Stuck in the Middle

This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveGFmeDAwNDUxay8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Stuck in the Middle [Formerly DailyChatter - Why are we changing our name?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb2lzbHkxNGoyNC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYW9lYW11MGY4MC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNGxiNWdvaHpvdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva2ljczNtem91dy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcHdvMTkxYXA0eC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) GlobalPost is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer The Largest Daily Newsletter Devoted to World News Stuck in the Middle THE WORLD TODAY — Tuesday, September 10, 2024 Stuck in the Middle Stuck in the Middle Need to Know Stuck in the Middle [Jordan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZGYwYThua3o4bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) The Jordanian government approved an electoral law two years ago, and amendments to it in February, that officials portrayed as a step forward in the kingdom’s slow but steady democratization. The measure is intended to increase representation for women while lowering the minimum age for lawmakers from 30 to 25, for example. It is also designed to give birth to new political parties and coalitions that reflect the will of moderate Jordanians and temper Islamist tendencies in the population, the Arab News [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvM3J5azB3MHFmby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Still, when voters go to the polls to elect a new lower house of parliament on Sept. 10, “it will be a moment of truth” for the kingdom’s reform policies, [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcHM5dTE2YThmZy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Chatham House, a United Kingdom-based think tank. The law’s defenders say that expanding the pool of potential elected officials might help the government address Jordan’s poor economy and the instability surrounding events in its neighborhood, namely the Palestinian West Bank and the Israelis who occupy it, Xinhua [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc2RmNzhuNnhoZy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). But the new system also retains much of the old one in ways that exhibit the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s complicated position today in the Middle East. Jordanian electoral law, for instance, still favors the countryside and tribal provinces – where support for King Abdullah II is stronger compared with urban centers where liberals support democratic reforms and Islamists related to the main opposition group, the Islamic Action Front (IAF). The latter is the ideological ally of Hamas, now fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip, Reuters [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbm94Mjdqc3JvMi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Usually, parties loyal to the monarch win these elections handily. This year, however, the events in Gaza could change things. Many Jordanian voters are the descendants of those who fled their lands in Israel after a series of wars erupted following the founding of the Jewish state in 1948. “The conflict is likely to have an outsized impact on this year’s election and popular domestic support for the Palestinian cause could help the IAF and other Islamist candidates in their electoral bids,” [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvd2t1bTY2a3RicC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Washington DC-based analytical group Freedom House. Recently, for instance, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that any Israeli plan to push Palestinians out of the West Bank into Jordanian territory would treated as a “declaration of war,” [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN3Q3eWR3djgzci8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Middle East Monitor. Those comments came after Israeli forces launched major strikes in the West Bank, leaving dozens dead and much destruction in their way, as the Associated Press [described](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNHY4Mmg5dGJmdi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The pressure between internal and external forces is one reason why US-friendly Jordan, which signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994, is not necessarily a beacon of stability in the region any longer, [argued](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvM2F1ZHV0ZTd1dS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Lancaster University international relations professor Simon Mabon in the Conversation. In recent weeks, regular [demonstrations](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdTIwcTR3YXhvNS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) against the war in Gaza have escalated, with protestors now focusing on the Hashemite court and accusing the king of colluding with the Israelis. As a result, “Jordan remains on the precipice,” wrote Mabon. “Bringing peace to Gaza is a necessary step in reducing tensions in the Hashemite kingdom, but it alone will probably be insufficient.” [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYjlxMmE1aWwyNS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Stuck in the Middle ~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbXhydTFiYW52aS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The World Briefly The Fall The Fall [Philippines](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNXB5Z3NuYmMybS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Police detained a highly influential Philippine evangelist pastor in the southern Philippines this week on charges including sexual abuse and human trafficking, an arrest that marked a dramatic turn for a figure who once seemed untouchable in the Southeast Asian nation, CNN [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdDZwenR1aTloZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), was arrested Sunday after a two-week standoff at his compound in the city of Davao. His arrest followed a major operation involving more than 2,000 security forces, who surrounded his 75-acre compound. The standoff was marked by a series of clashes between Quiboloy’s followers and police that left more than 60 officers injured and one follower dead from a heart attack, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZGw3aTZsNDBoei8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to NBC News. The 74-year-old preacher faces a series of accusations both in the Philippines and the United States, including human trafficking, sexual abuse, child trafficking, and coercion. US authorities have accused him of running a sex trafficking ring for nearly 15 years and using his religious influence to force young women into sexual relationships, threatening them with “eternal damnation” if they don’t comply. He has also appeared on the FBI’s most wanted posters. Quiboloy has denied the charges and accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of conspiring with the US to “eliminate” him. On Monday, Philippine authorities denied his request to quash his extradition to the US. However, officials added he would first face trial and serve any given sentence in the Philippines before the extradition process could begin, Reuters [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNHl0angwb3Y1YS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Quiboloy founded KOJC in 1985 and claims to have seven million followers worldwide. The church operates a range of businesses, including media outlets, resorts and educational institutions. The preacher is known for his [lavish lifestyle](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva3dwZTNsZ3MyMC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) and is considered a highly influential figure in Philippine politics, particularly due to his association with Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte – whom Quiboloy served as his spiritual adviser. His arrest has drawn mixed reactions in the Philippines and is expected to create political ripples, including further deteriorating the alliance between Marcos and Sara Duterte, the country’s vice president and Duterte’s daughter. During the 2022 presidential election, Quiboloy was an outspoken supporter of the Marcos-Duterte ticket. Soon after winning the election, the Marcos administration began to distance itself from some of the political alliances formed under Duterte. A week before the arrest, Sara Duterte publicly apologized to Quiboloy’s followers for endorsing Marcos during the election. Meanwhile, former President Duterte filed a criminal complaint against Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and police officers for damaging Quiboloy’s property during the raid. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcXpnMWl0NTZkcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Old Habits Old Habits [Tanzania](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZHF2Z3c3NHcxMi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan condemned the brutal killing of a senior opposition politician this week, a death that sparked outrage in the East African nation and renewed fears of a political crackdown a year before general elections, the Associated Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva2E5YXh1a2Z4NS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Ali Kibao, a senior member of the CHADEMA opposition party, went missing Friday when he was forced off a bus by suspected security agents while traveling from the commercial hub Dar es Salaam to the port city of Tanga. His body was found a day later near Dar es Salaam with signs of severe beatings and acid burns on his face. Hassan has ordered an in-depth investigation into Kibao’s death, adding that her administration does not condone such violence. She reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to democracy, emphasizing that “every citizen has the right to live,” the BBC [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc3dpaXM3MHpvZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Meanwhile, CHADEMA leader Freeman Mbowe said an autopsy is taking place on Kibao’s body on Monday and called on the president to form an independent commission to probe the death. Kibao’s killing has intensified concerns about political repression in Tanzania, especially with the 2025 presidential election approaching. The opposition and rights groups fear a return to the oppressive climate of the late President John Magufuli’s rule, where political violence and crackdowns were more frequent. Hassan has lifted some of the restrictions of her predecessor’s administration, including bans on opposition gatherings. However, recent events have added to fears that the government might be slipping back into its authoritarian habits: Last month, authorities arrested Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu when they attempted to hold a youth rally, which the police claimed was intended to incite violence. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYnd1MzRrb291Yi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Stuck in the Middle Support Our Student Initiative ~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMXhrazgyb2dpYS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ GlobalPost provides free subscriptions to students and teachers around the world. Help us expand students’ global knowledge. [Donate now](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveTFnZW9ncTJjcC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Stuck in the Middle ~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdHN0YjUxbDl5bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Re-energized Re-energized [Pakistan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaWl2NzlnZ3hxay8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thousands of people took to the streets of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad this week to protest the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in jail for more than a year on charges that his supporters say are politically motivated, Al Jazeera [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdHc0Y3dnM3VzdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Sunday’s demonstrations were organized by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and marked its first major protests since the February 2024 elections. Images and videos online showed Khan’s supporters marching towards the capital from other parts of the country. Authorities in Islamabad blocked key entry points into the city with shipping containers and deployed riot police to prevent unrest. There were reports of clashes, with police accusing protesters of throwing stones and injuring officers. In contrast, PTI officials alleged authorities harassed workers to prevent their attendance at the demonstrations. Khan, a former cricket star turned prime minister, was ousted from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote. He has been in jail since August 2023 and is currently on trial for allegedly inciting violence during protests in May of that year, when his supporters attacked military installations. Despite his legal troubles, Khan has denied the charges against him and a number of his convictions have been suspended or overturned in recent months. Observers noted that it was the first time since Khan’s arrest that the PTI was allowed by a Pakistani court to hold a rally on the outskirts of Islamabad. The protests also come as the party’s future remains in question. Last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced plans to ban the PTI, citing allegations of inciting violence and leaking classified information. But the announcement drew criticism from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which labeled the ban attempt as “an enormous blow to democratic norms,” and said it “reeks of political desperation.” Meanwhile, Khan’s arrest has also drawn international concern. Also in July, a United Nations panel of human rights experts found that Khan’s detention lacked a legal basis and appeared to be an attempt to prevent him from running for office. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveDR5NWo2aXk3di8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weekly Quiz ~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNG5ncndnbnVrZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Hear Us Out Discoveries Hear Us Out Beneath the surface of healthy soils, an unexpected world of sound emerges. A recent [study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMTgyNGx0bWVnMC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) from Flinders University in Australia found that the biodiversity of soil can be measured by the barely audible sounds produced by tiny creatures, such as ants, worms and beetles. These sounds – described as clicks, pops, and bubbling noises – are being recorded through new technology in the emerging field of “[ecoacoustics](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvM29ub3hteTJxZy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~)” that can help monitor soil biodiversity and health without disturbing the ecosystem. Lead researcher Dr. Jake Robinson compared the method to a doctor’s examination. “We’re just doing a health assessment of the soil, but instead of a heartbeat, it’s the invertebrates in the soil making different sounds that we can detect,” he [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcjc3ZmsyemJ0cS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to Cosmos Magazine. “This helps us diagnose how healthy the soil is.” The researchers conducted their experiments in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, using microphones and sound attenuation chambers to record soundscapes in soils across three types of plots – recently cleared land, plots revegetated 15 years ago, and undisturbed land. The results showed that revegetated and undisturbed plots were much louder and more diverse in sound than those in degraded soils, indicating a greater abundance of life. To confirm these findings, they also manually counted soil organisms to cross-validate their data and determined that higher acoustic diversity correlates with richer biodiversity underground. The study also uncovered that different organisms produce unique sound signatures based on their size, shape and activity. For example, millipedes create a tapping sound as they move, while snails produce a gliding, softer noise. The researchers believe that the developing field of ecoacoustics will prove integral in soil restoration efforts. By listening to the soil, scientists can determine whether restoration techniques are working, and even detect invasive species or environmental disturbances. “Restoring and monitoring soil biodiversity has never been more important,” Robinson said in [a press release](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNnlveWRkb25hZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). With [75 percent](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOG10dnN2bWs4by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3VwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) of the world’s soils degraded, these findings offer a promising new tool for conservationists and ecologists alike – proving that sometimes, the key to understanding the environment lies in simply listening. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRowp0-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNXJ0M2NmajJjYS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD0xaXNnZnJzbWR3JmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbPPxjgZitjLOdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thank you for reading or listening to GlobalPost. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated. 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