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Opposing PKR factions trade barbs over Zuraida 2020.01.18PETALING JAYA: Two groups of PKR members – one supporting vice-...
18/01/2020

Opposing PKR factions trade barbs over Zuraida 2020.01.18
PETALING JAYA: Two groups of PKR members – one supporting vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin and another calling for her sacking – traded barbs in front of the party’s headquarters this morning.

The party’s central leadership council was meeting amid rumours that Zuraida, a staunch ally of deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, could be sacked.

Zuraida, the housing and local government minister, had been accused of insulting party members and publicly disclosing details of a private conversation with party president Anwar Ibrahim.

The pro-Zuraida group, which had gathered at 8.30am, chanted “Hidup Zuraida”, “Ampang Power” and “Lawan Tetap Lawan”.

Later, the second group arrived, carrying banners calling for Zuraida’s sacking and chanting “Pecat Zuraida”.

At one point, the two groups came close to each other and tried to drown out the other side with their chants.

Two members of the opposing groups got into a minor scuffle but were pulled away by their colleagues, as police personnel kept watch.

The two groups were later separated and told to keep their distance.

1 dead, dozens injured at India bull-taming festival 2020.01.18MADURAI: A villager was gored to death during a tradition...
18/01/2020

1 dead, dozens injured at India bull-taming festival 2020.01.18

MADURAI: A villager was gored to death during a traditional bull-taming festival in southern India, underlining the dangers of the bloody sport.

P. Murugan, 40, was trampled Thursday by a running bull who was agitated by the noise of drums, a local police official told AFP.

“Murugan tried to catch the bull but it trampled him to death,” he said.

Bull-taming is extremely popular in rural pockets of Tamil Nadu where every year hundreds of men try to hold the hump of the beasts and run, as spectators cheer raucously at events held across the state.

As many as 66 men were injured in the city of Madurai, 37 of them bull tamers and the rest owners and spectators, local media reports said.

A female spectator was also injured when a bull hit her near the exit to a venue, the Press Trust of India reported.

Images showed men in colourful jerseys trying to grab the bulls who swayed their long horns and gnarled in fury.

India’s Supreme Court had outlawed the practice in 2014 after a plea by animal rights groups.

However, the sport was reinstated in 2017 after days of massive protests following which the Tamil Nadu government stepped in and declared bull-taming was part of the state’s culture and identity.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), which has been campaigning for an end to the “abusive” practice, says its past investigations had revealed the bulls were treated with utmost cruelty.

“Their tails were bitten, twisted, and yanked to force them to run towards the menacing crowd,” it said in a report last year.

“Panicked bulls fled onto village streets, injuring onlookers and even goring some to death.”

Judge slashes US$8 bil Risperdal damages against Johnson & Johnson 2020.01.18NEW YORK: A Pennsylvania judge on Friday sl...
18/01/2020

Judge slashes US$8 bil Risperdal damages against Johnson & Johnson 2020.01.18
NEW YORK: A Pennsylvania judge on Friday slashed to US$6.8 million from US$8 billion a punitive damages award against Johnson & Johnson to a man who said it failed to warn that boys using its antipsychotic drug Risperdal could grow breasts.

Judge Kenneth Powell of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas reduced the payout that a jury awarded Oct 8 to the plaintiff Nicholas Murray, a Maryland resident.

No reason was given for the reduction, which was disclosed in court records. Lawyers for Murray have said the punitive damages award was the first in thousands of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit over Risperdal.

Murray claimed he had been prescribed the drug in 2003, when he was 9, to treat symptoms related to autism. He had previously been awarded US$680,000 in compensatory damages.

Both sides pledged to appeal.

“The ruling is wrong (and) provides essentially no punishment for the worst of the worst of corporate misconduct,” Murray’s lawyer Thomas Kline said in an email. “We believe that when the merits are reviewed that the US$8 billion will be reinstated.”

Johnson & Johnson said that while Powell “appropriately reduced the excessive punitive damages award”, he wrongly excluded evidence that Risperdal’s label “clearly and appropriately” outlined the risks of use.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Risperdal in 1993 to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania in adults, and in 2006 for irritability associated with autism in children.

Plaintiffs suing over the drug have said Johnson & Johnson concealed the link between Risperdal and excessive growth of female breast tissue in boys, known as gynecomastia.

While doctors may prescribe many drugs as they see fit, including for off-label uses, Murray said Johnson & Johnson should have warned his doctors about Risperdal’s side effects.

Johnson & Johnson said in October it faced lawsuits by 13,600 people over Risperdal.

The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company agreed separately in 2013 to pay US$2.2 billion to settle US criminal and civil probes into its marketing of Risperdal and two other drugs.

In late afternoon trading, Johnson & Johnson shares were up 74 cents at US$148.94.

‘No regrets’ as Wozniacki embarks on swansong at Australian Open 2020.01.18MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki said Saturday t...
18/01/2020

‘No regrets’ as Wozniacki embarks on swansong at Australian Open 2020.01.18
MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki said Saturday that she has no regrets and it is “the right time” to walk away from tennis with the former No 1 set to retire after the Australian Open.

But the Dane, whose only Grand Slam triumph came in Melbourne in 2018, admitted that she will be “a bit emotional” when the moment finally comes over the next fortnight.

Wozniacki announced in December that she would retire from tennis to focus on other things, including starting a family with husband and former NBA star David Lee.

“There’s been a lot of thoughts. It’s (retirement) been something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, for a while,” the 29-year-old, now ranked 35 in the world, told media in Melbourne.

“I just looked at my life, at my career, everything else, and I just had a look inside of myself and it felt right. It felt like the right time for many reasons.”

Wozniacki was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018 but says that has nothing to do with her decision to quit after the Australian Open, which begins on Monday.

The Dane, who begins her final tournament against Kristie Ahn of the United States, added: “I’ve achieved a lot, I’ve given it my all.

“Every single day I go out and I work so hard to stay at the top or to get back to the top, whatever it may be.

“It doesn’t feel the same. I still want to work hard, but I want to do something different.”

“Honestly, I’m leaving with no regrets at all because I’ve worked so hard my whole life, my whole career,” Wozniacki added.

Wozniacki, who finished 2010 and 2011 on top of the rankings but had to wait until 2018 to finally win a Major, does not anticipate emulating Kim Clijsters, the former No 1 who is set to return to tennis seven years after retiring.

The 36-year-old Belgian will not be at the Australian Open, having delayed her comeback because of injury, and Wozniacki warned that returning after so long out will be tough.

“I personally don’t think so,” Wozniacki said, asked if she expects Clijsters to challenge once more for Grand Slams.

“She can prove me wrong.

“I think tennis has changed in seven years. I don’t think it’s as easy – I don’t know if she thinks it’s easy – I know it’s not as easy as it looks from the outside.”

Wozniacki played doubles with close friend Serena Williams last week at the Auckland Open, where they were beaten in the final.

“It’s probably the most fun I’ve had on court, we had a blast,” she said.

“We would pretend to talk tactics – we really would talk about everything else,” Wozniacki added, laughing.

“Just went out there and had fun, enjoyed ourselves.

“I’m so happy that I got to play with her before my career was done.”

5 Indonesian fishermen abducted off Lahad Datu 2020.01.18KOTA KINABALU: Five Indonesian fishermen were abducted in the w...
18/01/2020

5 Indonesian fishermen abducted off Lahad Datu 2020.01.18

KOTA KINABALU: Five Indonesian fishermen were abducted in the waters off Tambisan, Lahad Datu, on Thursday.

Hazani Ghazali, head of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), who confirmed this, said the incident happened between 9pm and 10pm.

He said eight men boarded the fishing vessel and overpowered the five fishermen.

Hazani said Esscom received information on the abduction from three other fishermen who jumped into the sea and escaped.

The fishing boat was registered in Sandakan.

It was found drifting in the Tangusu Bay, near where the incident happened, at 12.40pm yesterday.

US officials ground drones over espionage fears 2020.01.17US officials may put an end to a civilian drone programme beca...
17/01/2020

US officials ground drones over espionage fears 2020.01.17
US officials may put an end to a civilian drone programme because of their concerns about the unmanned aerial vehicles that are made in China. The officials are apparently worried that the Chinese-made drones could be used to spy on people in the US.

After a volcano exploded in Hawaii in May 2018, US scientists used drones to save a man from the lava: "Follow the drone," they said. He made it through the jungle.

Drones save people. They also map terrain, survey land and inspect pipelines. The scientists use drones for these and other purposes on a daily basis, and they have bragged about their successes in the field.

Many of the aircraft are made by Chinese companies, though. They are now grounded because of concerns about espionage.

The drones had been deployed for years by the scientists and others at the US Department of the Interior, a federal agency that manages national parks and other duties. But the head of the federal agency, David Bernhardt, is apparently now worried that the drones could be used for espionage.

He is examining the agency's civilian drone programme in an effort to determine whether or not it should be continued. During this time, many of the drones are grounded, according to an agency spokeswoman, Melissa Brown. "Until this review is completed, the secretary has directed that drones manufactured in China or made from Chinese components be grounded," according to a statement she sent to the news.

Drones that are used to fight fires and help rescue people are still allowed to fly, she added. News of the fleet's grounding was first reported in the Financial Times.

Mr Bernhardt's review of the drone programme reflects a growing concern among US officials about Chinese technology and espionage.

President Donald Trump has spoken in dark terms about China, saying that its leaders have "cheated" the US and that its intelligence agents spy on people here. Chinese officials deny the accusations. Despite the rhetoric, US-China relations have improved.

On Wednesday, Trump is planning to sign an initial trade deal with Chinese leaders. Still, fundamental issues remain, such as the fight over technology. US officials have said in the past that Huawei, the telecommunications company, and other Chinese companies could pose a security threat.

Some Chinese analysts say the fight is not over national security but market share. The Chinese are better at making products, they say, and Americans are jealous. The Chinese analysts see the US policies as a form of protectionism.

The drones are now at the centre of the US-China dispute.

Many of the drones that are used by US scientists are made by a Shenzhen-based company called Da Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Company, or, DJI. The company dominates the drone market, according to a research company, Skylogic.

US officials have in the past expressed concerns about DJI. Agents at a US immigration office said in 2017 that the company's drones could collect information about US sites and transmit data back to Beijing.

Rules and norms are different for private companies in China than they are in the US. Business executives in China stay in close contact with government officials. US officials worry about the information that Chinese drones could collect and what might be done with the data.

The Chinese executives could pass the data on to Beijing officials, explains Sarah Cook, a senior analyst with Freedom House, a non-profit organisation.

Executives who work for DJI say their drones are trustworthy. Michael Oldenburg, a spokesman for DJI Technology Inc, tells the there is no "credible evidence to support a broad country-of-origin restriction on drone technology".

Many US analysts agree with Oldenburg's assessment. "I doubt the Chinese government is using the drones to conduct massive surveillance," says David Fidler, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Fidler and others admit it is impossible to know how much information the drones are gathering, however. Analysts emphasise that the Chinese officials pose a threat to the US and that Chinese companies should be banned from certain kinds of work.

"I wouldn't want a Chinese server operating our nuclear system," says Paul Rosenzweig, a senior fellow at the conservative R Street Institute who served as a US Department of Homeland Security official during the George W Bush White House years.

Yet Rosenzweig and others say that the drones seem benign. The aircraft fly over wildlife areas and parks and are unlikely to collect sensitive data. "It is an acceptable risk," Rosenzweig says, adding: "I don't think drones covering Yosemite National Park are a real threat."

The real assessment, the one from the secretary of the interior, is yet to be announced, however. In the meantime, scientists and others wait - and wonder - about the fate of the drones.

Iran plane crash: Khamenei to lead Friday prayers for first time since 2012 -2020.01.17Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah A...
17/01/2020

Iran plane crash: Khamenei to lead Friday prayers for first time since 2012 -2020.01.17
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is to lead Friday prayers in the capital Tehran - the first time he has done so in eight years.

It comes in the wake of widespread angry protests over the Ukrainian passenger plane shot down by Iran's military last week.

Iran's leadership is also under pressure over a sharp downturn in the economy brought on by US sanctions.

On Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani appealed for national unity.

But in a rare sign of friction within the Iranian regime, he also called on the military to give a full account of how it shot down the plane.

The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 was travelling to Kyiv from Tehran on 8 January when it crashed shortly after take-off. All 176 passengers on board, including dozens of Iranians and Canadians, were killed.

Iran faces watershed moment
Plane crash victims 'were the best of us'
What we know about flight PS752
The Iranian authorities initially denied responsibility but, after international pressure mounted, the hardline Revolutionary Guards admitted that the plane had been mistaken for a "cruise missile" during heightened tensions with the US.

Hours before it was shot down, Iranian missiles had targeted two airbases in Iraq that housed US forces.

That rocket attack came in response to a US drone strike in Baghdad that killed senior Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

On Friday, the US said 11 of its troops were treated for concussion after the attack. It initially said none of its troops had been injured.

What's happening in Iran?
Iran's Mehr news agency said Ayatollah Khamenei, 80, would lead this week's Friday Muslim prayers in Tehran's Mosalla mosque, but it did not link the event to the current situation.

It quoted officials as saying "the Iranian nation will once again demonstrate their unity and magnificence".

The last time Ayatollah Khamenei led Friday prayers in Tehran was in 2012 on the 33rd anniversary of the country's Islamic Revolution.

Leading Friday prayers in the capital is a symbolically significant act usually reserved for times when Iran's highest authority wishes to deliver an important message, says Mehdi Khalaji of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Historically, Iranian leaders have left this task to loyal clerics with strong oratorical skills, he adds.

News that an Iranian missile had downed the plane led to days of protests in some Iranian cities, particularly at universities where slogans were shouted calling the Revolutionary Guards murderers and liars.

Social media footage from several funerals held for victims on Thursday showed mourners chanting slogans against the authorities.

Iran has arrested several people over the plane crash and President Rouhani said the investigation would be overseen by a "special court", noting that "the whole world will be watching".

His Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, acknowledged that Iranians had been "lied to" for days but insisted the government was also kept in the dark.

The Iranian authorities have faced growing pressure on other fronts. The country's economy is struggling under crippling US sanctions and a nuclear deal it signed with world powers looks close to collapse.

Last year, violent protests erupted across the country after the government unexpectedly announced it was rationing petrol and increasing its price.

Khamenei appears keen to defend Revolutionary Guard
Analysis by Kasra Naji, Persian

The last time Iran's Supreme Leader led Friday prayers in Tehran was at the height of the Arab Spring.

He used the occasion to deliver a sermon in Arabic - something that could be heard in the Arab world. He wanted to shape events by describing developments in much of the Arab world as an Islamic Awakening. He was wrong.

Now it appears that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is keen to defend the Revolutionary Guard which has come under severe criticism in Iran for having shot down the Ukrainian plane.

There are fears that he could also call for a further crackdown on students and protesters to save his rule.

The authorities have called for officially-sponsored nationwide marches on Friday in support of the Revolutionary Guard. In Tehran, extensive preparations are under way to bring out as many supporters as possible in another show of force.

But many ordinary Iranians say they want him to admit that his rule has brought nothing but misery.

What about the investigation?
After a meeting in London on Thursday, ministers from five nations that lost citizens in the crash demanded "full co-operation" from Iran in a transparent international inquiry.

The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine also said Iran must pay compensation.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said: "We are here to pursue closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the victims - Ukrainian, Swedish, Afghan, British, Canadian as well as Iranian, through a full complete and transparent international investigation.

"In the wake of such a horrific tragedy there are many many questions. Families want answers, all of the countries assembled here today want answers, and the international community want answers. The world is waiting for those answers and we will not rest until we get them."

Mr Champagne said all those responsible must be brought to justice.

On Wednesday, Canadian investigators visited the site of the crash and examined the plane's wreckage.

They are expecting to be able to participate in the analysis of the plane's black box flight recorders - a key part of figuring out exactly what happened to the plane and how it crashed.

China's economic growth hits 30-year low 2020.01.17China's economy grew last year at the slowest pace in almost three de...
17/01/2020

China's economic growth hits 30-year low 2020.01.17
China's economy grew last year at the slowest pace in almost three decades.

Official figures show that the world's second largest economy expanded by 6.1% in 2019 from the year before - the worst figure in 29 years.

The country has faced weak domestic demand and the impact of the bitter trade war with the US.

The government has been rolling out measures over the past two years in an attempt to boost growth.

It comes after almost two years of trade tensions with the US - although hopes of a better relationship with America have seen improvements in manufacturing and business confidence data.

This week Washington and Beijing signed a "phase one" trade deal. However, analysts remain unsure whether those recent gains will continue.

In response to the lower growth rate, Beijing is now widely expected to roll out yet more stimulus measures.

US-China trade war in 300 words
US-China trade deal: Winners and losers
US-China trade war in 300 words
The government has used a combination of measures aimed at easing the slowdown, including tax cuts and allowing local governments to sell large amounts of bonds to fund their infrastructure programmes.

The country's banks have also been encouraged to lend more, especially to small firms. New loans in the local currency hit a record high of $2.44 trillion (£1.86tn) last year.

So far the economy has been slow to pick up, with investment growth falling to record low levels.

Historically, China has seen much stronger economic expansion, with the first decade of the 21st Century seeing double-digit percentage growth.

But - although that 6.1% growth rate is China's weakest expansion in almost three decades - it is much higher than other leading economies.

The US central bank, for example, has forecast that the American economy will grow by around 2.2% this year.

'The trade war may have actually helped the Chinese economy'
Analysis by Stephen McDonell, China correspondent

For many countries, having the slowest GDP growth in three decades might cause panic - but not in China.

Softening domestic demand and US tariffs have eaten into growth - but some analysts argue that the trade war may have actually helped the Chinese economy.

This 6.1% GDP figure for 2019 is not only within the government's target range, but Chinese policy makers have for years been trying to gradually step down expectations.

They're trying to break away from the years of unsustainable breakneck growth which has trashed the natural environment and led to an explosion in unserviceable debt.

The government has instigated some stimulus measures to make sure the steam doesn't come out of the economy too quickly. But on bank loans, the crucial question will be - who gets access to the loans?

Will it be those building the "bridge to nowhere" vanity projects which have popped up in many regional cities?

Or will it be the promising new start-up enterprises which are seen as the future of modern Chinese development?

As part of the phase one deal, China pledged to boost US imports by $200bn above 2017 levels and strengthen intellectual property rules.

In exchange, the US agreed to halve some of the new tariffs it has imposed on Chinese products.

Speaking in Washington, US President Donald Trump said the pact would be "transformative" for the American economy.

Facebook blocks the Spinner's 'brainwashing' tech 2020.01.17Facebook has issued a cease and desist notice to an Israeli ...
17/01/2020

Facebook blocks the Spinner's 'brainwashing' tech 2020.01.17
Facebook has issued a cease and desist notice to an Israeli firm that claims to be able to subconsciously alter people's behaviour.

The Spinner charges a fee to "subconsciously influence" targets by exposing them to online posts "disguised as editorial content".

But Facebook has objected to the start-up using its services to achieve this.

And the tech giant has barred the firm and its chief from using Facebook or Instagram for any reason.

In response, the Spinner's co-founder and chief operating officer Elliot Shefler told the that it would continue to sell targeted online campaigns and refused to rule out using Facebook in the future.

Policy violation
The Spinner claims to be able to "brainwash" loved ones to:

quit smoking
lose weight
propose marriage
initiate s*x with their partners more often
consider having breast implants
To do this, it shows dozens of articles about the issue to targets over a period of months via the internet, including in their social media feeds.

Facebook's law firm Perkins Coie has sent a letter to Mr Shefler to complain.

"It appears that the Spinner uses fake accounts and fake pages to 'strategically bombard' Facebook users with advertisements," it reads.

"These activities violate Facebook's terms and advertising policies. Facebook demands that you stop this activity immediately."

The Californian firm told the that it had already removed the Spinner's accounts.

"We have no tolerance for bad actors that try to circumvent our policies and create bad experiences for people on Facebook," a spokesman said.

Mr Shefler pointed out that the Spinner had bought advertising slots on Facebook for more than a year, and each of its ads had been reviewed and approved.

Facebook uses both humans and automated software to vet ads submitted via its self-service tools.

But Mr Shefler added: "The Spinner's ability to deliver content to targeted users is not dependent on any specific social account or page. It's a concept."

Does it work?
The Spinner operates by sending a link to the target's phone. When opened, it places a small file known as a cookie on the target's device, which allows them to be identified and exposed to specially created articles and other media.

The idea was originally pitched to the public via the crowdfunding site Indiegogo, but only raised £192 of its £47,800 target. Despite this, the firm decided to press on.

But some have questioned whether its methods work.

Rich Leigh, who works in public relations, put it to the test.

He bought a campaign that supposedly encouraged women to want more s*x. But instead of sending the link to a friend or loved one, he delivered the campaign to himself.

A few months later, his Facebook feed began to show sponsored posts featuring articles with headlines such as 9 Ways To Initiate S*x.

But he says he only saw only four or five examples. He also reported seeing ads from a campaign he did not purchase, encouraging him to stop riding motorcycles.

Mr Shefler insists the service is legitimate.

"This is not a technical hack," he said.

"We use common tools. The hack is in the pricing. We buy the media for $5 per 1,000 impressions. We sell the media for $49 per 180 impressions. That's a high margin," he said.

Mr Shefler did not refer the to any customers who had previously bought campaigns.

One critic said that while many people might find the Spinner's tactics objectionable, the tracking techniques commonly used by other advertising companies were arguably worse.

"By getting outraged at obvious stuff that the Spinner does, we tend to overlook its true significance," said Doc Searls, author of the The Intention Economy.

"It exemplifies the methods and purposes of the entire online surveillance economy, and the participation of most publishers in that same economy."

Climate change: Citizens' jury prepares to tackle climate change 2020.01.17Should aviation be taxed more? Should SUVs be...
17/01/2020

Climate change: Citizens' jury prepares to tackle climate change 2020.01.17
Should aviation be taxed more? Should SUVs be banned? Should wind power be subsidised by taxpayers?

These are some of the climate change-related questions to be pondered by a new "citizens' jury", to be composed of 110 members of the public.

The panel has been selected to represent key sectors of society and a range of opinion.

They will spend four weekends listening to evidence from experts on how climate policy and science will affect the UK.

Then they’ll offer their opinions on the best ways for Britain to achieve its demanding law that mandates "net zero" carbon emissions by 2050.

Net zero describes achieving an overall balance between the emissions produced and emissions removed from the atmosphere.

What's the reasoning behind it?

The idea for this unprecedented assembly was conceived by MPs on six parliamentary select committees who want to learn more about the public's opinions on climate change.

It will solely offer advice for the UK to meet its own Climate Change Act.

It will not debate the scientific consensus that climate change is dangerous.

Nor will it debate if the net zero target should be brought forward to 2030, as the Extinction Rebellion group has called for.

What will the jury members do?

Some 30,000 invitations to take part were sent out under a process designed to represent all parts of the UK and differences in race, gender, age, political opinion and views on climate change. People from both rural and urban areas were selected.

Thousands agreed to take part, then these were whittled down to 110.

The gathering will include views of all hues – from people who don’t fear climate change to those who definitely do.

Most of the presentations they experience will come from academics, although think-tanks, NGOs, and industry voices will also be heard.

On food, for instance, the assembly will hear opposing views from the National Farmers Union and from the Royal Society of Arts and Commerce, which argues for the need to change the way we farm.

The project’s being organised by a charity, Involve, which arranged the recent Irish Citizens' Jury on several contentious issues. It pledges to “uphold key principles of balance, accuracy and comprehensiveness”.

What will be the outcome?
The assembly’s website says the members of its advisory panel were chosen to represent a broad range of views across different sectors. All the expert advisers are acting voluntarily.

Sarah Allan from Involve told News: "The aim is to give people a say on how the UK tackles climate change, and to give parliament and the government an understanding of what people think and where priorities lie.

“The focus is on how the UK achieves net zero. We will get people to look at trade-offs. They can’t say: 'we want net zero' then vote for doing nothing about it.'

She continued: “The Irish assembly was an incredibly useful tool for decision-makers – we are very optimistic that the UK climate change assembly will be useful too.”

One of the project’s leaders is Lorraine Whitmarsh, professor of environmental psychology at Cardiff University.

“It’s very exciting - we haven’t done anything on this level before,” she told News. “It’s huge, and the recruitment (of members) has to be gold standard."

Will climate sceptics be involved?

Ms Whitmarsh explained: “There will be sceptics who don’t even believe climate change is caused by humans. But even they may want to consider evidence that some climate polices (such as active transport) will have health benefits attached.

“There will be other people who are very worried about climate change – but they may turn out to be unwilling to take on some of the financial consequences involved.

“It’s going to be really interesting.”

The announcement by the six select committees to hold a citizens assembly on climate change was in direct response to government policy on net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and was announced on 20 June 2019.

The net zero policy became law on 27 June 2019, making the UK the first major economy in the world to legislate for net zero. The 2019 Conservative party manifesto re-affirmed the government’s commitment to this target.

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