Lawyer Cheng Hai has an itemized list of compensation demands from Beijing authorities over the city’s smog: 65 yuan for having to buy face masks, 100 yuan for seeing a doctor for a sore throat and 9,999 yuan for emotional distress. Fed up with what they consider halfhearted efforts to fight air pollution, Cheng and like-minded lawyers are putting China’s legal system to the test by suing the governments of the capital and its surrounding regions.
Day: March 1, 2017
Beer bottle sand could save New Zealand’s beaches
If you hadn’t noticed, New Zealanders really give a damn about the environment. They care for their rivers and lakes , half the country’s a national park and they throw themselves at whaling ships on a daily basis.
RPT-Freight and fridge sales: Indian economists seek GDP clues amid data doubts
NEW DELHI, March 1 Surprised again by India’s strong official growth statistics, economists are relying increasingly on high-frequency indicators like bank credit and rail freight to gauge the real health of Asia’s third-largest economy. For India’s cash-reliant economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision in November to outlaw old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes came as a big shock.
Press Digest- British Business – March 2
The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Monaco down Marseille in French Cup thriller, PSG through
Thomas Lemar’s extra-time winner sent Monaco into the quarter-finals of the French Cup after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Olympique de Marseille on Wednesday as holders Paris St Germain left it late to down Ligue 2 side Niort. Lemar scored with a powerful shot from inside the box in the 113th minute after Marseille had come from behind three times.
BASKETBALLRoss stars for San Miguel as Beermen take 2-1 Finals lead
Ross finished with a game-high 24 points on top of four rebounds and eight assists for San Miguel in a Game 3 win. With control of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Finals hanging in the balance, two-time defending champion San Miguel Beer clamped down on defense late to remind Brgy.
JDV knows he can do better against ‘best player’ Fajardo
TRY AND TRY. Joe Devance’s foot injury is only getting better and better – just in time for him to keep banging bodies with June Mar Fajardo.
Agriculture seen as No 2 environmental problem
Results of the 2016 Public Perceptions of New Zealand’s Environment survey were revealed on February 17 in an 82-page report by Profs Ken Hughey, Geoff Kerr, and Ross Cullen. Asked to identify the most important environmental issues facing New Zealand today, 31.1% of survey respondents said ”water related”, 9.9% said ”agriculture related”, 8.8% said ”greenhouse gases, climate change and ozone”, and 8.4% said ”waste”.
More than half of prisoners may have had a brain injury
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Porirua’s first electric vehicle charging station goes live
Electric vehicles are being welcomed in to Porirua as the city’s first fast charging, high voltage station goes live. “Our electric car charging station is already attracting a lot of interest and support,” says Porirua Mayor Mike Tana.
Team Wellington one point away from OFC Champions League semifinals
The New Zealand champions left it late to see off a spirited challenge from the hosts of Group B, Hienghene Sport, on Wednesday night at Stade Yoshida in Kone, New Caledonia, scoring two goals in the final six minutes to win 3-1. Tom Jackson had got them off to the perfect start with a his goal in the 12th minute, but Hienghene fought back through a wonder goal from New Caledonia international Bertrand Kai in the 33rd minute.
CK hits B2bn profit target, aims higher for 2017
Ch. Karnchang’s Xayaburi hydroelectric power project in Laos hit a number of environmental snags, resulting in a smaller profit margin. SET-listed Ch.
Businesses That Want to Ensure Success Can Now Have Top Rankings on the Search Engines
Here is some great news for those businesses that want to ensure their success in the ever changing business environment. Heept Marketing Sdn Bhd, an SEO company in Malaysia, says that they can help businesses reach the peak of success by providing excellent SEO services.
Rising inflation to stir ECB stimulus grumbling
Frankfurt, Germany a Official figures are expected to show inflation in the 19-country eurozone rose again in February – a development that would further galvanize critics of the European Central Bank’s stimulus efforts. The inflation number to be announced Thursday could reach 1.9 percent thanks to rising oil prices, according to a survey of analyst estimates compiled by financial data provider FactSet.
Man put on probation for trying to export rifles to Belarus
A United Arab Emirates man who admitted he conspired to export sniper rifles from the United States to Belarus has been sentenced by a federal judge in Utah to five years of probation. U.S. District Judge Dee Benson also ordered Kolar Rahman Anees Ur Rahman to forfeit more than $13,000 he sent to an undercover Department of Homeland Security agent as payment for the unlawful shipment of the weapons to the eastern European country.
Contemporary dance at the Sochi Winter International Arts…
The Olympic city of Sochi is staging The Winter International Arts Festival. It has become one of the cultural highlights of the Russian Black Sea resort.
Swing Time: Ex-Cubs catcher Ross on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
The Chicago Cubs think David Ross could be a real factor this season. He has excellent footwork, knows the swing and can handle a partner, all the elements needed to win a championship – on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Bank of Mexico drops 2017 growth forecast to 1.3-1.5 pct
Mexico’s central bank is lowering its 2017 economic growth forecast for the country to between 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent. The Bank of Mexico says that’s down from its previous prediction of 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent.
UN panel alleges Aleppo war crimes; Syria talks inch forward
Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, speaks to the media during a press conference, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, March 1, 2017. GENEVA – A U.N. panel said Wednesday the evacuation of eastern Aleppo, after months of siege and aerial bombing by Russian and Syrian forces, was one of many war crimes committed by those fighting for control of the city.
Macro Riga to auction of part of its holdings in HansaMatrix hi-tech company
Macro Riga, the largest shareholder in Latvian hi-tech company HansaMatrix intends to reduce the amount outstanding on a shareholder loan by selling up to similar value of shares at an auction, HansaMatrix said in a statement submitted to the Nasdaq Riga stock exchange…. Read more…
‘I’ll fight to the end’: Fillon vows to stay in French race
Conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon, centre left, makes his way while visiting the Agriculture Fair in Paris, France. Photo / AP Conservative candidate Francois Fillon has vowed to pursue his campaign for the French presidency despite receiving a summons from magistrates investigating allegations he paid his British wife more than 900,000 for a fictitious job.
Trump appeals for unity in first Congress address
Love him or loathe him, Donald Trump almost always defies expectations. And so it proved to be the case when he delivered a conventional address to Congress on Tuesday night; his first speech to both houses.
Istanbul shrouded in heavy fog
Heavy fog has shrouded Istanbul in Turkey. Officials say municipal ferry services have been affected, as well as flights at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Russia-backed rebels take over factories, mines in Ukraine
Russian-backed rebels are taking over scores of factories and mines in eastern Ukraine, many of them belonging to a tycoon whose foundation has been the largest provider of humanitarian aid to a war-battered population. The moves announced Wednesday by the rebels came after a weekslong blockade of the east by Ukrainian nationalists and right-wingers.
North Vancouver mayor wants a public transit tunnel to Vancouver
It’s time to look at a fixed-link public transit option to connect Vancouver to the North Shore, says North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto. “The North Shore is under grid lock everyday and we’re going to need alternative connections,” said Mussatto.
Russia inadvertently strikes U.S.-backed Syrians
WASHINGTON>> A Russian airstrike in northern Syria hit U.S.-backed Syrian Arab forces who are part of the fight against the Islamic State group, a senior U.S. general said today. Army Lt.
Aerosmitha s Buck Johnson to perform at Sweetwater
Buck Johnson has shared the stage with the likes of Aerosmith and written for artists like Carlos Santana, but for the keyboardist, there’s nothing like performing his own music. “To play for a handful of people or thousands of people, makes no difference,” says Johnson on the phone from Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives.
Recticel improves annual sales, relaunches Czech plant
Brussels-based Recitcel declared force majeure and halted production at its plant in Most, Czech Republic, after a fire there. Recticel Group has reported higher sales for 2016, and remains optimistic for this year despite the fire that broke out at its Most, Czech Republic plant in January The fire forced Brussels-based Recticel to halt the production of components for car makers, such as PSA Group, Volkswagen, Daimler and Renault.
Old mold auctioned for $14,617
How much is an old, dried out piece of mold worth? Apparently more than $14,600 if it was created by the doctor who discovered penicillin. The nearly 90-year-old swatch of mold has a rather extraordinary history: It came from the laboratory of Dr. Alexander Fleming whose revolutionary discovery brought the world its first antibiotic, credited with saving millions of lives worldwide.
Critics: Delay shows travel ban isn’t urgent after all
Critics are seizing on the Trump administration’s decision to delay the issuance of a revised travel ban, saying it undermines the ban’s national security rationale. The new executive order was slated for a mid-week release, but a senior administration official told CNN after Trump’s speech to a joint address of Congress that the timeline was being pushed back in order to keep the spotlight on the positive reaction to his address.
PSG scores late goals to scrape into French Cup quarters
Substitute Javier Pastore scored an opportunist late goal and then set up Edinson Cavani as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 at second-tier Niort to reach the French Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. After Niort’s goalkeeper Artur Desmas went close to equalizing in injury time following a corner, there was just enough time for Pastore to break down the left wing and set up Cavani’s 36th of a prolific season.
Top 10 scams targeting Canadians in terms of number of complaints received
Alexa Gendron-O’Donnell, assistant Deputy Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, announces the Competition Bureau’s top 10 scams that targeted Canadians in 2016 during a news conference, Wednesday, March 1, 2017 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL – The Competition Bureau, in conjunction with the Better Business Bureau, Quebec-based consumers group Option consommateurs and other fraud-prevention partners announced Wednesday the top 10 fraud scams targeting Canadians in 2016.
MP Strahl supporting Chiliwack-Hope artists in his Ottawa office
Ryder Lake Cows is a photograph by local realtor, chicken farmer and Chilliwack city councillor Chris Kloot on display in MP Mark Strahl’s Ottawa office. To promote artists in Chilliwack and Hope, Member of Parliament Mark Strahl is showcasing local art and photographs in his Parliamentary office.
Someone Tried Impersonating the Nickelback Drummer to Buy $25K in Microphones
A man in Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested Tuesday, February 28, for allegedly impersonating Nickelback drummer Daniel Adair. The imposter, 45-year-old Lee Howard Koenig, used Adair’s name to order $25,000 worth of microphones from a company in Vienna, Austria.
Hard work pays for Goldies hopeful Karauria
One of the many tireless workers and competitors during the World shearing and woolhandling championship in Invercargill earlier this month has been rewarded with a big win on the eve of the 57th Golden Shears. The three-day Golden Shears start in Masterton tomorrow , Alexandra woolhandler Pagan Karauria heading north with the dream of winning Golden Shears Open title for the first time on Saturday night.
Mr. T, Simone Biles among new ‘Dancing with the Stars’ cast
In this May 17, 2016, file photo, actor Mr. T poses for photographers after High-Wire Artist Nik Wallenda walked a tight rope in New York in honor of National Amazing Month. ABC announced Wednesday, March 1, 2017, that Mr. T is a cast member on the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Spanish trio scoop prestigious US architecture prize
A team of three Spanish architects has won the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize, with the jury praising their work for blending buildings into landscapes and connecting time and place. The award for Catalonia-based architects Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta was announced Wednesday by Tom Pritzker, chairman and president of the Chicago-based Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the prize.
Back at the track, retired Rosberg shows no signs of regret
Back at the track, retired Rosberg shows no signs of regret Retired Formula One champion Nico Rosberg seemed to be having a good time at the track Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2lz3iKk Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg is surrounded by cameramen as he visits his former Mercedes team during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 1, 2017. BARCELONA, Spain – Retired Formula One champion Nico Rosberg seemed to have a good time, and no regrets, on Wednesday at the track.
North Korea accuses South Korea and US of murder of its citizen
PETALING JAYA: In denying its own involvement, North Korea has accused South Korea and the United States of killing one of its citizens. Yonhap, the largest news agency in South Korea, reported that the deceased was not acknowledged as the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Saudi king continues tour in Indonesia
Cheering crowds welcomed King Salman Wednesday as he began the first visit by a Saudi monarch to Indonesia for almost 50 years, seeking stronger economic ties with the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. The king – who is accompanied by about 1,000 people, including princes and ministers – disembarked from his plane using an escalator as he arrived at an airport in Jakarta, the latest stop on an Asian tour.