The rate of infections with the flu-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in northern China is declining, a health official said Sunday, amid some international concern over a potential pandemic. HMPV, which belongs to the same family as the respiratory syncytial virus, causes flu or cold-like symptoms including fever, cough and nasal congestion. The symptoms often clear up by themselves, though they can cause lower respiratory tract infections among children, older adults and those immunocompromised. "The human metapneumovirus is not a new virus, and has been with humans for at least several decades," said Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press briefing by China's National Health Commission. Wang added that the increase in recent years in the number of cases of the virus, first detected in the Netherlands in 2001, is due to better detection methods. "At present, the rate of positive cases in human metapneumovirus detection is fluctuating, and the rate of positive cases in northern provinces is declining, and the rate of positive cases among patients aged 14 and below has started to decline," she said. Concerns surfaced in recent days over a surge in HMPV infections in northern China after images circulated online of hospitals overrun with masked patients. The World Health Organisation said it has not received reports of unusual outbreaks in China or elsewhere. Experts say HMPV is unlike COVID-19 in that it has been around for decades and there is some built-in immunity to it. Most children are infected with the virus by the age of 5. Wang said respiratory diseases currently affecting people in China are caused by known pathogens, and no new infectious diseases have emerged. The number of patients in fever clinics and emergency departments across the country has been rising but is still generally lower compared to the same period last year, said Gao Xinqiang, deputy director of the Department of Medical Emergency Response of the health commission. "There is no obvious shortage of medical resources," Gao said. Flu infections across the country are expected to gradually decline in mid-to-late January, said commission spokesperson Hu Qiangqiang. There are no vaccines or drugs available for HMPV. Experts recommend precautions against catching the virus and other respiratory diseases including washing one's hands regularly, avoiding crowds if possible, and wearing a mask in crowded places. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 05:54 PM IST | Beijing | APAn explosion at a gas station triggered a massive fire in central Yemen, killing at least 15 people, health officials said on Sunday. The explosion occurred Saturday at the Zaher district in the province of Bayda, the Houthi rebel-run Health Ministry said in a statement. At least 67 others were injured, including 40 in critical condition. The ministry said rescue teams were searching for those reported missing. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the explosion. Footage circulated online showing a massive fire that sent columns of smoke into the sky and left vehicles charred and burning. Bayda is controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been at war with Yemen's internationally recognised government for more than a decade. Yemen's civil war began in 2014, when the rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country's north, forcing the government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in March 2015, backed at the time by the US, in an effort to restore the internationally recognized government. The war has killed more than 150,000 people including civilians and combatants, and in recent years deteriorated largely into a stalemate and caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 05:44 PM IST | Cairo | APUS President Joe Biden on Sunday conferred Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, recognising the Pope's significant influence and contributions, just days before leaving the White House. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), President Biden expressed his admiration for Pope Francis and called the leader of the Catholic Church the "People's Pope." "Pope Francis, your humility and your grace are beyond words, and your love for all is unparalleled. As the People's Pope, you are a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world," Biden said on X. In a statement from the White House, it was stated that President Biden spoke with the Pope and named him as a recipient of the medal, which is the highest civilian honour in the United States. The award is given to individuals who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours." This was also the first time that Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his time at the White House, the statement added. According to The Hill, President Biden, the second Catholic president in US history, had initially planned to visit Rome but cancelled the trip due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Biden had originally planned to travel to Italy on Thursday to meet the Pope and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for what would have been his final foreign trip as president, the Hill reported. According to the Hill, the two leaders last met in June while Biden was in Italy for the G7 summit and also met in October 2021 when conservative Catholic bishops were considering whether Biden should be allowed to receive communion due to his pro-abortion rights position. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 10:43 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIThe Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan detected eight aircraft from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and six naval vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) near its territory as of 6:00 am (UTC+8) on Sunday. It was also noted that seven of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The details were shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "8 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," the ministry stated. Earlier, on January 11, the Ministry detected eight aircraft from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and five naval vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as of 6:00 am (UTC+8), with four of the aircraft crossing the median line and entering Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 10:42 AM IST | Taipei | ANIAn anti-terrorism court in Pakistan granted bail to at least 153 workers of jailed former PM Imran Khan’s party, more than a month after they were arrested during a protest. During a hearing, presided over by Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, petitions of 177 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were heard and bail was granted to 153 of them. Khan, had on Nov 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 26, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members. Responding to his call, thousands of PTI workers reached Islamabad but faced a crackdown by police, forcibly dispersing them and arresting more than 1,400. It was reported that during a hearing on Friday, the court granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs 5,000 each. According to police, the cases of many other detained PTI workers were being processed and more bails could be granted in coming weeks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 07:51 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesA group of Uyghur men who were detained in Thailand over a decade ago say that the Thai government is preparing to deport them to China, alarming activists and family members who say the men are at risk of abuse and torture if they are sent back. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, 43 Uyghur men held in Bangkok made a public appeal to halt what they called an imminent threat of deportation. “We could be imprisoned, and we might even lose our lives,” the letter said. “We urgently appeal to all international organizations and countries concerned with human rights to intervene immediately to save us from this tragic fate before it is too late.” The Uyghurs are a Turkic, majority Muslim ethnicity native to China’s far west Xinjiang region. After decades of conflict with Beijing over discrimination and suppression of their cultural identity, the Chinese government launched a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs that some Western governments deem a genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, possibly a million or more, were swept into camps and prisons, with former detainees reporting abuse, disease, and in some cases, death. Over 300 Uyghurs fleeing China were detained in 2014 by Thai authorities near the Malaysian border. In 2015, Thailand deported 109 detainees to China against their will, prompting international outcry. Another group of 173 Uyghurs, mostly women and children, were sent to Turkey, leaving 53 Uyghurs stuck in Thai immigration detention and seeking asylum. Since then, five have died in detention, including two children. Of the 48 still detained by Thai authorities, five are serving prison terms after a failed escape attempt. It is unclear whether they face the same fate as those in immigration detention. Advocates and relatives say they that the detainees are fed poorly, kept in overcrowded concrete cells with few toilets, and are forbidden contact relatives, lawyers, and international organisations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 07:50 AM IST | Bangkok | AgenciesSince the flames erupted in and around Los Angeles, scores of residents have returned to their still smouldering neighbourhoods even as the threat of new fires persisted and the nation’s second-largest city remained unsettled. For some, it was a first look at the staggering reality of what was lost as the region of 13 million people grapples with the gargantuan challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding. Since the fires first began popping up around a densely populated, 25-mile (40-kilometer) expanse north of downtown LA, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. No cause has been identified yet for the largest fires. Allegations of leadership failures and political blame have begun and so have investigations. At least 11 people have been killed according to the LA County medical examiner’s office. Officials said they expected that number to rise as cadaver dogs go through levelled neighbourhoods to assess the devastation to an area larger than San Francisco. The disaster took homes from everyone —from waiters to movie stars. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private firms have estimated it will climb into the tens of billions. The flames hit schools, churches, a synagogue, libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and local landmarks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 07:49 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesThe cuddle economy is booming in Poland, thanks to Aleksandra Kasperek and her professional snuggling salon, Ania Od Przytulania. Offering hugs instead of handshakes, this safe haven for human touch has become so popular there’s a waitlist for its cosy, non-romantic embrace sessions. The beds are decorated with soft toys Catering mostly to clients aged 40 to 60, the salon provides hour-long snuggles designed to relieve loneliness, soothe emotional wounds, and even ease trauma. Kasperek, inspired by similar ventures abroad, carefully vets clients to ensure everything stays strictly platonic. Rules are set, robes are donned, and the cuddle magic unfolds in a plush, fireplace-lit room fit for royalty. Customers can even enjoy some champagne alongside to enhance their experience. Pics/NY POST For about Rs 3200 (approximately) an hour, guests can sip hot chocolate or champagne while wrapped in soft blankets and warm hugs. It’s not just indulgence—it’s therapy. Hugging has proven benefits, from lowering stress hormones to boosting emotional wellbeing. And for those struggling with past traumas or a fear of closeness, this touch therapy is transformative. Far from frivolous, Kasperek’s salon is a balm for the world’s loneliness epidemic, amplified post-pandemic. They’ve got no chill In China, swimmers are diving into a river at the temperature of -13°C Swimmers are seen diving into freezing temperatures. PIC/GETTY IMAGES In Harbin, China’s icy city, swimming isn’t for the faint-hearted—it’s for the frost-loving fanatics. Here, in the biting -13°C chill, a group of daring swimmers takes the plunge daily, carving out a pool from the frozen Songhua River and braving bone-numbing waters that hover just above freezing. Harbin’s “holy land” of winter swimming has a history dating back to the 1970s, inspired by Russian Orthodox baptisms. Today, the tradition thrives, with locals and visitors alike embracing the frosty dip as both a sport and a wellness ritual. Swimmers insist the cold water boosts their health, keeping them out of hospitals and in peak condition—frostbite be damned! Garfield’s glasses British actor Andrew Garfield, has social media swooning over his latest Golden Globes look. The dark green Gucci suit Garfield wore over a matching shirt that happened to be slightly unbuttoned. The main appeal of his look however, were his reading glasses that he casually slipped on to better read the teleprompter—and this “thirst trap” made him an early contender for the Internet’s best boyfriends of 2025. A magnetic love affair US resident and content creator Sadie Riendeau and her fiancé took their attraction for each other to the next level by getting magnets implanted under their skin that connect when they touch. While they claim that the magnets aren’t painful to use or touch, the pair went viral and garnered mixed reactions from their 2.6 million viewers. Fulfill your praise kink PIC/ODDITY CENTRAL Meet “Uncle Praise”, the 43-year-old Japanese man turning compliments into cash! After hitting rock bottom, he reinvented himself as a professional cheerleader for strangers. He praises passer-bys for a small fee. Can’t talk on the phone right now, I’m sick Gen Z’s latest gripe? The sheer terror of making phone calls. Enter Nottingham College, UK, swooping in with a solution: phone confidence classes. With telephonophobia rife in a text-loving generation, this practical course is ringing in much-needed call confidence. DND PIC/NY POST Tired of the “riffraff”? One Florida woman splurged Rs 17 lakhs (approximately) to rent out an entire resort for a peaceful birthday celebration. No noisy kids, no strangers—just her, her husband, and a meditation session on a beach deckchair. It’s the ultimate “do not disturb” flex, proving that solitude can come with a hefty price tag!
12 January,2025 07:47 AM IST | China | A CorrespondentThe Supreme Court on Friday seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning January 19 unless the popular social media programme is sold by its China-based parent company. Hearing arguments in a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, the justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the company's connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech, either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States. Early in arguments that lasted more than two and a half hours, Chief Justice John Roberts identified as the "main concern" in the case TikTok's ownership by China-based ByteDance and the parent company's requirement to cooperate with the Chinese government's intelligence operations. If left in place, the law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in April will require TikTok to "go dark" on January 19, lawyer Noel Francisco told the justices on behalf of TikTok. At the very least, Francisco urged, the justices should enter a temporary pause that would allow TikTok to keep operating. "We might be in a different world again" after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, also has called for the deadline to be pushed back to give him time to negotiate a "political resolution". But it was not clear whether any justices would choose such a course. And only Justice Neil Gorsuch sounded like he would side with TikTok to find the ban violates the Constitution. ByteDance has said it won't sell the short-form video platform. But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump's Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchi n and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. On Thursday, McCourt's Project Liberty initiative said it, along with its unnamed partners, presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes "Shark Tank" host Kevin O'Leary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer. If TikTok isn't sold to an approved buyer, the federal law would prohibit app stores, such as those operated by Apple and Google, from offering the popular app. It would also bar internet hosting services from hosting TikTok. TikTok users who already have the app on their phones will continue to have access to it. But new users won't be able to download the app, and existing ones will no longer be able to receive updates. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings. The federal law was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over TikTok, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. US officials argue that the vast amounts of user data that TikTok collects, including sensitive information on viewing habits, could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. They also are concerned that the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who could pressure ByteDance to shape content on the platform in a way that's difficult to detect. TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. The company negotiated with the Biden administration between 2021 and 2022 to resolve the concerns around US data privacy and potential algorithmic manipulation. In court documents, it has accused the administration of essentially walking away from those negotiations after it presented a draft agreement in August 2022. But the Justice Department has said the Biden administration concluded the proposal was "insufficient" because it would maintain TikTok's ties to China. The agency said the Executive Branch also could "neither trust ByteDance to comply nor detect noncompliance before it was too late". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2025 07:51 AM IST | Washington | AP | PTIThe massive wildfires that have killed 10 people in the Los Angeles area and caused billions of dollars in property damage are the latest sign of the growing threat posed by climate change " one that President-elect Donald Trump will have to take more seriously than he did in his first term, a top adviser to President Joe Biden said. John Podesta, Biden's senior adviser for international climate policy, said one of the iconic images of Trump's first term showed him tossing paper towels to people in Puerto Rico who had been been ravaged by a hurricane. Many critics called Trump's action disrespectful, especially after he disputed a death count from Hurricane Maria that reached nearly 3,000 people. "You would think hopefully he would have learned from the public's reaction to that " that you have to take the science seriously. You have to take the facts seriously. You have to take the threat seriously,' Podesta said in an interview with The Associated Press. As the unfolding disaster in California demonstrates, "these challenges from extreme weather events that are induced by climate change are just getting worse and worse", Podesta said. "I think that, hopefully, the second Trump administration will indeed take this more seriously' than in Trump's first term. Trump, a Republican, has not been offering much sympathy as the wildfires rage. Instead, he claimed this week that he could do a better job managing the crisis, casting blame on California's Democratic governor. Trump has criticised his longtime political foe Gov. Gavin Newsom's forest management policies and falsely claimed the state's fish conservation efforts are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas. Trump and his transition team have signalled that they will seek to reverse many of the mitigation actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, including tighter pollution standards for power plants and cars and trucks. But Podesta suggested that when it comes to climate resilience " including hardening infrastructure to make it more resistant to climate change " Trump should listen to scientists and other experts. "At least when it comes to this question of resilience and adaptation, I think, that is not a liberal or conservative issue. That's not a red state or blue state issue. It's happening all across the country,' he said, citing Hurricane Helene, which devastated North Carolina and other states last fall. "North Carolina was used to hurricane damage, but not in the mountains and not in Asheville,' Podesta said. Trump and his team "would do well to understand " and listen to the experts in NASA and NOAA " and begin to plan and prepare for what is likely to be, again, an increasing risk across the country from these extreme weather challenges,' he said. Podesta and Ali Zaidi, Biden's domestic climate adviser, spoke to the AP as the White House released a report Friday on national adaptation and resilience planning strategy for climate change. "Across the United States, climate change is accelerating the frequency and fuelling the severity of extreme weather events, resulting in tragedies and new realities that once seemed unimaginable," the report said. The Phoenix area experienced 113 consecutive days of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit last year, leading to heat emergencies that disrupted schools and businesses, while devastating floods in Iowa and Minnesota forced thousands to evacuate and wiped out roads and rail lines, the report said. Hurricanes supercharged by warm ocean water ravaged communities in the Southeast, killing hundreds and cutting communities off from power and water, while wildfires in New Mexico, Oregon and California destroyed entire neighbourhoods, the report added. While the nation is moving to address the projected risks and impacts of climate change, there is far more work to do in the years ahead, the report said, urging an "all-hands-on deck effort across all levels of government," including federal, state, local, Tribal and territorial leaders. The climate adaptation report, submitted under the framework of the United Nations, reflects the reality that the United States is not exempt from climate damage that has ravaged developing countries and island nations, Zaidi said. "Development status does not grant any country climate-haven status," he said. "Just because the US has the biggest, most prosperous economy in the world does not mean climate risk stops at our borders. In our own communities, no place is impervious to this risk. All of us are on the hook to step up in a big way." While Trump has pledged to undo many of Biden's actions on climate change, Podesta and Zaidi were confident that the Democratic president's signature climate law will continue in the new administration. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 with only Democratic support, authorizes about USD 270 billion for clean energy such as wind and solar power, with many projects located in Republican congressional districts. "There's no question that the public supports the buildout of clean power and wants to see that move forward," Podesta said, adding that many Republican governors are excited about new battery plants, manufacturing jobs and other investments in their states. "I think they'll want to try to do what they can to defend those investments and the jobs that go with them," he said, noting that more than 400,000 jobs have been created as a result of the IRA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved in 2021. "Walking away from all that would just be, not only bad policy, but really bad politics," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2025 07:50 AM IST | Washington | AP | PTIA 30-year-old Indian national who was previously employed with a cruise line, has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, a US attorney said on Friday. Abdul Rouvoof Shaik faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to USD 250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to life. According to court documents, Shaik was previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines and was arrested in July 2024 after special agents with the US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, found he was in possession of child pornography at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans. Sentencing is scheduled for April 16, before United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle in New Orleans. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2025 07:50 AM IST | Washington | PTIADVERTISEMENT
