In the summer of 2003, the Sinn Féin Assembly member and former health minister Bairbre de Brún wrote to junior Northern Ireland Office minister John Spellar complaining about a consultation document, A Shared Future, designed to address how to improve community relations. Ms de Brún, according to official Chris Stewart, blamed the British government for ignoring the structural causes of poor community relations. She said that “structural inequality is the principal cause of, as well as a manifestation” of such bad relationships. Ms de Brún argued that the promotion of equality was key to improving relations. Stewart in a note to Spellar said Sinn Féin was “clearly seeking to position or align the issue of community relations within its equality and human rights agenda”. “This general Sinn Féin position has resulted in a simplistic analysis of community relations which is flawed in its description of the causes and necessary policy response,” he wrote. “There is, of course, no doubt that a lack of equality has been a contributing factor to poor community relations,” he added. “However, Sinn Féin ignores the many other factors, not least the violent conflict that resulted in over 3,000 deaths.” “Sinn Féin also portrays poor community relations (for nationalists) as being a purely rational response to the political situation. This ignores the more visceral component of sectarianism, which is all too prevalent in both communities,” wrote Stewart. In advance of a meeting with the DUP to discuss the shared future proposals Spellar received a briefing document which stated that the party “will probably be uncomfortable with the idea of promoting greater integration and sharing within society, will stress the importance for equality (and rights) for Protestants” and “indeed may express the view that there is nothing wrong with ‘benign apartheid’”. When that meeting happened on August 15th, 2003 however, former DUP social development minister Maurice Morrow, who was accompanied by fellow Assembly member Peter Weir, said that he had “no problem with sharing the future”. Morrow told Spellar that the “problems lay in the big issues”, while adding: “There was little interaction between the communities on a day-to-day basis and that segregation had come about because of concerns for security. If the security worry could be addressed then the rest would follow. Spending large sums on projects would only be tinkering with the problem.” While the meeting was about community relations Morrow, who three years later was made a life peer, pressed Spellar to call Assembly elections “to decide who spoke for whom”. Morrow said that Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble could not deliver but that the British government should call Assembly elections and see how the DUP reacted. “The DUP wanted to develop a way forward that was acceptable to unionists, the current arrangements had simply transferred the sense of alienation to unionism,” he added. While the Northern Executive and Assembly collapsed in October 2002 due to allegations that the IRA was operating a spy ring at Stormont Assembly members were still carrying out constituency representative duties. Northern Ireland was run by direct rule from Westminster. At that time the UUP with 28 seats and the SDLP with 24 seats were the dominant unionist and nationalist parties. The British government did yield to the pressure and called Assembly elections in November 2003, resulting in a dramatic change in power with the DUP becoming the largest unionist party with 30 seats, three seats ahead of the UUP, and Sinn Féin with 24 seats overtaking the SDLP which won 18 seats. However, it took another four years before powersharing returned to Stormont with the then DUP leader Ian Paisley appointed as first minister and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister. Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish TimesMayor Ken Sim says abolition of elected park board will mean $70M in savingsWASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will decide whether U.S. citizens killed or injured in terrorist attacks in Israel can sue the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the United States. The families of dozens of U.S. citizens harmed in attacks against Israeli targets between 2000 and 2005 sued the organizations under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a law enacted in 1992 to allow suits by victims of terror attacks committed against U.S. nationals abroad. But after a jury sided with the families, an appeals court in 2016 threw out the $655.5 million judgment. The court found that the terrorist attacks, “as heinous as they were, were not sufficiently connected to the United States” to allow U.S. courts to consider them. Congress amended the law, but the lower courts rejected those changes. The Justice Department joined the families in asking the Supreme Court to review those findings. The appeals court's decision, lawyers for the families told the justices, not only killed the heart of the original law but also "hamstrung Congress on matters involving foreign affairs and national security." "The political branches determined that this statute serves vital national interests in disrupting and deterring terrorism, compensating American terror victims, and promoting peace in the Middle East," they said in a filing. The justices are expected to hear the case later next year.
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December 6, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Juliane Seeber, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena Researchers from the University of Jena and the Leibniz Institutes in Jena have published new findings on the adaptability of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The interdisciplinary study, largely carried out by scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, shows how the tiny green alga can adapt its shape and metabolism under natural conditions without changing its genome. The research team investigated how the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model organism in biology, undergoes a kind of "metamorphosis" in an acetate-rich, spatially structured environment modeled on natural rice paddy soils. In its natural environment, the alga is often found in wet soils, such as rice paddies, which are acetate-rich and where it coexists with other microorganisms. The cells of the alga are normally about 10 micrometers in size, carry two flagella and have a primitive eye, the so-called "eyespot," which is responsible for light-controlled movements. The researchers found that the tiny alga adapts significantly under the simulated conditions: The cell size is further reduced, the flagella become shorter, the eyespot volume increases, and the cell wall is strengthened. These changes facilitate survival in the complex, partly anaerobic environment characterized by microorganisms. In addition, the algae regulate the amount of its light-sensitive receptors and produce more carbohydrates in the form of starch. The team has published their research in the journal New Phytologist . Simulating the natural conditions of rice fields makes it easier to understand the interactions between algae and their environment. Adaptation to these environments is necessary as the algae compete with other microorganisms and are often exposed to stress conditions that occur in these soils. "Our study shows how important it is to investigate microorganisms not only under laboratory conditions but also in environments that resemble their natural habitat ," emphasizes Maria Mittag, Professor of General Botany and corresponding author of the article. "Only under such conditions do profound adaptation mechanisms reveal themselves that are not observed in the laboratory." Together with the working group of Prof Pierre Stallforth, Professor of Bioorganic Chemistry and Palaeobiotechnology, researchers from both professorships have created a spatially structured 3D environment for the algae. Dr. Patrick Then and Dr. Martin Westermann captured the algae's altered shape in images. The expertise of the working groups of Prof. Mittag in the field of algae biology and Prof. Jürgen Popp in Raman spectroscopic analysis made it possible to visualize changes in starch metabolism at the subcellular level. "The combination of innovative optical technologies and interdisciplinary approaches has enabled us to gain a comprehensive insight into the biological adaptations of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii," says Prof Popp, explaining the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. It came as a surprise to the authors that simply changing the cultivation conditions led to the up- or down-regulation of certain genes or proteins and ultimately metabolic pathways, without the need to change the genome. The findings could have long-term applications in biotechnology, for example in the production of sustainable biofuels. More information: Trang Vuong et al, Metamorphosis of a unicellular green alga in the presence of acetate and a spatially structured three‐dimensional environment, New Phytologist (2024). DOI: 10.1111/nph.20299 Journal information: New Phytologist Provided by Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”None
Pep Guardiola bears the scars of Man City's late collapse against Feyenoord as he reveals how he cut his nose, with Catalan boss also sporting red marks on his headSHLD: Potentially Bumpy Waters Ahead For Defense NamesWaiting for a tram, crossing a road or catching a bus around Greater Manchester is something millions of people do across the region every day. It is part of everyday life for many, as they use the thousands of roads and complex transport network to get from A to B. But there is a little-known team of people who, for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, watch over the mammoth operation. The Manchester Evening News was invited inside the huge new control room at Transport for Greater Manchester's headquarters. A hive of activity; hundreds of staff keep a close eye on the region's transport network and make sure everything 'runs like clockwork'. READ MORE The AI camera images shaming motorists on mobile phones or without seatbelts on It's no small feat. A variety of teams, including police, the Travel Safe Partnership, network intelligence, a resilience team and a drone unit among others, operate from the control room. There are over 40 screens, with live, real-time feeds from around 4,000 stationary cameras covering movement on major roads, tram stations, bus stops and busy areas in Manchester city centre and beyond. All new buses are also fitted with hundreds of HD cameras, with trams also fitted out with the surveillance equipment. It's a hub of activity inside the Operation Control Centre (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) But the job is more than just keeping an eye on the seamless movement of millions of people and keeping them safe. Specialist equipment allows staff to use mobile phone data to track who is travelling and where from, utilise AI systems and flying drones to improve roads, and collate intricate data to prepare for the future and manage huge influxes of people heading into the city region. In short - there is always somebody watching. An omnipresent team of people working around the clock. As Control Centre Manager Luke Rodger said: "We are a team of hidden angels that nobody knows is there... smoke is coming off our fingers trying to keep our city moving." Intelligence teams track crime incidents across the network to identify trends and how best to target them. The M.E.N was told how incidents involving young people peak in the winter months and after dark. There is a particular focus on this during the festive period, with nine million people expected to attend the city's huge Christmas Markets. There have been 'persistent issues' at Stockport's new interchange and also in Bury . This data can be passed on to partners, including police, for various tactics to be implemented to tackle growing issues. They are even able to tap into mobile phone data, working with BT and EE, to determine which cohorts of people are travelling across Manchester; where they have come from, how old they are and what gender they are. There is a science to it. David Atkin, Analysis and Reporting Manager, said this can be used to 'help improve service delivery for events'. The insights into demographics travelling to the Etihad, Co-op Live and the city centre can help to 'inform service provision' and 'shape customer messaging ahead of future events'. David Atkin, Analysis and Reporting Manager speaks to reporter James Holt (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Congestion, an increasing problem clogging up the roads around Greater Manchester, is a top priority. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of cars on the roads in the region increased by 41 per cent, from 1.06 million to 1.46 million. Aside from live cameras, TfGM have also begun using drones. It follows in the footsteps of Transport for West Midlands, who recently won a National Transport Award for the use of their congestion-busting flying devices. Drone cameras can be used to assess the region's roads (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) They are used to give a more accurate, wide-angled view of busy roads and quickly seek the root of the problem. Whether that be queues in entering or leaving a car park, a broken down vehicle or faulty traffic lights, they allow specialist teams to get out on the ground and conduct traffic management procedures to curb the problem. Urban Traffic Control have overseen the rollout of AI and 5G technology. This can be used at smart junctions, which use artificial intelligence to improve traffic signal control efficiency by reducing waiting times at signals, which in turn reduces journey times and cuts pollution. Specialist AI technology is also being rolled out (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) David Watts, senior engineer, revealed how specialist cameras identify in real time whether road users are in cars, buses or are walking or cycling. It creates a digital map of people's journeys, and can identify incident hotspots. It also can inform where is best to implement the likes of bus lanes, traffic lights or crossings. In some areas, delays and cancellations are the norm, and inner-city traffic jams have become an accepted part of life. Working with AI traffic monitoring firm VivaCity, TfGM has now installed over 100 camera sensors at junctions across Manchester to gain deeper travel data insights into the city. There are over 4,000 cameras across the region's network (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) While existing sensors are able to detect when an object moves across them, the cohort of new cameras uses AI and machine learning to identify the exact type of object, such as a bike, car, lorry, or pedestrian, and then communicate with each other via a 5G network. The AI capabilities don't stop there. The Ma nchester Evening News revealed in September new AI cameras that can detect whether drivers are on their mobile phone or not wearing a seat belt were being rolled out on highways across Greater Manchester. It forms as part of the region's 'Vision Zero' initiative - which aims to eliminate road death and life-changing injury by 2040, with 50 per cent reduction by the end of the decade. A recent trial of the new technology revealed how a total of 3,205 drivers or passengers were caught out on Greater Manchester roads over a five-week period using their phones or failing to wear a seatbelt. The 'Heads Up' technology captures footage of passing vehicles, which is then run through artificial intelligence (AI) to detect whether drivers are breaking the law. It is then examined by a human to confirm that the software is correct, and that an offence has been committed. Shaming CCTV images of drivers on mobile phones behind the wheel and without seatbelts on have been released (Image: Acusensus/AECOM) During the deployment, the system recorded 812 drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, and 2,393 incidents of people not wearing seatbelts in cars. Elsewhere, a technological road model is assessed by the Transport Planning teams. Software essentially mimics the way Greater Manchester's 6,000 miles of roads are used - creating a predictive image of how motorists use the roads and how this could change in the future. The data is collated to provide recommendations on planning applications, advising local authorities and changes to road layouts, bus lanes and crossings. The Christmas Markets is just one operation that takes months of planning. Ben Cookson, senior control centre manager, revealed how a dedicated channel is set up for the festive period for transport teams and emergency crews to communicate with one another. The wall of screens providing real-time updates from cameras in the control room (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Specialist shifts are introduced to keep 'a close eye on city congestion' - making sure trams and buses are running on time to transport over nine million extra people visiting the area. It also gives teams the ability to keep an eye on people travelling into the city from Greater Manchester boroughs and beyond, with incidents more likely and stations and services much busier than normal. Teams even have control over all traffic signals. They don't just go from red to green at repeated intervals. At peak times when there are queues of traffic, the press of a button can keep lights on red or green for longer and keep traffic moving. They too have connections with the 999 emergency network and can send alerts about roadworks and road closures for incidents or repairs, diverting bus routes and notifying motorists about real-time alerts. Cameras at interchanges and stations are in place for the purpose of recording crime and safety. "We monitor the entire network," Ben explained. "From traffic signals, to the Metrolink , safety and security on buses and our interchanges. "We can use it to manage disruptions. We have access to over 4,000 cameras across Greater Manchester. We monitor it constantly to see the impact around the network. The busy corridors into Manchester are the key areas of focus. When something goes wrong, it all comes into here." That is why, on busy weekends with major events happening across the city, action is taken in advance to make sure the movement of people can remain as seamless as possible. TfGM regularly issue public updates about increased frequency in services and alternate timetables. The latest of these was issued on Wednesday (November 20) ahead of the following weekend, warning of two football games coinciding with major events at the Co-op Live Arena. And despite the regeneration of the bus network, Stagecoach and Go North West teams work together alongside the Bee Network teams. Looking over the wall of live camera screens, Steven Delaney and his team regularly assess the punctuality of services and make real-time changes. There are frustrations when bus services around the region are delayed - but they don't go unnoticed. It's a 24 hour operation at the TfGM headquarters (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Live updates into the control room show how ahead or behind the hundreds of services are running. They too can change the frequency of traffic lights, divert routes and liaise directly with drivers on the ground, in real-time, to resolve incidents within a matter of minutes. During the M.E.N's visit, a man was hit by a car along Chester Road in Stretford . A lane closure, causing congestion and delays to buses using the busy route, are instantly identified. Updates are provided to travellers on social media and by the Bee Network apps. "We have access to thousands of cameras, all in live time," Steven said. "We can see where there are regular problems at busy junctions or routes and can see any impacts on buses, to relay that information to the public." TfGM said: "The Operational Control Centre (OCC) is the incident management centre for TfGM and plays a key tactical command role in the day to day operations and delivery of the Bee Network. Their main responsibility is to ensure our networks are safe and reliable, and that our public transport offering provides people with access to work or leisure opportunities, helping Greater Manchester to thrive. "With all incidents the OCC aim to minimise the impact on customers travelling across our networks, ensuring they have access to clear travel advice and where necessary we can support passengers by activating ticket acceptance on alternative transport modes such as buses or trams. "On average the OCC deal with around 300 disruptive incidents across our network every week as well supporting major events, such as the Christmas markets, to ensure that our customers have a positive experience which will help us grow patronage and provide an integrated transport network that supports the long term economic growth across our region."