Podcasts about Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands issues first U.S. Govt-issued stablecoinBrazilian Fintech's Shares Rocket Following Bitcoin Buying StrategyGalaxy Digital lists on Nasdaq, seeks to tokenize shares

Esther Muña, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and Territorial Health Official for the Northern Mariana Islands, explains how their Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funds allowed them to improve security and integrate care through a new electronic health record system; Jerry Larkin, Director of the Department of Health of Rhode Island, describes how PHIG has been an asset to his department in preventing illness and enabling advancements; Jacki Tulafono, Division Head for the Department of Health in American Samoa, shares how PHIG dollars support key functions at their agency, allowing them to provide services to those that need it most. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's new Health and Environment Laboratories improve the state's ability to respond to disease outbreaks and health threats; Get to know Catherine Murphy; the impact of the Public Health AmeriCorps program at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; the Pennsylvania Department of Health celebrates 120 years; and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands has been awarded a 2025 Network of Practice Grant from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.   New Kansas Health & Environment Laboratories AmeriCorps in Action: Strengthening Public Health in Iowa PA Department of Health Celebrates 120 Years of Service The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands awarded a 2025 Network of Practice Grant

In the third of this series, Aughie and Nia discuss the Northern Mariana Islands

The real reason Wikileaks founder and self-styled freedom fighter Julian Assange was in self-imposed custody. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton with Jasper Leak. Our team includes Tiffany Dimmack, Lia Tsamoglou and Stephanie Coombes and our original music is composed by Jasper Leak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Health Careers podcast episode with Halina Palacios, MPH

Two of the United States's most distant territories are located in the Western Pacific Ocean: Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  Despite being separate political entities today, the two groups of islands have a shared geography, history, and culture. Today, they find themselves on the doorstep of Asia and straddling the world world of the west and the east.  Learn more about Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Plan your next trip to Spain at Spain.info! Sign up at butcherbox.com/daily and use code daily to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in every order for a year plus $20 off your first order! Subscribe to the podcast!  https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emissions from anesthesia are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases from hospitals. This anesthesiologist wants to change that. And, a cultural anthropologist discusses the Mariana Islands' long history of colonization and why demilitarization matters for climate progress.A Major Source Of Greenhouse Gases In Hospitals? AnesthesiaDid you know that some of the gases used in anesthesia are strong greenhouse gases? A few years ago, Seattle Children's Hospital analyzed its carbon footprint and found that the gases used in anesthesia made up about 7% of the hospital's total emissions, right behind emissions from heating and power and those from commuting.Faced with this problem, Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children's, took matters into her own hands and slashed the operating room's emissions. She now helps other hospitals do the same with Project Spruce.Guest host Anna Rothschild talks with Dr. Hansen about how and why she took on the problem.Militarization And Environmental Injustice In The Mariana IslandsLet's take a trip to the Northern Mariana Islands, a string of islands in the Pacific just north of Guam. The islands were sites of major battles during World War II and were captured by the United States in 1944. The US established a military presence across the territory—including building the world's largest air force base at the time, on an island called Tinian.The US military never left, and in the 1980s, the Northern Mariana Islands became a US territory. A few years ago, the Pentagon proposed building a bombing range on an island called Pagan, but residents of the islands pushed back.Dr. Isa Arriola is a cultural anthropologist at Concordia University in Montreal and co-founder of the organization Our Common Wealth 670, based in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. She's fought back against the militarization of her home islands, and she talks with guest host Anna Rothschild about how the military presence has affected the people and environment of the Marianas, and why demilitarization needs to be part of climate action.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Tourism on the island of Saipan in the Western Pacific is gradually picking up after taking a massive hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once a popular option for Japanese tourists, Korean holidaymakers now account for the majority of visitors to this laid-back resort destination. Turquoise seas, white sandy beaches and palm trees—it looks like a picture postcard from a tropical idyll. No wonder the economy of Saipan relies heavily on tourism. Saipan is the largest island and capital of the Northern Marianas, a territory of the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic almost spelled disaster for this rural Western Pacific island. All flights in and out of the Northern Mariana Islands were suspended for nearly a month. The number of visitors dropped by more than 99.9% in the following year compared to the year before, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA). With tourism accounting for about three-quarters of the islands' entire economy, a price freeze was declared to maintain local living standards. Prices of gasoline, kerosene, food, water, and light bulbs were frozen as well as the major construction works. A luxury casino resort developed by Hong Kong-based Imperial Pacific International Holding towers over Garapan, Saipan's main tourist district. It remains unfinished ever since the works were put on hold during the pandemic. With the reopening of the airspace, and direct flights resuming, the number of tourists is recovering. More than 70 percent of visitors come from South Korea, according to MVA. 13,378 arrivals from the country were recorded in May 2024. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

We focus once again on the ongoing genocide in Gaza with Delinda Hanley, executive editor of the “Washington Report on Middle East Affairs” who tells the heartrending story of an undertaker in Gaza who since October 8th personally has had to bury over 17,000 people. Then, Ralph welcomes back retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to widen out the discussion to include the war in Ukraine and contends that “the Pentagon runs America.”Delinda Hanley is news editor and executive director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. She writes extensively for the magazine on an array of topics and her stories have also been published in the Arab News, Saudi ARAMCO World, The Minaret, Islamic Horizons and other U.S. magazines, including The Jewish Spectator. She has written extensively on Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, the emergence of the Muslim voice in Arab politics, and fairness in the mainstream American media.During this (Gaza) crisis, it's been a meeting point for people on the sidewalk. We've had fundraisers, people just come and vent because they're so upset about our U.S. foreign policy. Diplomats come in and vent about how they don't get a say anymore—it's just top-down foreign policy decisions. We've had ex-military people, who served in Iraq, vent. Everyone just comes here and starts to feel a little better because they're talking to like-minded people. The only people who don't come here are the media. We've never had a story about the magazine. It's just verboten.Delinda HanleyWhile most publications depend on advertising to last, we don't have much advertising. Only charities dare to advertise with us because if you're a lawyer or insurance salesman, you get phone calls from our adversaries saying, "That's an anti-Semitic magazine. Don't do that. You won't have our business." We have a real problem with advertising. And also, may I say, we are so happy to send free subscriptions to libraries…Libraries are afraid to have us on their shelves sometimes because they get complaints. Delinda HanleyLawrence Wilkerson is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Over his 31 years of service, Colonel Wilkerson served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. Colonel Wilkerson also served as Deputy Director and Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia, and for fifteen years he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, senior advisor to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum. AIPAC—the Israeli-government-can-do-no-wrong lobby here—poured over $14 million to defeat Jamaal Bowman, the Democrat from the Bronx and Westchester County just this week in the primary. And it came down to $17,000 an hour they were spending on blanket ads and other media against this super progressive member of Congress who dared a few weeks after October 7th to call for a permanent ceasefire and describe what Netanyahu was doing as genocide.Ralph NaderWe know, all of us know, that the armed forces of the United States are broken. They are broken from years and years of the all-volunteer force, years and years of war, years and years of stupid idiotic war with no purpose, years and years of wounds, PTSD, suicides just off the charts now. And the armed forces are not doing well. Colonel Lawrence WilkersonIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 6/26/241. In a story that could have been written 200 years ago, independence activists in the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific have been sent to mainland France for pre-trial detention, per Al Jazeera. According to this report, these seven detainees include Christian Tein, head of the pro-independence group Field Action Coordination Cell, or CCAT. Tein's lawyer Pierre Ortent said he was “stupefied” that Tein was being being held in France, accusing authorities of “answering to purely political considerations.” A lawyer for another detainee said these actions would only create “martyrs for the independence cause.” Riots broke out in New Caledonia earlier this year when France instituted new rules allowing long-term, non-indigenous residents to participate in independence referenda – which “Indigenous Kanaks feared…would dilute their vote.” France deployed 3,000 soldiers in response. New Caledonia remains on the United Nations list of “non-self-governing territories,” the modern euphemism for imperial colonies.2. Following a decade-long legal battle, the saga of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is finally coming to a close. Defending Rights and Dissent reports “On Monday, it was announced that Assange had filed a guilty plea in the US District of Northern Mariana Islands. Assange, who faced 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud And Abuse Act, pled guilty to [a] single count of conspiracy… Assange…will make an appearance in court and be sentenced to time served. He will then return to Australia a free man.” However, Policy Director Chip Gibbons was quick to note “Plea deals…set no legal precedent…the US government's decision to charge Assange under the Espionage Act remains unconstitutional due to the First Amendment's press freedom guarantees.”3. In an interview with Declassified UK, reported by Yahoo News, Independent MP Candidate and former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn recounted how he was pressured to give blanket support to military actions by Israel. In the interview, he said “During one extremely hostile meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party Committee they confronted me and said will you give a blanket undertaking that you, as party leader and potentially prime minister, will automatically support any military action Israel undertakes?” Corbyn responded “no, I will give no such undertaking, because the issue of Palestine has to be resolved and Palestinian people do not deserve to live under occupation…” Corbyn is currently fighting to keep his longtime seat in Islington North after being expelled from the Labour Party by it's reportedly CIA-linked new leader, Keir Starmer.4. British humanitarian group Save the Children has published a new report which finds “Over 20,000 children [are] estimated to be lost, disappeared, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves,” in Gaza. A Child Protection Specialist with the group, on the ground in Gaza, is quoted saying “Every day we find more unaccompanied children and every day it is harder to support them…there is no safe place in Gaza… Neighbours and extended family members who have taken in lone children are struggling to meet their basic needs, such as shelter, food, and water. Many are with strangers - or completely alone - increasing the risk of violence, abuse exploitation and neglect.” Jeremy Stoner, the group's regional director for the Middle East, says “Gaza has become a graveyard for children.”5. On Tuesday, a new citizenship law took effect in Germany, allowing new immigrants to obtain a German passport within five years – but only if they declare that the State of Israel has the right to exist, per the Financial Times. This piece notes that the “[German] government…has…sparked anger by…[cracking] down on…criticism of the Israeli government over its conduct in Gaza, fuelling (sic.) a debate over free speech in Germany, particularly among artists and academics. Sabine Döring, Germany's junior minister for higher education, was forced to resign earlier this month after her ministry started exploring legal options to defund the research of German academics who had signed a public letter criticising a police crackdown on anti-Israeli student protests.”6. AP reports Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling this week that “the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service…[putting] an end to a decades-old system that granted ultra-Orthodox men broad exemptions from military service while maintaining mandatory enlistment for the country's secular Jewish majority.” The exemption from military service for the ultra-Orthodox Haredim has been a long-term flash-point in Israeli society and the issue has only grown more contentious as the recent campaign in Gaza has dragged on. The Netanyahu regime, which rules in coalition with Haredi parties, fought this ruling tooth and nail, claiming that forcing the Haredim to serve would “tear Israeli society apart.” Many speculate that the ruling will cause the ultra-Orthodox parties to leave Netanyahu's coalition, which would precipitate the collapse of his government.7. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, over 20 elder care facilities in the area have closed in just the last few weeks, which this report ascribes to “The long-term mismanagement of nursing homes by private equity firms,” like the Carlyle Group. Specifically, the paper excoriates how “Private equity firms extract money from nursing homes,” using “sale-leaseback[s]…selling the land out from under the facilities for lump payments…[meaning] Nursing homes are suddenly forced to pay rent or ‘management fees' to occupy facilities they once owned…the same process…that resulted in the bankruptcy of the Red Lobster restaurant chain.” The paper notes that the Biden administration is promulgating a new rule that elder care facilities must disclose their ownership, while acknowledging that “This will hardly solve the problem, but it will allow families to make informed decisions about their loved ones' care.”8. Rumblings suggest Congress may raise the corporate tax rate. POLITICO reports “anti-corporate sentiment is running high among increasingly populist-minded Republicans,” and this article quotes Congressman Chip Roy of Texas saying “There's a bubbling-up concern that we should not be doing the bidding of corporate America.” Roy is reportedly “consider[ing] kicking the corporate rate up to 25 percent, from the current 21 percent, if it means being able to extend breaks for individuals and small businesses.” On the Democratic side, Representative Don Beyer said “Every Democrat thinks the 21 percent corporate rate is far lower than is necessary,” and Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden added “Western civilization is not going to end if there's some increase.”9. The Guardian reports DC area coffee chain Compass Coffee is “hiring dozens of friends of management, including other local food service executives and an Uber lobbyist, in an effort to defeat a union election.” Compass Coffee United, the union representing these workers, “accused the coffee chain of hiring 124 additional people at cafes that are attempting to unionize…[and] manipulating worker schedules retroactively to try to make the new employees eligible to vote in the union election.” The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB. Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter “Claiming that a lobbyist from Uber & CEOs from other companies are workers in order to rig a union election is totally absurd & disgusting.”10. Finally, in more labor news, CNN reports Teamsters President Sean O'Brien will speak at the Republican National Convention. Former President Trump wrote on Truth Social “Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nation's working families they come first…When I am back in the White House, the hardworking Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world.” Trump and O'Brien previously met at Mar-a-Lago in January. According to Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz, “O'Brien's appearance does not represent an endorsement of Trump,” and “O'Brien has requested the opportunity to also speak at the Democratic National Convention…The DNC has yet to accept that request.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Today on America in the Morning Debate Night Tonight is the night that President Biden and former President Trump will engage in their first debate since the 2020 election. Correspondent Steve Futterman reports from Atlanta, with the latest on what is on the line for both candidates, and the unusual rules of the debate.    A SCOTUS “Mistake” A document uploaded to the U.S. Supreme Court's website by accident indicates which way the high court could lean in its decision in a case surrounding emergency abortion care in Idaho. Correspondent Clayton Neville has the details.      A Republican Endorses Biden President Joe Biden has a prominent new ally in his high-stakes campaign to win over moderate Republicans and independents this fall. Correspondent Shelley Adler reports.    Illinois Court Surprise There was a shocking and sudden change in court involving a Fourth of July mass shooting case in Illinois.   Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.     Texas Execution A Texas man was put to death for a brutal 2001 murder he committed. The details from correspondent Haya Panjwani.     NJ Police Hero A New Jersey police officer is being hailed for bravery after rescuing a man from a burning home. Correspondent Ben Thomas reports.     Not Like 2020 Tonight President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be in the spotlight, but this time with far different rules from their chaotic first debate four years ago, which includes no studio audience. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani has a look back at what transpired between then-President Trump and his Democrat challenger during a free-for-all in the midst of a COVID pandemic.    Bowman Loss Reaction The primary loss for New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman this week is sending shockwaves through the Democratic Party, pointing to political implications for Progressives and Pro-Palestinian supporters on Capitol Hill. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Assange Arrives Home Following what was a very fast hearing in the Northern Mariana Islands, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has landed in his home nation of Australia as a free man after his U.S. legal battle ends. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.    DHS Report On Border Order The Department of Homeland Security announced surprising new numbers since President Biden initiated his executive order on asylum restrictions. Correspondent Haya Panjwani explains.    Bolivia Coup Thwarted It was a frantic several hours in Bolivia after armored vehicles rammed the doors of Bolivia's government palace Wednesday during an attempted coup.     Fraud Case Surprise There was a surprising twist in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 related fraud case in Minnesota. The details from correspondent Shelley Adler.   Checking The Voters With the 2024 election coming up in five months, the state of Tennessee is asking thousands of voters to prove their citizenship. Correspondent Lisa Dwyer reports on what led to that decision.    Tech News The Supreme Court ruled on a controversial issue about how the Biden administration may have coerced social media providers to moderate content. Here's tech correspondent Chuck Palm.     Sports – Robert Workman   NBA Draft and more.        Finally   A well-known socialite and social media personality went to Congress to speak on behalf of abused children. Correspondent Katie Clark reports on Paris Hilton's visit to Capitol Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

pWotD Episode 2612: Julian Assange Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 503,331 views on Wednesday, 26 June 2024 our article of the day is Julian Assange.Julian Paul Assange ( ə-SAHNZH; né Hawkins; born 3 July 1971) is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He came to international attention in 2010 after WikiLeaks published a series of leaks from Chelsea Manning, a former United States Army intelligence analyst: footage of a U. S. airstrike in Baghdad, U. S. military logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and U. S. diplomatic cables. Assange has won multiple awards for publishing and journalism. Assange was raised in several towns in Australia until his family settled in Melbourne in his mid-teens. He became involved in the hacker community and was convicted for hacking in 1996. Following the establishment of WikiLeaks, Assange was its editor when it published the Bank Julius Baer documents, footage of the 2008 Tibetan unrest, and a report on political killings in Kenya with The Sunday Times. In November 2010 Sweden issued a European arrest warrant for Assange for allegations of sexual assault. After losing his appeal against the warrant, he breached his bail and took refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London in June 2012. He was granted asylum by Ecuador in August 2012 on the grounds of political persecution and fears he might be extradited to the United States. In 2013 he launched the WikiLeaks Party and unsuccessfully stood for the Australian Senate. Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation in 2019.On 11 April 2019 Assange's asylum was withdrawn following a series of disputes with Ecuadorian authorities. The police were invited into the embassy and he was arrested. He was found guilty of breaching the United Kingdom Bail Act and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison. The U. S. government unsealed an indictment charging Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion related to the leaks provided by Manning. In May 2019 and June 2020 the U. S. government unsealed new indictments against Assange, charging him with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and alleging he had conspired with hackers. Assange was incarcerated in HM Prison Belmarsh in London from April 2019 to June 2024, as the United States government's extradition effort was contested in the British courts. In June 2024 Assange agreed a plea deal with the American prosecutors. He pleaded guilty in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to a charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U. S. national defence documents under the Espionage Act. Under the terms of the deal, prosecutors from the U. S. Department of Justice sought a sentence that allowed for his immediate release. He was ordered to instruct WikiLeaks to return or destroy unpublished documents and provide an affidavit. Following the hearing Assange departed for Canberra and arrived on 26 June 2024, accompanied by the Australian ambassador to the U. S., Kevin Rudd, who is also a former prime minister.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:54 UTC on Thursday, 27 June 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Julian Assange on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Brian.

Flooding emergency cripples parts of Midwest; Trump could announce running mate this week, sources say; WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives in Northern Mariana Islands; and more on tonight's broadcast.

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It's the 26th of June and here are today's headlines.Lok Sabha MP Om Birla was elected as Lok Sabha Speaker today by a voice vote for the second time in a row. The Opposition did not press for a division of votes and pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab declared Birla as elected, saying the “ayes have it”. With Birla's election, Mahtab said, the other motions to propose and second the candidature of K Suresh became infructuous. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who the Congress has named Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, congratulated Birla as he took charge.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed the Court asserting that CBI sources fabricated information in the media. He clarified, quote “I have not made any statement holding Sisodia responsible. Yesterday, I made it clear that neither AAP nor Sisodia can be blamed.” Unquote. These developments follow arguments in court regarding the CBI's arrest of the AAP leader. The Supreme Court today, allowed him to withdraw his plea against the High Court's interim stay on the trial court's bail order in the ED case.A day after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that his party's doors would remain open to MLAs who had sided with Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) hit back today, saying that it showed the desperation of a party struggling to find leaders to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil told The Indian Express today, quote, “Sharad Pawar saheb's party is saddled with a handful of MLAs and he is now looking for leaders who will contest on its ticket,” Unquote.According to new data published in the Lancet Global Health, half the adult Indian population does not meet the World Health Organisation's guidelines on sufficient physical activity. More women (57 per cent) than men (42 per cent men) are physically inactive. Most alarmingly, the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among Indian adults has risen sharply from 22.3 per cent in 2000 to 49.4 per cent in 2022. This means unchecked, 60 per cent of our population would be unfit by 2030 and at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his homeland Australia aboard a charter jet today, hours after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing US military secrets in a deal with Justice Department prosecutors that concludes a drawn-out legal saga. The criminal case of international intrigue, which had played out for years, came to a surprise end in a most unusual setting with Assange, entering his plea in a US district court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. The American commonwealth in the Pacific is relatively close to Assange's native Australia and accommodated his desire to avoid entering the continental United States.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has pleaded guilty to a single felony count of violating the Espionage Act in a U.S. federal court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.

A US court has finalised a plea agreement, which will see Julian Assange become a free man. The divisive WikiLeaks founder had been facing eighteen separate counts relating to national security, but instead admitted to a single espionage charge in exchange for time served. After pleading guilty to the offence in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US Pacific territory, the United States' longstanding extradition request was nullified, and Mr Assange is now returning to his native Australia.Caitríona Perry caught up with the BBC's North America correspondent Nomia Iqbal, and former legal correspondent Joshua Rozenberg for their reaction to the deal. They consider how the legal saga has impacted Julian Assange's image, and what it could mean for the future of free speech.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Julian Assange is a free man after pleading guilty to one charge of espionage in a federal United States court as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, bringing to end an international saga surrounding war, access to information, freedom of speech and the role of journalism in the digital age.   Facing a judge in a US federal court in the remote Northern Mariana Islands, Assange told the court that he “believes the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction” and that he was within his rights while working as a journalist when he “encouraged (his) source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information”.   Assange landed on Australian soil late on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the long fight by many for him to be allowed to return home to an end. What will his life look like going forward, and how does his family feel now that he's returned? Julian's brother, Gabriel Shipton, joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on The Briefing to share how he feels in this historical moment.     Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julian Assange has been released from a British prison to seal a US plea deal. The WikiLeaks founder is due to be sentenced at a hearing on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific, before returning home to Australian soil. Foreign affairs and defence correspondent Daniel Hurst tells Nour Haydar what led up to the release and what happens now

As the Wikileaks founder heads for Australia, we go back to the start - two women's allegations they were raped by Julian Assange.  Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian's app. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 25 at 8:15 a.m. CT: BANGKOK (AP) — A plane carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has landed in Thailand. He is on his way to enter a plea in a U.S. court that is expected to free him and resolve the legal case over the site's publication of classified documents. The chartered plane landed at a Bangkok airport Tuesday afternoon for refueling. Assange is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth.  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. surgeon general is declaring gun violence a public health crisis, driven by a growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the nation’s top doctor, issued the advisory Tuesday as the U.S. grappled with another weekend marked by mass shootings that left dozens of people dead or wounded.  Russian authorities say one person has died and scores more remain hospitalized in an outbreak of botulism spanning several regions. Foodborne botulism is a rare illness caused by a toxin produced by a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 550,000 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the transmissions can unexpectedly downshift to first gear no matter how fast the trucks are going. The recall covers certain F-150 pickups from the 2014 model year.  NEW YORK (AP) — Car dealerships across North America are still wrestling with disruptions that started last week. CDK Global, a company that provides software for thousands of auto dealers in the U.S. and Canada, was hit by back-to-back cyberattacks on Wednesday.  In other news: On the anniversary of the fall of Roe, Democrats lay the blame for worsening health care on Trump. Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan. Supreme Court rejects appeal from ex-reality star Josh Duggar. Supreme Court rejects challenge to Connecticut law that eliminated religious vaccination exemption. Lawsuit challenges new Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. Mass shootings across the US mar the first weekend of summer. NASA calls off spacewalk after spacesuit water leak. US ambassador visits conflict-ridden Mexican state to expedite avocado inspections. The Panthers win their first Stanley Cup in a dramatic Game 7, Tennessee wins its first College World Series in a dramatic Game 3, the National League's division leaders all win their games and the Cavaliers finally name their new head coach. A Chinese lunar probe returns to Earth with the world's first samples from the far side of the moon. Israeli supreme court says ultra-Orthodox must serve in military. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

PREVIEW: #SAIPAN: Conversation with colleague Cleo Paskal of FDD in Saipan of the Northern Mariana Islands re the 80th anniversary of the USMC, USN, USA landings and liberation of Saipan from the Imperial Japanese Empire -- on Green Beach on June 15. More tonight and on Monday. 1945 Fat Man plutonium bomb on Tinian, Northern Marinas

President Joe Biden has marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day by pledging during a ceremony at the American cemetery in Normandy that “we will not walk away” from Ukraine. He's drawing a direct line from the fight to liberate Europe from Nazi domination to today's war against Russian aggression. We talk to Jesse Driscoll, a professor of political science and chair of the Global Leadership Institute at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego. Hamas rejects cease-fire deal. A teacher changing lives in the Northern Mariana Islands. And soy sauce flavored ice cream!

The Northern Marianas is part of the United States but exists in a strategic environment unlike anywhere else in America. Sharing a maritime boundary with Japan, the Northern Marianas hosted a strategic air base for America's operations in World War II. Today, as the same base in Tinian is under redevelopment for use by the U.S. Air Force, a Chinese-linked casino recently opened nearby. Unlike anywhere else in America, tourists from China can enter the Northern Mariana Islands through the CNMI-only visa waiver program that has made the U.S. more vulnerable to malicious, CCP-led activities. This is in addition to the large investments that have flowed through the islands' financial system with little national security oversight. The frontline between the People's Republic of China's influence operations and America's strategic positioning are at a significant crossroads. The ongoing bipartisan Congressional failure to approve the renewal of key components of the Compacts of Free Association leaves the future of U.S. defense architecture in the Central Pacific hanging in the balance and risks further isolating the Northern Marianas and neighboring Guam.Join FDD for a conversation with Northern Marianas Governor Arnold Palacios; the Hon. Randall G. Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and current Chairman of the Board at The Project 2049 Institute; and FDD Senior Fellow Cleo Paskal. The conversation will be moderated by Craig Singleton, FDD China Program Director and Senior Fellow.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday , December 22nd, 2023. Quick shout out to Andrea & Jonah Briggs! Samaritan Ministries: November This is the time of year many of us are thinking about how we’re going to pay our medical bills next year. Before making a final decision, take a look at health care sharing with Samaritan Ministries. As a Samaritan member, you’re connected to 80,000 Christan households across the nation who stand ready to care for one another spiritually and financially when a medical need arises. Samaritan Ministries is affordable, and with no network restrictions you’re in control of your health care, choosing the doctors, hospitals, and treatments that are right for you. And with direct member-to-member sharing, you’ll always know who your money is helping, and that you’re not supporting medical procedures that go against your values. Get started today at samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/trump-colorado-ballot-14th-amendment.html Trump Is Disqualified From 2024 Ballot, Colorado Court Says in Explosive Ruling Colorado’s top court ruled on Tuesday that President Donald J. Trump is disqualified from holding office again because he engaged in insurrection with his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court was the first in the nation to find that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — which disqualifies people who engage in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it — applies to Mr. Trump, an argument that his opponents have been making around the country. The ruling directs the Colorado secretary of state to exclude Mr. Trump’s name from the state’s Republican primary ballot. It does not address the general election. “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” a four-justice majority wrote, with three justices dissenting. “We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.” Mr. Trump’s campaign said immediately that it would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado justices anticipated that likelihood by putting their ruling on hold at least until Jan. 4; if Mr. Trump appeals before then, the hold will continue until the Supreme Court rules. And while Tuesday’s ruling applies only to one state, it could all but force the nation’s highest court to decide the question for all 50. “It’s hard for me to see how they don’t take this one, because this certainly seems to be one of those questions that requires some national resolution,” said Anthony Michael Kreis, an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University who has closely followed the Colorado case and related lawsuits around the country. If the justices take up the case, it will join a pile of other Trump-related matters they have agreed or are likely to decide, including whether he is immune from criminal prosecution for actions he took in office and the scope of an obstruction charge that is central to his federal Jan. 6 case. The U.S. Supreme Court has a 6-to-3 conservative majority, with three justices appointed by Mr. Trump himself, and it is already under extraordinary political pressure and scrutiny both for its rulings and its justices’ ethics. “Once again, the Supreme Court is being thrust into the center of a U.S. presidential election,” said Richard L. Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, who compared the stakes to Bush v. Gore. “But, unlike in 2000, the general political instability in the United States makes the situation now much more precarious.” In the Colorado court’s lengthy ruling on Tuesday, the justices there reversed a Denver district judge’s finding last month that Section 3 did not apply to the presidency. They affirmed the district judge’s other key conclusions: that Mr. Trump’s actions before and on Jan. 6, 2021, constituted engaging in insurrection, and that courts had the authority to enforce Section 3 against a person whom Congress had not specifically designated. “A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the justices wrote. “Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado secretary of state to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.” Mr. Trump’s campaign denounced the ruling, which is likely to inflame a Republican base that he has primed to see the array of civil and criminal cases against him as a witch hunt. Politically, his standing among Republican primary voters has only risen in the wake of the dozens of criminal charges against him. “Unsurprisingly, the all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court has ruled against President Trump, supporting a Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden by removing President Trump’s name from the ballot and eliminating the rights of Colorado voters to vote for the candidate of their choice,” a campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said. “We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor and finally put an end to these un-American lawsuits.” Similar lawsuits in Minnesota and New Hampshire were dismissed on procedural grounds. A judge in Michigan ruled last month that the issue was political and not for him to decide, and an appeals court affirmed the decision not to disqualify Mr. Trump there. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Tuesday’s ruling “is not only historic and justified, but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country,” Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said in a statement. His organization represented the voters seeking to disqualify Mr. Trump in Colorado. Mr. Trump himself, who has routinely railed against unfavorable rulings, did not explicitly mention the Colorado Supreme Court decision in a speech Tuesday evening in Waterloo, Iowa — but his campaign was already fund-raising off it. An email to his supporters accused Democrats of trying to “nullify” Trump votes and asked for contributions to help defend his place on ballots. Republican elected officials quickly circled the wagons around Mr. Trump, and a super PAC supporting him blasted out some of their comments to supporters. In one more illustration of the unusual nature of the 2024 Republican primary race — in which even the candidates seeking to defeat Mr. Trump for the party’s nomination have largely shied away from condemning him — his main rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, both suggested that the ruling was an abuse of judicial power. The case hinged on several questions: Was it an insurrection when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to stop the certification of the 2020 election? If so, did Mr. Trump engage in that insurrection through his messages to his supporters beforehand, his speech that morning and his Twitter posts during the attack? Do courts have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment without congressional action? And does Section 3 apply to the presidency? Again, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/12/21/at-least-11-dead-in-prague-shooting/ At Least 15 Dead in Prague Shooting. At least 15 people have been reported dead and injured in a shooting incident at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts located near the Old Town, a major tourist hub within the city, as per the official statement from Prague police. The horrific event unraveled at this educational facility in the capital city of the Czech Republic, erupting fear and panic among students and faculty present at the scene. Local authorities confirmed the shooter’s elimination shortly after the attack, while refraining from revealing exactly how many victims were impacted. Eyewitness reports and visual evidence posted on social media depicted the terrifying scene on the university campus, with sirens blaring and police vehicles flooding the streets around the building. Videos on social media platforms showed bystanders looking visibly panicked and attempting to escape the premises. Prague police issued a plea, urging residents to stay away from the area and to remain indoors for safety reasons. Jakob Weizman, a journalist sheltering inside a darkened classroom, shared his experience on social media: “Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague. Shooter is dead, but we’re waiting to be evacuated. Praying to make it out alive,” he wrote. He later added, “Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it. F—ing hell.” Yet another social media user furnished the world with a chilling image of what appeared to be students desperately huddled on the university building’s scaffolding, emphasizing the level of fear and panic induced by the tragic event. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/game-on-with-china-us-to-restore-tinian-airfield-once-home/ Game-On With China! US To Restore Tinian Airfield Once Home To Largest B-29 Bomber Fleet During WWII US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach shared this development in a discussion with Asia Nikkei, revealing that the military branch is increasing construction efforts at Tinian North Airfield and Tinian International Airfield. This effort is a crucial component of a broader initiative to disperse aircraft strategically across the Indo-Pacific region, responding to the escalating missile threat posed by China. “If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress, especially at Tinian North,” Wilsbach said. During World War II, the Tinian North Airfield served as the operational base for the largest B-29 bomber fleet. Describing the airfield as having extensive pavement hidden beneath an overgrown jungle, he revealed plans to clear the jungle between now and summertime. The goal is to transform the site into a comprehensive facility upon completion. Tinian, positioned approximately 200 kilometers north of Guam within the Northern Mariana Islands, is undergoing a revitalization in line with the US Air Force’s operational strategy, Agile Combat Employment. This strategic approach, a departure from post-Cold War era tactics, involves deliberately relocating aircraft to various sites across the western Pacific. The primary goal is to mitigate vulnerability to potential enemy missile strikes during periods of crisis. As documents released in March revealed, as part of the Air Force’s 2024 budget request, several projects are outlined for Tinian, seeking a budget allocation of US$78 million for the fiscal year. Among these projects is an airfield development initiative encompassing the demolition of World War II-era airfield pavements, clearing and leveling surfaces, and installing drainage, utilities, and secure fencing. Another project focuses on establishing a fuel-pipeline system involving the installation of storage tanks, pipes, and safety equipment to facilitate fuel unloading from ships for transport to the airfield via pipeline and truck. Additionally, a parking-apron project is detailed, which aims to pave areas designated for aircraft parking and taxiways. The taxiways must adhere to the Pentagon’s standards for ground control operations for large-frame aircraft, as specified in the documents. The proposed apron size would accommodate up to 12 KC-135 and KC-46 tanker aircraft and the necessary fueling equipment. Tinian currently houses one international airfield, while Tinian North Airfield, once the most extensive B-29 base during World War II, lies largely concealed by jungle growth. However, the runways and taxiways remain intact. Tinian was captured from Japanese control by US forces in the summer of 1944, toward the end of World War II. The northern expanse of the island hosted a substantial and historically momentous airfield, famously recognized as North Field. This airfield played a crucial role in Operation Silverplate, serving as the departure point for two specially modified B-29 bombers on separate sorties, marking the sole operational use of nuclear weapons to date. Beyond these historic missions, North Field was instrumental as the launch site for many bomber and reconnaissance flights conducted over Japan and across the Western Pacific during the latter phases of the war. In the aftermath of World War II, the airfield witnessed a substantial deterioration in maintenance, resulting in the decline of its expansive parallel runways, aprons, and supporting infrastructure. The US Air Force is now intensifying its endeavors to enhance the airfield’s capabilities to accommodate fighter jets, bombers, and significant support aircraft. These expanded capabilities align with the standards commonly met by the nearby Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. However, the US believes that if Andersen Air Force Base faces disruption due to enemy actions, notably those from China, or natural disasters, this facility on Tinian would be crucial in ensuring continuity and resilience in US military operations in the Pacific region. https://pagesix.com/2023/12/20/celebrity-news/hulk-hogan-70-gets-baptized-surrenders-to-jesus-greatest-day-of-my-life/ Hulk Hogan, 70, gets baptized, ‘surrenders’ to Jesus: ‘Greatest day of my life’ WWE icon Hulk Hogan has been baptized. His ceremony took place at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida, as noted by the social media slideshow he shared Wednesday night. “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” the 70-year-old star captioned the post. “No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!” Hogan’s slideshow included a video of him and his wife, Sky Daily Hogan, submerging themselves in a pool of water and resurfacing with huge grins on their faces. They were both garbed with white clothing, with the former pro wrestler rocking his signature bandana and a gold cross necklace. A photo included at the end of the post appeared to show Hulk and Sky, plus others, bowing their heads in prayer. The Indian Rocks Baptist Church took to its Instagram Story to celebrate the “Hogan Knows Best” alum’s special moment.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday , December 22nd, 2023. Quick shout out to Andrea & Jonah Briggs! Samaritan Ministries: November This is the time of year many of us are thinking about how we’re going to pay our medical bills next year. Before making a final decision, take a look at health care sharing with Samaritan Ministries. As a Samaritan member, you’re connected to 80,000 Christan households across the nation who stand ready to care for one another spiritually and financially when a medical need arises. Samaritan Ministries is affordable, and with no network restrictions you’re in control of your health care, choosing the doctors, hospitals, and treatments that are right for you. And with direct member-to-member sharing, you’ll always know who your money is helping, and that you’re not supporting medical procedures that go against your values. Get started today at samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/trump-colorado-ballot-14th-amendment.html Trump Is Disqualified From 2024 Ballot, Colorado Court Says in Explosive Ruling Colorado’s top court ruled on Tuesday that President Donald J. Trump is disqualified from holding office again because he engaged in insurrection with his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court was the first in the nation to find that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — which disqualifies people who engage in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it — applies to Mr. Trump, an argument that his opponents have been making around the country. The ruling directs the Colorado secretary of state to exclude Mr. Trump’s name from the state’s Republican primary ballot. It does not address the general election. “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” a four-justice majority wrote, with three justices dissenting. “We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.” Mr. Trump’s campaign said immediately that it would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado justices anticipated that likelihood by putting their ruling on hold at least until Jan. 4; if Mr. Trump appeals before then, the hold will continue until the Supreme Court rules. And while Tuesday’s ruling applies only to one state, it could all but force the nation’s highest court to decide the question for all 50. “It’s hard for me to see how they don’t take this one, because this certainly seems to be one of those questions that requires some national resolution,” said Anthony Michael Kreis, an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University who has closely followed the Colorado case and related lawsuits around the country. If the justices take up the case, it will join a pile of other Trump-related matters they have agreed or are likely to decide, including whether he is immune from criminal prosecution for actions he took in office and the scope of an obstruction charge that is central to his federal Jan. 6 case. The U.S. Supreme Court has a 6-to-3 conservative majority, with three justices appointed by Mr. Trump himself, and it is already under extraordinary political pressure and scrutiny both for its rulings and its justices’ ethics. “Once again, the Supreme Court is being thrust into the center of a U.S. presidential election,” said Richard L. Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, who compared the stakes to Bush v. Gore. “But, unlike in 2000, the general political instability in the United States makes the situation now much more precarious.” In the Colorado court’s lengthy ruling on Tuesday, the justices there reversed a Denver district judge’s finding last month that Section 3 did not apply to the presidency. They affirmed the district judge’s other key conclusions: that Mr. Trump’s actions before and on Jan. 6, 2021, constituted engaging in insurrection, and that courts had the authority to enforce Section 3 against a person whom Congress had not specifically designated. “A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the justices wrote. “Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado secretary of state to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.” Mr. Trump’s campaign denounced the ruling, which is likely to inflame a Republican base that he has primed to see the array of civil and criminal cases against him as a witch hunt. Politically, his standing among Republican primary voters has only risen in the wake of the dozens of criminal charges against him. “Unsurprisingly, the all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court has ruled against President Trump, supporting a Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden by removing President Trump’s name from the ballot and eliminating the rights of Colorado voters to vote for the candidate of their choice,” a campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said. “We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor and finally put an end to these un-American lawsuits.” Similar lawsuits in Minnesota and New Hampshire were dismissed on procedural grounds. A judge in Michigan ruled last month that the issue was political and not for him to decide, and an appeals court affirmed the decision not to disqualify Mr. Trump there. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Tuesday’s ruling “is not only historic and justified, but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country,” Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said in a statement. His organization represented the voters seeking to disqualify Mr. Trump in Colorado. Mr. Trump himself, who has routinely railed against unfavorable rulings, did not explicitly mention the Colorado Supreme Court decision in a speech Tuesday evening in Waterloo, Iowa — but his campaign was already fund-raising off it. An email to his supporters accused Democrats of trying to “nullify” Trump votes and asked for contributions to help defend his place on ballots. Republican elected officials quickly circled the wagons around Mr. Trump, and a super PAC supporting him blasted out some of their comments to supporters. In one more illustration of the unusual nature of the 2024 Republican primary race — in which even the candidates seeking to defeat Mr. Trump for the party’s nomination have largely shied away from condemning him — his main rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, both suggested that the ruling was an abuse of judicial power. The case hinged on several questions: Was it an insurrection when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to stop the certification of the 2020 election? If so, did Mr. Trump engage in that insurrection through his messages to his supporters beforehand, his speech that morning and his Twitter posts during the attack? Do courts have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment without congressional action? And does Section 3 apply to the presidency? Again, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/12/21/at-least-11-dead-in-prague-shooting/ At Least 15 Dead in Prague Shooting. At least 15 people have been reported dead and injured in a shooting incident at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts located near the Old Town, a major tourist hub within the city, as per the official statement from Prague police. The horrific event unraveled at this educational facility in the capital city of the Czech Republic, erupting fear and panic among students and faculty present at the scene. Local authorities confirmed the shooter’s elimination shortly after the attack, while refraining from revealing exactly how many victims were impacted. Eyewitness reports and visual evidence posted on social media depicted the terrifying scene on the university campus, with sirens blaring and police vehicles flooding the streets around the building. Videos on social media platforms showed bystanders looking visibly panicked and attempting to escape the premises. Prague police issued a plea, urging residents to stay away from the area and to remain indoors for safety reasons. Jakob Weizman, a journalist sheltering inside a darkened classroom, shared his experience on social media: “Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague. Shooter is dead, but we’re waiting to be evacuated. Praying to make it out alive,” he wrote. He later added, “Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it. F—ing hell.” Yet another social media user furnished the world with a chilling image of what appeared to be students desperately huddled on the university building’s scaffolding, emphasizing the level of fear and panic induced by the tragic event. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/game-on-with-china-us-to-restore-tinian-airfield-once-home/ Game-On With China! US To Restore Tinian Airfield Once Home To Largest B-29 Bomber Fleet During WWII US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach shared this development in a discussion with Asia Nikkei, revealing that the military branch is increasing construction efforts at Tinian North Airfield and Tinian International Airfield. This effort is a crucial component of a broader initiative to disperse aircraft strategically across the Indo-Pacific region, responding to the escalating missile threat posed by China. “If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress, especially at Tinian North,” Wilsbach said. During World War II, the Tinian North Airfield served as the operational base for the largest B-29 bomber fleet. Describing the airfield as having extensive pavement hidden beneath an overgrown jungle, he revealed plans to clear the jungle between now and summertime. The goal is to transform the site into a comprehensive facility upon completion. Tinian, positioned approximately 200 kilometers north of Guam within the Northern Mariana Islands, is undergoing a revitalization in line with the US Air Force’s operational strategy, Agile Combat Employment. This strategic approach, a departure from post-Cold War era tactics, involves deliberately relocating aircraft to various sites across the western Pacific. The primary goal is to mitigate vulnerability to potential enemy missile strikes during periods of crisis. As documents released in March revealed, as part of the Air Force’s 2024 budget request, several projects are outlined for Tinian, seeking a budget allocation of US$78 million for the fiscal year. Among these projects is an airfield development initiative encompassing the demolition of World War II-era airfield pavements, clearing and leveling surfaces, and installing drainage, utilities, and secure fencing. Another project focuses on establishing a fuel-pipeline system involving the installation of storage tanks, pipes, and safety equipment to facilitate fuel unloading from ships for transport to the airfield via pipeline and truck. Additionally, a parking-apron project is detailed, which aims to pave areas designated for aircraft parking and taxiways. The taxiways must adhere to the Pentagon’s standards for ground control operations for large-frame aircraft, as specified in the documents. The proposed apron size would accommodate up to 12 KC-135 and KC-46 tanker aircraft and the necessary fueling equipment. Tinian currently houses one international airfield, while Tinian North Airfield, once the most extensive B-29 base during World War II, lies largely concealed by jungle growth. However, the runways and taxiways remain intact. Tinian was captured from Japanese control by US forces in the summer of 1944, toward the end of World War II. The northern expanse of the island hosted a substantial and historically momentous airfield, famously recognized as North Field. This airfield played a crucial role in Operation Silverplate, serving as the departure point for two specially modified B-29 bombers on separate sorties, marking the sole operational use of nuclear weapons to date. Beyond these historic missions, North Field was instrumental as the launch site for many bomber and reconnaissance flights conducted over Japan and across the Western Pacific during the latter phases of the war. In the aftermath of World War II, the airfield witnessed a substantial deterioration in maintenance, resulting in the decline of its expansive parallel runways, aprons, and supporting infrastructure. The US Air Force is now intensifying its endeavors to enhance the airfield’s capabilities to accommodate fighter jets, bombers, and significant support aircraft. These expanded capabilities align with the standards commonly met by the nearby Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. However, the US believes that if Andersen Air Force Base faces disruption due to enemy actions, notably those from China, or natural disasters, this facility on Tinian would be crucial in ensuring continuity and resilience in US military operations in the Pacific region. https://pagesix.com/2023/12/20/celebrity-news/hulk-hogan-70-gets-baptized-surrenders-to-jesus-greatest-day-of-my-life/ Hulk Hogan, 70, gets baptized, ‘surrenders’ to Jesus: ‘Greatest day of my life’ WWE icon Hulk Hogan has been baptized. His ceremony took place at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida, as noted by the social media slideshow he shared Wednesday night. “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” the 70-year-old star captioned the post. “No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!” Hogan’s slideshow included a video of him and his wife, Sky Daily Hogan, submerging themselves in a pool of water and resurfacing with huge grins on their faces. They were both garbed with white clothing, with the former pro wrestler rocking his signature bandana and a gold cross necklace. A photo included at the end of the post appeared to show Hulk and Sky, plus others, bowing their heads in prayer. The Indian Rocks Baptist Church took to its Instagram Story to celebrate the “Hogan Knows Best” alum’s special moment.

Jessica Fepelstein, ASTHO Analyst for State and Community Engagement, explains the health equity core concepts work that is happening as part of the STRETCH Initiative; Dr. Esther Muna, Chief Executive Officer and Territorial Health Official for the Northern Mariana Islands, discusses the ASTHO policy statement calling for Medicaid funding parity for the U.S. territories; Daphne Delgado, Program Director with the Center for Brain Health Equity at UsAgainstAlzheimer's, says the organization has resources for doing work in black and Latino communities; and an ASTHO webinar will help you learn new strategies to improve access to emergency contraception during. ASTHO Blog Article: Centering the Community's Voice in State-Led Health Equity Initiatives ASTHO News Release: ASTHO Releases Five Health Policy Statements UsAgainstAlzheimer's Webpage: Our Data Insights UsAgainstAlzheimer's Webpage: Let's Talk Alz this National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month UsAgainstAlzheimer's Webpage: Culturally Tailored Communications Resources ASTHO Webinar: Provider Strategies to Improve Access to Emergency Contraception  

Senate Committee on the Judiciary Nomination Hearing Date: Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 Time: 10:00am Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 Presiding: Chair Durbin Nominees Sara E. Hill to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma John David Russell to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma Ramona Villagomez Manglona to be Judge for the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands Committee Notice: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/11/15/2023/nominations

The topic of this episode is, “Delegates to the House of Representatives: who are they and what do they do?”My guest is Elliot Mamet. He is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Previously, he served as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. Elliot holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University.Also important to note is that Dr. Mamet spent time working in the office of Washington, D.C. delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton. All of which makes him a great person to ask the question, "Delegates to the House of Representatives: who are they and what do they do?"Kevin Kosar:Welcome to Understanding Congress, a podcast about the first branch of government. Congress is a notoriously complex institution and few Americans think well of it, but Congress is essential to our republic. It's a place where our pluralistic society is supposed to work out its differences and come to agreement about what our laws should be, and that is why we are here to discuss our national legislature and to think about ways to upgrade it so it can better serve our nation. I'm your host, Kevin Kosar, and I'm a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank in Washington D.C.Welcome to the podcast.Elliot Mamet:Thank you, Kevin. It's great to be here.Kevin Kosar:Let's start with a really simple question. Listeners are all too familiar with the fact that the House typically has 435 members. But they also have delegates. How many delegates are there to the House of Representatives?Elliot Mamet:Currently, there are five delegates to the House of Representatives. They serve from Washington, D.C., Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. There's also a Resident Commissioner—a non-voting member—from Puerto Rico. So there're six total non-voting members in the House. Kevin Kosar:Representatives in the House come from districts these days. Where and who do these delegates and non-voting members represent? And is represent even the correct term for what their role is?Elliot Mamet:The non-voting members of Congress represent Americans who live outside the several states. Throughout their entire history, they've represented people who don't live in states—whether that's in the federal enclave of the District of Columbia or in territories either on the path to statehood or not on the path to statehood. Today, they represent 4 million Americans. Of that group, 3.5 million live in the United States territories—those people are 98% racial and ethnic minorities—and the remainder are the residents of the District of Columbia who are majority black or Hispanic. So the delegates represent overwhelmingly non-white constituents, and they represent a group of Americans who lack the same citizen rights and lack political equality to those people living in the several states.Kevin Kosar:Now, on this program, there's been a number of episodes where I and a guest have talked about earlier Congresses—the Congresses at the founding, early 20th century, etc.—and non-voting representatives just didn't come up in the conversation. Are they a recent development, or have they always been with us?Elliot Mamet:Great question. The non-voting representative has been a feature since the earliest Congresses. The institution dates back at least to 1784 when a committee chaired by Thomas Jefferson suggested that territories prior to becoming a state would be able to send a delegate to Congress with the

Tropical storm Bolaven on track to develop into typhoon.

[This blog will always be free to read, but it's also how I pay my bills. If you have suggestions or feedback on how I can earn your paid subscription, shoot me an email: cmclymer@gmail.com. And yes, I do speaking engagements.]On Monday, a photo of the Illinois State Fair Butter Cow — that is, a cow presented as “sculpted out of butter” — went viral after the shocking revelation that it's a wire-and-steel-mesh frame sculpted in the likeness of a cow that has simply been covered in slabs of yellow spread. I got serious beef with this, but I will admit that I accidentally shared this image with the caption that it's from the Iowa State Fair, which has been in the news a lot lately with the GOP presidential primary and the fact that the two overlap. I was wrong. My apologies, Iowa. To err is bovine.But I will not apologize for The Truth being accidentally revealed about the butter cow at the Iowa State Fair, which, it turns out, is also a wire-and-steel-mesh frame covered in “600 lbs. of low moisture, pure cream Iowa butter,” according to the Iowa State Fair website!So, what is going on here? Is nothing sacred? Apparently, most of us have just been walking around under the assumption that when our fellow Americans tell us they carved a statue of a cow out of butter, by god, they're telling us the truth. We salute the flag, and we give thanks for bovine providence.Well, no more. I have looked into all these claims of “butter cows” to figure out who's telling the truth and who's udderly shameless.First, I looked into the scope of state fairs. Three states (Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire) have no singular state fairs but rather various agricultural fairs, which was the original purpose of the state fair, anyway, so I'm counting these. Rhode Island does not have an event of these sizes, per se, but does host smaller fairs.Interestingly, Massachusetts annually hosts The Big E (Eastern States Exposition) in Springfield, which is intended to be more of a regional fair for the New England states, including the four aforementioned. So, based on how you look at it, you could say every state has a state-fair-of-sorts.The District of Columbia—which should absolutely be a state if we lived in a just world—also hosts a state fair annually.Additionally, while the U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands—do not have “state fairs” in the sense of large primarily-livestock-and-agricultural gatherings, they do each have commensurate, popular fairs and/or festivals.For example, Puerto Rico hosts the San Sebastian Street Festival in Old San Juan, the U.S. Virgin Islands host Carnival, and Guam hosts the Guam Micronesia Island Fair.Also: the Navajo Nation annually hosts the Navajo Nation Fair in Arizona, drawing more than 100,000 visitors in 2016, larger than some state fairs. All told, there are close to a hundred big fairs of various varieties in the United States, and many states have multiple fairs beyond their primary state fair. Pennsylvania, alone, has five. Talk about really milking this concept.But there are only four state fairs that regularly feature a butter cow sculpture: Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Although Iowa's butter cow sculpture is probably the most legen-dairy, Ohio was the first to do it in 1903, eight years before Iowa.All four use a similar process: a frame of various materials, mostly wire-and-steel mesh, covered in layers of sculpted butter. Of course, the more you think about it, the more this makes sense. We're usually talking 600-800 lbs. of butter with the frame, alone, so a solid butter heffer would probably be cowed by the laws of physics.The Minnesota State Fair, in my humble opinion, is where things get a lot more interesting. They annually crown the “Princess Kay of the Milky Way” among ten young women finalists, each of whom has a likeness of their head sculpted, one per day, by famed butter sculptor Lisa Christensen.Christensen is said to be the only butter sculptor whom regularly works with live models, and the process usually takes between six and eight hours. The sculpted heads are displayed in a walk-in, refrigerated area over the duration of the fair.The winning young woman is crowned Princess Kay the day before the beginning of the fair, and she receives a scholarship and serves as the ambassador for the Minnesota dairy industry for a one-year term. Shout-out to incumbent Rachel Rynda, whose term cow-incidentally ends this evening when the 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way is due to be crowned.There are no frames or any other non-butter materials used by Christensen when carving these likenesses, just ~90 pounds of butter and pure instinct. Even the thought of using a frame probably makes her curdle.All that said, as much as I joke, carving the likeness of a cow's body shell takes remarkable talent, even if it is margarinally less than the full-butter cow most of us perceived.And to be fair, none of these sculptors claim to be shaping livestock fully out of butter. All are quite transparent about their process. So, don't have a cow about it. I say “well done” to all you sculptors out there; when it comes to these cows, you butter believe I affirm all of them.[Like what you read? Subscribe below, or if you just wanna buy me coffee, I gratefully accept through Venmo.]Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Hi, I'm Charlotte Clymer, and this is Charlotte's Web Thoughts, my Substack. It's completely free to access and read, but it's also how my bills! So, please do kindly consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $7/month or save money with the $70/annual sub. You can also go way above and beyond by becoming a Founding Member at $250. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

We have gone international this week, as we are joined by Siale Bain-Vete from Tonga, and Marlene Lumabi from Northern Mariana Islands, who are the recipients of the Marty Handson Scholarship. We recap their experiences in basketball, and what the whirlwind fortnight of coaching development looked like for them.  The scholarship program was named after former head coach Marty Handson who passed away in 2016. Beyond being a great coach leading Victoria Country to its first Gold Medal, Marty was also strongly involved in the development of athletes and coaches across all levels of the basketball community. His dedication to this cause is recognized and respected within Basketball Australia and FIBA Oceania as he was traveling internationally to deliver programs, sessions, and clinics.

Join us in this episode as we explore the world of Opportunity Zones. Landon Johnson, of CapZone Analytics, joins Karen Rands to dive into the latest IRS regulation changes impacting Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds (QOZFs) and unravel the complexities surrounding compliance. Whether you're new to this concept or already involved as a fund participant, investor, or fund manager and developer, compliance is where the rubber meets the road to ensure you maximize the benefits of investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds.  Karen kicks of the discussion with a brief history behind the bipartisan effort in Congress to be a catalyst for change by providing strong financial incentives for investors to seek investment opportunities in underserved rural and urban communities. The impact and benefit has been siezmic. Since it's passage as part of the Tax Code changes in 2017, there are more than 8,768 designated Qualified Opportunity Zones in the 50 states, and five U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Total QOZF equity investments had reached $48 billion by the end of 2020, with 48% of those communities benefiting from projects and investments underway, according to the Economic Innovation Institute, compared to the 18 years it took for the SBA backed Venture Capital program, New Market Tax Credits, to reach the same level.  The economic ripple effect of QOZF felt beyond the targeted areas is clearly evident as well, because the projects are more than affordable housing, they also involve the building of commerce centers, manufacturing and distribution facilities, and modernization and expansion of aging businesses.   Landon sheds light on the nuances of the Opportunity Zone Fund tax codes, including deferral and reduction of capital gains, tax offsets based on investment length, and the differences between real estate development and operating business acquisitions. He shares valuable insight on what red flags to watch out for, and offers a solution to ensure you reap the rewards without facing hefty penalties.  Join Karen and Landon as they explore the transformative impact of Opportunity Zones and how to navigate compliance effectively.  Key Takeaways: 1. Identify compliance issues early to protect your investment and avoid legal and financial penalties. 2. Prioritize investment-grade due diligence and compliance when raising funds to mitigate future risks. 3. CapZone Analytics offers a groundbreaking platform that analyzes OZ compliance data, identifies gaps and risks, and establishes a solid compliance posture. 4. Stay informed about proposed legislation and potential extensions to the Opportunity Zone program, as they can significantly impact your investment strategy. 5. Gain a competitive edge by understanding the shifting landscape of tax codes and implementing intelligent compliance strategies. Guest: Landon Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer at CapZone Analytics, brings extensive experience in optimizing marketing, sales, and go-to-market operations for hypergrowth technology companies. As a passionate change agent focused on driving innovative business strategies and process improvements from ideation to implementation, Landon has served as a leader, consultant, and advisor to over 100 companies throughout his 25 year career. His experience navigating IRS regulations and compliance for QOZFs makes him a valuable resource for investors seeking to unlock the full potential of Opportunity Zones. For more information, visit CapZone Analytics at capzoneanalytics.com and connect with Landon Johnson on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/landonjohnson) and Twitter (@landonkj). Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Y_jtgHE54Lo Karen Rands is the leader of the Compassionate Capitalist Movement™ and author of the best selling investment primer: Inside Secrets to Angel Investing: Step-by-Step Strategies to Leverage Private Equity Investment for Passive Wealth Creation.  She is an authority on creating wealth through investing and building successful businesses that can scale and exit rich.  Karen is an enthusiastic speaker on these topics for corporations, economic development groups, angel investor networks, and professional  business networks.   About Karen https://www.karenrands.co/about-karen-rands/ Visit http://Kugarand.com and click on the Services tab, to learn more about the Compassionate Capitalist Wealth Maximizer System™.  Read about the Due Diligence Services, Investor Relations, Capital Strategies, Capital Access, and Capital Readiness Coaching serviced offered by her firm, Kugarand Capital Holdings.  The Compassionate Capitalist Show™ is a Podcast on YouTube.  Please visit and subscribe and share.  It is great to watch Karen and her guests live, in action.  The whole library of podcasts and interviews since 2020 can be found there by category or chronological. https://bit.ly/CCSyoutubepod  Imagine the feeling of investing in a way that had massive impact and a potential pay you back 10x your money. The time is now to find out if Angel Investing / CrowdFunding Investing is the wealth creation strategy for you.  Hear why the most wealthy people invest in entrepreneurs, and you have been told it is riskier than real estate and stocks.  Sign up for the FREE Compassionate Capitalist Wealth Mastery Challenge Power Week.  http://dothedeal.org      

Chrissie Juliano, Executive Director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, hosts a news conference to discuss what happens when the pandemic-related public health emergency ends on Thursday; John Tagabuel, Director of Environmental Health and Disease Prevention in the Northern Mariana Islands, commends ASTHO's Food Safety Policy Academy for their help to train his team while he works to build a local program; ASTHO is a Healthy People 2030 Champion; and  ASTHO's TechXpo and Futures Forum is happening in just a few weeks so make sure you're connected when they take the stage. Big Cities Health Coalition: Press Conference Highlights ASTHO Webpage: Food Policy Guides ASTHO Blog Article: Do Cottage Foods Really Come from a Cottage? Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Webpage: Food Handler Certification ASTHO News Release: ASTHO Recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion for Promoting Well-Being Across Lifespan ASTHO Webpage: Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum  

The last thing retirees on a fixed income want is expensive monthly healthcare costs. If you're not careful, you could unintentionally trigger higher Medicare Part B and D premiums through an IRMAA surcharge. On this episode, I'm going to show you how to lower your Medicare costs by lowering your taxable income. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Understanding MAGI limits [2:01] The IRMAA appeals process [5:44] Reducing your taxable income through generosity [7:40] Tax-efficient investment strategies [10:46] Converting traditional IRAs and 401ks to Roth accounts [12:46] How Medicare costs are determined When you enroll in Medicare, you'll receive a letter detailing your annual Part B and D premiums. The amount is based on the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from your tax return two years prior. So for those enrolling in Medicare for 2023, your MAGI will be based on your 2021 tax return. Calculating your MAGI is also not as straightforward as something like an adjusted gross income. The modified adjusted gross income is your adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, plus any interest earned or accrued from US savings bonds used to pay for higher education, plus any income earned while living abroad or from any specific sources not included in your AGI, such as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands. Once your MAGI is calculated, the government uses that number and your filing status to determine how much your premium will be. If you are even a single dollar over the limit, you could be forced to pay double for your Medicare premium. That's why knowing how to reduce your taxable income is a great way to avoid the IRMAA Medicare surcharge. Reducing your Medicare premiums Avoiding the IRMAA Medicare surcharge should be the first thought in every new Medicare enrollee's mind. The first option is to file an appeal. Form SSA-44 allows for eight circumstances to justify an appeal including marriage, divorce or annulment, death of a spouse, loss of income-producing property, loss of pension income, or an employer settlement payment. But the most important reason to appeal for retirees is a work stoppage or work reduction. As previously mentioned, reducing your taxable income is another great way to fight an IRMAA Medicare surcharge. One strategy is to convert traditional IRA and 401k monies to a Roth IRA before the age of 73. Essentially, you're paying tax now on the Roth funds so you don't have to pay later, and anything you withdraw will not be considered taxable. Listen to this episode for more on MAGI limits and reducing your taxable income to decrease Medicare costs! Resources Mentioned Avoid Overpaying for Medicare In 2021 and Beyond, #31 Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO Immediate Past President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, reflects on his work in the state of Maine as he readies for his next job as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's number two in charge; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, tells the Washington Post he thinks an annual COVID-19 vaccine is more likely to be accepted by the public than more frequent shots; and Dr. Esther Muna, CEO for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in the Northern Mariana Islands, says the new Medicaid law will allow people to avoid traveling thousands of miles to get treatment. Maine Public Radio Webpage: Dr. Nirav Shah prepares to leave Maine CDC for top federal post—and answers your public health questions FDA Webpage: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee January 26, 2023 Meeting Announcement ASTHO Blog Article: Bringing the U.S. Territories Closer to Medicaid Equity ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Texas Water Journal and Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, talks with Maria Richards, Geothermal Laboratory Coordinator in the Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Joseph Batir, Geothermal Lead at Petrolern, about the geothermal energy potential of Texas. Recently, the Texas Water Journal published their article, “Determining Geothermal Resources in Three Texas Counties.” Maria Richards' research focuses on geothermal resources and energy development. Her projects vary from computer-generated temperature-depth maps for Google.org to on-site geothermal exploration of the volcanic islands in the Northern Mariana Islands. Currently, her concentration is on the conversion of oil/gas wells into geothermal energy producers.  She co-coordinates the SMU Node of the National Geothermal Data System funded by the Department of Energy. Past research includes the Eastern Texas Geothermal Assessment, Geothermal Map of North America, and the resource assessment for the MIT Report on the Future of Geothermal Energy. Joseph Batir is an exploration geoscientist for Petrolern. He has exploration experience in the Gulf Coast, East Texas and South Texas, Permian Basin, Alaska (Cook Inlet and Interior), British Columbia, offshore West Africa, Illinois Basin, Michigan Basin, Snake River Plain, and the Hellisheidi geothermal field in Iceland. His research has resulted in new insights and prospect generation within existing and emerging plays.

At its height in 1921, this empire had become a refined worldwide network, ruling approximately one-quarter of all the land on Earth. The nations conquered were linked by trade as well as politics, and this lasted for quite a while. While various countries gained their independence over time, even by 1952 when Queen Elizabeth took the throne, over 70 colonies still existed in the empire overseas. Nothing lasts forever, however. The end of this era, which began in the 16th century, finally came in 1997 when Hong Kong, one of the empire's most prominent territories, was transferred back to China. Today, Queen Elizabeth is the former head of state for 16 Commonwealth countries outside the UK. These include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Australia, Belize, Barbados, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. 16 U.S. territories. Yes, but you've probably heard of only the five that have permanent residents: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/donttouchmypodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/donttouchmypodcast/support

Backstreet's back this week and we start with an update from Sen. When he's not sending threatening DM's to celebrities on Instagram, he spends his time replying to wrong number texts. As a follow up to last week, Sen provides an update on his back and forth with a random number which sees another member of the podcast get involved - leading to an awkward love triangle. We then celebrate Northern Mariana Islands brave 23-0 loss to the Socceroos U-17 in what can only be described as yet another example of atrocities against minorities committed by Australians. We got another new improv game this week, “Yes, and.” Premise is quite simple, the boys are placed in a scenario and the only way to move forward in the game is by using sentences beginning with the phrase “yes, and.” You'd think we'd be getting better at these games the more we play them. Finally we end with the “TCB Draft,” where like the NBA draft, we take turns picking our top 5 Sydney suburbs we would choose to start a new city with. Once a suburb has been chosen, the others may not choose that suburb, leading to some very questionable and rogue picks. Also this week: Shay'Lee, American Samoa and the Tuscan Hills of Western Sydney. Segments this week: The Logue: Tired of reaching around each other (at least on the podcast), the boys have instead decided to reach around the week's news stories, events and viral trends. Yes, and: Improv game where each scenario must be continued with a sentence starting with “Yes, and…” TCB Draft: The boys give their top 5 draft picks based on a category where the others cannot select something that has been picked by one of the others. ______________________________________________ SPONSORS

Hey, y'all! We are back this week to continue the tale of the casual corruption & political ambition of Benigno Fitial.

Hey, y'all! This week we are branching outside of the 50 states and taking a look at the Northern Mariana Islands. This American territory/commonwealth has a long, intricate history, but also features one of the more hilariously corrupt people we've talked about thus far. Join us as discuss Benigno Fitial and his self-focused Covenant Party.

In this ruling from just last month, the Supreme Court ruled that Puerto Ricans are not entitled to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment because … unclear. Citizens who live in DC and the Northern Mariana Islands? Yes - equal citizens under the law. Puerto Ricans and Guamamians? Sorry, no, try again next century.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter. If you're not a Patreon member, you're not hearing every episode! To get exclusive Patreon-only episodes, discounts on merch, access to our Slack community, and more, join at patreon.com/fivefourpod. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode, Sharon continues her tour of the U.S territories by talking about the history of the Northern Mariana Islands. This island territory is not well-known to mainland Americans–we don't talk about them very often–so consider this your crash course! The Northern Mariana Islands are a submerged mountain chain in the Pacific Ocean near Guam. Learn the name the explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave to the island chain, and who it was ultimately named after, along with other facts, like the cultures that have influenced the islands, the incredible depths of the Mariana Trench, and which famous Hollywood director made history in the Marianas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Northern Mariana Islands will no longer be a bomb and live-fire training site as US scales-back its military operations, and a documentary on Australian military forces leading an armed interventions in Timor Leste uncovers a disturbing untold story.

This is Part II of Episode 6, "Revival of Traditional Seafaring in the Marianas." Part I was released in late October 2021. Through interviews with master navigators and their students, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua discusses how, beginning in the 1980s, CHamorus began to relearn the ancient seafaring skills lost here to colonization — and how the revival of these traditions goes hand-in-hand with the CHamoru Renaissance and decolonization movement. Our anchor for this episode is Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua. He's an historian and teacher of CHamoru, the indigenous language of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and serves as curator of the Guam Museum. Subscribe to the podcast and follow us on social media. Visit our website (MemoirsPasifika.com) to explore archival materials related to each episode. Interviewees: Sandra Iseke Okada Dr. Larry Cunningham Pwo Rob Limtiaco Pwo Larry Raigetal Vanessa Toves Music: Memoirs Pasifika intro/outro song - Ryan Shook  Puluwat Hymn - Spirit of Micronesia Team: Producer / Host - Tony Azios Audio Engineer - Ryan Shook Intern - Annie Fay Camacho

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff share their most recent adventures. Ashraf interviews David Holland and Randy Engstrom about a recent “Creative Vitality Summit” and interrogates the role of young creatives in the future of the creative economy. Jeff and Ashraf discuss the implications of this work, reclaiming the terminology, and the power in ceding power. In this episode you'll learn: New perspectives to view a once-capitalist “creative economy;” How young creatives are helping to shape the future of the sector; How adults can share or cede power to youth decision-makers in the creative economy. Transcript located here. ABOUT DAVID HOLLAND: The deputy director at WESTAF. Since joining WESTAF, he has co-directed the inaugural Creative Vitality™ Summit; authored “Creative Economies and Economic Recovery;” co-led the redesign of the National Endowment for the Arts' Performing Arts Discovery program in collaboration with regional and national partners; established the Western Arts Advocacy Network; collaborated on developing new equity-focused relief grantmaking programs in the West and the Northern Mariana Islands; spearheaded WESTAF's Arts and the Rural West and Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminars; and secured private and public investment for WESTAF's programs. Holland's prior roles include leadership and senior management positions with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, VCU School of the Arts, ART 180, the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Arts & Business, and the UK innovation foundation Nesta. Holland began his career with BOP Consulting, a global consultancy on culture and the creative industries, leading projects for public agencies, universities, and international organizations as a senior consultant. For more than 12 years, he has also offered his services as an independent management consultant, working primarily in the arts and culture field internationally. RANDY ENGSTROM: A passionate advocate and organizer of cultural and community development for over 15 years. He is currently the owner and principal of Third Way Creative, a consulting practice focused on cultural policy, racial equity, and creative economy. He is also Adjunct Faculty at the Seattle University Arts Leadership Program where he teaches cultural policy, advocacy, and resource development. Most recently he served as Director of the Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Seattle where he expanded their investments in granting programs and Public Art, while establishing new programs and policies in arts education, cultural space affordability, and racial equity. He served on the Seattle Arts Commission from 2005-2011, serving one year as Chair. Previously he served as the Founding Director of the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, a multimedia/multidisciplinary community space that offers youth and community member's access to arts, technology, and cultural resources. Prior to Youngstown, Randy spent 3 years as the Founding CEO of Static Factory Media, an artist development organization that owned and operated a record label, bar/performance venue, graphic design house, recording studio, and web development business. In 2009 Randy received the Emerging Leader Award from Americans for the Arts and was one of Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40. This episode of Why Change? A Podcast for the Creative Generation was powered by Creative Generation. Produced and Edited by Daniel Stanley. For more information on this episode and Creative Generation please visit and follow us on social media @Campaign4GenC --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whychange/support

Through interviews with master navigators and their students, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua discusses how, beginning in the 1980s, CHamorus began to relearn the ancient seafaring skills lost here to colonization — and how the revival of these traditions goes hand-in-hand with the CHamoru Renaissance and decolonization movement. This is Part I of a two-part episode. Part II will be released in mid-November 2021. Our anchor for this episode is Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua. He's an historian and teacher of CHamoru, the indigenous language of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and serves as curator of the Guam Museum. Subscribe to the podcast and follow us on social media. Visit our website (MemoirsPasifika.com) to explore archival materials related to each episode. Interviewees: Sandra Iseke Okada Dr. Larry Cunningham Pwo Rob Limtiaco Pwo Larry Raigetal Music: Memoirs Pasifika intro/outro song - Ryan Shook Star-Path Chant - Spirit of Micronesia Navigators of Puluwat - Spirit of Micronesia Team: Producer / Host - Tony Azios Audio Engineer - Ryan Shook Intern - Annie Fay Camacho

In this new podcast episode, recent cases and news from the world of Labor & Employment Law will be discussed, including:OSHA COVID-19  Vaccine Rule - This week, OSHA forwarded their draft Emergency Temporary Standard to the White House Regulatory Office, meaning that the promised rule mandating vaccines for employers with more than 100 employees may be coming soon.  The immediate response to the rule when it is issued may depend on whether your business is in a state that follows federal OSHA guidelines or in a state with its own OSHA approved plan.  Here is the state by state breakdown:Federal OSHA states: Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.State OSHA plans: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.State OSHA plans (state and local government workers only): Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands.The NFL and Emails - Jon Gruden resigned as head coach of the Raiders after several inappropriate emails he sent were leaked to the media.  What can businesses learn from this situation?Cannabis - New York legalized cannabis use earlier this year including a prohibition against employment discrimination for using it off duty.  The New York Department of Labor has not issued guidance clarifying what actions employers may take.  You can find the guidance here: https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/10/p420-cannabisfaq-10-08-21.pdfListen in to find out what happened with these issues and how your business can avoid problems.Comments or questions: Contact Mark Chumley at mchumley@kmklaw.com or visit www.kmklaw.comMusic :Jamming with Leon by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasradiofish/61983 Ft: Scomber

In our fourth episode, Congressman LJ Castro of Saipan discusses several key moments and debates from the Northern Mariana Islands' self-determination process of the 1960s and ‘70s, including the Marianas Political Status Commission's negotiations with the United States government to end the NMI's status as a US-administered Trust Territory. Through the so-called “Covenant Agreement,” the Northern Marianas were ultimately able to establish the islands as a commonwealth of the United States with greater rights, autonomy, and citizenship. LJ Castro is a former congressman in the Northern Mariana Islands' House of Representatives, and is currently coordinator for the NMI's Youth Congress. Mr. Castro also serves as creative director of Guma' Simiyan Manaina-ta, a dance troupe showcasing Chamorro culture through the performing arts. In 2017, he was granted the Governor's Humanities Award for Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices, in recognition of his work in promoting culture through song, chant, and dance. Subscribe / follow us on social media, and from wherever you stream podcasts. Visit our website (MemoirsPasifika.com) to explore archival materials related to each episode.   Interviewees: Vicente Naputi Santos Manuel Atalig Sablan Pedro Agulto Tenorio Music: Memoirs Pasifika intro/outro song - Ryan Shook Team: Producer / Host - Tony Azios Audio Engineer - Ryan Shook Sound Recordist (Saipan) - Brad Ruszala Intern - Annie Fay Camacho

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Memoirs Pasifika, a podcast exploring events, movements, and people in modern Micronesian history. In this episode, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua tells the story of Governor Carlos Camacho's eventful trip to Vietnam — at the height of the war — to visit Guam's battle-weary troops during Christmas. The trip unexpectedly helped shape Guam's political history, launched a practice among politicians nationwide that continues up until today, and even inspired a hit song! Dr. Bevacqua is an historian and teacher of Chamoru, the indigenous language of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Subscribe to Memoirs Pasifika, and follow us on social media or visit us at MemoirsPasifika.com to enjoy archival materials related to each episode.   Interviewees: - Senator Mary Camacho Torres - Eddie Duenas - James Brooks Music: - Memoirs Pasifika intro/outro song by Ryan Shook - “Christmas Odyssey in Viet Nam” by Johnny Sablan

Welcome to Episode 7. In this episode, co-hosts Gen & Ted Lai dive deeper into the American Territories. This is part 2 of 2, covering the histories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. They also discuss the Jones Act and its impact on the economies of the U.S. territories. In the last segment, Gen & Ted bring back the What Are We Watching segment and discuss two movies: The Yellow Rose and The Personal History of David Copperfield. For more information and show notes, visit our Libsyn homepage at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or check out our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/AAHistory101 for our social media. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@1882media.com.