Monday, 30 November 2020
Sunday, 29 November 2020
Saturday, 28 November 2020
The economic shock Brexit is about to unleash was a glaring omission from Rishi Sunak's Spending Review
Friday, 27 November 2020
Meng Wanzhou: Canadian officer denies 'cover-up' and tailoring testimony about Meng's phone information allegedly going to FBI
Global Deception Technology Market Report 2020: Its Not CIOs or CFOs, Its COVID-19 Driving Digital Transformation in Enterprises Worldwide
Mobility Scooters Market to Exhibit 6.9% CAGR and Reach USD 1.85 Billion by 2027; Backed by Growing Focus on Development of Advanced Product Worldwide, reports Fortune Business Insights™
Thursday, 26 November 2020
Global Rail Wheel and Axle Market Report 2020-2027: Souring Financials of Railway Operators Crushes Railway Fleet Expansion Plans
Politics latest news: Regional tiers system faces push-back from MPs calling for more localised response
Contraceptive Pills Market to Reach USD 20.55 Billion with 5.8% CAGR by 2026; Government Initiatives to Spread Family Planning Awareness in Developing Nations to Boost the Market: Fortune Business Insights™
Wednesday, 25 November 2020
China-Australia relations: termination of free trade deal ahead of review unlikely despite tensions, experts say
Politics latest news: Rishi Sunak to unveil jobs boost but faces backlash over foreign aid cuts in Spending Review
Shared Spaces Lights Up Skybridge on Stevenson
By Nehama Rogozen
The Shared Spaces program has imagined new ways to utilize public spaces around the city. Skybridge on Stevenson, a unique partnership between SFMTA, OEWD, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the Mid Market Community Benefit District, and Zendesk in an alley in SoMa illustrated how coming together, we can support communities.
Dancers were just one part of the programing for the Skybridge Shared Space
While completing its ten week run, the Shared Spaces program event served as a launchpad to reimagine community building in the diverse neighborhood where SOMA Pilipinas, the Transgender District, Theatre District and Mid-Market mix. Dense neighborhoods like SOMA often lack access to open spaces and community gathering locations, making this project even more important.
Every Thursday evening, Stevenson Street was shut down between 6th and 7th streets for performances by area musicians, dancers and artists. Food from area businesses like Montesacro Pinseria Romana SF and The Grilledcheezguy were available free of charge to attendees, many of whom are residents of nearby SROs. Even with the required masks, physical distancing and other safety measures, the event provided an evening of normalcy during these challenging times.
The Skybridge project showed how we are working to be nimbler and provided needed services during the pandemic. The Parks Alliance had already planning a lighting installation and pop-up events to activate the Stevenson alleyway. However, the Shared Spaces program expedited permits and gain support that otherwise might have taken years so that the community could enjoy the space more quickly.
The Skybridge on Stevenson team made it a priority to understand what the community was looking for, both before and after COVID-19 hit. Behind the lighting installation was a desire for increased safety as well as foot traffic to local businesses. Theater and music groups were looking for an outdoor space to practice and perform. Local residents sought opportunities to connect with each other safely.
“As someone who comes into these communities, you are the least knowledgeable,” says Mark Bonsignore of the SF Parks Alliance. “Really listen to what needs to be done. There’s always a way. You can’t always build a park so we look at underutilized areas of the city and utilize them so they can be for the public benefit.”
With several SFMTA projects like Mission Street SoMa, Better Market Street, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project, and Safer Taylor Street either underway or starting soon, we are exploring opportunities to utilize public space and/or side streets for community-building during construction. For example, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project will ensure that Skybridge on Stevenson can continue during construction. We look forward to plans aiming to restart the event this spring.
Thank you to all the partner organizations and people that made this project a huge success.
Published November 25, 2020 at 06:32AM
https://ift.tt/2V5nMgR
Tuesday, 24 November 2020
China debt: Beijing may cut belt and road lending due to domestic pressure, to ensure future of project
Vladimir Putin wasted no time in weaponizing Trump's election conspiracies to spread Russian propaganda
Supersized wind turbines generate clean energy--and surprising physics
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173456.htm
Tracking and fighting fires on earth and beyond
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173454.htm
The science of windy cities
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173452.htm
Ancient people relied on coastal environments to survive the Last Glacial Maximum
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173450.htm
Indonesian wildfires a 'fixable problem'
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173448.htm
Genetics behind deadly oat blight
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123173442.htm
Monday, 23 November 2020
Politics latest news: Boris Johnson quells Tory rebellion with tier system plans - but concerns over freedom pass grow
Sunday, 22 November 2020
U.S.-European mission launches to monitor the world's oceans
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201122094039.htm
Saturday, 21 November 2020
Twin Peaks Tunnel Work to Start November 30
By
View from inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel that was first opened 102 years ago in 1918
The Eureka Curve is a section of the Twin Peaks tunnel that connects downtown San Francisco to West Portal and beyond. In 2019, we completed a major project in the Twin Peaks tunnel with seismic upgrades, major track and other infrastructure overhauls. Now, additional work in this crucial section of trackway needs to be done, and we will start that on Monday, November 30. This work is essential to improving the quality of the system and reducing the potential for disruptions to service in the years to come.
Starting the Monday after Thanksgiving, construction crews will begin maintenance work inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel going into the tunnel via the entrance on Market Street between Diamond and Collingwood Street. Planned work includes replacement of the overhead catenary system (OCS) splice connectors, overhead lines, track fasteners, rails, track ballast, switch machine, trackway adjustment throughout the tunnel, rail grinding, installation of new subway lights, and several trackway and OCS tests. These are the key elements that keep our trains running.
Work is planned for approximately three months, through February 2021. Crews will take a break for the holidays from December 24th through New Year's Day. Construction is scheduled for Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. with hours are subject to change based on construction needs. No night work will occur in the public right of way and will be limited to inside the tunnel.
As we perform this work, some parking will be temporarily restricted, and traffic lanes will be modified in the construction zone near Castro Station:
- One lane street closure in each direction on Market Street between Diamond and Castro Street during active construction hours
- Parking will be temporarily restricted on Market Street between Diamond and Castro Street
- No access to Market Street from Collingwood Street. Local access to Collingwood Street from 18th Street will be provided
- Material and equipment staging on both sides of Market Street between Diamond and Collingwood Street.
- Heavy equipment will enter through West Portal Station tunnel most mornings for about an hour. We do not anticipate any parking impacts or traffic lane changes near West Portal Station.
- This work is part of our Subway Renewal program that targets critical subway systems and infrastructure for strategic overhauls to improve system reliability and resilience. This work will improve the maintainability of the trackway. It will also provide a more solid foundation for service into the future.
Ballast Replacement Details
Ballast is the rocky bed beneath the tracks that stabilizes the trackway. Over time, the ballast wears and can become dusty as the larger rocks are broken down, these are called fines. Over time the number of fines increases, and the trackway can become muddy and difficult to maintain. During the 2019 Twin Peaks project, we reused rather than replaced the ballast in an attempt to save time and money. Unfortunately, the required procedural steps to ensure that the reused ballast would maintain its integrity through a thorough wash/filtering process was not followed. Looking back, we acknowledge these choices were an oversight.
Example of ballast – the rocks that help stabilize the tracks
Today the ballast has continued to degrade and will, over the long term, reduce the expected life of the new trackway if left unaddressed. In order to take advantage of the current closure of the subway and minimize future disruptions to service, we are moving ahead with the ballast replacement now.
This issue also underscores two of the key areas we are targeting with our Subway Renewal program: improved project delivery and workforce culture. The decision-making process that led to the reuse of the ballast in 2019 should have been interrogated more intensively. We are committed to promoting a more open workplace that supports our staff raising challenging questions during the course of projects to make sure the choices we make are in the best interest of the system and of the public.
We thank San Franciscans and Muni customers for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate through our Subway Renewal program and work towards the return of rail service. We will keep you informed about our continued efforts at SFMTA.com/RailRecovery.
Published November 21, 2020 at 04:59AM
https://ift.tt/3kPHA2y
Friday, 20 November 2020
How rotavirus causes severe gastrointestinal disease
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119165440.htm
Artificial intelligence-based tool may help diagnose opioid addiction earlier
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153952.htm
Long-acting antipsychotic therapy plus cognitive training show promise for schizophrenia
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153948.htm
Researchers identify features that could make someone a virus super-spreader
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153944.htm
Predicting forces between oddly shaped nanoparticles
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153940.htm
CLCN6 identified as disease gene for a severe form of lysosomal neurodegenerative disease
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119141743.htm
Giant aquatic bacterium is a master of adaptation
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119141705.htm
The secret social lives of giant poisonous rats
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119135403.htm
Understanding lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119131030.htm
Climate change and 'atmospheric thirst' to increase fire danger and drought in NV and CA
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119165442.htm
Predicting preterm births
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119165435.htm
Engineered immune cells elicit broad response to HIV in mice, offering hope for vaccine
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153938.htm
Breaking the power and speed limit of lasers
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119153934.htm
Insights in the search for new antibiotics
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119141753.htm
First map of bee species around the globe
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201119141736.htm
Twin Peaks for All: Survey Results
By Benjamin Barnett
Last month, the SFMTA and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department released a survey seeking public feedback regarding five proposed roadway options for Twin Peaks Boulevard. San Franciscans responded to the survey, ranked support for each alternative and shared opinions about how the different options met their needs.
The Twin Peaks for All survey was open for almost three weeks and received more than 1,700 responses. This number reflects the high level of interest for this San Francisco park and its future access.
Survey Background
Conditions on Twin Peaks Boulevard between Portola Drive and Barnett Avenue before COVID street closures.
The Twin Peaks Boulevard gates were closed early in the pandemic to reduce crowding at the lookout point parking lot. The gates were closed on the north, at Burnett Avenue, and the south, at Portola Drive. Since then, Twin Peaks Park use by hikers, joggers and people on bicycles has increased significantly, with an average of more than 800-weekday visitors and more than 1,100-weekend visitors.
While the new park access configuration received support, there are also significant community concerns. Our goal with the new design proposals and survey is to find a solution that balances all the various needs of the community including people with disabilities, neighbors and everyone that enjoys this iconic park.
Survey Options:
- Burnett Avenue - Burnett Avenue gate is open 24 hours, with parking and a vehicle turnaround available on Christmas Tree Point Road.
- Portola Drive - Continue keeping the Portola Avenue gate open, extending the hours from noon to midnight daily.
- One-Way Southbound - One-way, southbound vehicle traffic, from the north gate at Burnett Avenue to the south gate at Portola Drive. Reserve the northbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.
- One-Way Northbound - One-way, northbound vehicle traffic, from the south gate at Portola Drive to the north gate at Burnett Avenue. Reserve the southbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.
- Pre-COVID - Open both the north and south gates, as were conditions pre-pandemic. The east side of the figure eight is reserved for people walking and biking and the west side of the figure eight is reserved for two-way traffic.
Overview of Results:
Map representing the Burnett Avenue Option, the most preferred option according to the survey.
- The Burnett Avenue Option was most preferred with 52 percent of people ranking it highest in comparison to the other four options
- The Pre-COVID Option was the most divisive of the five options, it ranked as the second most preferred with 30 percent but also most respondents ranked it as less preferred with 64 percent of the vote.
- Mode of transportation to Twin Peaks was associated with responses, with visitors traveling by non-motor vehicular modes favoring the Burnett Avenue Option and visitors traveling by motor vehicular modes favoring the Pre-COVID Option
- Many respondents commented that they prefer some form of car-free space on Twin Peaks
- Survey respondents are concerned about sharing the road to the top of Twin Peaks with tour buses and motor vehicle traffic
- Crime, vandalism and litter are concerns associated with all options
What We Learned from You
Many people who filled out the survey are regular visitors to the area; almost 50 percent of the respondents typically visit Twin Peaks one or more times per week with another 27 percent of people who visit once per month. People who took the survey tend to reside near the park. The highest percentages of respondents came from zip codes immediately adjacent to the park and of the more than 1,700 responses, 50 respondents were from outside of San Francisco. In total, 52 percent ranked the Burnett Avenue option as their preferred choice. The next closest preference was the Pre-COVID option, with 30 percent.
Other data demonstrating Option 1 was the most preferred include:
- Trip frequency did not have an impact on preference, from the respondents stating that they rarely/never visit Twin Peaks to those visiting 1-4 times a week, Option 1 was preferred.
- Most respondents 64 years of age or younger preferred Option 1.Those 65 years of age or older preferred Option 5.
- Option 1 was the top preference across races/ethnicities.
More to Come
Access to Twin Peaks is important to San Franciscans and this was reflected by the large number of responses and the range of responses to the Twin Peaks for All survey. Responses reflected that both personal and property safety is important as is access to the beautifully scenic resource. For a much more detailed analysis of our survey data please visit our Survey Report.
SFMTA staff will continue to review the options, working with project stakeholders to develop a project that is feasible and meets the needs of the public based on the survey results. Staff will develop a final proposal to share with the community and present to the SFMTA Board of Directors for potential approval in the coming months. Twin Peaks is a beautiful and unique destination for San Francisco residents and visitors alike and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. For more information or to sign up for an email update, visit our project page.
Published November 20, 2020 at 04:48AM
https://ift.tt/2IImjLb
Thursday, 19 November 2020
System can sterilize medical tools using solar heat
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118141641.htm
The bull Y chromosome has evolved to bully its way into gametes
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118141636.htm
Killing cancer naturally: New process to produce compounds with anti-cancer properties
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118141614.htm
Faster detection of photocatalyst-generated oxygen has big implications for clean energy
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118092942.htm
Certain CBD oils no better than pure CBD at inhibiting certain cancer cell lines
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118090801.htm
Study improves ability to predict how whales travel through their ocean habitat
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118090759.htm
A more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118080827.htm
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Machine learning guarantees robots' performance in unknown territory
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201117144546.htm
AI tool may predict movies' future ratings
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201117144539.htm
Algorithm-driven digital program helped lower patients' cholesterol, blood pressure
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201117144537.htm
Retinas: New potential clues in diagnosing, treating Alzheimer's
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201117144535.htm
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Politics latest news: Nicola Sturgeon 'driving a wedge between people,' says minister defending PM's devolution comments
Changes to the brain's reward system may drive overeating in mice
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116184444.htm
A change of heart: New drug for HCM reduces heart mass
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116184440.htm
Henderson island fossils reveal new Polynesian sandpiper species
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116184438.htm
Quantum tunneling pushes the limits of self-powered sensors
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116184433.htm
Who is the world's best super-recognizer? This test could help us find them
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116145159.htm
Bursts of exercise can lead to significant improvements in indicators of metabolic health
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116125606.htm
Monday, 16 November 2020
Politics latest news: Boris Johnson says 'I'm bursting with antibodies and fit as a butcher's dog' but will still self-isolate
NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts headed to International Space Station
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116005227.htm
Buying a baby on Nairobi's black market
Africa Eye uncovers a thriving market for children stolen to order in Kenya's capital.
source https://news.yahoo.com/buying-baby-nairobis-black-market-235835467.html
Tigray crisis: Why Ethiopia is spiralling out of control
The warring sides in Tigray see history very differently, and that could cost tens of thousands of lives.
source https://news.yahoo.com/tigray-crisis-why-ethiopia-spiralling-232607570.html
Sunday, 15 November 2020
Prince Charles champions post-Brexit ties on German visit
Britain's Prince Charles on Sunday said bonds between his country and Germany would "remain strong" as he visited Berlin against a backdrop of increasingly tense Brexit talks.
source https://news.yahoo.com/prince-charles-champions-post-brexit-144200027.html
Poll workers contract virus, but Election Day link unclear
Despite painstaking efforts to keep election sites safe, some poll workers who came in contact with voters on Election Day have tested positive for the coronavirus, including more than two dozen in Missouri and cases in New York, Iowa, Indiana and Virginia. Because COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the U.S., there is no way to determine yet whether in-person voting on Election Day contributed to the surge, public health experts said. In most places, poll workers were required to wear masks.
source https://news.yahoo.com/poll-workers-contract-virus-election-151022006.html
Trump seems to acknowledge Biden win, but he won't concede
President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to acknowledge for the first time that Joe Biden won the White House, but made clear he would not concede and would keep trying to overturn the election result. Trump's statements came in tweets that included several baseless claims about the Nov. 3 vote, which state and federal officials say was safe and secure. Trump, without using Biden's name, tweeted that “He won,” something Trump had not said before publicly, though he said the Democrat's victory was only “in the eyes” of the media.
source https://news.yahoo.com/trump-seems-acknowledge-biden-win-150508400.html
In a moment of turmoil, US Catholic bishops meet virtually
A hard-fought presidential election has caused sharp divisions in their own ranks. “The shadow of the McCarrick report hangs over this meeting,” said John Gehring, Catholic program director at a Washington-based clergy network called Faith in Public Life.
source https://news.yahoo.com/moment-turmoil-us-catholic-bishops-130257807.html
What mandate? Biden's agenda faces a divided Congress
President-elect Joe Biden wants to “restore the soul of America.” First, he'll need to fix a broken and divided Congress. Biden is rushing headlong into a legislative branch ground down by partisanship, name-calling and, now, a refusal by some to acknowledge his win over President Donald Trump.
source https://news.yahoo.com/mandate-bidens-agenda-faces-divided-124920148.html
Belgian racing pigeon fetches record price of $1.9 million
New Kim is worth her weight in gold and then some — actually much, much more. A wealthy Chinese pigeon racing fan put down a world record price of 1.6 million euros ($1.9 million) for the Belgian-bred bird, saying a lot more than merely what kind of money can be made in the once-quaint sport, which seemed destined to decline only a few years back. During a frantic last half hour Sunday at the end of a two-week auction, two Chinese bidders operating under the pseudonyms of Super Duper and Hitman drove up the price by 280,000 euros ($325,000), leaving the previous record that Belgian-bred Armando fetched last year well behind by 350,000 euros ($406,000).
source https://news.yahoo.com/belgian-racing-pigeon-fetches-record-124017275.html
Shepherd Bushiri: Preacher flees South Africa ahead of fraud trial
The self-styled prophet says he skipped bail and left South Africa because he had received death threats.
source https://news.yahoo.com/shepherd-bushiri-preacher-flees-south-122537045.html
Rebel leaders who inked deal with government return to Sudan
Sudan’s rebel leaders returned to the capital, Khartoum on Sunday, signalling the first major steps toward implementing a peace agreement with the government that aims to end the country’s decades-long civil war. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the ruling sovereign council, welcomed leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front as “partners and peacemakers" upon their arrival from South Sudan on Sunday. The front, a coalition of several armed groups centered in the western Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, inked a peace agreement with the transitional government on Oct. 3 after months of arduous negotiations in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
source https://news.yahoo.com/rebel-leaders-inked-deal-government-114632212.html