Microsoft is to open four data  storage centres in France to meet strong customer demand for  cloud computing, the head of the software giant's French  operations said today.
"There's strong demand from our clients. A lot of them  prefer to have (cloud computing) infrastructures and their  data in their home territory," Carlo Purassanta said.
He did not reveal the size of the planned investment, but  said that three of the centres would be located in the Paris  region and the fourth in Marseille.
France would become the fourth European country -- after  Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands -- to host Microsoft  cloud data storage facilities.
The centres would be opened by the end of this quarter,  it added.
Companies that hadn't yet moved into cloud computing "are  those which were waiting for the arrival of data storage  facilities in France," Purassanta said.
"We already have several thousand that have signed up for  the centres," he said.
Microsoft, which opened its "AI Factory" ..

Microsoft to open 4 data centres in France

PTI Automatic

The EU today removed eight  countries including Panama and South Korea from its new tax  haven blacklist, a European source said, a move that has drawn  criticism from activists.
The United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Mongolia, Macau,  Grenada and Barbados were also lifted, in a change of mind  that comes just weeks after the bloc unveiled its original  list of non-EU countries.

EU removes eight countries from tax haven list: source

Liverpool's progress towards  securing a Champions League spot was halted by the Premier  League's bottom club and a single goal by Alfie Mawson  yesterday as Liverpool's defensive frailties returned.
Jurgen Klopp's side, with 75 million centre-back Virgil  van Dijk making his away debut, were seeking to extend their  unbeaten run to 19 matches and draw level on points with  third-placed Chelsea.
But fresh from dramatically ending Manchester City's  unbeaten run, the Reds ran into a determined Swansea side  desperate to close the gap on the strugglers above them.
Despite laying siege to the Swansea goal, Klopp's side  were unable to find the net and Roberto Firmino struck the  post with a header in the dying seconds.
The defeat snapped Liverpool's unbeaten 14-match run in  the Premier League dating back to October and old, familiar  defensive failings were laid bare despite Van Dijk's arrival.
- Wasteful Liverpool -
======================
Swansea took the lead against the run of play .

Battling Swansea shock Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp blamed his players for  becoming embroiled in a fight at Swansea City as they lost  their unbeaten 18-match run to the Premier League's bottom  club.
Liverpool failed to grab a late draw to extend their lead  over fifth-placed Tottenham as they lost to a single goal from  Alfie Mawson -- and Klopp himself clashed verbally with a home  supporter.
It was Liverpool's first defeat since October, but the  points were priceless for Swansea, who cut the gap between  themselves and those above the relegation places to just three  points.
He said: "I am more frustrated about the performance than  the result.
"We were just not good enough, especially in the first  half. We didn't play how we wanted to play.
"We didn't keep the right positions we needed to, to  cause them problems and didn't stretch them.
"We gave them the opportunity to score and then we did  exactly what Swansea wanted.
"They didn't need to play, they needed to fight and we  did exactly what they wanted and their .

Klopp says Liverpool dragged into a fight

Grigor Dimitrov says he needs to  rediscover his playing rhythm after the disappointment of  crashing out of the Australian Open to British hope Kyle  Edmund in the quarter-finals today.
The Bulgarian world No.3 was ambushed 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4  by the 49th-ranked Edmund and again misses out in his 30th  Grand Slam tournament.
The 26-year-old lost to Rafael Nadal over five sets in  last year's semi-final and has yet to go beyond the last four  at a Grand Slam.
"It's hard to hide the disappointment. It's how I feel.  It hurts and so it should," Dimitrov told his post-match media  conference.
"I need to give myself a couple of days just to relax a  little bit and reassess the whole Australian trip.
"I need to be smart the way I'm practising now, not to  overdo it again, but in the same time make sure I find my  rhythm again, my game itself, the elements when I play.
"That requires quite a bit of work, but I'm certain I'm  going to be able to do it and hopefully produce better tennis  as .

Hurting Dimitrov looks to recapture lost rhythm

Kyle Edmund became only the sixth  British man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final with an upset win  over world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open today.
The unseeded Edmund, ranked 49, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in  2hr 49min on Rod Laver Arena and will face either 16-time  Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal or Marin Cilic for a place in  the final.
With another British Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman  watching on in the stands, 23-year-old Edmund troubled  Dimitrov with his powerful forehand and serve.
"It's an amazing feeling, very happy with these sort of  things, you are so emotionally engaged that you don't really  take it in, you don't really enjoy yourself," Edmund said.
"It was my first match on Rod Laver Arena and it is very  special."
Edmund is the only British man in this year's field after  five-time finalist Andy Murray's injury withdrawal before the  tournament.
"I know what it feels like to be Andy Murray for the last  eight years or however long," Edmund said of .

Edmund upsets Dimitrov to reach Open semis

A Japanese soldier was killed today  after a volcano erupted near a popular Japanese ski resort,  sparking an avalanche that left several injured and scores  stranded up a mountain, officials said.
Footage broadcast on Japanese television showed thick  black smoke interspersed with falling rocks rolling down the  snow-covered side of the volcano towards a ski slope.
"One of the six members of the Self Defence Forces  (injured in the incident) has died after being caught up in an  avalanche," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
The ministry had earlier said that six infantry personnel  who had been on a training mission on Mt. Kusatsu Shirane,  northwest of Tokyo, were hit by the avalanche but had been  rescued.
The falling rocks kicked clouds of snow into the air as  they made impact.
"Black smoke rose from the top of the mountain and we  were told to evacuate inside 30 minutes later," a man who was  at the ski resort told public broadcaster NHK.
"About 100 people have been ...

Volcano eruption, avalanche at Japan ski resort kills one

China and South Korea today hit out  at a US decision to impose stinging tariffs on imported solar  panels and washing machines, which marked the latest salvo in  Donald Trump's "America First" drive.
The US president approved the steep tariffs -- up to 50  percent on large washing machines over three years and up to  30 percent on solar panels over four years -- to protect US  producers, US trade officials said.
But South Korea, which signed a free-trade agreement with  former President George W. Bush, immediately said it would  file a petition against the US at the World Trade  Organisation.
The country's Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said the  tariffs were "excessive" and may constitute a "violation of  WTO provisions".
Samsung, South Korea's biggest firm, said the tariffs  were "a tax on every consumer who wants to buy a washing  machine".
In Beijing the commerce ministry warned that "together  with other WTO members, China will resolutely defend its  legitimate interests", though 

China, S Korea hit out at new US trade tariffs

Indonesia's capital Jakarta was  rocked today by a strong earthquake which forced some  buildings to be evacuated, but there was no immediate tsunami  threat or reported injuries, a government agency said.
The United States Geological Survey said the 6.0  magnitude quake struck at a depth of 43 kilometres.
That contrasted with an initial report from the  Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics agency,  which said the quake had a 6.4 magnitude at a shallower 10  kilometre depth.
The epicentre was off the coast, about 130 kilometres  southwest of the sprawling city.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where  tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic  activity.
At least three people were killed following a 6.5-  magnitude earthquake just outside the coastal town of  Cipatujah on Java island in mid-December.
The tremor was felt across the densely populated island,  causing damage to hundreds of houses and other buildings.
An earthquake struck ...

Strong quake rocks Jakarta, 6.0 magnitude: USGS

Mischa Zverev today became the  first player to be heavily fined for retiring from his first  round match at the Australian Open under new rules aimed at  limiting early injury withdrawals.
The German, seeded 32, withdrew from his opening match  with South Korea's Chung Hyeon last week during the second set  and has been fined USD 45,000 for what is termed "a poor first  round performance."
That was almost all of his prize money of around USD  47,000.
Under the new rules "any player who competes in the first  round main draw singles and retires or performs below  professional standards, may now be subject to a fine up to  (the equivalent) first round prize money in 2018".
With tens of thousands of dollars at stake just for  playing in round one, early injury pull-outs have often caused  suspicion at Grand Slams, particularly at last year's  Wimbledon.
Eight players retired from the opening round at the All-  England Club, including the opponents of Roger Federer and  Novak Djokovic ...

Mischa Zverev's heavy fine for 'poor performance'

Chileans welcomed the end of the  Alexis Sanchez transfer saga after he announced he had become  a Manchester United player and commentators expressed pride at  his huge salary.
Top newspapers revelled in the fact that Alexis' move to  the Red Devils, on a reported 500,000 pounds (USD 695,000,  567,000 euros) weekly pre-tax pay packet, makes him the best-  paid Chilean footballer in history.
"The Enviable Gold of Alexis" headlined La Tercera,  trumpeting that the 29-year-old "has become the best paid  Chilean player in history, with the highest salary in the  Premier League and the fourth highest in the world."
"Yep, Red definitely suits you," said Chile's Football  Association in a tweet. Chile's national side are known as "La  Roja" -- the Red.
"The red of Chile and the red of Manchester United, one  heart, one passion," said Alejandro Cortes, one of many  excited fans on Twitter.
United will be Alexis' fourth European club, after  Udinese, Barcelona and Arsenal.
A native of ...

Sanchez move brings the smile back to Chilean football

The executive leadership of USA  Gymnastics' board of directors has resigned in the wake of the  sexual abuse scandal involving former US team doctor Larry  Nassar, the governing body announced.
Chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and  treasurer Bitsy Kelley stepped down following stinging  criticism of the organization's handling of the Nassar case by  victims who include Olympic superstar Simone Biles and other  gold medalists.
"We support their decisions to resign at this time," said  Kerry Perry, who was named president of USA Gymnastics in  November.
"We believe this step will allow us to more effectively  move forward in implementing change within our organization."
USA Gymnastics has come under fire during the ongoing  sentencing hearing for Nassar in Michigan, in which more than  100 gymnasts have given statements against the disgraced  former doctor, who faces life in prison.
The board of directors will name interim chairpersons  until permanent selections are ...

USA Gymnastics top directors resign in wake of abuse scandal

It's back to the drawing board  for ailing 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic with his  immediate playing future uncertain after an injury-ravaged  exit from the Australian Open.
The former world No.1 cut a disconsolate figure as he  played to the bitter end in an agonising defeat to South  Korean young gun Chung Hyeon in Monday's fourth round, ending  his chance, for now, of a seventh Australian title.
The 30-year-old Serb leaves Australia to reassess his  options after a persistent right serving elbow injury flared  along with a hip injury.
Djokovic was playing his first tournament in six months  after opting against elbow surgery to ease his way back to the  game.
But it all spectacularly unravelled on Rod Laver Arena as  he winced in pain through his physical ordeal as Chung claimed  his greatest win.
The question now for Djokovic is whether this setback is  temporary or more signs of a painful, irreversible decline.
"It's frustrating, of course, when you have that much  ..

Back to drawing board for ailing Djokovic

Joe Root today pulled out of  England's Twenty20 tri-series against Australia and New  Zealand, as Ben Stokes confirmed his return to international  cricket would be delayed by a court appearance.
Test captain Root, who has played in all five Ashes  matches and the first three ODIs against Australia this month,  will return to England before playing in the one-day  international series against New Zealand in late February.
Root said he did not like missing games but made a  decision to "have a little break". His replacement has not yet  been named.
"I came into this tour wanting to play everything. I love  playing for England and I don't like missing games of  cricket," the 27-year-old Yorkshire batsman said in a  statement.
"I had a long chat with (coach) Trevor Bayliss about  things and there's obviously a big summer ahead and a lot of  cricket still to be played.
"It's going to be really important to make sure that I'm  available for all of that."
Stokes is due in court to face ...

Root to miss T20 tri-series, Stokes delays return

Four people were injured today and  another person reported missing after a volcano erupted near a  popular Japanese ski resort, prompting an avalanche, officials  said.
Japan's Meteorological Agency urged nearby residents to  stay away from Mt. Kusatsu Shirane after it detected what it  said was "slight volcanic activity".
According to the Japanese government's top spokesman,  Yoshihide Suga, four people in a ropeway gondola at a ski  resort in Gunma, northwest of Tokyo, were injured by shattered  glass.
Local fire department official Yuji Shinohara also told  AFP there were four injured, adding: "We are still trying to  help them."
"The avalanche was apparently caused by a volcano  explosion," said Shinohara, with another local official  confirming that authorities were also hunting for one person  still missing.

Four hurt, one missing after Japan volcano erupts: officials

North Korea will mark the foundation  of its regular army on February 8, its state media said today  -- which will be the day before the Winter Olympics open in  the South.
Reports and officials say that Pyongyang could be  preparing a military parade as a display of strength ahead of  the sporting festival, which has triggered a rare  rapprochement between the two halves of the divided peninsula.
In recent years Pyongyang has proclaimed April 25 as the  establishment of its army, naming it as the day the country's  founder Kim Il-Sung set up anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in  1932.
It will now mark the foundation on February 8, when Kim  launched the Korean People's Army (KPA) regular armed forces  in 1948, the ruling Workers' Party announced.
Until 1978 the anniversary was marked on the February  date, and the switch back gives Pyongyang a formal  justification if it decides to go ahead with a parade next  month, which will be the 70th anniversary of the regular  military's ...

N Korea says will celebrate military on eve of Olympics

Unseeded Australian Open  debutant Elise Mertens blew away world number four Elina  Svitolina in straight sets Tuesday to reach a first Grand Slam  semi-final.
The Belgian world number 37, on a 10-match unbeaten  streak after winning in Hobart this month, knocked out the  Ukrainian 6-4, 6-0 in 1hr 13min.
Mertens, who is yet to drop a set, is the first  Belgian to make the last four since Kim Clijsters in 2012.
"I'm lost for words. I don't know what to say. I just  gave my all today," she said. "I played my game today and  tried to stay aggressive."
Mertens, 22, trains with her coach and boyfriend Robbe  Ceyssens at the Kim Clijsters Academy in Belgium and has seen  her world ranking rise from 127 at the end of 2016.
She had never been beyond the third round of a Grand  Slam before in four appearances.
"He means a lot," she said of the importance of  Ceyssens.
"He's by my side all the time. Since we have been  together my game has only gone upward. All credit to him."
Mertens made all .

Unseeded Mertens routs Svitolina to reach Open semis

A South Korean delegation crossed  into the North today to inspect venues for joint Olympic-  linked events, even as controversy over the rapprochement  mounted and Pyongyang condemned demonstrators who burned Kim  Jong-Un's image as "traitors".
The two Koreas agreed earlier that the North's athletes  would attend next month's Pyeongchang Winter Games in the  South, form a joint women's ice hockey team and march together  at the opening ceremony.
The two nations also agreed Southern skiers would train  with their counterparts from the North at its Masikryong ski  resort, and for a joint cultural event at the scenic Mt  Kumgang north of the border.
There have since been a flurry of preparatory missions,  and the group of 12 Seoul officials are expected to spend  three days in the North.
It is the first visit to the North by Seoul officials for  nearly two years, according to the South's Yonhap news agency.
Seoul and the Games organisers have sought to promote  Pyeongchang as a "Peace ..

Seoul envoys visit N Korea to prepare pre-Olympics events

British model Amena Khan, who had  been chosen by L'Oreal to appear in an advertising campaign in  Britain, has pulled out over accusations she made anti-Israeli  comments in a series of old tweets.
The French cosmetics giant last week selected her to be  the first woman in a hijab for a mainstream shampoo campaign.
Khan's messages, posted on Twitter in 2014, have since  been deleted.
"I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in  2014, and sincerely apologise for the upset and hurt that they  have caused," she said on Twitter on Monday.
"With deep regret, I've decided to step down from this  campaign because the current conversations surrounding it  detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set  out to deliver."
L'Oreal group, contacted by AFP, said it "approved" her  decision.
"We appreciate the fact that Amena has apologised for the  content of her tweets and for the reactions they may have  aroused," it said.
It is not the first time a L'Oreal advertising ...

Hijab model pulls out of L'Oreal campaign over Israel tweets

A South Korean appeals court today  jailed former culture minister Cho Yoon-Sun for two years for  her role in drawing up a blacklist of 10,000 artists seen as  critical of ousted president Park Geun-Hye's government.
Cho had initially been acquitted in July and given only a  suspended sentence on a minor related charge, prompting  prosecutors to appeal. The higher court in Seoul also extended  the prison term of Park's ex-chief of staff Kim Ki-choon from  three years to four.

S Korea court jails ex-culture minister over artist blacklist

A rare heavy blanket of snow in Tokyo  today left thousands of travellers stranded and scores  injured, as frozen conditions snarled public transport in the  Japanese capital.
Japan's weather agency recorded as much as 23 centimetres
of snow in some parts of Tokyo, the biggest snowfall since  February 2014.
The weather paralysed yesterday evening's commute as  millions of workers battled to get home in one of the world's  most populous cities.
Notoriously hard-working Japanese employees were urged to  knock off early but this did not prevent delays and crushes at  major stations.
Public broadcaster NHK said at least 180 people had  sustained minor injuries on the frozen streets and there had  been around 700 traffic accidents, police said.
Cars became trapped in a tunnel, sparking a 10-  kilometre-long tailback from Monday evening through early  morning today, broadcasters said.
And for the second day running, dozens of domestic and  international flights departing from and arriving ..

AFP

AFP

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