Mali junta sacks Prime Minister Maiga and his government


Mali's military junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita fired Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga and his government on Wednesday. A few days previously, Maiga, who was appointed by the military in 2021, had publicly condemned the lack of clarity regarding the country's promised transition to civilian rule.

Issued on: 20/11/2024 - 

Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita attends the first ordinary summit of heads of state and governments of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Niamey, Niger on July 6, 2024. © Mahamadou Hamidou, Reuters

Mali's junta chief on Wednesday sacked civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga and the government, days after Maiga issued a rare criticism of the military rulers.

"The duties of the prime minister and the members of the government are terminated," said a decree issued by Colonel Assimi Goita and read out by the secretary general of the presidency on state television station ORTM.

The West African country, plagued by jihadist and separatist violence, has been led by the military since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

In June 2022, the junta promised to organise elections and hand over power to civilians by the end of March 2024, but later postponed elections indefinitely.


Maiga, who was appointed by the military in 2021, on Saturday publicly condemned the lack of clarity regarding the end of the transition to civilian rule.

He said the confusion could pose "serious challenges and the risk of going backwards".

Maiga had been seen as isolated in his position as prime minister, with little room for manoeuvre regarding the ruling military.

His dismissal creates further uncertainty in an already troubled context.

Since 2012, Mali has been plunged into a political and security crisis fuelled by attacks from jihadist and other armed groups, as well as a separatist struggle in the north.

(AFP)

Mali seeks $160 million from Resolute Mining after detaining its CEO

Bloomberg News | November 13, 2024 | 

Mali is demanding Australia’s Resolute Mining Ltd. pay about $160 million to resolve a tax dispute after the government detained the gold producer’s chief executive, according to people familiar with the matter.


CEO Terry Holohan and two colleagues have been held in the capital, Bamako, since late last week after the Resolute boss traveled to the city for meetings with the nation’s tax and mining authorities. The detention comes as the military rulers of Africa’s third-largest gold producer ratchet up pressure on mining companies to renegotiate economic terms.

The government’s position is that Resolute – which operates the Syama gold mine – should pay the state 100 billion CFA francs ($162 million) to settle a dispute mainly concerning alleged back taxes following a sector-wide audit, the people said, asking not to be named as the matters were private.

The parties have been discussing a potential agreement that would see the company pay half that sum now and half at a later date, one of the people said.

Resolute’s shares fell as much as 4.1% in Sydney on Thursday, taking its losses to more than 35% since news of Holohan’s detention became public at the weekend. The rout has cut the company’s market value to around A$884 million ($574 million).

Resolute declined to comment on Wednesday. The claims against the firm were “unsubstantiated,” the Perth-based miner said in a statement on Nov. 11. “The company is continuing to work with the government on a resolution.”

Mali’s mines and finance ministries didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Government negotiations

Resolute previously negotiated a so-called convention for its Syama asset that runs until 2029, but the nation’s junta have upped pressure on firms with operating gold projects in the country after passing legislation last year that increases the state’s share of economic benefits from mining projects. Their toughening stance also coincides with a 25% jump in the price of bullion this year.

The authorities have also threatened to reclaim Barrick Gold Corp.’s Loulo mine permit when it expires in 2026. Mark Bristow, CEO of the world’s no. 2 gold producer, said last week that his company is discussing a “mutually acceptable outcome” with Mali’s leaders.

Allied Gold Corp. and B2Gold Corp. have recently announced agreements that will govern the future operations of their Sadiola and Fekola projects in the country. They will pay about $116 million and $204 million respectively to the state under the deals, according to company statements.

Mali has been under military rule since 2020, when interim leader Colonel Assimi Goita ousted the West African nation’s elected president, citing the previous regime’s failure to repel the Islamist insurgents. Since then, mercenaries from the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group have been deployed to the country, while European forces and a United Nations peacekeeping mission were forced to withdraw.

(By William Clowes and Katarina Höije)

 

Reducing antimicrobial resistance: accelerated efforts are needed to meet the EU targets

Marking European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November and the start of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, ECDC presents new data on antimicrobial consumption and resistance

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

 

image: 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has an impact on people lives.

The situation with antimicrobial resistance is getting worse, and new bacterial strains are emerging that are resistant to several antibiotics at the same time (known as multidrug-resistant bacteria). A major antimicrobial resistance problem, especially in hospitals, is the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to last-line antimicrobials, which severely limits treatment options for infected patients. Such bacteria may eventually become resistant to all existing antimicrobials.

AMR is invisible, but the patients are not.

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Credit: ECDC

Between 2019 and 2023, antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by 1%, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20% reduction recommended by the Council of the European Union.

Although there have been significant reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections during the same period, the situation in other critical areas, such as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections, has worsened, with an increase in incidence by almost 60% between 2019 and 2023. This represents a growing threat to patients in hospitals across the EU, particularly since very few therapeutic options remain available to treat patients infected with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. 

Reaching the EU targets by 2030 requires a united, urgent response across the EU to prevent AMR from undermining healthcare. This response is key to protecting patients and sustaining the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.’  says Dr Pamela Rendi-Wagner, ECDC Director. 

To highlight the serious threat presented by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), ECDC has launched a series of patient stories to give a voice to people who have experienced prolonged hospital stays, uncertain recovery and complex treatments due to AMR. The stories also talk about the impact that these infections have had on the patients’ lives and families. 

While some Member States have made great progress towards their recommended AMR targets, or even in some instances have already reached the recommended targets, the overall picture shows that more specific, intensified interventions are urgently needed across the EU. 

To turn the tide in the fight against AMR, ECDC is calling for accelerated efforts in three main areas: infection prevention and control, prudent use of antimicrobials, and the development of and access to novel antimicrobials.

Healthcare-associated infections account for 70% of the AMR-related health burden in the EU. This is why hospitals must prioritise basic, yet critical measures for infection prevention and control, such as:
•    improving hand hygiene and giving easy access to alcohol-based solutions for hand disinfection, 
•    increasing screening for the carriage of resistant bacteria to curb the growing trend in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae,
•    increasing the capacity to isolate positive patients by making sure that there are enough single rooms, 
•    increasing the number of dedicated infection prevention and control staff and relevant training.

The community sector accounts for 90% of total antibiotic use in humans. Reducing the use of antibiotics requires more information and public awareness campaigns, complemented by social and behavioural interventions to prevent their unnecessary use.

ECDC continues to promote the development of and access to novel antimicrobials, and alternatives to antimicrobials, that are both effective and safe for humans. Antimicrobials of this type are essential for treating patients with infections that are resistant to last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems. 

In the absence of stronger and swifter public health action, it is unlikely that the EU will reach all its targets by 2030. The consequence will be an increased number of infections with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria that will be more difficult to treat, leading to increasing challenges for patients and larger numbers of AMR-related deaths.

ECDC is committed to supporting Member States in achieving their 2030 AMR targets and has a range of measures to help them address specific gaps and strengthen national capabilities. These include individual AMR country visits and regular Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments for all EU/EEA countries, with antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections as key focus areas.

----Ends----

Notes to editors:

In 2023, the estimated total EU incidence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections was 4.64 per 100 000 population (country range 0−15.5). This was 17.6% lower than in 2019 (baseline year) and 0.15 per 100 000 population lower than the 2030 target of 4.79 per 100 000 population. For the EU overall, a statistically significant decreasing trend was detected between 2019 (baseline year) and 2023.

The estimated total EU incidence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli bloodstream infections was 10.35 per 100 000 population (country range 0−19.56) in 2023. This was 3.6% lower than in 2019 (baseline year) and 0.68 per 100 000 population higher than the 2030 target of 9.67 per 100 000 population. For the EU overall, there was no statistically significant trend detected between 2019 (baseline year) and 2023.

The estimated total EU incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections was 3.97 per 100 000 population (country range 0.00−21.44) in 2023. This was 57.5% higher than in 2019 (baseline year) and 1.58 per 100 000 population higher than the 2030 target of 2.39 per 100 000 population. For the EU overall, a statistically significant increasing trend was detected between 2019 (baseline year) and 2023.

In summary, while the EU target for the incidence of MRSA bloodstream infections had already been reached by 2023, the EU incidence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli bloodstream infections only showed a small decrease compared to 2019 (baseline year) and the EU incidence of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections showed an increase by over 50% compared to 2019 (baseline year), which counteracts the target of a 5% reduction by 2030.

In 2024, all European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries reported data for 2023 to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net).Antimicrobial resistance can be expressed as the estimated total incidence of bloodstream infections with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (infections per 100 000 population).

Data from EARS-Net show that, as in previous years, AMR levels remained high in the EU/EEA in 2023.

Increases in the estimated EU incidences of bloodstream infections with resistant bacteria were observed not only for two of the above-mentioned AMR-pathogen combinations with an EU target, but also for many other bacteria and antimicrobial groups under surveillance, such as antimicrobial-resistant K. pneumoniae (other than carbapenem-resistant), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and piperacillin-tazobactam-, ceftazidime-, and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The AMR situation reported by EU/EEA countries varied widely, depending on the bacterial species, antimicrobial group and geographical region. The highest estimated incidences of antimicrobial-resistant bloodstream infections were generally reported by countries in the south or southeast of Europe.

For each bacterial species, country-specific information on the estimated incidence of antimicrobial-resistant bloodstream infections (including the recommended EU targets on AMR), the percentage of invasive isolates with AMR, data availability and the percentage of intensive care unit patients is available in country summaries. Results by age group and sex are available in the ECDC Surveillance Atlas of Infectious Diseases (https://atlas.ecdc.europa.eu/).

Estimates based on EARS-Net data from 2020 indicate that each year more than 35 000 people die in the EU/EEA as a direct consequence of antimicrobial-resistant infections.

The overall poor progress towards the EU targets on AMR and, more particularly, the continued increase in the incidence of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections, highlights the urgent need for intensified public health action against AMR.

The Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach (2023/C 220/01) encourages Member States to develop and implement national action plans against AMR, and highlights the need for Member States to allocate appropriate human and financial resources for the effective implementation of these plans.

The plans should include key elements, such as enhanced surveillance and strengthened infection prevention and control programmes in hospitals and other healthcare settings, integrated with antimicrobial stewardship programmes and good diagnostic practices.

In the absence of stronger, swifter public health action, it is unlikely that the EU will reach all its AMR targets by 2030. The consequence will be an increased number of infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria that will be more difficult to treat, leading to increasing challenges for patients and AMR-related deaths.

Read the full report "Antimicrobial resistance in the EU/EEA (EARS-Net)" for 2023, available from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/antimicrobial-resistance-annual-epidemiological-report-EARS-Net-2023.pdf

Read the report "Antimicrobial consumption in the EU/EEA (ESAC-Net)" available from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/antimicrobial-consumption-ESAC-Net-annual-epidemiological-report-2023_0.pdf

 

Living microbes discovered in Earth’s driest desert

American Society for Microbiology

Highlights:

• The Atacama Desert is one of the most extreme habitats on Earth.
• Atacama surface soil samples include a mix of DNA from inside and outside living cells.
• A new technique allows researchers to separate external and internal DNA to identify microbes colonizing this hostile environment.
• This approach for analyzing microbial communities could potentially be applied to other hostile environments, like those on other planets. 

Washington, D.C.—The Atacama Desert, which runs along the Pacific Coast in Chile, is the driest place on the planet and, largely because of that aridity, hostile to most living things. Not everything, though—studies of the sandy soil have turned up diverse microbial communities. Studying the function of microorganisms in such habitats is challenging, however, because it’s difficult to separate genetic material from the living part of the community from genetic material of the dead.

A new separation technique can help researchers focus on the living part of the community. This week in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, an international team of researchers describes a new way to separate extracellular (eDNA) from intracellular (iDNA) genetic material. The method provides better insights into microbial life in low-biomass environments, which was previously not possible with conventional DNA extraction methods, said Dirk Wagner, Ph.D., a geomicrobiologist at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, who led the study.

The microbiologists used the novel approach on Atacama soil samples collected from the desert along a west-to-east swath from the ocean’s edge to the foothills of the Andes mountains. Their analyses revealed a variety of living and possibly active microbes in the most arid areas. A better understanding of eDNA and iDNA, Wagner said, can help researchers probe all microbial processes. 

“Microbes are the pioneers colonizing this kind of environment and preparing the ground for the next succession of life,” Wagner said. These processes, he said, aren’t limited to the desert. “This could also apply to new terrain that forms after earthquakes or landslides where you have more or less the same situation, a mineral or rock-based substrate.” 

Most commercially available tools for extracting DNA from soils leave a mixture of living, dormant and dead cells from microorganisms, Wagner said. “If you extract all the DNA, you have DNA from living organisms and also DNA that can represent organisms that just died or that died a long time ago.” Metagenomic sequencing of that DNA can reveal specific microbes and microbial processes. However, it requires sufficient good-quality DNA, Wagner added, “which is often the bottleneck in low-biomass environments.” 

To remedy that problem, he and his collaborators developed a process for filtering intact cells out of a mixture, leaving behind eDNA genetic fragments left from dead cells in the sediment. It involves multiple cycles of gentle rinsing, he said. In lab tests they found that after 4 repetitions, nearly all the DNA in a sample had been divided into the 2 groups. 

When they tested soil from the Atacama Desert, they found Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in all samples in both eDNA and iDNA groups. That’s not surprising, Wagner said, because the living cells constantly replenish the store of iDNA as they die and degrade. “If a community is really active, then a constant turnover is taking place, and that means the 2 pools should be more similar to each other,” he said. In samples collected from depths of less than 5 centimeters, they found that Chloroflexota bacteria dominated in the iDNA group. 

In future work, Wagner said he plans to conduct metagenomic sequencing on the iDNA samples to better understand the microbes at work, and to apply the same approach to samples from other hostile environments. By studying iDNA, he said, “you can get deeper insights into the real active part of the community.”
 

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The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 32,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.

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Journal

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

 

Of tiny organisms and their giant impact on the ocean

Susanne Neuer receives Petersen Foundation Excellence Professorship

Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)

The ocean absorbs about a quarter of annual carbon dioxide emissions. One mechanism that facilitates this is known as the biological carbon pump. This process starts with the photosynthesis of tiny microscopic algae, phytoplankton, floating in the sunlit upper layers of the ocean. Professor Dr Susanne Neuer and her team study the Biological Carbon Pump, focusing particularly on the role of plankton organisms in the formation of sinking particles, both in the laboratory and at sea. Since 2004, she has been a Professor of Marine Biogeochemistry at Arizona State University in Tempe, USA. Since 2022, she is also the founding director of the new School of Ocean Futures. For her contributions, she has been awarded the 31st Excellence Professorship of the Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation, which includes €20,000 in funding and a six-week research stay at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

Dr h.c. Klaus Wichmann, Chair of the Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation, said: “On behalf of the Foundation, I am very pleased to award another outstanding scientist with an Excellence Professorship today. Since its inception in 2009, the Excellence Initiative has been an indispensable part of our mission to promote scientific excellence in Schleswig-Holstein and to intensify international cooperation. It is an honour for us to continue to support this and I hope that this initiative will set an example for others to follow.”

Professor Dr Katja Matthes, Director of GEOMAR, congratulated the awardee: “I am delighted that we can honour Susanne Neuer with this well-deserved award. With her outstanding research on the biological carbon pump, she has made an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the processes that influence our climate. Professor Neuer has excelled not only as a scientist but also as a mentor. She is a dedicated advocate for the advancement of women in science, having played leading roles with the Association for Women in Science and at Arizona State University. Her expertise and extraordinary achievements have made her a leading voice internationally. We are proud to welcome her to GEOMAR today and look forward to the inspiring contributions she will make during her stay.”

In her laudatio, Professor Dr Anja Engel, Head of the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Division at GEOMAR, emphasised the importance of the awardee's research: "Professor Neuer plays a leading and internationally visible role in marine biogeochemistry, the carbon cycle and particle export. Her highly acclaimed work has contributed significantly to our current understanding of the biological carbon pump in the ocean. Her analyses of ocean time series have laid the foundation for comparative studies of the efficiency of this central mechanism in the carbon cycle".

Insights into the Work of the Ocean’s Biological Carbon Pump

In her keynote lecture, Susanne Neuer discussed the significance of the Biological Carbon Pump for our planet’s climate. A fascinating aspect of this mechanism is the formation of so-called marine snow—sticky aggregates of phytoplankton, bacteria, and other organic matter held together by larger particles such as dust. These aggregates can grow large enough to be visible to the naked eye and form the basis for the transport of carbon into the deep ocean. Planktonic animals such as krill and copepods also contribute to carbon export by releasing phytoplankton particles into the ocean's twilight zone, an area of near darkness where the light barely penetrates.

“The processes initiated by phytoplankton and bacteria in the upper ocean layers of the ocean are a fundamental component of the long-term storage of CO2 and thus play a critical role in the context of climate change,” explained Prof. Neuer. “In the deep ocean, there is a fascinating interplay between microscopic cells that not only remove carbon from the atmosphere, but also sustain life throughout the ocean,” said Neuer. “The next time you look at the ocean, think of all the microscopic life in the water and all that it does for the well-being of our planet.”

Back to the roots: a reunion with Kiel and the chance for new collaborations

Kiel is not new territory for Susanne Neuer: some 40 years ago, she began her training as a marine scientist here at the former Institut für Meeresforschung (IfM), before moving on to the USA for further studies. This is not the first time she has returned to Kiel to talk about her research either. At the invitation of GEOMAR's Women's Executive Board, she gave a talk in 2016 as part of the Marie Tharp Lectures, discussing career issues with young female scientists.

“I am very honoured to receive the Excellence Professorship,” she says, “it will allow me to expand my collaboration with GEOMAR and especially with Prof. Dr Anja Engel and to develop synergies in our research on the biology of the global carbon cycle.” She is particularly looking forward to the exchange with young scientists at GEOMAR. Susanne Neuer: “It is important that the next generation receives special support in their careers so that they can not only be successful, but also make a sustainable contribution to solving environmental problems.”

 

About the Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation

The Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation, based in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, aims to promote science, research, technology, and culture. A central area of support is the Excellence Initiative, which, in close cooperation with GEOMAR, honours outstanding scientists with international reputations. Through this initiative, leading marine scientists from around the world are invited to come to Kiel as guest scientists for up to six weeks.

C.Africa urges lifting of embargo on diamond exports


By AFP
November 12, 2024

The Central African Republic wants the total lifting of an embargo imposed on the export of its diamonds for more than a decade - Copyright AFP/File Pedro PARDO

Cécile BRAJEUL

The Central African Republic (CAR) sought Tuesday to convince the regulatory body for global diamond trading to lift all restrictions against it, ending an export embargo in place for more than a decade.

The Kimberley Process (KP) regulatory body opened its plenary assembly in Dubai on Tuesday under the presidency of the United Arab Emirates.

The CAR wants a total lifting of the embargo imposed since a political and military crisis sparked civil war in 2013, after decades of violence, instability and coups.

Mines and Geology Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou highlighted at the opening session his government’s efforts towards the return of peace and meeting the criteria for the lifting of the embargo, according to a statement by his ministry posted on Facebook.

He has previously said — after KP experts visited in September — that “the conditions (for lifting the embargo) are now met since, on our side, the security problem no longer arises”.

In addition, “the minimum traceability requirement has been resolved,” he argued at the time.

For the first time since 2015, the expert team was able to see the situation on the ground.

Although the civil conflict lost intensity in 2018, the country still suffers bouts of violence and remains deeply poor.

The team went to several mining sites to verify compliance of extraction and marketing practices with international standards, designed to prevent the export of “blood diamonds” mined in conflict zones.

“I dare to believe the (KP) report will make recommendations in favour of the Central African Republic,” Paul-Crescent Beninga, a member of the KP’s Civil Society Working Group, told AFP in an interview in the capital Bangui, while expressing caution.

“The dynamic of the delegation of experts was very positive, although that does not mean the outcome will necessarily be a happy one,” he warned.

– Slump in gem revenue –

Gem quality diamond deposits make up — together with gold — one of the CAR’s most precious resources.

Mining and research permits have been issued to Chinese, American, Rwandan and also Russian groups linked to the Wagner mercenary group backing the ruling regime.

The effect of sanctions on the CAR has been deep-seated.

In 2011, two years before a military coup which degenerated into a long-drawn-out civil war, the country officially earned 29.7 billion CFA francs (around $50 million) from 323,575.30 carats of diamond exports.

Last year, the total figure stood at just 324.3 million CFA francs, according to official figures.

The sanctions “should have been lifted as soon as constitutional order was restored in March 2016”, Luc Florentin Simplice Brosseni Yali, director general of the KP’s permanent secretariat in Bangui, said to AFP.

However, they were only partially lifted in 2015, contrary to what happened in Angola, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, he added.

Today, a third of the 24 diamond mining zones listed in the CAR have been declared “green” zones allowing them to export, whereas the remaining “red zones” still face sanctions.

“The situation of residents in these production regions is deplorable,” Brosseni Yali said.

He said that a return to normal levels of economic activity would aid “the restoration of peace by offering young people a path different from that of weapons”.

– ‘Contraband’ –

During the KP assessment mission, “I saw young people and women kneeling down to ask the experts to lift the sanctions,” he said.

Brosseni Yali added that “the restrictions have only penalised the government, not the rebel groups (as) they do not prohibit exploitation of mining fields, only the export of extracted diamonds.

“The artisanal miners operate the sites, sell their production to whoever wishes to buy and the diamonds end up in a contraband system,” he said.

During the last UN General Assembly in New York, President Faustin Archange Touadera called for a total lifting of the embargo, emphasising his country was now “relatively stable”.

But, despite efforts to expand state authority across the whole country, “the security situation remained volatile… owing to recurrent armed clashes over access to mining sites and influence over main road axes”, the latest report from the UN force, MINUSCA, said.

An International Monetary Fund team, for its part, noted progress on the security front after a visit to Bangui in late September.

But it also highlighted “the still unfavourable” business environment, regulatory uncertainty and “persistent insecurity in certain mining areas”.

The KP’s meeting in Dubai, which runs until Friday, is the second full gathering of the year exclusively held for KP participants and observers.

Evangelicals see Trump as God’s warrior in their battle to win America from satanic forces

The Conversation
November 9, 2024 7

Chris Straub, prays with the congregation during an ‘Election Eve Service of Prayer,’ in support of Republican Presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Suncoast Liberty Fellowship in Largo, Florida, U.S., November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A growing movement believes President-elect Donald Trump is fighting a spiritual war against demonic forces within the United States. Trump himself stated in his acceptance speech on Nov. 6, 2024, that the reason that “God spared my life” was to “restore America to greatness.”


I have studied various religious movements that seek to shape and control American society. One of these is the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, whose followers believe that they are waging a spiritual battle for control of the United States. NAR is an offshoot of Protestant Christian evangelicalism.

NAR advocates claim they receive divine guidance in reconstructing modern society based on Christian spiritual beliefs. In 2015, an estimated 3 million adult Americans attended churches that were openly part of NAR. Some scholars estimate that the number of active NAR adherents may be larger, as the movement may include members of Protestant Christian churches that are not directly aligned with the NAR movement.
The beginning of the movement

NAR emerged in the late 1990s when theologian C. Peter Wagner popularized the term “New Apostolic Reformation.” Wagner argued that God was creating modern-day apostles and prophets who would lead Christianity in remaking American society.

The roots of the New Apostolic Reformation can be traced to the broader charismatic movement that sees spiritual forces as an active part of everyday life.

This view does not separate sacred experience from regular everyday life. For the much larger network of charismatic Christians and Pentecostal movements that emphasize a personal relationship with God, the world is full of the active presence of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and direct divine experiences.
Core beliefs

Central to NAR is the belief that Christian religious leaders should be the main source of cultural and political authority in America.

NAR proponents argue that select leaders receive direct revelation from God, guiding the direction of churches and fighting spiritual warfare against demonic influences, which they believe corrupt the behavior of individuals and nations.

NAR advocates for a hierarchical structure in which religious leaders and their political allies hold authority in society.

They believe in “The Seven Mountains Mandate,” a way to represent Christian control of society through a strategy that Christians should infiltrate, influence and eventually control seven key areas in society – business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, family, and religion – to bring about cultural transformation.

By doing so, NAR proponents believe they can establish a pure and true form of what they believe is a society ruled by divine guidance and strict adherence to biblical ideas.

Lance Wallnau, a prominent Christian author, speaker, social media influencer and consultant associated with NAR, has promoted the idea that such engagement where NAR Christian leaders hold authority through a government tied to divine will is essential for advancing societal transformation.

Wallnau has been a vocal supporter of Trump, viewing him as a significant figure in NAR’s vision.
Spiritual warfare

Followers of the NAR believe that they must engage in spiritual warfare, which includes prayers and actions aimed at combating perceived demonic influences in society. 

Evangelist Lance Wallnau speaks during a September 2022 rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in Chambersburg, Pa. Doug Kapustin/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

This practice often involves identifying “strongholds” of evil, around cultural issues, such as gay marriage, transgender rights and LGBTQ+ activism, and working to dismantle them. An example of this is a recent series of religious-based political rallies led by NAR leaders known as “The Courage Tour” that advocated directly for Trump’s second election.

The NAR emphasizes that Christians should expect to see miraculous signs, where extraordinary events, such as Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt, are interpreted to be explained only by divine or spiritual intervention.

The movement’s adherents also believe in faith-based healing and supernatural experiences, such as prophetic utterances and speech.
Trump as divinely ordained

Many NAR leaders and followers support Trump, viewing him as a divinely appointed figure who would facilitate NAR’s goals for societal reconstruction, believing he was chosen by God to fulfill a prophetic destiny.

They position Trump as a warrior against a so-called demonically controlled – and therefore corrupted – “deep state,” aligning with NAR’s emphasis on spiritual warfare and cultural dominion as outlined in the “Seven Mountains” mandate. NAR leaders followed Trump’s understanding of a corrupt government.

The NAR led a “Million Women” worship rally on Oct. 12, 2024, to Washington, D.C., in which the organizers sought to encourage 1 million women NAR adherents to come to pray, protest and support Trump’s campaign. The event was promoted as a “last stand moment” to save the nation by helping Trump win the election as a champion against dark, satanic forces.

Several prominent politicians, legislators and members of the judiciary, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, have flown the NAR-based “Appeal to Heaven” flag.

For NAR evangelicals, the presidential election is interpreted through a Christian apocalyptic rhetoric. In this rhetoric one candidate is a force for good, a warrior for God – Trump – and the other is led by demonic forces such as Harris. Trump’s 2024 win is seen as a critical moment of spiritual warfare where the forces of God defeat the forces of evil.
Criticism from many Christian denominations

Despite its growing popularity, NAR faces substantial criticism. Many mainstream Christian churches argue that the movement’s teachings deviate from traditional Christian orthodoxy.

Critics highlight abuse of authority by people who claim God is directing their actions and the potential for abuse of authority by those claiming apostolic roles. The embrace of Trump raises concerns about blending evangelical faith and political ambition.

Critics argue that the NAR’s support for Trump compromised the integrity of the gospel, prioritizing political power over spiritual integrity. The events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol further complicated this relationship, exposing the potential dangers of conflating religious beliefs with partisan politics.

Moreover, the NAR’s emphasis on spiritual warfare and the idea of taking control over society has raised other Christian groups’ concerns about its potential to foster an “us versus them” mentality, leading to increased polarization within society.

The New Apostolic Reformation represents a significant development, blending charismatic practices with a strong emphasis on politics and cultural transformation.

However, a large majority of Americans disagree that society should be remade based on religious theology. Thus, for now, the NAR movement’s fundamental views about religion and government are starkly at odds with most Americans.

Art Jipson, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Dayton

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2024/11/time-to-read-mikhail-bakunin-god-and.html

 

Bee gene specifies collective behavior

Bee research: publication in Science Advances

Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf

 

image: 

Each honeybee is labelled with a QR code so that their individual behaviour can be tracked. (Photo: HHU / Christoph Kawan)

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Credit: HHU / Christoph Kawan

Embargoed: Not for Release Until 2:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time Friday, 01 November 2024.

Researchers at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) are collaborating with colleagues from Frankfurt/Main, Oxford and Würzburg to investigate how the complex, cooperative behaviour of honey bees (Apis mellifera) is genetically programmed so that it can be passed on to subsequent generations. As they explain in the scientific journal Science Advances, they found an answer in what is known as the doublesex gene (dsx).

Behavioural interactions between organisms are fundamental and often inherited. Every human being and every animal interacts with other individuals in its social group in one way or another through its behaviour. In the animal kingdom, this has considerable advantages in collective foraging for food, defence against predators and the rearing of offspring.

In some animals, such as honeybees, the social behaviour bonds are so strong that the individual members form a tight-knit society that function collectively as a single “superorganism”. Through their individual behaviour, thousands of worker bees protect the entire colony, feed it and care for the brood.

Professor Dr Martin Beye, who heads the Institute of Evolutionary Genetics at HHU and is the corresponding author of the study that has now been published in Science Advances, emphasises: “The behavioural repertoire of the individual bees and their function in the colony are not learned, but rather inherited. Until now, it was not known how such complex behaviours were genetically encoded.”

Together with colleagues from the universities in Frankfurt/Main, Oxford and Würzburg, the team of researchers at HHU led by Beye and first author Dr Vivien Sommer has now discovered that a special gene known as dsx specifies worker bee-specific behaviour.

Sommer: “The gene programmes whether a worker bee takes up a task in the colony and for how long. This includes collective tasks such as caring for the larvae or foraging for food and social exchanges on food sources, for example.”

The biologists used the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors in their investigations to modify or switch off the dsx gene in selected bees. They attached a QR code to the manipulated bees, then monitored their behaviour in the hive with cameras. The resulting video sequences were analysed with the support of artificial intelligence to determine the bees’ individual behavioural patterns.

Sommer: “Our central question was whether and how the inherited behavioural patterns changed as a result of the gene modification. Such changes must be reflected in the nervous system of the worker bees where the specific behaviour is controlled.”

The researchers introduced green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the dsx sequence so that GFP was produced together with the dsx protein. The neuronal circuits could then be viewed using fluorescence microscopy, in both the unmodified bees and in those with genetic modifications. “We were able to use these tools to see exactly which neural pathways the dsx gene creates in the brain and how this gene in turn specifies the inherited behavioural patterns of honeybees,” explains doctoral researcher Jana Seiler, who is also a co-author of the study.

“Our findings indicate a fundamental genetic programme that determines the neuronal circuitry and behaviour of worker bees,” says Professor Dr Wolfgang Rössler from the Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, who led the study at the University of Würzburg.

In the next step, the researchers now want to move from the level of the individual honeybee to the bee colony superorganism. Alina Sturm, who is also a doctoral researcher at HHU and study co-author, adds: “We hope to find the link between individual programming and the coordinated behaviour of many individuals.”

The neuronal network in the bee’s brain appears in green. (Image: HHU / Institute for Evolutionary Genetics)

Credit

HHU / Institute for Evolutionary Genetics

Original publication:

Vivien Sommer, Jana Seiler, Alina Sturm, Sven Köhnen, Anna Wagner, Christina Blut, Wolfgang Rössler, Stephen F. Goodwin, Bernd Grünewald, Martin Beye. Dedicated developmental programing for group-supporting behaviors in eusocial honeybees. Science Advances (2024).

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp3953

---

Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adp3953 

Article Title

Dedicated developmental programing for group-supporting behaviors in eusocial honeybees

Article Publication Date

1-Nov-2024

Ukraine Strikes Chechnya With Long-Range Drones For The First Time

Thomas Newdick
Tue, October 29, 2024 

The Kremlin-appointed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed to avenge a Ukrainian drone attack that struck a military training facility in Chechnya. The raid, which appears to be the first of its kind to hit the southern Russian republic, is one of the longest-range drone strikes that Ukraine has attempted. The target was special forces training center, but the attack also has significant symbolic value, due to Kadyrov’s vocal support for the Russian war in Ukraine.More

The Kremlin-appointed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed to avenge a Ukrainian drone attack that struck a military training facility in Chechnya. The raid, which appears to be the first of its kind to hit the southern Russian republic, is one of the longest-range drone strikes that Ukraine has attempted. The target was a special forces training center, but the attack also carries significant symbolic value, due to the high level of support of local strongman Ramzan Kadyrov for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Imagery posted to social media shows the apparent aftermath of the drone strike, on the military training academy in the town of Gudermes, 22 miles east of Grozny, the Chechen capital. As we have discussed in the past, Kadyrov was directly responsible for the creation of the Russian University of Special Forces — also known as the University of Spetsnaz — in Gudermes in 2013.

Unprecedented: this morning around 6:30 am local time, the so-called "Russian Special Forces University named after Vladimir Putin" in Gudermes, Chechnya, was attacked by unidentified drones, as reported by Ramzan Kadyrov. According to him, the roof of an empty building caught… pic.twitter.com/GZPwXph7Jl

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 29, 2024


Ramzan Kadyrov says a UAV struck the Spetsnaz University in Gudermes. https://t.co/FHlEmAEs3nhttps://t.co/UA7dTZMUdfhttps://t.co/FhtwtUQ7w3 pic.twitter.com/kUIJGI2bZM

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) October 29, 2024


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El ataque a la Universidad de las Fuerzas Especiales de Rusia en Gudermes es el primer ataque con aviones no tripulados contra objetivos en Chechenia. Según la información disponible, un avión no tripulado atacó un edificio de la universidad de fuerzas especiales esta… pic.twitter.com/yLSvIktDCo

— Dan-i-El (@Danielibertari0) October 29, 2024

“Today at 6:30 a.m. in Gudermes, as a result of an unmanned aerial attack, the roof of an empty building on the territory of the Russian University of Special Forces caught fire,” Kadyrov wrote on social media. “There are no victims or injured. The fire has been extinguished.”


This is what "Putin's Russian Special Forces University" looks like in Chechnya's Gudermes after a UAV attack

Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov said that the perpetrators would be shown "such retribution that they have never imagined." pic.twitter.com/BVhZjwmWJL

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 29, 2024


In Chechnya, drones hit the Putin Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya. It is interesting that among the suspects are not only Ukrainians, but also the Russian-occupied states of Dagestan and Ingushetia, which also have drones. pic.twitter.com/ESqVa4RRzo

— Devana

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(@DevanaUkraine) October 29, 2024

Kadyrov claimed that the academy was still operating as usual and that “investigative bodies” were working on “identifying those involved in the crime.”

“They’ve bitten us — we will destroy them,” Kadyrov told reporters in a video published by Russian state news agency RIA.

“In the very near future we’ll show them the kind of vengeance they’ve never even dreamt of,” he added.

A satellite image of the Russian University of Special Forces in Gudermes. Imagery from today shows the large, boomerang-shaped building close to the center of the facility on fire. Google Earth

As is typical for drone strikes of this kind, there was no immediate comment from officials in Kyiv.

The privately run training academy’s glitzy website describes it as a “professional educational institution,” that offers “unique training grounds, methodology, and teaching staff that have no analogs in Russia.” The website features prominent testimonies from both Kadyrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The academy instructs both soldiers and civilians in a variety of combat tactics, including gunnery, drone operating, battlefield first aid, and parachute landing.

A Chechen instructor supervises gunnery practice at Gudermes. Russian University of Special Forces

A Russian University of Special Forces course in the operation of quadcopter-type drones. Russian University of Special Forces

More than 47,000 troops deployed to the front line in Ukraine have been trained in Gudermes, according to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, a report from the Russian state news agency TASS claims that over 19,000 volunteers have been trained at the university before going to fight in Ukraine.

Ukraine has been regularly using long-range drones of various types to strike targets in Russia, including hitting targets many hundreds of miles behind the front lines. Gudermes is around 780 miles from Odesa and around 650 miles from Kharkiv.

As far as we know, this is the first time a Ukrainian drone strike has been launched against Chechnya, which is led by Kadyrov, a close ally of Putin who has frequently played on his warlord credentials to help bolster support for the war in Ukraine.

Last month, Kadyrov garnered press coverage due to his claim that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had “remotely disabled” his machine-gun-armed Cybertruck, which he had sent to the front line in Ukraine, where he said it had been “performing well in combat.”

“What Elon Musk did was not nice. He gives expensive gifts from the heart and then remotely switches them off,” Kadyrov said, before noting that another pair of Cybertrucks had since been sent to the Ukrainian battlefield.

More significantly, Kadyrov has contributed thousands of his own Chechen paramilitary forces to support the full-scale Russian invasion, since the very beginning of the operation.


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| At the special order of Ramazan Kadyrov, about 10,000 #Chechen National Guard departs to support the #Russia|n invasion of #Ukraine.

– Local resources –pic.twitter.com/rUtUNmJ9hq

— EHA News (@eha_news) February 25, 2022


Chechen servicemen from a Rosgvardia spetsnaz unit in Hostomel raising the Russia flag over a Ukrainian national guard base. https://t.co/R9s49D667ghttps://t.co/LBfPPL8kMr pic.twitter.com/ceQjZ2Tgia

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 26, 2022


Reportedly video of Chechen fighters headed to Ukraine on a transport aircraft. https://t.co/N7R24x2NTr pic.twitter.com/rHUChT2ZeT

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 13, 2022

While Kadyrov presents an image of staunch loyalty to Moscow, his position has also seen him emerge as one of the few political figures in Russia who speaks out about the way the war in Ukraine is being fought.

Kadyrov has not held back from criticizing the Russian Armed Forces leadership when Ukrainian forces have made advances or offered tougher-than-expected resistance and he has suggested in the past that Putin might not be fully aware of the real situation on the ground in Ukraine.

Earlier this year there were signs that the Kremlin might be looking to appoint a new Chechen leader, amid rumors that Kadyrov was seriously ill with pancreatic necrosis. The leader responded by publishing a workout video to counter claims of his deteriorating health.

“Remember that taking care of your health is an investment in your future,” a caption to the video read, while footage showed Kadyrov bench-pressing, lifting weights, and wrestling with a sparring partner.

Interestingly, Kadyrov also moved to shore up his position as a staunch Putin supporter after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group who launched a brief armed mutiny against Russia’s leadership in the summer of 2023, before being killed in a plane crash, the details of which remain murky.


A day after Prigozhin’s funeral, Kadyrov — who had previously suggested that he could provide an alternative to the Wagner boss — described himself as Putin’s foot soldier and said he was ready to die for the Russian president. There were also suggestions Kadyrov might be lining himself up as Prigozhin’s successor, with his claims that former Wagner Group mercenaries were training in Chechnya with his forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov visit the Russian University of Special Forces in Gudermes on August 20 of this year. Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEVMore

With repeated accusations of human rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings, as well as sanctions in multiple countries to his name, Kadyrov remains a very visible and highly active supporter of the Russian war effort. The fact the territory he rules over has come under long-range drone attack shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as Ukraine continues to expand its drone programs.

There is a possibility that Russia’s failure to defend Kadyrov’s republic against drone attacks will lead to more criticisms leveled toward the Russian Ministry of Defense. Ever since Ukraine began its campaign of long-range drone strikes, there have been questions asked about the efficiency and preparedness of Russian air defenses to counter these threats.

At the same time, depending on the damage that was inflicted, targeting the Russian University of Special Forces may also serve to disrupt the operations at what is, by all accounts, an important training center feeding both Russian soldiers and volunteers to support the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. But above all else, this was a symbolic strike, although it could be the first of many more to come.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com