Guardian Herald

We Bring News To You

Saturday, January 23, 2021
Log in
  • National News
  • Business & Financial News
  • Tech & Science
  • Health & Lifestyle

Manufacturing Sector Stabilizing after December Durable-Goods Drop

February 13, 2017 By Robert Bell

equipment manufacturing sector

Economists had initially predicted demand for long-lasting goods would rise in 2016, but in reality, it declined. The manufacturing sector had a largely mediocre year. However, toward the end of 2016, the manufacturing sector began to stabilize as more companies developed positive expectations for the new year with Donald Trump as president of the U.S.

They are expected to enjoy lower taxes, better infrastructure, and general support from the president who cares about goods being produced on American soil.

Orders for Durable Goods Declined, But the Manufacturing Industry Stabilized

Demand for long-lasting goods in the United States decreased in December 2016 because defense-related orders declined significantly. Products that are built to last more than three years are considered durable goods. Examples of durable goods include minivans and machinery.

Orders for durable goods dropped 0.4% from November to December, as recorded by the Commerce Department. The decrease came as a surprise. According to a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal, economists predicted a 2.3% increase in orders for long-lasting goods.

Orders for defense capital goods declined by 33.4% in December 2016, which was the biggest reduction since May 2014. A sudden drop in orders for defense capital goods is not a huge surprise because it is a volatile category.

High volatility is an industry term meaning the price of the good fluctuates dramatically. If the defense industry is excluded, orders increased by 1.7% in December.

With the entire year of 2016 considered, durable goods orders dropped 0.3% from 2015. Although U.S. manufacturers didn’t have an outstanding year, the manufacturing sector increased in stability during the last month of 2016.

Excluding aircraft, non-defense capital goods orders increased by 0.8% in December 2016, which was the third monthly increase in a row. Overall, orders for non-defense capital good orders fell in 2016.

More Background on the Manufacturing Industry and Future Projections

According to Berenberg Capital Markets economist Mickey Levy

“Prospects for future activity look better than they have in some time.”

He also noted that unfulfilled orders are increasing

“pointing to the need for companies to increase activity for what seems to be better demand.”

Business investment growth was slower than economic growth in 2016. This indicates that companies were being cautious. However, investment growth increased in Q4 of 2016. Q4 is the fourth financial quarter in a year, meaning the months October to December. Some experts believe that this investment growth is a result of the presidential election tipping in Donald Trump’s favor.

Some experts believe that this investment growth is a result of the presidential election tipping in Donald Trump’s favor. Many business owners are optimistic because of President Donald Trump’s proposed tax code that cuts taxes for all Americans, including companies.

Only hedge funds won’t enjoy a tax break as per Trump’s tax code proposal. Manufacturing companies are also positive about their future in America because Trump has placed an importance on improving the country’s infrastructure.

The U.S. dollar has strengthened as well since Donald Trump was elected president. This is causing American-made goods to be more expensive for foreign buyers.

There are also plenty of tensions and conflicts surrounding America’s trade policy, adding a layer of uncertainty. Mexico has made it clear that it will retaliate if the U.S. imposes tariffs on their exports and starts building a wall between the two countries. This could cause Mexico and America to enter a trade war.

Conclusion

After a year of decline, the manufacturing sector in the United States showed signs of stabilizing in December 2016. With Donald Trump as the new president of the United States, some manufacturing companies are positive about their performance in 2017.

Two major reasons why they have a positive outlook are lower taxes for businesses and prioritization of improving America’s infrastructure. Trump has made it clear he cares about America making its goods in the country again, another good sign for manufacturers.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Business & Financial News

SmallGEO Successfully Reached Orbit During First Flight

February 9, 2017 By Robert Bell

NASA space satellite

On Saturday, January 28th, the European Space Agency launched its new small telecom platform from its spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Based on the SmallGEO model, the Hispasat 36W satellite successfully reached lower earth orbit on a Soyuz rocket just 29 minutes after launch.

After demand for more flexibility with broadband internet, the satellite will provide modular telecommunications services to Europe, the Canary Islands, and South America.

SmallGEO and the OHB System in a Nutshell

The German satellite manufacturer OHB System AG built the three-tonne device, and it will be operated by a Spanish company.

After being released from the rocket, the satellite is now using its own thrusters to maneuver itself into a ‘geostationary orbit’ where it will stay to perform its functions. The orbit is 36,000 km above the equator. At this height, it will circle the earth at the same speed at which the planet rotates. As a result, it will appear to remain fixed in the sky from observers on the surface.

Once it reaches this orbit, OHB System will test the functionality of the satellite’s programs and determine whether or not its performance was damaged during its launch. When everything is ready to go, Hispasat will assume control over the satellite and begin offering broadband through it.

SmallGEO—shorthand for small geostationary satellite—has been an ongoing project of a partnership between the ESA and the Canadian government. The launch of this satellite will function as a test for future projects. If it works, the ESA will soon be sending several similar satellites into space.

Hispasat CEO Carlos Espinos Gomez praised the launch, saying

Hispasat 36W-1 is not only the first mission of the new SmallGEO platform, but also incorporates an advanced regenerative payload that will provide the satellite with greater flexibility and signal quality … thus improving the telecommunications services it will provide to our clients.

Andreas Lindenthal, a board member of OHB System AG, has said he hopes to cut production time on the SmallGEO to under three years. This reduced time of production could enable different missions and different types of missions, with time.

“Commonality is something which we have been able to demonstrate,” said Lindenthal. “We are able to introduce that across the disciplines into the various programs. This is for sure the future.”

Where the Project Gets Its Funding

Use of ESA funds for this project have come under fire for this type of project since its announcement. Magali Vaissiere, the ESA’s director of telecommunications and integrated applications, spoke out against these criticisms, saying,

The European public sector has a vested interest in supported partnerships between the private sector and ESA as it enables industry to take more risks and invest in new products and solutions, and in a way, accelerate their introduction on the market. Without the equivalent of say, the U.S. Department of Defense injecting vast funding resources into R&D, the European public and private sectors must work together to keep us at the forefront of advanced satellite technology and all the spin-off advantages that come with it.

Twelve different member states of the EU invested in SmallGEO, according to Gerd Gruppe, director of space administration at the DLR, including Spain, Sweden, Germany, and Luxembourg, with Spain and Germany having the largest investments in the project.

Marco Fuchs, CEO of OHB, admitted feeling proud that due to this new collaboration and the SmallGeo platform, the German satellites will be active again after a staggering 20 years of hiatus.

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/discovery-earth-nasa-research-23789/

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Scientists Working on Bringing Back Taste into Commercial Tomatoes

February 9, 2017 By Robert Bell

Natural tomatoes on wood

Over the past few decades, commercial tomatoes have slowly lost their delicious taste. They are more bland now. With genetic sequencing, scientists think they can restore some of the taste. A recent study published in January 2017 revealed chemical compounds that scientists can restore in commercial tomatoes, in order to improve their flavor.

Scientists Find a Way to Improve the Taste of Commercial Tomatoes

According to a study published in the Science journal on January 26, 2017 that was conducted by researchers at University of Florida, genetic sequencing can be used to partially restore the sweet taste of commercial tomatoes. Genetic sequencing is determining the order of DNA nucleotides, which are bases of the DNA.

Researchers compared the genetics and flavor profiles of ancestral and heirloom tomatoes with commercial tomatoes. A heirloom tomato has been passed down through several generations for its valued characteristics. Through the comparison, they found several chemical compounds that are responsible for giving tomatoes a good taste.

The full taste cannot be recovered because the market demands large, sturdy tomatoes. And lost taste is one of the sacrifices to grow larger, sturdier fruit.

They found the missing chemical compounds by sequencing 400 varieties of tomatoes. The researchers conducted taste tests on 101 of these varieties to discover which types people liked most. Upon examination of the favored tomatoes, they detected 25 chemical compounds that enhance taste. 13 of the chemical compounds they identified were significantly reduced in commercial varieties.

More Background on Commercial Tomatoes and How This Research Will Affect Produce

Scientists are now working on restoring the lost chemical compounds in commercial tomatoes by crossbreeding them with heirloom varieties. They estimate that it will take three years before the tomatoes are improved and sold in grocery stores. According to plant geneticist Esther van der Knaap,

If those tomatoes can be even slightly improved it will be a big gain for consumers, and this study certainly shows a road map of how that can be done.

Bigger tomatoes don’t taste as good because the limited amount of sugar in them is distributed across a larger area. And there wasn’t much the researchers could do to change that fact. Thus, they decided to explore a tomato’s scent. Smell plays an important role in how humans taste and experience food. As research assistant Denise Tieman explained,

The real excitement of food is what you smell. When you chew, these aroma compounds get into your olfactory systems and that’s what really makes things taste good.

A likely consequence of breeding commercial tomatoes with heirloom varieties is a shorter shelf-life. The plants may only be 90% as productive as well. These factors could cause the price of tomatoes to rise. However, as horticultural scientist and study co-author Harry Klee said, consumers will probably be willing to pay a higher price for a better tasting fruit.

The genetic sequencing technique used in this study can be utilized to improve the taste of other commercial produce as well. In fact, a commercial strawberry breeder has already hired some of Klee’s former students to run genetic sequencing on strawberries to help him improve his fruit.

Conclusion

This genetic sequencing study on the taste of tomatoes will lead to the flavor improvement of not only commercial tomatoes but other fruits and vegetables as well. Commercial tomatoes lose their flavor because sugar must be spread across a larger area and certain chemical compounds disappear during breeding. The researchers of this study found 25 chemical compounds that were severely diminished in commercial tomatoes.

By restoring these chemical compounds, they can partially restore the tomato’s delicious taste. It will take around three years for the project to be complete, but other producers have already shown an interest in applying the same techniques to improve their fruits and vegetables too.

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/food-tomatoes-vegetable-8390/

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Fossilized Insect Sparks the Introduction of a New Order

February 9, 2017 By Robert Bell

Ancient fossilized insect alien lookalike

Because life has existed for so long, there are countless species of creatures that no longer exist. We only know about these creatures through fossil records that they have left behind, but it s very rare to find completely intact fossils. Researchers recently found a fossilized insect in Myanmar that is surprisingly well preserved. The most shocking aspect of this find is the bizarre, alien-like shape of the insect.

Discovery of Fossilized Insect Shocks Scientific Community

There are over 1 million species of insects known on planet earth, but this vast variety of insects can all be categorized in just 31 orders. Most new insects or fossils that are discovered can easily be added into one of the basic 31 orders of insects, but a new find in Myanmar defies expectations.

The insect fossil was discovered in Myanmar, and it is preserved within amber, a fossilized form of tree sap. The body looks almost like a normal ant, but entomologists quickly realized it was something different. Dr George Poinar and professor Alex Brown recently published a report in the Cretaceous Research journal that proves the insect is a new order.

The clear, hard amber has preserved the insect so clearly that the researchers could see every detail. They could instantly tell that it looked like nothing ever seen before. Its most unusual feature is a triangular head with a neck at one point and a giant bulging eye at each of the two other points.

This has been completely unseen in the insect world because all other insects with a triangular head have a neck situated between two of the points on the triangle. The oblong, triangular head with the narrow neck is not found in any other type of insect.

Therefore, the researchers created a new scientific order, named Aethiocarenodea, just for this insect. Its individual name is Aethiocarenus burmanicus, so it is named after the Burmese mines where it was discovered.

Entire New Order of Insects Discovered

Most orders of insects, such as the Coleoptera order of beetles, contain hundreds of thousands of species. The Aethiocarenus burmanicus insect is the only species within the Aethiocarenodea order. So far, only one other specimen of the burmanicus insect has been found, and it was also trapped in Burmese amber.

The triangular, sideways head is the most unusual feature about the bug. Poinar says,

With its long neck, big eyes and strange oblong head, I thought it resembled E.T. I even made a Halloween mask that resembled the head of this insect.

The unusual head and neck arrangement would have allowed the burmanicus insect to see almost 180 degrees and turn its head sideways. It could easily have seen everything behind it, and the massive bulging eyes seem to be quite powerful.

A triangular head with a neck at the vertice is not the only hallmark of the new order. The insect also has neck glands that were capable of secreting a chemical to repel predators. Its body is unusually flat, and its legs are extremely long.

The Search for More Specimens Grows

Aethiocarenus burmanicus looks like no other insect due to its triangular head shape. The uniqueness of this fossilized insect has caused scientists to admit the existence of a 32nd order of insects.

Though new species are discovered all the time through fossil finds, it is very rare for researchers to discover a new order of insects. They now hope to find more examples of this unique insect shape as either fossilized specimens or living insects.

 

Photo by George Poinar, courtesy of Oregon State University, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Researchers Grow Mice Pancreas in Rats, Curing Diabetes in Mice

February 9, 2017 By Robert Bell

Rat being held

Scientists have successfully used rats as hosts to grow new pancreases for mice, a procedure that may have enormous implications for the future of human organ transplant capability. Researchers took stem cells from mice and put them into rats where a new pancreas was generated. The new organ was then transplanted from the rats back into mice. The hybrid pancreas organ then began to produce insulin in the mice, effectively curing them of diabetes.

The research was carried out at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Leading the effort was stem cell biologist Hiromitsu Nakauchi who published the results in the Jan. 26 issue of Nature.

The success of the rat-to-mice organ generation method suggests that the same procedure might eventually be developed for human subjects. That would require transplanting human stem cells into another species large enough to grow human-sized organs. Rats and mice are simply not large enough for human interaction, and are incompatible in other biological ways. One of the host animals most often suggested is a pig.

Why Pigs?

Use of pigs in conjunction with human medical applications actually has a long history. For example, pig valves are still commonly used today in heart transplants. Artificial insulin for diabetics was for years generated in pigs. The process has since been replaced by recombinant DNA technology, but pig or bovine-based insulin was once the only source.

Still another human-use product derived from pigs are tissues that are processed for wound closure applications. The fact is, using pig tissues to treat human subjects is well-established territory in medicine.

Ethical Medicine or Frankenstein Monsters

The rapidly developing science of inter-species growth of organs, hormones, various tissues and other products remains an area fraught with thorny ethical questions. From a common-sense point of view, many people feel that growing a body part in one animal for use in an entirely different species seems a fundamental violation of what Mother Nature intended. For many, on the other hand, it’s a deeply religious issue.

But there are also many legitimate concerns from a strictly scientific point of view. There are worries that interchanging biological components between species opens the door to dangerous contamination between human and animal species. For example, some fear that deeply embedded viruses or genetic diseases that can infect only pigs may somehow find itself into the human biology pool, potentially creating a catastrophic disease that could spread across the globe.

Another major ethical sticking point relates to the process in which mice pancreases were created with rat stem cells. Such stem cells are called pluripotent cells. To create a human organ using a pig, for example, researchers would have to inject large numbers of pluripotent cells into the animal. This theoretically could result in the generation of a large proportion of human cells throughout the animal body — but that might include brain cells — or the cells that lead to the development of human sperm and ovum.

Avoiding The Dangers

One does not have to be a professional medical biologist to understand the frightening implications of accidentally growing human brain cells or reproductive cells in animals – but those involved in such research today insist that extremely rigorous protocols are in place to prevent such a situation from ever arising.

Proponents of using human stem cells to grow hybrid organs in animals point to the dire shortage of human organs needed for life-saving transplants today. There are currently 121,678 people waiting for organ transplants in the U.S. Of these, 100,791 are kidney transplants. The average wait time for a kidney is 3.6 years, and 13 people die every day waiting for a donor.

 

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-mouse-177719/

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Scientist Discovers that Stone Age Man Fed on Cured Meat

February 9, 2017 By Robert Bell

Otzi - mummy

The famous 5,300-year-old mummy named Ötzi is making headlines yet again. Researchers have recently taken a deep look at this male mummy’s tummy and revealed that he most likely ate a cured meat before he was killed in the Ötztal Alps. Interestingly, scientists now claim that Ötzi probably ate a prehistoric brand of goat bacon as a part of his last meal.

Research Into Ötzi’s Stomach

Researchers started looking at Ötzi’s stomach way back in 2011. Dr. Albert Zink, a mummy specialist at the European Academy of Bolzano, led this particular study. As researchers began their studies, they found that the Stone Age man ate both goat and grains before his death. It wasn’t until Professor Zink took a deeper look at the nanostructure of the food’s fibers that he discovered this goat meat was dry-cured.

Previously, most scientists just assumed the meat must have been grilled or cooked. Since this goat grub was dry-cured, Dr. Zink proposed that the Stone Age Man probably brought the food with him from his home village. In a statement to the press, Professor Zink said Ötzi’s last meal was a “very fatty, dried meat—perhaps a type of Stone Age Speck or bacon.”

More thorough analysis of Ötzi’s stomach revealed that he ate no cheese or dairy products with the meat. Scientists also believe that Ötzi most likely had serious health issues with his stomach. Using genomic sequencing and non-invasive diagnostics, scientists revealed Ötzi had the Helicobacter pylori bacterium in his stomach. This bacterium is connected with both gastric cancer and stomach ulcers.

Brief History Of Ötzi the Stone Age Man

Ötzi was first brought to the world’s attention in 1991. That’s the year two German hikers discovered him encased in a glacier while hiking the Ötztal Alps, which are located between Italy and Austria. This mummy was found approximately 3,210 meters above sea level.

Researchers were stunned at how well preserved this Copper Age mummy was. They all decided to name him “Ötzi the Iceman” both in honor of the Ötztal Alps where he was found, and to highlight the fact that he was so well maintained within the ice.

Scientists are still in awe of Ötzi, mainly because his DNA is extremely stable and they can run numerous tests on him. Geneticists have already scanned a full code of Ötzi’s genome, and new data about his life is coming out almost every single year.

It was discovered over the years that Ötzi was most likely a man between the ages of 40 and 50. Ötzi was discovered without a bow or arrow, which indicates that he wasn’t out hunting at the time of his death. Scientists believe Ötzi was deliberately murdered.

Some scientists believe they can even give us a good sense of how Ötzi’s voice sounded and what clothes he wore when he was alive. A few pictures of what researchers believe Ötzi would have looked like are floating around the Internet.

How This Information Helps Researchers

Besides providing the modern world with a fascinating tidbit about prehistoric bacon, this study actually helps both scientists and historians get a better sense of the time in which Ötzi was alive. For example, the discovery of Helicobacter pyloriis helping researchers discover the migration patterns around Europe some 5,300-years ago. The H. pylori strain in Ötzi’s stomach was actually shared with Asians, not North Africans.

This indicates tribes from Europe didn’t interbreed with Africans at this point in history. Yoshan Moodley, a biology professor at University of Venda in South Africa, said that we can now be sure the migrations which brought the African strain of Helicobacter pylori into Europe “had not occurred…by the time the iceman was around.”

These and other discoveries from Ötzi’s stomach are giving researchers around the world a clearer picture of Europe during the Copper Age.

 

Photo by Paul Hudson, available under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Filed Under: Tech & Science

National Park Named in Honor of Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad Heroine

February 8, 2017 By Robert Bell

Old photo of Harriet Tubeman

Harriet Tubman, one of America’s most famous 19th century abolitionists, is now being honored with a new park in Auburn, New York. This park, officially named the Harriet Tubman National Park, focuses on her post-Civil War advocacy work. Volunteers working at this brand new park hope more Americans will come to visit and learn about the life and legacy of this amazing woman.

Commemoration Of Harriet Tubman National Park in Auburn

People visiting this new park get to see Tubman’s final brick residence, another home she helped build for elderly African Americans, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church where she attended services. Tubman was buried in a cemetery very close to this new park. This area was officially designated the 414th unit in the U.S. National Park System after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell signed a memorandum.

Jewell and many other New York politicians were in attendance at the dedication ceremony held in Auburn. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the attendees,

As a New Yorker and an American, I’m deeply proud to see Tubman Park finally become a reality.

Also in attendance at this ceremony was Judith Bryant, Tubman’s great-great-great grandniece. Bryant told reporters she was overjoyed this park got commemorated “on President Obama’s watch.”

Indeed, President Obama gave final approval for the establishment of this park at the start of January. Both the National Park Service and the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc., will be in charge of protecting the buildings on this property. As mentioned above, this park will mainly focus on the abolitionist’s later life. Tubman spent the last 50 years of her life in Auburn, and she spent a great deal of that time advocating for women’s suffrage.

However, this isn’t the only place that honors the legacy of this American icon. There’s also a large museum called the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument located in Cambridge, Maryland. The museum focuses on this amazing woman’s early life, her years of enslavement, and the historic ten years she led the Underground Railroad.

The Life Of America’s Fiercest Abolitionist

Harriet Tubman certainly led a heroic life. She was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1822. Shortly thereafter, Tubman was enslaved for 30 years. She eventually fled to Philadelphia in 1849 and gained her freedom. Once freed, Tubman made it her life’s mission to help as many slaves as she could flee into the northern states and to Canada.

She led the so-called “Underground Railroad” for the next 10 years. Her work on the Underground Railroad earned her the nickname “Moses” from former slaves and fellow abolitionists. Once the Civil War broke out, Tubman worked in the Union Army as a nurse, cook, and a spy. When the war finished, she settled in Auburn and continued to change lives through her advocacy work. She passed away at the age of 91 in 1913.

Tubman’s Legacy Looks Strong

In addition to these major American parks, this world-renowned human rights champion made headlines in 2016 after the U.S. Treasury announced that it will replace President Andrew Jackson with a picture of Tubman on the $20 bill. People in the Auburn community were thrilled once they heard about Tubman’s placement on the $20 bill.

Jewell told reporters she won’t believe Tubman is actually going to be put on the $20 dollar bills until she sees it for herself. Many believe the nation’s estimation of this suffragette and human rights activist is slowly moving in the right direction. All of the volunteers at this New York park hope the increased attention given to this women’s rights leader will inspire young Americans to learn more about her life and live their lives following her example.

Filed Under: National News

Google’s Parent Company Shuts Down Its Solar-Powered Internet Drone Program

February 8, 2017 By Robert Bell

Screenshot of the Google Titan Drone

Google announced that has just cancelled its solar Internet drone project. The news broke on January 11th in an interview with an executive from Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and 9to5Google. This solar drone project was a part of Alphabet’s X division and was officially known as the Titan project. Apparently the team at X hasn’t even looked at this project since late 2015. Most of the people who worked on Titan were reportedly reassigned to other projects in X.

Why Alphabet Pulled The Plug On the Titan Drone

One executive at X, Jacquelyn Miller, didn’t give a specific date when the Titan project was disbanded, and she also declined to say how many people lost their jobs. Miller only said many people working on Titan moved onto another project called “Project Loon.” Google apparently feels Project Loon, which is dedicated to making high-altitude balloons and helping connect people to the Internet in rural areas, is more realistic than the Titan’s attempt to connect the world using solar powered drones.

When asked about Project Loon, Miller said,

…at this stage the economics and technical feasibility of Project Loon present a much more promising way to connect rural and remote parts of the world.

Some tech experts believe Alphabet is letting Titan go to reduce spending on “moonshot” projects. This isn’t the first time Alphabet executives have attempted to remove economically unfeasible projects in recent times. Just a few months ago, Alphabet officially closed plans to expand Google Fiber, which is a home-internet service. Alphabet might sell Fiber later this year.

How Google Got Involved With Titan And Facebook’s Drones

This whole Titan project began in 2014 when Google bought Titan Aerospace. Titan Aerospace was focused on creating solar-powered drones with the ability to send Internet signals to the earth below. Once Google became a part of the larger conglomerate Alphabet, Titan moved into the X division. Google created the X division to house more experimental and “moonshot” technologies. Titan was officially a part of Project Wing once it joined X. Project Wing is concerned specifically with delivery drones.

Some critics doubted Titan’s long-term prospects years ago. Not only did the Titan team crash a drone in 2015, but the Titan division often reported having huge problems transmitting 5G data. Although Project Wing is still operating without Titan, some Alphabet analysts believe the project is in trouble. One reason people things may not be well with Project Wing is the fact that the leader of Wing, Dave Vos, recently left the company inexplicably last October.

Although some believe Wing won’t be around for much longer, Miller told reporters Alphabet is still funding the project. With the Titan project out of the way, many tech experts believe it’s time for Facebook‘s drone technology to shine. The social media giant bought British aerospace company Ascenta in 2014, and it too has been working on drones to bring the Internet to more remote locales.

While Facebook did try to get involved in the solar-powered drone space with its Aquila drone, they’ve also experienced similar problems to Alphabet’s Titan. In 2014, Facebook’s Aquila crashed in Arizona. Despite the crash, Facebook believes in the Aquila technology and is still funding this venture.

The New Alphabet Regime Is Here To Stay

The news of the ending of Titan may shock a few, but it really shouldn’t. After all, Google created Alphabet to put more pressure on experimental projects to deliver. One of the main critiques stock investors had with Google was it’s reckless spending on “moonshot” projects, and the creation of Alphabet was a reaction to these critiques. Now that all the projects under the Alphabet banner must operate separately, they all need to deliver good results fast to keep the funding coming.

 

Image source: Youtube Screenshot

Filed Under: Business & Financial News

Is the Syrian Civil War Approaching and End Now that the Siege of Wadi Barada Is Over?

February 8, 2017 By Robert Bell

Wadi Barada valley map

The Syrian military announced on January 29, 2017, that they have recaptured the Wadi Barada Valley near Damascus from the rebels. This is about a month after the rebels poisoned the drinking water in Damascus. With the help of their allies, the Syrian military launched an offensive in the areas with the primary goal of seizing control of the water pumping station and major spring.

The Syrian Army Regained Control of the Wadi Barada Valley, Including the Major Spring in Ain al-Fija

Syrian government forces took down the rebel stronghold in the Wadi Barada valley, a geographic region in Syria. They officially regained full control of all the towns and cities in Wadi Barada by January 29, 2017.

It was on January 28 that they took over the spring in Ain al-Fija. The takeover was peaceful as it was included in their agreement with the rebels. Through a spokesperson, the Syrian military announced on Syrian state television that

“Units of our armed forces, together with allied forces have achieved their mission in returning security and stability.”

The Syrian allies who provided military support for taking back Wadi Barada include Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The rebels, who have been fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, are leaving the area with their families for the insurgent stronghold Idlib province. They are safe to leave as per the agreement with the Syrian government. It’s common for the Syrian government to strike an agreement with the rebels that includes an evacuation clause.

This particular event has been called the Siege of Barada. It took place from November 19, 2013, to January 29, 2017. The siege is over now that the Syrian government is in control again.

More Background on the Siege of Wadi Barada

When the rebels poisoned the drinking water in Wadi Barada with diesel fuel, the Syrian government and its allies took action by conducting airstrikes and shelling. The major spring and pumping station provides most of the capital’s water.

Approximately 5.5 million people in Damascus, the capital of Syria, and its suburbs had been struggling to obtain clean water since it was cut off in December 2016. After cutting off supply for the safety of civilians, the water authority tapped into reserves, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

70% of Damascus’s water comes from the Ain al-Fijah spring and Barada River. Many people, therefore, had to buy from unregulated vendors with the hope it was safe. The water being sold during the shut off was twice the regular price as well, which is no surprise due to the economic laws of supply and demand. Some neighborhoods received up to two hours of water every three to four days, but others were completely dry.

This problem is not limited to the people in Damascus. The UN reported that 15 million people in the country have lost access to clean water. Syrian households spend almost 25% of their income on this basic life necessity.

Just a few weeks before Syria’s recapture of the Wadi Barada valley, the government regained control of Aleppo, which was one of the insurgents’ major urban strongholds. Aleppo was once the most populous city in Syria, but after the war, it is probably the second most populous Syrian city.

Conclusion

The recent recaptures of Wadi Barada valley and Aleppo are major victories for the Syrian government. It may put them on the course toward winning the Syrian civil war. This issue is problematic and a concern for the world because it’s the civilians who are suffering the most in the war-torn country.

The conflict also has the potential to fuel a third world war if it continues heating up tensions between Russia, the United States, and Europe. With some important leadership changes, such as Donald Trump becoming president of the United States, the future of Syria is even more uncertain.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: World

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 46 other subscribers

Marijuana Legalization Is a Legal Nightmare

Marijuana Legalization Is a Legal Nightmare

February 9, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

Communities Across The US Embrace Relay For Life

Communities Across The US Embrace Relay For Life

February 9, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

National Park Named in Honor of Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad Heroine

National Park Named in Honor of Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad Heroine

February 8, 2017 By Robert Bell

Widow of Nightclub Gunman Pleaded Not Guilty to Charges of Aiding Her Husband

Widow of Nightclub Gunman Pleaded Not Guilty to Charges of Aiding Her Husband

February 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Rowland

Cook Promises to Protect Employees Affected by Trump’s Immigration Order

Cook Promises to Protect Employees Affected by Trump’s Immigration Order

February 4, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

Trump Wants Taxpayers to Pay for Mexican Border Wall, After All

Trump Wants Taxpayers to Pay for Mexican Border Wall, After All

January 26, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Here Is What an Expert in Con Artists Thinks of Donald Trump

Here Is What an Expert in Con Artists Thinks of Donald Trump

January 25, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

The Immigration Policy Should Be a Priority when Trump Takes Office

The Immigration Policy Should Be a Priority when Trump Takes Office

January 13, 2017 By Daniel Austin

Push-Ups Helped a Teen Avoid Jail Time for Marijuana Consumption

Push-Ups Helped a Teen Avoid Jail Time for Marijuana Consumption

January 13, 2017 By Kevin Kopas

Bronx Man Steals Dead Policeman Identity to Buy Washing Machine

Bronx Man Steals Dead Policeman Identity to Buy Washing Machine

January 13, 2017 By Robert Bell

UPS Is Getting Ready for National Returns Day

UPS Is Getting Ready for National Returns Day

January 4, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Which Companies Will the President-Elect Hunt Down Next?

Which Companies Will the President-Elect Hunt Down Next?

January 4, 2017 By Kevin Kopas

Homeless Memorial Day Remembers the People Who Died on the Streets in 2016

Homeless Memorial Day Remembers the People Who Died on the Streets in 2016

January 4, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel Also Used Personal Email Account for Business Purposes

Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel Also Used Personal Email Account for Business Purposes

January 4, 2017 By Robert Bell

Pages

  • About Guardian Herald
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Terms of Use

Most Recent News

  • North Bay Owners Oppose Rezoning Free Hot Penny Slots Online for Waterfront Casino Development December 26, 2019
  • Tioga Free Online Slots With Bonus Features No Download No Registration Lows Receives Much-Hoped-For Casino Licenses December 23, 2019
  • By using on line casino December 23, 2019
  • Dwelling, Death and  gambling establishment games December 23, 2019
  • Behavior Of  betting house games December 23, 2019
  • Located, Fatality and  on line casino games December 23, 2019
  • Factors I Extremely Love online casino December 23, 2019

Categories

  • Business & Financial News
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Lifestyle
  • National News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • World

Contact Us:

E-Mail: info@guardianherald.com

Social

  • Facebook

Copyright © 2021 GuardianHerald.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.