“To put the onus on Arab Americans to vote for someone who’s directly contributing to the genocide of other people is outrageous,” Hamade said.
US Election: Michigan Muslims shun Harris over Mideast turmoil
Haunted by the daily violence ravaging the Middle East, Soujoud Hamade, a registered Democrat, felt compelled to back Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the US presidential election.
“It is very emotional,” the 32-year-old real estate lawyer told AFP after casting her ballot Tuesday at a school in Dearborn, the nation’s largest Arab-majority city, where voters could prove decisive in the key battleground of Michigan.
“Every time I watch the news or get on social media, I see my people being decimated, I see my home country being destroyed,” added the Lebanese-American, disillusioned by the Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering support for Israel.
Hamade says she’s clear-eyed about the two-way nature of the race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
Still, she insists her vote is far more than just a protest.
She’s banking on helping Stein crack five percent of the national popular vote, a threshold that would unlock future federal funding for the Green Party and “move the needle forward” toward breaking the two-party hold on US politics.
Dearborn, a Detroit suburb famous as the birthplace of Henry Ford and the home of Ford Motor Company’s headquarters, has a population of around 110,000, with 55 percent of residents claiming Middle Eastern or North African heritage.
The city overwhelmingly backed President Joe Biden in 2020, helping him narrowly flip Michigan blue.
But recent polling shows a shift away from the Democratic Party among Muslim and Arab-Americans.
That trend was evident in conversations with voters around the city on Election Day.
Stein, a Jewish physician and the Green Party’s perennial left-wing candidate is predicted to do well among Muslims, as well as progressives and youth voters nationwide — potentially acting as a spoiler for Harris.
“She’s the only one who’s anti-genocide,” said Muhammad Hijazi, a 28-year-old engineer who described himself as a “single-issue voter” who had previously voted Democrat but had now “lost faith.”
The Democrats, he argued, don’t have a plan to bring peace to the Middle East, and he doesn’t trust Trump to do any better.
Yet signs suggest Trump, too, may fare better than in past cycles. Unlike Harris, he visited Dearborn, addressing a modest-sized audience last week.
His outreach to Michigan’s Muslim community secured endorsements from the Muslim mayors of Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights, while his newfound connection to the community — through Lebanese-American son-in-law Michael Boulos, husband of Tiffany Trump — has further endeared him.
Harris’ decision to campaign with former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney, a staunch supporter of the Iraq War, was the final straw for Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, he told Trump supporters at the former president’s final Michigan rally.
Charles Fawaz, a 29-year-old first-grade teacher of Lebanese descent who voted for Trump, told AFP he was impressed that the former president “showed up.”
“When Trump was president, everything was fine with our foreign policy because other leaders respected our country,” Fawaz said.
Even if Trump doesn’t deliver on Middle Eastern peace, he hopes Republicans will manage the economy better.
Former Democrats here say they know some liberals will blame them if Harris loses, but they reject the accusation.
“To put the onus on Arab Americans to vote for someone who’s directly contributing to the genocide of other people is outrageous,” Hamade said.
UK creates first carbon-14 diamond battery, capable of powering devices for thousands of years
Scientists and engineers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol have announced the successful creation of the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery.
This new battery technology could offer a reliable power source for thousands of years, thanks to its use of the radioactive isotope carbon-14.
The breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize a range of applications, from medical devices to space exploration.
The press release from UKAEA confirms that this carbon-14 diamond battery marks a significant step forward in energy innovation. By harnessing the power of carbon-14, the battery generates low levels of power from the radioactive decay of the isotope, which has a half-life of 5,700 years.
The diamond serves as a protective casing for the carbon-14, ensuring safety while maintaining its ability to generate power.
One of the key potential applications for this technology is in medical devices. Bio-compatible diamond batteries could be used in implants such as ocular devices, hearing aids, and pacemakers.
READ ALSO:
These batteries would reduce the need for replacements and minimize the distress caused to patients. Sarah Clark, Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA, explained, “Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power.”
According to the UKAEA, the battery’s long lifespan makes it ideal for use in extreme environments, both on Earth and in space. For instance, these batteries could power devices like active radio frequency (RF) tags, which are used to track and identify objects such as spacecraft or payloads.
The ability to operate for decades without needing replacement is said to make carbon-14 diamond batteries a promising option for both space missions and remote terrestrial applications, where conventional battery replacements are not feasible.
UKAEA explains that the carbon-14 diamond battery generates power by capturing fast-moving electrons produced during the radioactive decay of carbon-14. This is similar to how solar panels turn light into electricity, but instead, they use the movement of electrons within the diamond. The long lifespan of carbon-14 means the battery can provide power at low levels for thousands of years.
Details inform that the development of this battery was made possible through the collaboration of scientists and engineers from both UKAEA and the University of Bristol.
The teams worked together to build a plasma deposition rig, a specialized apparatus used to grow the diamond at UKAEA’s Culham Campus. Professor Tom Scott from the University of Bristol noted, “Our micropower technology can support a whole range of important applications, from space technologies and security devices through to medical implants.” He added that the team is excited to explore these possibilities further with partners in industry and research.
Switzerland to extend work visa quotas for foreign workers in 2025
Switzerland has announced plans to extend its work visa quotas for foreign workers in 2025 as part of efforts to address labour shortages in key sectors.
The Swiss Federal Council revealed that up to 8,500 highly skilled workers from non-EU countries will be eligible to work in the country under the same system as in 2024.
According to TravelBiz, the decision is designed to help Swiss businesses fill critical job vacancies by ensuring continued access to skilled talent from outside the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Reports inform that Switzerland will maintain its current work visa quotas in 2025, allowing the recruitment of foreign workers in two main categories:
The Swiss Federal Council’s decision drive to support businesses struggling to find skilled workers and to meet demand in sectors experiencing labour shortages.
READ ALSO:
Switzerland’s decision to keep work visa quotas steady indicates a measured approach to immigration. While skilled foreign workers are recognized as crucial for economic growth, the Swiss government emphasizes the need for regulated immigration.
Reports inform that the country’s key objectives include:
By maintaining these quotas, Switzerland is ensuring that its labour market remains balanced and that foreign workers complement, rather than compete with, the local workforce.
According to TravelBiz, Switzerland has not been using all of its work visas for foreign workers. In 2023, only 78% of the available permits were issued, and by November 2024, around 63% of the permits had been filled.
This is because companies must first try to hire local workers or those from the EU/EFTA before hiring from outside those areas, which makes it harder to meet the eligibility requirements for foreign workers.
For foreign workers considering opportunities in Switzerland, there are two main types of permits:
The fee hikes, which range from 2.80% to 4.69%, will apply to applicants in categories such as restoring temporary resident status, re-entering Canada after inadmissibility, and applying for Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs).
The updated fee structure impacts eight application categories, with varying increases for each. For instance, the fee for restoring Visitor Status has risen to $239.75 from $229.00.
Similarly, restoring Student Status now costs $389.75, up from $379.00, while restoring Worker Status has increased to $394.75 from $384.00. Other notable fee hikes include the cost for authorization to return to Canada, which has increased to $479.75 from $459.55, and criminal rehabilitation applications, which now range from $239.75 to $1,199.00, depending on the severity of the criminality.
READ ALSO:
Additionally, the fee for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, which targets young professionals and working holiday participants, has risen to $179.75, up from $172.00.
The fee for Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) has also gone up by 4.34%, while criminal rehabilitation applications for serious criminality have seen an increase of over 4%.
IRCC has emphasized that applicants must ensure they pay the correct fees at the time of application submission. For applications submitted online, the new fees should be included.
If submitting by mail before December 1st, 2024, applicants can still use the old fees, but will be required to pay the difference. Applicants are encouraged to use IRCC’s online payment tool to make any necessary additional payments.
These fee adjustments are part of IRCC’s periodic updates to account for inflation and to maintain the quality of services offered to applicants.
Building collapse: Lagos BCPG takes campaign to block makers, holds practical demonstration Wednesday
JUST IN: Police arrest Obi loyalist, Dele Farotimi, over alleged UBA Chairman Elumelu’s petition
EFCC investigators found receipt for roofing 753 Abuja estate duplexes in Emefiele’s home – Report
EXPLAINED: Proposed tax bills, what they would mean for Nigerians
Sanwo-Olu targets 24-hour power supply, signs Lagos Electricity Bill 2024
EFCC speaks on owner of seized 753 duplexes in Abuja
NAJA 2024 Auto Awards: Mitsubishi, JAC, Maxus challenge Toyota Hilux in pickup contest
ALLEGED DEFAMATION: Read full petition by Afe Babalola that sent Dele Farotimi to prison