World News Briefs For Wednesday, 21 Jan 2020
Hello Australia!! - Greta Thunberg asks the world to act as if its loves its children - While Trump urges leaders to ignore the climate crisis - Where in the US did the Wuhan Coronavirus show up? - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:
Donald Trump gave the opening address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, pretty much advising the world to ignore the climate crisis and labelling climate activists as "perennial prophets of doom". Trump also bragged about the US position as the world's biggest oil and gas exporter. He'll meet with economic leaders, although he denied that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky was on his schedule.
Meanwhile, 17-year old climate activist Greta Thunberg gave two speeches at the World Economic Forum, warning leaders that the time for action is almost over: "Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fueling the flames by the hour. And we are telling you to act as if you loved your children above all else," she urged delegates. Trump and Thunberg did not specifically mention the other, but used their speeches to stake out wildly divergent world views on the undeniable reality of man-made climate change. Other climate activists belittled Trump's announcement that the US join a plan would plant "a trillion" trees to counteract climate change, noting it would barely scratch the surface - Greta noted such an idea is good but is "nowhere near enough of what is needed".
Outside in the cold distance, a protest did growl as hundreds of environmental and social activists set off on a three-day protest march from the village of Landquart to Davos. It is likely the marchers won't get anywhere near the 3,000 politicians, academics, and business people from 117 countries as Swiss security has gotten tigher with each year. That is not lost on activist Theres Matter who said, "(The) world's leaders meet for 20 years; they always say they want to make the world better, but for me they have not even made any progress."
While Trump was in Davos, his impeachment trial opened in the United States Senate with Republicans trying to force through rules to severely limit the time that the Democrats have to make their case for removing Trump from office for high crimes and misdemeanors. The lead Impeachment Manager for the Democrats, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, took Republicans by surprise by taking an argument over process and laying out the case for impeachment. Democrats lambasted Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House for refusing to hear evidence and blocking key witnesses from testifying. Trump is accused of abusing power by trying to strongarm Ukraine into doing political dirty work for him, and of obsctruction for trying to cover it up.
Federal prosecutors in Brazil charged journalist Glenn Greenwald with cybercrimes after his website The Intercept last year revealed collusion between a crusading judge and prosecutors to target enemies of the right for corruption charges. Police had already concluded that these allegations against Mr. Greenwald had no merit, and Greenwald's supporters characterize the prosecutors' actions as nothing less than an attack on journalism and democracy itself. Several politicians from across the political spectrum voices support for Greenwald.
Airports around the world are ramping up screening for the Wuhan Coronavirus, which has killed three people and sickened hundreds of people in China with a pneumonia-like respiratory illness. Other infections have been detected in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and for the first time in the United States. Like the other cases that got out of China, a young man who had travelled through Wuhan City in China brought the virus back with him, this time to the Seattle area. The patient is in a good condition but remains hospitalized "out of an abundance of caution," Seattle health officials said. "We are grateful the patient is doing well," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Ozzy Osbourne says he has Parkinson's Disease. The 71-year old Black Sabbath and solo singer joins the ranks of Billy Connolly, Michael J. Fox., Muhammad Ali, Linda Ronstadt, and other who've gone public with their diagnoses. Still, Osbourne says he will take one more ride on the Crazy Train with a tour across North America and Europe from May.