Toma nota.../Take note...

Pristina, Oct. 29.— Domestic and international legal frameworks on defamation and protection of reputation was the focus of the workshop with judges and prosecutors organised in Pristina in co-operation with the Academy of Justice. During the event participants learned about the limits of harsh criticism and the distinction between opinions, facts and defamatory allegations. While examining the specific standards applicable to criticism of public figures.

Attention was dedicated to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the balance between freedom of expression and protection of reputation. Discussions addressed the responsibilities of journalists and editors, the proportionality of sanctions and Council of Europe perspective on limiting the use of criminal law to restrict Freedom of expression.

If geothermal energy is a niche source of power in California, then it is in good company. In 2025, geothermal energy generated 10,908 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity in California. That puts it well above biomass (4,226 GWh), and sort of in the ballpark with wind (15,172 GWh) and nuclear (17,575 GWh). California’s biggest sources of electricity last year, not surprisingly, were solar PV (53,642 GWh) and natural gas (73,750 GWh).

There are advantages to geothermal power that elude other categories. Unlike wind and solar, but like nuclear and natural gas generating plants, when it is running, geothermal provides uninterrupted baseload power. In 2025, California’s active geothermal plants ran at 46 percent of capacity, a rate of continuous runtime only eclipsed by nuclear at 84 percent. As intermittent sources of energy, the state’s wind turbines ran at 27 percent of their capacity and solar photovoltaic at 26 percent. Natural gas fueled generators, which, like geothermal, are turned off when solar electricity is generating surplus electricity, only ran at 22 percent of their capacity.

The pathway to electricity abundance is wide. An obvious opportunity is to simply upgrade natural gas power plants so that advanced combined cycle designs can convert up to 65 percent of the BTU energy of the natural gas fuel into gigawatt-hours of electricity. Then, run them as baseload plants with 90 percent uptime, instead of the paltry 22 percent that California’s beleaguered fleet delivered last year. If CO2 is a concern, harvest it or bury it. Problem solved.

Managing Director Georgieva pointed out that the global economy faces risks of soaring debt and AI disrupting labor.... 

In closing the main forum, Georgieva quoted a royal address by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej  (Rama IX), which stated:

"Benefits and success do not happen by themselves; they must be gradually cultivated, accumulated, and strengthened over time."

This teaching is the essence of global cooperation, and the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) will take this insight into its work for people around the world.

Bangkok, Oct. 18 (DPnet).– The 2026 Annual Meeting brought global leaders together in Bangkok, October 12–18, to discuss jobs, investment, growth, and practical development solutions. This IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 concluded successfully today, sending important signals about the direction of the global economy amidst technological shifts and a new geopolitical order.

The Annual Meetings Plenary opened with a vibrant celebration of Thai music and dance, followed by remarks from Annual Meetings Chairman Carlos Carvallo Spalding, President of the Central Bank of Paraguay, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Former connections between Iran and the Hezbollah movement with the governments of Venezuela and Bolivia was also a focus of attention.

Washington DC, Oct. 9.— The United States, Canada and eight other Latin American and Caribbean countries warned last Monday in a joint statement  of "lethal plans" and "malign influence operations" by Iran and its proxy forces —such as HAMAS and Hezbollah— in the Latin American and Caribbean region in the Western Hemisphere.

The statement recalls that the United States and Paraguay hosted an anti-terrorism forum last month (CTTF), and notes that the ten signatory countries now wish to condemn "terrorist actions and other malign influence operations in our hemisphere carried out by Iran and its terrorist proxies."

United Nations, Oct.1 (DPnet).– Security Council votes are increasingly leaning in favor of Rebeca Grynspan (right in the photo). The results of the 4th straw poll (Sept.29) were as follows:

Rebeca Grynspan    (Costa Rica)    
10 Encourage, 3 Discourage, 2 No Opinion
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett    (Guyana)    
8 Encourage, 6 Discourage, 1 No Opinion
Rafael Grossi      (Argentina)    
8 Encourage, 7 Discourage

Therefore, the election process remains firmly in the hands of the UN Security Council. The 193-member General Assembly only votes after the Security Council delivers a formal, singular nominee.