Time Zone |
America/New_York |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-5 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-4 |
Time Zone |
Africa/Khartoum |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Located in western Massachusetts, on the banks of the Connecticut River and part of the Springfield metropolitan area, Holyoke was an important hub of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, and is known as the "Paper City" - famous for having housed nearly half of the nation's paper mills in the late 1800's. Today, the city combines industrial history with natural charm, and is home to Mount Tom State Park, which is the first of its kind in Massachusetts. Today, this city combines industrial history and natural charm with Mount Tom State Park, which offers panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, and a downtown with a collection of Victorian-era industrial buildings, including the Holyoke Canal System, which still stands as a testament to the prosperity of water transportation in the days of yore. As a multicultural community, the city retains its history and continues to revitalize itself with traditional events such as the annual Three County Fair and educational institutions such as Holyoke Community College.
Abyei, a disputed area on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, is located in the White Nile River basin, covers an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers, is rich in oil resources, and is the focus of a long-standing dispute between the two countries. 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) designated it as a special administrative area under the supervision of the Joint Integrated Unit (JIU), but in 2011 the issue of belonging to it after the independence of South Sudan was left unresolved. The economy of the area, which is predominantly populated by Dinka and Misseriya Arabs, is dependent on the oil industry, but has lagged behind as a result of the conflict. Despite numerous good offices efforts by the international community, the status of Abyei remains unresolved, and its peace and stability are critical to the relationship between the two countries.