Ebola caregivers are Time Person of the Year
The Time Person of the Year stamp of recognition has been given to all those who risked their lives in the war against Ebola. The announcement came on Wednesday on the back of a public poll, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi slip to the eighth spot after having led it for many days. A short citation for the Ebola caregivers stated it was dedicated to them for their “tireless acts of courage and mercy, for buying the world time to boost its defences, for risking, for persisting, for sacrificing and saving”. The disease has killed more than 6,300 and infected more than 17,800 since December 2013. The runners-up included the Ferguson protestors, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Internet firm Alibaba CEO Jack Ma, and leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani.
Google shuts News service in Spain after ‘Google Tax’ law
After a new Spanish law would have required Google to pay publishers to feature snippets of their content on its Google News section, the Internet giant has said it will shut its service altogether in the country on Thursday. The Spanish law has been nicknamed the Google Tax, and will come into effect on January 1. It does not specify how much Spanish publishers will have to be paid by Google. The move also represents the first time Google News will be shut anywhere in the world.
Peru to prosecute Greenpeace over damage to Nazca lines site
A group of Greenpeace activists, in an effort to provoke climate change negotiators in the ongoing talks in Lima, ended up provoking the authorities instead after they placed a banner close to the ancient Nazca lines, a vital part of Peruvian and world heritage. The Nazca lines depict shapes of animals, including a monkey and a hummingbird, etched into arid plains. Archaeologists estimate they are 1,500 years old. In a video, Greenpeace activist Mauro Fernandez declared, “With our message from the Nazca lines, we expect politicians to understand the legacy we need to leave for future generations”. For Peruvian authorities, who plan to prosecute the activists who took part, the legacy of the stunt was damage to the ancient site.
Pakistani military kills 19 militants in North Waziristan
The Pakistani military killed 19 militants on Wednesday as it led airstrikes on two bases in the northwest region of the country, near the Afghan border. The assault also wiped out five militant hideouts area, as part of a plan to flush out outfits with links to the al Qaeda. Since June, operations have displaced over a million people from North Waziristan, and they could soon be resettled according to a military briefing to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.
Hong Kong police start clearing protest sites
On Wednesday, Hong Kong police started clearing the main protest site of the pro-democracy protestors, who only two months ago had occupied the entire area with tents, supply stations and artwork. Authorities are calling the clean-up a “bid to restore public order” and that they will take action against those who resist. At the same time, bright posters declaring "We will be back" were draped around the area. Student leader Alex Chow, who was one of the leaders of the protests that called for elections in Hong Kong without Beijing’s intervention, said the dissidents would wait and see what the Chinese government does next.
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The Time Person of the Year stamp of recognition has been given to all those who risked their lives in the war against Ebola. The announcement came on Wednesday on the back of a public poll, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi slip to the eighth spot after having led it for many days. A short citation for the Ebola caregivers stated it was dedicated to them for their “tireless acts of courage and mercy, for buying the world time to boost its defences, for risking, for persisting, for sacrificing and saving”. The disease has killed more than 6,300 and infected more than 17,800 since December 2013. The runners-up included the Ferguson protestors, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Internet firm Alibaba CEO Jack Ma, and leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani.
Google shuts News service in Spain after ‘Google Tax’ law
After a new Spanish law would have required Google to pay publishers to feature snippets of their content on its Google News section, the Internet giant has said it will shut its service altogether in the country on Thursday. The Spanish law has been nicknamed the Google Tax, and will come into effect on January 1. It does not specify how much Spanish publishers will have to be paid by Google. The move also represents the first time Google News will be shut anywhere in the world.
Peru to prosecute Greenpeace over damage to Nazca lines site
A group of Greenpeace activists, in an effort to provoke climate change negotiators in the ongoing talks in Lima, ended up provoking the authorities instead after they placed a banner close to the ancient Nazca lines, a vital part of Peruvian and world heritage. The Nazca lines depict shapes of animals, including a monkey and a hummingbird, etched into arid plains. Archaeologists estimate they are 1,500 years old. In a video, Greenpeace activist Mauro Fernandez declared, “With our message from the Nazca lines, we expect politicians to understand the legacy we need to leave for future generations”. For Peruvian authorities, who plan to prosecute the activists who took part, the legacy of the stunt was damage to the ancient site.
Pakistani military kills 19 militants in North Waziristan
The Pakistani military killed 19 militants on Wednesday as it led airstrikes on two bases in the northwest region of the country, near the Afghan border. The assault also wiped out five militant hideouts area, as part of a plan to flush out outfits with links to the al Qaeda. Since June, operations have displaced over a million people from North Waziristan, and they could soon be resettled according to a military briefing to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.
Hong Kong police start clearing protest sites
On Wednesday, Hong Kong police started clearing the main protest site of the pro-democracy protestors, who only two months ago had occupied the entire area with tents, supply stations and artwork. Authorities are calling the clean-up a “bid to restore public order” and that they will take action against those who resist. At the same time, bright posters declaring "We will be back" were draped around the area. Student leader Alex Chow, who was one of the leaders of the protests that called for elections in Hong Kong without Beijing’s intervention, said the dissidents would wait and see what the Chinese government does next.