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'The Secret Service's dual mission is its key strength' Matt O'Neill at The Hill Some "former Secret Service agents have recently claimed that the agency's dual mission of protection and investigation overburdens its operations," but this "fundamentally misrepresents how the Secret Service operates," says Matt O'Neill. The Secret Service's "investigative mission is a core strength that directly enhances the agency's ability to fulfill its protective duties, enabling it to address increasingly complex and evolving threats." Eliminating this "would not only weaken the Secret Service but destabilize its broader law enforcement partnerships." Read more 'Voluntary carbon market has failed the human rights test' Tirana Hassan and Audrey Gaughran at Al Jazeera One of the "most salient decisions of last month's climate summit in Baku was to create a new international carbon market," say Tirana Hassan and Audrey Gaughran, and there is a "risk that increased carbon trades may harm people further." Carbon credits are "supposed to stand for greenhouse gas emissions that were avoided," but "carbon projects can badly harm the communities they claim to benefit," and have been "unable to ensure redress or a remedy for victims." Read more 'Violence against judges is on the rise. Proposed protections are needed now' Mark Martin and Julian Mann at The Charlotte Observer Violence "toward judges and court personnel has skyrocketed," and "we all benefit when society understands and allocates sufficient resources for judicial security," say Mark Martin and Julian Mann. Judges are "on the front lines. When they are not adequately protected, the rule of law is diminished." If "measures are not taken to stem the violence against judges and court personnel, it will certainly diminish the rule of law." The "time to increase judicial security is now." Read more 'The ugly smears of Tulsi Gabbard's faith are un-American — and dangerous' Suhag Shukla at Newsweek Tulsi Gabbard's "Hinduness is said to render her vulnerable to manipulation by the Indian government — even though Gabbard is not of Indian origin," says Suhag Shukla. What "concerns Hindu Americans like me is the re-emergence of criticism rooted in a particular theme: Gabbard's religious identity." To "imply that Gabbard's Hindu beliefs are rooted in a 'cult' is to try and marginalize her spiritual beliefs and invoke the same Hinduphobic bigotry that we have long faced." Read moreIn Pakistan, women’s rights, harassment and other related issues take centre stage mostly in March, when controversy around the Aurat March splashes across the media. The fact is, almost all working women face harassment at work, during commutes, and elsewhere. This must become a constant discussion to bring about real change. The Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) has revealed alarming figures that 85 per cent of women workers in Pakistan experience workplace harassment. The number touches 90 per cent for domestic help. The reality is that our societal norms have entrenched this menace. Values can be changed through awareness and laws. The Workplace Harassment Act of 2010 is a good legislative piece, but without enforcement, it is toothless. Harassment cases, reported to relevant forums, often face judicial delays and social apathy. Harassment is not confined to workplaces. Women face constant harassment in the digital sphere; almost all women face online harassment but only 40 per cent of them report them. Domestic violence against women remains rampant. Physical and sexual abuse remains widespread. These challenges are compounded for women from religious minorities. They are denied inheritance rights despite legal protections. The statistics paint a bleak picture. Women make up 49.4 per cent of the working-age population. Sadly, they account for only 23.5 percent of the labour force, as per the Pakistan Labour Force Survey. Pakistan ranked 143 out of 146 on the Global Gender Gap Index of 2023. Women in Pakistan do not only battle misogynistic attitudes but also fight for democracy, children’s rights, equality, social and judicial justice and better social conditions. Present-day stories of activists like Sammi Baloch and Sorath Lohar show that women have always stood at the forefront of resistance. The demands of Baloch women for the return of their loved ones reflect the heartbreaking struggles of marginalised groups. Lip service, grim data figures and heart-breaking stories may not bring about a visible change. We need to go beyond lip service. What can change the scenario are economic opportunities for women, equal pay and a harassment-free workplace. These are not privileges but rights. Inclusive measures are essential for true political representation. Moreover, the plight of incarcerated women cannot be ignored. Poor prison conditions, lack of legal support, and healthcare access must be urgently addressed. The time for action is long overdue. *

Hassan leads bipartisan move to end gap in no-cost contraception access

Socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro claimed on Monday that the Venezuelan opposition, which he described as representing “fascist extremism,” wants to stage a civil war in the country similar to that of Syria. Maduro was a longtime ally of former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and remains close to Assad’s former patrons in Iran and Russia. Assad fled to Russia over the weekend with his family shortly after Sunni jihadists from the al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist organization entered Damascus, marking the end of his over two-decade-old authoritarian regime. His father Hafez Assad ruled the country for about 30 years before his son took over. Maduro, whose regime maintained ideological ties and a shared anti-U.S. stance with Assad’s, made the assertions during an official event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Ayacucho . “We are observing the development of painful circumstances for the people of Syria. Now, the shameless [members] of fascist extremism are coming out to ask for a civil war to be waged in Venezuela as well,” Maduro said . “I tell you: Make no mistake, because the people of Venezuela, in perfect fusion, popular-military-police, will triumph through the path of peace. And in Venezuela there will be peace, stability, national union, and the Constitution will prevail,” he continued . According to Maduro, “every time there is an event in the world,” the U.S. “empire” and the Venezuelan opposition want to replicate it in Venezuela. Maduro, and virtually every member of his top brass, have spent the past two decades repeatedly accusing the United States and the Venezuelan opposition of conspiring together to topple the Venezuelan socialist regime. The Venezuelan socialists repeated their accusations in recent months following Maduro’s fraudulent July 28 presidential election, which he insists he “won” for a new six-year presidential term slated to begin on January 10, 2025. The Maduro regime used the conspiracy accusations to justify the arrest of several American citizens who, according to regime officials, were allegedly plotting to assassinate Maduro or carry out other “terrorist” attacks in Venezuela. Neither Maduro, nor any member of his regime, has presented evidence that can substantiate the accusations. The Venezuelan socialist regime maintained close friendly ties with Assad’s now-deposed regime that began in the days of late dictator Hugo Chávez, as both dictators bonded over their shared anti-U.S. sentiments. Chávez and Assad visited each other in 2010. Chávez awarded Assad during his visit to Caracas and gifted him with a replica of the sword of Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolivar. The late socialist dictator reaffirmed his support of Assad in remarks given to international reporters in October 2012. Maduro continued to reinforce the bilateral relationship after he succeeded Chávez, who died of an undisclosed type of cancer in 2013. Last year, both regimes held talks together with Iran for the construction of an oil refinery in the Syrian town of Homs that, if built, would have yielded profits for all three regimes and, in the case of Iran, would have likely helped fund international terrorism. Last week, days before Assad’s ouster, Maduro held a telephone conversation with Assad in which the Venezuelan dictator pledged his support to Assad’s regime “in the face of terrorist actions” and Syria’s “fight against terrorism and its sponsoring countries.” Assad was ousted over the weekend, fleeing to Russia with his family, where he received political asylum from Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday, the Maduro regime released a statement claiming that it is “closely following” the events in Syria — without making any mention of Assad’s ouster nor his arrival to Russia. Instead, the Venezuelan socialist regime expressed its desire that “this brotherly people may find a path towards the peaceful resolution of their differences, without external interference or the use of violence as a mechanism to address political conflicts.” “Venezuela reiterates its commitment to the preservation of the territorial unity of Syria, as well as the defense of its sovereignty, independence and absolute respect for the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, with special emphasis on the preservation of the civil, political and human rights of its entire population, without distinction of any kind,” the statement read. “This includes the protection and peaceful coexistence of the diverse religious, cultural and ethnic expressions that enrich the identity of that country, Cradle of Civilizations,” the statement continued. Christian K. Caruzo is a Venezuelan writer and documents life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here .

NoneNORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma appears to have borrowed from the past to cure its recent offensive ills. The Sooners , best known this century for a passing prowess that has produced four Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, took it back to the 20th century against then-No. 7 Alabama. Oklahoma ran 50 times for 257 yards while only throwing 12 times in a 24-3 win over the Crimson Tide that took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat. The Sooners more resembled Barry Switzer’s squads that dominated the old Big 8 with the wishbone offense in the 1970s and ’80s than the more recent Air Raid teams. Venables said the change was a matter of necessity for a unit that has been besieged by injuries at receiver and offensive line. “I think this staff has done a really good job with trying to figure that out, get better every week, put together a great gameplan but also figure out, ‘OK, what does this group of guys, what does this team — what do we need to do?'” Venables said. To make it work, Oklahoma needed to trust that such a change would work in the modern Southeastern Conference. They had to implement it with an interim play-caller in Joe Jon Finley, who stepped in after the Sooners fired Seth Littrell last month. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) pulled it off, and LSU coach Brian Kelly has taken notice ahead of their game on Saturday. “This is now much more about controlling the football, running the football, playing with physicality," Kelly said. "They've got perimeter skill, but I think it's centered around much more of a run-centric, quarterback run and take care of the football." The Sooners started to see success on the ground against Maine. They ran 52 times for 381 yards in a 59-14 win that got the wheels turning. Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns that day. Venables said the timing of the opportunity to play that non-conference game against Maine in early November and figure some things out was perfect. “Everybody has some degree of vulnerability and maybe some self-doubt,” he said. “And just developing some confidence and putting something on tape other than practice, like, ‘Man, look, see what you’re capable of?’ And executing against, again, a well-coached team — certainly, we played off of that in all the right ways like you would expect us to. And so there’s a real place for that.” After a bye week, the Sooners tried the same approach against Missouri. It wasn't as successful — they ran 36 times for 122 yards — but they hung tough before losing 30-23 . The Sooners went all in against Alabama. Jackson Arnold — the same guy who threw 45 times in the Alamo Bowl last year, ran 25 times for 131 yards and threw just 11 passes. The Sooners found something in running back Xavier Robinson. With Barnes out with an injury, Robinson carried 18 times for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns. Suddenly, a team that had been forcing the pass and getting sacked at an alarming rate was moving the line of scrimmage and controlling the tempo. Oklahoma had the ball for more than 34 minutes against the Crimson Tide, lending support to a talented defense that had been spending way too much time on the field. The new approach could be helpful on Saturday — LSU (7-4, 4-3) ranks 14th out of 16 conference teams against the run. Venables said the Sooners still need to throw the ball well to win, but he's glad to know his squad can run with force when necessary. “I think that’s the art of having a system that’s adjustable, flexible, adaptable, week in and week out, but also has an identity — toughness, physicality," he said. "You’ve got to be able to run the ball at every level of football, but you do have to throw it. You can’t just do one thing. But we need to be efficient.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

BOULDER, Colo. — A 72-year-old lifelong Colorado fan with end-stage kidney failure waited to the side of the field in his wheelchair for Travis Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes. One by one, players strolled over and signed a football for Riley Rhoades, his face lighting up with each signature. Standing close by and taking in the scene was Jeremy Bloom. He's become a wish facilitator for older adults. Bloom, the former Colorado wide receiver and Olympic freestyle skier, started the Wish of a Lifetime foundation in 2008, which has made thousands of aspirations turn into reality for older adults. The list of granted wishes range from taking veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to helping late-in-life authors publish a book. He's staged concerts for musicians, assisted some in daredevil feats such as jumping out of an airplane and even lined up a meeting between an Olympic medalist and former President Barack Obama. For Rhoades, his wish was simply to return to Folsom Field again, the place where he used to have season tickets but hasn't attended a game since 2004. "Everybody has somebody in their life —a grandparent, friend, neighbor — at that age where you wish you had more resources to help," said Bloom, whose college career was cut short two decades ago when the NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams. "Nothing can compare to seeing someone else's eyes light up because you helped make their dream come true." The foundation is a tribute to his grandparents. But the concept began to take root when he was a teenager. He was in Japan for a World Cup freestyle skiing competition when a woman tried to hop on a crowded bus. There was no room, but everyone in front rose from their seats to make space. That stuck with him, along with seeing these acts of kindness for older adults all over Europe and Asia as he traveled. An idea formed — bring that same level of appreciation to the United States, with a wish-granting element. Bloom's organization has been a charitable affiliate of AARP since 2020. It was the yearning of Rhoades that brought the two of them to Folsom Field last weekend. Rhoades, who had season tickets at Colorado for 27 years, wanted to see the Buffaloes in person after watching the team's resurgence on television. A few years ago, Rhoades, who was born with spina bifida, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Being among the 54,646 fans Saturday stirred up plenty of emotions for Rhoades, as he watched the 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) beat Utah. Colorado remains in the race for not only a conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff. "It's just great to be back here again," Rhoades said as he pointed out the section where he used to watch games. "It's just ... so cool." For Bloom, the success that coach Deion Sanders has brought to the program means more reunions with teammates as they pass through town. "I've been through many years where nobody comes to visit," Bloom said. "It's fun that Boulder has become the epicenter of college football." Leading the way for Colorado this season have been quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Hunter, who's the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But what particularly pleases Bloom is that Sanders, Hunter and the rest of college football players are able to finally profit through name, image and likeness. In his day, Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in one (skiing) so he could fund his Olympic aspirations. How time have changed. "I'm just really grateful that this generation of athletes gets to monetize their skills and ability," said Bloom, who finished sixth in moguls at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy. "It's the right thing." He's thrown his passion into fulfilling wishes such as learning ballet, riding in a Formula 1 pace car or taking a flight in a fighter jet. He's also helped reconnect families and friends, including a reunion for a trio of centenarian sisters who hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. This granted wish has stuck with Bloom: A person in Alabama wasn't able to travel after being diagnosed with end-of-life emphysema. So he asked for postcards to be sent, just to learn what made someone's town so special. He received 2,000 postcards from 26 different countries. "There's no end to the things that they've done for us in the world," Bloom said of older adults. "We're one of the organizations that reminds them that their dreams still do matter and that we still appreciate them and we cherish them." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Enjoy rock-star treatment along this wild and ancient coastlineBEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Tokopeatau Local String Band will launch its first album, featuring ten tracks, on the Seafront Stage on Thursday, November 28, with a call for youth to “unite to work.” The message encourages today’s digital generation to stay connected to their cultural roots while navigating social media. The songs reflect the natural beauty of the islands, from the brilliant sunrise to the romantic sunset, urging young people to appreciate their islands and return home to reconnect with their roots. Veteran resident of Switi and President of Tokopeatau String Band, Mr. Douglas Tamara, says string band music fans can purchase the album for VT1,000. “We don’t want to burden you; we want you to celebrate with our songs,” he said. “We challenge all string band music lovers to buy an album and enjoy the sweet songs calling for youth unity to develop their communities for a better tomorrow.” He added, “The launch is timely, as its message of unity is important in the current political climate, with a possible snap election in two months.” Switi Community is located opposite the Switi Ice Cream Factory near Port Vila International Airport. Known for its safety, Tokopeatau Switi is an organised and dynamic community, with new residents moving in. Tokopeatau, meaning white dove, was coined by the late Mayor of Port Vila and former Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Patrick Crowby Manarewo. The Band’s Facebook page provides details for those interested in purchasing the album online. The band represents members from all six provinces.

Conagra Brands Inc. stock rises Monday, still underperforms marketCHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.comOTTAWA — Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario's threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada. "That's OK if he that does that. That's fine," Trump told American network CNBC when asked Thursday about Ford’s remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn’t have to do that," Trump added. "And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t have to subsidize a country," he said, claiming this amounts to more than US$100 billion annually in unspecified subsidies. Meanwhile, an official in the Ford government says it's considering restricting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from buying American-made alcohol. The province says the Crown agency is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. The province also says it could restrict exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric-vehicle batteries, and bar American companies from provincial procurement. Ford doubled down Thursday on the idea of cutting off energy exports. The province says that in 2013, Ontario exported enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in those three states. "It's a last resort," Ford said. "We're sending a message to the U.S. (that if) you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let’s hope it never comes to that." Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the province would rather have co-operation with the U.S., but has mechanisms to "end power sale into the U.S. market" the day Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ruled out following suit. "Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports," she said. "Our approach is one of diplomacy, not threats." Michael Sabia, president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, said "it's not our current intention" to cut off Quebec's exports to Massachusetts or New York state, but he conceded it might be possible. "Our intention is to respect those contracts, both because they're legally binding, but also because it's part of, in our view, a sound relationship with the United States," he said. "It's a questionable instrument to use in a trade conflict." Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew would not directly say whether Manitoba would threaten to withhold hydroelectric exports. "We are preparing our list and starting to think through what those options should look like," he said. "I'm not going to make specific news today about items that we're looking at." Kinew added that some premiers felt retaliatory measures wouldn't work in a call Trudeau held Wednesday. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said "we have no interest in stopping" the export of energy to the U.S., adding that a trade war would hurt both countries. "We hope it is just bluster; we're preparing as if it is not," he said. Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country. About 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada sold $170 billion worth of energy products last year to the U.S. It also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canada since has promised more border security spending to address Trump's border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press, Liam Casey in Toronto, Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

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{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-25T21:48:18+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-25T21:48:18+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-25T21:49:13+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22113/opinions/resilience-oriented-therapy-a-promising-approach-to-addressing-mental-health", "headline": "Resilience-oriented therapy, a promising approach to addressing mental health", "description": "On November 21, I attended the National Policy Dialogue on Mental Health that brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners in mental health...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22113/opinions/resilience-oriented-therapy-a-promising-approach-to-addressing-mental-health" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/25/64839.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/25/64839.jpg" }, "articleBody": "On November 21, I attended the National Policy Dialogue on Mental Health that brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners in mental health to explore strategies for advancing mental health care in Rwanda. The discussions were engaging and promising. A standout topic was Resilience-oriented Therapy, a group-based psychological intervention designed to address mental health challenges and foster resilience. Jointly tested by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and Interpeace through Randomized Control Trials (RCT), the therapy has proven highly effective in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorders. It equips individuals with resilience-enhancing socioemotional competencies, self-management, and collaboration skills, promoting emotional well-being and capacity to adapt to changes, and effectively navigate life challenges. Considering Rwanda’s significant mental health needs, this therapy offers a promising solution. It is currently being implemented in 32 health centers and seven district hospitals across five districts: Nyagatare, Ngoma, Musanze, Nyabihu, and Nyamagabe, where its positive community impact is notable. On October 15, I witnessed this therapy in practice at Rukira Health Centre in Ngoma District. After getting their permission, I briefly attended a session where 10 participants engaged in healing dialogues, facilitated by a psychologist. Their stories reflect remarkable journeys of recovery and resilience. Mugeni (not real name), a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, suffered from PTSD for 29 years. Although the genocide ended three decades ago, in her mind, it was still ongoing. She continuously relived the terrifying scenes of screaming, running, hiding, and killings she had witnessed during the 100 days of horror. Before attending Resilience-oriented therapy sessions, she was unable to sleep, terrified of being alone. She stayed awake, hyper-alert throughout the night, running to hide at the slightest sound or whenever she heard people walking near her house, believing the perpetrators were coming for her and her children. The therapy has since helped her overcome her trauma, allowing her to sleep peacefully after years of fear and hypervigilance. Another participant, Uwimana (not real name), attempted suicide twice due to depression following mistreatment by her husband who later abandoned her with a four-month pregnancy and three other children. Alcohol had been her coping mechanism. Now, she has quit alcohol and testifies to have found inner peace. She has healed and is proudly caring for her four children. All group members agree that being part of a group has been tremendously beneficial, allowing them to share their life stories, experiences, and daily challenges while finding collective strength to overcome their distress. The group-based approach has empowered participants with a renewed sense of purpose, leading to transformed lives. Given its effectiveness to enhance psychological well-being and being a culturally adapted therapy, it is well-suited to addressing many of the mental health challenges Rwanda has been facing. Allow me to mention a few but most pressing ones. High prevalence vs one-on-one therapy approach - the 2018 Rwanda Mental Health Survey revealed a mental disorder prevalence of 20.49%, far exceeding the global average. Major depression is the most prevalent, affecting 12% of the population. In 2023, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) reported that one in five Rwandans face mental health challenges, with 2,879 suicide attempts recorded by the Health Management Information System (HMIS). As of June 2024, HMIS identified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (18%), depression (10%), bipolar disorder (2%), and PTSD (2%) as common diagnoses. Globally, it is projected that by 2030, mental health disorders—particularly depression—will ranknumber one in the global burden of disease. Furthermore, intergenerational trauma from the genocide threatens the mental well-being of future generations. Despite this high prevalence, one-on-one therapy remains the predominant treatment approach. This individualized model limits the number of people that mental health professionals can reach. In Rwanda's collectivist society, group-based activities resonate more culturally and are less hindered by stigma. One-on-one therapy can be less effective due to these cultural and social barriers. Group therapy such as ROT, which can be implemented in communities and health centers, offers a more scalable and culturally attuned solution. It allows mental health professionals to serve 10–12 individuals at a time with the possibility to facilitate two to three groups a week. Limited number of available mental health professionals Rwanda has made significant investments in training mental health professionals, but the current demand far exceeds the available resources. The country has only 16 psychiatrics (1 for 862,400 persons), 441 certified clinical psychologists (1 for 31,289 persons) and 202 mental health nurses (1 for 68,400 persons) working in public facilities. Additionally, there are just seven private clinics or hospitals offering mental health services. These facilities often face challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, lack of appropriate context-informed tools, and limited understanding of mental health systems among the heads of health centers and hospitals. Limited funding As a low-income country, Rwanda faces financial constraints in addressing various development needs, including health. The budget allocated to mental health remains disproportionately low compared to the scale of the problem. The annual spending on mental health makes up 7% of the total budget allocated to the health sector in 2024, according to the fourth Health Sector Strategic Plan 2018-2024. However, there is a very significant increase as in 2018 the same budget represented only 1.4%. Given these limitations, Resilience-oriented Therapy offers a more cost-effective solution than traditional one-on-one therapy, which is time-consuming and less efficient. This group-based approach can be implemented in both community settings and health centers, enabling broader access to mental health support without significantly increasing costs. Medication vs psychotherapy In absence of a well-established mental health healthcare system and workforce, hospitals and health centers in Rwanda often prioritise medication over psychotherapy for mental health conditions. However, psychiatric medications are costly and require a substantial budget. Research suggests that while medication can provide short-term stabilisation, psychotherapy—especially group-based approaches—offers more effective long-term recovery and resilience-building. Integrating group-based psychotherapies, such as Resilience-oriented Therapy, can alleviate the financial burden by reducing dependency on expensive medications. For this integration to be successful, all stakeholders must collaborate to create conducive conditions by ensuring the following: Institutionalise Resilience-oriented Therapy: full integration of Resilience-oriented Therapy into policies and practices by relevant institutions, professionals, and practitioners is essential. This therapy should be included among the approved mental health interventions in Rwanda and should be integrated into university and higher education curricula to promote its understanding and application within academic circles. Prioritise mental health services and increase funding Mental health care is often overlooked in health centers and hospitals, where mental health professionals are frequently redirected to support other services, hence reducing their time and attention dedicated to clients. For better service delivery, responsibilities of mental health professionals should be clearly defined, and they should be provided with necessary logistics and support to exercise their duties. Though the government has made commendable efforts, there is a pressing need for increased financial support at all levels to adequately address mental health challenges in Rwanda. Enhanced funding will also support training, research, infrastructure, and Resilience-oriented therapy implementation. Expand training for mental health professionals More professionals need to be trained to implement Resilience-oriented Therapy at the community, health center, and hospital levels. Additionally, roles and responsibilities of mental health professionals must be clearly defined to address misunderstandings of their functions, thereby enhancing service delivery. Mental health awareness campaigns Mental health care uptake remains low (5.3%) due to limited awareness, stigma, and barriers to accessing services. Nationwide campaigns are necessary to improve understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage more people to seek mental health support. Establish a Strong Coordination and Referral System: a robust coordination and referral system between health centers, hospitals, and other community-based actors is vital. This will facilitate the smooth transfer of cases that require specialised care and ensure that individuals receive the appropriate support at every level of care. A referral and coordination system will also help to ensure the provision of a comprehensive service package in a more holistic and multisectoral system. The Author is a Communications Professional and Peacebuilder.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmanuel Nyandwi" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }Middle East latest: Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is set to begin at 4 am