop just after 9 a.m. Saturday at the Euclid Ave. station in East New York when the man insisted he needed five more minutes before he could leave the car.


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Elon Musk Says Tesla Suing California County, Moving Headquarters Out of State

By www.npr.org
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 18:10:19 -0400

The company's CEO tweeted Saturday that the automaker is seeking legal action against Alameda County. The billionaire executive has been sharply critical of shelter-in-place orders in recent weeks.


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Unhinged man shouts he has HIV, then punches, spits at train operator in Brooklyn

By www.nydailynews.com
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:24:04 +0000

The C train reached its last stop just after 9 a.m. Saturday at the Euclid Ave. station in East New York when the man insisted he needed five more minutes before he could leave the car.


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mb 4.3 SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:52:00 +0000

Magnitude  mb 4.3
Region  SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
Date time  2020-05-09 17:22:32.3 UTC
Location  40.83 N ; 78.58 E
Depth  1 km


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mb 4.7 SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 20:47:00 +0000

Magnitude  mb 4.7
Region  SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
Date time  2020-05-09 20:11:23.3 UTC
Location  41.03 N ; 78.42 E
Depth  1 km


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More data needed to manage future COVID-19 outbreaks in First Nations communities

By www.ctvnews.ca
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 15:47:25 -0600

Federal officials stressed the dangers to long-term care residents and Indigenous communities if COVID-19 restrictions are lifted too quickly after projections in Quebec painted a dire picture of the potential cost.


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ML 3.1 SOUTHERN IDAHO

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 02:03:00 +0000

Magnitude  ML 3.1
Region  SOUTHERN IDAHO
Date time  2020-05-10 01:54:18.4 UTC
Location  44.37 N ; 115.16 W
Depth  10 km


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ML 2.8 SOUTHERN IDAHO

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:02:00 +0000

Magnitude  ML 2.8
Region  SOUTHERN IDAHO
Date time  2020-05-10 02:50:57.9 UTC
Location  44.31 N ; 114.90 W
Depth  10 km


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M 3.3 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:40:00 +0000

Magnitude   M 3.3
Region  SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
Date time  2020-05-10 03:28:40.0 UTC
Location  4.58 S ; 103.02 E
Depth  58 km


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M 3.7 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:55:00 +0000

Magnitude   M 3.7
Region  SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
Date time  2020-05-10 03:37:47.0 UTC
Location  9.17 S ; 112.50 E
Depth  29 km


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ML 3.0 SOUTHERN IDAHO

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 06:11:00 +0000

Magnitude  ML 3.0
Region  SOUTHERN IDAHO
Date time  2020-05-10 05:02:02.4 UTC
Location  44.45 N ; 115.22 W
Depth  10 km


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ML 2.9 SOUTHERN ITALY

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 07:39:00 +0000

Magnitude  ML 2.9
Region  SOUTHERN ITALY
Date time  2020-05-10 05:02:39.3 UTC
Location  38.22 N ; 17.55 E
Depth  30 km


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mb 4.8 SOUTH OF TONGA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 07:40:00 +0000

Magnitude  mb 4.8
Region  SOUTH OF TONGA
Date time  2020-05-10 05:04:00.0 UTC
Location  24.12 S ; 175.69 W
Depth  35 km


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ML 3.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 06:36:00 +0000

Magnitude  ML 3.7
Region  SOUTHERN ALASKA
Date time  2020-05-10 05:26:31.5 UTC
Location  61.41 N ; 151.46 W
Depth  98 km


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M 3.0 SOUTH OF SUMBAWA, INDONESIA

By www.emsc-csem.org
Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 08:25:00 +0000

Magnitude   M 3.0
Region  SOUTH OF SUMBAWA, INDONESIA
Date time  2020-05-10 08:13:12.0 UTC
Location  10.26 S ; 117.85 E
Depth  10 km


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'What life was all about for him was family': Remembering Dennis Barrett, who had COVID-19

By rssfeeds.indystar.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 21:05:00 +0000

Dennis Barrett, an east Indianapolis native, died of the coronavirus in March. His wife remembers him as a devoted father and ambitious entrepreneur.

       


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Richard Stallman Joins Discussion About Changing Emacs' Appearance To Make It More Popular

By rss.slashdot.org
Published On :: 2020-05-09T23:34:00+00:00

Emacs "predates Linux, and was once far more popular," writes LWN.net, while adding that the text editor "has fallen into relative obscurity over the years." Then it reports on a "mega-thread" on the emacs-devel mailing list about how to make Emacs more appealing and attractive to users: The discussion started with a post from "ndame" asking why Emacs is "so square"; the appearance of things like buttons could be improved with rounded corners, they said. Richard Stallman, one of the original authors of Emacs, seemed somewhat dismissive in his reply: "Perhaps we should implement a mode that puts cosmetics on Emacs so it will appeal to those who judge by the surface of things." But Stefan Kangas thought there was more to it than that: I think it's unfortunate if we assume that this is all bells and whistles. Graphical design elements can also improve usability. I also don't know that it's helpful to assume that the rest of the world will take the enlightened stance.... He wondered if there was "any reason not to improve the default look". Stallman said that there are some technical barriers in finding someone interested in and capable of doing the work needed, but there is an overarching problem that needs to be addressed first: The code to interface Emacs to X-based GUIs needs rewriting by an expert, and has needed it for decades. Until it gets that rewrite, changes in it are likely to break something. Stallman did agree that the graphical design could improve usability, "but I have a feeling that the changes that would help are deeper issues than the shape of corners". It was a long and interesting discussion, touching on the popularity of both Vim and Visual Studio Code, while another post questioned whether Emacs should even be prioritizing its menu bar and tool bar. One post suggested "starter kits" to make the text editor more friendly to newcomers, another suggested making Cntrl-C cut-and-paste the default key binding, and one asked whether it was Emacs' terminology and keyboard shortcuts that might be confusing to users coming from Microsoft Word. "You are basically making a commitment to being or becoming a power user..." argued another post. "If you just want to do 'casual' text editing emacs is a very weird choice in 2020."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.


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NVidia, AMD Battle To Buy Out TSMC's Capacity

By rss.slashdot.org
Published On :: 2020-05-10T01:34:00+00:00

Long-time Slashdot reader UnknowingFool writes: As NVidia and AMD battle it out with their GPUs in consumer gaming, behind the scenes both manufacturers were competing against each for manufacturing capacity with TSMC's lines. It appears that early on in the 7nm line, NVidia lost out as it is rumored their strategy was to use Samsung more only to go back to TSMC when that failed By then TSMC had sold out their capacity to AMD. For their next generation GPUs it appears both NVidia is securing both 5nm early while grabbing as much 7nm as possible.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.


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Teen volunteers organize service to help most vulnerable during coronavirus outbreak

By www.latimes.com
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 15:03:46 -0400

Volunteers from six Santa Clarita Valley high schools step forward to help those shut in by the COVID-19 pandemic.


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As more Southern California beaches and parks reopen, it's 'like being set free'

By www.latimes.com
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 20:15:35 -0400

Coronavirus reopening: more beaches and parks


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Hike Machu Picchu: Routes to Get There and Hikes to Enjoy on Site

By incatrail.info
Published On :: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:10:55 +0000

So you've decided to hike Machu Picchu? Well great! There's no doubt that you're in for the experience of a lifetime. However, the truth of the matter is that now you've got some additional decisions to make. You see, there's more than one route to arrive to the world-famous Inca site, and even once you've arrived there are a few choices to make as well.

But don't fret! If you're looking to hike Machu Picchu, we've got the information you need to start planning your trip.

Hike Machu Picchu: Arriving to the Site

1. Classic Inca Trail

The Classic Inca Trail is a four-day trek stretching some 42 kilometers along an ancient road built by the Incas themselves. This is undoubtedly the most famous route to Machu Picchu, and it's the one way that offers the opportunity to enter the city through its storied Sun Gate. Frankly, we've got tons of information on the Inca Trail on other pages of our site, so we won't waste too much space being redundant here. Check out these pages for more information on the trail's itinerary as well as for access to an Inca Trail map.

2. One-Day Inca Trail

Whether you're crunched for time or simply don't feel physically up to four full days of trekking, don't fret--a small taste of the world-famous Inca Trail is still available to you! A number of tour companies offer an abridged version of the trek, either one full day of hiking or a shortened day followed by a night of camping and a dawn arrival at Machu Picchu. Besides the Inca Trail's famed destination, the one-day version of the trek also takes you past Wiñay Wayna, another favorite ruins along the trail. The bad news here is that you'll still need to reserve one of only a few hundred daily Inca Trail passes, meaning that, just like the full Inca Trail, you'll need to book this trek months in advance.

3. Lares Trail

Just north of the world-famous Sacred Valley sits the comparatively lesser-known Lares Valley, and whereas the former can be swarmed with tourists especially during the high season, life in the Lares Valley continues humming along relatively unchanged. So whether you're looking for a simpler, more culturally-immersive experience or if you just didn't book an Inca Trail pass in time, the Lares Trail is an excellent option! Lucky for you, we've already gathered plenty of information on the Lares Trail including the trek's daily itinerary and a side-by-side comparison of the Lares and Inca Trails if you're struggling to decide how to hike Machu Picchu.

4. Vilcabamba Traverse Route

Warning--this option is neither for the faint of heart nor the out of shape! The Vilcabamba Traverse Route is one of the newest on the Peru trekking circuit, clocking in at nearly 100 kilometers over the course of a week of trekking. Though very difficult, the route is especially rewarding--think a variety of diverse biomes and the ruins of Choquequirao, often compared to Machu Picchu although less than 40% of the site has been excavated (pictured above). Though visited by only 5,000 or so brave trekkers last year, be warned--the local government is pushing a plan to build a cable car to the site! If you want to see the ruins in their current, undisturbed state, it would be best to go sooner than later.

Hike Machu Picchu: Once You're There

5. Huayna Picchu

Just because you've finally arrived at Machu Picchu doesn't mean your hiking experience has to end! The famous mountain soaring in the background of most iconic Machu Picchu photos is possible to hike, and the experience is certainly recommended. The views from the top are great, and on the way down you can even take a back route to the storied Temple of the Moon. For more information on Huayna Picchu, you can check out this past post on our site.

So that's it for today! If you're planning to hike Machu Picchu and have any questions you'd like to ask us, feel free to reach out in the comments section below. And, if you've already done one of these hikes, feel free to share your experience as well. We appreciate all of your comments!


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5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Solo Travelling

By incatrail.info
Published On :: Sun, 17 May 2015 05:18:43 +0000

Planning a little solo jaunt across the land? If this is your first time planning your virgin solo adventure, I understand completely how excited and nervous you are. I was once in your shoes.

Before you slap on your backpack and march out that door, here’s a small checklist of things you might want to do to ensure a better trip.

Image courtesy of bluetidalwave.com

Research, Research, Research

It doesn’t matter if you’re headed into uncharted territory or a bustling metropolis, it only helps if you already know what to expect when you set foot in your destination. A quick google search should give you enough information on things like the local culture, geography, weather and political climate to start with. Oh, and do not forget to check out the local laws, either-written and unwritten. People have in the past gotten into trouble for using the wrong gesture or for looking the wrong person in the eye. Did you also know that shaking your head can be interpreted as ‘yes’ in India?

“Hi, would you like to buy some drugs?

– Nervously shakes head –

“Great! Here’s two kilograms of cocaine!”

Kuh-Myoo-Nick-Ashion

Learn a few words and phrases from the local language and the appropriate situations to use them in. You would be surprised at how much a ‘Yallah’ or a ‘Habibi’ can get people to warm up to you in the Middle East. Also, knowing the language makes ordering food that much easier. Just saying.

Who Ya’ Gonna Call?

It’s very useful to have in hand a bunch of contacts that you can get in touch with if-knock on wood- you should ever find yourself in trouble, eg: Your home country’s Embassy/Consulate(stolen passports are a thing in some countries you know?), local emergency numbers etc. If you have friends or relatives in the country/area, make sure you have their numbers as well. There’s no telling what kind of emergency you might encounter on the road.

Link Up With Other Travellers And Locals!

This is for many people, the single greatest reward of solo travel-meeting new people. There’s so much you discover from engaging with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Yes, I’m being captain obvious here, but it’s a point that just had to be reiterated.  Being alive in the internet age has its perks.

A slew of apps and websites have made it that much easier for travelers to get in touch with people at their destinations. It doesn’t matter if you’re just hanging out with your host from ‘AirBnB’ and ‘Couchsurfing’ or finding fellow travelers to share in your adventure from ‘Penroads’, you’re guaranteed to meet some cool people on your journey. As a matter of fact, Penroads is the best way for you to connect with international travellers coming in from all over the world, so it’s definitely a useful tool to have (It’s a shameless plug. I am so sorry. But it really works!).

Stay Healthy!

Last but never the least, take care of your body. Stay hydrated. It’s no good if your mind yells “Onward!” and your body groans “Hell no!”. Find out if you need to get vaccinated before setting off. Carry some basic medicines and bandages if you can, especially if you’re venturing into the wilderness. On occasion you might have to be careful about where and what you eat as well. Talk to someone who has travelled to India and you just might hear the story about how the delicious chicken Tikka from a street vendor gave them a bad case of ‘Delhi Belly’.

Happy tripping!

Parag Murali is the Marketing & Happiness Manager at penroads.com. He combines his love for travelling and people into a daily passion for bringing travellers together. You can contact him at parag@penroads.com for just about anything, so feel free!

 


Full Article

  • Hiking and Trekking
  • Machu Picchu Inca Trail
  • Tips and Things To Know
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News24.com | Haroon Bhorat: Economic fallout is ferocious, but health crisis must be focus

By www.news24.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:47:32 +0200

Ultimately, there are no easy solutions to reigniting a Covid-19 affected economy. It is evident, however, that addressing the public health crisis is non-negotiable, writes Haroon Bhorat.


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Sport24.co.za | Stewart prepared for first county cricket wipeout since WWII

By www.sport24.co.za
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 22:03:35 +0200

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has reluctantly accepted there could yet be a long-term good for the county game if it is wiped out in 2020.


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'Happy to be out': Canadian cruise ship crew members return home after months at sea

By www.ctvnews.ca
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 21:22:50 -0400

Canadians working aboard two cruise ships who weren't allowed to come to shore because of concerns about COVID-19 are finally able to return home.


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'Of course, I'm worried': PM Trudeau expresses concern about Quebec's reopening plans

By www.ctvnews.ca
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 14:32:48 -0400

As Quebec begins to reopen schools and businesses, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he’s ‘worried’ about the province’s deconfinement plans, particularly in Montreal.


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Last camper moves out of Oppenheimer Park as cleanup begins

By bc.ctvnews.ca
Published On :: Sat, 9 May 2020 17:45:00 -0700

Police and City of Vancouver park rangers escorted the last person living in Oppenheimer Park out of the tent city Saturday afternoon, moments before crews with excavators moved in to clean up the mountains of trash left behind.


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Mark Levin on Michael Flynn Bombshell Documents: This Is “Barack Obama’s Blue Dress” Without The DNA

By 100percentfedup.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 18:01:57 +0000

The following article, Mark Levin on Michael Flynn Bombshell Documents: This Is “Barack Obama’s Blue Dress” Without The DNA, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Mark Levin nailed the importance of the newly released documents that cleared Michael Flynn and pinned Obama to the wall. He says that the documents are “Barack Obama’s Blue Dress” without the “DNA” alluding to the blue dress from Monica Lewinsky that proved Bill Clinton’s guilt. Levin begins by praising AG Bill Barr and then […]

Continue reading: Mark Levin on Michael Flynn Bombshell Documents: This Is “Barack Obama’s Blue Dress” Without The DNA ...


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China Looks Serious About 'Decisive' Market Reforms

By feedproxy.google.com
Published On :: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:30:56 +0000

20 November 2013

Dr Tim Summers

Senior Consulting Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme (based in Hong Kong)

2131120Third Plenum.jpg

Farmers harvest in the village of Gangzhong in China's eastern Zhejiang province, 19 November 2013, days after China's ruling party unveiled a list of sweeping changes including reforms to the land ownership system, loosening controls over state-owned enterprises, relaxing the controversial one-child policy, and eventually shuttering forced labour camps. Photo by Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images.

China’s leaders set out their intention to push forward with policy reform following the Third Plenum. The full decision released on 15 November makes clear the aim to loosen constraints on the market, and suggests a dilution of state-owned enterprise influence. A new national security committee could also lead to greater policy integration between domestic security and international affairs.

The Third Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party’s 18th Central Committee took place in Beijing from 9−12 November. Initial reactions based on the communiqué released on the last day of the meeting were mixed. However, on 15 November the authorities published the detailed decision approved by the plenum, and an explanation given to the plenum by Party General Secretary Xi Jinping – in which he acknowledged major problems facing China.

These documents make the implications of the plenum much clearer. In sum, it offers a clear political signal that as China’s fifth-generation Party leadership enters its second year, it is intent on taking forward a ‘comprehensive deepening of reform’ across a wide range of issues. As an indication of the importance of this, a new high-level ‘leading small group’ will be established to coordinate and oversee this process. The decision spells out various new measures, and reiterates many which are already part of the government’s agenda.

More market in the economy

The most important material is on the economy, where the decision makes clear that the leadership envisages a ‘decisive’ role for market forces, and the establishment of ‘fair and equal’ competition in the economy. This will provide a guiding principle for policy-making over the coming years.

One of the ways of achieving this is to reorganize the functions of government. Here the decision reiterates the themes which the government has been working on since Premier Li Keqiang took over in March this year, namely reducing or removing the need for government approvals to businesses, freeing up the investment environment, and allowing businesses and the market to take the lead unless there is a strong reason for government intervention. Better governance is a wider theme of the decision, covering the judicial system and reforms to the party’s disciplinary organs which would clarify leadership and accountability in anti-corruption investigations.

SOE reform

A possible impediment to market reforms is the power of China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and the original communiqué gave the impression that nothing much would be done about SOEs. However, the ability of these so-called ‘vested interests’ to stymie market reforms has been weakened by the targeting of a number of senior SOE-related cadres in the party’s latest anti-corruption campaign, which began at the end of 2012.

Further, the detailed decision suggests further reforms are in the offing. Although the relevant section of the document begins by restating the leading role for state ownership, a series of subsequent policy aims could serve to dilute it, such as ensuring equality in property rights protection and competition; developing mixed (state and non-state) ownership through cross-shareholding and bringing private capital into state-led projects; shifting from managing SOEs to managing state investments in enterprises; better supervision of SOEs which operate in natural monopolies; and removing administrative monopolies.

International affairs

The decision talks about further opening of China’s economy, but the vast majority of the issues covered in the decision are domestic in nature, and announcements such as a further relaxation of birth control policies have attracted most attention. Even the points on military and defense issues relate more to internal management than external capacity.

There was, however, one announcement which could have important implications for China’s foreign policy, which will be watched carefully outside China, the establishment of a ‘national security committee’. Xi said that this was being set up in response to external pressures to protect national sovereignty, security and development. He also cited internal pressures to maintain political security and social stability. It is too early to judge what the exact remit of this body will be, but it could lead to greater policy coordination and integration between domestic security issues and international affairs, at a time when China is playing a more important role across the international spectrum.

To comment on this article, please contact Chatham House Feedback


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How to stamp out corruption in the mining sector

By feedproxy.google.com
Published On :: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:44:57 +0000

6 February 2014 , Volume 70, Number 1

Republic of Guinea

Population: 10,000,000 (2009 estimate CIA World Factbook), GDP per Capita: $588.00, Official language: French, Capital and largest city: Conakry, Area: 245,857 km2, Independence: From France, 2 October 1958

Bram Posthumus

Posthumus2.jpg

A bauxite treatment plant in Guinea but most of the value is added abroad. Photo: AFP/Getty Images


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China's Fury Over South China Sea Belies Its Legal Insecurities

By feedproxy.google.com
Published On :: Mon, 04 Jul 2016 09:11:57 +0000

4 July 2016

Sonya Sceats

Associate Fellow, International Law Programme
Despite its dramatic rejection of the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the Philippines, China is gearing up to play a much larger role in the evolution of the international legal system.

2016-07-04-ninedashline.jpg

A vendor in Beijing stands behind a map including an insert depicting the 'nine-dash line' in the South China Sea. Photo by Getty Images.

It is tempting to read China's refusal in this case to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal in The Hague as the defiance of an arrogant superpower that views itself as above international law. No doubt many in Manila, Washington and elsewhere are purveying this view. But there is more here than meets the eye.

For decades, Beijing has complained that the global order was forged in an era when China was weak and the rules of the game are rigged against it.

But this lament is more difficult to sustain in relation to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate in the 1970s and early 1980s. Beijing signed the treaty as soon as it was opened for signature in 1982 and ratified it in 1996.

The Philippines initiated this arbitration against China in 2013 as part of a long-running dispute over rights in the South China Sea, including over the Spratly Islands (known as the 'Nansha Islands' in China) and surrounding maritime areas. 

Under the treaty, China is not obliged to defend the case but this is no bar to proceedings and it remains legally bound by the award. From a legal perspective, its refusal to participate is thus a risky move, all the more so since the ruling is likely to have legal ramifications for China's highly charged maritime disputes with other neighbours such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

It is well known that the legal proceedings launched by the Philippines sparked a contest of ideas in Beijing. Behind closed doors, some Chinese international lawyers argued that China should prove its commitment to the international rule of law by vigorously fighting its corner in the arbitration. The defeat of these liberal voices is usually interpreted as an inevitable effect of the nationalists' grip on power under President Xi Jinping.

In a significant concession to those on the losing side of the argument, however, China published a position paper setting out its objections to the jurisdiction of the tribunal and formally conveyed this to the tribunal which treated it as ‘effectively constituting a plea on jurisdiction’.

This novel form of ‘non-participating participation’ must be seen against the backcloth of a strategic ambition by China to develop a greater mastery of international law. At an important meeting just two months earlier, the Communist Party called for China to strengthen its ‘discourse power and influence in international legal affairs’ and use legal methods to safeguard its ‘sovereignty, security and development interests’.

Our research team at Chatham House has been tracking impressive steps by China to realize this goal, including new government decision-making machinery designed to promote compliance with international law, a hiring spree of international lawyers and new advisory committee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promotion of scholarship and efforts to show norm leadership especially in ‘new domains’ of international law such as cyber law, and a training programme to share growing Chinese international law expertise with the global South.

We know from Chinese colleagues that maritime disputes are a major impetus for this drive. For years, the Chinese government has fretted about its low capabilities in the international legal field, compared with other permanent members of the UN Security Council and regional rivals such as Japan. Now, impelled by the need to protect its strategic interests in the South China Sea and elsewhere, it is doing something about it.

It may seem paradoxical in light of its bullish attacks on the Philippines and even the tribunal itself, but China's boycott of the arbitration should also be seen as a manifestation of its low confidence in its own capacities in the realm of international law. Speculation is rife that the leadership lacks faith in its ability to convince the tribunal of the legal validity of its controversial ‘nine dash line’ demarcation of China's rights in the South China Sea.  

In the arbitration and otherwise, China has avoided clarifying the precise legal basis and implications of its ‘nine dash line’ claims while sponsoring a vast industry of academic studies to support its position.

In the meantime, China is playing to its strengths, including its deep pockets, in pursuing an extrajudicial approach. An audacious programme of land reclamation and militarization of atolls and escalating patrols and exercises in disputed territories is a clear effort to alter ‘the facts on the water’. And in recent months it has choreographed statements of political support for its South China Sea claims from a motley crew of states with economic ties to China.

While China's rejection of the South China Sea arbitration is true to form for a powerful state that, like its great rival the United States, is generally ill-disposed towards binding international dispute resolution processes, it is not inconceivable that this approach will give way when China becomes more confident in its ability to play and win at ‘law fare’, as we are already seeing in the context of World Trade Organization disputes. Until then, in time-honoured fashion, Beijing is biding its time, plugging its skills gap and hoping it can shake off mounting reputational damage from its petulant spurning of these proceedings.

To comment on this article, please contact Chatham House Feedback


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South China Sea: The Result of the Arbitration

By feedproxy.google.com
Published On :: Tue, 05 Jul 2016 14:00:01 +0000

Invitation Only Research Event

18 July 2016 - 9:30am to 10:30am

Chatham House, London

Event participants

Professor Philippe Sands QC, Barrister, Matrix Chambers
Chris Whomersley, Deputy Legal Adviser, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2002-14)
Professor Julia Xue, Academy Senior Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House
Chair: Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Distinguished Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House

The arbitration between the Philippines and China on the dispute in the South China Sea is coming to an end. The Permanent Court of Arbitration is to issue its decision on 12 July. This meeting will discuss the notable points of the tribunal’s award and the next steps. 

Attendance at this event is by invitation only.

Department/project

International Law Programme, China and the Future of the International Legal Order

Chanu Peiris

Programme Manager, International Law
+44 (0)20 7314 3686


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Will There Now Be Peace in the South China Sea?

By feedproxy.google.com
Published On :: Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:42:07 +0000

14 July 2016

Bill Hayton

Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme
China’s sense of entitlement has collided with international law and, for the time being, lost. The way is open for a new regional understanding.

2016-07-14-Thitu.jpg

A member of the Philippines military stands on the beach at Thitu island, one of the disputed Spratly Islands. Photo by Getty Images.

The ruling by an arbitral tribunal of five members based in The Hague was simple and devastating. It declares that ‘China’s claims to historic rights… with respect to the maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the “nine-dash line” are contrary to the [The UN] Convention [on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS]’. This is a result that Southeast Asia’s maritime countries have long sought. The way is now clear to resolve all the disputes in the region, if the participants choose to do so.

For decades, countries around the South China Sea lived under the shadow of a quasi-territorial claim that no one really understood. What did the U-shaped, nine-dashed line marked on Chinese maps actually mean? In 2009, the Chinese government attached a copy of the map to an official submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and the region became alarmed. For the first time, it seemed that China was serious about asserting a claim to all the land and water inside the line.

On Tuesday that claim was dismissed as entirely incompatible with international law. Moreover, the Arbitral Tribunal ruled that not one of the Spratly Islands qualifies as an ‘island’. This ruling is at least as significant: it means none of the features in the archipelago are entitled to an exclusive economic zone. Theoretically it should now be simple to resolve all the maritime disputes in the southern part of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines can, in principle, draw lines up to 200 nautical miles out from their coasts and agree compromises where they overlap. China is now irrelevant to this process because its nearest coastline is simply too far away.

All the 50 or so features in the Spratly Islands that are naturally above water at high tide would be granted a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. The resulting settlement would resemble a Swiss cheese: large areas of exclusive economic zone measured from national coastlines punctuated by a few dozen ‘bubbles’ of disputed territory. This would not resolve the disputes about which country is the rightful owner of those ‘bubbles’ but it would settle the maritime disputes in the sea around them.

Of course, there are still wrinkles. Not least is the Philippines claim to the Malaysian province of Sabah in northern Borneo. This means that, for the time being, those two countries can’t settle the maritime boundary between them. They could, nonetheless, agree how far it projects offshore.

The bigger problem will be China’s attitude. Its response to the tribunal’s ruling has been angry but curiously misdirected. State media have focused their ire on questions of territorial sovereignty – even though the tribunal was barred from even considering this subject. China’s territorial claims to the rocks of the Spratly Islands are entirely unaffected by Tuesday’s ruling. There must be separate processes to resolve those questions.

China has many interests in the South China Sea – including defence, trade routes, fisheries and hydrocarbons – so it’s not surprising that it pursues whatever approach it thinks practical in order to protect them. However, the whole purpose of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was to create an international order that defended the rights of countries to exploit the resources off their own coasts without threat from other states further away. China was a full participant in the negotiations between 1973 and 1982 that created UNCLOS and, at that time, was a strong defender of the rights of coastal countries.

While it may feel that it has lost out from this week’s ruling, China has much to gain from a strong community of regional order in the South China Sea. Most Southeast Asian countries remain alarmed by China’s intentions − which is why, in the past few years, they have been strengthening their ties with the United States and increasing military spending. China’s wider interests would benefit from a de-escalation of this tension. Reassuring its neighbours would give them less reason to rely on the US.

Putting a new maritime order in place, based upon UNCLOS and commitments between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, would be a major step towards this. It would also bring many associated benefits – not least cooperation to protect the region’s fish stocks, which are facing disastrous collapse. The first step is accepting the implications of Tuesday’s ruling.

To comment on this article, please contact Chatham House Feedback


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South Dakota Governor demands Sioux tribes 'immediately' remove COVID-19 checkpoints because they interfere with traffic

By news.yahoo.com
Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:44:40 -0400

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem sent letters to two Sioux tribes demanding they remove COVID-19 checkpoints because they interfere with traffic.



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