APTN National NewsA former Winnipeg remand centre employee who claims she witnessed guards abusing prisoners says her complaints weren’t taken seriously.Now there are charges against one guard.APTN National News reporter Ntawnis Piapot has this story.
By Jorge BarreraAPTN National NewsOTTAWA–A weakening Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, now into day 20 of her hunger strike, issued a “call to arms” Sunday during a rare press conference outside her snow-covered teepee on Victoria Island.Spence, who began her hunger-strike on Dec. 11 with the aim of forcing a treaty meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the governor-general and First Nations leaders, said she was feeling weak and tired.“I am feeling a little bit weak and I get tired easily,” said Spence, while surrounded by TV cameras and reporters shivering from the -21 C temperatures with the wind chill.APTN National News was told that Spence suffered through a rough day on Saturday and Sunday’s press conference and meeting with MPs during a two hour open-house at the log fence-lined compound was expected to exhaust her.While Spence spoke briefly, repeating her position that she plans to continue the hunger strike until the meeting happens, one of her closest aides Danny Metatawabin, from Attawapiskat, read a statement on her behalf.In the statement, Spence called on First Nations chiefs to start leading the Idle No More movement, which was sparked and maintained by grassroots people through round dances, blockades and rallies across the country throughout December.“This is a call to arms and a call to action in the most peaceful and respectful way that reflects our natural laws as Indigenous nations,” said Metatawabin as he read the statement. “First Nations leadership needs to take charge and control of the situation on behalf of the grassroots movement. We need to reignite that nation to nation relationship.”Over a dozen MPs and Senators from the Liberal and NDP parties also visited with Spence Sunday, lining up to shake her hand and later waiting their turn to enter the teepee where Spence sleeps, which is warmed by a woodstove and insulated by blankets on the inside.“How could it be that in a country like Canada that someone has to have a hunger strike in order to get the prime minister to meet nationally elected leaders?” said NDP MP Charlie Angus, whose riding includes Attawapiskat. “I am asking the prime minister, don’t be a fool.”Liberal leadership candidate Marc Garneau said he didn’t agree that Harper would set a problematic precedent by agreeing to the demands of a hunger-striker. Garneau said the current situation was comprised of a number of factors that set it apart.“This is a dramatic situation, this is a manifestation of a huge amount of frustration between a huge amount of frustration between Aboriginal people, First Nations and the government,” said Garneau. “This is a very, very serious and important part of being a leader in government. He should meet with Aboriginal leaders and Chief Spence.”Across the country again Sunday, the Idle No More movement continued apace through round dances, traffic slowdowns and two ongoing rail blockades in Ontario and British Columbia.Also in Ottawa Sunday, a group of about 30 chiefs met to discuss their next plan of action.jbarrera@aptn.ca@JorgeBarrera
The Canadian PressLA LOCHE, Sask. – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected today in a northern Saskatchewan community where residents have spent the last week grieving a shooting that left four people dead and seven others wounded. The isolated Dene community of La Loche was rocked to its core last Friday when a shooter killed two brothers at a home in town before going to the high school and killing a teacher and a teacher’s aide. A 17-year-old boy, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Friends have said he was an outcast at home and a victim of bullying at school. The prime minister, who is to be joined by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, was in Switzerland when he was notified of the shooting. He said at the time that all Canadians stand with the people of La Loche in what he called “every parent’s worst nightmare.” Teachers from the school have posted a letter on Facebook that assures students they won’t be deserted after last week’s events. “Some people have expressed concern that some of us have left and the fact is, we are hurt and we are healing but we are still here,” the letter says. “Some people need to leave to get help. We don’t judge or condemn anyone who needs to be somewhere else to pick up the pieces, but we are choosing to move forward together, as a family and a community,” in continues. “We are supporting each other so we can help support you. We will be back. We will rebuild. We will get better together. “So if you find yourself wondering where your teachers and school staff are, the answer is: we are in La Loche. Because truly, where else would we be?”
Kent Driscoll APTN National NewsAnnie Pootgoogook was laid to rest in Cape Dorset, Nunavut Wednesday by family and friends.While Canada mourns an artist lost, Cape Dorset mourns for a family.This as Ottawa police continue to investigate the suspicious circumstances around her untimely death.
Tamara PimentelAPTN NewsMembers of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) in northern Alberta voiced its opposition to the Syncrude Mildred Lake extension project on Monday at a hearing in Fort McMurray, Alta.“This project here is just going to continue to add to more problems we are having today,” said Chief Allan Adam of the ACFN.“It isn’t going to get any better.”The hearings are being held by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).Extending Syncrude’s operation, 40 km north of Fort McMurray would allow the mine to produce 738 million barrels of bitumen the company said and create 1,160 construction jobs.But it would also extend Syncrude’s operations on the ACFN traditional land by 14 years.(Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam at the hearings in Fort McMurray)Adam is worried about declining water levels, elimination of caribou and moose habitats and contamination of the waterways.“I remember, as a kid, you could drink water from the Athabasca River. You can drink water from the Athabasca Lake, you can eat the fish.” Adam said,“I remember those days. But now, today, you can’t do it.”The hearings have been ongoing since Jan. 22.Dene Elder Roy Ladouceur lives off the land in Poplar Point.He testified at the hearing and said low water levels have made travelling on ice roads difficult for transportation.“Leave oil alone as it is for the time being,” he said. “Give mother nature its own space and time. Mother nature knows best how it goes about doing its own rehabilitation and reclamation.“It’s all in her hands.”(Dene Elder Roy Ladouceur)Adam said the message he wants get across is “how we’re displeased with Syncrude’s behavior over the last 40 of operating in this region.”In the 1970s, the town of Fort McMurray collaborated with Syncrude-owned Northward Developments to evict Indigenous families in Moccasin Flats to build the River Park Glen Housing Complex.“Their agenda right from year one was basically to move the First Nations from the area.” Adam said at the hearing. “The Dene have been here for thousands of years and intend to stay here long after the project is finished.”If approved, the oil sands mine would be in operation as soon as 2023.Hearings for the project will continue until February 8.tpimentel@aptn.ca@tamara_aptn
The Canadian Press TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week:George Weston earningsGeorge Weston Ltd. discusses third-quarter results during a conference call on Tuesday. Last quarter, the parent company of Loblaw Companies Ltd. said it was forging ahead with its plan to reduce the number of different products offered by its bakery division, but said progress was slower than expected.Latest from MetroMetro Inc. reports its fourth-quarter results and holds a conference call with investors on Wednesday. The CEOs of three of Canada’s major grocery chains recently doubled down on their expectation that food prices will rise due to increasing minimum wages in some provinces, higher fuel costs and ongoing trade uncertainty with the U.S.Wholesale tradeStatistics Canada will release wholesale trade figures for September on Wednesday. The agency’s numbers for August showed that wholesale sales fell 0.1 per cent to $63.6 billion, slightly more than economists had expected.Feds deliver fall updateFederal Finance Minister Bill Morneau will release his fall economic statement on Wednesday, when he is expected to lay out fresh plans to support Canada’s struggling news industry, which has been hit by years of shrinking advertising revenues.Inflation numbersStatistics Canada will release the consumer price index for October and retail trade figures for September on Friday. Figures for September showed the annual pace of inflation slowed more than expected as increases in the price of gasoline eased compared with August.
WASHINGTON — The Latest on Supreme Court arguments over iPhone apps (all times local):11:20 a.m.The Supreme Court sounds open to allowing a lawsuit to go forward that claims Apple has unfairly monopolized the market for the sale of iPhone apps.The court has heard arguments in Apple’s effort to shut down an antitrust lawsuit. Chief Justice John Roberts was alone among the nine justices in seeming ready to agree with Apple.The suit by iPhone users could force Apple to cut the 30 per cent commission it charges software developers whose apps are sold exclusively through Apple’s App Store. A judge could triple the compensation to consumers under antitrust law if Apple ultimately loses the suit.Justice Stephen Breyer used to teach antitrust law at Harvard Law School. He says the consumers’ case seemed straightforward.Apple argues it’s merely a pipeline between app developers and consumers.___12:05 a.m.Apple is at the Supreme Court to defend the way it sells apps for iPhones against claims by consumers that the company has unfairly monopolized the market.The justices are hearing arguments in Apple’s effort to end an antitrust lawsuit that could force the iPhone maker to cut the 30 per cent commission it charges software developers whose apps are sold exclusively through Apple’s App Store. A judge could triple the compensation to consumers under antitrust law if Apple ultimately loses the lawsuit.Apple says it doesn’t own the apps or sell them. That’s the responsibility of software developers.But the suit says the Cupertino, California-based company exerts control over the process, including a requirement that prices end in 99 cents. And iPhone apps are only available through the App Store.The Associated Press
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The latest housing numbers from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) are in, and the news isn’t all that great for the local housing market in 2018.According to the report, prices continued to decline as a result of the weak job market and changes in the lending market, but Chief Economist with the CREB Ann-Marie Lurie said there’s another trend that came up last year: oversupply.“This has been a challenge, especially with regards to helping reduce that additional supply in the market. We have really been left with a market that has been oversupplied and leading to some house decline,” she explained.READ MORE: Canadian home sales fall for a 3rd month; new listings also down: CREALurie said that throughout 2018, the months of supply remained elevated and averaged about 5.2 months. Many Calgarians selling their home have either delayed when to sell or adjusted the sale price, which has led to the annual decline in prices.The price adjustments also depended on where in the city people were selling.“We have seen price adjustments really occur throughout all of our detached apartments, semis and rows. In certain districts, prices haven’t adjusted much, and in some cases, prices have remained relatively stable to the previous year. It’s really important to understand where you’re located and what product you’re dealing with.”The CREB report stated that overall year-to-date sales in the city totalled 16,144 units, which was a 14 per cent decline over 2017 and nearly 20 per cent below long-term averages.
DALLAS — The partial government shutdown is starting to affect air travel.Over the weekend, some airports had long lines at checkpoints, apparently caused by a rising number of security officers calling in sick while they are not getting paid.Safety inspectors aren’t even on the job. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Monday that inspectors are being called back to work on a case-by-case basis, with a priority put on inspecting airline fleets.So far, the impact of the shutdown — entering its 18th day on Tuesday — has been most visible for some government buildings and national parks being closed, and trash piling up on the National Mall in front of the Capitol. If the shutdown continues, food stamp recipients will go without aid.By increasingly affecting air travel, however, the pain is being felt more widely.Here are some common questions about the shutdown’s impact on airports and travel, along with the answers:___WHO IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP WORKING?About 10,000 air traffic controllers who work for the Federal Aviation Administration and about 51,000 Transportation Security Administration officers have been told to keep reporting to work because they are deemed essential. Those workers at airport checkpoints, control towers and FAA radar stations aren’t being paid.___ARE THEY SHOWING UP?TSA admits that more screeners are calling in sick at some airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth International. It gave few numbers but issued a statement Friday saying that more have been missing work since the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The TSA said the effect was “minimal.”Then over the weekend, travellers reported longer checkpoint lines at some airports, including LaGuardia in New York. On Monday, TSA tweeted that agents screened 2.22 million passengers nationwide on Sunday, which it called a “historically busy day due to holiday travel.” TSA said only about 220,000 travellers waited at least 15 minutes at checkpoints, while 0.2 per cent — fewer than 5,000 — waited at least 30 minutes.___HOW WILL TSA RESPOND TO NO-SHOWS?TSA spokesman Jim Gregory said officials are managing. “If we don’t have appropriations by midweek or so, (officers) will miss their first paycheque. That’s obviously where it becomes more difficult,” he said.Gregory said the agency has a team of officers who can go to airports facing a shortage, a tactic developed in case natural disasters prevented screeners from getting to work.___WHAT ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS?About 1,900 air traffic controllers — nearly one in every five — are eligible to retire right now and it’s not clear how many of them will stick around. They won’t get paychecks later this week despite working over the holidays.“I don’t know how long they’re going to stay on the job if they’re not getting a paycheque,” said Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.There is an even larger group of recently hired trainees and apprentices and Rinaldi said the prospect of a long shutdown could lead some of them to take other jobs.___WILL A SHORTAGE OF CONTROLLERS LEAD TO FLIGHT DELAYS?The largest pilots’ union wrote to Trump last week urging a quick end to the shutdown, which it said was threatening the safety of the nation’s airspace.Rinaldi, the controllers’ leader, said safety is not being compromised, but that capacity to manage traffic could be reduced, leading to flight delays. Others see that as less likely.“It would have to get pretty bad before the government said (to airlines), ‘Hey, start scaling back your plans for service,’” said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst. “You could see that in a worst-case scenario.”An early test of the air traffic system could come around the Feb. 3 Super Bowl in Atlanta, when an influx of corporate jets and private planes will further crowd the sky above the nation’s busiest airport. Planning for handling that traffic has been put on hold, Rinaldi said.___WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED?Workers who aren’t deemed essential. That ranges from technicians who maintain equipment used in airport towers to clerical staff. Federal aviation safety inspectors have also been furloughed.___SO WHO IS INSPECTING PLANES?FAA spokesman Gregory Martin said the agency has been recalling inspectors for certain jobs including assignments at the airlines, as it did in previous government shutdowns.“We’re going to continue to prioritize with the resources that we have,” Martin said. “Our focus is on the commercial air carriers and volumes of people they carry.”Martin did not say how many inspectors are working or how the number of inspections being done compared with pre-shutdown levels.Chuck Banks, one of those furloughed inspectors, said colleagues are being called in when an airline needs something, like a plane certified for flight. The routine, normal oversight of operations at airlines and repair shops is not being done, leaving companies to regulate themselves, he said.“Do you like the fox watching the hen house?” he said. “Every day the government stays shut down, it gets less safe to fly.”___WHAT OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE AFFECTED?The National Transportation Safety Board is delaying accident investigations and hearings. While there have not been any fatal airline crashes, the board has delayed other investigations, including an examination of a Florida highway accident that killed five children on their way to Walt Disney World.NTSB representatives did not answer phone calls or reply to emails Monday. A recorded message for the public affairs office said nobody would respond until the shutdown ends.Some people who applied for Global Entry, a program that lets travellers get expedited clearance into the U.S., have had interviews cancelled. Gary Leff, who writes about travel on his View from the Wing blog, said that some airports are still processing applications.The program is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Spokespeople at the agency did not respond for comment.___David Koenig can be reached at http://twitter.com/airlinewriterDavid Koenig, The Associated Press
The 21-year-old male driver and lone occupant of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Fort St. John Hospital for treatment.Sgt. Tyreman said that the cause of the crash is still undetermined, but police suspect that alcohol played a significant factor.The identity of the driver has not been released, as no charges have yet been laid. FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Mounties in Fort St. John say that alcohol impairment is suspected as contributing to a single-vehicle rollover on the Alaska Highway over the weekend.Sgt. Dave Tyreman with the Fort St. John RCMP said that police were notified about the crash, which happened on Highway 97 west of the intersection with 100th St., at around 3:15 Saturday morning.Officers arrived at the scene to discover that a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero had left the highway and struck a power pole before rolling over.
Panaji: Hours after being sworn in, Goa’s new Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Tuesday said his government has sought a floor test on Wednesday to prove its strength in the Assembly. The BJP-led government in the coastal state claims support of 21 MLAs – 12 from the BJP, three each of allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents. The strength of the 40-member House has been reduced to 36 due to the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar, BJP MLA Francis D’Souza and resignations of two Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c details The Congress is the single largest party in the state with 14 MLAs. There is also an NCP legislator in the House. “We have written to Governor Mridula Sinha, requesting her to hold the floor test Wednesday to prove our strength. We are ready for the floor test,” Sawant told reporters after assuming office Tuesday. The chief minister said his priority was to complete all the projects undertaken by Parrikar, who died on Sunday after battling cancer and was accorded a state funeral Monday. Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from Thursday Sawant said the state government will build a memorial in Parrikar’s name at Panaji’s Miramar beach, where he was cremated. Sawant was sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa just before 2 am Tuesday, after hectic parleys between the saffron party and its allies to put a new government in place in the state. The governor also administered oath to 11 other ministers, including those from BJP’s allies MGP and the GFP. As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from the two smaller parties backing the BJP will be made deputy chief minister, party sources said. They are GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar.
Munich: German high-end carmaker BMW warned Wednesday it expects pre-tax profits “well below” 2018 levels this year as it announced a massive cost-cutting scheme aimed at saving 12 billion euros (USD 13.6 billion) in total by 2022.A spokesman said that “well below” could indicate a tumble of more than 10 per cent. The Munich-based group’s 2019 result will be burdened with massive investments needed for the transition to electric cars, exchange rate headwinds and rising raw materials prices, it said in a statement. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscalMeanwhile it must pump more cash into measures to meet strict European carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits set to bite from next year. And a one-off windfall in 2018’s results will create a negative comparison, even though pre-tax profits already fell 8.1 per cent last year. Bosses expect a “slight increase” in sales of BMW and Mini cars, with a slightly fatter operating margin that will nevertheless fall short of their 8.0-per cent target. “We will continue to implement forcefully the necessary measures for growth, continuing performance increases and efficiency,” finance director Nicolas Peter said at the group’s annual press conference. BMW aims to achieve 12 billion euros of savings in the coming years through “efficiency improvements” including reducing the complexity of its range. “Our business model must remain a profitable one in the digital era,” chief executive Harald Krueger said. This year, most new recruits at the group will be IT specialists, while the total number of employees is set to remain flat at around 135,000 worldwide. Agencies
New Delhi: Five men were arrested for allegedly stealing over 1,000 batteries from vehicles, e-rickshaws and trucks in southeast Delhi’s Badarpur, police said Wednesday.The accused were identified as Sohail (22), Sahne Alam (23), Sahzad (25), Imran (30) and Jameel Ahmed (45), they said. With their arrest, the police claimed to have worked out 21 cases. They used to steal 15-20 batteries in a single night and disposed them to scrap dealers at a cost of Rs 500-Rs 2,000 and also maintained a record their theft, Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast), said. Imran was nabbed from the Mandawali area on March 17 after police identified him standing near a car in one of the CCTV footage, he added. Imran, along with Sohail, Shane Alam and Sehzad, used to steal batteries from vehicles, bikes, e-rickshaws and tempos and disposed the stolen batteries to scrap dealers of in Trans-Yamuna areas and Western Uttar Pradesh, the DCP said. Subsequently, his associates Sohail, Shane Alam and Sehzad were arrested, he said. On their instance, scrap dealer Jameel Ahmed, a resident of Lakshmi Nagar, was arrested, he added. Seventy-six stolen batteries, the car used during the offence and tools used for opening car bonnets were also recovered from Ahmed, police said.
Chennai: Harbhajan Singh rolled back years to show the relevance of a finger spinner in shorter format as defending champions Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 7 wickets in the opening encounter of Indian Premier League on Saturday.On a tricky pitch that assisted slow bowlers, RCB were shot out for 70 in 17.1 overs, a target that CSK achieved in 17.4 overs. RCB in defeat maintained their inglorious record against CSK and also had the ignominy of ending with the sixth lowest total in the league. Also Read – Puducherry on top after 8-wkt win over ChandigarhSkipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s move to open with Harbhajan (3/20 in 4 overs) paid rich dividends as he removed rival skipper Virat Kohli (6) in the fourth over and RCB never recovered from that early blow. Dhoni’s reading of pitch was immaculate as a top score of 29 from Parthiv Patel was a testimony to that and the time that CSK needed to score the runs. Once Harbhajan’s finger spinners had inflicted a telling damage on the psyche of the RCB line-up, Tahir tormented the visitors even more with his googlies that killed the contest in the first half. Also Read – Vijender’s next fight on Nov 22, opponent to be announced laterWith so much assistance for spinners, Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t going to be left behind, finishing with 2/15 in 4 overs. Having gauged the pace of the pitch, Harbhajan altered the length of his deliveries effectively and also reduced the pace at times to trouble the batsmen. There are times Harbhajan dropped his length but the slowness of the track made batsmen indecisive. While he was lucky as his off-break dropped short but Kohli’s mistimed pull-shot was taken by Jadeja at mid-wicket boundary. Moeen Ali slog swept Harbhajan for a six but that was all that he could manage with a length delivery stopping on him as he tried to check his drive and loopy return catch was gleefully accepted. AB de Villiers (9) wanted to hit out of trouble and was first dropped by Imran Tahir and off the very next ball was caught by Jadeja at mid-wicket boundary. With Shimron Hetmyer (0) getting run-out needlessly, RCB were in the dumps even before halfway stage. It was the perfect platform for Tahir and Jadeja, who were unplayable with the pitch offering reasonable turn and it only helped that the lower-order’s confidence was shot to pieces. The way each batsnmen reacted to Tahir’s googlies was different. Left-hander Shivam Dube (2) didn’t read the googly and edged to slips. Navdeep Saini padded one in his intent to defend while Yuzvendra Chahal was holed out at deep square leg trying to hit out of trouble. Pathiv Patel (29) was the top-scorer and the last man dismissed but hardly looked convincing. The pitch wasn’t an easy one to bat on but 70 was too small a total to defend for RCB even though they stretched CSK for nearly 18 overs. Suresh Raina (19) didn’t score much but he did complete 5000 runs in IPL when he reached an individual score of 14. An IPL ‘legend’, Raina is the first player in tournament’s history to achieve the feat.
NEW DELHI: In order to grab power, CM Arvind Kejriwal is offending the religious sentiments of the Hindus, said Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari. “Arvind Kejriwal has been insulting the Hindus and the symbol of Hinduism. Today, in order to grab power, he is offending our religious sentiments of the Hindus. The people will give a befitting reply to these anti-Hindu elements in the forthcoming elections. He said that this act of Kejriwal is also a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Such mischievous acts of Kejriwal and his hate for Hinduism will prove costly to him,” said Tiwari. Also Read – After eight years, businessman arrested for kidnap & murderHe also said that this is not for the first time that CM Kejriwal is doing such things to insult the Hindus. Even before this by tweeting the photo of a cow and our Swastik Symbol he tried to offend our religious sentiments. On this matter Delhi’s LOP Vijender Gupta met the Chief Electoral Officer on Saturday on the same matter. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer on Saturday filed a complaint against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over a tweet posted by him recently. In his complaint to Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik, advocate Alakh Alok Shrivastava alleged that CM Kejriwal with his tweet posted on March 20 hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu community. “Around 10:13 pm on March 20, the accused posted a tweet from his official Twitter handle depicting a broom chasing away a ‘Hindu Swastika’ symbol. This is an extremely sacred symbol in Hinduism and is worshipped by many Hindus,” the complaint read. The lawyer alleged that the tweet was published online to promote disharmony, enmity, hatred and ill-will among different religious groups.
New Delhi: Aiming to disrupt the digital imaging market, premium smartphone maker Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the Huawei P30 Pro in India for Rs 71,990, featuring the worlds first RYYB sensor. The new RYYB sensor, which uses yellow sub-pixels instead of green, for the main camera replaces the RGB sensor found in most smartphones. According to Huawei, the new sensor would let in up to 40 per cent more light than an RGB sensor. The device features a 40MP primary camera with HUAWEI SuperSpectrum Sensor, a 20MP ultra-wide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera with SuperZoom lens and HUAWEI Time of Flight (TOF) camera. “Last year we shipped more than 200 million smartphones. Very few brands are able to achieve this,” Tornado Pan, Country Manager (Huawei Brand), Consumer Business Group, Huawei India, told reporters here. There’s a 32MP front camera for selfies. According to the company, the new lens arrangement, image signal processor (ISP) and neural processing unit (NPU) work in tandem to capture incredible photos and videos. The flagship device comes with a hefty 4200mAH battery with unique SuperCharge and Wireless Reverse Charging driven by the world’s first 7nm mobile process chipset — the Kirin 980. “India is a strategic market for us and we are committed to bring in new products to the Indian market. We recognise that consumers here are remarkably technology-savvy and therefore we continuously strive to launch the best of products for our patrons here,” Pan added. The HUAWEI P30 Pro features a FullView display that supports a resolution of up to 2340×1080 pixels with a curved screen design that uses a flexible OLED panel. There’s a 6.47-inch OLED Dewdrop display wherein the two sides of the screen naturally bend downwards towards the edge of the frame. The phone has been created with a nine-layer nano optical colour finish and is inspired by the unique colour palette and pristine look of salt flats. “Instead of a traditional top-front speaker, the HUAWEI P30 Pro uses HUAWEI Acoustic Display Technology to provide a larger display and increased hearing area,” the company added. The phone also has HUAWEI SuperCool technology to improve thermal performance, thus, keeping the phone cool during heavy use. The HUAWEI P30 Pro will be available on amazon.in starting on April 15 for Prime members and on April 16 for regular customers. Priced at Rs 71,990, the device will be available in an 8GB RAM + 256 GB ROM variant. Early buyers would get an exclusive bundle with the HUAWEI Watch GT for Rs 2,000 more. The P30 Lite would be available on Amazon.in starting April 25 for Prime members and April 26 for regular customers. The company also announced the HUAWEI P30 Lite that would be available for Rs 22,990 (6+128 GB variant) and Rs 19990 (4+128 GB variant) in midnight black and peacock blue colours.
Los Angeles: Actor Robert Pattinson is in negotiations to play Batman in Matt Reeves’ upcoming superhero film. The film titled The Batman is slated to release in June 2021. While sources say it’s not yet a done deal, Pattinson is the top choice and it’s expected to close shortly, reports variety.com. Pre-production on the movie is expected to start later this year. Reeves, the filmmaker behind the last two Planet of the Apes sequels, assumed Batman directing duties from Ben Affleck in January 2017 and has been developing the project ever since. Affleck was the last actor to play Batman on the big screen in 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017’s Justice League. Affleck and Warner Bros. began discussing the actor-director leaving the ‘Caped Crusader’ after Justice League. Multiple reports suggest Pattinson, 33, is the frontrunner to play the superhero avatar, while other names floating for the role include Armie Hammer, Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor- Johnson.
ALGIERS- Algeria plans to double natural gas production and hike oil output by 50 percent within 10 years helped by major exploration success in 2013, Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi said Thursday.His comments come exactly one year after a bloody assault by armed Islamists at the In Amenas desert gas plant, one of the country’s main upstream facilities, and amid steady decline in Algerian gas production since it peaked in 2005.“Algeria plans very seriously to double its gas production,” Yousfi told national radio, adding that shale gas would contribute to the ambitious production plan. He put Algeria’s recoverable reserves at between 25 and 30 trillion cubic feet.The minister described drilling results in 2013 as “extremely satisfying,” saying the OPEC country had discovered 550 million tonnes (4 billion barrels) of oil equivalent from 32 new oil and gas finds, three times the number discovered in 2012.“We are going to see how much we can extract,” he said, but added that the new finds would also allow the country to raise oil production by 50 percent in the coming decade, from 1.2 million barrels per day now.Algeria is the third largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, after Russia and Norway, although production at many of its older fields is in decline.The country relies on foreign firms to maintain production levels at those fields.But the In Amenas attack last year, in which 38 hostages were killed, has raised questions about the willingness of foreign companies to operate in the North African country.Its oil and gas sector has also been hit by a number of corruption scandals linked to the state-run energy firm Sonatrach, and by lengthy delays in bringing new projects on stream.Algeria’s total gas production has fallen from more than 88 billion cubic metres per year in 2005, according to British energy giant BP, to little morethan 80 million bcm/y in 2012, while domestic consumption continues to rise.
CAIRO – Egyptian police said on Monday they believe a suicide bomber triggered the blast in a bus that killed three South Korean tourists and the Egyptian driver.The attack on Sunday, near the Taba border crossing with Israel, was the first targeting tourists since the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July set off a wave of bombings that have killed scores of policemen and soldiers.After reviewing CCTV footage of the attack, police concluded a suicide bomber had boarded the tourist bus and detonated explosives near the door. “The preliminary investigation shows some tourists disembarked to get their bags. A man walked to the bus. There was an explosion when he reached the third step,” interior ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif told AFP.The tourists were all members of the same church group from the central South Korean county of Jincheon who were on a 12-day trip through Turkey, Egypt and Israel. They were about to cross into Israel when the attack occurred.The Al-Qaeda inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group, based in the Sinai peninsula, has deployed several suicide bombers in attacks on police, as well as in a failed attempt to assassinate interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim in September.