The Elizabeth Riverfest boast a significant turn out as participants take it to the bridge and back to paradise

Participants in the “live art event walk to the top of the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge during RIVERFEST 2016. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©.

(BMLTV) PORTSMOUTH VA., November 23, 2016 - Elizabeth RIVERFest, the area’s premiere environmental festival,reached new heights this year – literally. For the first time, participants walked to the top of the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge. Even more special, the walk turned into a live art event as participants carried 1,000 silhouettes of blue herons in honor of an internationally accomplished sculptor, debuting his “One Flock” installation of heron and human sculptures at the festival.

After completing outdoor environmental sculptures around the world, from Russia to France, Germany and Korea, Rob Mulholland of Scotland unveiled his first major installation in the US during Elizabeth River Project’s annual RIVERFEST.

Virginia Governor speaks at 3rd Annual Community Collaborations Reentry Summit

Gov. Terry McAuliffe speaking at 3rd Annual Community Collaborations Reentry Summit October 17, 2016,  at Old Dominion University’s Constant Convocation Center.
photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, VA November 21, 2016 - More than 300 professionals, reentry advocates and former offenders from Norfolk and/or their family members came together for the 3rd Annual Community Collaborations Reentry Summit mid October at Old Dominion University’s Constant Convocation Center.

Empire State Building goes purple for “World Prematurity Day”

photo: The Empire State Building image ® is a registered trademark of ESRT Empire State Building, L.L.C. and is used with permission.
 
(PRN-USN) NEW YORK, November 16, 2016 - The Empire State Building towers lit up with  purple light yesterday in honor of the 6th annual World Prematurity Day (WPD) tomorrow. Parent groups and organizations worldwide join together on WPD to raise awareness of the serious problem of premature birth.

DHL Couriers gear up for icy weather with a penguin’s help

photo: marketing/ DHL
 
Company’s “Safety First – Safety Feet” program enlists the expertise of a sure-footed creature

(BUSINESS WIRE) PLANTATION , FLORIDA, November 12, 2016 - A bird that doesn’t fly is helping a Big Yellow Machine that does.

DHL - sometimes nicknamed the Big Yellow Machine for its boldly colored aircraft and delivery vehicles—found a novel way to remind couriers of the care they must take when delivering packages in icy conditions. The company, the world’s leading international express services provider, enlisted the help of a penguin.

Takeda donates 1 billion yen as an exclusive partner to the United Nations Foundation for "Global Measles Vaccination for Children" program

photo: World Health Organization South-East Asia Region

Aiming at vaccinating 5.4 million children in approximately 40 developing countries

(BUSINESS WIRE) November 5, 2016 - OSAKA, Japan -Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited today announced that Takeda will exclusively support “Global Measles Vaccination for Children” by the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign. The initiative aims to provide measles vaccination to at least 5.4 million children in approximately 40 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America over 10 years. We have donated one billion yen (9698860.0000 US dollar) to the United Nations Foundation to implement the program.

United Front Justice Coalition files complaint with Whitehouse against FBI Director James Comey

Official White House photo: by Pete Souza

October 28, 2015

President Barack Hussein Obama
Vice-President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President and Vice-President:

This is an official request upon your office to remove the FBI Director James Comey from office. There are no statutory conditions on the President’s authority to remove the FBI Director. He has exhibited irresponsible and reckless behavior in his deliberate actions and shown that he does not have the good judgment needed to fulfill the responsibilities of this office. Under his leadership the Citizens of America have been subjected to undo election stress and confusion due to his lack of regard for the laws of our country.

Netizen Report: As protests rage in Ethiopia, Zone9 bloggers return to court

Zone9 bloggers left to right: Abel Wabela, Zelalem Kiberet, Mahlet Fantahun, Atnaf Berahane, Befeqadu Hailu, Natnael Feleke. photo: via Martin Ennals Awards

The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world

(GLOBAL VOICES) ETHIOPIA, October 26, 2016 - As protests rage over land rights and ethnic discrimination, bloggers and independent journalists in Ethiopia appear to be losing ground in their struggle to exercise free expression. Alongside other recent arrests, four members of the Zone9 bloggers collective, who spent 18 months in prison on terrorism-related charges from 2014-2015, returned to court on October 21 following an appeal by the public prosecutor. Their case was adjourned yet again, with a new court date scheduled for November 15.

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Federal government must think big, aim high and act boldly by investing in mental health innovation and the economy

photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(CNW) Toronto , October 21, 2016 - In today's digitally interconnected world, we must look to new innovations to address some of the greatest challenges of our time such as mental illness. As a strong partner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Canada is well-positioned to lead in the global fight against mental illness. It's why the government must move its bold innovation agenda from words to action, says APEC Digital Hub at UBC chief financial officer Phil Upshall.

First distinguished Presidential Fellow named

 
Yoani Sanchez named first Distinguished Presidential Fellow, one of the University of Miami's 100 Talents, an initiative launched by UM President Julio Frenk at his inauguration.
photo: University Of Miami

(PRNewswire/ USNewswire) Coral Gables, Florida, Oct. 20, 2016 - Cuban independent journalist Yoani Sánchez, a brazen defender of free speech and founder of 14ymedio, the island's first independent daily digital news platform, has been named a Distinguished Presidential Fellow at the University of Miami, making her one of the 100 Talents, an initiative introduced during UM President Julio Frenk's inauguration.

As part of the 100 endowed talents, an initiative that seeks to enrich the curriculum and enhance the academic reputation of the University, Sánchez will teach a non-credit course in the spring 2017 semester, give academic lectures and participate in events with members of the faculty and student body. "It is an honor to welcome Yoani Sánchez to our University as a Distinguished Presidential Fellow," said Frenk.

Threatened with suspension over its rights record, Maldives up and quits the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011. The Queen and state leaders.

photo: flickr/The Commonwealth, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 
(Global Voices) On 13 October, the Maldives government announced that the country will leave the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that were mostly former territories of the British Empire. In 1982 Maldives joined this elite group of countries who share values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The decision comes as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight member states, convened a meeting in September and discussed Maldives's lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis. The meeting has put Maldives on a watch list and warned that if there is no sign of substantive progress across the priority areas before the next meeting in March 2017, the group would consider suspending the country from the Commonwealth.

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Child marriage takes a brutal toll on Syrian girls

Child marriages are on serious incline in Syria leaving it hopelessfor many of the girls who are taken as brides by men far more their age. photo: buzzfeed

(UNFPA) April 14, 2016 - Child marriage has long been a concern in parts of Syria. But since the conflict started three years ago, the numbers of child marriages have increased. Many people are now displaced and living in cramped shelters. The majority of them are unemployed, and families are spending their meagre savings just to survive. Many have come to believe that their daughters will be better protected and provided for if they are married off.

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Secretary-General, Marking Day of Reflection on Rwanda Genocide, says healing, reconstruction essential amid threats to peace, security in Great Lakes Region

Today is the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, marking 22 years since the start date of the genocide in which more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered over a period of just 100 days. photo: united nations

(United Nations) April 7, 2016 - Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, observed on 7 April:

In 1994, more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered throughout Rwanda.
The vast majority were Tutsi, but moderate Hutu, Twa and others were also targeted. On this Day, we remember all who perished in the genocide and renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities from ever being repeated, anywhere in the world.

Will peacekeeper plan help end Burundi violence?

Political violence has made finding dead bodies around Bujumbura an increasingly common occurrence. ©désiré nimubona/IRIN
  
KAMPALA (IRIN) December 19, 2015- Plans for the African Union to deploy 5,000 peacekeepers to protect civilians in Burundi have been broadly welcomed, but will they help end months of deadly political unrest ignited by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s quest for a third term?

Virginia Police Investigator Melvin Grover honored for role in identifying violent perpetrator

Detective Melvin Grover accepted the Federal Bureau of Investigations 2015 Biometric Identifications award from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Services section chief William McKinsey. Left to right, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, Phil Evans, Commonwealth Attorney, Greg Underwood, Police Chief, Michael Goldsmith, Virginia State Police Captain, Thomas Turner, William McKinsey. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

 (FBI) December 3, 2015 - The 2015 recipient of the FBI’s Biometric Identification Award (formerly known as the Latent Hit of the Year Award) is a member of Virginia’s Norfolk Police Department (NPD) who played a key role in the identification of a dangerous serial offender. Congratulations to Melvin Grover III, an investigator with the forensic section of the NPD’s detective division.

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Secretary Of State John Kerry to address Climate Change and National Security at Old Dominion University

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses reporters at a news conference following Syria-related meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu, and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir at the Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria, on October 23, 2015. photo: state department

(BMLTV) NORFOLK Va., November 7, 2015 - On Tuesday, November 10th Secretary Kerry will travel to Norfolk, Virginia to deliver a speech on Climate Change and National Security at Old Dominion University.

ODU’s Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Initiative has facilitated research and education in all aspects of climate change and sea level rise, and it houses the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Planning Pilot Project, which is the first of its kind.

While in Norfolk the Secretary will also tour the USS San Antonio ship and receive a briefing from the Maritime Operations Center. The Secretary’s speech will be streamed live on state.gov.

Army Corps of Engineers - City of Norfolk announce three-month delay in Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project

Willoughby Split, Norfolk Virginia. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

Army Corps rejects bid due to high cost

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, Va. - September 4, 2015 - The US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Norfolk announce a three-month delay in the start of construction of a coastal storm damage reduction project for Willoughby Spit and East Ocean View beach areas due to the receipt of an unacceptable bid in response to the solicitation.

EU pays price for lack of migration planning

Refugees and migrants line up to board a night ferry from the Greek island of Kos to Athens.
© socrates baltagiannis/UNHCR

 
by kristy siegfried

(IRIN) OXFORD, August19, 2015 - Migrant arrivals to Europe in 2015 were widely expected to surpass the record levels reached in 2014, as conflicts in Syria and elsewhere raged on. But the staggering number of sea arrivals to Greece in recent weeks appears to have taken many by surprise.

Virginia Governor announces agreement to continue operation of the Virginia Commercial Space Authority

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe speaks with press post announcement at Old Dominion University.  photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

The Governor also announced a separate agreement to build a 3,000-foot runway for Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

(BMLTV) Norfolk Va., August 6, 2015 - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today an agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Orbital ATK regarding repair costs and insurance coverage following the October 2014 launch mishap that damaged portions of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).

Red tape tangles Nepal reconstruction

Residents walk past a building damaged during the earthquake in the city centre in Chautara, Nepal, on 8 July 2015. © Juliette Rousselot/IRIN
 
by Juliette Rousselot

(IRIN) KATHMANDU, August 5, 2015 - More than three months after a massive earthquake devastated Nepal, hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless as reconstruction efforts are blocked by logistical and bureaucratic hurdles.

Dutch Dialogues: Virginia life at sea level

Arial view over the Elizabeth river looking into the Norfolk Freemason
community. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

Visionary plan adds more green space, innovative land use concepts

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, VA. - Slover library was buzzing with innovative ideas that inspired city officials in Norfolk and Hampton to advance regional agenda as Dutch Dialogues: Virginia Life at Sea Level wrapped up.