Joe Biden's third presidential bid enters a critical stretch after a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses sent the former vice president on to New Hampshire with a skittish donor base, low cash reserves and the looming threat of billionaire rival Michael Bloomberg and his unlimited personal wealth.
In New Hampshire on Tuesday, Biden insisted he had a good night in Iowa even as he trailed the top moderate candidate, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and the leading progressive, Bernie Sanders, according to initial returns from 71% of precincts. Biden was running fourth, close to Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who just days ago polled in single digits.
That leaves some establishment Democrats, including some Biden supporters, questioning his contention that he'll reclaim clear front-runner status in the race against President Donald Trump once the primary fight moves beyond overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire to more racially diverse electorates. And it's a 

Biden's poor showing in Iowa shakes establishment support

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Israeli aircraft struck Hamas positions in Gaza early Wednesday, the military said, after Palestinians in the enclave launched projectiles and explosive balloons at the Jewish state.
The "fighter jets targeted Hamas terror targets in the southern Gaza Strip" including "a weapons manufacturing site", the army said in a statement.
There were no immediate reports from Gaza of casualties.
Prior to the Israeli attack, militants in Gaza launched three projectiles and a number of "explosive balloons" at southern Israel, the army said, with neither medics nor police reporting casualties or damage.
Since US President Donald Trump's announcement last week of his plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rockets, mortar shells and explosive balloons have been launched almost daily from Gaza into southern Israel, provoking Israeli retaliation.
Palestinians strongly reject the US plan, seen as heavily favouring Israel.
Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008 but over the past ...

Israel strikes in Gaza after projectiles, explosive balloons

Making a strong pitch for his re-election amid the impeachment trial, President Donald Trump said that America has made a great comeback and the country is "thriving and highly respected again" as he boasted about the economic growth under his regime.
Delivering his 3rd State of the Union address, Trump said on Tuesday that in just 3 short years, his administration has shattered the mentality of American decline and rejected the downsizing of the country's destiny.
"We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never going back," Trump said during his over one hour address.
The US president said that under his leadership, jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and "our country is thriving and highly respected again."
"Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback. America's enemies are on the run, America's fortunes are on the rise and America's future is blazing ...

US is 'thriving' and 'highly respected again': Trump

Vietnam is setting up field hospitals with thousands of beds to handle a potential influx of coronavirus cases, health officials said, as it prepares to receive its nationals from China.
Vietnam shares a long porous border with China and the communist neighbours have close trade and tourism ties.
So far Vietnam has 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus -- including three people with no recent travel history to China.  The virus, declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, has so far killed nearly 500 people and infected more than 24,000, mostly in mainland China.
Travel restrictions, flight bans and quarantines have been imposed as countries ramp up efforts to control the fast-spreading pathogen.
In Vietnam's southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh city -- where three cases of coronavirus have been confirmed -- two existing facilities are being converted into field hospitals with a total capacity of 500 beds.
They will "receive, monitor and treat" all suspected ...

Vietnam setting up field hospitals for possible virus influx

Habitat loss, pesticide use, and artificial light are the three most serious threats endangering fireflies across the globe, according to a study that sounds a warning bell about the future of the glowing insects.
The study, published in the journal Bioscience, raises the spectre of extinction for certain species of fireflies, and related impacts on biodiversity and ecotourism.
Fireflies belong to a widespread and economically important insect group, with more than 2,000 different species spread out across the globe, according to the researchers from Tufts University in the US.
To better understand what threats are faced by fireflies, they surveyed firefly experts around the world to size up the most prominent threats to survival for their local species.
The researchers highlight specific threats and the vulnerability of different species across geographical regions.
According to survey respondents, habitat loss is the most critical threat to firefly survival in most geographic ...

Fireflies facing extinction due to habitat loss, light pollution: Study

Hundreds of people evacuated their homes and farms Wednesday to escape flooding in southern New Zealand.
Authorities told many residents in the towns of Gore, Mataura and Wyndham they should leave immediately as rivers continued to rise following heavy rainfall.
Several hundred tourists were being evacuated from Milford Sound after getting stuck there earlier this week when flooding and mudslides cut off car access.
Many of the tourists were evacuated by helicopter.
The Grenfell family was rescued after spending a terrifying night stuck in a hut along a popular hiking track.
They told New Zealand broadcaster Newshub that they set up tables to climb above the water and onto the top bunks.
We were worried that the whole hut would actually start moving because it was creaking and the water was pushing against the walls of the hut," Tui Grenfell told Newshub.
"So we did actually bash holes in the walls of the hut to allow the flow through the hut late last night.
A helicopter finally ...

Hundreds evacuate homes in New Zealand to escape flooding

An avalanche hit a road in eastern Turkey, burying a snow-clearing vehicle and a minibus, and killing at least five people, an official said Wednesday. Two other people are reported missing.
The avalanche occurred late Tuesday near the mountain-surrounded town of Bahcesehir, in Van province, which borders Iran.
Gov Mehmet Emin Bilmez told reporters that the snow-clearing vehicle's operator and six people inside the minibus survived.
Rescuers were searching for the other two passengers, but their efforts were hampered by the weather conditions.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the operator, Bahattin Karagulle, was trapped beneath the snow for some 25 minutes before he managed to break a window and escape.
The agency quoted him as saying that he walked toward a village before he was picked up by a vehicle and managed to seek help.

5 killed in avalanche in eastern Turkey; 2 missing

Researchers have developed a novel portable device that can perform chemical tests on food samples to detect harmful bacteria, an advance that may lead to quicker ways of preventing foodborne epidemics.
The device, described in the journal Applied Optics, performs chemical assays that produce light, and works with smartphones and laptops to test food samples on-site for harmful E. coli bacteria.
According to the researchers, including those from Purdue University in the US, the device uses low light from the assay to detect the presence of E. coli.
They created an electrical circuit with a signal amplifier, and components that send the data to laptops and smartphones via Bluetooth technology.
"Our goal is to create technology and a process that allows for the cost-effective detection of the causes of foodborne illness using an easy, expedient, and efficient process," said Euiwon Bae, study co-author from Purdue University.
"This time frame allows for better integrated detection and ...

'Novel device to detect harmful bacteria in food sample'

Stating that the peace talks with the Taliban are underway, President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed to bring the US troops back from war-torn Afghanistan and said that American soldiers are not serving other nations as "a law enforcement agency."
Trump in November announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban, but refused to give a timeline for the drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan during his unannounced visit to the American soldiers stationed in the country.
After nine rounds of negotiations with the Taliban, Trump in September called off the peace talks after a US service member was killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.
"In Afghanistan, the determination and valour of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are underway. I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them innocent," Trump said during his 3rd State of the Union address to the US Congress.
"It is also not our 

US troops are not for serving as law enforcement agency for others: Trump

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has said it would set up manufacturing hubs in Europe, as it tries to fight off US pressure on EU nations to stop it from operating.
"Huawei is more committed to Europe than ever before," said the company's top executive for Europe Abraham Liu during a Chinese New Year reception in Brussels on Tuesday.
"That's why we have decided we want to set up manufacturing bases in Europe -- so that we can truly have 5G for Europe made in Europe."
The announcement comes just days after the EU recommended that member states could ban telecoms operators deemed a security risk from critical parts of 5G infrastructure.
But the EU plan, which closely mirrored rules set out by Britain allowing a limited role for Huawei, stopped short of barring the company from the next-generation communications network designed for near-instantaneous data transfers.
Those guidelines were the fruit of months of agonising within the EU, which has struggled to find a middle way to balance ...

Huawei promises 'Made in Europe' 5G

Malaysia's former first lady, who allegedly bankrolled a luxurious lifestyle with kickbacks and stolen public money, went on trial Wednesday for corruption for the first time since her husband lost power.
Rosmah Mansor, notorious for making overseas shopping trips and owning vast collections of handbags and jewellery, became a lightning rod for public anger as the government of prime minister Najib Razak was engulfed by corruption allegations.
Her husband's long-ruling coalition suffered a shock election defeat in 2018 in large part due to claims he and his officials plundered billions of dollars from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
Both Najib and his wife have since been hit with multiple charges over the looting of the investment vehicle, but Rosmah's first trial centres on allegations she received bribes linked to a government project.
Prosecutors allege she pocketed 6.5 million ringgit ($1.6 million) for helping a company secure the project to provide solar power generators to schools 

Malaysia's former first lady goes on trial for corruption

Striker Navneet Kaur scored a brace to guide the Indian women's hockey team to a convincing 3-0 win over New Zealand in the last game of its five-match tour here on Wednesday.
Navneet found the net in the 45th and 58th minutes, while Sharmila scored a field goal in the 54th minute as India drew curtains on the New Zealand tour on a bright note.
After a goalless opening two quarters, Navneet finally broke the deadlock for India in the 45th minute.
Sharmila then doubled the lead when she struck a powerful shot past the New Zealand goalkeeper in the 54th minute. Navneet found the net again just two minutes from the final hooter with a beautiful field strike.
India began the tour by thrashing New Zealand Development squad 4-0 before suffering close 1-2 and 0-1 defeats to the home senior team.
In penultimate game of the tour, skipper Rani's lone strike handed India a 1-0 win over Great Britain.
"...I am happy we produced three goals against New Zealand in the last match. This tour gave us .

Indian women finish NZ hockey tour on high, beat hosts 3-0

Actor Tom Hiddleston is set to lead political thriller "White Stork" set at Netflix.
The Marvel star will front the 10-part political series which will be produced by Eleven, the banner behind "Sex Education" series, reported Variety.
Hiddleston will play politician James Cooper, whose parliamentary ambitions and personal life are thwarted when he is the subject of a vetting process by Asher Millan.
The series is created, penned and executive produced by "Jericho" writer Chris Dunlop. It will be directed by Kristoffer Nyholm.
The project marks something of a departure for Hiddleston, who has most recently featured as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actor is currently filming Disney Plus series "Loki".

Tom Hiddleston to topline political thriller 'White Stork'

Health authorities are scrambling to halt the spread of a new virus that has killed hundreds in China. But with important details about the illness and how it spreads still unknown, officials and medical personnel are struggling.
Governments have rushed to get their citizens out of China while also restricting visitors from the country, which is orchestrating history's largest anti-viral campaign by blocking 50 million people from leaving Wuhan, the center of the outbreak, and nearby areas.
A growing number of Chinese cities are discouraging people from even leaving their apartments. Villages have blocked entry points with piles of dirt and rubble, while businesses and offices remain closed indefinitely.
As Beijing's authoritarian leadership faces questions over having kept its citizens in the dark for weeks before infections started to explode, other countries are trying to set up effective quarantines to stop a possible pandemic.
Those efforts have not always been smooth, with ...

Unknowns of the new virus make global quarantines a struggle

Talented Shreyas Iyer hit his maiden century while KL Rahul and skipper Virat Kohli carried on their fine form as India dished out a clinical batting effort to post 347 for four against New Zealand in the first ODI here on Wednesday.
Iyer showed why he is considered as the next big thing in Indian cricket, scoring 103 off 107 balls, his first ODI ton.
Besides, Rahul continued his purple patch, smashing unbeaten 88 off 64 balls while Kohli made 51 off 63 deliveries.
Iyer's knock was laced with 11 fours and a six and together with Rahul shared 136 runs for the fourth wicket as India scored 96 runs in the last 10 overs after being sent into bat.
This was after Tom Blundell featured his maiden ODI for the Black Caps, while India gave debuts to two openers -- Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal.
It was the fourth such instance in Indian history with Rahul-Karun Nair being the last such pair in 2016 against Zimbabwe.
Shaw and Agarwal got the innings off to quick start, adding 50 off 48 balls ...

Iyer hits maiden ton; Rahul, Kohli too shine in India's 347/4

Scoreboard from the first One Day International between India and New Zealand here on Wednesday.
India innings:
Prithvi Shaw
c Latham b de Grandhomme
20
Mayank Agarwal  c Tom Blundell b Southee
32
Virat Kohli
b Ish Sodhi
51
Shreyas Iyer
c Santner b Southee
103
Lokesh Rahul
not out
88
Kedar Jadhav
not out
26
Extras: (LB-7,W-19, NB-1)
27
Total: ( for four wickets in 50 overs)
347
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-54, 3-156, 4-292.
Bowling: Tim Southee 10-1-85-2, Hamish Bennett 10-0-77-0, Colin de Grandhomme 8-0-41-1, James Neesham 8-0-52-0, Mitchell Santner 10-0-58-0, Ish Sodhi 4-0-27-1.

Scoreboard, India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI in Hamilton

India produced a commanding batting performance to post a 347 for four in the first ODI against New Zealand here on Wednesday.
Sent into, Shreyas Iyer (103 off 107 balls) scored his maiden ODI century, while KL Rahul (88 not out) and skipper Virat Kohli (51) made fine fifties in the first match of the three-game series.
Tim Southee (2/85) picked up two wickets for the hosts.
Brief Scores:
India: 347 for 4 in 50 overs (Shreyas Iyer 103, KL Rahul 88 not out, Virat Kohli 51; Tim Southee 2/85).

Iyer hits maiden ton as India score 347/4 in 1st ODI

Pop star Lady Gaga has a new man in her life and the singer has finally made her relationship with investor Michael Polansky social media official.
The Oscar-winning musician, who travelled to Miami to perform at the AT&T TV Super Saturday Night show over the weekend, shared a picture with Polanksy on Instagram on Monday.
"We had so much fun in Miami. Love to all my little monsters and fans, you're the best!" Gaga captioned the photo which appears to have been clicked on a yacht possibly taken during their Miami trip.
In the picture, the "Alejandro" hitmaker is seen sitting on Polanski's lap as he smiles at her.
According to E! News, Polansky is the CEO of the San Francisco-based Parker Group.
The couple has been dating for over a month and was also seen holding hands and kissing in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.

Lady Gaga makes romance with Michael Polansky internet official

"Beverly Hills 90210" star Shannen Doherty has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, the actor has revealed.
The 48-year-old actor, also known for "Charmed", announced in 2017 that she was in remission for breast cancer that had been initially diagnosed in 2015.
"It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I have stage 4. So my cancer came back and that's why I'm here," Doherty said appearing on ABC News on Tuesday.
The actor said she decided to go public with her diagnosis because the court filings of a legal battle, which she is fighting against an insurance company include her current health status, are set to release this week.
"I'd rather people hear it from me," she asserted.
Doherty said she has been dealing with the disease in private for more than a year now, while continuing to work, including shooting for the "Beverly Hills" reboot, "BH90210."
She was contemplating her diagnosis while she mourning the death of her "90210" co-star and friend Luke Perry ...

Shannen Doherty reveals stage 4 cancer diagnosis

United and American Airlines on Wednesday both announced plans to temporarily suspend flights to Hong Kong following the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus.
United said it would halt flights to the international financial hub from Saturday until February 20, citing a sharp drop in passengers.
American Airlines said it had already suspended flights through to February 20.
Both carriers had previously said they were halting flights to mainland China where the outbreak of the new coronavirus began late last year and has since killed nearly 500 people and infected more than 24,000.
Dozens of major airlines have stopped flying to the Chinese mainland in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, which has been detected among a small number of people in more than 20 countries.
The inclusion of Hong Kong in the flight ban comes as the city struggles with its own outbreak, with 18 people testing positive for the disease, including one who died.
On Tuesday, health officials in Hong Kong warned ..

Major US airlines add Hong Kong to China flight suspensions

"Watchmen" actor Danielle Deadwyler will star in a recurring role in the HBO Max limited series "Station Eleven".
Based on the book of the same name by Emily St John Mandel, the show is a post-apocalyptic saga spanning multiple timelines.
The series will chronicle the stories of survivors of a devastating flu as they attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew while holding on to the best of what's been lost.
According to Variety, Deadwyler will play Miranda Carroll, the author of the titular graphic novel and former wife of Arthur Leander (played by Gael Garcia Bernal) who finds herself trapped in Malaysia as a flu pandemic sweeps the globe.
Japanese-American filmmaker Hiro Murai will direct and executive produce the 10-episode series, led by Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel.
Patrick Somerville is adapting the novel and will also serve as showrunner.
Deadwyler has also starred on acclaimed comedy drama series "Atlanta".

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