Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Daily Skimm: I'm every woman, It's all in me

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"I think I tore my pants"

Prince William, after attempting a spin class during a royal outing. Hopefully, no one saw his derri-heir.

 
Top Story

In Limbo

The Story

If you're waiting on student loan forgiveness, you might not want to hold your breath.

Why's that?

The Supreme Court seems skeptical. Yesterday, it heard oral arguments in two cases challenging the Biden admin's student debt relief program. One case is from six Republican-led states who argue President Biden doesn't have the authority to cancel student loans. The second was from two people who didn't fully qualify for the relief program. Biden's debt relief plan would wipe out up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million people. However, the program's been on hold amid legal disputes, leaving millions of borrowers in the balance.

What did the justices say?

After more than three hours, some conservative justices appeared to focus on the six GOP-led states' arguments that the admin overstepped its executive authority. The justices were also worried about fairness, saying those who took out business loans wouldn't be granted the same type of forgiveness. Meanwhile, Justice Amy Coney Barrett seemed like the potential swing vote that millions of Americans could be hoping for. It comes as the US remains divided on the topic. One poll found that 50% of midterm voters supported debt relief, whereas 47% opposed it.

What happens now?

Many expect the justices to issue their ruling by late June. Until then, student loan repayment is still on pause until August...but so is the forgiveness program. In the meantime, the Supreme Court has two big questions to answer: do the challenges have legal standing, and is the Biden admin's plan legal and within the scope of the president's power? Experts say the program is facing an uphill battle, especially since the justices focused on executive power. Meanwhile, Biden has said he's "confident" he's got the authority to carry out the plan. 

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For some borrowers, forgiveness could wipe away their entire debt balance. For others, it could make a dent. But whatever the outcome will be, much of America remains divided as the cost of higher education continues to rise.

 
And Also...This

Who's got child care on their mind…

The Commerce Dept. Yesterday, the department announced any company that wants federal funding to build a semiconductor plan needs to provide affordable child care. Last year, President Biden signed a $280 billion package to pour federal dollars into manufacturing and researching semiconductors. During the pandemic, there was a shortage of semiconductors — which are essential to manufacturing cars, smartphones, and laptops. It was also a move to ramp up competition with China. Now, the Biden admin says companies who want a piece of the $39 billion pie to fund new plants need to provide child care for facility and construction workers. A record number of parents reported having to miss work because of child care.


Where officials opened up an investigation…

Iran. Since November, hundreds of Iranian school girls have been poisoned in a wave of attacks. Some of the victims reportedly smelled tangerines or chlorine before suffering from things like nausea, heart palpitations, or headaches. Officials apparently didn't take the poisoning claims seriously, but about 30 schools in at least three cities have been targeted. The string of attacks comes months after Iranians protested the country's lack of women's rights. Now, the prosecutor general has opened a criminal investigation. Gov officials say it's possible these attacks are "deliberate." Meanwhile, some parents have pulled their kids out of school amid concerns they could become ill.


What people are monitoring…

Greece. Last night, a train carrying about 350 passengers collided head-on with a freight train in northern Greece. At least 36 people died and more than 80 others were injured. The train had been traveling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki. Multiple train cars derailed, with others catching on fire. Rescue operations are underway and the death toll is expected to rise. It's unclear what led to the collision. The incident is Greece's deadliest train crash in recent years.


What's sending out alerts…

Nissan. The company is recalling more than 700,000 Rogue and Rogue Sport SUVs after a defect in the keys had cars turn off when driven. Owners who drive Rogue Sport models between 2017 to 2022 and Rogue models from 2014 to 2020 are advised not to attach accessories to their car's key fob.


While everyone's sending well wishes to Savannah Guthrie...

People are still looking for Hoda Kotb.


Who hasn't grown up…

Peter Pan.

 
PACKING PERFECTION
Together with Athleta
 

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4. An easy way to shop legendary female food makers.

It's March 1, which means it's National Women's Month. Want to support women-led shops? Browse delicious goods from some of the best. Cheers.


 
Skimm'rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Quality care…Jill Z (CA). She created an online program to help women cut their risk of postpartum depression using evidence-based skills and strategies. Learn more

(Some) Birthdays…Nancy Lane (NY), Leah Kessler (CA), Lucy Schulson (MA), Dean Smith (MN), Georgia Perez (NV), Patricia Tower (MI), Anna Carpenter (FL), Jenna Jones (TX), Rachel Siegfried (OR), Julie Wichler (NY), Windi Brady (NC), Wendy Minkin (CA), Meg Stagaard  (NJ), Megan Fleming (NY), Lacey Nowell (NJ)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

 
 

Join NOAA Planet Stewards March Book Club!

NOAA Planet Stewards Newsletter

Last week, NOAA Planet Stewards held a dynamic discussion of Dr. Katherine Hayhoe's newest book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientists Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World -  a wonderfully written, multi-layered look at science, faith, and the psychology surrounding conversations and climate change. If you haven't had the opportunity to read Dr. Hayhoe's book, we highly recommend it.

 

We welcome you to join us this month at our March book club where we'll talk about Jim Lynch's novel The Highest Tide. Details and discussion questions are below. 

Cover of Jim Lynch's Novel, The Highest Tide

The Highest Tide

by Jim Lynch

Book Club Date & Time:

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 @ 7:00 PM ET

 

Book Club Place:

Video Meeting Link:  meet.google.com/ysi-wwhz-dku

To Dial in Using Phone Only: +1 219-515-4315

Pin: 427 896 819#

One moonlit night, thirteen-year-old Miles O'Malley sneaks out of his house and goes exploring on the tidal flats of Puget Sound. When he discovers a rare giant squid, he instantly becomes a local phenomenon shadowed by people curious as to whether this speed-reading, Rachel Carson obsessed teenager is just an observant boy or an unlikely prophet. But Miles is really just a kid on the verge of growing up, infatuated with the girl next door, worried that his bickering parents will divorce, and fearful that everything, even the bay he loves, is shifting away from him. As the sea continues to offer up discoveries from its mysterious depths, Miles struggles to deal with the difficulties that attend the equally mysterious process of growing up.

Discussion Questions

  1. Miles, the main character and narrator in The Highest Tide, says: "most people realize the sea covers two thirds of the planet, but few take the time to understand even a gallon of it... Then they'll have a hard time not thinking about the beginnings of life itself and of an earth without pavement, plastic or Man" (pages 1 and 2).

    According to NOAA, coastal counties of the U.S. are home to over 128 million people, or almost 40 percent of the nation's total population, yet the coast accounts for less than 10 percent of the nation's land mass – making population density over five times greater in coastal shoreline counties than the U.S. average. This means that issues affecting the coasts affect a large proportion of Americans.

    How is America affected by: mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass meadows and coral reefs? What are some of the ecological issues facing coastal communities? How could we teach the 60% of the American population not living in coastal counties about the importance of these aquatic ecosystems?

  2. Every day Miles observes sea life - i.e., giant squid (page 8), organ-vomiting sea cucumber (page 56), horny phosphorescent worms (page 59), scarred and battered Ragfish (pages 59-61), giant sunflower star (page 75), moon jellies (page 131), etc.

    Are humans missing something exciting if we don't pay attention to the natural world? Why are these observations important? Why is citizen science so important?

  3. Miles references Rachel Carson. Is this author a typical reference point for a current day teenager? Phelps tells Miles that he's in love "with a spinster who's been dead for decades" (page 31). Phelps also tells Miles, "You're a freak... Why don't you use all your homo-reading to study something of value to us"... "like the G-spot?" (page 30). How and why does the author introduce male puberty into the story?

  4. In the book many strange events occur in the Sound during the summer: winds, weather, flooding; could these be attributed to rapid climate change? Miles says, "People lost interest once the explanations rolled in. Some even got angry, as if scientists were determined to squeeze the magic out of everything" (page 243). Given people's desire to fixate on mystical explanations for environmental events rather than rational ones, how likely does it seem that people will take responsibility for actions that have an environmental impact? In the novel, how does the media, feed this type of irrational response?

If you'd like to see the books and discussion questions from previous NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club meetings, check out out our  Book Club Archives Page!

Sign up to the NOAA Planet Stewards email list to receive our bimonthly newsletter The Watch. It's the best way to keep up with all NOAA Planet Stewards happenings, and get the latest information on upcoming educator and student opportunities, meetings, workshops and much more!

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Инициатива экономической устойчивости в Центральной Азии

Department of State United States of America

Перевод предоставлен Государственным департаментом США



Государственный департамент США
Офис официального представителя
Информационный бюллетень
28 февраля 2023 года

В сентябре 2022 года Администрация Байдена-Харрис начала реализацию Инициативы экономической устойчивости в Центральной Азии (ERICEN) с целью стимулирования преобразующего экономического роста по всей Центральной Азии на фоне неспровоцированной агрессивной войны России в Украине. В 2022 финансовом году Соединенные Штаты выделили $25 млн на диверсификацию торговых путей, увеличение инвестиций в регион и расширение возможностей трудоустройства путём предоставления населению Центральной Азии практических навыков для работы на современном рынке труда. В сотрудничестве с Конгрессом США Администрация намерена добавить финансирование в размере $20 млн в 2023 финансовом году для расширения программ в рамках ERICEN. Соединенные Штаты также планируют выделить $5 млн на поддержку региональных связей в рамках экономических и энергетических программ. С учетом этого общий объем средств, выделенных США на региональные программы Центральной Азии, составит $50 млн.

ERICEN имеет три ключевых столпа:

Расширение торговых путей

  • Расширение альтернативных торговых маршрутов, увеличение пропускной способности грузоперевозок и совершенствование трансграничных систем электронных платежей.
  • Совершенствование инфраструктуры вдоль транскаспийских торговых путей.
  • Выявление узких мест в логистике и выдача рекомендаций правительствам и частному сектору по модернизации важнейших портовых, железнодорожных и морских логистических узлов в Центральной Азии.

Поддержка частного сектора

  • Содействие прибытию западных многонациональных компаний в Центральную Азию и создание дополнительных возможностей трудоустройства.
  • Поддержка связей между компаниями для обеспечения их доступа к новым рынкам с особым вниманием к ключевым секторам с потенциалом роста.
  • Работа с компаниями частного сектора в Центральной Азии над укреплением их кибербезопасности с целью более эффективной интеграции центральноазиатских фирм в региональные и глобальные производственно-сбытовые цепочки и расширения торговли с Соединенными Штатами.

Инвестирование в людей через профессиональную подготовку и образование

  • Расширение обучения английскому языку молодых специалистов по всей Центральной Азии для создания квалифицированной англоговорящей рабочей силы, что повышает конкурентоспособность на мировых рынках, способствует укреплению национальной экономики и поддерживает двустороннюю торговлю.
  • Обучение или переподготовка работников Центральной Азии, в том числе возвращающихся трудовых мигрантов, в области предпринимательства и обретения навыков, пользующихся большим спросом, таким как вождение грузовых автомобилей, повышая их способность работать на рынках по всей Центральной Азии и за её пределами.

Следующие ведомства Правительства США сотрудничают в реализации этой инициативы:

  • Агентство США по международному развитию
  • Проект развития коммерческого права Министерства торговли США
  • Государственный департамент США

Для просмотра оригинала:  https://www.state.gov/economic-resilience-in-central-asia-initiative/

Этот перевод предоставляется для удобства пользователей, и только оригинальный английский текст следует считать официальным.


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