Non-IT News Thread
-
US reverses China 'currency manipulator' label
The US has reversed its decision to brand China a currency manipulator as the two countries prepare to wind down their trade war.
The US said it made the change because China had agreed to refrain from devaluing its currency to make its own goods cheaper for foreign buyers. Washington and Beijing are expected to sign that "phase one" pact this week. The deal is aimed at de-escalating the tit-for-tat tariff war the two countries have engaged in since 2018."China has made enforceable commitments to refrain from competitive devaluation, while promoting transparency and accountability," US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused China of allowing the value of the yuan to fall, making Chinese goods cheaper. -
BBC News - Facebook: Star Wars' Mark Hamill deletes account over political ads
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51090918 -
BBC News - Jerusalem rabbi arrested for 'holding women in slavery'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51098770 -
Iran nuclear deal: European powers trigger dispute mechanism
European powers have triggered a formal dispute mechanism over Iran's breaches of key parts of the 2015 nuclear deal - a move that could spell its end.
Iran has gradually lifted all limits on its production of enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons. It has said it is entitled to do so in response to sanctions reinstated by the US when it abandoned the deal in 2018. France, Germany and the UK said they did not accept Iran's argument. The mechanism, set out in article 36 of the deal, involves the dispute being referred to a Joint Commission that will have a minimum of 15 days to resolve the issue. -
BBC News - Plane dumps fuel over school in emergency landing to LAX
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51112630 -
What happened in the Democratic debate?
There have been nine official Democratic debates but this one had a real sense of urgency - in less than three weeks the candidates will face their first test.
The primary season begins on 3 February with the Iowa caucuses, when the Democratic voters in this state will pick who they want to take on Donald Trump in November. As the six White House hopefuls took to the debate stage in Des Moines, the Republican US president they have in their sights was mocking them at a rally 400 miles east in Wisconsin. Here are some key moments from the debate - and the Trump rally. The biggest news story in campaign politics over the past few days was the growing tensions between the two most liberal candidates, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Warren had alleged that Sanders told her in December 2018 that a woman couldn't win the presidency - something Sanders denied. -
White House 'broke law' by withholding Ukraine aid, says watchdog
The White House broke the law by withholding aid to Ukraine that had been approved by the US Congress, a government watchdog has said.
The ruling from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a blow to President Donald Trump as he faces an impeachment trial in the Senate. He is accused of freezing aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival. Ukraine has opened a probe on separate allegations linked to the impeachment."Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law," the decision by the GAO said. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) "withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA)," the ruling continued. -
BBC News - Building collapse misses pedestrians by seconds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51069958 -
BBC News - Hong Kong Express Airways sorry for making woman take pregnancy test
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51141523 -
New China virus: Cases triple as infection spreads to Beijing and Shanghai
The number of people infected with a new virus in China tripled over the weekend, with the outbreak spreading from Wuhan to other major cities.
There are now more than 200 cases, mostly in Wuhan, though the respiratory illness has also been detected in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Three people have died. Japan, Thailand and South Korea have reported cases. The sharp rise comes as millions of Chinese prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holidays. Health officials have identified the infection, which first appeared in Wuhan in December, as a strain of coronavirus. They say it has led to an outbreak of viral pneumonia, but much about it remains unknown. -
France apology after history textbook links CIA to 9/11
A French publisher has apologised after a history textbook that appeared in bookshops in recent weeks suggested the 11 September 2001 attacks were probably "orchestrated by the CIA".
The debunked conspiracy theory was apparently highlighted on social media initially by a group of schoolteachers.The book History of the 20th Century in Flash Cards is aimed at undergraduate students.On its website, the publisher said the phrase should never have appeared. "This phrase which echoes conspiracy theories devoid of any factual basis should never have been used in this work. It doesn't reflect the editorial position either of Ellipses publications or the author," it said (in French). -
-
-
@black3dynamite said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
On the local news they pointed out that this is policy and automatic and not suggestive of there being any suspicion of wrongdoing. Mostly the officer gets a paid vacation to get some downtime because killing anyone is stressful.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@black3dynamite said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
On the local news they pointed out that this is policy and automatic and not suggestive of there being any suspicion of wrongdoing. Mostly the officer gets a paid vacation to get some downtime because killing anyone is stressful.
That is all but 100% normal for all cases of an officer firing a weapon. hitting someone or not. killed or not.
-
-
@JaredBusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@black3dynamite said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
On the local news they pointed out that this is policy and automatic and not suggestive of there being any suspicion of wrongdoing. Mostly the officer gets a paid vacation to get some downtime because killing anyone is stressful.
That is all but 100% normal for all cases of an officer firing a weapon. hitting someone or not. killed or not.
Definitely seems like the right way to handle it.
-
Trump impeachment: Senate adopts rules after long debate on trial's first day
The US Senate has adopted ground rules for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, after nearly 13 hours of rancorous debate on day one.
Democratic prosecutors clashed with Mr Trump's lawyers over the process, while Republicans rejected Democratic demands for more witnesses to be called. The trial will resume on Wednesday with arguments by the prosecution, to be followed by the defence and questions. Mr Trump is the third US president to face an impeachment trial. He is charged with abuse of power and obstructing the congressional impeachment inquiry. He has denied wrongdoing and accused Democrats of trying to unseat him for political reasons. "I'd love to go and sit in the front row and stare at their corrupt faces," he told reporters at a hastily arranged press conference in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. But he said his lawyers might have a problem with that. -
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Thats less than a mile from my house..... Bummer. Sucks for all involved.
-
@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Thats less than a mile from my house..... Bummer. Sucks for all involved.
Not that far from mine either, Denton County baby!
