Like most federal agencies, the Education Department followed President Donald Trump’s lead in seeking to undo the legacy of his predecessor, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos diligently tore into President Barack Obama’s policies.

President-elect Joe Biden’s administration is planning to return the favor.

The contrasts in Trump-era education policy and the incoming Biden administration’s agenda are stark. DeVos, a lifelong booster of private schools and longtime opponent of teachers’ unions, set out to reduce the Education Department’s footprint by proposing cuts to public school funding and narrowing the department’s enforcement role of federal education laws and civil rights.

The incoming first lady, Jill Biden, is a community college professor and member of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union. The Biden administration has promised to drastically increase resources for public schools, expand its civil rights advocacy for marginalized students and reassert the department’s leadership in policymaking.

And on the most pressing issue facing education, reopening schools during the pandemic, the Biden administration has signaled a dramatically different approach.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/us-presidential-elections-reflections-of-an-outside-observer-342640">US Presidential Elections: Reflections of an outside observer</a> 
 
The Trump administration has demanded that schools reopen, despite severe budget constraints and confusing public health guidelines, while the Education Department has all but absolved itself of tracking the virus’s impact and offering solutions. The Biden campaign has promised deep federal involvement to help schools secure more relief funding and navigate the effects of the pandemic, which has devastated the academic trajectory of the most vulnerable students.

But the president-elect’s closeness with the powerful teachers’ unions has raised concerns. Unions have come under fire from parents and school leaders who say their opposition to in-person instruction conflicts with science and students’ well-being. DeVos has seized on the tension, posting a series of articles on Twitter that have questioned the unions’ roles.

“When unions win, kids lose,” she said this week.

With a likely Republican Senate and a narrow Democratic majority in the House, Biden will struggle to muster the support he needs in Congress to accomplish some of his loftiest policy goals. He has promised to bolster funding for special education, institute universal prekindergarten and triple funding for a federal program that helps schools serving high concentrations of students from low-income families, devoting some of that funding to increasing teacher salaries. In higher education, he has promised free public college, expanding the amount of federal financial aid grants for low-income students and canceling some student debt.

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Stef Feldman, the Biden campaign’s policy director, told reporters last month that the administration was “confident” Biden would “be able to get some big, bold education legislation passed and certainly immediate relief for our schools and our educators, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not also going to take executive action within existing authority.”

Those actions could come quickly.

Biden has promised to appoint a secretary with teaching experience and a deep knowledge of the challenges schools face and the students they serve.

In his victory speech Nov. 7, the president-elect referred to Jill Biden as he declared: “For America’s educators, this is a great day. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House.”

The Biden administration plans to restore Obama-era civil rights guidance — rescinded by DeVos — that offered transgender students the right to choose school bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity, that addressed the disproportionate disciplining of Black students and that pressed for diversity in colleges and K-12 classrooms. The restoration of those guidance documents can be done immediately because they were not put through the regulatory process or enacted into law.

Undoing what is arguably DeVos’ most formidable accomplishment — how federally funded schools should investigate cases of sexual assault — could be tougher. The incoming administration has vowed to dismantle those rules. As vice president, Biden had personally helped introduce the Obama-era guidelines on campus sexual misconduct that DeVos reversed through a formal and protracted rule-making.

But unlike guidance documents, which do not carry the force of law, and other DeVos regulatory measures that have been overturned by courts, the sexual misconduct rules have already held up against legal challenges. The rules would have to be overturned through legislation or rewritten through the regulatory system, a process that could take years.

Biden’s team is also eyeing DeVos’ formal rules that significantly tightened Obama-era rules on loan forgiveness for students defrauded by their colleges and that eased oversight of for-profit colleges. Those rules could also require regulatory action if they survive continuing court challenges.

The administration is likely to prioritize the immense backlog of loan forgiveness claims that the Trump administration allowed to pile up, and the mass denials of assistance that the department has issued to students who claim they were cheated by their colleges, according to officials familiar with the plans. Among the thousands of students awaiting relief are those who attended Corinthian Colleges, a now defunct for-profit college chain that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sued when she was the attorney general of California.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, but it will be nice to know there’s an education secretary who’s thinking about how to protect students from predatory schools instead of the other way around,” said Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, which has sued the department for its efforts to roll back Obama-era rules on loan forgiveness and consumer protection.

The team Biden has named to help the Education Department through the transition signaled the direction he intends to take.

Leading the team is Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the Palo Alto, California-based Learning Policy Institute, who also oversaw the education transition for Obama in 2008. Darling-Hammond, a veteran education researcher and policymaker in arenas like desegregation, school finance and teacher preparation, was considered a contender for Biden’s secretary of education, but took herself out of the running, saying she was committed to her work in California.

The transition team’s strong representation from former Obama-era officials and teachers unions has been met with mixed reactions.

In announcing the team, a transition official said its members had “deep backgrounds in key policy areas” with “a diversity of perspectives critical to addressing America’s most urgent and complex challenges.”

Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, which represents low-income parents and parents of color, said the composition of the team made her worried that the Biden administration might stack the government with people who are “interested in fortifying the status quo that has been failing so many of our kids.”

“This is the biggest table right now,” she said of the transition team, “and I don’t see parent groups, family groups, community groups present.” She added, “It seems we’re back to the same old, ‘We’re going to do things to you, not with you.’”

Unions were not seen as key players in Obama administration’s coalition — the National Education Association called for the resignation of Obama’s first education secretary, Arne Duncan — and have been at odds with centrist Democrats on some policy issues, such as charter schools, which are supported by many Black and Latino families. Biden this summer reshaped the Democratic platform to embrace a ban on federal funding for for-profit charters, and to call for cutting funding to underperforming charters run by nonprofit organizations.

“He’s coming in saying he wants to unify people, and it’ll be interesting to see whether that holds for education policy,” said Charles Barone, director of policy at Democrats for Education Reform. “If you really respect the role of people who got you elected, are you going to come in and attack the choices they make for their children?”

Teachers’ unions have curried favor by fighting DeVos at every turn, but Biden’s alliance with them has raised concerns.

“If it looks like the teachers unions are now calling the shots, and not the people schools are supposed to be serving, the pendulum will swing the other way,” said Neal McCluskey, director of the libertarian Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom.

Biden has echoed union concerns that the country needs to get the coronavirus under control to safely reopen schools, and that it will take a large infusion of cash to meet safety guidelines and the needs of students who have suffered academic and social setbacks.

“Schools, they need a lot of money to open,” Biden said during the last presidential debate, citing the need for better ventilation systems, smaller class sizes and more teachers.

While Trump has emphasized low infection rates among children, Biden has also stressed concerns for educators. During one of the debates, after Trump accused him of wanting to keep the country locked down, Biden mocked the president: “All you teachers out there, not that many of you are going to die, so don’t worry about it.”

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said Biden’s approach to the reopening debate illustrated his understanding that “no school system budget has a line item that says, ‘coronavirus.’”

Pringle noted that Biden had always been a strong supporter of the labor movement and said she was proud that he had also “leaned in” to the association’s playbook. She said the president-elect was particularly excited by the union’s vision to “reclaim public education as a common good and transform it into something that it’s never been — which is a system that is racially and socially just and equitable.”

“He’ll take the slings and arrows for being ‘too close’ to us, and he’ll be able to say, ‘not only did they help me get elected, they help me lead in a bold way,’” she said.

Union leaders top speculative shortlists of contenders to be the next education secretary and will undoubtedly influence Biden’s choice. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lily Eskelsen García, a past president of the National Education Association, are among the names mentioned.

Other names include superintendents of districts like Baltimore and Seattle, and Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., a former National Teacher of the Year.

Weingarten said that she was honored by the mention, but that she would be “really happy to work with the Biden administration as the president of the AFT.”

“The Biden-Harris administration has the potential to enable a renaissance in public education,” she said.

Like most federal agencies, the Education Department followed President Donald Trump’s lead in seeking to undo the legacy of his predecessor, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos diligently tore into President Barack Obama’s policies.

Like most federal agencies, the Education Department followed President Donald Trump’s lead in seeking to undo the legacy of his predecessor, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos diligently tore into President Barack Obama’s policies. President-elect Joe Biden’s administration is planning to return the favor. The contrasts in Trump-era education policy and the incoming Biden administration’s agenda are stark. DeVos, a lifelong booster of private schools and longtime opponent of teachers’ unions, set out to reduce the Education Department’s footprint by proposing cuts to public school funding and narrowing the department’s enforcement role of federal education laws and civil rights. The incoming first lady, Jill Biden, is a community college professor and member of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union. The Biden administration has promised to drastically increase resources for public schools, expand its civil rights advocacy for marginalized students and reassert the department’s leadership in policymaking. And on the most pressing issue facing education, reopening schools during the pandemic, the Biden administration has signaled a dramatically different approach. Also Read | US Presidential Elections: Reflections of an outside observer The Trump administration has demanded that schools reopen, despite severe budget constraints and confusing public health guidelines, while the Education Department has all but absolved itself of tracking the virus’s impact and offering solutions. The Biden campaign has promised deep federal involvement to help schools secure more relief funding and navigate the effects of the pandemic, which has devastated the academic trajectory of the most vulnerable students. But the president-elect’s closeness with the powerful teachers’ unions has raised concerns. Unions have come under fire from parents and school leaders who say their opposition to in-person instruction conflicts with science and students’ well-being. DeVos has seized on the tension, posting a series of articles on Twitter that have questioned the unions’ roles. “When unions win, kids lose,” she said this week. With a likely Republican Senate and a narrow Democratic majority in the House, Biden will struggle to muster the support he needs in Congress to accomplish some of his loftiest policy goals. He has promised to bolster funding for special education, institute universal prekindergarten and triple funding for a federal program that helps schools serving high concentrations of students from low-income families, devoting some of that funding to increasing teacher salaries. In higher education, he has promised free public college, expanding the amount of federal financial aid grants for low-income students and canceling some student debt. × Stef Feldman, the Biden campaign’s policy director, told reporters last month that the administration was “confident” Biden would “be able to get some big, bold education legislation passed and certainly immediate relief for our schools and our educators, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not also going to take executive action within existing authority.” Those actions could come quickly. Biden has promised to appoint a secretary with teaching experience and a deep knowledge of the challenges schools face and the students they serve. In his victory speech Nov. 7, the president-elect referred to Jill Biden as he declared: “For America’s educators, this is a great day. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House.” The Biden administration plans to restore Obama-era civil rights guidance — rescinded by DeVos — that offered transgender students the right to choose school bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity, that addressed the disproportionate disciplining of Black students and that pressed for diversity in colleges and K-12 classrooms. The restoration of those guidance documents can be done immediately because they were not put through the regulatory process or enacted into law. Undoing what is arguably DeVos’ most formidable accomplishment — how federally funded schools should investigate cases of sexual assault — could be tougher. The incoming administration has vowed to dismantle those rules. As vice president, Biden had personally helped introduce the Obama-era guidelines on campus sexual misconduct that DeVos reversed through a formal and protracted rule-making. But unlike guidance documents, which do not carry the force of law, and other DeVos regulatory measures that have been overturned by courts, the sexual misconduct rules have already held up against legal challenges. The rules would have to be overturned through legislation or rewritten through the regulatory system, a process that could take years. Biden’s team is also eyeing DeVos’ formal rules that significantly tightened Obama-era rules on loan forgiveness for students defrauded by their colleges and that eased oversight of for-profit colleges. Those rules could also require regulatory action if they survive continuing court challenges. The administration is likely to prioritize the immense backlog of loan forgiveness claims that the Trump administration allowed to pile up, and the mass denials of assistance that the department has issued to students who claim they were cheated by their colleges, according to officials familiar with the plans. Among the thousands of students awaiting relief are those who attended Corinthian Colleges, a now defunct for-profit college chain that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sued when she was the attorney general of California. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but it will be nice to know there’s an education secretary who’s thinking about how to protect students from predatory schools instead of the other way around,” said Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, which has sued the department for its efforts to roll back Obama-era rules on loan forgiveness and consumer protection. The team Biden has named to help the Education Department through the transition signaled the direction he intends to take. Leading the team is Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the Palo Alto, California-based Learning Policy Institute, who also oversaw the education transition for Obama in 2008. Darling-Hammond, a veteran education researcher and policymaker in arenas like desegregation, school finance and teacher preparation, was considered a contender for Biden’s secretary of education, but took herself out of the running, saying she was committed to her work in California. The transition team’s strong representation from former Obama-era officials and teachers unions has been met with mixed reactions. In announcing the team, a transition official said its members had “deep backgrounds in key policy areas” with “a diversity of perspectives critical to addressing America’s most urgent and complex challenges.” Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, which represents low-income parents and parents of color, said the composition of the team made her worried that the Biden administration might stack the government with people who are “interested in fortifying the status quo that has been failing so many of our kids.” “This is the biggest table right now,” she said of the transition team, “and I don’t see parent groups, family groups, community groups present.” She added, “It seems we’re back to the same old, ‘We’re going to do things to you, not with you.’” Unions were not seen as key players in Obama administration’s coalition — the National Education Association called for the resignation of Obama’s first education secretary, Arne Duncan — and have been at odds with centrist Democrats on some policy issues, such as charter schools, which are supported by many Black and Latino families. Biden this summer reshaped the Democratic platform to embrace a ban on federal funding for for-profit charters, and to call for cutting funding to underperforming charters run by nonprofit organizations. “He’s coming in saying he wants to unify people, and it’ll be interesting to see whether that holds for education policy,” said Charles Barone, director of policy at Democrats for Education Reform. “If you really respect the role of people who got you elected, are you going to come in and attack the choices they make for their children?” Teachers’ unions have curried favor by fighting DeVos at every turn, but Biden’s alliance with them has raised concerns. “If it looks like the teachers unions are now calling the shots, and not the people schools are supposed to be serving, the pendulum will swing the other way,” said Neal McCluskey, director of the libertarian Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom. Biden has echoed union concerns that the country needs to get the coronavirus under control to safely reopen schools, and that it will take a large infusion of cash to meet safety guidelines and the needs of students who have suffered academic and social setbacks. “Schools, they need a lot of money to open,” Biden said during the last presidential debate, citing the need for better ventilation systems, smaller class sizes and more teachers. While Trump has emphasized low infection rates among children, Biden has also stressed concerns for educators. During one of the debates, after Trump accused him of wanting to keep the country locked down, Biden mocked the president: “All you teachers out there, not that many of you are going to die, so don’t worry about it.” Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said Biden’s approach to the reopening debate illustrated his understanding that “no school system budget has a line item that says, ‘coronavirus.’” Pringle noted that Biden had always been a strong supporter of the labor movement and said she was proud that he had also “leaned in” to the association’s playbook. She said the president-elect was particularly excited by the union’s vision to “reclaim public education as a common good and transform it into something that it’s never been — which is a system that is racially and socially just and equitable.” “He’ll take the slings and arrows for being ‘too close’ to us, and he’ll be able to say, ‘not only did they help me get elected, they help me lead in a bold way,’” she said. Union leaders top speculative shortlists of contenders to be the next education secretary and will undoubtedly influence Biden’s choice. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lily Eskelsen García, a past president of the National Education Association, are among the names mentioned. Other names include superintendents of districts like Baltimore and Seattle, and Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., a former National Teacher of the Year. Weingarten said that she was honored by the mention, but that she would be “really happy to work with the Biden administration as the president of the AFT.” “The Biden-Harris administration has the potential to enable a renaissance in public education,” she said.

Biden’s education department will move fast to reverse DeVos’ policies

The alarm bells sounded immediately among some progressives when President-elect Joe Biden released the list of advisers this week who will help him with the transition at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, which oversees the $5 trillion federal budget and shapes regulations on everything from labor standards to air pollution.

Biden’s team included executives from Amazon Web Services, Lyft, Airbnb and a vice president of WestExec Advisors, a Washington consulting firm whose secretive list of clients includes financial services, technology and pharmaceutical companies.

“This puts us at a state of high alarm,” said Jeff Hauser, who runs a liberal group called the Revolving Door Project, which has been pressuring the Biden administration to stay away from not only lobbyists but also individuals coming out of the business world whom Hauser and other activists call “corporatists.”

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His concerns are an early manifestation of a percolating and broader clash between the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and the more establishment members of Biden’s core team over the role of corporate executives, lobbyists and consultants in the incoming administration.

In a letter sent Thursday, liberal groups including Demand Progress pushed Biden to adopt the sort of sweeping restrictions that his more liberal challengers for the presidential nomination had championed during the primary campaign, urging him not to “nominate or hire corporate executives, lobbyists, and prominent corporate consultants.”

Their views are represented most prominently in the party by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who has made reining in the influence of corporate America and Wall Street a front-and-center issue for many Democrats.

An early indicator of Biden’s efforts to navigate this divide will come when he announces ethics rules for his government, a move expected in the hours after his inauguration.

The progressive activists want him to adopt hiring practices that go far beyond policies embraced by former President Barack Obama, who barred officials in his administration from working on issues on which they had lobbied in the past two years.

The Biden transition team said in a statement that the president-elect was determined to ensure that “public servants serve all Americans, not themselves or narrow special interests.” The statement did not take a detailed position on what kinds of ethics prohibitions Biden would impose on hiring, but it hinted that Biden might bring on staff members who have worked on behalf of various causes and interests in the past.

“Talent will be evaluated carefully to ensure important perspectives are not excluded,” the statement said. “Some of our nation’s brightest policy minds are also fierce advocates on issues from criminal justice reform to health care and workers rights.”

The fight over these rules started quietly over the summer when Biden’s campaign invited dozens of ethics experts, professors and others, including advisers to Warren and other members of Congress, to make recommendations about an ethics policy to be issued on Day 1 of a possible administration.

While some argued that the Obama-era lobbying restrictions could hurt a Biden administration’s ability to recruit people with useful expertise, others pushed for tougher restrictions that bar not only lobbyists from being hired, but also corporate executives and consultants who advise companies on getting their way in Washington but do not register as lobbyists.

Progressives started growing concerned about Biden’s personnel moves even before the election, when he announced his first list of top transition advisers. It included Jessica Hertz, who helped oversee government relations efforts at Facebook, and Avril Haines, who worked at WestExec Advisors and also consulted for the data-mining company Palantir.

Biden’s first big move — naming Ron Klain on Wednesday as his chief of staff — drew praise from Warren and some progressive activists. They had worried that Biden might pick Steve Ricchetti, a close adviser and former pharmaceutical industry lobbyist who served as his chief of staff while he was vice president.

Klain has corporate ties, too. He has most recently worked with Steve Case, founder of AOL, in a venture capital firm called Revolution, and he warned in 2015 about the impact that government regulation can have on technology startups.

Debates over personnel are common in new administrations, as interest groups and factions of supporters of an incoming president jockey for influence.

But they are likely to be particularly intense in the Biden administration after an election in which the liberal wing of the party suppressed its concerns about what they saw as Biden’s cautious centrism out of a desire to defeat President Donald Trump. The stakes are heightened further by Biden’s pledge to differentiate his administration from Trump’s, in which representatives from corporate America and Wall Street held prominent posts, and conflicts of interest abounded.

Biden has not always shared the left’s concerns about lobbying.

When he was vice president under Obama, Biden bristled at the strict lobbying rules, which he contended would deprive their nascent administration of experienced talent.

He specifically balked at an effort by Obama’s aides to try to block the vice president from hiring Ricchetti, a well-connected Washington operator who had also lobbied for insurance companies, credit agencies and others. Ricchetti eventually became Biden’s chief of staff and continued working with him after the administration ended.

Ricchetti became the chairman of Biden’s presidential campaign, and is reported to be in contention for a prominent administration post. Ricchetti’s brother continues to operate a lobbying firm bearing the family name, which has signed several new clients in recent months.

Several other Biden confidants with ties to Washington’s influence industry worked on his campaign or his transition team. In addition to the team’s Office of Management and Budget review team, those appointed this week to oversee the reconfiguration of other agencies also included a number of people who work for firms that lobby for an array of interests that concern liberals, including oil and pharmaceutical companies.

Biden pledged during the campaign to adopt strict ethics rules, pointing to broad conflicts of interest he said persisted through the Trump era. He promised a policy that addresses “not only the improper influence of lobbyists, but also any improper or inappropriate influence from personal, financial and other interests” that his appointees might have.

The ethics rules adopted by Obama in 2009 were considered the most comprehensive in modern American politics. They included for the first time a commitment to ban registered lobbyists from working in agencies they had lobbied in the prior two years, with limited exceptions. The White House also moved to routinely release a list of all visitors, so the public could see what corporate executives and lobbyists were meeting with the president and members of his staff.

But both sides soon found ways to evade these rules. That included off-the-books meetings between lobbyists and White House aides at nearby coffee shops. Other representatives of corporate interests avoided the “lobbyist” stigma — and any restriction on being appointed to a political post — by positioning themselves as so-called strategic advisers. That role allowed them to advise clients about how to exert influence on the government without registering as lobbyists.

Officials from such strategic advisory firms — including WestExec Advisors and Albright Stonebridge Group — are represented on Biden’s transition team or are expected to play prominent roles in his government.

Four people affiliated with Albright Stonebridge, which was co-founded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, are listed as members of Biden’s agency review teams overseeing the State Department and international aid programs.

The firm, which says it does not lobby the U.S. government, represents a range of international clients, including until recently the Switzerland-based mining and commodities trading giant Glencore, which has been the subject of investigations in the United States and around the world related to corruption and other issues.

Cristina Killingsworth, WestExec’s vice president, is on leave from the firm while she works on Biden’s Office of Management and Budget review team. One of the firm’s co-founders, Antony J. Blinken, a former deputy secretary of state, took a leave in August to run the Biden campaign’s foreign policy operation.

Blinken is considered a possible secretary of state in the Biden administration, while his WestExec co-founder, Michèle Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, is considered a possible defense secretary.

The firm does not name its clients. It has worked with the philanthropy started by Eric Schmidt, former Google chairman, and with Google’s in-house incubation unit, Jigsaw. On its website, WestExec says its clients include a leading American pharmaceutical company and a multibillion-dollar American technology company that it helped with “safeguarding against trade tensions between the U.S. and China.”

“Those kinds of consulting shops take advantage of weaknesses in current laws, so there is no transparency in their clients and how they are trying to influence public policy for them,” said Danielle Brian, the executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group the Project on Government Oversight. “That’s exactly the kind of people who should not be in an administration.”

Progressive Democrats and advocates for tighter ethics rules have called for years for an expansion of lobbying rules to include strategic consultants, as well as executives who work behind the scenes to help corporations develop lobbying strategies.

Some participants in the ethics policy group assembled by the Biden campaign argued that the administration should widen restrictions on hiring to include not only lobbyists, but also strategic consultants, according to people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Others said the administration should ban lobbyists for corporate interests, but allow lobbyists for unions and nonprofit groups.

The Biden transition team’s ethics policy takes a more case-by-case approach, barring participants who lobbied on the issues they have been assigned with overseeing, unless they receive waivers. The list of people appointed by the transition team this week to review agencies includes at least three who were recently registered to lobby for labor unions, as reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

The pressure on establishment Democrats is coming from progressives in Congress, too, including Warren and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona.

“If the CEO of a fossil fuel corporation should not be put in charge of U.S. diplomacy or an oil lobbyist should not be put in charge of the Interior Department under a Republican administration, there is no reason to believe that an officer or lobbyist at a major bank or financial firm should be put in charge of financial policy under a Democratic administration,” said a letter sent by 13 House Democrats last month to Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader.

Liberal political activists are pressing Schumer to help deliver on their demands, pointedly noting that he is up for reelection in 2022 and could potentially face a primary challenge from a more liberal opponent.

But even some proponents of tighter ethics rules are starting to question if the demands by progressives have gone too far.

“I understand the desire to have people that are ideologically aligned,” said Meredith McGehee, the executive director of IssueOne, a group trying to limit the role of money in politics. “But when you start doing litmus tests on appointees, it can backfire. You need to have appointees in the administration who can work with a range of people in Congress or you are not likely to get much done.” 
&nbsp;

The alarm bells sounded immediately among some progressives when President-elect Joe Biden released the list of advisers this week who will help him with the transition at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, which oversees the $5 trillion federal budget and shapes regulations on everything from labor standards to air pollution.

The alarm bells sounded immediately among some progressives when President-elect Joe Biden released the list of advisers this week who will help him with the transition at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, which oversees the $5 trillion federal budget and shapes regulations on everything from labor standards to air pollution. Biden’s team included executives from Amazon Web Services, Lyft, Airbnb and a vice president of WestExec Advisors, a Washington consulting firm whose secretive list of clients includes financial services, technology and pharmaceutical companies. “This puts us at a state of high alarm,” said Jeff Hauser, who runs a liberal group called the Revolving Door Project, which has been pressuring the Biden administration to stay away from not only lobbyists but also individuals coming out of the business world whom Hauser and other activists call “corporatists.” × His concerns are an early manifestation of a percolating and broader clash between the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and the more establishment members of Biden’s core team over the role of corporate executives, lobbyists and consultants in the incoming administration. In a letter sent Thursday, liberal groups including Demand Progress pushed Biden to adopt the sort of sweeping restrictions that his more liberal challengers for the presidential nomination had championed during the primary campaign, urging him not to “nominate or hire corporate executives, lobbyists, and prominent corporate consultants.” Their views are represented most prominently in the party by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who has made reining in the influence of corporate America and Wall Street a front-and-center issue for many Democrats. An early indicator of Biden’s efforts to navigate this divide will come when he announces ethics rules for his government, a move expected in the hours after his inauguration. The progressive activists want him to adopt hiring practices that go far beyond policies embraced by former President Barack Obama, who barred officials in his administration from working on issues on which they had lobbied in the past two years. The Biden transition team said in a statement that the president-elect was determined to ensure that “public servants serve all Americans, not themselves or narrow special interests.” The statement did not take a detailed position on what kinds of ethics prohibitions Biden would impose on hiring, but it hinted that Biden might bring on staff members who have worked on behalf of various causes and interests in the past. “Talent will be evaluated carefully to ensure important perspectives are not excluded,” the statement said. “Some of our nation’s brightest policy minds are also fierce advocates on issues from criminal justice reform to health care and workers rights.” The fight over these rules started quietly over the summer when Biden’s campaign invited dozens of ethics experts, professors and others, including advisers to Warren and other members of Congress, to make recommendations about an ethics policy to be issued on Day 1 of a possible administration. While some argued that the Obama-era lobbying restrictions could hurt a Biden administration’s ability to recruit people with useful expertise, others pushed for tougher restrictions that bar not only lobbyists from being hired, but also corporate executives and consultants who advise companies on getting their way in Washington but do not register as lobbyists. Progressives started growing concerned about Biden’s personnel moves even before the election, when he announced his first list of top transition advisers. It included Jessica Hertz, who helped oversee government relations efforts at Facebook, and Avril Haines, who worked at WestExec Advisors and also consulted for the data-mining company Palantir. Biden’s first big move — naming Ron Klain on Wednesday as his chief of staff — drew praise from Warren and some progressive activists. They had worried that Biden might pick Steve Ricchetti, a close adviser and former pharmaceutical industry lobbyist who served as his chief of staff while he was vice president. Klain has corporate ties, too. He has most recently worked with Steve Case, founder of AOL, in a venture capital firm called Revolution, and he warned in 2015 about the impact that government regulation can have on technology startups. Debates over personnel are common in new administrations, as interest groups and factions of supporters of an incoming president jockey for influence. But they are likely to be particularly intense in the Biden administration after an election in which the liberal wing of the party suppressed its concerns about what they saw as Biden’s cautious centrism out of a desire to defeat President Donald Trump. The stakes are heightened further by Biden’s pledge to differentiate his administration from Trump’s, in which representatives from corporate America and Wall Street held prominent posts, and conflicts of interest abounded. Biden has not always shared the left’s concerns about lobbying. When he was vice president under Obama, Biden bristled at the strict lobbying rules, which he contended would deprive their nascent administration of experienced talent. He specifically balked at an effort by Obama’s aides to try to block the vice president from hiring Ricchetti, a well-connected Washington operator who had also lobbied for insurance companies, credit agencies and others. Ricchetti eventually became Biden’s chief of staff and continued working with him after the administration ended. Ricchetti became the chairman of Biden’s presidential campaign, and is reported to be in contention for a prominent administration post. Ricchetti’s brother continues to operate a lobbying firm bearing the family name, which has signed several new clients in recent months. Several other Biden confidants with ties to Washington’s influence industry worked on his campaign or his transition team. In addition to the team’s Office of Management and Budget review team, those appointed this week to oversee the reconfiguration of other agencies also included a number of people who work for firms that lobby for an array of interests that concern liberals, including oil and pharmaceutical companies. Biden pledged during the campaign to adopt strict ethics rules, pointing to broad conflicts of interest he said persisted through the Trump era. He promised a policy that addresses “not only the improper influence of lobbyists, but also any improper or inappropriate influence from personal, financial and other interests” that his appointees might have. The ethics rules adopted by Obama in 2009 were considered the most comprehensive in modern American politics. They included for the first time a commitment to ban registered lobbyists from working in agencies they had lobbied in the prior two years, with limited exceptions. The White House also moved to routinely release a list of all visitors, so the public could see what corporate executives and lobbyists were meeting with the president and members of his staff. But both sides soon found ways to evade these rules. That included off-the-books meetings between lobbyists and White House aides at nearby coffee shops. Other representatives of corporate interests avoided the “lobbyist” stigma — and any restriction on being appointed to a political post — by positioning themselves as so-called strategic advisers. That role allowed them to advise clients about how to exert influence on the government without registering as lobbyists. Officials from such strategic advisory firms — including WestExec Advisors and Albright Stonebridge Group — are represented on Biden’s transition team or are expected to play prominent roles in his government. Four people affiliated with Albright Stonebridge, which was co-founded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, are listed as members of Biden’s agency review teams overseeing the State Department and international aid programs. The firm, which says it does not lobby the U.S. government, represents a range of international clients, including until recently the Switzerland-based mining and commodities trading giant Glencore, which has been the subject of investigations in the United States and around the world related to corruption and other issues. Cristina Killingsworth, WestExec’s vice president, is on leave from the firm while she works on Biden’s Office of Management and Budget review team. One of the firm’s co-founders, Antony J. Blinken, a former deputy secretary of state, took a leave in August to run the Biden campaign’s foreign policy operation. Blinken is considered a possible secretary of state in the Biden administration, while his WestExec co-founder, Michèle Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, is considered a possible defense secretary. The firm does not name its clients. It has worked with the philanthropy started by Eric Schmidt, former Google chairman, and with Google’s in-house incubation unit, Jigsaw. On its website, WestExec says its clients include a leading American pharmaceutical company and a multibillion-dollar American technology company that it helped with “safeguarding against trade tensions between the U.S. and China.” “Those kinds of consulting shops take advantage of weaknesses in current laws, so there is no transparency in their clients and how they are trying to influence public policy for them,” said Danielle Brian, the executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group the Project on Government Oversight. “That’s exactly the kind of people who should not be in an administration.” Progressive Democrats and advocates for tighter ethics rules have called for years for an expansion of lobbying rules to include strategic consultants, as well as executives who work behind the scenes to help corporations develop lobbying strategies. Some participants in the ethics policy group assembled by the Biden campaign argued that the administration should widen restrictions on hiring to include not only lobbyists, but also strategic consultants, according to people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Others said the administration should ban lobbyists for corporate interests, but allow lobbyists for unions and nonprofit groups. The Biden transition team’s ethics policy takes a more case-by-case approach, barring participants who lobbied on the issues they have been assigned with overseeing, unless they receive waivers. The list of people appointed by the transition team this week to review agencies includes at least three who were recently registered to lobby for labor unions, as reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal. The pressure on establishment Democrats is coming from progressives in Congress, too, including Warren and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona. “If the CEO of a fossil fuel corporation should not be put in charge of U.S. diplomacy or an oil lobbyist should not be put in charge of the Interior Department under a Republican administration, there is no reason to believe that an officer or lobbyist at a major bank or financial firm should be put in charge of financial policy under a Democratic administration,” said a letter sent by 13 House Democrats last month to Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. Liberal political activists are pressing Schumer to help deliver on their demands, pointedly noting that he is up for reelection in 2022 and could potentially face a primary challenge from a more liberal opponent. But even some proponents of tighter ethics rules are starting to question if the demands by progressives have gone too far. “I understand the desire to have people that are ideologically aligned,” said Meredith McGehee, the executive director of IssueOne, a group trying to limit the role of money in politics. “But when you start doing litmus tests on appointees, it can backfire. You need to have appointees in the administration who can work with a range of people in Congress or you are not likely to get much done.”

Progressives press Biden to limit corporate influence in administration

On Diwali, the festival of lights, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wished British Indians. In US, Biden solidified his lead on Donald Trump as he pocketed more electoral votes in US Election 2020. Russian peacekeepers have entered Nagorno-Karabkah while Armenian villagers are burning their houses as Azerbaijan takover looms. Catch this and more in top 10 world news below.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-april-vaccine-will-be-available-to-entire-population-except-new-york-says-trump-while-hitting-out-at-governor-cuomo-343180">Trump set to deny vaccine to New York over tiff with Governor Cuomo</a>

<img alt="Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="38e2b9a4-c395-4ff0-8801-de4f5054bafd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/trump_4.JPG" />

Governor Cuomo hit back saying it was "personal" with the president.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-diwali-message-uk-pm-boris-johnson-expresses-gratitude-for-british-indians-343174">In Diwali message, UK PM Boris Johnson expresses gratitude for British Indians</a>

<img alt="Diwali" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba496fe6-38f7-41f1-9172-4959db000da3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Boris%20Johnson.JPG" />

Johnson said that just as the festival symbolised victory of light over darkness, it will also serve as beacon that will light the path of mankind's victory over coronavirus pandemic

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-solidifies-us-victory-over-trump-306-232-electoral-votes-343094">Biden solidifies US victory over Trump, 306-232 electoral votes</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-solidifies-us-victory-over-trump-306-232-electoral-votes-343094"><img alt="Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f43f6ed-430b-4ea7-81bd-c2323433b212" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Biden_2.JPG" /></a> 
 
Edison Research, which made the call, also projected that North Carolina, the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count, would go to Trump, finalizing the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-peacekeepers-enter-nagorno-karabakh-as-kremlin-seeks-un-presence-343168">Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence</a>

<img alt="Russia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8aacaae9-37fa-48cd-abf8-5c2da8e0547c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Russia.JPG" />

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would involve the United Nations for humanitarian purposes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenian-villagers-burn-their-houses-just-ahead-of-azerbaijan-takeover-343178">Armenian villagers burn their houses just ahead of Azerbaijan takeover</a>

<img alt="Armenia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b731456-ef2d-4f81-a2d3-63f2fefac671" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/armenia_0.JPG" /> 
The territory will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of the peace deal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tigrayan-rocket-attack-damaged-airport-areas-in-neighbouring-region-says-ethiopia-343166">Tigrayan rocket attack damaged 'airport areas' in neighbouring region, says Ethiopia</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tigrayan-rocket-attack-damaged-airport-areas-in-neighbouring-region-says-ethiopia-343166"><img alt="Tigray" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="848ac9fc-ba5a-4896-9ff4-7fa0e767dd76" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/tigray.JPG" /></a> 
 
The conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigray region has already spiralled into a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan which does not have adequate resources to take care of this population

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-says-al-qaedas-no-2-leader-was-killed-in-august-iran-refutes-claim-343091">Report says al Qaeda’s No 2 leader was killed in August; Iran refutes claim</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-says-al-qaedas-no-2-leader-was-killed-in-august-iran-refutes-claim-343091"><img alt="Qaeda" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6c080cb4-8b97-4d28-a240-67c856c022f0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Al%20Qaeda.JPG" /></a> 
 
Abdullash was accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-top-diplomat-mike-pompeo-lands-in-france-on-seven-nation-tour-343161">US top diplomat Mike Pompeo lands in France on seven-nation tour</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-top-diplomat-mike-pompeo-lands-in-france-on-seven-nation-tour-343161"><img alt="Pompeo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70d70a22-bb93-4527-b38c-8dc33be6c6db" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pompeo.JPG" /></a> 
 
Notably, all nations on his schedule have congratulated Joe Biden for his victory in the recently-conducted US presidential race.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scottish-govt-calls-for-probe-into-trumps-golf-investments-343107">Scottish govt calls for probe into Trump’s golf investments</a>

<img alt="Golf" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="75a5d813-5117-457d-9ee8-f6593c417b16" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/golf.JPG" />

The incumbent US president owns Trump International Golf Links Scotland in Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, and Turnberry, in southwest Ayrshire.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-surge-in-covid-19-cases-iran-to-tighten-restrictions-from-next-saturday-343176">Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Iran to tighten restrictions from next Saturday</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-surge-in-covid-19-cases-iran-to-tighten-restrictions-from-next-saturday-343176"><img alt="Iran" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8d025010-3436-4a5e-b82b-1018f8fbfa5f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Iran_0.JPG" /></a> 
 
President Hassan Rouhani had insisted that the country could not afford a shut down due to the US sanctions which has hit the country economically 
&nbsp;

On Diwali, the festival of lights, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wished British Indians. In US, Biden solidified his lead on Donald Trump as he pocketed more electoral votes in US Election 2020.

On Diwali, the festival of lights, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wished British Indians. In US, Biden solidified his lead on Donald Trump as he pocketed more electoral votes in US Election 2020. Russian peacekeepers have entered Nagorno-Karabkah while Armenian villagers are burning their houses as Azerbaijan takover looms. Catch this and more in top 10 world news below. Trump set to deny vaccine to New York over tiff with Governor Cuomo Governor Cuomo hit back saying it was "personal" with the president. In Diwali message, UK PM Boris Johnson expresses gratitude for British Indians Johnson said that just as the festival symbolised victory of light over darkness, it will also serve as beacon that will light the path of mankind's victory over coronavirus pandemic Biden solidifies US victory over Trump, 306-232 electoral votes Edison Research, which made the call, also projected that North Carolina, the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count, would go to Trump, finalizing the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump. Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would involve the United Nations for humanitarian purposes. Armenian villagers burn their houses just ahead of Azerbaijan takeover The territory will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of the peace deal Tigrayan rocket attack damaged 'airport areas' in neighbouring region, says Ethiopia The conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigray region has already spiralled into a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan which does not have adequate resources to take care of this population Report says al Qaeda’s No 2 leader was killed in August; Iran refutes claim Abdullash was accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa. US top diplomat Mike Pompeo lands in France on seven-nation tour Notably, all nations on his schedule have congratulated Joe Biden for his victory in the recently-conducted US presidential race. Scottish govt calls for probe into Trump’s golf investments The incumbent US president owns Trump International Golf Links Scotland in Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, and Turnberry, in southwest Ayrshire. Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Iran to tighten restrictions from next Saturday President Hassan Rouhani had insisted that the country could not afford a shut down due to the US sanctions which has hit the country economically

Top 10 world news: UK PM says 'Happy Diwali', Trump denies vaccine to NY, more

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had tremendous 'respect' for the way British Indinas went out of their way to help others tackle the coronavirus pandemic. In his Diwali message, Johnson said that just as the festival symbolised victory of light over darkness, it will also serve as beacon that will light the path of mankind's victory over coronavirus pandemic.

"Happy Diwali and BandiChhorDivas! I know that this year celebrations will be different, but I am filled with respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have gone out of their way to help others throughout this pandemic," he wrote in the tweet that had a video message.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/diwali-2020-india-along-with-the-world-celebrates-the-festival-of-lights-343118">Diwali 2020: India, along with the world, celebrates the festival of lights</a> 
 
"Namaste and Happy Diwali everybody. Millions of lamps are once again being lit as a spectacular joyful festival of Diwali is here. And of course, I knew that this year, as with so many other events, Diwali is not going to be the same. People across this country are making huge sacrifices, your lives have been put on hold, I know, your work and businesses have been disrupted. Let`s all take comfort from the meaning at the heart of this fantastic festival, and that the many millions of Diwali lights all over the world shine through the darkness as beacons of hope for a better future," he said."Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. So too, I have every confidence that we triumph over COVID-19. And as we all pull together, and play our part in defeating this virus, I`m filled with all and respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have risen to this challenge, and have gone out of their way to help others from the amazing doctors and nurses on the frontline, who cared for the sick throughout this crisis, to the temples that have used their kitchens to feed the vulnerable and support our key workers," Johnson added.Diwali is observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar and it is believed that on this day Lord Rama (the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu) returned from a 14-year-long exile, during which he fought and won a battle against the demon king Ravana.People across India and around the world celebrate the festival by decorating their houses, exchanging gifts, and offering prayers in order to commemorate the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".

Watch his video message below:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Happy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diwali?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Diwali</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BandiChhorDivas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BandiChhorDivas</a>! 
 
I know that this year celebrations will be different, but I am filled with respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have gone out of their way to help others throughout this pandemic. <a href="https://t.co/YhqWpq3JQH">pic.twitter.com/YhqWpq3JQH</a>
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1327538300098371584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had tremendous 'respect' for the way British Indinas went out of their way to help others tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had tremendous 'respect' for the way British Indinas went out of their way to help others tackle the coronavirus pandemic. In his Diwali message, Johnson said that just as the festival symbolised victory of light over darkness, it will also serve as beacon that will light the path of mankind's victory over coronavirus pandemic. "Happy Diwali and BandiChhorDivas! I know that this year celebrations will be different, but I am filled with respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have gone out of their way to help others throughout this pandemic," he wrote in the tweet that had a video message. Also Read | Diwali 2020: India, along with the world, celebrates the festival of lights "Namaste and Happy Diwali everybody. Millions of lamps are once again being lit as a spectacular joyful festival of Diwali is here. And of course, I knew that this year, as with so many other events, Diwali is not going to be the same. People across this country are making huge sacrifices, your lives have been put on hold, I know, your work and businesses have been disrupted. Let`s all take comfort from the meaning at the heart of this fantastic festival, and that the many millions of Diwali lights all over the world shine through the darkness as beacons of hope for a better future," he said."Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. So too, I have every confidence that we triumph over COVID-19. And as we all pull together, and play our part in defeating this virus, I`m filled with all and respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have risen to this challenge, and have gone out of their way to help others from the amazing doctors and nurses on the frontline, who cared for the sick throughout this crisis, to the temples that have used their kitchens to feed the vulnerable and support our key workers," Johnson added.Diwali is observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar and it is believed that on this day Lord Rama (the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu) returned from a 14-year-long exile, during which he fought and won a battle against the demon king Ravana.People across India and around the world celebrate the festival by decorating their houses, exchanging gifts, and offering prayers in order to commemorate the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Watch his video message below: Happy #Diwali and #BandiChhorDivas! I know that this year celebrations will be different, but I am filled with respect for the way British Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have gone out of their way to help others throughout this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/YhqWpq3JQH — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 14, 2020 ×

In Diwali message, UK PM Boris Johnson expresses gratitude for British Indians

Raising fears that the conflict within Ethiopia could draw other regions of the country, Ethiopia on Saturday said that forces loyal to Tigray region fired into neighbouring Amhara region. Statement from Ethiopian government said that the rocket attack by Tigrayan forces damaged 'airport areas' in this region.

"In the late hours of Nov. 13, 2020, a rocket was fired towards Bahir Dar and Gondar cities. As a result, the airport areas have sustained damages," an Ethiopian government statement said.

"The TPLF junta is utilising the last of the weaponry within its arsenals," the statement said, referring to the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Tigray ruling party.

AFP quoted a doctor to say that two military personnel were killed and upto 15 injured in the city of Gondar that was target of the fire.

The conflict between federal forces and Tigray region has already spiralled into a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan which does not have adequate resources to take care of this population.

TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told AFP Saturday he did not have information about the reported attacks but noted that TPLF leaders have said "any airport used to attack Tigray will be a legitimate target".&nbsp;

The airports in Bahir Dar, the regional capital, and in Gondar are used by both military and civilian aircraft.

Residents reported hearing gunfire in both cities Friday night, though an Amhara regional government statement said "the situation was controlled within a few minutes" and "our cities are in peace".&nbsp;

"There were at least two dead" and "10 or 15 injured", AFP quoted a&nbsp;doctor at a hospital in Gondar who spoke on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

He said the casualties appeared to have resulted from an explosion, not from bullets.

"I have seen abdominal, chest and leg injuries," he said, adding there were "no civilians at all" among the dead or injured.&nbsp;

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week launched military operations in Tigray, saying the move was provoked by TPLF attacks on federal military camps in the region -- a claim the TPLF denies.&nbsp;

Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, some in a gruesome massacre documented by Amnesty International, and thousands have fled fighting and air strikes in Tigray, whose leaders Abiy accuses of seeking to destabilise the country.

Tigray has been under a communications blackout since the operation began, making it difficult to verify claims from both camps about the situation on the ground.

Military officials have vowed to keep the conflict contained in Tigray, and Abiy has repeatedly promised a quick, decisive victory.

But Amhara and Tigray are embroiled in long-running disputes over land along their shared border that analysts worry could draw Amhara into the conflict.

Thousands of Amhara militiamen have already headed towards Tigray to fight alongside federal forces, according to Amhara security officials.

Both Bahir Dar and Gondar were calm Saturday morning, residents said.

One resident of Bahir Dar told AFP there were "two heavy explosions around 10:50 pm".

"After that there was gunfire for 15 minutes, and then it went quiet," the resident said.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

Raising fears that the conflict within Ethiopia could draw other regions of the country, Ethiopia on Saturday said that forces loyal to Tigray region fired into neighbouring Amhara region.

Raising fears that the conflict within Ethiopia could draw other regions of the country, Ethiopia on Saturday said that forces loyal to Tigray region fired into neighbouring Amhara region. Statement from Ethiopian government said that the rocket attack by Tigrayan forces damaged 'airport areas' in this region. "In the late hours of Nov. 13, 2020, a rocket was fired towards Bahir Dar and Gondar cities. As a result, the airport areas have sustained damages," an Ethiopian government statement said. "The TPLF junta is utilising the last of the weaponry within its arsenals," the statement said, referring to the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Tigray ruling party. AFP quoted a doctor to say that two military personnel were killed and upto 15 injured in the city of Gondar that was target of the fire. The conflict between federal forces and Tigray region has already spiralled into a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan which does not have adequate resources to take care of this population. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told AFP Saturday he did not have information about the reported attacks but noted that TPLF leaders have said "any airport used to attack Tigray will be a legitimate target". The airports in Bahir Dar, the regional capital, and in Gondar are used by both military and civilian aircraft. Residents reported hearing gunfire in both cities Friday night, though an Amhara regional government statement said "the situation was controlled within a few minutes" and "our cities are in peace". "There were at least two dead" and "10 or 15 injured", AFP quoted a doctor at a hospital in Gondar who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the casualties appeared to have resulted from an explosion, not from bullets. "I have seen abdominal, chest and leg injuries," he said, adding there were "no civilians at all" among the dead or injured. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week launched military operations in Tigray, saying the move was provoked by TPLF attacks on federal military camps in the region -- a claim the TPLF denies. Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, some in a gruesome massacre documented by Amnesty International, and thousands have fled fighting and air strikes in Tigray, whose leaders Abiy accuses of seeking to destabilise the country. Tigray has been under a communications blackout since the operation began, making it difficult to verify claims from both camps about the situation on the ground. Military officials have vowed to keep the conflict contained in Tigray, and Abiy has repeatedly promised a quick, decisive victory. But Amhara and Tigray are embroiled in long-running disputes over land along their shared border that analysts worry could draw Amhara into the conflict. Thousands of Amhara militiamen have already headed towards Tigray to fight alongside federal forces, according to Amhara security officials. Both Bahir Dar and Gondar were calm Saturday morning, residents said. One resident of Bahir Dar told AFP there were "two heavy explosions around 10:50 pm". "After that there was gunfire for 15 minutes, and then it went quiet," the resident said. (With AFP inputs)

Tigrayan rocket attack damaged 'airport areas' in neighbouring region, says Ethiopia

China is bad at damage control. It tried hiding the Wuhan virus epidemic but failed. In August, China held a meeting on Tibet. The 7th Tibet Work Forum. It was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He laid out a strategy to "sinicise"&nbsp;Tibet and&nbsp;make it more Chinese. The plan included moving more Han Chinese to Tibet, teaching Chinese history and&nbsp;establish&nbsp;a "correct"&nbsp;view of China.&nbsp;

It is safe to say that the meeting and its minutes were flashed&nbsp;globally.

What did China do next? It tried to control the damage. It embarked on a journey to change the global image of the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Between September 7 and 11. China took the Swiss ambassador on a guided tour of Tibet.

Why did it pick a Swiss official? Because Switzerland is viewed as a neutral country.

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And it has a strong say in Europe. So China took a long shot in trying to impress Switzerland.

In October, China took the Canadian Ambassador to Tibet

Two Canadians are jailed in China,&nbsp;so Beijing used&nbsp;powerplay. However, these propaganda visits were not successful. Neither of the ambassadors has said much publically since returning from Tibet. Their silence ruined the game for China.

To make matters worse, a group of journalists who were chaperoned around Tibet in November&nbsp;have written rather nasty words about the Chinese government.

"Government officials in both Beijing and Tibet vetted the reporters from media organisations who were invited to join the trip. On the closely supervised tour, there was little opportunity to interact with ordinary Tibetans without government officials in attendance,"&nbsp;noted Reuters.

In one Tibetan village- media crew saw signs that read- 'Thank the party, listen to the party, follow the party'

The reporters were allowed to speak to a 41-year-old Tibetan. The man said that he was so busy with work, that he has forgotten Buddhism.

"I needed to work in order to give my family a better life so I went to work, that's why I don't have time to do these things (religious activities). I can't say I've completely left Buddhism, I forget it when I am busy with work," he said.

China can lie, tutor and blackmail all its wants. No one is falling for its propaganda.

China is bad at damage control. It tried hiding the Wuhan virus epidemic but failed. In August, China held a meeting on Tibet. The 7th Tibet Work Forum. It was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China is bad at damage control. It tried hiding the Wuhan virus epidemic but failed. In August, China held a meeting on Tibet. The 7th Tibet Work Forum. It was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He laid out a strategy to "sinicise" Tibet and make it more Chinese. The plan included moving more Han Chinese to Tibet, teaching Chinese history and establish a "correct" view of China. It is safe to say that the meeting and its minutes were flashed globally. What did China do next? It tried to control the damage. It embarked on a journey to change the global image of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Between September 7 and 11. China took the Swiss ambassador on a guided tour of Tibet. Why did it pick a Swiss official? Because Switzerland is viewed as a neutral country. × And it has a strong say in Europe. So China took a long shot in trying to impress Switzerland. In October, China took the Canadian Ambassador to Tibet Two Canadians are jailed in China, so Beijing used powerplay. However, these propaganda visits were not successful. Neither of the ambassadors has said much publically since returning from Tibet. Their silence ruined the game for China. To make matters worse, a group of journalists who were chaperoned around Tibet in November have written rather nasty words about the Chinese government. "Government officials in both Beijing and Tibet vetted the reporters from media organisations who were invited to join the trip. On the closely supervised tour, there was little opportunity to interact with ordinary Tibetans without government officials in attendance," noted Reuters. In one Tibetan village- media crew saw signs that read- 'Thank the party, listen to the party, follow the party' The reporters were allowed to speak to a 41-year-old Tibetan. The man said that he was so busy with work, that he has forgotten Buddhism. "I needed to work in order to give my family a better life so I went to work, that's why I don't have time to do these things (religious activities). I can't say I've completely left Buddhism, I forget it when I am busy with work," he said. China can lie, tutor and blackmail all its wants. No one is falling for its propaganda.

Now, Xi Jinping uses Chinese propaganda muscle over Tibet

United States "strongly urged" de-escalation of violence and end to the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The reaction came after reports of mass killing in a town. The mass killings were reported by Amnesty International. Tibor Nagy, the top US diplomat for Africa tweeted and made the appeal for calm.

"We condemn the massacre of civilians in Mai-Kadra and strongly urge immediate steps to de-escalate and end conflict throughout the Tigray region. It is essential that peace be restored and civilians be protected," he tweeted.

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— Tibor Nagy (@AsstSecStateAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsstSecStateAF/status/1327278066666770435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The conflict in Tigray has given rise to fears of a civil war in Ethiopia where federal forces are engaged in fighting with Tigray region of the country. The conflict has already become a humanitarian crisis as casualties are mounting and more than 14,000 people in Ethiopia have been displaced due to hostilities.&nbsp;

These people are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan where the government is not well equipped to take care of sudden influx of so many people. The conflict of Ethiopia with its own region is threatening to become a regional issue.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, ordered military operations in Tigray last week, shocking the international community which fears the start of a long and bloody civil war.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-casualties-mount-as-tigray-conflict-turns-into-humanitarian-crisis-343025">Ethiopia: Casualties mount as Tigray conflict turns into a humanitarian crisis</a>

On Friday (November 13, 2020) United Nations warned of possible war crimes in Tigray region.

UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet called for a full investigation into the report of mass killings in the town of Mai-Kadra, where Amnesty said it had "digitally verified gruesome photographs and videos of bodies strewn across the town or being carried away on stretchers".

"If confirmed as having been deliberately carried out by a party to the current fighting, these killings of civilians would of course amount to war crimes," she said in a statement.

Amnesty said it had not been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings, however witnesses blamed forces backing the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

(With AFP inputs)

United States "strongly urged" de-escalation of violence and end to the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The reaction came after reports of mass killing in a town.

United States "strongly urged" de-escalation of violence and end to the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The reaction came after reports of mass killing in a town. The mass killings were reported by Amnesty International. Tibor Nagy, the top US diplomat for Africa tweeted and made the appeal for calm. "We condemn the massacre of civilians in Mai-Kadra and strongly urge immediate steps to de-escalate and end conflict throughout the Tigray region. It is essential that peace be restored and civilians be protected," he tweeted. We condemn the massacre of civilians in Mai-Kadra and strongly urge immediate steps to de-escalate and end conflict throughout the Tigray region. It is essential that peace be restored and civilians be protected. — Tibor Nagy (@AsstSecStateAF) November 13, 2020 × The conflict in Tigray has given rise to fears of a civil war in Ethiopia where federal forces are engaged in fighting with Tigray region of the country. The conflict has already become a humanitarian crisis as casualties are mounting and more than 14,000 people in Ethiopia have been displaced due to hostilities. These people are fleeing to neighbouring Sudan where the government is not well equipped to take care of sudden influx of so many people. The conflict of Ethiopia with its own region is threatening to become a regional issue. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, ordered military operations in Tigray last week, shocking the international community which fears the start of a long and bloody civil war. Also Read | Ethiopia: Casualties mount as Tigray conflict turns into a humanitarian crisis On Friday (November 13, 2020) United Nations warned of possible war crimes in Tigray region. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet called for a full investigation into the report of mass killings in the town of Mai-Kadra, where Amnesty said it had "digitally verified gruesome photographs and videos of bodies strewn across the town or being carried away on stretchers". "If confirmed as having been deliberately carried out by a party to the current fighting, these killings of civilians would of course amount to war crimes," she said in a statement. Amnesty said it had not been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings, however witnesses blamed forces backing the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). (With AFP inputs)

Ethiopia: US urges immediate de-escalation of Tigray conflict

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer. Kalbajar District will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a Russian-brokered peace agreement that put a stop to weeks of fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both the countries clashed with each other as hostilities broke out at the end of September over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This region broke away from Azerbaijan in 1990s. More than 1400 people have died so far in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Nobody has ordered residents in the region to leave their homes but they fear retaliatory attacks from Azerbaijan once the takeover takes place on Sunday (November 15).

"I cried all night when I heard the news," says 68-year-old Hayastan Yeghiazaryan told AFP. Her 82 year-old husband Zohrab said that they were not even sure where they will go.

"With the help of the children, we'll try to rent a small apartment in Yerevan," he says, referring to the capital of Armenia, which has been rocked by political unrest since the country's leadership agreed to the peace accord that cedes swathes of territory in Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

"We might be able to come back, don't you think?" he says with a hopeful look.

Kalbajar's residents were encouraged to settle in this region of Azerbaijan by separatist leaders who had grabbed control of the area.

(With AFP inputs)

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer.

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer. Kalbajar District will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a Russian-brokered peace agreement that put a stop to weeks of fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both the countries clashed with each other as hostilities broke out at the end of September over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This region broke away from Azerbaijan in 1990s. More than 1400 people have died so far in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nobody has ordered residents in the region to leave their homes but they fear retaliatory attacks from Azerbaijan once the takeover takes place on Sunday (November 15). "I cried all night when I heard the news," says 68-year-old Hayastan Yeghiazaryan told AFP. Her 82 year-old husband Zohrab said that they were not even sure where they will go. "With the help of the children, we'll try to rent a small apartment in Yerevan," he says, referring to the capital of Armenia, which has been rocked by political unrest since the country's leadership agreed to the peace accord that cedes swathes of territory in Karabakh to Azerbaijan. "We might be able to come back, don't you think?" he says with a hopeful look. Kalbajar's residents were encouraged to settle in this region of Azerbaijan by separatist leaders who had grabbed control of the area. (With AFP inputs)

Armenians flee homes as takeover by Azerbaijan looms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indians to pay tribute to Indian soldiers this Diwali. He addressed the nation in a video message that featured soldiers, police officials and health workers. PM thanked them for their service and expressed gratitude for their families. He tweeted his video message.

"This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can`t do justice to the sense of gratitude we`ve for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We`re also grateful to families of those on the borders," read the tweet.

"Friends, we must remember our brave soldiers who are guarding our borders even in this festive time, serving Bharat Mata and providing security. We must celebrate Diwali only after remembering them. We must also light a lamp for these brave sons and daughters of Mother India," the Prime Minister said.&nbsp;

Watch the full address here:

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This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Salute2Soldiers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Salute2Soldiers</a> who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can’t do justice to the sense of gratitude we have for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We are also grateful to the families of those on the borders. <a href="https://t.co/UAKqPLvKR8">pic.twitter.com/UAKqPLvKR8</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1327225291668852736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Diwali, the festival of lights will be celebrated on November 14 this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indians to pay tribute to Indian soldiers this Diwali. He addressed the nation in a video message that featured soldiers, police officials and health workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indians to pay tribute to Indian soldiers this Diwali. He addressed the nation in a video message that featured soldiers, police officials and health workers. PM thanked them for their service and expressed gratitude for their families. He tweeted his video message. "This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can`t do justice to the sense of gratitude we`ve for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We`re also grateful to families of those on the borders," read the tweet. "Friends, we must remember our brave soldiers who are guarding our borders even in this festive time, serving Bharat Mata and providing security. We must celebrate Diwali only after remembering them. We must also light a lamp for these brave sons and daughters of Mother India," the Prime Minister said. Watch the full address here: This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can’t do justice to the sense of gratitude we have for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We are also grateful to the families of those on the borders. pic.twitter.com/UAKqPLvKR8 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 13, 2020 × Diwali, the festival of lights will be celebrated on November 14 this year.

Light a Diya for our brave soldiers, says PM Modi in his Diwali message

Coronavirus pandemic has forced nations to close borders and curtail tourism. The hospitality sector has taken a huge hit as people world over are afraid to go to a place where they may be mingling with unknown crowds. But there is a place that is witnessing overtourism. Welcome to Chatham Islands. The islands are off coast from New Zealand and are under the control of the country. The usually lean tourism industry is now witnessing demand that is far outstripping the supply.

Chatham Islands usually get just 2000 tourists in a year, according to BBC. But the year 2020 has been different.&nbsp;

It's well known that New Zealand is the country that is arguably credited for being the one that took comprehensive measures to curb coronavirus pandemic. This resulted in country lifting curfews and allowing public event without fear of community transmission. This factor is certain to have had an impact on the fact that one place witnessing overtourism is in New Zealand.

As per news reports New Zealanders are flocking to Chatham Islands. The usual tourism season begins from November and ends in March, that is, during the Summer months in Southern hemisphere. But this time, bookings are full till June 2021.

The islands are home to unique bird species and are also known for a colony of seals. Its beaches are serene as they are not on the usual list of popular tourist destinations. If you want a quiet escape from it all, Chatham Islands is the place to be.

International tourists will have to wait a while before they can visit these islands. New Zealand is yet to allow foreign tourists into the country. Till that happens New Zealanders have a chance to visit this neglected corner of their own country.

Coronavirus pandemic has forced nations to close borders and curtail tourism. The hospitality sector has taken a huge hit as people world over are afraid to go to a place where they may be mingling with unknown crowds.

Coronavirus pandemic has forced nations to close borders and curtail tourism. The hospitality sector has taken a huge hit as people world over are afraid to go to a place where they may be mingling with unknown crowds. But there is a place that is witnessing overtourism. Welcome to Chatham Islands. The islands are off coast from New Zealand and are under the control of the country. The usually lean tourism industry is now witnessing demand that is far outstripping the supply. Chatham Islands usually get just 2000 tourists in a year, according to BBC. But the year 2020 has been different. It's well known that New Zealand is the country that is arguably credited for being the one that took comprehensive measures to curb coronavirus pandemic. This resulted in country lifting curfews and allowing public event without fear of community transmission. This factor is certain to have had an impact on the fact that one place witnessing overtourism is in New Zealand. As per news reports New Zealanders are flocking to Chatham Islands. The usual tourism season begins from November and ends in March, that is, during the Summer months in Southern hemisphere. But this time, bookings are full till June 2021. The islands are home to unique bird species and are also known for a colony of seals. Its beaches are serene as they are not on the usual list of popular tourist destinations. If you want a quiet escape from it all, Chatham Islands is the place to be. International tourists will have to wait a while before they can visit these islands. New Zealand is yet to allow foreign tourists into the country. Till that happens New Zealanders have a chance to visit this neglected corner of their own country.

In times of coronavirus, this place is witnessing overtourism

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this. This&nbsp;may have resulted in inadequate response to the problem and we may be at a point of no return. These fears may be true according to researchers who say that global warming will continue even if greenhouse gas emissions responsible for it are reduced to zero.

"According to our models, humanity is beyond the point-of-no-return when it comes to halting the melting of permafrost using greenhouse gas cuts as the single tool," lead author Jorgen Randers, a professor emeritus of climate strategy at the BI Norwegian Business School, told AFP.

The researchers have published their finding in the journal Scientific Reports.

So what's the way to stop global warming?

According to the researchers, the only way to do it is to extract greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them so that they do not go back into it.

Using a stripped-down climate model, Randers and colleague Ulrich Goluke projected changes out to the year 2500 under two scenarios: the instant cessation of emissions, and the gradual reduction of planet warming gases to zero by 2100.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uk-firm-plans-to-turn-moon-rock-into-oxygen-building-materials-341869">UK firm plans to turn moon rock into oxygen, building materials</a> 
 
In an imaginary world where carbon pollution stops with a flip of the switch, the planet warms over the next 50 years to about 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- roughly half-a-degree above the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement -- and cools slightly after that.

Earth's surface today is 1.2C hotter than it was in the mid-19th century, when temperatures began to rise.

The findings of the researcher if absolutely accurate, does not sound well for the future of humanity as it means that we do not have any way to stop a process that may lead to melting of polar ice-caps and increasing sea levels that may see many megacities around the world going underwater.

But many scientists are contesting the claims made in the study and also the method by which the study was conducted.

Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology at University College London, also pointed to shortcomings in the model, known as ESCIMO, describing the study as a "thought experiment."

"What the study does draw attention to is that reducing global carbon emissions to zero by 2050" -- a goal championed by the UN and embraced by a growing number of countries -- "is just the start of our actions to deal with climate change."

(With AFP inputs)

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this.

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this. This may have resulted in inadequate response to the problem and we may be at a point of no return. These fears may be true according to researchers who say that global warming will continue even if greenhouse gas emissions responsible for it are reduced to zero. "According to our models, humanity is beyond the point-of-no-return when it comes to halting the melting of permafrost using greenhouse gas cuts as the single tool," lead author Jorgen Randers, a professor emeritus of climate strategy at the BI Norwegian Business School, told AFP. The researchers have published their finding in the journal Scientific Reports. So what's the way to stop global warming? According to the researchers, the only way to do it is to extract greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them so that they do not go back into it. Using a stripped-down climate model, Randers and colleague Ulrich Goluke projected changes out to the year 2500 under two scenarios: the instant cessation of emissions, and the gradual reduction of planet warming gases to zero by 2100. Also Read | UK firm plans to turn moon rock into oxygen, building materials In an imaginary world where carbon pollution stops with a flip of the switch, the planet warms over the next 50 years to about 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- roughly half-a-degree above the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement -- and cools slightly after that. Earth's surface today is 1.2C hotter than it was in the mid-19th century, when temperatures began to rise. The findings of the researcher if absolutely accurate, does not sound well for the future of humanity as it means that we do not have any way to stop a process that may lead to melting of polar ice-caps and increasing sea levels that may see many megacities around the world going underwater. But many scientists are contesting the claims made in the study and also the method by which the study was conducted. Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology at University College London, also pointed to shortcomings in the model, known as ESCIMO, describing the study as a "thought experiment." "What the study does draw attention to is that reducing global carbon emissions to zero by 2050" -- a goal championed by the UN and embraced by a growing number of countries -- "is just the start of our actions to deal with climate change." (With AFP inputs)

Reducing greenhouse gas emission even to zero won't stop global warming: Study

On Wednesday, Alibaba was in the news for its Singles Day shopping season. 11 days. Millions of orders. And deals worth 74 billion dollars. Yet on the same day, &nbsp;its shares plunged almost 10 per cent.

Here's why.

Alibaba's founder Jack Ma has made a powerful enemy. The Chinese President, Xi Jinping. China's most powerful is taking on one of its richest. In most countries, this would be a fair fight. But not in China. Here, it's a no contest. Xi Jinping is the supreme leader and Jack Ma learnt this the hard way.

At the centre of this rivalry is the Ant Group, a fintech company controlled by Jack Ma. It was set to issue the world's biggest IPO. Even bigger than Saudi Arabia's Aramco. But Beijing had other plans. The IPO was blocked just two days before trading was slated to begin. Reports say the order came right from the top. Possibly from Xi Jinping himself.

When a 37 billion dollar IPO was cancelled at the 11th hour. Questions were bound to arise. Why was Beijing going after the poster boy of Chinese tech? The regime says it is trying to protect investors' interest.

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But in reality, this IPO is exactly what china needed. Beijing's motivations were more political than economic. Ant Group was described as China's JP Morgan. It had the power to disrupt China's financial sector. A sector that is controlled by China's 5 big state banks. It seems the party is not quite ready to let go of this control.

Secondly, Jack Ma is losing favour with the Communist Party. Last month, he made a speech criticising Chinese regulations. He said the system was outdated and accused state banks of a 'pawnshop mentality'. These comments are unlikely to have gone down well with the party. China's disdain for entrepreneurs, especially when they are outspoken, is well-documented.&nbsp;

One example is real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang. He once called Xi Jinping a clown. This is certainly disrespectful but in China, this can seal your fate. Ren is currently serving an 18-year jail sentence.

After Ren, the party has now turned its attention to Jack Ma. He's the perfect target for Beijing

The world knows how rich Jack Ma is. It knows how big his company is. By cracking down on him Xi Jinping wants to show the world who's the boss. It's an exercise in power. And it's not limited to Jack Ma. China is trying to rein in all-powerful companies. Tencent, Alibaba and Ant Group are the big targets. They have become too powerful for the party's liking. This fear of a crackdown led to a selling frenzy at the stock market.

Over the last 11 days, Alibaba sold products worth 74 billion dollars. It's a world record. A world record. Despite this Alibaba's shares dropped almost 10 per cent. It gives you a sense of how much power Chinese regulators wield. Alibaba's rivals had a similar fate. Tencent fell 7.4 per cent. And phonemaker Xiaomi by 8.2 per cent.

In total, 80 billion dollars of market value was wiped out.

The message is clear. China's economy may evolve. Its companies may grow. But the communist party and its leadership remains supreme.

On Wednesday, Alibaba was in the news for its Singles Day shopping season. 11 days. Millions of orders. And deals worth 74 billion dollars. Yet on the same day, its shares plunged almost 10 per cent.

On Wednesday, Alibaba was in the news for its Singles Day shopping season. 11 days. Millions of orders. And deals worth 74 billion dollars. Yet on the same day, its shares plunged almost 10 per cent. Here's why. Alibaba's founder Jack Ma has made a powerful enemy. The Chinese President, Xi Jinping. China's most powerful is taking on one of its richest. In most countries, this would be a fair fight. But not in China. Here, it's a no contest. Xi Jinping is the supreme leader and Jack Ma learnt this the hard way. At the centre of this rivalry is the Ant Group, a fintech company controlled by Jack Ma. It was set to issue the world's biggest IPO. Even bigger than Saudi Arabia's Aramco. But Beijing had other plans. The IPO was blocked just two days before trading was slated to begin. Reports say the order came right from the top. Possibly from Xi Jinping himself. When a 37 billion dollar IPO was cancelled at the 11th hour. Questions were bound to arise. Why was Beijing going after the poster boy of Chinese tech? The regime says it is trying to protect investors' interest. × But in reality, this IPO is exactly what china needed. Beijing's motivations were more political than economic. Ant Group was described as China's JP Morgan. It had the power to disrupt China's financial sector. A sector that is controlled by China's 5 big state banks. It seems the party is not quite ready to let go of this control. Secondly, Jack Ma is losing favour with the Communist Party. Last month, he made a speech criticising Chinese regulations. He said the system was outdated and accused state banks of a 'pawnshop mentality'. These comments are unlikely to have gone down well with the party. China's disdain for entrepreneurs, especially when they are outspoken, is well-documented. One example is real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang. He once called Xi Jinping a clown. This is certainly disrespectful but in China, this can seal your fate. Ren is currently serving an 18-year jail sentence. After Ren, the party has now turned its attention to Jack Ma. He's the perfect target for Beijing The world knows how rich Jack Ma is. It knows how big his company is. By cracking down on him Xi Jinping wants to show the world who's the boss. It's an exercise in power. And it's not limited to Jack Ma. China is trying to rein in all-powerful companies. Tencent, Alibaba and Ant Group are the big targets. They have become too powerful for the party's liking. This fear of a crackdown led to a selling frenzy at the stock market. Over the last 11 days, Alibaba sold products worth 74 billion dollars. It's a world record. A world record. Despite this Alibaba's shares dropped almost 10 per cent. It gives you a sense of how much power Chinese regulators wield. Alibaba's rivals had a similar fate. Tencent fell 7.4 per cent. And phonemaker Xiaomi by 8.2 per cent. In total, 80 billion dollars of market value was wiped out. The message is clear. China's economy may evolve. Its companies may grow. But the communist party and its leadership remains supreme.

Chinese Communist Party tries to intimidate Alibaba's Jack Ma

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