Categories
Unami

Briefing Security Council, Special Representative Urges Iraq’s Parties Prioritize National Interest over Partisan Concerns

Many Speakers Call on Baghdad to Carry Out Reforms, Tackle Corruption, Impunity

Despite a “very rough road”, Iraq’s Government continues to show resolve in tackling numerous pressing issues it is confronted with, including corruption, poor governance and an overreliance on oil, the senior United Nations official in the country told the Security Council today, underscoring the need for parties to prioritize the national interest over partisan concerns and to help sustain an active, empowered civic space.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), presented the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2023/340) on key political developments in the country since February, ahead of the Mission’s imminent mandate renewal.  Underscoring the need for ambitious Government plans to be fully implemented to address persisting drivers of instability, she stressed that, given that there is no tolerance for a return to the status quo that existed before the political crisis sparked by widespread protests in October 2022:  “The harsh reality is that there is no time to lose.”

While the ambitious Government programme has been signed off on by all coalition parties comprising the State Administration Alliance, constant compromise is needed to balance differing interests, she said, adding:  “The fact is that Iraq has a full ‘to-do’ list.  And narrow or partisan actions will not help in checking it off.”  To this end, she called for the swift passage of the federal budget by Iraq’s Council of Representatives, without which goals such as public service delivery cannot turn into realities.

In an address that covered a range of topics, including the Kurdistan region, which was recently driven to the brink due to disagreements between the two ruling parties, and the need for progress on the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, as well as the need to address the climate emergency, represented by…

Continue reading

Categories
Nanticoke

Hamilton employer, Stelco face probe after worker dies following incident at Nanticoke plant

A worker who suffered serious burns on the job at Stelco’s site in Nanticoke, Ont., has died, the second workplace tragedy in recent years involving the Hamilton steelmaker after Kirk Moore’s 2022 death.

The victim worked for Hamilton-based John Kenyon Limited, which provides metal wall cladding and metal roofing services.

The victim’s union identified him on its website as Gabriel Cabral, a 32-year-old sheet metal worker.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help Cabral and his family with expenses, surpassing the $30,000 goal by raising nearly $50,000 as of Friday afternoon (May 19).

According to the GoFundMe page, Cabral was involved in the workplace incident through “no fault of his own” on the morning of April 25. He and his coworker were injured and airlifted to the Sunnybrook Hospital burn ward with “severe life-threatening and life-altering burns.”

It’s not clear if the worker, described as “an avid fisherman” with a passion for the outdoors, lived in Hamilton. The funeral is set for May. 24 in Hamilton, according to the obituary posted on legacy.com and published by a local media company on Friday, May 19.

“Gabriel passed-away after a long hard fight. He was surrounded by his loving family,” according to the obituary.

Ministry issues orders to Hamilton employer, Stelco

The Ministry of Labour was notified of the incident involving John Kenyon Limited workers at Stelco’s Lake Erie Works facility in Nanticoke, Ont., on April 25, according to Anuradha Dhar, the government’s spokesperson.

“It was reported that two workers received burns while working with materials,” Dhar said.

The ministry was notified on May 16 that one of the injured workers had died.

“Our thoughts are with…

Continue reading

Categories
Mohegan

Cherokee Nation Cuts Ribbon on New Community Building

Kansas Community CenterL-R: Cherokee Nation Community & Cultural Outreach Director Kevin Stretch; Kansas Cherokee Community Organization Board Member Shelby Mefford; Kansas Cherokee Community Organization Board Member Brittany Stovall; Cherokee Nation Veterans Center Director Barbara Foreman; Deputy Chief Bryan Warner; Kansas Cherokee Community Organization Board Member Michele Summerfield; Kansas Cherokee Community Organization Board Member Jennifer Barnett; Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.; Kansas Cherokee Community Organization President Brittney Mason; Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh; and Cherokee Nation Senior Advisor for Community Engagement Canaan Duncan.

KANSAS, OK – Leaders from the Cherokee Nation and Kansas Cherokee Community Organization (KCCO) gathered recently to cut the ribbon on a new community building in Kansas, OK.

The building was constructed through the Cherokee Nation Respond, Recover and Rebuild COVID-19 plan with an investment of approximately $2 million that covered the building, parking lot and a nearby helipad to assist community first responders.

“For many Cherokees, their greatest source of connection to our tribe is through local Cherokee community organizations and this building is going to be so vital to the Kansas community,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The Cherokee Nation is dedicated to supporting grassroots and the hard work of community groups like the Kansas Cherokee Community Organization. This building and the hard work of the organization and community members will help serve this area for many years to come.”

The new building is approximately 4,000 sq. ft. The project also included substantial infrastructure improvements to the property, which will support future building expansion and overall growth of the site. The new community building, located at 1328 E. Tulsa Ave., is adjacent to property owned by the Town of Kansas, which will be developed into a new local police headquarters.

“There is a long-standing desire…

Continue reading

Categories
Delaware Tribe

Scurci’s grandy leads Indians to win over Central for HAC crown

Sophomore leadoff batter Sophie Scurci has been playing softball against some of the best competition in the country for the past couple years as a member of the Delaware Tribe travel softball team. She is no stranger to being in the spotlight for big spots in a game.

However, last Friday, May 12, there may not have been a bigger spot for her in the top of the 7th inning of the Henlopen Athletic Conference (HAC) championship game against district rival Sussex Central.

Scurci stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, and her IR team just taking a 1-0 lead earlier in the inning. She jumped on the first pitch she saw, fouling it off before taking a ball. She swung through the next pitch to fall into a 1-2 hole. With her back against the wall, Scurci locked in on the next pitch from Central’s Madge Layfield, and drilled the ball high and far over the left-centerfield fence for a grand slam, sending her teammates, coaches and all the IR fans in attendance into a frenzy.

The Indians had a 5-0 lead, which proved to be more than enough for senior fireballer Kinsley Hall, as they would win the game and the HAC championship, 5-2. It was the first conference title for IR in softball since 2006, and may have been the first time they’ve beaten Central since that same year.

“That was so awesome,” said IR head coach Sara Powell, who was on that 2006 IR team as a player, of Scurci’s performance. “Honestly, she works so hard at practice every day, and you can just see it in her face. She is always so focused. She’s one of those kids that makes adjustments every at-bat, and that makes a huge difference. You see there, on the…

Continue reading

Categories
Unami

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Iraq

Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis
Acting Deputy Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
May 18, 2023

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert, for your comprehensive briefing. And thanks to Ms. Latif for your briefing on the situation of women and girls.

The United States welcomed Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani’s participation in the March Summit for Democracy, where he declared that the Government of Iraq strives to meet the demands and aspirations of the Iraqi people, and that combatting corruption was at the top of the government’s list of priorities.

We also took positive note of the Prime Minister’s focus on promoting and safeguarding democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and sustainable development, and were particularly encouraged by his emphasis on empowering women politically and socially. We encourage the Government of Iraq to maintain its commitment to those essential reforms.

Since the formation of the government, we have witnessed great strides in stability and prosperity. But the appetite for change is immense among Iraq’s dynamic youth – men and women who deserve economic opportunity and effective governance as a foundation for achieving their aspirations.

We encourage Iraq to work with UNAMI in securing these reforms. UNAMI is well positioned to provide assistance across the spectrum of social and economic challenges, including on elections, promoting and safeguarding human rights, combatting climate change, and governance reform. We also encourage Iraq and UNAMI to continue collective efforts to support the members of Iraq’s religious and ethnic minority communities.

We are pleased to see Iraq take steps to implement the Yezidi Survivor’s Law, and we encourage UNAMI and Iraq to support full implementation of the Sinjar Agreement as well as ensure that victims of ISIS’s brutality can access the compensation they deserve without burdensome evidentiary standards. We…

Continue reading

Categories
Nanticoke

Greater Nanticoke Area passes $39.4M proposed final budget

The Greater Nanticoke Area Class of 2021 is seen during graduation exercises in this file photo. The GNA School Board passed a proposed final budget for 2023-24 at a Friday meeting that had been rescheduled from last week. Times Leader file photo

The Greater Nanticoke Area Class of 2021 is seen during graduation exercises in this file photo. The GNA School Board passed a proposed final budget for 2023-24 at a Friday meeting that had been rescheduled from last week.

Times Leader file photo

NANTICOKE — The Greater Nanticoke Area School Board passed a proposed final budget for 2023-24 at a Friday meeting that had been rescheduled from last week. The budget projects spending $39.4 million with no property tax increase, leaving the rate at 12.8083 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed value.

The budget outlook is promising, Business Consultant Tom Melone said, thanks in part to the federal COVID-19 relief money in recent years, the last of which will be spent in 2023-24. Superintendent Ron Grevera also said the state’s “Level-up” funding, which targets districts most in need of increased state spending, is also helping.

Melone said the proposed budget assumes no increase in state money for basic or special education, but that some additional money seems likely as Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a plan that would give Greater Nanticoke about $1.4 million more in the coming fiscal year. Both the state and the district must approve a final budget by June 30.

Melone’s proposed budget numbers show the district fund balance rising from $4.8 million at the end of this fiscal year on June 30 to $6.2 million by the end of next June….

Continue reading

Categories
Mohican

You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
Continue reading

Categories
Mohegan

Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort and Light & Wonder sign systems agreement

Slots and electronic table games of Light & Wonder will be installed at the resort in South Korea. 

By Gambling Insider

The Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort has chosen to use Light & Wonder’s systems.

The agreement includes provisions for the installation of all Light & Wonder slots and electronic table games at the resort.

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder CEO of Gaming, said: “A partnership with Mohegan Inspire offers a tremendous opportunity for Light & Wonder in the Asian market. Inspire will be an incredible all-new destination and we look forward to its historic debut.

“We couldn’t be more proud to expand our existing relationship with Mohegan and continue to provide our robust portfolio to enable the highest level of efficiency for the resort, while also allowing guests to enjoy an unmatched player experience throughout the property.”

Jody Madigan, Mohegan COO, said: “Light & Wonder offers one of the most technologically advanced systems in the industry. Integrating Light & Wonder’s advanced solutions into the new property will be integral to the success of our operations and will allow us to obtain real-time insights to drive business­. Implementing these technologies will help us deliver significant value to our players.”

The Mohegan Inspire, meanwhile, is slated to debut in the fourth quarter of 2023 and, when finished, will be an entertainment destination in Northeast Asia with three 5-star hotel towers with 1,275 rooms, a 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena, a casino for foreign players only, and indoor and outdoor attractions.

Furthermore, Light and Wonder recently reported Q1 2023 revenue of $670m, an increase of 17% above Q1 data from 2022.

EBITDA for Light and Wonder was $249m, up 23% from the previous year.

Continue reading

Categories
Delaware Tribe

GALLERY: Sac-a-manc

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People’s Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People’s Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People’s Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People’s Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People’s Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People’s Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People’s Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People’s Rep’c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People’s RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom…

Continue reading

Categories
Lenni Lenape

Discovery Center at Point Breeze opens May 20

Officials will unveil circa 1819 painting of Joseph Bonaparte in its original frame that has never before been seen in public

D&R Greenway Land Trust welcomes community members to the public opening of the new Discovery Center at Point Breeze on Saturday, May 20 from 1- 5 p.m.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in front of the paneled mahogany doors at the entrance to the Discovery Center, 101 Park St., Bordentown.

Barbara “Blue Jay” Michalski will offer a Lenape blessing. Bordentown City Mayor Jennifer Sciortino will be joined with state and local dignitaries to cut the ribbon, along with D&R Greenway President and CEO Linda Mead who oversaw the design of the new museum.

“The two years it took to renovate the 200-year-old house, that was lived in by nuns and priests for the past 80 years, was a flash compared to the property’s 13,000 years of history,” Mead said. “It was a flash that has now put the Bordentown community on the world stage, with a welcoming place full of stories and discoveries that will delight history lovers, nature buffs, and artists alike.”

Preservation of the former estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, exiled King of Spain and older brother of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France, by the state, City of Bordentown and D&R Greenway in 2020, was heralded in the New York Times, the Times of London and the Spanish News Service.

Following two years of renovations by D&R Greenway, the land trust is opening the former Gardener’s House, the only remaining structure from the Bonaparte era. Guests will be treated to stories of the Crown Jewels, archaeological displays and a circa 1819 painting of Joseph Bonaparte in its original frame that has never before been seen in public.

Local artists…

Continue reading