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Former ambassador Kelly Craft declines to say whether she’s considering a run for Kentucky governor
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Weather Alert
…HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FRIDAY… * WHAT…Heat index values up to 103. * WHERE…Southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN…Until 7 PM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS…Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. The cumulative effect of several days of high heat indices can be greater than a single day of excessive heat. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Outdoor events especially vulnerable to heat include after-school athletic games and practices. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
US ambassador takes Taiwan black bear to UN
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. ambassador the UN Kelly Craft on Thursday (Jan. 14) was spotted entering the General Assembly Hall of the UN with a Formosan black bear doll poking out of her purse.
Craft was originally scheduled to make a historic, formal visit to Taiwan from Jan. 13-15, but the trip was canceled at the last minute in order to carry out a “smooth and orderly transition” to the Biden administration. Instead, Craft met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) virtually on Thursday morning (Jan. 14).
During the conversation with Craft, Tsai mentioned that a photo of a stuffed Formosan black bear that Craft had shared on Twitter during the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF, 全球合作暨訓練架構) video conference last September was a “big hit” in Taiwan. Tsai asserted that the “small bear” not only symbolizes Taiwan but also “inspired our younger generation to learn about and join the effort to help Taiwan become a part of the United Nations.”
Closeup of the Formosan black bear. (Facebook, Taiwan in New York photo)
Later that day, Craft took to Twitter to say that it was a “great privilege” to speak with the president on the ways Taiwan has served as a model for the world during the pandemic and what it has to offer in the areas of health, technology, and “cutting-edge science.”
She recognized that Taiwan has not been able to share these successes at UN venues, such as the World Health Assembly, due to “PRC obstruction.” Nevertheless, she stressed that the “U.S. stands with Taiwan and always will, as friends and partners, standing shoulder to shoulder as pillars of democracy.”
Later that afternoon, the Taiwanese representative office in New York posted a photo of the head of a stuffed Formosan black bear doll sticking out of Craft’s purse as she prepares to ascend a staircase. In the description, it writes that she is on her way to the UN’s General Assembly hall to deliver remarks on Model UN participants in Taiwan.