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Money Jeff Bezos is still the richest person in the world, even after losing $10 billion in one year. The Amazon founder held onto the top spot in the final day of the 2019 Bloomberg Billionaire Index with an estimated net worth of $115 billion. He’s trailed closely by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose estimated worth is $113 billion. Bezos, Gates and French business magnate Bernard Arnault are the only three billionaires on the list whose net worths exceed $100 billion. Bezos was expected to lose the top spot in the billionaire index after a choppy year for his finances. As part of his divorce settlement with ex-wife Mackenzie Bezos, he held onto 75% of the couple’s Amazon stock. The rest went to his former wife, who also received a 4% stake in the company. That amounted to around $37 billion, making her the 25th-richest person in the world. Gates briefly toppled Bezos in November after Amazon profits fell nearly 28% from the previous year while Microsoft shares soared 48%. But his time at the top was short-lived. Familiar faces round out the current top 10. Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg clock in fourth and fifth. The Facebook founder added a staggering $26.3 billion to his personal wealth this year. Julia Flesher Koch, widow of conservative businessman David Koch and the only woman in the top 10, is worth $62 billion.

The rankings are based on the number of households watching at least two minutes of a series, movie or special during its first 28 days on Netflix in 2019. NEW YORK - Netflix Inc’s original film Murder Mystery, starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, topped a list of the streaming service’s most popular releases of 2019 in the United States but its award-winning The Crown failed to make the top 10. Netflix said on Monday that science fiction series _Stranger Things _came in second, followed by the Michael Bay action movie 6 Underground. The animated movie Incredibles 2 and Martin Scorsese’s gangster film The Irishman took the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. The ranking was based on the number of households watching at least two minutes of a series, movie or special during its first 28 days on Netflix in 2019, the streaming service said. British royal series The Crown, whose first two seasons cost a reported $130 million to make, did not appear in the top 10 list for either the US or the UK or Canada despite having won major awards, including for its leading actors. Season 3 was released in November and Netflix did not supply any viewing data. Netflix, which boasts more than 158 million subscribers around the world, only selectively releases viewership figures for programming it considers a hit, and the numbers are not verified by a third party. Executives at Netflix have said they plan to be more transparent with audience data to satisfy Hollywood producers and stars and to help viewers decide what to watch. The limited details on what grabbed Netflix viewers’ attention this year came ahead of the company’s Jan. 21 quarterly earnings report, which will disclose revenue and membership by region for the first time. The streaming heavyweight is facing new competition, particularly from Walt Disney Co, which has been removing its movies from Netflix and putting them on the Disney+ streaming service. Netflix shares have risen 23% this year, the smallest annual rise in three years. The S&P 500 Index is up 29% for the year.

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CHENNAI: As the world ushered in the new year with revelry, Kondanchery village in Tiruvallur district , 50km from Chennai, silently saluted the courage of a local hero who died on Christmas night trying to save a woman from her abductors.T Akesh, who died in a hospital on December 27, two days after being run over by an autorikshaw in which the woman was abducted. The 22-year old was with his five friends at New Colony when they heard the cries of a woman in a passing auto. Even as they took off on their motorbikes, the woman jumped out of the autorikshaw. Akesh and another friend continued to chase the autorickshaw. After a couple of kilometers, when Akesh tried to block the way of the autorickshaw, the vehicle knocked him off a causeway . Akesh had suffered head injuries.Kodanchery villagers had only good things to talk about Akesh, “the youth with no vices”. He worked as a driver and took care of his parents. The villagers did not allow any vehicle on Kondanchery Road on his funeral day. “This village has never come together like this for anyone. Everything — Christmas, New year, local body elections — took a backseat. Nothing mattered to us for the past few days,” said N Mohan, a neighbour.Akesh lived in one of the quarters occupied by scheduled castes who lived in a cluster within the village. But people across castes poured into the hospital when Akesh was undergoing treatment and offered financial and emotional support to his parents.The youngest of three siblings, Akesh dropped out after Class X to support his parents Thiyagaraj and Padmavathi who are farm labourers. He took up a job as a helper in a machinery company and later became a driver there.His employer, E D Munuswaamy said the relationship they shared was more than professional. “I treated him like my son. His integrity at a young age surprised me. We retained him on our payroll even when we had to shut down our company for a brief period,” Munuswaamy said.For the first time in several years, Christmas and New Year celebration at the TELC Church in Kondanchery were low-key affairs. In the village, there was no drunk revelry, no clashes.

Pauline Tantot shared a new photo set with her Instagram fans a day ago. There were three pictures in total and they showed her rocking a metallic pink mini dress. The outfit was skintight and eye-catching. The top of the dress featured thin straps and a loose neckline. It hugged all of the stunner's curves. The metallic nature of the fabric meant that the light bounced off the dress in a colorful way. This included purple, which was most prominent, along with rainbow hues. Meanwhile, Pauline wore her hair slicked back into a ponytail with her locks cascading down her upper back. Her eye makeup was notable, too, as she rocked glossy pink lipstick and shimmery eyeshadow. She accessorized with a short necklace. The first image showed her standing by a dinner table. There were plates, a centerpiece, and a couple of lit candles on them. On the other side of the frame was a sleek, modern kitchen. Pauline raised her right hand into the air while holding her drink. She gave a flirty pout for the camera. The second picture was very similar to the first, except that the blonde looked into the distance to her left. And a final photo showed the model posing with her back to the camera. She leaned forward slightly and put her hands on the table. This angle allowed the bombshell to show off her booty. It also revealed that the dress featured a seam down the middle of her back with gathered accents throughout.

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Amsterdam is set to get a new American Airlines Boeing 787 flying into the city, with the aircraft planned to operate to Dallas / Fort Worth in September this year. What are the details? Currently, passengers who want to fly to Dallas / Fort Worth from Amsterdam need to rely on one of their older Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. However, Dreamliner fans are set to be spoiled for a few weeks in September when American Airlines will be deploying a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route instead. According to Routesonline, the aircraft will be taking off from the 9th of September to the 26th of September on the following frequency: Advertisement Flight Number: AA220 Departing Dallas/Fort Worth at 1545 PM and arriving at Amsterdam the next day at 0815 AM. Daily service. Advertisement Featured Video: Flight Number: AA221 Departing Amsterdam at 1020 AM and arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth the same day at 1345 PM. Daily service. How does the Boeing 787-9 compare to the Boeing 777-200ER? Is the Boeing 787-9 an upgrade from the Boeing 777-200? Advertisement American Airlines configures their Boeing 777-200ER with 273 seats in three cabins (although economy is split into ‘main cabin’ and ‘main cabin extra’ – we will get to that in a minute). The Boeing 787-9 seats 285 passengers in the same number of cabins, but has the added advantage of bigger windows, better pressurization, and quieter engines. On the Boeing 777, business class has 37 seats that transform into lie-flat beds with 60 inches of pitch and are 21 inches wide. This is compared to the Dreamliners 30 lie-flat seats, which extend to a further 77 inches in bed mode. Both cabins are in a 1-2-1 configuration but beware, not every business class seat on the 787 has a window. Both aircraft have the new American Airlines premium economy seats. These are in a 2-4-2 configuration onboard the 777-200ER, and in a 2-3-2 configuration onboard the 787. This lets couples sit together on the sides and families all in one in the middle. They have 38 inches of legroom and recline more than economy seats. Lastly, both aircraft have plenty of economy seats onboard. But they are not equal at all. The Boeing 777-200ER has the seats laid out in a 3-4-3 configuration with 31 inches of pitch, whilst the Boeing 787 has them in a 3-3-3 configuration with 32 inches of pitch. But this dichotomy is reversed when looking at the ‘main cabin extra’. The Boeing 777-200ER has 37 inches of legroom (one inch less than premium economy!) compared to 35 onboard the 787. Bottom line, both aircraft have very simular cabin products, but the additional benefits of the Dreamliner plus its much friendlier economy cabin place it above the 777-200ER in my books. The schedule information in this article was originally published by Routesonline What do you think? Which is better to fly on? Let us know in the comment.

Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute changes is not always easy. Being prepared, planning well, and being surrounded by a good team will make that decision a lot easier. Begin by putting yourself in a positive frame of mind. You are likely to experience higher than normal levels of stress and knowing this beforehand will give you the ability to be prepared mentally and physically. You will be the anchorperson and foundation, and with your steady hand will guide your team through the stressful events. Be a reassuring and active force throughout the whole process. It is impossible to prepare for every contingency, but planning for the known is a must. Add time or extra room to the schedule for the unknowns. When you encounter an unexpected event, your schedule should not be put off by much if you have built in some leeway. It will provide that buffer that gives you and your team the ability to deal with the unknowns and keep rolling with the change process Surround yourself with people that you can delegate to and be confident in their abilities and skills. Be precise and specific with your directions as when the change process begins you will be depending on these individuals and their talents. Communicating and providing feedback are the keys to successful delegation; make sure your team understands this. If communication fails or there is not accurate feedback the chances of a success are lessened. An issue that sometimes arises when delegating is micro managing. Keep an eye out to not micro-manage as you can quickly lose track of events and it will take time away from your main duties. Delegating is a skill that takes time as you must first learn the strengths and weakness of your team and know what tasks you can and cannot hand out. It may not be possible to always delegate, but when it can be done it will provide a great resource. Always be available during the change process. Before the change prepare your friends and family that you may not be available for social events. Reassure your team that you are there for them and you are here to provide them with the necessary resources to lead them through the change. Stress to them that you are available and focused on keeping the communications lines open. Always be aware of rumors, they will happen before during and after the change. Do not ignore any rumor, put out honest and clear communication as soon as possible. Reassure your team that if they hear a rumor to seek out more information from a reliable source. Remind them that spreading rumors helps no one and will cause more harm than good. Not everyone will agree on the change. Keep in mind that these types of feelings are normal, as people generally do not enjoy change and are sometimes made nervous by it. You will likely encounter pushback and resistance by a number of team members. Provide facts and data to show why the change is happening and reassure them the need and benefits of the change. These types of individuals are best suited to be educated about the change with information. If you are encountering an extreme case of pushback, provide them with some choices that still fall within the spectrum of the intended change. They should then feel more involved in the process and it will help alleviate the negative mindset they may be experiencing.It is vitally important to make sure that all stakeholders and employees are on board with a change. In order to continue increasing awareness and to build desire to support the upcoming change; the change management team must reach out to the organization at large. The force field analysis, developed by German social psychologist Kurt Lewin helps a change management team to: • Identify pros and cons of an option prior to making a decision • Explore what is going right — and what is going wrong • Analyse any two opposing positions. If concerns or issues arise, then steps must be taken to ensure awareness is continually raised and that desire to support the change is increased. Strategies that can help the change management team responsively address employees’ concerns include: • Engaging employees, providing forums for people to express their questions and concerns • Equipping managers & supervisors to be effective change leaders and managers of resistance • Orchestrating opportunities for advocates of the change to contact those not yet on board • Aligning incentive and performance management systems to support the change. Change is not exempt from Murphy’s Law. And even if something isn’t going wrong, change management team members must constantly be observing, listening, and evaluating the progress and process during a change. Below are several tools to help the team accomplish this. A feedback form is used to gather information from those involved in a change to help shape the remaining course of the change project. Instead of a paper form, feedback can be obtained through online surveys (Zoomerang.com or Survey Monkey.com), an in-house questionnaire on the intranet, a few questions sent by email, or a focus group. The questions will vary depending upon the subject being queried. Open Feedback include asking participants for suggestions and comments. The compiled results of the feedback forms can be used by the change management team members to modify the project plan and/or the communication plan or to work with specific individuals or groups that may be providing roadblocks to success. Once a change initiative is underway, it is critical to sustain the change with reinforcement. The leader must make sure that the project and communication plan remain on track. They need to identify, and explore any issues from employees or stakeholders that have emerged, and review and consider any feedback gathered to date. Acting as a facilitator, the leader helps to bring about learning and productivity. Communication will be a byproduct of this by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, and supervision.He or she listens actively, asks questions, encourages diverse viewpoints, organizes information, helps the group reach consensus, and understands that the individual needs of team members will affect teamwork. The LEAD model provides a simple methodology for facilitating a participative meeting: • Lead with objectives: When clear objectives are stated up front, group energy is channeled toward achieving an outcome. The objectives shape the content of the meeting. • Empower to participate: In the Lead model, the facilitator is empowered to encourage active participation. • Aim for consensus: Getting the team to consensus will have members more likely to support and carry out the decisions of the team. • Direct the process: How the meeting progresses will influence the quality of the decisions of the team, and influences the commitment of team members. Leaders must differentiate between process and content. Content includes the topics, subjects, or issues; process is about how the topics, subjects, or issues are addressed. Because communications from managers and supervisors have been shown to have a significant impact on employees during a change initiative, it is appropriate that they be actively involved in celebrating success with employees as a result of positive performance. Celebrations can occur on three levels: 1. One on one conversation: In a private meeting, a supervisor should attest to the fact that due to the employee’s effort, a change was made, and how it is succeeding. He or she should extend verbal thanks to the employee. 2. Public recognition: Public recognition officially acknowledges outstanding performance and points out a role model that helped make a successful change happen. Supervisors should carefully consider who receives recognition, and not alienate group members who participated in the change but who many not have distinguished themselves as significantly. 3. Group celebrations: Fun or engaging activities are used to celebrate key milestones by a group. They include buffet or restaurant lunches, dinner events, or can include group outings to sports, amusement, or cultural events. It is important that these types of celebrations try to include the involvement of the primary change sponsor in some way. Professor Akindotun Merino Email: Info@africamentalhealth.net Twitter: @drakinmerino Fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Africamentalhealth/ Phone: 08118048229

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Ghosn says he has escaped injustice and political persecution—to the shock of his defence team in Japan. The holiday season didn’t bring good tidings for Japanese authorities investigating former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn for financial misconduct. On Monday, they found Ghosn gone, having fled his Tokyo home, giving the slip to heavy manned and video surveillance. Once the toast of the automotive industry and held in high regard in Japan, Ghosn fell from grace when news of alleged financial misconduct broke in 2017; he was arrested in November 2018 upon his return to Japan from Lebanon, where he has now surfaced. While there is no watertight account of how Ghosn managed to pull off one of the sensational escape, Lebanese media reports are pinning it to a large musical case of the Gregorian band that performed at his house in Tokyo and flights from Japan to Istanbul and onwards to Beirut, and the French media is speculating on forged passports and complicity of Japanese officials. Whatever be the modus operandi, many media outlets concur that it was likely orchestrated by Ghosn’s wife, Carole, who had earlier complained that Japanese authorities had denied her any access to, or communication with her husband. Ghosn says he has escaped injustice and political persecution—to the shock of his defence team in Japan. While Japanese law heavily favours the prosecution, the fact that Ghosn, despite the outrage that followed the news of his alleged financial misconduct breaking, had made bail twice shows he may not be able to successfully argue his case for fleeing justice. More so, since he had professed faith in the due process, saying it would eventually prove his innocence. What l’affaire Ghosn—and les affaires Andersen, Mallya, and others—shows is that, sometimes, money can outsmart justice.

Fugitive former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn met Lebanon’s president after his escape from Japan, where he was smuggled out of house arrest by a private security company, two sources close to Ghosn said on Wednesday. One of the sources said Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying to Beirut via Istanbul and was now in a buoyant and combative mood and felt secure. In his meeting at the presidency, Ghosn thanked Aoun for the support he had given him and his wife, Carole, while he was in detention, the sources said. He now needs the protection and security of his government after fleeing Japan, they added. A media advisor to the president’s office denied the two men had met. Lebanese officials have said there would be no need to take legal measures against Ghosn because he entered the country legally on a French passport, although Ghosn’s French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports are with lawyers in Japan. The French and Lebanese foreign ministries have said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan, where Ghosn faced trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he denied. Under the terms of his bail, he had been confined to his house in Tokyo and had to have cameras installed at the entrance. He was prevented from communicating with his wife and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed. The sources said the Lebanese ambassador to Japan had visited him daily while he was in detention. While some Lebanese media have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, his wife called the account pure fiction when contacted by Reuters. She declined to provide details of the exit of one of the most recognized titans of industry. The accounts of the two sources suggest a carefully planned escape few were aware of. They said a private security firm oversaw the plan, which was three months in the making and involved shuttling Ghosn out via a private jet to Istanbul before pushing onward to Beirut, with even the pilot unaware of Ghosn’s presence on board. “It was a very professional operation from start to finish,” said one of the sources. The other source said Ghosn was in good health. In a written statement, Ghosn said after his arrival that he had “escaped injustice and political persecution” and would begin communicating with media next week. Sources close to him said he was unwilling to share details of his escape so as not to jeopardize those who aided him in Japan. He is staying at the home of a relative of his wife, but plans to return soon to a gated villa in the upscale Beirut neighborhood of Achrafieh, one of the sources said. He was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 and faces four charges — which he denies — including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East. Nissan sacked him as chairman, saying internal investigations revealed misconduct, including understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest. Ghosn has enjoyed an outpouring of support from Lebanese since his 2018 arrest, with billboards proclaiming “We are all Carlos Ghosn” erected in solidarity with his case. Locally he is considered a poster boy for success in a country where rampant unemployment pushes young Lebanese abroad to find work and the economy relies heavily on remittances amid a deep financial crisis that has sparked a wave of protests. Ghosn was born in Brazil but of Lebanese descent and lived in Lebanon as a child. He oversaw a turnaround at French carmaker Renault that won him the nickname “Le Cost Killer” and used similar methods to revive Nissan.

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The Sensex and the Nifty wiped off all gains in early afternoon trade. The Nifty struggled to regain 12,200 mark. At 12:24 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 35.68 points or 0.09% at 41,289.82. The Nifty 50 index was up 8.15 points or 0.07% at 12,176.60. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.19% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.49%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1179 shares rose and 887 shares fell. A total of 148 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, 19 stocks advanced while 31 stocks declined. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, declined 0.55% to 11.6025. The Nifty January 2020 futures were trading at 12,248, a premium of 60.15 points compared with the spot at 12,187.85. On the options front, the Nifty option chain for 30 January 2020 expiry showed maximum call open interest (OI) of 23.06 lakh contracts at the 12,500 strike price. Significant call writing was witnessed at 12,600 strike price, which added 3.39 lakh contracts. Maximum put OI of 35.21 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price. Significant put writing was seen at the 11,800 strike price, which added 2.35 lakh contracts. Stocks in Spotlight: Shares of prince pipes were trading 0.33% higher at Rs 153. The company's promoters have repaid Rs 200 crore loan in escrow and there is no pledge or encumbrance on shares. Express Infra Projects LLP had issued bonds aggregating up to Rs 200 crore, of which Rs 191.50 crore was outstanding as on 31 October 2019. For securing these bonds, the promoters of Prince Pipes and Fittings had on 30 March 2019 pledged certain equity shares in their capacity as first holders or second holders of such equity shares, aggregating 35% of the equity share capital of the company on a fully diluted basis. Aster DM Healthcare rose 3.36% to Rs 166 after the company announced the acquisition of Abu Dhabi-based Wahat Al Aman Home Healthcare. Wahat Al Aman Home Healthcare LLC, incorporated on 24 February 2019, operates home healthcare business in Abu Dhabi & Al Ain. In this model, the nurses/doctors are deputed at the homes of the patients to provide medical care. The cost of acquisition is estimated to be 105 million Dirham. The acquisition will be EPS accretive and it will enhance Aster DM Healthcare's presence in Abu Dhabi market, the company said in a statement issued after market hours on Tuesday. Adani Green Energy (AGEL) jumped 4.5%. Adani Renewable Energy, a step down subsidiary of AGEL, has commissioned its 75 megawatts (MW) wind power project having power purchase agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) at Rs 2.85/kWh for 25 years. Commercial sale of power from the project to MSEDCL is expected to commence from 1 January 2020. With this, 2.50 GWac of renewable energy projects are operational. Sterling and Wilson Solar gained 0.93%. The firm said on Tuesday that its promoters Shapoorji Pallonji and Company (SPCL) and Khurshed Daruvala have repaid Rs 1,000 crore they owed to the firm. The promoters now have to clear a balance of Rs 1,644 crore, which they intend to settle in a staggered manner by 30 September 2020. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The domestic stock market started the new year on a positive note after US President Donald Trump said that Phase 1 of the trade deal with China would be signed on 15 January. Meanwhile, the Indian government's Rs 102 lakh crore infrastructure push to realise $5 trillion GDP goal also boosted sentiment. The Nifty ended below 12,200 mark. Gains in the HDFC twins and IT major Infosys offset losses in IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries and Titan Company. Trading activity remained thin amid New Year holiday in major global stock markets. The barometer index, the BSE Sensex, rose 52.28 points or 0.13% to 41,306.02, as per the provisional closing data. The Nifty 50 index rose 21.25 points or 0.17% to 12,189.70, as per the provisional closing data. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index advanced 0.21% while the BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.64%. The market breadth was positive. On BSE, 1359 shares advanced while 1065 shares declined. A total of 197 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, 23 stocks advanced and 27 stocks declined. Economy: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday unveiled Rs 102 lakh crore of infrastructure projects that will be implemented in the next five years as part of the government's spending push in the infrastructure sector. The projects identified are in sectors such as power, railways, urban irrigation, mobility, education and health. Meanwhile, India's current account deficit (CAD) shrank sharply in the September quarter to $6.3 billion or 0.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) from 2% in the preceding quarter and 2.9% in the year-ago quarter. The contraction in the CAD was primarily on account of a lower trade deficit at $38.1 billion as compared with $50 billion a year ago. India's fiscal deficit hit 114.8% of 2019-20 budget estimate at Rs 8.07 lakh crore at the end of November, according to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA). The country's fiscal deficit stood at Rs 7.17 lakh crore in the same period of the previous fiscal. The fiscal deficit rose on the back of higher spending and lower revenue collection. The government has received nearly Rs 10 lakh crore, which is 48.6% of the annual target, while it incurred an expenditure of Rs 18 lakh crore, which is 65.3% of the annual target. India's eight infrastructure sectors shrank for the fourth straight month in November at 1.5%, though the magnitude of contraction slowed from 5.8% in October. The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Stocks in spotlight: HDFC (up 0.84%), Infosys (up 0.70%) and HDFC Bank (up 0.60%) were the top contributors while Indusind Bank (down 1.69%) and Reliance Industries (down 0.29%) were the top drags. Adani Green Energy hit 5% upper circuit at Rs 174.80. The Adani Group company said its step down subsidiary, Adani Renewable Energy (GJ), has commissioned its 75 MW Wind Power Project having Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) at Rs 2.85/kWh for a period of 25 years. Commercial sale of power from the Project to MSEDCL is expected to commence w.e.f. 1 January 2020. Sterling and Wilson Solar rose 2.86% to Rs 331.35. The company's promoters Shapoorji Pallonji and Company (SPCL) and Khurshed Daruvala have repaid Rs 1,000 crore they owed to the firm. The promoters now have to clear a balance of Rs 1,644 crore, which they intend to settle in a staggered manner by 30 September 2020. Skipper slumped 4.31% to Rs 48.90. The company said that CARE Ratings had downgraded long term rating on the company's bank facilities to BBB+ with a stable outlook, from A with a negative outlook. The revision in the ratings is on account of deterioration in the financial performance of the company in FY19 and H1 FY20 on account of weak operational performance. Titan Company fell 2.87% to Rs 1153.50. CRISIL upgraded the company's Long Term Rating to CRISIL AAA from CRISIL AA+. Short Term Ratings were reaffirmed at CRISIL A1+. CRISIL maintained a stable outlook with an expectation that the company will improve over the medium term on account of dominant market position in jewellery retail segment, aided by healthy store additions and strong financial profile. In addition, watch segment is expected to witness healthy growth while sustaining the improvement in profitability. Premier Explosives rose 0.1% at Rs 150.35. The company received a rate contract for supply of bulk loading explosives from Jaiprakash Power Ventures. The contract is for one year with an expected value of Rs 15.44 crore. Maruti Suzuki India was trading 0.47% lower at Rs 7332.40. The car major reported 11.5% decline in total auto sales to 1.33 lakh units in December 2019 compared with 1.50 lakh units in November 2018. Total sales, however, rose 3.9% last month compared with 1.28 lakh units in December 2018. Total domestic sales rose 3.5% to 1.25 lakh units while total exports sales jumped 10.2% to 7,561 units in December 2019 over December 2018. Yes Bank slipped 0.11% to Rs 46.90. CARE downgraded the rating on infrastructure bonds to A/Negative {from A+ (Credit Watch with Developing implications) and Negative outlook assigned. The outlook for the ratings is Negative considering the uncertainty related to equity raising, which is critical for the bank to maintain adequate capital buffers over the minimum regulatory requirement as well as fund future growth of the bank. Praj Industries jumped 2.49% after CRISIL reaffirmed its rating on company's long term facility at CRISIL AA with a stable outlook. The short term facility was reaffirmed at CRISIL A1+. The disclosure was made after market hours on Tuesday, 31 December 2019. For securing these bonds, the promoters of Prince Pipes and Fittings had on 30 March 2019 pledged certain equity shares in their capacity as first holders or second holders of such equity shares, aggregating 35% of the equity share capital of the company on a fully diluted basis. CARE Ratings surged 5.65% to Rs 676.45 after the company on Tuesday said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has concluded its adjudication proceedings. Sebi on 26 December 2019 slapped Rs 25 lakh penalty on CARE Ratings pertaining to assigning of rating to various non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services). CARE said that it was reviewing the adjudication order and considering the appropriate course of action. M&M rose 0.93% to Rs 535.30. The auto maker informed that its total automotive sales fell 1% to 39,230 units in December 2019, compared with 39,755 units in December 2018. The auto sales are also down by 4.86% from 41,235 units recorded in November 2019. M&M's tractor segment reported 3% rise in total tractor sales as it sold 17,990 units in December 2019 as compared to 17,404 units in December 2018. On a monthly basis, the total tractor sales have fallen 14.46% from 21,032 in November 2019. Escorts fell 3.54% to Rs 607.20. The company recorded 10.5% decline in total tractor sales to 4,114 units in December 2019 from 4,598 units in December 2018. Meanwhile, Escorts informed that Girish Behari Mathur resigned from the company's board effective from 31 December 2019. SML Isuzu slipped 0.53% to Rs 559.55 after the company said its total sales tumbled 32.8% to 549 units in December 2019 over 817 units in December 2018. Sequentially, total sales rose 5.37% in December 2019 from 521 units in November 2019. Foreign Markets: Markets in Asia and Europe were closed on account of the New Year holiday. China's central bank on Wednesday announced a decision to cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for financial institutions by 50 basis points from 6 January, to support the development of the real economy. Wall Street's major indexes edged higher on Tuesday on a renewed rally fuelled by trade optimism. US market remains shut on Wednesday for the New Year holiday. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Phase 1 of trade deal with China would be signed on 15 January at the White House. Trump tweeted that he would sign the deal with high level representatives of China and that he would later travel to Beijing to begin talks on the next phase. The Phase 1 deal, struck earlier this month, is expected to reduce tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of American farm, energy and manufactured goods while addressing some disputes over intellectual property. In U.S. economic news, the October Case-Shiller home price index showed home prices rising by 3.3% in 20 major metropolitan areas across the U.S., up from a 3.2% rise in September. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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PORT SAINT LUCIE, Fla. — The Big Apple Pizza store along St. Lucie Blvd. in Port St. Lucie had to shut down early on New Year’s Eve after a car slammed through the door and windows causing quite a bit of damage. It happened just after 3 p.m. and employees say the only other customer in the restaurant was supposed to be meeting the driver for a bite to eat when moments later the incident happened. The Big Apple Pizza store along St. Lucie Blvd. in Port St. Lucie had to shut down early on New Year’s Eve after a car slammed through the door and windows causing quite a bit of damage. @JillianIdlewptv brings us the story at 5:30 p.m. on @WPTV pic.twitter.com/RTBjdzt5C1 — WPTV (@WPTV) January 1, 2020 Port St. Lucie police say it was an accidental incident and the driver, a middle aged woman, will not face any charges. “We had one person in the corner over here which was not the side that the car came in, so thank God, if the car came in an hour earlier we had three families sitting right here,” said employee Keith Brenner. Brenner and the other Big Apple employees working at the time describe hearing a loud bang before thinking the roof of the building had collapsed. It only took seconds for them to look towards the front of the store and see a white BMW sitting in the dining room. “Everything was smashed, there was glass everywhere,” said Brenner. Luckily, no one inside at the time was hurt. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation but was released shortly after without any physical injuries. The store had to cancel its remaining orders for New Years Eve, which is typically a busy night for them. They cleaned up the mess and were back open by 11 a.m. New Year’s Day. The Storefront Safety Council recently named Florida as leading the nation for store front crashes, even beating out California which is said to have more licensed drivers than Florida.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – It was a night you’d expect for New Year’s Eve. It began with a couple of traffic stops, which included one DUI. “Basically we want to make sure everyone out celebrating tonight makes it home safely,” said Officer Daniel Eisenberg. “So if everyone is out having a good time we hope they get an Uber or a taxi.” The beginning of the night started slow, but Eisenberg said that dispatch calls usually pick up later in the night on New Year’s Eve. “Especially as we get later into the night closer to midnight,” said Eisenberg. A common complaint on New Year’s Eve is due to fireworks — which sometimes sound like gunshots. “A lot of people like to light fireworks off so we want to make sure all the fireworks complaints that we get are indeed fireworks and not gunshots”, according to Eisenberg, “We’re gonna get a lot of these calls and 90% of them are going to be fireworks but we need to take them all seriously.” As far as DUI’s go, numerous officers are assigned to DUI patrol on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The Charleston Police Department has one message for those celebrating the New Year: Don’t Drink and Drive. For local and breaking news, weather alerts, video and more, download the FREE WOWK 13 News App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. More Stories

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Left to Right: New Castle County GOP Chair, Chris Rowe; Sussex County GOP Vice Chair Nelly Jordan The New Castle County Republican Party Chair and the Vice Chair of the Sussex County Republican Party have come under fire for homophobic, anti-Semitic language used on social media. New Castle County Republican Chair Chris Rowe has come under fire after he used homophobic language on Facebook, describing what he said as “locker room talk” and saying it wasn’t meant to disparage homosexuals. Rowe, a longtime political figure in New Castle and now county Chair of the Republican Party, used the word “faggot” in a comment on Facebook where he was dismayed that the social media site removed a video he was trying to post. “It was locker room talk between longtime male friends,” Rowe told WGMD’s Rob Petree. In an interview with WGMD’s Rob Petree, Rowe explains… “It was a word of impact and in no way disparaged anyone, any individual who is gay, or the gay community,” Rowe continued. “It was just an impact word used because I was p-o’ed (pissed off) at Facebook for taking down the video I was posting.” Following the interview Rowe, the GOP of New Castle County posted the following statement to its Facebook page: To the People of Delaware and my fellow Republicans,Here we are now in 2020 where we know the English language and yet… Posted by The GOP of New Castle County on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Sussex County Republican Party Vice Chair Nelly Jordan is being criticized for her use of what many consider anti-Semitic language in a Facebook post. On December 10th, 2019, Jordan posted a lengthy post to Facebook where she singled out Jewish people, saying “these jews have been enrolled to come and testify.” Jordan went on to equate the Jewish faith to “left socialist believers” and then said “God please have mercy on them, some of the Jewish people are doing today as it was in the Old Testament; go against God’s will even after he had mercy on them.” WGMD’s Rob Petree spoke with Jordan who said she had no comment and then hung up the phone. Several Republican State lawmakers have taken to social media to condemn the language used by both regional representatives of the state’s Republican Party, including State Senator Anthony Delcollo who strongly denounced the remarks. To my grave alarm and deep sadness, it has come to my attention that two individuals with positions of leadership in the… Posted by Anthony Delcollo for Delaware on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 “To my grave alarm and deep sadness, it has come to my attention that two individuals with positions of leadership in the Delaware GOP have used language that I can only describe as vile and bigoted,” Delcollo stated. “I have spent much of my life fighting against racism, discrimination, and bigotry in all of its forms. Consistent with my firm rejection of such behavior and viewpoints and my desire that such hatred be eradicated, I post this to make one point crystal clear: we should all reject and denounce, unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms, the always odious use of bigoted words and the hatred that such conduct encourages.” WGMD News has reached out to Delaware Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Brady who has yet to respond to a request for comment.

Appearing on Fox News, former congressman Trey Gowdy said he believes if the impeachment trial were held today “the president would win. And I don’t think he’d lose a single Republican senator and he might pick up one Democrat.” Gowdy suggested Republicans get the trial over with without witnesses since they have the numbers, saying “if you have the jury and you know how they’re going to know how they’re going to rule, go ahead and get it over with. And then the president can say whatever he wants to after the trial is over.” Gowdy also revealed he believes Pelosi’s stalling tactic is about putting GOP Senators in swing districts in “tight spots” which she thinks might help Democrats take back the Senate in 2020. “This is about putting a handful of Republican senators in tight spots in November, Cory Gardner and Thom Tillis and Susan Collins and Martha McSally. Put them in tight spots, make them cast difficult votes.” WATCH: This article first appeared on TheConservativeOpinion.com

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While 2019 was a strong year for openings, as always, there were a number of closures. While dozens of new bars and restaurants opened in Tucson during 2019, around 21 restaurants closed. It happens for a multitude of reasons. Here’s the list of restaurants that closed in 2019; if we missed any, please let us know. Alafia West African Cuisine 1070 N. Swan Rd. Alafia West African Cuisine announced in November it has closed indefinitely after four years in business. On December 4, they told us: We are working hard to possibly reopen with new management. Read our December 2019 article Alafia West African Cuisine closed, seeking new owner. Besties Fish & Burger 14 W. Grant Rd. Steamed burger and fried fish joint Besties closed in June. However, you might find it occasionally returning as a pop-up concept at Cafe Passe, according to owner Kade Mislinski. Read our April 2018 article Fish, chips, steamed burgers and more at “Besties Fish & Burger” in former Mother Hubbard’s Cafe (PHOTOS). Casa Valencia 2660 N. Campbell Ave. Seafood restaurant Casa Valencia closed its Campbell location. Its original location at 1825 W. Valencia Rd. is still open. In June, Prep & Pastry moved its original location into the former Casa Valencia space. Read our April 2019 article Original Prep & Pastry to Move Into Former Casa Valencia on Campbell Avenue. Club 21 Mexican Restaurant 2920 N. Oracle Rd. Sign at Club 21 Mexican Food (Photo courtesy of Club 21 Mexican Food) Club 21 closed in August, after 73 years in business. Within a few months, El Chinito Gordo opened with its modern take on Mexican food. Read our August 2019 article CLOSED: Club 21 Mexican Restaurant closed after 73 years. Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant 198 W. Cushing St. While the restaurant was initially temporarily closed for renovations, it announced that The Coronet would be taking over. Read our May 2019 article BREAKING NEWS: Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant to reopen as The Coronet. District Tavern Eatz 1535 N. Stone Ave. District Tavern Eatz quietly closed its doors in March after less than a year in business. Egyptian restaurant Alexandria’s Pearl moved in and opened in December. Read our December 2019 article Egyptian restaurant Alexandria’s Pearl to open on North Stone Avenue. Dragon’s View 400 N. Bonita Ave. West Tucson Chinese restaurant Dragon’s View quietly closed after 30 years in Tucson. The property has been fenced off with windows and doors boarded up for several months. Although we heard rumors of reopening, the restaurant is still boarded up with no official update available from the owners. Read our September 2019 article Westside Dragon’s View closed after 30 years in business. The Fix, Arizona’s Mac n Chz Headquarters 943 E. University Blvd., Ste. 115 Mac and cheese restaurant The Fix closed in April after a six year run. The Blind Pig moved in during the summer. Read our April 2019 article Main Gate Square mac & cheese favorite “The Fix” closes. Fried Rice Hut 1655 S. Alvernon Way Fried Rice Hut closed in September after only a few months in business. The space is currently fenced off. Read our June 2019 article Fried Rice Hut cooks up eccentric Asian for under $9. Harvest on River 5605 E. River Rd. Ste. 201. Harvest closed its River location in March due to a disagreement with the lease. Its original location in Oro Valley is still thriving. Additionally, the family opened up Charred Pie in Oro Valley. Read our March 2019 article Harvest to Close River Location & Open Oro Valley Pizza Concept. Hoki Poki 6501 E. Grant Rd. • 2643 N. Campbell Ave. Hoki Poki closed both of their locations midyear. Ja Ramen moved into the space at 2643 N. Campbell Ave. Read our July article Just in: Hoki Poki closed after 14-month run. Jackson Bar + Eatery 8864 E. Tanque Verde Rd. After two years on the northeast side, Jackson Bar + Eatery quietly closed their doors. The space is currently vacant. Read our June 2019 article CLOSED: Northeast Tucson’s Jackson Bar + Eatery closed after two year run. Lerua’s Mexican Food 2005 E. Broadway Blvd. Lerua’s, one of Tucson’s oldest restaurants, closed its Broadway location at the beginning of the year due to the Broadway widening project. It is still seeking an ideal location to reopen; their cuisine currently lives on at cousin restaurant El Torero. Read our January 2019 article Lerua’s to Close Broadway Location, Next Chapter in the Works. The Libertine 402 E. Ninth St. Cocktail bar The Libertine closed after five months in business. The Coronet and sister cafe Fonda La Hermanita are still open. Read our article Fourth Avenue bar The Libertine closed after five months in business. Lotus Garden 5975 E. Speedway Blvd. One of Tucson’s oldest Chinese restaurants, Lotus Garden closed after a half-century in business. Serial Grillers relocated their original location into the former Lotus Garden. Read our May 2019 article Lotus Garden to close after 50 years, original Serial Grillers to move in. MiAn Sushi & Modern Cuisine 88 E. Broadway Blvd. MiAn quietly closed its doors after a two year run. Its cousin restaurants Hoki Poki closed quickly afterwards. Read our June 2019 article CLOSED: Downtown’s MiAn Sushi & Modern Asian Cuisine closed after two year run. Poco & Mom’s 1060 S. Kolb Rd. Poco & Mom’s closed their original location in June. Sonoran Brunch Company moved in and opened on Halloween. Poco & Mom’s Cantina is still thriving at 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Read our June 2019 article Sonoran Brunch Company to open in former Poco & Mom’s. Ragazzi Northern Italian Cuisine 7850 N. Oracle Rd. Ragazzi Northern Italian Cuisine quietly closed their doors after about 15 months in business. Read our April 2019 article Ragazzi Northern Italian Cuisine in Oro Valley closed indefinitely. Red Desert BBQ & Catering 918 W. Prince Rd. Red Desert closed their doors in July as they prepared to collaborate with the folks at Serial Grillers for Boulevard BBQ & Fixins. Read our July 2019 article Red Desert BBQ & Catering to close in preparation of Boulevard BBQ. Series 19 13 N. Stone Ave. Series 19 opened in May 2018 and closed early 2019. Its parent distillery, Three Wells Distilling Company, closed as well. Read our May 2019 article Three Wells Distilling Company to close after 5 years in business. Shot in the Dark Cafe 121 E. Broadway Blvd. 24/7 cafe Shot in the Dark closed their downtown location in January. No replacement location has been announced yet. Read our January 2019 article Shot in the Dark Cafe to Close Downtown, New Location Tentative.

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Posted By TheNewsCommenter: From Westernjournal.com: “Biden Accidentally Implies His Own Son Should Potentially Be Thrown in Jail”. Below is an excerpt from the article. Scott Olson / Getty ImagesDemocratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop at the Water's Edge Nature Center on Dec. 2, 2019 in Algona, Iowa. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) Former Vice President Joe Biden, the front-running 2020 contender for Democrats, is well-known for uttering gaffes and blundering statements, a tendency that some argue should disqualify him from being considered as a viable nominee for the presidency. Biden has stepped in it once again with an insane statement at a campaign event over the weekend that, taken to its logical conclusion, would mean that his son Hunter would need to be thrown in jail. Townhall reported that the remark came during an event in Peterborough, New Hampshire, at which Biden railed against “fossil fuel executives” and pandered to the radical environmentalist portion of his party’s base. It was actually Tom Elliot of Grabien who captured and initially shared the moment when Biden seemingly implied that his own son should be imprisoned, whether he realized that’s what he was implying or not. Read more...

Former Vice President Joe Biden was interrupted by a series of hecklers calling him "creepy" and a "pervert" during a campaign event in Milford, N.H., on Sunday night. Shortly after Biden started speaking, a man in the back of the room accused him of acting inappropriately, shouting, "don’t touch kids, you pervert." "This is not a Trump rally," a flustered Biden fired back. "This is a democracy." A woman then started chanting "quid pro Joe," before another attendee shouted at the 2020 hopeful, inquiring about Biden's business dealings in Ukraine. Both comments seemingly refered to President Trump's impeachment and his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Many Democrats said Trump improperly urged Zelensky to open investigations into Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the 2016 election, as well as into Biden and his son Hunter’s dealings in the country, withholding military aid as leverage. The president has denied doing anything wrong. “I've released 21 years of my tax returns, how many has yours? What's he hiding?" Biden responded. No campaign staff or law enforcement removed the hecklers from the event. Earlier this month, Biden blasted a man at an Iowa town hall as a "da-- liar" -- and challenged him to a push-up contest -- after he accused the 77-year-old former vice president of being "too old" and took a swipe at son Hunter's role on the board of a controversial Ukrainian natural gas firm. "You sent your son over there to get a job and work for a gas company where he had no experience. ... In order to get access for the president... you're selling access to the president just like he was,” the questioner said. Biden fired back: "You’re a da-- liar, man. That's not true and no one has ever said that." BIDEN LASHES OUT AT TOWN HALL QUESTIONER Biden, who would be 78 upon becoming president if he wins, repeatedly has defended his fitness on the campaign trail, noting that with age "comes wisdom." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The 2020 hopeful was ramping up his campaign efforts ahead of early voting contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, as nobody has emerged as a clear front-runner to win the Democrats' race for the presidential nomination. Fox News' Allie Raffa in Milford, N.H., contributed to this report.

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Celebrities Attend The 2019 US Open Tennis Championships NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 02: Hilaria Baldwin and Alec Baldwin cheer on Rafael Nadal at 2019 US Open in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's Bottom Up is a revaluation of values, not the empty mouthing of the word 'democracy' that is so common, but the application of belief in popular wisdom to every aspect of life. Actually believing that the views of more people is better, means a new way of thinking about the world that is democratic, feminist, localist, populist, and radically richer than the elitist perspectives that are more common even in the parts of the world that shout the word 'democracy' the most. Here we come to understand both the power of small groups and the upsides to internet crowd sourcing, the potential of nonviolent movements and ways in which the past has not been what we supposed. Don't just read this book; get lots of people to read and talk about it." David Swanson, host, Talk Nation Radio, author of War No More: The Case for Abolition.

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ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences A £30,000 goal has been reached on a charity page, dubbed the "BA Angels Fund", after three cabin crew members were killed in a New Year's Eve crash near Heathrow Airport. The two men, aged 25 and 23, and a 20-year-old woman who died at the scene - along with a 25 year-old woman in a serious condition in hospital - are all believed to have been friends. Their names have yet to be released. The Go Fund Me page, which said it aimed to help the bereaved and injured, was signed off with the message "Rest In Peace Guys, Go Fly The Skies Eternal". The page had reached its goal of £30,000 within 24 hours off being set up. A BA spokesperson said: "We're deeply saddened to learn of the death of our colleagues involved in a road traffic collision last night. "Our thoughts are with their family and friends, who we are supporting at this distressing time." The off-duty BA cabin crew were in a white Toyota Yaris when it was involved in a crash with a white Mercedes HGV at the junction of Bedfont Road and Long Lane in Stanwell, Surrey, at 11.39pm. The lorry, which was part of a fleet which is operated by air services provider dnata, left the road and ended up in nearby Longford River. The lorry driver was taken to hospital as a precaution. It is believed that all four cabin crew were friends and two of them had finished work at about 6pm, while the other two were on a day off and not scheduled to be on duty. Sergeant Chris Schultze, of Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved in this collision at what is an extremely difficult time. "We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to what happened and would urge anyone who may have any video footage, CCTV or dash cam or any other kind, to get in touch with us." A spokesman for dnata - which provides ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services to airlines - said: "We can confirm that one of our trucks was involved in a road traffic accident on the evening of December 31. "We are fully assisting relevant authorities with their investigations. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those affected by this very sad incident." A local driver, who did not want to be named, said the crash scene looked "bad". He described it as "a bad road" that needs widening, adding: "You would be amazed how many accidents have happened down that road." The road was closed on Wednesday morning while the lorry was recovered.

Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from mirror - daily news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Heartbroken friends of three British Airways staff who died in a New Year's Eve crash near Heathrow Airport have paid emotional tributes. Joe Finnis and Dominic Fell were killed in the tragedy, pals revealed online, while a third unnamed colleague also died from her injuries. The airline has paid tribute to the trio. The tragedy happened when a Mercedes HGV smashed into their Toyota Yaris car shortly before midnight on New Year's Eve. A 25-year-old woman, who was also travelling in the Yaris, remains in a serious condition in hospital. A fundraising appeal called the "BA Angels Fund" to support the families of the victims raised more than £36,000 in just six hours. Friend Bailey Faulkner, who knew the two male victims, wrote on Facebook : "It’s a sad time when you get a message being told that two close mates from the skies have both passed away minutes before 2020! "Joe Finnis and (Dominic Fell) I couldn’t thank you both for the endless trips together all across the world which each time was full of boozing and laughters, not forgetting the days spent sat in the pub! "Gutted you’ve gone but you’ll never be forgotten! Keep flying high." Claire Emery wrote on the fundraising page: "Joe was my apprenticeship coach when I started BA in June. Joe was extremely kind, supportive and empathetic. My deepest condolences to Joe's family." This was echoed by Malgorzata Kubik, who wrote: "Joe was my coach and he always made sure we were ok. "I hope he is in a better place now and I would like to send big hugs to his friends and family I am with you in this painful and difficult time especially of that time a year." Another pal, Daniel Seymour, wrote: "Joe has been my good friend for a while. I even was in the gym with him on the day he passed. I'm so sad and wish him to have the best send off possible. As well as the others involved in the accident. They will all be missed." Laura Stewart wrote: "Dom and Joe were truly special men and I hope that their families take some comfort in knowing that they were so loved by everyone they have flown with! I’ll miss you." Hannah Morris posted: "A truly heartbreaking loss to our flying family, an absolute pleasure to have flown with and will be deeply missed by all." British Airways cabin crew worker Amber Keeling posted: "Love you Dom Rest in peace to you all xxxxx" And Michelle Leshone wrote: "My heart aches for the young lives lost , and also that of their friends and families , fly high Dom we will love you forever." Paying tribute to the female crash victim, Emily Diss wrote: "Such a beautiful girl inside and out heartbroken to hear this sad news xxx" Friend Emily Fabiani wrote on Facebook: "So so so sad. Rest in perfect peace Rachel. Such a lovely soul taken way too soon." (Image: UKNIP) The crash happened at 11.39pm in Stanwell, Surrey, and police said the white Mercedes HGV left the road and ended up in Longford River. The driver of the lorry was taken to hospital as a precaution. The victims' next of kin have been informed and no arrests have been made. British Airways said in a statement: "We’re deeply saddened to learn of the death of our colleagues involved in a road traffic collision last night. "Our thoughts are with their family and friends, who we are supporting at this distressing time."

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Representative Image The New Year began on a chilly note for North India as several places, from the plains to the hills, recorded temperatures below 1 degree Celsius with Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar, which nearly touched the 50-degree mark last summer, shivering at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Delhi also witnessed cold wave conditions as the minimum temperature settled at 2.4 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. Twenty-nine trains were delayed by two to nine hours as fog reduced visibility, officials said. Bone-chilling cold wave swept Punjab and Haryana with Ludhiana being the coldest place in both the states recording 0.3 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. Pathankot, Adampur, Halwara, Bathinda, Faridkot and Gurdaspur recorded their minimums at 0.8, 0.4, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 3.1 degrees Celsius respectively. Among other places, Amritsar and Patiala braved chill at a low of 2.4 and 1.6 degrees Celsius respectively, up to five degrees below normal. In Haryana, Ambala, Hisar and Karnal braved chill at 2.4, 1, 0.6 degrees Celsius respectively, up to six notches below normal. Narnaul, Rohtak, Sirsa and Bhiwani experienced cold wave conditions at 1, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.8 degrees Celsius respectively. Union Territory Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded its minimum of 3.5 degree Celsius, two degrees below normal. Himachal Pradesh experienced dry and cold weather on Wednesday with a number of places of tourist attraction in the state shivering at sub-zero temperatures. Keylong recorded the lowest temperature in the state at minus 10 degrees Celsius. Kalpa in Kinnaur district registered a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, while Manali, Kufri and Solan shivered at minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, minus 2.3 degrees Celsius and minus 1 degree Celsius respectively. The minimum temperature at Dalhousie and Shimla was 0.1 degrees Celsius and 1.4 degrees Celsius respectively. The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded in Bilaspur at 16.5 degrees Celsius. In Rajasthan, Sri Ganganagar was the coldest place with mercury settling at 1.5 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature touched 49.6 degrees Celsius on May 31, 2019 in Sri Ganganagar, breaking a 75-year record for the month of May. Elsewhere in the state, Jaisalmer, Pilani, Bikaner, Sikar and Barmer recorded minimum temperatures of 2.7, 2.9, 3.4, 4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius respectively. A day after some respite, minimum temperatures across the Kashmir Valley dropped again with the MeT department predicting a spell of moderate to heavy snowfall in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh from Wednesday onwards. Srinagar city recorded the low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night - down from minus 3.2 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said. Officials said the ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in the valley with a low of minus 11.0 degrees Celsius Wednesday night - nearly four notches down from the previous night's minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. The mercury in the Drass town settled at a low of minus 17.0 degrees Celsius - over five degrees up from minus 22.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. In Uttar Pradesh, Etawah and Meerut were the coldest places in the state with both recording a low of 2.8 degrees Celsius. Lucknow recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Varanasi recorded a minimum of 6.5 degrees Celsius, while in Allahabad, it was 7.2 degrees Celsius. In the east, cold wave conditions were witnessed in Odisha with five places in the state recording minimum temperature below 10 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a MeT department official said. Minimum temperature rose two to three notches, while maximum fell by three to four notches. While the highest maximum temperature of 30 degree Celsius was recorded at Malkangiri, the lowest minimum temperature of 6.8 degree was at Keonjhar in the plains of Odisha. The minimum temperature of Angul was recorded at 7.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Talcher (8.9), Phulbani (9 ), Sonepur (9.6), Sundergarh (10) and Balasore (10.1). The state capital, Bhubaneswar, recorded 12.6 degree Celsius while neighbouring Cuttack also shivered at 10.8 degree Celsius. Download your money calendar for 2022-23 here and keep your dates with your moneybox, investments, taxes

Chandigarh: There was no let up in bone-chilling cold wave sweeping Punjab and Haryana with Ludhiana being the coldest place in both the states. Minimum temperatures fell several notches below normal in the region with Ludhiana, an industrial hub of Punjab, recording 0.3 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal, an official of the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. Among other places, Amritsar and Patiala braved chill at a low of 2.4 and 1.6 degrees Celsius respectively, up to five degrees below normal. Pathankot, Adampur, Halwara, Bathinda, Faridkot and Gurdaspur recorded their minimums at 0.8, 0.4, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 3.1 degrees Celsius respectively. In Haryana, Ambala, Hisar and Karnal braved chill at 2.4, 1, 0.6 degrees Celsius respectively, up to six degrees below normal. Narnaul, Rohtak, Sirsa and Bhiwani experienced cold wave conditions at 1, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.8 degrees Celsius respectively. Union Territory Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded its minimum of 3.5 degree Celsius, two degrees below normal. A thick blanket of fog enveloped several places including Amritsar, Bathinda, Halwara, Gurdaspur, Faridkot, Bhiwani, Sirsa and Hisar, causing reduced visibility. The MeT department has predicted light to moderate rain at a few places in Punjab and Haryana on January 2 and 3. Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

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'Way to go Maine': Mainer wins $1 million in first minutes of 2020 A Maine man took home $1 million on live TV, becoming the first Powerball winner of the decade!Blaine Marston, of Howland, was one of 15 Powerball winners from Maine who won a trip to New York City.Powerball's First Millionaire of the Year offered 300 people from across the country the opportunity to fly to New York at a chance for $1 million, according to the Maine Lottery.To qualify, Martson had to buy a Powerball ticket worth more than $6 this summer, lottery officials said.Marston won the drawing live right after the ball drop on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve with Ryan Seacrest" on Channel 8 WMTW.He created his lucky rock and said he planned to invest some of the money. A Maine man took home $1 million on live TV, becoming the first Powerball winner of the decade! Advertisement Blaine Marston, of Howland, was one of 15 Powerball winners from Maine who won a trip to New York City. Powerball's First Millionaire of the Year offered 300 people from across the country the opportunity to fly to New York at a chance for $1 million, according to the Maine Lottery. To qualify, Martson had to buy a Powerball ticket worth more than $6 this summer, lottery officials said. Marston won the drawing live right after the ball drop on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve with Ryan Seacrest" on Channel 8 WMTW. He created his lucky rock and said he planned to invest some of the money.

According to WMTW, Howland's Blaine Marston was the first $1 million Powerball winner. Marston was one of 300 Powerball players, fifteen of which were from Maine, who won trips to NYC. On top of that, he was selected as one of five finalists given a chance to win $1 million. Just after the ball dropped, he was selected as the winner. See the video of how it played out HERE He plans to invest much of the over $700,000 he'll walk away with.

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Delight the kids in your life by showing them the International Space Station – it looks just like Santa delivering presents around the world ISS photographed by Expedition 56 What you need A clear night One or more children (optional) Advertisement THIS is the last part of the Stargazing at home series. We started at the September equinox and this week it is the December solstice, when the northern hemisphere is tilted at its furthest from the sun and the southern hemisphere is at its nearest. It is also Christmas, and a great time to spot the International Space Station. If you have young children, and the ISS is visible from where you are on Christmas …

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Visitors at the oceanarium in the Neptune shopping mall in St Petersburg, Russia, were surprised on seeing a scuba diver dance with a shark. The video footage shows the diver holding one fin of the shark as he wraps his arm around it inside the aquarium. The shark can be seen floating in vertical position as the aquatic animal and diver slowly turns towards the onlookers. It can also be seen that a multitude of exotic fish are swimming around them as they dance. As per a report published in Daily Mail, the footage was recorded on October 27, 2019. Apparently, the oceanarium houses 41 aquariums, which are a home to around 150 species of fish, sea mammals and other marine life, including 4,500 exotic and tropical fish. The report also said that regular shows in the oceanarium include 'Feeding The Seals' and 'The Shark Show.’ The video, which has been shared by a YouTube channel called the ‘Viral Hog,’ has received varied comments. While some users have lauded the diver, others have hit out at the administration of the oceanarium for using the animal for their profit. A user whose name is written in Chinese commented, “Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not a zoologist, but I've heard sharks need to keep moving forward in order for water to keep passing through their gills so they'll be able to breath. Isn't the position that the shark is in dangerous for it’s health?” Another user, who goes by the name LouisianaGatorGirl stated, “The sharks that I’ve seen captive in aquariums look severely depressed—not moving, just waiting to die—like this poor shark. For an aquarium to abuse a shark for profit like this is extremely disturbing.” Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

Chinese phone maker Realme has said that they will introduce ads with their latest software update of ColorOS. In a note on their official website, the brand confirmed that this feature of content recommendation will be available on phones with ColorOS 6 and above. This will basically promote apps and commercial links in the base operating system through the phone’s Phone Manager app and Security Check page. “To continue offering more surprises for you and maintain a healthy and sustainable business model, we have introduced commercial content recommendation in the OS. Realme phones with ColorOS 6 and above will receive such recommendation updates. We encourage you to update the system regularly to enjoy a better operating experience and receive the latest Android security patches,” the phone maker said in its note. Even though the brand has stated that ads will appear in the Phone Manager and on the Security Check page once new apps are installed, they have also mentioned that the users who do not want this ad service can disable the same. In order to remove ads from the Realme phone, these steps need to be followed: • Go to settings • Select Additional Settings • Scroll down to, get recommendations option • Disable the toggle. Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

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An Auckland family has captured incredible footage of a shark moving 'placidly' through the water at Stanmore Bay. Video / Angelique Kruger An Auckland family has captured incredible footage of a shark moving 'placidly' through the water at Stanmore Bay. Video / Angelique Kruger A 2.7-metre female juvenile great white shark has washed up on Orewa beach after getting caught in a fishing net. Department of Conservation (DoC) marine scientist Clinton Duffy said the shark was caught in a gill net that was set off the beach. "The people who found it in the net tried to revive it, as it is protected, but it was too late," Duffy told the Herald. It comes after Orewa beach was closed on Monday following a sighting of two large sharks about 200m offshore. READ MORE: • Large sharks spotted at Orewa, closing beach • Christmas Day water chaos: Sharks, orca sightings close Auckland beaches • Watch: Footage of shark swimming in shallows at Ōhope Beach • 'Do not swim' warnings issued after 2m shark sighted at Orewa Beach About a hundred people gathered around to see the shark with some attempting to return her to the ocean. "It looked pretty sick and unwell, it wasn't lashing or thrashing about and it had a bit of blood coming from its mouth," one beachgoer told Stuff. Duffy said it was not uncommon to see great white sharks in the area, along with hammerheads and bronze whaler sharks. "There tends to be more sightings of sharks during the summer period simply because more people out on the water but that doesn't mean there are more sharks," Duffy said. A photo of the shark was posted on a Facebook community page, reeling in hundreds of comments from people. Many expressed sadness, with one person saying "Put it back" and another saying "How sad, leave them alone." Police are at the beach and have sectioned the area off. Duffy stressed most sharks are harmless and are not interesting in eating people, especially sharks under three metres long. Though he recommended anyone who spotted a shark to get out of the water as quickly as they could. He said great whites tended to travel alone while bronze whalers and hammerhead sharks often stick together in pods. "It's very common to see big numbers of them along the coast, they come inshore and hang around to feed on things like mullet and snapper in the summer". Duffy said bronze whalers were not considered dangerous but can behave aggressively towards spearfishing. "The ones in the Gulf in particular have become very very habituated to spearfishers. "Some have even learnt the sound of a gun and it's very common for them to show up immediately looking for speared fish and they will occasionally bite divers when they are competing for the fish." Most great whites seen in the area are below the size that they start feeding on mammals, which is under three metres, so while they are potentially still dangerous, because of the size of their power and teeth, they are less so due to their size, Duffy said. "Hammerheads are no concern at all because they have very small teeth so couldn't hurt you." What do you do if you spot a shark and don't know if they are dangerous or not? • The golden rule is if you see a shark get out of the water as quickly as possible. Sharks are not like a fly where if you stay still they will go away. • Don't wave your hands about as they can identify you as looking distressed. • Ignore the myth of punching a shark in the nose, you are better to go for the gill or an eye. This can give you more time to get away. • Don't grab a shark by the tail as it can swing around to bite you. • If a shark starts circling you that's a sign they are getting ready to attack - so get out of the water as quickly as possible.

Police have recovered two chopped legs in suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai on Tuesday, a day after the torso of a woman was found in the same area, an official said on Wednesday. Police are yet to trace the head of the woman. The severed legs have been sent for postmortem to find out if they belonged to the murdered woman, the official said. The legs were found wrapped in a rexin sheet dumped in a dustbin on Tuesday evening, he said. The torso was found on Monday morning on Kirod Road in Vidyavihar area. Viscera of the victim was sent to forensic laboratory for DNA sampling. This is a third such case in recent past wherein dismembered bodies--one of a man and another of a young woman--were found in the city. Police have arrested the accused persons in both these cases.

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Roger Steinman/Associated Press The playoffs are about to begin, but most of the NFL's teams have already turned their attention toward the upcoming offseason. There are coaching decisions to be made, free agents to be signed and drafting to be done. With that in mind, here is some of the latest news about potential free agents from around the league. Austin Hooper Doesn't Want to go Anywhere Tight end Austin Hooper enjoyed a breakout season for the Atlanta Falcons in 2019, and he wants to run it back. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Hooper said he wants to return to the NFC South team but has not received a contract offer yet from the club that drafted him in the third round in 2016. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com noted general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn understand how important the playmaker is to the offense, and Dimitroff suggested bringing him back is a priority. That is not exactly a surprise considering the Stanford product tallied 75 catches for 787 yards and six touchdowns in 2019, which were all career-high marks. He is also just 25 years old and figures to improve as a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season. Hooper is someone who can continue taking advantage of the openings created by playing alongside Julio Jones, and the front office recognizes that. Look for the Falcons to bring him back, especially with mutual interest. Prediction: Falcons ink Hooper to a contract extension Bruce Arians Wants to Maintain Pass Rush in Tampa Bay Buccaneers writer Scott Smith noted Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians called pass-rushers Shaquil Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh "top priorities" heading into free agency. While Tampa Bay was just 7-9 this year, it has momentum with a strong finish after a 2-6 start. That the head coach wants to keep key pieces in place with that serving as a backdrop isn't too shocking, especially when it comes to Barrett. The 27-year-old finished with 19.5 sacks and six forced fumbles as one of the best defensive players in league this season. He is the type of centerpiece defenses should build around, and veterans Pierre-Paul and Suh complement his game. Pierre-Paul posted 8.5 sacks, and Suh helped plug rushing lanes and open up blitzes for others by eating blocks even though he is not the player he was in his prime. Bringing the trio back will help the Buccaneers build continuity as they look to parlay the late-season momentum into a successful 2020. That will drive them to keep all three. Prediction: All three pass-rushers are back with the Buccaneers Amari Cooper Prefers America's Team All eyes will be on Dallas this offseason as they make decisions on wide receiver Amari Cooper, quarterback Dak Prescott and others. For his part, Cooper said he wants to stay with the NFC East team despite missing the playoffs in 2019. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News noted playing with Prescott is a primary reason why the Alabama product feels that way. "I want to be here," Cooper said, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. "I love everything about this area, this team, the place I live. I don't feel like I have anything to complain about in this situation." Cooper found success this year with 79 catches for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns, but his defining moment came when he was on the sidelines for an important fourth-down play in the Cowboys' Week 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost control of the division with that defeat. While it wasn't Cooper's decision to be on the sidelines during the important play, it didn't help that he failed to go over 100 yards in any of the final seven games. Perhaps it is the desire to overcome the late-season struggles that is motivating Cooper in his decision to comment on where he wants to play next year. Even though all three were on the Cowboys in 2019, it is not difficult to envision Cooper, Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott combining for a playoff appearance as soon as next season. Jerry Jones knows that and will bring back the playmaking wide receiver. Prediction: Cooper re-signs with the Cowboys

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't end the 2019 season like they wanted to, falling 28-22 to the Atlanta Falcons on an overtime pick-six to finish the year with a 7-9 record. A silver lining? Shaq Barrett's three sacks, which gave him 19.5 on the year. That broke a tie with Hall of Famer Warren Sapp for Tampa Bay's single-season record, and beat Arizona's Chandler Jones by half a sack for the best mark in the NFL. Barrett signed a one-year, $4-millon deal with the Bucs last offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent after this season. He'll obviously be in high demand, and would make a killing were he to hit the open market. The Bucs could keep him via the franchise tag, but both sides would prefer to see him return on a long-term deal. After Sunday's game, Barrett talked about breaking the franchise record, and why he feels he has unfinished business with his brothers in the Tampa Bay locker room.

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The ascent of Katie Holmes, Billy Porter’s Oscars gown and the welcome end of the Victoria’s Secret show – we look back at the highs and lols to remember, as well as those best left behind The Celine Dion award for unexpected fashion icon: Katie Holmes For many, Holmes, now 40, will remain the awkward but erudite teen she played on Dawson’s Creek 20 years ago. For others, she is the woman once married to that famous Scientologist who declared his love for her by jumping up and down on Oprah’s sofa. But for followers of fashion, Holmes has become 2019’s answer to Celine Dion – with Monica from Friends a close second. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The look 2019 needed … Monica from Friends. Photograph: NBC via Getty Images But while Dion whooped and clapped her way to style icon status from the front row of couture shows in 2017, wearing flashy Balenciaga and Off-White outfits, Holmes’s ascent has been all together more low-key. Exhibit A: casually stepping out in a cashmere cardigan worn so louchely that the matching cashmere bra underneath, available from Khaite for $520, sold out in minutes – no small feat for a bra that costs more than the average monthly food shop for a family of four. Exhibit B: a chunky knit cardigan over a denim shirt with black leather trousers worn to a New York fashion show; a high-fashion version of what her Dawson’s Creek character might have worn for a date with Pacey. The ‘most fashion’ flower: lavender Facebook Twitter Pinterest Enough to put you to sleep … the Jacquemus show Photograph: Arnold Jerocki/WireImage Gypsophila might have had an autumn/winter moment, but it was the floral setting of the 10th anniversary show of French designer Jacquemus – labelled the kind of show “that Instagram was made for” – that had the hearts of the botanically inclined beating the fastest. Hosted in a field in Provence, the soporific fleur de choix was the perfect backdrop for the designer’s oversized blazers, bucket hats and bumbags. Most impractical accessory: the nano bag At Paris fashion week in March, the year’s least useful accessory was carried between thumb and forefinger down the Jacquemus catwalk, bright red yet barely visible. The Mini Le Chiquito, as it is known, became the patron saint of the nano bags trend – utterly useless, they couldn’t even fit your keys, and yet they became highly desirable, representing the ultimate power move. Who needs a massive tote when you have an assistant or car waiting? Nano bags are the younger sibling of this year’s trend for extremely specific bags. There was Balenciaga’s £600 water bottle bag, bags made to fit lipsticks and others perfectly tailored to fit phones. And the most stylish was part of Paco Rabanne’s retro chainmail collection. The nano bag’s place in 2019 fashion history was recently cemented when Lizzo pincered a Valentino version on the red carpet at the AMAs. As she put it on Instagram: “bag big enough for my fucks to give”. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vanishing point … Lizzo at the AMAs. Photograph: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Most potent accessory: Lady Hale’s spider brooch Facebook Twitter Pinterest Catching Johnson in her web … Brenda Hale. Photograph: Supreme Court/PA When the judge wore this arachnid accessory to announce that Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament was unlawful, people were quick to try to decode what message she might have been hoping to send. Was it that she had caught the democracy-dodging prime minister in a judicial web? Whatever was intended, the spider brooch, described by Vogue as “maximalist perfection”, became a breakout star. But Lady Hale wasn’t alone in sparking chatter with her brooch. The speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wore a pin representing the Mace of the United States House of Representatives as she opened the debate about Trump’s impeachment. It was quickly dubbed her “power pin”. An honourable mention must also go to headbands. They might have less political heft than the brooch, but have almost as much historical weight as a Mantel novel, and made Anne Boleyn one of the year’s unlikely style inspirations. Men’s style inspiration: Timothée Chalamet Facebook Twitter Pinterest Call me by my dress sense … Timothée Chalamet (centre) in a Haider Ackermann suit at the Venice film festival. Photograph: Theo Wargo/Getty Images A sequinned Louis Vuitton hoodie on the carpet one day, an elephant-grey ensemble by Colombian-French designer Haider Ackermann the next; the Call Me By Your Name actor is unafraid of the bold, conceptual and sartorially tricky. But that adventurousness has not put people off. His style has won him the moniker “the most influential man in fashion”, according to Lyst’s 2019 report, which analyses the behaviour of more than 104 million shoppers. He was pipped to the post of the “World’s Most Powerful Dresser” only by HRH the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle herself. Proof that the unorthodox can be enviable in the sometimes identikit world of men’s fashion. He even managed to make the world’s trickiest hairstyle, the bowl cut, an unlikely hit. Most ubiquitous item: the spotty Zara dress Facebook Twitter Pinterest Conquering all … Zara’s polka-dot print dress. Photograph: Zara It cost £40, was hailed as being as comfortable as a nightie and was as ubiquitous on the UK’s streets throughout the summer as chewing gum or pigeons. One article in the New York Times even claimed that the Zara dress had “conquered Britain”, so widespread was it. Plus, like the green Urban Outfitters puffer jacket and Réalisation Par leopard-print skirt before it, it had that most modern of popularity yardsticks: its own Instagram account complete with more than 20,000 followers. Best red carpet look: Billy Porter at the Oscars Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘“People are going to be really uncomfortable with my black ass in a ball gown’ … Billy Porter. Photograph: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Porter’s own take on the Christian Siriano gown he wore to the Oscars in February rang true: “That dress changed the world,” he said. It was a two fingers up to the rigid gender diktats controlling red-carpet outfits – as Porter told Vogue at the time: “When you’re black and you’re gay, one’s masculinity is in question. I dealt with a lot of homophobia in relation to my clothing choices.” This dress, he said, made him feel free. “People are going to be really uncomfortable with my black ass in a ball gown – but it’s not anybody’s business but mine.” Hair trend: lilac Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gathering lilac … Kylie Jenner at the Met Gala Photograph: Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue This year, palma violets, hydrangeas and Googel the Muppet have been added to hairdresser moodboards across the land. In March, searches on Pinterest for “lilac hair” rocketed by 1077%. And then, in May, when Kylie Jenner stepped on to the Met Gala red carpet with hair the colour of Syringa vulgaris, she cemented a trend that would see Instagram awash with lilac tresses long into the summer months. For autumn/winter, the trend evolved into more season-appropriate chocolate lilac hair. Best heels wearer: Harry Styles Facebook Twitter Pinterest Heel be happy … Harry Styles. Photograph: Tim Walker In a year in which Asos sold more than 12,000 pairs of Cuban-heel boots for men, the man with the David Bowie legs takes the crown as most accomplished wearer of such heels, after he wore them with aplomb – and a pearl earring – to the Met Gala in May. Honourable mention must also go to Lil Nas X who wore a chunky fluoro heel to match his fluoro suit, the work of this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award winner, Christopher John-Rogers, to the American Music Awards last month. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Chunky citrus … Lil Nas X at the AMAs. Photograph: Rich Fury/Getty Images Throwback hit: the Fendi baguette bag Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Fendi classic in action, with a mini-me purse … Photograph: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images According to the 2019 Lyst report, there was a 164% rise in searches year on year for this 90s classic. For those who can afford it, it is the perfect accompaniment for all the spaghetti straps, slip dresses and balayage tresses that have made up this year’s retro resurgence. Available for new thanks to Fendi relaunching it, or via the more sustainable secondhand route thanks to resale sites such as Vestiaire Collective, 2019 was the year to channel Carrie Bradshaw via your handbag. The saddest goodbye: Karl Lagerfeld Facebook Twitter Pinterest Stylish exit … Lagerfeld in 2018. Photograph: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images His legacy in the wider world might be – to put it mildly – mixed, but the fashion industry this year has been hit hard by the loss of the Chanel designer, who died in February. Known for catwalk spectaculars, it is fascinating to speculate what he would of made of the now infamous YouTube comedian who crashed the catwalk at the first ready-to-wear collection produced entirely by his successor Virginie Viard. His memory lived on throughout the year, via The White Shirt project, a stadium-sized Parisian memorial and a new coffee table book of pictures of his cat Choupette. The happiest goodbye: the Victoria’s Secret show Facebook Twitter Pinterest Not Victoria’s Secret … the Savage X Fenty show in New York. Photograph: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Presented by Amazon Prime Video It was the year in which unrealistic, prescriptive body standards, as championed by the Victoria’s Secret brand, were pitted against the inclusivity of Rihanna’s Fenty brand, which had its made-for-Amazon debut at New York fashion week in September. And, true to the unstoppability of the Barbadian star in the year in which she became luxury conglomerate LVMH’s first black female designer, Rihanna came out on top. Last month it was announced that the Victoria’s Secret show would be cancelled after months of speculation. The most improved garment: the cardigan Facebook Twitter Pinterest Taking the cardigan to nirvana … Kurt Cobain On MTV Unplugged in 1993. Photograph: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images When Kurt Cobain’s stained, moth-eaten green cardigan reached £260,388 at auction in October it was symbolic of the value increasingly bestowed on this once overlooked garment. Where once cardigan wearers might fear being labelled “dowdy”, now they can stand proud thanks to the ascent of cardigans to catwalks from Alexander Wang and Chanel to Ashley Williams and Christopher Kane. Fashion’s favourite author: Willa Cather Facebook Twitter Pinterest Frill lit … Willa Cather Photograph: New York Times/Getty Images Women from catwalks to pavements this year have been wearing frocks that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the prairie. It was the look that wouldn’t give up the Laura Ashley ghost, having kicked off in 2018 with Brooklyn designer Batsheva Hay as its poster girl. In 2019 it went mass, and wearing a dress with a jaw-high neckline, tibia-long hemline and plentiful valance-style dust-ruffle-frills was a quick way to look as if you knew your way around the pages of Vogue – and Willa Cather’s novel O Pioneers! Most unlikely site of fashion buzz: the North Circular Road Not usually mentioned in the same breath as fashion industry buzz but the outer London home of traffic jams and self-storage depots became a hotspot this year when a collection by Louis Vuitton menswear designer and Kanye West protoge Virgil Abloh landed at the Wembley branch of Ikea. People queued through the night and the spot gained instant fashion credibility. As one queuer put it: “We are buying Louis Vuitton stuff for the price of Ikea.” Most literal literal dresser: Melania Trump Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘London, baby’ … Melania Trump. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images When Melania Trump headed to the UK in June, she did so in an outfit that, in a cod Cockney accent, said: “London, baby”. The Gucci dress was decorated with images of Tower Bridge, Big Ben and a double-decker bus. For the year’s best example of “literal dressing” look no further than Rihanna at the cricket in Durham – all in white but not a V-neck knit in sight.

Dudley Zoo, West Midland Safari Park, Telford's Exotic Zoo and Chester Zoo have all celebrated new arrivals during 2019. From bats to penguins there been plenty of new faces for visitors to Dudley Zoo to get to know as they make they way around the enclosures. Kicking off the year was the arrival of an Egyptian fruit bat in January who was the first of seven bats to born in its indoor Castle Creatures exhibit. In February there were celebrations in the Small Primate House when keepers welcomed critically endangered black and white ruffed lemur twins, Pandora and Prometheus. And March was another brilliant month for primates with the birth of a pygmy marmoset, twin ring-tailed lemurs, Spider and Loki and gelada Jinka. Plus, the zoo also welcomed two baby Patagonian mara and three Barbary sheep. Baby penguin at Dudley Zoo April heralded the arrival of Primrose, another critically endangered black and white ruffed lemur, four guinea pigs were born on Easter Day, there was another Patagonian mara, plus Nuno the Humboldt penguin, who was named after the Wolves Manager. In May, tiny Harvest mice were born in the farm barn. Advertising Baby camel There were more celebrations on the farm in June when staff welcomed Bactrian camel, Delilah to the zoo family. July saw the birth of two meerkat pups, who didn’t make their public debut outside until a month later. During August Oakley the Bactrian camel arrived, alongside Toby, the Standing’s Day gecko in the Reptile House and another Patagonian mara. Advertising September saw the notable birth of Kira, the zoo's female giraffe calf, Maximus the Burrowing owl hatched and staff welcomed their ninth yellow-breasted capuchin too, another little boy, who has been named Deet. And little Shire, the second male gelada of the year arrived in October. Three endangered dhole pups have been born at West Midland Safari Park. Curator Richard Brown, said: “We’re delighted with our new arrivals, who are all making fantastic progress, as they're living proof of the continued success of our international conservation programmes with some of the rarest species in the world, so why not come and visit them in 2020 to see how much they’ve grown." Keepers at West Midland Safari Park have also had many reasons to celebrate this year. In March, three boisterous, endangered dhole (Asiatic wild dog) pups were born but keepers didn't meet them pups face-to-face until they were 10 weeks old as they were kept hidden away in their den by seven-year-old mum, Berri. Luckily, staff were alerted to the pups’ appearance when they noticed some tiny, wriggling fluff-balls, being carefully washed by their dad, Douglas, on the dhole house CCTV. Like a domestic puppy, the dhole pups had their first veterinary check, microchips and vaccinations at ten weeks old. This also gave staff the chance to see what gender the pups were too – two boys and a girl. On the morning of March 13, keepers were astonished to find that the Park’s pair of grey-handed douroucouli, also known as night monkeys or owl monkeys, had given birth to a tiny baby. A tiny baby douroucouli has been born at West Midland Safari Park. The appearance of the minute monkey came as a complete surprise to keepers, as they had no idea that mum, eight-year-old Kyna, was pregnant. Baby douroucouli only weigh a miniscule 3oz at birth, so although the adults are weighed weekly, there was no indication that Kyna was carrying a small passenger In June here were smiles all round when three tiny, cute and incredibly fluffy chinchilla babies made their first appearance. The long-tailed chinchilla youngsters, known as ‘kits’ were born to first-time parents, Gladys and Julian, who can normally be seen in the park’s Friendly Animal Encounters and Safari Academy classroom sessions. Keepers suspected that Gladys may have been pregnant as she was putting on a lot of weight, as discovered in her weekly health checks. After they had alerted the Park’s veterinary team to their suspicions, the vet confirmed Gladys was pregnant and promptly put her on ‘maternity leave’. During their afternoon rounds on June 1, keepers were excited to find the three tiny balls of fluff, no bigger than a ping pong ball, cuddled up with their mum. The same month two fluffy, grey Humboldt penguin chicks also emerged from their nests , under the watchful eyes of their parents – pairs Elm and Elder and Ash and Juniper. Three tiny, endangered chinchilla babies have been born at West Midland Safari Park All babies born at the park during 2019 have names beginning with the letter ‘H’ and the penguin keepers went for a food theme and named the chicks ‘Hotdog’ and ‘Haggis In July they welcomed the arrival of a critically endangered teeny-tiny pancake tortoise. After hatching from its egg, the miniscule youngster, named Hartley, was about the size of a bottle-top, which was reused as a water bowl for the tiny hatchling. Hartley is the second success of the park’s breeding programme for pancake tortoises, following the hatching of older half-brother Finn, who became an internet sensation in 2017, due to his minute size. Deputy head keeper of the Discovery Trail, Steve Slater, said: “When Finn, our first baby pancake tortoise, hatched in 2017, the conservation status of his species was classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since then, the IUCN have reviewed the status and have found that the population of the species is drastically declining, so now list the species as ‘critically endangered’.” Twelve baby skunks were been born at Telford Exotic Zoo A dozen baby skunks have been settling in to their new home after being welcomed into the world at Telford’s Exotic Zoo over the summer. The kits, which are black, brown and albino, proved a big a hit with visitors. Visitors got a nice surprise when a pair of baby Patagonian maras came into the world before their very eyes. Staff at the popular attraction in Priorslee had no idea their mother was pregnant but have warmly welcomed the new arrivals. The zoo may have become the first in the UK to successfully breed black widow spiders – welcoming between 100 and 200 of the tiny creatures just in time for Halloween. But as well as the thrill of seeing the infamous creatures up close, The zoo’s owner Scott Adams says he’s hoping people take the time to learn more about these often misunderstood spiders. Visitors to a Chester Zoo were buzzing with delight following the arrival of three cute rock hyrax pups. Rock hyrax pups at Chester Zoo The triplets - two female pups and their brother - were born to parents Daissie and Nungud on July 18. The mini mammals weighed no more than a banana at about 250 grams. Keepers also celebrated the birth of Chester Zoo’s first dusky pademelon – a rare ‘miniature kangaroo’ from Indonesia. The adorable joey started to peek out from the pouch of first-time mother Styx after being born earlier in the spring. Dusky pademelons, also known as dusky wallabies, are small, hopping marsupials found in forests on the island of New Guinea, as well as some neighbouring islands. Five endangered ring-tailed lemurs were also among the new arrivals Zoo, as well as one rare black lemur, the first to be born there.

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UPDATE: Serious Crash - State Highway 27, Patetonga State Highway 27 between Maungatarata and Tahuna has reopened following an earlier crash. The crash involving two cars was reported to emergency services at 12.05pm. Seven people were injured in the crash with one person receiving critical injuries and a second person suffering serious injuries. The other five people injured in the crash received injuries ranging from moderate to minor. Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing. © Scoop Media

Don’t spread invasive freshwater pests this summer Gisborne District Council and Biosecurity New Zealand are reminding everyone who visits rivers, lakes and streams this summer to check, clean and dry their gear when they move between waterways. “Checking, cleaning and drying your gear between waterways stops the spread of invasive freshwater pests, such as didymo, hornwort, pest fish and oxygen weed,” says Gisborne’s Check Clean Dry advocate, Teegan Maxwell. Ms Maxwell says freshwater pests pose a serious threat to all rivers, streams and lakes in the Gisborne Wairoa area. “If pests get into our waterways they are just about impossible to get rid of, they cost a fortune to manage and can ruin beautiful water ways and habitat for native species. Some freshwater pests, like didymo, are microscopic and can be spread in a single drop of water. Even if you can’t see the danger you could be spreading it,” she said. Ms Maxwell recommends people follow the simple Check-Clean-Dry process before leaving any waterway: • Check all gear that touched water and leave behind any weed or debris. • Clean gear with a simple solution of 5% dishwashing liquid (one tablespoon per 250mls of water). The solution can be tipped into anchor wells, bilge areas, kayak hulls and sprayed onto wet surfaces and fishing gear. Absorbent materials, such as lifejackets, wetsuits, booties and tramping boots can be soaked for several minutes • Dry gear inside and out for at least 24 hours before visiting another waterway. “Following these simple procedures will help stop freshwater pests from spreading throughout New Zealand’s waterways. If we all do our bit, we’ll protect our waterways for future generations,” said Ms Maxwell. For more information about didymo and other freshwater pests visit www.mpi.govt.nz/check-clean-dry . To report suspected Didymo or other pests, phone the hotline immediately on 0800 80 99 66. © Scoop Media

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Start 2020 by enjoying the great outdoors! Several First Day Hikes are taking place across the Piedmont Triad on Wednesday, including at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury. Click the video player above to find out about the forecast for the hikesMore than 45 guided hikes are scheduled for New Year’s Day, featuring educational programs led by park rangers, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources said. “For decades, First Day Hikes have served our citizens and out-of-state guests with a great start to the year,” said Dwayne Patterson, state parks director. “After some lazy days with our families, our parks offer a chance to put our electronics down, get moving, get some fresh air, and set good intentions for the year — all while in the most beautiful places in our state.” Other hikes include Stone Mountain and New River State parks in Alleghany County and Pilot Mountain State Park in Stokes County. All of the hikes start at 10 a.m. Organizers said visitors partaking in the North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge — to walk, hike, paddle, cycle or otherwise explore 100 miles in the state parks — can add First Day Hikes mileage to their totals. A complete list of First Day Hikes in North Carolina can be found here. Start 2020 by enjoying the great outdoors! Several First Day Hikes are taking place across the Piedmont Triad on Wednesday, including at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury. Click the video player above to find out about the forecast for the hikes Advertisement More than 45 guided hikes are scheduled for New Year’s Day, featuring educational programs led by park rangers, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources said. “For decades, First Day Hikes have served our citizens and out-of-state guests with a great start to the year,” said Dwayne Patterson, state parks director. “After some lazy days with our families, our parks offer a chance to put our electronics down, get moving, get some fresh air, and set good intentions for the year — all while in the most beautiful places in our state.” Other hikes include Stone Mountain and New River State parks in Alleghany County and Pilot Mountain State Park in Stokes County. All of the hikes start at 10 a.m. Organizers said visitors partaking in the North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge — to walk, hike, paddle, cycle or otherwise explore 100 miles in the state parks — can add First Day Hikes mileage to their totals. A complete list of First Day Hikes in North Carolina can be found here.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: The Airbnb logo is displayed on a computer screen on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Police in North Carolina are urging owners of short-term rentals to register their properties so police can more quickly shut down parties that get out of hand. The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday that registrations will help police know who owns a property when they respond to a 911 call. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said at a recent news conference that there have been “a number” of incidents where an AirBnB looks like “a nightclub in a condo or an apartment or even a residence.” The department has compiled a list of 50 short-term rental properties where officers have responded to 911 calls. But police say there are likely more. (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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KITCHENER -- Waterloo Regional Police are now investigating two incidents involving the use of a paintball gun: one at a school and another targeted towards a horse and buggy. A pickup truck was seen driving in the parking lot of Floradale Parochial School on Dec. 22 around 7 p.m., according to officials. Police say rapid popping sounds were heard coming from the school shortly after the truck had entered. It was later discovered that someone had entered the school and used a paintball gun to spray the main basement room and classroom. On Sunday around 6 p.m., a white pickup truck with an unknown amount of people in it reportedly fired paintballs at a horse and buggy as they were driving on a path near Lions Park in Elmira. The occupants and horse were not injured. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact police.

Share this article A man arrested in connection with the murder of a taxi guard in Goodwood is expected to appear in court this week. The victim was stabbed to death on the corner of Voortrekker Road and Jakes Gerwel Drive on Sunday following an altercation. According to police, the two guards who worked on different taxis were arguing about a passenger when one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed the other in the back. He died on the scene. The police’s Frederick van Wyk said: “The suspect jumped into a quantum taxi and fled the scene. An investigation led to the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect.” Share this article Comments comments Powered by Facebook Comments

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Port-au-Prince, Haiti. October 2019. Photo Credit: Garry Pierre-Pierre This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. By Garry Pierre-Pierre PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Jan. 12, 2010 was a cold Tuesday. I was at home shivering when I heard the news the earthquake had hit Haiti. I knew this would be a big story. I put together a team and headed toward the country. Ten years later, I sought to retrace my steps as again, Haiti was experiencing another earthquake, this time man-made and self-inflicted. I flew to Santo Domingo as I did in 2010 and planned to take a bus to the capital city. But it didn’t work out as expected. There were no buses because the border had been closed for months after buses were regularly attacked and looted as they tried to make their way across the border. Widespread protests had essentially paralyzed the country. Port-au-Prince was cut off from the rest of the country with all roads too dangerous and impassable. So I stayed in Santo Domingo for a few more days until there was a flight to Haiti. Flights as well had been cancelled. The roads to and from the airport were also dangerous to traverse. The city had been segmented as well with local gangs controlling who could enter their zones. It was under these conditions that I braced myself as I head to Haiti. In nearly 30 years of covering the country, I was never afraid. This time, unfortunately, I was. Like 10 years ago, I was apprehensive as to the depth of the death and destruction, this time I was unsure what I would find when I hit the ground. The Haitian Times’ coverage of the earthquake had been personal. Family and friends were displaced and there were few provisions, particularly in the first few days after the earthquake. So in between interviews, I also drove to the Dominican border to buy food for our staff’s families, all of whom were sleeping in the courtyard, spooked by the constant aftershocks, some of whom measuring a Category 5. This time again was eerily similar. I stocked up on pasta, canned tuna, salmon and sardines, as well as, chips and crackers in the Dominican Republic because supermarkets were closed and street vendors couldn’t bring their goods for sale. Again, it was too dangerous. It had been that way for months by the time I landed in Haiti last November for our coverage of the 10th year anniversary. Continue reading

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach is reflecting on the past 10 years as we end the decade Tuesday night. The aquarium released statistics Tuesday from 2010 to the end of 2019. Since the beginning of the decade, the aquarium’s Stranding Response Program was called to help 1,277 marine mammals and 2,477 sea turtles . The team also tagged 136 rehab animals. Nearly all of those were sea turtles. One was a gray seal.

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The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has urged personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to march into the future with rugged determination in 2020. Abubakar, who made the call in his new year message on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed optimism that 2020, would be a landmark year for NAF. “We must therefore gear up to make the most of the possibilities for greater service delivery, while leveraging our collective resolve to surmount the inherent challenges”, he said. “We must give our wholehearted commitment to the fight against all enemies of this great nation, remembering that in the race to add value to our society and secure our communities, there is no finishing line,” he said. The air chief noted that due to various efforts of the personnel, as well as those of their colleagues in sister agencies, relative peace had been restored in most parts of the North-Central. “The activities of pipeline vandals and other criminals in the South-South and South West have been curtailed significantly. ”Accordingly, the notable gains have given rise to the directives for the NAF and sister services to gradually scale down involvement in some of these operations. ”The operations in the North West are also yielding tangible fruits with a gradual reduction in banditry due to effective kinetic operations in early 2019 that paved way for governors in the region to engage the bandits in dialogue with a view to achieving peaceful resolution of the security challenges,” he said. He said the the recent decisive victories over the terrorists in Damaturu in Yobe and Mallam Fatori in Borno, among others, were evidences of the tremendous results that synergistic air and ground operations could produce. ”You must nevertheless remain professional in the discharge of your duties and ensure that the rights of all law-abiding citizens are protected to enable them go about their lawful activities without encumbrances,” he said. Abubakar noted that the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, had enabled NAF to be more effective and efficient in the discharge of its duties. “Through this support, the service has sustained its efforts to enhance its aircraft holding, through acquisition of new platforms and reactivation of existing ones. “We have also continued to raise the standard of professionalism through result-oriented training. “While also improving on personnel welfare and sustaining the tempo of our research and development for enhanced self-reliance and operational effectiveness. “In view of the foregoing, I believe that 2020, while undoubtedly having its fair share of challenges and possibilities, will be a landmark year for NAF. “We must therefore gear up to make the most of the possibilities for greater service delivery, while leveraging our collective resolve to surmount the inherent challenges”.

WorldStage Newsonline– The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE neutralised several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) at Abulam in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno. The NAF said it also destroyed some of the terrorists’ structures in their camp at Abulam. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the operation was conducted on Tuesday. Daramola said the mission was executed to mark the commencement of Operation RATTLE SNAKE 2. Operation Rattle Snake 2 is an Air Interdiction Operation aimed at taking out some identified insurgent camps and logistics facilities in order to further unhinge the terrorists’ centre of gravity and diminish their fighting capability. He explained that Abullam was selected for attack on Day One of the Operation based on credible intelligence reports indicating that the terrorists had resumed using the once abandoned settlement as a staging point from where they launch attacks against own ground troops’ locations. ” Accordingly, the ATF detailed its attack aircraft, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, to attack designated compounds within the settlement. ” The jets took turns to engage the target in successive passes leading to the destruction of some of the structures as well as the killing of several terrorists,” he said. Daramola recalled that NAF in early to mid Dec. 2019, planned and executed the highly successful Operation RATTLE SNAKE 1. He said Operation RATTLE SNAKE 2 was conceived to consolidate the gains of the earlier operation and shape the battle space for further air and ground operations.

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It was announced in July that the Lord Hill Hotel would cease trading on January 1 and has been sold to local building company, SY Homes. Raymond and Vera Proctor thanked their customers, suppliers, staff members, friends and family for their support over the years. The pair took over the hotel in 2001 and said it has been a successful business, keeping pace with market expectations and returning reasonable profitability. But, in recent years, there has been a significant downturn in trade, while costs have substantially increased. The hotel needed a major investment in order to meet the high expectations of its guests, the couple said, which is why they made the difficult decision to sell up. Staff were the first to be informed earlier this year and customers who had booked for 2020 were assisted in relocating their events.

Share Tweet Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Welcome to the first adventure of Soy Boy, probably the last, in which he makes a video condemning the trending hashtag #itsokaytobewhite. While I don’t think he meant it to be comedic, the video’s wild assumptions may give you a good laugh. Honestly, it’s like this guy is saying because you like oranges, you must like bananas – because after all, they are both fruit. Also, throw a pink elephant in the mix somehow too. It adds legitimacy to your argument. Seriously, check it out. I’m getting really tired of the self-deprecating white people This absolute soy boy is almost in tears over the #ItsOkayToBeWhite hashtag. pic.twitter.com/2YugLT9XP0 — Ashley StClair 🇺🇸 (@stclairashley) December 31, 2019 🚨Poll: Are You Voting for Trump in 2020? To Vote Yes, Enter Your Email: Just remember white people, if you think it is okay to be white, then maybe you like the “power” of being white. Therefore, you are obviously a “sh*tty person”. I think my favorite part is the end, where he says “yes, it’s okay to be white. It’s okay to be anything” but it’s not okay to be part of the problem. As if the whole video WASN’T just about him ranting that people who think it’s okay to be white are part of the problem. I wonder if he’s related to this lady?

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Advertisement TEXARKANA, TEXAS – The Texarkana Texas Police Department arrested Gavin Baber, 20, of Texarkana Texas, for Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury on Saturday morning. Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2400 block of North Akin Road to the report of a fight. When they arrived, they found Baber and a 49 year old man involved in a physical altercation in the street. The officers separated the two men and discovered that the older man had an injury to his left eye. It was determined that Baber and others arrived at the residence shortly before the fight to pick up the victim’s stepson. Witnesses said that the victim demanded that Baber leave the property before Baber threatened and attacked him. At some point during the fight, Baber managed to gouge the victim’s eye with his fingers. Advertisement LifeNet Ambulance responded to evaluate the victim’s condition. He was transported to Christus St. Michael Hospital, where it was later learned that his optic nerve had been severed and the injury was considered serious. It is believed that he will likely lose his eye as a result of this assault. Baber was arrested and transported to the Bi-State Jail. He remains in custody with a $100,000 bond.

A 12-year-old boy from Texas is being praised for his heroism for saving the lives of his great-grandmother and grandfather during an alleged stabbing attack Sunday, according to law enforcement. The young boy’s half brother allegedly stabbed the grandparents in the head and neck as he sat in the backseat of a vehicle after learning he was unwelcome at their home due to his bad behavior, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. While Lucian Adrian Johnston, 20, was in the midst of the attack, Sacha, 12, wrestled the knife from his hands and tossed it out of a widow of the moving vehicle. Sacha said in an interview KTRK: What I did was I grabbed him from behind. I pulled him backwards trying to get him away from grandma. But I did grab the knife. I held that to his neck also. He bent back my finger, which is still sore right now. He head-butted me, which I have a loose tooth from that, but I do not really care. Shortly after the knife was thrown away, Johnston fled the vehicle by foot and was later arrested Monday morning “without incident,” said law enforcement. The 92-year-old great grandmother and 76-year-old grandfather are expected to make a full recovery. “I’ve talked lately about my worry for the trauma impacting so many in our modern era,” said Gonzalez. “Surely, this entire family, including the 12-year-old, has new trauma to process.” Johnston faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect is being held on $140,000 bond.

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Months before the mysterious disappearance of Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan garnered national attention, one of their relatives was shot at near Phoenix while driving home from the gym. The bullet missed Brandon Boudreaux's head by inches, according to court documents. The shooter fled and the investigation is ongoing, according to Gilbert police. The attempt on Boudreaux's life occurred Oct. 2. The Jeep that his would-be killer was driving was registered to Charles Vallow. Vallow died July 11 – shot to death by his wife's brother while his son Joshua Vallow, 7, and his half-sister, Tylee Ryan, 17, watched. Boudreaux believes Charles' death, the children's disappearance and his attempted murder are connected to a religious group that the children's mother, Lori Vallow, joined about 18 months ago. "I just don't know how people can get so wrapped up that they can end up in this space where these people are. It's just so radical, so different," Boudreaux said. Are Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow in a cult-like religious group? Boudreaux's ex-wife, Melani Boudreaux, is Lori's niece. She began spending time with Lori and the religious group and suddenly demanded a divorce over the summer, Brandon Boudreaux said. "I thought I had a happy marriage, so it was pretty overwhelming," Brandon said. Before the divorce was final, someone driving Charles Vallow's vehicle attempted to kill him, Brandon said. Brandon was about to pull into his driveway when he saw a gun with a silencer poke out of the Jeep's window, he said. He heard a gunshot as his driver's side window shattered. Police later confirmed that the vehicle was registered to Charles Vallow. Charles Vallow was Lori's ex-husband. She divorced him, joined the religious group and married Chad Daybell weeks after Daybell's wife died suddenly at 49. Over the summer, Charles Vallow came from Texas to visit Lori Vallow and their children. But after he arrived to pick up his son, Charles and Lori Vallow started arguing. Lori Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, intervened and killed Charles, police said at the time. Ongoing investigation: 2 missing Idaho kids are in danger and mom 'completely refused' to help find them The investigation into Charles' death is ongoing, Detective Seth Tyler of the Chandler Police Department said last week. On Dec. 12, Cox himself died. The cause of death is unknown at this time, Gilbert Police Officer Dani Covey told The Arizona Republic, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. The investigation is pending the results of an autopsy, which could take a few weeks or months, Covey said. Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan were at home when Charles Vallow was killed. It was shortly after Charles Vallow's death that relatives stopped hearing from Tylee and Joshua. The children were last seen on Sept. 23 in Rexburg, Idaho. Rexburg police are investigating the disappearance of the children, with the assistance of the FBI. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell are not cooperating with police. In social media posts and media interviews, family and friends of the couple have described the couple's religious beliefs as cult-like and troubling, saying they spoke frequently of the end of the world. Sean Bartholick, an Idaho-based attorney for Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, issued a statement to some media outlets saying Chad Daybell was a "loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter." "Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary," the statement said, as reported by the East Idaho News. "We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.” Brandon Boudreaux is now living in hiding outside of Arizona After his attempted murder, Brandon Boudreaux asked the court for full custody of his four children and requested Melani not see the children without supervision. "The agents investigating (the shooting) have indicated to (Brandon) that they have concerns over the children's safety if they remain in the care of mother unsupervised," Brandon's attorney wrote in a court filing. In that filing, Brandon's attorney expressed his concerns about Melani's relationship with her aunt, Lori Vallow. Melani frequently spent time with Lori and took their children to her home, according to the filing.

Police are looking for Lori Vallow, 46, left, in connection with the disappearance of her two children, Joshua, 7, and Taylee, 17. (Picture: Rexburg Police Department/National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ) A mother who spent ‘all her time’ with a doomsday cult before her son and daughter vanished is now refusing to help police find them. Authorities have been searching for 46-year-old Lori Vallow’s children, Joshua Vallow, 7, and Taylee Ryan, 17, since November after police in Rexburg, Idaho attempted to conduct a welfare check on Joshua, who is adopted and has autism. Vallow’s relatives called police when they had not heard from Joshua and became concerned. They also said Lori, who was once a ‘wonderful, loving, attentive mother,’ changed after she became involved with ‘Preparing a People,’ a group whose mission is to help prepare Earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which Vallow’s family called a ‘cult.’ Advertisement Advertisement This week, Idaho police said they ‘strongly believe’ the missing siblings are in danger. They also blasted Vallow for leaving the state with her new husband, Latter-day Saint and doomsday author Chad Daybell, instead of cooperating with the investigation. ‘We publicly call on Lori Vallow/Daybell and Chad Daybell to do the right thing and come forward with the information they have about the location and welfare of Joshua and Tylee. This entire investigation could have been avoided if Lori and Chad had simply been honest with law enforcement,’ Rexburg police said on Monday. Lori Vallow reportedly fled the state with her new husband, Chad Daybell. (Picture: Freemont County Sheriff’s Office) ‘It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen instead to leave the state with her new husband,’ the statement continued. Until 2018, Vallow had been married to Charles Vallow, who she ‘deserted’ for more than two months this year after she became involved with the alleged cult, Charles’ sister, Kay Vallow Woodcock said. 'Carjacker kidnapped man and goat outside porn store and held them hostage for 130 miles' ‘Charles did his best to save the marriage, of which she had no interest,’ Woodcock said. On July 11, Charles went to Lori’s home to pick up Joshua and take him to school – but Lori’s brother, Alexander Cox, shot and killed Charles during a domestic disturbance that remains under investigation. Cox claimed he acted in self defense and was never charged. Advertisement Advertisement Three months after Charles Vallow was killed, Daybell’s wife, Tammy, died at the age of 49. Daybell refused to order an autopsy and the coroner listed the cause of death as ‘natural,’ but investigators have since exhumed her body for testing, NBC reported. Lori Vallow is pictured with her now-deceased husband Charles Vallow. (Picture: Facebook) Chad Daybell pictured with his wife Tammy, who died in October 2019. (Picture Facebook) Then, on December 12, Cox died of unknown causes, leaving no other witnesses to Charles Vallow’s death other than the Joshua and Taylee- who were last seen in September. Daybell and Vallow got married weeks after Tammy Daybell died. According to police, the new couple has repeatedly lied to witnesses and investigators about the missing children, telling a family friend that Joshua was in Arizona with a family friend. Hunter found himself trapped in small metal hut with huge venomous snake The couple also lied to witnesses that Taylee had died a year before her father died, police said. Chad also reportedly told a witness that Lori had no children. Police said: ‘We know that the children are not with Lori and Chad Daybell and we also have information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them. Despite having this knowledge, she has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter.’ Last week, a lawyer hired by Daybell and Vallow insisted the couple did nothing wrong. Attorney Sean Bartholick said: ‘Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori (Vallow) Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.’ Advertisement In early December, police said they believed Joshua and Taylee’s deaths are connected to the investigation into Daybell’s first wife’s death, which occurred approximately a month before the children were last seen. Woodcock wrote on Facebook: ‘Help us shed light on this. Someone out there knows something but doesn’t know how all the pieces fit together. Help me connect them with the police so we can bring justice to my brother and the other victims.’

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In Rockland County last night, during a Chanukah celebration at a synagogue a man stormed in with a machete and stabbed at least five victims, who were taken to the hospital. This is the latest in a string of antisemitic attacks in the New York City area, coming in the wake of the tragic killing of four people during an attack on a Jewish grocery store in Jersey City. These two acts of violence this month have brought renewed attention to the sharp uptick in anti Jewish violence that has quietly held New York City in its grip over the past few years. Sadly, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who spent much of the year more concerned with his farcical run for president than protecting the citizens of his own city, and the state governments of New York and New Jersey have, been flatfooted in addressing the growing concern. It has frankly been astounding how little attention attacks on Jews in the New York City area have received. If any other minority group were subject to such abuse, it would be a leading national story. Why have these attacks been swept under the carpet? The clearest answer seems to be that the news media and our political leadership are uncomfortable with the fact that many of these attacks, including last night’s, were perpetrated by black people. Make no mistake, if white supremacists in MAGA hats were shooting minorities or carving them up with machetes, it wouldn’t just be news, it would be the only news. So satisfying would that narrative be to our politicians and scribes that we would scarcely be able to turn away. But alas, it’s Jews being killed and maimed. And the criminals don’t fit the bill of right-wing, Trump-supporting Nazis, so, you know, it’s complicated. De Blasio, who has ignored this festering problem for years, had this to tweet last night: “Horrific, So many Jewish families in our city have close ties to Monsey. We cannot overstate the fear people are feeling right now. I’ve spoken to longtime friends who, for the first time in their lives, are fearful to show outward signs of their Jewish faith.” Seriously, Bill? You are just realizing this now? Attacks on ultra-Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn have become an almost weekly occurrence under de Blasio. Synagogues and schuls are vandalized regularly, and children and old people are attacked. This is a crisis and has all too often happened throughout Jewish history. It has typically been ignored at best. At worst, the victims are blamed for not fitting in. Nobody wants to talk about it, but something is going on between the black and Jewish communities in the New York City area that needs to be addressed. The Jersey City shooters were Black Hebrew Israelites; the machete-wielding man who attacked last night was also identified as black. It is time we stop simply wishing that this problem did not exist and address it full on. For progressives like de Blasio, this is hard to do. The notion that hatred is harbored by some in the black community towards Jews does not comport with their hierarchies of oppression. So rather than deal with the problem, they ignore it. This has to stop. And it has to stop now. It doesn’t matter how uncomfortable the conversation is. The growing tensions between the black and Jewish communities in New York, harkening back to the Crown Heights riots, must be dealt with. This will take real effort, and a commitment from leaders in the black community to educate and eradicate anti-Jewish bias. Nobody wants to talk about this, but that’s just too bad. It has to be talked about before more Jews are killed. There is no bigger story than this in the five boroughs and its adjacent communities. The war on Jews has to be ended. But before it can end, it must first be acknowledged.

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In December while commemorating the 20th anniversary of Portugal handing over Macau to China, President Xi Jinping drew sharp contrasts between Macau and China’s other Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong. “Xi praised the gambling hub for being one of the safest cities in the world, where people ‘rationally’ express different views,” Reuters reported. For six months, people in Hong Kong have been protesting in an escalating struggle for autonomy and human rights. In Macau, people are … not. And Xi is holding up Macau as an example. Macau “is being primed by President Xi Jinping to become a financial centre, a move seen by Macau’s officials and executives as a reward for having avoided the anti-government protests that have gripped nearby Hong Kong over the past six months,” Al Jazeera reported earlier in December: While the new initiatives were not explicitly linked to toeing the official line, Chinese officials have repeatedly praised Macau for setting an example in maintaining national security and adhering to the central government’s requirements. “This is the candy that Hong Kong did not want,” said Larry So, a political commentator and retired Macau university professor. “It is a gift for Macau, for Macau being a good boy.” MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts, and Las Vegas Sands Corp., along with three Chinese companies, have casinos in Macau, where gambling accounts for 80 percent of government revenue, according to Bloomberg: Macau’s charter broadly resembles Hong Kong’s, but lacks key provisions such as the goal of selecting the city’s leader “by universal suffrage.” Incoming Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng … was chosen by 98% of the votes cast by a 400-member election committee…. “The messaging is clear to Hong Kong and the rest of the world, but primarily to Hong Kong — there is a way out, there is an easy and good way out, and it’s called Macau,” said Steve Tsang, director of the University of London’s SOAS China Institute and author of “A Modern History of Hong Kong.”. “But what they completely and utterly fail to see, is that if Macau is the future, most people in Hong Kong will say, thank you very much, you can keep it for yourself.” The Bloomberg report also notes that gambling’s status as Macau’s dominant industry has “prompted criticism, due in part to the criminal activity it has fostered, from loan-sharking and money-laundering to triad fights and prostitution.” The tax rate on gambling revenue in Macau is 35 percent. In Nevada, it’s 6.75 percent.

FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of Casino Lisboa in Macau, China December 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee HONG KONG (Reuters) - Gambling revenue in the Chinese territory of Macau fell 13.7% in December from a year earlier, marking the steepest decline in close to four years. Overall revenues in 2019 fell 3.4%, hit by tepid demand from high rollers amid the Sino-U.S. trade war and protests in neighboring Hong Kong, figures from the city’s gaming bureau show. The year’s revenue decline follows two years of gains in the former Portuguese colony and comes as a closely watched transition of a new government administration is underway. December’s revenue slide was the biggest since a 16.3% drop in March 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Macau for three days in December to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its handover to China. His trip, which saw the swearing in of Macau’s new government, was a key reason for December’s muted gambling revenues due to tight security and restrictions on visas which kept many gamblers away. ($1=8.02 patacas)

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news, story, article By Dominic Andonye, GNA Wa, Jan. 01, GNA - The Reverend Minister of the Mangu Methodist Church in in Wa, Rev. Monica Achana has advised Christians to be careful of false prophets in the country and avoid them as they enter into 2020. Rev. Achana gave the advice during a sermon on the 31st December night service at Mangu on the theme: “Live a Life worth of Praise; Be Warned of False Prophets in 2020”. She said in 2020 people, who read and understand the Bible will be tempted to use the same Bible to deceive people as prophets just like we have them today. She said such people focused their preachings on miracles since they knew most Christians believed in them. She said every Christian was given the power to perform miracles and to heal the sick with fate and that no one should fall prey for fake people who claim to be men or women of God in 2020 as they used the Holy Bible for their own selfish motives. Rev. Achana pleaded with Ghanaians to be humble in 2020 and seek God's guidance before taking any decision especially political leaders in an election year. “The New Year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the old year and do away with some bad behaviours and then make decisions for the rest of the months”, she said. “In 2020 the false prophets will continue to exploit us for their personal gains just like they are doing, let us take note and stay away from them since they are using the Holy Bible for their selfish motives”,she said. There was euphoria, ecstasy, display of fireworks and shouts of praise in the church when the clock struck 00:00 hours to usher in the New Year, 2020. GNA

news, story, article By Christabella Arko, GNA Takoradi (W/R), Jan. 1, GNA – Mr Thomas Antwi, an Elder of the Church of Pentecost, Bethel Assembly in Takoradi in the Western Region, has called on Christians to adopt a positive attitude in 2020 for national development. “We must eradicate negative attitudes such as fear, discouragement and selfishness,” he said, whiles delivering a sermon during the watchnight service to usher in the New Year. Elder Antwi said right attitudes such as encouraging one another, loyalty, discipline and hard work devoid of corruption, should be the attitude of every citizen in the coming year. The watchnight saw church members mostly clad in white outfits singing and dancing to glorify God for His love, mercies and for a successful year. They also prayed to God for forgiveness of their shortcomings and for a better life in 2020. With the message on the theme: “You Can; take the Can’t Out of Your Life”, Elder Antwi said Christians should focus on the positives of life rather than dwell on the negatives. He urged them to overcome all challenges that they would be confronted with in order to better their lives and contribute their quota to the development of the nation. “Even in difficult situations be assured that you can do all things through Christ who is your strength, let that be your slogan throughout the year”, Elder Antwi said. He said no nation can develop if its citizens do not possess a positive attitude and commitment to the national development agenda. Elder Antwi said there is the need for a change of mind-set and attitude for all Ghanaians, not only to promote their personal development, but sustainable development and prosperity of the country as well. He advised all especially the youth to demonstrate a ‘Yes I Can’ attitude, godly and devoted lifestyles as the year begins in order to foster peace, harmony and national development. GNA

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January 1, 2020 By Jennifer Davis Rash The Alabama Baptist Old things become new again — at least that’s how the traditional saying goes, right? I’m hoping we might sidestep this thought process in the new year when it comes to repeating mistakes, especially as we now find ourselves officially in our version of the 20s — the 2020s. My mind still thinks about the Roaring Twenties when I hear the “twenties” mentioned. A Western society emerging from life beaten down from more than four years of world conflict found itself experiencing economic prosperity, rapid development in the manufacturing world and an explosion on the pop culture scene, especially the rise of the Jazz Age. Life was moving faster than any had ever experienced — possibly in such mesmerizing style that no one thought it could be tamed. And for the first time, many Americans found daily living was no longer a difficult chore but actually cutting edge, convenient and fun. In the end, however, a decade of “pedal to the metal” living and constant demands to push the limits drove Western society right into the middle of its worst nightmare — the Great Depression, which became another historical decade on its own merits. Opportunity to do better And so here we are at the front end of a pristine new 20s. Whether we refer to our new decade as the “twenties” or the “twenty-twenties,” we have been handed the opportunity to blaze a new, yet healthier, path by learning from the past. What will history write about the 2020s one day? What statement will we make? How will we be branded? We truly can shake off the past, let go of whatever is holding us back and make this our decade. Why not make it our goal to see and live with the clarity of 20/20 vision in the decade of the 2020s? Time to reboot To have an opportunity at even coming close to that goal, it will require an official reboot of our lives by flushing out all the chaos and clutter. Just like a computer needs to be restarted from time to time to clear its brains, so to speak, we need to do the same. It might be as simple as seriously reviewing the overload of responsibilities we’ve found ourselves juggling to determine which are vital and which can or should be removed. It could be working through unresolved conflict with someone or letting go of bitterness we’ve been harboring or maybe even finding a way to forgive a person who hurt us. It may mean forgiving ourselves and finding a way to let go of the guilt and shame and give it to God. He truly will carry us and the load we bring. Maybe there’s some sin hiding in the crevices of our hearts that needs to be brought to the light. The peace, freedom and release that comes from fully repenting of our sin is definitely the way to launch a new year with confidence and gusto. Can you imagine the impact we can make for Christ if each of us, as individuals, would truly renew our lives, let go of the past while learning from it and forge ahead with fresh energy and unrelenting urgency? Editor’s Note — This opinion piece by Jennifer Davis Rash will appear in the Jan. 2 issue of The Alabama Baptist newspaper on the “My Rashionale” editorial page.

PM: Let’s return to our human hearts Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley - ROGER JACOB The Prime Minister has called on citizens to return to their human hearts in terms of how they deal with each other in the New Year. He also called on the nation to look after its children to ensure a brighter, better future. As we, in TT, greet a new year, which promises a New Society, New Future, the immemorial question about life’s meaning will continue with us, but it is up to each one of us to answer the question, and the roles we must play, in his or in our own way, Dr Rowley said in his New Year’s Day message, sent on Tuesday via e-mail. Let us all start with our children, he advised. Yes, our jobs demand most of our waking hours, but we have to be concerned with those we have brought into this world. The human infant of all the mammals is said to be the most helpless, therefore, from early life a child’s first need is to bond with its parents. He said that much of the crime and violence today can be traced back to people carrying emotional wounds with vague feelings of unwantedness in their early life. So, he urged, from today let us all return to our human hearts; let this be the period when we all return to our homes, giving our children their needs, preparing our families, with daily, emotional programmes of love, joy and happiness. In this new year, as the calypsonian Merchant sang some 30 years ago, “Let’s all think about the children.” He also spoke of people reverting back to their cold and indifferent lives once the merriment of the new year ends. It is said that one of the greatest tragedies of modern-day life is that humans have become disoriented, alienated from themselves, and deep down they are lonely, he said. As Prime Minister, he said, he planned to reach out more, making further appeals that families pause and pay more attention to both their children, and the elderly. He also called on people to promise that in 2020, to reduce their differences and prejudices, instead reaching out to everyone we meet with civility.

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The Peninsula Qatar Automobiles Company, the authorised distributor of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Qatar, has launched its special offer on Mitsubishi Pajero model 2020. The offer includes several benefits including 1-year free comprehensive insurance and 1-year free registration, 3 years warranty, free service for one year or up to 20,000km, in addition to an Ikea coupon worth QR5,000. Customers can also benefit from internal finance by NBK Financial Services (Terms and Conditions apply), with 20 percent advance payment and monthly installments over 48 months. Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al Thani, Operations Director - Auto at Nasser bin Khaled Group said: “Qatar Automobiles Company is launching this new offer with the beginning of the new year on Pajero 2020 that has always been one of the best in its category. "The new offer gives the customers flexible options to own their favorite new car. They can now pay monthly installments and enjoy wide range of benefits. We are confident that such offers help Qatari residents to drive a reliable new car that meet their needs and demands.” Hesham Alsahn, General Manager of Qatar Automobiles Company, said: “Mitsubishi Pajero has a long heritage and high capabilities that meet the demands and needs of customers. The 2020 model is available now for our customers in Qatar to enjoy driving a new vehicle with modern features”. The Pajero is a true off-roader, and a legend in its own right. Powertrain options were either a 3.5-litre V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic, or a 3.8-litre V6 engine mated to a 5-speed auto. The standard package includes Active Trac four-wheel-drive with rear-wheel, full-time all-wheel and 4WD high and low range with locked center differential. The long-wheelbase model holds seven passengers, with a third-row seat that can be folded into a well in the cargo area floor or removed entirely. The vehicle also embraces some of the best safety features including 6 airbags, active traction control, active stability control, among others. All the cars are available now in Mitsubishi Motors Showroom on Salwa road. Customers can visit the showroom at Salwa Road from Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 9pm and on Friday from 5pm to 9pm, and Al Khor Showroom from Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to 8pm, and on Thursday from 8am to 3pm.

After a foggy start to the last day of the year, 2020 is off to a great start with some nice weather. On Wednesday, South Florida will see a high of 78 with a low of 62. The Keys and parts of Miami-Dade County will see high clouds (that won't produce rain), while the rest of South Florida will have full blue skies throughout the day. Thursday will be another day of nice weather. As we head towards Friday, it'll be breezier and warmer. Another front coming from the west may produce a chance of rain on Saturday.

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When Rep. John Lewis announced Sunday night that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, you could almost hear the country cry. Democrats and Republicans, Hollywood actors and people who had simply met the congressman in an airport, all went to Twitter to ask the 17-term Georgia Democrat to fight one more time. "You are loved. You are respected. You are magnificent," Ava DuVernay wrote. "Praying for you, my friend," former president Barack Obama tweeted. "The Late Show" host Steven Colbert called Lewis "a leader, a teacher, an example for us all," while Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Lewis' longtime friend who counts Lewis as a hero as he mounts his own fight against Parkinson's disease, wrote, "They don't make them stronger or braver." From Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Kellyanne Conway and everyone in between, the outpouring of emotion tells you almost everything you need to know both about Lewis, the civil rights icon, and the moment we're living in today. Americans have always found our heroes at the darkest times in our history, but it's rare that our history is still living alongside us, as Lewis is. After a weekend when a man stabbed five people at a Hanukkah party and another man shot two in a Texas church, we look for leaders to tell us we'll get through this era of hate, with Americans killing Americans because of their religion or skin color or for no reason at all. Without Lewis, who would tell us they've seen worse and believe this will get better, too, if we fight to make it happen? Lewis was born in Troy, Ala., when the South segregated blacks and whites so thoroughly that that Lewis was unable to vote, to enroll in his local college and even to get a public library card. Young Lewis sent a letter to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., already a civil rights leader, and joined the Freedom Riders, insisting on integration of the South through nonviolent protest. That led Lewis on a journey to speak alongside King, who called Lewis "the boy from Troy," as the youngest leader at the 1963 March on Washington. He stood in front of Alabama state troopers in Selma in 1965 before they beat him trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge; and stood next to President Lyndon Johnson when he signed the Voting Rights Act later that year. Lewis was arrested 40 times before he was elected to Congress and five times since in what he calls his "mission to help redeem the soul of America." It's a mission he continues today. I first met Lewis in his Capitol Hill office in 1989 — two years after he was first elected to represent the Fifth District of Georgia. I was just a high school student from the district stopping by with my mother to sign the guest book while we were in Washington. "Come in and visit," the congressman said with a smile. "Have you been to the Capitol? I'll take you there." Lewis walked us through the Capitol tunnels past the state student art exhibits — "This one is from Atlanta!" — and over to the House floor. He asked the clerk to turn on the electronic voting board and told me to give it a try. I voted yes. I have never forgotten the thrill of that day, the kindness John Lewis offered my mother and me, or the similar stories I've heard from other Atlantans from all walks of life — inspired by their member of Congress and proud, always, of the man he is. How many Americans can say the same? Sign up for The Point Go inside New York politics. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Throughout his career, those who know Lewis have described him as a man of fame without pretense, often walking alone in an airport and without an entourage at events. He stands tall, even at 5 feet, 6 inches, and can command a room with just a whisper of wisdom on fairness or justice or the requirement to act for what we know is right. He has joyfully taken his fight to young people with graphic novels about the Civil Rights movement and a mobbed appearance at Comic Con. But he's kept his fight for equality alive by expanding it to immigration and health care and criminal justice reform. Lewis led the sit-in on the House floor in 2016 to push for gun safety legislation and, earlier this year, added his voice to the call for the president's impeachment, which started the momentum to make it a reality. When John Lewis says something is not right, Democrats always listen. Many Republicans do, too. One voice that has been absent in the chorus of well-wishes for Lewis since Sunday has been the president's. But that's certainly not a surprise in light of Lewis' impeachment vote and Trump's 2017 tweet that Lewis was, "All talk, talk, talk — no action or results. Sad!" He added that district is "in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested)." Speaking from experience, neither is true. But if we know anything of Lewis, it's that he has already forgiven the truly unforgivable in the past and likely will again. He's seen the very worst that our country can be and stayed faithful that someday it would get better. That, in essence, seems to be what the grief over Lewis's news has been about. John Lewis is living proof, still, that America's darkest days can see the dawn, that hate can subside, and that there is still a place for dignity, character and truth in our country and our capital. Don't go yet, John Lewis. We need you. Patricia Murphy covers national politics for The Daily Beast. Previously, she was the Capitol Hill bureau chief for Politics Daily and founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics.

The impeachment theater of the Democrats was always political, it was always unhinged, and it began even before Trump was elected Rep. Al Green: The ‘genesis’ of Trump’s impeachment began when he was ‘running for office’ One of the most vocal pro-impeachment Democratic voices on Capitol Hill said the “genesis” of President Trump’s impeachment began long before the Ukraine scandal. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, one of the first lawmakers to push for Trump’s impeachment, appeared on MSNBC on Monday and was confronted about the president, and how his allies have weaponized Green’s outspokenness against Democrats. “Political expediency and insincerity — those are two charges that have been leveled against Democrats during this entire affair, particularly since September when the formal impeachment inquiry started, and you play a starring role in those charges,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes said to Green. “The argument goes like this of House Republicans and Trump and his allies: the Democrats wanted to impeach Donald Trump from day one, they cast about looking for a set of facts that they could plausibly use to do it, and all of it was pretextual and reverse-engineered to get to this point, and Exhibit One: Congressman Al Green, who [has] been calling for the man’s impeachment for two years now,” Hayes said. “What’s your response to that charge?” Green didn’t deny the charge being made against him. “Well, the genesis of impeachment, to be very candid with you, was when the president was running for office and he had members of his own party to talk about his unfitness to hold office,” Green told Hayes, later citing rhetoric from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., from the 2016 election. “So the president didn’t have the luxury of persons from his party having been on his side as it were throughout this entire ordeal.”

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Dream11 Prediction - Central Districts vs Otago CD vs OT Super Smash 2019-20 Dream11 Team: Fantasy cricket predictions and tips for Central Districts vs Otago match today, January 2. Central Districts vs Otago Dream11 Wicketkeeper: Dane Cleaver Batsmen: Neil Broom, Josh Clarkson, Nick Kelly (VC) Allrounders: George Worker (C), Anaru Kitchen, Willem Ludic, Michael Rippon Bowlers: Seth Rance, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy CD vs OTG My Dream11 Team Dane Cleaver, Neil Broom, Josh Clarkson, Nick Kelly (VC), George Worker (C), Anaru Kitchen, Willem Ludic, Michael Rippon, Seth Rance, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy CD vs OTG Probable Playing 11 Central Districts (Playing XI): George Worker, Dane Cleaver (WK), Christian Leopard, Tom Bruce (C), Kieran Noema-Barnett, Josh Clarkson, Willem Ludic, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler/ Ryan Watson Otago (Playing XI): Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Nick Kelly, Josh Finnie, Dean Foxcroft, Anaru Kitchen, Nathan G Smith, Michael Rippon, Jacob Duffy (C), Max Chu (WK), Michael Rae. Check Dream11 Prediction / CD Dream11 Team / Central Districts Dream11 Team / OTG Dream11 Team / Otago Dream11 Team / Dream11 Guru Tips / Online Cricket Tips and more.

Dream11 Prediction - Central Hinds vs Otago Sparks CMW vs OSW in Women's Super Smash 2019-20 Dream11 Team: Fantasy cricket predictions and tips for Central Hinds vs Otago Sparks match today, January 2. Central Hinds vs Otago Sparks Dream11 Wicketkeeper: Katey Martin, Natalie Dodd Batsmen: Emily Cunningham, Anlo Van Deventer, Eden Carson Allrounders: Jess Watkin (C), Suzie Bates, Hayley Jensen Bowlers: Rosemary Mair, Amanda Wellington (VC), Hannah Darlington CHW vs OSW My Dream11 Team Katey Martin, Natalie Dodd, Emily Cunningham, Anlo Van Deventer, Eden Carson, Jess Watkin (C), Suzie Bates, Hayley Jensen, Rosemary Mair, Amanda Wellington (VC), Hannah Darlington CHW vs OSW Probable Playing 11 Central Hinds(Playing XI): Jess Watkin (Co-Captain), Emily Cunningham, Natalie Dodd (WK), Anlo Van Deventer, Hannah Rowe (Co-Captain), Mikaela Greig, Melissa Hansen, Claudia Green, Monique Rees, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Atkinson. Otago Sparks (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Millie Cowan, Katey Martin (C & WK), Hayley Jensen, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Hannah Darlington, Bella James, Sophie Gray, Eden Carson, Emma Black, Sophie Oldershaw. Check Dream11 Prediction / CHW Dream11 Team / Central Hinds Dream11 Team / OSW Dream11 Team / Otago Sparks Dream11 Team / Dream11 Guru Tips / Online Cricket Tips and more.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 1 Trend: “Our international positions have strengthened further. During the year, more than 40 heads of state and government visited Azerbaijan. Our bilateral ties have significantly expanded. We successfully cooperate in a multilateral format, several prestigious international events have been held in our country. I should specifically mention the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States. As a result of the summit, Azerbaijan assumed chairmanship in the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States,” said President Ilham Aliyev in his message of congratulation to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year. “A meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit was held in Azerbaijan and by a unanimous decision of 120 countries, Azerbaijan will chair this large organization for three years. It is a sign of great confidence in us. This shows that the vast majority of the world community supports Azerbaijan and treats us with great respect,” the head of state said. “This year, Baku hosted the Summit of World Religious Leaders, and religious leaders from 70 countries gave a very positive assessment to the processes taking place in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan asserted itself at the summit as a multicultural country committed to its traditions, national and religious values,” President Ilham Aliyev emphasized. Follow Trend on Telegram. Only most interesting and important news

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 1 Trend: "Problems of the IDPs are being resolved. This year, new apartments and homes were built for more than 5,000 IDP families and about 800 martyr families," said President Ilham Aliyev in his message of congratulation to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year. "Thousands of homes have been built for the residents of Shamakhi, Ismayilli and Aghsu districts affected by the earthquake. The absolute majority of the consequences of this major earthquake were eliminated in just 10 months. This is also a unique issue because it demonstrates our intentions and strength. The Azerbaijani government and leadership demonstrated again that they are always with citizens," the head of state emphasized. Follow Trend on Telegram. Only most interesting and important news

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It's that time of the quarter again. In this week's episode of Rule Breaker Investing, Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner ropes in two Foolish analysts for a reworked version of the Market Cap Game Show. Aaron Bush kind of broke the game last time he was on the show, so it's a new, more competitive version this time against fellow MCGS dynamo Emily Flippen. Will the changes fix the damage Aaron wrought last time around? How will you score against Emily and Aaron? Tune in to play along or just listen to the new and improved battle for the market cap throne. To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. To get started investing, check out our quick-start guide to investing in stocks. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on Dec. 17, 2019. David Gardner: Three months ago, in the ninth episode of our quarterly game show, The Market Cap Game Show, we saw the greatest performance by a contestant we had ever seen. Fool analyst Aaron Bush came on the show to guess the market caps of a motley array of 10 different companies, and for the first time in Market Cap Game Show history, he scored 10 out of 10. And not only that, but for a number of the market caps, he gets them exactly right. And so, in addition to being enamored of Aaron's ability to memorize and know the market caps of up to 250 different companies, I had another reaction that day -- the game has been broken. After nine shows entertaining us over the past three years, it needed to be fixed. So, guess what? It's the end of another quarter for the stock market, which means it's time for the next Market Cap Game Show. And what you and I are about to discover is, did we fix it? Might it even be better? More fun? Because now, I have two contestants in the revamped format. It's still The Market Cap Game Show. You're still playing along at home. The aim remains to make you smarter, happier, and richer. It's time for The Market Cap Game Show, Episode 10: The Reboot, only on this week's Rule Breaker Investing. And welcome to Rule Breaker Investing. Yep, it's that time of the quarter. It's always among my favorite shows to do every quarter. It's The Market Cap Game Show. And if you are a longtime listener, I hope you've been rubbing your hands together looking forward with anticipation to this game show, just because it's a game show. I mean, that's fun anyway. But, how would we try to fix it? And would we fix it? And how would we change the rules of this game show? Well, I have two of the great players of this game show, all time, here in the studio with me, and I'd like to introduce them in alphabetical order. Aaron Bush and Emily Flippen. Aaron, Emily, welcome! Aaron Bush: Thanks, David! Emily Flippen: Hey, thanks for having us! Gardner: So, we talked about how to improve the game, how to make sure it couldn't be broken. And here's the format and how we came at it. I'm going to put it out there for our listeners, and then you can each opine, think aloud about your feelings about the new Market Cap Game Show Episode 10: The Reboot. So, the two simple rule changes are these. No. 1: all stocks are now available. In the past, it was just stocks that were in Stock Advisor, on my side of the scorecard, or Rule Breakers. And we call those together the Supernova universe. If you're a Supernova longtime member, you would know all of these stocks. and there are about 250 of them. And so, it made it possible for somebody who is brilliant and had a lot of extra time to learn or know most of them or many of them, whoever that person might have been. Bush: Yeah, who would that be? Gardner: But once we open it up to 5,000 or so stocks out there on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, presumably no one -- Aaron -- no one can memorize all the companies. So, that was change No. 1. Change No. 2 is, I remember an old game show -- because I watched a lot of game shows growing up. I'm sure this is still out on the game show channel on reruns. But, there was a game show called Card Sharks. Card Sharks had this format, and we're going to be borrowing it. It would have one contestant name a number, and then the other contestant would simply say higher or lower. And you'd know who won based on whether it was higher or lower. So that's what we're going to do. That's why it's a more fun format now with two contestants. And each time, for our 10 companies that we'll be covering here on episode 10 of The Market Cap Game Show, 10 every time, for each of those companies, one of you will pick the number; the other will go higher or lower. And while we're playing the game here in the studio, I think anybody who's been a longtime Rule Breaker Investing listener knows, this is the game that you are playing with us. We can't see your thumb up or your thumb down. But that's the way to score yourself as we go through this Market Cap Game Show. So, my talented contestants, Aaron and Emily, each time, will be giving their best shot at guessing the market cap of a company. And then you, along with the rest of the world, can go thumbs up or thumbs down. "I think it's higher. I think it's lower." In some ways, it makes it a little easier. It's more accessible. Everyone can play The Market Cap Game Show. OK, Emily and Aaron, there is the change in format. Emily, any thoughts, emotions that you might be feeling at this moment as you reflect on this new format? Flippen: I was so happy the last time I was on the show, I think I got seven out of 10. And I was perfectly happy with that performance. Look, going up against Aaron Bush, as long as this isn't a bloodbath, I'm happy. Bush: [laughs] I don't think that's going to happen. Gardner: You mean that it will be a bloodbath or that it will not be a bloodbath? Bush: it will be a bloodbath, but probably more of the opposite of what she's saying. Gardner: Very nice. Flippen: We did have a truce going into this, that neither of us would try to memorize the 5,000 [laughs] publicly listed companies. Gardner: Now, we're all in different areas here at here at Fool global headquarters, and we're on different floors, and then we changed it up, and everything's on wheels. All desks and chairs and tables are on wheels, so people can reconfigure their workspace. So I can't even exactly remember, are you both working right next to each other? Bush: We are. Gardner: Yes, OK, good. So you were able to talk about some ground rules, some meta game ground rules, like, no fair memorizing the entire market. Bush: Yeah, and some pregame trash talk. All the good stuff. Gardner: Excellent. Well, I want everybody to know that neither Aaron nor Emily has any idea of the 10 companies that I've selected. I've selected them just out of general interest. And each one springs a little fun conversation. They're interesting companies. Some of them, you're going to know. And I'm not just speaking to Aaron and Emily, I'm speaking to you. And some, you may not. And that's part of the pleasure of The Market Cap Game Show. All right, I think we're ready to start. Is that our Market Cap Game Show music I'm hearing? [snazzy instrumental music] Sure enough, it is, so we are ready to start. Now, there's a new ritual that takes place at the start of each of these rebooted shows, because we don't know who's going to go first, who's going to call the first number. So, I have summoned one of my favorite, most used gamer apps. This is in the Apple App Store. It might be on Google Play, too. It's called the Start Player Selector app. Now, this is a free app. If you're a gamer and you didn't know that this was out there on the App Store, and you were wondering, "Who should start the next board game? They're all sitting down to play," maybe Scrabble over the holidays, you can use the Start Player Selector app. I do. It's kind of fun. Basically, each of the contestants hovers their index finger over the screen, they all press down on the screen at once, hold, hold, hold, for about three seconds, and one of your fingers will light up and say you're the starting player. So, Aaron and Emily, there's a free plug for whoever designed the Start Player Selector app. It is free, so this person, unfortunately, is not making any real money from this plug, but it's an awesome app, and we're about to rock it. You ready? Flippen: Ready. Bush: Let's do it. Gardner: All right, index fingers poised. OK, press down. Three, two -- oh, Aaron, you're up first. Bush: Let's do this. David. Gardner: Yeah, and it seems appropriate because you are the Babe Ruth of The Market Cap Game Show. So I think you've kind of earned -- maybe we should have dumped the whole Start Player Selector app and not bothered with that and just given you some honor. Flippen: Oh, how about we just go to Aaron for all of them? Bush: [laughs] Oh, Emily. Gardner: Even if Aaron -- and I know he knows this company very well; the first one that we're leading off with is a very well-known company. But even if he does, I want to make it really clear that if Aaron says, we'll just say the market cap is $8 billion -- it's going to be more than that for this company. But, if Aaron says $8 billion, Emily is still going to say higher or lower, and because of the vicissitudes of the market trading minute to minute, it will inevitably be either slightly above, even if it's really close to $8 billion, or slightly below. Maybe it's $7.946 billion, in which case, a thumb down would get Emily the point. So, even if this very well-known company that you both respect -- I hope you own shares of it -- even if you feel like you already knew it, and Aaron nailed it last time by memorizing it, it's impossible, because the market is trading as we do this, and there's no way it won't be either higher or lower than whatever Aaron says. And it's Netflix. So, Netflix is our lead-off for the reboot. Company No. 1. Aaron, have you heard of Netflix before? Bush: I think so, David. Gardner: OK. Emily, are you aware of Netflix? Flippen: Yeah, I might be a user of their platform. Can't quite remember. Gardner: Excellent. So, assuming that you are a user -- and I don't want to assume that everybody is, because it is an affordable service, but I mean, not everybody, I wish everybody were, but not everybody is subscribed to Netflix. But if you've watched something recently and enjoyed it on Netflix, anytime in the year 2019, I just want to put it out there for our listeners, something they might enjoy over the holiday season. May not even be holiday-oriented. Aaron, does something come to mind that you'd like to plug on Netflix? Bush: Sure. So, one show that I've come to enjoy is Peaky Blinders. Are you familiar with that, David? Gardner: I watched episode four of season two just last week. Bush: OK, great. It's a show about a post-World War I in Britain, and it's really about an English street gang that grows their businesses and accumulates power, and they meet tons of different political opponents. Gardner: That's right. Now, it's Irish, technically. That group of people is Irish. They're living in Birmingham. Now, you may be ahead of me on the show, so maybe you're talking about things I don't know, but I think of it almost as an Irish mafia, kind of a Godfather-like story, set in Birmingham, England, though. Bush: I think that's a good way to phrase it. Gardner: All right, good. It is violent. Bush: It is violent, so definitely make sure to look at the ratings. Gardner: TV MA. Bush: MA, not for everybody. Gardner: Yeah, but really brilliantly acted and an incredible ensemble cast with great production values. Bush: Absolutely. I like Peaky Blinders. Gardner: OK, good. Emily? Flippen: Here's what I'll say about Peaky Blinders really quickly: I have to watch it with subtitles on. I cannot for the life understand those thick, I guess Birmingham accents. A better friendly family show on Netflix that I really enjoyed, cat's out of the bag on this one, but The Great British Bake Off show. It's great for the holidays, and it's not MA, I'm pretty sure. Gardner: [laughs] Excellent one, Emily. And yeah, and I'll just mention two that I've enjoyed. One is The Good Place, which is a great show on NBC, very fun comedy, and it is four seasons' worth on Netflix. Probably, when NBC launches its streaming service, it might migrate. But for now, it's really good. And the new season, for those who waited and didn't watch it on network, is available on Netflix. And then, Inside Bill's Brain, I just think is outstanding. I've mentioned a couple times on this podcast over the fall. But that's the kind of thing I wanted to show my kids and have other people understand all that Bill Gates has achieved, and sometimes unpopularly so. But if you think about what the Gates Foundation is doing today, and all the money backing it, trying to solve some of humanity's biggest problems. And then you've got Warren Buffett bequeathing so much of his money. It's an amazing three-episode one-hour each show. So, anyway, there's some Netflix ideas for our listeners. But more importantly, Aaron, I'm wondering what you think the market cap of Netflix is. By the way, we're taping this 2PM ish, Eastern Time. Tuesday afternoon, December 17th. Aaron, what is the market cap of Netflix? Bush: I'm going to go with $131.4 billion. Gardner: Wow, I love that he's rocking the 0.4. It wasn't enough to have $131 billion; he's taking it out to the $400 million. Emily, higher or lower? Flippen: I know the stock's come down a little bit from where it was, but I still think it's higher. Gardner: Aaron was awfully close. As I tabulated this, approximately noon today, it was at $133.3 billion. In fact, Netflix up about 3% today in a fairly flat market. So, Aaron, you may well have been locked in on Netflix as of yesterday, but it's been a good day so far for Netflix. Wow, great guess. Bush: Thank you! I walk away with this around with zero points, though. That's great. Gardner: One thing about this new, maybe more democratizing format, friendlier, it doesn't reward true excellence, when somebody is within 1% of the actual answer and then gets it wrong. But isn't that part of the charm? Emily, wouldn't you agree? Flippen: I say, rules are rules, and I get the point! Gardner: [laughs] Emily 1, Aaron 0. You at home, I hope you scored 1. Good luck. All right, we have a Ping-Pong format. It's back and forth. So, if Aaron had to take the first risk naming his number for company No. 1, Emily, you are now up for company No. 2. Now, staying within the realm of streaming, Emily, do you find yourself ever watching any episode or any of the various flavors of zombie shows today? Flippen: You know what? I have been known to click on a zombie show or two. Gardner: So, The Walking Dead might be something that you've seen before? Flippen: I have watched The Walking Dead. Gardner: OK. It is on ad-supported cable TV. The No 1. show. It's now in its 10th season. The Walking Dead, which is amazing. It's had a couple spin-offs. There's yet more to come. It is the tentpole content for AMC Networks, ticker symbol AMCX. Now, this is a company that I first recommended in Rule Breakers back in 2012. And I was thinking, we're moving into the age of streaming. Breaking Bad was on Netflix. I started thinking, this is great. So, who owns the content of the best shows, and who can keep creating that? And I settled on AMC Networks. Now, they weren't the only one. But I did recommend the stock back then. And I am very sorry to say to my Rule Breaker members and listeners everywhere that it has been a dog stock pic. I deeply regret having found AMC Networks, even though it remains an active selection today. We don't often sell. But truth be told, AMC was at $49.70 back in December of 2012. In fact, it was made almost exactly seven years ago to the day. It was at $49.70. Today, it's $37.27. So, down 25%. Now, that's not the worst stock pick. I've had a lot that have gone down more than that. But, when you think we've waited seven years, and the market's risen 157%, we are hugely behind just the index fund with AMC Networks. Now, the shows, Emily. Mad Men, you ever watch Mad Men? Flippen: I have not actually watched Mad Men, but I know a lot of people who do. Gardner: Do you know the market cap of AMC Networks, by the way? Flippen: [laughs] I have no clue! Gardner: [laughs] The good news is, in our new format, you don't necessarily need to. It's just, Aaron needs to guess the wrong way on either side of your number. Emily, what is your official answer for the market cap of AMC Networks? Flippen: AMC is no Netflix, but also, The Walking Dead's pretty good. I think I'm going to go with $25 billion. Bush: I think it's a lot smaller. Gardner: And we're tied! Gardner: Aaron 1, Emily 1. Flippen: How much am I off? Gardner: You know, if we were at $25 billion, it would have been a good stock pick. I would love this company right now. But unfortunately, the market cap of AMC Networks is $2.1 billion. Flippen: Oh, so this is like a U-Haul level of mess-up for me. Gardner: [laughs] Oh, you still remember -- Flippen: I could never forget. Gardner: Don't be haunted by this one. But yes, Aaron, you're right. It is substantially lower. AMC Networks, it's a majority family owned company. The Dolan family controls this company. But it has been a real underperformer, to my great regret as the person who recommended it to my fellow Rule Breakers. All right, let's just sweep memories of what Emily just said under the carpet, along with memories that I picked this stock once under the carpet. It's the holiday time of year. Let's keep it positive. And let's move on to company No. 3. Aaron -- and, in fact, Emily as well -- both of you spent a lot of your youth in the state of Texas. Is that right? Flippen: Yeah. Bush: Yeah. Gardner: I'm assuming that you didn't know each other at all. Bush: No. Flippen: No, but I know where this is going. [laughs] Bush: [laughs] Where is this going? Gardner: You might think Texas Roadhouse, but that's not it. Flippen: Oh, that's what I thought. Gardner: I was going to ask, when your parents -- because you were kids back then -- were paying the power bill, who were they paying? Who is your utility company, respectively? Bush: I have absolutely no idea. Flippen: I also have absolutely no idea. Gardner: Did you have power in your houses growing up? Flippen: [laughs] I believe so. Bush: Fortunately, yes. Gardner: Great. And now, as adults, I assume you're paying a power bill. Flippen: Yeah. Bush: Unfortunately, yes. Gardner: So, you're now in tune with that. OK, who cares who Mom and Dad paid. I was just curious if there's a big Texas utility. There probably is. But I don't know, because I'm more of an East Coast person. But, when I think about energy these days, increasingly, I'm thinking about how it's not just from fossil fuels. In fact, still smaller contributors to the grid, but things like solar and wind are increasingly relevant and important, certainly for our future when we think about energy. And the United States' largest utility company is also the largest producer of wind energy and solar energy in the entire world. The company is NextEra Energy, ticker symbol is NEE. It's also been a good Rule Breakers stock. Unlike AMC Networks, it's gone up over time, and consistently beating the market. NextEra Energy. Aaron, I see you nodding your head, I'm not going to say with too much swagger, but with some confidence. Now, I have picked this recently in some of my five-stock samplers. It's been a Best Buy Now in Rule Breakers. It might be more on your radar than other companies. Bush: It is because I was the first person to do research for you. I did the original two-pager. And I didn't think that this company was as well-positioned to beat the market as it actually has turned out to be. So, you were smart by not going with what I wrote in a two-pager maybe like three years ago or something. Gardner: That is awesome. I'd forgotten, and it's worth mentioning that Emily and Aaron and a number of our other analysts go off to the mountaintop, I hope, and right up two-pagers for me. Sometimes companies of their own choice, sometimes ones that I've requested. And so yes, we have a process that we've run a couple of decades here, where analysts go off and come back with their best ideas in two pages or so. And I'd forgotten that NextEra Energy was yours. Bush: So it's a lot bigger than it was at the time. Gardner: In fact, I'm glad you went that direction. Aaron, what is the market cap of NextEra Energy, NEE? Bush: I think it's pretty big. And I'm going to go with $110 billion. Flippen: I'll take the over on that. Gardner: Amazing! Flippen: My gut was saying something like $130 billion. Bush: That's probably pretty close. Gardner: Rick, thank you -- our producer, of course, Rick Engdahl -- for the new sound effects that we have now. Because in the past, it was just ding or not. Now, we need to have the sound that you just heard for when the thumb was correct, or the sound that you hear when the thumb was not. Aaron, I have to say, once again, you were very close. The market cap of NextEra Energy is $115.5 billion. Bush: [laughs] Oh my God. Gardner: Did you say 110? Bush: I said 110. Gardner: But Emily, you were right. You took the over, and you get a point. Emily Flippen 2, Aaron Bush 1. Aaron, before we move onto company No. 4, any further thoughts about NextEra Energy? Do you remember what you wrote in that report a few years ago? I don't, but I'm glad we picked it. Bush: I think I recognized the company as being a really strong business. Obviously really big. I don't think I saw it as a quintessential Rule Breakers recommendation, being worth tens of billions of dollars already, pretty mature. The company wasn't growing too fast. I thought it was trading at a pretty expensive multiple, given the growth. But it's just a testament that great companies can outperform high expectations, and that's, so far, what has happened. And it's outperformed my $110 guess, and I walk away again with no points for this round. [laughs] Gardner: Aaron, I've just pulled up the two-pager that you did for me. It was dated November 2nd, 2016. And your top line was "NextEra Energy may be the industry leader and a slow, consistent grower, but yield chasers have driven the stock price up to extremes that should cause low future returns." Bush: Thank you for seeing through that horrible, in hindsight, first sentence, David. Gardner: It wasn't that bad. I mean, it was an excellent report, as usual. But it has been a good performer. We picked it to start this year. I haven't enjoyed all of the ups. If you go back and look at the stock chart for NEE, you'll see it's been just a spectacular performer, especially for a utility. It's been a good holding for 2019, and I trust going forward. All right, Emily, your turn. Have you ever been to a Dave & Buster's? Flippen: Is this just that straightforward? Yes, I have been to a Dave & Buster's. Gardner: Do you want to share a reflection about your experience with Dave & Buster's? Flippen: I was very disappointed the last time I went because they didn't have DDR machines, which apparently are no longer a staple in arcades. Gardner: Dance Dance Revolution, I believe. Flippen: Yes, Dance Dance Revolution, which I spent way too much of my younger years playing. But I have been told that they now have a Sunday special. For $20, you can get unlimited beer and wings. I haven't taken advantage of that, but I hear that people do enjoy it. Gardner: That's awesome. Aaron, do you know the ticker symbol for Dave & Buster's? Bush: I believe it is PLAY. Gardner: That's right. It's one of those fun ticker symbols. Southwest Airlines is LUV, love. Dave & Buster's is PLAY. I think most of us would recognize this brand, but especially for our international listeners, you may not be familiar. This is a combination restaurant and arcade, video game arcade. Pinball, all kinds. But not necessarily traditional games. Some of the bigger, more athletic games, like Dance Dance Revolution, would have fit, and presumably did, very well in with Dave & Buster's over the years. I think they make a fair amount of money on alcohol as well. People go after work. It's kind of like, you can go to Top Golf and hit a golf ball into an arcade-like simulator, it seems. Or, you could just go to Dave & Buster's, and a lot of people do that and have parties there and all the rest. Aaron, have you spent any time with Dave Buster's? Bush: I have never been in Dave & Buster's before. Maybe we need to have a field trip. [laughs] Gardner: Sounds good to me. In the meantime, Emily, what is the market cap of Dave & Buster's? Flippen: The last time I looked at Dave & Buster's, I remember being surprised by how big it was for what is essentially an adult Chuck E. Cheese. But it has a nice dividend yield. And I know that it's bigger than I think it is. So I'm going to go with -- pulling an Aaron, going really specific here -- $5.341 billion. Bush: I'm going lower. Thumbs down. Gardner: Aaron does have this right, which keeps the game interesting. It's 2 to 2. So far, it seems like the thumbs will have it. Well done. It is actually a surprisingly smaller company than that, Emily, I'm sorry to say. Now, part of it is that Dave & Buster's hasn't exactly been lighting it up on the stock market here over the last year. The stock is down from just short of $60 down to just below $40 over the course of 2019. The market cap of Dave & Buster's is $1.3 billion. You're laughing, Emily, because you think, "I dramatically missed that," but I think most of us at home don't have all these market caps in our heads, and that seems like not so big a miss, at least to me. Flippen: I'm just wondering what a $1 billion company is doing paying a dividend. Gardner: Yeah, that's a fair question. I will say, it has seen better days. I hope that better days are ahead. We first picked this in June of 2015. The stock was at $36. Now it's like $39. So, it's up about 10%. The market over that time, these last four years, is up over 60%. So, Dave & Buster's at this point has been an underperformer. There's a little bit of a theme this Market Cap Game Show. We're looking at some of our dogs. There are better times ahead both in this show and, I hope, for Dave & Buster's as a stock. All right, I've counted it right. Aaron 2, Emily 2. Let's go to company No. 5. Now, again, I've selected all these companies ahead of time without having any conversation with either of you. As we sat down and had some of our pre-game discussion, you mentioned that there was a company that you just tested out on Emily, for the fun of it, just to practice. And what was that company, Aaron? Bush: It was McDonald's. Gardner: And, indeed, in my own soundproof booth, removed from both of you -- Flippen: No! Gardner: -- I made McDonald's company No. 5. I believe I understand, you have practiced this earlier this morning. So this will be an interesting one. Now, I believe most of us know McDonald's. It doesn't need much explanation. I think all of us have some McDonald's fan in us. Maybe it was a small child part of us, or maybe it's me going through the drive thru last week on the way home. But, wow, a lot of people get McDonalds Uber Eats delivered these days. I was just talking to a friend, in northwest Washington D.C., there's a McDonald's that doesn't have a drive thru. And apparently, Saturday night around 11PM, he went by, and there's like 28 Ubers just lined up because there's this huge mass delivery that occurs and they all know it. It's like its own subculture for the Uber Eats drivers. Saturday night, D.C., McDonald's, get ready. I think McDonald's, with an amazing market cap that we're about to discover, has been pumped up a little bit by an increasingly delivery-friendly world, even if you didn't have a drive thru. Before we do the market cap -- Aaron, you're on tap to provide the number this time. Emily, do you have any McDonald's memory or moment you want to share? Flippen: It's rather embarrassing. My first semester when I was living in China, I spoke no Chinese, of course. And I was forced to eat McDonald's for most of my meals. All my meals I ate alone, I would go to McDonald's because they had the menu and photos, and I could point. Gardner: Ah, so that's why you were forced. Nobody was forcing you. Flippen: Yes, that's why I was forced. My own language ignorance forced me to eat it. I did eventually get up the skills there to order a bowl of noodles. But for a while, McDonald's was sustenance. Gardner: And is it the sort of McDonald's food that we think about here in the U.S.? Flippen: Slightly different, but you can get fries, which kept me alive for the most part. Gardner: Nice. Aaron? Bush: I think my best McDonald's moments all occurred in the tunnels of the play area, particularly me refusing to go out of them when it was time to go home. Gardner: [laughs] Great. You had to take your shoes off and put them over there, and there's the big ball pen that you could roll around in, and then the slides and the tunnels. Bush: Yeah. I never wanted to go home. Gardner: Speaking of never wanting to go home -- that's not a good transition -- Aaron, what is the market cap of McDonald's? I wonder if you've looked at the stock recently. Bush: Maybe. Maybe it's somewhere around $149 billion. Gardner: Emily and all of my players at home, $149 billion. That's what Aaron said. Higher or lower? Flippen: This is a horrible stroke of irony right here. Gardner: You both talked about it this morning! Flippen: I made the conscious decision of, "He's never going to ask about McDonald's." I feel like I remember, when I was quizzing Aaron, looking at it, telling him, "It's $149 billion," but I remember it being like $149.14 billion. So, I'm going the over. Gardner: $149.7 billion. Bush: This is madness. Gardner: Aaron, that was an awfully good guess. In an earlier version of this game show, you would be rewarded with acclaim, worldwide approbation for almost totally nailing the market cap -- Bush: Why am I even guessing? Gardner: [laughs] Well, you do make it hard for Emily when you force her down to dot-something in order to be right or wrong with her thumb. But, she's been guessing well. In fact, the thumbs have it. We're at halftime for this show. I see the scores. Emily 3, Aaron 2. All right, company No. 6. Now, this is one of those worldwide recognized brands, much like McDonald's. But I would say, especially during the holiday times, this brand takes on just a little extra sparkle. Emily, do you like coffee? Flippen: I love coffee, David. Gardner: And what is your favorite coffee? I'm not talking about brands. I just mean, how do you like to have it? Flippen: I like coffee as a socially acceptable way to consume milk and sugar. So, I like my coffee tasting like milk and sugar. Gardner: Excellent. Aaron, are you a coffee drinker? Bush: I am not a coffee drinker. Gardner: Tea? Bush: Nope. Gardner: Do you drink water? Bush: Yes, I do drink water. Gardner: Good move. And in fact, I see the Starbucks cup in front of you, your order -- because I always treat my guests. Aaron, you and Emily have both apparently ordered water from Starbucks. Flippen: I am actually fasting for a doctor's appointment I have later this afternoon. They are starving me out today. Gardner: Excellent. So, normally I would see more milk or cream or good stuff in yours. Flippen: Exactly. Gardner: Whereas, Aaron, your Starbucks water order is kind of your standard? Bush: I get waters a lot, which is not exciting. My main go-to when I'm in the mood is the hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate. Gardner: All right. I guess you both have suspected that the next company is Starbucks. Now, Starbucks with its red holiday cups, or I have -- what does this say? This says, "Coffee Merry, Coffee Merry." As a longtime customer myself, certainly a fan of the company and the stock. It's been a tremendous performer for 25 years and counting for our listeners and our fellow Fools everywhere. Up times and down times. But I just think Starbucks is a little bit more fun in December. I think they make it a little bit more fun. There's a little extra magic and opportunity to spend time with friends there around the holidays. Emily, since you sound like you're the biggest Starbucks fan at the table, presumably you have the best sense of the market cap of ticker symbol SBUX. Emily, what is the market cap of Starbucks? Flippen: I have to be honest; McDonald's has thrown me a little bit. Gardner: Right, because McDonald's, just to review, was $149.7 billion. A lot of people might wonder, which is bigger, by the way? Would Starbucks be bigger than McDonald's these days, or vice versa? Flippen: And that's exactly the thought process that I'm going through in my head right now. Gardner: I kind of timed this up so that we went McDonald's then Starbucks, because it's fun to think about those things relative to each other. Flippen: And it's throwing me, but I think it's smaller. Bush: Are you sure? Flippen: And now I'm gauging reactions. [laughs] I'm going to say $85 billion. Bush: I'm going bigger. Gardner: All right. It keeps the game dramatic when every time you ping pong back and forth with points. The thumbs have gotten it right every single time. It is smaller. We should note that Starbucks is about one-third smaller than McDonald's as a market cap. Of course, 30 years ago, it was a lot smaller. Starbucks has been on a major roll up to its present day market cap of $104.3 billion. So, again, McDonald's, $40 billion plus more than Starbucks, but Starbucks is a $100 billion company today. Flippen: Starbucks should be bigger than McDonald's. I think it will be bigger than McDonald's in the near future. Gardner: Well, if we looked at the trends of those stock prices over the course of time, certainly Starbucks looks like it'll overtake McDonald's, maybe in the same way that at one point, Amazon looked like it would, and in fact did, overtake Walmart. That said, McDonald's has done wonderfully. It's been a well-managed company and it's been a winning stock. Not part of our services. McDonald's was an example of the change in The Market Cap Game Show, where we don't just ask about stocks that we research and have within our services. McDonald's is not a present recommendation of mine. Starbucks, though, pretty much almost always has been. All right, 3 to 3. Let's go to company No. 7. Now, I see my producer, Rick Engdahl, leaning across the glass a little bit with maybe a thought or a tip for Aaron? Rick Engdahl: Well, Aaron seems to be guessing really well and then losing out to the thumbs of Emily there. So I think that maybe Aaron needs to start bluffing strategically, maybe hyping up a stock, throwing a high number up even though he knows it's lower, vice versa. I think it's time to start maybe being a little less honest. Bush: Stop playing the market cap, start playing the other player. Gardner: There is a poker-like element now to The Market Cap Game Show, which I think will drive big ratings for this podcast. Totally the right move. And Rick, thank you for that tip. Aaron, have you ever bought anything on eBay? Bush: No, I've never bought anything on eBay. Gardner: Do you ever go to eBay or search? Have you been to eBay.com in the last 12 months? Bush: I have, yes. Gardner: All right, but you didn't buy, it sounds like. Bush: I didn't buy. There are a couple new apps that are out where you can buy shares, pieces of things like art and cars. Essentially, companies are IPO-ing, trying to make like new alternative assets investable. So, I was comparing the prices to what was in the app to on eBay. That was the extent of my eBay -- Gardner: Like what? I want to hear a little bit more, that's very interesting. There are now opportunities to buy part interest of pieces of art that are non-standard. We're not talking about Picasso in this case. Or, maybe we are? Bush: Not yet. The two companies I'm thinking of, the two apps, one is Rally Rd. and one is called Otis. The one called Rally Rd. they started by being like, "Hey, here's a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. Maybe you don't want to fully own it, or you can't pay fully for it. But what if you could buy some shares?" Gardner: It's like a timeshare. It's a car share. Bush: Yeah, and you own it, and then they make it tradable so that there are trading periods over time. So, it's a way to invest in cars, you can invest in classic books. They just sold a first edition, first issue, Harry Potter book. All different types of things. Gardner: All right, now, this might be slightly discursive, because I'm not actually going to be asking you about eBay, but have you ever bought anything on eBay? Bush: I've never bought anything on eBay. Gardner: Never. If you had bought something on eBay, how would you likely have paid for that thing traditionally on eBay? Bush: Ah. You probably would have used PayPal, David. Gardner: You're right. And that is, in fact, stock No. 7 we're going to be discussing. Now, have you used Venmo? Bush: I often use Venmo. Gardner: I think a lot of people know it, but if you were explaining to a Martian who was just visiting our planet -- we've all played Terraforming Mars together, by the way, and Emily's a really good player. So, Martian kind of works. But if a Martian showed up and said, "What's Venmo?" how would you explain that to the Martian? Bush: It's a payment app. It's pretty social. You can connect it to your Facebook account, and you get all of your friends part of your Venmo crew, your Venmo network. You can do people outside of Facebook, too. But essentially, you just pay them directly. So, you click on their name, put in a dollar amount, hook in your bank account, and then you can put money back and forth. Gardner: Emily, I'm curious, have you used either Venmo and/or PayPal? And if so, which one more? Flippen: I have used both. I tend to use Venmo more. But some credit cards now have benefits, if you start paying using PayPal. So I'm actually a more frequent user of PayPal than you might assume. Gardner: That's very interesting. I do think there's a little bit of a generational thing going on here. I definitely use PayPal a lot more than Venmo. I feel like my children, who are now 25, 23 ish, tend to go with Venmo. Good news -- PayPal owns them both. And so, all generations are covered. And I'm curious here, Aaron, if you were put in the very interesting position of being asked what the market cap -- in front of a worldwide audience -- if you were asked what the market cap of PayPal would be, what would be, hypothetically, or in fact, what would be your answer? Bush: Well, it's a pretty small, unexciting business. So I'm probably going to go somewhere in the realm of $124.124 billion. Flippen: Here's the thing -- I've been sitting next to Aaron for two years. I know his tells, and I know it's smaller. I'll take the under. Gardner: For the first time, the thumb was wrong, Emily. Flippen: No! Gardner: Keep observing, or don't observe, Aaron so carefully. It might be influencing you in strange ways. Bush: You know my tells? [laughs] Gardner: This was all really close. But in fact, the market cap for PayPal is $128.7 billion, which was a little bit more -- not by much, though -- than Aaron said. So, for the first time, we've had a reversal. This is dramatic. Very exciting. Flippen: Now the pressure's on. Gardner: Pressure is on a little bit now. Aaron: 4 points. Emily: 3. Part of the reason we love market caps at The Motley Fool, I love the game show that we play, is just think about that. We've got McDonald's at about $150 billion, Starbucks about $100 billion, and PayPal right in between. It's just fun and educational to understand the relative sizings of things. Because we all have different consumer instincts or experiences. But this is a lingua franca kind of a metric which unites all of the public companies out there. So, it's fascinating to me to think that PayPal is 25% larger than Starbucks, but smaller than McDonald's. Well, let's stay with stock No. 8, within the payments space. Now, we're going to leave the realm of companies that I previously have recommended in Stock Advisor or Rule Breakers. This is one of those that was not part of the Supernova universe that Aaron may or may not have memorized earlier this year. But I know you've heard about it, Emily. Square. Flippen: I do know this company pretty well. It's a recent recommendation in the service that I help advise, Marijuana Masters. Gardner: Yeah. So, Emily, presumably, you're going to get, I would say, Aaron-like with your precision. I'm not going to say you're going to nail it, because it's not impossible, the numbers are always flowing. But you're probably feeling fairly confident with Square, ticker symbol SQ. Again, a payments company. A lot of people might wonder, how big is this coming compared to PayPal? I'm curious, too, Emily. What is the market cap of Square? Flippen: Oh, you would presume that I would know it, wouldn't you, David? Gardner: Well, I would, except that I wouldn't, because I'm also an advisor for a few of our services, and, if often called on market caps, I would be in trouble and embarrassed. That's why I play the role of Alex Trebek for this game show every single quarter, so I'm never embarrassed. I get to sound a little bit smug. Everyone loves me, though, like Alex Trebek. I wish everybody loved me like they love Alex Trebek. But, we're always right, Alex and I. So, Emily, yeah, I would think that you would know it, but I also would understand that you might not. Flippen: I will be saying it's a $10 billion company. Bush: It's bigger than that. Gardner: Aaron is right. In fact, if it weren't $10 billion, Emily, you should be triple pounding the table for Square. Flippen: I might have been hoping that my psychology there would wear down on Aaron a little bit. That might have been the wrong -- Bush: You gave me a wide open on that one. Gardner: I think what Emily's saying is, she actually did know the market cap, but she was playing Rick's head-fake approach. Flippen: I might have thought the market cap was something closer to $15 billion, and trying to convince Aaron that it was lower. But I get the sense that I was still off with that. Gardner: You were. The market cap of Square is $29.1 billion. It's worth about one-fifth of PayPal. Again, just interesting to know and think about these things. And again, that's why we play the game. So, nice try, Emily. Aaron, you're not at 5 to 3. This puts a lot of pressure on Emily. If she could get the last two right, we would have the rare first-ever sudden death overtime round. But, if Emily can't nail both of these, Aaron, you're going to win this reboot of The Market Cap Game Show. Bush: Well, it would not surprise me if there is a comeback situation at play here. Gardner: Well, we've got a lot of talent in the room. I'm just glad I get to be the emcee. All right, next up, we're back to Aaron. Company No. 9. Aaron, this will be your final guess at the number here. Now, maybe it's because it's that holiday time of year, so we're talking a lot about payments and retail experiences. We talked some about coffee. This is a company where you can buy almost all of the things, all of the things you would ever need, during the holiday season, or any other time of year. Our friend and compatriot here, Mac Greer, at The Motley Fool, who often hosts our MarketFoolery podcast -- Mac is universally known as a loving shareholder of Costco. Costco for years, led by Jim Sinegal, one of those great servant leaders of American business. My brother Tom and I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Sinegal multiple times on the Motley Fool Radio Show. One thing I always loved about him, he had no executive assistant. When you called this phone, he would pick up. It was amazing. And that was the kind of leader that Jim Sinegal was. Put Costco on such great feet. And what a spectacular company this has been. I have never recommended this stock, to my shame, perhaps, because it's been such a powerful player. It's got a great model, where you subscribe, so they've got the subscription revenues coming in, to be a member of the club. And then you get discounts as you buy in bulk, which a lot of people do at Costco. Now, Aaron, do you have any experiences? Are you a member of Costco? Bush: I'm not a member of Costco, but I like the chicken bakes. Gardner: Nice. Could you say why you like the chicken bakes? Bush: Because they are delicious. Gardner: [laughs] Good answer. Emily. Do you have any reflections or experiences to relate about your feelings about Costco? Flippen: I'm not a Costco member, but there's been a lot of press recently about their rotisserie chicken and about how Costco is spending a lot of money to keep the cost of their rotisserie chicken low. Gardner: Wow. So, we're all about chicken on this Market Cap Game Show when we think about Costco Wholesale Corporation -- which, by the way, has a good ticker symbol, COST. It's kind of like PLAY for Dave & Buster's. COST is Costco, which makes a lot of sense. Aaron, what is the market cap of Costco Wholesale Corporation? Bush: So, we talked about Costco on Motley Fool Money last week, and the one company I did not prepare for at all was Costco. And I'm really regretting that right now. Gardner: That's kind of why we have our new format. That's why we do what we do, Aaron. I'm sad and happy to hear that at the same time. Bush: So, I have really no idea, but I'm going to go with $100 billion, and Emily can decide if it is larger or smaller. Gardner: Big, round number. Makes it cartoonishly easy or difficult for Emily. I'm trying to read her tells. I can't tell if she thinks she has this or not. Flippen: I feel like everything now is gauged to me in relation of McDonald's. Is it bigger or smaller than McDonald's? Here's the thing. I feel like Aaron is trying to play some psychological games here. And I've been wrong. The one time I said lower -- Aaron tends to go a little bit lower than it is. And the one time I said lower, I was wrong. But I'm going to go lower. I think Costco is closer to a $70 billion company. Gardner: It's a $132.1 billion -- Flippen: Oh, no! Gardner: You know, I didn't intend this, but about five or six of these companies are all within $100 billion to $150 billion, looking back. Netflix, $133 billion. NextEra Energy, $115 billion. McDonald's, $149 billion. Starbucks, $104 billion. PayPal, $128 billion. And now Costco, $132 billion. It's amazing to me to think, as long as Costco has been around, and as powerful as it is, PayPal is about the same market cap, the same value, of a much more relative upstart in American business. Well, we're still going to play the final inning of this ball game even though Aaron has won this. Flippen: Finish off the embarrassment high. Gardner: 6 to 3 right now, but you know what? Often, people will only remember that final moment. Flippen: Well, don't say that. Gardner: You're only as good, Aaron Bush, as your last question. So, we'll see. Emily, you're on tap for company No. 10. Well, this one is a fascinating company. It's one of the more dynamic companies of our time. It is within the Supernova universe. It's a longtime Rule Breaker stock pick. It has one of the best-known CEOs in, I wouldn't just say American business,, I would say in the world of business today. Flippen: Don't be wrong. [laughs] Gardner: He's kind of a live wire, and lots of people seem to either love him or hate him. And what's most interesting to me about Elon Musk and Tesla is that as we record here, this week, middle of December 2019, just yesterday, Tesla hit an all-time high. Now, this is a stock we've held for I think about eight years in Rule Breakers. So we've been up and down and up and down for about five years. From 2014 to 2019, the stock went sideways. As much publicity and as much risk as Tesla took on, and as much as achievement as it got with the release of the Model 3. So, it is really worth noting, and part of the reason I want to end with this company, is just because it's fascinating to point out -- if you didn't know this, dear listener, whoever you are, wherever you are, Rule Breaker Investing here to let you know that Tesla is at all-time highs today. Emily, what is the market cap of Tesla, TSLA on the NASDAQ? Flippen: I know this one. Thank goodness. I know this one. Now, I'm trying to think, what number do I tell Aaron -- Bush: I think you're trying to play games and don't know this one. Flippen: The market cap of Tesla is $71.24 billion. Bush: All right, she does know this one. Hmm. Gardner: This is the first time Aaron's kind of hesitated. That means Emily made an awfully good guess, which, indeed, she did. Bush: That is a really good guess. I'm going to go barely thumbs down, but thumbs down. Gardner: You're right. Flippen:​ No! Gardner: It is $69 billion on the nose. Flippen: I saw the tweet. I was resentful of the fact that I was forced to get a Twitter. I saw the tweet this morning saying Tesla's market cap was $69 billion. And you know what? I thought, if I go a little above that -- if I say $69 billion, Aaron might say above. So, I go a little bit above, it make him think it's bigger than it is, and I blame Rick. [laughs] Gardner: A little extra gamesmanship possibly coming back to haunt. But Emily, that was a great guess. I'm curious, was that a Motley Fool tweet? Whose tweet was that? Flippen: I don't remember. It must have been a Motley Fool tweet, or somebody who is a longtime Motley Fool subscriber that I'm subscribed to their Twitter. Is that the right word? Bush: I think it was on the main account. Gardner: OK. Emily, recently joined Twitter, as I remember. It was only a month or two ago. You're still figuring out this social network, aren't you? Flippen: I am, so keep the expectations for my tweets kind of low. But I'm enjoying Twitter more than I thought I would. It lets me notice things like when Tesla hits an all-time high in terms of market cap. Gardner: Yeah, and that was a really good guess. Emily, who are you on Twitter? Flippen: I am Emily Flippen on Twitter, and I apologize, I don't know my handle. [laughs] Gardner: That is definitely not the right answer, but it's such a great answer. Flippen: I'm so sorry! I don't know what it is! Bush: I'm like, "Did she actually get the @emilyflippen handle? That's really cool if she did." I'll look it up. Flippen: There's another Emily Flippen out there who's taken every handle. Bush: You are flippen_emily. Flippen: That sounds about right. Gardner: Aaron, who are you on Twitter? Bush: I am @aaronbush100. Gardner: Excellent. Well, @flippen_emily and @aaronbush100, this was a lot of fun. Congratulations to you. You have won the first episode of this new version of The Market Cap Game Show. What did you both think? Should we keep going forward with this one? Did it work? Bush: It was fun. Flippen: I feel like I need redemption. Right? I mean, I feel like I need to beat Aaron at least once in my life at The Market Cap Game Show. Bush: Well, bring it on next time. I wish I could get some points for being square on. That was my one regret. Flippen: It's a little unfair. Gardner: But then that encourages extreme memorization, which I don't necessarily want to do, although I do kind of, because if everybody's memorized all the market caps in the world, that's an amazing world. Bush: I think you got to go for more stocks outside of what we look at every day. Flippen: Yeah, I like that. Gardner: All right. I'm very open to feedback, and, of course, of our listeners, your feedback as well. I hope you got at least five right. I think that's a good kind of percentage to be shooting for, playing at home. If you got seven right, then you tied Aaron. And if you got more than that, you'd beat Aaron. If you got two right, then you lost to Emily, and that's still worthy. Flippen: It's a low bar. Gardner: It's still worthy. All right, it sounds like maybe we should do this again in March. Emily, I feel like you've asked for some redemption. Maybe you'll get it. Flippen: Maybe. Gardner: All right, in the meantime, happy folly days to you both. Thank you very much for appearing on the reboot of The Market Cap Game Show. Flippen: Thank you! Bush: Thank you, David! Gardner: Thank you again to Aaron and Emily for their good sportsmanship and good cheer, all part of the holiday cheer. For us at Fool HQ, anyways, this is really fun. I hope market caps are fun for you. And even if they didn't start off being fun, whether you first heard about market caps 10 years ago, or 10 days ago, I hope you see the fun in it, and why making a game show of it to us makes a lot of sense, because it has you thinking bigger-picture about, what are the values of things out there, and what are they relative to each other? All right, well, next week, it is the final Wednesday of the month, so, yeah, it happens to be Christmas Day, and you are certainly encouraged, if you want, to listen to this podcast on Christmas Day. But, if, like many, you have subscribed, which we hope that you have, it just comes through as an automatic download. I hope you'll enjoy it next week. It is our December year-end closing mailbag. I'll also mention that we're going to kick off the new year on New Year's Day two weeks from today. And that'll be Stock Stories: Vol 4. We'll tell some of our favorite stories and reflections and learnings from some of the best stories on the stock market to kick off 2020. And as I let you go for this busy week and the holiday season, I do want to mention in closing, it is the holiday season, and the number one thing on our wish lists here at Rule Breaker Investing is some ratings and reviews from our loyal listeners. Now, it sounds crazy, but those little things help us reach more people on places like Apple podcasts, and that means more resources for our show. So, if you have a few seconds, here at the end of the year, we'd really appreciate if you drop us a rating and a review. It takes seconds. It's a huge help to us. In the meantime, have a wonderful week ahead. Merry Christmas, and talk to you next Wednesday! Fool on!

-- First great "CNN Newsroom" moment of the new year: Gen. Wesley Clark flinging his cell phone across the room when it started ringing during his hit... (CNN) -- A "West Side Story" revival, a Michael Jackson musical and a Bob Dylan musical are among Broadway's "most anticipated shows in 2020," Greg Evans reports... (Deadline) During the holidays... News you might have missed between Christmas and New Year's: -- President Trump retweeted a post with an unsubstantiated name of the whistleblower in a burst of bellicose and conspiratorial retweets. I wrote about it here. -- Veteran broadcaster Don Imus died on December 27, several days after being hospitalized. Robert D. McFadden's obit for the NYT described him as a "irascible, confrontational growler who led pranks and parodies that could be tasteless, obscene and sometimes racist, sexist or homophobic..." -- Spotify announced it will stop running political ads in 2020, saying it doesn't have the ability to "responsibly validate" them. Kerry Flynn wrote up the news here... -- More from Kerry: Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems, the parent company of his fringe right-wing website Infowars, must pay about $100,000 in his adversary's legal expenses as a penalty stemming from a defamation suit... -- This Bret Stephens column titled "The Secrets of Jewish Genius" was "a new personal low" for the oft-criticized columnist, Jack Shafer opined. The NYT appended an editors note... -- No more six-day work weeks for Sheinelle Jones: She bid adieu to the Saturday edition of "Today." She will continue to co-host the 9am hour on the weekdays... -- Rep. John Lewis announced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and said he is preparing to undergo treatment. He gave the Atlanta Journal-Constitution an exclusive interview on New Year's Eve... -- CBS News had to apologize for showing a photo of Rep. Elijah Cummings during a segment about Lewis. "We deeply regret the error," the "Evening News" Twitter account said... -- Vox Media announced a new first-party data platform called Forte... -- Netflix published a list of "the 10 most popular shows and movies it started streaming in the US in 2019..." Remembering Sonny Mehta Sonny Mehta, editor-in-chief of Knopf and chairman of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, died December 30 at the age of 77. Knopf said the cause was complications from pneumonia. "He indelibly shaped U.S. and world culture," Sarah Weinman wrote in this appreciation for WaPo... "Mehta was a gentleman, an exemplary publisher and a great reader. Both the authors who must go on without him, and the readers who will no longer be able to benefit from his love of books, will miss him terribly." Mehta "told people on most days he felt like he had the best job in America," author Wil Haygood recalled. The NYT has remembrances from Bret Easton Ellis, John Banville, Omar El Akkad, Carl Hiaasen, Salman Rushdie, Jane Smiley, and others... QUOTE OF THE DAY Wise words from Chief Justice John Roberts at the close of one decade and the dawn of another: "In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public's need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital." Are the Australian fires being undercovered? David Wallace-Wells says so, and his story is the most-viewed item on NYMag's website right now. He says the images of the fires are "disconcertingly familiar," reminiscent of the California wildfires of 2017 and 2018. "Those California fires transfixed the world’s attention, but while the ones still burning uncontrolled in Australia have gotten some media attention outside the country, in general they have been treated as a scary, but not apocalyptic, local news story," he writes. "What accounts for the difference? There are all the usual factors — the desire to look away, to avoid contemplating the scariest aspects of contemporary life or what they portend for our future, the shortsightedness of the media, reluctant to cover climate disasters, at least as climate disasters, and the forces of denial... But two additional explanations suggest themselves to me, neither at all encouraging. The first is that the duration of this climate horror has allowed us to normalize it even while it continues to unfold." Read on... FOR THE RECORD, PART THREE -- Michael Bloomberg isn't just carpet-bombing TV -- he is also "spending millions each week in an online advertising onslaught," Jeremy Peters reports... (NYT) -- The WSJ's Christina Poletto has a new look at how luxury developers are "turning the page" on old newspaper HQs... (WSJ) -- "Matt Lauer is dating glamorous marketing guru Shamin Abas after finalizing his divorce from longtime wife Annette Roque..." (Page Six)

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KITCHENER -- The New Year has begun with encouraging numbers in the fight against impaired driving. Waterloo Regional Police stopped 675 vehicles at Bingemans Centre Drive R.I.D.E. checkpoint Tuesday night and handed out no impaired driving charges at the location. However, officers on regular patrol arrested a person in Waterloo and another in Cambridge for impaired driving on New Year’s Eve. “These numbers are a reflection of people choosing alternate transportation,” said WRPS Cnst. Ashley Dietrich. “Moving into the New Year we’ll be continuing to conduct our holiday R.I.D.E. program.” In Guelph, roughly 600 vehicles were stopped at a checkpoint, which resulted in a single three-day license suspension as well as two impaired driving charges.

KITCHENER -- Waterloo Regional Police are now investigating two incidents involving the use of a paintball gun: one at a school and another targeted towards a horse and buggy. A pickup truck was seen driving in the parking lot of Floradale Parochial School on Dec. 22 around 7 p.m., according to officials. Police say rapid popping sounds were heard coming from the school shortly after the truck had entered. It was later discovered that someone had entered the school and used a paintball gun to spray the main basement room and classroom. On Sunday around 6 p.m., a white pickup truck with an unknown amount of people in it reportedly fired paintballs at a horse and buggy as they were driving on a path near Lions Park in Elmira. The occupants and horse were not injured. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact police.

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Donate to arXiv Please join the Simons Foundation and our generous member organizations in supporting arXiv during our giving campaign September 23-27. 100% of your contribution will fund improvements and new initiatives to benefit arXiv's global scientific community.

The shocking moment was caught on film by another traveller, who shared it with Instagram account @PassengerShaming. In the video, the man can be seen sitting in a waiting area alongside other passengers. At first, nothing seems out of the ordinary, and the man doesn’t stand out from any other person waiting for their plane to board. However, he soon turns a few heads when he apparently begins to urinate directly onto the tiled airport floor. READ MORE: FCO travel warning: Australia fires trap 4,000 people on beaches [TRAVEL WARNING]

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Whale-watchers off Dana Point got the Christmas gift of a lifetime last week when a trio of gray whales was spotted frolicking with scores of dolphins and sea lions. Capt. Steve Plantz is a lifelong ocean explorer who has led tours with Captain Dave’s Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari for the past two years. He said to see the gray whales alone would have been a sight, but to see all the sea creatures floating in unison was a rarity. Plantz took a group of whale-watchers out to sea on Christmas Eve aboard the Manute’a, a 50-foot catamaran sailboat. The goal was to find marine mammals, including gray whales, who are most often spotted between December and May during their annual migration from north of Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California. What the 49 passengers witnessed instead was a water ballet among the animals. Advertisement “It’s definitely a top-tier kind of sighting,” Plantz said. In a video published Friday, aerial footage captured by drone pilot Grayden Fanning shows the whales swaying from side to side as Pacific white-sided dolphins jump and spin, cruising the pressure wave created by the massive mammals. Nearby, sea lions splash while a flock of seagulls flies overhead. Plantz said there were two adults and one juvenile among the whales. He thinks a courtship was brewing, which piqued the curiosity of the dolphins. The boat includes an underwater viewing area for passengers — whom Plantz described as ecstatic about the water show — to observe the dolphins. It’s not uncommon to see the animals this time of year, he said, when they come in closer to the shore as the waters cool. Advertisement The tour lasted longer than the typical 2 1/2 hours as the excursion traveled farther from the harbor, following the whales down the coast toward Camp Pendleton. Dana Point was recently deemed the whale and dolphin capital of the world. Plantz said seeing both sea creatures swimming alongside each other really drove that message home. “It’s a special treat to see that.”

While Orange County was reveling in the spirit of the holidays this week, a group of marine mammals held a party of their own. On Tuesday, Dec. 24, Capt. Steve Plantz, on board the Manute’a — a catamaran operated by Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari — came across a festive sight involving three gray whales, and some dolphins and sea lions. Plantz had taken the Manute’a out on its first public cruise on Christmas Eve morning and was looking for marine mammals — including gray whales which have started to show up off the Orange County coastline during their annual migration from the Bering Sea in Alaska. He first saw a group of common dolphins which led Plantz about three miles straight out of Dana Point Harbor, where he caught sight of the whale spouts. As the boat got closer, Plantz saw three whales — two adults and one juvenile. The common dolphins continued to frolic with the whales who were cruising south. Two hours later, Plantz took out a second group of passengers. This time he found the whales off Camp Pendleton, surrounded by about 20 Pacific white-sided dolphins and three sea lions. “The dolphins were diving around them and under them,” Plantz said. “The sea lions were just jumping.” “Had this been any day of the year, to get a sighting like this would have felt like Christmas,” he added. “To get this on Christmas Eve, it added a special element.”

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SAN ANGELO, TX – San Angelo took many bold steps in 2019, and is preparing to kick off the 2020’s with numerous important water expansion and improvement projects.​ “Of some things to look forward to for the utility in 2020, one is to continue the efforts that we’re making with the Concho River Project,” said San Angelo Water Utility Director Allison Strube. “We are still working on those applications, the two necessary applications, one being the bed and banks application and one being the discharge permit.”​ ​ Another water project which is already being utilized, and which will likely reach completion sooner, is the Hickory Aquifer expansion.​ The five wells slated to be added will increase the pumping and treatment capacity by four million gallons per day when complete. Also after the start of the new year, san angelo water billing customers can look forward to more a more secure online experience.​ “On January 2 we will be launching our new online payment portal,” explained Strube. “We’ve been working on this since march of this year when council approved us working with that vendor.​ We have been working behind the scenes to get all the billing and payment portions connected, and we are ready to launch that on January 2.”​ Several new features will be available with the Invoice Cloud system, including pay by text and paperless billing.​ One important note, all customers must sign-up on the new system as user details will not carry over from Click-to-Gov.​ Beyond that, several street and utility projects are also coming up in 2020.​ Most notably the Avenue P detention pond and the Chadbourne overhaul. For full details on these projects, visit the city of San Angelo webpage.​ More Stories for you • Our Water: a look back at 2019 SAN ANGELO, TX – A lot has happened in 2019 regarding San Angelo’s water supply and infrastructure. Voters approved the… • OUR WATER: sewer main repair expected to take weeks SAN ANGELO, TX – City of San Angelo crews worked through the night to get a bypass system in place on the sewer main… • OUR WATER: rain levels in 2019 versus 2018 SAN ANGELO, TX – Much of the Concho Valley appears to be in a moderate to severe drought. While it is true that we have… • San Angelo clear to use Lake Nasworthy Trust funds for projects SAN ANGELO, TX – San Angelo city council approved a resolution on Monday, November 18 canvassing returns and declaring… • OUR WATER: Avenue P detention pond plan and funding approved SAN ANGELO, TX – As part of ongoing efforts to reduce roadway flooding, the San Angelo city council recently… • OUR WATER: San Angelo set to change water billing vendor ………………..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0yul4D1Fv0 SAN ANGELO, TX – UPDATE: The city of San Angelo is… • OUR WATER: San Angelo voters support Lake Nasworthy improvements ………………..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFvYvyc7HSo SAN ANGELO – San Angelo voted and several changes are… • City of Eden under boil water notice UPDATE: The City of Eden Boil Water Notice has been officially rescinded as of October 28, 2019. The public water… • OUR WATER: San Angelo receives 56 million in water funding SAN ANGELO, TX – The Texas Water Development Board has approved a $56,000,000 low interest loan from the Drinking Water… • OUR WATER: Goodyear Proving Grounds works to conserve water in tire test area SAN ANGELO, TX – The Good

As we start a new year, people tend to look back and reflect on what has passed. Having lost my dad earlier this year, I must admit that I am rather relieved to see the back of 2019 – in the hope of happier times to come. He slipped away in spring, and it always struck me as ironic that we lost Dad at a time when even nature seemed hopeful, with the daffodils in full bloom. I am also aware of how lucky I am, in part due to my job. I am privileged to speak to people every day who have been faced with extraordinary circumstances, and chosen to flourish in the face of trauma far greater than my own. With that in mind, I am looking ahead to what 2020 will hold. There is no resolution to be a better mum, or a more patient parent at the helm of a crafting activity which includes glitter. I admire those who can commit to finally reading that parenting book, while simultaneously signing up to a juice diet detox. But if this year has taught me anything, it’s that my best is good enough. When a friend asked my advice on returning to work, I told her the wisest course of action was to lower her standards at home. That might sound a little dismal, but bear with me. I have learned that it simply isn’t possible to keep on top of the washing, be present as a mum, hoover the stairs and clean out the vegetable drawer in the fridge. I reason that as long as the house is vaguely clean, the rest of the chaos can wait. I have been known to batch cook at 10pm, in the hope that it would somehow make me a better mum. It led to a surplus of soup and partly burned lasagne, alongside a mountain of washing up. Although mum guilt still snaps at my heels most days, I am secure in the knowledge that I have been a fairly decent parent thus far. There is, however, one change, which should hopefully be occurring in our household. No, not baby number two – we’re still recovering from a solid year of sleep deprivation. Instead, I hope that 2020 will see me spend a lot more time with my other half. It has often struck me that we are like ships in the night, discussing little else except Reuben and whose turn it is to walk the dog. In the early days, our life revolved around our new addition. But Reuben is no longer a tiny bundle clasped to my chest. It is perhaps time that I cut the apron strings ever so slightly and enjoy the odd meal out which doesn’t include crayons and a high chair. It is difficult not to be totally consumed by the feat which is taking care of a young child, with their many milestones and somewhat maddening phases. But in dedicating every spare second to our son, we have forgotten to take time for ourselves. You cannot expect to continue as normal upon having a baby, but nor can you risk losing each other completely. We have vowed to go out once a month, and discuss something other than potty training and the latest episode of Peppa Pig. We may well fall asleep before dessert, but the thought is there. My other half has a dry sense of humour, a secret love of history and possesses endless patience. He is also notoriously private, and he therefore dreads this column. But here it is in black and white, my resolution to catch up with the person who has held my hand through the onslaught of 2019. The date is firmly set in the diary, although the choice of restaurant is still in debate. So if you can recommend the perfect venue for two knackered parents, let me know.

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Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from walesonline - daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email A family say their "world has been turned upside down" after the dad was photographed wearing blackface during a stay at a five-star hotel in Wales. Sian Bannister posted the picture on Facebook . It showed herself posing alongside partner David-Jon Norman wearing brown face paint, fake dreadlocks, and a knitted Rastafarian hat. Also featured in the snap were the couple's two young mixed race children. Taken at a recent visit to Newport's Celtic Manor Resort , the photo was captioned: "Annual family photo!" However the image was re-posted by Bristol rapper Ace Brown who accused the couple of being "offensive and disrespectful". "In this picture your partner is taking the p***, if not direct to the boys, but to their father's heritage," he said. His words having since been commented on and shared more than 21,000 times. (Image: Facebook) But 30-year-old Sian, also from Bristol, hit back after receiving a torrent of abuse as a result, with some even labelling the couple's actions as "child abuse". She wrote: "Because of one man choosing to share my post rather than message me directly our world has been turned upside down. "Ace could have messaged me highlighting the offence my post could cause and I would have apologised to all and removed it. "I've had hundreds of threats, people ringing my local pub, racist abuse like you wouldn't believe." She also suggested that the musician had jumped on the incident as an opportunity to plug a new song of his called Mixed Heritage, adding that it was one of her sons who'd asked her partner to paint his face in the first place. "Is (my son) racist?" she asked. "(It was) complete innocence, a family laugh! "Sorry, but I (stupidly) put that photo up not considering for one minute the way it could be portrayed by a wider audience. "As two white parents with two mixed race boys we have been subject to comments in the past (from black and white people) when I've referred to us as a family – this was a middle finger to them. "(It was) meant for MY friends eyes only – not the whole world and was in NO WAY intentionally making a mockery of my children's heritage and was not meant to symbolise black face as it stands in history."

An employer has sparked a furious backlash after she revealed the one "simple rule" she swears by when it comes to hiring people. Photo / 123RF An employer has sparked a furious backlash after she revealed the one "simple rule" she swears by when it comes to hiring people. Photo / 123RF Every year, we trawl through the archives and republish a few of the standout business stories from the last year. This is essentially a mix of the most popular, topical or insightful pieces published in 2019. Here's one that made the cut. This piece was first published on 8 April. "If someone doesn't send a thankyou email, don't hire them." This is the one rule Insider Inc's executive managing editor Jessica Liebman swears by when it comes to hiring potential employees — but it's sparked a storm of controversy. Having interviewed hundreds of prospective workers, she penned an article arguing not sending a follow-up email is the "number one mistake" an interviewee can make. "The truth is, the hiring process can uncover only so much," she wrote in Business Insider. "You're often basing your decision on a small sample of data that you collected during a few hours of speaking with them, sometimes not even in person." She says hiring managers should always "expect a thankyou email", adding "you should never make an offer to someone who neglected to send one". She says there's two reasons for this — one being it signals the person really wants the job, and the other being how someone presents in interviews may not translate to effectiveness in the role. "While sending a thankyou note doesn't necessarily guarantee the person will be a good hire, it gives you the tiniest bit more data: The candidate is eager, organised, and well mannered enough to send the note. "It shows resourcefulness, too, because the candidate often has to hunt down an email address the interviewer never gave them." The piece sparked a furious backlash after Liebman shared it on Twitter, with many people suggesting it was an entitled approach to take to interviews. My simple rule: don’t work anywhere that thinks having access to your talent is a bigger win for you than it is for them. Companies that compete on talent recruit to persuade. Companies that view hiring as merely finding workers worry about thank you emails. — The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) April 6, 2019 This is an arbitrary bit of gatekeeping that is both culture- and generation-specific. In doing this you’re also gong to skew results to people who act and think like you, thereby decreasing intellectual diversity on the team. A thank you is classy, but not a disqualifier. — Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) April 6, 2019 You know taking a day off work, going someplace unfamiliar, then participating in ~8 hours of technical and personal interviews is exhausting, right? — Rebecca (Slatkin) Sloane (@RebeccaSlatkin) April 7, 2019 These employees will be creating value for your company, it’s you that should be thankful. No wonder people leave after few months, sounds like a toxic work environment where only the yay sayers are accepted — Marijam Didžgalvytė (@marijamdid) April 5, 2019 Many users also wondered whether Liebman sent thankyou emails to interviewees for taking the time to meet with her: Have you been sending everyone who applies thank you notes too? Signalling goes both ways. — Nat (@unfortunatalie) April 7, 2019 But others agreed with her approach, saying sending thankyou emails is a professional and courteous thing to do. It's professional courtesy to send a thank you email. Plenty of people with talent out there who still have manners. — Melissa Hope (@missyhopez) April 6, 2019 I agree with her on this. The level of effort that goes into screening and hiring a canidate is STRESSFUL, and to not even send a thank-you note or letter shows to me 1. You're inconsiderate, and 2. Your business etiquette is lacking. But most of all you're inconsiderate. — Atlanta’s Tech Emperor (@ThugDebugger) April 7, 2019 In 2012, Liebman wrote a similar article detailing her expectations for thankyou emails. She said the interviewee should thank her for taking the time to talk with them, restate they wanted the job and add a quick plug about why they would be perfect for it. She said if she didn't get an email like this, she would "assume you don't want the job" and "think you're disorganised and forgot about following up", adding "there is a much higher shot I'll forget about you". News.com.au has contacted Liebman for comment.

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NEW DELHI (REUTERS) - Coal-fired utilities around New Delhi were still operating on Wednesday (Jan 1) despite threats from the Indian authorities to close them down if they had not installed equipment to cut emissions of sulphur oxides by the end of the year. Three senior executives at companies operating power plants around New Delhi and facing an end-2019 deadline said they had not received direction on whether they could continue to run the plants having not installed the kit. Only one out of the 11 utilities in the national capital region had installed the equipment. India had already extended its December 2017 deadline for its utilities to meet the emissions standards - posing a further challenge to the authorities grappling with the pollution that can cause lung disease and blights air quality. Officials from the India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), who had threatened a shut down for non-compliance, did not respond to repeated calls and text messages seeking comment. Reuters reported last month that more than half of India's coal-fired power plants and 94% of the coal-fired units ordered to retrofit equipment to curb air pollution would likely miss the phased deadlines. The air quality index for the Indian capital, the worst affected major city, indicated "severe" conditions on Wednesday - like most days this winter - a potential risk for even healthy people. Real-time data government data showed both power plants in the country's largest state of Uttar Pradesh which had a Dec 31 deadline were operating. In Punjab, Vedanta-owned TSPL units were producing power, as were state-run plants at Ropar and Bhatinda. Mohammed Shayin, managing director at northern Haryana state-run power generator HPGCL said all units other than ones under scheduled maintenance were operational, adding that the utility was "pleading" with federal authorities to extend the emissions deadline. Private producers such as Vedanta and Larsen & Toubro Ltd argued for yet another extension to the deadline. L&T-owned Nabha Power Ltd said it was "constrained to shut down both its units due to a delay in extension of timelines by the CPCB". Vedanta said it was "confident" that authorities "would take a considerate stand". "We shall shut the plant in case we get the directions from the CPCB or the environment ministry," the company said.

New Delhi, India – The Indian capital of New Delhi entered 2020 reeling under an intense cold wave, with the homeless people on its streets bearing the maximum brunt. The Delhi government set up nearly 200 night shelters, but they are not enough to host all the city’s homeless, forcing hundreds of them to spend their nights in the open. “We have around 40 beds which can accommodate a maximum of 60 people, depending on the size of the families who can share a bed,” Sunil Kumar, who manages a night shelter near the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, told Al Jazeera. “We can provide two or three blankets a person, but it doesn’t serve the purpose in such biting cold. There should be some room heaters too,” he said. While some kept themselves warm by lighting bonfires on the sidewalks, dense fog blanketed the city on Wednesday with the night temperature falling to 2.4 degrees Celsius (36.3 degrees Fahrenheit), disrupting road, air and rail traffic. On Monday, the Indian capital recorded its coldest December day since 1901, with the maximum temperature plummeting to the lowest ever at 9.4C (48.9F). “The maximum temperature also dipped to less than 10 degrees in large parts of northern India,” Kuldeep Shrivastava, head of the regional weather forecasting centre in New Delhi told Al Jazeera. Apart from the capital, Indian states and territories that continued to face a severe cold wave included Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. “Usually temperature dips in the month of January, but this time mercury has broken the record of decades in December itself,” Shrivastava added.

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We love it when celebrities and royals repeat their favourite outfits, and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has done that not once but twice over the past few days. Looking as though she had just stepped straight out of a fairytale, the royal joined her husband Crown Prince Frederik, 51, and her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II on Thursday for a New Year's diplomatic reception in Copenhagen wearing the most beautiful white gown. She looked right at home in Christiansborg Castle! With a straight neckline and long sleeves, the 47-year-old opted for understated glamour in the floor-length dress, a pair of pearl drop earrings and a matching pearl necklace. She added splashes of colour with a soft purple belt and heels and protected herself from the cold weather by wrapping up warm in a thick white midi coat. Crown Princess Mary wore the same dress in 2016 This wasn't the first time we've seen her in this gown. For the same annual reception back in 2016, she rocked a very similar outfit, swapping the white coat and bag we saw on Thursday for neutral brown ones and wearing her dark hair loose around her shoulders. RELATED: The clever way Princess Beatrice marks her nickname with her accessories She often promotes sustainable fashion by restyling some of her most incredible outfits. The night before, she wowed the crowd in a maroon velvet dress by Danish designer Birgit Hallstein for a New Year's reception at Amalienborg Palace. As well as carrying a matching red clutch, the Australian-born beauty looked every inch the Princess in a ruby and diamond tiara and necklace. WATCH: Crown Princess Mary arrive at the Palace And eagle-eyed royal fans would have noticed the stunning dress was another repeat! Mary has previously worn it on several occasions, including in 2012 and 2014, and Birgit Hallstein revealed on social media that it was an adaptation of the dress she wore back in 2007. While the original dress appeared to have a different neckline and waist, she explained: "After 2007 the top of the dress is cut in a new design; new body, new sleeves and a belt & a choker to use with it. Same ruby red silk velvet bought from the start, as we knew it would be reusable for future gala occasions in a new classic design." MORE: Best royal fashion moments from 2019 - Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle & more

Advertisement The women of the Danish royal family put on a dazzling display as they arrived in Copenhagen for their annual new year's celebration tonight. Crown Princess Mary, 47, led with the glamour in a velvet burgundy gown adorned with diamonds and rubies as she attended her family's traditional New Year reception at Amalienborg Palace in her country's capital. She joined her sister-in-law Princess Marie, 43, her aunt-in-law Princess Benedikte, 75, and her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II, 79, in celebrating the new year. The women put on a jaw-dropping display, kitted out in eye-catching diamond tiaras, ruby and pearl necklaces and emerald jewels. Mary's velvet gown, cut with long sleeves to shield the Australian-born princess from the cold, fitted her lean frame perfectly. With her usual impeccable taste, Mary paired the stylish gown with lavish jewellery - a ruby necklace and earrings adorned with generous diamond clusters, and a stunning matching tiara and bracelet. Scroll down for video Princess Mary looked stunning in a burgundy gown as the Danish royal family hosted their traditional New Year's reception at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen today Princess Marie, 43, the crown princess's sister in law, looked a picture in a navy blue gown with an empire cut and sapphire jewellery (pictured) The fitted belt of the gown was also adorned with a floral brooch with rubies, as was a beautiful ring on her right hand. As per tradition, she also sported the Order of the Elephant at the front and centre of the stylish outfit. The Order is Denmark’s oldest and most distinguished royal order of chivalry, and can be dated back to 1460. While the length of her gown covered her whole height down to the pavement of the palace, the royal's step revealed she was wearing shoes of the same colour as the gown. Her red clutch bag added a pop of colour to the eye-catching ensemble as she posed for pictures before retreating inside. Not one to overdo it, Mary kept her hazelnut locks styled in a simple bun, and sported light makeup that put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes with a dash of mascara and dark eye-shadow. Queen Margrethe II, 79, wore a floral gown in aquamarine and a sumptuous fur thrown over her shoulders. Her emerald jewellery shone as much as she beamed this evening Princess Benedikte, 75, the younger sister of the reigning Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, added some glitz to her purple gown with a pair of heels, and stuck to silver jewellery and pearls With her usual impeccable taste, the Danish royal paired her jewellery to her dress, from her beautiful tiara and earrings to her necklace, bracelets and ring (pictured) Mary's sister in law, Princess Marie, the wife of Prince Joachim, 50, also looked a picture in a navy blue number with an empire cut. Also sporting the order of the elephant, the royal sported sapphire jewellery which matched her gown perfectly. Queen Margrethe II, 79, the mother of Mary's husband, Frederik, 51, sported a lovely aquamarine gown with a fur thrown over her shoulders. She paired the delightful number with emerald gems on her tiara, necklace and bracelet. Her younger sister, Princess Benedikte, 75, sporting purple, stuck to silver jewellery adorned with purple to accessorise her outfit. Crown Princess Mary turned heads in the beautiful gown as its eye-cathing train wrapped her legs in the velvet fabric (pictured) Sequins and pearls! Princess Benedikte looked stylish as she joined the royal family for the reception tonight Princess Marie looked darling as she beamed by her husband Prince Joachim, side at the reception, Joachim looked dashing in his navy blue uniform Love birds! Princess Marie and Prince Joachim held hands as they stopped for a few moments on the red carpet leading them into the royal party Both royals were smiling, wearing their very best ahead of the evening of celebration in Copenhagen. Joachim and Marie (pictured) married in 2008 The traditional New Year's Eve ball began in 1693 when Christian VII gave the Elephant Order statues to the Danish Ordinances on January 1. While it used to be an exclusive celebration for kings and knights of the day, the circle later extended to include royal ladies, the cabinet's leadership and selected institutions closely related to the empire. It has since become a way for the reigning Queen to give a New Year's address to her family and close associates. Princess Mary kept her makeup subtle, with a dash of mascara and eyeshadow which put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes Queen Margrethe II (left) beamed in aquamarine as she was joined by her younger sister Benedikte, in purple, (right) for the festivities

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Home prices in the Atlanta region have continued to rise faster than in most other metro areas, according to a much-watched national report issued Tuesday. In the past year, local prices have jumped 4.2%, nearly twice as much as the average of the 20 largest metro areas, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index. Atlanta’s price gain was the fourth-largest increase, behind only Phoenix, Tampa and Charlotte. Overall price increases are not as large as they were a few months ago, but there is reason to expect the price hikes to continue or even grow in 2020, said economist Matthew Speakman of Zillow, a Seattle-based source of real estate data, primarily for consumers. A strong job market and low interest rates have combined to boost home buying, he said. “Despite recent upticks, mortgage rates remain nearly a full percentage point below where they were this time last year.” Demographics might fuel demand too. Millennials are more likely than previous generations to be renters, but now they are aging into careers and families. A shift to home buying could give the market a jolt. But the catch – especially in Atlanta – is a shallow pool of homes for sale in price ranges appealing to first-time buyers. That shortage gives sellers an advantage in negotiations, which generally means rising prices. “That extreme shortage of for-sale listings, particularly at lower price points, remains a concern,” Speakman said. Since the housing market bottomed in 2012, metro Atlanta home prices have risen 81.5%, according to Case-Shiller. That index differs somewhat from other measures, since it tracks only resales and does not include data on new home construction. Those resales counted by Case-Shiller account for the vast majority of home sales, especially in metro Atlanta, where new construction still represents less than half of pre-recession levels. Atlanta’s current prices are 13.7% higher than the pre-recession peak of 2007, according to Case-Shiller. Of course, what is a problem for some is a plus for others, said Bill Banfield, executive vice president of Quicken Loans. “The silver lining to this month’s increase in home price is homebuyers will see continued appreciating value in their home after the transaction,” he said. Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers. Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.

U.S. home prices rose faster in October than the previous month as many would-be buyers competed for a limited supply of available properties. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 2.2% in October from a year ago, up from a 2.1% annual gain in September. The Tuesday report suggests that home price increases are being revived after the pace of gains hit a seven-year low in July. The Federal Reserve’s three cuts to short-term interest rates in 2019 have accelerated sales of new and existing homes. The sales pickup may now be pushing up prices more quickly.

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Australia bushfires have scorched 12M acres and killed at least 2 people. There's no end in sight Show Caption Hide Caption Terrifying, up-close view of Australian bushfires ravaging forest. Firefighters were forced to shelter in their truck as a bushfire flared up passing through in Nowra, New South Wales. USA TODAY After much debate and consternation, the world-renowned fireworks show over Sydney Harbor delighted the estimated 1 million in attendance as Australia greeted a new year. Now back to worrying about the bushfires. A devastating fire season that has seen more than 12 million acres burn nationwide over a matter of months hit another crisis point Tuesday when residents and vacationers in a seaside town were trapped in apocalyptic conditions. At least two people were killed as the eastern parts of Australia’s two most populous states continued to get torched. The weather forecast offers only a little respite from the conditions that have fueled a surge in blazes amid what has been the country’s worst fire season in memory. According to AccuWeather, there will be a letup Thursday in the heat and gusty winds that caused the fires to spread across New South Wales and Victoria, but those same factors will return Friday and into Saturday. It’s not until Sunday that widespread rain will arrive in the area for the first time in several weeks. Tragic:Thousands of koalas feared dead as wildfires ravage Australia New South Wales state Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons wasn't overly optimistic. “What we really need is meaningful rain,’’ he said, “and we haven’t got anything in the forecast at the moment that says we’re going to get drought-breaking or fire-quenching rainfall.” The tinder-dry conditions prompted the cancellation of fireworks shows across the nation, and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore was pressed to follow suit as the leader of the largest city in a state, New South Wales, where almost 100 fires are burning. In the town of Conjola Park alone, 50 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesday’s blazes. Moore declined, saying the New Year’s Eve celebration would “give hope to people at a terrible time.’’ She also pointed out the event had been months in the making and generates more than $90 million in revenue, drawing visitors from near and far. Sydney was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires. The Australian tourism industry may take a hit nonetheless after an estimated 4,000 people had to seek refuge on a beach in the southeastern town of Mallacoota, Victoria, about 300 miles east of Melbourne, as winds pushed a wildfire toward houses. The smoke-filled sky shrouded the town in darkness before turning a shade of bright red. Many people escaped on boats as crews battled the blaze, eventually getting a break when the winds changed direction late in the day, though by then dozens of homes had burned. WATCH: Incredible footage of Australia wildfires shows danger firefighters face Stranded residents and vacationers slept in cars, while gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defense Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters because roads were inaccessible. There were grave fears for four missing people. “We can’t confirm their whereabouts,” Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters. Australia’s fire season, which began earlier than usual after an uncommonly dry and warm winter, has already claimed 13 lives and resulted in more than 1,000 homes being destroyed. In the nation's capital of Canberra, smoke from the wildfires led to the worst air quality in the world Wednesday, with a rating more than 21 times above the hazardous level. Contributing: The Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia - Australia deployed military ships and aircraft Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires. Since Monday, seven people have died as destructive wildfires tore through communities in New South Wales and Victoria on Australia's southeast coast. On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. Stranded residents and vacationers slept in their cars, and gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Dozens of homes burned before winds changed direction late Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town. Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defense Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible. Conditions cooled Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing. "We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state," Crisp said. In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 50 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesday's fires. More than 100 fires were still burning in the state Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level. Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burned-out car and a father and son who died in their house. Two people in New South Wales are missing. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said firefighting crews would take advantage of easing conditions Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning. Climate change debate The early and devastating start to Australia's summer wildfires has led authorities to call this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australia's lucrative coal industry. Morrison won a surprise third term in May. Among his government's pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030, a modest figure compared to the center-left opposition Labor party's pledge of 45%. The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nation's highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis. "If he (Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commissionlike powers as soon as parliament returns," Di Natale said in a statement. About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with 15 people confirmed dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed. Fireworks go on Some communities canceled New Year's fireworks celebrations, but Sydney's popular display over its iconic harbor controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revelers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires. Smoke from the wildfires meant Canberra, the nation's capital, Wednesday had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world. The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.

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Emily Blunt is seen on the run with her children in the terrifying new trailer for A Quiet Place: Part II. The film is a follow-up to the 2018 thriller about a family trying to survive with their children in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by monsters with acute hearing. Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realise that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. The new trailer also gives fans a peek at newcomers Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. A Quiet Place: Part II was written and directed by Blunt’s husband John Krasinski. It will be released on March 20.

Happy New Year! A trailer for the chilling sequel to A Quiet Place is here, and it's just as eerie and terrifying as we feared. After the deadly events of the first film, things continue to be downright terrible for the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) as they journey into the outside world. From the looks of things, even more horrors await them. A Quiet Place Part II, directed by John Krasinski, hits theaters March 20.

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan's top military official was among eight people killed in an air force helicopter crash in mountainous terrain outside Taipei on Thursday, the defense ministry said. Five others survived. As chief of the general staff, Gen. Shen Yi-ming was responsible for overseeing the self-governing island's defense against China, which threatens to use military force if necessary to annex what it considers part of its territory. The helicopter was flying from Taipei to the northeastern city of Ilan for a New Year's activity when it crashed. The victims included other senior military officials and the two pilots. The UH-60M Blackhawk with 13 people on board dropped from the radar screen 10 minutes after takeoff from Songshan air force base around 7:50 a.m., Taiwan's defense ministry said. It went down in the mountainous, heavily forested Wulai area southeast of the capital. Shen, 63, had taken over as chief of the general staff in July after serving as commander of Taiwan’s air force, which is undergoing a substantial upgrade with the arrival of the most advanced version of the U.S. F-16V fighter. Alexander Huang, a strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan who had known Shen for a decade, said he had stood out as a pilot and an officer. “He was very calm and very stable and unlike other army guys he was always smiling, so he got a specific leadership style that also made him a popular leader in the entire military,” Huang said. It will likely be months before the cause of the crash is known, but the pilots appeared to have been highly experienced. “Of course, reasonable people would think in the direction of mechanical failure or maintenance problem, but without proof you can’t say anything," Huang said. A special government committee will look into the cause of the crash, a defense ministry statement said. Taiwan's military has operated Blackhawk helicopters for decades and completed a sale for another 60 UH-Ms from the U.S. for $3.1 billion i n 2010. The one that crashed was a model dedicated to search and rescue and had been delivered in 2018, according to the ministry. The loss of Shen and other high-ranking officials will require a rapid reshuffle of positions, but should have minimal effect on Taiwan's Jan. 11 elections for president and lawmakers, said Andrew Yang, a former deputy defense minister who said Shen was highly respected throughout his career. “I don’t think the crash will have a strong impact over the elections but certainly it will affect the armed forces because so many senior officers passed away as a result of this crash," he said. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party said in a statement on social media that all its public campaign events from now through Saturday would be cancelled. "The loss of pillars of our country make us feel endless sorrow," the statement read. The party has been strongly critical of China's attempts to increase economic, military and diplomatic pressure. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen appears on track to win a second term over her more pro-China opponent, Han Kuo-yu of the main opposition Nationalists. Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan's top military official was among eight people killed in an air force helicopter crash in mountainous terrain outside Taipei on Thursday, the defense ministry said. Five others survived. As chief of the general staff, Gen. Shen Yi-ming was responsible for overseeing the self-governing island's defense against China, which threatens to use military force if necessary to annex what it considers part of its territory. The helicopter was flying from Taipei to the nearby city of Yilan for a New Year's activity when it crashed. The victims included other senior military officials and the two pilots. The UH-60M Blackhawk with 13 people on board dropped from the radar screen 10 minutes after takeoff from Songshan air force base around 7:50 a.m., Taiwan's defense ministry said. It went down in the mountainous, heavily forested Wulai area southeast of the capital. Shen, 63, had taken over as chief of the general staff in July after serving as commander of Taiwan’s air force, which is undergoing a substantial upgrade with the arrival of the most advanced version of the U.S. F-16V fighter. Alexander Huang, a strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan who had known Shen for a decade, said he had stood out as a pilot and an officer.

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Readings for Holy Family Sunday: SIR 3:2-6, 12-14; PS 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5; COL 3: 12-21;NT 2: 13-15, 19-23 Last week Pete Buttigieg annoyed white Evangelicals by calling attention to Jesus' poverty. As reported in The Washington Post, his Christmas tweet read: "Today I join millions around the world celebrating the arrival of divinity on earth, who came into this world not in riches but in poverty, not as a citizen but as a refugee. No matter where or how we celebrate, merry Christmas." In response, many mostly white evangelicals went apoplectic. "Jesus was not poor," they countered. "And he certainly was not one of those despicable refugees. At his birth, his parents were simply obeying imperial law by returning to Joseph's town of origin. Bethlehem just happened to have all its rooms filled with similar obedient taxpayers. So even though Joseph and Mary were quite capable of paying their hotel bill, they had to accept an overnight stay in a smelly, rodent-infested stable. Which of us wouldn't do the same?" __________ The next day, when we discussed the controversy over breakfast, my daughter asked, "What's the big deal? Why do those people care so much?" I answered, "It's because if Jesus was poor and a refugee from state violence, the whole anti-poor, anti-refugee program of the Republican Party is nullified at least from the standpoint of faith." It means for instance that: When they support Donald Trump's exclusion of immigrants and refugees at the U.S. border, Republicans are really excluding the modern-day equivalents of Jesus, his mother and father as depicted in today's Gospel selection. There, the Jewish King Herod's planned slaughter of innocent babies drives Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt with their new son. In other words, the Holy Family sought refugee status in Egypt. Republicans are refusing to recognize Jesus' later specific identification with such emigrants, when in the clearest representation of final judgment (MT 25), he says, "Whatever you do to the least of the brethren (i.e. the hungry, thirsty, immigrants ("strangers"), the sick and imprisoned), you do to me." Those words absolutely identify Jesus with the categories of people just mentioned all of them impoverished. Jesus advised his followers that they themselves must become poor (MT 19:21). He's remembered as telling them ". . . sell what you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me." (Would Jesus recommend poverty to his followers and remain un-poor himself?) The earliest Christian communities took literally Jesus' injunction about becoming poor. In the Acts of the Apostles we read, "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." That is, the earliest Christians' desire to follow Jesus drove them to imitate his lowly social status. Jesus described his entire mission as directed towards the poor. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Even more, as economist Michael Hudson points out in his monumental And Forgive Them Their Debts, Jesus' programmatic reference to the "year of the Lord's favor" points to the Jewish Jubilee Year. "Jubilee" was the biblically mandated period when all debts were to be forgiven and land returned to its original (mostly poor) owners. Hudson points out that such debt forgiveness was practiced throughout the ancient mid-east. It was more general than a biblical mandate. According to Hudson, when new leaders acceded to the throne, they created a clean slate. All debts were forgiven. The corresponding legislation in the Book of Deuteronomy had Israel following suit. Jesus' "Good News" to the poor was that (following Deuteronomy) their debts needed forgiveness. Inevitably, that demand was understood by all concerned (especially by Rome's imperialists and their puppet clients in Jerusalem's temple) as a highly threatening call to social justice. (Can you see how that understanding of Jesus' Good News Gospel would be similarly threatening to Republicans while at the same time encouraging Democrats seeking relief for debt -crushed students?) As I told my daughter, that's why it's important to evangelical Trumpists that Jesus not be a poor man himself, that he not be an advocate for the poor, or that he not be a refugee. The contrary calls everything Republicans stand for into question. It makes Donald Trump, his exclusion of refugees, and his baby jails eerily similar to King Herod as depicted in today's final reading. __________ But everything I've said so far overlooks an even deeper point that I developed in my Christmas reflections last Wednesday. My point there was that the "infancy narratives" (found only in Luke and Matthew) constitute what biblical scholars for the last century and more have recognized as Midrash and Haggadah. That is, following rabbinic tradition, these accounts represent fictional stories based on re-readings of the Jewish Testament and intended to make a theological point. And in the case of Herod's slaughter of the innocents and the Holy Family's seeking refugee status in Egypt, Matthew's theological point for his specifically Jewish audience (vs. Luke's gentile readers) is that Jesus is the New Israel. As such, he relives his people's early history. [And that entire history from its very beginning (and repeated in its occupation of Palestine in 1948) is that of a refugee people - refugees from Pharaoh's enslavement to Hitler's genocide and ubiquitous anti-Semitism.] We might even say that the Jewish Testament's very message (reiterated in the case of Jesus) is that REFUGEES ARE GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE. Put otherwise, the story of the Holy Family's "Flight into Egypt" is far more than a rabbinic riff on Moses's escape from the slaughter of Hebrew children under the Egyptian pharaoh 1200 years earlier. It actually has Jesus: Next Page 1 | 2

Blog Post Stephen Bainbridge is the William D. Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and he published his diversity statement on his blog in a post titled “I submit herewith my “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” statement for my merit raise at UCLAW.” Professor Bainbridge provides the following background: “As regular readers know, I’m up for a merit raise at UCLAW this year and am now required to submit a statement of how I contribute to the University’s goals in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have just emailed the statement to the administration. It reads as follows”: Although I am aware and respectful of the many dimensions within which a university properly seeks a diverse faculty and student body, I have long been particularly concerned with the lack of intellectual diversity at the law school. A survey of U.S. law professors in general found that white Democratic professors (both male and female), Jewish professors, and nonreligious professors “account for most (or all) of the overrepresentation among racial, gender, religious, and ideological groups in law teaching.”[1] The groups that “account for most of the underrepresentation among racial, gender, religious, and ideological groups in law teaching” are Republicans (both male and female), Protestants, and Catholics.[2] This disparity persists even though “religious and political diversity are probably more important for viewpoint diversity than gender diversity and roughly as important as racial diversity.”[3] At UCLA, we know that the campus as a whole leans substantially to the left. “A study of various university faculties showed that at Cornell the ratio of liberal to conservative faculty members was 166 to 6, at Stanford it was 151 to 17, at UCLA it was 141 to 9, and at the University of Colorado it was 116 to 5.”[4] Conservative students at UCLA have been “harassed, stalked, and threatened.”[5] I recently searched the opensecrets.org donor database for political contributions made by persons who claimed UCLA School of Law as their employer. Thirty-eight of those persons contributed solely to Democratic candidates, the Democratic Party and various affiliates, and liberal PACs. One person contributed to both Republicans and Democrats. Three persons contributed exclusively to Republican candidates, the Republican Party, and various NRC affiliates. Of the faculty members who contributed exclusively to Republican candidates, the most recently hired of the two was hired in 1997. As a monetary matter, 92.67% of all contributions went to Democrats and affiliated groups.[6] Because conservative students and students of faith often feel alienated and estranged in an environment that is so relentlessly liberal and secular, I have made particular efforts to reach out to and support such students. I have served as a mentor for leaders of The Federalist Society and Christian Law Students Association. I have given talks to both organizations. I taught a Perspectives on law and Lawyering seminar devoted to Catholic Social Thought and the Law, which gave students—whether Catholic or not—an opportunity to consider how their faith (or lack thereof) related to the law and an opportunity to learn about a coherent body of Christian scholarship that might inform their lives as lawyers. I have also tried to lead by example, such as by serving as a volunteer with the Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s St. Vincent de Paul chapter, which raises funds for distribution to poor persons who are in danger of losing their home due to inability to make rent or mortgage payments. MP: Kudos to Professor Bainbridge for writing a diversity statement that should be a template for other conservative and libertarian professors and job applicants who are increasingly being forced to produce these dangerous and troubling “loyalty oaths” in higher education for hiring and promotion that amount to dangerous political litmus tests for political ideology and conformity. Related: See UC-Davis math professor Abigail Thompson’s WSJ op-ed “The University’s New Loyalty Oath” and her original controversial essay on diversity statements that was featured on CD here. And I wrote last March on CD:

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Anti-Semitism is back. Truth is, it never really went anywhere. It’s like cicadas repopulating or a dormant virus reactivating. A herpes of the soul, if you will. Apt as the metaphors may be, all this risks the obvious: anti-Semitism is flourishing in ways, and in places, we could hardly have imagined just years ago. There is, however, a distinction amid the difference. In addition to crude anti-Semitism – the anti-Semitism of physical violence and vandalism–we’re also seeing the parallel emergence of a cultural and, in some cases, official indifference toward the specter of anti-Semitism. On an official level, this symptom presents as willful inaction or, in more advanced cases, in the form of apathy-as-policy. Witness, for example, the idle, coffee-sipping response of the Seattle city council to the desecration of a Jewish cemetery and the harassment of Jewish mourners. The city seems quite bashful about the unpleasant need to stand up for its Jewish citizens. It appears it would rather stand up to its Jews. When you consider the cultural context, however, this is quite understandable. The Post Millennial reports that the Jewish man who dared assert his rights as an American citizen – one entitled to the extravagances of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, free from religious persecution – was intensely harassed, threatened and intimidated for his audacity. Here’s where the intersection(ality) of policy and culture becomes so painful. Around the time of these incidents, Seattle branches of the ACLU, along with the NAACP and the Women’s March (long-since hijacked by anti-Semitic “voices”) co-sponsored an event entitled “Intersectional Dialogue on Weaponizing Charges of Anti-Semitism.” The subtitle to the event could, or maybe should have been: “How to Keep Uppity Jews Exactly Where They Belong.” Shortly after the ethnic hazing of the Jewish man in Seattle, a stabbing rampage took place in the home of a New York rabbi. Shortly before that, a mass murderer killed six people in a kosher supermarket in New Jersey. New York’s mayor has assured Jews that people who murder and terrorize us will face justice, which squarely implies that, in New York City, terrorizing Jews is a prerequisite for justice. The response by the Jewish establishment in America has been to write op-eds, pen a book or two, hold some panel discussions, and launch freshly funded organizations. Racially motivated lunatics will surely be deterred by big idea nonfiction and very carefully thought-through tweet threads! To quote Jack Nicholson’s (anti-Semitic) character in “As Good As It Gets,” it’s time for American Jews to “think white and get serious.” The Jewish establishment in America is in a defensive crouch. As violence expert Tim Larkin points out, when confronted by violence while caught in a victim mindset our tendency is to attempt the most ineffectual of all possible options: reasoning with the assailant. Thus, the American Jewish establishment is hoping instead of acting; falling back on a nostalgia for the way things were in the wistful expectation they once again will be. But, as I pointed out in a piece read by precisely no one, American Jewish exceptionalism is over. The option of melting into that gloriously cliched pot is fading faster than the sun on a January Erev Shabbos. One of our great Jewish superheroes, Deborah Lipstadt, recently wrote that in Europe Jews are going “underground.” They’re wearing baseball caps over yarmulkes, refusing to publish prayer times, taking off Magen David necklaces. Though completely natural, this is the path to psychic collapse. (It’s also nothing new.) Without a serious reckoning, American Jews will soon find themselves on that path. In the face of this onslaught, Jews need the thing that’s hardest to accept, and to achieve, which is a radical assertion of identity. We need to look to what Martin Luther King Jr. did for his people, and Gandhi for his. Each performed the miracle of tapping the collective energies of a group of hounded, persecuted individuals and transforming them into a united entity. They struck their staffs into the ground and the earth rippled. And they did so on their own terms, in their own languages. The questions we need to ask now are ones of accountability – not accountability of the authorities or of the culture, but of ourselves. For example: Where’s the March for Jews on the Washington Mall? Where are the Jewish pray-ins? What demands are we presenting as a people? Who are we in the midst of this society? And who are we to ourselves? We have to accept the harsh reality that standing up for yourself often invites violent confrontation. Don’t misconstrue: I’m not advocating violence as a solution. It’s not. Preemptive or retributive violence will solve nothing, and likely will exacerbate the problem. But in the face of violence designed to intimidate and silence us, Jews need to stand tall with the expectation that racially and religiously-motivated violence is now a part of life. The scary thing is that no one else is going to solve this problem. We have to do it alone. Which means we to need to become the kind of people who stick our necks out rather than tortoise them in. But that’s where the opportunity lies. For decades, American Jews have had the luxury of ruminating on questions of identity. We could explore the confrontation of the collective self in the privacy of our own intellectual vehicles before opening that confrontation to the world. Time’s up. The public confrontation, the crisis, is here. We’re in the midst of it. As with any crisis, what matters most is not what we think, how we feel, or how we wish things could be, but how, when and why we act.

While a shooter was firing rounds of ammunition into two Jews in Jersey City, New Jersey, a kosher market worker and a police officer simply for who they are and where they were, I was halfway around the world, in Paris. More specifically, I was hurrying past a Parisian cafe where I was made to feel humiliated for being visibly Jewish exactly a year prior. The attack felt more personal to me, a proud Brooklyn Jew. The Jewish community in Jersey City is comprised largely of Chasidic Brooklyn Jews who can’t afford living across the bridge. An anti-Semite went after my home community, the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up When I travel, I always wear a yarmulke. I refuse to hide my Jewishness — the argument that assimilation will offer Jews safety fails when I consider the yellow stars that assimilated, cultured German Jews were forced to wear as their community was systematically murdered. So I wear my kippah when I travel as a proud banner to counter the cheer that “Jews will not replace us.” I was taught in yeshiva that Jews merited being saved from slavery in ancient Egypt because they didn’t change their names, their language or their clothing. Their refusal to assimilate was their ticket out. In Brooklyn, I heard the message that sticking to my tight-knit Jewish community was the clearest path to safety — that the best way to save myself from anti-Semitism was to simply avoid interacting with non-Jews. I’m working on unlearning this narrative. I proudly travel while Jewish, across nearly 30 countries so far. But recent events have made me question my own conclusions about my place in the world. Last year, after a red-eye from New York on the last day of Chanukah, I arrived in Paris’ city center with enough time to take part in a Parisian ritual, at least according to the movies — sip an espresso on a table with a checkered tablecloth. I found the perfect cafe and ordered espresso in the little French I memorized on the plane. I sat in the booth and took off my beanie, revealing a yarmulke. I tried to get comfortable as I took in the scene — the pretty bar, the checkered pattern and the non-kosher food I could only enjoy with my eyes. And the waiters, who were all wearing uniforms. One was heading my way. He didn’t look happy. He was yelling in French. His body language told me he didn’t want me there. I surmised that to him, I was poison. Humiliated, I paid the 2 euros for my coffee, downed it and headed out into the cold. The event challenged my place in the world. The liberal beliefs I held close, that the Holocaust is now behind us and that Jews are welcomed in Western society, didn’t hold up in light of this experience. I was caught between the idea that Jews should never integrate because assimilation will be our downfall and the idea that best way to combat anti-Semitism is to be even more public with my Jewishness — caught between the push to assimilate and the need to stick to my guns as a Jew and wear my Jewishness more proudly. But that was only in France, where earlier this month another Jewish cemetery was filled with graffiti swastikas. Not in the United States, where I was safe. This was in Europe. It wasn’t like this in America. This juggling act came to mind when I accidentally passed the cafe after making a wrong turn on the day of the New Jersey shooting, exactly a year later. I remembered the awning and the layout, including the wicker chairs outside under the electric heaters. I hurried past it. As I traveled to the airport, I read more about the shooting and how it is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism with anti-Semitic and anti-police intent. I am now back in New York, my former city of safety. But today it feels more like being in Europe as a Jew, with or without a kippah. France was where I realized that I could stay safe in my tristate shtetl, but Jersey City taught me that staying here will never offer complete security. My hopefulness in my place in the world is waning. pjc Eli Reiter is a New York based educator, storyteller and writer. This article first appeared at JTA.org.

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'We cannot allow 2020 to go in wrong direction,' councilman says Hide Transcript Show Transcript A VIOLENT NEW YEARS EVE... THE CITY OF JACKSON HIT WITH A COUPLE OF APPARENT DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS... MONDAY EVENING, AROUND 5:30, JACKSON POLICE SAY ONE OF THEM HAPPENED IN THE AREA OF CLINTON BOULEVARD, NEAR DEXTER DRIVE... POLICE SAY 2 VICTIMS, A MALE AND A FEMALE, SUFFER MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS AFTER AN UNKNOW SUSPECT FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS INTO THE VEHICLE THEY WERE IN POLICE SAY THEN THE MALE DRIVER DROVE FROM THIS LOCATION, DO TO WOODROW WILSON BOULEVARD...TRYIN G TO SEEK HELP THE VEHICLE ENDED UP AT THE 4 HUNDRED BLOCK OF WOODRW WILSON...SOME 3 MILE FROM THE INITIAL SHOOTING SCENE... OUR CAMERA SHOWS THE CONDITI SHOOTING SCENE... OUR CAMERA SHOWS THE CONDITION OF THE VICTIMS SUV... THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY SHOT OUT... IT ALSO APPEARS SEVERAL PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WERE SHATTERED... JACKSON POLICE SAY THE TWO VICTIMS ARE IN STABLE CONDITION, RECIEVING TREATMENT AT UMMC... NAT POP GUNFIRE ALSO RANG OUT TUESDAY MORNING, IN A SITUATION POLICE ARE CALLING A TARGETED SHOOTING... IN HAPPENED AROUND 10:30 AM, AT RUTLEDGE AVENUE AND MEDGAR EVERS BOULEVARD... A VEHICLE WITH FIVE OCCUPANTS WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND... POLICE SAY ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED UP, AND BEGAN SHOOTING... INVESTIGATORS SAY AS MANY AS 13 SHOTS WE FIRED... IT'S NOT RANDOM...IT'S TARGETED...AND, 90 PERCENT OF THE TIMES, 95 PERCENT OF THE TIMES THE VICTIM KNEW THE UH, SUSPECT JPD SAYS 3 ADULTS WERE IN THE CAR...BU THE INJURED VICTIMS WERE A 1 YEAR OLD GIR STRUCK BY A BULLET IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD, AND A 13 YEAR OLD BOY WHO SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE RIGHT FOREARM... THE FORCE OF THE BULLET BROKE A BONE... THAT WAS VERY SHOCKING...TO SE HER RUN IN, HOLDIN' HER ONE- YEAR-OLD, SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD JUST BLEEDING EVERYWHERE THE BABY GIRL IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION...THE BOY IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER... POLICE SAY THEY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR TH SUSPECTED GUNMAN'S VEHICLE... A SILVER OR GOLD, OR POSSIBLY A TA A FORD EXPEDITION THEY SAY TWO MEN WERE INSIDE... IF YOU HAVE INFO, CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AT 601- 355-TIPS. TROY JOHNSON...16 WAPT NEWS AT 10 JPD SAYS IT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWIN Advertisement 2019 ends in surge of shootings 'We cannot allow 2020 to go in wrong direction,' councilman says Share Shares Copy Link Copy Jackson police are investigating several shootings over the New Year's holiday, including one that injured two children.“We cannot allow 2020 to go in the wrong direction as 2019. We cannot allow 80-plus murders in the city of Jackson,” said Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes during a news conference Wednesday.The most recent shootings were reported on New Year's Day, police said.About 5 a.m. Wednesday, a man was shot at Village Apartments in the 300 block of Raymond Road. Police said the man is in critical condition at a hospital.Another man is also in critical condition after a shooting reported about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of Raymond Road, police said. Someone drove the man to a hospital, where he remains, police said. New Year's Eve shootingsAbout 9 p.m. Tuesday, a girl, whose age was not released, arrived at a hospital with a foot wound, police said. Police believe she was injured in the 1400 block of Palmyra Street while she was outside with fireworks. Police said people were nearby firing guns at the time. About an hour earlier, a woman was killed when someone shot into her home, police said. The woman was in a rear bedroom of the home in the 2500 block of Shepwood Drive, when she was shot, police said. The woman's name, age and suspect information were not immediately released.A man and woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds after someone shot into their vehicle on Clinton Boulevard, near Dexter Drive, police said. The man drove to Woodrow Wilson Avenue for help after the shooting, which was reported about 5:30 p.m., police said. Police have not released the names of the man and woman, but said they are stable at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.Another drive-by shooting was reported about 10 a.m. Tuesday in the 3900 block of Medgar Evers Boulevard, police said. A 1-year-old is in critical condition and a 13-year-old is stable after they were shot during the incident, police said. Investigators believe the shots were fired from a silver, gold or tan SUV. “Young, innocent lives are being impacted by horrific crime and gun violence. Help the Jackson Police Department. Again, help the Jackson Police Department," Stokes said.No arrests have been made in any of the shootings. Anyone with information that can help police is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).Stokes said he will ask the Jackson City Council to offer a reward to help solve the crimes.

Police in Mississippi's capital city say two children have been hospitalized after being shot while riding in a vehicle. A Jackson Police Department spokesman, Sam Brown, says the shootings happened Tuesday. The 13-year-old and the 1-year-old were in a vehicle with their mother, their grandmother and another adult. Shots came from another vehicle, hitting the children. None of the adults in the vehicle with the children was hurt. Police were searching for two suspects.

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From Australian Independent Media So while we sit on our arses and fiddle with our fingers, a brave son of Australia is about to be thrown to the wolves. Julian Assange (Image by (image from reddit)) Details DMCA It would pay us well to read, and reflect upon, the following transcript between the President of the United States, his National Security Adviser, and his Attorney General. The background to the transcript is that a journalist had just published an article in The New York Times. The article was the first installment of 7,000 pages of highly classified documents that exposed the decision-making process that had led the United States into an interminably long and destructive war. Earlier, on the same day that the transcript was recorded, June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court, citing the First Amendment, ruled 6-3 that the Times had the right to publish the stolen documents. The journalist who published the article stated that "It was just an exquisite moment of vindication for the freedom of the press in this country and how important it is." The President, on that very same day ordered his Attorney General to discredit the source of the documents, a man who had just been indicted by a federal grand jury under the questionable strictures of the Espionage Act of 1917. Sound familiar? The redactions in the transcript are mine. President: Don't you agree that we have to pursue the ... (redacted) case? Attorney General: No question about it. No question about it. This is the one sanction we have, is to get at the individuals ... President: Let's get the son of a b*tch into jail. National Security Adviser: We've got to get him, we've got to get him " President: Don't worry about his trial. Just get everything out. Try him in the press. Try him in the press. Everything, ... (redacted), that there is on the investigation, get it out, leak it out. We want to destroy him in the press. Is that clear? Attorney General: Yes. So even though the highest Court in America ruled that the release of the documents was both lawful, and in the public interest, the President and his administration sought to go after, jail, and demolish those who were involved in the leaking of the documents. Next Page 1 | 2

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(JTA) — An appeals court ruling that a man who killed a Jewish woman in her home while shouting Quranic verses is unfit to stand trial is prompting outraged reactions from French Jews who fear it sets a dangerous precedent that will undermine the fight against anti-Semitism. Kobili Troare admitted to killing 67-year-old Sarah Halimi in 2017 in a long and gruesome beating in which neighbors heard him quoting from the Quran and calling his victim a “demon.” But despite Troare having no history of mental illness, the Paris Appeals Court earlier this month upheld a lower court ruling that Traore is unfit to stand trial because he had a “delirious episode” brought on by his consumption of marijuana. The judge in the case also determined that Troare was anti-Semitic. It “left me speechless,” Francis Kalifat, the president of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities, wrote last week in an emotional open letter to the head of the court. “Does the court wish to set a new jurisprudence in our country, making cannabis, which is normally an aggravating factor, a mitigating one for an anti-Semitic murder?” Kalifat asked. Traore is not the first killer of Jews to avoid standing trial in France. In 2003, Abel Amastaibou told his mother that he was “going to heaven” for killing a Jew after stabbing Sebastian Selam to death. Amastaibou, a Muslim, was found unfit to stand trial despite having no prior history of mental illness. In 2015, another Muslim with no prior history of mental illness, Farid Haddouche, was deemed unfit to stand trial for stabbing Jews in Marseille — though further inquiries, conducted amid an outcry, ultimately led to his sentencing to four years in jail. In his letter, Kalifat wondered whether the court ruling was driven by a desire to avoid addressing the role of Muslim anti-Semitism in the targeting of Jews in France while adding he couldn’t bring himself to believe this was the case. Gilles-William Goldnadel, a former member of the CRIF executive board and a lawyer representing the Halimi family, had no such qualms. The ruling on Traore “was an ideological decision born of a great reluctance to condemn those deemed as society’s victims,” he told reporters. The case “destroyed my confidence that anti-Semitic hate crimes in France are handled properly,” Sammy Ghozlan, a former French police commissioner who now heads the BNVCA anti-Semitism watchdog, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “There have been a series of massive failures unlike any I’d seen.” Ghozlan’s investigation led to the discovery that several police officers had stood outside the door of Halimi’s apartment while she was being pummeled by Traore. Neighbors had called the police upon hearing the commotion, but the officers stayed outside due to what a police spokesperson later said was concern about “terrorist activity.” “I personally believe the decision to not prosecute Traore is to avoid scrutiny of how police performed that night,” Ghozlan said. “It’s the only explanation I can think of to a chain of events that is otherwise inexplicable, at least to me.” The decision not to prosecute Traore was based on three rounds of psychiatric examinations that determined he was not responsible for his actions because the cannabis had induced a “delirious episode,” which the appeals court stated did not subtract from the fact that his actions were the result of anti-Semitic bias. Some of the psychiatric evaluations were ordered by the judge evaluating the case and not at the request of Traore’s lawyer. Prosecutors disputed the claim that Traore was not in charge of his faculties when he killed Halimi. But even if he were, the prosecution argued in June, by “voluntarily consuming” marijuana, Traore “directly contributed” to his delirium and is therefore criminally liable for his actions. Halimi’s killing on April 3, 2017, came just three weeks before the first round of a presidential election in which Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally party and a fierce critic of Islam, took one-third of the vote. Many French Jews believe the media swept the case under the carpet in order not to give fodder to Le Pen’s campaign. The killing was reported at length in the mainstream French media only two months later, largely thanks to an open letter by 17 of France’s foremost intellectuals. “Everything about this crime suggests there is an ongoing denial of reality,” they wrote. Only in September 2017 did prosecutors for the first time say that Traore’s actions were the result of anti-Semitic hatred, a claim the judges who deemed him unfit to stand trial accepted in their reasoning. The case has brought back “bad memories,” according to Shmuel Trigano, a French Jewish author and researcher well-known for chronicling how the French authorities ignored a wave of violent anti-Semitism in France in the early 2000s sparked by the outbreak of the Second Intifada in Israel. Daniel Vaillant, then France’s interior minister, later acknowledged that the incidents were squelched in order to “not pour oil on the fire.” But French authorities have since grown less reticent as the death toll from Islamic militants has grown. In October, President Emmanuel Macron urged the country to be “vigilant” against the threat of Islamism following the slaying of four people by a Muslim convert at the Paris police headquarters. Still, some critics see French authorities as reluctant to call out the Muslim role in violence against French Jews. According to BNVCA, most physical assaults on Jews in France are perpetrated by people from families that immigrated to France from Muslim-majority countries. In its annual report for 2016, the French government’s human rights body, French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, wrote that a “significant part of the anti-Semitic acts (actions and threats) pertains to neo-Nazi ideology, whereas in most other cases the perpetrators’ motivations are difficult to ascertain.” The report did not mention attacks by Muslims. The report also questioned the existence of a new anti-Semitism tied to animosity toward Israel, saying that if such an anti-Semitism exists, “then it pertains to a minority” of cases.

While a shooter was firing rounds of ammunition into two Jews in Jersey City, New Jersey, a kosher market worker and a police officer simply for who they are and where they were, I was halfway around the world, in Paris. More specifically, I was hurrying past a Parisian cafe where I was made to feel humiliated for being visibly Jewish exactly a year prior. The attack felt more personal to me, a proud Brooklyn Jew. The Jewish community in Jersey City is comprised largely of Chasidic Brooklyn Jews who can’t afford living across the bridge. An anti-Semite went after my home community, the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up When I travel, I always wear a yarmulke. I refuse to hide my Jewishness — the argument that assimilation will offer Jews safety fails when I consider the yellow stars that assimilated, cultured German Jews were forced to wear as their community was systematically murdered. So I wear my kippah when I travel as a proud banner to counter the cheer that “Jews will not replace us.” I was taught in yeshiva that Jews merited being saved from slavery in ancient Egypt because they didn’t change their names, their language or their clothing. Their refusal to assimilate was their ticket out. In Brooklyn, I heard the message that sticking to my tight-knit Jewish community was the clearest path to safety — that the best way to save myself from anti-Semitism was to simply avoid interacting with non-Jews. I’m working on unlearning this narrative. I proudly travel while Jewish, across nearly 30 countries so far. But recent events have made me question my own conclusions about my place in the world. Last year, after a red-eye from New York on the last day of Chanukah, I arrived in Paris’ city center with enough time to take part in a Parisian ritual, at least according to the movies — sip an espresso on a table with a checkered tablecloth. I found the perfect cafe and ordered espresso in the little French I memorized on the plane. I sat in the booth and took off my beanie, revealing a yarmulke. I tried to get comfortable as I took in the scene — the pretty bar, the checkered pattern and the non-kosher food I could only enjoy with my eyes. And the waiters, who were all wearing uniforms. One was heading my way. He didn’t look happy. He was yelling in French. His body language told me he didn’t want me there. I surmised that to him, I was poison. Humiliated, I paid the 2 euros for my coffee, downed it and headed out into the cold. The event challenged my place in the world. The liberal beliefs I held close, that the Holocaust is now behind us and that Jews are welcomed in Western society, didn’t hold up in light of this experience. I was caught between the idea that Jews should never integrate because assimilation will be our downfall and the idea that best way to combat anti-Semitism is to be even more public with my Jewishness — caught between the push to assimilate and the need to stick to my guns as a Jew and wear my Jewishness more proudly. But that was only in France, where earlier this month another Jewish cemetery was filled with graffiti swastikas. Not in the United States, where I was safe. This was in Europe. It wasn’t like this in America. This juggling act came to mind when I accidentally passed the cafe after making a wrong turn on the day of the New Jersey shooting, exactly a year later. I remembered the awning and the layout, including the wicker chairs outside under the electric heaters. I hurried past it. As I traveled to the airport, I read more about the shooting and how it is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism with anti-Semitic and anti-police intent. I am now back in New York, my former city of safety. But today it feels more like being in Europe as a Jew, with or without a kippah. France was where I realized that I could stay safe in my tristate shtetl, but Jersey City taught me that staying here will never offer complete security. My hopefulness in my place in the world is waning. pjc Eli Reiter is a New York based educator, storyteller and writer. This article first appeared at JTA.org.

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A woman was killed early Tuesday when a massive tree fell on her northwest Atlanta home, a fire spokesman said. Fire crews are working to get into the home to remove the woman’s body, Atlanta fire spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford said. “Right now, it is a recovery operation,” Stafford told Channel 2 Action News. “We want to make sure that we can remove the debris from around her so the medical examiner can get in there safely as well.” The tree came down on the house in the 2600 block of Ridgemore Road, Atlanta Fire Rescue said in a tweet. 1 elderly female found deceased as a result of large tree down on a 2 story home on Ridgemore Rd NW. Firefighters worked for the past 2 hours to reach the victim who was possibly in a bedroom when the tree came down. #AFRD pic.twitter.com/XkJWZMxmKQ — Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) December 31, 2019 Firefighters went to the house for a rescue mission about 4:15 a.m. after hearing reports that someone was inside the house. Atlanta fire crews told Channel 2 that a woman in her 70s was trapped in her bedroom. Authorities said crews were able to speak to the woman when they first arrived. Firefighters worked for two hours to reach her. “We’ve been searching vigorously just to get to the patient,” Stafford said. A team that specializes in collapsed buildings has been called to remove the woman from the home. Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers. Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.

MITCHELL, Jennie L. Age 87, of Atlanta, passed December 29, 2019. Service January 4, 2020, 11 AM, at Valley Grove Baptist Church. Terry Family Funeral Home, Talbotton, GA. View the obituary on Legacy.com Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers. Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.

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(Gateway Pundit) – Democrats and a leading Never-Trumper attacked President Trump even as Iranian backed militias were storming the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, with several blaming Trump–not Iran–for the attack while others cheered for a Benghazi replay. It was so bad that a Hillary Clinton State Department/Obama NSC alum called on one Democrat group to delete a Benghazi tweet about the Baghdad attack and Trump nemesis Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) came off as an adult in the Democrat party. Above: Ben Rhodes Former Obama NSC spokesman Ben Rhodes blamed President Trump, not Iran, for Tuesday’s attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Laura Rosenberger urged the Democrat front group VoteVets to delete their tweet that read, “Hey @POTUS remember you’re Benghazi rants during 2016? You’re about to have your own one unfortunately in Iraq. Rosenberger clapped back, “Please delete this tweet. It shows such disregard to our personnel under siege” Hey @POTUS remember you’re Benghazi rants during 2016? You’re about to have your own one unfortunately in Iraq. https://t.co/mpMKZLzvjk — VoteVets (@votevets) December 31, 2019 Please delete this tweet. It shows such disregard to our personnel under siege — Laura Rosenberger (@rosenbergerlm) December 31, 2019 VoteVets also issued a statement attacking Trump on a personal level, but did not blame Iran. "It is our men and women in uniform who will now pay the price for [Trump's] brittle feelings, unless Congress steps in." – @Will_P_Goodwin, Army veteran and Director of Government Relations for VoteVets, on the attack on the US Embassy in Iraq, by Iranian-backed protesters pic.twitter.com/sjjIf2NXz1 — VoteVets (@votevets) December 31, 2019 Here’s Adam Schiff, sounding responsible for a change, “The storming of our embassy in Baghdad by protestors and Iran-backed militias is deeply disturbing. The first priority is the safety of our personnel. Iraq has an obligation to protect them. Once secure, we need to be clear-eyed about reducing tensions and the path forward.” The storming of our embassy in Baghdad by protestors and Iran-backed militias is deeply disturbing. The first priority is the safety of our personnel. Iraq has an obligation to protect them. Once secure, we need to be clear-eyed about reducing tensions and the path forward. https://t.co/xKfNwdl0CQ — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 31, 2019 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) pretended to take the high road but took a veiled swipe at President Trump, “Watching the situation in Baghdad closely. Our patriotic diplomats, servicemembers and the U.S. Embassy deserve protection from the Iraqi host government and smart, strong national security strategy from U.S. leaders. Escalation and violence must end.” Watching the situation in Baghdad closely. Our patriotic diplomats, servicemembers and the U.S. Embassy deserve protection from the Iraqi host government and smart, strong national security strategy from U.S. leaders. Escalation and violence must end. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 31, 2019 Psycho Never-Trumper Rick Wilson spelled out his Benghazi fantasy for the day: B E N G H A Z Iranian-controlled militia are storming a US diplomatic compound. https://t.co/Nfs9ByU5xb — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 31, 2019 Democrat presidential candidate Julian Castro blamed Trump, not Iran, “The attack on the U.S embassy in Baghdad is a tragedy and a result of the Trump administration’s reckless escalation and incoherent foreign policy. I’m praying for the safety of our diplomats and service members in Iraq.” The attack on the U.S embassy in Baghdad is a tragedy and a result of the Trump administration’s reckless escalation and incoherent foreign policy. I’m praying for the safety of our diplomats and service members in Iraq. https://t.co/v6GaOEt7hX — Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) December 31, 2019 Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) blamed Trump, not Iran, “The US conducted airstrikes in Iraq over the objections of the Iraqi government. Now Iraqi protesters broke into the US Embassy. Trump’s malpractice in the region is making us less safe. Time for Congress to stop this foolish rush to war.” The US conducted airstrikes in Iraq over the objections of the Iraqi government. Now Iraqi protesters broke into the US Embassy. Trump’s malpractice in the region is making us less safe. Time for Congress to stop this foolish rush to war. — Tim Kaine (@timkaine) December 31, 2019 Amb. Wendy Sherman, a Democrat activist who led the Obama administration’s team negotiating the Iran nuclear deal scuppered by Trump lectured Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to do what Hillary Clinton never dared do when an embassy was under siege, “If @SecPompeo was a real SecStste, he’d leave today for Iraq to meet with leaders and most importantly spend new year with embassy employees on duty protecting all of us.” If @SecPompeo was a real SecStste, he’d leave today for Iraq to meet with leaders and most importantly spend new year with embassy employees on duty protecting all of us. — Wendy R. Sherman (@wendyrsherman) December 31, 2019 Former Obama NSC spokesman Ben Rhodes, blamed Trump, not Iran, “It’s hard to overstate what a total failure Trump’s Iran policy has been. Nuclear program resumed. Regional provocations escalated. US isolated…Trump sanctions on Iran have done nothing to change Iranian behavior except make it worse. This is what happens when your foreign policy is based on Obama envy, domestic politics, Saudi interests, and magical right wing thinking.” It’s hard to overstate what a total failure Trump’s Iran policy has been. Nuclear program resumed. Regional provocations escalated. US isolated. — Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) December 31, 2019 Trump sanctions on Iran have done nothing to change Iranian behavior except make it worse. This is what happens when your foreign policy is based on Obama envy, domestic politics, Saudi interests, and magical right wing thinking. https://t.co/HDn0ywZnHu — Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) December 31, 2019 Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) blamed Trump, not Iran, “The attack on our embassy in Baghdad is horrifying but predictable. Trump has rendered America impotent in the Middle East. No one fears us, no one listens to us. America has been reduced to huddling in safe rooms, hoping the bad guys will go away. What a disgrace.” The attack on our embassy in Baghdad is horrifying but predictable. Trump has rendered America impotent in the Middle East. No one fears us, no one listens to us. America has been reduced to huddling in safe rooms, hoping the bad guys will go away. What a disgrace. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 31, 2019 Murphy then went on an anti-Trump rant, “The attack on our embassy reminds us of all Trump’s Middle East disasters: 1/ Emboldened Iran starts attacking U.S. targets; 2/ Turkey invades Syria; 3/ Saudi Arabia gets away with murder; 4/ Israeli/Palestinian peace slips out of reach. And that’s just the start…4/ Thousands of Yemeni children continue to die in a U.S. fueled civil war; 5/ Iran restarts their nuclear program; 6/ Saudi Arabia and Qatar break relations, pushing Qatar to Iran 7/ Turkey buys weapons from Russia, breaking NATO’s back…8/ Brutal crackdown on political dissent in Egypt ramps up 9/ U.S. abandons Kurds to die in Syria, leaves our bases for Russia 10/ U.S. hold on aid to Lebanon weakens their army, empowers Hezbollah 11/ ISIS begins to regroup in Iraq, breaks out of prisons in Syria…The list keeps going, but the point is this: The attacks on our embassy in Iraq (and Iraq’s unwillingness to defend us) is – on this last day of 2019 – a reminder of how catastrophic this year has been for U.S. interests in every corner of the Middle East.” The list keeps going, but the point is this: The attacks on our embassy in Iraq (and Iraq's unwillingness to defend us) is – on this last day of 2019 – a reminder of how catastrophic this year has been for U.S. interests in every corner of the Middle East. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 31, 2019 thegatewaypundit.com/2019/12/sick-as-fighters-stormed-embassy-democrats-blamed-trump-for-iran-militia-attack-on-baghdad-embassy-some-cheered-for-benghazi-replay/

The US embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was evacuated on Tuesday after thousands of angry demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the compound to condemn Washington’s fatal military strike that targeted Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Presstv Reported. On Sunday, five facilities run by the Iraqi PMU forces in Anbar province and neighboring Syria were targeted in the attack, which has left casualties, including over a dozen people dead with scores injured. US officials claimed the attack came in response to a rocket strike on Friday which killed a “US civilian contractor.” They said the attack targeted an Iraqi military base housing US and Iraqi forces in the Arab country’s north. Washington has accused the Islamic Republic of being behind both the Friday rocket attack as well as anti-US protests in Iraq, accusations which Iran has vehemently rejected. Meanwhile, the president’s critics put the blame for recent incidents on him, accusing Trump of an erratic Middle East policy that resulted in Tuesday’s scene. “The attack on our embassy in Baghdad is horrifying but predictable,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted. “Trump has rendered America impotent in the Middle East. No one fears us, no one listens to us. America has been reduced to huddling in safe rooms, hoping the bad guys will go away. What a disgrace.” While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tweeted that “Escalation and violence must end,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said, “We need to be clear-eyed about reducing tensions and the path forward.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) also tweeted that “Trump’s malpractice in the region is making us less safe. Time for Congress to stop this foolish rush to war.”

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On Monday it was all about the Motown Sound in Hamtramck. Several Motown singers including Joseph Billingslea, a Hamtramck native - and an original member of the Contours - was honored Monday by the city of Hamtramck for Motown's 60th Anniversary. "In 1962, thanks to our manager Berry Gordy Jr. who wrote the song 'Do you love me,' it was our first million-seller," Billingslea said. "Back in 1960, 1959, when we first got together, we had no idea that anything like this would ever happen." For some of the singers honored, it was like taking a trip back in time to when it all stated. The original Vandellas started out when they were just teenagers. "Rosalind and I started singing when we were 14," said Annette Sterling-Helton, original member of the Vandellas. And today, they're still doing what they love. Advertisement The Motown Sound...these singers helped to create was more than a sound it was a life altering experience that made music history. "The Motown sound changed the world," said State Rep. Isaac Robinson (D-Detroit). "What you did for the borders of our country and beyond makes a difference," said Kathy Angerer, Hamtramck city manager Katherine Anderson Schaffner - one of the original members of the Marvelettes - was also honored. "You are part of one of the greatest musical acts in the world," Robinson said. "The first record that we did was 'Please Mr. Postman' so if anyone knows anything about The Marvelettes, it's 'Please Mr. Postman,'" Schaffner said. At Monday's celebration - Katherine was joined by new members of The Marvelettes to sing the hit song. Being a part of Motown was like a dream come true for these musicians - but it was also something else "Even when we see each other now, it's like family. Berry always told us that we were a family," said Helton. "It's the Motown family," Billingslea said. "It always will be."

Ottawa lifted its temporary ban on overnight street parking late Tuesday afternoon. The ban, backed up with the threat of parking tickets, had gone into effect Monday. But the job of cleaning up continues. “Please be patient and keep a safe distance behind working snow plows,” the city said in a release Tuesday. “Exercise caution when driving, cycling or walking, and allow extra time for your commute today.” When it comes to winter storms, the first priority for road crews is keeping Highway 174, the Transitway and major/arterial roads clear. Plows get to residential roads as soon as possible, the city said. Residents were asked to clear snow from fire hydrants and catch basins connected to their properties where safe to do so. Updates on the city’s winter road maintenance can be found at ottawa.ca. ALSO IN THE NEWS Murder in the Market: 14 homicides in Ottawa, three in city’s core in 2019 Rope rescue saves person on Rideau River ice School board pitches new site for sports dome in Orléans — meets blowback

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Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry in Enugu, southeast Nigeria, has prophecies for the year 2020. Naija News reports that Rev. Mbaka released the prophecies during his Adoration Ministry in Enugu when he was addressing his congregation last week Thursday. Rev. Mbaka, who predicted President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection, was quoted to have said during his 2019 Passover ministration that there would be more hard times for Nigerians in 2020. The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry said Senator Hope Uzodinma, the 2019 APC governorship candidate for Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, would take over the governance of Imo State from the Incumbent governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha. While maintaining that all the prophecy in Adoration ground has come to pass, Rev. Mbaka revealed that he did not know how the revelation would manifest. The controversial clergyman warned those who would not be satisfied with the message not to come after him, stressing that such action would attract the wrath of the Holy Spirit upon such individuals or groups, referencing the Holy Bible in the process. Below are Rev. Mbaka’s 2020 prophecies… “Many things are going to happen in Nigeria this 2020 that will shock countrymen and countrywomen, but all would be to God’s glory. “In spite of all the hard time that would happen this 2020, there is hope. “In Imo State, there is hope. Hope, hope, hope … hope in Imo State! “Imo people have suffered but God is raising a new hope that would be an agent of salvation for them. “He’s coming with a new flag to restore the dignity of that noble land. A new leadership that will break barriers and there would be joy in the land of Imo. “Lift your candles as I bless Hope Uzodinma; and I empower him to, spiritually, to take over. How I do not know. “Please, if you heard that there would be a new government in Imo and you don’t like the message; if I say, Hope, you can say hopeless but do not fight me. “I am saying this in respect of those who may want to come after me because of the message. If you do that, the God of Moses, Elijah and Elisha will deal with you. I am only a messenger of God”.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, has urged Nigerians to enter 2020 with a resolution to play positive roles in how they are governed. In a New Year message he signed and made available to DAILY POST, Egberongbe, who represents Apapa Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said it was time Nigerians are interested in how they are governed. The lawmaker, however, commended citizens who have always given direction to the government as well as political officials in the current administration. “We constantly need to play active roles in the way we are governed. We should be able to come up with ideas and suggestions on what the government should do and how the government should be run,” the lawmaker said. Egberongbe noted that 2019 came with some challenges for both the government and the governed. “The general elections held in 2019 and it is often known that in such a year, a lot of adjustments and readjustments take place. New policies are declared, new laws and amendments to existing laws are made. “I am of the belief that Nigeria will experience positive growth in 2020 if we continue with the strides we have adopted,” the lawmaker said. While appreciating Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for what he described as ‘courageous and effective leadership of the ninth Assembly’, Egberongbe promised more people-friendly bills and motions from him and his colleagues at the National Assembly, especially with the independence enjoyed by the legislature at the federal level. “Those who claim we are rubber-stamp may have expected us to start our jobs with open confrontations and condemnations and fights with the executive. “Fighting the executive arm of government does not show our independence or prove that we are working. Anyone who has followed us since we took office would see that we have done a lot in a short while,” he said.

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Every year in the MLB offseason, many major leaguers past, present, and future go down to the Caribbean to play in a number of winter leagues. There aren’t a ton of stars, meaning the rosters are filled with people that make you say “oh yeah, that guy.” Many of those people you’ve forgotten about are undoubtedly former Yankees, so let’s check in on how they’re doing down in the Caribbean. We’ll start in the Dominican Republic with the Gigantes del Cibao, where a recently relevant Yankee has gotten some playing time. After missing all of the 2019 MLB season, Greg Bird turn up in the DR, and well... Bird has played in seven games for the Gigantes, and has gone 3-for-24 with no extra-base hits. On the pitching side of that team is brief Yankee Jose Ramirez and also 2019 teammate Adonis Rosa. Considering that Bird’s last Yankee game last year was in April, and Rosa’s lone appearance came in August, there’s a non-zero chance neither of them realize they were, technically, teammates in 2019. On the Aguilas Cibenas is the most random set of former Yankees who are now teammates. One-game wonder Brady Lail is on the same team as Cesar Cabral, who is most famous for getting ejected seemingly for safety reasons after hitting three Rays in a row in 2014. It may not come as a surprise that, even though he’s only thrown 2.1 innings, he has hit a batter. Nestor Cortes Jr. is playing for the Estrellas de Oriente and somehow having a worse time than he did with the Yankees. Cortes has faced 24 batters, and allowed a hit or walk to literally half of them. He has a 13.50 ERA. In Mexico, there is a group of former Yankees on the Tomateros de Culiacan. Manny Banuelos, Ramiro Pena, and Rico Noel are all there, and the guy doing the best of any of them is arguably the guy whose only job was running. Noel has a not great, but better than Pena, .767 OPS, while also stealing 29 bases in 30 games. Elsewhere in Mexico, Vidal Nuno is apparently now going by Vidal Nuno III, and he has a sub-3.00 ERA in over 30 innings. There’s just one former Yankee of note in Puerto Rico, and that’s Jonathan Albaladejo. He’s put up a 6.59 ERA in 13.2 innings for the Indios de Mayaguez. There’s also not much to note in Venezuela, but Alberto Gonzalez is there. You may not remember him as he was one of the cavalcade of infielders the 2013 Yankees threw at the wall to see if anything stuck. Considering that he went 6-for-34 and is arguably more famous for having to pitch a game that season, if you don’t remember him, you didn’t miss much. As for how he’s doing in Venezuela, he has a .389 OBP. He’s drawn 17 walks compared to just eight strikeouts. Not bad. Meanwhile, his OPS with the Yankees back in 2013 was .382, so it’s safe to say he’s found his level.

KANSAS CITY – In the same spirit and celebratory atmosphere of the Christmas season, the Midwestern Seminary community celebrated the culmination of its students’ hard work, dedication, and perseverance, as the school held its 66th commencement service, Dec. 6. Additionally, President Jason Allen announced that the seminary will begin a series of messages—during graduation and convocation service addresses over the next couple of years—focusing on specific doctrinal topics of urgency and relevance. Two hundred and five students were conferred 222 degrees and began their ministry service as the next generation of pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders. With the enrollment increases the school has made, now surpassing 4,000 students, the number of graduates has also increased, up from the 169 students who graduated this time last year. Midwestern Seminary also celebrated a noteworthy milestone during the commencement ceremony, as 29 Spanish-speaking church planters earned their Church Planting Certificates. Two of those graduates also received their Master’s in Theological Studies with an emphasis on Pastoral Ministry. Felix Cabrera, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and Spanish church relations coordinator, helped pioneer the certificate program in 2017. “What happened today is epic and historic. The pilot program is no longer a pilot,” Cabrera shared. “Ministerial experience combined with theological education is an ideal scenario for these pastors who serve in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico.” “We cannot be more pleased that these men have worked so hard and accomplished so much through our Spanish Language programs,” Allen said. “This is ‘for the Church’ in action, as they will now go and establish local churches and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Kicking off the 10-part graduation/convocation sermon series focusing on significant, urgent doctrinal issues—including topics such as the sufficiency of Scripture, the exclusivity of the gospel, and penal substitutionary atonement—Allen noted there’s no better place to begin than with biblical inerrancy. As such, he preached a message from Jude entitled, “Truths Worth Contending For: Biblical Inerrancy.” Allen said that, as Southern Baptists, there is never a wrong time to reassert, cling to, and contend for one of our central and foundational truths. He affirmed biblical inerrancy as the belief that the Bible is without error. “It’s an argument for the truthfulness of God’s word. It is divinely inspired, comprehensively truthful and, thus, authoritative for life and doctrine. It is from this inerrant Word that we can know our inerrant savior, Jesus Christ. … To view Allen’s commencement address, visit https://www.mbts.edu/2019/12/sixty-sixth-commencement-address/. To learn more about Midwestern’s Spanish Language programs, visit https://www.mbts.edu/degrees/spanish-studies/. ν

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Please enable Javascript to watch this video It's not often that a team finishes 13-3 in the regular season and winds up the 3 seed in the playoffs, but the saints have been here before. In 2011 to be exact. As New Orleans prepares for the Vikings this Sunday in the Dome, the wildcard game players talked about what they learned in previous years in the playoffs, most notably, the "Minnesota miracle." "We have a lot of guys on this team that were here for those experiences right so I think it says a lot about our group to be able to take some of those circumstances and some of those unfortunate things and be able to turn that into something positive and use that as fuel use that as a way to just bring us closer together. Really fight through that adversity to bring out the best in all of us," says Drew Brees. Cam Jordan added, "If anything, it adds a chip on our shoulder. It adds more of a determination factor you have to want it each and every time you take the field. You only have so many opportunities and now you talk about playoffs, single elimination, it's that much more important that you only rely on the guys that you have in the locker room, but the experience that you've gained from everything before hand."

There is a ton of college football bowl action today. Things kick-off with the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Then, the Vrbo Citrus Bowl in Orlando. All eyes then shift to the west coast for the 131st Tournament of Roses. Finally, the Allstate Sugar Bowl kick-off at 7:40 PM CT from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Here is where to watch it all.

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Happy 2020, everyone! Kylie Jenner, Rita Ora, Amber Rose and her boyfriend, Alexander “AE” Edwards, all scored an invite to The Weeknd’s (real name: Abel Tesfaye) big New Year’s Eve bash at his Beverly Hills home on Tuesday, December 31. The 22-year-old KUWTK starlet was dressed to the nines as she sported sparkly thigh-high boots paired with a sparkly dress. Earlier in the night, the billionaire took to Instagram to share her car ride with her bestie Yris Palmer — a.k.a. her New Year’s date. At the party, Kylie looked to be surrounded by security while wearing a black coat. Hopefully, she had a good time! Amber, 36, detailed some of the night on her Instagram Stories, too. The model — who welcomed a baby boy named Slash Electric Alexander Edwards with her beau in October — looked amazing in a leopard dress and a silver choker. Amber shared a video with Alexander, 32, as soon as the clock striked midnight. Of course, the two shared a kiss in honor of the big moment. “Baby daddy AF,” she captioned a clip of the rapper dancing. Later on, the pair looked loved up on the ‘gram. Even though the duo had a date night, they seemed content at their humble abode. “So, it’s one o’clock in the morning, and we’re home and this is what we’re doing,” she said to the camera. “Frozen pizza and me and my baby daddy are about to go into the theater room. Shout-out to The Weeknd — we had so much fun at your party. Thank you for inviting us. Now we are home with our babies, and we are about to eat some pizza and watch some Netflix and chill.” Now, that sounds like our kind of night! Meanwhile, Rita, 29, looked stunning in a shiny yellow gown paired with white pumps as she arrived at the soirée. The singer appeared to be with two friends and looked to be in a great mood as she posed for the cameras. Get it, girl! The U.K. native reflected on the past year via her Instagram Stories, and it seems like she is excited for what’s to come. All in all, it seems like everyone had a great night together. Welcome to a new decade! Scroll through the gallery below to see the A-listers big night out.

A reconciliation in the works? Maybe! Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott both attended The Weeknd’s New Year’s Eve bash on Tuesday, December 31. While the former flames were not pictured together throughout the night, it’s likely they hung out at the lavish affair. The 22-year-old shared photos from her night out with her bestie Yris Palmer on her Instagram Stories while Travis, 27, uploaded a photo of himself with The Weeknd (real name: Abel Tesfaye) on the ‘gram. “Dudey bro’s [sic],” he wrote. The KUWTK starlet, 22, was photographed at the singer’s house in Beverly Hills wearing a black jacket and appeared to be with a bunch of people. However, the rapper was nowhere in sight. Even though the celebrity couple called it quits in October — a source told In Touch it wasn’t “a full-on split” — it seems like there’s still a lot of love between them. So much so, the Grammy nominee couldn’t help but gush over the makeup mogul and their 20-month-old daughter, Stormi Webster. Courtesy of Travis Scott/Instagram “I’ve been spending time with my family and with my daughter, Stormi,” the “SICKO MODE” singer told XXL Magazine in an interview published on Monday, December 30. “Being a dad is better than what I thought it would be. Stormi is one of the best human beings I know. She’s like my best friend. She makes life a little bit easier. She just inspires me, and she surprises me every day with how she’s thinking. It’s so crazy.” He added, “Her mom and I came up with the name Stormi together. I love her mommy, and I always will. The hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.” Ultimately, Kylie “wants to have a good relationship” with Travis “for the sake” of their daughter, a second source told In Touch. “She would never want Stormi to feel that she’s not supported by both of her parents.” Recently, the TV personality even raved about her ex’s new album, Jackboys, on social media. “STORMI’S DAD,” she captioned a screenshot of the new tunes after it was released on December 27. For his part, Travis seemingly responded to the brunette beauty’s two new sexy snaps on Instagram. “Just didn’t feel right going into 2020 without one last thirst trap,” she wrote on the ‘gram. “LOL,” Travis replied on his Instagram Stories. MEGA Not only are fans rooting for the couple to get back together but so is the Kardashian family. “Everyone is hoping that it’s just temporary,” a third insider explained. Maybe 2020 is the year #Kyvis makes their return.

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Cape Town police have charged a 38-year-old man following complaints to the police of assault by some of the refugees housed in the Cape Town Methodist Church. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency (ANA) Durban - Cape Town police have arrested the 38-year-old leader of a group of refugees housed at the city's Central Methodist Church, they said on Wednesday. The Congolese national faces eight charges of assault, of which five are assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm, the office of the provincial commissioner said. His arrest follows complaints by some of the refugees living in the church, that they have been assaulted. However, following his arrest, about 50 members of the group of refugees arrived at the Cape Town central police station and demanded his release. "After being advised to leave, the group duly complied and dispersed. Public Order Police members are keeping an eye on the situation," the commissioner's office said. It added that the police station was operational and that no further incidents have taken place.

LA PAZ, Bolivia—Bolivia’s political crisis is deepening as state security forces use increasingly lethal force against mobs of protesters demanding the return to the country of former President Evo Morales, whom the country’s interim government accuses of stirring up the trouble. On Wednesday, workers turned a local church on the outskirts of the capital into a makeshift morgue, dragging coffins across the floor for eight people killed the day before when security forces stopped a crowd from storming a large fuel depot on...

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In 1944, Keynes came to the Bretton Woods Conference to present his idea of the Bancor, a unit of account to be created by an International Authority to keep foreign exchange accounts always balanced so that trade could prosper among nations. The co-convenor of the Conference, Harry Dexter White, had no ear for the Bancor. He was interested only in establishing the Dollar as the international reserve currency, a proposal that he was certain would be acceptable to the US Congress. The idea of the Bancor has been kept in subdued conversation among economists. Until now. Currently, that idea appears to be the core of a proposal that is presumed to be implemented in a few days by the International Monetary Fund. James Rickards, an insider consultant and financial writer, is warning that a "Global Financial Elite" has the support of the IMF to a plan to replace by December 31, 2019, the US currency with a new "Distributed Ledger System" using the IMF's "Special Drawing Rights" as a new "global reserve currency." This plan is a perversion of Keynes' thought about the Bancor. The Bancor was supposed to be a unit of account, with no implicit exchange value. How to Set Things Right With three clarifications, the spirit of the Bancor may be revivified: First, taking a leaf from experience rather than abstract theory, as it was finally incorporated into the IMF's "Special Drawing Rights" the Bancor would have exchange value, a value ultimately determined by international financial markets. Second clarification is that the Bancor ought to be created by each national Central Bank, so that we would have the American Bancor, the Swiss Bancor, the Chinese Bancor, etc. Let us temporarily call it the xBancor. Today's computers' power will easily let us ascertain the value of each Bancor at each moment in time. The third clarification is most important. Each national Bancor would have to be distributed in accordance with three rules developed within the context of Concordian monetary policy. The Bancor should be issued as a loan: only to create real wealth of tables and chairs, not to purchase financial instruments; to individual entrepreneurs, cooperatives, corporations with ESOPs and/or CSOPs in their constitutions, and public agencies with taxing power so that the loan can be repaid; at cost. When Should the xBancor Be Created? The xBancor should be created as soon as possible; as soon as a national - and international - discussion occurs to gain acceptance of this financial instrument. But not later than a few hours after the next financial crash occurs. What Value Should Be Assigned to the xBancor? Each xBancor should be created at par value with each existing national currency: thus, 1 US Bancor = $1.00; 1 Swiss Bancor = 1 Swiss Franc ; 1 Chinese Bancor = 1 renmimbi. Yes, the value of each Bancor would be allowed to fluctuate as the value of today's currencies fluctuates. Yes, we would then have a world currency - but it would be wholly controlled by each national government. What Is the Role of the IMF or the World Bank in a Bancor Regimen? The Role of the IMF or the World Bank in a Bancor regimen remains precisely as it is today. Indeed, if the IMF should feel the need to use its privilege to create Special Drawing Rights, it could continue to do so. It would appear that there would be no need to even change the name of its financial operations. The IMF would continue to create SDRs. There might not even be the need to call these financial instruments IMF Bancors or any other such denomination. What Are the Benefits of Creating Bancors? To penetrate the value of creating a Bancor regimen we have to determine the timing of its creation. The major distinction is creation before the next Stock Market crash or after the Stock Market crash. Before the crash. If the Bancor regimen is created before the crash, there would be ample opportunity to fully explain and to plan ahead each and every detail of this regimen; ample opportunity to avoid potential pitfalls; ample opportunity to debate pros and cons. After the crash. If the Bancor regimen is established soon after the crash, what will be avoided is the catastrophic collapse of the value of, likely, all national currencies - as well as the collapse of the value of all financial instruments. Short-term Effects Short-term effects can be rather easily determined. The opening of the national credit flow to satisfy the needs of the agricultural, commercial, and industrial world implies that, provided the Bancor regimen is established in a truly timely fashion, a collapse of the financial world will not affect the world of the real economy one iota. Another Great Depression will be avoided. And this disaster will be avoided without shifting the burden on to exhausted taxpayers and/or unexpectant bank depositors. Or more simply, but perhaps more insidiously, without shifting the burden on the over-inflated accounts of Central Banks. Unless a Debt Jubilee is proclaimed in accordance with Moses' injunctions, the least damage that we are inflicting upon the real economy by overburdening the accounts of Central Banks is an opportunity cost. We have no appetite; we have no resources for maintaining our public infrastructure in order. The United States of America is fast plunging the maintenance of its public infrastructure to a level that used to be the shame of developing countries. The collapse of the financial world will, of course, have some major implications for both the workers within that world and the stockholders and bondholders depending on that world. These are people who might see the value of their portfolios reduced even to zero. Provided their portfolio is diversified, financial ruination will not totally engulf them. People who will lose their jobs will have the opportunity to make one of at least three choices: They might choose to retire prematurely; they might start the business operation of their dreams; or they might find employment with local banks that are expected to prosper under a Bancor regimen. Long-term Effects Long-term effects of a Bancor regimen are much more difficult to pinpoint. Given that the creation of Bancors is determined in accordance with firm needs of the people requesting Bancor-denominated loans, the overall economy is set on a steady course. Given that the distribution of Bancors is determined in accordance with the value people contribute for the creation of wealth, the overall economy is set on a just course. Being set on a steady and just base, the overall economy is set on a lasting course. Conclusion The overall assessment of creating and distributing Bancors following rules determined within the context of Concordian monetary policy is this: We shall pass from a world in which money controls people to a world in which people control money. Let a Concordian Bancor regimen come: The sooner the better. Let the collapse of the modern financial world come: The sooner the better. We are tired of waiting for a just and steady world of economic affairs. A different version of this article was published 30 December at Econintersect.

Green Unicorn Farms is a premium hemp flower shop dedicated to sourcing and supplying the cleanest, richest, most aromatic and flavorful hemp strains and pre-rolls. (Newswire.net -- December 31, 2019) -- San Rafael, CA -- Green Unicorn Farms is a premium hemp flower shop dedicated to sourcing and supplying the cleanest, richest, most aromatic and flavorful hemp strains and pre-rolls. They curate the most premium flower available in the U.S. from the most experienced indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse cultivators. San Rafael, CA - As the popularity of CBD continues to explode in the US, more people are interested in being able to smoke their CBD to benefit from almost instantaneous effects, and enjoy a more quality user experience. However, in some states, consumers can face difficulties in locating clean, quality CBD flowers. To remedy this, Green Unicorn Farms, a California based hemp curator, is pleased to announce the launch of its online premium hemp flower shop. Green Unicorn Farms is dedicated to providing its customers with the most premium hemp flower available - which is why they’re dubbed the “Green Unicorns” of the hemp industry. Rich cannabinoid content combined with vivid terpene profiles offers a more effective and quality user experience, while third-party lab testing helps ensure safe, clean and reliable products. Their products are ideal for those looking for alternatives to standard CBD products. Smokable hemp allows users to take full advantage of the benefits of CBD along with other naturally occurring compounds in the plant, "as nature intended". Their new online store features a variety of premium flowers that have been cultivated in different growing environments to provide customers with a choice of the best indoor, greenhouse, and sun-grown flower. They only share what they believe is worth smoking and all of their products are accompanied by lab results that provide the buyer with the exact amounts of cannabinoids in each strain. Customers can filter and purchase the flower based on their desired CBD levels, terpenes and aromatics, growing environments, and whether they want pre-rolls or bagged-up flower. With the unveiling of its new online store, the company is looking to expand beyond California. They also plan to update their stock regularly, to offer a wider selection of premium hemp flower curated from only the best hemp farmers in the U.S. They work carefully to ensure that every single flower strain contains minimal amounts of THC to comply with state and federal regulations. Green Unicorn Farms currently offers around 10 strains with distinct qualities. Each has a unique aroma and flavor profile, which comes as a result of the genetics, terpene profile and growing conditions of each strain. The new online shop also features a gallery showcasing photos of the different strains, so consumers can preview the flowers’ quality before purchasing. Carefully handled and packaged, Green Unicorn Farms ensures that all their products arrive with the customer in great condition. To purchase pre-rolls, premium flowers, or to find out more information, interested parties can visit their website today.

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Hello all, and welcome to our live coverage as Newcastle United take on Leicester City on New Year's Day. Steve Bruce's side will be looking to bounce back following successive defeats against Manchester United and Everton over the festive period. But the Magpies face another tough test with Leicester the visitors to St James' Park. The Foxes remain second in the table despite recent defeats to Manchester City and runaway leaders Liverpool. It is the third time the sides will have met this season, with Leicester coming out on top on both previous occasions. Brendan Rodgers' side knocked the Magpies out of the Carabao Cup in August - winning a penalty shootout in front of the Gallowgate End - before thumping United at the King Power Stadium a month later. We'll be bringing you all the build-up, team news, live action and post-game analysis from St James' Park throughout the day.

'It's not our concern to catch Liverpool' - Rodgers claims Leicester focused on developing youngsters, not title race The Foxes boss saw his young side put in another impressive performance to brush Newcastle aside with a 3-0 away win on New Year's Day Leicester are more concerned about developing their young squad than catching Premier League leaders this season, according to Brendan Rodgers. The Foxes kept up the pace at the top of the table with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, closing the gap to 10 points ahead of Liverpool’s game with on Thursday. Ayoze Perez, James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury scored against a Newcastle side riddled by injuries at St James’ Park. With struggling for consistency, Leicester have been tipped by many to push Liverpool closest this season – but Rodgers isn’t interested. "It's not our concern to catch Liverpool, we get asked all the time but we are about developing the squad and the team," the Foxes manager said. "They are young players still learning, James has shown he is a top talent consistently, a magical player, and Hamza can get better at that part of his game. "We played very well. We wanted to attack with and without the ball and we were very good in both aspects. Our pressing got us the first two goals. “They obviously lost a man [to injury] early in the second half and I was pleased with how we controlled the game. "It's difficult to play with a man less but we had chances to score more and then eventually Hamza gets his first goal for the club. A really good performance.” Rodgers is also hoping for a quiet January transfer window, with a number of his players rumoured to be targets for rival clubs. Maddison and defender Caglar Soyuncu are among those linked with a move away, though Rodgers has been clear that he will not sanction departures for any of his first-teamers. "The club will look at any players who can make us better but January is a difficult window,” he added. “You can see the talented squad we have here." Article continues below Leicester’s victory on Tyneside was all the more impressive for the fact they were without leading scorer Jamie Vardy. The 32-year-old had missed the 2-1 win over West Ham due to the birth of his daughter, and missed out on the Newcastle game with a minor calf injury. Leicester have back-to-back home cup fixtures up next, with an clash with followed by the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

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JAKARTA, ANN, Jan 2 -- Operations at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta resumed on Thursday after the airport was forced to close Wednesday morning on account of massive flooding in Greater Jakarta. State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II said the runway was no longer inundated. Flooding had prevented planes from taking off and landing, forcing all flights to be moved to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. The flight diversions went well, ” said Angkasa Pura II president director M. Awaluddin in a statement on Thursday. Jakarta experienced on Tuesday night its worst rainfall in over a decade, with rains pounding the city nonstop until Wednesday morning. The rains caused severe flooding in the capital and its satellite cities on the first day of 2020. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded rainfall intensity on New Year’s Eve at 377 millimeters. The rate was the highest since 2007 when rainfall intensity reached 340 mm in one day. Angkasa Pura II corporate communication vice president Yado Yarismano said the company had checked all airport facilities, equipment and runway, confirming that they all fulfilled operational worthiness standards. A number of airlines operate out of Halim Perdanakusuma, including Wings Air, Batik Air and Citilink Indonesia. -- Jakarta Post

Jakarta experienced on Tuesday night its worst rainfall in over a decade, with heavy rain pouring over the city nonstop until Wednesday morning, causing severe flooding in the capital and its satellite cities on the first day of 2020. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded rainfall intensity on New Year’s Eve at 377 millimeters per day, according to an observation conducted at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta. Meanwhile, observations at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, also in East Jakarta, and Jatiasih in Bekasi recorded rainfall intensity at 335 and 259 mm per day, respectively. The figures are the highest in the city since 2007, when rainfall intensity reached 340 mm per day. “The rain falling on New Year’s Eve in the western and northern parts of Java was very extreme and triggered floods in [Greater Jakarta] and Cikampek [in West Java]. This rain is not ordinary rain,” the agency wrote in a statement. Read also: Multiple deaths reported as floods, landslide strike Greater Jakarta The BMKG said the nearly record-high rainfall intensity was due to several factors, including the occurrence of a monsoon. According to the United Kingdom’s Met Office, a monsoon climate is characterized by “a dramatic seasonal change in direction of the prevailing winds of a region which brings a marked change in rainfall”. “Wind moving from the northeast of Java Island met with another wind blowing from the south of the island. Such an encounter has led to the massive formation of clouds in the sky above Java Island,” the head of the BMKG’s public meteorology center, Fachri Radjab, said in a video uploaded by the agency’s official YouTube account. He added the weather conditions had been worsened by a high amount of water vapor caused by the high temperatures of the Indian Ocean, especially in areas south of Java Island. “The water vapor later affected cloud formations over Java,” Fachri said. The BMKG predicted heavy rain to continue in Greater Jakarta until Saturday as a result of the atmospheric conditions. (nal)

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More than a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong on New Year's Day in a resounding reminder to the city authorities that the past six months of pro-democracy protests will continue into 2020. Crowds of people of all ages including families with young children converged on the city's Victoria Park for a peaceful and officially approved march that was nonetheless attacked by riot police wielding tear gas. "We have to walk side by side without losing sight of our initial aims," Jimmy Sham, convenor of march organizers the Civil Human Rights Front, told the crowd. "We have seen the government crack down on the Spark Alliance [funding campaign for arrestees], on teachers, and maybe even civil servants will be next." "This is about all of us, and we won't give up the fight nor forget those who have been targeted for suppression," he said. "We will walk hand-in-hand with them and continue to fight for the five demands." Singing the protest movement anthem, Glory to Hong Kong, and holding up their hands to signal the five demands of the movement, the crowd moved at glacial speed in the direction of the Central business district, hampered by the sheer numbers trying to join the throng from all directions. "Don't fear suppression, walk side by side!" the protesters chanted, as well as the now-familiar "Five demands, not one less!" A protester surnamed Lee said she joined the march because she felt that chief executive Carrie Lam is protecting the Hong Kong police from independent scrutiny amid widespread criticism of their use of force against mostly peaceful protesters. "She says that protesters are coming out and causing chaos and destruction, but judging from the news, it's the police causing chaos and destruction," Lee said. "They use excessive force and just fire tear gas." "So many people have committed suicide," she said, in a reference to several discoveries of protesters' bodies in cases that are widesly regarded as suspicious by the majority of protesters. "They say that these deaths aren't suspicious, but I don't think people in Hong Kong are going to believe that." Hundreds arrested As the protest march made its way through the city's streets, taking up several lanes of highway, police declared it over, apparently expecting around a million people to disperse in a short time. Riot police then moved into arrest hundreds of people who were trying to leave, bundling them aboard dozens of police buses that had moved in to collect them, according to live video feeds and social media posts from the scene. Some 400 people were arrested in the Causeway Bay shopping district alone, Now TV reported. Protesters also questioned whether two masked men dressed as protesters who smashed the glass doors of the China Life building in Wanchai were in fact protesters, as they fled on being challenged towards police lines, where they weren't arrested. A pitched battle began at around 4.00 p.m. outside the Southorn Stadium branch of HSBC in Wanchai, where protesters broke doors and windows and damaged an ATM machine. Riot police charged the area, spraying pepper spray and firing tear gas at the crowd, while frontline protesters hurled petrol bombs and debris back at police lines. An international group of politicians and former top officials meanwhile wrote to Lam to express "grave concern" over police brutality over the Christmas period. "We have been horrified to see reports of police firing teargas, pepper-spray and rubber bullets at close-range at shoppers, peaceful protesters and innocent by-standers on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and again on Saturday 28 December," the letter, which was posted on the website of the rights group Hong Kong Watch, said. "We are profoundly disturbed by scenes of children and young people being severely beaten, and of rubber bullets being fired into people's faces, acts which any ballistics expert would confirm presents a serious risk of injury or death," it said. 'Extremely unsatisfactory' explanations It said attempts by Lam's administration to explain away the police use of force were "extremely unsatisfactory." "We understand that the actions of a small group of protesters have been violent, and we do not in any way condone violence or vandalism," The letter, which was signed by Sir Geoffrey Nice, former chief prosecutor of Slobodan Milosevic, Bundestag lawmaker Martin Patzelt, former premier of Ontario Bob Rae and former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, among dozens of others. But the majority of protesters had been attacked aggressively by the Hong Kong police even while protesting peacefully, the letter said, adding that growing public anger had been "borne of your government's refusal to listen to their real fears, understood by many around the world, for more than six months." The letter also condemned the arrest and abuse of doctors, nurses and first-aiders at protest sites, reports of police in full riot gear with weapons patrolling hospital wards, insisting on accompanying doctors on consultations, demanding access to medical records, seeking access to hospital operation theaters and using ambulances to transport riot police. It said the abuse of the press by police officers, as well as reports of torture, beatings and sexual abuse in detention were "profoundly concerning." "We urge you to listen to the protesters' demands," the letter said, calling for an independent inquiry into police violence, the release of all peaceful protesters and for Lam's government to consider democratic reforms. Reported by Man Hoi-tsan, Lu Xi and Tseng Yat-yiu for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright © 1998-2018, RFA. Published with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036

Tear gas fired during Hong Kong New Year's protests A woman is detained by plain-clothes police officers during an anti-government demonstration on New Year's Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms in Hong Kong. Picture: Reuters Hong Kong – A march drawing tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on New Year's Day spiralled into chaotic scenes as police fired several rounds of tear gas and water cannon at crowds including families before halting the event. The violence broke out during the largely peaceful march as masses of citizens pressed authorities for further concessions in the Chinese-ruled city. In the Wanchai bar district, some protesters had spray-painted graffiti and smashed cash machines in an HSBC bank branch when riot police moved in, pepper-spraying crowds in a tense face-off. Tear gas was then fired into the crowds, making some children cry. The protesters, some with gas masks and clad in black, regrouped and formed their own lines as police blocked roads to prevent large crowds from completing the march as night fell. Organisers estimated just over one million people took part, but police said 60 000 protesters attended at the march's peak. The atmosphere grew tense in several districts on Hong Kong island, as hundreds of protesters dug in, forming road blocks, setting fires and throwing a few petrol bombs. Human chains formed down roads to help ferry supplies to people on the front lines, including umbrellas and bricks. Protesters have directed their ire at global banking group HSBC, alleging a link between the arrest of four members of a group that raised funds to support the protesters and an earlier closure of an HSBC account linked to the group. HSBC denies any connection. A bronze lion at the bank's headquarters was daubed with red paint and scorched by a fire. A bank spokesman said: "We strongly condemn the acts of vandalism and damage directed at our premises repeatedly in the last few days. We believe these are unjustified." Earlier in the day, under grey clouds, citizens young and old, many dressed in black and some masked, carried signs such as "Freedom is not free" before setting off. "It's hard to utter 'Happy New Year' because Hong Kong people are not happy," said a man named Tung, who was walking with his two-year-old son, mother and niece. "Unless the five demands are achieved, and police are held accountable for their brutality, then we can't have a real happy new year," he added. He was referring to the push for concessions from the government including full democracy, an amnesty for the more than 6,500 people arrested so far, and a powerful, independent investigation into police actions. Along the route, a number of newly elected pro-democracy district politicians mingled with the crowds on their first day in office, some helping collect donations to assist the movement. Youths also carried "Hong Kong Independence" flags and chanted that splitting the city from Chinese rule was the "only way out". "The government has already started the oppression before the New Year began… whoever is being oppressed, we will stand with them," said Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front that organised the march. The organisers also condemned the police decision to cancel the rally. Thousands of Hong Kong revellers had earlier welcomed in 2020 on neon-lit promenades along Victoria Harbour, chanting the movement's signature slogan – "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our Time" – for the final seconds before clocks struck midnight. China's President Xi Jinping said in a New Year's speech that Beijing will "resolutely safeguard the prosperity and stability" of Hong Kong under the so-called "one country, two systems" framework. Many people in Hong Kong are angered by Beijing's tight grip on the city which was promised a high degree of autonomy under this framework when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing denies interference and blames the West for fomenting the unrest. A group of 40 parliamentarians and dignitaries from 18 countries had written an open letter to Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on New Year's Eve, urging her to "seek genuine ways forward out of this crisis by addressing the grievances of Hong Kong people." The protest movement is supported by 59% of the city's residents polled in a survey conducted for Reuters by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute. Demonstrations have grown increasingly violent in recent months, at times paralyzing the Asian financial centre. Reuters

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Prime Minister Hun Sen was pictured with some members of the Supreme Consultation Council after holding the meeting on 27 December 2019. Hun Sen's Facebook page Parties say aye to keeping the Consultative Council Members of the Supreme Consultation Council have urged the government to keep the body alive in the next mandate as it has been useful in solving people’s problems. Khmer Rise Party (KRP) president Sok Sovann Vathana Sabung, who is a Council member, said on Tuesday that he supported Prime Minister Hun Sen’s wish to see it continue from the 2023 to 2028 government mandate. He said it was an opportunity for parties outside the government to join with it to find solutions for the people. He said his Khmer Rise Party had met with many families in the communities, to investigate their problems such as land disputes, inactive local officials, and the disputes between powerful people and ordinary folk. “I support the statement of Samdech [Hun Sen] because the Supreme Consultation Council is beneficial. “In the past, the bad actions of some ‘naughty’ government officials were hidden or not reported to the government. But Council members have exposed them,” Vathana Sabung said. Another Council member, Cambodian Youth Party president Pich Sros, said he too supported its continuation as he wanted to contribute to solving the people’s problems and expose the actions of bad officials. He said some had criticised the Council’s creation, but he dismissed the critics as just people with negative opinions. “When Council members find a problem, we submit a report to the government. We then check/review the problem together. Criticisms are the opinions of those who cannot see the good we do,” Sros said. While the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) participated in the 2018 national election, it decided not to be a Council member even though it was invited to participate. GDP spokesman Leok Sothea said on Tuesday that he did not support the Council because it was created as a show and had spent the national budget extravagantly. Some council members, he said, went to the community and helped solve people’s problems. But these could not be completely resolved if the government and authorities did not strictly enforce the law against those who violated the people’s rights. “Besides this, I don’t see any other use for this council,” Sothea said. Last Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen attended the Council’s summit and said he wanted to see it – currently with 16 member parties – continue to exist in the next mandate. He said the council, although not a parliamentary committee, had provided comments and consultation to the government in an attempt to promote work efficiency, social development and prosperity. Although parliament is not made up of various political parties, the council had contributed a lot to society. “Involvement in politics to serve the society does not necessarily mean insulting each other. This applies to small and big parties,” he said.

Minister of Inspection Men Sam An visited the School of Hope in Preah Sihanouk province as it faces issues regarding its location after the authorities ordered it to move out within three months. school of hope School ‘hopeful’ amid move order, inspection Following an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen, Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection Men Sam An on Wednesday visited the School of Hope, located on a 1ha plot in Preah Sihanouk province. The school is facing relocation issues after the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation recently ordered it to move out within three months. In December, the prime minister instructed the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection to probe the matter and report back on any irregularities as he had received a complaint from the Supreme Consultation Council. Ministry spokesperson Nop Channarin said on Wednesday that Sam An had met with the school director, local authorities and students. But he declined to say if ministry officials would meet with the social affairs ministry. “When we finish the inspection, we will submit a report to the prime minister for him to make a decision,” Channarin said. In August, Khmer Rise Party president Sok Sovann Vathana Sabung, who is a Council member, submitted a report to Hun Sen on the school’s predicament and sought the prime minister’s intervention in the matter. On Tuesday, he told The Post that he welcomed the quick action taken by the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection and that he would follow the case with interest. “The ministry must solve the problem as pointed out by the government. I will try my best to protect this school. I have been doing so since I received its complaint,” he said. Social affairs ministry spokesman Touch Channy said on Tuesday that his ministry also welcomed the investigation and was preparing documents to defend its decision. He said the relocation order had been revoked but the land was not to be sold as per the accusation by some parties. “My ministry is not too concerned about the investigation as we have enough documentation and have prepared our reports with [a land] title and clear reasons. “The government has ordered the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relation and Inspection to check the place. We also want to see the report and determination of which side is right and wrong,” Channy said. He said the government had to decide after the inspection if it wanted to hand over the land to the school or otherwise. School of Hope principal Phum Narith told The Post recently that it had been located on about 1.5ha since 2002. But the social affairs ministry told its director, who was a foreign national and unable to speak Khmer, to sign on a document written in the language. The document told the school to sell the land. The School of Hope is a branch of the Assemblies of God (NGO) which has been operating in Preah Sihanouk for some 20 years. It has accommodated and provided education to about 70,000 students and 50 teachers thus far.

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During one of his first meetings with director Marielle Heller about “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Welsh actor Matthew Rhys said the conversation took an unexpected turn. “What she really wanted to talk about was ‘The Americans’ — how fast we shot it, wigs, all that stuff. She’s a fan,” Rhys, says, referring to the FX spy thriller where for six seasons he starred as a disguise-happy Soviet KGB officer posing as a U.S. citizen. When it came to his “Beautiful Day” character, Lloyd Vogel — which is loosely based on Esquire’s Tom Junod and his perspective-changing experience profiling cherished TV personality Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) — Rhys was already bingeing on old episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” poring over ‘90s Esquire articles and going on what he calls “my usual deep dive,” in this case into the psyche of a doubting journalist. Recently, Rhys could be found at L.A.'s Chateau Marmont discussing American accents, his transformative costar and why he dislikes watching himself on screens, big and small. “I get hung up on all the wrong things — like, ‘I’ve got to change my weird walk,’” says Rhys, adding that his apprehensions were only heightened when Heller insisted he view “Beautiful Day” with her in an editing bay. “It was kind of worse. There I was with the person who made it. There was nowhere to hide.” Advertisement Your scenes with Hanks often involved little dialogue. Did it take you awhile to get used to extended silences? Yes, and it was weird, because [I’d] think, “This will never make it in the movie. This will be cut.” But Mari was big on it. She’d say to us all the time, “Slow down. Bathe in those silences.” She’d be, like, “I’ll decide in the edit what gets cut. Don’t edit for me.” There was a long scene between Tom and I, and that was when I started to get into the silences. The silences became more than the words. Did you know that “Beautiful Day” would resonate especially with men? Advertisement Mari called it early on. She was, like, “I want to make this about men for men.” She was always big on: “You have to talk about your feelings.” “You have to take an equal role in whatever parenting is to you.” “It’s OK to say ‘I love you’ or to forgive someone.” She was big on moments like where I put the [baby’s] milk on [the burner] to heat. I thought, “Oh, this is going to get cut. The process takes too long for that shot.” And she was, like, [determined voice] I’m keeping this moment. I want someone see a man heat up a bottle of milk and feed a baby.” You spent time with Tom Junod. What did you want to learn? His interview technique. He said it was very simple. It was at a time in the ‘90s when journalism had a lot more money and you could be embedded with the subject for like two weeks. He’d just wait. He said, “I’d try and be as quiet as possible,” and then there’d be something, and he’d be on it like a fox. With Fred, he met his match, the Zen master of deflection. I don’t think Fred liked talking about himself. So the two circled each other for days. Then Fred latched onto something, and Tom was, like, [startled voice] “Hang on.” Did you watch Fred Rogers’ show when you were growing up in Cardiff, Wales? No. One thing I appreciated was that I came to him with a blank canvas. I’d nothing to cover up. No reverence, no animosity, nothing. But the deeper I dived, the more my love of him grew. Profoundly. He was incredible. Talk about the first time you saw Tom Hanks turn into the soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing groundbreaker. When we rehearsed, he wasn’t doing anything Fred-like, just saying the lines. Then he went away. The first scene he shot was when he turns up with a pie. He had to walk in, and everyone was, like [tilts his face up with an eagerly expectant expression]. By that time we were all versed in Fred Rogers. Everyone was, like, “What’s [Tom] going to do?” The only time I’ve seen this before was with [Steven] Spielberg, where people are so star-struck, and he goes around putting everyone at ease. I kind of felt sorry for him. To what do you owe your American accent, which is perhaps the best one in Hollywood today? Advertisement I think it’s a combination of things: An early childhood obsession with American television — “Starsky and Hutch,” “A-Team,” “Baywatch” [laughs]. American films, westerns especially. All the John Ford films. It was so exotic to me. Then I went to a drama school where the discipline of learning different dialects was very strong. I also have a kind of affliction: My ear is very musical, so if I hear a sound, I try to emulate it. This is something I’ve done my whole life, much to the annoyance of some.

Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from kentlive - Daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Over the last few weeks we've been reflecting on the decade just past. Now, it's time to look ahead at what we have in store. In the world of cinema, the 2020s are set to get off to a bang. Golden Globe nominees being released this month include the Sam Mendes war epic 1917 alongside Charlize Theron transforming herself into former Fox News anchorwoman Megyn Kelly in #MeToo drama Bombshell, before the release of Clint Eastwood's true crime drama Richard Jewell., reports Mirror Online. 17 major UK law changes you need to know about for 2020 Elsewhere, Netflix delivers another cinematic release and vehicle for Hollywood star Adam Sandler, while Guy Ritchie makes a comeback with crime comedy The Gentleman Finally, the month begins and ends on surreal notes with Nazi Germany-based comedy Jojo Rabbit on New Year's Day and the black-and-white horror The Lighthouse to round out the month. Here's a list of what to expect from January 2020. Jojo Rabbit (Image: Fox Searchlight) Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi delivers a satirical comedy here which follows Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend - Adolf Hitler (Waititi)- Jojo must confront his blind nationalism as World War II continues to rage on. Jojo Rabbit release date: January 1, 2020 The Gentleman Guy Ritchie helms this crime caper. Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) is an American expatriate at the head of a marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he's looking to cash out of the business, it soon triggers an array of plots and schemes from those who want his fortune. Also stars Hugh Grant, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, and Henry Golding. The Gentleman release date: January 1, 2020 1917 (Image: Universal Pictures) Sam Mendes dedicates this war epic to his veteran grandfather which follows wwo British soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) who face a race against time in World War I as they must cross into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades - including one's own brother (Richard Madden). Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star. 1917 release date: January 10, 2020 Seberg In a dramatic biopic, Kristen Stewart 1960s French new wave actress and "Breathless" star Jean Seberg who is targeted by the FBI due to her support of the civil rights movement and her romance with Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie) - a Black Panther activist. Jack O'Connell and Margaret Qualley also star. Seberg release date: January 10, 2020 Uncut Gems Good Time directors The Safdie Brothers blast back with anxiety-inducing thriller Uncut Gems, which stars Adam Sandler as a charismatic jeweler in a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. However, family, business associates, lovers, and enemies threaten to get in the way of his big win. Idina Menzel and Lakeith Stanfield also star. Uncut Gems: January 10, 2020 A Hidden Life Legendary Badlands director Terrence Mallick returns with a romantic tale. Austrian farmer Franz Jägerstätter faces the threat of execution for refusing to fight for the Nazis during World War II. Stars August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, and Matthias Schoenaerts. A Hidden Life release date: January 17, 2020 Bad Boys For Life The buddy cop comedy series is back. Old-school cops Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence)team up with the newly created elite team AMMO of the Miami police to take down the vicious leader of a Miami drug cartel. Also stars Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig. Bad Boys For Life release date: January 17, 2020 Bombshell (Image: Lionsgate) This gripping new drama follows the real-life accusations against FOX News president Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) as his behaviour becomes entangled with controversial anchorwoman Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), presenter Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), and new arrival Kayla (Margot Robbie). Bombshell release date: January 17, 2020 Waves Director Trey Edward Schultz charts an epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love and forgiveness in the wake of an unbelievably tragic loss. Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Sterling K. Brown. Waves release date: January 17, 2020 The Personal History of David Copperfield (Image: Lionsgate) A new take on the Charles Dickens classic from The Death of Stalin helmer Armando Iannucci. The comedy follows the life of David Copperfield (Dev Patel) from childhood to maturity, with his various adventures and network of family, friends, and enemies that he meets along his way. All-star cast includes Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi, and Ben Whishaw. The Personal History of David Copperfield release date: January 24, 2020 A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood Can You Ever Forgive Me? director Marielle Heller tackles an emotional story focused on Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), an investigative journalist who receives an assignment to profile Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks). He approaches the interview with skepticism, as he finds it hard to believe that anyone can have such a good nature. Can Mr. Rogers' outlook force Vogel to confront his past? A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood release date: January 31, 2020 Queen & Slim Slim and Queen's (Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya and newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith) first date takes an unexpected turn when a scary confrontation with a police officer sees Slim kill the man of the law and force the new couple to go on the run, but eventually the unwitting outlaws soon become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people all across the country. Queen & Slim release date: January 31, 2020 The Rhythm Section This intense drama follows Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively) as she heads down path of self-destruction after a tragic plane crash kills her family. However, when it becomes clear this wasn't an accident, Stephanie goes looking for revenge. Also starring Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown. Rhythm Section release date: January 31, 2020 Richard Jewell Clint Eastwood directs the true story of Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser), the man who seemingly stops a bomb from killing multiple people at the the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, before then being named as the prime suspect in the bombing. Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm also star in the Golden Globe-nominated drama. Richard Jewell release date: January 31, 2020 The Lighthouse The Witch director Robert Eggers returns with a cryptic but funny psychological horror focusing on two workers in a remote and isolated lighthouse where the sanity of the inhabitants begin to unravel. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe star in this critically-acclaimed two-hander. The Lighthouse release date: January 31, 2020

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis began the New Year with an apology for losing his patience the night before with a woman who grabbed his hand and yanked him closer to her while he was greeting people in St. Peter’s Square. To get away, the pope had slapped her hand and gave her a very serious scowl. A video of the incident went viral on Twitter. Reciting the midday Angelus prayer Jan. 1, Pope Francis was talking about how God’s offer of salvation in Jesus is “not magic, but patient, that is, it involves the patience of love, which takes on inequity and destroys its power.” Then, briefly departing from his prepared text, the pope said that “love makes us patient. We often lose our patience; me, too, and I apologize for my bad example last night.” Returning to his text, Pope Francis said that in gazing upon the Nativity scene with the eyes of faith, “we see the world renewed, freed from the dominion of evil and placed under the regal lordship of Christ, the baby lying in the manger.” The church marks Jan. 1 as both the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day, he said, urging Catholics to pray for peace and to recognize their responsibility to work for peace. For the 2020 celebration of World Peace Day, he said, the focus was on peace as a “journey of hope, a journey which proceeds through dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion.” “Jesus is the blessing of those oppressed by the yoke of slavery, both moral and material,” he said. “He frees with love.” To those who are enslaved by vice and addiction, the pope said, Jesus bears the message that “the Father loves you, he will not abandon you, with unshakable patience he awaits your return.” Jesus opens the doors of fraternity, welcome and love to those who are victims of injustice or exploitation; pours “the oil of consolation” on the sick and the discouraged; and opens windows of light for prisoners who feel they have no future, he said. “Dear brothers and sisters,” he told the people in the square, “let’s get down from the pedestals of our pride and ask for the blessing of the holy Mother of God. She will show us Jesus. Let’s let ourselves be blessed, let’s open our hearts to goodness and that way the year that is beginning will be a journey of hope and peace, not through words, but through daily gestures of dialogue, reconciliation and care for creation.” Pope Francis used his midday address to thank and encourage all the initiatives Catholics, their parishes and dioceses around the world undertake to promote peace. “My thoughts also go to the many volunteers who, in places where peace and justice are threatened, courageously choose to be present in a nonviolence and unarmed way, as well as to the military who carry out peacekeeping missions in many areas of conflict,” the pope said. Addressing everyone, “believers and non-believers because we are all brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis urged people to “never stop hoping in a world of peace,” which must be built together, day by day.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world will not know peace unless there is an end to violence against women, the exploitation of their bodies and the denial of their dignity, Pope Francis said on the feast of Mary, Mother of God. Celebrating Mass Jan. 1 for the feast day and the World Day of Peace, the pope said: “If we want a better world that is a house of peace and not a courtyard of war, we must take to heart the dignity of every woman.” Jesus, the prince of peace, was born of a woman, he said. “The woman is a giver and mediator of peace and must be fully involved in decision-making processes because when women can share their gifts, the world will find itself more united and more at peace.” “A victory for women is a victory for all of humanity,” the pope said. The Christmas season and the feast of Mary, Mother of God, he said, are celebrations of the great gift of God sending his son into the world as a human baby, born of a woman so that he would have the same human flesh of all those he came to save. Catholics begin the new year honoring Mary, the “woman who wove the humanity of God,” the pope said. “If we want to weave humanity into the plot of our days, we must start from the woman.” Every human life is born of a woman, and the rebirth promised in Christ also was born of a woman, he said. “Women are the source of life, yet they are continually offended, beaten, molested, coerced into prostitution and to terminate the life they carry in their wombs,” the pope said. “Every violence inflicted on a woman is a profanation of God, who was born of a woman,” he said. “Humanity’s salvation was accomplished through the body of a woman; how we treat a woman’s body is an indication of our level of humanity.” It’s not just violence, the pope said. “The body of the woman is sacrificed on the profane altars of advertising, profit, pornography, exploited like a thing to use.” “Today maternity is humiliated because the only growth that interests people is economic growth,” he said. Pope Francis also drew attention to migrant women, “mothers who risk arduous journeys desperately seeking a better future only to be judged as excess numbers by people who have a belly full of things and a heart empty of love.” The newborn Jesus received his first caresses from Mary and exchanged his first smiles with her, the pope said. “With her, he inaugurated the revolution of tenderness. The church, looking upon baby Jesus, is called to continue it.” The church, like Mary, “is woman and mother, and finds its distinctive traits in Our Lady,” he said. “It sees her, the immaculate one, and says ‘no’ to sin and worldliness. It sees her, fruitful, and feels called to proclaim the Lord, to generate lives in him. It sees her, mother, and feels called to welcome every man and woman as a son or daughter.” By drawing closer to Mary, he said, the church will become more of what it is meant to be, more focused on Jesus and more united. “The enemy of human nature, the devil, seeks to divide it,” the pope said. The devil entices people to put their “differences, ideologies, thoughts of sides and parties” first. “Structures, programs and tendencies, ideologies and functions” may tell people something about the church, he said, but those are not “the heart of the church, because the church has the heart of a mother.” “We her children today invoke the Mother of God who unites us as a believing people,” he said, praying: “O Mother, generate in us hope, bring us unity. Woman of salvation, we entrust this year to you, watch over it in your heart.”

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APL Apollo Tubes Ltd is quoting at Rs 1880, up 0.12% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 55.52% in last one year as compared to a 12.82% drop in NIFTY and a 8.08% drop in the Nifty Metal. APL Apollo Tubes Ltd gained for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1880, up 0.12% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.07% on the day, quoting at 12176.55. The Sensex is at 41298, up 0.11%. APL Apollo Tubes Ltd has risen around 16.53% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which APL Apollo Tubes Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 5.75% in last one month and is currently quoting at 2801.3, down 0.62% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 7186 shares today, compared to the daily average of 30501 shares in last one month. The PE of the stock is 47.84 based on TTM earnings ending September 19. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

 Indian shares are expected to open little changed on Thursday following muted trends in global markets. Asian shares were mixed, while US futures traded marginally higher in the morning trades. SGX Nifty futures traded 0.05 percent lower as of 7.45 AM at 12,239, indicating a flat start for the Sensex and the Nifty50.

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Perhaps the most laudable quality of so-called great men is their ability to inflict greatness upon the women in their lives. Bill Clinton almost got his spouse elected president. Hugh Grant helped Divine Brown, aka "Cherry Red," land an appearance on "The Joey Buttafuoco Show" in the late 1990s. Thanks to Donald J. Trump, the otherwise unremarkable Omarosa Manigault Newman has joined the elite club of celebs who no longer require a surname. Willie Brown is a 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year for his role in helping a former deputy district attorney of Alameda County, Calif., rise to national prominence as the first female candidate of color to withdraw from the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Brown's success in launching the political career of former girlfriend Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) is a testament to the powerful ways in which great men can "rub off" on their comparatively mediocre female companions. Harris has come a long way since dating Brown in the mid-1990s. Brown, one of the most celebrated and influential politicians in the state of California, was serving as speaker of the California State Assembly at the time. Under Brown's tutelage, Harris found the courage to quit her county-level job and accept a six-figure patronage gig on a state insurance board. After Harris served on the board for six months, Brown appointed her to a three-year term on a state medical commission, where she earned $70,000 annually to attend a meeting once a month. The rest, as they say, is history. Harris ended her relationship with Brown shortly after the separated-but-not-divorced political juggernaut was elected mayor of San Francisco in 1996, but Brown's influence (and powerful social network) continued to propel her to greater heights: district attorney of San Francisco, attorney general of California, United States senator, and candidate for president who briefly enjoyed "top tier" status in a crowded primary field. Mainstream media coverage of female politicians tends to downplay or ignore the male figures who have helped shape their careers and characters. Few, if any, of the "post-mortem" analyses of Harris's campaign have bothered to mention Brown's role in helping the candidate get as far as she did despite her middling skills as a politician. Before the general public forgets that Kamala Harris ran for president, ample praise is due for the man who graciously guided her early steps on the path toward greatness. It's not his fault she failed to make it on her own. Congratulations, Willie Brown, for your generous contributions to the female gender. Because you can't spell "notorious womanizer" without M-A-N.

Photo : AP It is most appropriate that we open on this Sunday morning –it’s Wednesday afternoon, you say? Oh. Excuse me, er, that we open on today, in the Christian tradition, with this quote from the King James Version of the Bible: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.” As Jesus noted above, faith is a powerful thing, and it has been mighty powerful for black people in this country under years of oppressive conditions. It is that which has “gotten us through.” And so it is with faith that we end Kwanzaa, the seven-day African American cultural tradition started more than 50 years ago. Advertisement Imani, or faith, in Kwanzaan lore is defined as believing with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Last year, the person who exemplified faith was Stacey Abrams; in 2017 it was the black women of Alabama. Let me tell you a story: in August 2019, a young woman named Cyntoia Brown walked through a Tenessee prison’s gates a free woman, after being exonerated for killing a 43-year-old white man when she was 16 years old. Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, in one of his last acts in office, has granted clemency to… Read more Cyntoia was sex trafficked by said man and said she feared for her life when she took his. She shot him and was convicted of murder, her sentence ensuring that she would never again see a day outside of a jail’s walls. Advertisement Yet, it was Brown’s faith, detailed in her memoir, Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System, that kept her sane, kept her grounded, and kept her knowing in her heart of hearts that she would be free. She also spoke of freedom in spiritual terms shortly after her release. “I just want to let you know before I was physically in prison, I was bound up in prisons in shame, prisons in anger, prisons in feeling like I had to do things to be accepted by other people. God saved me from that,” said Brown. “There is freedom in Jesus. When I live for him and to be accepted by him, I have to do absolutely nothing. Just be myself.” Advertisement So whatever your spritiual practice—even if you don’t subscribe to one—let us bring our faith into 2020, our belief in ourselves and the forces of good to get us through. This year is going to be a doozy, and we can learn from Cyntoia Brown and others like her, that it’s about emancipating our minds and hearts first and foremost and having the courage to continue to believe in the might of right in the face of all that is formed against us. Amen, Ase, and hells yeah.

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Jan 01, 2020 , 12:42PM Death toll from tribal clashes in Sudan's Darfur rises to 36 AIR Pics Whereas a local organization that helps run refugee camps in the area has put the toll at 41 dead and more than 100 wounded. It accused Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF, of intervening in the fighting on the side of the Arab forces. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Deputy Head of the Sovereign Council, commands the paramilitary group, which grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias. Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow longtime autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April. A military-civilian government now rules the country. One of its key priorities has been ending the insurgencies in Sudan's far-flung provinces in order to slash military spending, which takes up much of the national budget. The Sudanese Government and a rebel faction signed a peace deal last week. It was expected that the deal could pave way for peace agreements with more rebel groups.

At least 24 people were confirmed killed after a camp for internally displaced people was attacked in Sudan's West Darfur, an international peacekeeping official said on Wednesday, as top officials arrived to try to calm the violence.Krinding Camp, just east of state capital el-Geneina, was raided on Dec. 29-30 following a dispute between Arab and African ethnic groups, said Ashraf Eissa, a spokesman for the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID."The Arab tribesman's people came to the IDP camp and started shooting and killing and burning," he said."Then relatives went to the hospital and threatened hospital staff at gunpoint and destroyed the blood bank ... and when a government of Sudan policeman tried to intervene he was shot and killed."Brokering lasting peace in Darfur and other parts of Sudan is one of the main challenges facing military and civilian authorities sharing power following the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir last April.

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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) The European Medicines Agency Accepts the Regulatory Submission for Lumoxiti in Relapsed or Refractory Hairy Cell Leukemia / EIN News / -- MARSEILLE, France, Jan. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH – ISIN: FR0010331421; Nasdaq: IPHA) (“ Innate ” or the “ Company ”) today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Lumoxiti® (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk), a first-in-class medicine indicated for adult patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who have received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analog. “If approved by the EMA, Lumoxiti will be the first treatment available in Europe for relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia patients in more than twenty years, potentially changing the standard of care for these patients,” commented Pierre Dodion, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Innate Pharma. “We are dedicated in addressing the unmet need in this rare form of cancer that can result in serious and life-threatening conditions, and as such, are hopeful we can bring this important medicine to patients in Europe as soon as possible.” The EMA filing is based on the final analysis of the pivotal Phase III trial of Lumoxiti, presented at ASH 2019*. These data showed that 36 percent (29/80) of the relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia patients achieved durable complete response, defined as a CR with a hematological remission maintained for at least 180 days. The objective response rate (ORR) was at 75 percent. Eighty-one percent of patients with CR experienced eradication of minimal residual disease as reflected by MRD-negative status. In addition, there was a 61 percent probability that patients who achieved a CR would maintain it after five years. The EMA filling acceptance follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Lumoxiti in September 2018. About Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk): Lumoxiti is a CD22-directed immunotoxin and a first-in-class treatment in the US for adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who have received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analog. Lumoxiti is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl ≤ 29 mL/min). It comprises the CD22 binding portion of an antibody fused to a truncated pseudomonas exotoxin. The toxin inhibits protein synthesis and ultimately triggers apoptotic cell death. Lumoxiti received U.S. FDA approval in September 2018 and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA and the EMA for the treatment of r/r HCL. AstraZeneca is the current Biologics License Application (BLA) holder for Lumoxiti in the US, and is also the marketing authorization applicant for the EU filing. About the ‘1053’ Phase III trial: The approval of Lumoxiti was based on data from the AstraZeneca-sponsored, open-label ‘1053’ trial, which was a single-arm, multi-center Phase III clinical trial assessing the efficacy, safety, immunogenicity and pharmacokinetics of Lumoxiti monotherapy in patients with r/r HCL who have received at least two prior therapies, including one purine nucleoside analog. The trial enrolled 80 patients and was conducted across 34 sites in 14 countries. The primary endpoint was durable complete response (CR), defined as CR with hematologic remission (blood count normalization) for more than 180 days. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate, relapse-free survival, progression-free survival, time to response, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenic potential. About Innate Pharma: Innate Pharma S.A. is a commercial stage oncology-focused biotech company dedicated to improving treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through therapeutic antibodies that harness the immune system to fight cancer. Innate Pharma’s commercial-stage product, Lumoxiti, in-licensed from AstraZeneca in the US, EU and Switzerland, was approved by the FDA in September 2018. Lumoxiti is a first-in class specialty oncology product for hairy cell leukemia. Innate Pharma’s broad pipeline of antibodies includes several potentially first-in-class clinical and preclinical candidates in cancers with high unmet medical need. Innate has been a pioneer in the understanding of natural killer cell biology and has expanded its expertise in the tumor microenvironment and tumor-antigens, as well as antibody engineering. This innovative approach has resulted in a diversified proprietary portfolio and major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, and a multi-products collaboration with AstraZeneca. Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris and Nasdaq in the US. Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com Information about Innate Pharma shares: ISIN code Ticker code LEI FR0010331421 Euronext: IPH Nasdaq: IPHA 9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29 Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.The use of certain words, including “believe,” “potential,” “expect” and “will” and similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including related to safety, progression of and results from its ongoing and planned clinical trials and preclinical studies, review and approvals by regulatory authorities of its product candidates, the Company’s commercialization efforts and the Company’s continued ability to raise capital to fund its development. For an additional discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (“Facteurs de Risque") section of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (“AMF”), which is available on the AMF website http://www.amf-france.org or on Innate Pharma’s website , and public filings and reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s final prospectus dated October 16, 2019, and subsequent filings and reports filed with the AMF or SEC, or otherwise made public, by the Company. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country. For additional information, please contact: Investors Innate Pharma Danielle Spangler / Jérôme Marino Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 30 Media Innate Pharma Tracy Rossin (Global/US) Tel.: +1 240 801 0076 ATCG Press Marie Puvieux (France) Tel.: +33 (0)9 81 87 46 72 __________________ * 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, USA. Share on Facebook · Twitter · LinkedIn Distribution channels: Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry , Media, Advertising & PR , Technology EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors. Share This Story

(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) More than 24,000 ex-military members benefit from Social Fund aid Luanda, ANGOLA, January 1 - The Ministry of National Defence announced plan to launch a strategic and business plan to assist more than 24,000 former military personnel and their dependents., Ministry of Defence announced the implementation of the strategy through the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA)'s Social Fund. The move is intended to make the FAA Social Security Fund less dependent on the State General Budget (OGE). The objective is to increase the ability to generate extra income for families and employment for young dependents of former military personnel. Angolan minister of National Defence, Salviano Sequeira, said Tuesday that the strategic plan, approved by the Economic Commission of the Cabinet Council, aims to attract domestic and foreign investors in areas such as agriculture, industry, tourism, real estate, health and renewable energy. Speaking at year-end greeting ceremony, Salviano Sequeira said 9, 108 beneficiaries were integrated in FAA Social Security payments system in 2019, at a time the institution has a total of 72, 259 pensioners. As for international commitments, the official stressed the actions to strengthen defence and security cooperation with neighbouring countries and Angola's strategic partners. The minister also highlighted the FAA's involvement in the Humanitarian Aid Mission in Mozambique hit by Cyclone Idai, adding that the FAA mission was successfully accomplished. In defence industries, he said that studies were carried out for the implementation of various projects, in order to provide logistical support to the defence and security agencies and to serve, in a first phase, the internal market. Share on Facebook · Twitter · LinkedIn Distribution channels: EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors. Share This Story

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Advertisement The women of the Danish royal family put on a dazzling display as they arrived in Copenhagen for their annual new year's celebration tonight. Crown Princess Mary, 47, led with the glamour in a velvet burgundy gown adorned with diamonds and rubies as she attended her family's traditional New Year reception at Amalienborg Palace in her country's capital. She joined her sister-in-law Princess Marie, 43, her aunt-in-law Princess Benedikte, 75, and her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II, 79, in celebrating the new year. The women put on a jaw-dropping display, kitted out in eye-catching diamond tiaras, ruby and pearl necklaces and emerald jewels. Mary's velvet gown, cut with long sleeves to shield the Australian-born princess from the cold, fitted her lean frame perfectly. With her usual impeccable taste, Mary paired the stylish gown with lavish jewellery - a ruby necklace and earrings adorned with generous diamond clusters, and a stunning matching tiara and bracelet. Scroll down for video Princess Mary looked stunning in a burgundy gown as the Danish royal family hosted their traditional New Year's reception at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen today Princess Marie, 43, the crown princess's sister in law, looked a picture in a navy blue gown with an empire cut and sapphire jewellery (pictured) The fitted belt of the gown was also adorned with a floral brooch with rubies, as was a beautiful ring on her right hand. As per tradition, she also sported the Order of the Elephant at the front and centre of the stylish outfit. The Order is Denmark’s oldest and most distinguished royal order of chivalry, and can be dated back to 1460. While the length of her gown covered her whole height down to the pavement of the palace, the royal's step revealed she was wearing shoes of the same colour as the gown. Her red clutch bag added a pop of colour to the eye-catching ensemble as she posed for pictures before retreating inside. Not one to overdo it, Mary kept her hazelnut locks styled in a simple bun, and sported light makeup that put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes with a dash of mascara and dark eye-shadow. Queen Margrethe II, 79, wore a floral gown in aquamarine and a sumptuous fur thrown over her shoulders. Her emerald jewellery shone as much as she beamed this evening Princess Benedikte, 75, the younger sister of the reigning Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, added some glitz to her purple gown with a pair of heels, and stuck to silver jewellery and pearls With her usual impeccable taste, the Danish royal paired her jewellery to her dress, from her beautiful tiara and earrings to her necklace, bracelets and ring (pictured) Mary's sister in law, Princess Marie, the wife of Prince Joachim, 50, also looked a picture in a navy blue number with an empire cut. Also sporting the order of the elephant, the royal sported sapphire jewellery which matched her gown perfectly. Queen Margrethe II, 79, the mother of Mary's husband, Frederik, 51, sported a lovely aquamarine gown with a fur thrown over her shoulders. She paired the delightful number with emerald gems on her tiara, necklace and bracelet. Her younger sister, Princess Benedikte, 75, sporting purple, stuck to silver jewellery adorned with purple to accessorise her outfit. Crown Princess Mary turned heads in the beautiful gown as its eye-cathing train wrapped her legs in the velvet fabric (pictured) Sequins and pearls! Princess Benedikte looked stylish as she joined the royal family for the reception tonight Princess Marie looked darling as she beamed by her husband Prince Joachim, side at the reception, Joachim looked dashing in his navy blue uniform Love birds! Princess Marie and Prince Joachim held hands as they stopped for a few moments on the red carpet leading them into the royal party Both royals were smiling, wearing their very best ahead of the evening of celebration in Copenhagen. Joachim and Marie (pictured) married in 2008 The traditional New Year's Eve ball began in 1693 when Christian VII gave the Elephant Order statues to the Danish Ordinances on January 1. While it used to be an exclusive celebration for kings and knights of the day, the circle later extended to include royal ladies, the cabinet's leadership and selected institutions closely related to the empire. It has since become a way for the reigning Queen to give a New Year's address to her family and close associates. Princess Mary kept her makeup subtle, with a dash of mascara and eyeshadow which put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes Queen Margrethe II (left) beamed in aquamarine as she was joined by her younger sister Benedikte, in purple, (right) for the festivities

New Year... New You? It’s the time of year where things get a bit hectic. And we can get consumed by it all. Which is absolutely fine. Just enjoy the ride. But what happens after the festivities are over? Where do we go then? I’m sure the vast majority will conjure up some form of new year’s resolution. Most of which will fall by the wayside within a few weeks of the new year. Why? Because we set such a big task, that when it starts to get difficult, we lose focus, lose interest, and ultimately lose the motivation to continue. Instead of giving yourself a new year’s resolution, why not try the following: Set yourself goals and targets to complete by the end of the year. Yes, it’s essentially the same thing, but by getting away from the ‘resolution’ tag and focusing on hitting smaller goals, that consequentially result in the larger objective, we can digest each goal more easily, and therefore maintain motivation. If you hit a smaller target within the first few weeks of the new year, then you’re far more likely to stay motivated and push onto the next goal. Set goals, break them down, and go about each individual goal with full focus. Make 2020 the year you finally get things done. We spend far too long planning and preparing without taking any action. Now is the time to take action. Massive action. Stop delaying. Take the next week or two to strategise the year ahead. But don’t wait until January 1 to start cracking on with your goals. Start NOW! Yes, you may make the odd mistake, and that’s totally fine. Learn from it and use it to spur you on to a great 2020! The more we think about something, the more likely we are to not go ahead with it. Go on... Start today. Learn as you go. And 2020 will be a fantastic year. Mark Davies Zenith Fit Personal Trainer & Online Coach Tel: 07837 950 573 Web: www.zenithfit.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenithfit/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/zenith_fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenith_fit/

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Look at the case of Champika Ranawaka. The CID cleared him some years back and now they are going after the man again. Perhaps the CID was politically actuated then or perhaps they are so actuated now. We do not know. But either way, it shows that our CID cannot be trusted. by S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole On 25 November 2019, Gania Banister Francis, a Tamil employee of the Swiss Embassy (aged 38) alleged that she was kidnapped by the Sri Lankan Police. She has said she was treated brutally and subjected to coercion and sexual harassment. She added that the Police asked her for sensitive information on political asylum cases, before releasing her. Gania after bailed Subsequently, according to news reports, she was taken in for questioning despite medical conditions, questioned for 30 hours once and overall over five days, disregarding protests from the Swiss Embassy. Francis’ counsel, Upul Kumarapperuma, complained to Court that he himself has been targeted by individuals and media for appearing in this case, adding that certain false information about Francis has been released, discrediting her. He told Court that her employer, the Swiss Embassy, has also been targeted and misinformation about the Embassy and its other employees is being spread to change the narrative of the story and to discredit Francis. The Police seemed in a hurry to nail her and diminish her credibility so much so that they had her warded in a psychiatric hospital. Many news reports connect this harassment to a Sri Lankan Police investigator, Nishantha Silva, who fled to Switzerland following the 16 November election in which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been partly the focus by Silva. Francis awaits trial, she is forbidden by Court from leaving Sri Lanka. Reports suggest that her aged mother has fled Sri Lanka in fear to Switzerland via Singapore. The Cypriot case In striking parallel, in Cyprus, an as yet unnamed 19-year old British tourist reported to Police that on 17 July 2019 she was assaulted in her hotel room by Israeli youths aged 15 to 12. There is medical evidence of bruises and scratches on her. The youths were remanded the next day. On finding no DNA evidence (as the Police claimed), the five were released to run away immediately to Israel, and the girl was called into the Police station on 27 July 2019, and accused of lying and, as she claims, forced to give another statement for over eight hours without access to a lawyer. She signed a retraction and is formally charged at the odd hour of 2:30 a.m. with “giving a false statement over an imaginary offence”. The woman was remanded in custody for eight days, after being escorted into Court in handcuffs. She faced charges of “public mischief” for alleging she had been sexually assaulted by the tourists. She rejects her retraction statement saying she was forced to sign it by the Police. Her trial began on 15 October, as human rights and feminist activists pressed the Cypriot Attorney General to dismiss the case. The final judgement delivered on 30 December is that she is guilty as charged, and in the meantime, she is awaiting sentencing, out on bail and forbidden from leaving Cyprus. The legal aid group Justice Abroad said the trial had been far from fair because the judge had refused to consider whether the defendant had actually been assaulted as revealed by the marks on her body. Parallels: Cyprus and Sri Lanka One cannot be amazed by the parallels as I was in the war years when victims of torture here had testimonies very similar to what others reported from the Shah’s Iran and under dictatorships in Latin America – toe and finger nails being pulled out, needles pushed under nails, beatings, special injection of drugs making men ejaculate, being hung upside down with a bag over the eyes putting out petrol fumes or chili fumes. There seemed a good trade in torture technology between friendly autocrats. The prosecuting teams also bear striking similarities in getting female victims of the sexist police to withdraw their statements, long interrogation over the night without legal representation, etc. How do we judge? Where does the truth lie? The Judiciary? No, going by our former Chief Justice’s boasts on how he had rendered a judgement favouring a party in the Hambantota pilfering case while the other two judges meekly signed “I agree”. A Supreme Court justice haranguing a murdered 12-year-old LTTE conscript undergoing rehabilitation at Bindunuwewa, points to our judges also being cut from the same cloth as all of us. I desist saying more because of the actions against Francis. The legal fraternity? No, when all lawyers attending the relevant Bar Association meeting including Tamils elders like Nilakandan unanimously condemned the UN report on the massacre of 40,000 on the beaches of Mullaitivu, even before the report was issued. We live in fear and will easily say things we do not believe in. In newspapers? No, going by the absence of any objective reporting while Tamils were at the receiving end. The change in editorial tenor in the last few weeks will also give us the answer. Even in this Francis case, reporters who seem to know what happened, are reluctant to say anything except that they think that the incident as alleged by Francis did really happen. Eyewitnesses Eyewitnesses will say anything in Sri Lanka driven by communal passion or to suck up to authority. For example, on 27 December 2019 at 10:30 p.m. or so I was driving from Jaffna to Colombo with my wife. Branching off A9 at Rambewa and entering Anuradhapura by A20, I came to a T-junction at the end of A20. I turned left when an immature driver overtook me on my left while turning left herself. Being off the single lane she moved right to my lane and bumped into me on my left and her right. I stopped. The husband on the passenger side came around, was angry, opened the passenger door by which my wife was seated and became abusive in the Sinhalese language. He accused me of overtaking him and hitting him from behind. I was very fearful. It was Anuradhapura. We are experienced with mobs. A crowd was gathering. I took off but the husband and another car gave chase. I drove to the Police station. There a crowd came in and became so abusive in Sinhalese that the Policeman there shouted at them to go out and do their shouting. I told the officer what had happened (translated into Sinhalese by my wife), and the other driver wearing a necklace with a gold cross stuck to their version. There were eight people backing their story. There was talk by them of my van being impounded (which would have left me stuck at midnight in Anuradhapura with my wife and dog which a hired car to get to Colombo may not accommodate). As these fearful thoughts raced through my mind, the Policeman, one Wickramasinghe who perhaps was the OIC, turned out to be decent. He called for the CCTV camera footage at the junction. After viewing it, he privately told the other party something and they quietly vanished. She was not charged, just like the monk assaulting a Christian priest described below was not charged. He asked us to tarry awhile as he said that the other party was very angry and that we should leave straight for Colombo. It was a rare Sunday I missed the Eucharist but made up for it only in part with a wedding service at the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church where my daughter was a bridesmaid. The Police Who respects our Police to expect justice through them? I do not, even though the Anuradhapura Policeman was in his own way not out to get us as the mob was. Many times have I seen my drivers getting away with Rs. 300 after being stopped for speeding, especially North of Vavuniya on the A9. Writer Lakmal Harischandra has documented with video evidence, Ampitiye Sumana, a Buddhist monk, slapping a Christian minister in front of a Policeman. The monk is free to go about creating his mischief. No criminal charge for that in this country. Look at the CID. They declared Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Shafi, who was attached to the Kurunegala Hospital, not guilty of anything after high-ranking persons accused him of tying up the tubes of Sinhalese women without their knowledge. Some of the women who accused him of tying up their tubes, said the CID, subsequently became pregnant. The poor Dr. Shafi suffered badly. The witnesses had behaved like my Anuradhapura mob. Now suddenly, after the change of Government, he is guilty and they are reopening investigations. I guess it is no problem for the CID to deal with their previous testimony sworn to in Court. They do not seem to care even if it is obvious to all that they are on a vindictive streak, having lost their humanity and lost sight of justice. Such a legal system can only be called a joke. Look at the case of Champika Ranawaka. The CID cleared him some years back and now they are going after the man again. Perhaps the CID was politically actuated then or perhaps they are so actuated now. We do not know. But either way, it shows that our CID cannot be trusted. The murdered ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen’s case and the indicted Judicial Medical Officer Ananda Samarasekara’s behaviour are other instances that will have lessons for us as time flows. They can play with murder charges because they have not been framed yet. But if the Attorney General decides there is no case against Samarasekara after indicting him, it would open questions about the Attorney General’s credibility and constancy of opinions when the Government changes. Mullivaikal A team of respectable investigators have investigated the last days of the war for the UN and solemnly declared in their report that upwards of 40,000 persons were massacred by the LTTE and the Government. Our Government – we have only one Government, not a Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government or a Maithripala Sirisena Government – agreed to many things including trials under resolution 30/1 at the Human Rights Council. There is talk now of renegotiating the agreement which we ourselves cosponsored. That attempt at withdrawing from our solemn agreement – indeed that attempt to cheat the world – is telling on our truthfulness and integrity. Trying to renegotiate the agreement would be a disaster for our reputation as a truthful nation. So doing would make anyone wonder why we do not push ahead with war crimes trials and leave it all behind us if no one is guilty. Surely, the move to renegotiate is pushed by those who do not want to face a trial. If there is no guilt, there is no need to fear a fair trial watched by us and the international community to ensure fairness. The international presence is essential if war crimes trials are not to go the route of the cases cited above where the Police clear the guilty. (Note: This article has been written carefully and thoughtfully in an attempt to preserve the endangered Sri Lanka that I know and love so much. I hope that for doing that, I will not be charged with ‘Fabricating False Evidence and Inciting Disaffection against the State,’ like Francis has been, or with causing “public mischief” as in Cyprus.)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka said that the safety of diplomatic missions is the responsibility of the host state, days after a local staffer who complained of being assaulted was released on bail while being investigated for maligning the government. Before her arrest, the Sri Lankan employee had reportedly said she was abducted, held for hours, sexually assaulted and threatened by captors who demanded that she disclose embassy-related information. She was granted bail on Monday after two weeks of detention on charges that she made statements to create disaffection toward the government and fabricated evidence. Sri Lankan authorities have said they investigated her complaint but found no evidence to file charges against anyone. In a diplomatic note released to the media Tuesday evening, Switzerland said it is the responsibility of any government to protect the diplomatic missions of other states. Switzerland said the relationship between the two countries “was marred by misunderstandings surrounding” the incident. However, it said it “hoped for a swift return to an environment conducive to resuming the positive co-operation.“ “Recognizing that local staff is subject to local laws, the embassy is convinced that both sides will remain attentive to the working conditions and the well-being of all staff of diplomatic missions,“ it said. The Swiss foreign ministry has previously called the alleged Nov. 25 abduction of the embassy employee a “very serious and unacceptable attack” and summoned Sri Lanka’s ambassador to demand an investigation. It also criticized a lack of due process in the case. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... The Sri Lankan government has insisted that evidence collected by its investigators did not support the sequence of events provided by the embassy that the woman had been abducted by captors who demanded she reveal unspecified information about the embassy. Sri Lanka also rejected a request by the embassy to fly the employee and her family to Switzerland. Before the woman was detained, she was summoned to Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department to make statements and was subjected to medical tests and a psychiatric analysis. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa later said he had become the victim in the alleged abduction because foreign media reported about it before the facts were established and critics accused his government of carrying it out. Rajapaksa became president after winning a Nov. 16 election. Shortly after that, a Sri Lankan police investigator, Nishantha Silva, fled to Switzerland. Get more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the Star. Sign up for our newsletters to get today's top stories, your favourite columnists and lots more in your inbox Sign Up Now YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... Silva had been investigating alleged abductions, torture, killings and enforced disappearances of journalists and activists while Rajapaksa was defence chief under the presidency of his brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accused of overseeing what were known as “white van” abduction squads that whisked away critics. Some were returned after being tortured, while others were never seen again. He has denied the allegations.

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Think of a train coming down the tracks to a switch point where it could go either to the right or the left — and it always goes to the right. Photosynthetic organisms have a similar switch point. After sunlight is absorbed, energy transfers rapidly to a protein called the reaction center. From this point, the electrons could move either to an A-branch (or “right-track”) set of molecules, or to a B-branch (“left-track”) set of identical molecules. New research from Washington University in St. Louis and Argonne National Laboratory coaxes electrons down the track that they typically don’t travel — advancing understanding of the earliest light-driven events of photosynthesis. The findings were published Dec. 31 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). “In the bacterial reaction center, an electron goes to the A-branch of molecules 100% of the time. We have made it go to the B-branch molecules 90% of the time,” said Christine Kirmaier, research professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences. “After all, if you think you understand how the train and the tracks work, why shouldn’t you be able to make the train go to the left rather than the right? That’s essentially what we’ve done,” Kirmaier said. “Why two tracks have evolved is still an open question, but the ability to control which track is utilized is exciting,” said Philip D. Laible, a biophysicist in the biosciences division at Argonne National Laboratory and another lead author on the paper. “We would like to make the switching between them a more well understood phenomenon so that we could readily conduct electrons (pardon the pun) to any destination in a biological process,” he said. “Right now, we are controlling features that allows for electrons to transverse a biological membrane — the first step in making energy from sunlight in this organism.” Re-engineering a pathway Plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria convert the energy of sunlight into charge-separated units that they use to power life processes on Earth. And they do it in a very specific way: The reaction centers in these organisms feature two mirror image-like arrangements of protein and pigment cofactors, the A and B sides. Only one of these chains is active — the A side — while the B side is silent. Kirmaier, with collaborator Dewey Holten, professor of chemistry at Washington University, and the team at Argonne National Laboratory have designed many iterations of photosynthetic mutants with the goal of achieving charge separation using the B branch instead. The new research re-engineers a pathway in a purple photosynthetic bacteria, one of nature’s solar cells. “Using molecular biology, we’ve been changing the amino acids around the pigments to try and find the magic combination to make the B branch work,” she said. The game was to make structural changes that de-tune, or make less optimal, electron transfers along the A side or normal path — and then, at the same time, speed up the reactions along the B side. The researchers were able to step up this trial-and-error process by testing all possible amino acids at a specific target site on the A or B side, finding one or more that improve the B-side yield. They then carried that “hit” forward in the mutant background to probe the next target site, and so on. “It was unexpected,” Kirmaier said. “We picked a site, and in one of our best mutant backgrounds, placed all 20 amino acids there — and one of them gave us a 90% yield.” “This is a breakthrough achievement and something that [everyone in] the field has been actively trying to figure out for decades — ever since we first set eyes on the two tracks in a high-profile structural study in Nature nearly 35 years ago,” said Deborah K. Hanson of the biosciences division, Argonne National Laboratory, another lead author of the PNAS paper. Rethinking the history of photosynthesis The new work illuminates basic structure-function principles that govern efficient, light-induced electron transfer. This knowledge can aid design of biohybrid and bioinspired systems for energy conversion and storage, the researchers said. The findings also will provoke additional experiments and analysis. “The results raise lots of questions about what is required to get unidirectional charge separation,” Holten said. In nature, purple bacteria do initial charge separation with a two-step process that takes place in several trillionths of a second. But the team’s new B-branch solution gets almost the same yield, even though it uses a tandem one-step process that takes 5-10 times longer. “In the original history of photosynthesis, maybe such a combination of a fast two-step and slower one-step processes gave a 80 or 90% yield — and then, over time, it optimized,” Holten said. Funding: This research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy

(Natural News) How do skilled pickpockets figure out an object with just the slightest touch? A study from the University of Cambridge and Columbia University revealed that the brain can identify an object’s properties using purely statistical information. In sum, everyone has an “inner pickpocket” lurking inside them. This interesting finding not only explains why this form of thievery is effective, but it also serves a practical purpose: It allows a person, for instance, to determine if something looks good on them – just by looking at it. According to the researchers, this ability stems from how humans handle the steady stream of data obtained by their sensory input. The brain divides that nonstop information into discrete chunks for easier management. For example, a window shopper’s sense of sight deciphers photons as reflected light from the objects in the storefront. Similarly, a pickpocket renders the series of small depressions on their fingers as a sequence corresponding to an object in a pocket or bag. (Related: Can your inbuilt “compass” respond to changes in Earth’s magnetic field?) The brain consults earlier experiences to make guesses about new objects Humans rely on their senses to interact with their surroundings, often relying on sight and touch to identify objects in a heaping mess. Through these senses, they can predict how they feel about it using sight, or what it feels like using touch. Their brain delivers on those requirements by running statistical analyses of earlier experience. Based on the existing data, it may infer the properties of a newly-encountered object. Simultaneously, it may immediately guess the identity of an item despite having no obvious clue, such as well-defined shapes. Sponsored: NEW Biostructured Silver First Aid Gel created by the Health Ranger combines three types of silver (ionic silver, colloidal silver, biostructured silver) with seven potent botanicals (rosemary, oregano, cinnamon and more) to create a breakthrough first aid silver gel. Over 50 ppm silver, verified via ICP-MS lab analysis. Made from 100% Texas rain water and 70% solar power. Zero chemical preservatives, fragrances or emulsifiers. See full details here. In the study, co-lead author Mate Lengyel and his team looked at how the brain took in the continuous flow of sensory information and divided that data into objects. The researchers then compared the earlier data to the new sensory input. “The common view is that the brain receives [specialized] cues: such as edges or occlusions, about where one [thing] ends and another thing begins, but we’ve found that the brain is a really smart statistical machine: It looks for patterns and finds building blocks to construct objects,” Lengyel added. Everyone has an “inner pickpocket” that guesses what the hidden object looks or feels like The research team set up scenarios with abstract shapes that lacked distinct boundaries between them. Their subjects either watched the objects on a screen or tugged them apart along a tear line. The line went either through or between the objects. Next, the participants performed tests that evaluated their ability to predict the visual and haptic characteristics of the jigsaw puzzles. The visual exams determined the familiarity of the jigsaw pieces compared to abstract shapes made from the parts of two different objects. Meanwhile, the haptic tests investigated the difficulty of physically tearing new scenes apart in different directions. They learned that participants succeeded in assembling the right mental model of the jigsaw pieces using only visual or touch-based experiences. Further, the subjects immediately predicted the haptic properties of an object from the visible characteristics and vice versa. “These results challenge classical views on how we extract and learn about objects in our environment,” explained Lengyel. “Instead, we’ve [shown] that general-purpose statistical computations known to operate in even the youngest infants are sufficiently powerful for achieving such cognitive feats.” Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk ScienceDaily.com eLifeSciences.org

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An old video of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, that has been making rounds on social media, shows him being interviewed live on an Indian TV show during which he admits that he was asked to work in a Bollywood film by the late Indian actor Dev Anand. "You won't believe it but I was once I asked by a brilliant Indian actor, who we all look up to, to act in one of his upcoming film. In fact, he even turned up in England to request me, but I was puzzled," The Express Tribune reported on Thursday citing Khan as saying in the video. The premier was then asked details about who asked him and why he rejected, to which Khan said, "I won't name him because it'll be embarrassing." But upon being pressured by the host to reveal the actor's name, Khan confirmed it was Dev Anand. "For me it's strange, to think that just because I'm a cricketer, doesn't mean I can be an actor as well. It doesn't make sense to me." "(Indian-origin director) Ismail Merchant also once asked me to act in a film, but again I was puzzled because I can't act. I couldn't even act in a school play, let alone a film," Khan was quoted as saying. This incident was mentioned in Dev Anand's autobiography, "Romancing with Life". Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

Guwahati: The Assam government has banned strikes by employees of oil and gas sector in the state for six months from December 31, 2019 under the ESMA, an official release said on Thursday. Strikes by the officers, workmen, contract labourers, drivers and their helpers of tankers in the sector have been prohibited under the Essential Services Maintenance (Assam) Act, 1980, the release said. This has been done in public interest and any service in any oil field or refinery of any establishment or undertaking dealing with the production, supply of petroleum products including natural gas will fall under the purview of this order, it added.

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Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from liverpoolecho - What's On Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email It might seem to some like 2019 has just flown by. And what a year it's been in Liverpool - from the Champions League Parade shutting down the city centre to the Tour of Britain cyclists racing through Wirral to the first gigs being performed at Anfield for more than a decade. Let's not forget 2018 - with a visit from the Giants, the Tall Ships Regatta and the Terracotta Warriors drawing millions of people to Liverpool to experience the 10th anniversary of city being named the Capital of Culture. And of course, there was the most amazing shows and gigs to see all over the city. So with that in mind here are some of the things we're looking forward to in 2020, you can add yours in the comments section too. Liverpool Comic Con Stranger Things star David 'Hopper' Barbour, Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood, Sabrina the Teenage Witch Melissa Joan Hart and Sin City's Mickey Rourke have already been confirmed for the event which is set to draw thousands. When: March 6 to 8, 2020 Where: Exhibition Centre Liverpool, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: There is a variety of standard entry tickets available ranging from single day to weekend tickets available for adults, children aged five to nine, plus early entry from 9am tickets or general entry from 11am tickets. Infants aged one to four go free and ticket prices vary from £5.50 for children and up to £22 for adults for daily entry. Go to ticketquarter.co.uk to book. Stormzy Stormzy announced in November that he would be bringing his HITH World Tour to Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena. The grime artist has been in the spotlight more than ever this year, having headlined Glastonbury in June and releasing several singles from his upcoming album. His tour will be heading to venues across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and more before heading to Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena in September 2020. When: September 13, 2020. Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £40.40. Go to ticketquarter.co.uk to book tickets. The Who The Who will be heading to Liverpool on a UK tour - 55 years after making their first recordings. The Who are one of the greatest rock legacies in music history, having sold over 100 million records worldwide, including nine US and 10 UK top 10 albums and 14 UK top 10 singles. (Image: Rick Guest) Back with their first new album in 13 years they will be coming to the city in April. When: April 6, 2020. Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £73.15. Click here to book. Disney on Ice Disney on Ice returns to Liverpool with the Magical Ice Festival hosted by the loveable Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The show will feature most beloved characters and their faithful companions with energetic choreography that will have audiences singing and dancing. Characters including Moana and Maui and Frozen's Anna and Elsa will also star. When: March 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2020 Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Bookings can be made via www.disneyonice.com and www.mandsbankarena.com and prices start from £18. Grand National 2020 (Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane) No events round-up would be complete without one of Liverpool's biggest dates on the social calendar. Last year's winner Tiger Roll won for the second successive year at Aintree, but can he do it a third time? We're also set to see, once more, stunning outfits on Ladies Day as our Scouse girls step out in style. Tickets for the Randox Health Grand National are on sale now. When: April 2 to 4, 2020 Where: Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road, Aintree L9 5AS UK Tickets: Go to thejockeyclub.co.uk to book tickets. Prices start from £27 in the festival zone. Rick Astley Iconic eighties star Rick Astley has made a phenomenal comeback, with a number one album 50 released in 2016. He has since released another album Beautiful Life and supported Take That's Greatest Hits tour in between performing with The Foo Fighters on stage and Kylie Minogue at Hyde Park. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire) The singer, who appeared on Jools Holland's Hootenanny on New Year's Eve is returning to Liverpool once more for his The Best of Me Greatest Hits Tour this Easter. When: April 10, 2020 Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £32.35, go to mandsbankarena.com to book. Liverpool Indoor Funfair (Image: Jason Roberts) Get ready for thrills, spills, laughter and all the fun of the fair with the family during the Easter holidays. There's more than 20 attractions for all of the family to enjoy including the dodgems, a funhouse, a ghost train, an inflatable play centre, plus prize games galore and the ever-popular Nutella donuts will also be back. When: April 3 to 13, 2020 Where: Exhibition Centre Liverpool, King's Dock, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Entry fee £10 with unlimited rides on 20 attractions for three hours. Spectators cost £2.50. Under twos go free. Sessions are 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm and 6pm to 9pm. Go to exhibitioncentreliverpool.com to book. Gymnastics British Championships The Gymnastics British Championships will be a warm-up for the 2020 Olympics and some of the best artistic gymnasts will be performing the routines of their lives in a bid to make it to Japan. Tickets are expected to sell out as Britain catches Olympic fever after the squad secured seven medals at the Rio Olympic games. (Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Double Olympic gold and bronze medallist Max Whitlock will be taking to the floor alongside his fellow Olympic medallists Nile Wilson and Amy Tinkler. When: April 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2020. Where:M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Priced from £28.30 for adults, £23.05 concessions or £55.50 for a family ticket. Go to mandsbankarena.com to book. Strictly Coming Dancing Get your disco ball out - it's time to cha cha cha as Strictly Come Dancing returns to the city. The Professionals tour will see favourites including Gorka Marquez, Katya Jones and Oti Mabuse take to the floor for an explosion of electrifying dance numbers. So don those dancing shoes for a night of glitz and glamour. When: May 15, 2020 Where:M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Go to mandsbankarena.com to book. Tickets start from £34.45. Mamma Mia Get that Abba feeling when smash-hit musical Mamma Mia comes to the Liverpool Empire this spring. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life so prepare to be dancing in the aisles. When: April 28 to May 9, 2020 Where: Liverpool Empire, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE Tickets: Prices start from £13. Go to atgtickets.com to book. Andre Rieu The Dutch 'King of Waltz' is back in the city making classical music accessible to ordinary people. With his Johann Strauss Orchestra in tow he will be playing melodies for the masses from film, opera and musicals. At his concerts everything is allowed: laughing, weeping, singing and even dancing in the aisles. When: May 8, 2020 Where:M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: To book go to mandsbankarena.com, prices start from £51.50. Craig David (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire) Craig David will bring his 2020 arena tour to Liverpool next year. The tour will celebrate 20 years since the release of Craig David’s debut album Born to Do It. Craig is set to perform his most popular singles, including songs from his two UK number one albums. When: April 21, 2020 Where:M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £31.85 and tickets can be booked from www.mandsbankarena.com Jimmy Carr Channel 4 funnyman Jimmy Carr is bringing his Terribly Funny tour to Liverpool. Jimmy is known for his risky sense of humour and his new show is filled with jokes about all kinds of terrible things. The description of the show goes on: "Terrible things that might have affected you or people you know and love. "But they're just jokes - they are not the terrible things. Having political correctness at a comedy show is like having health and safety at a rodeo. Now you’ve been warned, buy a ticket." When: June 27 to 28. Where:M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Priced at £33.50 and can be booked from mandsbankarena.com River of Light (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo) 2019's River of Light was the best yet - an even brighter spectacle on both sides of the River Mersey. Last year, 10 light installations were also on display leading up to the main River of Light event, around the city centre, including spiders projected on to the Cunard Building and 200 luminous spheres in the courtyard of Liverpool Parish Church. The free event attracted tens of thousands of people who packed both sides of the river, as two simultaneous displays took place at the Pier Head in Liverpool and New Brighton in Wirral. Now although Liverpool Council and Wirral Council have not confirmed their full programme of events for 2020, it is expected that there will be some form of event during Bonfire Night. Paw Patrol Paw Patrol Live is returning to Liverpool with its action-packed Race to the Rescue show. The musical adventure takes centre stage once more following its debut in 2017, bringing everybody’s favourite pups back to the stage for an action-packed, high-energy performance. (Image: Birmingham Mail) Follow the patrol including Ryder, Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma, Sky and Everest as they race to the rescue when Mayor Goodway goes missing during the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race When: August 26 to 27, 2020 Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Priced from £18 and are available from ticketmaster.co.uk, pawpatrollive.co.uk or mandsbankarena.com Join our Liverpool ECHO Family... You can follow us for what's on and things to do for parents, kids and families in Liverpool and beyond plus parenting news and more. Join our group on Facebook. Like our Facebook page. Follow our Instagram feed. Find us on Twitter. Simple Minds We won't be forgetting about Simple Minds anytime soon as they are back to celebrate 40 years of hits. They will be performing their early fan favourites with their era-defining hits and their essential recent material, including a gloriously euphoric new track - a cover of King Creosote’s celebration of weekend revelry For One Night Only. They've landed five UK number one albums, topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic, sold over 60 million albums and packed stadiums the world over. Now the band are in Liverpool to perform as part of their 40th anniversary tour. When: August 22, 2020 Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £40.40 go to mandsbankarena.com to book. On Your Feet Straight from the West End and featuring the smash hit music of Gloria Estefan - this exhilarating show tells the inspiring true story of Gloria and husband Emilio charting their journey from Cuba, to the streets of Miami and finally to international superstardom. On You Feet features Gloria's best known tracks including Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Conga, Get On Your Feet and Don't Want To Lose You Now. When: February 17 to 22, 2020 Where: Liverpool Empire, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE Tickets: Go to atgtickets.com to book, tickets start from £13. Follow Gemma Jaleel on social media You can follow parenting and what's on family writer Gemma Jaleel on Twitter and Instagram. Like her Facebook page or read more of her stories here. Email Gemma at gemma.jaleel@liverpool.com to share any news, stories or updates. For family stories like Liverpool ECHO Family, join our Facebook group, follow our Instagram or tweet us. Simply Red Simply Red will be playing all the hits when they come to the city as part of their Blue Eyed Soul tour. The highly anticipated UK and Ireland 2020 arena tour will be firing on all cylinders delivering their all-time classic hits from a stellar career including Stars, Holding Back The Years, Fairground and Money’s Too Tight To Mention, as well as some raw and soulful new grooves. When: October 11, 2020. Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Go to mandsbankarena.com to book, prices start from £63.15. Elton John (Image: David Munn) Last but not least, Sir Elton John, will be back in Liverpool in November 2020 with his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour made up of 300 shows across the world reaching its end in Australasia in 2021. He was due to play a separate date in December 2020 but this was scrapped early last month. Speaking of the UK dates Elton John said: "The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will take us to many places that have meant a lot to me over the last fifty years, but these UK shows will be incredibly special." When: November 13 to 14, 2020 Where: M&S Bank Arena, King's Dock, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool L3 4FP Tickets: Prices start from £51.50. Go to mandsbankarena.com Sign up to the What's On newsletter - packed with brilliant things to see and do in Liverpool and beyond.

Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from liverpoolecho - What's On Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email 2020 has finally arrived, and Liverpool has welcomed it with open arms. Our city is ever changing and a lot can happen in a couple of years, let alone a full decade. This time 10 years ago, Liverpool had never even heard of the River of Light Festival and the Baltic Triangle was completely different. In the past decade Liverpool has transformed, and we can only imagine what will come next. With so much change, it’s hard to remember a lot of the details so we’ve taken a look at some of the things that seem so normal in Liverpool now - but you’d never have been able to do 10 years ago. Go bowling in the city centre (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo) Even a year ago families would have to travel outside of the city centre to the likes of Hollywood Bowl on Edge Lane to get their bowling fix. Now, the city centre has two bowling alleys in the form of Lane7 in Clayton Square and Roxy Ball Room’s second venue in Rainford Square. Soon, Pins Social Club will open on Duke Street and there will be even more options for bowling in the city centre. Go to Fusion Festival (Image: Liverpool Echo) Liverpool gained another music festival in 2016. Following a year in Birmingham which saw Ed Sheeran, Rudimental and The Vamps headline, Fusion Festival decided to relocate to Merseyside at Otterspool Promenade - it then headed to Sefton Park in 2019. At the time of the announcement, Damien Sanders, the events director, said: “Liverpool is such a vibrant, fun city that we can’t wait to become part of its musical fabric – exciting times indeed.” 2019 saw Little Mix, Anne-Marie, Rak-Su, Rudimental and Dizzee Rascal visit Liverpool to headline the show. Visit the Museum of Liverpool (Image: Colin Lane) In July 2011 the Museum of Liverpool opened its doors to the public. The free museum hosts some of the city’s most exciting artworks and has plenty of activities for the kids. Now it attracts more than 700,000 visitors every year and houses ground breaking exhibitions - including Double Fantasy with Yoko Ono, which ran from May 2018 to November 2019. Go to a concert at Anfield Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now In 2018, Anfield stadium was finally given the go-ahead to host concerts in the ground. Last year, Take That, Bon Jovi and Pink were the first artists to perform there in more than a decade. In November 2019, Anfield announced the expansion of the Anfield Road stand and revealed it had applied for a permanent concert application to host events all year round. See Liverpool Mountain (Image: Liverpool Echo) What do Las Vegas, Miami and Liverpool all have in common? They all have a part of Ugo Rondinone’s mountain series. Liverpool is the first city in Europe to have a permanent piece of artwork from the renowned artist. The multicolour rock sculpture outside the Tate at the Albert Dock was erected in 2018 to mark the 10th anniversary of Liverpool European Capital of Culture, the 20th anniversary of Liverpool Biennial and the 30th anniversary of Tate Liverpool. Ride the Wheel of Liverpool (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo) You can find The Wheel of Liverpool in just outside the M&S Bank Arena. Even though the arena opened in 2008, the wheel was slightly late to the party and didn’t arrive in the city until February 2010. The 60 metre high wheel gives people views of the city centre, waterfront, Wirral and beyond. It has 41 standard pods and a luxury VIP capsule, with a glass floor, leather interior and DVD player. Snuggle with kittens at Cat Cafe For years Liverpool was expecting a Cat Cafe and finally in 2018 one finally opened on Bold Street. The Cat Cafe was the first of its kind in Merseyside. In the cafe, customers don’t pay to enter or pay for drinks, instead they pay for the time spent. Customers can drink as much as they like and cuddle with the cats for as long as possible and just pay for the duration they stay. Play Bongo's Bingo Bongo’s Bingo has only been running events in Liverpool for just over four years but now it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Run a musical marathon The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is one of the world’s most unique running events. Runners can take part in a marathon whilst being entertained by live music throughout the route. The marathon originated in America but came to Liverpool in 2014, where it was the first UK city to host the marathon outside of the US. Liverpool is the home of rock and roll after all. Visit the Cilla Black statue In 2017 a statue of Cilla Black was unveiled on Mathew Street. The bronze statue was commissioned by Cilla’s sons Robert, Ben and Jack, and was donated to the city in memory of their mum who passed away at her home in Spain in August 2015 at the age of 72. Speaking at the revealing of the statue, Cilla’s eldest son Robert Willis said: "It’s so fitting that Cilla will be celebrated alongside a place that played such a pivotal role in her career, as the Cavern did in the careers of many other bands and singers. “It’s wonderful Cilla will be standing next to the original Cavern door, the entrance that she would have used when she worked there. I think she would have been absolutely delighted.” Spend the day at Comic Con Comic Con might have been an annual event in America for years, but it’s fairly new in Liverpool. This year it will be returning to the Exhibition Centre with a star-studded panel including cast from Stranger Things, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and more. Comic book, film and TV fans are expected to flock to the event in their best costumes to meet stars, buy collectables and pose with some of their favourite movie props. 2019 saw stars such as Twilight star Peter Facinelli, Superman alum Dean Cain and Firefly actor Adam Baldwin attend to meet fans. Eat your way around the city (Image: Liverpool Echo) According to Harden’s restaurant guide , known by many as ‘the restaurant bible’, just over a decade ago Liverpool was “lagging behind” in the culinary scene. Now, ten years on, the restaurant scene has certainly changed. There has been a restaurant boom in the city over the past few years and locations such as Bold Street, Castle Street, Liverpool ONE, Lark Lane and Albert Dock. From award-winning street food to new vegan eateries and fine dining establishments, the city has it all. See a film at the Everyman Cinema (Image: James Maloney/Liverpool Echo) The Metquarter may have opened in 2006 but recently it has got a face lift, including the new addition of Everyman Cinema. The luxury cinema includes sofa seating and a fully stocked bar. Guests can also have table service delivered right to their seat while watching films and in the lounge area cinema-goers can order restaurant-style food. Enjoy the River of Light Festival (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo) The River of Light Festival may seem like a long standing tradition in Liverpool nowadays, but the first event only took place in 2016. Each year, tens of thousands of people descend on Liverpool's waterfront as two simultaneous firework displays take place on the River Mersey. In 2019, the festival got a whole new look, and was extended to nine nights, where visitors could visit 11 light installations around the city including giant glowing rabbits, a walk through light tunnel and more. Visit the Magical Beatles Musuem (Image: Elle May Rice) In 2018, Liverpool gained the Magical Beatles Museum. The Mathew Street museum is run by Roag Best, brother of the ‘fifth Beatle’ Pete, and it utilises his own personal collection of Beatles memorabilia. The five-floor building houses rare items, including ones that very few people know about, with three of the floors dedicated to a different period in Beatles history. Spend a whole day and night in the Baltic Triangle (Image: Liverpool ECHO) Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle has been given a brand new lease of life over the last decade. Places to visit include the Camp and Furnace on Greenland Street, that is often hosting a cool and buzzing event, The Baltic Social, Unit 51, 24 Kitchen Street and much more. The Baltic Market also paved the way for food halls in the city with its unique offering in Cains Brewery Village. While Ghetto Golf, the 18-hole adults crazy golf wonderland, is also one of the many things to do around the area. Enjoy the British Music Experience (Image: Andrew Teebay) In March 2017, The British Music Experience opened in Liverpool. The national museum is dedicated to telling the history of British music from 1945 to today and allows members of the public to view state of the art effects and iconic memorabilia, some of which has never been seen before. The BME is inside Liverpool’s Cunard Building and includes things such as David Bowie’s stage outfits, Noel Gallagher’s Union Jack guitar and Spice Girls’ tour costumes. We couldn’t think of a more suitable place for the exhibit of the soundtrack to our nation’s history. Take the kids to Mattel Play! Liverpool (Image: Liverpool Echo) Mattel Play! opened in Liverpool in March 2016 and is the first of its kind in the whole of Europe. The £1.5m family entertainment attraction opened its doors on the Albert Dock on March 22, 2016. It includes themed fun zones includes: Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam. Each zone features the the iconic characters from the TV show. Take tours to the top of the Royal Liver Building Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now In April 2019, Liverpool's Royal Liver Building opened its top floors to the public to host tours. The guided tours are the first in the building's history and offer visitors the chance to enjoy 360 degree views from the 10th and 15th floors, as well as the opportunity to step inside the famous clock towers. Make your own gin in the city centre (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo) November 2018 saw the arrival of Liverpool Gin Distillery on Castle Street, which offers visitors the chance to create their very own gin - from scratch. From the team behind Halewood Win and Spirits, which created Liverpool Gin, the venue sits across three floors and offers distillery tours, gin tasting, gin making and even has two bars. Sign up to the What's On newsletter - packed with brilliant things to see and do in Liverpool and beyond.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say a crash in Mountrail County involving two semitrailers killed a 28-year-old Williston man. The Bismarck Tribune reports the semi that Jemond Petersen II was driving collided with another semi that was making a U-turn in front of it on state Highway 1804. The Highway Patrol says the crash happened about 6 p.m. Monday, 15 miles north of New Town. Petersen was pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol identified the driver of the other semi as 52-year-old Wesley Soper of Surrey. He wasn't injured. Authorities are continuing to investigate.

Yes. He abused power, stained the office and should be removed. No. He committed no crimes and proceedings were a political sham. The president deserves censure but not impeachment. Not sure. Vote View Results

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Police in Lexington said a bullet that appears to have been fired into the air just as new year started came through the roof of a house. Officials said the incident occurred just after midnight on Radcliffe Road, not far from Winburn. Police said three women were in the home at the time, but no one was injured. The women reportedly told police they didn't see or hear anything suspicious at the time. Authorities said they had no suspects. Police said they recovered a bullet fragment and took photographs of the damage. Officials warn people not to fire weapons into the air during celebrations, which can be dangerous and lead to criminal charges. This story was originally published by WLEX in Lexington, Kentucky.

Police were able to capture a "hostile" chicken in Kentucky on Friday. The Elizabethtown Police Department shared photos of the suspect bird to Facebook stating the chicken was menacing people at a pharmacy. "Probably feeding an addiction to corn or grubs or birdseed or whatever the heck chickens eat," police wrote on social media. "Responding officers were pecked viciously by the uncooperative fowl fiend, and he made some adept use of vehicles for cover." Officers were able to capture the chicken with the use of a milk crate. "We’re happy to say he was turned over to the custody of someone who can give him more suitable accommodations. We expect our officers to make a full recovery after some doughnut therapy," police added.

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Global stocks were mixed and the dollar extended its fall Tuesday as investors wrapped up trading after one of the best annual market performances in years. The Stoxx Europe 600 was little changed, sliding 0.1%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 declined 0.3%. Auto maker Renault slipped 0.9% after its former chief executive Carlos Ghosnfled to Lebanon to avoid trial in Japan. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average index were up 0.1%. ...

Nowadays, registered investments advisors (RIAs), financial planners, financial advisors, wealth managers, even money doctors are pretty much tossed around and used interchangeably. But while each could claim of giving you sound financial advice, each would be using an entirely different model for doing so. And, what may work for your co-worker may not necessarily work for you. If you are looking to focus on your money life in 2020 and wondering of all the options out there, read on. Sebi-RIAs: When it comes to money management, there are basically two models used by those providing ...

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Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. said India’s telecom ministry has asked it to pay ₹15,200 crore ($2.1 billion) in overdue fees by January 23. The company will seek legal advice in the matter, which pertains to licenses for satellite phones and internet services held between 2005 to 2019, according to its exchange filing Wednesday. The amount sought is 20 times Gujarat Narmada’s ₹740 crore net profit for the year ended March 2019. The government, which has already exceeded its budget deficit target, has been asking companies with telecom licenses to pay dues after the nation’s Supreme Court said it can take into account a firms entire revenue for calculating licensing fees. GAIL India is also facing a ₹1.7 lakh crore, Press Trust of India reported on December 22 without saying where it got the information. Vodafone Group Plc’s India venture, which needs to pay $4 billion to the telecom ministry, in December said it will cease operations if it doesn’t get government support. Gujarat Narmada is a joint venture by the government of Gujarat and the Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd., according to its website. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

At least nine more infants have died in the last two days of December at the JK Lon hospital in Rajasthan. (File Photo) At least nine more infants have died in the last two days of December at the JK Lon hospital here, taking the death toll to 100 for the month, officials said on Wednesday. The death of 10 children at the government-run hospital during a 48-hour period on December 23-24 had triggered opposition criticism. Hospital authorities, however, said the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 was less than 1,005 in 2018. According to the hospital superintendent, the children died mainly due to low birth weight. On Tuesday, a BJP parliamentary team comprising of MPs Locket Chatterjee, Kanta Kardam and Jaskaur Meena visited the hospital and expressed concern over its infrastructure. The panel said two to three children were found on single beds and the hospital did not have enough nurses. Earlier, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had served a show cause notice to the Congress government in the state. "Pigs were found roaming inside the campus of the hospital," its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo had said. A Rajasthan government committee ruled that the infants were given the right treatment.

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Delray Beach police are investigating a shooting that left one woman injured early on New Year's Day in Downtown Delray Beach.The woman was sitting down at the Northwest corner of East Atlantic Avenue and Northeast 1st Avenue when she was shot above her knee just after midnight. The woman was taken to the hospital and later released.Police believe she was a victim of celebratory gunfire. There is no suspect at this time.Anyone with information is urged to call the Delray Beach Police Department at 561-243-7888. Delray Beach police are investigating a shooting that left one woman injured early on New Year's Day in Downtown Delray Beach. The woman was sitting down at the Northwest corner of East Atlantic Avenue and Northeast 1st Avenue when she was shot above her knee just after midnight. The woman was taken to the hospital and later released. Advertisement Police believe she was a victim of celebratory gunfire. There is no suspect at this time. Anyone with information is urged to call the Delray Beach Police Department at 561-243-7888.

nope. once you establish the habit of not eating crap like ice cream and so on, it's very easy not to eat it. the major problem a lot of people have is, they have absolutely no control over what habits they pick up. they want one thing, and their a ss wants another, and their a ss wins that fight. basically their brain is being controlled by their a ss. it's very sad.

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Post Malone got a new face tattoo for the new year Instead of throwing down the gauntlet, Post Malone put it on his face. The singer/rapper has debuted a new face tattoo to add to his collection. The medieval gauntlet is featured prominently in photo posted Tuesday on tattoo artist Kyle Hediger’s Instagram account. “Last tattoo of 2019,” the caption reads. “Gauntlet on the baby boy @postmalone love u. 2020 is going to be next level. Love you all.” Malone also shared a photo in which a portion of the new tat can be seen. The musical artist has more than 50 tattoos, including several on his face. “Anything to piss my mom off,” Malone said of his body art in a 2018 interview. “It’s not right,” Malone quipped. “I got a face for radio anyways, so why not?” Comments comments

Cat lovers, this news is purr-fect: Meowfest, a festival for fans of all things feline, returns to Vancouver in 2020. Meowfest made its Vancouver debut in 2018 to a sold-out crowd, but opted to hold the furry fun in Toronto in 2019. Now the one-day fest has revealed it will be returning to Vancouver on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel. article continues below If you’re down to purr-ty, mark your calendars for Meowfest’s programming encompassing all forms of cat-centric entertainment including workshops, kittens, shopping, food vendors, celebrity cats, insta-worthy photo ops and live music. Expect more details to be revealed soon, and ticket sales to begin in the new year. Meowfest 2020 When: Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 Where: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel – 7551 Westminster Hwy. Read the original article here.

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ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) - The new state’s attorney for Vermont’s Caledonia County is now on the job. Jessica Zaleski was sworn in Monday at the St. Johnsbury courthouse by Republican Gov. Phil Scott, The Caledonian Record reports. Zaleski, 41, succeeds former county prosecutor Lisa Warren, who was named a Vermont Superior Court judge. Zaleski, who was chosen by Scott from among three names forwarded to him, will complete Warren’s current term, which means she will serve for three more years before needing to seek re-election. Zaleski was born and raised in North Dakota and attended Vermont Law School. She served as a local public defender before joining the team of prosecutors in the state’s attorney’s office. During the courthouse ceremony, Zaleski thanked the governor for choosing her despite a lack of experience. “You were open to seeing past that; to taking the time to learn more about my skills and experience that may not have been learned in a courtroom or an office,” Zaleski said. Scott said he chose Zaleski because she met his “4Cs” criteria: Character, Competence, Commitment and Chemistry. “These qualities are important for any public servant but especially those charged with upholding justice, and in the interview I was convinced Jessica possessed all four Cs,” Scott said. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The former president of the shuttered Southern Vermont College says he was denied severance pay and legal indemnity coverage after the closing last spring. David Evans’ lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeks compensatory and punitive damages, restitution and attorney fees, the Bennington Banner reported. The lawsuit targets four former trustees and the person appointed in May to oversee the closing. It accuses the trustees of banding together to assume control of the college as financial difficulties intensified. The suit details termination, indemnification and arbitration agreements Evans said were in effect to provide him severance benefits, including 12 month’s pay; protection from legal expenses related to his role with the college; and a right to arbitration of disputes. SVC officials cited declining enrollment and about $6 million in debt as reasons for closing the school. SVC was the third small private college in Vermont to announce a shutdown this year. The others were College of St. Joseph in Rutland and Green Mountain College in Poultney. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

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2018: Metro steps in to resolve Basalt Creek dispute Joint planning of the area between Tualatin and Wilsonville had broken down over several dozen acres of land. Editor's note: This story is part of the The Times' special series, "Decade in Review." This series features three stories that helped to define each year of the 2010s. These can retell single stories that captivated readers of the time, a saga that played out across many articles, and even stories that were crowded to the margins by other news at the time but have made a lasting impact on our region. In many ways, Tualatin and Wilsonville are mirror images. Tualatin is mostly located in Washington County, with part of it jutting into Clackamas County. Wilsonville is mostly located in Clackamas County, but it extends north into Washington County as well. The cities are of similar population, with Wilsonville a shade under 25,000 and Tualatin closer to 27,000. Their economies share similarities, too: Both cities are located along Interstate 5 and have atypically large industrial and retail zones, making them attractive for manufacturing and high-tech businesses, as well as being regional shopping destinations. A quiet rivalry between Tualatin and Wilsonville has existed for years. And although the cities appeared to put their differences aside to jointly plan the future of the so-called Basalt Creek planning area, a swath of rugged, unincorporated land in Washington County that lies immediately to Tualatin's south and Wilsonville's north, it was a combination of economic interests and political issues that ultimately kept them from coming to an agreement on their own. It almost worked out according to plan. The Tualatin and Wilsonville city councils held an amicable joint meeting in December 2015 on Basalt Creek. They agreed on a resolution for what had been the biggest obstacle in their planning effort to that point: which parts of Basalt Creek each city will be allowed to annex. Southwest Basalt Creek Parkway was designated as the future jurisdictional boundary. Good — one big issue, resolved through compromise. A year later, everything seemed to be on track for a joint plan to be approved early in 2017. Tualatin councilors said they would designate much of Tualatin's side of Basalt Creek for residential use, but they would also provide a buffer for their partner city's plan to have industrial development on the Wilsonville side of Basalt Creek. However, two key things happened after the 2016 election: Paul Morrison, a resident of the Victoria Gardens neighborhood just north of Basalt Creek, was elected to the Tualatin City Council, and Mayor Lou Ogden, until then a reliable advocate for Tualatin's proposed mix of housing and industrial development in Basalt Creek, was persuaded to support Victoria Gardens residents and Basalt Creek property-owners' calls for Tualatin to instead designate a key "subarea" of Basalt Creek for more housing. The Tualatin City Council opted to change its version of the plan. Wilsonville's leaders protested, as did the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Tualatin was going back on its commitments, they said. Wilsonville officials worried that more housing on the Tualatin side would discourage industrial businesses from building on the Wilsonville side. Tualatin officials and property-owners argued that Wilsonville's concerns shouldn't dictate Tualatin's own plans. 2018 was when the dispute finally came to a head. With a deadlock between Tualatin and Wilsonville over how the so-called central subarea should be zoned, the regional government Metro agreed to step in as an arbitrator. In May 2018, the Metro Council formally sided with Wilsonville, requiring Tualatin to designate the central subarea — with 42 buildable acres in all — for industrial use. "The area is close to Interstate 5, has good existing and planned transportation infrastructure, including the Basalt Creek Parkway, consists of relatively large parcels, and is in close proximity to other areas planned and developed for employment uses," wrote Martha Bennett, then Metro's chief operating officer, in her recommendation. Tualatin officials weren't happy, but they had no choice but to comply. The city shelved its objections and agreed to follow Metro's mandate. Virtually all of the other issues between Tualatin and Wilsonville had been resolved — many of them for years already by the time Metro completed its arbitration. Although it had been delayed for more than a year by the dispute, the Basalt Creek concept plan was finally adopted by both the Tualatin and Wilsonville city councils in August 2018. The 847-acre planning area isn't expected to be developed right away. Under an agreement between the cities, Washington County and Metro, Tualatin and Wilsonville will gradually annex pieces of Basalt Creek up to Basalt Creek Parkway, the dividing line that was determined back in 2015. Property-owners won't be forced to sell their land or redevelop it if they don't want to, but as Basalt Creek slowly urbanizes, it will do so along the lines set out in the concept plan. The first phase of Basalt Creek Parkway itself opened in 2017. The road is set to be extended as far east as Southwest Boones Ferry Road sometime in the early 2020s.

Health insurance renewal time is upon us, and whether you’re researching more cost-effective health plans or researching small business health benefits for the first time, a common question is, “How much does it cost to provide health insurance to employees?” The cost of providing health insurance to employees depends on a few factors: The insurance carrier The type of plan you choose (ex: PPO, HMO, etc.) The network of providers Your location Your contribution strategy The demographics of your employees (your "employee census”) If you’re still in research mode and not quite ready to get detailed quotes from a health insurance adviser or health benefits company, you can learn a lot about the cost of employee health insurance by understanding national averages and basic coverage concepts. Here is a concise breakdown of the cost of providing health insurance to employees. How Much Does Small Business Health Insurance Cost? When an employer provides health insurance coverage to employees, the business purchases a plan (or plans) to cover all eligible employees and dependents. This type of coverage is commonly called a “group health insurance plan” or “employer-sponsored health insurance.” In 2017, the average cost of insurance per employee for family coverage was $18,764 with workers on average paying $5,714 towards the cost of their coverage. In 2018 that number rose to $19,616, a 5% increase. In 2018, workers paid 18% of the cost for single employee and 29% for family coverage (source). Although numbers vary by company and provider, the average costs continue to rise. How Much Does Insurance Cost for Employers? $13,927 annually (71 percent of the premium) to cover a family How Much Does Insurance Cost for Employees? $ 5,689 annually (29% of the premium) to cover a family Employee costs are typically taken through a payroll deduction. Related: How Much Does Group Health Insurance Cost? Additionally, premium costs with a group health insurance plan may change annually. In fact over 90 percent of employers are seeing rate increases at renewal time, with about a quarter seeing double-digit premium increases. To minimize or reduce fluctuation in premium amounts, and to control the cost of benefits from year to year, one option is to change contribution strategies. Controlling Costs with a Reimbursement Strategy Instead of purchasing a group health insurance policy and paying premiums set by the insurance company, an alternative strategy is to define a contribution amount toward employees’ health insurance. With this type of reimbursement plan, the business: Sets any contribution amount to employees’ health insurance costs Allows employees to purchase a health insurance plan (either through a private exchange or the health insurance Marketplaces) Reimburses employees for their premiums, up to their available balance amount The cost of health benefits with a reimbursement strategy? Any amount the business can afford. That being said, many businesses look at the cost of the individual health insurance policies the employees will be purchasing to help set the contribution amounts. In 2016, the cost of individual health insurance for a 40 year old on a Silver plan averaged $351.02 per month or $4,212.24 a year. Conclusion On average, the combined cost of providing group health insurance is $6,251 per year for single coverage (2015) or $17,545 per year for family coverage. To offer more affordable health benefits, one solution is to adopt a defined contribution strategy where employees purchase individual health insurance and are reimbursed by their defined contribution allowance. In a time of steep annual rate increases for group health insurance, a defined contribution model offers cost predictability and access to quality health insurance coverage. Do you have questions about how much it costs to provide health insurance to your small business employees? We’d be happy to answer. Leave a comment below.

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MUNICH, GERMANY - DECEMBER 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Philippe Coutinho of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) Philippe Coutinho would be an ideal replacement for Christian Eriksen at Tottenham, but there’s no way Spurs will pay Barcelona’s asking price. In a perfect world, Tottenham would be able to replace Christian Eriksen with an established star this January. Philippe Coutinho absolutely would fit the bill. Unfortunately for Spurs, Spanish reports linking the Brazilian live wire with a sensational move to North London are purely a ploy by Barcelona officials to drive his transfer value through the roof. Eldesmarque regards Barcelona selling Coutinho for a small fortune as the key to the La Liga giants’ hopes of bringing Neymar back to Spain. To that end, Barcelona are asking a number of Premier League clubs to pay upwards of £100 million to secure his services next summer. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are the three English clubs mentioned by name in the Spanish publication. To put it bluntly, one of these clubs is not like the other when it comes to transfer dealings. Spurs have never spent anything close to £100 million on a single player. The chances of them doing so while paying for a state-of-the-art new stadium are almost non-existent. It’s obvious that Barcelona officials are desperate to keep Coutinho’s transfer stock at its zenith. It’s hard to call his time in Spain anything other than a flop. He failed to show the sparkling attacking characteristics that made him a star at Liverpool during his brief time on the pitch with Lionel Messi and his star-studded team. Fortunately for Barcelona, his time at Bayern Munich does seem to be going better than his cameos in Spain. He hasn’t fully regained the stardom he enjoyed at Anfield, but he’s been an important cog for the German giants. They might like to retain him for tactical reasons, but it’s highly unlikely Bayern will stump the fee required to acquire him on a permanent basis. As such, it’s imperative for Barcelona officials to keep big Premier League clubs interested in Coutinho’s services. Tottenham are never going to win the race for the talented No. 10, but their “inclusion” in the bidding will help push clubs like Chelsea or Manchester United to bid against themselves. That’s the game Barcelona are playing here. Spurs will not be a real factor for Coutinho this summer.

Manchester: Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City are English football's team of the decade, despite his side heading into 2020 some 14 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. Statistics appear to prove him right given City have won 13 domestic trophies since 2010, with only Chelsea (nine) within touching distance of that mark. City have clearly benefitted from the financial clout they have enjoyed since being taken over by Abu Dhabi ownership in August 2008. City manager Guardiola reached the peak of his powers when he oversaw an unprecedented treble in the 2018/19 season that saw the club win all three major English trophies -- Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup -- in the one campaign as well as the Community Shield. Even though their league form has been a disappointment in the first half of the current season, Guardiola is in no doubt City are "the" team of the decade in England. "I think this in the last decade was the best team in terms of points, in terms of goals, in terms of everything, titles even. So congratulate Manchester City for that," he said. "When we analyse every single day here, what happened day-by-day gives us perspective in what happened in the last 10 seasons, especially when people from Abu Dhabi took over the club and bought good players, interesting managers." 'HUGE ELEPHANTS' The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, who joined City in 2016, added: "I think we did it incredibly well. "People say 'how was 2019?' Now people are saying it is a disaster. We won four titles in 2019, so it was an incredible year for us, we enjoyed it a lot. "In some games in this last part of the year we have struggled a bit but it was an incredible year for us. Congratulations for all the people working here. "They were fighting with huge elephants here in England, big, big clubs with the biggest history. For the past decade we were part of them. That is amazing." Despite their current 'troubles', City could still win any, or all, of the three cup competitions in which they are involved and Guardiola expects the club to remain a major player in the English game in the decade ahead. "The big clubs here in England are always looking forward, we are going to try and analyse not just in terms of the squad but as a club how we can do better," he added. "Hopefully in the next decade this club can be here for more time." In the short term, Guardiola has long since conceded the race for this season's Premier League title to Liverpool and admitted they had to "pray" if they were to win a third successive domestic championship. But the Catalan manager, who again ruled out being active in the January transfer window, believes his current squad could still have competed for the title had injuries and, he hinted, VAR not sidelined their bid. "Work harder, play better, and pray," said Guardiola when asked how City can close the gap to Liverpool. "Liverpool have been incredible, European champions and they have dropped just two points (so far this season), we have to congratulate them. "But there are things we cannot control, we cannot control what a fantastic team like Liverpool have done so far and there are other issues you cannot control. When everyone is fit we can do it. "You (the media) know what they are. You know that." Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

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Press release: A temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued by Federal Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo on December 31 in U.S. District Court in Western New York. The TRO prohibits New York State from enforcing certain actions and imposing penalties upon farmers stemming from a new law scheduled to go into effect today. It is important to note, the TRO does not impact the law or impact the wages of the vast majority of hourly employees working on New York farms and the payment of overtime, nor was it intended to. The court action followed a lawsuit filed on Monday, December 30 that would temporarily halt the implementation of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act on January 1, 2020. The suit was filed by the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) and the New York State Vegetable Growers Association (NYSVGA) on behalf of the organizations' member farmers across the state, seeking clarity and to ensure they are in compliance with the law’s requirements. The TRO specifically restrains the state government from enforcing the Act where such actions would impact the status, compensation, and hours of supervisors, family members, shareholders, and administrative and professional employees. The TRO will be in effect for several weeks. If a mutually agreeable settlement is not reached, a preliminary injunction hearing will be held on January 24. Brian Reeves, President of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, and owner of Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville (Onondaga County), said, “The ruling in favor of the TRO is an important first step for ensuring the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practice Act is implemented fairly for all who work on farms in New York. We want to protect the rights of all who work on our farms and are so important to our success. We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to correct the statute to better address the rights of all who work on our farms.” Jon Greenwood, Chair of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, and co-owner of Greenwood Dairy Farm in Canton (St. Lawrence County), said, “The narrow scope of the TRO ruling will allow us to continue to work with the state to improve language and definitions in the Act. Providing clarity to New York’s farms will help us protect our management teams while assuring family members and others employed on our farms are treated fairly. We look forward to working with the state and court to ensure that the interests of farmers, their families, and employees are represented in the new state law.”

US troops fire tear gas at pro-Iran protesters outside US embassy in Baghdad https://t.co/hZ3KwELvk2 — 4029news (@4029news) January 1, 2020 Protests are continuing today at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Demonstrators are throwing rocks and setting fires. The Trump administration is boiling this issue down to the U.S. versus Iran. That conflict is at play, no doubt. But you might find this New York Times explanation of the many cross-currents of unhappiness and division there useful. Nothing is simple in Iraq, where U.S. troops have now been deployed for 28 years. Also: A contingent of Marines has arrived to shore up embassy security. Advertisement

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LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana mom and son who were devoted fans of Louisiana State University and were on their way to see the school’s football team in the Peach Bowl when they died in a plane crash, will be laid to rest Thursday. Gretchen D. Vincent, 51; her son Michael Walker Vincent, 15; were on a plane that crashed shortly after takeoff Saturday, killing five of the six people on board. Most of the five people on the plane who died had connections to a Lafayette-based technology firm, Global Data Systems. Gretchen D. Vincent’s husband, Chris Vincent, is the president of Global Data Systems. Ian E. Biggs, 51, was a pilot and aircraft manager for GDS. Robert Vaughn Crisp II, 59 was vice president of business development and field services for the firm. The sole surviving passenger, Stephen Wade Berzas, 37, also worked for the company as its vice president of sales and marketing. Carley McCord, 30, was also a passenger on the plane and died in the crash. She was a well-known sports reporter and the daughter-in-law of the LSU offensive coordinator, Steve Ensminger. The Vincents will be remembered at a visitation and funeral service at Our Savior’s Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. In a nod to the duo’s love of the LSU Tigers, guests are being asked to dress in the school’s purple and gold colors. Gretchen was described in an obituary as a woman with a “magnetic personality, a contagious laugh, and a radiant smile.” She was active in various community activities such as the Junior League of Lafayette and the Ascension Episcopal Church where her son was a student. She hosted weekly Bible studies at her house. The Louisiana native had a special place in her heart for her alma mater of LSU and especially its sports teams. She was a season ticket holder for LSU football for most of her life, the obituary said. And she often traveled to LSU sporting events. Her son Michael Walker Vincent shared her love of all things purple and gold, according to his obituary. The teenager was an excellent student and planned to major in pre-dentistry at LSU as part of his plans to become an orthodontist. He had also dreamed of becoming a pilot and enjoyed going hunting and fishing in Louisiana, the obituary said. He died one day before his 16th birthday. Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Carly McCord’s grieving husband says his “world fell apart” when he received the devastating news of the sports reporter’s death in a plane crash. Steven Ensminger Jr. said his aunt delivered him the news that his 30-year-old wife died en route to the Peach Bowl in Georgia, where his father was coaching the Louisiana State University Tigers, ABC News reported. “My aunt Betty called and she told me I need to sit down right now and listen carefully,” Ensminger said. “And that’s when my world fell apart.” McCord was one of five passengers killed aboard a small aircraft Saturday morning that went down in a parking lot in Lafayette, Louisiana, and erupted in flames, officials said. Ensminger — who was working while his wife was on the doomed flight — said he has been struggling with accepting that he didn’t respond to McCord’s final text message to tell him that she loved him. “It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I finally fall asleep,” he told ABC News. “Every once in a while throughout the day, I find myself grabbing my phone and sending a text to her phone replying, ‘I love you too.’ Now I don’t know if that’s crazy of me or not, but I’m praying she gets my message. And I wish there was a way she could let me know she has,” he said. McCord’s funeral has been planned for Saturday at St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church in her hometown of Baton Rouge, the Advocate reported. Her family has asked that mourners donate to a memorial scholarship fund in McCord’s name in lieu of flowers. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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Render the strategic outlook for 2020 into a core conundrum: How goes the new era of great-power competition? Is it to be security confrontation and economic decoupling? The crystal ball is clouded by rivalry. China and the US are simultaneously close and apart, enmeshed and divided, locked together in contest while musing about trade and technology cleavage. The region—using either the Indo-Pacific or Asia–Pacific label—slides towards what Peter Jennings calls ‘a riskier, more dangerous reality’. Australia has ruefully accepted that managing great-power competition is now its ‘first priority’. Tackling the conundrum is the purpose of the annual survey from the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP). With 20 country committees, plus the EU and Pacific Islands Forum, CSCAP ruminates from many angles in its 2020 regional security outlook. The outlook’s editor, Ron Huisken, writes that rivalry between the two mega-states is deepening international division and antagonism: The present clash between the US and China is arrestingly sharp and deep not only because the stakes are so high and the parties so profoundly different—most critically, perhaps, in terms of philosophies on governance—but also because it has been brewing over several decades of increasingly intimate and complex interaction. A fundamental question, Huisken writes, is the tools and mindsets states can legitimately bring to the competition. The answer will determine if interdependence can be maintained or if there will be a significant degree of disengagement. So, contest for sure, cleavage perhaps. Reporting from the US, Siddharth Mohandas writes that the Trump administration has ‘fundamentally shifted the US–China relationship in a more competitive and even confrontational direction’. The US policy focus on China extends far beyond trade to encompass economic, security, technology and ideological issues that ‘are now increasingly at the centre of American foreign policy’. In Canberra, Australia’s top diplomat foresees an era of enduring differences with China, calling it the ‘new normal’. The same phrase is used by Mohandas in his final sentence: ‘The evidence of the past year is that instability is not a passing phenomenon but the new normal against which all regional capitals must plan.’ From China, Wu Xinbo writes that Beijing senses Washington’s determination to reorient its ‘policy towards a more competitive and confrontational stance’, pushing China’s ‘trust towards the US to a historical low’. Wu judges that the relationship has gone from cool to freezing: The Asia–Pacific has entered a period of profound changes set off by shifts in the power balance as well by adjustments of strategy and policy settings by regional players. Managing major power competition and dealing with hot spot issues top the regional security agenda, while Sino-US interactions hold the key. Wu says Beijing and Washington must delineate the boundary of their intensifying competition: Robust economic ties benefiting both countries should ‘not be decoupled or seriously downgraded’. Economic interdependence doesn’t prevent contention (‘actually close economic ties tend to be a major source of frictions’) but can be a buffer by raising the cost of conflict. Both parties need to exercise strategic self-restraint. They should ‘avoid drawing lines and encouraging members of the region to split into rival camps, otherwise the economically most dynamic region will gradually lose its momentum for growth and integration’. The most urgent issue for China–US security relations is crisis avoidance and management. For that, ‘good communication at the strategic level and effective management at the tactical level are indispensable’. From Japan, Yoshihide Soeya writes that one benefit of the Trump presidency has been to allow Japan and China to sweep ‘contentious and awkward’ issues under the carpet: This is because they have bigger tensions and issues with the United States, mostly related to economic and trade negotiations. Since these frictions are not likely to be eased anytime soon, the momentum of improvement in relations between Japan and China is also likely to be sustained for some time to come. Southeast Asia offers variations on the familiar themes of ASEAN centrality and not having to choose sides in the battle of the giants. Singapore’s William Choong gives a nuanced account of ‘the blessedness of (not) making a choice’. ASEAN members, he writes, want to be equidistant between China and the US, to ‘avoid stark choices’ in the geopolitical joust. Pressure builds, however, as that equidistant space shrinks. Singapore finds itself walking a ‘narrowing plank’ or ‘narrowing tightrope’. The readout from Laos, from Sulathin Thiladej, is that the decline of the US and the rise of China are eroding or undermining ASEAN’s centrality and coherence: ASEAN, as a driver for cooperation in the Asia Pacific, is losing momentum as the region’s centre of gravity shifts from Southeast Asia to China. China’s rise has unsettling consequences for ASEAN centrality, creating new tensions and uncertainties that threaten to break ASEAN’s solidarity and coherence. Vietnam’s Le Dinh Tinh says the US–China relationship has five levels, running from cooperation to adversary. The expanding competition between the world’s two greatest economies has reached level-four intensity (rivalry): The notion that these great powers are on a collision course has been circulated in the policy communities of both countries. Rather than greater caution, however, we have seen the two sides toughen their positions and resort to measures hitherto unthinkable. The view from Australia, from the Australian National University’s Brendan Taylor, says Canberra’s recent bout of ‘strategic anxiety’ awakens old arguments about whether Australia can find its security with Asia rather than from Asia. His chapter begins with the title of a book written 40 years ago by the Oz diplomat, Alan Renouf, The frightened country, describing an anxious nation that saw more dangers than opportunities in Asia. Donald Trump’s alliance antipathy ‘feeds a deep Australian fear of abandonment’, Taylor writes, and Australia’s security outlook is becoming ‘much darker and apprehensive’. The sense of apprehension is one outlook shared by the whole region. Great-power contest is here, hauling into view the scenario of economic and technological decoupling. This article was published by The Strategist.

This year marks one of the most important years for ASEAN’s geopolitical landscape. During the plenary session of the 34th ASEAN Summit in June, all member states agreed to adopt the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The brief five-page document emphasised the ASEAN led mechanism in dealing with strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific region. It could not be denied that one of the most important ongoing issues in the region is still the South China Sea dispute, so will the Outlook help to solve the ongoing dispute? Initially, the Outlook aims to rebalance the outgrowing interest between major powers in the region. As one of the most dynamic regions in the world, ASEAN has often been a battleground of competing ideas between major powers. The United States (US) Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy is faced-off with the Chinese Belt and Road initiative. Then, there are also other proposals from India, Japan and Australia. There are at least two reasons this article argues that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific might help the region in navigating and maintaining the peaceful South China Sea. First, the document may strengthen the ties between Southeast Asian countries. Instead of picking a side in the growing influence in the dispute the document may unify the common perspective of all Southeast Asian countries regarding the rivalry of power. The current practice shows that the Southeast Asian countries don’t have the same political views on whether to be more US or China driven, the political considerations are more fluid and led by each national interest. Some are more Washington-oriented and others more Beijing. Although the US is not a claimant in the dispute, their strong interest in navigation will lead their presence in the region. Currently there are two main conflicting interests between the US and China in the South China Sea. China - as the major claimant of the whole South China Sea - is claiming all the islands and maritime features including the so-called “Nine-dash line.” Therefore, China seeks to protect their claimed islands. This includes putting a maritime militia and constructing some of the artificial islands. On the other hand, the US, as a non-claimant and a non-party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are interested in assuring the freedom of navigation in the region, especially the South China Sea. Through their Freedom of Navigation Program, the US are often sending their warships as assertions of the program. Source: Various Therefore, instead of picking a side between two major powers, the Outlook might strengthen the region with their own version on how Southeast Asia should engage with the Indo-Pacific region. Secondly, the Outlook can set the rules of the game. Although the Outlook is not meant to create new institutions or mechanisms other than the existing ASEAN norms and principles, the document is significant due to the fact that they reiterate the regional commitment in respecting the rule of international law in the region, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Indeed, for the last several decades, since the South China Sea dispute arose, many countries see the dispute as the major threat for the region. The conflict might lead to any unpredictable direction. Therefore, the need for respecting rules of international law is becoming more and more important. Indeed, if we take a closer look at the document, we surely can see how the Outlook is very much driven by ocean geopolitical affairs. It can be seen by the first area of cooperation, which is the maritime cooperation. The document recognises that the maritime issues such as unresolved maritime disputes have the potential for open conflict. Therefore, cooperation for a peaceful settlement of disputes is very crucial. Moreover, the document also emphasises promoting maritime safety and security, and freedom of navigation and over flight; addressing transnational crimes, including trafficking in persons or of illicit drugs, sea piracy, robbery and armed robbery against ships at sea. With this Outlook, all the ASEAN states have agreed to have at least common views on maintaining the peace and security in the region. In general, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific aims to bring the successful ASEAN story in maintain the peaceful in the Asia Pacific region but broader to the Indian Ocean. With all the “ASEAN way” principles, many consider ASEAN as one of the most successful regional blocs in maintaining peace and avoiding conflicts in the region. Therefore, the Outlook seems to want to bring the successful ASEAN story to the maritime domain, including the ongoing South China Sea dispute. Aristyo Rizka Darmawan is a Researcher at the Center for Sustainable Ocean Policy at Universitas Indonesia and Fellow at Center for Politics and Transnationalism at Policylab. He obtained his LL.M in International Law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Related articles: Policing the South China Sea Being pro-active in the South China Sea

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State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus insisted Wednesday that the Trump administration's policy toward Iran is working, following the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by pro-Iran militia members. Ortagus said those who attacked the embassy were "terrorists that are organized, trained and equipped by the Iranian regime," not legitimate protesters. Dozens of pro-Iran militiamen and protesters remain camped outside the compound on Wednesday, one day after militiamen stormed into the compound and smashed windows before pulling back. It was one of the worst attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission in years. NY TIMES TWEET ON 'IRAQI MOURNERS' STORMING BAGHDAD EMBASSY PROMPTS BACKLASH ONLINE The demonstrators said to be protesting U.S. airstrikes over the weekend that killed 25 fighters. Those strikes were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi Army base that killed a U.S. contractor and injured several American troops. "We have told the Iranian regime countless times, do not confuse President Trump's strategic patience with weakness," said Ortagus, prompting "America's Newsroom" anchor Leland Vittert to ask when Iran's provocations in the region will be met with a stronger response from the United States, such as targeted airstrikes. "We think our policy is working stronger than ever. The Iranian economy is out of money," said Ortagus, formerly a Fox News contributor. TRUMP VOWS IRAQ 'WILL NOT BE A BENGHAZI' AFTER IRAN-BACKED EMBASSY RAID "We're not seeking another war in the Middle East. That's not what we're doing here. But we are holding the Iranian regime accountable and we are protecting and defending ourselves," she added, saying the administration is "completely confident" that the embassy is secure. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, just hours after dozens of Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy attack in Baghdad, President Trump vowed that the situation "will not be a Benghazi" — a pointed reference to the deadly 2012 embassy attack in Libya on the Obama administration's watch, after officials at the embassy had requested enhanced security for weeks. "It's been handled very well," Trump said as he walked into New Year's Eve celebrations at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "The Marines came in. We had some great warriors come in; they did a fantastic job. They were there instantaneously, as soon as we heard. They came immediately. It's in great shape. This will not be a Benghazi. Benghazi never should have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi. ... As soon as we saw there was a potential for a problem, they got in." Trump added: "Things are in great shape. ... I want to thank the Iraqi government. They really stepped up."' CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ortagus maintained that the president's strategy with Iran has been effective. "We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime while also continuing our maximum economic pressure campaign, while also defending ourselves. ... To say that it's a war with Iran or nothing is just a fundamental misunderstanding of how foreign policy actually works," she said. Fox News' Lucia I. Suarez Sang contributed to this report.

Iraqi militiamen were back at it again today outside the US Embassy in Iraq, but this time they were met with tear gas and rubber bullets from a new contingent of 100 US soldiers who were deployed to protect the embassy after yesterday’s violent protests: FOX NEWS – The dozens of pro-Iran militiamen and protesters camped outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad were met Wednesday with tear gas thrown by U.S. Marines guarding the compound. Smoke rose from the building after protesters lit a fire on the roof of the enclosure’s reception area, one day after militiamen stormed into the compound and smashed windows before pulling back. It was one of the worst attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission in years. The demonstrators were protesting the deadly U.S. airstrikes that targeted an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters. Those strikes were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi Army base that killed a U.S. contractor and injured several American troops. By Wednesday morning, the protesters had set up around 50 tents, along with a makeshift clinic. Cooks with aprons were serving meals out of giant pots. Outside one of the gates, a Shiite cleric recited verses from the Muslim holy book, the Koran, through a loudspeaker. Elsewhere, demonstrators could be seen hurling rocks over the walls of the embassy compound before U.S. troops responded by firing tear gas from the roofs of the buildings. Some 100 U.S. Marines arrived at the embassy late Tuesday to bolster security as President Trump has denounced the actions by protesters, vowing the situation in Baghdad “will not be a Benghazi.”

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New Arsenal, same old Arsenal. There were 87 minutes on the Emirates Stadium clock last Sunday, the score was 1-1 against Chelsea and Arsenal had five men inside the opposing penalty area as they pushed for the winner. The move broke down, Chelsea countered at pace, Tammy Abraham scored what would be the decisive goal and, for the umpteenth time, everybody questioned whether Arsenal had any defensive instinct. Manchester United are the visitors to the Emirates on New Year’s Day and it will be the showpiece fixture at 8pm, even if the Premier League table shows it is a meeting between 12th and fifth. Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team have kept their season alive by rinsing attack-minded opposition on the break and the United manager would have licked his lips as he pored over the Abraham goal. Do Arsenal have to be wary of United’s rapier-like threat. “Very,” replied Mikel Arteta, the club’s new manager. Mikel Arteta says he wants ‘committed’ Granit Xhaka to stay at Arsenal Read more What Arteta wanted to make clear was that Abraham’s stunning late counter was not the result of a structural breakdown in the team he is trying to reboot. When Abraham received the ball out of defence from Willian 10 yards inside his own half, he had two Arsenal players in front of him – David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi – and three in pursuit – Bukayo Saka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira. Abraham could see Willian flicking on the after-burners to get forward on his right and Mason Mount doing the same on the left. At that point Arsenal had the situation under control. They had five; Chelsea had three. It was not a case of them overstretching in search of the winner, of a peculiar naivety. That said, what happened next within a reasonably solid framework was concerning. David Luiz and Mustafi chose not to engage Abraham high up the pitch, rather to retreat and retreat, all the way into their own box. After Abraham popped the ball wide to Willian, David Luiz could not prevent the low cross and Mustafi was then slow to react in the middle. Abraham outmanoeuvred him before shooting low past Bernd Leno. It was also notable that Saka seemed to be cramping up. Unable to move freely, he could not stay with Willian while Guendouzi did not get back at all. So, even as Arteta tried to take the positives in terms of how his players had “moved the structure” from attack to defence, he could see glaring deficiencies in the one-on-one work and fitness levels. “It wasn’t a transition where we had a bad structure or a bad organisation, when we are defending big spaces on equal numbers or are outnumbered – it wasn’t the case at all,” Arteta said. “We made one half-bad decision [to back off] and these teams, when in space, they punish you, for sure. But the other option is to defend all the time and be there [in defensive areas] and we don’t want that.” The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. Arteta delivered the last line with a smile. Arsenal are a front-foot team, their mindset is to attack and they will remain that way under Arteta’s charge. What he wants is to put a structure in place which will provide numbers on offensive and defensive transitions, allow for options on the ball and spaces between the lines. The early signs in this regard have been encouraging. What he needs to learn is the capacity of the players to operate at his tempo, to make the right decisions and execute them. The balance of the midfield will be key and, more precisely, how to find a role for Mesut Özil. Arteta’s predecessor, Unai Emery, tried everything with Özil but there was always the feeling that the off-the-cuff playmaker was not a natural fit for his style. Arteta has given Özil the central attacking midfield platform that he craves in each of his games so far – the draw at Bournemouth and then Chelsea – and there have been positive signs. Özil has created chances, although his ability to do that has never been in doubt. With Özil, it is all about creating an environment; to have him switched on rather than drifting; to find a consistency that has often proved elusive. Arsenal’s innate fatalism means Chelsea loss may not surprise Arteta | Jonathan Liew Read more “Mesut is putting in everything he has and his numbers, physically, have improved so much,” Arteta said. “On his own he can’t do it. He needs the collective structure, organisation and his teammates. He needs the team to play in a certain way to facilitate his strengths more and more in the game. That’s what we’re trying to do. “I put him in the team if I see every day that his attitude, desire and understanding of what we’re trying to do is there. The moment that this changes, then he won’t play.” Arteta felt a connection between his players and the Emirates crowd during the Chelsea game that “probably for a long time hasn’t been seen”. But will the bitter late twist have an impact on their confidence? “That’s my worry now,” Arteta said. “I hope the result doesn’t affect them too much. They were all physically blown and disappointed in how the game ended because they didn’t feel they deserved that but we have to move on. They have to respond. This is the challenge.”

Mikel Arteta is searching for his first win as Arsenal manager (Picture: Getty Images) Arsenal host Manchester United on New Year’s Day with Mikel Arteta still looking for his first win in charge of the Gunners and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aiming to keep up a run in form that has seen the Red Devils lose just one in their last nine Premier League outings. Arteta has seen his side draw with Bournemouth and lose at home to Chelsea in his two games at the helm so far, and Arsenal have dropped to 12th in the division as a result. Manchester United are seven points and seven places better off than the Gunners, and have genuine Champions League ambitions again as they currently sit fifth just four points behind the top four. The victory at Burnley on Saturday made it back-to-back wins for Solskjaer’s side and also saw them record their first clean sheet since September in the league. Advertisement Advertisement United have won on two of their last four trips to the Emirates and go into this one as favourites with the bookmakers to pick up three points again. When is Arsenal vs Manchester United? The match is on Wednesday 1 January with kick-off at 8pm at the Emirates. What TV channel is Arsenal vs Manchester United on and is there a live stream? BT Sport 1 will be showing the game live, with coverage following the Man City vs Everton game. Subcsribers can stream the action on BT Sport Player or on the BT Sport app. Arsenal vs Manchester United odds 9/5 Arsenal 13/5 Draw 6/4 Man Utd Odds courtesy of Betfair Arsenal vs Manchester United team news Arsenal are still without Kieran Tierney, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Sead Kolasniac and Calum Chambers through injury, but Arteta is hoping to call upon Hector Bellerin, Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding, all of whom are facing late fitness tests. Paul Pogba is still struggling for fitness but could feature for Manchester United, while Scott McTominay, Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly all remain sidelined as well. Head-to-head in last five meetings 30 Sep 2019 – Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal – Premier League 10 Mar 2019 – Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd – Premier League 25 Jan 2019 – Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd – FA Cup 05 Dec 2018 – Man Utd 2-2 Arsenal – Premier League 29 Apr 2018 – Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal – Premier League MORE: Michael Owen’s Premier League predictions: Arsenal v Man Utd, Chelsea & Liverpool MORE: Charlie Nicholas makes Arsenal v Man Utd prediction and backs Nicolas Pepe to shine for Mikel Arteta

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Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter . It’s Monday, Dec. 30. Julia Wick is taking a New Year’s break, so today’s edition is brought to you by L.A. Times Deputy Managing Editor Shelby Grad. It was the worst maritime disaster in modern California history: On Labor Day, 24 people died in a fire on board the Conception during a weekend diving trip around the Channel Islands. Since then, two questions have been asked over and over: How could this have happened? And how can this be prevented in the future? Newsletter Get our Essential California newsletter Subscribe Times reporters Mark Puente, Richard Winton and Leila Miller have spent months trying to answer these questions in a series of investigative stories. Advertisement Among their findings: — U.S. Coast Guard records over 20 years show the agency repeatedly rejected some recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board for tougher rules, describing the proposals as “unnecessarily burdensome and a duplication of existing requirements.” — The Conception was one of about 325 small passenger vessels built before 1996 and given special exemptions from safety standards that the Coast Guard imposed on new vessels, some of which required larger escape hatches and illuminated exit signs. — More than 100 boats in California were grandfathered with weaker safety rules, according to a searchable Times database. Advertisement The reporters’ latest story asks whether the federal rules in place worked. Coast Guard safety rules require at least one crew member roving the vessel whenever passengers are in the bunk area. But even before the Labor Day fire that killed 34 people aboard the Conception, some former captains said this critical rule designed to protect passengers was not followed. “It’s a regulation, but it wasn’t really followed,” one said. [Read the story: “Before Conception boat fire, some captains say Coast Guard safety rule was ignored” in the Los Angeles Times] Where is this all going? In the aftermath of The Times’ reporting, there has been a push to tighten safety regulations. The Coast Guard also said it is now reviewing whether some of the NTSB’s earlier recommendations should be reconsidered. Expect action in Congress in 2020. And finally, here are biographies of the victims. They were united in tragedy by a love for the sea. And now, here’s what else is happening around California: TOP STORIES The plight of two friends back on the streets shows the challenges L.A. faces not just in getting people into housing, but also in keeping them there. This is the final installment of The Times’ “Street Within” series on homelessness. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Plus: One rapper’s rise from the streets of Koreatown. L.A. Taco This is one way L.A. can be more humane. Los Angeles Times 2019 was the year homelessness became a true crisis in L.A. Los Angeles Times Malibu is trying to ban pesticides. But the coastal city is expecting a big fight, and there are some unexpected foes. Los Angeles Times How new labor laws in California will change the way many people work. Los Angeles Times L.A. STORIES Los Angeles police have stepped up patrols in and around Jewish communities and synagogues after a man stabbed and wounded five people gathered for a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi’s home in New York. Los Angeles Times Advertisement L.A. says it is ready to deal with complaints over Hollywood Hills tour vans. But we’ve heard it before. Los Angeles Times The Grapevine is at the heart of the California freeway system. As the last week has shown, it also remains vulnerable. Los Angeles Times A snowstorm halted hundreds of vehicles on Dec. 16, 1940, near Gorman on the Ridge Route, a highway between Los Angeles and Kern counties. (Los Angeles Times) A Christmas tree sparked a fire that killed three people in Hemet. Los Angeles Times POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT The story of PG&E: An investigation examines how weak regulators, poor management, misguided strategies and many errors caused so much destruction. Wall Street Journal Is prison realignment money being misspent in California? Sacramento Bee Southern California keeps turning bluer. A look at why. Orange County Register San Jose’s once-struggling airport is taking off. That could mean an expansion for the Silicon Valley hub. Mercury News CALIFORNIA CULTURE Another historic newspaper in California is closing. This one has a connection to Mark Twain. Los Angeles Times California is booming. But Californians are cranky at the end of 2019. New York Times The Netflix series “You” moved from New York to L.A. and picked up a lot of stereotypes along the way. The creators explain why. Los Angeles Times Playa del Rey is having a moment. And some say it’s affordable ... if you are moving from Bel-Air. New York Times San Francisco’s “Beach Blanket Babylon” is coming to an end and might be perfect for this moment in history. San Francisco Chronicle CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles: partly cloudy, 66. San Diego: cloudy, 64. San Francisco: sunny, 57. San Jose: sunny, 58. Sacramento: sunny, 60. More weather is here. AND FINALLY This week’s birthdays for those who made a mark in California: Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax (Dec. 30, 1935), Nobel laureate and UC Berkeley cell biology professor Randy Schekman (Dec. 30, 1948), golf pro Tiger Woods (Dec. 30, 1975) Lakers star LeBron James (Dec. 30, 1984) and Snap Chairman Michael Lynton (Jan. 1, 1960). If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us . (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Here we go again, starting off on a new year and a new decade. The year is 2020, and my vision is too, so here’s what I see coming: The sea will rise, the ground will shake, the fires will rage, the state will sue the Trump administration every Tuesday and sometimes on Thursday, some people will flee, others will arrive, the cost of housing will rise, the number of homeless people will grow, and the bullet train will not leave the station. Wait a minute, that was last year’s prediction. Actually, call me naive, but I’m going to go out on a limb this year and predict a bit of movement in 2020 on new strategies to address homelessness. Do not misread that. I said “a bit of.” Homelessness is here to stay in California, where wealth drives up prices, we don’t build enough new housing, and far too many people earn wages that don’t cover the rent. But the public demand for solutions has heated up, and the state is exploring ways to put more roofs over more heads. And if all goes as planned, a Hollywood pilot program based on an Italian model will begin an ambitious effort to shred bureaucracy and other impediments to housing and serving the area’s most severely mentally disabled residents. Advertisement The project is fraught with challenges, but this early in the year, I’m pretending to be an optimist. Except when it comes to the Dodgers. Stop wondering when they’re finally going to win another World Series. I can tell you right now the next victory parade will be in 2038, when Clayton Kershaw’s son is in the starting rotation. The Dodgers signed an $8-billion-plus broadcast deal with the devil in 2013, leaving thousands of loyal fans without TV coverage, and I hereby predict the blackout curse will not end for another 18 years. The Clippers, however, will win the NBA championship. No, not the Lakers, who don’t work as hard as the Clippers. Write it down and take me to lunch when it happens. Speaking of lunch, I predict this will be the year the Los Angeles Times corrects a grave oversight and adds Los Tacos, on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, to its list of best restaurants. This is not food you should eat. It’s food you deserve to eat, especially if you just lost your job, someone left you, or Donald Trump gets reelected. Go with the #3 combination, and thank the heavens you live in a corner of the world where you can get cheese enchiladas at 3 a.m., should the need arise (open 24 hours, and I once had lunch there with billionaire Eli Broad, I kid you not). While I’m on the subject of restaurants, I’m reminded of my pet peeve of 2019. You walk into a restaurant, they ask if you have a reservation, you say yes, and they say “perfect.” They ask if you’d like tap water or bottled water, you say tap, and they say “perfect.” They ask if you’d like anything else, you say no just the bill, and they say “perfect.” My question: Why? This is all the more reason to eat at Los Tacos. Nobody says “perfect,” and they might not even talk to you, which is OK. Another pet peeve of 2019: the New York Times telling Californians how we’re doing or how we’re feeling. “It’s the End of California As We Know It,” we were informed in October. The NYT explained to us rubes that “at the heart of our state’s rot” is “a failure to live sustainably.” We are not without sin, but as I pass another electric car, look beyond a cluster of windmills and into the glare of solar farm reflections, huh? Then, this week, the NYT began its latest doomsday story with a flimsy anecdote about someone who had lived in the Bay Area since 2004, ran for office in San Francisco, lost, and moved to Denver with her family because of California’s many problems. Good riddance, say I. “California is at a crossroads,” said the NYT. Guess what? Everybody is; every city, every state is at a crossroads. The country is at a crossroads. We’ve got a president who said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and get away with it, and it turns out he wasn’t kidding. A president, I might add, who is actively and aggressively trying to pollute our air and water, who believes scientists are crackpots, who is an inspiration to white supremacists, who has whiffed on all his major campaign promises (a list topped by cheaper, better healthcare for all), but for all that, could still get reelected. That, my friends, is a nation at a crossroads. California, to be clear, does indeed have major social and economic problems, which we don’t need help identifying, thank you very much, New York Times. And it also has major assets. Kind of like New York. Except that New York doesn’t have our beaches, and in the year 2020, in the noble cause of beach access for all, Gov. Gavin Newsom and I will kayak together from Gaviota State Park to Hollister Ranch. A few months ago I got a call from Newsom’s office asking if I could meet him in Gaviota, so we could paddle north. I had written about the Hollister residents’ long fight to keep us locked out, and their argument that if the great unwashed want to visit, they can test the often treacherous waters and attempt to visit by sea. Jerry Brown never asked me to go kayaking. Ronald Reagan didn’t call and say, hey, let’s go for a horseback ride, amigo. Arnold Schwarzenegger never invited me to go hiking (though he once called and asked me to meet him in Long Beach for a cigar, and I happily obliged). But this year, if Hollister residents continue to flout the public’s constitutional right to access all the state’s beaches, they will have to answer to me and the governor and a motley flotilla of scurvy sea dogs. We will arrive by sea, plant a flag and fight to the death. You read it here first. Bear with me now, because if you’re stealing a break from the Rose Parade, or a ballgame, or you’re having trouble lifting your head off a pillow, I have just one last observation to share before you embrace the new year. It’s sad to note that two more newspapers in California have ended their run, as reported by my colleague Brittny Mejia. Sierra County’s Mountain Messenger, once published by Mark Twain, and the Martinez News-Gazette, which I used to read daily, are going out of business. Those losses — the silencing of voices — are blows to the community and to the mission of keeping the bastards honest. No newspaper operates without blind spots and deficiencies, but there is no bigger news operation west of the Hudson than the Los Angeles Times, and no greater source of accountability journalism in California. In this, my 45th year as a journalist, my colleagues in sports, in entertainment, in foreign, national, state and local news, are a daily inspiration, and I’m proud to be their colleague. I’m still a reader first and learn multitudes each day by going online or by turning pages. Thanks to subscribers for your continued support (and shame on those who read without subscribing). In these tumultuous political times, I’m reminded of the Thomas Jefferson quote on the old Times parking lot in downtown Los Angeles: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Happy new year. steve.lopez@latimes.com

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ADVERTISEMENT Some prominent youth groups from the Niger Delta were in Kano for a 2-day consultative meeting with their northern counterparts to discuss possible alignments ahead of 2023 election. The South-south groups were led by the Niger Delta Congress, headed by Comrade Davies Opiri McLean, while the northern groups were led by Northern Emancipation Network, headed by Malam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman. ADVERTISEMENT In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was indicated that issues of national interest were discussed and some positions were jointly adopted. ADVERTISEMENT HOW NIGERIAN MEN CAN NOW OVERCOME TERRIBLE BEDROOM PERFORMANCE AND KICK START A WONDERFUL SEXUAL EXPERIENCE IN THE NEW YEAR “On 2023 elections, though still far away from today, it is not too early to sternly challenge the electoral process, and see the possibility of pulling regional and generational forces to push agenda for a regional or generational shift of power or both. “The meeting also resolved to mobilize all politicians to develop the highest level of tolerance and a commitment to respect the will of the Nigerian People,” the communique read in part. Other positions adopted at the meeting included the resolve to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions that thrived during the previous republics. The meeting also observed the need for national dialogue to “holistically and sincerely” discuss Nigeria before the 2023 elections in view of the widespread criticism against the existing federal arrangement. Related Download Daily Trust News App

The Northern Emancipation Network and the Niger Delta Congress has resolved to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions ahead of the 2023 general election. In a communique jointly presented to the press and signed by the coordinator Northern Emancipation Network, Abdul – Azeez Suleiman, and a leader of the Niger Delta Congress, Comrade Davies Opiri McLean at the end of its two days consultation meeting, Wednesday, at the famous Munbaiya House, Kano revealed that the groups discussed matters of mutual interest, the economy, growing communal distrust, current security situation, environmental issues, possible alignments in build-up to, and conduct of the 2023 elections and other matters related to the position of the two regions. The communiqué reads in parts: “In the light of the building apprehension with regards to the elections, the meeting ‘resolved to mobilize all politicians to develop the highest levels of tolerance and a recommitment to respect the will of the Nigerian people. “The meeting resolved to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions that thrived during previous republics, and to marshall support for a generational shift of power. “The meeting recalled the understanding between the Northern Peoples Congress and the Niger Delta Congress which was one of the political parties in Nigeria’s First Republic that generated tremendous support from most communities in the Eastern Region. “This meeting, therefore, resolved to consult further on the possibility of reviving this alliance that thrived throughout the first, second and third republics, and extended well into the current republic. “The meeting also agreed to device ways of taking comfortable advantage of the window provided by the “Not too Young to Run” act in order to achieve a smooth intergenerational transfer of power. “The meeting observed that in view of widespread criticism against the existing federal arrangement, the need may arise for a national dialogue to holistically and sincerely discuss Nigeria before the 2023 elections. “The meeting agreed to work together to ensure that the composition of the delegation to any futuré conference should genuinely represent a serious commitment to holistically addressing the complex problems of the nation, without violating any of the principles of justice, fairness, inclusiveness and equity. “It noted that any discussion for the future of Nigeria must demand that the obvious imbalance in representation between geo-political zones, age and gender interests be redressed to ensure that issues which may further threaten our peace, security, harmonious co-existence, or which may offend the provisions of the Constitution are avoided. “The meeting decried the failure by concerned bodies to implement past reports and recommendations on environmental rehabilitation and noted that the current levels of anger and hopelessness among the victim populations are alienating entire communities from government. “The meeting expressed sympathy with communities affected by environmental degradation and in particular, called on community leaders in the Niger Delta to work hard to expose those forces behind alleged connivance -to deprive the region. “The meeting expressed major concerns over the seeming reluctance of authorities to commit more to the protection of the lives and properties of citizens. “While noting that a certain degree of success with the Boko Haram fight is noticeable with the coming of this administration, the meeting however lamented that the shocking level of audacity with which insurgents, bandits, robbers and kidnappers still attack and kill on highways, destroy towns and villages and commit unspeakable atrocities, calls to question the sustainability of the successes. ‘ “The meeting resolved to demand that government improves its willingness to protect citizens all over the country especially in the North East and many other parts of the North”.

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London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 0.3 per cent to 7,563.62 points, compared with the close on Monday. [LONDON] European stock markets dropped at the open on Tuesday, the final trading session of a year that has seen large gains for indices. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 0.3 per cent to 7,563.62 points, compared with the close on Monday. In the eurozone, the Paris CAC 40 index lost 0.2 per cent to 5,970.37 points. Frankfurt's DAX 30 ended its year on Monday, reporting an annual gain of 25.5 per cent following a plunge of 18 per cent in 2018. Global stock markets have been boosted this year from record highs on Wall Street helped by receding risks of recession and easing China-US trade tensions. AFP

Global stocks have surged in their best year for a decade after being given new life by interest rate cuts and signs that turmoil over Brexit is coming to an end. More than $10 trillion (£7.6 trillion) was added to the value of shares around the world as central banks slashed rates and restarted money-printing schemes to battle an economic slowdown. The MSCI World Index of global stocks has gained 25pc this year, bouncing back from its worst performance in a decade in 2018. This year was the best annual performance for stocks since 2009 and one of the strongest in decades. In Britain, the FTSE 100 is up nearly 14pc and the mid-cap FTSE 250 has risen 26pc into new record territory, boosted by...

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A 37-year-old Gustine man was arrested Tuesday after police said he groped a teenage family member in her bed. The 17-year-old victim told police that Ruben Lucio Flores Jr. climbed into her bed, grabbed her body while he was aroused, the Gustine Police Department said in a statement posted online. The alleged victim reported the incident at 6:36 a.m. Tuesday. Lucio Flores was arrested within the hour, police said. He was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of sexual battery, a felony. He was not listed as an inmate Wednesday morning.

Luke McCrone took this video of his brother and father-in-law fighting a fire at a home on Terra Nova Drive in Mallacoota A convoy of cars and buses will this afternoon be led out of isolated Cann River, which remains without power, ahead of dangerous fire conditions over the next few days. An alert sent to people in the area, and read to the Herald Sun, said residents could relocate to Orbost - about 70km west along the Princes Highway. “If you would like to relocate from Cann River to Orbost due to fire danger you can do so today by bus or convoy in your vehicle,” the alert read. Warren Fenner, from W&J Fenner Logging, has been working alongside Department of Land, Water and Planning staff and timber industry contractors to clear roads around Cann River and Club Terrance that were blocked by fallen trees. More than a dozen people were stuck in Club Terrace, where homes were destroyed, before the road was cleared yesterday. “Now we’ve gained access through there, there were fuel and supplies taken in and some people came out,” Mr Fenner said. “Once we cleared our way in, we had to clear our way back out because of the falling trees. “We know most residents (in Club Terrace) so they were very happy to see us and be able to get out.” Mr Fenner told the Herald Sun that work was underway to widen and reinforce containment lines around Cann River ahead of worsening weather conditions this weekend. “The fire is very fragmented around Cann River so we are trying to put in containment lines,” he said. “The restoration work has (moved) aside to the preparation work for the weekend.” “Meet at Cann River School at 3pm.” RELATED NEWS: BUCHAN ‘TOWN LEGEND’ CONFIRMED DEAD RESIDENTS PETRIFIED AS FIRE ‘CREPT CLOSER AND CLOSER’ BUSHFIRE CRISIS ‘FAR FROM OVER’ The Fenner family was split on Monday as a string of fires ripped through East Gippsland. Mr Fenner had been holidaying in Mallacoota with his wife Julieann and two of his three teenage sons but headed to Granite Mountain to move vital equipment to Cann River. Ms Fenner and the couple’s youngest son, Brayden, 13, returned to Orbost while 17-year-old Lachlan stayed in Mallacoota, where he is now trapped with his girlfriend. “It was a little bit stressful,” Mr Fenner said. “My services were better with the equipment. I put faith in other people to look after my family.” He added: “I was with my yellow family and what you need when there’s a fire is the Caterpillar (equipment) family.”

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02 January 2020, 07:51 Two forced migrants from Abkhazia, who demand to provide them with housing, stay for the second day in the locked building of the Ministry for Refugees, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. The protesters said they had no money to celebrate the New Year. The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since September 2019, internally displaced persons (IDPs, or forced migrants) have been holding their protest actions in the lobby of the above ministry, where they had equipped a "sleeping corner" for themselves. They claim that the money allocated by the state for renting housing is not enough, and demand to provide them with permanent housing. In the morning on December 31, 2019, Fridron Djodjua, a forced migrant, and Inga Rusiya, another protester, entered the ministry building, while the staff was still at work there. "On December 31, they locked the doors, and we stayed inside. We'll only leave on January 3, when the ministry resumes work," Mr Djodjua told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, on January 3, he and Inga Rusiya will be replaced by other forced migrants, who seek solution of their housing problems. Protesters have stated that on the 108th day of their protest action, the minister had never found time to meet the settlers. This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 1, 2020 at 08:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

01 January 2020, 16:21 The interest of the antiterrorist commission of the Elbrus District in the schoolchildren, who refuse to celebrate the New Year because of their religious beliefs is inappropriate in a secular state, lawyers have noted. The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the above initiative to collect data about the pupils, who don't celebrate the New Year for religious reasons, caused Facebook users' criticism against officials of the Elbrus District. Russia is a secular state, and "the principle of secularism does not imply any religion or atheism as a state doctrine," Timofei Shirokov, a lawyer, has commented on the bureaucrats' initiative. "Secularism implies the equality of adherents of various faiths. Also, the freedom of conscience and of religion implies the equality of various believers. This includes, among other things, the right to observe or not observe certain holidays, to participate or not to participate in certain events, based on one's own convictions ... Parents have the right to write complaints about officials' words and actions both to the Ministry of Education and to the Prosecutor's Office demanding to check the legality thereof," the lawyer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 1, 2020 at 09:58 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

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In this year’s Cyber Security Predictions, the WatchGuard Threat Lab has imagined the top cyber attacks we’ll see in 2020 and has provided tips for simplifying your approach to stopping them. Even though the threats coming at you won’t be any less intense, complicated, or difficult to manage, 2020 will be the year of simplified security. 1. Ransomware Targets the Cloud Highlights: Ransomware is a billion-dollar industry. Overall volume of ransomware is down, but targeted ransomware against vertical industries is on the rise. In 2020, targeted ransomware now tries to infect consolidated cloud assets, such as file stores, S3 buckets, and virtual environments. Ransomware is now a billion-dollar industry for hackers, and over the last decade we’ve seen extremely virulent strains of this malware wreak havoc across every industry. As with any big-money industry, ransomware will continue to evolve in order to maximize profits. In 2020, we believe ransomware will focus on the cloud. Recently, untargeted “shotgun blast” ransomware has plateaued with attackers showing preference for targeted attacks against industries whose businesses cannot function with any downtime. These include healthcare, state and local governments, and industrial control systems. Despite its far-reaching damages and soaring revenues, ransomware has largely left the cloud untouched. As businesses of every size move both their servers and data to the cloud, it has become a one-stop shop for all of our most important data. In 2020, we expect to see this safe haven crumble as ransomware begins targeting cloud-based assets including file stores, S3 buckets, and virtual environments. Security Tips: Do you have cloud security? Virtual or cloud UTM? Asking these questions is where to start. Use advanced malware protection to detect evasive malware. More importantly, consider new security paradigms that allow you to implement security controls, like advanced malware protection, in cloud use cases. Finally, the cloud can be secured, but it requires work. Make sure you’ve hardened your cloud workloads. For instance, investigate resources for properly securing S3 buckets. 2. GDPR Comes to the United States Highlights: California has passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). A national Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA will not pass in 2020). In 2020, 10 or more states will pass laws like California’s CCPA. Two years ago, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force, protecting the data and privacy rights of European Union citizens. As of yet, few places outside the EU have similar laws in place, but we expect to see the United States (U.S.) come closer to matching it in 2020. GDPR boils down to placing restrictions on how organizations can process personal data, and what rights individuals have in limiting who may access that data, and it has already shown teeth. To date, companies have been fined millions of euros for GDPR violations, including massive €50 million and £99 million judgements in 2019 against Google and Marriott respectively. While the burden placed on companies can be intense, the protections provided to individuals are massively popular. Meanwhile, the U.S. has suffered a social media privacy plague the last few years, with no real GDPR equivalent to protect local consumers. As organizations like Facebook leak more and more of our personal data, which bad actors have used in everything from targeted election manipulation to unethical bounty hunting, U.S. citizens are starting to clamor for privacy protections like those enjoyed by our European brothers and sisters. So far, only one state, California, has responded by passing their California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which goes in effect in early 2020. Though the same senator who passed CCPA in California has proposed a Federal Consumer Data Privacy Act (CDPA) bill, we don’t think it will gain enough support to pass nationwide in 2020. However, we do expect more and more states to jump onto California’s bandwagon, and pass state-level consumer privacy acts of their own. In 2020, we anticipate that 10 or more states will enact similar laws to California’s CCPA. Security Tips: There isn’t a specific security tip for this prediction, but you can still take action. Contact your local congressperson to share your opinion on regulations to protect your privacy. Meanwhile, consider the lack of regulation here when sharing your private information online and with social networks. 3. Voter Registration Systems Targeted During the 2020 Elections Highlights: Though voting machines are hackable, adversaries won’t spend much time targeting them. However, external threat actors will go after state and local voter databases with the goal of creating voting havoc and triggering voter-fraud alerts during 2020 elections. Election hacking has been a hot topic ever since the 2016 U.S. elections. Over the last four years, news cycles have covered everything from misinformation spread across social media to alleged breaches of state voter systems. During the 2020 U.S. presidential elections, we predict that external threat actors will target state and local voter databases with a goal of creating voting havoc and triggering voter fraud-alerts during the 2020 elections. Security experts have already shown that many of the systems we rely on for voter registration and election day voting suffer from significant digital vulnerabilities. In fact, attackers even probed some of these weaknesses during the 2016 election, stealing voter registration data from various states. While these state-sponsored attackers seemed to draw the line by avoiding altering voting results, we suspect their previous success will embolden them during the 2020 election, and they will target and manipulate our voter registration systems to make it harder for legitimate voters to submit their votes, and to call into question the validity of vote counts. Security Tips: While there isn’t a specific cybersecurity tip for this prediction, we do have some voter preparedness tips in the event this prediction comes true. First, double-check the status of your voter registration a few days before the election. Also, monitor the news for any updates about voter registration database hacks, and be sure to contact your local state voter authority if you are concerned. Be sure to print out the result of a successful voter registration, and bring you ID on election day, even if technically unnecessary. 4. During 2020, 25% of All Breaches Will Happen Outside the Perimeter Highlights: While working remotely can increase productivity and reduce burnout, it comes with its own set of security risks. A quarter of all network compromises or data breaches will involve off-network assets. Mobile device usage and remote employees have been on the rise for several years now. A recent survey by WatchGuard and CITE Research found 90% of mid-market businesses have employees working half their week outside the office. While remote working can increase productivity and reduce burnout, it comes with its own set of security risks. Mobile employees often work without any network perimeter security, missing out on an important part of a layered security defense. Additionally, mobile devices can often mask telltale signs of phishing attacks and other security threats. We predict that in 2020, one quarter of all data breaches will involve telecommuters, mobile devices, and off-premises assets. Security Tips: Make sure you’re as diligent implementing off-network protection for your employees as you are perimeter protection. Any laptop or device that leaves the office needs a full suite of security services, including a local firewall, advanced malware protection, DNS filtering, disk encryption, and multi-factor authentication, among other protections. 5. The Cybersecurity Skills Gap Widens Highlights: Universities and cybersecurity trade organizations are not graduating qualified candidates fast enough to fill the demand for new information security employees. The cybersecurity skills gap grows by 15%. Cybersecurity, or the lack of it, has gone mainstream. A day doesn’t seem to go by where the general public doesn’t hear of some new data breach, ransomware attack, company network compromise, or state-sponsored cyber attack. Meanwhile, consumers have also become intimately aware of how their own personal data privacy contributes to their own security (thanks, Facebook). As a result, it’s no surprise that the demand for cybersecurity expertise is at an all-time high. The problem is, we don’t have the skilled professionals to fill this demand. According to the latest studies, almost three million cybersecurity jobs remained unfilled during 2018. Universities and cybersecurity trade organizations are not graduating qualified candidates fast enough to fill the demand for new information security employees. Three-fourths of companies claim this shortage in cybersecurity skills has affected them and lessened their security. Unfortunately, we don’t see this cybersecurity skills gap lessening in 2020. Demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals keeps growing, yet we haven’t seen any recruiting and educational changes that will increase the supply. Whether it be from a lack of proper formal education courses on cybersecurity or an aversion to the often-thankless job of working on the front lines, we predict the cybersecurity skills gap to increase an additional 15% next year. Let’s hope this scarcity of expertise doesn’t result in an increase in successful attacks. Security Tips: While the available cybersecurity workforce won’t appear immediately, you do have options to help create and manage a strong cyber defense. Taking a long-term view, you can work with your local educational institutes to identify future cybersecurity professionals so that you might fill your open roles first. In the short term, focus on solutions that provide layered security in one solution, or work with a managed services provider or managed security services provider to whom you can outsource your security needs. 6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Becomes Standard for Mid-sized Companies Highlights: 2020 will bring increased adoption of MFA among mid-sized companies. We’ll also see wide-spread adoption among all service providers, and even privileged or admin accounts at all businesses. We predict that multi-factor authentication (MFA) will become a standard security control for mid-market companies in 2020. Whether it’s due to billions of emails and passwords having leaked onto the dark web, or the many database and password compromises online businesses suffer each year, or the fact that users still use silly and insecure passwords, the industry has finally realized that we are terrible at validating online identities. Previously, MFA solutions were too cumbersome for mid-market organizations, but recently three things have paved the way for pervasive MFA, both SMS one-time password (OTP) and app-based models, among even SMBs. First, MFA solutions have become much simpler with cloud-only options. Second, mobile phones have removed the expensive requirement of hardware tokens, which were cost-prohibitive for mid-market companies. And finally, the deluge of password problems has proven the absolute requirement for a better authentication solution. While SMS OTP is now falling out of favor for legitimate security concerns, app-based MFA is here to stay. The ease of use both for the end user and the IT administrator managing these MFA tools will finally enable organizations of all sizes to recognize the security benefits of additional authentication factors. That’s why we believe enterprise-wide MFA will become a de-facto standard among all midsized companies next year. Security Tips: This tip is simple – implement MFA throughout your organization. Everything from logging in to your laptop each day to accessing corporate cloud resources should have some sort of multi-factor authentication tied to it. 7. Attackers Will Find New Vulnerabilities in the 5G/Wi-Fi Handover to Access the Voice and/or Data of 5G Mobile Phones Highlights: Wireless carriers that manage 4G and 5G networks often hand off calls and data to Wi-Fi networks to save bandwidth, particularly in high-density areas. In 2020, flaws in this cellular to Wi-Fi handover process will allow attackers to access the voice and/or data of 5G mobile phones. The newest cellular standard, 5G, is rolling out across the world and promises big improvements in speed and reliability. Unknown to most people, in large public areas like hotels, shopping centers, and airports, your voice and data information of your cellular-enabled device is communicated to both cell towers and to Wi-Fi access points located throughout these public areas. Large mobile carriers do this to save network bandwidth in high-density areas. Your devices have intelligence built into them to automatically and silently switch between cellular and Wi-Fi. Security researches have exposed some flaws in this cellular-to-Wi-Fi handover process and it’s very likely that we will see a large 5G-to-Wi-Fi security vulnerability be exposed in 2020 that could allow attackers to access the voice and/or data of 5G mobile phones. Security Tips: Most mobile devices don’t allow the users to disable cellular to Wi-Fi handover (also known as Hotspot 2.0). Windows 10 currently does, however. If unsure, individuals should utilize a VPN on their cellular devices so that attackers who are eavesdropping on cellular to Wi-Fi connections won’t be able to access your data. For businesses looking to enable Hotspot 2.0, make sure your Wi-Fi access points (APs) have been tested independently to stop the six known Wi-Fi threat categories detailed at http://trustedwirelessenvironment.com. If the APs block these threats, attackers cannot eavesdrop on the cellular to Wi-Fi handoff.

A new year typically brings new legislation, and in the U.S., laws addressing everything from plastic bags to recreational marijuana are now in effect or will go into effect soon. Here are 10 new laws taking effect. 1. Oregon bans single-use plastic bags Some bans or restrictions on single-use plastic bags have been passed at the local level, others at the state level. One of those states is Oregon: on January 1, retail stores and restaurants will no longer be allowed to provide single-use plastic bags, although they can offer paper bags as an alternative if they charge least least five cents for them. 2. 22 states raise their minimum wages Although the United States’ federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, states and cities are free to raise their minimum wages — and in 2020, 22 states now have higher minimum wages, including New Mexico and Washington. 3. At least 8 states have higher fees for electric vehicles In 2020, at least eight states have either increased their fees for electric vehicles or introduced new fees for them — and they range from $50 in Hawaii to $200 in Alabama and Ohio. 4. California enacts data privacy law In California, the California Consumer Privacy Act will give consumers more control over how companies share their information with other companies. And the law affects not only California-based companies, but also, any companies doing business in California. 5. Illinois allows recreational marijuana use Illinois will be the 12th state in the U.S. to allow adults to purchase or smoke marijuana recreationally. And in Hawaii, possession of small amounts of marijuana will be decriminalized in mid-January. 6. New York eliminates cash bail for nonviolent offenses A new law in New York will eliminate cash bail for defendants charged with minor offenses or non-violent felonies. The goal is to reduce the number of people in pre-trial detention. 7. Victims of sexual abuse will have longer to file civil lawsuits A new California law expands the statute of limitations for sexual abuse, allowing victims to file civil lawsuits up until the age of 40 or five years from the time the abuse was discovered. 8. Floridians will be fined for texting while driving Under a new Florida law, those caught texting and driving will be fined $30 for non-moving violations and $60 for moving violations. 9. California forbids discrimination against black hairstyles Under the Crown Act, California becomes the first state in the U.S. to forbid employers or school officials from discriminating against black hairstyles such as afros and braids. 10. Colorado law increases gun restriction Under Colorado’s new “red flag” law, family members and law enforcement officials can petition a court to temporarily take a gun away from an individual they believe to be a threat to themselves or others.

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Don’t make a sound. Image : Paramount Pictures ( YouTube Trailer Frenzy A special place to find the newest trailers for movies and TV shows you're craving. Prev Next View All It’s not just monsters they have to watch out for anymore. The first trailer has arrived for A Quiet Place Part II, the sequel to John Krasinski’s surprise horror hit, which sees Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and her family venturing beyond their home and finding that sound-detecting creatures aren’t the only threat. Directed and co-written by Krasinski—returning to his behind-the-scenes role from the first film—the sequel comes after Ev elyn, her kids, and their new baby managed to survive an encounter with the monsters that hunt by sound... partially thanks to the sacrifice by the Abbott family patriarch, played by Krasinski. At the end of the film, the family discovered that Regan Abbott’s (Millicent Simmonds) hearing aid emitted a frequency that could temporarily paralyze the monsters, giving the family a fighting chance out in the bigger world. Determined to survive, the silent but deadly family is heading out into the world to find others and hopefully band together. But that might not go as well as they’d like, as some of their fellow survivors—which include Djimon Hounsou and a survivalist played by Cillian Murphy —may present a different threat to the Abbotts. But that’s not all: As we see in the trailer, we’re also flashing back to the terrifying origin of the monsters, which may help shed some light on the overall mystery. Advertisement A Quiet Place Part II arrives in theaters on March 20, 2020. For more, make sure you’re following us on our Instagram @io9dotcom.

A Quiet Place had a grim, sci-fi ending, and one that didn’t demand a sequel. But John Krasinski’s tightly wound horror movie also over $340 million worldwide, making it instant franchise material. The first trailer for A Quiet Place Part II brings us back into a very silent world overrun by winged creatures who attack the slightest sound. Previously, a sparse teaser revealed the return of the Abbott family. The sequel picks up shortly after the original, as the Abbott family rallies after the death of their father (Krasinski) and their discovery that high frequency noises hurt the fearsome creatures. Emily Blunt reprises her role as Evelyn Abbott, with Millicent Simonds as daughter Regan and Noah Jape as son Marcus. Joining the cast are Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy) as other survivors who may or may not be friends. Though most plot details are being kept hush-hush, the film is said to focus on the Abbott children growing up. Originally set for a May release date, A Quiet Place Part II was bumped up to March 20, 2020. Check out the poster below:

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As access to banking services through digital channels continues to grow, so does the need to protect consumers against the prevalence of online banking fraud. Due to the prevalence of banking scams, we urge consumers to be more vigilant and familiarise themselves with the different types of online banking fraud. The following are the latest online banking scams consumers should be wary of: Flight purchase debit scams You will receive an SMS informing you of a flight purchase debited to your account. Fraudsters will ask you to select a link in the SMS to revise the transaction. When you select the link, you will be redirected to a fake bank website. You are then redirected to an ‘Update and Confirm Details’ screen requesting more information to be verified. The fraudsters will now be in a position to access your banking profile. Social media scams Beware of fraudsters pretending to represent the bank you use on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp or any other social media platform. The bank will never ask for your credit or cheque card, account number, online banking login details or password or One Time Pin (OTP) on social media platforms. The official accounts also display a blue tick indicating they are verified. Change of banking details scam You will receive an email that allegedly comes from one of your suppliers asking you to update your banking details. Beware of this, even if it is on the supplier’s letterhead. Contact your supplier on the number you already have for them and not the one on the fraudulent letter. Speak to someone you know at the supplier to confirm the change in banking details. Copy of payment notification scam You will receive an email requesting you to open a copy of your payment notification. Fraudsters will prompt you to login via the email attachment. When you open the attachment in the email, you will be redirected to a fake bank website. In an attempt to steal your banking details you will be requested to login. As soon as you enter your login details on the screen, you are redirected to a successfully logged out screen. The fraudsters will now be in a position to access your banking profile. 419 scams This is communication by email to a recipient making an offer that would result in a large payoff for the recipient. The details vary and large amounts of money are usually involved. The victims’ banking details as well as sums of money are said to be required in advance in order to facilitate the payment of the funds. Essentially, the promised money transfer never happens and the fraudsters may use the victims’ banking details to withdraw money for themselves. Phishing Communication seemingly from the bank or other companies that gets you to disclose personal information such as your ID number, address, account number, username, login details, password and PIN. This information can also be used to gain unauthorised access to your banking account online. OTP email fraud Using various methods of phishing, criminals also try to get access to your email accounts, commonly Gmail, Yahoo, etc. They produce fake login sites that look like Gmail or Yahoo. Once they have your email username and password, they have access to your emails (statements, personal communications) and this helps a criminal build a social profile of you. Criminals can also intercept OTPs that are sent to emails once they have access to your email account. OTP Sim swap fraud Once criminals are in possession of your username and password, they can easily access your accounts on online banking. They can also contact your service provider to do a Sim swap, which basically means they hijack your sim and have access to your SMS. This also gives them access to your OTP. Remember, the bank will never ask for your username, password or Pin in an email, SMS, social media or phone call. Never select a link to our website that was sent via email. Always type in the bank’s web address. READ MORE: Post Office of parcel delivery scam Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East Rekord North Rekord Centurion Rekord Moot For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram

It is a new year, and with it comes new opportunities. If you are looking for a new job, consider updating your LinkedIn profile to attract potential employers. Take a look at the steps below to guide you in the right direction. 1. Include a good profile photograph. Your photo should look professional and be of good quality, and should not include other people. Add a background photo that highlights your personality and your brand. 2. Add the right information. Avoid using nicknames or pet names in your LinkedIn profile. Your headline should be direct and specific. Add a summary that packs a punch, keywords relevant to your field and updated contact information to make it easier for potential employers to find you. 3. Add relevant work experience. Not every job is relevant to potential employers. Try to include work experience that shows your skill in the field you are looking to enter. 4. Show more than tell. Rather than using too many generic terms such as “passionate” and “hard-working” add a few achievements or describe your work to show potential employers what you can do, and set your profile apart from the rest. 5. Stay active. Update your profile often. Keep track of your new projects, stay current and share new content. 6. Do some research. Look through job listings for the type of employment you are looking for and add the listed skills to your profile. These are likely to be the skills that potential employers are looking for in a search. 7. Grow your network. Grow your contacts list and get endorsements from others that will boost your profile. READ MORE: Social media regulation in South Africa: new and upcoming law you must know about Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East Rekord North Rekord Centurion Rekord Moot For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram

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Acer for Education renews the Innovative School Program for 2020, to support schools in their path towards digital transformation. The goal of the program is to support schools who commit to using technology to transform teaching and learning. Technology is an enabler. It allows to break down barriers as it helps teachers to develop new, immersive and inclusive learning experiences. As a result, more and more schools that have integrated technology in their approach to teaching and learning are finding how it helps students to boost their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, learn anytime, anywhere and improve academic results. Acer for Education Innovative School Program is a tribute to those schools that have embraced technology as a means to give students new personalized and engaging ways to learn the abilities they will need to succeed in school and life. The program is targeted to all EMEA schools that are taking the path of digital transformation. The following schools are a part of the program; Al Sahwa School in Oman, New English School and The English Academy in Kuwait and lastly Abu Dhabi Grammar School, British School in Khubairat in the UAE. Whether they are just starting or are pioneers, these schools are committed to helping each student to reach their potential and follow their dreams through innovation and technology. Schools enrolled in Acer Innovative School program can enjoy several benefits: Teachers from Acer Innovative Schools are invited to attend the EMEA Teachers Advisory Council, where they can meet with peers, listen to education experts and participate in training sessions Schools can participate in webinars covering a range of topics to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and tools. Topics include mini-training on Windows and Chrome platforms and their apps. Acer Innovative Schools can share their stories, achievements or experiences on Acer for Education’s blog and become a source of inspiration for other schools. What’s more, schools receive a monthly newsletter where they can find updates on technological contents, alliance partner news, demo program and other initiatives. Each Acer Innovative Schools receives two demo devices per year, so teachers and students are kept abreast of the latest technological innovations and can find out how they can help them achieve more. Acer Project Humanity Acer Innovative Schools are also encouraged to join the Acer Project Humanity, a new global initiative by Acer to bring humanity at the centre of our activities and give back to communities and the environment. For this reason, early in October Acer for Education launched a contest among Acer Innovative Schools across Europe, Middle East and Africa to encourage students to submit projects evaluated based on number of green actions and originality among other criteria. What’s more, winning schools were able to give a helping hand by supporting the learning path of a Charity Education Organization of their choice, giving them their prize of 10 Acer devices each. One such school that took this to the next level was the New English School in Kuwait who have a long-standing commitment to raising awareness of environmental concerns. Keeping the grounds litter-free, reducing usage of materials that just end up in a landfill, reusing materials where possible and recycling what can be economically processed are some of the activities students were involved with. The New English School partnered with the charity organization Direct Aid and will donate their prizes to underprivileged students in Africa.

The New Testament Church of God in Old Harbour, St Catherine was packed to capacity Tuesday with worshippers who rang in the new year with the traditional watchnight service. A major highlight of the night was the baptism of 10 persons - eight females and two males - who responded to a call by Bishop Hugh Dixon to start the new year right by giving their lives to Christ. Loop News was there to capture that and more. Check out the photo gallery below. New Year Baptism Old Harbour

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Political Desk President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday called on the United States to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and abandon its “plots” against the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a ceremony in the northwestern province of Ardebil, Rouhani implied that Tehran is ready for talks with the US once Washington begins to fulfill its obligations under the international agreement. “Whenever they (the Americans) back off from the point they started their plots, we are ready too. They need to return to the commitments they trampled on and admit to their mistakes regarding the Iranian nation,” he said. Rouhani noted that the US maximum pressure campaign on Iran was aimed at “smashing the grandeur of the nation and forcing the country to surrender”. “This is impossible. The enemies should repent for their wrong acts,” he stressed. “You are not a superior nation and government for the nation and the government of Iran. We respect your nation and strongly protest against your government. However, we state that there is a way back.” Rouhani further pointed out that Iran will continue its forward march despite US sanctions and pressure, thanks to the nation’s “highly vibrant morale”. Tensions have soared between Tehran and Washington since May last year, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reimposed sanctions on Tehran as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at forcing it to renegotiate a new deal. Iran has rejected negotiating a new deal with the Trump administration, saying talks were only possible if Washington returned to the nuclear pact, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and lifted sanctions. Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the US, France, Britain, Russia, and China – plus Germany (P5+1) signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016. Under the deal, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions. Since May 2019, Iran has rowed back on its nuclear commitments four times in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA. Its latest step came in November when engineers began feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into mothballed enrichment centrifuges at the underground Fordo plant south of Tehran.

BEIJING (Agencies): The top diplomats of Iran and China have emphasized the need for the two countries to strengthen their strategic relations and keep up consultations on issues of bilateral and international significance. In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that establishing strategic ties shows the two sides’ keenness to reinforce their cooperation. “We need to keep up regular bilateral consultations on a variety of issues and this trip serves that purpose,” he added. Zarif further hailed China for supporting Iran’s stance on the international stage. He also criticized unilateral US sanctions against Iran, calling on the world community to counter unilateralism and back multilateralism. The Chinese foreign minister, for his part, underscored the necessity of strengthening ties with Iran. In the current situation, he added, the two countries should exchange views on different issues in addition to maintaining contact. Zarif arrived in Beijing earlier in the day following a visit to the Russian capital, Moscow. Prior to Zarif’s arrival, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the Iran nuclear deal would be on the agenda of the talks between Zarif and Wang. “China would like to work with Iran to ensure the steady development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, safeguard the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and uphold peace and stability of the [Persian] Gulf Region in the Middle East,” he said, referring to the nuclear accord by its official name. Elsewhere in his remarks, Geng described China and Russia — two of the signatories to the JCPOA — as “comprehensive strategic partners of coordination,” adding that that they have been “in close communication and coordination on the Iranian nuclear issue and other major international and regional hotspot issues.” The JCPOA was signed between Iran and six world states — namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China — in 2015. It was also ratified in the form of a UN Security Council resolution. However, Washington’s unilateral exit in May 2018 and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the historic agreement in limbo. In compliance with Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic has, since May 2019, gone through four stages in scaling back parts of its commitments in retaliation for the US’s pullout and Europe’s failure to protect Iran against the American sanctions. Iran, Russia: US exit from JCPOA endangers region, world At a joint press conference after their meeting in Moscow on Monday, Zarif and Lavrov said the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA constitutes a serious reversal in the consultation process on the Iran nuclear issue and poses a threat to the security of the Persian Gulf region and the entire world

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Editor: In response to several letters, Fraser Health has said they are not cancelling the program. This is true, they wish to continue with phases 2 and 3 (intake program) of the cardiac rehab program, but discontinue Phase 4. Phases 2 and 3 are held in the Vine Street Centre, phase 4 is presently held in two gyms at the Horst and Emily Werner Centre. Phase 4 is supervised by an exercise specialist (kinesiologist), lasts for 90 minutes and is for cardiac rehabilitation for people who have participated in phases 2 and 3. Phase 1 is time spent in the hospital for those who have experienced a heart incident (angiogram, bypass, valve replacement, pacemaker, defibrillator). At present, Fraser Health has cancelled the second gym in the H-E W Centre and rescheduled the 266 cardiac rehab participants. In order to accommodate the loss of the second gym, these participants were arbitrarily rescheduled, some from morning classes to late afternoon or evening. This has created considerable angst in all 266 participants. As a participant involved in the phase 4 program, I urge FH to keep open the second gym in the H-E W Centre, allowing the 266 participants to continue in their 2019 assigned classes. Sharon Williams, South Surrey

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