August 29, 2018.
Julia Banks: Exiting Australia MP decries 'bullying' of women
MP Julia Banks (L) was a supporter of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
An Australian government MP has revealed she will not contest the next election, condemning the parliament's "bullying and intimidation" of women.
Julia Banks branded a party coup that ousted Malcolm Turnbull as PM last week as "the final straw" in her decision.
In a withering statement, Ms Banks took aim at the "scourge of cultural and gender bias" in politics and society.
In recent years, Australian female MPs have accused male counterparts of "misogyny" and "slut-shaming".
Amid wide-ranging and chaotic infighting last week, the government faced an allegation that male party figures had "stood over" female MPs in a bid to secure enough signatures to topple Mr Turnbull. Others denied the assertion.
Earlier this year, the government launched a national inquiry into workplace sexual harassment.
Who did Ms Banks criticise?
The Liberal Party MP, who holds a marginal seat in Melbourne, did not make reference to specific incidents.
However, she said in a statement: "I will always call out bad behaviour and will not tolerate any form of bullying or intimidation. I have experienced this both from within my own party and the Labor party."
Turnbull 'felled by revolts and revenge'
Six moments that defined Turnbull as PM
Who is Scott Morrison?
"In anticipating my critics saying I'm 'playing the gender card' - I say this. Women have suffered in silence for too long and in this last twelve months the world has seen many courageous women speak out," she added.
A supporter of Mr Turnbull and Julie Bishop - who was replaced as party deputy last week - Ms Banks also made a more general criticism about the political turmoil, rebuking unnamed figures with "mean-spirited grudges intent on settling their personal scores".
She said she would support new Prime Minister Scott Morrison and party deputy Josh Frydenberg.
How have others responded?
Mr Morrison said he had "no truck with bullying or intimidation in whatever form it is".
"I have laid down the law to my ministry and to the parliamentary secretary ranks of my government," he said on Wednesday.
Media captionMalcolm Turnbull: How the party turned on Australia's PM
Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer, who called herself a friend of Ms Banks, said workplace bullying "whether on the shopfloor, or in our nation's Parliament, [was] totally unacceptable".
"I deeply regret the decision that Julia has made today... and the circumstances that have led to her decision to leave politics".
What has been controversial previously?
Under Tony Abbott's leadership in 2013, the centre-right government was criticised for having just one woman in a 19-member cabinet - although it has since added more.
Allegations of gender-based bullying have also hit Labor: one MP, Emma Husar, asserted on Wednesday that her career had been ruined by malicious "slut-shaming".
In recent times, Australian politics has also heard:
Julia Gillard, as prime minister in 2012, accuse Mr Abbott of "misogyny" in a parliamentary speech that went viral;
Sarah Hanson-Young, a senator, say she had been "slut-shamed" by a male political opponent;
Reports that Ms O'Dwyer was asked to consider expressing milk to avoid missing parliamentary duties in 2015, prompting a backlash.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - (89) - The Australian Liberal Party leadership spill debacle
Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - (89) - The Australian Liberal Party leadership spill debacle
Julie Bishop is probably the most able member of the Malcolm Turnbull cabinet. She had been cruelly betrayed. Shame on the right wing Liberal insurgents ( dirty politicians like Tony Abbott and Mike Corman and Michkalia Cash ) who worked on their dark agenda which will push back Australia’s progress in democracy and multiculturalism. Julie Bishop’s exit from the cabinet is a real loss to Australian voters. This debacle has also revealed Australia’s macho or male dominant culture which is so out of day and out of place in the modern world. Had she been a man she would have been voted as the Liberal leader and the new prime minister as she was the most preferred PM by popular poll among the 3 candidates prior to the Liberal party spill that brought Scott Morrison to the office of the 30th Australian prime minister.
An Australian government MP Julia Banks has revealed she will not contest the next election, condemning the parliament's "bullying and intimidation" of women.
Who did Ms Banks criticise?
The Liberal Party MP, who holds a marginal seat in Melbourne, did not make reference to specific incidents.
However, she said in a statement: "I will always call out bad behaviour and will not tolerate any form of bullying or intimidation. I have experienced this both from within my own party and the Labor party."
"In anticipating my critics saying I'm 'playing the gender card' - I say this. Women have suffered in silence for too long and in this last twelve months the world has seen many courageous women speak out," she added.
A supporter of Mr Turnbull and Julie Bishop - who was replaced as party deputy last week - Ms Banks also made a more general criticism about the political turmoil, rebuking unnamed figures with "mean-spirited grudges intent on settling their personal scores".
She said she would support new Prime Minister Scott Morrison and party deputy Josh Frydenberg.
Important links for fact finding :-
(1) Australians react with horror and humour amidst political chaos
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45278859
(2) Malcolm Turnbull: How the party turned on Australia's PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-45292632/malcolm-turnbull-how-the-party-turned-on-australia-s-pm
(3)Malcolm Turnbull: The 'refreshing' PM felled by revolts and revenge
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292458
(4) Scott Morrison: Australia's conservative pragmatist
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292331
(5) Malcolm Turnbull: Six moments that defined Australia's ex-PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45267126
(6) Australia: A history of political coups
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-45293252/australia-a-history-of-political-coups
(7) Four reasons why Australian politics is so crazy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45295667
(8) Scott Morrison is new Australian PM as Malcolm Turnbull ousted
Julie Bishop is probably the most able member of the Malcolm Turnbull cabinet. She had been cruelly betrayed. Shame on the right wing Liberal insurgents ( dirty politicians like Tony Abbott and Mike Corman and Michkalia Cash ) who worked on their dark agenda which will push back Australia’s progress in democracy and multiculturalism. Julie Bishop’s exit from the cabinet is a real loss to Australian voters. This debacle has also revealed Australia’s macho or male dominant culture which is so out of day and out of place in the modern world. Had she been a man she would have been voted as the Liberal leader and the new prime minister as she was the most preferred PM by popular poll among the 3 candidates prior to the Liberal party spill that brought Scott Morrison to the office of the 30th Australian prime minister.
An Australian government MP Julia Banks has revealed she will not contest the next election, condemning the parliament's "bullying and intimidation" of women.
Who did Ms Banks criticise?
The Liberal Party MP, who holds a marginal seat in Melbourne, did not make reference to specific incidents.
However, she said in a statement: "I will always call out bad behaviour and will not tolerate any form of bullying or intimidation. I have experienced this both from within my own party and the Labor party."
"In anticipating my critics saying I'm 'playing the gender card' - I say this. Women have suffered in silence for too long and in this last twelve months the world has seen many courageous women speak out," she added.
A supporter of Mr Turnbull and Julie Bishop - who was replaced as party deputy last week - Ms Banks also made a more general criticism about the political turmoil, rebuking unnamed figures with "mean-spirited grudges intent on settling their personal scores".
She said she would support new Prime Minister Scott Morrison and party deputy Josh Frydenberg.
Important links for fact finding :-
(1) Australians react with horror and humour amidst political chaos
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45278859
(2) Malcolm Turnbull: How the party turned on Australia's PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-45292632/malcolm-turnbull-how-the-party-turned-on-australia-s-pm
(3)Malcolm Turnbull: The 'refreshing' PM felled by revolts and revenge
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292458
(4) Scott Morrison: Australia's conservative pragmatist
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292331
(5) Malcolm Turnbull: Six moments that defined Australia's ex-PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45267126
(6) Australia: A history of political coups
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-45293252/australia-a-history-of-political-coups
(7) Four reasons why Australian politics is so crazy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45295667
(8) Scott Morrison is new Australian PM as Malcolm Turnbull ousted
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292637
(9) Julia Banks: Exiting Australia MP decries 'bullying' of women
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45339046
(10) Australia: Coup capital of the democratic world
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-34249214
(10) Australia: Coup capital of the democratic world
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-34249214
August 29, 2018.
Elon Musk Revives 'Pedo' Tweets Amid Concerns About His Erratic Social Media Behavior
By GRACE DOBUSH
Elon Musk, it seems, just can’t help himself.
Even amid intense scrutiny of the Tesla CEO’s erratic Twitter behavior, Musk sent several impulsive missives on the social media platform on Tuesday.
It started when Musk replied to a tweet linking to a Forbes article called “A Female Founder’s Take on the Tears of Elon Musk,” denying that he cried during an interview with the New York Times:
Tijen Onaran
✔
@TijenOnaran
· Aug 28, 2018
„Female founders must constantly consider how they are perceived in both business and life, which creates a tension that doesn’t allow us to be fully vulnerable or transparent.“ #mymorningquote Must-read & great piece on @elonmusk‘s tears https://www.forbes.com/sites/amynelson1/2018/08/21/a-female-founders-take-on-the-tears-of-elon-musk/ …
A Female Founder's Take On The Tears Of Elon Musk
In the wake of Elon Musk's interview with The New York Times, questions have been raised about how female founders would perceived if they acted the same way. Women are faced with a double standard...
forbes.com
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
For the record, my voice cracked once during the NY Times article. That’s it. There were no tears.
1:11 AM - Aug 29, 2018
A spokesperson for the Times told CNN that the paper stands by its description of the phone interview. “Mr. Musk’s emotion was audible. It is not true that his voice only cracked once,” the spokesperson said.
Then Drew Olanoff, a former TechCrunch writer, piped in to ask about the time Musk accused British diver Vern Unsworth, who helped rescue a Thai soccer team from a cave, of being a pedophile. After Musk’s initial “pedo” Tweet, Tesla’s share price dropped 4%:
drew olanoff
✔
@yoda
· 18h
Replying to @yoda and 3 others
one other thing, elon. your dedication to facts and truth would have been wonderful if applied to that time when you called someone a pedo.
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
You don’t think it’s strange he hasn’t sued me? He was offered free legal services. And you call yourself @yoda …
2:41 AM - Aug 29, 2018
In his response to Olanoff on Tuesday, Musk seemed to imply that if the “pedo” accusation were really false, the cave diver would have sued him.
Given recent events, you’d think Musk would lay off the tweet button.
Just two weeks ago, Musk’s tweet about possibly taking Tesla private briefly rallied investors and got the Securities and Exchange Commission’s attention. Some shareholders have sued. He’s blamed exhaustion for his unpredictable social media behavior, telling the New York Times he hasn’t taken a full week off work since 2001.
Last week, Arianna Huffington told Musk, who claims to work 120 hours a week, he should take better care of himself, to which he replied via Twitter at 2:30 a.m. saying change was not an option:
Arianna Huffington
✔
@ariannahuff
· Aug 18, 2018
Dear Elon, please change the way you work to be more in line with the science around how humans are most effective: You need it, Tesla needs it and the world needs it. http://ow.ly/XwpI30ls8w7
An Open Letter to Elon Musk
You’re demonstrating a wildly outdated, anti-scientific and horribly inefficient way of using human energy.
thriveglobal.com
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
Ford & Tesla are the only 2 American car companies to avoid bankruptcy. I just got home from the factory. You think this is an option. It is not.
7:32 PM - Aug 19, 2018
Musk’s tweeting is becoming a liability for Tesla, which now has $11.2 billion in short positions according to S3 Partners. “I’ve never seen a share price more tethered to a CEO, and I’ve never seen a CEO who is more untethered from reality,” a Tesla investor told Vanity Fair earlier this year. “Elon Musk is clearly more of a genius than Steve Jobs ever was, but Steve was more of a pro than Elon Musk has ever been.”
Elon Musk Revives 'Pedo' Tweets Amid Concerns About His Erratic Social Media Behavior
By GRACE DOBUSH
Elon Musk, it seems, just can’t help himself.
Even amid intense scrutiny of the Tesla CEO’s erratic Twitter behavior, Musk sent several impulsive missives on the social media platform on Tuesday.
It started when Musk replied to a tweet linking to a Forbes article called “A Female Founder’s Take on the Tears of Elon Musk,” denying that he cried during an interview with the New York Times:
Tijen Onaran
✔
@TijenOnaran
· Aug 28, 2018
„Female founders must constantly consider how they are perceived in both business and life, which creates a tension that doesn’t allow us to be fully vulnerable or transparent.“ #mymorningquote Must-read & great piece on @elonmusk‘s tears https://www.forbes.com/sites/amynelson1/2018/08/21/a-female-founders-take-on-the-tears-of-elon-musk/ …
A Female Founder's Take On The Tears Of Elon Musk
In the wake of Elon Musk's interview with The New York Times, questions have been raised about how female founders would perceived if they acted the same way. Women are faced with a double standard...
forbes.com
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
For the record, my voice cracked once during the NY Times article. That’s it. There were no tears.
1:11 AM - Aug 29, 2018
A spokesperson for the Times told CNN that the paper stands by its description of the phone interview. “Mr. Musk’s emotion was audible. It is not true that his voice only cracked once,” the spokesperson said.
Then Drew Olanoff, a former TechCrunch writer, piped in to ask about the time Musk accused British diver Vern Unsworth, who helped rescue a Thai soccer team from a cave, of being a pedophile. After Musk’s initial “pedo” Tweet, Tesla’s share price dropped 4%:
drew olanoff
✔
@yoda
· 18h
Replying to @yoda and 3 others
one other thing, elon. your dedication to facts and truth would have been wonderful if applied to that time when you called someone a pedo.
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
You don’t think it’s strange he hasn’t sued me? He was offered free legal services. And you call yourself @yoda …
2:41 AM - Aug 29, 2018
In his response to Olanoff on Tuesday, Musk seemed to imply that if the “pedo” accusation were really false, the cave diver would have sued him.
Given recent events, you’d think Musk would lay off the tweet button.
Just two weeks ago, Musk’s tweet about possibly taking Tesla private briefly rallied investors and got the Securities and Exchange Commission’s attention. Some shareholders have sued. He’s blamed exhaustion for his unpredictable social media behavior, telling the New York Times he hasn’t taken a full week off work since 2001.
Last week, Arianna Huffington told Musk, who claims to work 120 hours a week, he should take better care of himself, to which he replied via Twitter at 2:30 a.m. saying change was not an option:
Arianna Huffington
✔
@ariannahuff
· Aug 18, 2018
Dear Elon, please change the way you work to be more in line with the science around how humans are most effective: You need it, Tesla needs it and the world needs it. http://ow.ly/XwpI30ls8w7
An Open Letter to Elon Musk
You’re demonstrating a wildly outdated, anti-scientific and horribly inefficient way of using human energy.
thriveglobal.com
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
Ford & Tesla are the only 2 American car companies to avoid bankruptcy. I just got home from the factory. You think this is an option. It is not.
7:32 PM - Aug 19, 2018
Musk’s tweeting is becoming a liability for Tesla, which now has $11.2 billion in short positions according to S3 Partners. “I’ve never seen a share price more tethered to a CEO, and I’ve never seen a CEO who is more untethered from reality,” a Tesla investor told Vanity Fair earlier this year. “Elon Musk is clearly more of a genius than Steve Jobs ever was, but Steve was more of a pro than Elon Musk has ever been.”
Putin softens pension reform plans after protests - Financial Times
August 29, 2018.
Putin softens pension reform plans after protests
Changes had initially been announced during World Cup
President Putin addresses the nation on controversial pension reform © Reuters
Kathrin Hille in Moscow
Russian president Vladimir Putin has stepped in to soften tough pension reform plans which triggered widespread protests and undermined his popularity.
A draft bill providing for a steep rise in the pension age would be amended to make it more socially acceptable before its planned parliamentary approval in October, Mr Putin said in a televised address on Wednesday.
“The law proposes that the pension age for women be raised by 8 years while the pension age for men be raised by 5 years. That’s of course not going to work. That’s not right,” Mr Putin said. He said the pension age for women should be raised from the current 55 to 60 years, instead of 63 years. The age for men would still be lifted by five years, to 65.
Russia’s pension protests are a risk for the Kremlin
Mr Putin also said that government guarantees for annual increases would be added to the bill, which would raise pension levels by more than 40 per cent by the end of his current presidential term in 2024. He ordered a smattering of social benefits to soften the blow of the planned reforms.
Mr Putin’s move comes after his support rates and public trust in him personally suffered a sharp drop in the wake of the government’s policy initiative in June.
The Russian president defended the decision to raise the pension age in principle, warning that the country’s shrinking population did not allow for further delays. But he said that beyond the objective economic necessities, the government had to take people’s feelings and fears into account.
Didi blames 'ignorance and pride' for carpool murder - BBC News
Didi blames 'ignorance and pride' for carpool murder
28 August 2018
This is the latest instance of violence against Didi passengers
Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing has issued a public apology, blaming "ignorance and pride" for safety lapses that led to the rape and murder of a female passenger.
Executives said they would stop using growth to measure the firm's success and prioritise safety instead.
The move follows Didi's decision to suspend its carpool service, Hitch, amid outrage over the incident.
It was the second killing of a Hitch passenger in three months.
On Tuesday, the company apologised to the family of the victim and said the incident had prompted a reckoning within the firm.
"Our ignorance and pride led to irreversible pain and loss," Didi founder Cheng Wei and President Jean Liu said in an emailed statement.
"We see clearly this is because our vanity overtook our original belief. We raced non-stop, riding on the force of breathless expansion and capital, through these few years; but this has no meaning in such a tragic loss of life."
On Saturday, a 27-year-old driver was arrested and later confessed to the murder of the 20-year-old passenger.
While the driver did not have a criminal record, a previous passenger had filed a complaint against him, according to Didi.
'Try our utmost'
Since the incident, China's transport ministry has pressed Didi for changes, such as better driver vetting and education.
Local regulators have also reportedly met with the company.
On Tuesday, Didi said it would create a system for passengers to call police and improve safety features, such as a function that allows riders to share itineraries.
It also said it would re-evaluate the business model for Hitch.
"We might not be able to eradicate 100% the ill deeds carried out by criminals who might seek to abuse this platform, but we will try our upmost to protect passengers and drivers and continue to drive down crime rate in this industry," the statement said.
Didi Chuxing is the clear market leader in China
Founded in 2012, Didi had grown to handle about 25 million rides a day by the start of 2018, when it claimed more than 450 million users and about 21 million drivers.
The firm, which is backed by major investors such as Softbank, has also been pushing to enter new markets, including Mexico and Japan.
London taxi and private hire cab sex attacks 'at 14-year high'
Uber changes US sexual assault policies
It is not the only ride-hailing service to face a backlash over its safety controls.
Uber, which is also backed by Softbank and has a stake in Didi's China business, has grappled with similar issues in the US and India, prompting calls for tighter regulation.
In the UK, Uber promised to report crimes directly to police in an effort to improve safety.
28 August 2018
This is the latest instance of violence against Didi passengers
Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing has issued a public apology, blaming "ignorance and pride" for safety lapses that led to the rape and murder of a female passenger.
Executives said they would stop using growth to measure the firm's success and prioritise safety instead.
The move follows Didi's decision to suspend its carpool service, Hitch, amid outrage over the incident.
It was the second killing of a Hitch passenger in three months.
On Tuesday, the company apologised to the family of the victim and said the incident had prompted a reckoning within the firm.
"Our ignorance and pride led to irreversible pain and loss," Didi founder Cheng Wei and President Jean Liu said in an emailed statement.
"We see clearly this is because our vanity overtook our original belief. We raced non-stop, riding on the force of breathless expansion and capital, through these few years; but this has no meaning in such a tragic loss of life."
On Saturday, a 27-year-old driver was arrested and later confessed to the murder of the 20-year-old passenger.
While the driver did not have a criminal record, a previous passenger had filed a complaint against him, according to Didi.
'Try our utmost'
Since the incident, China's transport ministry has pressed Didi for changes, such as better driver vetting and education.
Local regulators have also reportedly met with the company.
On Tuesday, Didi said it would create a system for passengers to call police and improve safety features, such as a function that allows riders to share itineraries.
It also said it would re-evaluate the business model for Hitch.
"We might not be able to eradicate 100% the ill deeds carried out by criminals who might seek to abuse this platform, but we will try our upmost to protect passengers and drivers and continue to drive down crime rate in this industry," the statement said.
Didi Chuxing is the clear market leader in China
Founded in 2012, Didi had grown to handle about 25 million rides a day by the start of 2018, when it claimed more than 450 million users and about 21 million drivers.
The firm, which is backed by major investors such as Softbank, has also been pushing to enter new markets, including Mexico and Japan.
London taxi and private hire cab sex attacks 'at 14-year high'
Uber changes US sexual assault policies
It is not the only ride-hailing service to face a backlash over its safety controls.
Uber, which is also backed by Softbank and has a stake in Didi's China business, has grappled with similar issues in the US and India, prompting calls for tighter regulation.
In the UK, Uber promised to report crimes directly to police in an effort to improve safety.
Myanmar rejects UN accusation of 'genocide' against Rohingya - BBC News
August 29, 2018.
Myanmar rejects UN accusation of 'genocide' against Rohingya
The Rohingya are one of many ethnic minorities in Myanmar
Myanmar has rejected a UN report which called for top Burmese military figures to be investigated for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Government spokesman Zaw Htay said the country didn't agree with or accept "any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council".
China had earlier also decried the UN report, saying putting pressure on Myanmar was "not helpful".
Zaw Htay said Myanmar had zero tolerance for human rights violations.
His statement is the government's response to the unprecedented UN report, which was published on Monday.
"We didn't allow the FFM [the UN Fact-Finding Mission] to enter into Myanmar, that's why we don't agree and accept any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council," Zaw Htay told state news outlet the Global New Light of Myanmar.
He said Myanmar had its own Independent Commission of Enquiry to respond to "false allegations made by the UN agencies and other international communities".
Myanmar's army has previously cleared itself of wrongdoing.
China, which has a close economic and diplomatic relationship with Myanmar, had earlier said the "historical, religious and ethnic background of the Rakhine issue" was "extremely complex".
"Unilteral criticism or exerting pressure is actually not helpful in resolving the problem," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people are now living in refugee camps like this one in Bangladesh
The military launched a crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state last year after Rohingya militants carried out deadly attacks on police posts.
Thousands of people have died and more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Will we ever see Myanmar's military leaders in the dock?
What is genocide and why is the term so rarely used?
There have also been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years.
Cate Blanchett on the Rohingya crisis
The government says Rohingya Muslims are illegal immigrants who present a threat to the country's security and Buddhist identity.
The UN's wide-ranging and damning report named six senior military figures, including army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who it said should be investigated for genocide, and called for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
It said the violence of the past year had been "a catastrophe looming for decades".
'Facebook is the internet'
Zaw Htaw also took a strong stance against Facebook, saying the government had been unaware the network was planning to erase accounts and pages linked to the recent allegations.
Facebook removed 18 accounts and 52 Facebook pages in Myanmar and banned 20 groups or organisations altogether after the UN report said it had become a "useful instrument for those seeking to spread hate".
The social media platform has admitted it was too slow to react to the crisis.
Army chief Min Aung Hlaing also had his Facebook account banned
"We have many questions to be raised regarding the removal of these Facebook accounts," said Zaw Htay to the Global New Light. "Why did they ban... and how can we retrieve these accounts?"
He agreed with UN's assertion that "for most users, Facebook is the internet".
Why Facebook banned an army chief
Zaw Htay also said that the government had "made inquiries" to Facebook, adding that plans were "underway" to reach an agreement between the government and Facebook.
Facebook is one of the biggest social media platforms in Myanmar, with more than 18 million users.
It was the first time Facebook has banned any country's military or political leader.
Myanmar rejects UN accusation of 'genocide' against Rohingya
The Rohingya are one of many ethnic minorities in Myanmar
Myanmar has rejected a UN report which called for top Burmese military figures to be investigated for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Government spokesman Zaw Htay said the country didn't agree with or accept "any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council".
China had earlier also decried the UN report, saying putting pressure on Myanmar was "not helpful".
Zaw Htay said Myanmar had zero tolerance for human rights violations.
His statement is the government's response to the unprecedented UN report, which was published on Monday.
"We didn't allow the FFM [the UN Fact-Finding Mission] to enter into Myanmar, that's why we don't agree and accept any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council," Zaw Htay told state news outlet the Global New Light of Myanmar.
He said Myanmar had its own Independent Commission of Enquiry to respond to "false allegations made by the UN agencies and other international communities".
Myanmar's army has previously cleared itself of wrongdoing.
China, which has a close economic and diplomatic relationship with Myanmar, had earlier said the "historical, religious and ethnic background of the Rakhine issue" was "extremely complex".
"Unilteral criticism or exerting pressure is actually not helpful in resolving the problem," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people are now living in refugee camps like this one in Bangladesh
The military launched a crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state last year after Rohingya militants carried out deadly attacks on police posts.
Thousands of people have died and more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Will we ever see Myanmar's military leaders in the dock?
What is genocide and why is the term so rarely used?
There have also been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years.
Cate Blanchett on the Rohingya crisis
The government says Rohingya Muslims are illegal immigrants who present a threat to the country's security and Buddhist identity.
The UN's wide-ranging and damning report named six senior military figures, including army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who it said should be investigated for genocide, and called for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
It said the violence of the past year had been "a catastrophe looming for decades".
'Facebook is the internet'
Zaw Htaw also took a strong stance against Facebook, saying the government had been unaware the network was planning to erase accounts and pages linked to the recent allegations.
Facebook removed 18 accounts and 52 Facebook pages in Myanmar and banned 20 groups or organisations altogether after the UN report said it had become a "useful instrument for those seeking to spread hate".
The social media platform has admitted it was too slow to react to the crisis.
Army chief Min Aung Hlaing also had his Facebook account banned
"We have many questions to be raised regarding the removal of these Facebook accounts," said Zaw Htay to the Global New Light. "Why did they ban... and how can we retrieve these accounts?"
He agreed with UN's assertion that "for most users, Facebook is the internet".
Why Facebook banned an army chief
Zaw Htay also said that the government had "made inquiries" to Facebook, adding that plans were "underway" to reach an agreement between the government and Facebook.
Facebook is one of the biggest social media platforms in Myanmar, with more than 18 million users.
It was the first time Facebook has banned any country's military or political leader.
Trump warns of 'left-wing violence' if Democrats win mid-term elections - BBC News
August 29, 2018.
Trump warns of 'left-wing violence' if Democrats win mid-term elections
Mr Trump was appealing to conservative Christian groups for help
US President Donald Trump has warned that his policies will be "violently" overturned if the Democrats win November's mid-term elections.
He told Evangelical leaders that the vote was a "referendum" on freedom of speech and religion, and that these were threatened by "violent people".
He appealed to conservative Christian groups for help, saying they were one vote away from "losing everything".
Mid-term elections are widely seen as a test of the president's popularity.
Mr Trump has been battling negative publicity after his ex-lawyer and former campaign chief were convicted earlier this month.
Can we tell now if Democrats will win US election?
Why US mid-term elections matter
Will Trump remain bulletproof?
An audio recording of Mr Trump's closed-door meeting with Evangelical leaders at the White House was leaked to US media.
During the meeting, Mr Trump said the mid-term elections were not just a referendum on him but also "on your religion, it's a referendum on free speech and the First Amendment [guaranteeing basic freedoms]".
"It's not a question of like or dislike, it's a question that they will overturn everything that we've done and they will do it quickly and violently. And violently. There is violence. When you look at Antifa - these are violent people," he said.
Antifa - short for anti-fascist - refers to groups of far-left protesters who fight far-right ideology and regularly clash with far-right demonstrators.
The US president has previously criticised left-wing groups, infamously saying that there had been violence on "many sides" after a white nationalist killed a left-wing demonstrator at a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville last year.
'A battle for the soul of America'
Antifa: Left-wing militants on the rise
Urging the Evangelical leaders to use their influence to swing voters, Mr Trump told them they had "tremendous power".
"In this room, you have people who preach to almost 200 million people. Depending on which Sunday we're talking about," he said.
"Little thing: Merry Christmas, right? You couldn't say 'Merry Christmas'," he added, according to US media reports.
Two of those who heard Mr Trump speak downplayed the remarks, according to a reporter from National Public Radio (NPR).
What's at stake in the midterms?
President Donald Trump himself is not up for re-election, but his ability to govern in the final two years of his term will hinge upon the 6 November outcome.
All 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 out of 50 state governors, along with many state and local offices, are up for election.
Why these Latinos love Trump
Republicans currently hold sway in both chambers of Congress and the White House. But some Democrats have been predicting a "blue wave".
On Tuesday a left-wing Democratic candidate beat better-funded centrist challengers to win his party's primary contest and will stand against Mr Trump's favoured candidate.
Andrew Gillum, who is currently mayor of Tallahassee, will oppose Ron DeSantis. If elected, Mr Gillum would be Florida's first black governor.
Trump warns of 'left-wing violence' if Democrats win mid-term elections
Mr Trump was appealing to conservative Christian groups for help
US President Donald Trump has warned that his policies will be "violently" overturned if the Democrats win November's mid-term elections.
He told Evangelical leaders that the vote was a "referendum" on freedom of speech and religion, and that these were threatened by "violent people".
He appealed to conservative Christian groups for help, saying they were one vote away from "losing everything".
Mid-term elections are widely seen as a test of the president's popularity.
Mr Trump has been battling negative publicity after his ex-lawyer and former campaign chief were convicted earlier this month.
Can we tell now if Democrats will win US election?
Why US mid-term elections matter
Will Trump remain bulletproof?
An audio recording of Mr Trump's closed-door meeting with Evangelical leaders at the White House was leaked to US media.
During the meeting, Mr Trump said the mid-term elections were not just a referendum on him but also "on your religion, it's a referendum on free speech and the First Amendment [guaranteeing basic freedoms]".
"It's not a question of like or dislike, it's a question that they will overturn everything that we've done and they will do it quickly and violently. And violently. There is violence. When you look at Antifa - these are violent people," he said.
Antifa - short for anti-fascist - refers to groups of far-left protesters who fight far-right ideology and regularly clash with far-right demonstrators.
The US president has previously criticised left-wing groups, infamously saying that there had been violence on "many sides" after a white nationalist killed a left-wing demonstrator at a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville last year.
'A battle for the soul of America'
Antifa: Left-wing militants on the rise
Urging the Evangelical leaders to use their influence to swing voters, Mr Trump told them they had "tremendous power".
"In this room, you have people who preach to almost 200 million people. Depending on which Sunday we're talking about," he said.
"Little thing: Merry Christmas, right? You couldn't say 'Merry Christmas'," he added, according to US media reports.
Two of those who heard Mr Trump speak downplayed the remarks, according to a reporter from National Public Radio (NPR).
What's at stake in the midterms?
President Donald Trump himself is not up for re-election, but his ability to govern in the final two years of his term will hinge upon the 6 November outcome.
All 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 out of 50 state governors, along with many state and local offices, are up for election.
Why these Latinos love Trump
Republicans currently hold sway in both chambers of Congress and the White House. But some Democrats have been predicting a "blue wave".
On Tuesday a left-wing Democratic candidate beat better-funded centrist challengers to win his party's primary contest and will stand against Mr Trump's favoured candidate.
Andrew Gillum, who is currently mayor of Tallahassee, will oppose Ron DeSantis. If elected, Mr Gillum would be Florida's first black governor.
Toyota Is Investing $500 Million in Uber to Get Self-Driving Cars on the Road - TIME Business
Toyota Is Investing $500 Million in Uber to Get Self-Driving Cars on the Road
Posted: 27 Aug 2018 07:20 PM PDT
Toyota Motor Corp. is expanding an alliance with Uber Technologies Inc. through a new investment and a plan to get self-driving cars on the road.
The Japanese automaker is investing $500 million in Uber, the companies said on Monday. The deal values the ride-hailing giant at $72 billion, said a person familiar with the matter.
As part of the pact, Toyota will manufacture Sienna minivans equipped with Uber’s self-driving technology, and another company will operate the fleet. They have yet to identify the third partner, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the details are private.
Spokesmen for Uber and Toyota initially declined to comment but later confirmed the news. The Wall Street Journal reported the investment earlier Monday, and details of the driverless-car partnership hadn’t been previously reported.
“Since 2015, we’ve been working to bring safe, reliable self-driving technology to the Uber network,” Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group, wrote in a blog post Monday afternoon. “We knew we couldn’t do it alone, which is why we continue to partner with world-class vehicle manufacturers to make our vision a reality.”
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive officer, is looking to stabilize the company after a rocky year of corporate scandals and the death of a pedestrian struck by an Uber self-driving car. Over that time, the company’s share price has seen more ups and downs than a typical privately held company.
The deal with Toyota raises Uber’s paper valuation by 15 percent from the last investment and matches the value of shares given to Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo after Uber settled a lawsuit over self-driving cars. A group of investors valued Uber at $62 billion earlier this year.
Uber has developed a three-pronged self-driving strategy. For one, Uber purchased Volvos, retrofitted the cars with its self-driving technology and operates the fleet on its own. In another, Daimler AG will own and operate its own self-driving cars on Uber’s network. And the deal with Toyota becomes a third pillar, where Uber licenses its technology.
Public road testing with Uber’s self-driving Volvos is still on hold after one of its vehicles killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, in March. Uber had deactivated Volvo’s automatic braking system in that vehicle, which raised questions about safety. The incident tainted the company’s expensive self-driving car program, giving automakers another reason to worry about working with Uber.
Nonetheless, Toyota has continued to stick with Uber since its initial investment in 2016. Toyota Financial Services Corp. has been providing incentives to Uber drivers to purchase the company’s vehicles. As with traditional rental companies like Avis Budget Group Inc., Toyota is also trying to sell Uber fleet-management services based on the rapidly expanding volume of data it’s collecting from connected cars. These services include being able to monitor whether a car is being properly maintained or driven too aggressively.
In a separate partnership around self-driving vehicle development outlined in January, a Toyota spokesman said Uber wouldn’t turn off the automaker’s built-in safety features, including radar and other sensors that help to anticipate what other vehicles and pedestrians are doing in a wide space around the vehicle.
Posted: 27 Aug 2018 07:20 PM PDT
Toyota Motor Corp. is expanding an alliance with Uber Technologies Inc. through a new investment and a plan to get self-driving cars on the road.
The Japanese automaker is investing $500 million in Uber, the companies said on Monday. The deal values the ride-hailing giant at $72 billion, said a person familiar with the matter.
As part of the pact, Toyota will manufacture Sienna minivans equipped with Uber’s self-driving technology, and another company will operate the fleet. They have yet to identify the third partner, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the details are private.
Spokesmen for Uber and Toyota initially declined to comment but later confirmed the news. The Wall Street Journal reported the investment earlier Monday, and details of the driverless-car partnership hadn’t been previously reported.
“Since 2015, we’ve been working to bring safe, reliable self-driving technology to the Uber network,” Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group, wrote in a blog post Monday afternoon. “We knew we couldn’t do it alone, which is why we continue to partner with world-class vehicle manufacturers to make our vision a reality.”
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive officer, is looking to stabilize the company after a rocky year of corporate scandals and the death of a pedestrian struck by an Uber self-driving car. Over that time, the company’s share price has seen more ups and downs than a typical privately held company.
The deal with Toyota raises Uber’s paper valuation by 15 percent from the last investment and matches the value of shares given to Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo after Uber settled a lawsuit over self-driving cars. A group of investors valued Uber at $62 billion earlier this year.
Uber has developed a three-pronged self-driving strategy. For one, Uber purchased Volvos, retrofitted the cars with its self-driving technology and operates the fleet on its own. In another, Daimler AG will own and operate its own self-driving cars on Uber’s network. And the deal with Toyota becomes a third pillar, where Uber licenses its technology.
Public road testing with Uber’s self-driving Volvos is still on hold after one of its vehicles killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, in March. Uber had deactivated Volvo’s automatic braking system in that vehicle, which raised questions about safety. The incident tainted the company’s expensive self-driving car program, giving automakers another reason to worry about working with Uber.
Nonetheless, Toyota has continued to stick with Uber since its initial investment in 2016. Toyota Financial Services Corp. has been providing incentives to Uber drivers to purchase the company’s vehicles. As with traditional rental companies like Avis Budget Group Inc., Toyota is also trying to sell Uber fleet-management services based on the rapidly expanding volume of data it’s collecting from connected cars. These services include being able to monitor whether a car is being properly maintained or driven too aggressively.
In a separate partnership around self-driving vehicle development outlined in January, a Toyota spokesman said Uber wouldn’t turn off the automaker’s built-in safety features, including radar and other sensors that help to anticipate what other vehicles and pedestrians are doing in a wide space around the vehicle.
Somebody Just Paid a Record $48.4 Million for a Rare Vintage Ferrari - TIME
Somebody Just Paid a Record $48.4 Million for a Rare Vintage Ferrari
Posted: 28 Aug 2018 06:47 AM PDT
A red 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $48.4 million on Saturday in California, the most ever paid for a classic car at auction.
The vehicle was offered by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, and was estimated to fetch between $45 million and $60 million, the highest valuation ever for a vintage auto at auction. It smashed the previous record of $38.1 million paid for a 1963 model of the same car in 2014.
The seller was Greg Whitten, chairman of Numerix Software Ltd. and an early Microsoft Corp. employee, who purchased it in 2000. Sotheby’s declined to say how much he bought it for, but said the market price for such Ferraris at the time was about $10 million.
Ferrari built just 36 examples of the model from 1953 to 1964, and these elegant race cars have generated the highest prices among all vintage automobiles in recent years. A 1963 version sold for $70 million in a private transaction earlier this year, according to Sotheby’s.
The record price includes the buyer’s premium based on the hammer price of $44 million, calculated at 12 percent on the first $250,000 and 10 percent on the remainder.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
