The console itself looks far more like a PC than we've seen from previous Xbox consoles, and Microsoft's trailer provides a brief glimpse at the new design.
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Within the next 200 years, scientists believe all of the country's ice giants could disappear. Local geologists and activists hope to change that — starting with a plaque.
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The Nix Mini Color Sensor scans any surface and gives you an instant color match to professional paints. It retails at $99, but you can get it for just $71.40 when you use code MerrySave15 at checkout.
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The control Disney has on pop culture right now is so enormous it's kind of terrifying. Marvel's superhero movies and "Star Wars" are two of—if not the—biggest franchises in the world.
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Law enforcement has long used DNA testing in police investigations, and consumer genetics testing companies also sell your data to third parties like pharmaceutical companies.
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In a previous life, I worked for a giant retailer, who beyond its global money-making operations, also did some philanthropy. The billionaire owner of the company liked to use variations on the phrase, "When we do well, we can do good." The priorities there give the game away.
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The 2010s were a decade of extreme retail innovation. Instagrammy direct-to-consumer companies sprang up seemingly overnight; hulking businesses like Amazon permeated what felt like every aspect of our shopping lives and iconic brands died.
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To solve the problem of Japan's aging workforce, tech companies have developed exoskeletons that help older workers continue to do heavy manual labour.
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Poor indoor air quality causes serious health issues. Things can be improved with determination to sniff out the cause of the problem — and some pricey hardware.
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It seemed possible that as millennials grew older, at least some would return to a more traditional religious life. But there's mounting evidence that today's younger generations may be leaving religion for good.
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$8.41. That was how much 83-year-old Uri Rafaeli, a retired engineer, in Michigan underpaid his property taxes by in 2014. That was all it took for him to lose his house.
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What is the best Adam Sandler movie? From "Happy Gilmore" to "Uncut Gems," "The Wedding Singer" to "Punch-Drunk Love," the definition of what a good Sandler movie is can be tricky to nail down. We rewatched them all to offer our ranking.
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Save 37 percent off this language-learning bundle. Not only will you get a 7-inch tablet and lifetime access to Spanish-language Rosetta Stone, but a grammar guide and dictionary book set are included at no additional cost.
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#UPDATE Canada's Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, facing internal party divisions and a barrage of criticism for failing to unseat a weakened Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October elections, announced he was stepping down https://t.co/kOcq5iJjOSpic.twitter.com/PpRIZiFVON
BREAKING: House Judiciary panel pushes vote on articles of impeachment against President Trump to Friday. Follow our full coverage. https://t.co/I5t8PCsUD4
* The nation was forced to function with just 30 percent of its fuel needs in September, rising to 60 in October * In recent weeks, some areas have had their garbage disposal done by horse and cart to save precious fuel * Cuba doesn't have enough work animals, currently around 200,000, to take up the place of silenced engines
Cubans have been forced to return to using horse and oxen power for farming, travel and transport, largely due to a US blockade on fuel.
In Los Palacios, 60 miles west of the capital Havana, Heriberto Piloto bellows at his oxen 'Montezuelo' and 'Pasajero' as they plough a tobacco field at the 'La Juanita' farm.
Once the fields were ploughed by tractors, plus some animal help, but now beasts of burden are the only option, meaning the job of ploughman has made a comeback too in Cuba's fields.
Alfredo Reynoso, the director of the state company Cubaquivir, which provides services to the 12 agricultural cooperatives in Los Palacios said: 'Under normal conditions, we always used animals and... given the country's fuel restrictions, we've had to increase this activity.
Conservatives' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures while speaking after winning his seat at the counting centre in Britain's general election in Uxbridge, Britain, December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Trucks like this Army Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, move supplies to Syria at the Syrian Logistics Cell operations center, Erbil, Iraq, November 29, 2019. US Army Reserve/Spc. Dakota Vanidestine
The US Army's Syrian Logistics Cell recently helped conduct the withdrawal of US forces from several bases in Syria.
The 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), the Syrian Logistics Cell (SLC), located in Erbil, Iraq, is composed of a small team of soldiers who pack a big punch when it comes to supporting the warfighters in Syria.
The 103rd ESC SLC team was directly involved in the recent withdrawal from Syria.
"The SLC was heavily involved in the materiel retrograde from Syria," Sgt. Maj. Jason Palsma, SLC noncommissioned officer in charge, 103rd ESC, said. "Our team assisted in the deliberate withdrawal of US forces from several bases in Syria while simultaneously continuing the defeat of ISIS."
Key point: The Ford-class makes a lot of promises but is very expensive and has had several issues.
Pres. Donald Trump used the Navy's next-generation aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, as a backdrop to unveil his vision for the next defense budget in March 2017.
The moment was meant to symbolize his commitment to rebuilding the military, but it also positioned the president in front of a monument to the Navy's and defense industry's ability to justify spending billions in taxypayer dollars on unproven technologies that often deliver worse performance at a higher cost.
WNU Editor: I am sure that with time and money the problems that are now besetting the new Ford-class carrier will be ironed out and solved. But it has been a time consuming and expensive education.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to hold a final vote to acquit President Donald Trump, should he be impeached, when a majority of senators believe his trial has run its course instead of holding a vote on dismissing the articles of impeachment, two Republican senators told CNN on Wednesday.
Republicans want to have a vote on acquittal -- to clear the President of the charges against him -- not simply rely on a 51-vote threshold procedural motion to dismiss the hotly disputed case.
The Constitution mandates 67 votes are required to convict the President and remove him from office, a barrier widely considered too high to be reached in this case.
WNU Editor: If President Trump had committed a crime that one can point to a statute and make the case that this is a clear violation of the law, while having bi-partisan support to support this case, I can understand why this impeachment process and vote should move forward. But in this case, after three years of investigations and claims of high crimes being committed, I have yet to see any real evidence where one can make the case that a crime has been committed to justify the impeachment and forcible removal of President Trump from office. And as for the two articles of impeachment that the Democrats are pursuing. Asserting executive privilege is not obstruction of justice, and pursuing the agenda that you got elected on is not abuse of power. But this will make no difference. Even though there is zero support from Republicans, President Trump will be impeached next week, and this case will move to the US Senate for trial.
IMHO this is unfortunate. This now sets a precedent where almost any future President can be faced with impeachment along partisan lines if the opposing party controls Congress. This is why I believe a strategy should be implemented by the Republican Senate to make sure that this type of partisan impeachment never happens again. Since impeachment is a political process (especially in this case), the Senate Republicans are now in the position where they make the Democrats pay dearly for what they have put the country through in the past three years so that any future Congress (Republican or Democrat) would think twice should they decide to do it again. Dismissing the charges, while convenient, will not exact any price to the Democrats who have pushed this mess for three years. My advice is that you conduct a trial, and give President Trump the opportunity to meet and answer the charges and claims from his accusers. The entire impeachment inquiry/process has so far been one sided and biased. Time to balance everything out, and make the process fair. The American people are not stupid. They have a very good idea on knowing what is right and wrong, and it is only fair that they see and hear what the other side has to say, and to question their accusers.
EU sanctions targeting Moscow's finance, energy and defense industries will stay in place until mid-2020. The decision comes after the leaders of Russia and Ukraine met in Paris to seek a solution to Ukraine conflict.
European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday agreed to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, officials said.
The measures were first implemented in 2014 after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and backed a separatist insurgency in the country's east.
The sanctions, which were set to expire in January, will now be in place until the end of July 2020.
* The Trump administration has reached a trade deal in principle with China, three sources close to the talks told CNBC. * The president met with advisors Thursday afternoon about whether to scrap the next round of tariffs on China. * The Trump administration has offered to eliminate tariffs on Chinese goods set to take effect Sunday and cut some existing duties in half, sources told CNBC.
The Trump administration has reached a phase one trade deal with China in principle, pending approval from President Donald Trump, three sources close to talks told CNBC on Thursday.
Trump met with top advisors on Thursday about trade with China and whether to delay the next round of U.S. tariffs. Duties of 15%, set to take effect Sunday, would affect about $160 billion in Chinese-made goods including toys, computers, phones and clothing.
For the last four UK general elections, bar 2015, the 10pm exit poll on election day has been almost exactly correct, even if sometimes the predictions have been a shock to many experts. So the likelihood is that the pollsters have got it right again in 2019. But whereas in 2017 their correct prediction of a hung parliament guaranteed a embattled legislature, the 2019 prediction may even transform British politics.
* Exit poll has given the first indication of results after ballot boxes closed in biggest election for a generation * The prediction shows voters handing the Tories a whopping 368 seats with Labour collapsing to just 191 * The result would mean a huge 86 Commons majority and be the worst Labour showing in modern history * Declarations in key seats are expected from 2am tomorrow and the next PM should be known by 6am Friday * Early results in Labour strongholds in the North East could show early signs of a swing to the Conservatives * Results will come pouring in from around 3am, with big names including Iain Duncan Smith at risk of losing * Tory strategists believe key to victory is grabbing Labour heartlands including Workington and Grimsby
Boris Johnson hailed his new blue-collar Tory army tonight as it emerged he is on track to secure a staggering landslide in the election battle - with Labour's 'red wall' of Brexit-backing strongholds imploding.
A dramatic exit poll shows voters handing the Tories a massive 368 seats in the first December election for nearly a century, with Labour languishing on 191 - down 71 on 2017.
The bombshell numbers would give a huge Commons majority of 86, the biggest since Margaret Thatcher's triumph in 1987, and are equivalent to a 10-point lead in the popular vote.
By contrast Jeremy Corbyn looks to have stewarded the party to its worst performance since 1935 - despite his allies claiming earlier that high turnout might have helped him pull off a surprise.
BORIS Johnson is on course for an election landslide tonight after the exit polls tipped the Tories to win a whopping 368 seats.
Seconds after the polls closed at 10pm a joint poll put the Conservatives on track for a huge win, with Labour trailing behind on 191.
The expected results mean Britain's political chaos could finally be over, leaving Boris with the numbers to push his Brexit deal through Parliament in weeks.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn will be facing deafening calls to finally quit as Labour leader after failing to win a second general election in a row - and seeing Labour to its worst defeat since 1983 under Michael Foot.
And it would put Britain on course for the biggest Tory win since 1987 - where they got a 102 seat majority under Margaret Thatcher.
WNU Editor: As I said my Tuesday. My gut was telling me that the Tories were going to win even more seats than what was being predicted .... Polls Points To A Big Tory Win In UK Election This Thursday (December 10, 2019). The electorate wanted Brexit to happen, and they wanted the infighting to end. Boris Johnson now has a clear mandate to proceed.
Update: The official election results can be monitored from here .... Election results 2019 live (Guardian).
Scheer announced his decision publicly in the House of Commons and pleaded with his party to stay united
Andrew Scheer is stepping down as Conservative leader.
He announced the decision Thursday morning at a caucus meeting and said he plans to ask the party to immediately begin planning a leadership race to succeed him.
Scheer announced his decision publicly in the House of Commons and pleaded with his party to stay united in the wake of his resignation and what could be a fractious leadership contest.
He was emotional in his seven-minute speech to the House of Commons, interrupted multiple times by applause and standing ovations from his caucus. His wife Jill was in the gallery watching.
WNU Editor: Not winning the Federal election in October .... when many within the Conservative party believed was theirs to win .... sealed his fate. What also did not help was that he alienated many in the base on policies and conduct when he was running in the election. Bottom line. My guess is that he realized in the past few weeks that he was not going to survive the leadership review in April of next year, and he made the decision to step down ASAP.
More News On Canadian Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer Resigning
* The US tested a conventionally configured ground-launched cruise missile Thursday morning at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. * The test saw the missile fly over 500 kilometers and is the second such test since the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty collapsed this summer. * Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has called the development of intermediate-range weapons a "prudent response" to Russia, as well as a necessary capability given the capabilities of China's missile force.
The US conducted its second flight test of a missile that would have been banned under the restrictions of a now-defunct arms control agreement with Russia, Air Force officials told Insider on Thursday.
The US military tested a prototype conventionally configured ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) Thursday morning at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
"We are currently evaluating the results of the test," officials told Insider.
Thursday's missile launch marks the second such test since the US formally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in August in response to alleged Russian violations of the 1987 agreement.
* Ten Leave-supporting Labour marginals in the North and Midlands expected to declare their results by 3am * The exit poll will be released at 10pm and will give an indication of how tight the results will be. * One of the earliest is bellweather seat of Workington, where Labour is defending a majority of almost 4,000 * Darlington will follow soon after followed by Wrexham and Stockton South * The results in these key seats could make all the difference to the timing and manner of Brexit
Boris Johnson will not have to wait long to decide whether he will taste champagne or bitter tears tonight with a host of key seats determined early on.
Ten Leave-supporting Labour marginals are among the constituencies expected to declare their results in the early hours of Friday, after polls close at 10pm.
Many have been Labour for generations and whether they stay in the hands of Jeremy Corbyn or switch allegiance to the Tories could make all the difference to the timing and manner of Brexit.
* Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm, when an exit poll will give the first indication of the results * Boris Johnson voted in Westminster at around 8am and Jeremy Corbyn in Islington expected at 9.30am * Results in key seats are expected from 2am tomorrow and the next PM should be known by 6am Friday * Early results in Labour strongholds in the North East could show early signs of a swing to the Conservatives * Results will come pouring in from around 3am, with big names including Iain Duncan Smith at risk of losing * Tory strategists believe key to victory is grabbing Labour heartlands including Workington and Grimsby
The election looks too close to call with just hours to go until the polls close - with both parties claiming that high turnout will boost their chances.
Going in to today, Boris Johnson had a narrowing lead in the polls and is hoping to secure a swathe of northern Labour seats.
But Labour sources claim its vote is holding up and the so-called 'red wall' is not crumbling as predicted weeks before the election.
JERUSALEM - Israel is headed for a third election in a year, for the first time ever. The new election comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a series of corruption charges and after the two largest parties failed to reach an agreement to join forces.
Israel's speaker of parliament, Yuli Edelstein, announced that the Knesset had voted to break up and hold new elections.
Unrest in Algiers and other cities as low turnout expected amid widespread disaffection
Algeria's presidential election has been marked by police clashes and a mass boycott, in a victory for the country's pro-democracy protest movement, which has derided the vote as a sham.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday, chanting "No to elections of shame" and "Generals in the rubbish". The election commission put the turnout at just 20% by 3pm – a figure that will be seen as a victory by the protesters.
* Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm, when an exit poll will give the first indication of the results * Boris Johnson voted in Westminster at around 8am and Jeremy Corbyn in Islington expected at 9.30am * Results in key seats are expected from 2am tomorrow and the next PM should be known by 6am Friday * Early results in Labour strongholds in the North East could show early signs of a swing to the Conservatives * Results will come pouring in from around 3am, with big names including Iain Duncan Smith at risk of losing * Tory strategists believe key to victory is grabbing Labour heartlands including Workington and Grimsby
Voters were stuck in the biggest queues seen at polling stations for years today as millions took part in Britain's most important election for a generation with their decision expected to make-or-break Brexit.
Thousands snaked around the block outside schools, village halls, churches, pubs and other community buildings in the wet and cold to exercise their democratic right at the UK's 50,000 polling stations from 7am.
Experts have said the crowds suggest that the turnout for the first December general election since 1923 could be the highest since Clement Atlee and Sir Winston Churchill fought to be PM in the 1950s.
Turnouts have been dropping in the UK since Tony Blair's landslide victory in 1997.
* The House of Representatives has approved the $738 billion bill, setting policy for the U.S. Department of Defense * It covers everything from family leave to the creation of a Space Force * The fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act increases defense spending by about $20 billion * It increases pay for the troops by 3.1% and mandates 12 weeks' paid leave so federal workers can care for their families * A handful of mostly left-leaning House Democrats opposed the bill
The House of Representatives approved on Wednesday a $738 billion bill setting policy for the U.S. Department of Defense on everything from family leave to fighter jets and the creation of a Space Force that has been a priority for President Donald Trump.
The count in the Democratic-controlled chamber was 377-48, enough to send the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, to the Senate, where a vote is expected by the end of next week.
Trump has promised to sign the legislation as soon as it passes Congress.
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- South Korea's air force released a video of a simulated pre-emptive strike against North Korean weapons systems on Thursday, amid concerns Pyongyang could be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The video from Seoul's military shows fictitious footage of the Global Hawk, a remotely piloted surveillance aircraft, detecting activity in North Korea, where the regime is seen setting up an ICBM on a mobile launch pad, South Korean television network JTBC reported Thursday.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (rear) conduct dual aircraft carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific in Philippine Sea on June 18, 2016. Courtesy Jake Greenberg/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS
The United States today faces the greatest challenge to its international stature since the mid-twentieth century. America's adversaries, despite their differences, threaten to come together in a coalition that can dominate Eurasia and by extension, jeopardize American strategic interests and values globally.
Of several potential flashpoints for confrontation, the Western Pacific has the potential to be the most decisive. The most powerful of the three US rivals is Asian, and it is the only adversary with the economic and political power to field a technologically sophisticated, quantitatively superior military force.
Firefighters have rushed to tackle a blaze which is raging aboard Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. Fire started during repair work and rapidly spread along the deck.
A short video, which has been circulating on social media, shows a team of firefighters with walkie-talkies on the snowy pier in the Barents Sea port city of Murmansk where the burning ship is docked.
Greyish smoke is seen billowing from the vessel's deck. A fire truck and an ambulance van are also present at the scene.
The #US USS Abraham Lincoln nuclear aircraft carrier left the Strait of #Hormuz on December 4 with escort ships, the group was followed by Iranian navy ships. He will be replaced USS Harry Truman. #Iranpic.twitter.com/PLD5ihp37r
Satellite images have been released showing a US Navy aircraft carrier being escorted away by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) craft today, amid a year of heightened tensions in the Gulf waters.
The group of 20 small crafts reportedly surrounded and allegedly "harassed" the USS Abraham Lincoln, as well as the group of American ships it was leading including the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut, during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident took place last week, though the satellite images were revealed and circulated yesterday.
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and ships assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) transit the Atlantic Ocean while conducting composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) on February 16, 2018. US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Swofford
* The US Navy tweeted Tuesday morning that it had seven of its 11 aircraft carriers out to sea. * Less than two months ago, the service had around that many flattops stuck pier-side or in the yard for maintenance, malfunctions, and other issues. * Four of the carriers previously stuck pier-side— the Harry S. Truman, John C. Stennis, Eisenhower, and Gerald R. Ford — are now underway.
The US Navy bragged on social media Tuesday morning that it currently has seven aircraft carriers underway, a major improvement over the situation in late October, when half the carrier fleet was in a non-deployable state.
"The Navy has 7 aircraft carriers underway today. NBD," the Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO) tweeted Tuesday in a humble-brag; "NBD" is an acronym for "no big deal."
DONALD TRUMP has been praised by the son of the last king of Iran for his hardline stance towards Iran, while criticising Barack Obama's approach as "disastrous".
IVANKA TRUMP has been named "more powerful" on Forbes list of 100 women as her step-mother Melania Trump didn't even make it on the list despite being the First Lady of the United States.
NEARLY half of French voters back the nationwide strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plans or at least have sympathy for strikers' demands, a poll published on Wednesday found. Labour unions are enraged by a proposal by M Macron to keep the legal retirement age at 62, but encourage people to work until 64 through a system of bonuses and discounts.
FRENCH Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Wednesday that people should work two years longer to draw a full pension, prompting a chorus of outrage from opposition leaders who accused the government of breaking the country's social model. Reform of France's unwieldy but generous pension system has proven a high-risk task for the government, and sparked nationwide strikes that could continue until Christmas.
SOUTH CHINA SEA tensions have seen numerous Asian countries, the US, and a relentless China, tussle for influence in the region - but Beijing has also been embroiled in volatile exchanges with the UK as rivals round on the superpower's takeover.
(BEIJING) — China’s foreign minister on Friday labeled the United States the “troublemaker of the world,” citing the Trump administration’s withdrawal from a number of international treaties.
Wang Yi said the U.S. had conceded its right to international leadership and had “seriously damaged the foundation of the hard-won mutual trust between China and the U.S.”
“We are willing to resolve the contradictions and differences with the U.S. through dialogues and discussions based on equality and mutual respect, but we will never accept any unilateral sanction or bullying,” he said.
Washington’s departure from international agreements had ”brought many problems and troubles to the international community, and has made the US the troublemaker of the world today,” Wang said.
Wang’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, politics and allegations of the theft of intellectual property by China.
Addressing a conference on Chinese foreign policy, Wang said that the U.S. had ”launched deliberate attacks and defamation” against China over issues concerning China’s ”territorial sovereignty, national dignity and core interests.” They include human rights and the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where authorities have detained more than 1 million minority Muslims in political reeducation camps.
(BRUSSELS) — European Union leaders are gathering Friday to discuss Britain’s departure from the bloc amid some relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has secured a parliamentary majority that will allow him to push the Brexit divorce deal he negotiated through parliament.
With or without an agreement, Britain is scheduled to leave on Jan. 31. It’s the first time that a country will have left the world’s biggest trading bloc. Though many EU leaders will be relieved that the Brexit saga is finally coming to an end, just as many are saddened at the departure of such a heavyweight member state.
When Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016, there were fears that it could lead to other departures. However, those fears have dissipated as the process has been so politically divisive — two U.K. elections were held over it — and expensive.
Though the pathway to Britain’s departure by Jan. 31 is reasonably clear, the future relationship between the country and the EU is not. Discussions on that can only begin after Britain formally leaves. The EU has already said that its main Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will lead those discussions.
After congratulating Johnson on his victory, new EU Council President Charles Michel said that “we expect as soon as possible the vote by the British parliament on the withdrawal agreement.”
“We are ready,” he told reporters as he arrived to chair the meeting of Britain’s 27 EU partner countries. “The European Union will negotiate in order to have close cooperation in the future with the U.K.”
Ultimately, the Brexit divorce negotiations may yet prove to be the easy part. If Britain does leave at the end of next month, it will have less than a year to negotiate a new trade agreement with its partners and get it endorsed in all their parliaments. Most trade pacts take several years to agree.
First thing though, the EU member countries will have to agree on a new negotiating mandate for Barnier.
“We are all set,” said new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose powerful executive arm negotiates trade deals on behalf of EU member countries. The commission also supervised the Brexit talks.
“We have the structures internally. We are ready to negotiate whatever is necessary,” she said.
Asked whether it is possible to seal a trade deal in under a year, Michel said: “it is not my intention to predict based on the experience of the past.”
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) — A Malaysian court Friday approved the extradition of a North Korean man to the U.S. to face money laundering charges in a case he says is politically motivated.
Defense lawyer Jagjit Singh said Mun Chol Myong, 54, was shocked by the ruling and will appeal to the High Court.
Mun has lived in Malaysia for a decade and was arrested in May after U.S. authorities requested his extradition. Malaysia’s government approved it but Mun filed a legal challenge. Singh has said his extradition would likely be the first of a North Korean to the U.S. for money laundering.
In his affidavit, Mun rejected allegations by the FBI that he was the “leader of an international organized criminal group involved in laundering proceeds of bank fraud” from April 2013 to November 2018.
Mun denied he laundered funds through front companies and issued fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to his country in violation of U.N. sanctions. He said he was the victim of a “politically motivated” extradition request aimed at pressuring North Korea over its missile program.
The Sessions Court didn’t give reasons for its ruling, with the judge merely saying she was satisfied with the prosecutor’s arguments. Prosecutors had told the court that the extradition bid was not political in nature and purely for money laundering.
A gaunt-looking Mun didn’t show much reaction when lawyers explained the ruling to him. North Korean Embassy officials and his wife were also in court.
Singh, who is hired by the North Korean Embassy to defend Mun, said the appeal could take 2-3 months and that the High Court’s decision will be final.
He said the F.B.I. didn’t specifically spell out the money laundering allegations and had just said they were related to the purchase of boat engines from the U.S. that it claimed can be used for anti terrorism purposes.
“Therefore in our view it definitely smells of political flavor, political character,” Singh told reporters.
The North Korean said he moved to Malaysia in 2008 so his wife could receive treatment for breast cancer. He said he joined Sinsar Trading Pte. Ltd. in Singapore as a business development manager in 2014 upon the recommendation of the North Korean Embassy there, and that his job was merely to follow up on payments for the sale of palm oil and soybean oil to North Korea via China.
Mun, who returned to Malaysia with his wife and daughter in 2017, has said the extradition request was unfair as the Singaporean company where he worked and its three Singaporean directors have not been charged.
President Donald Trump signed off on a so-called phase-one trade deal with China, averting the Dec. 15 introduction of a new wave of U.S. tariffs on about $160 billion of consumer goods from the Asian nation, according to people familiar with the matter.
The deal presented to Trump by trade advisers Thursday included a promise by the Chinese to buy more U.S. agricultural goods, according to the people. Officials also discussed possible reductions of existing duties on Chinese products, they said. The terms have been agreed but the legal text has not yet been finalized, the people said. A White House spokesperson declined to comment.
The administration has reached out to allies on Capitol Hill and in the business community to issue statements of support once the announcement is made, they said.
U.S. stocks rose to records earlier Thursday as optimism grew that there would be a deal. Trump tweeted that the U.S. and China are “VERY close” to signing a “BIG” trade deal, also sending equities higher.
“They want it, and so do we!” he tweeted five minutes after equity markets opened in New York, sending stocks to new records.
Getting VERY close to a BIG DEAL with China. They want it, and so do we!
Trump has rejected deals with China before. Negotiators have been working on the terms of the phase-one deal for months after the president announced in October that the two nations had reached an agreement that could be put on paper within weeks.
The U.S. has added a 25% duty on about $250 billion of Chinese products and a 15% levy on another $110 billion of its imports over the course of a roughly 20-month trade war. Discussions now are focused on reducing those rates by as much as half, as part of the interim agreement Trump announced almost nine weeks ago.
In addition to a significant increase in Chinese agricultural purchases in exchange for tariff relief, officials have also said a phase-one pact would include Chinese commitments to do more to stop intellectual-property theft and an agreement by both sides not to manipulate their currencies.
Put off for later discussions are knotty issues such as longstanding U.S. complaints over the vast web of subsidies ranging from cheap electricity to low-cost loans that China has used to build its industrial might.
Officials from the world’s two biggest economies have been locked in negotiations on the phase-one deal since Trump announced it.
The new duties, which were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Washington time on Sunday unless the administration says otherwise, would hit consumer goods from China including smartphones and toys.
Before today, Trump’s advisers have sent conflicting signals and stressed that he hadn’t made up his mind on the next steps. Advocates of delaying the tariff increase have argued that continued negotiations with Beijing will enable him to maintain a tough line with China without inflicting the economic damage that more import taxes might bring.
The decision facing Trump highlights one dilemma he confronts going into the 2020 election: Whether to bet on an escalation of hostilities with China and the tariffs he is so fond of or to follow the advice of more market-oriented advisers and business leaders who argue a pause in the escalation would help a slowing U.S. economy bounce back in an election year.
What Bloomberg’s Economists Say…
“The outcome of U.S.-China trade talks will be a key determinant of the trajectory for 2020 growth. At one extreme, a deal that takes tariffs back to May 2019 levels, and provides certainty that the truce will hold, could deliver a 0.6% boost to global GDP. At the other, a breakdown in talks would mean the trade drag extends into the year ahead.” –Tom Orlik, chief economist For the full report, click here
Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative leading the negotiations with China, is in a camp that sees progress in talks and wants them to continue without further escalation, according to people familiar with the discussions. That would set up a push to conclude the talks in January, possibly before a State of the Union address to Congress by Trump.
–– With assistance from Justin Sink, Vince Golle and Jennifer Jacobs.
Boris Johnson secured an emphatic victory in the U.K. election held Thursday, with the Prime Minister’s Conservative Party winning a majority of seats in Parliament and a mandate to fulfill its campaign pledge of “Getting Brexit Done.”
As of Friday morning U.K. time, 649 of 650 seats had been declared, according to the BBC. The Conservatives held 364, well over the number needed to guarantee it will form a majority government.
The results showed the opposition Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn capturing just 203 seats, compared to 262 in 2017.
Corbyn said that he will not lead the party in the next election given the “very disappointing” results, according to the BBC.
The result suggests the paralysis in British politics over Brexit is set to come to an end.
It removes the parliamentary obstacles to Johnson delivering on his pledge to take Britain out of the European Union by Jan. 31 or sooner, and entering the next stage of Brexit negotiations, on trade, which would formalize the divorce.
What are the results so far?
The BBC shows the following seats declared:
The Conservatives winning 358 seats
The Labour Party winning 203 seats
The Scottish National Party winning 48 seats
The Liberal Democrats winning 11 seats
The Brexit Party winning zero seats
How many seats are needed for a majority?
The number of seats needed to form a majority government is 320, according to the Institute for Government. (This is slightly less than half of the seats in Parliament, because some lawmakers never vote.)
How are the results different from the last election?
At the last election, in 2017, the Conservatives lost their majority but remained the largest party, with 318 seats. Labour came second with 262, having increased their seats by 30.
This time, the Conservatives have increased their seats by at least 47, winning them a long-coveted outright majority.
Labour has decreased their tally by at least 59 seats, to 203, a historic defeat, lower than even the “wilderness years” for the party in the early 1980s. Corbyn, the hard-left leader of the party, will likely come under huge pressure to step down very shortly.
“I think Brexit has dominated,” Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC. “We thought other issues would cut through. But the evidence is, it clearly hasn’t.”
The so-called “red wall,” a swath of ex-industrial, historically pro-Labour seats across the north of England and Wales that largely voted to leave the E.U. in 2016, was punctured by the Conservatives.
What do the results mean for Brexit?
With a large majority in parliament, Johnson will find it much easier to get his Brexit deal ratified. (The deal was rejected four times by lawmakers in the 2017-2019 parliament, largely because the Conservatives lacked a majority.)
The ratification will likely happen in January, clearing the way for the U.K. to leave the E.U. before Jan. 31, as promised by Johnson on the campaign trail.
But Brexit won’t be over and done with. The U.K. and E.U. will then enter a “transition period” during which Britain will continue to abide by some E.U. rules until December 2020. In the meantime, representatives of each will enter another, more complex phase of negotiations over a future trade deal.
(WHAKATANE, New Zealand) — New Zealand police and military specialists have launched a risky operation to recover the bodies of eight victims of a volcanic eruption on an island that has left at least eight others dead.
Just after first light Friday, two helicopters from the New Zealand Defence Force lifted off from the township of Whakatane and began the 50-kilometer (30-mile) journey to White Island off New Zealand’s eastern coast.
Eight military specialists wearing protective clothing and using breathing apparatuses will land to try to recover the bodies. Scientists have warned that gases on the island after Monday’s eruption are so toxic and corrosive that a single inhalation could be fatal.
For Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose henchmen killed and dismembered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate, life goes on much as before. In the spring, after the CIA detected new threats against Khashoggi’s associates, warnings went out to Canada, Norway and Washington, D.C. In November, the FBI arrested two former employees of Twitter, the platform often described as Saudi Arabia’s closest thing to a public square. Both were charged with passing on information about dissidents to bin Salman’s government.
By then, the crown prince had gone back to doing interviews with foreign press. Thirteen months and one day after Khashoggi’s murder, he presided over an IPO that valued the Saudi national oil company at $1.7 trillion, a world record. And in early December, the kingdom convened the Saudi Media Forum, to examine, according to its website, “challenges” facing the news media, “the formation of public opinion in the new environment of communication and etc.”
“Somehow, journalists and businesspeople are attending,” marvels Courtney Radsch, advocacy director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based nonprofit. “Mohammed bin Salman has gotten off with complete impunity.”
How? Hints lurk in CPJ’s new global survey, which documents what Radsch calls “an environment where it’s increasingly perilous to do journalism.” Imprisonment remains a favored tactic for repressive governments, and Saudi Arabia now ranks third in the number of journalists behind bars, tied with Egypt. China leads, with Turkey second. But naming and shaming works only when shame is enforced.
Photographs by Moises Saman-Magnum Photos for TIME2018: The Guardians
“Where’s my favorite dictator?” U.S. President Donald Trump called out at a Group of Seven meeting in September, searching for Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The leader of the free world has also heaped praise on the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China.
Trump being Trump, Americans shrug—but overseas, a message is received.
Consider Myanmar, where the Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who joined Khashoggi as Person of the Year cover subjects, walked out of jail on May 6. Like their sentence, their freedom came at the whim of the generals who have long controlled the country. But as Myanmar is trying to pass as a democracy, the military has grown sensitive to appearances. That’s part of why Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were jailed in the first place: the two embarrassed their government by exposing its involvement in the slaughter of civilians. But steady pressure from outside—Western governments, the U.N., Reuters—brought home that what would really improve Myanmar’s image was freeing the journalists, signaling respect for the democratic norm of press freedom.
It’s a delicate business, and far harder when the norms are ignored.
After Trump made fake news a catchphrase for any report he did not like, governments from Malaysia to Egypt to Uganda made it a legal excuse to criminalize independent journalism. In Cairo, the offices of the independent news website Mada Masr were raided and editors arrested in November, shortly after the site reported that al-Sisi’s son was being demoted for failing to protect his father’s public image. Not even U.S. journalists are safe in Egypt these days: in September, the New York Times revealed that its Cairo correspondent had to escape threatened arrest with the help of the Irish embassy because, under Trump, the U.S. State Department cannot be relied upon to offer protection to American journalists working abroad.
“It’s much worse this year,” says Maria Ressa, chief executive officer of Rappler, the last major independent news site in the Philippines and another of the Guardians. “I posted bail eight times in three months.”
Vibrant, essential and often plain fun, Rappler stands at a crucial nexus for journalism globally. The site functions first as a watchdog to the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a profane populist who not only traduces norms but also urges the assassination of Filipino citizens in the name of combatting drugs. But Rappler also rides herd on Facebook, which almost totally dominates the Internet in the former U.S. colony. Before Cambridge Analytica or Russia’s Internet Research Agency became household names in the U.S., Rappler reporters were documenting their government’s use of fake accounts to intimidate critics and drive its divisive narrative online without leaving fingerprints.
The result—sound familiar?—is a profoundly polarized society. As well-meaning people struggle to tell what’s true from what’s false, distrust in all information rises, and many folks end up just believing what they want. The resulting confusion undermines democracy, because democracy after all requires a common understanding of reality. The ones gaining from the confusion are despots, who cast themselves as vessels of public anger while pushing out their preferred version of reality.
“If nothing significant changes,” Ressa warns from Manila, “our dystopian present is your dystopian future.”
At the local level, Americans may still know where their news comes from: they see a reporter in church or an editor at the store. When a gunman obsessed with a news story blasted into the Annapolis, Md., offices of the Gazette newspaper the Capital on June 28, 2018, and killed five people, neighbors offered not emojis but condolence cards and free counseling for the survivors. The Capital staff, designated the fourth set of Guardians, kept working through everything, and report finding both solace and more meaning than ever in what they do.
But local news has also been emaciated by the merciless shift of advertising revenue to digital giants like Google and Facebook; 7,700 media workers lost their jobs in 2019, far more than in the previous three years combined. The cuts reached all-digital newsrooms like BuzzFeed and Vice that supposedly had found a new business model. Meanwhile the success of a handful of outlets like the New York Times at funding first-class journalism by selling subscriptions has so far proved to be the exception.
Tech remains a paradox—delivering more information to people, but in ways that tend to give them less faith in what they’re reading. Last year, TIME concluded there was “urgent work ahead in shaping a communications system guided not by software but by the judgment of citizens, and the social contract implied in the First Amendment: facts matter.” That work remains to be done.
From a 9-year-old boy who wanted no kid to go hungry to a high-school coach who reached out to an armed student, here are TIME’s heroes of 2019.
Defenders of Notre Dame
William Daniels—Panos for TIMELaurent Prades, left, and Antoine-Marie Préaut on Nov. 29
As flames leaped from the roof of Notre Dame cathedral on April 15, those who knew its innermost secrets ventured into the pitch darkness of the smoke-filled nave. Their aim: to rescue some of the most valuable treasures in all of Christianity. “There was no electricity, there was a lot of water, there were alarms going off,” says Antoine-Marie Préaut, conservator of historic monuments in the Paris region, remembering the moment he entered the cathedral with Notre Dame’s operational director, Laurent Prades, and a group of firefighters. “The atmosphere was apocalyptic.”
Millions across the world watched aghast as fire shot from the medieval masterpiece in the heart of Paris. Less visible was how close Notre Dame came to total collapse, and how narrowly its treasures were saved.
About 400 firefighters battled the flames for more than nine hours—some climbing the staircase in its north tower, despite the danger of being trapped, to keep the cathedral’s set of 13-ton bells from falling and potentially bringing down the towers and the entire cathedral with them. The roof was already almost gone. “I found a situation that was completely catastrophic,” says Jérôme D., a firefighter who climbed to the top, and who cannot be named in full, per the rules of Paris’ fire brigade.
Préaut and Prades were so focused on rescuing the relics that they tuned out the chaos. Then they heard a giant noise as the spire crashed into the nave, collapsing the roof. Inside the cathedral, the fire now raged at ground level. “We felt utterly powerless,” Prades says. “But then everything happened very, very quickly. We lost all sense of time.”
Amid darkness and flames, the men fumbled to unlock a strongbox in a back chapel. Inside were Notre Dame’s most precious relics—including the Crown of Thorns that worshippers believe Christ wore to his Crucifixion, as well as pieces of wood and a nail believed to be from the True Cross. The two became part of a human chain, passing the priceless items to safety. “We told the firefighters, ‘Take everything you can carry,'” says Préaut, 38. “They were shouting at us, ‘Get out, get out!'”
Toward midnight, police finally escorted Préaut to city hall, where the relics were locked up for safekeeping. As their van crossed a bridge over the Seine, Préaut was stunned to see crowds jamming the entire area. “There were thousands and thousands of people just standing on the street silently, in shock,” he says. “I had the impression like it was the end of the world.”
Indeed, that night was the end of an era for a tight-knit group that had worked together for years at Notre Dame. As the months have gone by, the memory has weighed on Prades, 44, who has been at Notre Dame for more than 20 years. Préaut still has trouble sleeping. “There is a trauma from the event itself, from the hours that I spent in the cathedral,” Prades says. “There is also the trauma of knowing what might have happened.”
The two men are among a handful of people who have spent months working in trailers in the cathedral’s backyard, helping to prepare for the mammoth reconstruction ahead. The treasures and relics have been moved to a safe room within the Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame is wrapped in scaffolding and plastic. It will be shut perhaps until 2024, while its roof and spire are rebuilt. Until then, its ravaged state is a daily reminder of that terrifying night. “We would be happy to turn the page, to recover and go back to normal life,” Préaut says. When that time comes, the relics will go home, to their place of honor in a cathedral that, against the odds, still stands. —VW
A boy who helped change the law on school-lunch debt
Courtesy Kylie KirkpatrickRyan Kyote used his saved allowance to pay off his grade’s lunch-money debt
Nine-year-old Ryan Kyote was eating breakfast at home in Napa, Calif., when he saw the news: an Indiana school had taken a 6-year-old’s meal when her lunch account didn’t have enough money. Kyote asked if that could happen to his friends. When his mom contacted the school district to find out, she learned that students at schools in their district had, all told, as much as $25,000 in lunch debt. Although the district says it never penalized students who owed, Kyote decided to use his saved allowance to pay off his grade’s debt, about $74—becoming the face of a movement to end lunch-money debt. When California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill in October that banned “lunch shaming,” or giving worse food to students with debt, he thanked Kyote for his “empathy and his courage” in raising awareness of the issue. “Heroes,” Kyote points out, “come in all ages.” —M. Carlisle
A one-man crew amid the flood
Courtesy Angela ChandlerSatchel Smith worked over 30 hours straight at Homewood Suites during Tropical Depression Imelda in Beaumont, Texas in Sept.
It was supposed to rain for only a few hours. When then 21-year-old Lamar University student Satchel Smith got to his job at Homewood Suites in Beaumont, Texas, on Sept. 18, he planned to leave promptly when his eight-hour shift was done; he had class in the morning. But the rain didn’t stop. By nightfall, Tropical Depression Imelda had flooded the highway. No one could reach—or leave—the hotel, and Smith was the only employee there to tend to the hotel’s roughly 90 guests.
According to the Texas Tribune, Imelda dropped up to 43 in. of rain in parts of southeast Texas and caused flooding that killed five people. But inside the hotel, Smith didn’t panic. He answered the phone as it rang all night. In the morning, people started looking for breakfast. Despite not knowing how to cook, Smith raided the kitchen and made sure everyone got a hot meal. The storm set off the fire alarm; he ushered tired guests out and back into the building.
Angela Chandler, an educator from Nacogdoches, Texas, was one of those guests. She had come to Beaumont for a business trip and was already nervous about being away from home. But as she watched Smith, she suddenly felt grateful. “Satchel was in and out of the kitchen, answering the phone, taking care of guests with a smile on his face,” she says. “And I looked at him and realized, ‘That baby is only a year older than my son.'” She was floored by his composure, and shared her observation on social media.
As the day ticked on, it became clear Smith would also have to cook dinner. By then the guests had started pitching in. Helping him cook and clean, they made chicken and pasta. A few people walked food and water out to truckers stranded on the highway. Someone brought out playing cards.
“We all came together. They made sure I was all right; I made sure that they were all right,” Smith recalls. Finally, another employee was able to get through the water in a monster truck to relieve him.
He had worked over 30 hours straight, and stayed awake the entire time.
Chandler’s post about Smith’s steadfastness quickly went viral. While he says it’s nice to be recognized, Smith adds, “I kind of feel like I was just doing my job.” —M. Carlisle
A bus driver who brought kids in from the cold
YoutubeNicole Chamberlain, a bus driver in Waukesha, Wis., brought two kids in as temperatures fell on Nov. 11
As temperatures fell below 20°F on Nov. 11, Nicole Chamberlain, a bus driver in Waukesha, Wis., peered through her windshield and saw two children wandering alone outside, headed toward a busy intersection. “They were upset, frazzled,” says Chamberlain, 44, who pulled her bus over and called out to them. When the children—a 2-year-old girl and her 6-year-old brother—came bounding over, Chamberlain realized neither was wearing a coat and the girl had on only a T-shirt and a diaper. “It was mind-blowing,” says Chamberlain, who was captured on the bus’s surveillance cameras wrapping her coat around the toddler’s bare legs. Chamberlain stayed with the children until police arrived, along with the children’s grandmother, who was babysitting when they darted out of the house. “It’s nice to have a feel-good story to share,” says Chamberlain. After a fellow driver tipped off a local news station to the story, strangers from all over the country agreed. “You saw something amiss and chose to step up to prevent a potential tragedy,” one wrote on her Facebook page. “I hope your example inspires others.” —M. Chan
A coach who embraced an armed student
Jordan Murph—Sports Illustrated/Getty ImagesParkrose High School football and track coach Keanon Lowe in Portland on June 25
When a distressed student appeared before him, armed with a shotgun, Keanon Lowe had no time to think. The football and track coach at Parkrose High School in Portland, Ore., lunged for the firearm, as students knocked over desks in panic. “It was a very surreal moment,” Lowe says, “all the kids screaming for their lives.” After a tug-of-war that seemed to last forever, Lowe, 27, wrestled the gun out of the student’s grasp. Then, in an unexpected move, he pulled the student in for a hug. “I didn’t see an evil kid,” Lowe says. “I saw a kid that was going through a lot.”
The student, identified by authorities as 19-year-old Angel Granados-Diaz, had been suicidal for several months, according to prosecutors, when he took the loaded and legally bought shotgun to school on May 17. Before Lowe intervened, the teen had already tried killing himself outside a bathroom, but the shotgun did not discharge. “What he needed was a shoulder to cry on and someone to hug him,” says Lowe, who has been coaching and serving as the school’s security guard for the past two years. “I don’t know the last time he got a hug.” While Granados-Diaz resisted the embrace at first and tried shoving Lowe away, the coach’s comforting words soon softened him. “I told him that I cared about him and that I was there for him and I was there to save him,” Lowe says. “He was surprised that I had said that. He said, ‘You do?’ and looked me right in my face. I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ He gave in to the hug, and that made a huge difference.”
Lowe and Granados-Diaz were strangers until then, but they held their embrace for at least 20 seconds, as Lowe passed the shotgun to another teacher. The moment, captured by a security camera, moved tens of thousands of people who saw it on social media. “No one would have batted an eye if he responded more aggressively,” says the school’s principal, Molly Ouche. “But he had compassion.”
For his bravery and kindness, Lowe was awarded a civilian medal of heroism from Portland’s police chief, and the city’s mayor declared May 29 to be “Coach Keanon Lowe Day of Recognition.” The accolades have been humbling and overwhelming, says Lowe, who played football at the University of Oregon. But he’s ready to move on, mostly so Granados-Diaz can do the same. On Oct. 10, Granados-Diaz pleaded guilty to having a loaded firearm in public and was sentenced to 36 months of formal probation, which includes mental-health treatment. According to prosecutors, his gun was loaded with only one round, meant for himself. It was evident that day that the student was “fighting demons,” Lowe says.
“This was just one moment in my life that’s not going to define me,” he adds. “And it’s not going to define Angel as well.” —M. Chan
A woman who kept dozens of dogs safe during Hurricane Dorian
ZumaChella Phillips has run Pawtcake Refuge in Nassau since 2015
Chella Phillips has lived in the Bahamas since 2004, and she knows what a storm can do. When Hurricane Dorian barreled toward her home, she got to work. Phillips has run Nassau’s Pawtcake Refuge, which cares for homeless dogs, out of her home since 2015. She had 82 dogs there already but searched out more. By the time Dorian arrived, she was hunkering down in her three-bedroom house with 97 dogs, and she dashed off a quick Facebook post about the mayhem. Then she lost power. It was only after Phillips emerged that she learned her post had gone viral. Nassau was largely spared, but the storm devastated the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, killing scores of people and leaving many with a sense of hopelessness. Her story had become a bit of positive news to hang onto, drawing thousands of messages from around the world. “I [said], ‘Why are people so impressed about this?’” she says. “Anybody who cares about these animals would have done that.” Still, she’s grateful for the extra attention on the dogs: in the week after Dorian, Phillips sent 68 to homes or rescue groups in the U.S. —M. Carlisle
(SANTIAGO, Chile) — Chilean officials said Thursday that searchers have located the military transport plane that disappeared en route to Antarctica.
Defense Minister Alberto Espina also said at a news conference that they have found human remains from some of the 38 passengers who were aboard when the plane took off from southernmost Chile.
Officials said they believe that all those aboard the plane are dead, adding that it was nearly impossible to expect any survivors to be found.
The C-130 Hercules departed Monday afternoon from a base in far-southern Chile on a regular maintenance flight for an Antarctic base. Radio contact was lost 70 minutes later.
After midnight, the Air Force declared the plane a loss, but it wasn’t until Wednesday that a plane scanning the seas first spotted floating debris believed to be from the plane.
“Remains of human beings that are most likely the passengers have been found among several pieces of the plane,” said Air Force Gen. Arturo Merino. “I feel immense pain for this loss of lives.”
Just three of the passengers were civilians, including Ignacio Parada, 24, who was in his last year of studies at the University of Magallanes and was headed to study drinking water systems at the military base.
Claudia Manzo, 37, was the only woman on board. She served in the Air Force service that deals with aerial photographs of the continent. She also served as one of Parada’s research advisers.
Another of those aboard, electrician Jacob Pizarro, 38, had lost his wife five months ago, leaving behind two children, ages 2 and 6, who are in the care of their grandmother.
The search included 23 airplanes and dozens of ships from Argentina, Brazil, United States, Great Britain and Uruguay as well as Chile.
Gen. Cristián Pizarro said that the first of the recovered human remains will arrive ashore Friday, when the identification process will begin.
The plane was flying over the Drake Passage, the sea between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, which is infamous for rapidly changing and often severe weather.
The science of climate change is, at its heart, fairly simple. When we emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, more heat gets trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, raising global temperatures and destabilizing the climate.
The political path to stopping that from happening is infinitely more complex – a complexity embodied in one of the main topics of this year’s U.N. climate negotiations in Madrid: international carbon markets.
The idea is that, under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, if one country pays for carbon emissions to be reduced in a second country, the first country can count those reductions towards its own national targets. If done right, analysts at the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) say this international emissions trading could almost double global emissions reductions between 2020 and 2035. It could also cut the financial cost of meeting current Paris Agreement emissions pledges, which aim to keep global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees over pre-industrial era, by 59% to 79%.
But Article 6 is controversial, which may be why it is the last section of the Paris Agreement still under negotiation. If the rules governing the emissions trading market are lax, it could become a “massive loophole” for emitters, allowing them to continue polluting at home without taking serious action, says Gilles Dufrasne, policy officer at Carbon Markets Watch, an international NGO. That would severely undermine efforts to prevent catastrophic climate change that would result from missing the Paris targets.
As countries try to hammer out the rules for Article 6, countries are clashing over how strict to make them. Negotiators from the E.U. and many developing nations have accused some countries, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Australia and India, of pushing for a system with lax rules for counting emissions reductions and credits, which would make it easier to meet Paris targets, but could undermine global progress on cutting levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Protesters have disrupted the conference to highlight the risks of a market system, which they say distracts from the need for all greenhouse gas emissions to stop, in every country, as soon as possible
Protest near the entrance at #COP25 … "No Article 6.2 & 6.4"
Amongst all the impenetrable jargon, lots of people are worried about the actual real-world impact these carbon market mechanisms will have for people on the ground pic.twitter.com/CSfdLKfp91
“What’s at stake is whether we’re going to manage to limit the climate crisis and reduce emissions or just pretend we’re doing something on paper,” Dufrasne says.
What is a carbon market?
Carbon markets already exist within some countries and regions. In some, like the “cap-and-trade” systems used by the E.U. and California, the government puts a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by a given industry or sector of the economy. Businesses are then given an allowance of how many metric tons of CO2 they can emit. Those who emit less than their allotment can sell the extra to other businesses, pushing everyone to cut down emissions faster.
The main international carbon market scheme existing today was set up under the U.N.’s 1997 Kyoto protocol on climate change. Under that agreement, developed countries had targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but developing countries did not. So if a developing country reduced its emissions by building a solar panel plant or planting trees for example, they could sell a “credit” to a developed country, which could count that emission reduction in its own target.
But that market has effectively collapsed due to concerns over environmental efficacy and corruption. The U.S. left the Kyoto protocol in 2001, and the E.U. stopped allowing member states to buy the credits in 2012, fearing projects were not as successful in reducing emissions as they claimed to be, leaving few potential buyers. In Ukraine and Russia, which continued to use the credits, researchers found companies had abused the system to enrich themselves at the expense of the climate. A 2015 report found that an estimated 80% of projects under the Kyoto carbon trading scheme were of low environmental quality and that the system had actually increased emissions by roughly 600 million metric tons.
The Madrid negotiations on Article 6 would create a new system to replace the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2020.
Why could Article 6 and carbon markets help cut emissions faster?
Under the market mechanisms of Article 6, countries that exceed their emissions reduction targets would be able to sell their excess reductions as credits to other countries who have failed to meet their targets. In theory, this would create a clear financial incentive for countries to cut their emissions faster, and help funnel investment to the cheapest and fastest projects for cutting emissions.
Carbon markets are also a key tool for states to get businesses to help mitigate climate change, as businesses that run climate mitigation projects, such as building wind farms or replanting forests, will be able to sell the emissions reductions to countries.
“By providing flexibility and improving the cost effectiveness of climate action, you can do more, for less,” says Alex Hanafi, EDF’s director of multilateral climate strategy. “And because you can do more with less, you can go faster and further than you otherwise would without cooperation.”
Schemes to stop deforestation or prevent degradation of land are examples where an effective emissions trading market could lead to greater investment, and in turn lead to affordable greenhouse gas reduction. Take the burning of the Amazon rainforest that has resulted from president Jair Bolsonaro’s agricultural policies: “Carbon markets could make those trees worth more alive than they are dead,” Hanafi says.
If the market system were active across the entire world, and if cost savings generated by carbon markets were re-invested in climate mitigation — a big “if” given the slow international progress on climate action — EDF analysts say emissions reductions over the next 15 years would go up “from 77 [billion tons of CO2] in the non-trading base case to 147 [billion tons of CO2] in a scenario with full global emissions trading, a 91% increase.”
Why could carbon markets hurt efforts to cut emissions?
Many climate campaigners say Article 6 negotiations could undermine the entire aim of the Paris Agreement.
First, environmentalists fear the risk of so-called “double-counting” of emissions reductions if the rules of Article 6 aren’t written clearly. Under the Paris Agreement, all countries, not just developed ones, have emissions-reduction targets. That means if India, for example, reduced its carbon emissions by 1 metric ton through a solar-power scheme, it might be tempted to both sell a reduction credit to Australia, and count the reduction in its own target. Carbon Markets Watch argues that this would amount to “cheating” the atmosphere because half as much CO2 would be reduced than countries claim.
Second, some countries want to be able to carry over old credits that were created under the Kyoto protocol to the new Paris regime. After demand for the Kyoto credits collapsed, billions of potential credits went unsold, while the emissions reductions projects that generated them continued — though often without strong checks on their effectiveness. Countries that host those projects want to be able to use or sell those credits under the new system. Australia, which has generated carbon credits by beating the relatively low emissions target it set under the Kyoto protocol, has said it plans to use those old credits to meet its new emissions targets — provoking vocal opposition from roughly 100 countries this week.
But, argue some climate campaigners, if the up to 5.4 billion credits that the U.N. estimates exist are allowed into the new system, they will water down ambition because global emissions reduction targets could effectively be cut by an amount more than the total amount of CO2 emittedby the entire E.U. in 2017.
Even if these problems are resolved by clear rules, many say that in the long term the credits bought in carbon markets are just a distraction from the fundamental need for all countries to transition off fossil fuels. “In a world where we all go to net zero, there isn’t extra mitigation anywhere that you can buy or sell,” says Dufrasne. “The whole logic of offsetting your emissions abroad doesn’t have a future. It’s not compatible with the Paris agreement.”
What is at stake in the Article 6 negotiations at the U.N. summit?
If an agreement is reached at the U.N. summit, what will matter is how robust the rules it establishes are. However, as negotiations near their planned Dec. 13 end date, an agreement is far from certain.
Negotiators have accused Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia of blocking an agreement that would set strong rules. “They are clearly not fighting for environmental integrity in the rules,” Bas Eickhout, leader of the European Parliament’s conference delegation told news site Euractiv.
While no country openly admits to wanting “weak” rules, “when you look at the specifics of Brazil’s proposal, most countries feel that it does not reflect robust accounting as required under the Paris agreement,” Hanafi says.
The stand-off over the robustness of the rules may scuttle the chance of any agreement. Dufrasne says countries that are keen on climate action will refuse to make a deal that has weak rules, potentially leaving the issue for a later summit, because “no deal is better than a bad deal.”
“The difference between a Paris agreement with good markets and Paris agreement with bad markets,” he says, “is a system where we avoid climate catastrophe and a system where we are just hiding behind technical details and not reducing a single tonne of CO2.”
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Download TN TRB BEO Syllabus from this page. Qualified competitors who wish to plan for the TN TRB BEO Exam can without much of a stretch download the Syllabus Pdf and Exam Pattern details here in the. TN Teachers Recruitment Board reported an employment notification for Block Education Officer Post, there are 97 openings available to be filled. By utilizing this page you can make a preparation for the TN TRB Exam.
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Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board is a Tamil Nadu Government firm. Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai Nungambakkam region, College Road, the DPI grounds is situated on the site of the fourth and eleventh. The Government of Tamil Nadu works under the Government of Tamil Nadu to choose instructors and teachers from foundations of advanced education. Under the direction of the National Teacher Education Council, which is working under the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India, the Tamil Nadu School Education Department has discharged the State of the decision. As needs are, the Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Nomination Office is working as a passing office for instructors. Only after the proper warning has been distributed, they will be delegated as educators in Tamil Nadu Government and Tamil Nadu Government Aided Schools.
Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University Released BRAOU Results 2019 forUG/PG Courses. Recently the University has let out B.Com, B.Ed, BCA, BSC, BBA, MA, MBA, M.Com, MSc and Other Courses. To get the direct link to check out your Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University Results 2019 get down the below section. Students who are studying under Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University can check their results from the official website of the University i.e, braou.ac.in. We have attached the main sever links for BRAOU UG Results 2019. Here on this webpage, we have updated all the information regarding the UG CBCS II Sem, UG I, II, III Year and other Courses results available here. Hence, Check more information about Dr. Ambedkar Open University Results in the below sections of this page.
BRAOU Results 2019 @braou.ac.in
Students who have undertaken the Semester Exams its time to check out the Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University Results 2019 announced by the board. We people from recruitment.guru have gathered the updates about the University Results here. Once the board releases the Semester Results Students can check here to know the Exam Results. Examiners can check the BRAOU Degree Results for all UG & PG Courses. We have also included the BRAOU Revaluation Results in this article.
Along with the BRAOU Exam Results, Students can gather information regarding the updates that are released by the board. Also, we have provided a direct link to get the BRAOU Results 2019 from the below table. It will help the students to get the results without any hesitation. Apart from this, we used to update the latest information about the BRAOU Results 1st Year. We advise the Students to regularly check the official website to know more information about the Dr. Ambedkar Open University Results 2019.
The university was established in August 1982 by Act of the State Legislature. The principal aim of the University is to provide an opportunity for those who are not in a position to avail themselves of the facilities for higher education through regular on-campus study at conventional colleges/universities. It adopts a flexible approach to eligibility, age of entry, method of learning, choice of courses, the conduct of exams and operation of educational programs. The Univ makes use of a variety of learning media including Radio, TV, film, audio cassette and printed study material, besides arranging contact and counseling programs and Sc ‘Practicals’ which makes for the traditional teacher-student interaction.
Courses Offered by Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University
Master of Business Administration [MBA]
Bachelor of Arts [B.A]
Master of Arts [M.A]
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management [PGDMM]
Diploma in Hotel Management
Certification
Bachelor of Science [B.Sc]
Master of Science [M.Sc]
Bachelor of Commerce [B.Com]
Master of Commerce [M.Com]
Bachelor of Education [B.Ed]
Master of Library and Information Science [M.Lib.I.Sc]
PhD
Master of Philosophy [M. Phil]
Post Graduate Diploma in Business Finance
Post Graduate Diploma
Bachelor of Hotel Management [BHM]
Advanced Certificate Program in PLCs & SCADA Systems
Bachelor of Library and Information Science [B.Lib.I.Sc]
BRAOU Supply/Revaluation Results
Students have a chance to apply for the revaluation, if the students may get low marks in the examination, they can apply for the Revaluation results. So again the head of the Examiner will review the answer paper. After revaluation, students may get high marks. Still, if anyone got low marks, they can apply for the Supplementary Examinations. For Revaluation/Supplementary, students should pay the fee. Students can get all the results from this page Regular, Revaluation and Supplementary Results. Students can also get Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University Results. Just we are advising the Students to frequently visit our recruitment.guru page to get the latest updates of all BRAOU Result 2019.
VBSPU Result 2019 Released: Hello Students !! Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University Result of the semester exam for various UG/ PG Courses is available here. The University has published the results of BDS Reevaluation, M.D and M.S, B.Sc Nursing, and other Courses Exam Results available here. Students who have appeared for these examinations can check the results from the official website of VBSPU University. Students who have done with the exams can check the VBSPU Result from the link which is provided here. Students can get the results and also know an individual Student performance. Students can get more information about the VBSPU Exam Time Table or Online Form just visit the official website.
VBSPU Result 2019 – Download Here
On this page, we update the VBS Purvanchal University Result for regular candidates and private Students. Currently, the Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University has released the results for BDS Reevaluation, M.D & M.S, B.Sc Nursing, and others. So, students can check the latest VBSPU Result 2019 for various courses from the link provided below. Apart from this, we will update the latest information regarding the Time Table, Syllabus and others. We will be updating the Upcoming VBSPU Result link, it will work once the University will release it officially. We advise the Students to check our recruitment.guru regularly, to get the latest updated information about VBS Purvanchal University Exam Result 2019.
Purvanchal University Jaunpur renamed as Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University was established on 2nd October 1987 as an affiliating university under U.P. state university act 1973. The university was renamed in the honor of late Shri Veer Bahadur Singh, former Chief Minister of the state. The Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University started with the 68 affiliated colleges, has now widened its spectrum of activities with 367 affiliated graduate and post-graduate colleges with the student's enrollment of nearly three lacs and eighty thousand in 5 Districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
VBSPU Supply/Revaluation Results
Students have a chance to apply for the revaluation, if the students may get low marks in the examination, they can apply for the Revaluation results. So again the head of the Examiner will review the answer paper. After revaluation, students may get high marks. Still, if anyone got low marks, they can apply for the Supplementary Examinations. For Revaluation/Supplementary, students should pay the fee. Students can get all the results from this page Regular, Revaluation and Supplementary Results. Students of Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University can also get the MBA Results Also. Just we are advising the Students to frequently visit this page to get the latest updates of all VBSPU Result 2019.
Patna University Result 2019 Out: Dear Students!! It’s time to check your results guys. After the successful conduct of the Dec 2018 Exam for 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sem, recently Patna University has released results on the official website. Recently Patna University has released the results for B.Sc Part III, B.Ed and other Courses results available here. Students who have been appeared for these examinations can check the results from the official website of the University i.e, patnauniversity.ac.in. Here on this page, we have provided a direct link to check the Patna University Result from the below table. It will help the students to download the results without any confusion. Here we will update all the latest information regarding the results, so Students can read this entire article and stick to this recruitment.guru page always.
Patna University Result 2019 @patnauniversity.ac.in
Students, who have appeared in BA/B.Sc/MA/M.Com Examinations, can check Patna University Result from this page. Students can go through the official website and follow the basic steps which are available at the below section of this web page and anyone will get Patna University Result 2019. Those Students who want to download Patna University Exam Results are required to follow the basic instructions. Also, here on this page, we used to update the latest information about the Patna University Results. Apart from this, we will be updating the upcoming Exam result link, it will work once it gets a release by officially. Also here on this site, Students may find the University Exam Time Table, Syllabus, Admit Card, Previous Paper and others. Here we have provided a direct link to get the results. We advise the Students to regularly check the official website of the University to get the latest updates regarding the results.
Patna University, the first university in Bihar, was established on 1 October 1917 during the British Raj and is the sixth oldest university of the Indian subcontinent. At that time, the jurisdiction of the university extended to Bihar, Odisha, and the Kingdom of Nepal. The university oversaw examinations for educational institutions ranging from school finals to the postgraduate levels. This continued almost for four decades until the establishment of the Tribhuvan University, Bhubaneshwar, Kathmandu, and the Utkal University.
Students are waiting for the results if they scored well they will lead to next year. But if they will not get more marks they can apply for the Revaluation Results. Once they applied for the Examination, the higher level Examiner will check the paper again. They can get the revaluation results within the time. Also if they still get fail marks, they can apply for the supplementary examination. For each and every semester Students can apply for the revaluation after the announcement of the main examination results. The Patna University will take a week or more to process the exam papers to announce the Patna University Revaluation Results. Do stay updated with the University to know about the Revaluation Exam Results.
MDU Result 2019Released !!! Maharshi Dayanand University Results published for M.Phil Second Semester Exam and B.Pharm 1,2,3 Sem/year. Get the updated MD University Results 2019 for UG, PG Programme, M.Phil/Ph.D Programmes Courses Semester Examination. Participants who have appeared for the written exam check your MDU Reappear Result 2019 here. Candidates can also check the results for all the examination courses conducted by the MDU Rohtak i.e., www.mdu.ac.in.
Download MD University Result 2019-20 Here
The Maharshi Dayanand University Released for all kinds of UG, PG and Ph.D programs. All the participants successfully attended the written examination and waiting for the MDU Rohtak Results 2019 can check it here. We update the MDU Rohtak Result on our page when they are released by the officials. The official website to download the results is www.mdurohtak.ac.in. Check the details regarding the cut off marks and merit list from the below sections. So, we advise the candidates who are pursuing in MDU can evaluate their performance by getting their Results through our recruitment.guru website.
Maharshi Dayanand University is located in Rohtak, Haryana. Which offers a good number of courses include Undergraduate & Postgraduates and doctoral levels. The university was established in 1976 and named after the Saint Dayananda Saraswati. The MD university offers all kinds of courses through distance & campus mode throughout the Rohtak region. In the year 1977, the university changed its name to Maharshi Dayanand University. The Maharshi Dayanand University had a unitary and residential character in its nascent stage but became an affiliating university in November 1978.
As of now, the university affiliated with 126 colleges wherein a good number of Graduate and Post Graduate institutes include. Apart from education, the University more enthusiast to offer Sports clubs, Library, and extracurricular activities which enhance students knowledge and presence of mind. To know more details about Maharshi Dayanand University, applicants can check in the official website i.e, mdu.ac.in
MDU Revaluation/ Supplementary Exam Result
Students, those who have not cleared or got low marks the University examinations can apply for the Revaluation. This is is a chance for the students to increase their marks in subjects in which they have scored low marks. If students have written the main exam well and still got a low score or having doubts in the correction of the exam paper it is a choice to increase their marks. Currently, the University has released the revaluation results for UG, PG with all-region Students. So Students can check the Revaluation results from the official website. We have provided a direct link to get the Supply/Revaluation Results.
LIC Assistant Result 2019 Released – Check LIC Assistant Result 2019 @ www.licindia.in. The Life Insurance Corporation Limited has commenced the prelims examination for LIC Assistant on 30th, 31st October 2019. Many aspirants are searching for the result. Now the LIC assistant recruitment result 2019 prelims are available on the official website. The Officials of Lic Released the LIC Division Wise Result 2019 on 29th November 2019. So, all the candidates can check and download the result 2019 from our page itself. And also, candidates can get the Cut Off and Merit List from this site.
LIC Assistant Result 2019 – Get Here
Life Insurance Corporation Limited has conducted the LIC assistant recruitment to fill 7871 Vacancies. The LIC Assistant Prelims Examination was done on 30th, 31st October 2019. And the result is declared on 29th November 2019 according to the division wise. Here we have provided a direct link to download your Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Assistant exam Result 2019. Most of the candidates waited for the LIC Assistant Result date In the Upcoming Section, we have provided more details about LIC Assistant Cut Off Marks 2019, Merit List 2019.
The Aspirants those who appeared for the LIC Assistant can get detailed information from the above table. However, Candidates can get the Life Insurance Corporation Result by just clicking on the given below. And also, we will update the direct links to download the LIC Assistant Cut Off Marks 2019, LIC Assistant Merit List 2019. So, keep visiting our page regularly.
Life Insurance Corporation Limited Cut Off Marks 2019
The Board of LIC has not yet released the cut off marks. Generally, Cut Off Marks will declare after the release of Result. The higher officials have som conditions to decide the Cut Off Marks. A candidate with minimum marks in the prelims exam are eligible for the mains examination. Hence, the Aspirants should Concentrate on the Cut Off Marks. LIC Assistant Cut Off Marks 2019 is based on criteria like
candidates category,
The number of vacancies available, the toughness level of the question paper
The number of aspirants attended the prelims test
And analysis based on the previous year cut off marks.
LIC Assistant Merit List 2019 @ www.licindia.in
Candidates can download the LIC Assistant Merit List 2019 by this website easily. The Aspirants should get top maks to get shortlisted in the Merit List. Candidate’s names in LIC Merit List will get more priority for the mains examination. Further, we can have a stepwise procedure to download the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Assistant exam result.
How to check LIC Result 2019?
Initially, applicants can visit the official website of the Life Insurance Corporation Limited @ licindia.in.
Secondly, the homepage of Life Insurance Corporation Limited will appear on the screen.
Then Click the Careers tab on the main page.
And then Search for the link related to LIC Assistant Prelims Result 2019.
Click on that link.
Enter the Login Credentials and hit on the submit button.
Finally, Check and download the LIC Assistant Exam Result 2019 for further Reference.
Direct Links to Download LIC Assistant Result 2019
BGTRRDMP Recruitment 2019 – 42 Medical Officer Posts | Apply Offline before 26th December 2019. Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation – Government of Madhya Pradesh have announced Job Notification for 42 Vacancies of Medical Officer Posts. Interested applicants can apply for the vacancy through the Offline process. Applicants can start applying for the Posts. The Last date of the application is said to end up by 26th December 2019. Candidates will be shortlisted and selected based on the performance in the Interview.
Check the eligibility details and then apply for the vacancy before the last date. Read further to know more about the BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Jobs. Aspirants who have finished their MBBS from any Recognized Institute or University in India can apply for these Posts.
Eligibility Criteria for BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Jobs Notification 2019
Educational Qualification:
Candidates who completed their MBBS from any Recognized Institute or University in India.
Age Limit:
Aspirants must know that as per BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Notification 2019, you must possess below the age to fill the available Vacancies in BGTRRDMP Jobs for the Medical Officer Post.
Selected Candidates will get Rs. 50,070/- Per Month.
BGTRRDMP Job – Selection Process:
Candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in the Interview.
NOTE: Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation – Government of Madhya Pradesh 2019, Admit Card/Hall Ticket can be download from BGTRRDMP Official Website (www.bgtrrdmp.mp.gov.in) before 10 days for the Exam.
How to Apply for BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Jobs 2019?
Firstly, Click on BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Jobs Notification 2019 Provided Below.
Go through the application form and check the eligibility details
If you are eligible, apply for the MO Jobs through Offline application
Start filling Application Form with all the required details.
Recheck whether the details are properly filled
Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph and necessary documents.
Finally, Send the duly filled application form along with required documents to the following Registered Posta address on or before the Last Date.
Postal Address:
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Sivaji Nagar, Bhopal 462016.
Important Date for BGTRRDMP Medical Officer Recruitment 2019
About Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation – Government of Madhya Pradesh
In early 1985 a Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation has made under the charge of the Chief Minister to embrace the colossal errand of help and recovery. Presently the Department is under the charge of a Cabinet Minister of the State Government. A Principal Secretary of the State Government has been depended on the Department. A Directorate of Gas Relief and Rehabilitation has been set up to guarantee appropriate coordination between the Department and the field developments. The whole MIC influenced region spread more than 36 wards and having a populace of in excess of six lacs has been put under the charge of Director, Gas Relief and Rehabilitation.
The hazardous situation has additionally been established into a restorative area under the charge of a Chief Medical Officer to facilitate and manage the working of all the medicinal units made to take care of the casualties of the gas. The regulatory hardware made for the hazardous situation has helped chopped down reaction time definitely. The inclusion of open men and the formation of an exceptional authoritative apparatus has empowered the association of orderly alleviation and restoration in a hazardous situation.
South Western Railway Results 2019 soon will release for Jr Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, Good Guard Exam @ rrchubli.in. The South Western Railway Department has conducted Computer Based Test On 01st December 2019. Many Candidates have attended the Computer Based Examination. Now, the Candidates are waiting for the South Western Railway Result 2019. The Board Members are planning to declare the SWR RRC Clerk Result 2019 in the month of December 2019 (Tentatively). So, all the aspirants can check and Download the SWR RRC CBT 2019 by using this page. And also Candidates can download Typist, Station Master, Goods Guard Cut Off, Merit List here.
South Western Railway Results 2019 – Download here
The Higher Authority has announced this recruitment to fill 179 vacancies. Moreover, the Railway Board is going to reveal the South Western Railway Clerk Result 2019 in the month of December 2019 (Tentatively). The SWR RRC Department has vacancies of Jr Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, Good Guard Posts. The Officials will soon release the Result date on their official Website. We will update the direct link download the RRC SWR Jr Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, Good Guard Result 2019. And the link will get activated at the time of the official announcement.
However, the Authority will release the South Western Railway Exam Results 2019 based on the performance of the participants in the SWR RRC Exam 2019. To check the Result the Candidates must have login Credentials like roll number and password along with them. Here, the Selection process consists of two rounds. They are the Computer Based Test and Interview. We will update the latest information regarding the South Western Railway Results on our site. To get the latest updates visit our page regularly
South Western Railway (RRC Hubli) Cut off Marks 2019
Generally, the Cut Off Marks will be released only after the declaration of Results. Here, SWR RRC Department has some factors to decide the SWR RRC Cut Off Marks 2019. They are given below.
Candidates category(General, OBC, SC, ST)
The number of vacancies available for the post
The number of candidates attended the Computer Based Test
The toughness of the question paper
Analysis based upon the previous year cut off marks.
Minimum qualified marks obtained by the aspirant.
SWR RRC Jr Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, Good Guard Merit List 2019
The Authority will reveal the SWR RRC Merit List 2019 only after the release of the RRC SWR Result 2019. The Aspirants who score high marks will be listed in the South Western Railway Merit List 2019. The Candidates in Merit List will get more priority during the interview process. Hence, the Contenders must concentrate more on the Cut Off Marks and Merit List. Furthermore, we have given the stepwise procedure to download the South Western Railway Clerk Exam Results 2019.
How to check the SWR RRC Result 2019?
Firstly, visit the official website of the South Western Railway (RRC Hubli) @ rrchubli.in.
Secondly, the Homepage of South Western Railway (RRC Hubli) appears on the Screen.
Then click on the Result tab on top of the Main Page.
And Search for the link related to the RRC SWR Clerk Result 2019.
Click on that link.
Click on the RRC Clerk Result 2019.
Finally, Check and download the Result for further reference.
Direct Links to Download South Western Railway Results 2019
NPSC Result 2019 will announce at the official website of npsc.co.in. As the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) department has conducted the Preliminary Examination on 30th November 2019. Therefore, the higher officials announced this recruitment to fill 45 Secretariat Assistant and other posts. A huge number of Candidates appeared for the Examination. Moreover, the authority is planning to release the NPSC Secretariat Assistant Result 2019 in the month of December 2019 (Tentatively). So, all the Aspirants can download the Results using this site. And also can download the NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Inspector, Other Posts Cut Off Marks, Merit List 2019 here.
NPSC Secretariat Assistant Result 2019 – Download here
The Nagaland Public Service Commission Conducted the Preliminary Examination for various posts like Deputy Superintendent of Police, Assistant Election Officer, Employment Officer, Assistant Research Officer, Inspector, Station Superintendent/ Enforcement Officer, Secretariat Assistant, Supply Inspector, Labour Inspector. All the Contenders Completed the Prelims Examination Successfully. The Candidates are searching for the Results. To know the status of the Nagaland PSC Result 219 continues reading this article. We will update the direct link to download the Results and it will activate at the time of the official announcement.
Nagaland PSC Result 2019 – Overview
Description
Details
Organization Name
Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC)
Post Name
Assistant Research Officer, Inspector, Secretariat Assistant, & other Posts
While Checking Results, Candidates must have login credentials like Candidates roll number and password along with them. NPSC Selection process consists of two rounds. they are Preliminary Exam and the Main Examination. Therefore, the Authority will release the NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Inspector, Other Posts Prelims Result 2019 based on the performance of the Candidates in the Nagaland Public Service Commission Prelims Examination.
NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Inspector, Other Posts Cut Off Marks 2019
Above all the information will help you to check your Results. However, the officials of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) will release the NPSC Secretariat Assistant Cut Off Marks 2019 after the result announcement. The Aspirants should score minimum qualifying cut off marks to get selected for the next round. Most importantly, the Board will shortlist the candidates according to the categories of BC, ST, OC, SC. Contenders should concentrate on NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Inspector, Other Posts Cut Off Marks 2019.
Nagaland Secretariat Assistant Merit List 2019 @ npsc.co.in
Once completing the NPSC Prelims and Mains Examination. The Nagaland Department will reveal the NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Inspector, Other Posts Merit List 2019. Candidates who score high marks in both the Nagaland preliminary and Mains Exam will get shortlisted in the NPSC Merit List 2019. So, Check the Merit List with respect to names and roll numbers of Aspirants. Further, we can see the stepwise procedure to download the Nagaland Result 2019.
How to check the Nagaland Public Service Commission Result 2019?
Firstly, Candidates can visit the official website @ npsc.co.in.
Secondly, the Homepage of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) will open on the Screen.
On left corner various sections are available.
Then search for the Results in it and click on the link.
And find for Check for the NPSC Secretariat Assistant, ARO, Other Post Result 2019 with respect to the Advertisement number NPSC-2/2019 dt. 14.10.2019.
JP University Result 2019: Students can check out the Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya, Chapra University recent updates regarding the results here. The JP University has recently released the TDC-Part II Examination Results on Today. Candidates who are eagerly looking for the JP University Semester Result just check out the below section. We expected this year’s authority will be announced the JP University Part I, II, and III Result 2019 on its official web site. Candidates want any more details about JPU Chapra BA, BSC, BCom Result 2019 you may visit the JP University Official Website i.e, jpv.bih.nic.in.
JP University Result 2019 @ jpv.bih.nic.in
Here is great news for the Students of Jai Prakash University. The JP University has released the JPU Result for all the UG, PG and Diploma Courses Semester Exams. Those who have written the semester examination, its time to check out your JP University Result 2019. Get JP University Result 2019 for BA, B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, B.Ed, MA, M.Com, M.Sc, MBBS, MBA, MCA, and also Other Courses. The JP University will release the exam Results according to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th semester. Students who do not have the qualified marks in the JPU Results should apply for the re-evaluation process. Later the JPU Results announcement, the officials give some time period to apply for the re-evaluation process. In this process, the authorities are re-correct your paper and released the Revaluation Results within few days.
Jai Prakash University is one of the state premier universities in Chapra, Bihar, India. Initially serving the needs of higher and quality education of the people of Saran commissionary, it has completed its 27 years and has entered its 28rd year, 11 affiliated colleges With 21 constituent colleges, and 23 proposed colleges including 10 professional colleges, it is offering courses at the undergraduate level and postgraduate level in most subjects. It was established by the Government of Bihar in response to the needs of the people of Saran commissionary. The Jai Prakash University is recognized by the UGC as a state university and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities, having jurisdiction over the Saran Division, comprising the three districts of Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj.
JP University Regular/ Supplementary Results
Students, those who have not cleared and got low marks the University examinations can apply for the Revaluation. This is is a chance for the students to increase their marks in subjects in which they have scored low marks. If students have written the main exam well and still got a low score. They can have a correction of their exam paper once again to increase their scoring. Currently, JP University has released the revaluation results for UG, PG with all-region Students. So Students can check the Revaluation Results from the official website as well as on our recruitment.guru page.
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MUMBAI: Maruti Suzuki is reconsidering the plan to ditch diesel vehicles from its portfolio, after its key rivals decided to continue in the segment, people in the know said.The nation's top carmaker had cited non-viability of developing a small diesel engine complying with upcoming emission norms for exiting the space from next year. The company now feels it would miss out on a sizeable market share if it leaves the space but its rivals stay put, these people said.The Suzuki Motor unit will stop selling diesel cars ahead of April 1deadline to meet new emission norms, but plans to re-enter the market in 2021, they said. It has begun work on a 1.5-litre diesel engine meeting BSVI standards, in line with rivals Hyundai Motor, M&M and Tata Motors that are upgrading their own diesel plants for mid-size vehicles.NEW ENGINES TO TOYOTAMaruti Suzuki is likely to strap the proposed diesel engine first in the Ciaz, Ertiga and S Cross, and subsequently in the Vitara Brezza and a seven-seater version of the SUV. In the hatchback and small sedan segments of Swift, Baleno and DZire, it would offer a CNG or hybrid engine as an additional option to buyers along with petrol, as there would be no diesel variants, the people said. 72500140 A Maruti Suzuki spokesperson declined to comment.A petrol specialist, Suzuki for decades had relied on a Fiat-supplied 1.3-litre multijet plant to power its mass-market diesel vehicles. The Italian company isn't upgrading this to the new emission standards, so Maruti Suzuki is developing its own 1.5-litre plant, people said.Barring the Volkswagen Group and the Renault-Nissan alliance, Maruti Suzuki's rivals Hyundai, Mahindra, Tata Motors and Honda Cars are all upgrading their 1.5-litre diesel engines to meet BSVI standards. "It is a given that the 1.5-litre diesel has to come (for Maruti Suzuki), but everyone is keenly waiting for the final report on techno-commercial viability. Just Maruti Suzuki volumes alone may not make the business case, hence supplying for Toyota models in the future is an option being discussed to lower the cost," said a parts supplier to the company.Maruti Suzuki is estimated to have sold about 500,000 diesel vehicles in 2018-19, and this fiscal year, internal estimates suggest that number to fall to 250,000-300,000. Once the 1.5-litre diesel engine option is added to the portfolio, Maruti Suzuki expects this volume to return to 500,000-lakh level, including vehicles sold in partnership with Toyota Motor.The New Delhi-based company has over the past months phased out its diesel models, except for the BS-IV versions of the Vitara Brezza and DZire Tour that have seen a surge in demand recently.While it is set to soon stop production of these two diesel models as well, the sudden surge in demand for these may have also been a reason for it to reconsider the previous plan. It has now realised there will be a sizeable number of diesel buyers in the market even in the compact and midsize segments, the people said.With the company that makes half the passenger vehicles in India exiting most of the diesel segments, the share of diesel cars, utility vehicles and vans in the local market slipped to 34% in the first half of fiscal 2020 from 40% a year earlier. About 22% of the vehicles sold by Maruti Suzuki in the first half were dieselpowered. Its share in the overall diesel market was less than 40%.In India's passenger car segment, the share of diesel was 14% in the fiscal first half, but in the utility vehicles space, it was high at 68%. Maruti Suzuki took an accelerated depreciation of Rs 160 crore to write off its diesel assets this financial year, but if there is an expected future demand then the company may have to re-value its diesel assets.
New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications is set to hold Bharti Airtel liable for some of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues that Videocon Telecommunications and Aircel owe the government, as the Sunil Mittal-led telco had bought some spectrum from the two bankrupt carriers back in 2017."DoT is looking into the spectrum trading deal between Bharti Airtel and Videocon Telecommunications and dues that need to be paid," said a government official, who did not want to be identified.The bankrupt telco — Videocon Telecommunications, which is in the midst of insolvency proceedings, owes about Rs 1,298 crore in licence fee, spectrum usage charge (SUC), interest and penalties to the government, after the Supreme Court order widened the definition of AGR to include non-core items. Telcos pay up to 8% of AGR as licence fees and 3-5% of AGR as SUC. "…the DoT is chalking out how much will either party have to pay," the official said. 72497820 The DoT has sent notices to all telcos to self-assess and pay their dues in three months from the apex court order of October 24. Officials said in case of any discrepancies between the telco and DoT calculations, the department will send fresh notices for the balance. Under a spectrum trading deal, Airtel bought 25 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band from Videocon Telecommunications in six circles — Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, UP (East) and UP (West) — for Rs 4,428 crore.An industry official said that Videocon Telecommunications was using the spectrum for 2G and 3G services, and thus, was liable to pay licence fees and SUC. "Its dues may be divided between two parties." Airtel, on its own, faces dues of over Rs 35,500 crore, and after provisioning for such payments, ran up record losses of over Rs 23,000 crore in the July-October quarter. The DoT move will thus further add to the burden of the second largest operator, which has repeatedly asked the government to grant them relief from the SC's order that has sent shock waves across the sector. 72497827 The government though has said it can't provide AGR relief unless directed by the court. The telco and Videocon Telecommunications have both filed separate review petitions in the hope of the court softening its blow. Airtel, Videocon Telecommunications and Deloitte, the resolution professional for Videocon and Aircel, didn't respond to ET's emailed queries till press-time.In the case of Aircel, which is also undergoing insolvency proceedings, Airtel is expected to be made liable for a 'small part' of Aircel's nearly Rs 10,230 crore dues, another industry official said."This is because most of the defunct telco's dues come from its 2G and 3G airwaves whereas Airtel had picked up the barely used 4G spectrum," the official said. Also, SUC for 2300 MHZ band that Aircel bought in the 2010 is at 1% compared with 3-5% for other bands. 72497833 Airtel bought 23 MHz spectrum in 2300 MHz band from bankrupt Aircel in eight circles — Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Assam, North East, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh — for Rs 3,500 crore. In the Odisha circle, Airtel had to surrender 1.2 MHz airwaves worth Rs 38 crore because it breached the spectrum cap.The genesis of these two spectrum trading deals happened when Airtel needed more 4G airwaves to combat the impending onslaught of Reliance Jio, which launched its commercial services in September 2016.The rules are clear on the liabilities in a trading deal, said DoT officials. "The seller shall clear all its dues prior to concluding any spectrum trading. Thereafter, any dues recoverable up to the effective date of trade shall be a liability of the buyer," according to the rules."The government shall, at its discretion, be entitled to recover the amount, if any, found recoverable subsequent to the effective date of the trade, which was not known to the parties at the time of the effective date of trade, from the buyer or the seller, jointly or severally." Untitled Carousel 72492751
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has said that Deloitte Haskins & Sells, which audited the books of IL&FS Financial Services Limited, had failed to comply with the relevant accounting standards.The regulator for auditors in the country said in a probe report Thursday that "the audit firm did not have adequate justification for issuing the audit report asserting that the audit was conducted in accordance with the SAs (standards of accounting)."The NFRA report, however, did not mention any penalty against Deloitte.NFRA, which is an agency of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), said that Deloitte may have violated a clause that restricts a statutory auditor from providing other professional services to a company being audited."DHS LLP will conduct a detailed review into NFRA's report and is exploring the available options," a Deloitte India spokesperson said. "The audit for FY 2017-2018 was a joint audit for IFIN. We remain confident that our audits have been performed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards in India."According to NFRA, Deloitte was offering different services to IL&FS Financial, or IFIN. Such relationships could lead to potential conflicts of interest and biases, the report said.NFRA's investigation has focused on the IL&FS fraud after the infrastructure financier failed to meet its debt obligations last autumn, triggering a confidence crisis in India's non-bank lending industry.IFIN was audited by KPMG affiliate BSR in FY19 and jointly by BSR and Deloitte in FY18. Deloitte was the sole auditor of IFIN in FY16 and FY17.The NFRA report released on Thursday speaks about the role of Deloitte.
MUMBAI: Young Indians, do the math: You spend between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8-12 lakh for a degree/diploma from a tier-3 or tier-4 MBA or engineering institute, you get a salary of around Rs 40,000 per month on graduation. Or, you spend under Rs 1 lakh for a specialised course at a vocational training institute, and get a salary of Rs 60,000 a month.Would you still opt for a low-value MBA or engineering course over being an in-demand electrician or lab technician or a gemologist? Many still would. The white collar fetish is skewing India's job market, shows an exclusive TeamLease survey for ET.The survey has many data points (see graphic). For example, a gemologist with five years of experience earns close to Rs 60,000 a month versus an engineer or MBA graduate from non-top tier college, who with similar experience, earns a little over Rs 40,000 pm. A lab technician, a licensed electrician, visual merchandiser, or a fashion designer takes home near about Rs 60,000 a month.The survey is based on TeamLease's temp salary database for 2016, 2017, 2018 and third-party job portal salary databases. It compared salaries of skilled workers from recognised vocational training institutes with salaries of engineers and MBAs from institutions ranked outside the top 50.72500506 Vocational job salaries have consistently risen above salaries of those with engineering and MBA education from bottom rung institutes, says Rituparna Chakraborty, cofounder of TeamLease Services. And demand for vocational skills are high. At the starting level, comparisons are startling.More Money in 15 YearsA visual merchandiser with 0-2 years of experience in the apparel industry got more money than an MBA or an electrical engineer with the same level of experience. The salary of a skilled electrician (with 5+ years of experience) rose from Rs 27,250 per month in 2016 to Rs 39,500 per month in 2018, while a network technician was able to take home Rs 51,600 in 2018 compared with Rs 38,000 in 2016. An engineer from a low-ranked institute, on the other hand, got Rs 41,500 per month in 2018 compared with Rs 37,200 in 2016, while an MBA from a similar institute received Rs 42,000 compared with Rs 32,500 in 2016.Salary levels for vocational employees continued to stay high even after eight years of experience. Ditto with a gemologist working in the gems and jewellery sector. And cumulative payouts over 15 years are also higher for those skilled vocational jobs than those from low-ranked institutes who are in white collar employment. Visual merchandiser, automobile service technician, network technician, surveyor in the construction industry get more money in 15 years than an electrical engineer, marketing MBA and computer engineer, the survey shows. "It is better to learn a skill than getting a degree from such (low-ranked) institutes," says Prince Augustin, executive vice president, group human capital, Mahindra & Mahindra. Specialised vocational jobs such as high precision welding for instance can attract more salary than many engineering qualifications, says Augustin."Compensation is a reflection of demand and supply. There is an oversupply of engineering graduates and MBAs in the country, while in vocational skills there is a dearth of qualified people," says Santrupt Mishra, CEO of carbon black business at Aditya Birla Group.The current demand deficit in the vocational jobs market is expected to balloon to 41.4-61.4 million over the next 5 years, causing salaries to rise. A case in point is the burgeoning demand for gemologists at a time when 99% of gems and jewellery is sold after hallmarking. "There are some 7,000 manufacturers working with 100,000 retailers in India. Today every company needs a gemologist, while there aren't enough people," says Colin Shah, vice-chairman of Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). "Companies would not mind paying a premium to a specialist trained gemologist," he says. However, the negative aspect of most vocational skills is that they are usually specific to a sector.Tomorrow if there is a change in trend, the skill may become redundant. While demand for vocational labour is increasingly outstripping supply, lack of employability continues to plague the long tail of higher education. This raises a big question mark on the quality of MBAs and engineering colleges in the country. According to TeamLease estimates, nearly 80% of the engineers from long-tail institutions (institutions ranked below 51) are not employable, while 99% of MBAs from long-tail institutions are not employable. Unskilled engineers earn Rs 10,000 to 15,000 per month at the start of their career, while poor quality MBAs earn as low as Rs 8,000-10,000 in their first job.According to an estimate from All India Management Association (AIMA), every year, only about 60% of 3.5 lakh-plus management graduates find management jobs.
NEW DELHI: New beginnings will soon be in order and you may have to shell out only a bit more or the same as last year for ringing in the new year. Leading hotel brands are keeping rates for their popular Christmas and new year celebration packages mostly unchanged while some are hiking prices marginally even as consumers start hunting for the best deals in town amidst a slowdown. Hotel chains said they are not bringing down rates as they are confident of demand picking up from last-minute party goers.At Pullman and Novotel hotels in New Delhi's Aero City, the rates for New Year's eve are up marginally – from about Rs 17,000 and Rs 20,000 for Novotel and Pullman brands respectively last year to about Rs 18,000 and Rs 21,000."There has been an excellent recovery in the marketplace for the hospitality sector in the past two months. The downturn in September has reversed and we are seeing rates go up quite well throughout our properties. Significantly, our Delhi properties – Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity – are seeing good traction for New Year and Christmas packages," said BiswajitChakraborty, general manager delegate for the two hotels. Elsewhere in Mumbai's Hotel Sahara Star, the food and beverages package was priced at Rs 7,000 per guest last year while a staycation package on new year's eve was at about Rs 13,500."This year our food and beverage offerings are around Rs 7500 per guest. Price for our sojourn (staycation) package remain the same as last year, inclusive of buffet breakfast and a brunch with unlimited select beverages. The hotel witnessed a full house last year. This year too we are expecting a greater footfall and definitely better revenues as everybody wants a complete package with hospitality and entertainment," said hotel manager Salil Fadnis.The Imperial, New Delhi, has also kept its rates mostly unchanged this year besides introducing a special liqour package for new year's eve starting at Rs 1500 (plus taxes)."Our prices remain more or less unchanged from last year. They are on par with the industry standards and offer complete value for money to our discerning guests," said Vijay Wanchoo, senior EVP and general manager at the hotel. A Christmas eve dinner buffet at the hotel's all day dining 1911 restaurant is priced at Rs 6,000 plus taxes with unlimited champagne for Rs 1,500 plus taxes while some Tuscan Italian fare on New Year 's eve is priced at Rs 6,000 plus taxes."At our big hotel in New Delhi, prices have increased by about 8%, while in Mumbai they are unchanged. Customers are currently hunting for best deals and will book closer to the date. We have not reduced prices and leads are still coming," said an executive of a luxury hotel chain on condition of anonymity. Akarsh Mathur, GM at The Deltin, Daman, said there is a definite slowdown in the economy compared to last year in certain market segments, but popular occasions such as new year celebrations will not be affected. A staycation package at the property which includes access to new year's eve party is priced at Rs 17,500 plus taxes for two people, the same as last year.
MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India has rejected Future Lifestyle Fashion's proposal to buy a stake in Koovs, the online retailer which is now being taken over by its largest creditor to keep it afloat, a person in the know said.Future Lifestyle had agreed to buy a nearly 30% stake in the London-listed online fashion retailer in July last year.While the Kishore Biyani-owned firm invested Rs 54 crore last fiscal year and another Rs 34 crore in May by purchasing new ordinary shares, it did not subscribe to compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) worth another Rs 64 crore, which was part of the deal agreement."We have not received the necessary approval for subscription of CCPS. With the RBI stating that the transaction pertaining to CCPS is not compliant, we are not likely to find an alternative route to finance the deal," the person in the know told ET.In a notice to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Koovs said it entered into administration after the Indian company was unable to deliver on a promised 6.5 million pound (Rs 61 crore at current exchange rate) investment in to the business, resulting in unsustainable cashflow pressures. "A competitive sale process has been conducted over the past month in an effort to continue the business as a going concern, but no viable offers were received," the filing added.72500386 Koovs said following the appointment of an administrator, the business and assets were immediately sold to SGIK 3 Investments, a corporate entity wholly owned by Waheed Alli, its largest secured creditor.The Future Group is not keen to contest the sale or invest further. "Koovs' growth has not turned the way it was projected to us during the agreement and we don't foresee a turnaround. We don't intend to pump more money in it," said the person in the know.The Future Group declined to comment.Koovs curates fashion from various international brands targeted at young Indians and about 40% of the company's sales come from its private labels. A few months ago, it started selling its private label brands in Future Lifestyle's Central department stores, while Biyanimanaged brands such as Lee Cooper, Converse, Cover Story and Indigo Nation were listed on its website. The online firm also signed a $1.4 million technical services contract with the Future Group to develop, host and maintain an online platform for Future Lifestyle's Brand Factory. Koovs posted a 9% increase in revenues at Rs 59 crore for fiscal 2019.Its loss widened to Rs 138 crore from Rs 134 crore the year before.
President Donald Trump signed off on a phase-one trade deal with China, averting the Dec. 15 introduction of a new wave of US tariffs on about $160 billion of consumer goods from the Asian nation, according to people familiar with the matter.The deal presented to Trump by trade advisers Thursday included a promise by the Chinese to buy more US agricultural goods, according to the people. Officials also discussed possible reductions of existing duties on Chinese products, they said. The terms have been agreed but the legal text has not yet been finalized, the people said. A White House spokesperson declined to comment.The administration has reached out to allies on Capitol Hill and in the business community to issue statements of support once the announcement is made, they said. Before meeting his trade advisers, Trump engaged with members of the Business Roundtable, which represents some of the largest US companies, people said. 72500039 Global stocks hit a record high and bond yields climbed on optimism over trade. On Thursday, Trump tweeted that the US and China are "VERY close" to signing a "BIG" trade deal, also sending equities higher. The yuan surged the most in a year."They want it, and so do we!" he tweeted five minutes after equity markets opened in New York, sending stocks to new records.Trump changed his mind on deals with China before. Negotiators have been working on the terms of the phase-one deal for months after the president announced in October that the two nations had reached an agreement that could be put on paper within weeks.The US has added a 25 per cent duty on about $250 billion of Chinese products and a 15 per cent levy on another $110 billion of its imports over the course of a roughly 20-month trade war. Discussions now are focused on reducing those rates by as much as half, as part of the interim agreement Trump announced almost nine weeks ago.In addition to a significant increase in Chinese agricultural purchases in exchange for tariff relief, officials have also said a phase-one pact would include Chinese commitments to do more to stop intellectual-property theft and an agreement by both sides not to manipulate their currencies.Put off for later discussions are knotty issues such as longstanding US complaints over the vast web of subsidies ranging from cheap electricity to low-cost loans that China has used to build its industrial might.The new duties, which were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Washington time on Sunday unless the administration says otherwise, would hit consumer goods from China including smartphones and toys.Before today, Trump's advisers had sent conflicting signals and stressed that he hadn't made up his mind on the next steps.The decisions facing Trump over a trade deal highlight one dilemma he confronts going into the 2020 election: Whether to bet on an escalation of hostilities with China and the tariffs he is so fond of or to follow the advice of more market-oriented advisers and business leaders who argue a pause in the escalation would help a slowing US economy bounce back in an election year.What Bloomberg's Economists Say..."The outcome of US-China trade talks will be a key determinant of the trajectory for 2020 growth. At one extreme, a deal that takes tariffs back to May 2019 levels, and provides certainty that the truce will hold, could deliver a 0.6% boost to global GDP. At the other, a breakdown in talks would mean the trade drag extends into the year ahead."--Tom Orlik, chief economistThe president's expected announcement on Thursday was met with immediate criticism from Democrats and even by members of his own party. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, one of the most vocal China hawks in Congress, said the White House should consider the risks of a deal.A near-term pact "would give away the tariff leverage needed for a broader agreement on the issues that matter the most such as subsidies to domestic firms, forced tech transfers & blocking US firms access to key sectors," he said in a tweet.Democratic lawmakers in a letter on Thursday told the president this point in the negotiations marks a "critical juncture" for the US to secure concessions "on major structural challenges that will only become more difficult to address.""Your administration must stay strong against the Chinese government if fundamental concessions are not made. Anything short of a meaningful, enforceable and lasting agreement would be severe and unacceptable for the American people," Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden and Sherrod Brown said.
By Joanna OssingerJPMorgan Chase & Co. is recommending a risk-on investment allocation for 2020 as the global economy gathers momentum in the wake of the slowdown of recent months.Stocks are a common theme across the Wall Street giant's top trades, including bets on Japanese banks, German equities and emerging markets, a note by strategists including Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, Marko Kolanovic and John Normand showed Wednesday. The firm maintains an underweight position in bonds, particularly in high-grade corporate credit, and advised betting on gold to slide."If cyclical or policy risks recede into 2020, it would be difficult for asset allocators to not accept higher equity weightings," the analysts wrote. That's especially the case given how cash and bonds yield "significantly" less than equities now, they wrote.The bottoming-out of global manufacturing purchasing manager indexes and strength of US labor markets are lowering US recession risks, the team wrote, adding confidence to the idea that the Federal Reserve's three 2019 interest-rate cuts are simply a mid-cycle adjustment.They boosted their allocation to government bonds to -3 per cent from -6 per cent versus the benchmark, and cut corporate bonds to -8 per cent from -5 per cent. Front-end Treasury rates are likely to be supported through the first quarter as the Fed appears comfortably on hold, according to the bank. 72489783 Last December, the strategists recommended a positive stance on equities versus bonds on the idea that earnings would continue to beat expectations. While bonds have rallied this year, they've returned far less than the global MSCI ACWI stock index.Last year's call on the median level on the Cboe Volatility Index would be between 15 and 16 proved right, as it's just above 15 year-to-date. However, the strategists also recommended implementing hedges across asset classes in anticipation of greater volatility, whereas swings have become muted, particularly in currencies.JPMorgan flagged the biggest risk in 2020 as the US presidential election, particularly if a progressive candidate like Elizabeth Warren wins the Democratic Party nomination. It recommends going long volatility on the US dollar/Swiss franc pair as a hedge against risks from the primary elections where the Democrats will pick their nominee.
For Western Digital, India has emerged as an important engineering centre, with several products in the hard disk drive and flash drive segments entirely designed and developed here by the data storage solutions firm.Earlier this year, the company launched the world's first 1 terabyte micro SD card, which was completely engineered in India, said Ganesh Guruswamy, senior vice-president, Data Storage Products Group at Western Digital.Similarly, the 512 GB micro SD card, which is the world's fastest UHS-1 microSD was also developed here.The nearly $21-billion enterprise has increased its India headcount by almost 10 times to 2,700 over the last five years, 95% of whom are engineers.The company set up its India operations in 2005, focused mainly on R&D."India is an important development centre and the fastest growing market in the consumer segment for us. It will play a significant role from a market perspective in the years to come," Guruswamy said.The enterprise segment is likely to grow faster as the pace picks up on government initiatives like Smart Cities. "I was clear that India would not be just about the human capital and that it would play an important role in product development. We have to be responsible to deliver global products independently," he said.To make it happen, the company has been actively hiring from the market and top universities over the last few years, said Supria Dhanda, vicepresident and country manager at Western Digital India.The upward trend in hiring numbers is likely to continue in the next few years as well, Dhanda said.The company has put in place a dedicated training program for its campus hires in India and this is starting to show results. Over the past year, many patents that it filed were by engineers in their first year on the job."Globally, we have 13,750 patents, many of which have been filed out of here," she said.The company has set up teams comprising entirely of university hires to do end-to-end product development within the first year – something that would typically take an engineer over two years.This push on developing talent is an important reason why most new products created by Western Digital have an India connection.The company is working closely with the government to see how it can bring in products from its global portfolio for smart city and surveillance initiatives.It will also launch the second edition of the Data Innovation Bazaar, DIB 2020, where it partners with the Startup India and Invest India ventures to find solutions to larger problems, like affordable healthcare, using data.Western Digital, the largest company in the non-volatile storage segment, has grown significantly through acquisitions, including HGST, which gave it leadership in the enterprise segment, and Sandisk, which was the biggest company in the flash segment.
More trouble for Medha Patkar, passport to be impounded A complaint was filed against the activist in June this year by a journalist stating that Ms. Patkar had obtained her passport by concealing and suppressing material facts from the RPO Mumbai.
Karnataka Scheduled Tribes list to include three more tribes The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed a Bill to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to include three tribes – Parivara, Talwara and the
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