Looking into the truth about modern workplace environments

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Workplaces are being transformed, according to the Olivet Nazarene University study ( “ The Truth about Modern Offices “). The days of men and women fitted in formal clothing and working under the harsh glare fluorescent lighting are slipping away. The trends of today are reflective of casual dress codes and soft furnishings. There are signs too that the ‘ animal penning’ ( read cubicles) are starting to be withdrawn, and replaced with open floor plans ( indications are that over half of workplaces – 51 percent – have gravitated towards the ‘ open office’ or open floor plan concept). The survey also showed that 77 percent of U.S. located workers are reportedly happy with the way their office is set up. However, as an indication of thoughts about open-plan areas, those with private offices stated they were happiest Through changing technology, more employees are now having more daily conversations via messaging apps rather than face-to-face interactions ( for every 17 conversations, nine are via messaging systems against eight that are face-to-face). An example of such a system is Skype for Business. The poll also found that 58 percent of U.S. citizens self-report they are less productive when working from home. The main reasons for this loss of productivity include distractions, trouble signing off at the end of the day and difficulty communicating and collaborating with coworkers. Furthermore, 80 percent of those ‘ homeworking’ freely admitted to multitasking. By this, people are choosing to focus on things like laundry, family, or television. So while remote working takes off, there are some apparent downsides to this trend. The data was compiled between November 15 and November 17, 2019. Encompassed in the survey were 2,009 people, who were polled about their current workplace environments. The mean age of the participants was 37 years. By gender, 55 percent of the respondents were female and 45 percent were male. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs. The Steppe mammoth was the first stage in the evolution of the steppe and tundra elephants and the ancestor of the woolly mammoth and... Recycling is almost non-existent in the North African country, which produces 2.6 million tonnes of waste each year. Satellites have become invaluable as an added technology in man’ s quest to understand and expand the scope of global climate observation. Boris Johnson's own MPs say they will rebel against the government's new coronavirus restrictions - Copyright UK PARLIAMENT/AFP JESSICA TAYLORBritain’ s health minister has refused... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Hexo refiles financial statements

New York reported a record 90,132 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday as the state passed 4 million total infections since the start of the pandemic. Bitcoin extended its slide into the weekend as the most speculative of assets continues to be hit the hardest while the excesses of the last few years get wrung from global markets. Central bankers need to speak up about economic barriers prompted by racism and the need for inclusion and diversity, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said, a response to critics who see the work as a distraction from the Fed’ s main goals. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican leader in the chamber and a potential successor to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said he will seek a fourth term. New York Governor Kathy Hochul picked Janno Lieber to head the nation’ s largest public transit system on Saturday, sticking with former Governor Andrew Cuomo’ s choice to help restore ridership decimated by the pandemic. { { video.ContentPackages [ 0 ].ScheduleStartDateTime | fromNow } }

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Japan raid, Turkey arrests in widening Ghosn probe

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Officials on Thursday raided the Tokyo residence of former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn who fled to Lebanon to avoid a Japanese trial, while Turkey detained several people as part of a widening probe into the security lapse. Ghosn, who faced multiple charges of financial misconduct that he denies, won bail in April but with strict conditions -- including a ban on overseas travel. But the disgraced executive, who has French, Brazilian and Lebanese nationalities, managed to slip out of Japan on Sunday despite having handed over his three passports to his lawyers. A court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport as he needed one to travel inside Japan, a source close to the matter told AFP Thursday. `` He had to keep this passport '' to prove his short-stay status, the source said, adding: `` There was permission from the court. '' Ghosn was allowed this French passport so long as it was kept in a locked case with the code held by his lawyers, the source said. There is no emigration data showing Ghosn's departure from Japan but he entered Lebanon on a French passport, public broadcaster NHK said. Colourful rumours abound regarding the exact circumstances of Ghosn's daring escape. One claim in the Lebanese media was that the mogul was sprung from his Tokyo residence in a musical instrument case -- a story a source in his entourage denied. He is thought to have taken a private jet from Kansai Airport in western Japan on December 29, heading for Istanbul. It is believed Ghosn headed from there to Beirut. Turkey's interior ministry has opened an investigation into Ghosn's apparent transfer between private jets at an Istanbul airport on Monday. Officials questioned seven people, including four pilots, as part of the probe, news agency DHA reported Thursday. - Residence raided - Prosecutors, meanwhile, raided his former Tokyo residence Thursday as part of an initial investigation into his escape. Television footage showed several officers in dark suits entering the property. Authorities are expected to analyse security camera footage from his residence and other places they suspect Ghosn travelled to before he fled, NHK said. Police suspect `` several '' people accompanied him to help him escape `` in an unlawful manner, '' it added. The Japanese government has yet to issue any official statement on the case. When his defence lawyers were arguing for bail, prosecutors claimed he was a flight risk with powerful connections, but Ghosn himself said he wanted to be tried to prove his innocence. One of his lawyers also said at the time that he was such a famous face he had no chance of slipping away undetected. Several countries allow peopleto have two passports of the same nationality -- for example if they are frequent travellers constantly needing visas, or visit nations in conflict with each other. The Japanese government is likely to ask Lebanon to extradite Ghosn through diplomatic channels, but chances of his handover appear slim as Beiruit has no extradition accord with Tokyo. The French government said on Thursday it would not extradite Ghosn if he arrived in the country because it does not extradite its nationals. Officials on Thursday raided the Tokyo residence of former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn who fled to Lebanon to avoid a Japanese trial, while Turkey detained several people as part of a widening probe into the security lapse. Ghosn, who faced multiple charges of financial misconduct that he denies, won bail in April but with strict conditions — including a ban on overseas travel. But the disgraced executive, who has French, Brazilian and Lebanese nationalities, managed to slip out of Japan on Sunday despite having handed over his three passports to his lawyers. A court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport as he needed one to travel inside Japan, a source close to the matter told AFP Thursday. “ He had to keep this passport ” to prove his short-stay status, the source said, adding: “ There was permission from the court. ” Ghosn was allowed this French passport so long as it was kept in a locked case with the code held by his lawyers, the source said. There is no emigration data showing Ghosn’ s departure from Japan but he entered Lebanon on a French passport, public broadcaster NHK said. Colourful rumours abound regarding the exact circumstances of Ghosn’ s daring escape. One claim in the Lebanese media was that the mogul was sprung from his Tokyo residence in a musical instrument case — a story a source in his entourage denied. He is thought to have taken a private jet from Kansai Airport in western Japan on December 29, heading for Istanbul. It is believed Ghosn headed from there to Beirut. Turkey’ s interior ministry has opened an investigation into Ghosn’ s apparent transfer between private jets at an Istanbul airport on Monday. Officials questioned seven people, including four pilots, as part of the probe, news agency DHA reported Thursday. – Residence raided – Prosecutors, meanwhile, raided his former Tokyo residence Thursday as part of an initial investigation into his escape. Television footage showed several officers in dark suits entering the property. Authorities are expected to analyse security camera footage from his residence and other places they suspect Ghosn travelled to before he fled, NHK said. Police suspect “ several ” people accompanied him to help him escape “ in an unlawful manner, ” it added. The Japanese government has yet to issue any official statement on the case. When his defence lawyers were arguing for bail, prosecutors claimed he was a flight risk with powerful connections, but Ghosn himself said he wanted to be tried to prove his innocence. One of his lawyers also said at the time that he was such a famous face he had no chance of slipping away undetected. Several countries allow peopleto have two passports of the same nationality — for example if they are frequent travellers constantly needing visas, or visit nations in conflict with each other. The Japanese government is likely to ask Lebanon to extradite Ghosn through diplomatic channels, but chances of his handover appear slim as Beiruit has no extradition accord with Tokyo. The French government said on Thursday it would not extradite Ghosn if he arrived in the country because it does not extradite its nationals. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. A growing number of Western nations and cybersecurity groups have issued digital surveillance warnings for next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing. Cloud ERP leader Acumatica to host annual summit on digital transformation success. A man gets a Covid-19 jab at a vaccination station in Vienna on August 25, 2021; from February 2022, vaccinations against the virus will... US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the US embassy in Kyiv amid a standoff with Russia - Copyright AFP/File Mladen ANTONOVShaun TANDONThe... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2022 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Pope's bodyguards criticised over slapping incident

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Pope Francis's attempt to wrest himself from the grasp of an ardent follower this week have left some asking -- where was the pontiff's security detail? Often dubbed the `` People's Pope, '' Francis's ability to engage with crowds -- and his apparent relish in doing so -- puts him in close proximity with the throngs who gather to greet him. Whether taking selfies with the faithful, shaking hands, or blessing children, the head of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world is protected by bodyguards from a special corps charged with the pope's security. But on New Year's Eve in Saint Peter's Square, televised images showed a woman behind a barricade grabbing Francis's hand, while three men in black can be seen in the background. The Pope swats at the woman's hand to free himself, before one of the men is seen restraining her hands. Francis later apologised for setting a `` bad example. '' By Thursday, after the images circulated online, some people took to Twitter to question how the incident could have happened. `` The guy has a literal army to protect him and has to do his own slapping? '' asked one Twitter user. Another commented: `` The Pope has a very lax security detail. '' The Vatican's security department declined to comment. One security expert however said bodyguards should have intervened earlier. `` It's the Pope's security team who should be apologising, '' said the founder of Italy's elite special police interventions unit, whose identity is protected but who goes by the name Commandant Alfa. `` The lady wouldn't let go of the Pope's hand, and he was forced to slap her hand a little bit in order to get out of the way, '' Alfa told the AGI news agency. `` But it shouldn't have gotten to that point. '' The pope's chief bodyguard and head of Vatican security, Domenico Giani, resigned in October after an internal security memo related to a Vatican financial probe was leaked to the press. - Personal style - Papal security became a top priority at the Vatican after the 1981 assassination attempt of pope Jean Paul II by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turk, in Saint Peter's Square. Heightened security measures that followed included making the Popemobile bulletproof and the addition of metal detectors on entering the square. Francis told a Spanish newspaper in 2014 he preferred not to use the bulletproof Popemobile, likening it to a `` sardine can. '' But even overly enthusiastic fans have posed security risks. In 2009, before a Christmas Eve Mass given by then pope Benedict XVI, a woman who later said she wanted to give the pontiff a hug jumped over a barricade and grabbed his robes, pulling the 82-year-old to the ground. Benedict was not injured but a French cardinal broke his leg in the melee. When Francis became pope in 2013, his low-key style and desire to bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the people posed new headaches for the Vatican's elaborate security team, whose colourful Swiss Guards are the most visible members. `` You have to respect the personal style of each pope, '' said Francis's spokesman at the time, Federico Lombardi. `` It's not for the heads of security to decide these things. '' Pope Francis’ s attempt to wrest himself from the grasp of an ardent follower this week have left some asking — where was the pontiff’ s security detail? Often dubbed the “ People’ s Pope, ” Francis’ s ability to engage with crowds — and his apparent relish in doing so — puts him in close proximity with the throngs who gather to greet him. Whether taking selfies with the faithful, shaking hands, or blessing children, the head of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world is protected by bodyguards from a special corps charged with the pope’ s security. But on New Year’ s Eve in Saint Peter’ s Square, televised images showed a woman behind a barricade grabbing Francis’ s hand, while three men in black can be seen in the background. The Pope swats at the woman’ s hand to free himself, before one of the men is seen restraining her hands. Francis later apologised for setting a “ bad example. ” By Thursday, after the images circulated online, some people took to Twitter to question how the incident could have happened. “ The guy has a literal army to protect him and has to do his own slapping? ” asked one Twitter user. Another commented: “ The Pope has a very lax security detail. ” The Vatican’ s security department declined to comment. One security expert however said bodyguards should have intervened earlier. “ It’ s the Pope’ s security team who should be apologising, ” said the founder of Italy’ s elite special police interventions unit, whose identity is protected but who goes by the name Commandant Alfa. “ The lady wouldn’ t let go of the Pope’ s hand, and he was forced to slap her hand a little bit in order to get out of the way, ” Alfa told the AGI news agency. “ But it shouldn’ t have gotten to that point. ” The pope’ s chief bodyguard and head of Vatican security, Domenico Giani, resigned in October after an internal security memo related to a Vatican financial probe was leaked to the press. – Personal style – Papal security became a top priority at the Vatican after the 1981 assassination attempt of pope Jean Paul II by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turk, in Saint Peter’ s Square. Heightened security measures that followed included making the Popemobile bulletproof and the addition of metal detectors on entering the square. Francis told a Spanish newspaper in 2014 he preferred not to use the bulletproof Popemobile, likening it to a “ sardine can. ” But even overly enthusiastic fans have posed security risks. In 2009, before a Christmas Eve Mass given by then pope Benedict XVI, a woman who later said she wanted to give the pontiff a hug jumped over a barricade and grabbed his robes, pulling the 82-year-old to the ground. Benedict was not injured but a French cardinal broke his leg in the melee. When Francis became pope in 2013, his low-key style and desire to bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the people posed new headaches for the Vatican’ s elaborate security team, whose colourful Swiss Guards are the most visible members. “ You have to respect the personal style of each pope, ” said Francis’ s spokesman at the time, Federico Lombardi. “ It’ s not for the heads of security to decide these things. ” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. Omicron's rise has heralded another pandemic-tinged Christmas for billions, with Santa's arrival overshadowed by Covid restrictions. At a time when hospitals and patients are strained due to increasing COVID numbers, threat actors will continue to attack. Millions of Americans are traveling before Christmas even as national Omicron Covid-19 infections surpass Delta's peak. Hong Kong university students paid solemn tribute to two campus statues marking Beijing's 1989 suppression of Tiananmen Square protesters. COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Lebanon denies president welcomed fugitive Ghosn

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published The Lebanese presidency on Thursday denied reports that President Michel Aoun had welcomed fugitive former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn upon his arrival in the country. The French-Lebanese tycoon, who had been under house arrest in Japan over several counts of financial misconduct, escaped in mysterious circumstances and arrived in Beirut on Monday. Several media outlets reported that he had been greeted by Aoun but a senior presidency official denied the two men had met. `` He was not received at the presidency and did not meet the president, '' the official told AFP. Ghosn flew in from Istanbul on a private jet and has since been reunited with friends and family. Ghosn said he would speak to the media next week. One of his lawyers in Lebanon, Carlos Abou Jaoude, said a date for the press conference had yet to be determined. He entered Lebanon on a French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. The public Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport so long as it were kept `` in a locked case '' with the key held by his lawyers. The exact circumstances of Ghosn's daring escape from Japan, where he had been released on bail in April pending trial after 130 days in prison, remain unclear, though colourful rumours abound. One claim in the Lebanese media is that the auto mogul, who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities, was sprung from his Tokyo residence in a musical instrument case -- a story a source in his entourage denied. How Ghosn was able to jump bail has led to a Japanese investigation into what is seen as an embarrassing security lapse. Ghosn stands accused of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. Ghosn has repeatedly denied all charges against him, and said that he fled to Lebanon to escape a `` rigged '' Japanese justice system. Some Lebanese see Ghosn as a symbol of their country's fabled entrepreneurial genius and a proud representative of its vast diaspora. The mood has changed since his November 2018 arrest, however, and, weeks into an unprecedented wave of protests against corruption and nepotism, activists saw his return as another manifestation of privilege and impunity for the super-rich. The Lebanese presidency on Thursday denied reports that President Michel Aoun had welcomed fugitive former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn upon his arrival in the country. The French-Lebanese tycoon, who had been under house arrest in Japan over several counts of financial misconduct, escaped in mysterious circumstances and arrived in Beirut on Monday. Several media outlets reported that he had been greeted by Aoun but a senior presidency official denied the two men had met. “ He was not received at the presidency and did not meet the president, ” the official told AFP. Ghosn flew in from Istanbul on a private jet and has since been reunited with friends and family. Ghosn said he would speak to the media next week. One of his lawyers in Lebanon, Carlos Abou Jaoude, said a date for the press conference had yet to be determined. He entered Lebanon on a French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. The public Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport so long as it were kept “ in a locked case ” with the key held by his lawyers. The exact circumstances of Ghosn’ s daring escape from Japan, where he had been released on bail in April pending trial after 130 days in prison, remain unclear, though colourful rumours abound. One claim in the Lebanese media is that the auto mogul, who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities, was sprung from his Tokyo residence in a musical instrument case — a story a source in his entourage denied. How Ghosn was able to jump bail has led to a Japanese investigation into what is seen as an embarrassing security lapse. Ghosn stands accused of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. Ghosn has repeatedly denied all charges against him, and said that he fled to Lebanon to escape a “ rigged ” Japanese justice system. Some Lebanese see Ghosn as a symbol of their country’ s fabled entrepreneurial genius and a proud representative of its vast diaspora. The mood has changed since his November 2018 arrest, however, and, weeks into an unprecedented wave of protests against corruption and nepotism, activists saw his return as another manifestation of privilege and impunity for the super-rich. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. Images of Ukrainian troops carrying Javelin missile launchers on their shoulders have flashed around the world. North Korea conducted a missile test but the launch failed, Seoul said - Copyright AFP Jung Yeon-jeNorth Korea fired a projectile Wednesday but the... China has moved to free up hospital beds as officials reported thousands of new cases from an Omicron-led coronavirus outbreak. Ukraine's besieged leader urged the U.S. to reconsider his plea for a no-fly zone, invoking the terror of the September 11 attacks. COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2022 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Lebanese lawyers want Ghosn prosecuted over Israel trip

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Lebanese lawyers on Thursday filed a report to the judiciary demanding fugitive auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn be prosecuted over a trip he made to Israel as Renault-Nissan chairman in 2008. Ghosn -- who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian citizenship -- jumped bail in Tokyo in mysterious circumstances and arrived in his native Lebanon early on Monday. The tycoon had travelled to Israel in 2008 to support a partnership with Shai Agassi, an Israeli entrepreneur who had launched an ill-fated electric vehicle venture called `` Project Better Place ''. Three lawyers `` submitted a report to the public prosecutor against businessman Carlos Ghosn for the crime of having entered an enemy country and violated the boycott law, '' the state news agency reported. They said several contracts had been signed during his January 2008 trip and added that Ghosn had taken part in several economic conferences. `` Doing business with Israel is not a matter of opinion -- any normalisation is forbidden by law, '' Hassan Bazzi, one of the lawyers, told AFP. Lebanon is technically still at war with Israel, which occupied the south of the country until 2000, and forbids its citizens from travelling there. Interpol, the international police cooperation body, has issued a `` red notice '' for Ghosn's arrest in the wake of him fleeing Japan, but Lebanese judicial sources have said he can not be extradited there. Ghosn stands accused in Japan of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. He has denied all charges and has announced a press conference for next week. Ghosn entered Lebanon on a private jet from Turkey using his French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. `` Where were the public prosecutor and general security when Ghosn visited Lebanon, after he travelled to occupied Palestine and was photographed there?, '' Bazzi asked. General security is Lebanon's main intelligence agency, which routinely investigates Lebanese citizens suspected of ties with Israel. `` Lebanon prosecutes poor people while those who have earned millions by investing with the enemy are treated as national heroes, '' Bazzi said. In 2017, French-Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri was arrested and briefly questioned for filming part of his film `` The Attack '' in Israel. Lebanese lawyers on Thursday filed a report to the judiciary demanding fugitive auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn be prosecuted over a trip he made to Israel as Renault-Nissan chairman in 2008. Ghosn — who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian citizenship — jumped bail in Tokyo in mysterious circumstances and arrived in his native Lebanon early on Monday. The tycoon had travelled to Israel in 2008 to support a partnership with Shai Agassi, an Israeli entrepreneur who had launched an ill-fated electric vehicle venture called “ Project Better Place ”. Three lawyers “ submitted a report to the public prosecutor against businessman Carlos Ghosn for the crime of having entered an enemy country and violated the boycott law, ” the state news agency reported. They said several contracts had been signed during his January 2008 trip and added that Ghosn had taken part in several economic conferences. “ Doing business with Israel is not a matter of opinion — any normalisation is forbidden by law, ” Hassan Bazzi, one of the lawyers, told AFP. Lebanon is technically still at war with Israel, which occupied the south of the country until 2000, and forbids its citizens from travelling there. Interpol, the international police cooperation body, has issued a “ red notice ” for Ghosn’ s arrest in the wake of him fleeing Japan, but Lebanese judicial sources have said he can not be extradited there. Ghosn stands accused in Japan of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. He has denied all charges and has announced a press conference for next week. Ghosn entered Lebanon on a private jet from Turkey using his French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. “ Where were the public prosecutor and general security when Ghosn visited Lebanon, after he travelled to occupied Palestine and was photographed there?, ” Bazzi asked. General security is Lebanon’ s main intelligence agency, which routinely investigates Lebanese citizens suspected of ties with Israel. “ Lebanon prosecutes poor people while those who have earned millions by investing with the enemy are treated as national heroes, ” Bazzi said. In 2017, French-Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri was arrested and briefly questioned for filming part of his film “ The Attack ” in Israel. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. A growing number of Western nations and cybersecurity groups have issued digital surveillance warnings for next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing. Cloud ERP leader Acumatica to host annual summit on digital transformation success. A man gets a Covid-19 jab at a vaccination station in Vienna on August 25, 2021; from February 2022, vaccinations against the virus will... US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the US embassy in Kyiv amid a standoff with Russia - Copyright AFP/File Mladen ANTONOVShaun TANDONThe... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2022 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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' I did it alone ', Ghosn says of Japan escape

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Carlos Ghosn claimed Thursday he organised his dramatic escape from bail in Japan alone as the disgraced auto tycoon enjoyed his first days of freedom in Beirut despite an Interpol arrest notice. The exact circumstances of the former Renault-Nissan boss's escape from a case he said was `` rigged '' were unclear but media reports described a plot that had all the trappings of a spy novel. Turkey said seven people had been detained for questioning, including four pilots, over how the wanted tycoon was able to transit through Istanbul. Ghosn, who had been under house arrest in Tokyo since April, was believed to be holed up his central Beirut residence, where visitors filed in and out under the scrutiny of TV cameras. His surprise return to Lebanon just before New Year's Eve raised fresh questions over his judicial status and marked the latest twist in a saga that has rocked the automotive and business world for more than a year. Lebanon's state news agency quoted Justice Minister Albert Sarhan as announcing that `` the public prosecutor... has received what is known as a red notice from Interpol in the Carlos Ghosn case ''. An Interpol red notice is a request for a provisional arrest, pending extradition or prosecution, but it is not a warrant. - Private operatives - A Lebanese judicial source has already told AFP however that Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition agreement under which Ghosn -- who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities -- could be sent back to Tokyo. Ghosn stands accused in Japan of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. His escape caused deep embarrassment in Japan, where prosecutors launched an investigation into the security lapse and on Thursday searched his residence. Japanese authorities are expected to analyse security camera footage from his residence and other places they suspect Ghosn travelled to before he fled, Japanese broadcaster NHK said. According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, Ghosn was smuggled out with the help of two private security operatives who pretended to be part of a music band for a Christmas party at his residence. Quoting a Lebanese consultant in Tokyo, Kyodo said Ghosn hid in an instrument case before boarding a private jet -- a scenario a member of Ghosn's entourage has previously denied. One of the operatives was a former Marine employed by a US security firm while the second worked for a Lebanese firm, Kyodo said. More details could emerge when the former tycoon, who was first arrested in November 2018, speaks to the press in Beirut next week. - Turkey arrests - Ghosn denied through the Paris-based agency handling his PR that his family had anything to do with his escape. `` The media reports saying my wife Carole and other family members played a role in my departure from Japan are falsehoods. I alone organised my departure, '' he said. Meanwhile Turkey also announced that it was holding seven individuals in connection with Ghosn's extraordinary escape. The investigation is focused on two flights. The first, a Bombardier labelled TC-TSR, flew from Osaka in Japan, landed in Istanbul at 5:15 am and parked in a hangar. The second was a private jet to Beirut, a Bombardier Challenger 300 TC-RZA, which left 45 minutes later, according to the Turkish news agency DHA. Ghosn was able to enter Lebanon on a French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. NHK reported that the court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport so long as it was kept `` in a locked case '' with the key held by his lawyers. - Privilege and impunity - Although Ghosn was restricted to his lush Beirut home only by the media's glare, not all in Lebanon welcomed his return. Three lawyers submitted a report to the public prosecutor demanding that the businessman be prosecuted over a trip he made to Israel in 2008. `` Doing business with Israel is not a matter of opinion -- any normalisation is forbidden by law, '' Hassan Bazzi, one of the lawyers, told AFP. Lebanon is technically still at war with Israel, which occupied the south of the country until 2000, and forbids its citizens from travelling there. Ghosn had travelled to Israel and met then president Shimon Peres as part of a trip to support a partnership with an Israeli entrepreneur launching an electric car venture. Some Lebanese see Ghosn as a symbol of their country's fabled entrepreneurial genius and a proud representative of its vast diaspora. The mood has changed since his November 2018 arrest, however, and, weeks into an unprecedented wave of protests against corruption and nepotism, activists saw his return as another manifestation of privilege and impunity for the super-rich. Carlos Ghosn claimed Thursday he organised his dramatic escape from bail in Japan alone as the disgraced auto tycoon enjoyed his first days of freedom in Beirut despite an Interpol arrest notice. The exact circumstances of the former Renault-Nissan boss’ s escape from a case he said was “ rigged ” were unclear but media reports described a plot that had all the trappings of a spy novel. Turkey said seven people had been detained for questioning, including four pilots, over how the wanted tycoon was able to transit through Istanbul. Ghosn, who had been under house arrest in Tokyo since April, was believed to be holed up his central Beirut residence, where visitors filed in and out under the scrutiny of TV cameras. His surprise return to Lebanon just before New Year’ s Eve raised fresh questions over his judicial status and marked the latest twist in a saga that has rocked the automotive and business world for more than a year. Lebanon’ s state news agency quoted Justice Minister Albert Sarhan as announcing that “ the public prosecutor… has received what is known as a red notice from Interpol in the Carlos Ghosn case ”. An Interpol red notice is a request for a provisional arrest, pending extradition or prosecution, but it is not a warrant. – Private operatives – A Lebanese judicial source has already told AFP however that Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition agreement under which Ghosn — who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities — could be sent back to Tokyo. Ghosn stands accused in Japan of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as syphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. His escape caused deep embarrassment in Japan, where prosecutors launched an investigation into the security lapse and on Thursday searched his residence. Japanese authorities are expected to analyse security camera footage from his residence and other places they suspect Ghosn travelled to before he fled, Japanese broadcaster NHK said. According to Japan’ s Kyodo news agency, Ghosn was smuggled out with the help of two private security operatives who pretended to be part of a music band for a Christmas party at his residence. Quoting a Lebanese consultant in Tokyo, Kyodo said Ghosn hid in an instrument case before boarding a private jet — a scenario a member of Ghosn’ s entourage has previously denied. One of the operatives was a former Marine employed by a US security firm while the second worked for a Lebanese firm, Kyodo said. More details could emerge when the former tycoon, who was first arrested in November 2018, speaks to the press in Beirut next week. – Turkey arrests – Ghosn denied through the Paris-based agency handling his PR that his family had anything to do with his escape. “ The media reports saying my wife Carole and other family members played a role in my departure from Japan are falsehoods. I alone organised my departure, ” he said. Meanwhile Turkey also announced that it was holding seven individuals in connection with Ghosn’ s extraordinary escape. The investigation is focused on two flights. The first, a Bombardier labelled TC-TSR, flew from Osaka in Japan, landed in Istanbul at 5:15 am and parked in a hangar. The second was a private jet to Beirut, a Bombardier Challenger 300 TC-RZA, which left 45 minutes later, according to the Turkish news agency DHA. Ghosn was able to enter Lebanon on a French passport, according to airport documents seen by AFP. NHK reported that the court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport so long as it was kept “ in a locked case ” with the key held by his lawyers. – Privilege and impunity – Although Ghosn was restricted to his lush Beirut home only by the media’ s glare, not all in Lebanon welcomed his return. Three lawyers submitted a report to the public prosecutor demanding that the businessman be prosecuted over a trip he made to Israel in 2008. “ Doing business with Israel is not a matter of opinion — any normalisation is forbidden by law, ” Hassan Bazzi, one of the lawyers, told AFP. Lebanon is technically still at war with Israel, which occupied the south of the country until 2000, and forbids its citizens from travelling there. Ghosn had travelled to Israel and met then president Shimon Peres as part of a trip to support a partnership with an Israeli entrepreneur launching an electric car venture. Some Lebanese see Ghosn as a symbol of their country’ s fabled entrepreneurial genius and a proud representative of its vast diaspora. The mood has changed since his November 2018 arrest, however, and, weeks into an unprecedented wave of protests against corruption and nepotism, activists saw his return as another manifestation of privilege and impunity for the super-rich. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. Images of Ukrainian troops carrying Javelin missile launchers on their shoulders have flashed around the world. North Korea conducted a missile test but the launch failed, Seoul said - Copyright AFP Jung Yeon-jeNorth Korea fired a projectile Wednesday but the... China has moved to free up hospital beds as officials reported thousands of new cases from an Omicron-led coronavirus outbreak. Ukraine's besieged leader urged the U.S. to reconsider his plea for a no-fly zone, invoking the terror of the September 11 attacks. COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2022 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Ghosn escape sparks calls to toughen Japan's bail system

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Carlos Ghosn's stunning flight while on bail awaiting trial has vindicated prosecutors who said he should have been kept in custody, and sparked calls to toughen Japan's justice system that critics say is already overly harsh. `` I knew it! '' was the reaction of a senior Nissan executive cited in the Japanese press upon learning of his former boss's escape to Lebanon to avoid trial in Tokyo. `` This is how he proves his innocence? By fleeing abroad? '' added the Nissan official quoted in the Asahi Shimbun. `` It should be out of the question to grant bail to suspects who deny the accusations against them. '' A senior prosecutor told the Mainichi Shimbun: `` This is what we had predicted '' when arguing Ghosn should remain in custody, bemoaning the fact their painstaking evidence gathering was now moot. There were also calls in the media to tighten bail procedures in the wake of the tycoon's escape, which many papers said made a `` mockery '' of Japan's justice system. `` To prevent a repeat of the incident, we should discuss how to cover the weak points of the system, such as setting bail equal to most of the defendants ' assets, and GPS monitoring, '' said the Yomiuri Shimbun. Ghosn's high-profile arrest on multiple charges of financial misconduct threw an international spotlight on Japan's justice system -- widely considered draconian compared with the West. Suspects can be questioned initially for 48 hours, renewable for two periods of 10 days, bringing the time in custody without formal charges to 22 days. Prosecutors often then `` re-arrest '' a suspect on a slightly different allegation to restart the clock -- which happened several times to Ghosn. - Certain of guilt - When formal charges are eventually pressed, there is a two-month period of pre-trial detention, renewable by one month at a time by appeal to the court. Former prosecutor Yasuyuki Takai told AFP that the system operates in this way so authorities only charge suspects they are absolutely sure are guilty. `` Imagine that 30 or 40 percent of people were found not guilty during a trial. The public would ask why so many innocent people were being charged, '' Takai told AFP, adding that courts have increasingly been granting bail. The Ghosn case, however, `` proves that there are easy escape routes for wealthy people with backing who want to flee overseas, no matter how strictly courts impose bail conditions '', said Tsunehiko Maeda, a former prosecutor. `` We can expect prosecutors to oppose future bail requests much more robustly. '' Critics including rights groups such as Amnesty International have derided Japan's system as `` hostage justice '', designed to break morale and force confessions from suspects. - Every move monitored - When safely in Lebanon, Ghosn pressed this point again, saying he `` would no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system ''. However, when pleading for bail in his only public court appearance, Ghosn said he was `` looking forward to beginning the process of defending myself against the accusations that have been made against me ''. One of his lawyers at the time said there was no way a tycoon as famous as Ghosn could escape with the world's media and prosecutors monitoring his every move. `` There is no risk that he will run away. He's CEO of French company Renault. He's widely known so it's difficult for him to escape, '' argued the attorney, Go Kondo. His lead lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, confessed he was `` dumbfounded '' by news of his flight, but he also said he could `` sympathise '' with some of Ghosn's comments about the justice system. `` I thought it was not unreasonable that Mr. Ghosn has come to feel that way, '' Hironaka told reporters in Tokyo. `` How he was arrested and kept in detention; how they gathered evidence; the way they allowed meetings with Carole ( his wife), and how they disclosed evidence. There must have been many areas that were not acceptable in the eyes of Mr. Ghosn. '' Carlos Ghosn’ s stunning flight while on bail awaiting trial has vindicated prosecutors who said he should have been kept in custody, and sparked calls to toughen Japan’ s justice system that critics say is already overly harsh. “ I knew it! ” was the reaction of a senior Nissan executive cited in the Japanese press upon learning of his former boss’ s escape to Lebanon to avoid trial in Tokyo. “ This is how he proves his innocence? By fleeing abroad? ” added the Nissan official quoted in the Asahi Shimbun. “ It should be out of the question to grant bail to suspects who deny the accusations against them. ” A senior prosecutor told the Mainichi Shimbun: “ This is what we had predicted ” when arguing Ghosn should remain in custody, bemoaning the fact their painstaking evidence gathering was now moot. There were also calls in the media to tighten bail procedures in the wake of the tycoon’ s escape, which many papers said made a “ mockery ” of Japan’ s justice system. “ To prevent a repeat of the incident, we should discuss how to cover the weak points of the system, such as setting bail equal to most of the defendants’ assets, and GPS monitoring, ” said the Yomiuri Shimbun. Ghosn’ s high-profile arrest on multiple charges of financial misconduct threw an international spotlight on Japan’ s justice system — widely considered draconian compared with the West. Suspects can be questioned initially for 48 hours, renewable for two periods of 10 days, bringing the time in custody without formal charges to 22 days. Prosecutors often then “ re-arrest ” a suspect on a slightly different allegation to restart the clock — which happened several times to Ghosn. – Certain of guilt – When formal charges are eventually pressed, there is a two-month period of pre-trial detention, renewable by one month at a time by appeal to the court. Former prosecutor Yasuyuki Takai told AFP that the system operates in this way so authorities only charge suspects they are absolutely sure are guilty. “ Imagine that 30 or 40 percent of people were found not guilty during a trial. The public would ask why so many innocent people were being charged, ” Takai told AFP, adding that courts have increasingly been granting bail. The Ghosn case, however, “ proves that there are easy escape routes for wealthy people with backing who want to flee overseas, no matter how strictly courts impose bail conditions ”, said Tsunehiko Maeda, a former prosecutor. “ We can expect prosecutors to oppose future bail requests much more robustly. ” Critics including rights groups such as Amnesty International have derided Japan’ s system as “ hostage justice ”, designed to break morale and force confessions from suspects. – Every move monitored – When safely in Lebanon, Ghosn pressed this point again, saying he “ would no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system ”. However, when pleading for bail in his only public court appearance, Ghosn said he was “ looking forward to beginning the process of defending myself against the accusations that have been made against me ”. One of his lawyers at the time said there was no way a tycoon as famous as Ghosn could escape with the world’ s media and prosecutors monitoring his every move. “ There is no risk that he will run away. He’ s CEO of French company Renault. He’ s widely known so it’ s difficult for him to escape, ” argued the attorney, Go Kondo. His lead lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, confessed he was “ dumbfounded ” by news of his flight, but he also said he could “ sympathise ” with some of Ghosn’ s comments about the justice system. “ I thought it was not unreasonable that Mr. Ghosn has come to feel that way, ” Hironaka told reporters in Tokyo. “ How he was arrested and kept in detention; how they gathered evidence; the way they allowed meetings with Carole ( his wife), and how they disclosed evidence. There must have been many areas that were not acceptable in the eyes of Mr. Ghosn. ” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. Images of Ukrainian troops carrying Javelin missile launchers on their shoulders have flashed around the world. North Korea conducted a missile test but the launch failed, Seoul said - Copyright AFP Jung Yeon-jeNorth Korea fired a projectile Wednesday but the... China has moved to free up hospital beds as officials reported thousands of new cases from an Omicron-led coronavirus outbreak. Ukraine's besieged leader urged the U.S. to reconsider his plea for a no-fly zone, invoking the terror of the September 11 attacks. COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2022 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Mexico's Santiago River has become a toxic 'environmental hell '

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published In a report published on Monday, the New York Times wrote that “ Jalisco’ s heavily contaminated Santiago River is a powerful example of Mexico’ s failure to protect its environment, ” The river flows over a giant cliff along the edge of downtown El Salto, in Jalisco State. Back in the 1970s, this spot was known as the Niagara of Mexico – a popular tourist spot with fishing and other water activities as well as beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife. That is all gone now that the El Salto and Guadalajara region has been turned into a toxic morass. And a heavily polluted river can kill. So far, over 628 people living near the river have died. The pollution problem garnered some government attention after an eight-year-old fell into a coma and then died in 2008. Miguel Ángel López Rocha had slipped into the river while playing on its bank, and while he was immediately pulled out, 18 days later he died from what doctors said was a fatal dose of arsenic. The outrage over the boy’ s death prompted the government to build El Ahogado, the region’ s biggest wastewater treatment plant that was inaugurated in 2012. However, it doesn’ t treat heavy metals and many synthetic chemicals that doctors say are one of the main causes of so many of the illnesses. The death also prompted a study in 2011 by Jalisco’ s State Water Commission and the Mexican Institute of Water Technology. In the study, 1,090 different pollutants were detected in the river. They included arsenic, lead, cyanide, mercury, chromium, and hormone disruptors that can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders, among others. No oversight with regulations in place The big problem is that there is scant oversight of some of the 10,000 businesses operating in the area because the National Water Commission ( Conagua) has just one inspector in all of Jalisco, according to Mexico News Daily. The report noted that even when Conagua does respond to cases of illegal runoff into the Santiago River, the fines it has the power to impose are too low to act as a deterrent. “ Texas-based chemicals company Celanese Corporation was fined just US $ 4,300 for discharging illegal quantities of waste into the river on 13 separate occasions in the summer of 2015, ” according to documents obtained by the New York Times. In 2018, Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro announced that his newly-elected government would invest more than 3.4 billion pesos to tackle the pollution problem. However, when he asked the federal government for the money, he was told there were no funds available – even with the federal environment secretary calling the Santiago River an “ environmental hell. ” The new North American free trade agreement Today, Canada, Mexico, and the United States are close to enacting the new trade deal that will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA). Mexico made an explicit promise to conserve its environment — a provision that was central to winning approval from Democrats in the US Congress. However, the New York Times notes that after interviewing federal, state and local authorities, as well as families living along the river, the report found that: “ without an overhaul of Mexico’ s flawed legal framework and a change in the political conditions that allowed the Santiago to become little more than a channel for industrial runoff, Mexico is unlikely to be able to meet the terms of the trade deal. ” It is Mexico’ s farms and factories that fuel its economy, and all this is bound up in the new free trade agreement – one that does not allow for the dumping of illegal quantities of toxic waste into the region’ s river. waste with little or no penalty. The federal environmental enforcement agency can also inspect companies for illegal dumping of waste. However, it was found that only 73 out of 10,000 companies were inspected in the five years leading up to 2018. “ The Santiago River is, for me, one of the most shameful, most terrible stories that Jalisco and Mexico have, ” said Governor, Enrique Alfaro. Karen Graham is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for environmental news. Karen's view of what is happening in our world is colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in man's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, `` Journalism is merely history's first draft. '' Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history. Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Undersecretary of Foreign Relations Jesus Seade in December, 2019, push to enact... It is a disturbing landscape of rotting waste and discarded plastic, where dozens of trash-pickers compete for scraps of food with vultures. Tornadoes ripped through five US states overnight, leaving more than 70 people dead Saturday in Kentucky and causing multiple fatalities. England could face a wave of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant. COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Fired British vegan files landmark discrimination case

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published A British employment tribunal began a landmark hearing Thursday on whether a strict form of veganism is a philosophical belief that must be protected in law. Jordi Casamitjana says he was fired from an animal welfare charity for raising concerns about its pension fund's alleged investment in companies that use animal testing. The League Against Cruel Sports -- a group that wants to ban fox and other forms of recreational hunting in Britain -- says he was dismissed for gross misconduct. The case being heard by the employment tribunal in the eastern England city of Norwich on Thursday and Friday will determine whether ethical veganism is a `` philosophical or religious belief ''. Ethical vegans and moral vegetarians not only follow a vegan diet but also exclude animal-derived products such as wool and leather from their daily lives. They also try to abstain from using items such as cosmetics that underwent animal testing first. `` This case, if successful, will establish that the belief entitles ethical vegans to protection from discrimination, '' Casamitjana's lawyer Peter Daly said in a statement. Britain's 2010 Equality Act says a `` philosophical belief '' must be genuine `` and not an opinion or viewpoint based on the present state of information available ''. The League Against Cruel Sports said it was not contesting that ethical veganism should be protected. A separate hearing into the circumstances of Casamitjana's dismissal will be held at a later date. `` As this is a hearing to decide whether veganism should be a protected status, something which the League does not contest, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further, '' a spokeswoman for the group said. A British employment tribunal began a landmark hearing Thursday on whether a strict form of veganism is a philosophical belief that must be protected in law. Jordi Casamitjana says he was fired from an animal welfare charity for raising concerns about its pension fund’ s alleged investment in companies that use animal testing. The League Against Cruel Sports — a group that wants to ban fox and other forms of recreational hunting in Britain — says he was dismissed for gross misconduct. The case being heard by the employment tribunal in the eastern England city of Norwich on Thursday and Friday will determine whether ethical veganism is a “ philosophical or religious belief ”. Ethical vegans and moral vegetarians not only follow a vegan diet but also exclude animal-derived products such as wool and leather from their daily lives. They also try to abstain from using items such as cosmetics that underwent animal testing first. “ This case, if successful, will establish that the belief entitles ethical vegans to protection from discrimination, ” Casamitjana’ s lawyer Peter Daly said in a statement. Britain’ s 2010 Equality Act says a “ philosophical belief ” must be genuine “ and not an opinion or viewpoint based on the present state of information available ”. The League Against Cruel Sports said it was not contesting that ethical veganism should be protected. A separate hearing into the circumstances of Casamitjana’ s dismissal will be held at a later date. “ As this is a hearing to decide whether veganism should be a protected status, something which the League does not contest, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further, ” a spokeswoman for the group said. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. The hunt for answers - like whether the Omicron variant will trigger new waves of infection. Crime is raging across the country, from violent attacks to brazen shoplifting to mob “ smash and grab ” attacks. The Omicron variant that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up genetic material from another virus. At its core, Zero Trust is all about authenticating and authorizing access policies that have been designed to provide the least privilege, for the... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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US places ban on Cuban defense chief

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published The State Department announced Thursday it was barring Cuba's defense chief from entering the US, citing what it called human rights violations in supporting the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The department said General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba ( MINFAR), `` bears responsibility for Cuba's actions to prop up '' Maduro's leftist regime. `` Alongside Maduro's military and intelligence officers, MINFAR has been involved in gross human rights violations and abuses in Venezuela, including torturing or subjecting Venezuelans to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment for their anti-Maduro stances, '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. `` Dismantling Venezuela's democracy by terrifying Venezuelans into submission is the goal of MINFAR and the Cuban regime, '' he said. The announcement bans Cintra Frias and two of his children, Deborah Cintra Gonzalez and Leopoldo Cintra Gonzalez, from entering the United States. The United States is one of more than 50 countries which have recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim leader of Venezuela. But Cuba, as well as Russia and China, continues to support the embattled Maduro. The State Department announced Thursday it was barring Cuba’ s defense chief from entering the US, citing what it called human rights violations in supporting the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The department said General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba ( MINFAR), “ bears responsibility for Cuba’ s actions to prop up ” Maduro’ s leftist regime. “ Alongside Maduro’ s military and intelligence officers, MINFAR has been involved in gross human rights violations and abuses in Venezuela, including torturing or subjecting Venezuelans to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment for their anti-Maduro stances, ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. “ Dismantling Venezuela’ s democracy by terrifying Venezuelans into submission is the goal of MINFAR and the Cuban regime, ” he said. The announcement bans Cintra Frias and two of his children, Deborah Cintra Gonzalez and Leopoldo Cintra Gonzalez, from entering the United States. The United States is one of more than 50 countries which have recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim leader of Venezuela. But Cuba, as well as Russia and China, continues to support the embattled Maduro. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. There is no stated power in the US Constitution to regulate human reproduction. A small dog looking at a christmas tree which has colored lights. Source - Trogain, CC SA 4.0.If you are having trouble finding a... The hunt for answers - like whether the Omicron variant will trigger new waves of infection. The new Omicron coronavirus variant has a high number of mutations which the WHO believes may make it more transmissible or resistant to vaccines... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Medicinal cannabis substitute can treat Parkinson's disease

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Australian researchers have demonstrated experimentally that a medication called HU-308 can lower involuntary movements termed dyskinesias, which are a side effect following years of treatment for Parkinson’ s disease. Dyskinesia covers twitches, jerking, twisting or simple restlessness but not tremor. So far the benefits for the drug have been shown only in mice; however, the results are sufficiently positive as to signal the need for human trials. In mice HU-308 functions is as effective as another drug called amantadine, which is the only available treatment for dyskinesias ( other than cannabis). In addition, the combination of HU-308 with amantadine turned out to be even more effective compared with either drug used alone. READ MORE: Virtual reality assists with the treatment of Parkinson’ s disease According to lead researcher Professor Bryce Vissel ( University of Technology Sydney): “ Our study suggests that a derivative of HU-308, either alone or in combination with amantadine, may be a more effective treatment for dyskinesias and a much better option than using an unproven potentially harmful substance like cannabis. ” The researcher cautions that not only does cannabis cause a ‘ high’ ( unwanted by many in this context), cannabis causes various effects, some of which are not beneficial in Parkinson’ s disease. Where cannabis works on two brain receptors – CB1 and CB2 ( CB1 causes the psychoactive effect), the drug HU-308 only works on CB2. The research has been published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease. The peer-reviewed research paper is called “ Targeting the cannabinoid receptor CB2 in a mouse model of l-dopa induced dyskinesia. ” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs. There are two confirmed cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Ottawa, the Ontario government announced Sunday. Sweden's first female prime minister Magdalena Andersson, leader of the minority Social Democrats, was reappointed on Monday. Scammers are using a technique called “ like-farming, ” where they ask you to like or comment on their post for a chance to win a... Aerial view from a helicopter of a group of Burchell's plains zebras ( Equus quagga burchellii), Okavango Delta, Botswana. Source - Diego Deiso. CC SA... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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2020 trends to watch in US beverage

Or wait... Search Free newsletter Subscribe News Retail & Shopper Insights Manufacturers Ingredients Processing & Packaging Markets R & D Regulation & Safety Editor's Choice Industry Voices Promotional Features Site Archive Multimedia Sectors Soft Drinks & Water Energy & Sports Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider Juice Drinks Dairy Drinks Tea and Coffee Site Archive Multimedia Trends COVID-19 CBD and beyond Low and no alcohol drinks Craft Beverage Entrepreneurs Energy Drinks & Beyond Sustainability Smart Packaging Functional Beverages Emerging Markets Fizzing-Up Carbonates Future Flavors Health and Wellness Premium Indulgence Natural and Organic Alcohol Regulation Soda: taxes & regulation Site Archive Multimedia Big Brands AB InBev Constellation Brands Bacardi Brown-Forman Carlsberg Coca-Cola Danone Diageo Dr Pepper Heineken Molson Coors Nestlé PepsiCo SABMiller Site Archive Multimedia Resources Type of resources Events Shows & Conferences Online Events Editorial Webinars All Events Events Processing & Packaging By Beth Newhart contact 02-Jan-2020 - Last updated on 02-Jan-2020 at 16:12 GMT Related tags: flavor trends, Tea, Coffee, Imbibe, no-alcohol beer, non-alcoholic, Beer, mocktails, functional beverage, Functional ingredients function sanitize gpt value2 ( gptValue) { var vOut= '' ''; var aTags = gptValue.split ( ', '); var reg = new RegExp ( '\\W+ ', `` g ''); for ( var i=0; i < aTags.length; i++) { vOut += aTags [ i ].trim ().replace ( reg, '- ').substring ( 0,40); if ( i! = ( aTags.length-1)) vOut += ', '; } vOut = vOut.toLowerCase (); return vOut; } $ ( document).ready ( function () { dataLayerNews = { }; dataLayerNews.related tags = sanitize gpt value2 ( `` flavor trends, Tea, Coffee, Imbibe, no-alcohol beer, non-alcoholic, Beer, mocktails, functional beverage, Functional ingredients ''); dataLayer.push ( dataLayerNews); }); More low-alcohol and zero-proof drinks are expected to launch as booze alternatives in 2020. Consumers will also gravitate to 'functional plus ' drinks, bright colors, exotic flavors and unique textures in their beverages. As beverage research company Imbibe puts it: “ Many beverage trends will be driven by health and wellness in conjunction with experience-culture and the state of the economy. ” ​ Social insights firm Fizziology reports seeing members of Gen Z discuss alcohol and drinking on social media less than previous generations. US consumers in general are more aware of and open about alcohol addiction and mental health, which is leading to a greater appetite for non-alcoholic and low-ABV drinks. Jen Handley, co-founder of Fizziology, said: “ We foresee this trend continuing in the year ahead with more manufacturers, brands and restaurants providing a wider range of options for those wishing to either abstain or imbibe. ” ​ Premiumisation and functionality continue to be important to consumers in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories. More high-end mocktails will be prevalent, as well as beers and cocktails enhanced with functional ingredients like turmeric, blue majik, and coconut water, according to Imbibe. Hard kombucha is also likely to appear on more menus and grocery shelves. Beverage development company Flavorman notes that consumers are becoming more attentive to what they put into their bodies. This will culminate in a boom of launches and higher demand of more ‘ functional plus’ drinks. `` Consumers aren’ t just looking for a simple caffeine boost anymore: ‘ functional plus’ drinks are set to boom in 2020 as consumers look for functionality – and then some! `` ​ it says. CBD is a clear leader of the category, sure to only grow within beverage. But Flavorman said new herbal ingredients will emerge, like dihydromyricetin ( DHM) as a remedy for hangovers and ashwagandha to manage stress and anxiety. Imbibe agrees, and predicts that the next generation of functional beverages will include ingredient combinations that address multiple needs or harmonizing ingredients that help consumers fulfill a specific goal. Energy drinks enhanced with sports nutrition ingredients will be the most popular hybrids, along with probiotic and prebiotic beverages, enhanced RTD coffee and the continued rise of CBD drinks. Imbibe expect brands to ‘ go back to the basics’ by incorporating essential nutrients into beverages, like vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Superfruits, vegetables and herbs will live alongside nostalgic flavors like s’ mores, birthday cake and creamsicle represented in better-for-you beverages. “ Demand for beverages that support physical and emotional health will continue to be a catalyst for innovation, ” ​Imbibe said. ​ “ Consumers will seek out adventurous sensory experiences delivered through exotic flavors, bright colors and unique textures. ” ​ The rise in spiked seltzer’ s popularity this year was obvious, and Fizziology attributed its success to Gen Z and millennial consumers that liked the higher quality beverages with a ‘ cool’ brand aesthetic and relatively low sugar content. Flavorman agrees, and says: “ The global craze for seltzer and sparkling water is only just beginning. As consumers continue to prioritize flavor over sweetness, experts at Flavorman predict that ‘ better-for-you’ beverages emphasizing bright and refreshing flavors are set to take center stage in 2020. ” ​ Specific flavors to watch in 2020 will come from botanicals, citrus, ginger and exotic foods. Flavorman said botanicals will add fresh, delicate flavor combinations that can stand without added sugars for taste. Basil, cilantro, lavender, elderflower, sorrel and orange peel are all expected to be popular. Exotic flavors like dragon fruit, coconut and prickly pear will grow more common in beverages, alongside citrus flavors like grapefruit, tangerine, blood orange, meyer lemon and yuzu. These will have particular success paired in alcoholic and non-alcoholic seltzers. And while ginger has been a popular drinks ingredient for some time now, Flavorman expects it to be used as more of a pairing in 2020 to brighten up fruit flavors. “ As consumers become more health-conscious, these flavor trends reflect a market shift towards beverages that maximize on quality and functionality, all while packing a flavor punch, ” ​ Flavorman said. Imbibe sees similar global flavors from Latin America and Asia like guava, chili, cayenne and cardamom growing in beverage use. Ingredients with bold colors like turmeric, beet, matcha, and butterfly pea flower will be incorporated to visually appealing beverages. Nitrogen-infusions and whipped ingredients will cause a rise in beverages with a creamy texture, chewable ingredients like boba and basil seeds will also become more prevalent. Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2021 - William Reed Business Media Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions Related topics: Ingredients, Energy & Sports, Dairy Drinks, Tea and Coffee, Retail & Shopper Insights, Markets, R & D, Soft Drinks & Water, Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider, Juice Drinks, Beer, Health and Wellness, Fizzing-Up Carbonates, Natural and Organic, Premium Indulgence, Emerging Markets, Future Flavors, Sustainability, Energy Drinks & Beyond, Functional Beverages, Beverage Entrepreneurs Show more SweeGen Inc. | 21-Oct-2021 | Product Presentation Health-conscious consumers are demanding cleaner, better-tasting low- and no-alcohol beverages. Sweegen is helping product developers rise to the occasion... BC30 | 19-Oct-2021 | Technical / White Paper The global functional beverage market was worth $ 102B in 2020, and growth is predicted at a CAGR of 3.2% through 2025. In an expanding global market, key... BÜCHI Labortechnik AG | 18-Oct-2021 | Application Note Alcohol content for labelling and taxation purposes is a legal requirement for most jurisdictions around the world. This application note presents an accurate... SweeGen Inc. | 21-Sep-2021 | Product Presentation Bitter Blockers play a crucial role in formulating and rebalancing better-for-you products. Sugar can be a great Bitter Blocker, and when less or none... Show more

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Madonna rings in the New Year, ready for another decade of dreams

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published In a social media post, Madonna is seen pole dancing on the beach to Frankie Valli’ s classic hit ballad “ Can’ t Take My Eyes Off You, ” and lipsynching it. She sipped wine and appeared to be having a good time, and didn’ t let her injuries bring her down. The “ Material Girl ” acknowledged in an Instagram post that the one lesson she learned in life is that she has no regrets, ever. She explained that life is a journey and a process. She elaborated that “ we all make mistakes and we learn from them and we move on. ” She noted that 2019 kicked her butt and subsequently taught her some “ very expensive lessons, ” however, she wouldn’ t trade them for anything for what we risk and value. Madonna concluded her post by expressing her gratitude. “ I am so very blessed and grateful for all the beautiful experiences and souls I have encountered and created with and fallen in love with this past year, ” she exclaimed, prior to toasting to another “ decade of dreams. ” She also hashtagged the following words: new beginnings, health, happiness, and love. To learn more about Madonna, check out her official homepage. Read More: Digital Journal’ s Markos Papadatos hailed Madonna for putting on the “ greatest concert by a female artist in 2019 ” at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in New York. Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 16,000 original articles over the past 15 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a five-time consecutive `` Best of Long Island '' winner, and in the past two years, he was honored as the `` Best Long Island Personality '' in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times. The push for Canadians to get their vaccine booster shots is ramping up as the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads across the country. As the Omicron variant gains momentum in Europe and the U.S., the variant is now considered the “ biggest threat to global public health. ” Has Iran become a threat to U.S. interests on par with Russia? An FDA laboratory worker injects an influenza virus into an egg, where it will grow before being harvested—one of the many complex steps involved... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

general

Three Industrial Giants You Should Own In 2020

With the end of the year just around the corner, it’ s past time to think about positioning for 2020. When it comes to earnings power in 2020, the Industrial sector is going to be the market leader and that is where I like my money to be. To be clear, when I say Industrial Sector I mean the S & P 500 Industrial Sector as represented by the ETF ( XLI). Yes, the Energy Sector is expected to post EPS growth double that of the Industrials but investors should take that news with a grain of salt. The Energy Sector’ s ( XLE) consensus EPS growth estimate for 2020 is 21% but only after falling -28% this year. The Industrial Sector is expected to grow by 15% next year ( 2nd fastest pace for the S & P 500) after contracting only -3% this year. That means the Energy Sector’ s earnings will still be down on a two-year basis while the Industrial’ s will rise. Energy may yet turn out to be a good investment for 2020 but, on an earnings basis, the Industrials are a much better choice. Don’ t Bet On Boeing Boeing ( BA) is by far the largest holding within the Industrial Sector SPDR but not an investment I recommend at this time. At just over 8% it outweighs the # 2 holding, Honeywell ( HON), by nearly 200 basis points and that is why the XLI is not the best choice for investors today. With the 737-Max scandal still raging it is unlikely Boeing will back in 2020. The most recent news on that front is the ousting of CEO Dennis Muilenberg. Muilenberg has been in charge of Boeing since 2015 and key to the 737-Max crisis, the board decided it was in the company’ s best interest to find someone else. document.write ( ' < a style= '' text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color: # 696969; '' target= '' blank '' rel= '' nofollow '' href= '' https: //www.ame ' + 'ricanconsumernews.net/scripts/click.aspx? NativeDisplayAdID=584 & ImpressionID=0 & UserID=0 & Placement=PlaceOnArticlePage '' > '); Buffett is notoriously “ anti technology. ” Which is why this Wall Street Legend's recent discover is so shocking: 21 of Buffett’ s 25 current favorite companies are going “ all in ” one hot new technology… To the tune of $ 1.7 billion!... After decades of being anti-tech... what is making Buffett going all in now? And what is this new technology that America's biggest companies are in a race to implement? There are several stocks within the XLI portfolio on the move and looking bullish. The three I want to highlight today are uniquely set up for 2020 and we can give thanks to the trade war for that. Caterpillar ( CAT), Deere & Company ( DE), and Cummins Inc ( CMI) have all seen their business deteriorate due to the trade war issuing downgrades and missing estimates. Now, with the Phase One Deal in sight, that is all about to change. Once the deal is signed and the details are well known we can expect to see a flurry of analysts upgrades for these stocks and this sector. Cummins Inc, On The Move Cummins Inc is a maker of engines and components for heavy industrial trucks. The company has been suffering due to softening demands for those trucks but you wouldn’ t think so looking at the share price. The price of Cummins has risen nearly 30% since hitting a bottom last August and looks ready to continue rising in 2020. The outlook for growth, and the impact of the Phase One Deal on that outlook, are only part of the reason Cummins is on the move. Cummins is also a solid dividend payer and a prolific buyer of its own stock so a great way to capitalize on this industry. At today’ s prices, the stock yields close to 3% and has a 14-year history of distribution increases. The XLI only pays aobut 1.9%. As for buybacks, the board just announced another $ 2 billion in buybacks slated for 2020. Deere & Company, China Is The Key To Growth Deere & Company, that iconic maker of tractors, recently downgraded its outlook for 2020 due to the trade war. The company says lingering trade tensions played a big roll in the decision which makes the Phase One Deal of particular importance. The idea is that, once the Phase One Deal is signed, trade with China will reinvigorate growth globally, not just in the China segment of the business. Looking at the earnings picture, Deere & Company will be one of 2020’ s best EPS growers despite the recent downgrade to guidance. The consensus estimate for EPS is $ 11.02, a 27% increase from 2019. Like Cummins, Deere & Company is a dividend payer and an attractive one at that. The yield is a little low, only 1.75% at today’ s prices, but it is a safe 1.75%. The payout ratio is only 27% of next year’ s earnings which also leaves plenty of room for an increase. Caterpillar, A Dividend Aristocrat For Capital Gains In 2020 Shares of Caterpillar have been on the move in the second half of 2019 too. The stock is up more than 31% in the last four months and may easily match that gain in 2020. While the business has been struggling this year, the impact of tariffs has not been as great as feared. In addition, Caterpillar’ s CEO says many of its businesses have “ significant potential upside. ” On a technical basis, the stock is forming a Bullish Flag Pattern with a $ 36 flag-pole. If, when, the pattern confirms traders can expect the stock to rise as much as or more than $ 36. Such a move would put the stock at a new all-time high. Regarding the dividend, Caterpillar is a Dividend Aristocrat with 26 years of distribution increases under its belt. The yield at today's prices is about 2.8% with a low 38% payout ratio. 6 Stocks That Will Benefit From a Dovish Federal Reserve The quaint correction that was labeled the “ tech wreck ” of 2018 seems like a distant memory to investors. What also seems like a distant memory is any thought of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates. At the end of 2018, the Federal Reserve had raised its benchmark federal funds rate. With the trade dispute with China dragging on, there was increasing pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates. When interest rates are lower, stocks will generally rise as investors have no other option for growth. In July 2019, the doves got their wish. But in a move that now seems to be a “ what did they know move ”, the Fed dropped rates again in October. The market soared to record highs in January and early February. Since mid-February however, the market has fallen dramatically, and the Fed juiced the market one more time by cutting rates down to levels not seen since the financial crisis. None of us know for sure when the U.S. economy will be opened up. And while stocks are still a good investment, not every stock is a smart investment at this time. But some stocks perform well when interest rates are falling and that’ s why we’ ve prepared this presentation. These six stocks stand to benefit from both low-interest rates and the unique economic conditions being brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. View the `` 6 Stocks That Will Benefit From a Dovish Federal Reserve ''. Complete the form below to receive the latest headlines and analysts ' recommendations for your stocks with our free daily email newsletter:

business

My experience of surviving cancer twice

“ Helen, I’ m so sorry to tell you that you have stage 4 ovarian cancer. ” I will never forget hearing those words. Cancer treatment was pretty grueling in the 1980s, and outcomes were a lot gloomier than they are today. . My life flashed before my eyes. I was in disbelief. How could I have cancer for the second time in my life? at the age of 32, just 2 years after I had given birth to my daughter, Julianne. I received my diagnosis of breast cancer in 1972, and in those days, treatment was limited. The surgeon believed that a radical mastectomy of my right breast would give me the best outcome. The doctor would prove to be correct, but I was no less devastated in the interim. I was the mother of three children, and instead of tending to my active children, I now needed to focus on my health and well-being. However, I continued to live a blessed life. I was the wife of an Orthodox priest, a secretary, and a preschool Sunday school teacher. I was like any other mother, trying to prioritize my life. The difference being, if I got my priorities wrong, it could cost me my life. The second episode began almost 2 decades later when I woke up feeling very bloated and fatigued. I didn’ t think much of it at first and thought I would feel better the next day. Yet the bloating continued, especially after eating, and I began feeling pressure in my lower abdomen. I decided it was time to contact the family physician. showed nothing. My doctor thought it was a case of gastritis and that I needed to rest and relax. However, 2 years later, my belly was now protruding, and I felt horrible pressure, so I asked my doctor for another test. This time they ordered a . The CT scan showed something was not right, and I would need exploratory surgery to get more information. They found ovarian cancer tangled and webbed intricately through a large part of my lower anatomy. The surgery lasted many hours, and my surgeon believed he had debulked 90% of the cancer. He also told me that I needed to undergo . Cancer treatment was pretty grueling in the 1980s, and outcomes were a lot gloomier than they are today. I had already beaten cancer once, and the chance of surviving a second round seemed bleak. I was offered a cocktail of Cisplatin, anthramycin, and Cytoxan as my best defense. Chemotherapy lasted 7 hours a day, and my side effects lasted even longer. I was unable to complete my final round of chemo as my white blood count dropped too low. My oncologist thought the last round of chemo might have done more harm than good, so he discontinued the therapy one month short of 6 months. The surgeon didn’ t mention a survival time frame to me, of course. He knew I had enough on my mind and didn’ t need to tell me that the consensus was that I had 6 months to live. I guess God had a different plan. I was sitting at the dinner table, having no appetite, looking frail and gaunt, with numbness and tingling in both my hands and feet. I was so tired and thinking that I can’ t go on. I didn’ t realize that I had said that out loud until I was snapped out of my daze by my daughter telling me: “ You can’ t give up, you already lived longer than the doctor said you would. ” I was shocked. I expected to be gone already but felt emboldened by the fact that I wasn’ t. Like a boxer in the late rounds of a fight, I summoned energy I didn’ t know I had. I vowed to not only go another round but to win this fight. I did it once, and I’ ll do it again. I got a second wind, but I needed something more, so I began exploring other avenues to find my cure. This wasn’ t an easy task in the days before internet searches, and it would take considerable effort. In retrospect, I feel there were three things I did that helped in my healing and recovery. The surgery and chemotherapy were a big part of my treatment plan, but I knew I couldn’ t sit back and relax and let the doctors do all the work. I went to church many nights, sometimes by myself. With my head bowed and body low, I asked God for forgiveness and strength, and to help rid me of any anger or resentment I had. As the wife of a priest, I received a lot of support, and people began praying for me all over the United States. I also began juicing ( long before the juicing craze began). I juiced mainly carrots, and once in a while, I would add garlic or an apple. I actually developed carotenosis, a condition that turns your skin orange — I drank so much carrot juice that I looked like a carrot! , and I found it easy to digest. The juicing seemed to provide me with energy, so I could continue to take care of my daily needs and responsibilities. The third and possibly the most interesting approach that I discovered through a dear friend was a technique called “ hands on therapy ” by Janet Ziegler. I met Janet through a friend, and during the introduction, I told her my name is Helen, and I have cancer. She turned towards me with a gentle, compassionate touch and told me, “ You are Helen, and you cancer. ” She taught me a process called visualization. It was as if she retrained my mind into thinking the opposite of what I knew as fact. Before falling asleep that night, I remember asking God to give me a sign of a rainbow that things would be alright. It was that evening I clearly saw a rainbow full of vibrant color. I woke up the following morning feeling refreshed and thankful. Shortly after that experience, I no longer believed I had cancer. The most difficult time in my recovery process was that first year. Once I developed a routine of self-care, I continued to nurture myself and focus on my loved ones. I slept a lot and took many breaks. Looking back, I really believe there was a time when I was in recovery that I stopped believing I had cancer. Perhaps I was in denial, or possibly my deep faith carried me through. The days continued, turning into months and then years. It’ s been 31 years since my battle with cancer. I’ m now a widow, a grandmother five times, and a most appreciative multiple cancer survivor. I can genuinely say, I have experienced God’ s loving grace in what my oncologist says is a medical miracle. I want to reach out and tell anyone going through a similar trauma that if I can do this, so can you. It may seem like there’ s no end in sight, but if you keep fighting, you too can win. I want you to close your eyes and imagine yourself beating the odds just like me. 31 years cancer-free. COVID-19 live updates: Total number of cases passes 2.9 million My name is Chris Fry, and I received a diagnosis of terminal cancer this year. This is how I came to terms with my diagnosis, and what helped me cope. My name is Amy Hoey, and I have several autoimmune conditions. This is the story of my long and frustrating journey pursuing diagnoses. Having experienced a serious brain injury at just 26 years old, I developed aphasia. This is the story of my recovery, and how I relearned everything. My name is Carrie Cantwell, and I am an Emmy-nominated graphic designer and writer. I also have bipolar II disorder. This is my story. My name is Sylvia Arotin, and I have an invisible illness. This is my story of living with dysautonomia, and why I won't let it get in the way of my…

tech

Alcohol-free craft beer from Partake looks to fill whitespace of US market

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Search Free newsletter Subscribe News Retail & Shopper Insights Manufacturers Ingredients Processing & Packaging Markets R & D Regulation & Safety Editor's Choice Industry Voices Promotional Features Site Archive Multimedia Sectors Soft Drinks & Water Energy & Sports Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider Juice Drinks Dairy Drinks Tea and Coffee Site Archive Multimedia Trends COVID-19 CBD and beyond Low and no alcohol drinks Craft Beverage Entrepreneurs Energy Drinks & Beyond Sustainability Smart Packaging Functional Beverages Emerging Markets Fizzing-Up Carbonates Future Flavors Health and Wellness Premium Indulgence Natural and Organic Alcohol Regulation Soda: taxes & regulation Site Archive Multimedia Big Brands AB InBev Constellation Brands Bacardi Brown-Forman Carlsberg Coca-Cola Danone Diageo Dr Pepper Heineken Molson Coors Nestlé PepsiCo SABMiller Site Archive Multimedia Resources Type of resources Events Shows & Conferences Online Events Editorial Webinars All Events Events Processing & Packaging By Beth Newhart contact 03-Jan-2020 - Last updated on 03-Jan-2020 at 11:44 GMT Related tags: non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, Beer, Beer market function sanitize gpt value2 ( gptValue) { var vOut= '' ''; var aTags = gptValue.split ( ', '); var reg = new RegExp ( '\\W+ ', `` g ''); for ( var i=0; i < aTags.length; i++) { vOut += aTags [ i ].trim ().replace ( reg, '- ').substring ( 0,40); if ( i! = ( aTags.length-1)) vOut += ', '; } vOut = vOut.toLowerCase (); return vOut; } $ ( document).ready ( function () { dataLayerNews = { }; dataLayerNews.related tags = sanitize gpt value2 ( `` non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, Beer, Beer market ''); dataLayer.push ( dataLayerNews); }); With growing interest in low-to-no alcohol beverages, consumers are looking for more high quality, better tasting and widely available options. Toronto's Partake Brewing is leading the non-alcoholic Canadian craft beer market. After forming the idea in 2013, founder Ted Fleming launched Partake’ s first near-beer to retail in 2017. The IPA is now one of five varieties available online, and in retail and on-premise locations in Canada and the US. Fleming told BeverageDaily that throughout the brand’ s life, Partake has had a lot of interest from US customers, sharing that “ we started from day one with the view that the US market was a big opportunity for us. ” ​ The non-alcoholic beer market has since welcomed many new brands and varieties, and is growing in popularity in Canada and the US. Fleming sees a lot of similarities between the North American countries. “ What we have tended to see in Canada is that product launches from the big international beer companies tend to come into Canada first, and then follow into the US, ” ​ he said. This could be down in part to a higher penetration rate in Canada overall for non-alcoholic beer, he says; but also due to the fact the population is concentrated into a few urban centres ( the US, in comparison, being a much larger and populous country). With the introduction of big beer alcohol-free launches, category awareness is trickling down to the smaller craft operations like Partake. This has supported the brand’ s expansion to the Pacific Northwest region of the US. Partake is now available in more than 2,000 locations in Canada, Whole Foods stores in Oregon and Washington state in the US, and Total Wine & More. Fleming said sampling events at the Seattle and Portland marathons have been crucial for educating American consumers on the products’ high quality. “ We get really strong and positive feedback about the taste of our beer and it being more or less indistinguishable from alcoholic beers for your average beer consumer. From a style perspective, there’ s definitely some regional preferences. In the Pacific Northwest, our IPA does particularly well, ” ​he said. “ People know what beer should taste like, we just have to educate them through trial that our beers do taste the way beers are supposed to taste. That’ s why the sampling is fundamental. ” ​ Partake’ s five styles include the IPA, a Pale Ale, a Blonde Ale, a Stout and its most recent launch, a Red Ale. Each 12oz can is between 10-30 calories and 0.3% ABV. Fleming sees a lot of opportunity in the industry for even more health-conscious, low-alcohol options. “ I totally think it has room to grow, I think we’ re just at the tip of the tip of the iceberg with respect to what opportunity there is out there for us. You’ re seeing the convergence of several trends right now. There’ s a generation that’ s growing up on craft beer taste and profiles, and there’ s an authenticity that comes with craft brewing companies that resonates with people, ” ​ he said. In Canada, Partake has noticed a few alcoholic beer brewers dabbling in non-alcoholic products, but it’ s a small movement and mostly regional. Fleming said Partake is the only option in the craft non-alcoholic space that has a national and international footprint. More breweries are taking small steps with lower alcohol beers in the 2% -4% range, rather than cutting the alcohol content completely. “ We’ re not seeing the non-alcoholic space being adopted by established breweries in a significant way at this point, ” ​ Fleming said. This has bolstered Partake’ s on-premise business, however. Fleming shared that as recently as a year ago, a lot of breweries with their own taprooms “ didn’ t want to have anything to do with ​ [ them ]. ” ​ But in 2019, Partake saw a ‘ huge number’ of brewery taprooms bring in Partake beverages. Fleming called it a ‘ fundamental shift’ in how beer brewers viewed Partake, coming to the conclusion that they were not going to invest in a separate in-house non-alcoholic beer, but an alcohol-free was still valuable to offer to customers and keep up with demand. With the health and wellness movement, people are actively trying to drink less alcohol and use it in fewer social situations. The low calorie and carb counts are attractive to those following special diets for diabetes, or paleo and keto. For the US in 2020, Partake is looking to expand in Whole Foods nationwide, as well as Wegman’ s, Sprouts and regional Walmarts. “ It all starts with taste, and there’ s been a long standing stigma around non-alcoholic beer being an inferior product and a compromised product. And I don’ t think it is a compromise anymore. ” ​ Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2021 - William Reed Business Media Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions Related topics: Ingredients, Retail & Shopper Insights, Markets, R & D, Soft Drinks & Water, Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider, Beer, Health and Wellness, Emerging Markets, Future Flavors, Alcohol Regulation, Beverage Entrepreneurs, Craft Show more SweeGen Inc. | 21-Oct-2021 | Product Presentation Health-conscious consumers are demanding cleaner, better-tasting low- and no-alcohol beverages. Sweegen is helping product developers rise to the occasion... BC30 | 19-Oct-2021 | Technical / White Paper The global functional beverage market was worth $ 102B in 2020, and growth is predicted at a CAGR of 3.2% through 2025. In an expanding global market, key... BÜCHI Labortechnik AG | 18-Oct-2021 | Application Note Alcohol content for labelling and taxation purposes is a legal requirement for most jurisdictions around the world. This application note presents an accurate... SweeGen Inc. | 21-Sep-2021 | Product Presentation

general

Buonafide 0.0 imports alcohol-free wine from Italy

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Search Free newsletter Subscribe News Retail & Shopper Insights Manufacturers Ingredients Processing & Packaging Markets R & D Regulation & Safety Editor's Choice Industry Voices Promotional Features Site Archive Multimedia Sectors Soft Drinks & Water Energy & Sports Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider Juice Drinks Dairy Drinks Tea and Coffee Site Archive Multimedia Trends COVID-19 CBD and beyond Low and no alcohol drinks Craft Beverage Entrepreneurs Energy Drinks & Beyond Sustainability Smart Packaging Functional Beverages Emerging Markets Fizzing-Up Carbonates Future Flavors Health and Wellness Premium Indulgence Natural and Organic Alcohol Regulation Soda: taxes & regulation Site Archive Multimedia Big Brands AB InBev Constellation Brands Bacardi Brown-Forman Carlsberg Coca-Cola Danone Diageo Dr Pepper Heineken Molson Coors Nestlé PepsiCo SABMiller Site Archive Multimedia Resources Type of resources Events Shows & Conferences Online Events Editorial Webinars All Events Events Processing & Packaging By Beth Newhart contact 03-Jan-2020 - Last updated on 06-Jan-2020 at 17:35 GMT Related tags: Wine, non-alcoholic, non-alcoholic drinks, Italy function sanitize gpt value2 ( gptValue) { var vOut= '' ''; var aTags = gptValue.split ( ', '); var reg = new RegExp ( '\\W+ ', `` g ''); for ( var i=0; i < aTags.length; i++) { vOut += aTags [ i ].trim ().replace ( reg, '- ').substring ( 0,40); if ( i! = ( aTags.length-1)) vOut += ', '; } vOut = vOut.toLowerCase (); return vOut; } $ ( document).ready ( function () { dataLayerNews = { }; dataLayerNews.related tags = sanitize gpt value2 ( `` Wine, non-alcoholic, non-alcoholic drinks, Italy ''); dataLayer.push ( dataLayerNews); }); Michael Yourison has been in the business of importing olive oil, pasta products and wine from Italy to the US for nearly 11 years. And after giving up drinking alcohol five years ago, he came across a zero-proof wine in Italy that he wanted to bring to the US. Yourison - now CEO of Buonafide Foods - found the US market to be underserved when it came to drinks that are totally alcohol free ( as opposed to those with up to 0.5%): opening up a market for Buonafide 0.0. The beverage is fermented the same way wines are traditionally produced. The alcohol is removed with a reverse osmosis process, sent to a lab to verify it is completely free of alcohol, and then the bottles are dipped into a heated vat to pasteurize the drink and prevent future fermentation. The process makes Buonafide a true wine that still contains polyphenol micronutrients - yet without the effects of alcohol, said Yourison. The drinks also have around half the calories and less sugar than regular wine. While many non-alcoholic wines tend to be sweet and sparkling, Yourison wanted to create a dry wine that works with food pairings. Buonafide’ s seven varieties are made with with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Passerina grape varietals. They include Bianco, Sparkling Bianco and Sparkling Extra Dry Taste Bianco, which are young, dry white wines. Rosso and Sparkling Extra Dry Taste Rosso are ruby red in color and everyday Italian table wines. `` Alcohol-free alternatives continue to become increasingly popular and in demand for those who do not consume alcohol for any reason, '' ​ said Yourison. `` ​They provides the same ritual experience and sense of occasion that brings a feeling of inclusiveness and enjoyment with meals and entertainment without the negative effects of alcohol. `` ​ When entering the US market, Yourison wanted to partner with retailers that serve the health-conscious, alcohol-adverse consumer. Whole Foods stood out to him, and the Florida region is the first step. The wines are also available on the Buonafide website and in select bars. Buonafide has been connected with Austin, Texas sobar bar Sans Bar since its launch in 2017: a venue that offers “ live music, a vibrant, upscale environment, and sober drinks that you won’ t find anywhere else. ” ​Sans Bar is taking the brand on its national tour of pop-ups this year; and Buonafide will serve as sponsor of the upcoming events. Yourison said that consumers appreciate Buonafide for being a dry rather than sweet, grape-juice like product; and also work well as an accompaniment to food. “ We do have some traction, and we’ re just looking to fill a need and a void for the people who are looking to have an alternative beverage to wine that doesn’ t have any alcohol, ” ​ Yourison said. Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2021 - William Reed Business Media Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions Related topics: Ingredients, Retail & Shopper Insights, Markets, Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider, Health and Wellness, Natural and Organic, Emerging Markets, Beverage Entrepreneurs Show more SweeGen Inc. | 21-Oct-2021 | Product Presentation Health-conscious consumers are demanding cleaner, better-tasting low- and no-alcohol beverages. Sweegen is helping product developers rise to the occasion... BC30 | 19-Oct-2021 | Technical / White Paper The global functional beverage market was worth $ 102B in 2020, and growth is predicted at a CAGR of 3.2% through 2025. In an expanding global market, key... BÜCHI Labortechnik AG | 18-Oct-2021 | Application Note Alcohol content for labelling and taxation purposes is a legal requirement for most jurisdictions around the world. This application note presents an accurate... SweeGen Inc. | 21-Sep-2021 | Product Presentation

general

Oil prices soar as US kills top Iranian general, fans war fears

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Oil prices soared more than four percent Friday following news that the US had killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region, with Tehran warning of retaliation. The head of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad's international airport early Friday, according to Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran. Later, Donald Trump tweeted a picture of the American flag, and the Pentagon said he had ordered Soleimani's killing. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of `` severe revenge '' for `` the criminals who bloodied their foul hands with his blood '', while the country's foreign minister called the move a `` dangerous escalation ''. Brent surged 4.4 percent to $ 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 percent to $ 63.84 as investors grow increasingly worried about the effects of a possible flare-up in the tinderbox Middle East on supplies of the commodity. Both oil contracts later pared the gains but remained well up. `` This is more than just bloodying Iran's nose, '' said AxiTrader's Stephen Innes. `` This is an aggressive show of force and an outright provocation that could trigger another Middle East war. '' The killing of Soleimani is a dramatic escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran and comes after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in Iraq following deadly American air strikes on the hardline Hashed faction. The attack on the embassy highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship, which officials from both countries have described to AFP as the `` coldest '' in years. Oil prices saw a record surge in September after attacks on two Saudi Arabian facilities briefly slashed output in the world's top exporter by half, with Trump blaming Iran for the attack and previous other blasts on tankers in the Gulf last year. - ' A less safe world ' - The crisis also comes as tensions between the US and North Korea worsen, with Kim Jong Un declaring a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests had ended, with US talks going nowhere. `` We are waking up to a less safe world than it was only hours ago, especially if we combine this with simmering tension in the Korean peninsula, '' Innes added. The drama sent investors rushing for the hills and safe-haven units rallied with the yen up 0.6 percent against the dollar and gold climbing 1.4 percent towards $ 1,600 and a near seven-year high. High-risk currencies retreated against the greenback, with South Korea's won down 0.8 percent, Australia's dollar off 0.6 percent and the South African rand down 1.7 percent. Equities were mixed, having been rallying for the second day of the year on China-US trade optimism. Hong Kong fell 0.3 percent, Shanghai ended down 0.1 percent and Singapore retreated 0.7 percent, while Mumbai eased 0.5 percent. But there were gains in Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Manila and Taipei. Regional energy firms were the big winners, with Santos surging more than two percent in Sydney and while Hong Kong-listed PetroChina climbed 2.8 percent. Markets had all been well up before news of the strike, thanks to ongoing optimism fuelled by the China-US trade agreement, looser central bank monetary policies and easing Brexit worries. `` Investors are worried that the situation in Iran will worsen, since there could be some retaliation, '' said Steven Leung at Mizuho Bank. `` People will want to cut risk ahead of the weekend. Stocks have rallied a lot in the past month or so, so any bad news flow is a reason to take profit. '' In early European trade London fell 0.5 percent, Paris lost 0.6 percent and Frankfurt retreated 0.8 percent. - Key figures around 0820 GMT - West Texas Intermediate: UP $ 1.85 at $ 63.03 per barrel Brent Crude: UP $ 2.19 at $ 68.44 per barrel Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 28,451.50 ( close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,083.79 ( close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a public holiday London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,565.45 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $ 1.3120 from $ 1.3139 at 2200 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 85.14 pence from 85.02 pence Euro/dollar: DOWN at $ 1.1170 from $ 1.1172 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.12 from 108.54 yen New York - Dow: UP 1.2 percent at 28,868.80 ( close) Oil prices soared more than four percent Friday following news that the US had killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region, with Tehran warning of retaliation. The head of Iran’ s Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad’ s international airport early Friday, according to Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran. Later, Donald Trump tweeted a picture of the American flag, and the Pentagon said he had ordered Soleimani’ s killing. Iran’ s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “ severe revenge ” for “ the criminals who bloodied their foul hands with his blood ”, while the country’ s foreign minister called the move a “ dangerous escalation ”. Brent surged 4.4 percent to $ 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 percent to $ 63.84 as investors grow increasingly worried about the effects of a possible flare-up in the tinderbox Middle East on supplies of the commodity. Both oil contracts later pared the gains but remained well up. “ This is more than just bloodying Iran’ s nose, ” said AxiTrader’ s Stephen Innes. “ This is an aggressive show of force and an outright provocation that could trigger another Middle East war. ” The killing of Soleimani is a dramatic escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran and comes after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in Iraq following deadly American air strikes on the hardline Hashed faction. The attack on the embassy highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship, which officials from both countries have described to AFP as the “ coldest ” in years. Oil prices saw a record surge in September after attacks on two Saudi Arabian facilities briefly slashed output in the world’ s top exporter by half, with Trump blaming Iran for the attack and previous other blasts on tankers in the Gulf last year. – ‘ A less safe world’ – The crisis also comes as tensions between the US and North Korea worsen, with Kim Jong Un declaring a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests had ended, with US talks going nowhere. “ We are waking up to a less safe world than it was only hours ago, especially if we combine this with simmering tension in the Korean peninsula, ” Innes added. The drama sent investors rushing for the hills and safe-haven units rallied with the yen up 0.6 percent against the dollar and gold climbing 1.4 percent towards $ 1,600 and a near seven-year high. High-risk currencies retreated against the greenback, with South Korea’ s won down 0.8 percent, Australia’ s dollar off 0.6 percent and the South African rand down 1.7 percent. Equities were mixed, having been rallying for the second day of the year on China-US trade optimism. Hong Kong fell 0.3 percent, Shanghai ended down 0.1 percent and Singapore retreated 0.7 percent, while Mumbai eased 0.5 percent. But there were gains in Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Manila and Taipei. Regional energy firms were the big winners, with Santos surging more than two percent in Sydney and while Hong Kong-listed PetroChina climbed 2.8 percent. Markets had all been well up before news of the strike, thanks to ongoing optimism fuelled by the China-US trade agreement, looser central bank monetary policies and easing Brexit worries. “ Investors are worried that the situation in Iran will worsen, since there could be some retaliation, ” said Steven Leung at Mizuho Bank. “ People will want to cut risk ahead of the weekend. Stocks have rallied a lot in the past month or so, so any bad news flow is a reason to take profit. ” In early European trade London fell 0.5 percent, Paris lost 0.6 percent and Frankfurt retreated 0.8 percent. – Key figures around 0820 GMT – West Texas Intermediate: UP $ 1.85 at $ 63.03 per barrel Brent Crude: UP $ 2.19 at $ 68.44 per barrel Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 28,451.50 ( close) Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,083.79 ( close) Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a public holiday London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,565.45 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $ 1.3120 from $ 1.3139 at 2200 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 85.14 pence from 85.02 pence Euro/dollar: DOWN at $ 1.1170 from $ 1.1172 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.12 from 108.54 yen New York – Dow: UP 1.2 percent at 28,868.80 ( close) With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. New York's weaknesses in the face of climate change, the city is erecting a $ 1.45-billion system of walls and floodgates. Kroger, the country’ s biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some benefits for unvaccinated workers. Australia will push ahead with plans to ease Covid restrictions before Christmas. Nearly 10 years after Imad al-Hisso fled the civil war in Syria, he remains trapped in Gaza, a place he calls `` a prison. '' COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

general

On the road to AI adoption, execs grapple with expertise and data

CIOs kicked off 2019 with AI as an item to watch in the competition agenda. In 2020, adoption of this technology is more likely to predict market dominance. The levels of adoption cited in the IBM study add confirmation to the trend of increased AI usage. Gartner's CIO survey, published in January 2019, found 37% of enterprise leaders had adopted AI or planned to do so shortly. `` If you are a CIO and your organization doesn't use AI, chances are high that your competitors do and this should be a concern, '' said Chris Howard, distinguished research vice president at Gartner, in the press release accompanying the survey. Amid a landscape marked by augmented workers and redefined business models, companies that fail to overcome the knowledge, data and tool barriers to AI adoption are at risk of ceding ground to the competition. It's a trend IBM hopes to capitalize on, with tools like IBM Watson promising to address real-world problems. `` While there is still work to be done, advances in data discovery and management, skills training and AI explainability are driving the rate of AI adoption faster than many predicted, '' said Rob Thomas, general manager at IBM Data and AI, in a blog post accompanying the survey results. The next step for H & M is deploying machine learning component libraries as retail dives deeper into digital. The COVID-19 pandemic, and ensuing recession, turned security strategies upside down. Subscribe to CIO Dive to get the must-read news & insights in your inbox. Discover announcements from companies in your industry. The next step for H & M is deploying machine learning component libraries as retail dives deeper into digital. Transformation at FedEx required a `` clear-eyed look at what we have and then creating a clear mental model and architecture for what we wanted to become, '' said CIO Rob Carter.

tech

Labor Stocks Are Going To Break Out In 2020

The labor markets were one of the most closely watched segment of our economy in 2019. Despite all the naysaying, the labor market ended the year on the most solid footing its been on in the history of the U.S. The size of the labor force is the largest its ever been, the unemployment rate is trending at historic lows, more minorities are working than ever before, wages are rising at a +3% clip, and the outlook for 2020 is just as robust. If you are worried about what may happen in labor trends this year let me reassure you, the labor market will come to a boil in 2020 and push labor-related stocks to new highs. A recent survey by Manpower, Inc revealed employers are not scaling back their plans for hiring in 2020. According to Manpower’ s survey of 11,500 U.S. employers, only 5% of businesses are planning to cut back on employment. On a seasonally adjusted basis, fully 19% of businesses are planning to expand their workforces in the first quarter of the year while the remainder are going to maintain the workforces they’ ve already built. Manpower, Inc Will Cash In On Labor Shortages Manpower, Inc ( MAN), an international firm specializing in staffing and recruitment services, is going to cash in on labor market shortages. Two of my favorite data points, the number of available workers and the number of open jobs, help drive the reality of this situation home. According to the Employment Situation Report, AKA the Non-Farm Payrolls Report shows 5.8 million American workers ready to go to work right now. The JOLTs report, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, shows upward of 7.3 million open jobs. That’ s a deficit of roughly 1.5 million employees, a fact that will make recruitment and retention a top-priority in 2020. document.write ( ' < a style= '' text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color: # 696969; '' target= '' blank '' rel= '' nofollow '' href= '' https: //www.ame ' + 'ricanconsumernews.net/scripts/click.aspx? NativeDisplayAdID=585 & ImpressionID=0 & UserID=0 & Placement=PlaceOnArticlePage '' > '); If you own a cell phone, then mobile service providers hope you never get to see this video going viral. It was shot in downtown Denver by a multi-millionaire, who exposed sensitive truths about cell phones and 5G. His experiment will strike a bad chord with cell phone companies, I know. But you’ ve got to see what this man “ leaked, ” and what it means for phone users in the weeks ahead. Analysts are expecting Manpower, Inc to produce about 4% EPS growth next year but this is a low estimate. Momentum within the labor economy coupled with the gross-shortage of employees is going to drive business in the New Year. At only 13.5X forward earnings Manpower is trading at the lowest valuation of any labor market stock I track. The stock is also paying 2.25% in yield which compares favorably with the broad markets average P/E of 19.5 and yield of only 1.75%. Manpower is also a dividend grower having raised its distrubution for the last 9 years with a 17% CAGR. ADP, Cloud-Based Services For Employers Are In Demand ADP ( ADP) is another labor market stock in good position to cash in on employment trends in 2020. The company provides cloud-based solutions for employers that include payroll processing, insurance, retirement benefits, and human resources applications. At today’ s prices the stock is one of the more highly valued, trading at 27X forward earnings, but that’ s easy to overlook when growth is in the forecast. Analysts are expecting ADP to grow revenue by 6% and deliver a near 12% increase in EPS. Couple this with the stocks newly acheived Dividend Aristocrat status and you have a recipe for double-digit total returns. The stock is currently in an uptrend and consolidating just shy of recently set all-time highs. The indicators are bullish and point to a test of resistance at least. Resistance is near the $ 172 level, a break above this level would be bullish and bring targets near $ 215 into play. Cintas, The Best Play On Labor You Can Buy Cintas ( CTAS) is another Dividend Aristocrat and the best play on labor market conditions you can buy. Trading at 30X forward earnings it is not a cheap stock but that is offset by its outlook for growth. The company has been growing organically in the high-single-digits for year and shows no signs of stopping. The company is also actively growing through acquisitions that promise to boost returns in the coming years. What does Cintas do? Cintas is a provider of employer and employee services that include uniform rentals and delivery, safety products and first aid solutions. Analysts are expecting the company to deliver 6% revenue growth this year and produce 10% earnings growth. Because the company has been successfully cutting costs and widening margins, partly due to synergies realized through acquisitions, the consensus estimates for 2020 are likely too low. Over the past three years, the company has only missed estimates once. Other than the yield, sub-1%, the dividend is quite good. The payout ratios is super-low at 28% which means the company could sustain dividend increases without the expectation of future earnings growth. The distribution has been increased every year for 28 years so there is a high expectation of future increases. Couple this with the growth outlook and the odds of Cintas uptrend continuing are quite high. The stock has been in a protracted uptrend for a decade, coincident with a labor market expansion that began following the global financial crisis. Price action is now consolidating at the fresh all-time highs and on the verge of a major break out. The indicators are still mixed but set up to produce a trend-following swing in momentum that could easily take this stock to new all-time highs during the 1st quarter of 2020. 6 Stocks That May Not Survive the Coronavirus Companies that are in a shaky financial position may sometimes attract investors in a bull market. Traders seeking a short-term profit can often use an oversold condition to capture a quick gain. But in a bear market, these companies frequently are left on the sidelines. But a declining stock price by itself should not be enough to scare investors off. What investors really need to pay attention to is the company’ s ability to finance existing debt or take on additional debt. Companies with low credit ratings face the problem of having too much debt on their books and an inability to finance it at more favorable rates. That’ s one reason we’ ve put together this presentation that highlights 6 companies that may not survive the coronavirus. These companies have low stock prices. In fact, many of them are, or will be, in danger of being delisted if they can not bring their stock above the $ 1 threshold. And on top of that, these companies each carry credit ratings of CCC+ or lower and are at risk of seeing those ratings even go lower. Each of the companies presented here are considered to be among the weakest, if not the weakest, in their sector. If you have any of these falling knives in your portfolio now is the time to cut your losses and walk away. View the `` 6 Stocks That May Not Survive the Coronavirus ''. Complete the form below to receive the latest headlines and analysts ' recommendations for your stocks with our free daily email newsletter:

business

Ginger: Health benefits and dietary tips

If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. People have used ginger in cooking and medicine since ancient times. It is a popular home remedy for nausea, stomach pain, and other health issues. People typically use fresh or dried ginger in cooking, and some take ginger supplements for their possible health benefits. , and various types of infection. Researchers have also studied its potential to reduce the risk of , and other health problems. In this article, learn more about the possible health benefits of ginger and the research behind them. Ginger may have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and other healthful properties. Below are some of the possible medicinal uses of ginger. Consuming ginger may help improve digestion. have investigated ginger’ s effects on the gasses that form in the intestinal tract during digestion. Some research indicates that enzymes in ginger can help the body break up and expel this gas, providing relief from any discomfort. Ginger also appears to have beneficial effects on the enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are important for digestion. . . and relieve nausea following cancer treatment. . The analysis showed that the supplement led to reduced nausea in most of the people who took it. of studies arrived at similar conclusions. They reported that taking a divided daily dosage of 1,500 milligrams ( mg) of ginger extract helped alleviate symptoms of nausea. They also called for further studies in humans to fully understand the effects of ginger on nausea and other gastrointestinal issues. Here, learn which foods can help relieve nausea. . However, the evidence supporting this remedy is mostly anecdotal. studied the effects of fresh and dried ginger on one respiratory virus in human cells. The results indicated that fresh ginger may help protect the respiratory system, while dried ginger did not have the same impact. set out to investigate the popularity of herbal medicine as a cold or flu treatment. After polling 300 pharmacy customers in two different locations, the researchers determined that 69% of those polled used herbal medicine and that most of this group found it effective. However, while ginger was among the most popular ingredients in these remedies, some of the participants may not have used it. . , which included 74 volunteers, found that a daily dosage of 2 grams ( g) of raw or heated ginger reduced exercise-induced muscle pain by about 25%. of studies concluded that ginger may help reduce dysmenorrhea — pain right before or during menstruation. However, the authors acknowledge that the included studies were often small or of poor quality. Learn more here. One group of researchers concluded that taking ginger by mouth is “ modestly efficacious and reasonably safe ” for treating inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. that the studies included in their meta-analysis were small and may not represent the general population. of 16 clinical trials determined that the phytochemical properties in ginger may combat inflammation. These authors also called for further research into the most effective dosages and types of ginger extract. There is some evidence that ginger extract may help with cardiovascular disease. found that a dosage of 5 g or more can cause significant, beneficial antiplatelet activity. The authors acknowledge that many investigations included in their analysis did not involve human participants or that participant numbers were too small to ensure reliable results. However, they suggest that, with further research, ginger could prove to be a safe form of treatment for cardiovascular disease. found that ginger extract helped reduce the occurrence of heart abnormalities among rats with diabetes. The authors noted that this reduction may stem, in part, from the antioxidant properties of the extract. Ginger does not provide protein or other nutrients, but it is an excellent source of antioxidants. . too many free radicals build up in the body. Free radicals are toxic substances produced by metabolism and other factors. The body needs to eliminate free radicals to prevent them from causing cellular damage that can lead to a range of diseases, including cancer. Dietary help the body get rid of free radicals. for 28 days. The participants all had a high risk of developing . Biopsies showed that the participants who had consumed the ginger had fewer negative changes in healthy colon tissue. This group also had reduced cellular proliferation. The findings indicate that ginger could play a role in preventing colorectal cancer. Find out here. . . This quantity does not provide a significant amount of any nutrient. Find out here. ( FDA) consider ginger to be safe to include in the diet, but they do not guarantee or regulate its use as a medicine or supplement. have not investigated many of the compounds in ginger. Also, scientific evidence does not support some claims about ginger’ s healing qualities. Before adding more ginger to the diet or taking a ginger supplement, consult a healthcare provider. A supplement may interact with medications or cause other health complications. . Some research indicates that ginger may improve digestive health, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain, among other benefits. However, studies often use high dosages of extracts — a person may not experience positive health effects from simply adding ginger to their diet. Also, studies investigating the health benefits of ginger have often been small or inconclusive. Fully understanding the effects and safety of ginger supplements will require more research. has shown ginger to be a safe way to manage nausea during pregnancy. It does not appear to increase the risk of pregnancy loss or symptoms like heartburn or fatigue. Aim to take less than 1,500 mg of ginger extract per day. Ginger is also available as a tea or as chewy or hard candies. Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. COVID-19 live updates: Total number of cases passes 2.9 million A look at ginger for diarrhea, a remedy that has been used for a long time. Included is detail on how much ginger is too much, as how much to eat a… Cinnamon is a popular spice in the United States and Europe, and it may have health benefits. In this article, learn about what the research says and… Inflammation plays a role in many chronic diseases. Dietary choices may help people manage their symptoms. Here, learn which foods to eat and avoid on… Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. It is commonly used as a spice, but it is also known for its medicinal purposes. It is thought to benefit… A look at how to get rid of nausea, a common complaint with a range of potential causes. Included is detail on physical changes to make to reduce…

tech

Mysterious Respiratory Virus Strikes 44 People in China

By Nicoletta Lanese published 3 January 20 People have speculated that the viral infection may be a highly contagious disease called SARS. An unidentified form of viral pneumonia has struck several dozen people in the Chinese city of Wuhan, sparking concerns that the country may be facing an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS). Back in 2002 and 2003, SARS spread to 26 countries, infecting more than 8,000 people with a severe, flu-like illness and claiming more than 750 lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC). The outbreak began in China, where 349 people died from the disease on the mainland and 299 more perished in Hong Kong, according to Asian news channel CNA. The SARS virus spreads through person-to-person contact and can be expelled from an infected individual when they cough or sneeze, contaminating both people and nearby objects. The World Health Organization ( WHO) declared that China was free of SARS in 2004, but now, a mysterious bout of viral illness has led to speculation that the disease is back. Forty-four cases of the unidentified illness have been reported so far, including 11 `` severe '' cases, according to the international news agency AFP. Many of the infected individuals were stall holders at Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which health authorities have closed until further notice, according to the South China Morning Post. In a further effort to contain the outbreak, airports in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have ramped up screenings for fever among their passengers. Related: The 9 Deadliest Viruses on Earth The cause of the infections remains unknown, but the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has ruled out `` influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus infection and other common respiratory diseases '' as potential culprits. `` At this point, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is not yet confirmed or excluded as the cause of the outbreak, '' said Gauden Galea, WHO's representative in China, AFP reported. In response to speculation about a SARS outbreak, the Wudan police announced Wednesday ( Jan. 1) that eight individuals had been punished for `` publishing or forwarding false information on the internet without verification, '' the AFP added. `` If it were SARS, we are experienced in managing it, '' Emily Chan Ying-yang, a medical professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a visiting professor at the University of Oxford, told the South China Morning Post. `` But if it is a new strain, then we should pay attention. '' During the 2002 outbreak, SARS caused many fatalities among young people, so it's important to determine whether serious cases of the virus are occurring in young or elderly individuals, she added. The mystery pneumonia may also be caused by a rare virus or one that was previously unknown, Dr. Jiang Rongmeng of Beijing Ditan Hospital told the South China Morning Post. Unlike in the 2002 SARS outbreak, `` no apparent human-to-human transmission has been detected so far. Otherwise, there would have been a community outbreak with more infections, '' Rongmeng added. Originally published on Live Science. Nicoletta Lanese is a staff writer for Live Science covering health and medicine, along with an assortment of biology, animal, environment and climate stories. She holds degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in The Scientist Magazine, Science News, The San Jose Mercury News and Mongabay, among other outlets.

general

Bruce Campbell discusses Telus

China aims to launch nationwide power trading by 2025, the state planning agency said Friday, as policy makers seek a unified solution to some of the problems that have bedeviled generators in recent years. The bar for China’ s financial markets to do better this year was so low, virtually everyone on Wall Street was saying the country’ s stocks and bonds could only go up. Back in 2016, trying to get an ambitious young financier to choose France over Britain was an often hopeless task. China needs to step up government spending to support an economy that’ s slowing due to coronavirus lockdowns and a property sector downturn, according to the International Monetary Fund. ( Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @ economics and subscribe to our podcast. { { video.ContentPackages [ 0 ].ScheduleStartDateTime | fromNow } }

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California Doubling Down on Decarbonizing as Fossil Fuel Output Declines

Sign in to get the best natural gas news and data. Follow the topics you want and receive the daily emails. Your email address * Your password * Remember me Continue Reset password Featured Content News & Data Services Client Support Shale Daily Shale Daily | E & P | NGI All News Access | NGI The Weekly Gas Market Report | Regulatory California’ s chief regulatory agency for oil and natural gas development has been renamed going into the new year, with a focus on public health, safety and environmental issues within the energy sector. The newly named California Geologic Energy Management Division ( CalGEM) replaced the Department of Conservation’ s ( DOC) Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. CalGEM, created last year by Assembly Bill 1057, comes as the state’ s once robust oil and gas industry is steadily shrinking while low-carbon energy sources are growing. DOC Director David Shabazian said the division’ s mission has evolved since it was founded more than 100 years ago and now is focused on protecting public health, safety and the environment while guiding the state to a “ low-carbon future. ” CalGEM is charged with reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions; requiring increased financial protections from onshore operators on the integrity of their operating and idle wells; and mandating additional documentation on changes in well ownership. CalGem chief Udauk-Joe Ntuk said the division will not only expand its focus, but “ concurrently oversee energy production in a manner that aligns with the state’ s clean energy and climate goals. ” Ntuk noted that California remains one of the nation’ s largest oil-producing states, even with a steady drop in volumes over the past 35 years. In 1985, total production was 424 million bbl, compared to a preliminary final total for 2018 of 161.8 million bbl. © 2021 Natural Gas Intelligence. All rights reserved. ISSN © 2577-9877 | ISSN © 1532-1266 | ISSN © 2158-8023 | Related topics: Calgem California Ntuk NGI’ s Shale Price Tracker Shale Product Suite Listen to NGI’ s ‘ Hub & Flow’ Shale Daily Download latest PDF Edition Shale Daily: Trending News Natural Gas Prices Natural gas futures floundered Monday as the prospect of a coronavirus resurgence and the potential for weak weather demand extending into December weighed on markets. At A Glance: Forecasts point to light weather-driven demand next month New coronavirus outbreaks threaten energy consumption Northeast spot prices stood apart, spiking amid regional demand The December Nymex contract… Oil Natural Gas Prices Energy Transition Markets Markets Regulatory LNG Regulatory M & A

general

Tesla ( TSLA) Breaks Shipment Record, Beats Estimates for Fourth Quarter Vehicles Shipped

It could be forgiven, that some might think that Tesla ( NASDAQ: TSLA) was little more than a big pile of pie-in-the-sky nonsense. Yet it seems, these days, that we hear a lot of positive buzz around this maker of electric vehicles that implores we take this company seriously. One more brick in the wall of credibility has fallen into place, as recently, Tesla reported its delivery and production numbers for the fourth quarter of 2019. The news is shockingly good, as evidenced by key phrases like “ record-breaking. ” Production Is Off and Running The key number for the fourth quarter at Tesla was 112,000, which is how many vehicles were delivered worldwide for the period. This not only beat Wall Street estimates by 6,000 vehicles—estimates said 106,000 would go out the door—but it also beat a goal set up by Musk earlier in the year. Interestingly, if Tesla had matched the street estimates, it still would have met Musk's own goal, so it's a surprise for both entities. Tesla noted that, in 2019, it delivered a grand total of around 367,500 vehicles, a move which represents a 50% increase from 2018's figures. Good news by any stretch, and sufficient to drive not only a two percent price increase, but part of an increase of 39% overall for the last year. It's given some of those gains back as of this writing, but it's still handily off yesterday's close of 430.26. A Watched Pot That's Boiling Pretty Hard It's not surprising that Tesla's delivery figures are watched closely. They're considered the best way to figure out Tesla's sales numbers—which is reasonable enough; obviously they aren't selling vehicles they're not delivering, unexpected cancellations aside—and the numbers spotted so far have been substantial. document.write ( ' < a style= '' text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color: # 696969; '' target= '' blank '' rel= '' nofollow '' href= '' https: //www.ame ' + 'ricanconsumernews.net/scripts/click.aspx? NativeDisplayAdID=517 & ImpressionID=0 & UserID=0 & Placement=PlaceOnArticlePage '' > '); A Wall Street legend has just made a rather large discovery… For the past several months, he’ s been tracking Warren Buffett’ s top 25 holdings… And what he found was surprising Tesla was expected to deliver 87,900 of its Model 3 vehicles, as well as 9,800 of its Model S and 9,300 of its Model X, according to word from FactSet. Yet Tesla announced sound if approximate defeats on all those fronts, noting that it shipped 92,550 Model 3 vehicles, along with 19,450 Model S and Model X vehicles. While there's some wiggle room for defeat in that last quote—why they didn't say how many of each was shipped rather than putting the two together in their own bloc is unclear—it would mean a serious win in one category or the other. If, for example, its Model X sales faltered and they only got 4,000 out the door, that would mean they shipped 15,450 Model S units, or better than 50% overestimates. Additionally, the production numbers at Tesla are looking sharp as well. While the company was setting production records back in the third quarter of 2019, they were actually delivering more cars than they produced. Yet the company has put a clear focus on production, putting largely to rest concerns that Tesla's total manufacturing capability would leave it a niche product. Tesla Continues to Build a Charge As good as the numbers have been around Tesla lately, the buzz has been even better. Just after Christmas, we saw Wedbush Securities hike its price target from $ 270 to $ 370 a share. Meeting that price target, meanwhile, would require a substantial drop in the current share price. The last few weeks have been enough to take the wind out of predictions from Credit Suisse analyst Dan Levy, who suggesting a potential 40 percent drop in the stock price to come While that was based on the appearance of extra competition in the field—and not out of line, either, as Ford ( NYSE: F) recently noted that reservations for the upcoming Mach-E electric Mustang were full—the production and delivery numbers emerging from Tesla suggests it's in position to effectively take on some competition. There's no doubt that Tesla has been gaining a lot of ground lately. It's already beaten short sellers on at least one notable occasion, and with bull cases suggesting the stock still has room to run over even its current levels, the idea that Tesla is stymied in its push to get more electric vehicles into the market seems flawed at best. What's more, with Tesla having some unexpected advantages in its arsenal, like its rapid improvements in battery technology, there's the possibility that the company could diversify and give itself a couple of extra revenue streams, a point that seldom goes amiss in the face of increased competition. People seem interested in electric vehicles, and right now, Tesla is leading the way in their provision. Competition is likely to follow—these figures are too substantial not to suggest that others want a piece of the pie—but with that diversification potential on hand, Tesla might well be able to hold out and see the levels that only the most ardent bulls can see right now. 5 Oil Stocks That May Not Survive the Current Crisis What would you think of the long-term prospects of a business that paid you to buy their products? That’ s an oversimplification of what occurred to the May futures contract for oil on April 20. The price for that contract sold for a negative price for the first time in history. The crisis befalling the oil companies at this time can best be described as “ only the strongest survive. ” There’ s just no way the oil companies can possibly handle month after month of rock-bottom oil prices. The problem is almost comically simple to understand. There is a massively reduced demand for oil as millions of Americans are following mitigation orders ranging from social distancing guidelines to more restrictive shelter in place orders. At the same time, the market is trying to absorb the oversupply of oil that came from Russia and Saudi Arabia. However, when the year started, things looked like it might be business as usual for oil producers. The U.S. economy was humming along and there was talk that the second half of the year might finally bring the boost to oil prices that many companies badly needed. However, since the middle of February, the bottom has dropped out of the market in general, and oil prices have been one of the main sectors to feel the impact. Initially, investors tried to remain optimistic. A month ago, investors thought that the economy might be reopening sooner rather than later. However, the exact timing of the reopening is about as fluid as a barrel of oil. And with it looking more likely that there will be more demand destruction at least through May, there’ s very little to prop up the stock of any oil companies. And that means that, in all likelihood, there will not be room left for some oil companies. We’ ve highlighted five oil stocks that have a strong probability of not surviving the chaos surrounding the coronavirus and our nation’ s response. View the `` 5 Oil Stocks That May Not Survive the Current Crisis ''. Complete the form below to receive the latest headlines and analysts ' recommendations for your stocks with our free daily email newsletter:

business

Op-Ed: 'Madonna and the Breakfast Club ' is the best docudrama of 2019

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Director Guy Guido did excellent work writing and directing this incredible film, proving that he is a true visionary. This docudrama is well-crafted and engaging as it chronicles Madonna’ s rise to fame, and how it all started for her. It really delves beyond the surface, and it underscores such qualities as ambition, hard work, innovation, and tenacity. It sheds light on the untold story of the “ Queen of Pop ” and her pre-fame years as she struggled in New York City with her then-boyfriend, musician Dan Gilroy, and their first band, the Breakfast Club, who served as the lead singer. Gilroy taught Madonna how to play the drums and then the guitar. Jamie Auld gave a transformative and compelling acting performance as Madonna, and she chatted with Digital Journal about her experience making the film. Most importantly, in Madonna and the Breakfast Club, Guido and Auld were able to take their fans and viewers on this journey with them. It is a must-watch for all fans of the “ Material Girl. ” Madonna and the Breakfast Club is available on Amazon Prime. Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 16,000 original articles over the past 15 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a five-time consecutive `` Best of Long Island '' winner, and in the past two years, he was honored as the `` Best Long Island Personality '' in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times. The push for Canadians to get their vaccine booster shots is ramping up as the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads across the country. As the Omicron variant gains momentum in Europe and the U.S., the variant is now considered the “ biggest threat to global public health. ” Has Iran become a threat to U.S. interests on par with Russia? An FDA laboratory worker injects an influenza virus into an egg, where it will grow before being harvested—one of the many complex steps involved... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Hashed military force says 'US strike ' killed top Iran, Iraq commanders in Baghdad

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published A US strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and the deputy head of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force at Baghdad's airport early Friday, the Hashed announced. `` The deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, were killed in a US strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road, '' the group said in a statement. The international airport was hit in a volley of missiles just after midnight, Iraq's military said. Security sources said the rockets targeted a Hashed convoy and left eight people dead, including `` important figures. '' The Hashed is a network of mostly-Shiite armed units, many of whom have very close ties to Tehran, who have been officially incorporated into Iraq's state security forces. Muhandis is the Hashed's deputy chief but is widely recognised as the real shot-caller within the group. He has been blacklisted by the US. Soleimani heads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Quds Force and also serves as Iran's pointman on Iraq. On Tuesday, a mob of Hashed supporters surrounded the US embassy in outrage over American air strikes that killed 25 fighters from the network's hardline Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which is backed by Iran. The US had acted in response to a rocket attack days earlier that had killed an American contractor working in Iraq. A US strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and the deputy head of Iraq’ s Hashed al-Shaabi military force at Baghdad’ s airport early Friday, the Hashed announced. “ The deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, were killed in a US strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road, ” the group said in a statement. The international airport was hit in a volley of missiles just after midnight, Iraq’ s military said. Security sources said the rockets targeted a Hashed convoy and left eight people dead, including “ important figures. ” The Hashed is a network of mostly-Shiite armed units, many of whom have very close ties to Tehran, who have been officially incorporated into Iraq’ s state security forces. Muhandis is the Hashed’ s deputy chief but is widely recognised as the real shot-caller within the group. He has been blacklisted by the US. Soleimani heads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and also serves as Iran’ s pointman on Iraq. On Tuesday, a mob of Hashed supporters surrounded the US embassy in outrage over American air strikes that killed 25 fighters from the network’ s hardline Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which is backed by Iran. The US had acted in response to a rocket attack days earlier that had killed an American contractor working in Iraq. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. America’ s Covid-19 infections are climbing again, and could soon hit a weekly average of 100,000 cases a day. Sri Lanka abandoned its quest to become the world’ s first completely organic farming nation. The Old City is in the Israeli-annexed eastern part of Jerusalem, which Palestinians claims as the capital of their future state. On the eve of Thanksgiving, 1971, a nondescript, 40-something man bought a one-way ticket to Seattle... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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Top Iran commander Qasem Soleimani killed in US strike on Baghdad

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed Friday in a US strike on Baghdad's international airport, Iran and the US confirmed, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries. The Pentagon said US President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani's `` killing, '' after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy. Following Soleimani's death, Trump tweeted an image of the US flag without any further explanation. The pre-dawn developments mark the most major escalation yet in a feared proxy war between Iran and the US on Iraqi soil. Early Friday, a volley of missiles hit Baghdad's international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force with close ties to Iran. Just a few hours later, Iranian state television carried a statement by the Revolutionary Guard Corps saying Soleimani `` was martyred in an attack by America on Baghdad airport this morning. '' The Hashed confirmed that both Soleimani and its deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in what it said was a `` US strike. '' `` The deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, were killed in a US strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road, '' it said. The Hashed is a network of mostly-Shiite armed units, many of whom have close ties to Tehran but which have been officially incorporated into Iraq's state security forces. The units joined forces to fight the Islamic State group in 2014, after many of them built up years of fighting experience during Iraq's war years, including against the US. - 'Major decapitation strike ' - Muhandis was the Hashed's deputy chief but widely recognised as the real shot-caller within the group. Soleimani headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Quds Force and also served as Iran's pointman on Iraq, visiting the country in times of turmoil. Both were sanctioned by the United States. The Pentagon said Soleimani had been `` actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. '' It said it took `` decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, '' but did not specify how. Phillip Smyth, a US-based specialist in Shiite armed groups, told AFP the strike would have `` bigger '' ramifications than the 2011 US operation that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the 2019 American raid that killed Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. `` In terms of a decapitation strike, what just happened is the most major decapitation strike that the US has ever pulled off, '' said Smyth. `` There is no comparison, '' he added. The developments come after an unprecedented attack on the US mission in Baghdad. A mob of Hashed supporters surrounded the US embassy on Tuesday in outrage over American air strikes that killed 25 fighters from the network's hardline Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which is backed by Iran. The US had acted in response to a rocket attack days earlier that had killed an American contractor working in Iraq. Trump had blamed Iran for a spate of rocket attacks targeting US forces as well as the siege at the embassy, saying: `` They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. '' On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper told reporters there could be more attacks from Iran-backed groups but vowed American forces would respond. `` We are prepared to exercise self-defense, and we are prepared to deter further bad behavior from these groups, all of which are sponsored, directed and resourced by Iran, '' he said. - Oil prices soar - Ties between the US and Iran have deteriorated since Washington pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018. It then reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran, aiming to choke off its oil exports. Oil prices soared following Friday's attack, with Brent surging 4.4 percent to $ 69.16 and WTI jumping 4.3 percent to 63.84. But the attack threatens to destabilise Iraq, which has close political and military ties with both Tehran and Washington. The United States led the 2003 invasion against then-dictator Saddam Hussein and has worked closely with Iraqi officials since. But its influence has waned compared with that of Tehran, which has carefully crafted personal ties with Iraqi politicians and armed factions, even during Saddam's reign. Iraqi officials have warned in recent months that their country could be used as an arena for score-settling between Iran and the US. Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed Friday in a US strike on Baghdad’ s international airport, Iran and the US confirmed, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries. The Pentagon said US President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani’ s “ killing, ” after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy. Following Soleimani’ s death, Trump tweeted an image of the US flag without any further explanation. The pre-dawn developments mark the most major escalation yet in a feared proxy war between Iran and the US on Iraqi soil. Early Friday, a volley of missiles hit Baghdad’ s international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force with close ties to Iran. Just a few hours later, Iranian state television carried a statement by the Revolutionary Guard Corps saying Soleimani “ was martyred in an attack by America on Baghdad airport this morning. ” The Hashed confirmed that both Soleimani and its deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in what it said was a “ US strike. ” “ The deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, were killed in a US strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road, ” it said. The Hashed is a network of mostly-Shiite armed units, many of whom have close ties to Tehran but which have been officially incorporated into Iraq’ s state security forces. The units joined forces to fight the Islamic State group in 2014, after many of them built up years of fighting experience during Iraq’ s war years, including against the US. – ‘ Major decapitation strike’ – Muhandis was the Hashed’ s deputy chief but widely recognised as the real shot-caller within the group. Soleimani headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and also served as Iran’ s pointman on Iraq, visiting the country in times of turmoil. Both were sanctioned by the United States. The Pentagon said Soleimani had been “ actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. ” It said it took “ decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, ” but did not specify how. Phillip Smyth, a US-based specialist in Shiite armed groups, told AFP the strike would have “ bigger ” ramifications than the 2011 US operation that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the 2019 American raid that killed Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. “ In terms of a decapitation strike, what just happened is the most major decapitation strike that the US has ever pulled off, ” said Smyth. “ There is no comparison, ” he added. The developments come after an unprecedented attack on the US mission in Baghdad. A mob of Hashed supporters surrounded the US embassy on Tuesday in outrage over American air strikes that killed 25 fighters from the network’ s hardline Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which is backed by Iran. The US had acted in response to a rocket attack days earlier that had killed an American contractor working in Iraq. Trump had blamed Iran for a spate of rocket attacks targeting US forces as well as the siege at the embassy, saying: “ They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. ” On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper told reporters there could be more attacks from Iran-backed groups but vowed American forces would respond. “ We are prepared to exercise self-defense, and we are prepared to deter further bad behavior from these groups, all of which are sponsored, directed and resourced by Iran, ” he said. – Oil prices soar – Ties between the US and Iran have deteriorated since Washington pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018. It then reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran, aiming to choke off its oil exports. Oil prices soared following Friday’ s attack, with Brent surging 4.4 percent to $ 69.16 and WTI jumping 4.3 percent to 63.84. But the attack threatens to destabilise Iraq, which has close political and military ties with both Tehran and Washington. The United States led the 2003 invasion against then-dictator Saddam Hussein and has worked closely with Iraqi officials since. But its influence has waned compared with that of Tehran, which has carefully crafted personal ties with Iraqi politicians and armed factions, even during Saddam’ s reign. Iraqi officials have warned in recent months that their country could be used as an arena for score-settling between Iran and the US. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. America’ s Covid-19 infections are climbing again, and could soon hit a weekly average of 100,000 cases a day. Sri Lanka abandoned its quest to become the world’ s first completely organic farming nation. The Old City is in the Israeli-annexed eastern part of Jerusalem, which Palestinians claims as the capital of their future state. On the eve of Thanksgiving, 1971, a nondescript, 40-something man bought a one-way ticket to Seattle... COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2021 DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. Digital Journal is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more about our external linking.

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An elegy for cash: the technology we might never replace

Think about the last time you used cash. How much did you spend? What did you buy, and from whom? Was it a one-time thing, or was it something you buy regularly? If you’ d rather keep all that to yourself, you’ re in luck. The person in the store ( or on the street corner) may remember your face, but as long as you didn’ t reveal any identifying information, there is nothing that links you to the transaction. This is a feature of physical cash that payment cards and apps do not have: freedom. Called “ bearer instruments, ” banknotes and coins are presumed to be owned by whoever holds them. We can use them to transact with another person without a third party getting in the way. Companies can not build advertising profiles or credit ratings out of our data, and governments can not track our spending or our movements. And while a credit card can be declined and a check mislaid, handing over money works every time, instantly. We shouldn’ t take this freedom for granted. Much of our commerce now happens online. It relies on banks and financial technology companies to serve as middlemen. Transactions are going digital in the physical world, too: electronic payment tools, from debit cards to Apple Pay to Alipay, are increasingly replacing cash. While notes and coins remain popular in many countries, including the US, Japan, and Germany, in others they are nearing obsolescence. This trend has civil liberties groups worried. Without cash, there is “ no chance for the kind of dignity-preserving privacy that undergirds an open society, ” writes Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center, a policy advocacy group based in Washington, DC. In a recent report, Brito contends that we must “ develop and foster electronic cash ” that is as private as physical cash and doesn’ t require permission to use. The central question is who will develop and control the electronic payment systems of the future. Most of the existing ones, like Alipay, Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, and Kenya’ s M-Pesa, are run by private firms. Afraid of leaving payments solely in their hands, many governments are looking to develop some sort of electronic stand-in for notes and coins. Meanwhile, advocates of stateless, ownerless cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin say they’ re the only solution as surveillance-proof as cash—but can they be feasible at large scales? We tend to take it for granted that new technologies work better than old ones—safer, faster, more accurate, more efficient, more convenient. Purists may extol the virtues of vinyl records, but nobody can dispute that a digital music collection is easier to carry and sounds almost exactly as good. Cash is a paradox—a technology thousands of years old that may just prove impossible to re-create in a more advanced form. We call banknotes and coins “ cash, ” but the term really refers to something more abstract: cash is essentially money that your government owes you. In the old days this was a literal debt. “ I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of … ” still appears on British banknotes, a notional guarantee that the Bank of England will hand over the same value in gold in exchange for your note. Today it represents the more abstract guarantee that you will always be able to use that note to pay for things. The digits in your bank account, on the other hand, refer to what your bank owes you. When you go to an ATM, you are effectively converting the bank’ s promise to pay into a government promise. Most people would say they trust the government’ s promise more, says Gabriel Söderberg, an economist at the Riksbank, the central bank of Sweden. Their bet—correct, in most countries—is that their government is much less likely to go bust. That’ s why it would be a problem if Sweden were to go completely “ cashless, ” Söderberg says. He and his colleagues fear that if people lose the option to convert their bank money to government money at will and use it to pay for whatever they need, they might start to lose trust in the whole money system. A further worry is that if the private sector is left to dominate digital payments, people who can’ t or won’ t use these systems could be shut out of the economy. This is fast becoming more than just a thought experiment in Sweden. Nearly everyone there uses a mobile app called Swish to pay for things. Economists have estimated that retailers in Sweden could completely stop accepting cash by 2023. Creating an electronic version of Sweden’ s sovereign currency—an “ e-krona ” —could mitigate these problems, Söderberg says. If the central bank were to issue digital money, it would design it to be a public good, not a profit-making product for a corporation. “ Easily accessible, simple and user-friendly versions could be developed for those who currently have difficulty with digital technology, ” the bank asserted in a November report covering Sweden’ s payment landscape. The Riksbank plans to develop and test an e-krona prototype. It has examined a number of technologies that might underlie it, including cryptocurrency systems like Bitcoin. But the central bank has also called on the Swedish government to lead a broad public inquiry into whether such a system should ever go live. “ In the end, this decision is too big for a central bank alone, at least in the Swedish context, ” Söderberg says. China, meanwhile, appears to have made its decision: the digital renminbi is coming. Mu Changchun, head of the People’ s Bank of China’ s digital currency research institute, said in September that the currency, which the bank has been working on for years, is “ close to being out. ” In December, a local news report suggested that the PBOC is nearly ready to start tests in the cities of Shenzhen and Suzhou. And the bank has been explicit about its intention to use it to replace banknotes and coins. Cash is already dying out on its own in China, thanks to Alipay and WeChat Pay, the QR-code-based apps that have become ubiquitous in just a few years. It’ s been estimated that mobile payments made up more than 80% of all payments in China in 2018, up from less than 20% in 2013. It’ s not clear how much access the government currently has to transaction data from WeChat Pay and Alipay. Once it issues a sovereign digital currency—which officials say will be compatible with those two services—it will likely have access to a lot more. Martin Chorzempa, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, told the New York Times in October that the system will give the PBOC “ extraordinary power and visibility into the financial system, more than any central bank has today. ” We don’ t know for sure what technology the PBOC plans to use as the basis for its digital renminbi, but we have at least two revealing clues. First, the bank has been researching blockchain technology since 2014, and the government has called the development of this technology a priority. Second, Mu said in September that China’ s system will bear similarities to Libra, the electronic currency Facebook announced last June. Indeed, PBOC officials have implied in public statements that the unveiling of Libra inspired them to accelerate the development of the digital renminbi, which has been in the works for years. As currently envisioned, Libra will run on a blockchain, a type of accounting ledger that can be maintained by a network of computers instead of a single central authority. However, it will operate very differently from Bitcoin, the original blockchain system. The computers in Bitcoin’ s network use open-source software to automatically verify and record every single transaction. In the process, they generate a permanent public record of the currency’ s entire transaction history: the blockchain. As envisioned, Libra’ s network will do something similar. But whereas anyone with a computer and an internet connection can participate anonymously in Bitcoin’ s network, the “ nodes ” that make up Libra’ s network will be companies that have been vetted and given membership in a nonprofit association. Unlike Bitcoin, which is notoriously volatile, Libra will be designed to maintain a stable value. To pull this off, the so-called Libra Association will be responsible for maintaining a reserve ( pdf) of government-issued currencies ( the latest plan is for it to be half US dollars, with the other half composed of British pounds, euros, Japanese yen, and Singapore dollars). This reserve is supposed to serve as backing for the digital units of value. Both Libra and the digital renminbi, however, face serious questions about privacy. To start with, it’ s not clear if people will be able to use them anonymously. With Bitcoin, although transactions are public, users don’ t have to reveal who they really are; each person’ s “ address ” on the public blockchain is just a random string of letters and numbers. But in recent years, law enforcement officials have grown skilled at combining public blockchain data with other clues to unmask people using cryptocurrencies for illicit purposes. Indeed, in a July blog post, Libra project head David Marcus argued that the currency would be a boon for law enforcement, since it would help “ move more cash transactions—where a lot of illicit activities happen—to a digital network. ” As for the Chinese digital currency, Mu has said it will feature some level of anonymity. “ We know the demand from the general public is to keep anonymity by using paper money and coins … we will give those people who demand it anonymity, ” he said at a November conference in Singapore. “ But at the same time we will keep the balance between ‘ controllable anonymity’ and anti-money-laundering, CTF [ counter-terrorist financing ], and also tax issues, online gambling, and any electronic criminal activities, ” he added. He did not, however, explain how that “ balance ” would work. Sweden and China are leading the charge to issue consumer-focused electronic money, but according to John Kiff, an expert on financial stability for the International Monetary Fund, more than 30 countries have explored or are exploring the idea. In some, the rationale is similar to Sweden’ s: dwindling cash and a growing private-sector payments ecosystem. Others are countries where commercial banks have decided not to set up shop. Many see an opportunity to better monitor for illicit transactions. All will have to wrestle with the same thorny privacy issues that Libra and the digital renminbi are raising. Robleh Ali, a research scientist at MIT’ s Digital Currency Initiative, says digital currency systems from central banks may need to be designed so that the government can “ consciously blind itself ” to the information. Something like that might be technically possible thanks to cutting-edge cryptographic tools like zero-knowledge proofs, which are used in systems like Zcash to shield blockchain transaction information from public view. However, there’ s no evidence that any governments are even thinking about deploying tools like this. And regardless, can any government—even Sweden’ s—really be trusted to blind itself? That’ s wishful thinking, says Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer for the Human Rights Foundation. While you may trust your government or think you’ ve got nothing to hide, that might not always remain true. Politics evolves, governments get pushed out by elections or other events, what constitutes a “ crime ” changes, and civil liberties are not guaranteed. “ Financial privacy is not going to be gifted to you by your government, regardless of how ‘ free’ they are, ” Gladstein says. He’ s convinced that it has to come in the form of a stateless, decentralized digital currency like Bitcoin. In fact, “ electronic cash ” was what Bitcoin’ s still-unknown inventor, the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, claimed to be trying to create ( before disappearing). Eleven years into its life, Nakamoto’ s technology still lacks some of the signature features of cash. It is difficult to use, transactions can take more than an hour to process, and the currency’ s value can fluctuate wildly. And as already noted, the supposedly anonymous transactions it enables can sometimes be traced. But in some places people just need something that works, however imperfectly. Take Venezuela. Cash in the crisis-ridden country is scarce, and the Venezuelan bolivar is constantly losing value to hyperinflation. Many Venezuelans seek refuge in US dollars, storing them under the proverbial ( and literal) mattress, but that also makes them vulnerable to thieves. What many people want is access to stable cash in digital form, and there’ s no easy way to get that, says Alejandro Machado, cofounder of the Open Money Initiative. Owing to government-imposed capital controls, Venezuelan banks have largely been cut off from foreign banks. And due to restrictions by US financial institutions, digital money services like PayPal and Zelle are inaccessible to most people. So a small number of tech-savvy Venezuelans have turned to a service called LocalBitcoins. It’ s like Craigslist, except that the only things for sale are bitcoins and bolivars. On Venezuela’ s LocalBitcoins site, people advertise varying quantities of currency for sale at varying exchange rates. The site holds the money in escrow until trades are complete, and tracks the sellers’ reputations. It’ s not for the masses, but it’ s “ very effective ” for people who can make it work, says Machado. For instance, he and his colleagues met a young woman who mines Bitcoin and keeps her savings in the currency. She doesn’ t have a foreign bank account, so she’ s willing to deal with the constant fluctuations in Bitcoin’ s price. Using LocalBitcoins, she can cash out into bolivars whenever she needs them—to buy groceries, for example. “ Niche power users ” like this are “ leveraging the best features of Bitcoin, which is to be an asset that is permissionless and that is very easy to trade electronically, ” Machado says. However, this is possible only because there are enough people using LocalBitcoins to create what finance people call “ local liquidity, ” meaning you can easily find a buyer for your bitcoins or bolivars. Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency that has achieved this in Venezuela, says Machado, and it’ s mostly thanks to LocalBitcoins. This is a long way from the dream of cryptocurrency as a widely used substitute for stable, government-issued money. Most Venezuelans can’ t use Bitcoin, and few merchants there even know what it is, much less how to accept it. Still, it’ s a glimpse of what a cryptocurrency can offer—a functional financial system that anyone can join and that offers the kind of freedom cash provides in most other places. Could something like Bitcoin ever be as easy to use and reliable as today’ s cash is for everyone else? The answer is philosophical as well as technical. To begin with, what does it even mean for something to be like Bitcoin? Central banks and corporations will adapt certain aspects of Bitcoin and apply them to their own ends. Will those be cryptocurrencies? Not according to purists, who say that though Libra or some future central bank-issued digital currency may run on blockchain technology, they won’ t be cryptocurrencies because they will be under centralized control. True cryptocurrencies are “ decentralized ” —they have no one entity in charge and no single points of failure, no weak spots that an adversary ( including a government) could attack. With no middleman like a bank attesting that a transaction took place, each transaction has to be validated by the nodes in a cryptocurrency’ s network, which can number many thousands. But this requires an immense expenditure of computing power, and it’ s the reason Bitcoin transactions can take more than an hour to settle. A currency like Libra wouldn’ t have this problem, because only a few authorized entities would be able to operate nodes. The trade-off is that its users wouldn’ t be able to trust those entities to guarantee their privacy, any more than they can trust a bank, a government, or Facebook. Is it technically possible to achieve Bitcoin’ s level of decentralization and the speed, scale, privacy, and ease of use that we’ ve come to expect from traditional payment methods? That’ s a problem many talented researchers are still trying to crack. But some would argue that shouldn’ t necessarily be the goal. In a recent essay, Jill Carlson, cofounder of the Open Money Initiative, argued that perhaps decentralized cryptocurrency systems were “ never supposed to go mainstream. ” Rather, they were created explicitly for “ censored transactions, ” from paying for drugs or sex to supporting political dissidents or getting money out of countries with restrictive currency controls. Their slowness is inherent, not a design flaw; they “ forsake scale, speed, and cost in favor of one key feature: censorship resistance. ” A world in which they went mainstream would be “ a very scary place indeed, ” she wrote. In summary, we have three avenues for the future of digital money, none of which offers the same mix of freedom and ease of use that characterizes cash. Private companies have an obvious incentive to monetize our data and pursue profits over public interest. Digital government money may still be used to track us, even by well-intentioned governments, and for less benign ones it’ s a fantastic tool for surveillance. And cryptocurrency can prove useful when freedoms are at risk, but it likely won’ t work at scale anytime soon, if ever. How big a problem is this? That depends on where you live, how much you trust your government and your fellow citizens, and why you wish to use cash. And if you’ d rather keep that to yourself, you’ re in luck. For now. Discovered more than a decade ago, a remarkable compound shows promise in treating everything from Alzheimer’ s to brain injuries—and it just might improve your cognitive abilities. How a veteran virologist found fresh evidence to back up the theory that covid jumped from animals to humans in a notorious Chinese market—rather than emerged from a lab leak. The US government’ s China Initiative sought to protect national security. In the most comprehensive analysis of cases to date, MIT Technology Review reveals how far it has strayed from its goals. Deepfake researchers have long feared the day this would arrive. Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more. We’ re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service @ technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’ d like to receive. Our mission is to bring about better-informed and more conscious decisions about technology through authoritative, influential, and trustworthy journalism.

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Tennis and cricket stars rally behind Australia bushfire relief

Hi, what are you looking for? By Published Tennis and cricket stars spearheaded by Nick Kyrgios and Chris Lynn on Friday pledged support for victims of bushfires raging around Australia, donating cash for every ace or six they hit. The blazes have claimed 18 lives and forced mass evacuations, with the country bracing for a weekend heatwave expected to fan the deadly infernos. Tennis Australia also announced a `` Rally for Relief '' exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on January 15 ahead of the Australian Open, with `` the world's top players '' taking part. It also made a Aus $ 1.0 million ( US $ 690,000) donation to help communities repair and rebuild tennis facilities damaged or lost in the bushfires. Kyrgios, a controversial figure with a bad boy reputation, has been at the forefront of building support and pledged Aus $ 200 for each ace he serves in the Australian summer of tennis, starting with the ATP Cup, which began Friday. `` I 'm kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I 'll be donating $ 200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer, '' tweeted the 24-year-old, who was handed a 16-week suspended ban in September after a series of outbursts. His Australian teammate at the inaugural ATP Cup Alex de Minaur went one better. `` I like this, I will go $ 250 per ace, just because I don't think I 'll be hitting as many aces as you mate, '' he replied, with Australian veteran Samantha Stosur also pledging $ 200 per ace. Kyrgios, who will also play the upcoming Kooyong Classic and the Australian Open, on Thursday issued a call for fundraisers for victims of the blazes, which have been a big talking point at the 24-team ATP Cup being staged in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. - 'The real heroes ' - Tournament director Tom Larner announced that each ace served at the 10-day event would deliver Aus $ 100 to bushfire relief. The initiative is forecast to raise around Aus $ 150,000, with more than 1,500 aces expected to be sent down over the duration of the January 3-12 tournament. `` Most of the players are already keen to score aces and win a quick point, and having the chance to raise money for the bushfire appeal will give them that extra bit of motivation, '' he said. Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said he was working with the ATP and WTA to extend the move to all tournaments in Australia this month, including at Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart. `` During the Australian Open we also plan to honour and recognise the incredible work of our firefighters, emergency services workers and volunteers who serve our communities so tirelessly, '' he said. `` I know fans will turn out in force to the AO Rally for Relief to support this great cause, as well as get involved in all our other fundraising activities. '' There are fears that smoke haze from the fires could impact the ATP Cup in Sydney, with officials relying on on-site medical experts to monitor air quality, although there were no concerns on Friday. The third cricket Test in Sydney between Australia and New Zealand is also monitoring for smoke, with players wearing black armbands Friday as a mark of respect for those who have died. Two of the biggest hitters in the game, Lynn and Glenn Maxwell, said they would donate $ 250 for every six they smash during the ongoing Big Bash League Twenty20 tournament. `` Hey Guys, for every six I hit in this years Big Bash League I will donate $ 250 towards the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, '' tweeted Lynn. `` It is special to see so many athletes from various sports getting in behind the real heroes who are fighting to save lives and properties around our country. '' Maxwell, back in action after a short mental health sabbatical, replied: `` Love it Lynny!! I 'll match you on $ 250 per six I hit in this years BBL. '' D'Arcy Short, who was last week added to Australia's squad for their upcoming one-day tour of India, also jumped on board with the same commitment. Tennis and cricket stars spearheaded by Nick Kyrgios and Chris Lynn on Friday pledged support for victims of bushfires raging around Australia, donating cash for every ace or six they hit. The blazes have claimed 18 lives and forced mass evacuations, with the country bracing for a weekend heatwave expected to fan the deadly infernos. Tennis Australia also announced a “ Rally for Relief ” exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on January 15 ahead of the Australian Open, with “ the world’ s top players ” taking part. It also made a Aus $ 1.0 million ( US $ 690,000) donation to help communities repair and rebuild tennis facilities damaged or lost in the bushfires. Kyrgios, a controversial figure with a bad boy reputation, has been at the forefront of building support and pledged Aus $ 200 for each ace he serves in the Australian summer of tennis, starting with the ATP Cup, which began Friday. “ I’ m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ ll be donating $ 200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer, ” tweeted the 24-year-old, who was handed a 16-week suspended ban in September after a series of outbursts. His Australian teammate at the inaugural ATP Cup Alex de Minaur went one better. “ I like this, I will go $ 250 per ace, just because I don’ t think I’ ll be hitting as many aces as you mate, ” he replied, with Australian veteran Samantha Stosur also pledging $ 200 per ace. Kyrgios, who will also play the upcoming Kooyong Classic and the Australian Open, on Thursday issued a call for fundraisers for victims of the blazes, which have been a big talking point at the 24-team ATP Cup being staged in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. – ‘ The real heroes’ – Tournament director Tom Larner announced that each ace served at the 10-day event would deliver Aus $ 100 to bushfire relief. The initiative is forecast to raise around Aus $ 150,000, with more than 1,500 aces expected to be sent down over the duration of the January 3-12 tournament. “ Most of the players are already keen to score aces and win a quick point, and having the chance to raise money for the bushfire appeal will give them that extra bit of motivation, ” he said. Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said he was working with the ATP and WTA to extend the move to all tournaments in Australia this month, including at Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart. “ During the Australian Open we also plan to honour and recognise the incredible work of our firefighters, emergency services workers and volunteers who serve our communities so tirelessly, ” he said. “ I know fans will turn out in force to the AO Rally for Relief to support this great cause, as well as get involved in all our other fundraising activities. ” There are fears that smoke haze from the fires could impact the ATP Cup in Sydney, with officials relying on on-site medical experts to monitor air quality, although there were no concerns on Friday. The third cricket Test in Sydney between Australia and New Zealand is also monitoring for smoke, with players wearing black armbands Friday as a mark of respect for those who have died. Two of the biggest hitters in the game, Lynn and Glenn Maxwell, said they would donate $ 250 for every six they smash during the ongoing Big Bash League Twenty20 tournament. “ Hey Guys, for every six I hit in this years Big Bash League I will donate $ 250 towards the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, ” tweeted Lynn. “ It is special to see so many athletes from various sports getting in behind the real heroes who are fighting to save lives and properties around our country. ” Maxwell, back in action after a short mental health sabbatical, replied: “ Love it Lynny!! I’ ll match you on $ 250 per six I hit in this years BBL. ” D’ Arcy Short, who was last week added to Australia’ s squad for their upcoming one-day tour of India, also jumped on board with the same commitment. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives. 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