title: Walt Gorney

abstract: Walter J. Gorney was an Austrian-American actor. He was best known for his role as "Crazy" Ralph in the 1980s slasher films Friday the 13th (1980) and Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981). He returned to the series in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) as the narrator. His other film credits include Heavy Traffic (1973), King Kong (1976), and Day of the Animals (1977). Walter's character Ralph was parodied by Robert Donner in the 1983 film Hysterical. Gorney died in New York City on March 5, 2004, aged 91.

text:
# Walt Gorney

**Walter J. Gorney** (April 12, 1912 – March 5, 2004) was an Austrian-American actor. He was best known for his role as "Crazy" Ralph in the 1980s slasher films *Friday the 13th* (1980) and *Friday the 13th Part 2* (1981). He returned to the series in *Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood* (1988) as the narrator.

His other film credits include *Heavy Traffic* (1973), *King Kong* (1976), and *Day of the Animals* (1977).

Walter's character Ralph was parodied by Robert Donner in the 1983 film *Hysterical*.

Gorney died in New York City on March 5, 2004, aged 91.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1973 | *Heavy Traffic* | Bum | Uncredited |
| 1973 | *Cops and Robbers* | Wino |  |
| 1976 | *King Kong* | Subway Driver | Uncredited |
| 1977 | *Day of the Animals* | Sam | Uncredited |
| 1978 | *Nunzio* |  |  |
| 1980 | *Friday the 13th* | Crazy Ralph |  |
| 1981 | *Friday the 13th Part 2* | Crazy Ralph |  |
| 1981 | *Endless Love* | Passerby |  |
| 1983 | *Trading Places* | Duke Domestic |  |
| 1983 | *Easy Money* | Monahan's Security Guard |  |
| 1984 | *Nothing Lasts Forever* | Stage Manager |  |
| 1986 | *Seize the Day* | Panhandler |  |
| 1988 | *Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood* | Narrator | Voice role; uncredited |

## InfoBox

| Walt Gorney | |
| --- | --- |
| Born | Walter J. Gorney
April 12, 1912
Vienna, Austria-Hungary (Now Austria) |
| Died | March 5, 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 91)
New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |


title: Nigel Sharp

abstract: Nigel Sharp is an Australian conservationist and biodiversity impact investor known for his work on the continent of Australia with threatened species conservation, new business models of regenerative agriculture and urbanism, nature-based tourism, and indigenous enterprise development.

text:
# Nigel Sharp

**Nigel Sharp** is an Australian conservationist and biodiversity impact investor known for his work on the continent of Australia with threatened species conservation, new business models of regenerative agriculture and urbanism, nature-based tourism, and indigenous enterprise development.

## Early years

Nigel Sharp was born on July 28, 1961, in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. Growing up on his family’s farm in Branxholme, Victoria, he later credited much of his interest and passion for conservation through helping his father plant and protect creek lines on their farm and in surrounding areas, to combat rising soil salinity levels, which was a major issue at the time.

## Career

Sharp began his career as a qualified property valuer, and gained experience running a listed company trust. He worked in senior positions across the property funds management and property development industries, including both rural and urban property projects.

He began involvement in conservation in 2000 when he helped rescue the predator-free ecosystem at Mt Rothwell Sanctuary Little River, Victoria and introduced a breeding program for species such as the Eastern Quoll, Eastern barred bandicoot and Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

In 2010, he and business partner Harry Youngman, widened their collective conservation work by purchasing Tiverton Farm, a 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) working sheep property in Western Victoria, for the purpose of eradicating non-native species and reintroducing Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Eastern Quoll, while maintaining a viable agricultural business.

In 2016 Sharp founded the Odonata Foundation, specialising in the business of biodiversity. Odonata designs and manages financially sustainable conservation projects, educating the public and empowering businesses to embrace biodiversity,. Odonata projects have included the National Sanctuary Network (formerly the South-East Australia Sanctuary Operations Network), the Great Australian Wildlife Search, Odonata Academy, Melbourne Skyfarm, Wild Idea Business Incubator, and the organisation manages both Tiverton Farm and Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre.

In 2017, the knowledge gained from projects at Mt Rothwell and Tiverton Farm enabled, Nigel Sharp and Harry Youngman to establish Tiverton-Rothwell and the Tiverton Agricultural Impact Fund to promote regenerative agricultural practices and demonstrate farming’s importance in protecting and restoring natural capital. Among other projects the Fund is responsible for the purchase of Juanburg station, a site of a globally significant conservation, and a project to restore the Great Cumbung Swamp in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Australia.

## Key conservation projects

2022 – Successfully returned a breeding population of Eastern Quolls into Tiverton Farm, returning the species to a region it had been extinct for 70 years.

2021 – Helped establish the Byron Bay mobile wildlife hospital, based in Knockrow, NSW.

2021 – Originated the concept of “regenerative urbanism” at the Glen Junor development outside Melbourne, creating a high value corridor connecting Brisbane Ranges National Park and the Werribee Gorge State Park.

2020 – Founded the South-East Australia Sanctuary Operations Network (now the National Sanctuary Network), bringing diversity and connectivity to threatened species conservation.

2020 – Secured the down-listing from extinct to critically endangered of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

2019 – Marshalled the emergency bushfire evacuation and translocation of Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies from Canberra, saving them from local extinction.

2019 – Co-designed Melbourne SkyFarm Environmental Education Centre.

2017 – Integrated threatened species programs into three regenerative agriculture enterprises: Orana Park farm, Picardy Station and Sunland Fresh Fruit.

## Awards and honours

The Australian Impact Investment Awards (2020) - Outstanding Individual Achievement

Zoos Victoria \- Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)

## InfoBox

| Nigel Wimble Sharp | |
| --- | --- |
| Born | (1961-07-28) July 28, 1961<br>Hamilton, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Conservationist |
| Spouse | Rosemary Etherton |
| Website | www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-sharp-tiverton/ |


title: Montpelier railway station, Jamaica

abstract: Montpelier railway station opened in 1895 and closed in 1992. It served the village of Montpelier on the Kingston to Montego Bay line and was 103 miles (166 km) from the Kingston terminus. It is on the list of designated National Heritage Sites in Jamaica.

text:
# Montpelier railway station, Jamaica

**Montpelier railway station** opened in 1895 and closed in 1992. It served the village of Montpelier on the Kingston to Montego Bay line and was 103 miles (166 km) from the Kingston terminus. It is on the list of designated National Heritage Sites in Jamaica.

## Architecture

The station was constructed in 1895 of timber to a unique two-storey design in a combination of Jamaican Georgian and Victorian architectural styles. The ground floor is constructed of ashlar, the upper floor of timber. It has decorative fanlights, a Queen Ann entablature and pediment above the windows and a gable end zinc roof.

In 2003, it was reported as being in "very poor condition" and "in need of major repairs".

## Fares

In 1910 the third class fare from Montpelier to Kingston was 8/- (eight shillings); first class was about double.

1. The rise and fall of railways in Jamaica, 1845-1975 - Pg18 Journal of Transport History - March 2003
2. Table 3.5 Mileage for JRC Stations, Halts & Sidings in relation to the Kingston Railway Terminus Archived 2013-03-15 at the Wayback Machine, Annual Transport Statistics Report: Jamaica in Figures 2003-2004, Ministry of Transport and Works, July 2005.
3. Montpelier Railway Station Archived 2009-09-08 at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica National Heritage Trust.
4. Table 3.4 Location and Condition of Railway Stations Archived 2013-03-15 at the Wayback Machine, Annual Transport Statistics Report: Jamaica in Figures 2003-2004, Ministry of Transport and Works, July 2005.
5. 1910 Directory, Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library, 2006.

## InfoBox

| Montpelier | |
| --- | --- |
| General information | |
| Coordinates | 18°22′22″N 77°55′54″W / 18.372711°N 77.931798°W / 18.372711; -77.931798 |
| Owned by | Jamaica Railway Corporation |
| Line(s) | Kingston to Montego Bay main line |
| Platforms | Single |
| Tracks | One |
| History | |
| Opened | c1894 |
| Closed | 1992-10 |
|  | |
|  | |
|  | |
| Location  MontpelierLocation within Jamaica | |


title: Ariel Stone

abstract:
Ariel Stone, also called C. Ariel Stone, is the first American rabbi to lead a congregation in the former Soviet Union, and the first progressive rabbi to serve the Jewish community in Ukraine. After serving as Assistant Rabbi of Temple Israel of Greater Miami 1991 to 1993 with Rabbi Rex Perlmeter, she represented the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine from 1993 until 1994. While in Ukraine she was a rabbi at Congregation HaTikvah in Kiev, and helped in creating progressive congregations in Ukraine.
In 1993-1994 she taught Holocaust studies at the University of Central Florida. Since 2002, Ariel Stone has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Portland, Oregon. Stone has a master's degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and was awarded a Doctor of Jewish Studies degree from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago in 2010. As of 2018, she has served as adjunct faculty in the Religious Studies departments of Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, and Portland State University in Oregon. From 2007-2009 and again from 2015-2017 she was President of the Oregon Board of Rabbis. She is the founder of the Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance, a group of faith leaders committed to justice, compassion and accountability. The Portland Human Rights Commission awarded Ariel Stone the Emily G. Gottfried Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Her books include "Because All is One" and "The Aleph Bet of Death, Dying as a Jew: A Guide for the Dying out of Traditional Sources."

text:
# Ariel Stone

**Ariel Stone,**  also called **C. Ariel Stone**, is the first American rabbi to lead a congregation in the former Soviet Union, and the first progressive rabbi to serve the Jewish community in Ukraine. After serving as Assistant Rabbi of Temple Israel of Greater Miami 1991 to 1993 with Rabbi Rex Perlmeter, she represented the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine from 1993 until 1994. While in Ukraine she was a rabbi at Congregation HaTikvah in Kiev, and helped in creating progressive congregations in Ukraine. In 1993-1994 she taught Holocaust studies at the University of Central Florida.

Since 2002, Ariel Stone has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Portland, Oregon. Stone has a master's degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and was awarded a Doctor of Jewish Studies degree from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago in 2010. As of 2018, she has served as adjunct faculty in the Religious Studies departments of Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, and Portland State University in Oregon. From 2007-2009 and again from 2015-2017 she was President of the Oregon Board of Rabbis.

She is the founder of the Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance, a group of faith leaders committed to justice, compassion and accountability. The Portland Human Rights Commission awarded Ariel Stone the Emily G. Gottfried Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Her books include "Because All is One" and "The Aleph Bet of Death, Dying as a Jew: A Guide for the Dying out of Traditional Sources."


title: Operation Smile China Medical Mission

abstract: Operation Smile China Medical Mission (OSCMM) is a non-profit organisation that provides reconstructive surgery for the underprivileged children with cleft lips and / or palates in China. Chaired by Sir David Akers-Jones, OSCMM has provided over 26,000 free cleft surgeries to date since founded in 1991 in Hong Kong. To enhance long-term capabilities of local medical professionals in China to treat cleft lip and palate, OSCMM also provides intensive resident and surgical training programmes. The organisation receives support from worldwide volunteers and donors.

text:
# Operation Smile China Medical Mission

**Operation Smile China Medical Mission** (OSCMM) is a non-profit organisation that provides reconstructive surgery for the underprivileged children with cleft lips and / or palates in China.

Chaired by Sir David Akers-Jones, OSCMM has provided over 26,000 free cleft surgeries to date since founded in 1991 in Hong Kong. To enhance long-term capabilities of local medical professionals in China to treat cleft lip and palate, OSCMM also provides intensive resident and surgical training programmes.

The organisation receives support from worldwide volunteers and donors.

## InfoBox

Operation Smile - China Medical Mission Limited
| 微笑行動中國基金有限公司 | |
| --- | --- |
| Formation | 1991 (1991) |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Medical charity |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
| Services | Provision of free corrective surgery for the underprivileged children and young adults with clefts in China |
| Chairman | Sir David Akers-Jones |
| Website | oscmm.org |


title: Praemordella

abstract: Praemordella martynovi is a species of beetle in the family Mordellidae, the only species in the genus Praemordella.

text:
# Praemordella

***Praemordella martynovi*** is a species of beetle in the family Mordellidae, the only species in the genus ***Praemordella***.

## InfoBox

| *Praemordella* | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Mordellidae |
| Subfamily: | Mordellinae |
| Tribe: | Mordellini |
| Genus: | ***Praemordella***
Shchegoleva-Barovskaya, 1929 |
| Species: | ***P. martynovi*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Praemordella martynovi***
Shchegoleva-Barovskaya, 1929 | |
|


title: PAS-6

abstract: PAS-6 was a communications satellite owned by PanAmSat and serving the South America market.

text:
# PAS-6

**PAS-6** was a communications satellite owned by PanAmSat and serving the South America market.

## Satellite description

PAS-6 was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of 3,420 kg (7,540 lb). Designed for an operational life of 15 years, the spacecraft was equipped with 36 Ku-band transponders.

## Launch

Arianespace launched PAS-6, using an Ariane 4 launch vehicle, flight number V98, in the Ariane 44P H10-3 configuration. The launch took place from ELA-2 at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, at Kourou in French Guiana, on 8 August 1997, at 06:46:00 UTC.

## Decommissioning

On 17 March 2004, PAS-6 suffered an anomaly resulting in a loss of power. Then PanAmSat moved the satellite to a storage orbit while the PanAmSat and SS/L evaluated the problem. On 1 April 2004, this satellite experienced another anomaly and more significant loss of power. PAS-6 was put in graveyard orbit.

## InfoBox

PAS-6
| Names | PANAMSAT 6
Panamsat 6 |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | PanAmSat (1997-2004) |
| COSPAR ID | 1997-040A |
| SATCAT no. | 24891 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned)
7 years (achieved) |
|  | |
|  | |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | SSL 1300 |
| Bus | LS-1300 |
| Manufacturer | Space Systems/Loral |
| Launch mass | 3,420 kg (7,540 lb) |
|  | |
|  | |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 8 August 1997, 06:46:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 44P H10-3 (V98) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | October 1997 |
|  | |
|  | |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | April 2004 |
|  | |
|  | |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 45° West |
|  | |
|  | |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 36 Ku-band |
| Coverage area | South America, Brazil |
|  | |
| PanAmSat constellation | |


title: West Carrizo Creek

abstract: West Carrizo Creek forms in Las Animas County, Colorado west-southwest of Kim, Colorado and flows generally east. It connects with East Carrizo Creek, which forms in Colorado north of Mt. Carrizo and east of Kim, and which flows generally southeast before turning south, to form North Carrizo Creek at a point about six miles north of the Preston Monument, the tripoint of Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

text:
# West Carrizo Creek

**West Carrizo Creek** forms in Las Animas County, Colorado west-southwest of Kim, Colorado and flows generally east. It connects with East Carrizo Creek, which forms in Colorado north of Mt. Carrizo and east of Kim, and which flows generally southeast before turning south, to form North Carrizo Creek at a point about six miles north of the Preston Monument, the tripoint of Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

## InfoBox

| West Carrizo Creek | |
| --- | --- |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
|  | |
| Source |  |
| location | Las Animas County, Colorado |
|  | |
| Mouth |  |
| location | Baca County, Colorado |
| coordinates | 37°5′28″N 103°1′25″W / 37.09111°N 103.02361°W / 37.09111; -103.02361 |
| elevation | 4,564 feet (1,391 m) |
| Length | 60 kilometers (37 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | North Carrizo CreekCimarron RiverArkansasMississippi |
| Tributaries |  |
| left | * Colorado Creek * Saltillo Creek * Tecolate Creek * Pintada Creek * Cottonwood Creek |
| right | * Tomasa Creek * Owl Roost Creek * Middle Water Creek |


title: Thomas J. Autzen House

abstract: The Thomas J. Autzen House is an historic house located in northeast Portland, Oregon. The Tudor Revival style house was built in 1927, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 9, 1992.

text:
# Thomas J. Autzen House

The **Thomas J. Autzen House** is an historic house located in northeast Portland, Oregon.

The Tudor Revival style house was built in 1927, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 9, 1992.

## InfoBox

|  | |
| --- | --- |
| Thomas J. Autzen House | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Portland Historic Landmark | |
|  | |
| Thomas J. Autzen House in 2009 | |
|  | |
| Location | 2425 NE Alameda Street<br>Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°33′06″N 122°38′26″W / 45.551532°N 122.640417°W / 45.551532; -122.640417 |
| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Kirtland K. Cutter |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000088 |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1992 |


title: Italy–Switzerland relations

abstract: Diplomatic relations between Italy and Switzerland have traditionally been close and are currently governed by a complex set of treaties. The two countries share a long border, three common official languages and a regional language. Valtellina in the Lombardy region was part of Switzerland from 1512 to 1797. There are 48,000 Swiss in Italy and Italian citizens are the largest foreign group in Switzerland: 500,000 including those with dual citizenship. Switzerland was a popular destination for Italian emigrants in the 19th century and between 1950 and 1970 half of all foreigners in Switzerland were Italian. There are also more Swiss schools in Italy than any other country in the world. Relations between the two countries are represented through a range of commercial, cultural and technological relationships. Italy is not only the second largest trading partner in Europe, but also shares with the Federation a collaboration in migration. Cooperation strengthened by the better application of the Dublin Regulation, specifically on readmission matter. A further step has been taken with the agreement on customs and police cooperation on cross-border control and security.

text:
# Italy–Switzerland relations

Diplomatic relations between Italy and Switzerland have traditionally been close and are currently governed by a complex set of treaties (including those with the European Union (EU), of which Italy is a member).

The two countries share a long border, three common official languages (Italian is one of Switzerland's four official languages, German and French are recognised minority languages in Italy; moreover, Romansh is close to Ladin and Friulian, spoken in Northern Italy) and a regional language (Lombard spoken in Canton Ticino in Switzerland and Lombardy in Italy). Valtellina in the Lombardy region was part of Switzerland from 1512 to 1797. There are 48,000 Swiss in Italy and Italian citizens are the largest foreign group in Switzerland: 500,000 including those with dual citizenship. Switzerland was a popular destination for Italian emigrants in the 19th century and between 1950 and 1970 half of all foreigners in Switzerland were Italian. There are also more Swiss schools in Italy than any other country in the world.

Relations between the two countries are represented through a range of commercial, cultural and technological relationships.

Italy is not only the second largest trading partner in Europe, but also shares with the Federation a collaboration in migration. Cooperation strengthened by the better application of the Dublin Regulation, specifically on readmission matter.

A further step has been taken with the agreement on customs and police cooperation on cross-border control and security.

## History

Before the birth of the Italian state in 1861, the relations between Italian state entities and the Swiss territories were of an economic and religious nature. During 1300–1400, for example, Italian merchants and bankers participated at Geneva fairs contributing to their development.

Switzerland established Milan as a protectorate of the Confederation between 1512 and 1515. In 1515, the Swiss helped defend the Duchy of Milan against a French invasion.

In the period of Restoration (1815-1848) the Lombard Enlightenment had an important influence on the Swiss territories, Milan, in fact, became a place of education for the Ticinesi.

During the Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states many Swiss supported the Italian cause, in particular, in the five days of Milan Swiss volunteers fought with the Lombardy-Venetia against the Austrians. Following the capture of Milan in August 1848 some Italian revolutionaries took refuge in Switzerland.

In the Risorgimento era, various Italian patriots, including Cavour, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, became interested in conquering the Ticino Canton and the Italian-speaking valleys of Graubünden. The proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 was perceived with relief by Switzerland, as it provided security for the country's neutrality.

Between 1870 and 1914, there was a large influx of Italian immigrants into Switzerland. This was encouraged by the 1868 treaty of domicile and consulate which ensured freedom of access and domicile in the respective countries. Italian immigrants constituted unskilled labour employed mainly for the construction of railways.

During the First World War, the Italian government was committed to respecting Swiss neutrality and after the war with the establishment of Fascism, bilateral relations were characterized by a policy based on friendship. The two countries concluded a new treaty of commerce (1923) and a treaty of conciliation and judicial regulation (1924).

As in the First World War also in the Second World War Italy recognized the neutrality of Switzerland in 1938, but among the expansion projects exposed by Mussolini on November 30, 1938, to the Great Council of Fascism there was also the Canton of Ticino.

With the end of the Second World War there was a wave of migration to Switzerland mainly due to the fact that the Swiss production system was not affected by the damage of war and Swiss entrepreneurs sought low-cost Italian labour. The Swiss government, however, tried to limit the migration to seasonal work and concluded an agreement in 1948. This agreement stated that workers could not move in Swiss territory and remained tied to those who had hired them. In addition, family reunification was not allowed. This agreement created several tensions between the two countries and for this reason another one was signed in 1964 that allowed reunification.

Following the oil crisis that began in 1973, many Italian workers in Switzerland returned to Italy.

## Business Relations

Italy is Switzerland's second largest trading partner and Switzerland is Italy's 8th largest investor (CHF 22bn) creating 78,000 jobs. The Lombardy Region represents 90% of all Switzerland's trading with Italy according to former federal councillor Ueli Maurer. Italy invests CHF 6bn in Switzerland and creates 13,000 jobs. The two are strongly integrated through the EU's treaties with Switzerland and Switzerland is also part of the EU's Schengen Area.

## History of Economic Relations

Trade relations between the two countries were favored by geographical proximity and their membership in the Latin Monetary Union. The opening of the Gotthard tunnel and the port of Geneva also favored relations.

The Italian protectionist turn in the 1970s led to a partial slowdown of trade relations, which created the condition for a revision of trade treaties. Although the revision took place, trade balance remained clearly in favor of Italy.

Until 1970, the Swiss market was the only one with which Italy benefited from a constant trade surplus, already at the beginning of the 20th century Swiss investors and companies gave important impulses to the peninsula.

Bilateral trade was not visibly affected by Italy's participation in war, a clear sign was the opening of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Italy in 1919. This period was also characterized by a relative decrease in Swiss imports from Italy although exports remained constant, this turned out on the reduction of trade balance favorable to Italy.

After the war in Ethiopia, the Swiss financial center and in particular the credit institutions, played a central role in the transfer of credit to Italy.

The end of the Second World War gave a new start to bilateral trade:

In 1950, both countries joined the European Payments Union. As a result, new trade agreements and payment methods led to a new period of liberalization of bilateral trade and stability in terms of trade volume.

This period is featured by a large amount of investment from the Confederation to the peninsula:

* The Swiss financial center stood out for its fundamental role in the assignment of receivables to Italian companies and institutions. State railways received a loan from the Swiss financial center and used it to strengthen and electrify the railway lines that connected northern Italy to Switzerland.
* About 50% of the Swiss FDI in Italy was concentrated in the north of the country. The importance of Swiss direct investment in Italy was often explained by the influx of Italian capital illegally exported to the confederation, which made Lugano the third financial center of the country.

## Contemporary economic relations

Switzerland is one of Italy's most important trading partners. In 2021, Switzerland exported goods worth US$13.2 billion to Italy and imported goods worth US$32.2 billion, resulting in a total trade volume of US$45.4 billion. Investment flows in both directions are of major economic significance for both countries.

In 2020:

* Swiss direct investments in Italy amounted to EUR 28.9 billion
* Italian direct investments in Switzerland totaled EUR 18.4 billion.

Exchanges are close in border regions. Over 70000 Italians cross the border to work in Switzerland. At the end of 2017 there were about a thousand Italian companies in Switzerland, which hire 21,000 employees, mainly in the following sectors: clothing, finance, food and construction. Specifically for the construction sector, the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Switzerland, has launched an initiative called Investment4Business, which facilitates and promotes investments in real estate business between the two countries.

## The "Istituto Svizzero"

In 1947 Switzerland founded the “Istituto Svizzero di Roma”, which was created to enhance the cooperation between Italy and Switzerland in the cultural and the scientific fields. This institute participates in various projects like the “settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo” which is an initiative of the Italian foreign ministry. The institute aims to extend the influence of Switzerland culture beyond its borders. The structure offers exhibitions, conferences, meetings in Rome, Milan, and Palermo. Every year the institute hosts young researchers or artists. Exchange students attending these programs study Italian, which is one of the four Swiss national languages.

The institute supports Swiss projects and research in Italy. In this way the cooperation and the cultural and scientific exchange between the two countries is enhanced. The main objectives of the structure are:

1. Offer young people the possibility to develop their projects (scientific or artistic) and to participate actively in the Italian activities.
2. Develop artistic and scientific collaborations between Switzerland and Italy.
3. Promote Swiss education, research and innovation in Italy

## Cooperation in education

In Milan, Bergamo, Rome, Catania and Como it is possible to find Swiss schools. Two universities, the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, offer Italian students the possibility to apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to the State Secretariat for Education Research and Innovation.

## Diplomatic relations

Italy and Switzerland diplomatic relations are based on the conclusion of 22 treaties and on regular meetings between the representatives of the two governments.

## Resident diplomatic missions

## InfoBox

Italian-Swiss relations
|  | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
|  |  |
|
Italy |
Switzerland |
|  | |


title: Walt Furnace

abstract: Walter Ray Furnace is an American politician and businessman.

text:
# Walt Furnace

**Walter Ray Furnace** (born December 31, 1943) is an American politician and businessman.

## Background

Furnace was born in Ennis, Texas and graduated from the George Carter High School. He served in the United States Air Force. He settled in Anchorage, Alaska and received his bachelor's in business administration from University of Alaska Anchorage in 1972. He also went to the Gambell Street Business School and the Western CUNA Management School. Furnace was involved in the banking business in Anchorage. Furnace served on the Anchorage School Board and was president of the school board. He was a Republican. Furnace served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1982 to 1990.


title: Montauk Manor

abstract: Montauk Manor is a historic resort hotel located in the hamlet of Montauk in Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island. It was built in 1926 by Carl G. Fisher and is a four-story, 140 decorated condominium apartments in the Tudor Revival style. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver, the firm responsible for several Miami Beach-area hotels, The Breakers in Palm Beach, The Biltmore in Los Angeles, and The Pierre, The Sherry-Netherland and the former Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan, New York City. The first floor of the hotel contains a variety of public rooms and service areas. The second and third floors contain hotel rooms and the attic is generally unfinished. It operates as a 140-apartment resort condominium hotel and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

text:
# Montauk Manor

**Montauk Manor** is a historic resort hotel located in the hamlet of Montauk in Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island. It was built in 1926 by Carl G. Fisher and is a four-story, 140 decorated condominium apartments in the Tudor Revival style. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver, the firm responsible for several Miami Beach-area hotels, The Breakers in Palm Beach, The Biltmore in Los Angeles, and The Pierre, The Sherry-Netherland and the former Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan, New York City.

The first floor of the hotel contains a variety of public rooms and service areas. The second and third floors contain hotel rooms and the attic is generally unfinished. It operates as a 140-apartment resort condominium hotel and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

**Notes**

## InfoBox

|  | |
| --- | --- |
| Montauk Manor | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
|  | |
| (2013) | |
|  | |
| Location | 236 Edgemere Street,<br>Montauk, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°2′54″N 71°56′59″W / 41.04833°N 71.94972°W / 41.04833; -71.94972 |
| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Schultze & Weaver |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002995 |
| Added to NRHP | August 23, 1984 |


title: Ariel Steinberg

abstract: Ariel Steinberg is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He made his senior debut against West Coast in round 21 of the 2014 season.

text:
# Ariel Steinberg

**Ariel Steinberg** (born 26 August 1992 in Mildura, Victoria, Australia) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He made his senior debut against West Coast in round 21 of the 2014 season.

## AFL career

Steinberg was selected by Essendon with the thirty-first pick in the 2010 AFL Draft in November 2010. Ariel was drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup having joined the Pioneers squad halfway through the 2010 season.

He started playing for the Bendigo Bombers in their 2011 season. He kicked 3 goals against Frankston on 17 April 2011. He kicked 5 goals against the Box Hill Hawks on 19 June 2011. He kicked four goals against the Werribee Tigers on 7 August 2011. He kicked three goals against the Northern Bullants on 4 September 2011. He scored 25 goals in 2011. He was delisted in October 2015.

Steinberg, along with 33 other Essendon players, was found guilty of using a banned performance-enhancing substance, thymosin beta-4, as part of Essendon's sports supplements program during the 2012 season. He and his teammates were initially found not guilty in March 2015 by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal, but a guilty verdict was returned in January 2016 after an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was suspended for two years which, with backdating, ended in November 2016; as a result, he served approximately fourteen months of his suspension and missed the entire 2016 VFL season, during which time he had intended to play for VFL club Williamstown.

## Personal life

Growing up in Mildura, he supported the Essendon Football Club, and his hero was Matthew Lloyd. In 2009, Steinberg played gridiron in Alberta, Canada whilst on student exchange. In Canada, Steinberg was the punter for his high school, the McNally Tigers, and he also played regular Aussie Rules games for the Edmonton men's side and helped coach and umpire for the Emus women's team. Women's Australian rules Football in Edmonton now rapidly growing supplying half the women for the Canadian National team. He has two sisters, Hadassah and Yael, and brother Asher.

## InfoBox

| Ariel Steinberg | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal information | | | |
| Full name | Ariel Steinberg | | |
| Date of birth | (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 | | |
| Original team(s) | Bendigo Pioneers | | |
| Draft | 31st overall, 2010 national draft | | |
| Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | | |
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | | |
| Position(s) | Forward | | |
| Playing career1 | | | |
| Years | **Club** | **Games (Goals)** |
| 2014–2015 | Essendon | 10 (0) |
| 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015. | | | |
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | | | |


title: Operation Snowball

abstract: Operation Snowball is an international alcohol, tobacco and drug-use prevention program founded in Illinois in 1977, focusing on leadership development to encourage young people to avoid taking drugs. The name originates from the idea that having a positive impact on an individual can "snowball" into positive results for an entire community and beyond. Operation Snowball is part-funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, and governed by an elected board of directors.

text:
# Operation Snowball

**Operation Snowball** is an international alcohol, tobacco and drug-use prevention program founded in Illinois in 1977, focusing on leadership development to encourage young people to avoid taking drugs. The name originates from the idea that having a positive impact on an individual can "snowball" into positive results for an entire community and beyond.

Operation Snowball is part-funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, and governed by an elected board of directors.

## History

Operation Snowball was founded in 1977 in Rockford, Illinois, for youth and adults who attended the Illinois Teenage Institute on Substance Abuse (ITI), sponsored by the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADD). In 1979, the Superintendent of Barrington Area Schools asked three Barrington High School students to identify ways Operation Snowball could work to have a positive impact on middle school and high school students. The students designed and piloted a peer-to-peer drug and alcohol prevention and intervention program in 1980, in which Barrington High School students met with class groups at Barrington Middle School to discuss the impact of alcohol on their lives, their decision to abstain, and the consequences of abstaining for their lives. From its inception, Operation Snowball was run by youth managers, with adults in primarily advisory roles. By 1989, the Barrington model was in use in all of Illinois School District 220, and later chapters throughout the state of Illinois. At first the program was targeted at high school (Operation Snowball) and junior high school students (Operation Snowflake), but was later expanded to include elementary schools (Operation Snowflurry). The model is now implemented mainly through retreats.

## Program models

Operation Snowball runs school-based and community-based chapters. Different program models include:

* Operation Snowflurry: Preschool and elementary age youth
* Operation Snowflake: Middle school and junior high school age youth
* Operation Snowball: High school age youth
* Operation Segue: young adults age 18–24
* Operation Blizzard: Families and adults
* Operation Snowcap: Senior citizens

Each program model focuses on the issues resulting from alcohol and other drug use and abuse in a manner appropriate for each age group. The programs follow the same principles and guidelines, and may include weekly meetings, weekend retreats, drug-free alternative activities, peer mentoring, and community events.

1. Operation Snowball site

## References


title: Judo at the 2014 Asian Para Games

abstract: Judo at the 2014 Asian Para Games was held at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium in Incheon, South Korea from 20 to 23 October 2014.

text:
# Judo at the 2014 Asian Para Games

**Judo** at the 2014 Asian Para Games was held at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium in Incheon, South Korea from 20 to 23 October 2014.

## Medal summary

In December 2021, IBSA divided the Para Judo events in J1 and J2 classes.

### Medal table

Source:

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Uzbekistan (UZB) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | China (CHN) | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Mongolia (MGL) | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| 4 | Iran (IRI) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | South Korea (KOR) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Japan (JPN) | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 | Thailand (THA) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | India (IND) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals (9 entries) | | 16 | 15 | 20 | 51 |

Not Awarded medal to last place (-1 rule in Asian para games): 1 silver UZB - 3 bronze IND - 1 Bronze MGL

## InfoBox

| Judo <br>at the 2014 Asian Para Games | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Location | Incheon, South Korea |
| Dates | October |
|


title: Israel–Saudi Arabia relations

text:
# Israel–Saudi Arabia relations

The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have never had formal diplomatic relations. In 1947, Saudi Arabia voted against the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, and currently does not recognize Israeli sovereignty. However, as of 2023, bilateral negotiations towards Israeli–Saudi normalization are ongoing, with the United States serving as the two sides' mediator.

During the main phase of the Arab–Israeli conflict, Saudi Arabia supported the Arab League against Israel. Likewise, the official Saudi policy towards the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has been supportive of the Palestinian Arabs. However, reports have surfaced in recent years indicating extensive behind-the-scenes cooperation in the areas of diplomacy, intelligence, and security. Warming relations between the two sides are a direct result of the unofficial Arab–Israeli alliance, which came to fruition in light of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict. At the same time, the Saudi relationship with the Palestinian National Authority has been deteriorating.

## Early years

A charter member of the Arab League, Saudi Arabia has supported Palestinian rights to sovereignty, and called for withdrawal from the West Bank and other territory occupied by Israel since 1967. In 1947, Saudi Arabia was one of several Middle Eastern states that voted against in the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Saudi troops were sent to fight against Israel in the 1948 and 1973 wars. The 1981 Israel operation Operation Opera, a preemptive strike on nuclear reactor purchased by Iraq from France in 1976, allegedly took place with the cooperation of Saudi Arabia, as the flight path was over Saudi territory.. In recent years Saudi Arabia has changed its viewpoint concerning the validity of negotiating with Israel, which it previously refused. It calls for Israel's withdrawal from territory occupied in June 1967. In 2002 then-Crown Prince Abdullah extended a multilateral peace proposal based on withdrawal that would follow the borders of a two-state solution. At that time, Israel did not respond to the offer. In 2007 Saudi Arabia again officially supported a peaceful resolution of the Arab–Israeli conflict in which Israel was to concede to withdraw to the borders set in the two-state solutions, which generated more official negative reactions from Israeli authorities, citing the Oslo Accords and the Saudis' deviation from those accords. At this time, no demands were made of any other party other than of Israel.

Saudi Arabia rejected the Camp David Accords, claiming that they would be unable to achieve a comprehensive political solution that would ensure Palestinian Arabs can all move to Israel and the division of Jerusalem. In response to Egypt "betraying" the Arab States and signing peace with Israel, Saudi Arabia, along with all the Arab States, broke diplomatic relations with and suspended aid to Egypt; the two countries renewed formal ties in 1987. Simultaneously Saudi Arabia and Israel initiated their early steps towards a secret dialogue.

## Warming (post-2010s)

In 2005, Saudi Arabia announced the end of its ban on Israeli goods and services, due to its application to the World Trade Organization, where one member country cannot have a total ban on another. However, as of August 2006, the Saudi boycott was not cancelled. Reports in Arabic-language media suggest that there have been several meetings between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli officials over the last two years, with at least one of them taking place in Eilat in 2015 and another on the sidelines of the Arab summit in Jordan in March 2017. It has also been reported that Saudi and Israeli officers have been regularly meeting in a joint war room serving as a coordination center for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

After the Arab Spring, Israel views the Saudi government as "guarantor of stability", according to the *New York Times*. In 2011, Israel approved a German sale of 200 Leopard tanks to Saudi Arabia. The approval came from Uzi Arad, the national security advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, Middle East Eye editor David Hearst wrote an article claiming that Saudi Arabia was supportive of Israel's actions in the conflict, and that officials from Mossad and the Saudi intelligence agencies met regularly. The Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz, denied that the Saudi government was allied with Israel, describing Israel's actions against civilians in Gaza as "crimes against humanity" - however he did not deny that the two countries had contact, saying that "any dealings by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Israel have been limited to attempts to bring about a plan for peace".

After Egypt agreed to transfer the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia in April 2016, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said that his country would honor the terms of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty regarding the islands. However, they will have no direct contact with Israel over the matter. The Israeli government did not signal any opposition to the deal. Tzachi Hanegbi who heads the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said that the deal does not threaten Israel and welcomed it as a closing of ranks by Sunni Arab states that share Israel's hostility to Iran, Hezbollah, and the Islamist extremist insurgents racking the region. Israel's Defence Minister said on 12 April that Saudi Arabia had given it written assurances over freedom of passages in Tiran Straits.

According to a May 2015 article by *The Times of Israel*, the London-based Arab paper *Rai al-Youm* reported that Israel had offered to provide Saudi Arabia with Iron Dome technology against rockets from bordering Yemen. The proposal was reportedly sent via American diplomats during a meeting in Amman, Jordan, and subsequently refused. Official sources have not confirmed the report.

On 23 July 2016, a retired Saudi general visited Israel, heading a delegation of academics and businessmen seeking to encourage relations. Issawi Frej stated that Saudis wanted to open up to Israel and that it was a strategic move for them. He further stated that they wanted to continue what former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat started (with the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty).

In August 2016, some journalists in Saudi Arabia reported that Saudi Arabia had started shifting their tone towards Israel and had started to criticize antisemitism in Arab countries. Some sections of the Israeli media described it as an apparent media campaign by the country to shape a positive public opinion for deepening of ties between the two nations.

*The Times* has reported that Saudi Arabia has tested the ability to stand down their air defenses to allow an Israeli strike on Iran to pass through their airspace. Both nations have denied this.

In spite of not having official diplomatic relations, they cooperate with each other by intelligence exchange, especially about Iran. In a meeting at the Washington office of the Council on Foreign Relations, Anwar Eshki, a retired major general in the Saudi armed forces and Dore Gold, a former Israeli ambassador close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussed "their common interests in opposing Iran".

In June 2017, former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon stated that “We and the Arabs, the same Arabs who organized in a coalition in the Six-Day War to try to destroy the Jewish state, today find themselves in the same boat with us … The Sunni Arab countries, apart from Qatar, are largely in the same boat with us since we all see a nuclear Iran as the number one threat against all of us,”.

On 19 November 2017, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said that Israel has had covert contacts with Saudi Arabia amid common concerns over Iran. This is the first public admission of cooperation between the two countries by a senior Israeli official.

A diplomatic cable from Israel's foreign ministry to its overseas embassies instructed Israeli diplomats to back the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, and to back Saudi Arabia in the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, as a way to exert pressure against Iran and Hezbollah, which are rivals of both Israel and Saudi Arabia. The cable was leaked to Israel's Channel 10 News in November 2017.

In November 2017, the Israel Defense Forces chief of general staff gave an exclusive interview to Saudi media. Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot confirmed Israel's willingness “to exchange experiences with moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence to confront Iran” and noting that on certain matters, “there is complete agreement between us and Saudi Arabia.”

In November 2018, Netanyahu publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the wake of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, stating "it is very important for the stability of the region and the world that Saudi Arabia remain stable", and privately urged the U.S. administration to maintain its strong security relationship with Saudi Arabia.

In December 2018, the Wall Street Journal wrote that Ahmad Asiri, the general thought to be central in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, had also been central in the connections between Saudi Arabia and Israel. He had visited Israel several times, being the highest placed Saudi official to do so.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation forbids aircraft traveling to Israel from overflying Saudi airspace, but an exception was made for Air India from March 22, 2018, when they launched a flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv that would normally not fly over Saudi airspace.

On September 2, 2020, Saudi Arabia announced that flights to the United Arab Emirates "from all countries" would be allowed to use Saudi airspace. This was in response to the normalization of Israel–UAE relations and the launch of direct flights between the two nations in August 2020. In November 2022, 76% of Saudi respondents said they had negative views of the Abraham Accords.

## Potential normalization

In March 2023, Saudi Arabia was reportedly seeking assurances from the United States to establish normalized relations with Israel. These assurances included assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program, lessening limitations on US arms sales, and providing security guarantees. News of the proposal broke hours before it was announced that a seven-year diplomatic rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran would end following an agreement facilitated by China. The specific details of any potential normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia are ambiguous, and it is likely that certain American lawmakers would resist its implementation. The ramifications of such an accord could lead to uncertainty regarding the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the strengthening of regional opposition to Iran.

In September 2023, Israeli tourism minister Haim Katz attended a UN conference in Saudi Arabia, the first-ever Israeli ministerial visit to Saudi Arabia. The following week, Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi became the first Israeli politician to deliver a speech in Saudi Arabia. Karhi's speech mentioned the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which among other countries would travel through Saudi Arabia and Israel, and is seen as a precursor to Israel-Saudi normalization.

In 2023-2024, reports indicated that Saudi authorities have been removing anti-Israeli and antisemitic content from their textbooks, signaling a more moderate approach towards Israel and Zionism, and acknowledging the Jewish presence in the region.

In October 2023, following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, Saudi Arabia halted negotiations. According to the poll conducted by *The Washington Institute for Near East Policy* between 14 November and 6 December 2023, 96% of Saudi participants believed that Arab nations should cut all ties with Israel, 95% of Saudis did not believe that Hamas killed civilians in its attacks on Israel, 40% of Saudis expressed a favorable opinion of Hamas, and only 16% of Saudis said that "Hamas should stop calling for the destruction of Israel, and instead accept a permanent two-state solution to the conflict based on the 1967 borders." Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom, said in a January 9, 2024 BBC interview that Saudi Arabia was still interested in peace and normalized relations with Israel following the war, on the condition of the creation of a Palestinian State. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made similar remarks during a shuttle diplomacy tour of the Middle East.

## Coalition against Turkey

In August 2020, Mossad's chief Yossi Cohen, on his statement to the Saudi, Egyptian and Emirati counterparts, had openly named Turkey as a new threat for the peace of the region, and even further single out a number of allies Turkey would gain potential support like Azerbaijan and Qatar, the former has strong relations with Israel since 1990s. Both Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have viewed Turkish expansionism under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan represent a new danger for the Middle East since 2018, due to ongoing conflicts with Turkey in Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Libya, with Saudi expert Saud al-Sarhan viewing it as mirroring the Ottoman pan-Islamist policies in World War I.

During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Israel supported Azerbaijan, an ally of both Turkey and Saudi Arabia, against Armenia; but after the Turkish leader blamed Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for inflaming the conflict in Caucasus, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz accused Turkey of terrorism and destabilization. Saudi Arabian Head of Commercial Chamber Ajlan al-Ajlan called for anti-Turkish boycott after President Erdoğan's perceived anti-Saudi remarks.

## InfoBox

Israeli–Saudi relations
|  | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
|  |  |
|
Israel |
Saudi Arabia |
|  | |


title: Thomas J. Michie

abstract: Thomas Johnson Michie was an American attorney and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

text:
# Thomas J. Michie

**Thomas Johnson Michie** (June 7, 1896 – April 9, 1973) was an American attorney and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

## Education and career

Born on June 7, 1896, in Northport, New York, Michie was the son and nephew of the founders of The Michie Company, a lawbook publisher based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michie received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1917 from the University of Virginia, an Artium Magister degree in 1920 from the same institution and a Bachelor of Laws in 1921 from the University of Virginia School of Law. He was a United States Army Second Lieutenant from 1917 to 1919.

Michie entered private practice in Charlottesville from 1921 to 1926. He was an attorney for the Koppers Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1926 to 1942, serving as chief counsel from 1937 to 1942. He was a United States Army Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel from 1942 to 1946. He returned to private practice in Charlottesville from 1946 to 1961, also serving as a Lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law during the same period. The law firm he founded during this period remains in existence. He was the Mayor of Charlottesville from 1958 to 1960. As Mayor, Michie counseled the white citizens of Charlottesville to accept desegregation "as good citizens should." Michie was "a strong, strong leader in trying to work out an acceptable pattern of integration."

### Family

Michie's son, Thomas J. Michie Jr. (D) served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1971 to 1980 and then as state senator from 1980 to 1992. In 1942, Michie published a history of his family, *The Michies*, going back to a Scottish immigrant, known as "Scotch John" Michie.

## Federal judicial service

Michie was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on May 11, 1961, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia vacated by Judge Roby C. Thompson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1961, and received his commission on June 30, 1961. On November 6, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson certified Michie involuntarily as disabled in accordance with the act of September 2, 1957, 71 Stat. 586, which entitled the president to appoint an additional judge for the court and provided that no successor to the judge certified as disabled be appointed. Hiram Emory Widener Jr. was appointed to the additional judgeship. Michie remained in active status and continued to render a reduced level of service. His service terminated on April 9, 1973, due to his death. Due to the provisions of 71 Stat. 586, Michie's seat was abolished upon his death.

### Notable cases and practices

In 1963, Michie began the tradition of conducting naturalization ceremonies at Monticello on Independence Day. Michie was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, owner of Monticello.

Along with his colleagues, including Judges Ted Dalton and John Paul, Michie implemented the decision of the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education in Western Virginia. In 1961, Michie ordered the admission of black students to the high school in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1965, Michie ruled that the school board of Giles County, Virginia violated the Fourteenth Amendment by the dismissal of all of its African-American teachers in the course of integrating its school system. In connection with the civil rights demonstrations in Danville, Virginia in 1963, Michie chose to abstain from exercising jurisdiction over a petition filed by William Kunstler to obtain a federal court injunction against the criminal prosecution of the demonstrators.

## InfoBox

| Thomas J. Michie | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia | |
| **In office**
June 30, 1961  April 9, 1973 | |
| Appointed by | John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Roby C. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | *Seat abolished pursuant to 71 Stat. 586* |
| Mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| **In office**
September 1, 1958  August 31, 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Davis |
| Succeeded by | Louie Scribner |
|  | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Johnson Michie
(1896-06-07)June 7, 1896
Northport, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 1973(1973-04-09) (aged 76) |
| Education | University of Virginia (AB, AM, LLB) |
|  | |


title: Italy–Tunisia Delimitation Agreement

abstract: The Italy–Tunisia Delimitation Agreement is a 1971 treaty between Italy and Tunisia in which the two countries agreed to delimit a maritime boundary between them in the continental shelf. The text of the treaty sets out a complex boundary in the Strait of Sicily representing an equidistant line between Sicily and Tunisia, with the exception of Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands. The maritime boundary around these islands, all closer to Tunisia, is made up of 13-nautical-mile arcs of territorial sea centered on each island which join one another and the equidistant line at the center of the Channel of Sicily mentioned above. The boundary terminates just short of an equidistant line between Malta and the Italian Pelagie Islands and the westernmost point of the boundary line forms a maritime tripoint with Algeria. On 23 January 1975, the countries by agreement added supplemental minutes to the treaty, including a map of the boundary and 32 individual coordinate points that define it. It came into force on 6 December 1978 after it was ratified by both countries. The treaty was signed in Tunis on 20 August 1971 and its full name is Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tunisia and the Government of the Italian Republic concerning the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between the two Countries.

text:
# Italy–Tunisia Delimitation Agreement

The **Italy–Tunisia Delimitation Agreement** is a 1971 treaty between Italy and Tunisia in which the two countries agreed to delimit a maritime boundary between them in the continental shelf. The text of the treaty sets out a complex boundary in the Strait of Sicily representing an equidistant line between Sicily and Tunisia, with the exception of Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa, Linosa and Lampione). The maritime boundary around these islands, all closer to Tunisia, is made up of 13-nautical-mile arcs of territorial sea centered on each island which join one another and the equidistant line at the center of the Channel of Sicily mentioned above.

The boundary terminates just short of an equidistant line between Malta and the Italian Pelagie Islands and the westernmost point of the boundary line forms a maritime tripoint with Algeria. On 23 January 1975, the countries by agreement added supplemental minutes to the treaty, including a map of the boundary and 32 individual coordinate points that define it. It came into force on 6 December 1978 after it was ratified by both countries.

The treaty was signed in Tunis on 20 August 1971 and its full name is *Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tunisia and the Government of the Italian Republic concerning the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between the two Countries*.


title: Histidine phosphotransfer domain

abstract: Histidine phosphotransfer domains and histidine phosphotransferases are protein domains involved in the "phosphorelay" form of two-component regulatory systems. These proteins possess a phosphorylatable histidine residue and are responsible for transferring a phosphoryl group from an aspartate residue on an intermediate "receiver" domain, typically part of a hybrid histidine kinase, to an aspartate on a final response regulator.

text:
# Histidine phosphotransfer domain

| Histidine phosphotransferase | |
| --- | --- |
| The crystal structure of the *Caulobacter crescentus* histidine phosphotransferase protein ChpT in dimeric form. The four helices shown in yellow comprise the conserved four-helix bundle, with the histidine phosphorylation sites highlighted in green. The domains shown in red and tan are pseudo-CA domains that resemble the ATP-binding domains of histidine kinases, but do not bind or hydrolyze ATP. From PDB: 4FMT. | |
| Identifiers | |
| Symbol | HPTransfase |
| Pfam | PF10090 |
| InterPro | IPR018762 |
| Available protein structures:  Pfam structures / ECOD  PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj  PDBsum structure summary | |

**Histidine phosphotransfer domains** and **histidine phosphotransferases** (both often abbreviated **HPt**) are protein domains involved in the "phosphorelay" form of two-component regulatory systems. These proteins possess a phosphorylatable histidine residue and are responsible for transferring a phosphoryl group from an aspartate residue on an intermediate "receiver" domain, typically part of a hybrid histidine kinase, to an aspartate on a final response regulator.

## Function

In orthodox two-component signaling, a histidine kinase protein autophosphorylates on a histidine residue in response to an extracellular signal, and the phosphoryl group is subsequently transferred to an aspartate residue on the receiver domain of a response regulator. In phosphorelays, the "hybrid" histidine kinase contains an internal aspartate-containing receiver domain to which the phosphoryl group is transferred, after which an HPt protein containing a phosphorylatable histidine receives the phosphoryl group and finally transfers it to the response regulator. The relay system thus progresses in the order His-Asp-His-Asp, with the second His contributed by Hpt. In some cases, a phosphorelay system is constructed from four separate proteins rather than a hybrid histidine kinase with an internal receiver domain, and in other examples both the receiver and the HPt domains are present in the histidine kinase polypeptide chain. A census of two-component system domain architecture found that HPt domains in bacteria are more common as domains of larger proteins than they are as individual proteins.

## Regulation

The increased complexity of the phosphorelay system compared to orthodox two-component signaling provides additional opportunities for regulation and improves the specificity of the response. Although there is very little cross-talk between orthodox two-component systems, phosphorelays allow more complex signaling pathways; examples include a bifurcated pathway with multiple downstream outputs, as in the case of the *Caulobacter crescentus* ChpT HPt involved in cell cycle regulation, or, alternatively, pathways in which more than one histidine kinase controls a single response regulator, such as the sporulation pathway in *Bacillus subtilis*, which can give rise to complex temporal variations. In some known cases, there is an additional form of regulation in phosphohistidine phosphatase enzymes that act on HPt, such as the *Escherichia coli* protein SixA which targets ArcB.

## Structure

The histidine phosphotransfer function can be carried out by proteins with at least two different architectures, both composed of a four-helix bundle but differing in the way the bundle is assembled. Most structurally characterized HPt proteins, such as the Hpt domain from the *Escherichia coli* protein ArcB and the *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* protein Ypd1, form the bundle as monomers. In the less common type, such as the *Bacillus subtilis* sporulation factor Spo0B or the *Caulobacter crescentus* protein ChpT, the bundle is assembled as a protein dimer, with similarity to the structure of histidine kinases. Monomeric HPt domains possess only one phosphorylatable histidine residue and interact with one response regulator, whereas dimers have two phosphorylation sites and can interact with two response regulators at the same time. Monomeric HPt domains have no enzymatic activity of their own and act purely as phosphate shuttles, while the dimeric Spo0B is catalytic; its phosphotransfer rate to the recipient response regulator is dramatically accelerated compared to histidine phosphate. Despite possessing a second domain with some similarity to ATPase domains, dimeric HPt proteins have not been shown to bind or hydrolyze ATP and lack key residues present in other ATPases.

The monomeric and dimeric forms do not have detectable sequence similarity and are most likely not evolutionarily related; they are instead examples of convergent evolution. Although dimeric HPts likely originate from degenerate histidine kinases, it is possible that monomeric HPts have a number of distinct origins, as there are few evolutionary constraints on the structure.

## Distribution

In bacteria, where two-component signaling is extremely common, about 25% of known histidine kinases are of the hybrid type. Two-component systems are much rarer in archaea and eukaryotes, and occur in lower eukaryotes and in plants but not in metazoans. Among known examples, most if not all eukaryotic two-component systems are hybrid kinase phosphorelays.

A bioinformatic census of bacterial genomes found large variations in the number of (monomeric) HPt domains identified in different bacterial phyla, with some genomes encoding no HPts at all. Relative to the number of histidine kinase and response regulators present in a genome, eukaryotes have more identifiable HPt domains than bacteria. In fungi, the genomic inventory of HPt proteins varies, with filamentous fungi generally possessing more HPt proteins than yeasts; only one is encoded in the well-characterized *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* genome. Plants generally have more than one HPt, but fewer HPts than response regulators.

## InfoBox

| Histidine phosphotransfer domain | |
| --- | --- |
| The crystal structure of the yeast histidine phosphotransferase protein Ypd1. The four helices shown in yellow comprise the conserved four-helix bundle typical of monomeric HPt domains; the helices shown in red are insertions specific to Ypd1. The histidine phosphorylation site is shown in green. From PDB: 1C02. | |
| Identifiers | |
| Symbol | Hpt |
| Pfam | PF01627 |
| InterPro | IPR008207 |
| SMART | HPT |
| PROSITE | PS50894 |
| Available protein structures:  Pfam structures / ECOD  PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj  PDBsum structure summary | |


title: Uskok War

abstract: The Uskok War, also known as the War of Gradisca or the War of Friuli, was fought by the Austrians, Slovenes, Croats, and Spanish on one side and the Venetians, Dutch, and English on the other. It is named for the Uskoks, soldiers from Croatia used by the Austrians for irregular warfare. Since the Uskoks were checked on land and were rarely paid their annual salary, they resorted to piracy. In addition to attacking Turkish ships, they attacked Venetian merchantmen. Although the Venetians tried to protect their shipping with escorts, watchtowers, and other protective measures, the cost became prohibitive: 120,000 thalers annually during the 1590s, 200,000 in the 1600s, and 360,000 by 1615. In December 1615 Venetian troops besieged Gradisca, on the Isonzo River. The Venetians launched a diplomatic campaign for allies, since the Uskoks were vassals of Archduke Ferdinand of Inner Austria. In September 1616, Count John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen agreed to raise 3,000 men in the Dutch Republic for Venetian service. They arrived in May 1617, followed six months later by another 2,000 with a contingent of English volunteers. Spanish support was blocked at sea by a flotilla of 12 Dutch and 10 English warships, and on land by the concurrent war at Mantua.

text:
# Uskok War

The **Uskok War**, also known as the **War of Gradisca** or the **War of Friuli**, was fought by the Austrians, Slovenes, Croats, and Spanish on one side and the Venetians, Dutch, and English on the other. It is named for the Uskoks, soldiers from Croatia used by the Austrians for irregular warfare.

Since the Uskoks were checked on land and were rarely paid their annual salary, they resorted to piracy. In addition to attacking Turkish ships, they attacked Venetian merchantmen. Although the Venetians tried to protect their shipping with escorts, watchtowers, and other protective measures, the cost became prohibitive: 120,000 thalers annually during the 1590s, 200,000 in the 1600s, and 360,000 by 1615. In December 1615 Venetian troops besieged Gradisca, on the Isonzo River.

The Venetians launched a diplomatic campaign for allies, since the Uskoks were vassals of Archduke Ferdinand of Inner Austria (who was likely to seek help from the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias, his uncle and King Philip III of Spain, his brother-in-law). In September 1616, Count John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen agreed to raise 3,000 men in the Dutch Republic for Venetian service. They arrived in May 1617, followed six months later by another 2,000 with a contingent of English volunteers. Spanish support was blocked at sea by a flotilla of 12 Dutch and 10 English warships, and on land by the concurrent war at Mantua.

## Beginning

The conflict began in January 1616 in the Gorizia Hills, where a garrison of Uskok and Segnani supported the Austrian faction. After the Venetian faction gained the advantage in Mariano, they advanced to Gradisca d'Isonzo on 24 February 1616 and camped in Farra.

The Venetian Republic, powerful at sea, was master of the Adriatic; Austria had a small part of the coast of Trieste and Croatia which was blocked by Venice. No vessel could pass this border without paying taxes or having a Venetian residence. In January 1616, the Gorizia Hills (Collio) were guarded by Uskoks and Segnani in Vipolže and Šmartno. A Venetian detachment remained in the field of Mariano. Romans and Medeans, camped near Farra, advanced on 24 February 1616 towards Gradisca. The siege lasted for twenty-nine days. The Venetian fleet crashed in Trieste, whose garrison was reinforced by Captain Sebastian Zuech. With 1,000 cavalry and infantry, Benedict Lezze occupied the Venetian castle of San Servolo. Uskok troops led by Vuk Frankopan (Wolfgang Frangipane), the Count of Tržac and vice-general of Croatia, arrived in Monfalcone on 26 November 1615 and plundered the town.

## First Siege of Gradisca

In 1616 the Venetians besieged Farra and Gradisca, and the archduke attacked from Gorizia and Lucinico. With three large culverins, four guns, and three small culverins, Farra (despite damage to its buildings) repulsed the enemy artillery with heavy losses. The Venetians launched another futile assault before Giustiniani lifted the siege and retreated to Mariano.

In September, John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen agreed to raise 3,000 men from the Dutch Republic for Venetian service. They arrived in May 1617, followed six months later by another 2,000 (including a contingent of English volunteers). Spanish support was blocked at sea by a flotilla of 12 Dutch and 10 English warships and on land by the war in Mantua. Although Archduke Ferdinand had only 4,000 soldiers to defend Gradisca, he received military, political, and financial support from the Spanish as part of a larger agreement: Philip agreed to fight the Venetians and support Ferdinand as the next Holy Roman Emperor in return for the cession of Alsace, Finale Ligure, and Piombino. This led to a negotiated settlement between Ferdinand and the Venetians in which many Uskoks were executed or exiled, and a permanent Austrian garrison was installed in Senj.

## Second Siege of Gradisca

Count John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen landed in Monfalcone with 4,000 Dutch mercenaries, increasing the Venetian forces to 20,000 men; English soldiers also arrived. At dawn on 2 June the Dutch occupied San Martino del Carso, and the Austrians abandoned their positions between Gradisca and the plateau to the Venetians. With a thousand men, Camillo Trevigliano engaged the Austrians in Gorizia. Six galleys attacked Duino Castle.

On 5 June, the 400 men at Fort Imperial surrendered to the Dutch in exchange for free passage. The Venetians built several small reduits, placing forty pieces and preparing a final assault on Rubbia (the Austrian headquarters). Although civilians began evacuating Gorizia, on 6 June Henry of Nassau refused to continue the assault due to the fatigue of his men.

The Venetians refrained from further offensives, intensifying the blockade of Gradisca; disease halved the Dutch forces. Austrian

Giovanni de Medici left his command for health reasons, and was replaced by Prince Luigi d'Este. Although the Venetians surrounded Fort Stella, Albrecht von Wallenstein brought in reinforcements and supplies. He used his wealth, offering and commanding 200 horses for Archduke Ferdinand of Styria for the war and relieving the fortress of Gradisca from the Venetian siege.

To block Austrian supplies from the valley, the Venetians considered occupying Sdraussina and Fogliano (south of Gradisca). Although the occupation was planned in detail by Don Giovanni de' Medici on 25 August 1617, it was not carried on because it was considered too dangerous and relief to the fort from the plateau continued.

Although Ferdinand had only 4,000 soldiers to defend Gradisca, he received military, political, and financial support from Spain as part of a larger deal: Philip agreed to fight the Venetians and support Ferdinand as the next Holy Roman Emperor in return for the cession of Alsace, Finale Ligure, and Piombino. This led to a negotiated settlement between Ferdinand and the Venetians in which many Uskok pirates were executed or exiled, and a permanent Austrian garrison was installed in Senj.

## Peace

In the face of ongoing hostilities, there was a yearning for peace on both sides. In anticipation of problems in Germany, Ferdinand wanted to break away from the commitment of the war with Venice. In any case, Venice was also uncommitted to the war, largely due to fear of direct Spanish intervention.

On 6 November, a truce was signed. On 28 November, six days after the Spanish and Venetian armadas directly collided in the Battle of Ragusa, demobilisation began. However, peace talks were prolonged and the Netherlands continued to recruit soldiers.

1. Parker, Geoffrey. *The Thirty Years' War*, 2nd edition. 1997. ISBN 0-415-12883-8
2. Carlo Morelli di Schönfeld (1856). *Istoria della contea di Gorizia*. Paternolli. p. 94. Guerra di Gradisca.
3. Wilson, Peter H. (2011). *The Thirty Years War: Europe's tragedy* (First Harvard University Press paperback edition, 2011 ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-06231-3.
4. Ripley, George & Charles Anderson Dana. (1858) *The New American Cyclopaedia*, D. Appleton and Company. pp. 185–189.
5. Di Bert, Marino *Vicende storiche gradiscane*, Società Filologica Friulana, Udine, pp. 65–104.
6. Caimmi Riccardo, La guerra del Friuli, Altrimenti nota come la guerra di gradisca o degli Uscocchi, ed. Goriziana 2007, pp. 164–165.
7. San Juan Sánchez, Víctor (2018). *Breve historia de las batallas navales del Mediterráneo*. Nowtilus. ISBN 9788499679365.

## InfoBox

| Uskok War | |
| --- | --- |
| Date December 1615 – 26 September 1617  Location Northern shores of the Adriatic Sea  Result Formal Venetian victory
* Many Uskok pirates executed or exiled * Austrian garrison installed to check Uskoks  Territorial
changes  Venice retains control over Trieste | |
| Belligerents | |
| Republic of Venice
Dutch Republic
England
Ottoman Empire | Holy Roman Empire
Kingdom of Croatia
Spain |
| Commanders and leaders | |
|  |  |


title: Ardonea

abstract: Ardonea is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae.

text:
# Ardonea

***Ardonea*** is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae.

## Species

## InfoBox

| *Ardonea* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Erebidae |
| Subfamily: | Arctiinae |
| Tribe: | Lithosiini |
| Genus: | *Ardonea*<br>Walker, 1854 |
|