New Way Normal

    Farmers' unions have rejected an Indian government offer to put controversial reforms on hold for 18 months. The unions said the three new farm laws must be fully repealed, a move the government has ruled out. Farmers have been camped on Delhi's outskirts since 26 November to protest against the laws, which will further open up agriculture to the free market. The government had proposed setting up a joint committee to find an amicable solution to end the deadlock. This followed several rounds of failed talks between the sides. Talking to the media after the meeting, farmer group leaders said the government was ready to form a special panel to review demands for a minimum support price (MSP), and the laws. But later on Thursday the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of unions leading the protests, ruled out any deal. "In a full general body meeting the proposal put forth by the government yesterday was rejected," a statement said. "We will not go bac...

    An order has been made to remove a police chief of an affluent area of the Philippine capital, Manila, for his handling of a probe into the suspected rape and murder of an air stewardess. The case of Christine Dacera, found dead in a hotel room after a New Year's Eve party, made headlines for weeks. Police quickly said she had been raped and murdered, arresting three men. But the men have now been released while questions have been raised over officers' initial conclusions. The ordered removal of Makati Police Chief Colonel Harold Depositar is the latest development, and comes in the wake of massive criticism for their handling of the high profile case. Critics say the case represents a denial of due process, an issue that has been raised before in relation to their implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte's "War on Drugs" What did police initially say? On 4 January, police issued a statement that they had "solved" the death of the 23-ye...

    Five people have been killed in a fire at the site of the world's largest vaccine producer in western India. The blaze started at a building which was still under construction at the Serum Institute of India's facilities in Pune on Thursday afternoon. Footage showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from a building on the company's sprawling site. The company said vaccine production would not be affected. The cause of the fire has not been identified. The fire was later brought under control, but the city's mayor confirmed that five people had died. "We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident," the Serum Institute's CEO, Adar Poonawalla, said in a tweet. "We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed." Mr Poonawalla said there would be no impact on the production of the Oxfor...

   Poco C3 sales in India have surpassed the milestone of one million units, Poco India announced on Thursday. The budget smartphone was launched in the country in October as a slightly tweaked version of the Redmi 9C that debuted in Malaysia in June. Poco C3 competes against the likes of Realme C11, Infinix Smart 4 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy M01. It comes with triple rear cameras, waterdrop-style display notch, and a MediaTek Helio G35 SoC. Poco C3 also includes up to 32GB of onboard storage option. Poco C3 crossed the one-million sales mark in a little over three months since its launch in the Indian market. The smartphone has also received a discounted price that is applicable until January 24. Poco C3 price discount Under the limited-period discount, Poco C3 is available at Rs. 6,999 for the 3GB + 32GB storage variant, while its 4GB + 64GB storage model comes at Rs. 7,999. Both prices show a Rs. 500 cut from its regular pricing and are applicable through Flipk...

  A Chinese restaurant in Montreal has been winning the hearts of netizens for its brutally honest menu card that is now doing the rounds on social media. Restaurants are generally known to boast about their dishes before customers. But Feigang Fei, who runs Aunt Dai Chinese restaurant, chose to design a menu with honest descriptions of the dishes. Each description features the owner’s take on the dishes. For instance, about orange beef, it reads, “Comparing to our General Tao Chicken, this one is not THAT good. Anyway, I am not a big fan of North American Chinese food and it’s your call.” Another such description for yet another beef dish reads, “According to a lot of customers, this one is very popular I still didn’t have a chance to taste it. Looks like I should spend more time eating in my own restaurant.” Fei, who opened the restaurant seven years back, would initially be disappointed when customers returned the food uneaten. “Some customers who hadn’t tried cer...

 A relationship requires love, care, and understanding to blossom over time. But the open secret to a stable and balanced relationship is something couples often find difficult to comprehend: hard work. “The way a gardener goes about de-cluttering the garden of unwanted weeds, dry leaves and twigs, the same has to be done in any relationship. Crystal clear communication helps remove unwanted baggage and allows space for more understanding,” said Jayapalashri Anil, meditation facilitator, Samskara Healing. She added that a balanced relationship is a two-way street and requires equal give and take. “The element of forgiveness and clear communication becomes critical during off days and days of mismatched efforts. A relationship does not work on auto-mode rather it requires constant willingness to put hard and heart work. Perfect marriages are not made in heaven but made perfect by imperfect individuals,” she told indianexpress.com . *Understand your partner’s likes and...

 Popstar Lady Gaga is all set to sing the National Anthem at US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, DC today. But before the much-awaited performance, she shared a picture of herself from the US Capitol Building. In the photo, The A Star Is Born actor was seen in an all-white ensemble — a white overcoat that featured cape sleeves. The singer never really plays it cool, and it will be interesting to see what all she has in store. Sharing the picture she wrote, “I pray tomorrow will be a day of peace for all Americans. A day for love, not hatred. A day for acceptance not fear. A day for dreaming of our future joy as a country. A dream that is non-violent, a dream that provides safety for our souls. Love, from the Capitol” On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Joe Biden paid tribute Covid-19 victims. He led a national mourning ceremony at Lincoln Memorial, where 400 lights were lit to honour the 400,000 people who died due to the virus in...

  (CNN) Local and federal officials in Brazil were warned of looming oxygen shortages nearly a week before crisis struck in the city of Manaus, the country's Solicitor General has revealed. In a country already hard-hit by the coronavirus, oxygen shortages and soaring Covid-19 cases have pushed Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, into a healthcare crisis. Nurses in the city have been quoted in local news reports as saying patients have died of asphyxiation in the city's hospitals because there is no oxygen to give them.   The Brazilian government has come under sharp criticism over its handling of the crisis. Last week, Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski ordered the government to present a response plan to solve the oxygen shortage, citing the Jair Bolsonaro administration's "omissive behavior" in addressing the emergency.   On Sunday, Bolsonaro's Solicitor General José Levi do Amaral sent a 16-page report defending the government's r...

   Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -- Dana kelola tabungan perumahan PNS senilai Rp11,86 triliun dari Badan Pengelola  Tabungan Perumahan Rakyat (Bapetarum) resmi beralih ke Badan Pengelola Tabungan Perumahan Rakyat ( BP Tapera ) pada Selasa (19/1) kemarin. Deputi Komisioner Bidang Pengerahan Dana BP Tapera Eko Ariantoro mengatakan proses peralihan ini dilakukan oleh tim likuidasi yang terdiri dari perwakilan berbagai lembaga, mulai dari Bapetarum, BP Tapera, Kementerian Keuangan, Kementerian PUPR, Kementerian Dalam Negeri, hingga PT Taspen (Persero). "Proses yang dilakukan tim likuiditas sudah selesai artinya dana sudah ke BP Tapera dan tugas kami mengoptimalkan dana kelola yang saat ini jumlahnya Rp11,86 triliun," ucap Eko saat konferensi pers virtual dengan awak media, Selasa (19/1). Eko mengatakan dari dana kelola itu sebanyak Rp9,26 triliun merupakan dana kelola dari Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS) aktif. Sisanya, Rp2,6 triliun merupakan dana kelola dari pensiunan PNS...

   Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -- Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani memprediksi Pendapatan Asli Daerah (PAD) turun sebesar 15 persen menjadi Rp250,3 triliun di 2020. Tahun lalu, pemerintah daerah berhasil mengantongi PAD sebesar Rp293,6 triliun. "Meskipun kinerja PAD menunjukkan perbaikan, namun kami lihat penurunan sebesar 15 persen akibat covid-19 , hampir mirip dengan situasi nasional," ujarnya dalam rapat kerja bersama Komite IV DPD RI, Selasa (19/1). Secara total, pendapatan daerah dalam APBD diperkirakan mencapai Rp1.385,1 triliun. Jumlah tersebut, lagi-lagi diprediksi turun 5,3 persen dibandingkan tahun lalu. Namun, bendahara negara menuturkan berkurangnya pendapatan daerah tersebut lebih baik ketimbang penurunan pendapatan negara dalam APBN yang mencapai 16,7 persen. Menurutnya, pendapatan daerah tersebut ditopang oleh Transfer ke Daerah dan Dana Desa (TKDD) dari pemerintah pusat sebesar Rp742,5 triliun atau 99,8 persen dari pagu anggaran. Ia menyatakan pemerint...

  Hong Kong / New Delhi (CNN Business) Amazon ( AMZN ) wants India to play a key role in its ambitions to conquer streaming video. But the company now faces a political backlash over one of its new original shows. Authorities are looking into claims that Amazon's new Prime Video series "Tandav" includes religiously insensitive content. Several Indian politicians say they have complained to the police or regulators about the company and the show's creators.   The title is a political drama that has been likened to the hit Netflix ( NFLX ) series "House of Cards." It was released last Friday on Amazon's streaming service and boasts some of Bollywood's biggest names, including celebrity director Ali Abbas Zafar and actor Saif Ali Khan.   The show follows a power-hungry politician who is willing to do anything to become the country's prime minister. It appears to be loosely based on real political controversies that have erupted acro...

    (CNN) Selena Gomez was named after the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, and now she's following in her footsteps. The pop star has released a single in Spanish, "De Una Vez."   She posted a snippet of the song's music video on her verified Instagram account Thursday.   "This is the beginning of something I've wanted to explore for so long," the caption read in part. "I hope you love it as much as I do."   In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Gomez said she wanted to work on a Spanish project because she is "so proud" of her heritage.   "I happen to feel like it's the perfect timing," she said. "With all the division in the world, there's something about Latin music that globally just makes people feel things."   Gomez released her third solo album, "Rare," a year ago.  

    (CNN) A fascinating historical meeting of the minds provides the foundation for Regina King's impressive feature film directorial debut in "One Night in Miami," a creative extrapolation about Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke coming together in 1964. It's a small but riveting movie, anchored by a quartet of knockout performances. Adapted by Kemp Powers from his play (he's having quite a year, having just co-directed Pixar's "Soul"), the story hinges on Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir, who recently played Barack Obama in Showtime's "The Comey Rule" ) trying to recruit high-profile converts to Islam, using Ali (Eli Goree), then still Cassius Clay, as his point of entry.   The boxer has just won the heavyweight title when he and friends gather in a Florida hotel room. Rounding out the foursome are star NFL running back Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and crooner Sam Cooke ("Hamilton's" Leslie Odom Jr.), w...

   As parents, we have many hopes for our kids. We want them to grow up to live happy, successful lives. We hope they'll find love, maybe have kids of their own, and pursue their dreams. But at the bottom of all these wishes is the hope that our kid turns into a decent human being -- someone who is kind, respectful, and honest. How do you bolster these strengths as well as teach key skills such as teamwork, communication, and perseverance? For the most part, kids will learn these things by following your example and through experience gained at school and in their communities. But media is another entry point. Since movies, TV shows, books, video games, and social media are such a huge part of kids' lives, it makes sense that kids can learn important lessons about character through media.    100+ ways to help kids learn grit, determination and resilience   Here are some specific things you can do or say to reinforce character: Watch sports. Not only...

  Many employers and employees love the thought of a four-day workweek . Supposedly, a four-day work schedule allows workers extra time to pursue leisure activities and family togetherness. Spurred on by visions of spending more time at the beach, many people are now encouraging businesses to adopt this kind of work plan. There are many purported advantages . Some authorities say that a four-day work schedule facilitates the ability to provide child care and assistance for the elderly.   Proponents of such "compressed" work schedules -- those in which employees work longer hours for fewer days of the week --- point to gains in productivity that result from decreased overhead costs , such as not having to keep the lights on when nobody is working. Additional cost savings can be obtained from reducing total weekly commuting time .   A variety of business have tested the four-day concept, including Amazon, Google, Deloitte and a host of smaller firms. Amazon annou...

    (CNN) Exercise , a healthy diet and not smoking or drinking can help you live years longer even if you're struggling with other chronic medical conditions, according to a new study. While a healthy lifestyle has long been linked to a longer life span, there's been very little research to date on how lifestyle factors affect people with "multimorbidity" -- living with two or more long-term mental or physical health conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, cancer, depression, migraine, diabetes and angina.   To find out, a team of UK researchers tracked 93,736 middle-aged adults who had two or more of 36 chronic conditions, for up to nine years. The team assessed four lifestyle factors: leisure-time physical activity, smoking, diet and alcohol consumption.    A very healthy lifestyle, the researchers found, is associated with up to 6.3 years longer life for men and 7.6 years for women, regardless of the presence of multipl...