#12th grade: AP US government and politics; Economics

[daloy-politsey]

Okay. Here’s another game. This is for US people only. In the tags, say what state you’re from and what social science classes you took each year in high school.

#new york #9th grade: world history #10th grade: AP world history #11th grade: AP US history #12th grade: AP US government and politics; Economics #the economics class wasn't AP but it was with a local college so I was able to get college credit

[newstfionline]

Headlines

U.S. government debt will nearly equal the size of the entire economy for first time since World War II, CBO finds (Washington Post) For the first time since World War II, the U.S. government’s debt will roughly equal the size of the entire American economy by the end of this year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The rapid change is largely due to the surge in new spending that the government authorized as it tried to control the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. By the end of 2020, the amount of debt owed by the United States will amount to 98 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, the CBO said. That is up from 79 percent last year. Total government debt will surpass the U.S. economy’s size next year, the CBO said. The government typically spends more than $4 trillion a year on programs and services, but Congress has approved more than $3 trillion in emergency funding since March to combat the outbreak and subsequent economic downturn. That included hundreds of billions of dollars in aid for businesses and the unemployed.

U.S. sanctions ICC officials (Foreign Policy) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday that the United States is imposing sanctions on senior officials in the International Criminal Court (ICC), including its chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. The move comes amid an ICC probe into the United States over possible war crimes and crimes against humanity it committed in Afghanistan. Pompeo accused the court of “illegitimate attempts to subject Americans to its jurisdiction.” The ICC is charged with prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and cases of genocide. One hundred and twenty-three countries have ratified its founding statute and therefore recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, though the United States is a notable exception and has long been critical of the body.

U.S. says it will not pay what it owes WHO (Reuters) The United States will not pay some $80 million it owes the World Health Organization and will instead redirect the money to help pay its United Nations bill in New York, a Trump administration official said. The United States plans to leave the Geneva-based WHO on July 6, 2021 after President Donald Trump accused it of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic. The WHO has rejected Trump’s assertion.

Hurricane Nana hits Belize, drives across Guatemala (AP) Hurricane Nana made landfall in Belize, pelting a relatively sparsely populated stretch of the country’s coast with heavy rain and wind, before weakening to a tropical storm while pushing across Guatemala on Thursday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Nana hit land between the coastal towns of Dangriga and Placencia shortly after midnight at an area around 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Belize City with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), making it barely a hurricane. Later in the morning, Nana weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph). It was centered about 125 miles (200 kilometers) north of Guatemala City and neared the border with Mexico.

Russian opposition leader Navalny poisoned with nerve agent similar to Novichok, Germany says (Washington Post) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent similar to Novichok, the German government said Wednesday, citing “unequivocal” evidence of the presence of the toxin. Novichok, a class of chemical weapons developed by the former Soviet Union and Russia, was used to poison former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018. Western intelligence blamed Russian agents for that poisoning. “Now it is evident: Navalny is a victim of a crime. He was supposed to be silenced,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that she condemned the incident in the “strongest possible terms.”

Afghans return to games, parks, weddings despite virus fears (AP) Desperate for relief from endless war combined with the pandemic, Afghans are rushing back to public recreation as the government eases the lockdown it imposed to fight the coronavirus. Since mid-July, Afghans can once again frequent parks, swimming pools and gyms, shop in malls and celebrate marriages in wedding halls. Universities and private schools have reopened, and at government schools, the 11th and 12th grades have restarted. Few wear masks or take other precautions—and authorities are left trying to remind the public of the danger of a second wave of the pandemic. So far, the official figures have not shown new cases spiking since the easing of the lockdown, with a steady average of around 50 to 70 a day the past month. Still, after months of lockdown, Kabul’s residents have been relieved to finally get out.

Myanmar seals off capital amid virus surge (Reuters) Myanmar has imposed mandatory quarantine and coronavirus tests for visitors to its capital city after the country reported dozens more infections on Wednesday and leader Aung San Suu Kyi warned of a “disaster for the country”. Anyone entering the capital, Naypyitaw, where the government is based, will be quarantined, tested, and allowed entry only if their result is negative, according to a government order published on Facebook.

Beijing receiving 1st int’l flights since March (AP) Beijing’s main international airport on Thursday began receiving international flights again from a limited number of countries considered at low risk of coronavirus infection. Passengers flying in from Cambodia, Greece, Denmark, Thailand, Pakistan, Austria, Canada and Sweden, must have first shown a negative coronavirus test before boarding, city government spokesperson Xu Hejian told reporters. Passenger arrivals will be limited to roughly 500 per day during a trial period and all will need to undergo additional testing for the virus on arrival, followed by two weeks of quarantine.

China is trying to mend fences in Europe. It’s not going well. (Washington Post) In Rome, China’s top diplomat was pressed on the question of autonomy and freedoms in Hong Kong. In Paris, he was asked about Beijing’s treatment of the Muslim-minority Uighurs. In Berlin, he was chastised by the German foreign minister for making threatening remarks toward European officials. Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, headed home Tuesday from a five-stop European tour that had been designed to mend fences with European governments—or at least wage a charm offensive after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a Cold War-style alliance of Western democracies to counter China. But the reception in Europe was decidedly chilly. Dogged by questions about human rights and Hong Kong—and a distracting feud with Czech politicians over Taiwan—Wang’s week-long trip highlighted just how polarizing China has become in Europe, a swing state in the sprawling geopolitical contest between Beijing and Washington.

China’s growing military might (Foreign Policy) China plans to transform its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a force that rivals the U.S. military within 30 years, according to the U.S. Department of Defense’s new annual report on China’s military and security developments. Not only have China’s navy, ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles, and air defense systems recently surpassed those of the United States, but the country has also entirely restructured the PLA, forged closer ties to foreign militaries, and expanded its presence overseas. The modernization of the PLA is part of the government’s plans for “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by 2049, and its ambitions are far from symbolic: The government’s goal, according to the report, is to use the PLA as a tool in its statecraft to bolster China’s place in the international order and help the country “lead the reform of the global governance system.”

Lebanese army finds more explosive chemicals outside Beirut port after huge blast (Reuters) Lebanon’s army said on Thursday it had found 4.35 tonnes of ammonium nitrate near the entrance to Beirut port, the site of a huge blast last month caused by a large stockpile of the same highly explosive chemical. Army engineers were “dealing with it,” according to an army statement carried by the state news agency NNA. The statement said the chemicals were found outside entrance nine to the port. The catastrophic explosion on Aug. 4 that ripped through the city killed about 190 people. The authorities said it was caused by about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stacked in unsafe conditions in a port warehouse for years.

After ousting a renegade warlord, Libya’s pro-government forces turn on one another (Washington Post) Less than three months after pro-government forces pushed a renegade warlord out of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, infighting within the government now threatens to unravel it and plunge the country into the next chapter of chaos. Powerful militias in the capital are exerting their influence, sensing an opportunity to grab power and wealth. Pro-government forces and political figures are turning on one another in an effort to gain supremacy in western Libya, according to analysts. After weeks without fighting, fresh tensions have exposed the underlying divisions and rivalries among militias, tribes and political figures that have plagued Libya since the ouster and killing of dictator Moammar Gaddafi during the 2011 Arab Spring revolts and NATO intervention.

#headlines #news

[ultralifehackerguru-blog]

New Post has been published on http://www.lifehacker.guru/14-of-the-biggest-differences-between-canada-and-the-us/

14 of the biggest differences between Canada and the US

Canada sits right above the United States, making up a big part of North America. The countries are so close, in fact, that in some of the northern states, Canada is only a short drive away. This can make it easy to assume that Canada and America are the same but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Between politics, religion, currency, and food, there are lots of differences between the two countries. Take a look at some of the biggest differences below.

Canada’s government system differs from America’s.

Canada has a Prime Minister.

Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP

While America is led by a president, Canada is a Commonwealth country led by a prime minister. And, technically, Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State of Canada, although she really doesn’t do much.

Political parties are also different. In the US, we have two major parties: Democratic and Republican. Canada has four major parties and many smaller ones, like Conservatives, Liberals, New Democratic Party, and the Green Party.

As a country, Canada is more welcoming to outsiders.

Canada is more open to refugees.

Edgar Su/Reuters

This particular difference has never been as obvious as it is right now. Canadians are welcoming more refugees and immigrants than America.

According to NPR, “Canadians see immigration as critical to their economic success. The nation has invited in so many immigrants that today, one-fifth of the population is foreign-born.”

Immigrants are referred to as “new Canadians” with the expectation that they will stay in the country. In terms of refugees, there is a #WelcomeRefugees program that offers help and assistance.

Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship from 2013 to 2015, Chris Alexander, told NPR, “The biggest contrast between the US and Canada is that we have reformed our immigration system continuously, intensively, for a decade at a time when the US has been facing gridlock.”

Canadians take more breaks at work and have more vacation time.

Canadians know how to take a break.

byeangel/Wikimedia Commons

When it comes to jobs, Americans work more than Canadians. Canada’s take on vacation time resembles that of Europe. According to HR Daily Advisor, Canadian employees are given 30-minute breaks every five hours. Although American employees are given breaks as well, Canadians are more likely to take them.

As for vacation time? It depends on how many years the employee has been working, but Canadians with one year of service are entitled to two weeks of paid vacation. After five or six years of working, that number goes up to three weeks. In the US, employees are typically given much less. In fact, the US doesn’t legally require companies to offer paid vacation time, and even when employees get it, most don’t even use it, according to Market Watch.

Canadians drink milk out of bags.

The milk gets poured into a pitcher.

Flickr/Andrea R

If you’re visiting Canada and you walk into a grocery store, you’ll notice one huge difference pretty quickly: Canada sells and drinks milk out of bags. Why? It’s better for the environment than cartons of milk, and it’s also more cost-efficient because it’s cheaper to make. The milk doesn’t stay in the bags — when Canadians bring it home, they open it up with scissors and then pour it into pitchers. Because it isn’t properly sealed, it doesn’t last quite as long once the bag has been opened.

Canada has very different snacks than America.

Poutine is Canada’s unofficial national dish.

Guillem Vellut/ Flickr

Canada and the US might be close geographically, but their food differs. For one thing, Canadians are serious about their potato chips. They’re known for their ketchup chips, as well as their “all-dressed chips,” which are a combination of barbecue, tomato, salt, vinegar, sour cream, and onions. Then there’s poutine, which consists of French fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy.

They are also, obviously, very into maple syrup. They have something called beaver trails, which is made up of a piece of fried dough covered in a variety of toppings, like apples and cinnamon.

There is no middle school in Canada.

They go to elementary school until 7th grade and then go to high school.

Jeff White/AP

In the US, the public schooling system is set up so that children start off in kindergarten, then move onto elementary school through fifth grade, then middle school through eighth grade, and then high school through 12th grade.

In Canada, however, there is no such thing as middle school. Children go to elementary school up through seventh grade, then enter high school through 12th grade. In Quebec, students finish high school after 11th grade and then go to a vocational school for two years — after that, they might go on to college.

It’s easier to go out to eat in large groups in Canada.

The servers bring credit/debit card machines right to you.

Dina Spector/Business Insider

Paying a dinner bill with a group is a whole lot easier in Canada than in the US. According to a writer at Bustle who lived in Montreal, Canadian servers bring a credit/debit card machine to run your card at the table. The machine also calculates a tip for you, if you choose to use it, meaning you don’t need to do the math.

As for that annoying thing that happens when you go out to eat with a group and everyone argues over the bill? In Canada, they standardized personalized bills in restaurants, meaning each person automatically gets their own bill to pay.

Americans do a lot more online shopping than Canadians.

Americans love online shopping.

Hadrian/Shutterstock

Interestingly, online shopping isn’t quite as popular in Canada as it is in America. According to Advantage 2 Retail, e-commerce only represents about 4.5% of total retail sales in Canada, compared to 7.7% of retail sales in the US According to Bustle, Amazon Canada has a much smaller selection. And one infographic shows that less than half of Canadian businesses have a website, meaning there isn’t even the possibility of selling things online.

Canadians don’t use pennies.

Canada got rid of their version of the penny.

Flickr/The Bees

Canadians and Americans do not share the same currency — Canada has its own distinct currency that is colorful and unique. In 2013, Canada got rid of penniesbecause production costs outweighed the value of the coin. Canadians also use one-dollar coins instead of bills, and even two-dollar coins (called toonies).

Canadians put more emphasis on higher education.

In Canada, college is valued highly.

Nazareth College/flickr

According to a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operations and Development (OECD), Canada has the largest percentage of adults seeking higher education: 55.2% of Canadian adults ages 25 to 64 have some level of college education. The report also showed that Canada had the highest percentage of women with a college education. In comparison, the Census Bureau said that 33.4% of Americans 25 or older had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Americans do not use the same measuring system.

America is one of the only countries that isn’t using the metric system.

Jamie/Flickr

Canada, like Europe, uses the metric system. Americans, on the other hand, use the older Imperial System of Measurement. While many Americans think this system is the best way, the US is actually one of the only countries in the world that uses it.

Canada has two major languages.

French and English are their major languages.

Flickr/VFS Digital Design

In the US, English is considered the major language. Sure, there might be a huge percentage of people who speak Spanish, but English is the primary language. In Canada, there are two major languages: French and English. In 2016, 29.8% of Canadians spoke French, and in Quebec, 94.5% of the population spoke it. Also in 2016, 30 million people in Canada reported speaking English.

Americans love Starbucks but Canadians love Tim Hortons.

Canadians aren’t as into Starbucks.

AP

In the US, Starbucks can typically be found, well, everywhere. Canadians haven’t quite jumped on that bandwagon. They’re, instead, into Tim Hortons.

Canadians get free healthcare.

The Canadian system, however, isn’t perfect.

Christopher Furlong/Getty

The most talked-about difference between Canada and the US is their different healthcare systems. Canadians get “free” healthcare, something many Americans want. Bustle points out, however, that the health care system in Canada is a bit complicated.

Once you register as part of the health care system, you can indeed go to a clinic and get free care but the systems work differently for each province, making things confusing. Also, apparently a lot of people have trouble finding primary care physicians because of long waits.

(C)

#canada #differences #Lifestyle #USA