Where No News Is Good News

This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaGVtaDR3d2dsbi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Where No News Is Good News [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOGhvYzh6OGpzYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZHc1eHJwOWZ6Ny8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZWlvaW5uN2Q0aC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYWNheHJ6cTA5eC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) GlobalPost is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer The Largest Daily Newsletter Devoted to World News Where No News Is Good News THE WORLD TODAY — Monday, October 21, 2024 Where No News Is Good News Where No News Is Good News Need to Know Where No News Is Good News [Uruguay](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY2hqaG9lb3EyaS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) On Oct. 27, Uruguay voters will decide who they want to lead the country. They will also vote on two referendum questions that highlight the challenges the new president will need to address to unify the South American state. Currently, leftist candidate Yamandú Orsi of the Broad Front appears to have an edge over conservative National Party candidate Álvaro Delgado. After a primary election in June, Reuters [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZjM0c3YycnlzaS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) that voters have grown tired of the current center-right agenda of incumbent President Luis Lacalle Pou, who can’t run for reelection because of term limits. That’s even though he successfully transitioned the country’s agricultural economy through the coronavirus pandemic, and the global disruptions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Uruguay’s economy is forecast to grow by 4 percent this year. But voters are worried about high homicide rates, a tattered social safety net, and their trade balance trade with China. The two referendum questions on the ballot reflect some of these concerns. As the Americas Society/Council of the Americas [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsva3ZzeDc1ZjN3Yi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), the first referendum question would decrease the retirement age from 65 years old to 60. It’s an understandably popular idea, but many people in the Uruguayan political class are concerned that it might put too much pressure on the national budget. The second ballot question would eliminate constitutional restrictions on nighttime police raids on private homes. Polls showed that many Uruguayans want to give police officers the authority to conduct these raids due to fears of drug traffickers and criminal gangs who have gained power in the country in recent years, [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaG9ncXZjN3E3aS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Prensa Latina. Drug gangs have been vying for control of the port in the capital Montevideo, driving up murder rates, World Politics Review [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZDlzbXNkcW5kdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Lacalle Pou oversaw a fall in the number of murders from 394 in 2019 to 383 last year, and incidents of theft and violent crime fell from 171,000 to 135,000 in the same time period. But voters want to see more dramatic drops. On the campaign trail, Orsi has pledged to reduce child poverty and crack down on local organized crime. Delgado, a former chief of staff for Lacalle Pou, has touted his role in dealing with the coronavirus and keeping the economy on the right track. But Delgado has also had to address concerns about a scandal involving Lacalle Pou’s bodyguard, Alejandro Astesiano, who is now in jail for spying on a labor union president. The election is going to come down to swing voters, who comprise around 11 percent of the electorate, Merco Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMjhybHF0MGpmNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Regardless of who wins, analysts say this “forgotten general election” is unusual in a region marked by violence, instability and authoritarian governments, underscoring how among such troubled lands Uruguay is a role model. “Unlike other high-stake elections in the region such as those in [Mexico](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveWRubzI0OHo5bC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) or in [Venezuela](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ2o5cHZxdm1wcC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), the Uruguayan election has received almost no international coverage,” [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ3BjMnJyajllby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) researcher Alejandro Trenchi in the Diplomatic Courier. “But no news is good news. Uruguay’s robust institutions continue to reassure international observers and investors that whoever is elected will maintain the country’s political and economic system.” [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYzA5NDZuMWZ2dy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Where No News Is Good News ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-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~~ The World Briefly Blind Spots Blind Spots [Gaza](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYm81d3l0YmRsNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) / [Israel](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdXVjZ21oYXhlcy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) / [West Bank](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMnB0dDA4Nm9oei8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Hamas will likely replace its assassinated leader Yahya Sinwar with a new political leader based outside Gaza, while his brother – Mohammad Sinwar – is expected to assume a bigger role in overseeing the war against Israel in the wake of Sinwar’s death, Reuters [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvd24zdHFoZGZ1ai8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) over the weekend. Israeli forces killed Sinwar during a search operation in the Gaza Strip last week, a killing that prompted questions about the organization’s future and escalated tension across the region with Hezbollah and Iran vowing retaliation, USA Today [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZW1kenl1b2RuYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Sinwar was killed after Israeli troops shelled a building in Rafah where he was hiding. He is widely regarded as the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and its allies on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 others taken hostage. Those assaults sparked the current war in the Strip that has also embroiled Iran and its proxies, including the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen. The death of Sinwar, who had spent years in Israeli prison for killing Israel Defense Forces soldiers, is seen as a significant blow to Iran-backed Hamas, though analysts say it won’t likely lead to the group’s collapse, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb2VqMTlub25ydi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Council on Foreign Relations. Still, Hamas’ previous chief, [Ismail Haniyeh](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOGc5MTZpYmtoaS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), was assassinated in Iran in July almost certainly by Israel. Over the weekend, in retaliation for Sinwar’s killing, Hezbollah launched a drone toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence near Tel Aviv, [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc3dnbzN4Ymw3eS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) the Wall Street Journal. While the drone exploded near the property, Netanyahu and his family were not present and no casualties were reported. The prime minister condemned the attack, calling it an assassination attempt by Hezbollah, and vowed to continue Israel’s fight against its enemies. The incident underscores Hezbollah’s commitment to escalating its campaign against Israel, particularly following the deaths of several key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent Israeli strikes, analysts said. While the United States has expressed hope that Yahya Sinwar’s death could create an opening for ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, Netanyahu said the killing of Hamas’ leader would not mean an end to the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, thousands of people including family members of the hostages took to the streets of Israel Saturday, demanding a hostage deal, saying, “The war’s goal has been met,” Haaretz [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvODQ5NWF0c2RhcC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). On Sunday, the IDF announced that it had targeted about 175 sites in Gaza and Lebanon in the past 24 hours, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOHd1eTR5dDVjdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Washington Post. The IDF also carried out a series of strikes on Lebanon through Sunday night and into Monday, targeting Beirut’s central financial district, in particular banks that the IDF says are used by Hezbollah, the BBC [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYXQ2cDUxMWpqby8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Israeli airstrikes hit northern Gaza, including the border town of Beit Lahia, where at least 73 people were killed in an attack on a cluster of homes. Israeli forces also surrounded two hospitals in northern Gaza in their hunt for Hamas fighters. The IDF stressed that it aims to limit civilian casualties, but reports of widespread destruction and loss of life have drawn criticism from around the world, including from US and European officials. The death toll has reached over 42,000, according to Palestinian health authorities in the enclave. Meanwhile, cross-border violence between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continued over the weekend. Hezbollah fired dozens of missiles into Israel, targeting military positions and civilian areas. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on the group’s facilities in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Lebanon’s Health Ministry has reported that more than 2,400 people have been killed in the country since the fighting began last year. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNjYyNThoYm5ncC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Running on Empty Running on Empty [Cuba](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMnA0eDJ0cXZvdC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Cuba is grappling with its worst blackout in at least two years, leaving millions without power for more than two days and underscoring the fragility of the island’s aging electrical grid, the Associated Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdHpxaGVoejU5YS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) over the weekend. The blackout began Thursday evening, affecting about half of Cuba, and worsened by Friday morning when the entire island lost power due to a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of Cuba’s largest power facilities. Although two thermoelectric plants have resumed operations and two more are expected to be back online soon, parts of Havana remain without power, with electricity fluctuating throughout the city. Cuban authorities have enacted emergency measures to reduce electricity consumption, suspending school classes, shutting down state-owned workplaces, and cutting off non-essential services. There is no clear timeline for full restoration, with officials saying that 1.64 gigawatts (GW) of capacity were offline during peak hours. On Saturday, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy announced that some electricity had been restored, with 500 megawatts available – but short of the usual 3 GW the grid produces. Cuba’s electrical grid has been deteriorating for years, amid increased demand, outdated infrastructure and a lack of fuel, the New York Times [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOTdwemxscjJ2by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Energy specialists have warned for years that Cuba’s decades-old thermoelectric plants – which have exceeded their operational lifespan – often rely on crude oil that damages their systems due to its high sulfur content, resulting in frequent breakdowns. The country also suffers from a severe fuel shortage, producing only 40,000 barrels of fuel per day while consuming around 120,000 barrels. Historically, this shortfall was covered by subsidized oil shipments from Venezuela, but those imports have dropped to about 25,000 barrels per day. Outages are not new in Cuba. Even so, this blackout has brought up comparisons with the severe economic crisis of the “Special Period” in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country’s then-ally and benefactor. The blackout also comes as the Caribbean nation grapples with years of economic malaise, prompting concerns of civil unrest breaking out. The last major blackouts in July 2021 led to protests demanding electricity, food, and political change. US officials said they fear a repeat of such unrest or even a mass exodus if conditions do not improve. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMjBhMGlsOW04OC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Where No News Is Good News Support Our Student Initiative ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNWc5cGp5emd2NC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ GlobalPost provides free subscriptions to students and teachers around the world. Help us expand students’ global knowledge. [Donate now](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbjRndXFoOHAwaC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Where No News Is Good News ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-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~~ Boiling Point Boiling Point [Mozambique](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcnBhcTV2MXEzZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Gunmen killed two key opposition figures over the weekend, an attack that raised tensions in Mozambique as the opposition Podemos party prepares for a nationwide strike to protest disputed election results that favor the long-ruling Frelimo party, the Guardian [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYWcydThicXE5dC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Lawyer Elvino Dias and party official Paulo Guambe were killed in the capital of Maputo after gunmen fired up to 15 rounds at their car. The European Union, Human Rights Watch and Portugal have strongly condemned the killings and called for an immediate and transparent investigation. Frelimo’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, also condemned the attack, calling it an “affront to democracy.” The killings come amid growing tensions over provisional results from the Oct. 9 election, which show Frelimo leading in all 11 of the country’s provinces. Chapo is expected to win, continuing the party’s nearly 50-year rule. However, Podemos and its presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane have rejected the results, alleging vote-buying, voter intimidation and inflated voter rolls. Mondlane has gained widespread support, particularly among younger voters, with observers noting that it represents a major challenge to Frelimo. Full election results are expected later this week, but observers have already raised doubts about the credibility of the election, Reuters [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMHdlanluNTNiay8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The opposition called for a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the results, raising fears of violence –Mozambique’s security forces shot at protesters at political rallies earlier this month, Amnesty International [wrote.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb3hqdWlyZGsyZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvazg0ejYwOTg3Yi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weekly Quiz ~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-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~~ No Brain? No Problem Discoveries No Brain? No Problem It turns out fungi might be smarter than we thought. A new [study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOGdrMGI0dm9yaC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) by researchers at Tohoku University and Nagaoka College in Japan found that fungi, despite lacking a brain, can make decisions and adapt their growth to their environment. “We typically think of intelligence as something that requires a brain, but fungi show us there are other ways to solve problems,” said co-author Yu Fukasawa in a [statement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZW5haTAyeTV5aC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). “They have memories, they learn, and they can make decisions. Quite frankly, the differences in how they solve problems compared with humans is mind-blowing.” Fukasawa and his colleagues focused on a wood-decaying fungus, Phanerochaete velutina, and its decision-making process when encountering different spatial arrangements of wood. Fungi grow through a network of underground threads called mycelium, which can stretch for miles and act somewhat like neural connections, [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRo-Kq7P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdW1sbDUzbHZ2bC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1yMGxiZ2cxYWFsVwNzcGNCCmcSuyUWZ9KfPcdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Popular Science. To test their cognitive abilities, researchers placed decaying wood blocks in either a circular or cross-shaped arrangement inside two square dirt environments, each 9.4 inches wide. They then observed how the mycelial network reacted over 116 days. The findings showed the species employed a peculiar growth pattern for each arrangement. In the circular arrangement, the fungi spread uniformly around the wood but avoided the center. The team suggested that the P. velutina recognized that further growth into already-populated areas would be a waste of energy. Meanwhile, in the cross arrangement, they created denser connections between the four outermost blocks, which the researchers believe acted as “outposts” for future foraging expeditions. This ability to adapt its growth strategy indicated that fungi can communicate and make decisions, even without a brain. “It’s like they’re running calculations to optimize their growth,” said Fukasawa. Though much remains to be understood about these brainless organisms, the discovery could lead to a better understanding of how different forms of cognition evolved and even inspire future technologies, such as bio-based computers. 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