Monthly Archives: May 2022

Thank you, Mr President, and Id like to thank the Special Representative and Ms Edwar for their briefings.

The United Kingdom commends the continued work of the Special Representative and the whole Mission in Iraq you have our full support.

The UK urges Iraqs political leaders to work together swiftly and peacefully to form a government which delivers in earnest for the Iraqi people. A government that can address and tackle the considerable challenges that Iraq faces, including on security, climate change and economic reform.

On security, the UK reiterates, in particular, its condemnation of the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Erbil on 13 March. Our support for the security and stability of the state of Iraq remains steadfast.

On climate change, we welcome the efforts of the Government of Iraq to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, as weve heard about today, including the recent creation of a committee to oversee the preparation of national strategies. We thank UN agencies for their continued support on climate change and urge regional neighbours to engage with the Government of Iraq on water security.

On economic reform, Iraqs economy faces significant structural risks. Urgent reform is necessary so that Iraq is able to provide livelihoods and essential services for the next generation of Iraqis. A new government would be able to accelerate and implement Iraqs ambitious economic reform agenda and prioritise improving Iraqs business environment.

We also remain concerned at the continued displacement of approximately 1.2 million Iraqis. We urge a new government to work closely with the Humanitarian Coordinator to prioritise the reintegration of Iraqs remaining IDPs including ensuring civil documentation for all displaced persons so they can access their rights and services.

We welcome the first meeting between the Federal Ministry for Oil and the Kurdistan Regional Government, following the federal Supreme Courts oil and gas ruling. We encourage continued dialogue on this to find a sustainable solution.

We would also like to thank the Special Representative for her update on missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property. This is an important issue and we commend the Special Representative for maintaining her focus on it.

Mr President, all of the challenges weve heard about today require the formation of a stable government in Iraq, and so Id like to finish by reiterating the importance of rapid progress on this.

I thank you.

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Calling for rapid progress on the formation of a stable government in Iraq: UK Statement at the UN Security Council - GOV.UK

Mayor Greg Fischer today joined fair and affordable housing advocates in the mixed-income Park Springs subdivision to declare this week Affordable Housing Week in the city of Louisville celebrating progress made, and calling on state and local leaders to continue work to expand affordable housing options.

I am proud that we were able to commit $106 million toward affordable housing during my three terms, because these dollars translate to real impact in our community and a difference in the lives of Louisvillians. It is a tremendous achievement that would not have been possible without the support of Metro Council and partners like the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and affordable housing developers, the Mayor said.

To date, those funds have created or preserved more than 5,000 affordable housing units in Louisville. Prior to Mayor Fischers administration, investments in affordable housing totaled only $7 million.

During the press conference, Rob Locke, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville, highlighted his agencys partnership with the city to create affordable housing, as well as the need for more.

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville has helped 575 families become homeowners in our community over the last few decades, but we had 900 families apply for our program last month. The need for affordable housing is greater than ever, and Habitat is grateful for Mayor Fischers commitment to this important cause, Locke said. Habitat supports the spectrum of affordable housing but focuses on the equity-building path of homeownership. We celebrate the fact that 125 of our 575 homebuyers have paid off their mortgages!

In addition to dedicated funding, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) is identifying other ways to promote affordable housing. As part of its equity review of the Land Development Code, for example, the Office of Planning & Design Services is considering way to amend the citys land use regulations to encourage construction of a variety of housing types, such as duplexes, townhomes, cottage courts and other multiplexes, throughout Louisville.

In 2019, LMG and the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund released a Housing Needs Assessment, which identified that Louisville needs more than 31,000 new units of affordable housing to meet the need for housing among the citys lowest income residents.

Our work is not done, Mayor Fischer said. To meet the current and growing demand, we must continue investing in and incentivizing the development of affordable housing and find new ways to encourage a variety of housing options across Jefferson County.

Tony Curtis, executive director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, noted that the cost to meet the housing needs of families with the lowest incomes, at or below 30% area median income, is currently projected to be over $5 billion.

"While we have made great strides recently in funding affordable housing through the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund and American Rescue Plan funding commitments, there remains a lot of work to be done to create housing opportunity and housing choice for all Louisvillians, across all of Louisville, Curtis said. The Metropolitan Housing Coalition is committed to advocating for attainable housing for all by reforming the land development code to create housing choice and opportunity, by identifying a dedicated funding source for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, by creating wealth building opportunities to eliminate the 22,000 homeownership gap between Black and White households, and through other efforts. This is not a district by district issue; this is a citywide issue of the utmost importance."

Kentucky Affordable Housing Coalition has continued to push for state action to make investing in affordable housing more attractive and to help cities across Kentucky.

With inflation on the rise, it is critical that members of our communities, such as veterans, retiring seniors, teachers, first responders, and those entering the workforce for the first time have a home that will meet their budget and not break the bank, said Michael Gross, vice president of Kentucky Affordable Housing Coalition. We have been working diligently to pass a state housing tax credit in Kentucky and will continue to fight for the passage of this bill, but we need your help. Talk to your local and state officials and continue to let them know about the critical need for affordable housing in Kentucky.

The Coalition noted that a 5-year State Workforce and Affordable Housing Tax Credit would lead to the construction of over 6,500 affordable housing units, creation of 3,500 jobs annually, and over $178 million in state and local tax revenues, according to current estimations.

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Mayor declares it Affordable Housing Week to celebrate progress made and stress need for additional investment - LouisvilleKy.gov

We face the fundamental challenge seen in a 2021 study from Buck Global showing that 58% of employees do not trust senior management to look out for their best interests and that 42% believe their leadership is out of touch with the reality workers have experienced during the pandemic. That should give us all pause. But we can pair this with positive findings of research conducted by Paul Zak, director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, which showed employees in high-trust companies reported 50% higher productivity,76% more engagement,40% less burnout and more than double the energy they bring to their jobs compared to workers in low-trust organizations. How well we emerge from these past years might come down to how we hold ourselves to a trust-building standard. These key areas need close attention:

Have your workers been able to weigh in on the benefits of virtual work that they now see as key to their ability to excel? You almost certainly have employees who flourished these past years, through great effort on their part that theyre proud of. Marking those times as an aberration can send a powerful negative message you didnt intend.

How proactive are your efforts to touch base with each employee and address their problems and issues? Do manager schedules allow time to make that happen? Does your culture allow managers to show the kind of personal vulnerability to teams that is such a core component of building rapport?

Companies often announce enhancements and changes to help their workforceand are surprised when those well-meaning efforts are met with skepticism, indifference or scorn. What went wrong? It may be the news was described, but not the intention behind it. Simply connecting those dots can make a huge difference.

Avoid announcements such as: Great news; were now offering day care three days a week! Youll serve employees far better with an approach closer to Weve been looking for ways to help our working parents participate more easily in collaborations at the office; one suggestion well be testing is providing daycare three days a week. When employees understand from the start the underlying care and motive behind the action, youve instantly opened the conversation allowing honest dialogue and alignment to happen and trust to flow in both directions.

How many convoluted mission statements have you rolled your eyes at over the years? No company can afford that lack of clarity anymore. To have your promises trusted, you must first make those promises clear, relevant and actionable.

Its time we saw these new realities as an opportunity for every company to become its better selftrusted in the eyes of the world, their clients and, most importantly, the employees who are the true beating heart of every company and every brand.

Get your tickets for the 2022 Leading Women event, held in New York CIty on Aug. 9, at AdAge.com/LW2022

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Employee trust4 ways to maintain progress made during the pandemic - AdAge.com

Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams hosts the fourth round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, Palais des Nations. 19 October 2020.

CAIRO - 17 May 2022:Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Libya Stephanie Williams said she was pleased by the encouraging progress made over the past two days between members of the Joint House of Representatives (HoR) and High State Council (HSC) Committee at their second round of talks in Cairo, Libya Herald reported.

She said these have thus far included finding consensus on significant parts of the draft constitution including sections relating to the legislature and judiciary.

Williams said she looked forward to seeing further progress made in the consultations, due to take place through May 20 with the aim of generating a consensual constitutional framework to take Libya to national inclusive elections as soon as possible.

Libya's Prime Minister Fat'hi Bashagha and a number of ministers have left the capital, Tripoli, hours after their attempt to enter the city triggered clashes, the media office of the interim Libyan government announced Tuesday.

Bashaghas office said he and his ministers left Tripoli later Tuesday for the sake of the security and safety of citizens and to stop the bloodshed.

Appointed by Libya's parliament, Bashagha entered Tripoli overnight but withdrew hours later on Tuesday as fighting rocked the capital, the Libyan News Agency quoted the office as saying.

The UN special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, meanwhile, urged calm and for rival parties to engage in talks to resolve their disputes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Tuesday Egypt's concern about the developments in Tripoli, reiterating the necessity of maintaining pacification in Libya as well as preserving lives, properties, and resources of the Libyan people.

The ministry urged all Libyan parties to practice self-restraint, and abstain from taking any steps that would foment violence. Egypt also underscored the inevitability of a dialogue that is aimed at holding presidential and parliamentary elections contemporarily and without delay.

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UN advisor on Libya pleased with encouraging progress in talks between HoR and HSC - Egypt Today

The lunar eclipse in progress

Updated: 9:38 PM CDT May 15, 2022

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FLOWER MOON AND THE LUNAR ECLIPSE. ALL I WANT THIS TIME. YEAH, THATS CRAZY. WELL RANDY FACTOR TOM COMING UP FOR THE DAY ON MONDAY. I GIVE IT AND EIGHT BEAUTIFUL FOR BEING AND WORKING OUTSIDE. ID GO HIGHER BUT I THINK TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY MAKE IT. INTO THE LOWER 80S. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE EARTH START TO ENTER THE PENUMBRA, WHICH IS THE EARTHS OUTER SHADOW BY 9:27. ITLL START TO ENTER THE INNER SHADOW B 1029 THE MOON FULLY BE INHE T DEEPEST SHADOW AND AT 11:11. THATS WHEN ITS IN THE CENTER OF THE DEEPEST SHADOW, SO IT SHOULD BE THE MOST DARK. RED COLOR THAT WE HAVE THE ECLIPSE STARTS TO END 1153ND A THEN WERE ENDING THE PARTIAL ECLIPSE 1255 AND AND THEN WERE COMPLETELY DONE JUST BEFORE. 2 AM NEXT TIME NOVBEEMR 8TH THESE HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY SOLAR ECLIPSES THAT THE GRANDDADDY THATS WHERE IT' LINED UP WITH THE SUN THE MOON AND THE EARTH AND A LITTLE SPOT ON. TO GET THE TOTALITY. HAVE TOAI WT A COUPLE MORE YEARS FROM ONE OF THOSE 7355 TODAY TEMPERATURES RIGHT ABOUT AVERAGE. PRECIPITATION WERE GETTING DRIER. HALF AN INCH BELOW AVERAGE MOISTURED EPLEY AIRFIELD, THERE IT IS. FLOUR MOON. ITS OUR CAMERA 27 THE DOUGLAS LOOKING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST. WELL, IT FEELS GOOD 68 DEGREES A LITTLE WEST BREEZE JUST SIX MILE ANS HOUR TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S WINDS PRETTY LIGHT SUPER DOLL PACIFIC RADAR. ALL QUIET CLOUDS GONE, THERE WERE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND THIS MORNING. NOT TOO MUCH IN OMAHA SOME STRONGER STORMS OVER KANSAS, MISSOURI DROPPED SOUTHWARD, AND NOW PRETTY QUIET FOR A CPLOUE OF DAYS HERE. LOOK AT THAT HOURLY PLANNER, HUH? MOSTLY CLEAR OVERNIGHT MOSTLY SUNNY COMING UP FOR MONDAY ZOER PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. JUST A LITTLE WARM LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, HIGH PRESSURE. NEARLY OVERHEAD BY MORNING. THERES THE SUNSHINE. HERES THE AFTERNOON LOOKS GREAT. TOMORROW NIGHT DISTURBANCE STARTS TO COME IN FROM THE WEST. WELLEE S AN INCREASING CLOUDS LATE, MAYBE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS WHICH KIND OF COMPLICATES THINGS FOR TUESDAY. WE COULD HAVE SOME MORNING RAIN. TBU IF IT DRIES OUT A BIT WITH THIS POSITIONING OF THIS LOW PRESSURE INHE T WARM FRONT, WE COULD SEE SOME STRONG THUNDERSTOSRM IN THE LATE AFTERNOON ON TUESDAY. MOSTLY CLEAR THE LUNAR ECLIPSE ALREADY IN PROGRESS. YOU CANT REALLY TELL BECAUSE JUST BARELY INTOHE T OUTER SHADOW, BUT YOULLNO KW IT IN. IN TWO HOURS FORUR SE 52 DEGREES TOMORROW MORNING 74 NOON TIME 80 DEGREES AND FIVE OCLOCK HIGH TEMPERATURE 82 IMPACT WHETHER ON TUESDAY THAT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RAIN IN THE MORNING. AND THEN MAYBE A SEVERE STORM CHCE WOULD BE VERY LATE AFTERNOON. PALYRT CLOUDY BUT DECENT ON WEDNESDAY ANOTHER FRONT ON THURSDAY WARM AHEAD OF IT, BUT LOOK AT THE COOL DOWN WINDY WITH THEIV HE 71 ON FRIY,DA THEN HEISEN THE 60S NEXT WEEKEND THATS GOING TO FEEL GOOD.

The lunar eclipse in progress

Updated: 9:38 PM CDT May 15, 2022

The lunar eclipse in progress

The lunar eclipse in progress

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The lunar eclipse in progress - KETV Omaha

THERE STARTS AT 10 AM SOME BREAKING NEWS. NOW ONE PSONER IS CRITICALLY HURT IN OMAHA TONIGHT. AHOMA POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE ON REPORTS OF AN ASSAULT THIS HAPPENED AT SECOND IN DREXEL WAS AROUND 8:30 THIS EVENING. WERE

Assault victim taken to the hospital with CPR in progress

The Omaha Police department said medics performed CPR on the assault victim.

Updated: 10:17 PM CDT May 15, 2022

The Omaha Police department said one person was taken to the hospital with CPR in progress.Police say the person was assaulted near S 32nd Street and Drexel Street. The call came in around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.Police have not said how the person was assaulted yet.KETV will update this developing story as more information becomes available.

The Omaha Police department said one person was taken to the hospital with CPR in progress.

Police say the person was assaulted near S 32nd Street and Drexel Street. The call came in around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.

Police have not said how the person was assaulted yet.

KETV will update this developing story as more information becomes available.

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Assault victim taken to the hospital with CPR in progress - KETV Omaha

A northern Michigan wildfire that has raged across more than 2,000 acres since Fridaywas, according to a MichiganDepartment of Natural Resources estimate,75% contained Monday, the agency said.

Some roads that were closed in the Blue Lakes Fire in Montmorency and Cheboygan counties also were reopened, said Kerry Heckman, a DNR spokesperson, in a press release.

The fire had been 60% contained Sunday, a day after crews were pulled off fire lines temporarily in the afternoon due to lightning risk.

Containment doesnt necessarily mean the fire is out, Heckman said, but itis unlikely to spread beyond the containment lines.

These are areas where firefighters have been able to plow a line down to bare eartharound that portion of the fire, removing all fire fuels.

A Wednesday lightning strike that smoldered for a few days before spreading into dry fuels was determined as the cause of the fire, the agency said.

DNR reported an estimated 2,200 acres in the wildfire's path Monday, down from Sunday's estimate of 2,700 acres and Saturday's 2,300.

The differences in reported acreage are due to improved mapping with firefighters on the ground using a variety of tools, according to Heckman.

Some roads will remain closed until nearby hotspots can be identified with infrared imaging and addressed. Those include Blue Lakes Road between Hardwood Lake and Black River. The Black River is also still closed between Blue Lakes and Clark Bridge roads.

Fire danger remains high in northern Michigan. Due to increased fire risk, the DNR has not conducted prescribed burns and has not been issuing burn permits.

Crews on the scene Monday included 32 DNR firefighters, two emergency medical technicians and a 13-member incident management team, according to the press release, with law enforcement assistance from two Montmorency County sheriffs deputies and three DNR conservation officers.

Local assistance wasprovided by Tri-Township EMS, Montmorency County Emergency Management and the Michigan State Police.

halbarghouthi@detroitnews.com

@HaniBarghouthi

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More progress in fight to contain northern Michigan wildfire - Detroit News

UPDATE: At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, fire officials announced that the High Park fire in Teller County is now 70% contained.

UPDATE (Tuesday): According to fire crews, the High Park Fire currently burning in Teller County is now 37% contained, up 10% from progress made over the weekend.

So far, crews say, the fire has burned almost 1,600 acres.

Helicopters continue to make water drops over the area, focusing on the southern end of the fire.

About 400 people and 75 businesses are under evacuation or pre-evacuation status.

A federal incident management team took the lead on the High Park Fire over the weekend.

UPDATE: Crews fighting the High Park Fire in Teller County provided an update of their progress on Monday.

Yesterday was a really good day, said Lathan Johnson of Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1. We were able to continue to secure a lot of line.

Johnson said the fire began to move south, which he clarified was helpful to crews on scene because thats easier terrain.

UPDATE: The fire has grown to 1,558 acres and is 27% contained. Helicopters continue running dip and drop cycles delivering water over areas of heat, primarily in the southern end of the fire.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. The High Park Fire in Teller County, which sparked on May 12, 2022, has burned 1,499 acres and is now 27% contained. The countys sheriffs department has reported no structures have been lost as 180 personnel fight the flames, with additional support on the way.

A federal Incident Management Team took command of the fire on Sunday. Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams has asked Governor Jared Polis to declare a state disaster.

Dozens of people in Teller County are still under evacuation orders.

There is, as yet, no word on what started the High Park Fire.

UPDATE: More photos of the fire and burned areas.

UPDATE: Videos show helicopters dousing hot spots of the High Park Fire with buckets of water.

UPDATE: Pre-evacuation notices are in effect for Rhyolite Mountain Mesa, Monarch and Lost Canyon. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Woodland Park High School. Livestock can be taken to Cripple Creek Fairgrounds.

County Road 11 is closed from milepost 3 to County Road 112.

The Teller County Sheriffs Office will have a community town hall meeting at 1 p.m. at Cripple Creek Victor High School.

The fires increase in size is due to a combination of firing operations to secure indirect fireline and wind-driven fire, according to Mykell Kroll, Fremont County Director of Emergency Management. It is burning in ponderosa pine and grass in steep, rocky terrain with High Park Road to the west and Fourmile Creek to the east. The fire has been most active at the southeast corner of the fire perimeter where it spotted across Fourmile Creek.

Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up heat sources to secure the fires edge in all sections of the fire.

Helicopters and air attack platforms will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops.

UPDATE: The fire has increased to 1,172 acres with 10% containment. The briefing for this morning has been cancelled.

UPDATE: A video of a press conference with the Teller County Sheriffs office has been released below.

UPDATE: At a briefing early morning, the Teller County Sheriffs Office stated the fire was over 1,000 acres and is 10% contained. There will be another briefing for evacuated individuals at Florissant fire station at 1 p.m.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. The High Park fire burned back on itself on Friday, forcing new mandatory and pre-evacuation orders and closing down roads in the area.

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UPDATE: Crews make progress on High Park Fire over the weekend - FOX21News.com