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AT#531 - Travel to Patagonia in Argentina

Hear about travel to Patagonia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jackie Nourse about this region of southern Argentina.




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AT#558 - UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Israel and Palestine

Hear about travel to Israel and Palestine, and particularly the world heritage sites of that region, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Gary Arndt from everything-everywhere.com about his recent visit.
Gary just finished up a trip to Israel and Palestine.




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AT#480 - United States UNESCO World Heritage Sites (replay)

Hear about the United States UNESCO World Heritage Sites as the Amateur Traveler talks to Gary Arndt from Everything-Everywhere.com and The Global Travel Conspiracy podcast about these best of the best sites.




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AT#597 - Travel to Chicago, Illinois

Hear about travel to Chicago, Illinois as the Amateur Traveler talks to Francesca Mazurkiewicz about her hometown of Chicago.




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AT#599 - Travel to Madagascar

Hear about travel to Madagascar as the Amateur Traveler talks to Corinne Vale from reflectionsenroute.com about her travel to this island nation off southern Africa.




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AT#631 - Travel to Patagonia in Chile

Hear about travel to Patagonia in Chile as the Amateur Traveler talks to Talek Nantes about her recent trip to the bottom of South America.




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AT#632 - Travel to Central Europe (Prague, Krakow, Budapest)

Hear about travel to Central Europe (Prague, Krakow, Budapest) as the Amateur Traveler talks to 4 people who joined me on this year's Amateur Traveler trip: Darrell, Derrick, Loraine and Holly.




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AT#677 - Travel to Nagoya, Japan

Hear about travel to Nagoya, Japan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Lena Yamaguchi from nagoyafoodie.com about her adopted home.




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Oil from Garbage

As long as we have garbage, we'll never run out of oil, thanks to a technology called thermal depolymerization process (TDP).




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Op-Ed: The Case Against Red Flag Laws

If you’ve been holding on to the presumption that gun confiscation will never take place in the United States, it’s time for you to wake up. Gun confiscation is already here, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. As a result of the passage of red flag laws, 412 guns have been confiscated in Broward…

The post Op-Ed: The Case Against Red Flag Laws appeared first on The Western Journal.




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Cop Gets Shocking Surprise When He Finds Age 5 Boy Behind Wheel of Car Who Had Plans To Go Buy Lamborghini

A 5-year-old Utah boy shocked family and law enforcement when he grabbed the keys to his parents’ car and drove himself through the neighborhood and onto a freeway. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Rick Morgan spotted the vehicle swerving dangerously on the freeway and initiated a stop, fully expecting to find a driver under the influence…

The post Cop Gets Shocking Surprise When He Finds Age 5 Boy Behind Wheel of Car Who Had Plans To Go Buy Lamborghini appeared first on The Western Journal.




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Facing Concerns of Meat Shortages, More Americans Turn to Hunting

Between having had more than enough of the not-so-great indoors and realizing that the grocery store might not always have meat, Americans are increasingly looking to feed themselves by hunting. “People are thinking about where they get their food and how they get their food,” Land Tawney, president of the advocacy group Backcountry Hunters and…

The post Facing Concerns of Meat Shortages, More Americans Turn to Hunting appeared first on The Western Journal.




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Predictions 2020: Facebook Caves, Google Zags, Netflix Sells Out, and Data Policy Gets Sexy

A new year brings another run at my annual predictions: For 17 years now, I’ve taken a few hours to imagine what might happen over the course of the coming twelve months. And my goodness did I swing for the fences last year — and I pretty much whiffed. Batting .300 is great in the majors, but it … Continue reading "Predictions 2020: Facebook Caves, Google Zags, Netflix Sells Out, and Data Policy Gets Sexy"




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Zoom Is YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp – All in Two Months.

If you’ve read Shoshana Zuboff’s Surveillance Capitalism, you likely agree that the most important asset for a data-driven advertising platform is consumer engagement. That engagement throws off data, that data drives prediction models, those models inform algorithms, those algorithms drive advertising engines, and those engines drive revenue, which drives profit. And profit, of course, drives … Continue reading "Zoom Is YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp – All in Two Months."




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Hurricane Harvey: Delivering Managed IT Services During a Catastrophe




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Pentagon Opens Probe Into Sexual Abuse by U.S. Allies in Afghanistan

The Defense Department's Inspector General has opened an investigation into whether U.S. troops were discouraged from reporting the rape and sexual abuse of children by their Afghan allies.




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In Fight Against ISIS, a Lose-Lose Scenario Poses Challenge for West

Western powers are in a bind, analysts say, as ISIS is likely to continue pursuing attacks abroad in retaliation to the loss of territory in Iraq and Syria.




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Send love to faraway friends and family with this video montage app

TL;DR: Give a meaningful gift during these difficult times with a Tribute Video Montage for $64.99, a 34% saving as of May 9.


A Zoom happy hour only goes so far.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate and send affection to your loved ones, regardless of the reason, check out Tribute Video Montage as an alternative to those wonky (and sometimes awkward) video calls. 

Sending a Tribute might just be one of the best morale-boosting presents you can send during these trying times. It's a way for friends and family to share their love and appreciation for someone they want to celebrate, whether for a major milestone, like a 50th anniversary or 30th birthday or just because. The platform is super easy to use and breaks a 10-hour process down to just 10 minutes. Read more...

More about Apps And Software, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Consumer Tech




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Snag this super portable e-skateboard on sale for 75% off

TL;DR: Skate just about anywhere you please with the lightweight Ubran E-Skateboard for $124.95, a 75% savings as of May 9.


When in doubt, skate it out. But not everyone is cut from the same cloth as Tony Hawk, and it won't make sense to try and skateboard if you know you're just going to fall flat on your butt. 

Luckily, the universe is on the side of frustrated skaters everywhere with the emergence of devices like the Urban E-Skateboard. Not only does it take all the guesswork out of skating, but it's eco-friendly, too. And for a limited time, you can get it on sale for $124.95.

At only 7 pounds and 17 inches, the Urban E-Skateboard makes it easy for you to transport it anywhere you go. When you're not, you know, skating, you can easily stuff it in your bag for fuss-free storage. It connects with a wireless remote that allows you to control your speed and choose between three speed modes, accommodating just about every rider's experience level. Read more...

More about Mashable Shopping, Tech, Sports, and Consumer Tech




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Artists donate free, uplifting images to the UN in pandemic response

The internet is a scary enough place as it is, and now with the added misinformation and panic surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, it's even scarier. Thanks to the United Nations and dozens of artists, however, the internet just got a little more beautiful. 

In late March, the UN put a call out to artists to help combat the spread of COVID-19. They sought creatives to create content around six areas of WHO and UN priority actions: personal hygiene, social distancing, knowing the symptoms, spreading kindness, myth-busting, and doing more/donating. Tens of thousands of artists answered the call in two weeks, and now the COVID-19 Response Creative Content Hub is available for browsing.  Read more...

More about Art, United Nations, Activism, Coronavirus, and Covid 19




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What you need to know about product management for AI

If you’re already a software product manager (PM), you have a head start on becoming a PM for artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML). You already know the game and how it is played: you’re the coordinator who ties everything together, from the developers and designers to the executives. You’re responsible for the design, […]




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Legendary East Village corner store, Gem Spa, closes its doors

The Gothamist is reporting the sad news that Gem Spa, the iconic NY corner store that has been a fixture at St. Marks Place and Second Avenue for around 100 years is being forced to shutter its doors and windows for the last time. The Spa has been struggling to keep up with increasing rent prices and COVID-19 has apparently proven to be the final nail in its coffin.

"It’s where Robert Mapplethorpe bought Patti Smith an egg cream on the day they met. It’s on the back cover of the New York Dolls’ 1973 debut (and where, according to lore, Johnny Thunders and others went for post-heroin sugar fixes between sets at CBGB). Before that, it was where Abbie Hoffman gathered Yippies to rain money on the New York Stock Exchange. It’s where Allen Ginsberg, Ted Berrigan, and other neighborhood poets went to pick up the Sunday New York Times on Saturday nights (and which was inevitably commemorated in their poems)."

Read the rest.

Image: Alex Lozupone, CC BY-SA 4.0 Read the rest




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Suspicious package found in north Edmonton deemed non-threatening

A transit centre in north Edmonton was evacuated for about two hours Saturday morning due to a suspicious package.





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How to Become Great by Managing Procrastination

One day, a teacher entered her classroom and placed a glass jar on the table. She put two large rocks into the jar until no more could fit. She asked the class if the jar was full and they all said, “Yes.” She responded, “Really?” She pulled out a pile of small pebbles, added them […]

The post How to Become Great by Managing Procrastination appeared first on Dumb Little Man.




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How Backup And Storage Led To Cybercrime

Technology has come a long way, and cyber protection is the most crucial factor in advancing the future of digital defense. Interestingly enough, cybersecurity was not always an issue in backup and storage; but as technology advances, so do the methods of hackers. Saying this, let’s take a walk down memory lane. The 1900s: Where […]

The post How Backup And Storage Led To Cybercrime appeared first on Dumb Little Man.




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EIT Elsewhere | “Time Out: San José” in Delta Sky Magazine

I was excited to finally get the word that an article I wrote sharing my love for my hometown – San Jose, California – is out in Delta Sky Magazine this month! Time Out: San José (Are you flying Delta this month? If so, pick up a copy for me! I’d love to see it […]

The article EIT Elsewhere | “Time Out: San José” in Delta Sky Magazine originated at EverInTransit.com







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Local health unit credits public with slowing COVID spread, encourages cottagers to stay home

While infection rates remain steady across the region, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reporting more than half of all 360 cases have now recovered.




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'The horror stories get worse and worse': Some tenants taking advantage of eviction ban

Landlords who are missing thousands of dollars in rent or who find their properties damaged or strewn with garbage are concerned some tenants are taking advantage of the eviction ban put in place during the pandemic.




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BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO]

The following article, BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO], was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe has done it again. He’s uncovered yet another deceitful piece of coverage on the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic in America by CBS News. O’Keefe begins his interview with a man whose identity is being hidden, “You’re telling me—you’re 100% certain, that CBS News, CBS News Corporation national—staged a fake event. They […]

Continue reading: BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO] ...




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BREAKING: Sen Marsha Blackburn Introduces Stop COVID Act…Allowing US Citizens To Sue Communist China For Damage They’ve Inflicted On Our Nation

The following article, BREAKING: Sen Marsha Blackburn Introduces Stop COVID Act…Allowing US Citizens To Sue Communist China For Damage They’ve Inflicted On Our Nation, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Yesterday, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced the Stop COVID Act, giving Americans the ability to sue Communist China for the damage they’ve inflicted on our nation. Senator Blackburn appeared on Fox News with host Judge Jeanine where she explained the act to Jeanine Pirro. Blackburn told the Fox News […]

Continue reading: BREAKING: Sen Marsha Blackburn Introduces Stop COVID Act…Allowing US Citizens To Sue Communist China For Damage They’ve Inflicted On Our Nation ...




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Legal Immigrant in Michigan Sends a Message to MI Gov Whitmer and Media Criticizing Freedom-Loving Protesters

The following article, Legal Immigrant in Michigan Sends a Message to MI Gov Whitmer and Media Criticizing Freedom-Loving Protesters, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

The media and even some governors are trying to paint the Americans who are protesting to open businesses up as racists and even Nazis. The Governor of Michigan recently made a derogatory statement about the protesters implying they are racists. Painting a negative picture of the people who want their freedom and businesses demonizes our […]

Continue reading: Legal Immigrant in Michigan Sends a Message to MI Gov Whitmer and Media Criticizing Freedom-Loving Protesters ...




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Breaking: Texas AG Calls for Immediate Release of Salon Owner Jailed for Opening…Texas Lt Gov Offers to Pay Salon Owner’s $7k Fine

The following article, Breaking: Texas AG Calls for Immediate Release of Salon Owner Jailed for Opening…Texas Lt Gov Offers to Pay Salon Owner’s $7k Fine, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Salon A La Mode owner Shelley Luther opened her salon in defiance of the lockdown order for salons to stay closed during the coronavirus crisis. She boldly ripped. up the citation she was given by the police and refused to shut her doors. Luther hired a lawyer and went to court where an activist judge […]

Continue reading: Breaking: Texas AG Calls for Immediate Release of Salon Owner Jailed for Opening…Texas Lt Gov Offers to Pay Salon Owner’s $7k Fine ...




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Chicago Inmate Switches Identities While Wearing Mask…Is Released from Jail

The following article, Chicago Inmate Switches Identities While Wearing Mask…Is Released from Jail, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

A Cook County, Chicago inmate, was able to switch identities with another inmate allowing the wrong inmate to be released. How did they carry that off without anyone catching them? The inmate was wearing a mask when he was released, so it wasn’t as easy to identify him. Last Saturday, Quintin Henderson (pictured below), 28, […]

Continue reading: Chicago Inmate Switches Identities While Wearing Mask…Is Released from Jail ...




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MSNBC’s Brian Williams Chuckles With Dem Strategist as He Gloats, Mocks Trump About Tragic Downturn in Economy: “They were going to lose before this hit. They’re just going to lose worse now”

The following article, MSNBC’s Brian Williams Chuckles With Dem Strategist as He Gloats, Mocks Trump About Tragic Downturn in Economy: “They were going to lose before this hit. They’re just going to lose worse now”, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

James Carville spoke out before the coronavirus crisis to say that there is no way  Joe Biden has a chance at beating President Trump in the 2020 election. Well, He’s singing a different tune now at the expense of Americans suffering through this horrible pandemic and economic crisis. James Carvill is a Democratic strategist who […]

Continue reading: MSNBC’s Brian Williams Chuckles With Dem Strategist as He Gloats, Mocks Trump About Tragic Downturn in Economy: “They were going to lose before this hit. They’re just going to lose worse now” ...




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BREAKING: Michigan’s Radical Governor Extends Lockdown AGAIN…Only One Day After Church Leaders and MI Lawmakers File Suit Against Her

The following article, BREAKING: Michigan’s Radical Governor Extends Lockdown AGAIN…Only One Day After Church Leaders and MI Lawmakers File Suit Against Her, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Michigan was the first state to see protests against draconian lockdown measures by an overreaching governor. On April 15, the Michigan Conservative Coalition organized an in-vehicle protest in Lansing, MI that drew an estimated 15,000 vehicles. Since that time, several protests by Michigan workers who are being devastated by the one-size-fits-all shut down of the […]

Continue reading: BREAKING: Michigan’s Radical Governor Extends Lockdown AGAIN…Only One Day After Church Leaders and MI Lawmakers File Suit Against Her ...




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Woman Shoots Three Teenage McDonald’s Workers For Telling Her She Couldn’t Eat In Dining Room Over COVID19 Restrictions

The following article, Woman Shoots Three Teenage McDonald’s Workers For Telling Her She Couldn’t Eat In Dining Room Over COVID19 Restrictions, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

An angry Oklahoma woman shot at a group of teenagers working at a local McDonald’s after they explained to her that the dining room was closed due to coronavirus restrictions. 32-year-old Gloricia Woody was arrested by the Oklahoma City Police and charged with the shooting. From the Oklahoma City Police -Last night, officers were called […]

Continue reading: Woman Shoots Three Teenage McDonald’s Workers For Telling Her She Couldn’t Eat In Dining Room Over COVID19 Restrictions ...




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Greg Gutfeld Levels Ilhan Omar With Epic Response To Her Claim That “White Privilege” Is Reason Charges Were Dropped Against General Flynn

The following article, Greg Gutfeld Levels Ilhan Omar With Epic Response To Her Claim That “White Privilege” Is Reason Charges Were Dropped Against General Flynn, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Yesterday, after 3 1/2 years of having his character and integrity called into question, President Trump's first NSA, General Michael Flynn was finally...

Continue reading: Greg Gutfeld Levels Ilhan Omar With Epic Response To Her Claim That “White Privilege” Is Reason Charges Were Dropped Against General Flynn ...




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Council votes against proposed cannabis store location in Lakeshore

In Lakeshore, it may be a little while longer before a retail cannabis store opens.




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Owners of new retail cannabis store hoping to open soon in Pillette Village

At a time when store front vacancies are growing thanks to COVID-19, a new retail cannabis store in Pillette Village is hoping to open soon.




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Inhibition of the erythropoietin-producing receptor EPHB4 antagonizes androgen receptor overexpression and reduces enzalutamide resistance [Molecular Bases of Disease]

Prostate cancer (PCa) cells heavily rely on an active androgen receptor (AR) pathway for their survival. Enzalutamide (MDV3100) is a second-generation antiandrogenic drug that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012 to treat patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, emergence of resistance against this drug is inevitable, and it has been a major challenge to develop interventions that help manage enzalutamide-resistant CRPC. Erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular (Eph) receptors are targeted by ephrin protein ligands and have a broad range of functions. Increasing evidence indicates that this signaling pathway plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Overexpression of EPH receptor B4 (EPHB4) has been observed in multiple types of cancer, being closely associated with proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. Here, using RNA-Seq analyses of clinical and preclinical samples, along with several biochemical and molecular methods, we report that enzalutamide-resistant PCa requires an active EPHB4 pathway that supports drug resistance of this tumor type. Using a small kinase inhibitor and RNAi-based gene silencing to disrupt EPHB4 activity, we found that these disruptions re-sensitize enzalutamide-resistant PCa to the drug both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that EPHB4 stimulates the AR by inducing proto-oncogene c-Myc (c-Myc) expression. Taken together, these results provide critical insight into the mechanism of enzalutamide resistance in PCa, potentially offering a therapeutic avenue for enhancing the efficacy of enzalutamide to better manage this common malignancy.




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Expanding Sino–Maghreb Relations: Morocco and Tunisia

26 February 2020

Over the past two decades, China has increased its presence in North Africa in terms of trade and investment. This paper looks at China’s policy within the context of its Africa and Middle East policies to better understand its approach to Morocco and Tunisia.

Yahia H. Zoubir

Senior Professor of International Studies, KEDGE Business School, France and Visiting Fellow, Brookings Doha Center

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and King Mohammed VI of Morocco wave during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 11 May 2016. Photo: Getty Images.

Summary

  • China’s presence in the Maghreb has increased in recent years, raising concerns among Western powers. China has focused on bilateral relations with these countries while also working within the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). However, this engagement has limited strategic value compared to relations China has with Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, China has shown greater interest in the Maghreb as an entry point to European and African markets. China has pursued commercial relations over political influence in the region. Morocco and Tunisia are still dependent on France, their former colonial power, and the European Union, which exert great political, economic, security and cultural influence over the two countries.
  • The Maghreb countries’ economic relations with China have grown exponentially, with Algeria forming the closest relationship. However, Morocco and Tunisia are keen to attract China’s investment and involvement in major construction and infrastructure projects to boost industrial and economic development. While China’s investments in Morocco and Tunisia remain at a low level, trade relations with both countries have grown steadily. Politically, China’s policy of noninterference in domestic affairs appeals to Maghreb states, which resent Western interference.
  • China’s influence in the Maghreb remains minimal. Its soft power push has struggled to promote advantages of strong relations with China beyond economics. Furthermore, Morocco and Tunisia’s populations have generally scant knowledge about China’s politics and culture. China has tried to address this lack of familiarity through the establishment of Confucius Institutes and other cultural activities. However, language and cultural barriers still impede the development of close relations, compared to those China has with other countries in Africa.




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Webinar: Federalism in a Fragmented State: Rethinking Decentralization in Yemen

Research Event

15 April 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Event participants

Osamah Al Rawhani, Deputy Director, Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
Moderator: Nadim Houry, Executive Director, Arab Reform Initiative

Yemen suffered from the excessive control of the central government prior to the current conflict. Federalism has been put forward by many Yemeni political parties since the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) as the supposed magic cure for this significant problem. Today, Yemen is more fragmented than ever, its state central institutions have been scattered and lack leadership and the state has lost most of its sovereignty. The prevailing narrative that decentralization through federalism is Yemen’s inevitable path post-conflict often fails to acknowledge that there are prerequisites for effective local governance, beyond political will.  

In a recent article, Osamah Al Rawhani addressed how the weakness of central state institutions is the key challenge to proceeding with federalism in Yemen and highlighted prerequisites and contextual factors that need to be addressed before reforming the structure of the state. He argued that the viability of decentralization relies on the presence of a functioning, representative central government that is capable of devolving power but also able to keep the state from further fragmentation. 

In this webinar, part of the Chatham House project on The Future of the State in the Middle East and North Africa, the article’s author will discuss recent developments in Yemen, where shifting frontlines and regional divisions are fragmenting the country in new ways. The speaker will explore alternative approaches to pursue the path of federalism that recognize the current realities and the critical need for strong central institutions. He will also survey the internal and external factors that must be considered to rebuild a stable state in Yemen.

You can express your interest in attending by following this link. You will receive a Zoom confirmation email should your registration be successful. Alternatively, you can watch the event live on the MENA Programme Facebook page.

Reni Zhelyazkova

Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme
+44 (0)20 7314 3624




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Webinar: Reimagining the Role of State and Non-State Actors in (Re)building National Health Systems in the Arab World

Research Event

22 April 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Event participants

Fadi El-Jardali, Professor of Health Policy and Systems, American University of Beirut
Moderator: Nadim Houry, Executive Director, Arab Reform Initiative

As new cases of COVID-19 continue to surge, countries around the world struggle to mitigate the public health and economic effects of the virus. It is becoming increasingly clear that an effective pandemic response requires a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach. In the Arab world, where health systems are already strained by armed conflicts and displaced populations, a whole-of-society response to the pandemic is particularly critical as countries have become increasingly dependent on non-state actors, notably the private sector, for healthcare provision and any response that includes the state alone may not be sufficient to address the pandemic.

In a recent article, Fadi El-Jardali, argued that while the pandemic will have grave health and economic consequences for years to come, it brings with it a valuable opportunity to re-envision the role of state and non-state actors in strengthening health systems. The article addressed the need for increased collaboration between state and non-state actors, and the rethinking of existing cooperation models to provide quality healthcare services for all.  

In this webinar, part of the Chatham House project on the future of the state in the Middle East and North Africa, Dr El-Jardali will discuss how state and non-state actors can collaborate more effectively to address the shortcomings of national health care systems amidst the pandemic and beyond. The article’s author will share insights on the different capacities available in Arab societies that governments can draw upon to ensure that Universal Health Coverage, equity considerations and social justice are at the core of health systems.

You can express your interest in attending by following this link. You will receive a Zoom confirmation email should your registration be successful. Alternatively, you can watch the event live on the MENA Programme Facebook page.

 

Reni Zhelyazkova

Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme
+44 (0)20 7314 3624




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Corruption and poor governance impede progress in the fight against illegal logging in Cameroon and Malaysia

21 January 2015

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Pallisco logging company's FSC timber operations in Mindourou, Cameroon. Photo by Getty Images.

Neither Cameroon nor Malaysia has made progress in tackling illegal logging since 2010, according to new reports from Chatham House. Corruption, lack of political will and a lack of transparency pose problems in both countries. 

Illegal logging is much more widespread in Cameroon, where entrenched corruption, weak institutions and unclear and inappropriate laws are all impeding reform. Although Malaysia does not have such high levels of illegality, problems remain, particularly in the state of Sarawak.

Alison Hoare, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, said: 'Illegal logging has a devastating impact on some of the world’s most valuable remaining forests and on the people who live in them and rely on the resources they provide.'

'It is disappointing how little progress Cameroon and Malaysia have made in tackling illegal logging, which exacerbates deforestation, climate change, and poverty. In both countries corruption is a major issue, and the governments need to do much more to address the problem and its underlying drivers.' 

In Cameroon, the principle of transparency has not been accepted within the government, enforcement is weak and information management systems are inadequate. The misuse of  small permits, often granted to allow clearance of forests for infrastructure projects or agricultural expansion, is particularly problematic and could be increasing.

Meanwhile, a huge amount of illegal production takes place in the informal artisanal sector – accounting for around half of all timber produced in the country. Artisanal loggers mainly supply the domestic market, but their timber is also exported.

In Malaysia, governance varies significantly from region to region but there are high levels of deforestation across the country. Expansion of timber, pulp and agricultural plantations is the primary cause of forest loss, with the area of plantations expected to double by 2020. 

Adequate recognition of indigenous peoples’ land rights is also a serious challenge in Malaysia and has held up the negotiation of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union. Recent enhanced efforts to tackle corruption, including in Sarawak, could mark a turning point. 

Alison Hoare: 'In both countries, more concerted efforts are needed to tackle corruption, increase consultation, and improve transparency and availability of information. The Cameroonian government also needs to pay more attention to the informal sector and the domestic market.'

Editor's notes

Read the reports:

Trade in Illegal Timber: The Response in the Cameroon by Alison Hoare

Trade in Illegal Timber: The Response in Malaysia by Alison Hoare

For more information please contact Alison Hoare or visit the Illegal Logging portal.

These findings are part of Chatham House’s 'Indicators of Illegal Logging and Related Trade’ project, which looks at consumer, producer and processing countries. A Synthesis Report will be published in early 2015.




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Chatham House awarded Prospect magazine’s Think-Tank of the Year

29 November 2016

Chatham House named think-tank of the year at Prospect magazine’s annual think-tank awards.

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Chatham House named Think-Tank of the Year. Photo: Visual Eye.

Chatham House has been named Prospect magazine’s Think-Tank of the Year at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament. The institute was also the winner in the UK categories for International Affairs and Energy and Environment. The quality, credibility and impact of Chatham House’s research was acknowledged for helping to create better understanding of key global phenomena at this critical time in world affairs. The judges commented that the institute’s work is ‘reliably excellent’ and a ‘gold standard of knowledge and professionalism’.  

Specifically, the US and the Americas and Asia programmes’ joint report Asia-Pacific Power Balance: Beyond the US-China Narrative, by Xenia Wickett, John Nilsson-Wright and Tim Summers, was singled out for being an important resource to help explain the developing geopolitical relationship between the United States and China.

The Energy, Environment and Resources department’s livestock project was a major factor in their award in the Energy & Environment UK category, including the report Changing Climate, Changing Diets: Pathways to Lower Meat Consumption by Laura Wellesley, Antony Froggatt and Catherine Happer, which developed recommendations for how dietary change can be effected in different national and cultural contexts.

Dr Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House said ‘The integrity and authority of Chatham House’s research is needed more than ever and I am extremely proud of our staff and their work particularly during this difficult and challenging year in world affairs’.




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The Political Economy of Universal Health Coverage

Corporate Members Event Nominees Breakfast Briefing Partners and Major Corporates

22 January 2020 - 8:00am to 9:15am

Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE

Event participants

Robert Yates, Head, Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House
Chair: Professor David R Harper, Senior Consulting Fellow, Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House; Managing Director, Harper Public Health Consulting Limited
 

At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019, all governments re-committed their countries to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) whereby ‘all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them’. To achieve UHC, governments will need to oversee health systems that are predominantly publicly financed although countries may use both private and public health providers of health services.

Robert Yates will provide a review of recent transitions towards Universal Health Coverage, highlighting the importance of genuine political commitment by heads of state, and the potential benefits to corporate stakeholders in helping reach this sustainable development goal. What are the political, economic and health benefits of UHC? Why can only public financing mechanisms, rather than a free market in health services, deliver an equitable health system? And what is the role of the private sector within the political economy of UHC?

This event is only open to Major Corporate Member and Partner organizations of Chatham House. If you would like to register your interest, please RSVP to Linda Bedford. We will contact you to confirm your attendance.

To enable as open a debate as possible, this event will be held under the Chatham House Rule.

Event attributes

Chatham House Rule

Members Events Team