Question: Astronomers from Villanova University recently published an article noting that Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion , has been significantly dimmer in recent months, leading some to speculate it could go into a supernova, Reuters reported.The dimming of the light might mean that burning fuel on the star is running out, which means the planet will explode. If that happens, a supernova - literally ‘super-new’ because a new source of light is spotted in the night sky - would be created. While nova eruptions are not rare, supernova eruptions are."Once the star explodes, the explosion would be visible during daylight and could even be brighter than the moon at night for a few weeks or even months," Reuters reported.It is believed that the only supernova observed and documented by humans before now took place in 1604 and was described by Johannes Kepler in his 1606 De Stella Nova [The New Star]. The light from that supernova was so intense he was able to see it using the naked eye for three solid weeks.However, there’s no reason to believe Betelgeuse’s light is dimming because it is about to explode. Other scientists have suggested that these are natural changes which should not cause any alarm.Located 430 light years away from Earth, Betelgeuse is so large that if it was placed where our sun is it would reach Jupiter , Cosmo-knowledge reported. Should it ever implode, it is suspected it will become a black hole.The name is derived from Arabic, where Ibṭ al-Jauzā means ‘the armpit of Orion.’ The name had been corrupted in Latin to Beit al-Juz, which is also its name in Hebrew.While it is spoken in English like the name Beetlejuice, the character Michael Keaton played in the same-named 1988 movie by Tim Burton, the similarity is accidental.The star was known by the Persians, the people of ancient India, the Chinese, and the people of Hawaii who called it Kaulua-koko: 'brilliant red star.'

(CNN) "My love for you is as eternal as the sun" might be a heartfelt line in a love letter written by a young man to his beloved. As poetic as the sentiment might be, it doesn't mean quite what the young swain intended, for the sun, like all stars, was born and now lives in vibrant middle age, but it is destined to die one day. While that inevitable moment is billions of years in the sun's future, a nearby star may be facing a more imminent demise .

Betelgeuse is in a class of star called a red supergiant. The "red" means it is much cooler than the sun (e.g. a surface temperature of about 6000 degrees Fahrenheit , compared to about 10,000 F ), and "supergiant" means both massive and with a large volume. (Those two things don't necessarily have to go together, as a large thing like a hot air balloon doesn't have to be massive. In the case of Betelgeuse, both apply.) Betelgeuse is approximately 12 times more massive than the sun and, if it were to be located in our solar system, it would be bigger than the orbit of the asteroid belt and perhaps even engulf Jupiter

"Live fast and die young" might be the mantra of giant stars, and Betelgeuse is no exception. It is only about 10 million years old -- compared to the sun's 4.5 billion -- but its days are numbered. Like all stars, Betelgeuse began its life by fusing hydrogen into helium, but its hydrogen supply has largely run out. It then began fusing helium into heavier elements. It is this transition to fusing helium that heated the core of the star and caused it to expand to its current enormous size.

Eventually stars run out of fuel and their cores are no longer hot enough to overcome the star's gravity. Their cores collapse; their internal temperatures spike to incredible levels and the star then explodes. That is how a star goes supernova. Betelgeuse is approaching this phase.

Witnessing this process is rare for humans. Roughly speaking, astronomers expect two supernovae per century in the Milky Way. In fact, the last supernova observed in the Milky Way galaxy was in the 17th century and was recorded by Johannes Kepler. We're overdue for another.

If Betelgeuse does go supernova, is there any danger to us here on Earth? The simple answer is no. The star is about 700 light-years away , which would attenuate the impact of the blast. High-energy light from the supernova will bathe the Earth's ozone layer and it is possible that scientists will be able to see this effect, because a reduced ozone layer will result in increased ultraviolet radiation making it to the Earth's surface.

If Betelgeuse does go supernova, it will be the brightest star in the sky for many months. (Except for the sun, of course.) It will even be visible during the day.

Of course, it is unlikely that the recent dimming of the star is the most immediate precursor of a supernova. Betelgeuse has varied its brightness for centuries and even perhaps has changed its color . Indeed, it is expected that a star in the last stages of using up all of its stellar fuel will undergo changes and the timescale for stellar evolution is much longer than human timescales. Astronomers predict that Betelgeuse will continue to burn through the last of its fuel for as many as 100,000 years . So, as exciting as the prospect of getting such a close view of a supernova is for astronomers, this outcome is improbable during our lifetime.

Still, it would be exciting to see in the world's telescopes. Perhaps even more exciting is the prospect of seeing the explosion using other scientific instruments. The LIGO and Virgo detectors, located in the United States and Italy, respectively, are gravitational wave detectors that have seen the merging of pairs of black holes. They use powerful lasers and mirrors separated a kilometer apart to measure distances smaller than the size of a proton, and will also be able to record Betelgeuse's death knell.

Another set of cosmic observatories are large neutrino detectors, including IceCube , a detector that uses a cubic kilometer of ice under Antarctica to study cosmic neutrinos from outer space. And, if Betelgeuse cooperates and waits for perhaps a decade to explode, two sophisticated neutrino detectors ( DUNE , hosted by my own laboratory, Fermilab , and Hyper-K in Japan) are being built that will be able to study the outpouring of neutrinos that accompany a supernova.

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The last time terrestrial detectors monitored a supernova was in 1987, when a star in a smaller galaxy orbiting the Milky Way detonated. Betelgeuse's proximity and more than 30 years of improvements in detector technology will give vastly improved measurements.

While the speculation of the impending death of Betelgeuse is probably premature, it is a captivating prospect to consider, both from a human and a scientific perspective. And, if we do see it, it might make young lovers reconsider their metaphors for permanent devotion as they compose their letters.

The high security number plates (HSNP) for vehicles are stacked from the floor to the ceiling in a 10ftx10ft room at the Telangana State Road Transport Authority facility in Kondapur. “We have taken that warehouse on rent for storing number plates which customers have not taken. They date back from 2014,” says Tirupati, pointing to a house where registration number plates are neatly stored in shelves.

Tirupati manages the HSNP affixing business at Kondapur RTA. “The number plates were fixed by a private party here. But now, showrooms are supposed to fix the number plates to vehicles,” informs the RTA official.

Periodic audit by the HSNP facility revealed that 18,000 to 24,000 number plates remain undelivered per quarter. The result? Chaos on the roads of Hyderabad. Missing number plates, some covered with paint or duct tape on one digit, and bent on hundreds of vehicles plying in the city. “We caught them for not wearing helmet and they started removing the paper covering the number plate. This can be a very dangerous offence,” says a senior traffic officer as his colleagues stop vehicles near Gudimalkapur. The two boys grin, pay ₹200 fine and zip away.

Surveillance fear

With the rise in surveillance cameras in the city, there has been a spurt in vehicle owners resorting to criminal techniques to hide or deface the registration numbers to avoid penalties. Even the accused in the Shadnagar gangrape and murder case had destroyed the number plate of the veterinarian’s vehicle.

The dependence of traffic police on surveillance cameras can be seen from the fact that the department, in 2019, logged 39,48,752 non-contact Motor Vehicle Act violations, as against 6,80,083 violations where the police had to intervene.

Usual suspects

Hiding the number plates is a high stakes criminal enterprise when it comes to heavy-duty trucks transporting building debris and construction material. “Look at this. He has smudged two digits of the rear number plate and hung a black cloth to block the view from the front,” says a police official as the driver of AP22-1302 tries to cook up an explanation.

In September, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department notified GO-632 that levied hefty penalty for transporting construction and building debris. The first offence draws a penalty of ₹25,000, the second offence ₹50,000 and a third offence would lead to confiscation of vehicle used and a penalty of ₹1 lakh.

“Unless we can press criminal charges against vehicle owners for disfiguring the number plates, this will go on,” says the traffic official overseeing the checkpoint at Gudimalkapur.

As a pediatrician, I see every day how my patients and their families are failed by our current healthcare system. What I need my fellow Americans to understand is this: when my patients struggle, it’s not because they’re unfortunate. It’s because the system is unjust.

I’ve cared for diabetic teenagers who’ve rationed insulin and test strips because their family doesn’t have enough money to buy prescriptions, supplies, and groceries. I’ve cared for college students who are dropping out of school because their family needs someone to care for a grandparent, and the costs of long-term care and college tuition are just too much to bear. I’ve cared for mothers and newborns who lost their insurance coverage simply because they moved across state lines to be closer to family.

Sometimes grandparents bring my patients to clinic, and I see how they tape up their eyeglasses because Medicare does not cover vision and they can’t afford new frames until the next Social Security check comes in. Many of my patients with complex pre-existing conditions, and supposedly “good” insurance from their parents’ employment, face ridiculous obstacle courses from insurance companies just to get basic care like imaging or consultations with therapists.

There’s a big difference between what’s unfortunate and what’s unjust, especially in health care. It’s terribly unfortunate to be diagnosed with cancer. It is unjust that getting diagnosed with cancer often means losing your job because you’re too sick to work, and losing the health insurance that came with that job. Insurance you paid into with every paycheck and that was supposed to be there for you if the worst happened.

"Thousands of doctors like me strongly support Medicare for All. We are joining millions of people who understand the difference between what’s unfortunate and what’s unjust."

It’s unfortunate to be diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager. It’s unjust that many diabetic patients ration insulin while Big Pharma corporations make exorbitant profits off a drug that’s almost a hundred years old. It’s terribly unfortunate to develop Alzheimer’s or multiple sclerosis. It’s unjust that insurance companies bill families thousands and thousands of dollars a month for the most basic long-term care, all while the workers providing that care are paid poverty wages.

Right now, our unjust health care system helps you only after it deems you worthy or deserving of medical services. People’s eligibility for Medicaid or for assistance with purchasing private insurance largely depends on what state they live in and how much they earn. State governments often make enrollment difficult in order to deter people from enrolling in coverage. One mistake on a form or a misunderstood deadline can cause patients to lose coverage. The financial hurdles of premiums, deductibles, and co-pays are unjust obstacles for millions of us.

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These hurdles are not labyrinths of misfortune. They are injustices, particularly cumbersome for low-income families and people of color who unsurprisingly make up 59 percent of the uninsured.

We don’t have to live like this.

Thousands of doctors like me strongly support Medicare for All. We are joining millions of people who understand the difference between what’s unfortunate and what’s unjust. Right now, patients who survive cancer are often left struggling with financial ruin. Diabetics are torn between paying for insulin or their rent. Medicare for All ends those injustices by significantly reducing the prices of drugs like chemotherapy and insulin. Medicare for All provides patients with reliable, comprehensive coverage regardless of their employment status.

"There's a big difference between what’s unfortunate and what's unjust, especially in health care."

Continuous, reliable coverage is particularly important for people of color, who are becoming the majority of the U.S. population and bear undue burdens of illness and disparities. The Medicare for All legislation in Congress will address inequities in health care, including by stabilizing funding for all hospitals and clinics.

Medicare for All will cover vision care, so that the grandparents in my clinic can get new glasses. Medicare for All will be portable, so families can move from state to state or job to job without having to worry about insurance coverage. Medicare for All will cover long-term services and supports, so seniors and people with disabilities can live with dignity at home and in their communities.

But to build Medicare for All it’s going to take all of us. Together, we can fight Big Pharma, the insurance industry, and all their lobbyists. Together, we will create a Medicare for All system that will deliver real health justice for every person in America, no matter what you earn, where you live, or what you look like.

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota will again enlist the help of Hollywood actor Josh Duhamel to help promote tourism in his home state.

North Dakota's tourism department confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press that the star of several "Transformers" movies will be paid $175,000 to be the face of the state's tourism campaign for the next two years. The state has had a contract with Duhamel since 2013 to help lure visitors to North Dakota.

The contract extension that expires on Dec. 31, 2021, brings to more than $1 million Duhamel has received from the state.

Duhamel is from Minot, a city in the northern part of the state that's about an hour's drive from the United States border with Canada.

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A road in Leek is currently cordoned off as firefighters attend an incident.

Fire crews are at the scene on Southbank Street/Moorhouse Street in the Staffordshire Moorlands town this afternoon (January 1).

We now have an update on this incident.

The fire service have taped off a section of Southbank Street and police are also at the scene according to one witness who got in touch with StokeonTrentLive.

We are contacting Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for comment and will bring you further information when it becomes available.

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FINANCE

(Yonhap)

Bucking the trend of major global stock markets which saw some of their best gains in decades, South Korea’s main bourse Kospi remained flat on the last trading day of 2019, unable to pierce the 2,200 points mark.For a decade now, many market watchers expected Kospi to surpass the 3,000 mark, after it topped 2,000 in 2009. Now as we enter a new year, all eyes are on whether it will gain new growth momentum.According to experts, the main bourse is expected to gain vitality this year backed by a recovery in the global economy and a rebound of the semiconductor industry -- the country’s main growth vehicle -- but not dramatic enough to breach the mid-2,000 mark.The Korea Herald survey of stock market outlook with research heads of four securities firms predicted the yearly band of the Kospi index to move in the 1,900-2,450 range.Kiwoom Securities expects a trading band of 1,900-2,250, while Samsung Securities forecasts 1,950-2,350. NH Investment & Securities and Hana Financial Investment expect 2,000-2,400 and 2,050-2,450, respectively. The local stock market fluctuated within a trading band of 1,900-2,200 in 2019.However, despite the overall positive outlook, all the four brokerages are of the view that the index could still fall below 2,000, if the US and China revive their trade tensions amid prolonged political uncertainties.A partial “phase one” deal is expected to be signed soon to end their trade war -- that will increase US imports of agricultural goods to China, while Washington eases massive tariffs on Chinese products -- to be followed by “phase two” deal talks between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.However, it is uncertain whether they will resume their dispute given their yearslong war of words. This will impact the local semiconductor industry and other sectors, according to market experts.“The unpredictable US-China trade relations will expand uncertainties in the Korean stock market,” said Kim Ji-san, the head of research center at Kiwoom Securities.NH Investment & Securities is of the view that the Korean stock market will rise in the first half of this year with the “falling triple bottom line performance” of Korean companies in the second half of the year. The results of the US presidential election are also expected to have a significant impact on the benchmark Kospi.“Following the improvement in the global economy, large-cap stocks will be strong with export improvement in the first half. But some major events such as the upcoming US presidential election in November may deflate the index later,” said Lee Chang-mok, head researcher at NH Investment & Securities.While all the brokerages said investors should pay greater attention to the US stock market in 2020, they considered the most promising industries this year in Korea will be information technology, semiconductor and media sectors.Yun Sok-mo, research head at Samsung Securities, said semiconductor firms will be able to report about 20 percent growth in net profit this year. Along with Samsung Electronics, he picked Kakao as another promising stock, due to its improving business performance.Hana Financial Investment head researcher Cho Yong-jun also paid attention to the semiconductor industry and IT-related stocks such as Kakao and Naver.“Expanding infrastructure investments in major countries, 5G networks and internet data centers are positive factors that will benefit local semiconductor and IT firms. These industries will trigger a rebound of Kospi’s large-cap stocks,” he said.By Jie Ye-eun ( yeeun@heraldcorp.com

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Question: HYDERABAD: Panjagutta police booked a case against film producer Natti Kumar’s son , Kranthi, for allegedly obstructing police from performing their duties.According to the police, at 11.30pm on December 31, a patrolling team of Panjagutta PS received a dial 100 complaint from Kranthi. “Our staff attended the complaint and met Kranthi. While the constables were talking to him, Kranthi behaved rudely and created nuisance. Constables Samiuddin and Anjaneyulu requested him to behave properly, but Kranthi did not listen to them and pushed them,” Panjagutta police said.SI Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and inspector Karunakar Reddy, who were present at the spot brought him to the police station for enquiry. Panjagutta ACP, Tirupatanna, said: “Kranthi’s father, Natti Kumar, and his family came to the police station and they too behaved rudely. We registered a case against Kranthi.”

A+ A-

Hyderabad: Tollywood producer Natti Kumar’s son Kranthi is booked on charges of abusing policemen on New Year’s Eve near Country club at Somajiguda.

The Punjagutta patrolling team arrived at the scene after receiving the message of a brawl outside the club, Hans reports.

The Police found few individuals individuals involved in the brawl.

“When the patrol officers were collecting details, Kranthi behaved rudely and created a nuisance.

He obstructed the policemen and pushed them,” said Karunakar Reddy, Inspector, Punjagutta.

The police detained Kranthi and shifted him to the police station and minutes later his father and family members came to the police station.

The Police have registered a case against Kranti under section 353 (deterring duties of public servant) of IPC read with 34 of IPC.

Daniel Webber Founder & CEO Daniel is Founder and CEO of FXcompared and has 18 years of experience in the international finance world focusing on cross-border payments, technology and the property sectors. Daniel is widely… Read more

Firm to build up its presence in the region, with moves to work alongside regulatory bodies and other firms in an effort to find potential partners to use XRP

Expansion to Brazil comes on the back of acknowledgement that the country has good regulations – and moves to Argentina are expected to follow in future

“Brazil is a leader in fintech innovation and positioned to forge a path for the rest of Latin America to follow”, says Ripple spokesperson

Fast-growing blockchain-powered payment platform Ripple has announced it will expand into a key South American market – and follow up the move in future with other South American economies too.

The liquidity-boosting cross border payments platform, which has already signed agreements to work alongside a wide range of institutions with global presences including MoneyGram, will scale up its presence in the country.

In South America in particular, it has a number of partnership agreements in place – and it works alongside names such as Rendimento and Santander.

However, these institutions do not use one of Ripple’s key products – XRP, which is also known as a “digital asset”.

XRP is able to provide organisations involved in the payment pathway with liquidity when they need it, or “on-demand” as it is known.

This is especially useful for organisations which are unable to access a sufficient amount of conventional, “fiat” liquidity.

Instead, these current partner organisations simply use the messaging system associated with Ripple.

Now, a Ripple statement has revealed that the organisation is in touch with companies – as well as regulators in the country – about potential partnerships and other steps forward.

It is believed that Brazil was an appealing spot for potential expansion for Ripple given that it has a reputation for having banking regulations which prioritise clarity.

It is also understood that 30% of remittances and other transactions placed via Ripple’s platforms come from Brazil.

However, the plans for expansion also cover other parts of the South American continent – with expansion to Argentina, Peru and other nations believed to be in the pipeline.

In a statement, Ripple’s managing director – Luiz Antonio Sacco – emphasised Brazil’s status as being “a leader in fintech innovation”.

“We are excited to grow our ecosystem in the region and bring additional financial institutions onto RippleNet to help provide excellent, efficient cross-border payment experiences for their customers”, he said.

“Brazil is a leader in fintech innovation and positioned to forge a path for the rest of Latin America to follow”, he added.

Ripple has quickly become a big name on the international money transfer scene.

It currently operates in 45 markets around the world, and its products are known for improving the speed of cross border transactions.

They are also known for reducing the costs involved.

If you need to find out more about what Ripple and organisations similar to it are doing in the international money transfer world, we can help.

Just head over to our magazine pages to discover more.

Our most read post of 2019, #1, was Cate’s 2018 post on being 53 1/2 and still menstruating. That post, on what may seem like an oddball topic for a fitness blog, hit a nerve. From the many comments and reposts we learned that Cate is certainly not alone. It’s on our top ten list pretty much every month. (5415)

Our second most read post is a much older one. It’s from 2013 when I blogged about sports reporting, upskirts, and the objectification of women athletes. That post also has enduring popularity thanks, in part, to search engines and the existence of “upskirts” and “crotch shots” in the title. (4593)

One of our newest bloggers wrote the third most read post of the year. Marjorie wrote Doin’ My Part to Keep the Gym a Safe Space for Men back in March 2019 before she’d even joined the regular team of bloggers here at Fit is a Feminist Issue. (3277)

In May, in light of the ongoing Caster Semenya controversy, Martha blogged about sex tests. That was our fourth most read post of the year. (2382)

In 2014 I blogged about CrossFit and women’s bodies. People read that post a lot, and to be honest, I suppose it’s got some appeal because of the images. It’s often on our top ten list and this year it’s number five. (2169)

Who would think vibrators would make for good prizes in women’s sports? Someone did and Catherine blogged about it in May of 2019. That post was our sixth most read post of 2019. (1831)

Eyelash extensions made Tracy feel ridiculous when she tried them and blogged about it 2017. That post was our seventh most read post. Considering eyelash extensions? Go read her post first. (1737)

In 2013 I was feeling exercised about finding clothes to fit athletic women’s bodies. That post was our eighth most popular post. The issue still bugs me. I’m still struggling to find clothes. I might blog about it again. (1565)

Also, in 2013 Tracy wrote that “you’ve lost weight, you look great” isn’t a compliment. That post was our ninth most read post of 2019. (1534)

Another 2013 post was our tenth most read post of the year. That’s Tracy’s blog post on why fitness models aren’t necessarily models of health. These old posts are definite blog classics. (1403)

Leeds [UK], Jan 01 (ANI): Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is trying to structure his side around German striker Mesut Ozil.

"I'm not surprised. I know the ability, I know the player we have there. The structure has to help him for him to take everything that he has inside," Goal.com quoted Arteta as saying.

"That's what I'm hoping, that he can sustain that level every three or four days. He's putting in everything he has to try to do that," he added.

Praising the 31-year-old experienced forward, Arteta said, "His numbers, physically, have improved so much, and he's willing. That's what I can tell you from every day what I see in training."Ozil played in an advanced role against Chelsea, forming a front four alongside Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Reiss Nelson.

"On his own, he cannot do it. He needs the collective structure, organisation, and his team-mates. There are only one or two players in the world who can do something on their own," Arsenal manager said.

"He needs help and he needs the team to play in a certain way to facilitate his strengths more and more every time in the game. That's what we are trying to do," he added.

Arsenal are placed at the fourth spot with 24 points and will take on Manchester United on January 2. (ANI)

On the prevailing situation along the border with China, Gen Naravane said the Indian Army will enhance its capabilities along the frontier as the focus in the past was on the boundary with Pakistan.

“We have the Line of Actual Control with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders,” he told reporters.

“I am sure that the situation will prevail. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution,” he added.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

“While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going to enhance our capacities along the northern border,” Gen Naravane said. – PTI

The evacuation centre at Batemans Bay was hosting a stream of visitors on Thursday, some signing up and seeking advice while several people had set up tents on the nearby football oval.

The Herald spoke to a range of visitors anxious to leave, given advice by the RFS to exit the South Coast.

"We're undertaking the largest relocation of people out of the region in history, right now," said Andrew Constance, the local MP and Transport Minister.

"We need people to listen, respond, and get out," he told the Herald from the evacuation centre.

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Question:
Paul Ewart was Oxford’s head of atomic and laser physics

Northern Ireland professor Paul Ewart forced to quit Oxford post wins ageism case BelfastTelegraph.co.uk A Belfast-born physics professor has won a landmark ageism case after being forced to retire from Oxford University. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-professor-paul-ewart-forced-to-quit-oxford-post-wins-ageism-case-38825562.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/e5d1e/38825561.ece/AUTOCROP/h342/2020-01-01_new_55987915_I2.JPG

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A Belfast-born physics professor has won a landmark ageism case after being forced to retire from Oxford University.

Paul Ewart (71) was forced to leave his post as Oxford's head of atomic and laser physics before his 70th birthday.

He told the Belfast Telegraph that "a scientist's best work can come at any age" and that he felt vindicated in his fight against Oxford's "ageist" retirement rules.

It's expected that the university will now be under pressure to roll back on a controversial policy allowing them to dismiss academics at the age of 67 to make way for younger and more diverse staff.

Only Cambridge University and St Andrews University also adopt this rule.

Professor Ewart said he agreed there needed to be more diversity and opportunities for young people at Oxford, but discriminating against older staff was not the right way to do it.

He is now set to receive at least £150,000 in back pay and hopes to be reinstated, having spent £30,000 of his own money on the case.

Oxford University could appeal a landmark ageism case after an employment tribunal ruled the dismissal of a physics professor 'unfair'.

Paul Ewart was discriminated against on the grounds of age when his contract was not renewed in September 2017, the hearing in Reading found.

He was forced to leave his post as Oxford's head of atomic and laser physics before his 70th birthday.

A spokesperson for the university said: "In light of this ruling the university will be considering its options, including the possibility of an appeal."

The legal victory for Prof Ewart will now put pressure on the institution to overturn its controversial policy that allows them to dismiss academics at the age of 67.

ALSO READ: Man caught drunk in Banbury Road

In its judgement, shared with Times Higher Education magazine, the employment tribunal said: "If a heavily discriminatory measure results in the creation of only two to four per cent more vacancies than would otherwise arise, we do not see how that can be proportionate.

"The increase in the number of vacancies in support of the legitimate aim is trivial in comparison with the discriminatory effect."

Prof Ewart, who had worked at Oxford for 38 years, has requested he be reinstated as a senior lecturer.

READ AGAIN: Those who left their mark on Oxfordshire and died in 2019

He is the second Oxford professor to challenge the institution's controversial retirement policy that, as claimed by the university, is aimed at promoting 'inter-generational fairness and improvements in diversity'.

In May last year Professor John Pitcher, who taught English at St John’s College, lost a similar claim against Oxford University after he was forced to retire at 67.

He sued the university for age discrimination and unfair dismissal, claiming loss of earnings of £100,000. Both claims were dismissed.

Prof Pitcher is appealing that decision.

Have you thought about getting married in Italy? How about saying yes to a small church in a beautiful historic city or on a perfect beach with all your loved ones or in a special place that remembers your love story? Maybe, where he met or had his first vacation or where his parents are from? There are many reasons to choose Italy as your wedding destination: beautiful places, a pre-established honeymoon, excellent food and wine and much more.

If you have found a house rental in Italy and are planning a wedding in the country, then read on as these are the ten things you will need to do and the information you will need to make those vows legally binding.

1. Get Contact the consulate of your country of origin in Italy.

This will be useful as a support system and a reliable source of specific information about the chosen destination. They can help you start the process and prepare your wedding, starting with the organization of documents such as the Princess Apulia, which is a document required for US and Australian citizens to marry in Italy.

2. Send your declaration of intention of marriage to the local marriage office

The local marriage office – civic registry – is located in the town hall of the town, city or area where your marriage will take place. Be sure to do so at least three weeks before your wedding date, if not before. You will also have to get a couple of officially translated documents. However, the specific details of this part of the process may change, so being in contact with the consulate and the local town hall is the easiest way to know the exact details of the area in which you plan to get married.

3. Organize a translator

Not only for ease, even if you speak Italian, but you will also need to hire a translator to attend the ceremony for civil ceremonies due to a rule from a time ago. However, organizing a wedding planner who speaks your language is probably the best option for those who want an easier experience, since they can help you with all the paperwork, with the wedding organization, overcome language and cultural barriers and much more.

4. Other Religious Weddings and Same-sex Marriages

Italy recognizes religious weddings of all religions, including the different branches of Christianity, Jewish weddings, Hindu weddings, and Muslim weddings, as long as a civil ceremony is incorporated into the marriage to be officially legal. You will be asked to prove that you are civilly married before the ceremony can be held in a religious temple.

Unfortunately, same-sex marriages are not yet legally recognized in Italy. However, civil unions were legalized in 2016, so, in this scenario, you may want to hold a symbolic wedding while in Italy and legally marry in your country (if that is possible, of course!).

5. Weddings in the Church

While there are other religious groups in Italy, Catholicism is still the majority religion and the great part of the small and beautiful churches that you will see will be Catholic churches. If you want to marry in one of these, it is, sadly, almost always necessary that both members of the couple are of the Catholic faith. You will also have to comply with the rules of your local parish and the parish in which you are getting married. You will have to present all religious documents, at the latest, seven weeks before your wedding date, as they must be processed by both your consulate and the local Bishop. Contact with the two parishes will allow you to clarify the exact details.

6. Weddings and Civil Ceremonies

Civil ceremonies are usually performed by the city mayor or by an assistant or civil servant and, as noted, you must have an interpreter, but such an interpreter may be a friend or acquaintance who speaks Italian fluently, it is not necessary for Be an official translator.

Your votes and readings can be added and the main legal requirement is quite standard, at least two witnesses over 18 years. They must be present at the time of the wedding and sign in the register. Note: It may not be the best idea to ask your Italian friend to witness, since, according to Italian tradition, they would feel pressured to give away a large sum of money – you may suddenly find fewer guests at the wedding!

After the wedding, you must also return to the town hall to present the marriage certificate and receive an apostille seal, which verifies the document.

It should also be borne in mind that, as a rule, these ceremonies will only take place at the town hall and an outdoor wedding may not be requested. However, specific places, villas, castles, gardens, etc. They will be approved, authorized and prepared for civil ceremonies. Look at the area around where you want to get married and see if there is a place nearby.

7. The documents you will need:

– A valid passport or national identity document of both parties.

– Original birth certificate of both parties.

– Divorce documents or death certificate (if necessary).

– An affidavit, Nulla Osta or Dichiarazione Giurata, before a consular office in your home country, indicating that there is no legal impediment to your marriage in your home country.

– A Notorious Atto signed by two witnesses (if American or Australian)

– A declaration of intention of marriage that will go to the civil registry.

8. Also, for a Catholic wedding you will need:

– Baptism certificates.

– Confirmation certificates.

– Letter of non-impediment to marry.

– Proof of attendance at a premarital course.

– Permission of the local bishop to marry abroad.

9. Fees

The following document and processing charges will be incurred if you are getting married in Italy:

– A tax stamp for the Dichiarazione Giurata / Nulla Osta that will cost € 16

– A tax stamp for the Notorious Atto that will cost € 16

– A request for the Notorious Atto that will cost € 10.62

– An application for the Nulla Osta that will cost around € 40

– An urgent fee for the Notorious Atto will cost € 31.86, if necessary

There may also be local administrative fees, parish charges, etc., so be sure to check with the place where you are getting married for information on additional costs.

10. Everything is much easier if it is a symbolic wedding.

With this type of wedding, you can have a second wedding and have everything exactly customized to your tastes and needs. This way you can set aside the legalities of the official wedding for when you are in your home country, making things much easier. You can also get married wherever and whenever you want (within reason) since these ceremonies do not have the same type of legal requirements and restrictions.

With all this in mind, now you can start planning the Italian wedding of your dreams! Be sure to check out our amazing Italian wedding planner and you may find a place to stay and a wonderful place to celebrate the wedding, all under one roof!

CHICAGO (CBS) — Gov. JB Pritzker has issued more than 11,000 pardons for people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana cases, in the first step toward clearing the records of hundreds of thousands of low-level pot convictions, a day before the state legalizes cannabis in 2020.

“These 11,017 misdemeanor convictions represent individuals who have carried around with them a stain on their records for possessing less than 30 grams of cannabis; a stain that has very often prevented them from obtaining housing, or jobs, or benefits. Today, we lift the burden on the first 11,000,” Pritzker said Monday at Trinity United Church of Christ.

The move is just the first wave toward clearing more than 700,000 low-level pot convictions in the coming months and years, as Illinois officially legalizes marijuana beginning Wednesday.

Illinois residents who are at least 21 years old may possess up to 30 grams of marijuana when the new law begins on Jan. 1.

Pritzker promised people with low-level pot convictions will get a new lease on life as marijuana becomes legal. The governor said marijuana convictions disproportionately affected the African American and Hispanic communities for decades. This step was one way to right that wrong.

The process for expunging an estimated 700,000 marijuana convictions won’t be simple, or fast, however. The state law legalizing marijuana provides for up to five years to clear convictions.

The automatic expungement does not happen when recreational marijuana is legalized on Wednesday. It happens when when cases are identified and processed – and the State of Illinois and Cook County are each going about that differently.

Each start with The Illinois State Police, with officers reviewing databases for eligible cases individually.

In the end, State Police and local law enforcement will be responsible for dedicating personnel to wiping away the records.

An “automatic” expungement doesn’t have to be approved until January 2021 if it dates as far back as 2013.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office moved to expunge more than 1,000 low-level, non-violent pot convictions in Cook County earlier this month. Ultimately, her office expects to clear tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of marijuana convictions.

Coronavirus forcing parents to skip kids’ vaccinations: Unicef

KABUL: The novel coronavirus pandemic that has forced billions of people across the globe to stay home is making parents skip routine immunisations for their kids, the United Nations children´s agency Unicef warned Thursday.

The phenomenon is being aggravated by overburdened health services where medical workers are being diverted from giving vaccines to focus on the COVID-19 response.

Some governments might even have to postpone mass immunisation campaigns as a way of slowing the disease´s spread, Unicef said.

The agency's executive director Henrietta Fore said the requirement for people to stay home and observe social distancing was leading parents to "make the difficult decision to defer routine immunisation".

Of particular concern are impoverished and war-torn countries battling measles, cholera or polio outbreaks, such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, the Philippines, Syria and South Sudan.

"At a time like this, these countries can ill-afford to face additional outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases," Fore said in a statement.

"Medical goods are in short supply and supply chains are under historic strain due to transport disruptions. Flight cancellations and trade restrictions by countries have severely constrained access to essential medicines, including vaccines."

Governments may in future need to postpone preventive mass vaccination campaigns -- where people group together to receive inoculations -- to ensure these do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19, Fore said.

Mild With Increasing Clouds NYD; Rain Arrives Thursday

by Ben Lang

2020 began on a cold note across central and south Alabama, with temperatures falling into the low to mid 30s this morning. Thanks to plenty of sun this morning, temperatures should near 60° again this afternoon. Clouds gradually increase today, and especially tonight. That keeps temperatures more mild, with mid 40s for lows overnight.

Prepare for rain on Thursday. The rain may be light and somewhat scattered Thursday morning, but it becomes heavier and more widespread during the day. Some thunderstorms are possible too, but severe weather is unlikely. The “marginal” threat for severe weather was trimmed back to only include the Mobile area in Alabama, and mostly covers coastal Louisiana and Mississippi now. Despite the rain, temperatures warm into the mid and upper 60s Thursday. Rain continues into Thursday night, and temperatures only fall into the upper 50s to low 60s.

Rain continues Friday. There’s a small threat of a few strong to severe storms across extreme south Alabama Friday. A marginal, level 1/5 risk currently covers that area. The overall severe threat is low, and we are mostly looking at more rain Friday. Highs reach the mid 60s. Friday night lows fall into the mid 40s.

Some showers could linger into Saturday as the storm system departs our area. Expect a drier afternoon and possibly some sunshine prior to sunset. It’s going to be cool and breezy Saturday, with highs only in the 50s. Saturday night lows fall to near freezing. Expect abundant sunshine on Sunday, but highs only reach the 50s. Sunday night lows fall into the 30s.

Clouds increase a bit on Monday prior to another front’s arrival. Monday could feature highs near 60°. There’s a small chance for rain Monday night/Tuesday, but moisture looks rather limited ahead of the front. While highs reach the 50s Tuesday, high temperatures may not reach 50° next Wednesday behind the front.

Joe Biden leads the Democratic primary field in Pennsylvania with 22 percent, according to a new poll, but that is down from 30 percent in October.

Former Vice President Joe Biden remains the front-runner in Pennsylvania among Democrats, according to a new poll, while just 41 percent of registered voters said President Donald Trump deserves re-election.

In the latest Franklin and Marshall College poll released Thursday, Biden was supported by 22 percent of Democrats, but that was down from the school’s October poll.

Biden was followed by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at 15 percent, Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 14 percent and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg with 7 percent.

The remaining Democratic primary candidates had 6 percent or less support in the poll.

F&M College’s October poll had Biden with 30 percent, leading Warren, who had 18 percent, and Sanders at 12 percent. Bloomberg had not yet entered the race when that poll was taken.

When asked who their second choice for president would be, 26 percent of Democrats said Warren, followed by Sanders and Biden tied at 18 percent each, and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 11 percent.

A statement from F&M College pollsters said the contest between Biden, Warren and Sanders "is driven by ideology" with 72 percent of Sanders voters and 73 percent of Warren supporters identifying themselves as liberal, compared to just 40 percent of Biden supporters.

Pennsylvania’s primary is on April 28.

Twenty percent of Democrats said healthcare is their top issue in picking a candidate and 42 percent said honesty is the quality they want most in one.

Trump’s numbers remain worrisome for Republicans, but while only 41 percent said he deserves re-election that is up from October when 37 percent said he did. Fifty-seven percent said it is time for a change in the White House, compared to 59 percent in October.

Asked to rate Trump’s job performance, 21 percent rated it as excellent, 17 percent as good, 12 percent as fair and 49 percent as poor.

Of the respondents supporting Trump, 83 percent said they would vote for him no matter who ran against him, while 87 percent of people opposing him said they would vote against him regardless of which Democrat challenges him.

Trump and the top three Democratic candidates are all underwater when it comes to their favorable/unfavorable ratings. F&M College found that Trump was at 41 percent/55 percent, Biden was at 43 percent/47 percent, Sanders was at 39 percent/54 percent and Warren was at 37 percent/46 percent.

Regionally, 51 percent of respondents from southwestern Pennsylvania said Trump should not be voted out while 33 percent said it is time for a change.

Among the Democratic candidates, 22 percent of southwestern Pennsylvania voters chose "other" and 31 percent said they had no preferred candidate, while 15 percent picked Sanders, 14 percent went with Biden and Bloomberg, and Warren received no votes.

Natural gas fracking has become an issue in the race with several Democratic candidates promising to ban the controversial extraction practice. Fifty-five percent of southwestern Pennsylvania respondents oppose a fracking ban and 28 percent support one.

Philadelphia (67 percent) and Allegheny County (61 percent) had the strongest support for a fracking ban while southwestern and central Pennsylvania (47 percent) had the strongest opposition to a ban.

Overall, state voters support fracking 48 percent to 44 percent.

The F&M College poll surveyed 628 registered voters between Jan. 20 and 26. The margin of error is plus or minus 6.2 percentage points for the poll and plus or minus 9 percentage points for questions to 292 registered Democrats.

Instruction: Retrieve semantically similar text.


Question:
423 SHARES Share Tweet

Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ordered a review of state laws allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses that will enable many illegals to vote.

New York is the latest state to pass such a bill on driver’s licenses.

Many county clerks in New York State are against the new law that allows illegals to use foreign documents to get driver’s licenses because employees are unfamiliar with the documents that are usually in Spanish.

It opens up the process to massive fraud.

You can use your driver’s license to register to vote in New York, which makes it easy for illegals to vote.

Every time an illegal casts a vote, it cancels out the vote of an American.

Wolf has ordered every department at the DHS to review the laws and see how they affect the DHS from doing its job.

Wolf has previously indicated that he is not in favor of illegals having licenses.

This review is probably to establish the fact that it violates the supremacy clause that disallows states from passing laws that are contrary to federal laws.

From The Daily Caller :

Wolf on Tuesday ordered all of the components of DHS to conduct a department-wide review of the state laws to determine how they affect their day-to-day operations, according to a memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The DHS chief’s directive indicates he is prepared to take aim against the state laws.

“Accordingly, I am instructing each operational component to conduct an assessment of the impact of these laws, so that the Department is prepared to deal with and counter these impacts as we protect the homeland,” Wolf’s memo read.

The memo follows implementation of New York’s “Green Light” law, and passage of a similar bill in New Jersey in December. Both laws not only allow illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses, but also restrict DMV data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security.

The acting secretary of Homeland Security is taking aim Tuesday at new laws in New York, New Jersey and other states that allow immigrants to get driver's licenses without proof they are in the U.S. legally, and restrict data sharing with federal authorities.

Chad Wolf sent a memo to all the components of Homeland Security, which include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration, requesting a department study on how the laws affect its enforcement efforts for both immigration and other investigations into human trafficking, drug smuggling and counterterrorism.

New York's law went into effect earlier this month, and migrants lined up to get documents. It was the 13th state to authorize licenses for drivers without legal immigration status, and most of the other states also restrict data sharing. New Jersey lawmakers passed a similar bill in December.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats, are frequent thorns in the side of the Trump administration's efforts to restrict immigration. New York City is home to an estimated 500,000 immigrants in the country illegally.

The laws prohibit state Department of Motor Vehicles officials from providing data to agencies that enforce immigration law unless a judge orders it. New York cut off database access to at least three federal agencies last week when the law went into effect.

Wolf said in his memo, obtained by The Associated Press, that the department must be "prepared to deal with and counter these impacts as we protect the homeland."

An estimated 265,000 immigrants without legal documents were expected to get driver's licenses within three years, more than half of them in New York City, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute.

Applicants must still get a permit and pass a road test to qualify for a "standard driver's license," which cannot be used for federal purposes like an enhanced driver's license or Real ID.

Wolf's directive asks that each agency survey what DMV information is already available, how it is used in day-to-day operations, and what the security consequences are without the data.

"The Trump administration takes the mission of protecting the Homeland very seriously," said DHS spokeswoman Heather Swift. She said the laws were short-sighted and unsafe and skirt immigration laws on the books for decades. "These types of laws make it easier for terrorists and criminals to obtain fraudulent documents," she said.

New York authorities and other state officials say the laws are meant to lower the number of uninsured people, improve traffic safety and allow for better opportunity for work.

Press release:

A temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued by Federal Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo on December 31 in U.S. District Court in Western New York. The TRO prohibits New York State from enforcing certain actions and imposing penalties upon farmers stemming from a new law scheduled to go into effect today.

It is important to note, the TRO does not impact the law or impact the wages of the vast majority of hourly employees working on New York farms and the payment of overtime, nor was it intended to.

The court action followed a lawsuit filed on Monday, December 30 that would temporarily halt the implementation of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act on January 1, 2020. The suit was filed by the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) and the New York State Vegetable Growers Association (NYSVGA) on behalf of the organizations' member farmers across the state, seeking clarity and to ensure they are in compliance with the law’s requirements.

The TRO specifically restrains the state government from enforcing the Act where such actions would impact the status, compensation, and hours of supervisors, family members, shareholders, and administrative and professional employees. The TRO will be in effect for several weeks. If a mutually agreeable settlement is not reached, a preliminary injunction hearing will be held on January 24.

Brian Reeves, President of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, and owner of Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville (Onondaga County), said, “The ruling in favor of the TRO is an important first step for ensuring the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practice Act is implemented fairly for all who work on farms in New York. We want to protect the rights of all who work on our farms and are so important to our success. We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to correct the statute to better address the rights of all who work on our farms.”

Jon Greenwood, Chair of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, and co-owner of Greenwood Dairy Farm in Canton (St. Lawrence County), said, “The narrow scope of the TRO ruling will allow us to continue to work with the state to improve language and definitions in the Act. Providing clarity to New York’s farms will help us protect our management teams while assuring family members and others employed on our farms are treated fairly. We look forward to working with the state and court to ensure that the interests of farmers, their families, and employees are represented in the new state law.”

Society

NICOSIA (AP) — Cyprus’ attorney general said Tuesday he couldn’t suspend the trial of a 19 year-old British woman found guilty of lying about being gang raped by as many as dozen Israelis because she had leveled “grave accusations” against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.

Costas Clerides said the woman’s allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim “could not have been left to linger” so he could not move to suspend the trial.

Clerides also said the woman’s insistence that she didn’t get a fair trial is “essentially a legal-constitutional matter” that a courtof law must rule on.

“Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciary’s work,” Clerides said in a statement.

The woman, who hasn’t been named was found guilty on Monday on a charge of public mischief and is due to be sentenced Jan. 7. The charge carries a maximum of a year in prison and a fine of 1,700 euros ($1, 907).

She insists that she was raped in a hotel room at a coastal resort town on July 17 and that she was forced to sign the retraction 10 days later while under police questioning. Her lawyers said they would appeal the decision, citing the judge’s refusal to consider evidence that she had been raped.

Famagusta District Court Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the defendant didn’t tell the truth and tried to deceive the court with “evasive” statements in her testimony.

The judge said the woman had admitted to investigators that she made up the claims because she was “ashamed” after finding out that some of the Israelis had videoed her having consensual sex with her Israeli boyfriend on their mobile phones.

During the trial, defense lawyers had called the police investigation deficient and improper, with detectives making major lapses and omissions in their work while having a mistaken perception of the true facts surrounding their client’s claim.

Clerides issued the statement following revelations that two former attorneys general and others had sent him a written appeal last month to suspend the case so as not to damage Cyprus’ image abroad.

The British government on Monday cast doubt over whether the teenager received a fair trial and said that it would raise the issue with Cypriot authorities.

Cyprus’ government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said the government doesn’t intervene or comment on pending court cases, saying it has “full confidence in the justice system and the courts,” which should be left unfettered to implement the law and deliver justice.

—

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press

Chinese phone maker Realme has said that they will introduce ads with their latest software update of ColorOS. In a note on their official website, the brand confirmed that this feature of content recommendation will be available on phones with ColorOS 6 and above. This will basically promote apps and commercial links in the base operating system through the phone’s Phone Manager app and Security Check page.

“To continue offering more surprises for you and maintain a healthy and sustainable business model, we have introduced commercial content recommendation in the OS. Realme phones with ColorOS 6 and above will receive such recommendation updates. We encourage you to update the system regularly to enjoy a better operating experience and receive the latest Android security patches,” the phone maker said in its note.

Even though the brand has stated that ads will appear in the Phone Manager and on the Security Check page once new apps are installed, they have also mentioned that the users who do not want this ad service can disable the same. In order to remove ads from the Realme phone, these steps need to be followed:

• Go to settings

• Select Additional Settings

• Scroll down to, get recommendations option

• Disable the toggle.

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(MENAFN - Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY, Dec 31, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday exchanged cables of congratulations with heads of Arab and friendly countries on the advent of 2020, wishing them stability, peace and prosperity.

His Highness the Amir also exchanged cables with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States to greet them on the New Year.

In his cables, His Highness the Amir wished them and all Gulf peoples a happy New Year, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow more progress, welfare and prosperity on all GCC states.

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At least 24 people were confirmed killed after a camp for internally displaced people was attacked in Sudan's West Darfur, an international peacekeeping official said on Wednesday, as top officials arrived to try to calm the violence.Krinding Camp, just east of state capital el-Geneina, was raided on Dec. 29-30 following a dispute between Arab and African ethnic groups, said Ashraf Eissa, a spokesman for the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID."The Arab tribesman's people came to the IDP camp and started shooting and killing and burning," he said."Then relatives went to the hospital and threatened hospital staff at gunpoint and destroyed the blood bank ... and when a government of Sudan policeman tried to intervene he was shot and killed."Brokering lasting peace in Darfur and other parts of Sudan is one of the main challenges facing military and civilian authorities sharing power following the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir last April.

Instruction: Retrieve semantically similar text.


Question:
Carlos Ghosn is apparently beyond the reach of Japanese justice after fleeing to Lebanon but his departure poses many questions, not least the fate of his former aide, Greg Kelly.

Kelly, 63, remains on bail in Japan where he awaits trial on similar charges to Ghosn. Nissan accused Kelly, who is American, of “deep involvement” in his boss’s misconduct. This included the underreporting of Ghosn’s pay packets, which had faced criticism as being excessive. Both have denied all allegations against them.

Kelly, a lawyer by training who joined Nissan in 1988, rose steadily through the carmaker’s human resources division. Ghosn arrived in 1999 with a mandate to turn round the struggling company, with a key ally in Kelly, who became the first American to join Nissan’s board in June 2012.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission said in September that Kelly gave Ghosn “substantial assistance” to conceal more than $90m (£68m) of pay, along with a boost of more than $50m to his retirement package. Kelly paid a $100,000 penalty to settle the SEC charges, without admitting or denying guilt, and was barred as a US company director for five years.

Kelly was released from the Tokyo detention centre – where he and Ghosn spent long periods – on Christmas Day 2018. Ghosn’s escape will now thrust the spotlight on the trial of his former righthand man.

It will also heighten scrutiny of Japan’s notoriously harsh justice system, which experts say ill befits one of the world’s most advanced economies. A widely cited 99.8% conviction rate for those charged with crimes has led to criticism that judges give prosecutors too much credence, while the country still retains the death penalty for more serious crimes.

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In April, more than 1,000 Japanese academics and lawyers – including Ghosn’s lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka – signed a letter organised by Human Rights Watch criticising Japan’s hitojichi-shiho, or “hostage justice” system. Suspects can be detained for long periods, questioned without their lawyers present, and barred from access to their families – as was the case for Ghosn.

Kenneth Roth, the non-governmental organisation’s executive director, said: “Among the conditions of Japan’s justice system that Carlos Ghosn fled was a prohibition of communicating with his wife – part of the pressure to induce confessions even out of formal custody.”

The Ghosn case also highlights the potential for abuse of a 23-day detention limit, with prosecutors regularly rearresting suspects on minor variations of original charges in order to continue questioning.

TOKYO >> By jumping bail, former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who had long insisted on his innocence, has now committed a clear crime and can never return to Japan without going to jail.

“So he now has burnt his bridges to Japan,” Stephen Givens, a lawyer and expert on Japan’s legal and corporate systems, said Wednesday. “This is going to end in basically a stalemate with him spending the rest of his life in Lebanon.”

How exactly Ghosn fled surveillance in Japan and popped up in Lebanon, or who might have directed the dramatic escape, remains unclear.

The Tokyo District Court revoked his bail, Japanese media reports said, meaning authorities would seize the $14 million Ghosn had posted on two separate instances to get out of detention.

Ghosn was first arrested in November 2018, released and then rearrested.

The court was closed for the New Year’s holidays and could not be immediately reached for comment.

Ghosn had been out on bail while awaiting trial on various financial misconduct allegations. The trial was expected to start in April. The date had not been set.

How the Japanese authorities might investigate Ghosn’s escape and what action they might take on the apparent security lapses remains unclear.

Ghosn, who is of Lebanese origin and holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports, disclosed his location in a statement through his representatives but did not say how he managed to flee Japan. He promised to talk to reporters next week.

He said he wanted to avoid “injustice and political persecution.”

“I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan’s legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold,” the statement said.

His lawyer Junichiro Hironaka denied all knowledge of the escape, saying he was stunned. He said he didn’t expect Ghosn to return to Japan.

When asked if Ghosn had taken any of the documents being prepared for the trial, Hironaka acknowledged he hadn’t checked but said he seriously doubted Ghosn would care about a trial he had taken such pains to avoid.

Japanese media reports said Wednesday there were no official records of Ghosn’s departure from the country, but a private jet had left from a regional airport to Turkey. One report said he sneaked out from his Tokyo home hiding in a case for a musical instrument.

Lebanon’s minister for presidential affairs, Selim Jreissati, told the An-Nahar newspaper that Ghosn entered legally at the airport with a French passport and Lebanese ID.

France has reacted with surprise and confusion, denying any knowledge.

Speculation is rife that a foreign or Japanese government, or both, might have been involved, or maybe just looked the other way to allow the escape to rid the public of a potentially embarrassing trial.

With him missing, Ghosn’s trial is suspended.

But a trial is still pending against Nissan as a company and Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive. Kelly, an American, has said he is innocent.

Kelly’s allegations overlap with those charges against Ghosn related to the underreporting of Ghosn’s future compensation. Those charges are less serious than the additional breach of trust accusations against Ghosn.

Ghosn has been charged with breach of trust in having Nissan shoulder his personal investment losses, and diverting payments in Saudi Arabia and Oman for personal gain.

He has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying authorities trumped up the charges to prevent a fuller merger between Nissan and alliance partner Renault SA.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

6 My son, if you cosign a loan for an acquaintance

and guarantee his debt,

you’ll be sorry that you ever did it!

2 You’ll be trapped by your promise

and legally bound by the agreement.

So listen carefully to my advice:

3 Quickly get out of it if you possibly can!

Swallow your pride, get over your embarrassment,

and go tell your “friend” you want your name[a] off that contract.

4 Don’t put it off, and don’t rest until you get it done.

5 Rescue yourself from future pain[b]

and be free from it once and for all.

You’ll be so relieved that you did![c]

Life Lessons

6 When you’re feeling lazy,

come and learn a lesson from this tale of the tiny ant.

Yes, all you lazybones, come learn

from the example of the ant and enter into wisdom.

7 The ants have no chief, no boss, no manager—

no one has to tell them what to do.

8 You’ll see them working and toiling all summer long,

stockpiling their food in preparation for winter.

9 So wake up, sleepyhead. How long will you lie there?

When will you wake up and get out of bed?

10 If you keep nodding off and thinking, “I’ll do it later,”

or say to yourself, “I’ll just sit back awhile and take it easy,”

just watch how the future unfolds!

11 By making excuses you’ll learn what it means to go without.

Poverty will pounce on you like a bandit[d]

and move in as your roommate for life.[e]

12–13 Here’s another life lesson to learn

from observing the wayward and wicked man.[f]

You can tell they are lawless.

They’re constant liars, proud deceivers,

full of clever ploys and convincing plots.[g]

14 Their twisted thoughts are perverse,

always with a scheme to stir up trouble,

and sowing strife with every step they take.

15 But when calamity comes knocking on their door,

suddenly and without warning they’re undone—

broken to bits, shattered, with no hope of healing.[h]

Seven Things God Hates

16 There are six evils God truly hates

and a seventh[i] that is an abomination to him:

17 Putting others down while considering yourself superior,

spreading lies and rumors,

spilling the blood of the innocent,

18 plotting evil in your heart toward another,

gloating over doing what’s plainly wrong,

19 spouting lies in false testimony,

and stirring up strife between friends.[j]

These are entirely despicable to God!

20 My son, obey your father’s godly instruction

and follow your mother’s life-giving teaching.[k]

21 Fill your heart with their advice

and let your life be shaped by what they’ve taught you.[l]

22 Their wisdom will guide you wherever you go

and keep you from bringing harm to yourself.

Their instruction will whisper to you at every sunrise

and direct you through a brand-new day.

23 For truth[m] is a bright beam of light

shining into every area of your life,

instructing and correcting you to discover the ways to godly living.

Truth or Consequences

24–25 Truth will protect you from immorality

and from the promiscuity of another man’s wife.

Your heart won’t be enticed by her flatteries[n]

or lust over her beauty—

nor will her suggestive ways conquer you.

26 Prostitutes reduce a man to poverty,[o]

and the adulteress steals your soul—

she may even cost you your life![p]

27 For how can a man light his pants on fire and not be burned?

28 Can he walk over hot coals of fire[q] and not blister his feet?

29 What makes you think that you can sleep with another man’s wife

and not get caught?

Do you really think you’ll get away with it?

Don’t you know it will ruin your life?

30 You can almost excuse a thief if he steals to feed his own family.

31 But if he’s caught, he still has to pay back what he stole sevenfold;

his punishment and fine will cost him greatly.

32 Don’t be so stupid as to think

you can get away with your adultery.

It will destroy your life,[r] and you’ll pay the price

for the rest of your days.

33 You’ll discover what humiliation, shame,

and disgrace are all about,

for no one will ever let you forget what you’ve done.

34 A husband’s jealousy makes a man furious;

he won’t spare you when he comes to take revenge.

35 Try all you want to talk your way out of it—

offer him a bribe and see if you can manipulate him

with your money.

Nothing will turn him aside

when he comes to you with vengeance in his eyes!

Image courtesy of pixabay.com. Used with permission.

Things to Prioritize When Looking for a Security Company

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After knowing a company’s period of existence then you can go ahead and choose it. The level of experience matches the period of existence. If a security company has been operating for a long time then it’s likely to be well-experienced. Offering the installation services to different people is what makes a security company experienced. You will have nothing to worry about if you settle for a well-experienced company since they are well-equipped in their job. You can also consider a newly established security company if you see its potential.

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What Do You Know About

: 10 Mistakes that Most People Make

The Augustinian Province in Malta said on Wednesday preparations were underway for Cardinal Prospero Grech’s funeral.

Cardinal Grech, the second Cardinal in Maltese history, died on Monday.

His body was on Tuesday returned to the St Monica International College, where he lived most of his life, and where people could pay their last respects.

On Thursday, a Vatican official will sign the traditional Rogito - a testament to his life that will be placed in the coffin.

The body will then be taken to St Peter’s Basilica where the funeral will be held at the Altar of the Chair of Peter. The ceremony will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the vice-decan of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis will preside over the last part of the funeral rites.

The general prior of the Order, Fr Alejandro Moral Anton, the prior of the Maltese Augustinian Province Fr Leslie Gatt, several Augustinian brothers and other priests, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Gozo bishop Mario Grech and a number of other bishops will be in attendance.

The Maltese state will be represented by President George Vella and Mrs Vella. Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela and Malta’s ambassador at the Vatican, Frank Zammit, will also be attending.

Meanwhile, the Augustinian Province in Malta said it was preparing for the Cardinal’s body to be brought to Malta in the coming days. It planned to hold Mass praesente cadavere to give those who wished to pay him their last respects the opportunity to do so. Details will be given at a later stage.

The Order said that in the past days it received several messages of condolences including from Pope Francis and the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

It thanked those who expressed regret at the news of Cardinal Grech's death while acknowledging his qualities and priceless heritage he left in several sectors. It also called on people to keep the late Cardinal in their prayers.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has visited the Police Training College at Alimankara in Gwoza and climbed the hills as part of operational visit to North East.

News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the college is one of the critical security institutions overran by the Boko Haram terrorists during the peak of their activities in Borno state in August 2014.

The Alimankara village where the college is located and indeed the entire Gwoza local government was under the control of the terrorists for months before the troops of Nigerian Army retook the area in 2015.

During the visit, it was observed that normalcy has since returned to the town with the residents chanting in excitement while the rebuilding works at the college has reached advance stages of completion.

Buratai was conducted round the college by the top police officers in the college.

After the ascent of the two hills, Buratai disclosed that the value of climbing the hills was borne out of the desire to feel what they troops feel in carrying out operations there.

According to him, if you don’t feel the pinch you will not know the impact of what your colleagues are also facing.

“This what they do virtually every day, they don’t only climb, they equally trek far distances and so it is good for us to appreciate what they are doing and we will be in a better state to understand their feeling and also address them as the case may be.

“As you can see, it is equally a morale booster because I have gone up there to see the observation course officer at the peak of this hill which is almost the highest around here.

“Seeing the chief of Army Staff with him there is something that he never imagined but this is encouraging them and to tell them we are with them,” he said.

Buratai commended the performance of the troops against the terrorists in the area and the north east in general, adding that the performance had been impressive and encouraging.

He said that the troops had exhibited high level of professionalism and resilience with the knowledge of the terrain, adding that they had continued to raid the hideouts of the terrorists.

He said: “I am sure the progress is quite commendable and we hope as we enter the new year, they will be more result oriented operations to finally clear the remnant of the Boko Haram.”

He said that the super camp concept had achieved its objective, saying it has helped the troops to have much understanding of the behaviour of the terrorists.

According to him, the initial misconception about super camps has been assuaged as well as the fears of the people and it is something that we will continue to build on to make sure we succeed at the end.

Buratai, while wishing the people of the area a peaceful 2020, also assured them that the troops would continue to provide them security enable them enjoy more harvest from their farms.

“Let them keep supporting the troops and all of us and provide useful information that would be used in identifying the terrorists in the communities and around the bushes as well,” he said.

Before

the end of 2019, President Akufo-Addo hosted some of the famous

personalities that were still town at his Nima residence for a private

party.

The party which came off on Monday was graced by Nigerian singer, Davido who kept the party alive with his hit songs.

The

‘Year of Return’ policy was introduced by government to encourage

people from the diaspora to visit the country and connect with their

origin.

Celebrities like Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o were all present at the event.

In a photo with award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o, Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson were captured smiling cheerfully.

American Businesswoman, Bazoma Saint John who was also present shared a photo with a captioned which reveals she was on her third trip to the country.

Earlier that day, President Nana Akufo-Addo touted the progress of the Year of Return, describing activities generated by the campaign in Ghana as a “welcomed shock”.

In October this year, the President launched the “Year of Return” to

make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to

their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and their identity.

So far, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) revealed they spent GHC6m on the policy’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Nana Addo has launched an extension of the “Year of Return” which he calls “Beyond the Return The Diaspora Dividend”

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