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December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
p o l i t i c a l
Malta's PM to step down amid Daphne Caruana Galizia investigation
Joseph Muscat has announced he plans to step down as Malta's prime minister, saying on state TV he would ask his ruling Labour party to start a process to choose a new leader on 12 January next year.
He made the announcement on Sunday night after calls for his resignation had grown over the 2017 car bomb killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. On Saturday, a prominent businessman with alleged ties to government ministers and senior officials was charged over the case.
"Our country thus will start a short process of approximately a month for the Labour party to choose a new leader and a new prime minister", - said Muscat.
An anti-government march was held by thousands of people in earlier on Sunday in Valetta, the capital of the tiny Mediterranean archipelago nation, marching from parliament to the central court house in an event organised by the activist group Repubblika, among others, and led by members of the Caruana Galizia family.
Earlier, lawmakers from Labour had insisted they would stand by Muscat.
Yorgen Fenech, 38, was taken to a Valletta court late on Saturday and charged with complicity in the murder. He pleaded not guilty to that and other charges.
He made the announcement on Sunday night after calls for his resignation had grown over the 2017 car bomb killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. On Saturday, a prominent businessman with alleged ties to government ministers and senior officials was charged over the case.
"Our country thus will start a short process of approximately a month for the Labour party to choose a new leader and a new prime minister", - said Muscat.
An anti-government march was held by thousands of people in earlier on Sunday in Valetta, the capital of the tiny Mediterranean archipelago nation, marching from parliament to the central court house in an event organised by the activist group Repubblika, among others, and led by members of the Caruana Galizia family.
Earlier, lawmakers from Labour had insisted they would stand by Muscat.
Yorgen Fenech, 38, was taken to a Valletta court late on Saturday and charged with complicity in the murder. He pleaded not guilty to that and other charges.
"Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat."
By: REUTERS/Yara Nardi
By: REUTERS/Yara Nardi
The government had earlier turned down Fenech's request for immunity from prosecution in return for revealing information about the murder plot and about alleged corruption involving Muscat's former chief of staff Keith Schembri and the former tourism minister Konrad Mizzi, among others, court filings showed.
Schembri and Mizzi resigned on Tuesday. Schembri was interrogated for two days by police before being released without charge. He has denied any wrongdoing. Mizzi denied any business links with Fenech and any wrongdoing.
Before Muscat's announcement, the Labour party's parliamentary group met for four hours on Sunday at Girgenti Palace, the prime minister's official countryside residence, saying afterward that lawmakers gave "unanimous support to all decisions which the prime minister will be taking".
On Saturday, Caruana Galizia's family called for Muscat, 45, to quit. The journalist had reported that Schembri and Mizzi set up secret companies in Panama. She also reported how another company, 17 Black, was meant to be a vehicle to deposit funds into those companies.
An investigation by Reuters and the Times of Malta showed Fenech as having been the owner of 17 Black.
Mizzi denied any business ties to Fenech or knowledge of 17 Black or any criminal activity.
Schembri has always denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday for the first time since his arrest, he denied being the author of a typewritten letter that Fenech told police he received anonymously after his arrest. Fenech said the letter told him to pin the blame for the murder on another government minister.
"I immediately denied that the letter came from me when the police were interrogating me and I stand by that completely," he told the Times of Malta.
Schembri and Mizzi resigned on Tuesday. Schembri was interrogated for two days by police before being released without charge. He has denied any wrongdoing. Mizzi denied any business links with Fenech and any wrongdoing.
Before Muscat's announcement, the Labour party's parliamentary group met for four hours on Sunday at Girgenti Palace, the prime minister's official countryside residence, saying afterward that lawmakers gave "unanimous support to all decisions which the prime minister will be taking".
On Saturday, Caruana Galizia's family called for Muscat, 45, to quit. The journalist had reported that Schembri and Mizzi set up secret companies in Panama. She also reported how another company, 17 Black, was meant to be a vehicle to deposit funds into those companies.
An investigation by Reuters and the Times of Malta showed Fenech as having been the owner of 17 Black.
Mizzi denied any business ties to Fenech or knowledge of 17 Black or any criminal activity.
Schembri has always denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday for the first time since his arrest, he denied being the author of a typewritten letter that Fenech told police he received anonymously after his arrest. Fenech said the letter told him to pin the blame for the murder on another government minister.
"I immediately denied that the letter came from me when the police were interrogating me and I stand by that completely," he told the Times of Malta.
e c o l o g y
UN appoints Mark Carney to help finance climate action goals
UN appoints Mark Carney as special envoy for climate action and finance as he prepares to step down as governor of the Bank of England in January.
Carney replaces billionaire Michael Bloomberg in the part time pro bono climate action role after the former New York mayor stepped down to focus on the US presidential race.
The governor has been signed up to galvanise action among financial institutions ahead of the 26th round of global climate talks in November 2020. His main focus will be on mobilising private finance to invest in schemes that will help achieve the Paris climate agreement goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C.
His remit will include building frameworks for financial reporting and risk management.
Carney said: "The disclosures of climate risk must become comprehensive, climate risk management must be transformed, and investing for a net-zero world must go mainstream. The Bank of England, the UK government and the UK financial sector can play leading roles in making these imperatives happen."
Carney has previously spoken out about the need for change, warning in October that the global financial system was backing carbon-producing projects that would raise the temperature of the planet by over 4C.
Carney replaces billionaire Michael Bloomberg in the part time pro bono climate action role after the former New York mayor stepped down to focus on the US presidential race.
The governor has been signed up to galvanise action among financial institutions ahead of the 26th round of global climate talks in November 2020. His main focus will be on mobilising private finance to invest in schemes that will help achieve the Paris climate agreement goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C.
His remit will include building frameworks for financial reporting and risk management.
Carney said: "The disclosures of climate risk must become comprehensive, climate risk management must be transformed, and investing for a net-zero world must go mainstream. The Bank of England, the UK government and the UK financial sector can play leading roles in making these imperatives happen."
Carney has previously spoken out about the need for change, warning in October that the global financial system was backing carbon-producing projects that would raise the temperature of the planet by over 4C.
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
Trump gave states the power to ban refugees
Apiel Kuot had survived war, sexual assault and life — first as an orphan, then as a single mother — in an east African refugee camp. But Utah terrified her.
She would never be welcome there, others in the camp had told her when she learned she would be resettled 9,000 miles away in a place where her black skin could mark her as an unwanted outsider.
Three years on from her arrival, "life is beautiful. Utah is a wonderful place, the best place in the world for me."
This fall, President Trump signed an executive order that, for the first time, gives states and cities the authority to veto refugee resettlements. The move alarms refugee advocates, who fear a wave of xenophobic demagoguery as governors and mayors seek to prove their anti-immigrant credentials by banning new arrivals.
That still may happen, adding to the strain on a once world-class resettlement program that has been crippled by cuts since Trump took office.
She would never be welcome there, others in the camp had told her when she learned she would be resettled 9,000 miles away in a place where her black skin could mark her as an unwanted outsider.
Three years on from her arrival, "life is beautiful. Utah is a wonderful place, the best place in the world for me."
This fall, President Trump signed an executive order that, for the first time, gives states and cities the authority to veto refugee resettlements. The move alarms refugee advocates, who fear a wave of xenophobic demagoguery as governors and mayors seek to prove their anti-immigrant credentials by banning new arrivals.
That still may happen, adding to the strain on a once world-class resettlement program that has been crippled by cuts since Trump took office.
Apiel Kuot, a 28-year-old refugee from present-day South Sudan, at her home in Utah (Kim Raff for The Washington Post)
But in Utah — deeply conservative, deeply devout, predominantly white Utah — the response has been altogether different. The governor, a Republican who aligns with Trump on most issues, wrote the president a letter in late October.
He didn't want to keep refugees out. He didn't want to reduce their numbers. He wanted Trump to send more.
"We empathize deeply with individuals and groups who have been forced from their homes and we love giving them a new home and a new life," Gov. Gary R. Herbert wrote. Such newcomers, he added, have become "productive employees and responsible citizens." They have been an asset to Utah, he said, not a liability.
Republicans in the state legislature quickly backed up their governor, daring to defy a president who has repeatedly shown an unwillingness to tolerate intraparty dissent. So did Republican members of the state's congressional delegation. So did Republicans in city halls. Democrats across Utah added their support.
"I have to be honest: I don't have any idea why it's a partisan issue nationally. It's never been one here," said Brad Wilson, the state's Republican speaker of the House. "Regardless of political party, we value these people."
Until recently, that was true for the United States as a whole. From Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, every president in recent decades had sought to bolster the program, identifying it as a way to generate goodwill and prestige internationally while strengthening bonds in communities at home.
But not Trump. The president in September cut the annual number of new arrivals to a maximum of 18,000, a record low. He has repeatedly attacked refugees, suggesting they may be a "Trojan horse" intent on violence or a Muslim takeover. At an October rally in Minnesota, his supporters booed his mention of Somali refugees, then cheered when the president announced he had given states and cities the chance to block them from moving in.
"Believe me, no other president would be doing that," Trump declared.
Since September, when Trump authorized the veto, reactions from state capitols and city halls have been more hospitable toward refugees than hostile.
Some leaders, such as the Republican governor of North Dakota, have affirmed their states want to continue receiving refugees as long as municipalities agree. Others, such as the Democratic governor of the swing state of Colorado, have said they will welcome any refugees that other states reject.
He didn't want to keep refugees out. He didn't want to reduce their numbers. He wanted Trump to send more.
"We empathize deeply with individuals and groups who have been forced from their homes and we love giving them a new home and a new life," Gov. Gary R. Herbert wrote. Such newcomers, he added, have become "productive employees and responsible citizens." They have been an asset to Utah, he said, not a liability.
Republicans in the state legislature quickly backed up their governor, daring to defy a president who has repeatedly shown an unwillingness to tolerate intraparty dissent. So did Republican members of the state's congressional delegation. So did Republicans in city halls. Democrats across Utah added their support.
"I have to be honest: I don't have any idea why it's a partisan issue nationally. It's never been one here," said Brad Wilson, the state's Republican speaker of the House. "Regardless of political party, we value these people."
Until recently, that was true for the United States as a whole. From Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, every president in recent decades had sought to bolster the program, identifying it as a way to generate goodwill and prestige internationally while strengthening bonds in communities at home.
But not Trump. The president in September cut the annual number of new arrivals to a maximum of 18,000, a record low. He has repeatedly attacked refugees, suggesting they may be a "Trojan horse" intent on violence or a Muslim takeover. At an October rally in Minnesota, his supporters booed his mention of Somali refugees, then cheered when the president announced he had given states and cities the chance to block them from moving in.
"Believe me, no other president would be doing that," Trump declared.
Since September, when Trump authorized the veto, reactions from state capitols and city halls have been more hospitable toward refugees than hostile.
Some leaders, such as the Republican governor of North Dakota, have affirmed their states want to continue receiving refugees as long as municipalities agree. Others, such as the Democratic governor of the swing state of Colorado, have said they will welcome any refugees that other states reject.
i n _ K a z a k h s t a n
Kazakhstanis won the global finals of the Global IT Challenge in South Korea
LG Electronics (LG) congratulates Kazakhstanis Isaac MustOpulo on the main Best Award and Ilya Scherbakova on the Excellence Award in the eLifeMap Challenge of the Global IT Challenge 2019 international competition for children with special needs, which was held on November 26-28 in South Korea, Busan city. This year, 300 contestants from 20 countries took part in the annual LG project. "I truly believed in my victory. I would not have returned without a first place!" - Isaac MustOpulo does not hide the joys. "Thanks to LG for the opportunity to participate in such a large-scale competition. This, of course, inspires me to move on to my goal," Ilya Shcherbakov shared.
Together with Isaac and Ilya, the strongest finalists went to South Korea from Kazakhstan, who showed the highest results at the qualifying competitions in Almaty - these are talented guys: Nail Ermukhanbet and Abdulhakim Mactabekov. And finalists from Kyrgyzstan joined them: Sabina Alybekova, Azamat Kochkorbaevi, Aidana Niidova Niidova Nidana Tilegen Rakhatbekov. LG provided all of them with the opportunity to prepare for the final for four months of visual programming Scratch and computer skills on the basis of the faculty of the International University of Information Technologies in Almaty.
Every year, starting in 2011, the Global IT Challenge is held among young people with special needs and is aimed at creating conditions in support of talented individuals in the IT field, drawing attention to the problems of youth with disabilities.
Together with Isaac and Ilya, the strongest finalists went to South Korea from Kazakhstan, who showed the highest results at the qualifying competitions in Almaty - these are talented guys: Nail Ermukhanbet and Abdulhakim Mactabekov. And finalists from Kyrgyzstan joined them: Sabina Alybekova, Azamat Kochkorbaevi, Aidana Niidova Niidova Nidana Tilegen Rakhatbekov. LG provided all of them with the opportunity to prepare for the final for four months of visual programming Scratch and computer skills on the basis of the faculty of the International University of Information Technologies in Almaty.
Every year, starting in 2011, the Global IT Challenge is held among young people with special needs and is aimed at creating conditions in support of talented individuals in the IT field, drawing attention to the problems of youth with disabilities.
i n t e r t a i n m e n t
No "Angels" this Christmas
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will not be happening this year. Its parent company, L Brands, said it would have to 'evolve the messaging of [the company]' before returning. Over the past few years, controversy has plagued the label due to lack of diversity and relations to Jeffrey Epstein.
Gigi Hadid, Getty images
"Unfortunately the Victoria's Secret show won't be happening this year," said VS Angel, Shanina Shaik, in June. "It's something I'm not used to because every year around this time I'm training like an Angel." Suspicions were confirmed earlier this week with the confirmation from the parent company. "We think it's important to evolve the marketing of Victoria's Secret," explained Stuart B. Burgdoerfer, the CFO and Executive Vice President of L Brands.
Good day and good thoughts!
with love, Aliya
with love, Aliya
