Category: IT

No image provided.

India’s talented women, untapped by a male-dominated bureaucracy, are entering and transforming rural governance through the panchayat system. This centuries-old system of local self-government enables women to run for positions in elected village councils, with leadership roles gradually becoming more common. Although women are still woefully underrepresented, five years of consecutive research by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance revealed that female leaders in rural India often achieve significant improvements in sanitation, education and child welfare. The women’s contributions to rural governance now influence international policy dialogue, with the United Nations echoing their success and calling for further action to close persistent gender gaps. These female leaders from centuries-old societies comprise a force to be reckoned with in the world’s largest democracy.

The original article

Tariffs and Trade: Trump’s Troubling Tango With Xi

The ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States have been a topic of global concern for many months. As the Trump administration imposes significant tariffs on Chinese goods, the Chinese President Xi Jinping refuses to yield to the US demands for aggressive action. This article, by Paul Krugman and Eswar Prasad published by The New York Times, discusses the negative consequences of Trump’s tariff policy on China, the global economy, and ultimately US businesses and consumers. Citing a historical example, the authors suggest that a period of relative peace in the trade war could result in even more significant trade actions in the future. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the implications of the current policy and seek alternative solutions that will result in a more equitable and sustainable trade relationship between China and the US rather than relying on trade restrictions.

Krugman and Prasad describe the situation in clear and concise language. The Trump administration’s 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods, which was announced in September 2019, was increased to 25% in October 2019. This move has led to retaliatory measures from China, imposing its own 5-10% tariffs on $60 billion of American goods. While the Trump administration may argue that these measures are necessary to redress China’s trade imbalance, the authors contend that the US tariffs primarily benefit the American farming sector and have harmed the manufacturing sector, leading to job losses and higher prices for US businesses and consumers. Furthermore, the authors point out that the Chinese government has devalued its currency, the yuan, by 3%, which will increase China’s exports and reduce the prices of its goods. This move will lead to reduced purchasing power for the US citizens, increased inflation, and negative economic growth.

The authors also highlight that trade restriction is not a new phenomenon in US history. President Herbert Hoover’s Smoot-Hawley tariff policy, enacted in 1930, aimed to protect US industries by increasing tariffs on imported goods. This policy led to retaliatory responses from other countries, resulting in a surge of protectionism called the “Smoot-Hawley tariff war.” The authors suggest that a similar trend may be taking place under Trump’s presidency, and the adverse consequences of such a trade war could be devastating. The authors contend that the US administration’s tariff policy on China is primarily electoral, and that by trumpeting bigger tariffs and hard line stances, the president will ensure that his constituents keep voting for him. However, if Trump wins a second term as the US President and decides to continue his confrontational policy towards China, then it will result in long-term economic and diplomatic harm.

The authors conclude their article by providing a way forward. They suggest that a more productive strategy for the US administration could be to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement to address issues like intellectual property infringement and technology transfer. They suggest that a better cooperation between the two superpowers could lead to benefits for both countries and contribute to a more equitable and productive trade relationship. Overall, this article by Krugman and Prasad provides a nuanced perspective on the ongoing trade war between China and the US. The authors emphasize the negative consequences of the current policy and suggest alternative solutions that can lead to a more promising future for the global economy and business.

The original article

On March 17, 2025, the New York Times reported that two NASA astronauts, Captain Matthew Trusz and Commander Bob Behnken, landed safely on Earth in the Gulf of Mexico after months aboard the International Space Station. The duo returned in a capsule named Dragon, designed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The splashdown marked the first return journey of human astronauts in a capsule developed by a private company, and came after a successful mission of testing and repairing the station’s aging power supply. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is likely to become a staple of NASA’s future missions, with the agency planning to retire its ageing Space Shuttle fleet in 2010.

The original article

In response to a late-night joke broadcast by Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show: at theorks of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump has demanded the show’s cancelation, a move that would inevitably contribute to the longstanding feud between the two prominent television personalities.

The fallout stems from Fallon’s decision to greet the new Trump era with a clip from his show two days after the election, in which he fanned the “new normal” fire by tousling the then-president-elect’s hair on national television, as opposed to a more standard interview-style format. Citizens expressed heated criticism of the decision, evidencing an early sign of what appears to be a contentious relationship between the comedian and the presidential counterpart.

Enter the newest chapter in a decades-old series of high-stakes rivalries, with the latest feud centering around a spicy phone call Trump allegedly made to the White House’s Office of Communications following Fallon’s latest stunt – reportedly asking for the show’s cancellation. The “new normal” did not seem to settle well with the President, inspiring a stern warning to the entertainment juggernaut regarding its continued operation.

“Jimmy [Fallon] is better off reading a book or writing a thank-you note to Alex Trebek,” the no-longer-elect President Trump reportedly commented in the phone call, indicating that his outspoken adversary may be feeling the heat, especially after The Tonight Show recently ushered in a skit that drew comparisons of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the novelty band Walken on Skis. “What amazing writers,” mocked the White House spokesman, Sarah Sanders.

Despite the obstacles and adversaries that have challenged him throughout his decades-long career, Fallon is taking the challenge with his characteristic sense of humor – honorably admitting that he is “flattered and grateful” that his show has garnered the attention of the President. But even with such a positive response from the acclaimed show host, the current adversarial climate between Fallon and Trump may lead viewers to wonder: in a time when the president makes accusations and targeted threats a daily occurrence, can the entertainment realm maintain any semblance of neutrality, and, alternatively, might the fallout between the comedy world’s leader and the political world’s figurehead ultimately determine the future of the genre as a whole?

[Tag Format]: comedy, farce, late-night-television, trump-fallon-feedud, satire, political-satire, comedy-central-and-the-white-house-feedud, entertainment-politics, pardon-the-interruption, political-comedy.

Original URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/arts/television/jimmy-fallon-trump-phone-call-putin.html

The original article

To summarize: In this NY Times briefing article, President Donald Trump’s skepticism of the US judiciary is highlighted as an issue in evaluating the country’s leadership. The piece begins by stating that the president has repeatedly cast doubt on the justice system’s integrity, harassed judges on Twitter, and manipulated the confirmation process to prioritize judges’ personal ideology. It further notes that this approach represents a complete reversal of the decades-long practice of previous presidents with different party affiliations. The article suggests that this attitude could lead to the criminal justice system’s erosion and undermine individual rights. Finally, it invites readers to reflect on their own assessments of the situation and how it could affect their freedoms and liberties.
$#$assistant$#$
Tag: politics, us-politics, trump-administration, government-accountability, supreme-court, justice-system, judiciary, musings-cfm, opinion, constitution

In summary, the NY Times briefing piece brings attention to President Donald Trump’s perceptible disregard for the US judiciary, offering a critique of how it represents a significant departure from past practices that could harm the criminal justice system’s integrity and individual constitutional rights. The writer draws attention to the President’s hardline stance to manipulate judicial confirmations based on partisan political ideology, which acts as a radical change to previous presidencies with different party affiliations. By highlighting that the President has repeatedly cast doubt on the justice system’s integrity and harassed judges on social media, the writer leaves readers with the challenge to question how this can negatively impact their own freedoms and liberties.

The original article

Democrats Look to a New Generation in Congress: Resources and potential.
As Democrats regroup to extend their majority in Congress, columnist Jamelle Bouie highlights several new members of the party, including Jason Crow, part of a spike in class size that could give Democrats an edge in legislating their agenda.
“The course for the party’s post-Trump future runs through them, as it does through a record wave of younger, more diverse candidates who won primaries in 2018 or will take office for the first time this year. They are the new face of the House Democratic Caucus.
Jason Crow pledged to serve for three terms if Congress didn’t pass new gun laws
With a PhD in microbiology and immunology who served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army, Jason Crow, 39, a former white-collar criminal defense attorney, won the seat vacated in 2018 by the Republican Kurt Schrader.
“Crow, born and raised in Highlands Ranch, Colo., submitted two bills out of the gate on his first day in Congress, on Jan. 3. One prevents people in hand-to-hand combat situations from obtaining gun permits, as most permit systems require fingerprinting and waiting periods. The other tightened background check procedures. Crow pledged to serve only three terms if Congress did not pass new gun laws.
Castro and excitement in the wave that arrived with him.
Menéndez also sees Congress growing more diverse and younger, underscoring Democratic gains in part because of immigration.
“In addition to stunning victories like the winning of Antonio Delgado in a largely white rural upstate New York district and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the outer boroughs of New York City, some of the most notable victors are members-elect like Gil Cisneros in a sun-scorched Inland Empire district of California and Jason Crow who won an open seat in and around Denver.
These “young’ Democrats owe their election in large part to their newfound hedges in suburban and urban districts.
“Members of this cohort will make their mark on the party going forward and advance to positions of influence, in the House, in Senate campaigns and in the Democratic Party apparatus.”

The original article

Tag: mental-health, airlines, pilot, wellness, industry, safety, study, research, training, stress, psychotherapy, addiction, depression, burnout, counseling, therapy, health-insurance, labor, workplace, travel, psychologist, psyche, therapy, treatment, subscribe, policy, regulation, propose, urgent-care, management, staff, crew, team-economy, recovery, rural-route, flight, safe, norma-cook, sydney-mclelland, stick-figure-cat, oceanfront, mail, social-media, airline-industry, interview, linda-gardner, beauty, humor, mooney-bird, soaring, suicide.

The original article

Pope Francis combats disinformation and manipulation of facts by calling for an international conference to address the phenomenon.
Pope Francis, in his weekly General Audience, has spoken out against the manipulation of facts and the spread of disinformation both in traditional and new media. The pontiff said the “temptation to manipulate knowledge for haste, for interest, for power,” is not just about redefining the truth, but involves impoverishment and a failure to “see reality.” The head of the Roman Catholic Church called for an event to be held in the Vatican in June to address this global issue.
This summer, in a new world capital for cyberspace, silicon-chip magnates and virtual-reality pioneers are to convene at the first Vatican conference on communications, hoping to help chart a course that will let a technology predominantly used for video games and online pornography flourish while also meeting the needs of the world’s poor, gaining dignity for the unborn and giving a voice to the voiceless.
Pope Francis.
Pope Francis’ visit to Lesbos in March 2016 during which he met Syrian war refugees who drowned off the coast of the small Greek island symbolically represented a change in the Church’s approach to charity.
These are this pope’s priorities.
Francis, born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected head of the world’s 1.2-billion Catholics in March 2013, soon after Benedict’s historic decision to resign.
On March 15, 2016, on the anniversary of his election, a series of speeches he made over the past year gave insight into the depth of the Catholic Church’s reform — and the road ahead. They included momentous addresses, like the one he gave in Madrid on his way to the Philistine-Canaanite border.
Pope Francis with a Palestinian family who lost their home to Israeli settlers.
Since 2013, its global Journalists for the Pope Facebook page has grown 50 fold, producing a massive amount of content, and meeting with likely hundreds of thousands of people.
The DM’s Ariana News for its Facebook and its Twitter account. How do these DM releases look on the Vatican’s Stampa, Radio Vaticano and FidesNews, you ask? Here you are.
This is the extension of an ever-growing reality, where the Holy See and Catholic Church keep an updated and solid presence in traditional and new media, with the support of the broad digital reality offered by today’s technology, and equally careful and selective in the content it generates, and in that which it publishes and broadcasts.
Catholic News Agency, which produces original news reports, commentaries, PIOs, Catholic times, press-releases, facts, and figures, in three languages, Spanish, English and French, which are then exported and given to hundreds of Organizations, Media, and Catholic NGOs to analyze and translate, besides making them available at their websites, Internet and social networks, plus makes financial donations to send young priests and religious men and women to countries where the Church is not present or is in danger zones.
Copyright 2016 DAR Publishing P typed with SCI Booth 3 Advanced Editor

The original article

Category: Business
Subcategory: Performance
Tag: Elon Musk, Tesla, Trump, Stock Performance, Backlash
Overview: The recent backlash against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk has affected the company’s stock performance, causing a nearly 7% drop. This can likely be attributed to Musk’s departure from a promised “short-seller initiative” and claims that production is going smoothly. Additionally, a request for an urgent phone call from the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month has many analysts anticipating an announcement on legal action. These factors have led to increased pressure for Musk to change his leadership style and improve the company’s financial performance.

The original article

sort of tag post: “Armoring Your Home Against the Effects of Climate Change”

as our planet continues to experience the consequences of climate change, citizens are becoming more and more aware of the need to prepare their homes for extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. in this post, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to protect your home against the impacts of climate change, whether you’re building a new home from scratch or making modifications to your existing one.

first up: consider the location. placing your home in a location that is less susceptible to the impacts of climate change may be the best way to protect it. for coastal regions, this might mean choosing a location further inland or at a higher elevation. in wildfire-prone areas, selecting a location that is less wooded or further away from existing wildfire hazards can be a wise choice. however, if you’re set on living in an area at risk, you’ll need to take additional steps to protect your home.

next, consider your building materials. choosing materials that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, such as reinforced concrete or brick, can provide an added layer of protection. materials such as plywood or wood shingles, while popular in traditional construction, are more susceptible to damage from fire, wind, or water.

if your home is already built, there are still steps you can take to protect it. one option is to install retroactive insulation or barrier systems to prevent water intrusion or wind damage. in addition, ensuring that your roof and gutters are in good condition and free of debris can help prevent damage during storms.

another important step is to prepare an emergency plan in case of extreme weather events. this should include having a kit of supplies, including food, water, and medicine, in case of evacuation. you may also want to consider purchasing insurance that specifically covers the impacts of climate change, as traditional insurance may not cover all damages related to extreme weather events.

finally, making lifestyle changes that can help to reduce your carbon footprint and slow the pace of climate change can be an effective way to protect your home long-term. this could include reducing your use of electricity or installing solar panels to provide renewable energy, or changing your transportation choices to rely more on mass transit or biking.

in conclusion, protecting your home against the impacts of climate change requires a thoughtful and comprehensive approach. choosing a location that is less susceptible to extreme weather events, selecting building materials that are more resilient, and preparing an emergency plan can all be effective ways to protect your home long-term. by taking these steps, you can help ensure that your home is safe and secure, even in the face of a changing climate.

The original article