## Democrats not swayed by call to end shutdown from largest federal workers’ union

Authored by cnn.com

Democrats appear to be unmoved by fresh demands from the largest federal employees’ union to reopen the government, a sign that the shutdown stalemate between lawmakers will continue as government workers increasingly feel the pain during the process.

It’s the latest example of how pressure points have not had the power to bring an end to the current shutdown, which is already the second longest in US history with no end in sight.

Over one million federal workers are going unpaid as the impasse drags on and some are turning to food pantries.

Democrats were quick to say they care about the plight of federal workers and what the union has to say.

“I had a conversation with the president of AFGE earlier, right after the shutdown, and that was their position then.

Republicans, on the other hand, have blamed Democrats for the consequences of the shutdown, arguing that all they have to do is provide the votes to reopen the government for the impasse to end.

Meanwhile, another major union, the National Treasury Employees Union, told CNN it did not have an update on their position following AFGE’s new letter but has been calling for a bipartisan agreement to end the government shutdown. »

### The Nature Conservancy adds over 12,000 acres to its conservation efforts in northern Minnesota

Authored by wdio.com

With its largest land acquisition in 25 years, The Nature Conservancy is conserving another 12,000 acres of Minnesota's Northwoods.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has permanently protected 12,271 acres of forests, wetlands, and connected wildlife habitat in northern Minnesota.

And we think a win for nature and a win for people in Minnesota,” said TNC Director of Forest Strategy and Stewardship Jim Manolis. »

### Man accused of stabbing 2 teens with metal fork on flight from Chicago to Germany

Authored by nbcnews.com

A Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany was diverted to Boston after a man stabbed two teenage passengers with a metal fork, authorities said Monday.

Usiripalli was arrested after the plane landed at Boston's Logan International Airport, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

He then slapped a female passenger, according to the statement, and tried to slap a member of the flight crew. »

### Don't expect Vermintide 3 any time soon, as Fatshark plans to keep supporting the existing game: 'Vermintide will keep on going'

Authored by pcgamer.com

We had to patch the game to allow him to play more, because the number just couldn't go up.

In good news for those hardcore 'Tide heads, Fatshark plans to continue support for Vermintide 2, which has already grown so much it barely resembles the game we reviewed seven years ago.

On the 10th anniversary of Vermintide, Fatshark revealed its roadmap of plans for Darktide and Vermintide 2. »

### Biodegradable plastic made from bamboo is strong and easy to recycle

Authored by newscientist.com

This is, in part, because bioplastics lack the mechanical strength of many oil-based plastics and also can’t be easily used in common manufacturing processes.

Now, Dawei Zhao at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology in China and his colleagues have developed a way to produce plastic from cellulose derived from bamboo, which can replicate or surpass the properties of many widely used plastics.

The plastic’s toughness is comparable to commonly used engineering plastics – strong plastics used in vehicles, appliances and construction, says Andrew Dove at the University of Birmingham, UK, who wasn’t involved in the study. »

## In pictures

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