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Google may shut off search function rather than pay for news content

Google is considering switching off its search function for Australian users if a proposed media bargaining code becomes law.

The tech giant's Australian managing editor Mel Silva said it was prepared to take the drastic action over a proposed media bargaining code.

The legislation aims to force digital platforms to pay media companies for news content, and follows a 12-month review into Google and Facebook by the competition watchdog.

"If the Code becomes law, Google would have no real choice but to stop providing Search in Australia. That's a worst-case scenario and the last thing we want to have happen — especially when there is a way forward to a workable Code that allows us to support Australian journalism without breaking Search," Ms Silva told a Senate hearing.

READ MORE: Watchdog throws spanner into Google's Fitbit plans

Google is currently profiting off Australian news outlets without paying for it.

"Now that would be a bad outcome for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day."

"It's not a threat. It's a reality."

One of the largest companies in the world, Google has an estimated value of more than a trillion dollars.

Facebook also appeared at the senate hearing, repeating its threat that having to pay for news could see the content blocked altogether for Australian users.

Simon Milner, Vice President Public Policy at APAC for Facebook, said while traditional news "enriches" the Facebook community, it provides "almost no commercial value".

READ MORE: Aussie media companies call on Google, Facebook to pay for news content

"Clearly there's a range of ways in which people find out about what's going on in the world and some of that is by what they consume on Facebook. And some of that will be from what we might think of as kind of mainstream news sources," Mr Milner said.

"We've estimated that less than 5 per cent of Facebook's newsfeed actually involves that kind of content."

News organisations in Australia have accused Google and Facebook of profiting off their content without paying anything for it.

The Senate economics committee is examining the Federal Government's proposed media bargaining code bill.

Google Australia Managing Director Mel Silva at the Google Pyrmont offices in Sydney.

Representatives from Nine, the publisher of this website, News Corp, Guardian Australia and the AAP will also give evidence.

The inquiry will also hear from Free TV Australia, the ABC and SBS, and the ACCC.

You can livestream the hearing at 9news.com.au.

Chris Janz, Chief Digital and Publishing Officer at Nine, compared Google and Facebook's net worth to being greater than that of the entire Australian stock market, and the nation's entire gross domestic product.

Mr Janz oversees the publishing of a broad range of local news, including this website alongside the Australian Financial Review, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, Brisbane Times and more.

He referred to a recent "experiment" in which Google removed local news for some Australian users to test its impact.

"Google's ability to execute the so-called experiment demonstrates the truth of the core digital media ecosystem, you either play by their rules or not at all," Mr Janz said.

"For media organisations, this means having to accept your content appearing on Google's platforms, which provides Google with significant commercial returns without paying a single cent for the creation of that journalism."

READ MORE: Australia's most Googled terms of 2020

Google said this was an 'experiment' … 'to measure the impacts of news businesses and Google search on each other'.

"They effectively wiped local news off the face of the internet with one decision made out of California. They have power and they are not afraid to use it," Mr Janz added.

Google and Facebook executive will also give evidence at the hearing, where they will argue against the code. Google claims the proposed code will "break the way Google search works".

The Federal Government is undeterred by threats from Google that it may leave Australia if it is forced to pay for news content, Mr Morrison said.

At the Senate hearing today into the planned code for digital media platforms the tech giant hinted it may leave Australia if Federal Parliament passes the legislation.

"Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Australia. And people who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome. But we don't respond to threats."

Australian media executives say the code is essential for the survival of independent journalism.

Federal Parliament is expected to vote on the bill early this year after the committee delivers its report on February 12.

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US top doctor describes 'liberated feeling' after Trump's departure

When Dr Anthony Fauci returned to the White House briefing room on Thursday, he did so without the sour reality of a hostile president watching him from metres away in the Oval Office.

Appearing at ease and jovial with reporters, the United States' top medical advisor admitted he was looking forward to greater transparency and evidence-based policies under Joe Biden's new administration.

"It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine, that were uncomfortable because they weren't based on scientific fact," he said.

READ MORE: Dr Anthony Fauci lays out Biden's support for WHO after Trump criticism

"I can tell you, I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President," Dr Fauci told the room, appearing nonetheless to take some pleasure in no longer having to dance around President Donald Trump's turbulent ego.

"The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is – let the science speak," he added.

"It is somewhat of a liberating feeling."

He demurred somewhat on his rocky history with the previous administration.

But he made no attempt to veil his pleasure at the changing of guard.

For the 80-year-old infectious disease specialist, it was the latest act in a long history of serving seven US presidents.

Dr Fauci, who sat on Donald Trump's coronavirus task force and endured his public scorn, emerged to tout a new administration's plans and voice support for a new President's approach.

In some ways, it was a turnabout.

READ MORE: Biden signs burst of coronavirus orders, requires masks for travel

Though he was sidelined and ignored in the end, he still helped formulate a badly flawed Trump administration policy that failed to contain the virus.

But when things began to get bad, Mr Trump's aides restricted how much Fauci could appear on television to offer warnings and disinvited him from briefing the President in the Oval Office.

Dr Fauci and Mr Trump disagreed on how to approach the pandemic, what the correct message was for the American people and how to balance reopening with preventing further contagion.

Through it all, the President insisted he respected Dr Fauci but disagreed with his approach.

But at their relationship's nadir, Trump suggested he was considering firing Fauci.

Attacks from Trump's allies led to death threats and enhanced security.

It was a different scene on Thursday. Fauci awoke before 4am ET to address the World Health Organisation on the administration's behalf after Biden rejoined the body.

READ MORE: Trump returns to business empire ravaged by pandemic

Coronavirus: Trump brings up Fauci's approval rating during briefing

In the State Dining Room several hours later, Biden and Fauci greeted each other warmly before Biden signed a series of executive actions meant to combat the pandemic.

He appeared for a number of television interviews. He was the first administration expert to stand in the briefing room under new management.

Dr Fauci himself said he was guaranteed a new approach.

"One of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the President, is that one of the things that we're going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest," Fauci said.

"If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them. And to make everything we do be based on science and evidence."

"That was literally a conversation I had 15 minutes ago with the President," he said, clearly relieved the stark warnings he's been trying to convey about the pandemic for months would now come with the imprimatur of the White House.

"We are still in a very serious situation," Fauci said as he began his remarks, calling the recently passed death toll of 400,000 "historic in a very bad sense."

He suggested that the recent seven-day average of cases "looks like it might actually be plateauing in the sense of turning around," and the public health officials "think it's real."

But, he added, he's said this before.

"I'm sort of getting a déjà vu standing up here cause I said something like this almost a little bit less than a year ago when we were talking about the acceleration of cases in the late winter, early spring of 2020, when we were having New York City metropolitan area being the epicenter of what was going on. There are always lags, so please be aware of that," he said.

Crowd chants "Fire Fauci" at Donald Trump's Florida rally

That, of course, was before then-President Trump decided Dr Fauci's urgent warnings were dampening Americans' spirits and, in turn, his political prospects.

By summer, Trump had taken to insisting the country was "rounding the corner" on the virus.

By the time another surge hit in the fall, Trump was in full denial.

Dr Fauci went for weeks without speaking with Trump.

Two days before the election, Trump suggested to a crowd in Florida he might fire him. The doctor continued to attend task force meetings with Mike Pence, and appeared at a briefing with Mr Pence in November, but his relationship had died with Trump — who'd taken to a new adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, whose views were on the fringe.

On Thursday, Dr Fauci signaled the days of overconfidence and loose facts were over.

"One of the things new with this administration is if you don't know the answer, don't guess," he said.

"Just say you don't know the answer."

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Australian Open tennis player apologises after contracting virus

An Australian Open player who tested positive for COVID-19 while in hotel quarantine has apologised for earlier complaining about being forced into the system.

Rising Spanish star Paula Badosa said on Twitter she was "sorry", after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus.

She had previously written a now-deleted tweet saying she was not told that the whole plane had to go into strict quarantine if there was a case on board – only those in the rows near them.

LIVE UPDATES: Dr Fauci 'liberated' by Trump departure

However she said today: "Please, don't get me wrong. Health will always comes first & I feel grateful for being in Australia.

"Quarantine & preventive measures are pivotal right now.

https://twitter.com/paulabadosa/status/1352387658199273481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I talked about rules that changed overnight but I understand the sad situation we are living. Sorry guys. Stay safe."

Badosa has been moved to a 'medical hotel' in Melbourne after she reported feeling ill yesterday.

Ms Badosa arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Abu Dhabi and was one of the 72 players placed in hard lockdown because she was on a positive case.

Ms Badosa the tested positive on her seventh day of mandatory 14-day quarantine. It has not been confirmed how she contracted COVID-19.

READ MORE: Further virus testing for Australian Open players, officials

https://twitter.com/paulabadosa/status/1352235757843451905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I have some bad news. Today I received a positive COVID-19 test result," the world No. 67 wrote on Twitter.

"I'm feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but I'll try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors. I've been taken to a health hotel to self-isolate and be monitored.

"Thanks for your support. We'll be back stronger."

A total of 72 competitors have been confined to their hotel rooms before the tournament that starts on February 8.

Tennis players are seen entering the Quarantine zone as they arrive to train at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.

Tennis Australia officials reported on Wednesday that 10 people who travelled to Melbourne for the grand slam tournament had tested positive.

But at least two of those were likely to be viral shedding, where someone still has the virus in their system but is no longer contagious, officials said.

There were 17 tournament charter flights that arrived in Australia over three days last week.

Players and their entourages then needed to go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine ahead of the tournament, but were going to be allowed out to train for five hours a day, which is now not allowed for those on the affected flights.

Main-draw play is supposed to begin on February 8 at Melbourne Park.

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Residents requested to keep St. Kitts and Nevis denegue-free

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws has called on residents to be vigilant in eliminating any possible sources of water that can facilitate mosquito breeding.

“The call is made even more urgent at this time,” said Dr. Laws. “Several neighbouring islands have reported rising cases of dengue fever among the population. Some have recorded multiple fatalities from the tropical disease.

“We have a very robust vector control programme,” said Dr. Laws during the January 20 National Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Briefing. “We have done well in staving off a dengue outbreak last year. When a number of neighbouring islands had outbreaks, we were free of dengue, even at present. Our borders have been opened since October 31, 2020, and we have not had any dengue cases.”

Dr. Laws said vector control officers employed by the government will remain active in communities throughout the Federation. They continue to ensure that potential breeding areas are identified and eliminated.

“The responsibility is on each and every one of us,” Dr. Laws added. “It’s not the Ministry of Health alone. We all have a responsibility to walk around our houses on the inside, our verandas, porches, our space. Make sure there aren’t any containers with water breeding mosquitoes. You need to empty all of those containers. Make sure that they are clean and that action alone will prevent an outbreak here in the Federation.”

Mosquitoes lay their eggs directly into stagnant water or near bodies of water. Common items around the household and workplace that can facilitate mosquito breeding include plastic containers, vases, flowerpot plates, buckets, uncovered garbage bins, drums/barrels, and car tyres.

The post Residents requested to keep St. Kitts and Nevis denegue-free appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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NIA lobbies hotels, supermarkets, restaurants to buy local produce

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — Hotels, restaurants and supermarkets are being urged by Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, to purchase food from local farmers and producers.

During his address at the Nevis Ministry of Agriculture’s annual planning symposium, Agenda 2021, Hon. Brantley recognized Hotelier Richard Lupinacci, proprietor of The Hermitage Inn in Nevis as a friend of local agriculture, commending his business for utilizing local products on their menu. The Premier called on other businesses to emulate this practice.

“We need a renaissance in terms of our thinking, and our approach to ensure that our people support our local farmers,” said Brantley. “This will ensure that farmers do not have the problem that they have complained about of producing and then having their food rot because they have no market.

“My government is very serious about talking to our hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets and saying to them that if product is available locally, that must get first preference.

“I think it’s a very simple thing that the big hotels must follow the example of The Hermitage Inn,” he said. “People coming to visit us and vacation with us would like to taste what we have available on the island – local product; because it is superior in quality.”

Brantley stressed the need for these businesses and the general public to buy local food to support local growers and producers and help keep the economy afloat.

“Our farming community and our farmers are looking to farming as a livelihood,” said Brantley. “They need to feed their families and send their children to school. The only way they can do that is if we as a people buy their produce, and it irks me, I confess, when I see substandard produce in supermarkets being sold ahead of our locally produced fruits and vegetables.”

Brantley said he hopes that in his lifetime the people of Nevis get to a point where they would substitute most of the food items being imported and start buying and eating local produce.

The post NIA lobbies hotels, supermarkets, restaurants to buy local produce appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Biden Lays Out Virus Plan, Months to Bring COVID Under Control

President Biden on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive strategy to address the coronavirus pandemic while warning that it would take months for his administration’s actions to significantly alter the trajectory of the pandemic.

Biden, seeking to manage expectations as the United States confronts a dire period of infections, said that the COVID-19 death toll would likely top 500,000 in February and that it would take months to get Americans vaccinated against the virus.

“We didn’t get into this mess overnight and it’s going to take months for us to turn things around. But let me be equally clear – we will get through this,”  Biden said in remarks from the State Dining Room.

“We will defeat this pandemic, and to a nation waiting for action, let me be the clearest on this point: help is on the way,” he continued.

Biden on his first full day in office unveiled a 100-plus page national strategy to defeat COVID-19, which focuses on accelerating vaccinations while slowing the spread of the virus with increased mask wearing, more testing and other public health measures. He also signed 10 executive orders aimed at blunting the public health crisis.

To that end, Biden announced his administration directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to begin standing up community vaccination centers, with the goal of opening 100 across the country within the month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also launch a program to expand access to vaccines through local pharmacies. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work to recruit more health workers to serve as vaccinators.

Biden’s remarks came the day after he was sworn in as president and demonstrated the central focus he is putting on the coronavirus response as he takes office as the country grapples with the continuing high cases, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19.

He expressed cautious optimism about the path forward while promising that his administration would level with the American public on the true threat posed by the virus.

“We will level with you when we make a mistake. We will straight up say what happened,” Biden said, adding a warning: “We are still in the dark winter of this pandemic.”

Biden has set a goal of administering 100 million coronavirus vaccines in the first 100 days of his presidency to curb the threat of a virus that has killed over 400,000 Americans and more than 2 million globally to date.

Some experts have said 100 million vaccinations in that time frame isn’t ambitious enough, but asked about that after the event Thursday, Biden replied: “When I announced it, you guys said it wasn’t possible.”

Biden signed several executive orders, including one that directs federal agencies to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) and other powers to close supply shortages of items needed for the COVID-19 response, including protective equipment for health workers, lab equipment and materials to speed up vaccine manufacturing.

Other executive orders will require mask-wearing in airports and certain modes of transportation, including trains and airplanes. Two orders will establish the COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board, which will aim to increase access to tests in schools, workplaces and underserved communities in part by expanding the public health workforce and finding ways to procure and produce more supplies, and the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which will advise the president on addressing health disparities.

The orders are among over two dozen executive orders and directives that Biden has signed in his first two days as president. Many of the actions deal with the pandemic but others cross into immigration, economic and environmental policy.

Biden also signed orders aimed at improving COVID-19 data collection, directing more research into potential treatments and asking agencies to provide guidance on safely reopening workplaces and schools.

Biden on Wednesday reversed the Trump administration’s plans to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and also signed an order implementing a mask mandate in federal buildings.

“Under trying circumstances, this organization has rallied the scientific and research and development community to accelerate vaccines, therapies and diagnostics; conducted regular, streamed press briefings that authoritatively track global developments; provided millions of vital supplies from lab reagents to protective gear to health care workers in dozens of countries; and relentlessly worked with nations in their fight against COVID-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said in virtual remarks before the WHO Thursday morning.

“I am honored to announce that the United States will remain a member of the World Health Organization,” Fauci said.

The post Biden Lays Out Virus Plan, Months to Bring COVID Under Control appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Ministry of Health urges: Stay calm, safe as influenza season pick’s up

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Health authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis are noting a gradual increase in persons exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws said that this is common as the country is in the midst of the influenza season that typically runs from October to April.

“We want to reassure the public there is no need to get fearful or be alarmed that they have COVID,” explained Dr. Laws, during the January 20 National Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Briefing. “Remember that we are in the middle of the influenza season and so my recommendation to you is if you are experiencing the symptoms of the flu, make contact with your regular physician.”
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