Major U.S. airlines and aviation unions on Thursday urged the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden to pause approvals of additional flights between China and the United States, citing ongoing "anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government." In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Chinese passenger airlines could boost weekly round-trip U.S. flights to 50 starting on March 31, up from the current 35, about a third of pre-pandemic levels. U.S. carriers were authorized as well to fly 50 flights per week but are currently not using all those flights. Airlines for America, a trade group whose members include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and unions in a letter to the Transportation and State departments cited the "advantage Chinese airlines receive by continuing to access Russian airspace, while U.S. carriers stopped flying through Russian airspace at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022." The letter, which was first reported by Reuters, was signed by the Air Line Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association and Association of Flight Attendants. It called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to "pause additional passenger flights between the United States and the People’s Republic of China until U.S. workers and businesses are guaranteed equality of access in the marketplace, free from the existing harmful anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government." Flights between China and the United States — which were a point of contention during the COVID-19 pandemic — have emerged as a rare area of cooperation between the two super powers, but U.S. airlines have expressed concern about the rapid pace of increasing flights. Airlines are worried the Biden administration could boost or even double to 100 the number of weekly flights permitted by Chinese carriers. Separately, U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, the chair of the House select committee on China, and the panel's top Democrat, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, urged the Biden administration in a separate letter Wednesday not to approve more flights until China abides "by its existing bilateral agreement, and passenger demand begins to recover." The lawmakers said Chinese carriers "operate air routes at an anticompetitive commercial advantage that must not be allowed to increase without reciprocal parity in the number of U.S. carrier operated routes" to China. It added that "American passengers must not be exposed to unnecessary security risks by traversing Russian airspace." More than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but until August 2023, Chinese and U.S. carriers could each fly only 12 a week between the two countries. The number rose on Sept. 1 to 18 weekly round trips and then to 24 per week starting Oct. 29. The U.S. Department of Transportation approved 35 for Chinese carriers in November. Reuters reported last June that newly approved Chinese flights to the United States were not overflying Russia, which would have given them a shorter flight time and fuel advantage over U.S. rivals blocked from Russian airspace.   Source: Japan Times

At first glance, the news published by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is disturbing: On July 31, 2023, the average temperature of the global ocean surface was exactly 20.9648 degrees Celsius (69.73664 degrees Fahrenheit), above the previous record set in 2016. However, compared to 2016, this is only an extremely small increase of exactly 0.0188 degrees. Back then, the highest value was 20.95 degrees Celsius (if rounded up). So is the new temperature record actually just much ado about nothing? Unfortunately not because it fits in with the general trend this year — a trend that is consistently pointing upwards. World's oceans getting warmer and warmer  Since April, the global average daily surface temperature of the Earth's oceans (excluding the polar regions) has remained at record levels, which is simply far too warm for the time of year. For example, according to Copernicus analyses, daily average maritime temperatures had already reached 20.94 degrees Celsius on July 19. In addition, record surface water temperatures have persisted in the North Atlantic. In June, they averaged 0.91 degrees Celsius, the warmest of any Copernicus record for that period. And according to data from the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), preliminary measurements show the sea surface in the North Atlantic actually reached an all-time high temperature of 24.9 degrees Celsius during the last week of July this year. NOAA scientist Xungang Yin told the AFP news agency that sea surface temperatures are expected to "continue to rise in August." Normally, the North Atlantic reaches its maximum temperature in early September, according to the NOAA. Highest category of heatwave in the North Atlantic  In June, the North Atlantic was already experiencing a maritime heatwave of the highest category, explained Samantha Burgess of C3S in an interview with DW. One can assume that this will lead to a further large-scale fish deaths. There was also a risk of more storms forming in the North Atlantic, she added. "The ocean has absorbed 90% of the excess heat from extra greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," Burgess told DW. "The ocean is the proverbial enormous sponge that soaks up this extra heat when it gets hotter than what we have seen in the past." This situation is extreme. "We've seen maritime heatwaves before, but this is very persistent and spread out over a large surface area" in the North Atlantic, Karina von Schuckmann of the Mercator Ocean International research center told AFP. Record temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea  Water temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea also broke records this year. For example, Spanish researchers reported at the end of July that the daily mean sea surface temperature was 28.71 degrees Celsius. The Mediterranean region, which experienced record heatwaves in July, has long been considered a climate change hotspot. "Temperatures in the ocean are an absolute master switch," said Thorsten Reusch, a biologist at the Geomar Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research. The smallest changes could shake up the global climate system. "What we are seeing now is beyond any previously recorded water temperatures. That is definitely remarkable and alarming." The high ocean surface temperatures also coincide with the development of El Nino conditions, a period of warmer-than-average sea surface temperature values in the tropical Pacific. This naturally occurring climate pattern, which began on July 4 according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), results in a higher likelihood of extreme heat in many regions and in the ocean. A taste of what's to come In general, this year's July was accompanied by extremes and records. According to UN figures, it is most likely the hottest month since weather records began and probably has seen temperatures "unprecedented" for thousands of years.   In particular, parts of Europe, Asia and North America were hit by heatwaves and devastating wildfires. These extreme weather occurances were simply a taste of what is to come for the world's climate, warned the WMO and the EU's C3S observation program. "Man-made emissions are ultimately the main cause of this temperature rise," says Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S. Science has shown that weather extremes such as heatwaves are increasing in intensity and frequency as a result of global climate change. The Earth has already warmed by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the industrial age.  The Paris climate agreement aims to limit warming to well below two degrees, but preferably to 1.5 degrees. As it stands now, however, the Earth is heading for a dangerous warming of about four degrees.

If you look closely at the work of the government of any country in the world, you can easily find some activities such as to provide services for the citizens, to ensure rule of law, to ensure the security of the country, to deliver public goods to the people, etc. Here, management, policies, and regulations as well as their proper implementation are required to provide these services and this implementation is done by public administration. Governments are responsible for creating policies and implementing those policies is the responsibility of the public administration. But indirectly, public administration also influences how policies are made. So, it is said, where there is a government, there is public administration. What value does studying public administration have today? Public administration education has a long history in the area of government and state management. The context of risk management and development activities has expanded in the modern era as a result of their linkage to public administration. Development management is a major challenge in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. In this regard, specialized manpower is required. Students are being taught in public administration to learn these skills. It is the responsibility of public administration to find answers to numerous questions, such as how the state and government are run; what constitutes good governance; and how services can be delivered to people's doorsteps. When a student learns about these things, he develops a mindset about serving people. Students are inspired by a desire to serve in the Bangladesh Civil Service. Here, students know so much about government and administration that it puts them ahead in various competitive exams in this area. Basically, the adoption of government policies and the implementation of policies by delivering services to people's doorsteps is public administration, which is directly and indirectly involved in government management. Students have to learn about both theoretical and practical subjects in this area. After learning about theoretical economics, sociology, government, information technology, accounting, and financial institutions, students have to learn about the country and political context, comparative discussion of national and international administration, administrative law and ethics, social research-based studies, industrial-labour relations, government revenue-expenditure policy, public policy, business policy and administration, environmental disaster and risk management, analysis of government activities, various practical aspects of governments’ recent activities and their discussion-criticism. Job opportunities for students of public administration are increasing day by day in the country and abroad. There are job opportunities at different levels of government and in the private sector in Bangladesh. There are areas of advanced research in this field overseas. Besides, students are encouraged to explore research, and teachers go abroad for higher degrees. For those who want to make a career as a university teacher, public administration can be easily kept on the ambition list. *The writers are fourth year students of Public Administration and Governance Studies department under Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.

Abbas Butt, chairman of the Indian administrated Kashmir National Party, in a virtual interaction with human rights activist Shabir Choudhry highlighted the plight of Malik Waseem whose family was forcibly evicted from his house in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Malik Waseem along with his family had been living in his Muzaffarabad house since 1949. The PoK Administration confiscated his house and evicted him, his wife, and his children without making alternate arrangements. The family was forced to spend the night in the biting cold of January. Expressing outrage over the atrocities by the administration, Butt said, “A family of Muzaffarabad was thrown out of their house by the administration and due to this they had to spend the night on the road in cold weather in January this year and till now they are living on the road without any shelter in the scorching heat.” According to activists in POK, the eviction is a big scam which is being played out by the administration and infringes upon the rights of the people who had been living in the region. Malik and his wife are forced to spend time with their children under the open sky. This comes as there have been many such cases when influential people have taken possession of houses in PoK. Local administration has thrown him out of the house. Many in PoK have been raising their voice against the atrocities of the administration. Notably, PoK is an integral part of India’s Jammu and Kashmir province, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan. Since October 1947, this part is under Pakistan’s occupation and people have often raised their voice against the oppression. This area is one of the backward parts of Pakistan. “Everyone is aware of the case of Malik Waseem and I wonder why this innocent man is being tortured unnecessarily. His father is a heart patient.” He added, “If the land which is in the name of Wasim Malik treads over law then the court should decide. The judiciary should form a commission and tackle the matter. Justice must be delivered by the court. His house is locked and, as per my knowledge, he is also not allowed to go to Muzaffarabad.” “He is denied entry to a place where he was grown up and has spent his life. The condition today is very dire,” Butt added. Chairman Butt also slammed former Prime Minister Imran Khan for his comments against the judiciary and IG of Islamabad police. Moreover, activist Choudhry said, “The struggle must continue come what may.” Calling Imran Khan ‘Ladla’, as was named by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the activist along with the Kashmir National Party chairman noted that a letter must be written to ‘Ladla’, PoK PM, Pakistan Human Rights Commission and Pakistan army chief regarding this. PoK activist also condemned comments made by a female PTI leader where she said that if anything happens to Imran Khan whole of Pakistan will be burnt.  Source: The Print

The administration of President Joe Biden on Friday announced it would restore protections under the Endangered Species Act, a law credited with saving iconic animals like the gray wolf and bald eagle, which were loosened by his predecessor Donald Trump. Conservation groups welcomed the move but said they were concerned about how long the reversal might take. “The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is committed to working with diverse federal, Tribal, state and industry partners to not only protect and recover America’s imperiled wildlife but to ensure cornerstone laws like the Endangered Species Act are helping us meet 21st century challenges,” said the agency’s Martha Williams. The executive branch doesn’t have the power to change an act of Congress, but under Trump the protections for plants and wildlife were tweaked in key ways. They included removing a rule that automatically conveys the same protections to threatened species and endangered species, and allowing information on economic impact to be gathered when making determinations on how wildlife is listed. The FWS now proposes to undo those changes, saying it would formulate new rules in the coming months. “We are grateful the Biden administration is moving to protect the most imperiled species by reversing the Trump-era rules, but time is of the essence,” environmental law non-profit group Earthjustice said in response. “Each day that goes by is another day that puts our imperiled species and their habitats in danger.” Source: AFP/BSS AH

US President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday it was halting petroleum development activity in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversing a move by former president Donald Trump to allow drilling. The Interior Department said it was notifying firms of the freeze, pending a comprehensive environmental review that will determine whether leases in the area known as ANWR should be “reaffirmed, voided or subject to additional mitigation measures,” the agency said in a statement. The announcement deals a blow to the long-contested quest of oil companies to drill in the sensitive territory. The push for development picked up momentum after Trump announced the leasing plan last November shortly after losing reelection to Biden. At a lease sale in January over some 1.6 million acres, US officials auctioned off 11 oil tracts. Major oil companies sat out the bidding, and nine of the leases went to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state agency, while two went to small companies. Biden had promised to protect ANWR during the presidential campaign. White House climate advisor Gina McCarthy noted Biden’s promise and said the move reflected his belief that “national treasures are cultural and economic cornerstones of our country,” according to a White House statement. Biden “is grateful for the prompt action by the Department of the Interior to suspend all leasing pending a review of decisions made in the last administration’s final days that could have changed the character of this special place forever,” McCarthy added. Environmentalists have long argued that safeguarding ANWR is critical to protect polar bears and other vulnerable wildlife and for indigenous populations that hunt caribou in the region. But the oil industry has long sought to drill in the area, which is thought to potentially hold billions of barrels in oil. Key Alaska lawmakers such as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, have strongly backed development. The Alaska Wilderness League, which had joined other environmental groups in litigation against the Trump administration’s development efforts, applauded the Biden administration’s action. “Suspending these leases is a step in the right direction,” said Kristen Miller, acting executive director for the Alaska Wilderness League. – Continued threat – “There is still more to be done. Until the leases are canceled, they will remain a threat to one of the wildest places left in America,” Miller said. “Now we look to the administration and Congress to prioritize legislatively repealing the oil leasing mandate and restore protections to the Arctic Refuge coastal plain.” But the American Petroleum Institute said the oil industry knows how to develop responsibly and that the decision will cost Alaska jobs and tax revenue. “Policies aimed at slowing or stopping oil and natural gas production on federal lands and waters will ultimately prove harmful to our national security, environmental progress and economic strength,” API official Kevin O’Scannlain said. “At a time of economic recovery, this action only serves to withhold the good-paying jobs and economic revenue that safe and responsible oil and gas development would provide to local Alaskan communities.” The Biden administration’s move on ANWR comes only days after it sanctioned another Trump administration plan on oil development in Alaska, involving a ConocoPhillips project in Alaska’s North Slope in the former Naval Petroleum Reserve. Source: AFP/BSS AH

Cabinet Secretary Khandakar Anwarul Islam said, direction has been given to the concerned authority that the local administration can impose lockdown in certain areas if coronavirus transmission level reaches concerning stage or the situation is harmful for the locality. He said this while briefing the newsmen over cabinet meeting on Monday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the virtual meeting from Ganabhaban and the concerned ministers joined it from cabinet division. It was known that the health ministry has sent letter to the cabinet division about imposing lockdown in the frontier districts. In this regard the Cabinet Secretary said, we have not got the letter yet. Already the directions have been given to the Deputy Commissioners, Civil Surgeons, Chairmen or Mayors that they can impose lockdown to certain areas if the corona transmission situation seems harmful for the population. Direction was earlier given to the local district administration that they can declare lockdown if they think, such as the situation of Chapainawabganj – the suggestion came from the local authority. Khandakar Anwarul Islam also said, we have directed other district administrations that they can declare partial lockdown in the bordering areas by not covering the whole district. It depends on their suggestions. As well as we should consider that now it is the season of mangoes in North Bengal, in that case if longer strict lockdown is imposed then what would happen ..... we are considering these matters. But if it is harmful for the population then lockdown must be imposed. AH

The government has decided to impose lockdown across the country as the corona infection rate is gradually increasing. In this regard State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said that mill-factories will remain open under condition of abiding by the health guidelines. He delivered the information at a press briefing at his residence on Saturday. The minister said, to contain the speedy infection rate the government is considering imposing lockdown for one week within two or three days. But industrial units and factories will remain open abiding by the health guidelines and rules of shifting duty. The organization and institutions that provide emergency services will remain open. AH

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, basically this Election Commission (EC) is not a neutral institution. It has turned into a support organization of Awami League. In fact it is now an associate organization. He said this on Thursday at a joining program in BNP by former whip in the parliament and Jatiya Party vice chairman Sawkat Chowdhury organized at the BNP chairperson’s office at Gulshan in the capital. Mirza Fakhrul said, the EC has turned into an associate body of the ruling party. KM Nurul Huda has no qualification to run the commission. About Chattogram City Corporation Election he said, you have seen on the newspapers what kind of election took place there. It was bloody, two people were killed. BNP agents were forced out of the vote centers. They were physically assaulted and driven out of the centers. The BNP Secretary General said, it is very unfortunate that administration has been fully used in every election. Now Awami League is not the opponent of BNP, police have turned into the opponent of BNP. BNP central leaders and leaders from Syedpur unit of BNP were present in the program. AH     

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has permitted to test the ‘G rapid dot blot’ kits invented by the researchers of Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK). GK Trustee Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury said that they were informed through a letter from Drug Administration on Thursday. He said, the DGDA has asked to test the kits either at BSMMU or ICDDR,B. The DGDA has issued letter to the Vice Chancellor of BSMMU in this regard. Dr. Zafrullah also said, as part of the process we have applied to the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC). There is a major committee. All the members will decide after consultation. We have verbal conversation. Necessary measures will be taken within one or two days. This is a major achievement following the debate that has arisen in the recent days regarding our corona testing kits, added Dr. Zafrullah. AH