Day: April 22, 2024

Armenia asks UN court to dismiss Azerbaijan’s discrimination claim  Voice of America – VOA News

Taipei, Taiwan — Analysts say China’s recent opening of two new air routes, with flight paths near two outlying islands controlled by Taiwan, is but the latest move in a broad campaign Beijing has rolled out ahead of the inauguration of Taiwan’s president-elect, Lai Ching-te.

Lai, a member of Taiwan’s pro-sovereignty Democratic Progress Party, was elected in January and will be sworn into office on May 20. 

Su Tzu-yun, a military analyst at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, says Beijing has been using a combination of cognitive warfare, economic coercion, and gray zone operation measures against Taiwan. Gray zone operations involve using irregular tactics without resorting to open combat.

“China’s latest efforts to increase pressure on Taiwan is both part of its pressure campaign against Taipei and its response to recent international support for Taiwan, such as the reiteration of maintaining the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait by the U.S., Japan, and other G7 (Group of Seven leading industrialized) countries,” Su told VOA in a phone interview.

In a statement on April 19, China’s civil aviation regulator announced it had started using two west-to-east flight paths from the coastal cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou. The new air routes, known as W122 and W123, will connect to what is called the M503 air route, and they will operate alongside existing flight paths to the Taiwanese islands Kinmen and Matsu, which operate regular flights to and from Taiwan’s main island. The M503 route runs alongside the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which once served as an unofficial border between China and Taiwan.

During a daily press conference on April 19, the Chinese Communist Party’s Taiwan Affairs Office said the move aims to relieve pressure caused by flight delays by activating the two new routes. 

The Civil Aviation Administration of China added that Beijing also plans to “further optimize” the airspace around Fuzhou airport in the southern Fujian Province starting May 16, four days before Lai’s inauguration. 

Shortly after Lai was elected in January, Beijing unilaterally canceled flight paths for the M503 route and opened new west-to-east air routes from three coastal cities.

Beijing views Lai as an advocate of Taiwan independence. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to unite the island with the mainland.

In response to the April 19 announcement, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said Beijing’s decision could create serious flight safety risks since the distance between China and Taiwan flight paths is only two kilometers (1.1. nautical miles) at its nearest point. Taipei says it will demand that any aircraft using the new air routes turn back. 

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, which oversees cross-strait relations, said Taipei’s criticism is “a malicious hype” aimed to “create an illusion” that Beijing is “squeezing its space. 

Redefining the status quo

Since the new air routes initiated by Beijing run very close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, some experts say China is trying to redefine the status quo across the Taiwan Strait based on its terms. 

The median line has served as an unofficial demarcation between Taipei and Beijing for decades. China and Taiwan split amid a civil war in 1949. 

The decision to unilaterally initiate new air routes “is part of Beijing’s attempt to demonstrate that it sets the rules in what it regards as its internal matters,” according to J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior adviser with the International Republican Institute’s Countering Foreign Authoritarian Influence team.

Cole said that when the M503 air route was first announced in 2015, Beijing agreed to adjust flight paths following negotiations with the Taiwanese government under the China-friendly Kuomintang, or KMT party. “Beijing moved away from unilateralism after protests by Taipei and after negotiations with the KMT-led government,” he told VOA in a written response. 

But as Taiwan prepares to inaugurate the third consecutive administration under the Democratic Progressive Party next month, Cole said Beijing “is no longer in the mood for negotiation and is unilaterally implementing flight paths.” 

“It denies Taiwan’s agency by refusing to negotiate with Taipei,” he added. 

No-fly zones

Military analysts say Beijing’s decision to start using the contested air routes could increase the likelihood of Chinese civilian aircraft flying to the east side of the Taiwan Strait median line, where there are four designated no-fly zones. 

“Taiwan’s Air Force uses those no-fly zones to monitor activities in the airspace along the median line of the Taiwan Strait,” said Chieh Chung, a military researcher at Taiwan’s National Policy Foundation. 

In his view, Beijing’s new flights paths would increase the difficulty for the Taiwanese Air Force to track activities by Chinese civilian or military aircraft in the no-fly zones. 

“China is trying to use the frequent incursion of Chinese civilian aircraft into the no-fly zones designated by the Taiwanese government to challenge the rules set by Taipei,” he told VOA by phone. 

In addition to opening new air routes and announcing new trade measures against Taiwanese imports, Beijing increased the number of military aircraft it deployed to areas near Taiwan over the weekend. 

Taiwan’s defense ministry said it detected 21 Chinese military aircraft and seven Chinese naval vessels operating around Taiwan between April 20 and April 21. At least 17 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

With less than a month until the inauguration of Taiwan’s new government, some analysts believe Beijing’s pressure campaign will continue. Cole at the International Republican Institute says Taipei “must remain alert, retain the moral high ground, and avoid any form of activity that could be exploited by Beijing to justify retaliation.”  

Some information for this report came from Reuters.

Give us 5 minutes, and we’ll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Experts say one of the health care challenges in Africa is a shortage of training and education for workers. To help, a U.S. charity called Mission to Heal is training local workers who serve patients in remote locations. Juma Majanga reports from Ngurunit village in northern Kenya. Videographer: Jimmy Makhulo

Just a few minutes ago we pointed out that Donald Trump’s attorney’s opening argument wasn’t going well for him. He seemed to be contradicting himself, arguing that Trump both did and did not commit the crimes. It was confusing to say the least, and if you’re confusing the jury, you’re not winning them over. Now it’s gotten even worse.

Now Trump’s attorney is resorting to making the kinds of remarks that he knows he’s not allowed to make. He tried arguing that Trump’s actions couldn’t be crimes because lawyers were involved, even though the judge has already disallowed such an argument. The prosecution objected, and the judge agreed, ordering that Trump’s attorney’s words be stricken from the record.

Trump’s attorney has also gotten in trouble so far for calling Michael Cohen a liar and other silliness. The prosecution keeps objecting, and the judge keeps generally siding with the prosecution.

This is the kind of brash, over the top opening argument that Trump surely wanted his attorney to make. But it’s a bad look. When the defense attorney’s opening argument is so inappropriate that the judge is striking parts of it from the record and telling the attorney to get his act together, the jury is surely going to conclude that Trump has no defense argument to make.

The post The judge is already striking parts of Donald Trump’s attorney’s bizarre opening argument from the record appeared first on Palmer Report.

I’ll admit it — my household with growing kids is often too chaotic for us to be hyper-aware of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. Earth Day is too often just another day. How can I help the planet when my own bathroom looks like a disaster area?

Don’t get me wrong: I feel terribly guilty when I see all the plastic toys that aren’t being used. We do not buy plastic water bottles. But still, we produce so much garbage (the average household produces 20 pounds a day), I think of my block’s sanitation workers as first responders.  What can I really do? 

It turns out there are things I can do, even small things: single-use plastics or products made from recycled materials, for example. I’ve selected an assortment of products below that amNY readers suggested — a stylish reusable water bottle, a set of eco-friendly utensils, a cozy blanket, an EV charger, etc. Here are a handful of ways to make a difference: 

 

Renewable Energy 

 

EVIQO Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station 

This electric vehicle charger offer the market’s longest 37″ input cable with NEMA 14-50 plug, along with a 25′ extra long output cable cord and is compatible with all EV’s. It’s weatherproof and is suitable for use as an indoor and outdoor EV charger.  The Smart App interface that lets you set up to 3 schedules for cost savings during off-peak rate and more. 

EVIQO Level 2 EV, 240V Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5-Star Rated!

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Solar Pathway Lights for Outdoor Driveway, Yard & Patio 12 Pack

This front and garden pathway is powered by free solar energy — no wires and no electricity required. They come on automatically at night and turn off automatically at dawn. There is a switch ON/OFF under the light cover, make sure you turn the switch to ON position before charging.  These solar pathway lights are suitable for outdoor use on driveways, in the yard, patio, and the light can work normally under all kinds of weather. 

MAGGIFT Solar Pathway Lights for Outdoors

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Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Products 

 

prAna: The Clothes We Wear Tell a Story

From the fields where their organic cotton and hemp are grown, to the factories where their clothing is assembled, the chemicals that need to be carefully managed, to the way they package and ship each style—sustainability has been part of the prAna DNA from day one. Shop Sustainable Style for Her | Shop Sustainable Style for Him 

prAna: The Clothes We Wear Tell a Story

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Threads 4 Thought: Every Purchase Makes an Impact

At the heart of this company’s mission is a commitment to quality, ethical manufacturing and sustainable materials. At Threads 4 Thought they’re proud of the positive impact their Threads community has made: 3.6M+ miles driving emissions avoided, 887.9+M hours bulb energy saved, 189.2M+ days drinking water saved, 16.7M+ sq. ft of land farmed without pesticides. Shop Men’s Earth Week Sale | Shop Women’s Earth Week Sale

Threads 4 Thought

Annual Earth Week Sale:

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Free Country: Eco-Conscious FreeCycle Collection

50 million bottles recycled — and counting. Billions of plastic bottles go into landfills every year, so the eco-conscious FreeCycle collection utilizes REPREVE — a performance fiber made from recycled materials. Take plastic out of the landfills and turn it into high quality fills and fabrics.

Free Country Eco-Conscious FreeCycle

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Premium Outlets Eco-Friendly Cotton 4-Piece Bath Towel Set 

Crafted from a blend of Cotton and regenerated Cotton, this ring-spun towel set is more absorbent and softer than your average towel. The ring-spun fibers are twisted together making the yarns finer, stronger, and help to dry you off quickly. The construction of these towels creates a rich, plush feel that is also lightweight and gets softer with every wash cycle.

Shop Premium Outlets Superior Eco-Friendly Cotton Bath Towel Sets

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Reusable Products 

 

Sophie & Panda Silicon Sponge Holder

If I never clean a kitchen sink again I can die happy. That’s a pipe dream, of course, so I may as well use a sponge holder made of ethical sustainable flexible silicone material that is better for our environment. It has draining holes on the bottom for sanctuary protection leaving your sponges and cleaning tools safe to use. 

Sophie & Panda Silicon Sponge Holder

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Hygienic & Eco-Friendly Automatic Hand Soap Dispenser & Refill Bundle

This automatic soap dispenser uses recycled plastic to reduce environmental impact — while also pampering your hands with  a vitamin-enriched hand soap formula. Maintain a clean and hygienic environment using the power of touch-free technology with natural fragrances and skin-friendly ingredients.

Hygience

 

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BeWondrous Beeswax Wraps Eco-Friendly Food Storage

This natural, organic, reusable, zero waste plastic wrap alternative for bread, cheese, leftovers, kids lunches or the other half of that snack we were saving for later has chnage dmy household game. We go through a lot of plastic bags. And tin foil. And plastic wrap. It’s convenient, but it’s wasteful — we recycled what we can but most of that ended up in the landfill. Enter beeswax food wraps. They’re reusable, and a great part of any plan to switch to more sustainable products for your home. Get 7 wraps in a variety of sizes.  

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Nature Sustained Raw 2-in-1 Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

Nature Sustained is beyond non-toxic, beyond organic and inspires conscious living. This tearless 2-in-1 baby shampoo is infused with raw soap nut, providing a deep cleanse and safeguarding your baby’s delicate skin balance. The kids body wash combines the soothing Calendula with the protective qualities of Turmeric. Enhanced with Probiotics, it’s designed to fortify your little one’s scalp, hair, and skin.  Oh, and it’s Leaping Bunny Certified. 

Nature Sustained Raw 2-in-1 Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

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G.A.S. Certified 100% Home Compostable Dog Poop Bags

These home compostable unscented poop bags for dogs are manufactured from 100% botanical plant components and are a zero-waste green alternative. They use only Cornstarch, BPAT (compostable polymer), and edible glycerin in the nature-based creation of our doggie poop bags. These bags are highly-rated and engineered extra thick to a durable 18 micron thickness that locks away even the strongest odors and guarantees a mess-free leak proof seal.

G.A.S. Certified 100% Home Compostable Dog Poop Bags

4.8 Star Rated!

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4.6 Star Rated!

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Lola Wowables Reusable Paper Towel, Swedish Dishcloth & Sponge 

The issue I’ve always had with eco-friendly paper towels is the just weren’t absorbent enough. WOWABLES are reusable, a combination of a paper towel and a sponge, 5X more absorbent and sustainable paper towels — which save the average American household up to $14,000 over a lifetime compared to purchasing one-time use, big brand paper towels. WOWABLES are both reusable, decomposable, dishwasher & machine washable. 

Lola Wowables Reusable Paper Towel, Swedish Dishcloth & Sponge All in One!

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Frndly by Paper Love: 100% Recycled Greeting Cards 

Frndly by Paper Love crafts pop-up greeting cards and gifts. With thousands of 5-star reviews. Every Paper Love creation is crafted from recycled materials — no trees are harmed. Send or receive our eco-friendly cards with confidence, knowing you’re making a planet-friendly choice.

Frndly by Paper Love: A 100% Recycled & Eco-Friendly Choice for Spreading Love

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Red Cup Living Eco-Friendly, BPA-Free Baby Sippy Cups Set of 2

This reusable Red Baby Sippy Cup, the perfect hydration companion for toddlers. With an easy-to-grip handle and leak-proof lid, this cup is well suited for tiny hands. It is break-resistant, made from BPA & Phthalates-free double-wall, non-toxic ABS plastic and sustainable design. Easy to clean, it’s dishwasher safe. Carry cold or hot drinks on the go.  

Red Cup Living Eco-Friendly, BPA-Free Baby Sippy Cups Set of 2

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Prefer to avoid the hassle of in-store experiences? Want to master the art of online shopping? Check out amNY Shops for our sales picks and exclusive discounts on our favorite products.