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MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A suspected drunken driver was arrested in a New Year’s Day highway crash that killed another motorist in West Virginia, police said. The accident occurred early Wednesday along southbound Interstate 81 in Berkeley County, The Journal reported. Cody Wade Braithwaite, 32, of Winchester, Virginia, was charged with DUI with death, fleeing DUI, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and a fugitive from justice, Berkeley County Sheriff Curtis Keller said. Keller said a deputy investigating calls about a reckless driver attempted to make a traffic stop, but the suspect’s vehicle sped up and hit a car, which then struck a guardrail. The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s name was not immediately released. The suspect’s vehicle also hit a deputy’s cruiser before being stopped, Keller said. Braithwaite was being held without bond in the Eastern Regional Jail. It wasn’t immediately known whether Braithwaite has an attorney. ___ Information from: The Journal, http://journal-news.net/ Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Jovenel Moïse broke with tradition on Wednesday and celebrated the country’s independence day in the capital for security reasons following months of political turmoil. Moïse, whose government has been accused of corruption, denounced graft during his speech at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince and urged Haiti’s elite to work with the government and help create employment. “We’re still extremely poor,” he said. “Those who continue to get rich find it normal that they do not pay taxes, find it normal that there can be no competition, find it normal that they set prices for consumers, especially when this consumer is the state itself.” Moïse also apologized for the country’s ongoing power outages and renewed his 2016 campaign pledge to provide electricity 24 hours a day, saying it was harder to accomplish than he imagined. The speech that marked the 216th anniversary of the world’s first black republic was originally slated to take place in the northern coastal town of Gonaives, where Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence. But the town, like many others, was hit by violent protests that began in September amid anger over corruption, fuel shortages and dwindling food supplies as opposition leaders and supporters demanded the resignation of Moïse. More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured. Large-scale protests in Port-au-Prince have since dissipated, although smaller ones are still occurring elsewhere in the country. On Wednesday, opposition leaders and supporters gathered in Gonaives to attend the funeral of an anti-government protester and then carried his coffin through the streets as more protesters joined them. Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Share This On: Pin 11 Shares (NEWS ROOM GUYANA) — Three persons are currently hospitalized in a serious condition following an accident on the Crabwood Creek Public Road on New Year’s morning. According to information received, motorcar PNN 7976 driven by 22-year-old Seeram Ramdat was speeding when it collided with a utility pole, injuring the driver and two passengers. The News Room understands that while driving over the Blackwater Creek Bridge, Ramdat lost control of the vehicle which turned turtle and careened about 200 feet away before crashing into the utility pole and coming to a halt on a resident’s bridge. The two occupants, 32-year-old Keron Phillips and 45-year-old Ramnand Kishwar were removed from the wreck in semi-conscious states and rushed to the Skeldon hospital. The driver fled the scene and was subsequently apprehended at his Lot 80 Grant 1718 Crabwood Creek home in a traumatic state. He was also taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he is admitted in a stable condition. The News Room understands that the vehicle is owned by an elderly woman, and Ramdatt took it without her knowledge. Police Commissioner Leslie James on Wednesday disclosed that there has been an 8% increase in road fatalities in 2018. ( 0 ) ( 0 )

BERLIN - A fire at a zoo in western Germany in the first minutes of 2020 killed more than 30 animals, including apes, monkeys, bats and birds, authorities said. Police said the fire may have been caused by sky lanterns launched to celebrate the new year. Several witnesses reported that they had seen the cylindrical paper lanterns with little fires inside flying in the night sky shortly after midnight Wednesday near the Krefeld zoo, Gerd Hoppmann, the city’s head of criminal police told reporters. “People reported seeing those sky lanterns flying at low altitude near the zoo and then it started burning,” Hoppmann said. Police and firefighters received the first emergency calls at 12:38 a.m. The zoo near the Dutch border said that the entire ape house burned down and more than 30 animals, including five orangutans, two gorillas, a chimpanzee and several monkeys, as well as fruit bats and birds, were killed. Only two chimpanzees could be rescued from the flames by firefighters. They suffered burns but are in stable condition, zoo director Wolfgang Dressen said. “It’s close to a miracle that Bally, a 40-year-old female chimpanzee, and Limbo, a younger male, survived this inferno,” Dressen said, adding that many animal handlers were in shock at the devastation. “We have to seriously work through the mourning process,” Dressen said. “This is an unfathomable tragedy.” YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... The zoo director also said than many of the dead animals were close to extinction in the wild. The zoo said that in addition to the two rescued chimpanzees, the Gorilla Garden near to the Ape House didn’t go up in flames and that gorilla Kidogo and six other members of his family group are alive. Criminal police officer Hoppmann said that the use of sky lanterns is illegal in Krefeld and most other parts of Germany and asked that the people who launched them or people who witnessed anything should come forward to police. Germans usually welcome in the new year with fireworks at midnight and private persons are allowed to buy and launch fireworks. Sky lanterns, however, are both illegal and uncommon in Germany. Sky lanterns, which are sometimes also called Chinese lanterns, are a sort of hot-air balloon made of paper. They have been used in Asia for celebratory events for centuries. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... Hoppmann said investigators found some used lanterns on the ground that hadn’t burned entirely. They were 34 centimetres (13.4 inches) long, made out of white paper with an opening at the bottom where a small fire would have been suspended. The fire heats the air inside, making them fly and shine at night. 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 Hoppmann said some of the lanterns had handwritten notes on them. The Krefeld zoo was opened in 1975 and attracts some 400,000 visitors each year. It will remain closed on Wednesday.

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(Breitbart) – President Donald Trump welcomed guests to Mar-a-Lago for a New Year’s Eve party on Tuesday evening, predicting great things for 2020. “We’re going to have a great year, I predict,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be a fantastic year.” The president noted the record year for the American economy, predicting even better economic news. “I think we’re really set for additional growth and jobs and everything else,” he said. “It’ll be great.” The president answered questions about the ongoing conflict in Iraq after the American embassy in Baghdad was beset by protesters and American Marines responded. “They were there instantaneously, as soon as we heard,” he said. “I used the word ‘immediately’; they came immediately. And it’s in great shape, as you know.” He compared the recent attacks to the devastating attacks in Benghazi in 2012, noting that he would never stand for similar results. “This will not be a Benghazi. Benghazi should never have happened,” he said. “This will never, ever be a Benghazi.” The president warned Iran from continuing to back militia attacks in Iraq but dismissed the idea that the United States was going to war with Iran. “I want to have peace. I like peace,” he said. “And Iran should want peace more than anybody. So I don’t see that happening.” The president also spoke about the impeachment effort led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “I think the impeachment thing — I call it impeachment light,” he said. “It’s a disgrace. And Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself. She’s a highly overrated person. I know her well; she’s highly overrated.” Trump said he looked forward to an impeachment trial in the Senate. “As far as I’m concerned, I’d be very happy with the trial because we did nothing wrong,” he said. The president even wished the press a Happy New Year. “I want you to have a great year. Look, you’re honorable people. You have to stay honorable,” he said. “If you’re honorable, I’m going to win the election by a lot. If you’re not honorable, I’m just going to win the election by a little. So I’d rather have you be honorable, okay?” When First Lady Melania Trump was asked about her hopes for the New Year, she replied, “Peace on the world.” President Trump agreed but said he would not reveal his New Year’s resolution. “I’m not sure you’re supposed to say resolutions out loud, okay?” he said. “So we don’t want to. I don’t want to say what my resolution is because I think we jinx it, all right?” Video: “THIS WILL NOT BE A BENGHAZI” President Trump says ahead of entering Mar-A-Lago NYE party breitbart.com/politics/2019/12/31/trump-brings-2020-mar-a-lago-were-going-have-great-year/

PALM BEACH, United States — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he does not foresee war with Tehran, after pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Iraq. “I don’t see that happening,” Trump said at his holiday retreat in Florida when a reporter asked about the possibility of war with the Islamic republic. “I like peace,” the president said before heading in to New Year’s celebrations. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up The president spoke after Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the Middle East. The US had already flown a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after the attack Tuesday, which left smoke and flames rising from the compound’s entrance and further heightened tension between Tehran and Washington. US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. The US reinforcements “got in there very quickly,” Trump said. “I think it’s been handled very well.” He added that “this will not be a Benghazi,” a reference to an attack in 2012 by radical Islamists on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed inside the smoke-clogged building including the ambassador, Chris Stevens.

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Uber has sold its online food-ordering business in India to local rival Zomato in exchange for a 9.99 percent stake in the startup backed by China's Ant Financial, limiting its exposure to a crowded market where it has struggled to grow. The all-stock deal is likely to push Zomato to the top position in India's food delivery market, ahead of Swiggy, which counts China's Tencent Holdings as an investor. Zomato - valued at around $3 billion (roughly Rs. 21,300 crores) after raising money from Alibaba affiliate Ant this month - said Uber Eats in India will discontinue operations, and direct restaurants, delivery partners and users to the Zomato platform from Tuesday. "India remains an exceptionally important market to Uber and we will continue to invest in growing our local Rides business," said Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's chief executive officer. We entered food delivery in India in 2017 and today is when our journey takes a different route. Zomato has acquired Uber Eats in India and we'll no longer be available here with immediate effect. We wish all our users more good times with great food on the road ahead pic.twitter.com/WEbJNaJY8M — Uber Eats India (@UberEats_IND) January 21, 2020 Uber Eats in India accounted for 3 percent of the business' gross bookings globally, but more than a quarter of its adjusted EBITDA loss in the first three quarters of 2019, the U.S. ride-hailing firm said. Uber Eats India is now Zomato. Here's to better food for more people, and new beginnings. For more details: https://t.co/cq8Wp9ikOk pic.twitter.com/nK4ICY2ikW — Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 21, 2020 Uber Eats, which also pulled out of South Korea earlier this year, said it will continue to operate in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. While this is the first large acquisition in the Indian online food delivery market, deal activity has been heating up globally. Earlier this month Dutch firm Takeaway.com pipped investment company Prosus to buy Britain's Just Eat for 6.2 billion pounds ($8.1 billion). In December, Germany's Delivery Hero agreed to buy South Korea's top food delivery app owner Woowa Brothers for $4 billion. © Thomson Reuters 2020

Rapid digitisation and growth in both online buyer base and spending will help India's online food industry to become an $8 billion (roughly Rs. 56,000) market by 2022 -- growing at a CAGR of 25-30 percent, a new report said on Tuesday. The report by Google and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) revealed that variety in cuisines (35 percent) was one of the top reasons for recurrent use of online food ordering apps, followed by good discounts and convenience. "Food tech has now made its presence in greater than 500 cities in India and with consumer confidence growing, there are new opportunities for the players to 'win with the consumer' in an evolving market,'" said Roma Datta Chobey, Director-Travel, BFSI, Classifieds, Gaming, Telco & Payments, Google. Peer or network advocacy (52 percent) played a critical role in drawing people to try online food ordering for the first time. This was followed by advertisements (19 percent) that emerged to be a strong driver in metros and among the higher income groups across the country. "Overall online spending in India is rising rapidly and expected to grow at 25 percent over the next five years to reach over $130 billion," said Rachit Mathur, Managing Director and Partner, India Lead of BCG's Consumer & Retail Practice. "Riding on the wave of rapid digitisation and steadily growing consumption, the reach of Food Tech companies has grown six times over the last couple of years and will continue to increase further," Mathur added. Zomato and Swiggy currently dominate the online food delivery market in India. Zomato last week announced it has acquired rival Uber Eats food delivery business in India in an all-stock deal of nearly $350 million and Uber will have 9.99 percent stake in the Deepinder Goyal-led food delivery platform. The Google-BCG report also suggested that consumers have common impediments that hinder adoption. A fifth of the respondents stated a lack of trust in the app as the main barrier to usage. Delivery charges (18 percent), food quality concerns (13 percent) and lack of customisation (10 percent) are other reasons why customers have, so far, not experimented with online food ordering. "Interestingly, these observations vary based on the maturity of the market. While delivery charges is the top reason for not ordering food online in metro cities; in Tier I cities, lack of trust in apps (29 percent) is the primary roadblock," the findings showed. "Food tech startups have revolutionised the way Indians eat. Ordering food online is now a habit. There is large headroom to increase reach, engagement and usage frequency for food tech apps," said Abheek Singhi, Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group. Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the market would reach $8 billion by 2020. The error is regretted.

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BENGALURU (Reuters) - India has approved its third lunar mission months after its last one failed to successfully land on the moon, its space agency said on Wednesday, the latest effort in its ambitions to become a low-cost space power. The Chandrayaan-3 mission will have a lander and a rover, but not an orbiter, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan told reporters at its headquarters in Bengaluru, according to an official telecast. The Chandrayaan-2 mission in September successfully deployed a lunar orbiter that relays scientific data back to earth, but was unable to place a rover on the lunar surface after a "hard" landing. That mission had aimed to land on the south pole of the moon, where no other lunar mission had gone before. The region is believed to contain water as craters in the region are largely unaffected by the high temperatures of the sun. ISRO had hoped to confirm the presence of water in the form of ice, first detected on its mission in 2008. Chandrayaan-3 will have a "similar configuration" as the previous mission, Sivan said. Only the United States, Russia and China have landed on the moon. Beijing's Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the far side of the moon last year, while Israel made an unsuccessful attempt to land its Beresheet spacecraft on the moon in April 2019. India's third lunar mission will likely launch in 2020 and will cost less than its previous mission, the PTI news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Jitendra Singh, junior minister for the department of space. Sivan also said ISRO was making "good progress" for its human space-flight mission slated for late 2021, adding that four astronauts had been picked for training, which will be planned later this month. The project, called Gaganyaan, would cost less than 100 billion rupees ($1.4 billion), the government said in 2018. India has developed a reputation for pioneering affordable satellite launches and space missions. Its unmanned Mars mission in 2014 cost just $74 million, less than the budget of the Hollywood space blockbuster "Gravity". Sivan also announced that ISRO had begun the land acquisition process for a second spaceport in the southern port city of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu state. (Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kim Coghill)

BANGALORE: India plans to make a fresh attempt to land an unmanned mission on the moon in 2020 after a failed bid last year, the head of the country's space programme said on Wednesday (Jan 1). Work is going "smoothly" on the Chandrayaan-3 mission to put a rover probe on the moon's surface, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K. Sivan told a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement "We are targeting the launch for this year but it may spillover to next year," Sivan said. Indian sources said authorities had set November as a provisional target for launch. India seeking to become only the fourth nation after Russia, the United States and China to put a mission on the moon's surface and boost its credentials as a low-cost space power. The country's Chandrayaan-2 module crash-landed on the moon's surface in September. Sivan said the new propulsion module, lander and surface rover would cost about US$35 million, with a significantly higher outlay for the launch itself. Advertisement Advertisement He added that India had chosen four candidate astronauts to take part in the country's first manned mission into orbit, pledged to take place by mid-2022. The four are to start training in Russia later this month. Up to three astronauts are to take part in the mission, which will be one of the landmark projects scheduled for the 75th anniversary of India's independence from British rule.

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on the White House to direct the FBI to form a task force to focus exclusively on anti-Semitism following the stabbings in Monsey, N.Y. Wiesenthal Center founder and Dean Rabbi Marvin Hier and Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda said in a Dec. 28 statement, “Enough is enough! Jews should not have to fear for their lives in America to go to their houses of worship. The FBI must step up and take the lead in all recent violent hate crimes targeting religious Jews.” Hier told the Journal in a phone interview that the Dec. 28 Monsey stabbings that resulted in five injured reminded him of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. “Jews were beaten up on the corner. Windows were broken … that’s how it started,” Hier said. “And the population centers tolerated it. Nobody spoke out against it; we didn’t have a plan against it.” He argued that the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States has become such an epidemic that more action is needed beyond statements and pledges from state and local politicians and police officers. “They’re all good people, but they’re not 24/7 on this job,” Hier said. “They have other jobs. Even police, they have traffic issues. … There are so many issues besides the issue of anti-Semitism [that they have to deal with].” Hier added that it’s important to ensure that politics doesn’t interfere with addressing anti-Semitism. “When you have a Democratic mayor and a Republican governor or vice versa, it’s a different attitude,” Hier said. “It’s just not the right way to handle an epidemic.” “We need the FBI to create a special unit focusing 24/7, 365 days a year on one subject: anti-Semitism.” — Marvin Hier He also argued that people shouldn’t expect anti-Semitism to dissipate with the election of a new president or a new Congress. “When the whole world is affected by the epidemic called anti-Semitism — and this has happened in Europe for the last 15 years — you cannot legitimately argue that the cause of it in the United States is due to one man,” Hier said without naming President Donald Trump. An FBI task force that is exclusively focused on handling anti-Semitism is therefore necessary to address the rising anti-Semitism throughout the country, he argued. “We need the FBI to create a special unit focusing 24/7, 365 days a year on one subject: anti-Semitism,” Hier said. “That’s the only way that the anti-Semites will wake up because basically they’re going to be targeted, they’re going to be analyzed.” Hier gave a hypothetical of how the task force would handle an anti-Semitic incident. “Let’s say there’s an attack here in Los Angeles,” he said. “First thing that happens is that everything about the attack is sent immediately to the FBI task force on anti-Semitism. And they become the lead agency. They take over immediately.” Hier said that the Wiesenthal Center has been in contact with the White House about its proposal for a task force. “President Trump is aware of it,” Hier said. “He’s been informed of it. … We’ll see what happens. We are pushing very hard. We need bipartisan support.” Hier urged for a societal unification against anti-Semitism, as he argued that anti-Semitism is emboldened when societies ignore it. “Society didn’t do the right thing,” he said. “We didn’t recognize that these bigots can return early, and as society, we have to have a program against it, and the program has to unify Democrats and Republicans [and] whatever their political persuasion in Europe. We have to come together to fight this.”

Jewish groups have expressed shock and horror over the stabbings that occurred at a rabbi’s house in the New York City suburb of Monsey, N.Y., on the evening of Dec. 28. The attack occurred at Chabad of Suffern Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg’s home as he was lighting the candles on a menorah to celebrate the seventh night of Hanukkah. The attacker stabbed five people, including Rottenberg’s son. As of Dec. 30, two of the victims were listed in critical condition and the other three had been released from the hospital. Grafton Thomas, 37, was arrested on Dec. 29 in connection with the attack. He faces five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. Anti-Defamation League New York and New Jersey Regional Director Evan Bernstein told the Journal he was amazed that Rottenberg and the congregants were still praying and singing following the stabbings. “They were not going to let this horrific incident impact their ability to celebrate that holiday, and I think it shows the resilience of the Jewish community in these moments that are so difficult,” Bernstein said. American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris condemned the stabbings in a Dec. 29 statement. “We are witnessing a full-fledged epidemic of anti-Semitic attacks in the New York region. In the last week alone, there has been at least one each day,” Harris said. “What we need is a sustained, get-tough, zero-tolerance policy by local and state officials. And that policy must take equally seriously each incident, whatever its source might be. Anti-Semitism is anti-Semitism.” He also said, “The promising light of this holiday season must defeat the utter darkness of those who commit such violence in the name of hatred.” Simon Wiesenthal Center Founder and Dean Rabbi Marvin Hier and Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda Rabbi Abraham Cooper called on President Donald Trump to direct the FBI to create a national task force to protect Jews from anti-Semitic attacks. “Enough is enough. Jews should not have to fear for their lives in America to go to their houses of worship,” Hier and Cooper said. “The FBI must step up and take the lead in all recent violent hate crimes targeting religious Jews.” StandWithUs issued a statement, saying the attack “is yet another urgent reminder of the need to confront anti-Semitism at all levels and in all corners of society. Unfortunately, this rise in anti-Semitism also makes clear that Jews in the U.S. and beyond must invest in serious security, learn self-defense, and work with local allies and law enforcement to ensure their safety.” Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin called for anti-Semitic acts to be treated as domestic terrorism and praised New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for proposing a law to classify anti-Semitic acts as domestic terrorism. “This was the ninth anti-Semitic attack in the New York City area in the past week,” Fagin said. “It is the fundamental responsibility of government to protect the safety of all of its citizens. This responsibility must be effectuated with all resources necessary to accomplish this purpose.” Other anti-Semitic incidents that occurred in New York during Hanukkah included a man punching and kicking a Jewish man while shouting, “F— you, Jew” on Dec. 23, a woman hitting a Jewish woman with a bag on Dec. 26 and a man on Dec. 27 threatening to shoot people at Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn. Bernstein told the Journal he has never seen so many anti-Semitic incidents occur in such a short period during his six-year tenure as regional director of ADL New York and New Jersey. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “After the hateful assaults we saw this past week in Brooklyn and Manhattan, it is heart-wrenching to see the holiday of Hanukkah violated yet again. We are outraged because the answer is clear: the Jewish community NEEDS greater protection.”

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Asserting that India too should protect the interest of farmers like Malaysia and Indonesia, the SEA said Indonesia from January 1 has imposed export duty of USD 50 on CPO and USD 30 on refined palmolien. The government on Wednesday slashed import duty on refined palmolein from 50 per cent to 45 per cent, while that on crude palm oil (CPO) from 40 per cent to 37.5 per cent with immediate effect, a move that the industry opposed saying it will hurt domestic refiners. A notification in this regard has been issued by the finance ministry. The duty cut has been made under the ASEAN agreement and the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (IMCECA), the notification added. Opposing the move, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) said that after the reduction in import duty, the tax difference between CPO and refined palmolein has reduced from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent. “This will have serious impact on domestic palm oil refining industry and oilseeds farmers. We fear import of refined palmolien would increase and capacity utilisation of our industry would be affected leading to potential loss of employment,” SEA Executive Director B V Mehta said in a statement. After a long time, the domestic oilseeds had started selling their produce above the minimum support price (MSP). “Lower import duty would make it difficult to defend MSP and the new found enthusiasm of the oilseed farmers would be dampened,” he said. The country’s edible oil imports are now touching 70 per cent of the consumption. The duty cut would be counterproductive and contrary to the government’s stated objective of increasing domestic oilseed production, he added. Asserting that India too should protect the interest of farmers like Malaysia and Indonesia, the SEA said Indonesia from January 1 has imposed export duty of USD 50 on CPO and USD 30 on refined palmolien. Similarly, Malaysia has imposed export duty of USD 31 on CPO and zero duty on refined palmolein which work out to be nearly 5 per cent on CPO value, thus effective duty difference is hardly 2.5 per cent only. “We strongly appeal to the government to increase the duty differential between CPO and refined palm oil to 15 per cent, by taking appropriate measures,” the industry body added.

The air quality recorded at 9.38 am was 433 in the “severe” category. Delhiites continued to remain in grip of cold conditions on Wednesday as the minimum temperature settled at 2.4 degrees Celsius, five notches below the normal, officials said. Twenty-nine trains were delayed for over two-nine hours due to weather conditions, they said. “The minimum temperature was recorded at 2.4 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal,” a MeT official said, adding, the humidity was 97 per cent. The air quality recorded at 9.38 am was 433 in the “severe” category. According to the Meteorological department, it would be partly cloudly sky with moderate fog in the morning. The maximum temperature in the national capital would hover around 16 degrees Celsius.

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From The Guardian From Boeing to Whole Foods, companies are touting social responsibility as profits soar. Don't believe a word of it Corporate social responsibility is the second-biggest con of 2019 (Donald Trump remains in first place). Consider Boeing, whose board just fired its CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, in order "to restore confidence in the company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders." Restore confidence? Muilenburg's successor will be David Calhoun, who, as a longstanding member of Boeing's board of directors, allowed Muilenburg to remain CEO for more than a year after the first 737 Max crash and after internal studies found that the jetliner posed an unacceptable risk of accident. It caused the deaths of 346 people. Muilenburg raked in $30m in 2018. He could walk away from Boeing with another $60m. Boeing isn't the only large corporation with a confidence problem. Until his ouster, Muilenburg was a director of the Business Roundtable, an association of 192 CEOs of America's largest corporations. With great fanfare last August, it announced a "fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders" (emphasis in the original) and not just their shareholders. The Roundtable's commitment came in response to growing public distrust of big corporations, and proposals from several Democratic candidates to rein them in. Another Business Roundtable director is Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. Just weeks after making the commitment, and despite GM's hefty profits and large tax breaks, Barra rejected workers' demands that GM raise their wages and stop outsourcing their jobs. Earlier in the year GM shut its giant assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. About 50,000 GM workers then staged the longest auto strike in 50 years. They won a few wage gains but didn't save any jobs. Meanwhile, GM's stock has performed so well that Barra earned $22m last year. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is another member of the Business Roundtable. Just weeks after he made the commitment to all his stakeholders, Whole Foods, an Amazon subsidiary, announced it would be cutting medical benefits for its entire part-time workforce. Jeff Bezos (Image by YouTube, Channel: DW360) Details DMCA The annual saving to Amazon from this cost-cutting move is roughly what Bezos -- whose net worth is $110bn -- makes in two hours. (Bezos's nearly completed DC mansion will have two elevators, 25 bathrooms, 11 bedrooms, and a movie theater.) GE's CEO Larry Culp is also a member of the Business Roundtable. Two months after he made the commitment to all his stakeholders, General Electric froze the pensions of 20,000 workers in order to cut costs. Culp raked in $15m last year.

Police have arrested a 38-year-old black man from Orange Country, NY, for stabbing five Jews in the home of a Hasidic rabbi in Monsey on the seventh night of Hanukkah. If you’re a New Yorker or a Jew or both, you’re asking why. Why has yet another African-American attacked Jews? Why has black-on-Jewish assault become a continuous feature of life in and around New York? Why now? The answer: Because the country is seized by the politics of victimhood, and there’s nothing that self-pitying “victims” find easier than blaming Jews for their misery. The names given to the bogeymen of today’s populism are all historical code words for Jews. On the populist right, this means the elite, the globalists and the media. On the populist left, it’s Wall Street, the wealthy and the 1 percent. If that isn’t enough, the left has also decided that Jews — a minority who make up 2.2 percent of the American population — are “hyper-white” and, in Marxist terms, actually part of the power structure that keeps minorities down. It’s no secret that right-wing populism has facilitated a violent, sometimes deadly, rise in Jew-hatred, but it’s forbidden to draw similar conclusions about the populist left. At least in public. There are two reasons for this: First, pointing out the problem on the right is a means of attacking President Trump. Second, addressing the problem on the left would mean facing the outsize role that black Americans have played in recent attacks against Jews. On the first point, it is not only wrong to blame Trump for right-wing anti-Semitism, it’s perverse. How anyone gets away with claiming that the president doesn’t condemn Jew-hatred is beyond me. He condemns it at every turn. He devoted an unprecedentedly large chunk of his last State of the Union address to denouncing anti-Semitism and vowing to fight it wherever it may arise. Trump recently moved to crack down against anti-Semitism on college campuses (and was denounced for it as a racist by the left). For his commitment to fighting Jew-hatred and his unfaltering support of Israel, he has earned the enmity of far-right anti-Semites. On the second point, the facts speak for themselves. Throughout 2019, African-Americans attacked Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn on a more-or-less weekly basis, and it barely ever made the mainstream news. It wasn’t until two members of the Black Hebrew Israelites shot up a kosher market in Jersey City in early December that the media was forced into acknowledging reality. The left’s leading populists have fetishized the victim status of certain minorities, including African Americans. They have made slavery and its legacy the focal points of American life. They have determined, without evidence, that police are on a campaign to kill unarmed blacks. And they speak generally as if we have suddenly been transported to a pre-civil-rights-movement America. What’s more, unlike Trump, some of the left’s leading populists have gone out of their way to steer their followers toward blaming the Jews. The stand-out figures here are Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Their public record of blaming Jewish money for corrupting American politics is so well-known that it needs no rehearsing here. And it has either been ignored or defended by the larger left. If you called either of them out on their anti-Semitism, you were charged with racism and misogyny. Omar so petrified Democratic leaders that they couldn’t even pass a House resolution condemning her blatant anti-Semitic remarks. But the problem on the left goes beyond Omar and Tlaib. And it goes beyond the rest of the Squad, who engage in constant anti-Israel theatrics. It stretches to the identitarian populism of most of the 2020 Democratic candidates for president, to the liberal garment-rending over the defeat of the anti-Semitic Jeremy Corbyn, to the intersectional gobbledygook that divides college campuses by ethnicity, to the Women’s March activists who embrace Louis Farrakhan and down to the community level, where, for example, the NAACP’s Passaic branch posts Facebook rants blaming tainted water supplies on the Jews. Historically, indulged victims have needed no encouragement in pointing their finger at Jews. Telling them that others are responsible for their woes has usually been enough to get them headed in that direction. But some on today’s left have given Jew-hatred an extra nudge. Their winks, dog-whistles and outright calumnies have served as a noxious propaganda campaign and led to a surge of minority anti-Semitism. With the attempted murders in Monsey, this can no longer be kept a secret, and maybe those who have facilitated it will begin to know a little shame. Abe Greenwald is senior editor of Commentary, from which this column was adapted.

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Review CrimeReads best nonfiction crime book of October 2019 "A fine and timely new book.... In The Compatriots , authors Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan show that what has become the institutional practice of Moscow's security organs was honed in the early decades of Soviet government, when it perfected its methods against members of the Russian diaspora." -- New York Review of Books "The authors' emphasis on the sinister continuity of the methods used by the Russian secret police may seem a bit overdone, but the poisoning (less than a year after the book's publication) of the Kremlin's most vocal and fearless critic, Alexei Navalny, provides strong backing for their argument." -- Foreign Affairs "[An] engaging history.... The Compatriots offers a Russian perspective on fears, usually heard in the west, about the 'active measures' of propaganda and disinformation, as well as the arts of infiltration and assassination." -- Financial Times " [A] timely book... its reporting is accurate and message important. " -- The Times Literary Supplement "Borogan and Soldatov have uncovered a series of thrilling narratives about the strange, desperate, and passionate world of Russians abroad. Each one is worth a film in itself but when combined with the insights into the intelligence operative who monitored, wooed, duped, bribed, or killed them, the authors have come up with a novel, refreshing, and illuminating look into the enigma of the Russian soul." --Misha Glenny, author of McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld "Talk about courageous journalism! Here's an inside expose of Russian poisonings, assassinations, and political meddling written by two Russian investigative journalists, Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan. They narrate a century of the Kremlin's dirty tricks through manipulation of Russians living abroad-making them serve the dark purposes of the state. Reading this book, you understand that there are still many brave, patriotic Russians who want what's best for their country, not just Vladimir Putin. If you liked watching The Americans on TV, then The Compatriots is a must-read. This isn't spy fiction, but spy fact."― David Ignatius, columnist for the Washington Post and author of The Quantum Spy "Through a series of endlessly compelling stories, Soldatov and Borogan make the case that Putin is carefully grooming and manipulating the vast Russian émigré community to serve the interests of their mother country. You can't follow Russian politics without Soldatov and Borogan's reporting. In The Compatriots, they once again deliver the fascinating inside story that's absent from the American press."― Joseph Weisberg, creator and executive producer of The Americans "An absorbing account....Colorful characters and piquant details make this a lively story. Readers curious about Russian political affairs and espionage will eat it up."― Publishers Weekly "The Compatriots helps us understand and put into perspective the history of the Kremlin's efforts to cope with, and control its perceived enemies.....an important contribution to the historical record of the Soviet Union and Russia." ― Cipher Brief "In this highly engaging journey through the Cold War, Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan take us into the complex and frequently antagonistic relationship between Russia and her exiles... In The Compatriots, you can learn all about the daring escapades of these expats and exiles." ― CrimeReads "Soldatov and Borogan are two of the most revered experts on the subject of Russian secret services.... [The Compatriots] reads like a bunch of Hollywood plots bundled together into one mind-bending narrative.... a great read that now forms a perfect trilogy with two previous books--The New Nobility, which describes how secret services captured the Russian state under Putin, and The Red Web, which looks into the Kremlin's attempts to control the Internet." ― NPR "A fine and timely... book explores the origins of Moscow's Murder, Inc." ― NYR Daily "This highly compelling and deeply disturbing book is a must-read." ― Moscow Times "These brave and intrepid journalists have produced a convincing argument... An excellent introduction to the evolution of the Soviet and Russian foreign intelligence services, their relationship with the Russian diaspora, and their recent successes in binding the diaspora, especially the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, to the state interests of the Russian Federation." ― The Russian Review "A fascinating account of Russia's relations with its diaspora since 1917, weaving together stories of émigrés and spies, from Trotsky and his assassins to anti-Putin activists and billionaire oligarchs today." -- Los Angeles Review of Books "Demystifying Russia has been a geopolitical parlor game for more than a century. Veteran Russian journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan have tried to make sense of one strand in their country's complex history, the role of Russians who were either sensible or cunning enough to leave at crucial moments, mainly for a West from which Russian mentalities have often been estranged." -- Washington Times [A] "Wonderful and illuminating new book on Russian émigrés." Luke Harding, New Eastern Europe About the Author

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Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said he had submitted a note on the Mahadayi river issue to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting in December last year, and after that "whatever had to happen has happened". The governor said he had already done whatever he was supposed to do on the controversial issue. "Now, it is up to the government (state government) to do the needful," Malik told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography near here. Referring to his meeting with the prime minister in mid December, 2019, the governor said, "I had given the PM a note on Mahadayi (and) after that whatever had to happen has happened, that's all. I don't want to say anything more on it". When asked whether the BJP-led state government has spoken to him on the issue, Malik replied in the negative. Goa and Karnataka are locked in a bitter dispute over sharing the water of the Mahadayi river. A letter written by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar to the Karnataka government in October, 2019, in which he reportedly exempted the neighbouring state from taking the Environment Clearance (EC) for a project on the river, had sparked a row. In another letter on December 18, Javadekar kept his earlier communication in abeyance. However, on December 24, he again informed the Karnataka government that the EC was not required for the project on the river. "On the issue of Mahadayi, whatever I had to do, I have done. If the government asks for my help, I would offer it...I don't want to talk about it," the governor said, adding that Mahadayi has become a controversial issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of fare hike announcement by Indian Railways, stating that 'the increase in train fares was a new year gift from the Central government'. "Increase in Train fares is a New Year gift by @narendramodi government to common people," he tweeted. He further said in his tweet that the move will dent the developmental prospects of the country as Railways form a backbone of transportation. "Instead, the govt should have gifted us the values of our Constitution by upholding it," said Siddaramiah in his tweet. Earlier, the Ministry of Railways has revised the basic passenger fare which will be effective from January 1.The ministry said that the increased fare will help in the modernisation of the Indian Railways. The railways said that no excess fare will be charged from passengers who have booked tickets before January 1.

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A 0 A +2 A +4 A +6 The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures.

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An exhibition outlining the role of Spike Island as a prison during the War of Independence has helped visitor numbers to the island attraction in Cork Harbour treble in the last three years. According to Cork County Council, which runs the tourist attraction, there were 81,000 visitors to Spike in 2019, marking a 15 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures and ahead of projected growth. The increase in visitor numbers has prompted Cork County Council to increase access to the island with opening being extended to seven days a week from April to October and weekends in February, March and November. Spike Island manager John Crotty said that the 15 per cent growth in visitor numbers in 2019 was particularly welcome, especially given some tourist attractions in Ireland saw little growth this year. “The growth in visitors is above the target set for the island and also saw the site outperform the general tourism market – we welcomed 81,000 visitors in 2019 in what has been a year of conflicting fortunes for Irish visitor attractions. “While Tourism Ireland say overall visitor numbers to the country were up slightly, a slowing market has seen some sites post flat or negative numbers in 2019, with concern for the UK and European markets in the coming years. “Brexit, changes in European habits and ‘flight shame’ over concerns of the impact the aviation industry is having on the environment were all said to be contributing to the uncertainty. Mr Crotty revealed that Spike Island overseas visitors accounted for a greater proportion of the total, rising from 17.5 per cent in 2018 to 21 per cent last year. This was welcome as international visitors are known to spend more than domestic visitors. He pointed out that the growth in visitor numbers in 2019 followed some important additions including adding a second ferry, procured from the south of France, and a new walk-on pontoon which replaced previous steps in Cobh. He said the new “Independence” exhibition, telling the story of the 1,400 prisoners held on the island in 1921 during the War of Independence, also opened on the island and proved highly successful. “In 2020, there are plans to add a covered ticket office at Kennedy Pier in Cobh, a calendar of concerts and events along with a new exhibition telling the story of the Famine-era convicts who did not survive the island prison experience.” Upward trend Mr Crotty said that with these new exhibitions and events and an extension of the opening season to seven days a week from April to October, they hope to see the upward trend in visitor numbers continue into 2020. He pointed out that the former island prison and fortress had only reopened in June 2016, following €6.5 million of investment by Cork County Council and Failte Ireland. That investment saw the reopening of the Famine-era prison, the 9.7-hectare (24 acre) island fortress, the modern prison, which only closed in 2004, and scenic walking trails around the outer island, as well as a cafe and gift shop on site. “We currently have a funding application with Fáilte Ireland, with plans to add a social village recreation of island life, a ‘dungeon’-style experience in the fort tunnels and an international welcome hub at the island pier.” In October 2017, Spike Island was named as Europe’s leading tourist attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards. Last November, Spike Island scooped another prestigious award, being named Best Attraction at the International Travel and Tourism Awards 2019 held in London.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made a first general election campaign pitch by promising to help deliver 50,000 new jobs and provide 25,000 new homes in the State this year. In a New Year video, Mr Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney list Fine Gael priorities for the coming year. Mr Varadkar says he will steer Ireland through the next phase of Brexit by helping to secure a trade deal between the European Union and the UK; he also vows to give Irish businesses and farmers access to the British market; and promises to “achieve a new record high when it comes to employment”. “We know that well-paid secure jobs are the best ways to improve living standards, create opportunity, and reduce poverty,” he says. Happy New Year! Want to know what my priorities are for the year ahead? pic.twitter.com/JcR6VM8Lge — Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 1, 2020 The Taoiseach also claims the Government will add 11,000 units to the social housing stock. “That’s more new social houses than any other year this century under any other party,” he says. The Taoiseach’s messages also alludes to climate change, with promises to reduce greenhouse emissions by creating warmer homes, improving air quality and investing in public transport. The video is the second such broadcast made by the Taoiseach in recent days. On St Stephen’s Day, he described his achievements since assuming office 2½ years ago. It is one of a number of social media broadcasts and publications recently issued by Fine Gael, suggesting the party is upping the ante ahead of a general election, which is widely expected to take place in the spring. Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton has also announced a raft of initiatives on waste, packaging and climate change in recent days. Climate change and the “green agenda” are expected to be major themes of the election campaign. Fine Gael, in particular, may be vulnerable to rising support for the Green Party in affluent urban areas, after that party’s strong performance in the local and European elections and November’s byelections.

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news, story, article Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - Venadash Institute of Decorative Arts, a private vocational training institution in the Ho Municipality, has graduated 22 women who have completed courses in event decoration, beadwork, cake baking and decoration, and catering. At its seventh graduation ceremony held at the Global Evangelical Church at Ho Fiave, Mrs Venunye Afi Adugu, Director of the Institute, said the institute, established in 2011, has so far trained 24 batches of students, most of whom had excelled in the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) proficiency examinations. The theme: for the graduation was “Job Creation for the Youth through Skills Acquisition.” Mrs Adugu said the achievements were because of the efficient and practical teaching by the tutors adding that the graduates were already executing excellent works for their clients. The Director said the institute had plans to add hat making and fashion design to its line of programmes, beginning next academic year. Mrs Adugu asked students to take the courses seriously and provide the needed tools and materials for competency-based training. She said Venadash was on a mission of entrepreneurship development to help address youth unemployment, and advised against truancy, asking parents and guardians not to consider vocational skills training as reserved for school dropouts. “Vocational and technical skills acquisition requires high intelligent quotient and critical analytical minds to be able to innovate and create. We, therefore, appeal to parents and guardians to desist from discouraging their wards who want to venture into these fields of study. You will never know what the future holds,” she said. Mr Kenneth Kponor, the Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), asked the graduates to make the most of the training and strive to become entrepreneurs and open up employment avenues for others. He also urged them to encourage their peers to consider vocational skills as a lifeline they could easily access. The institute was established as the Venadash Training Center, providing skills training in bead making and event decoration. It was in 2012, transformed into an institute, and adopted the syllabus of the University of Florida, USA, and won accreditation from the National Vocational Training Board in 2015. It operates faculties of Applied Arts, and Culinary Arts, and runs two programme sessions each academic year. GNA

What were our readers fascinated with in the past decade? Readers clicked most on controversial and confusing topics like sex and sexuality—transgenderism and female masturbation—and politics—Donald Trump’s theology and whether Christians should make voting decisions based on a “lesser of two evils” philosophy. They also found pieces on theological controversies and stories of how people found Jesus compelling. Here are the 30 most-read pieces on CT’s website from the 2010s, ending with the most popular piece. Embedded Article:125334 Embedded Article:133568 Embedded Article:121313 Embedded Article:118054 Embedded Article:117572 Embedded Article:133919 Embedded Article:112414 Embedded Article:133949 Embedded Article:117349 Embedded Article:139880 Embedded Article:117920 Embedded Article:129676 Embedded Article:95903 Embedded Article:138803 Embedded Article:132626 Embedded Article:124909 Embedded Article:132713 Embedded Article:100365 Embedded Article:139882 Embedded Article:134213 Embedded Article:163746 Embedded Article:130032 Embedded Article:133753 Embedded Article:117785 Embedded Article:117509 Embedded Article:136354 Embedded Article:99619 Embedded Article:133697 Embedded Article:163724 Note: All of our top-read stories spanned from 2014-2019. Readers wanting to know our top stories from before that time can see our lists from 2013 and 2012. We also ranked our top news stories from 2011 and 2010.

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Paid leave for new pets offered to Brisbane brewery staff Posted Government benefits ensure new parents are offered paid maternity and paternity leave, and a UK company is now offering its Australian employees a similar scheme when they bring home a new pet. Key points: A Brisbane brewery is offering "pawternity leave" for staff who are new pet owners The week-long paid pet leave is meant to be an incentive for employees to stay longer RSCPA Queensland says getting a pet is like bringing a new baby home and it is important to have time to bond The "pawternity leave" scheme is available to staff at BrewDog's Brisbane brewery, which opened late November, company spokesman Calvin McDonald said. "Pawternity leave is a great benefit that BrewDog can offer its employees worldwide," he said. "Basically it's an extra paid week of leave that you're able to take when you adopt a puppy or get a new puppy in the house." Mr McDonald said the perk had been crucial to retaining staff in an industry like hospitality — notorious for its high turnover. "It means that they don't really want to leave and go anywhere else," Mr McDonald said. While it is an unusual incentive, paid new-pet leave is not completely unheard of in the Australian or international employment market. The concept has been praised by the RSPCA Queensland, which recommended monitoring pets brought home from their facilities very closely. RSPCA spokeswoman Nanda Ten Grotenhuis said the first few days could be crucial. "It's a bit like bringing a new baby home so, you know, you need a little bit of special time for you to bond with that animal to make them feel comfortable," Ms Ten Grotenhuis said. Staff at RSPCA Queensland are not offered "pawternity leave", but staff can take sick or carer's leave when their own pet is unwell. Brisbane mum Kasey Rowland took two weeks annual leave this time last year, when she introduced her new Cavoodle, Raphael, to her young family. The part-time worker was not entitled to paid pet leave but said she was honest with her employer, who allowed her to take the break and ensure her pet assimilated safely. "I think it's part of being a responsible dog owner, that you make sure that they're safe and happy and stimulated," Ms Rowland said. "I was a bit worried because for a small dog it's a huge place and he could get into things and get his head stuck in the fence." BrewDog has offered the incentive for several years now to its staff internationally. Sydney-based Pet Circle is another company ensuring its staff are compensated when looking after a new pet. Lisa Bradley, from the Queensland University of Technology's business school, said it was increasingly common for employers to negotiate flexible working conditions to attract hard-working staff. "Different types of leave provisions are the most common and being able to work from different locations and at different times," she said. Ms Bradley said it was hard to weigh up the cost benefits for employers who were ultimately pursuing "increased organisational commitment". "That means the person is going to want to continue to work for the organisation and put in their best for the organisation, so sometimes you can't measure the benefits of that directly," Ms Bradley said. Topics: animals, human-interest, work, community-and-society, people, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

Former world number three Grigor Dimitrov saw his ranking slump last year as he struggled with a shoulder injury, but the Bulgarian Thursday said he won't push himself too hard, too fast to return to the top of tennis. The 28-year-old was laid low early in the season and was far from his best after he returned to action, although he did reach the US Open and Paris Masters semi-finals. Dimitrov said 2019, where he failed to win a title, had been "quite a journey". "It's going to be a year that I remember for the rest of my life," he said in Sydney ahead of the inaugural ATP Cup team event, his warm-up for the Australian Open Grand Slam. "Yeah, the body checks out pretty good right now. I'm still monitoring a lot of my work, a lot that I'm going through. "I kind of pace myself in the right way. I'm not in a rush, which is also a good thing." The shoulder problem was Dimitrov's first major injury and he said he plans to limit the number of tournaments he plays, particularly early in the season. "I'm not going to force myself to play too many tournaments early on and really look after the body. That's the number one thing," said Dimitrov, now ranked 20. "Clearly I haven't competed for almost the past four months of the year, and so that itself brought a lot of doubts, and dropping a lot in the ranking and so on. "But at the same time, I was able to kind of recover as quick as possible, and hopefully now I'm at a place that can only get better. I'm really going to focus on that." He is not only playing for Bulgaria at the ATP Cup, but captaining the team, a new experience that he is relishing. "It's challenging, no doubt about it," he said. "It's always been a dream of mine to always be kind of on the other end, and I think to be a coach is never easy. "I don't know if I'm going to be a good coach. I can only share my experience, my thoughts with the guys." The ATP Cup, which starts Friday, features 24 nations split into six groups across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, with eight of them emerging from the round-robin to compete in the knockout phase. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Kahata on target as Simba SC open a 10-point gap with win against Ndanda Wekundu wa Msimbazi extend their stay at the top of the top-tier table after a convincing home win Simba SC opened a 10-point gap on top of the Mainland Table after defeating Ndanda FC 2-0. The defending champions came into the match as clear favourites having won 10 out of 11 games against their opponents in previous meetings. Being the final game of 2019, Wekundu wa Msimbazi were keen on avoiding surprises and bag maximum points. Former winger Francis Kahata took only 13 minutes to open the scoring for the 20-time league champions. The hosts won a free-kick about 20-yards from the Ndanda goal; then the Kenyan international curled the ball past the wall and into the back of the net to score his second goal in as many games for his club. Neither of the two teams could get another goal in the first half despite the numerous chances created especially by the league leaders. Ibrahim Ajib and the returning John Bocco were responsible for missing glorious opportunities for their teams. Article continues below Substitute Deo Kanda, who had come on for Francis Kahata, handed the hosts the final blow in the 86th minute when he deflected in a Gadiel Michael shot past goalkeeper Ally Mustapha. The result took Simba's points tally to 34, 10 more than second-placed Yanga SC. The two teams will play each other on Saturday in the Kariakoo Derby. Elsewhere, Mwadui FC settled to a 1-1 draw against KMC at Mwadui Complex; the visitors opened the scoring in the 15th minute courtesy of Abdul Hilal before Enock Mkanga equalized in the 70th minute.

Big game right off the bat as we resume league play in 2020. 12-0 Hope at 8-3 Trine on Saturday at 3pm. Hope currently stands as the #1 team in the nation according to Massey and Trine comes in as #23. Hope had a real test against Albion, other than that they have run roughshod thru the 2019 portion of their schedule. Trine with losses to Ohio Wesleyan, #12 Baldwin Wallace and #23 Chicago. They have 2 recent wins over good Ohio Northern and Denison squads and are starting to figure things out with new lineups and substitute patterns. Both Hope and Trine play a deep bench as both only have 1 double digit scorer. Hope with an outstanding and deep Junior class, whereas Trine has 3 Soph's leading in scoring. The big question at the beginning of the year was how far would Trine regress this year after an outstanding Senior class graduated that led Trine to 3 consecutive NCAA tournaments. This team does not have a "go to" player like Dawson who could single handily take over games if needed over her career. We have one Senior, two Juniors, and the rest Soph's and Freshman in the top 11 rotation. You know Hope is going to pressure the ball and get scores off their defense. You don't see many D3 teams with their length inside either. Our bigs Taylor and Herbert will need to play well and stay out of foul trouble. If were shooting the 3ball decently we'll have a shot to be there at the end, but I am going with Hope by 10+ in this one as they have more experience and playmakers than Trine.

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Hyderabad: Telangana Information Technology (IT) minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday declared 2020 as the year of artificial intelligence (AI) in the state, expressing contentment over several agreements signed with noted companies and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur for development in Telangana. He also unveiled a poster and a logo to mark the year of AI at a programme in Hyderabad while IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan inaugurated a website for the same. The state government signed a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with companies like Intel, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Nvidia and Hexagon among others to boost IT and AI sectors. The minister lauded the tie-up with IIT Kharagpur for setting up a centre for excellence in artificial intelligence in the state capital. IIT Hyderabad will also act as a strategic partner and provide infrastructure and basic facilities. The minister said that the new businesses will be given all required permissions through the Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-iPASS). The system was put in place by an act in 2014 for speedy processing of applications for various clearances required for setting up of industries in the state. KT Rama Rao also launched pilot projects of registration and police departments on the occasion. He hailed chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for his keenness to push AI to the next level for rapid growth and development in the state. 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.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, on Wednesday, tweeted a video clip of a differently-abled boy playing cricket with children his age, making his fans praising the youngster's passion for the sport. Tendulkar tweeted the clip and wrote on @sachin_rt: "Start your 2020 with the inspirational video of this kid Madda Ram playing cricket with his friends. It warmed my heart and I am sure it will warm yours too." The clip got over 400K views at the last count. Start your 2020 with the inspirational video of this kid Madda Ram playing cricket 🏏 with his friends.It warmed my heart and I am sure it will warm yours too. pic.twitter.com/Wgwh1kLegS — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 1, 2020 Tendulkar's post warmed the hearts on Twitter and garnered positive responses far and wide. Ace photographer Atul Kasbekar tweeted: "Let's go meet with him master, I'll take the picture." Let’s go meet with him masterI’ll take the picture — atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) January 1, 2020 Gift the kids a cricket set for the new year. — Mohan Sinha🇮🇳 (@Mohansinha) January 1, 2020 #HappyNewYear my fav cricketer @sachin_rtYes its really a inspirational tweetReally overwhelmed 😊😊 — ̷ͲȺའȺ. 🌟⭐🌠 (@methaara) January 1, 2020 I am overwhelmed by the spirit of the boy and his teammates I wish people in position like you the Hero could help him get a wheelchair. Happy new year to all. — Atanazio Bwongyererwa (@AtanazioBwongy1) January 1, 2020 I seen him as a soldier, how loves and passionate on this game..Also should appreciate other kids, they accept him as ordinary player..Spirit of game called cricket.. — J G Pandian (@JGP_OSSI) January 1, 2020 Truly inspiration 🙏🙏 We must learn a lot things from this kid hats off 🙏🙏 — CrickeTendulkar 🇮🇳 FC (@CrickeTendulkar) January 1, 2020 (With IANS inputs) 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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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Jovenel Moïse broke with tradition on Wednesday and celebrated the country’s independence day in the capital for security reasons following months of political turmoil. Moïse, whose government has been accused of corruption, denounced graft during his speech at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince and urged Haiti’s elite to work with the government and help create employment. “We’re still extremely poor,” he said. “Those who continue to get rich find it normal that they do not pay taxes, find it normal that there can be no competition, find it normal that they set prices for consumers, especially when this consumer is the state itself.” Moïse also apologized for the country’s ongoing power outages and renewed his 2016 campaign pledge to provide electricity 24 hours a day, saying it was harder to accomplish than he imagined. The speech that marked the 216th anniversary of the world’s first black republic was originally slated to take place in the northern coastal town of Gonaives, where Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence. But the town, like many others, was hit by violent protests that began in September amid anger over corruption, fuel shortages and dwindling food supplies as opposition leaders and supporters demanded the resignation of Moïse. More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured. Large-scale protests in Port-au-Prince have since dissipated, although smaller ones are still occurring elsewhere in the country. On Wednesday, opposition leaders and supporters gathered in Gonaives to attend the funeral of an anti-government protester and then carried his coffin through the streets as more protesters joined them. Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Banerjee had last week instructed party workers to conduct various programmes to observe the TMC’s foundation day. The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday observed its 22nd Foundation Day as ‘Citizens’ Day’ as a mark of protest against the amended Citizenship Act and pledged not to stop until the “draconian law” is withdrawn. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, congratulated party workers on the occasion and said TMC is observing the day as ‘Nagorik Dibas’ (Citizens’ Day) at the booth-level. “We are observing the foundation day of @AITCofficial as ‘Nagorik Dibas’ (Citizens’ Day) in every booth of #Bangla. We all are citizens and Trinamool will continue to fight for the rights of the people. Jai Hind. Jai Bangla. “#Trinamool22 Today @AITCofficial turns 22. The journey which began on January 1, 1998 has been full of struggles, but we have been steadfast in our resolve to fight for the people. We thank Maa-Mati-Manush for their constant support. Our workers are our biggest assets,” she tweeted. TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi said laws are passed to help the people and not to divide the country. “The amended Citizenship Act is anti-people. It wants to divide the country on religious lines. So, if the people don’t accept it, this law has to be withdrawn,” he said. Claiming that the people of West Bengal have started rejecting the BJP, Bakshi hinted that the party would use the CAA and the proposed country-wide NRC as its main issues in the upcoming municipal elections in the state. Elections to around 107 municipalities of the state including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are due in April-May this year. The civic polls, in which about 60 per cent voters of the state would be eligible to take part, are being tipped as the ‘mini assembly election’ ahead of the crucial 2021 state polls. Parties believe that the results of the civic polls will indicate the possible outcome of the assembly elections. Banerjee had last week instructed party workers to conduct various programmes to observe the TMC’s foundation day. The district TMC leaders have organised flag-hoisting programmes and street corner meetings to discuss and highlight the achievements of the state government and speak against the amended Citizenship Act, party sources said. Banerjee, who has been at the forefront in opposing the CAA and nation-wide NRC, has been crisscrossing the state, holding protest marches and rallies against the new citizenship law. On the party’s foundation day, TMC activists also organised blood donation camps in several parts of the state. The TMC was founded by Mamata Banerjee on January 1, 1998 with an aim to oust the then Left Front regime from power. The party achieved its goal in May 2011 after forging an alliance with the Congress.

Terming the CAA a “targeted” law, she said it is an attack on the Constitution of India. She was present outside the university to participate in a public meeting on the new legislation. Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker on Wednesday lauded the students of Jamia Millia Islamia for waking up the entire country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which she claimed is a “targeted” law. “We have woken up late but now we have woken up. You have woken up the entire country. We are here to thank you,” she said. The actress said hatred is being legitimised through terms like ‘tukde tukde’ gang and legislation like CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Terming the CAA a “targeted” law, she said it is an attack on the Constitution of India. She was present outside the university to participate in a public meeting on the new legislation.

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The case against a Cornwall man who removed a provincially mandated sticker decrying the federal carbon tax from a gas pump has been dropped. Jesse Seguin, 36, was charged with criminal mischief in October after police alleged he removed an Ontario government-mandated sticker from a gas pump at a Cornwall gas station. The “federal carbon tax transparency sticker”, which must be displayed on an easily visible place on every gas pump in Ontario outside of a First Nation, was mandated by the Progressive Conservative government last August as a way to convince more Ontarians to oppose the federal carbon tax. The federal tax was imposed on the province after the Ford government cancelled Ontario’s cap-and-trade program and refused to create a carbon tax of its own. Seguin was arrested and released from custody with a court date in late November, but the charge was withdrawn by the Crown.

Maharashtra Congress legislator Sangram Thopat on Wednesday condemned the alleged vandalism of Congress office by his supporters after he was not accorded the ministerial berth. This office was destroyed days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his ministry by inducting 36 ministers. "What has happened is wrong and condemnable. Whatever decision leadership arrived on I agreed to that and I will agree with it in future too," Thopat said. The purported incident took place on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp A baby boy was delivered at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) early Wednesday morning, making him possibly the first baby born in Quebec in 2020. Little Lucas was born precisely 11 minutes and 49 seconds after midnight. His mother, Marilou Edger, and his father, Jonathan Beelen, are from Montreal. The newborn and his mother are doing well, according to hospital authorities. READ MORE: Here’s what’s going to cost more in 2020 A few moments later, the CHU Sainte-Justine reported the birth of a baby girl at 12:26 a.m. By mid-morning, no other Quebec hospital had reported a birth since the start of the new year. In 2019, the first baby in Quebec was born at the MUHC, a girl who was born just two minutes after midnight. Story continues below advertisement 4:57 New Year’s 2020: Ball drops in New York City to mark beginning of new decade New Year’s 2020: Ball drops in New York City to mark beginning of new decade

Just 32 seconds after midnight Wednesday, Henri Baillargeon was born by caesarean section at the Cité de la Santé Hospital in Laval. Weighing in at 4.367 kg, Henri was born to parents Amélie Bouchard and Marc-André Baillargeon. The couple had a feeling their son would be the first born in 2020, ever since the hospital's medical team told them their cesarean section would be scheduled for 11:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. "I kept looking at the clocks in the hospital," Marc-André Baillargeon said in a phone interview. Henri was initially due on Dec. 20, but Bouchard's pregnancy "dragged on" for 12 days, her husband said. Bouchard said the hat Henri has been wearing is inscribed with the year "2020" and was actually made by hospital volunteers as a gift for the first baby of the year. Birth at the MUHC Eleven minutes after Henri's birth, Lucas Beelen was born at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), weighing in at 3.80 kg. The baby's mother, Marilou Edger and father Jonathan Beelen are both from Montreal. In a Facebook post Wednesday, the MUHC said Lucas and his mother are both doing well. In 2019, Quebec's first baby was also delivered at the MUHC, a baby girl named Mariella.

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: Matthew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders takes part in the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills Night at the SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Mathew Barzal is the only representative for the New York Islanders at this year's NHL All-Star Game. If anyone else could join him who would you send? Like most years, the New York Islanders will have a single representative going to the NHL All-Star game. This year, Mathew Barzal is the Islanders lone ambassador. I know, what a surprise! (Note the heavy sarcasm.) Of course, Barzal going to be the Islanders representative at the NHL All-Star Game. He leads the team in goals, assists, and points. He's the star of the team and the face of the franchise. He's also dynamic at the 3on3 format of the All-Star game. Last year, in his first trip to the All-Star festivities, Barzal was the talk of the town. Lining up with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, Barzal put up five points in the championship game alone. After winning last year's 3on3 tournament, Crosby raved about the Islanders youngster and his skill at 3on3 (and 5on5): "The way he holds onto the puck, the way he skates, 3-on-3, I mean, I don't know if there is anyone better when it comes to holding onto it," Crosby said. "The way he can just beat you 1-on-1, beat you with his speed, hold onto it, you know, watching him out there against the best, and I don't see anyone that really beats him in that category. Again, it makes sense that Barzal is going. He deserves to go. But what about other players on the roster? Who else might have deserved to go to the All-Star Game? I'm stopping short of calling this a snub list because I understand why some of the names I've come up with didn't end up on the final roster. But when I look at the goalies who were selected to the Metro's All-Star team, and that neither one of them are from the New York Islanders, it's clear there's at least one snub.

2019 was a big year for prefab due to increased deregulation of ADUs and growing interest in offsite and modular construction. Cities such as San Jose, California, are using prefab ADUs as possible solutions to their housing shortages. These five prefab houses are top-tier, providing innovative alternatives to more expensive housing. But they’re not just space-saving, practical, and easy to build—they’re stylish as all get-out, from clean, Scandinavian designs to aerospace-inspired prefab cabins. Whether it’s Kanye’s dome prototypes or Ikea’s plan to design residences for people with dementia, prefab housing of all stripes continued to make headlines in 2019. For our year-end roundup of the best prefabs, however, we’re highlighting the most impressive designs that are available to order. You’ll notice that a few of these picks are intended as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which have had quite a year, especially in California, where new laws are making it easier for single-family homes to add a backyard unit. As prefab construction is particularly well-suited for the job, we’ll surely be looking out for more sophisticated, ADU-friendly prefabs heading into 2020 and beyond. A city-approved modern ADU In an effort to incentivize more housing stock, the city of San Jose, California, recently pre-approved a backyard dwelling from Bay Area housing startup Abodu so that residents can buy and install one in as little as two weeks. The 500-square-foot house, designed by U.K. studio Koto, costs $199,000 and offers Scandinavian modern style with stark white walls, pale wood floors, and the option to add a curated furniture package. Read More

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Fort Lewis College is updating about a dozen panels at the Clock Tower in the center of campus to better recognize the past, "in a way that's fully inclusive of our Native American community on campus and the families directly affected by Indian boarding schools."

Please enable Javascript to watch this video DENVER -- On a cold Colorado day, Miguel Rivera and Martin Garcia roll up their sleeves and get to work. The two teens were inspired by others on YouTube, and decided to make their own channel dedicated to cleaning up the Earth called 7s Environment. “It makes me feel kind of good that I’m cleaning,” Garcia said. What they found was frustrating, and bizarre at times. Shattered glass bottles, rusted out scooters thrown in a lake, a tire covered in algae, and plenty of cans around Rotella Park for one of their first videos. Rivera says one of the more annoying finds was broken glass bottles on a soccer field in north Denver. “There was a kid who was kind of sitting in the car, and he was telling us, like thank you for doing this,” Rivera said. The pair hopes if they continue to make these videos, they’ll inspire other people to clean up, or at least change their bad habits.

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A blood-drinking white nationalist who ran for US Senate in Florida in 2016 was arrested Monday for kidnapping, domestic violence, and possession of a firearm used during a crime. Augustus Sol Invictus, 36, was busted in Florida on a warrant from South Carolina, authorities said. The circumstances of the crime were not immediately released. He was being held without bail Wednesday. Invictus, an Orlando-based lawyer, garnered national media attention during his unsuccessful bid to challenge Marco Rubio as a Libertarian candidate in 2016. During the failed campaign, he claimed he slaughtered a goat and drank its blood as part of a pagan ritual. He’s also credited by white nationalist Richard Spencer with laying the foundation for the deadly racist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Invictus has denied affiliation with Spencer and the racists at the rally, but Spencer credited him with drafting the “tenets” behind the rally. With Post Wires

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Pope Francis has used his New Year's message to denounce violence against women, hours after slapping a woman's hand to free himself from her grip. " Women are sources of life . Yet they are continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb," the Pontiff told worshipers gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday. "Every form of violence inflicted upon a woman is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman." Shortly before beginning his traditional New Year's Day address , the Pope said he was sorry for smacking a woman's hand the previous day, to free himself from her grip. "I apologize for the poor example yesterday," he said, going off-script before the sermon on violence. Pope Francis had been making his way to the Nativity scene in Vatican City on Tuesday, New Year's Eve. When he began to walk away from the crowd that had gathered to greet him, video shows a woman grabbing his hand and yanking him toward her. He became visibly upset, slapping the woman's hand in an attempt to extricate himself. Footage of the altercation also appears to show him shouting at the woman. Prior to the incident, the woman had made the sign of the cross. She addressed the 83-year-old Pope as she took his hand but it is unclear what she was trying to tell him. During his New Year address on Wednesday, the Pontiff also spoke about gender equality, telling the congregation that women "should be fully included in decision-making processes." "Every step forward for women, is a step forward for humanity as a whole."

Pope Francis apologised for "losing patience" with a woman who grabbed him on New Year's Eve and later denounced "all violence against women" (AFP Photo/Andreas SOLARO) Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis apologised Wednesday for his widely-viewed slap of a woman who had grabbed his hand as he greeted Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve. The image of Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of the admirer was an instant hit on social media. A personal apology followed. "We lose patience many times," Francis confessed. "It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday," the head of the Catholic church said before celebrating Mass at the Vatican. Twitter enthusiasts commented with abandon on the pontiff's prompt riposte to the woman. Francis had greeted children before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter's square and was turning away when the woman who had crossed herself then cried out something, pulled on his hand and almost caused him to fall. The 83-year-old pope grimaced before managing to break free by slapping her hand twice. He continued his tour, walking with some difficulty while maintaining a slightly greater distance from visitors, and gradually relaxed again as he came into contact with other children. Twitter comments were mostly supportive of the pontiff's instinctive reaction. "HE IS HUMAN.. Been (sic) a Pope doesn't make you immune to Pain or avoid Reaction to pain," one typical comment read. In his first Mass of the New Year, the pontiff later denounced "all violence against women" as "a profanation of God, born of a woman." Francis also said women were "the source of life" but deplored that they were constantly "offended, beaten, abused and forced into prostitution" and forced to "supress the life they carry within" them. He emphasised that the "rebirth of humanity began with a woman," and bemoaned that women's bodies were "sacrificed on the profane altars of advertising, profit, pornography."

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I know, I know: "All things in moderation." I grew up with that little piece of wisdom, too. Having said that, I also have to point to the confusion I felt when I read Jesus' response to it: "If you be neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth" (Revelations 3:16). The translation of that, for those who can possibly wonder, is "Stand up." Stand for something. Stand up and take a position. Loudly, if necessary. Don't just wait to see how things come out. Add to the conversation. Add to the wisdom. Add to the questions that surround it. Add the ideas you've learned somewhere else so that others can mull them over, too. And whatever you do, don't, as the Irish say, "Fall between two stools." Get the best of NCR delivered to your inbox! Sign up here The trouble is that we have whole audiences caught between stools right now. They're confused about which side to sit on. They're uncertain about what position to take, so they step back and let someone else do their thinking for them. Members of Congress who swallow their consciences to please the system rather than the Gospel are not going to stand for anything. Surely the wealthy who vote for their stock returns and their tax reductions rather than for the upbuilding of the needs of the entire nation are not going to worry about little things ― like somebody else's poverty. And without doubt, average persons who can't tell the political lies from the truth anymore may know what's right in their hearts but have no idea what happened to the congressional process that once decided those things together. So inured are we to alternative facts, competing values, unclear constitutional interpretations, and the difference between national laws and, well, the rise of an imperial presidency, it's impossible to know who knows what. When a "royal presidency" ― an oxymoron in itself, like bittersweet or open secrets or living deaths ― suddenly outranks any other law-making force in the country, the people who've been lied to quit believing in facts all together. Now "facts" are just one more movable feast. "They all lie," people say of politicians and national agencies and the media and even of the scientists they've been taught to doubt so that corporations don't have to make any ecological changes to their products or processes. Indeed, the people have been taught to doubt, so now government and science are begging us to save ourselves because it is already too late to debate climate change. But how can we save anything while we keep rolling back ecological regulations for the sake of short-term corporate profiteering? How is a nation supposed to trust anyone or any laws at all when the president himself, having declared himself above it, simply deals with the law by refusing to keep it, to honor it, to submit to its review and validation? In the face of that kind of reasoning, tell your teenager that we're a country of laws and hear the laughter in the background. Only this time, it's at you. Advertisement Advertisement In a world such as that, maybe it's just better to keep your head down, many think, and follow the herd rather than risk attention, or worse, risk public disapproval. Do little and say nothing at all has become the new definition of peace and security in a land of political turmoil and working families living in tent cities due to the lack of a decent minimum wage and to the disappearance of low-cost housing. This, while at the same time, they tell us the economy is soaring for some while we're spending money building walls instead of raising the minimum wage to a living wage. I give up: Where's the moderation? In fact, is moderation moral when topics such as those aren't even being discussed and debated in the highest level in government? So much for democracy. We've seen democracies destroyed. But it is just as possible to simply let ours die on the vine from the plague of federal indifference. In a between-the-stools population and political system, being neither hot nor cold has become a fine art. It has its own set of norms, of course: As in, "Say nothing about what you don't like. Be silent and hope this awful nightmare finally ends. Move over and make room for the white nationalists, the racists, the automatic rifles, the new elected monarchy." After all, "there were very fine people on both sides," right? The problem? The whole scene has the tone of "The Handmaid's Tale." Everybody's lined up, smiling a pasted-down smile, sure that the world can be saved despite the fact that few are saying anything to save it. Like demand gun laws. Like rejoin the Paris climate agreement. Like stop the tariff war. Like impose ecological regulations immediately before the next city is underwater and the poor have no water at all. No, moderation won't do it. What we need now is Christian extremism, the idea that there are some things that cannot be tolerated in life, that there is something we can do to resolve these logjams if we really want to do it. These are the people who are "either hot or cold." And Jesus loves them. Christian extremism is extremely concerned about what this era of insult and mockery has sown. We need people who don't change TV news channels because the news "depresses" them. Instead they listen carefully to understand what needs to be done and they join mixed groups to start doing it. Locally as well as globally. Christian extremists are extremely open to new ideas. They read good articles carefully. They call for the creation of mixed groups to consider what can be done about issues on a local level. They find out from local officials what can be done to control guns, for instance, and provide medical care, and start subsidized housing, and invest in ecological preservation. They take part in democracy, in other words, as any citizen who wants to keep it must do.

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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Police found the body of Neeraj Agarwal (37) on the driver’s seat while all other three members of the family ... Read More AGRA: A 37-year-old bullion trader allegedly killed himself after shooting his wife and two minor children inside his SUV, parked near Vrindavan exit point on Yamuna Expressway early Wednesday morning. While Neeraj Agarwal, his wife Neha (35) and his daughter Dhanya (6), were found dead, his son Shaurya,10, is battling for life at a Delhi hospital.As per documents accessed by TOI, Agarwal was facing multiple inquiries from Income Tax department, commercial tax department and Economic Offences Wing for Rs 123-crore transactions after demonetisation in November 2016. Police say that the Enforcement Directorate was also on his trail and he was under heavy debt. “These could be likely reasons which pushed him to the brink,” they say.His family, however, claimed that Agarwal was killed at the behest of his business rivals. “Some people had shot at Neeraj two years ago in Govardhan area and a police complaint was filed in this regard. Fortunately, he survived as the bullet nicked just his car,” said his father Dinesh Chandra Agarwal. The family is based in Govindnagar area of Mathura but Neeraj, along with his family, was living in Delhi for the past one year.“Neeraj used to come to Mathura frequently. His wife also hailed from Mathura’s Jaganathpuri area,” his father added. He admitted that some inquiries were going on against him. “But Neeraj had filed an appeal in the cases and this this could not be the reason for his death,” he said.Police said that the incident took place early Wednesday morning. While Neeraj’s body was found on the driver’s seat of Tuscon, all other three members of his family were on the back seat and had gunshot injuries on their head. The car was locked from inside. According to SP (city) AK Meena, Neeraj’s son was found breathing when the police broke the glass of the car and he was immediately rushed to Nayati hospital from where he was shifted to Apollo hospital, Delhi, as his condition was critical.Meena told TOI that a small note was also found inside the car and the it had been sent to forensic wing for checking its authenticity. Though the note was not clear, it had a mention of some issues related to custom and penalties. He said, police found a pistol in Neeraj’s right hand and he had apparently shot himself on his right temple.Neeraj’s brother-in-law, Amit, told TOI that his sister, Neha and her family had dinner with them and they all appeared happy. “They had left late on Tuesday night for Delhi as their daughter’s program was scheduled early Wednesday morning,” he told TOI. Amit has filed a complaint in this matter and an FIR is being lodged at police station.In July 2018, the investigation wing of I-T department had conducted a raid at RS Bullion and Jewellers in Mathura, owned by Neeraj Agarwal and Neha Agarwal, and found large-scale anomalies during the period after demonetisation. According to reports, RS Bullion had alone deposited Rs 123 crore cash in bank accounts during demonetisation.After the raid, the I-T officials had told media persons that Neeraj claimed to have sold gold worth Rs 37 crore in a single day, however, records suggested that his firm converted black money of people into white by taking commission. In return, the trader had provided them receipt of gold purchase. Also, the trader, had claimed that he had taken gold stock from a firm in Mumbai — Vanity Jeweller — but it was closed down in 2012, much before demonetisation announced.

Neeraj, his wife Neha with their children. Neeraj, his wife Neha with their children. A businessman, his wife and daughter were found dead in an SUV early Wednesday morning in Mathura. According to police, Neeraj Agarwal (40) allegedly shot his wife Neha Agarwal (36) and two children, a girl aged six and a boy aged 10, before shooting himself. No suicide note has been recovered, said police. While the couple and their daughter were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, their son has been referred to Delhi’s Apollo Hospital for further treatment and is under observation. Their families, however, have alleged foul play and filed an FIR under IPC Section 302 (murder) at the Jamna Paar police station in Mathura. Ashok Kumar Meena, SP City Mathura, said: “We received information from a patrol vehicle about four bodies being found in a white SUV, close to the Vrindavan turning near the Yamuna Expressway. They broke open a window and found that the boy was still alive. The others in the car, including a minor, had died due to bullet wounds. Prima facie it appeared that Neeraj shot his family members before killing himself. But we have received an FIR for possible murder, which will be investigated.” Neeraj hailed from Jagannath Puri in Mathura and ran a bullion trading company in the city. According to his family, Neeraj, along with his wife and children, had been living in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar for the last six months. Police said Neeraj shifted to capital because of work pressure, and was looking after his business from here. The SUV inside which the couple and their daughter were found dead. The SUV inside which the couple and their daughter were found dead. He and his family visited his in-laws in Mathura on Tuesday evening. Around 10 pm, Neeraj said they had to leave for Delhi as there was a function at his daughter’s school. They stopped for dinner at a restaurant close to Expressway, said a family member. Six hours later, their bodies were found in the car which was parked in a service lane close to Expressway. Initially, police could not spot the bodies as the windows were fogged. When a policeman peered through a crack, he found three people covered in blood while the boy was still breathing. Police suspect the bullet went through him. “There is something odd about the whole scenario; the way they have been shot looks professional. It merits an investigation. Everything was normal when Neeraj left. Even if it is a suicide, we need to find out the truth,” said Tarun Agarwal, Neeraj’s relative. According to police sources, Neeraj’s company was under the scanner for alleged fraudulent transactions following demonetisation. But family members claimed that a professional rival had planted fake complaints to harass Neeraj. Several notices were issued and the matter is pending in court, he said. Neeraj would even keep a licensed gun with two loaded magazines with him for protection, said the family member. For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App

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CNG stations to get intermittent gas supply in Jan, uninterrupted in Feb: minister ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan says domestic demand for gas has gone up by almost 20 per cent. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, he said apart from CNG stations, all consumers are being supplied gas. “CNG stations will be provided gas intermittently during January and fully in February,” the minister said, adding record-breaking and extended cold spell has resulted in low pressure across the system, which is expected to improve in a week. “Country wide we were providing more than 12% extra gas compared to last year December,” he said. “In SNGPL system, supply to domestic sector was avrage 831mmcfd in December2018. In first 15 days of this month we supplied 30% more. Now we are supplying 47% more to domestic sector,” he added. 3. Other than CNG, all consumers are being provided gas. CNG will be provided intermittently during january & fully in february. 4. Record breaking and extended cold spell has resulted in pressure drops across the system. Expected to improve in a week. — Omar Ayub Khan (@OmarAyubKhan) January 1, 2020 “In SSGC system, domestic demand has gone up almost 20 percent. But LNG cannot be supplied based on position of sindh,” Omar Ayub said, adding supplies are being increased further within a week through new sources and additional LNG. Comments comments

Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from devonlive - Daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email According to the Fitness Industry Association, 12 per cent of gym memberships are taken out in January - and most people will have already stopped going withing six months. And it is easy to see why: gyms can be daunting places for the initiated, full of monstrously heavy weights, bizarre looking machines and muscle-bound athletes pumping iron. There is also a tempting array of ways to injure/embarrass yourself, all of which often leads to us either not going anymore, or simply cancelling our membership. Devon Live caught up with former Exeter Chiefs player Sam Blythe, founder of Fitness Matters on Marsh Barton in Exeter, to offer some tips about how to avoid easy mistakes and make sure the gym is for life, not just for Christmas. 1) Too much too soon "People are often so super keen when they join a gym in January that they are possibly just doing too much too soon. They need to take small steps. "Some people are coming to the gym after a little while out, but others – with the best will in the world – are not so clued up and maybe take on too much too soon. "It's much better to start slowly and take your time." 2)It's good to talk "It is worth having a chat with a few people, taking your time and getting some advice along the way. That will give you real structure and a plan. Then you are way more likely to keep it going. "If you are somebody who has spent a lot of time in the gym but just lost a bit of momentum along the way then you probably won’t need any advice, but if you are new then speak to someone. "Any environment you don’t know is daunting so sitting own and having a chat with someone who works there or a PT for a bit of confidence or guidance to get a nudge in the right direction is no bad thing." 3) Plan your routine "I would suggest those people who are new to a gym just give a little bit of thought to what you might do. A lot of people get on the gym floor, don’t know what they’re doing and end up just doing the same few exercises day after day. It pays to sit down the night before and have a think about it so you have a way forward. "You want to be healthy for ever, not just January." 4) Warm up... "A warm-up is always going to help you. "Make your warm-up specific to what you are going to do. There is no point in warming up a part of your body you are not then going to use. "It needs to be specific to what you are going to do. If you want to improve your running, you are not going to just jump on a treadmill and start sprinting right away. It just needs a little bit of common sense. 5) ...and cool down "Cooling down and stretching is often very overlooked. People often don’t do it because it is harder to see the benefits when you are doing it looking in the mirror. "People often just want to lose weight and look better, but often stretching and cooling down will help you avoid injury and recover more quickly, which means you can spend more time exercising and, in the long run, will look better anyway." 6) Be patient "From a technical point of view, it is important not to rush into things without knowing what you are doing first. You could end up injuring yourself or not getting the results you hoped for. "Mentally, it is just like going on a diet. When you try and change something overnight often it will only last for a week or two and then you get resentful and fall off the wagon and you are back to square one. You want to keep it sustainable, which begins with a steady start to get the snowball rolling." 7) Find your lifestyle balance "You have to find a lifestyle that is sustainable to yourself. That is different for everybody – what is a sacrifice to one person isn’t necessarily to another. It is about finding what works for you and sticking to that." 8) Gym goals "Different people have different ways of doing it. Some people are very goals-driven, and soon fall off the wagon if they don’t have something to aim for. Other people like just ticking over and staying fit. "Overall, I think staying healthy is important, but if you can find a challenge to give you that little spike from time to time then that is great." 9) An all-round approach to exercising "In my opinion, it is about having the best all-round approach. "It depends how structured you want to be when you start going to the gym and what your goals are, but the all-round package in terms of exercising and living is very important. "You don’t have to be the master of everything. If you do 80 per cent of things right, the other 20 per cent will take care of itself."

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The Justice Ministry’s Police Internal Investigations Department filed an indictment Wednesday against a police officer who is accused of assaulting an ultra-Orthodox man by yanking on his sidelocks in an unprovoked attack as he was arresting him. The alleged assault on Mordechai Kreuzer in July was caught on camera and published by Hebrew media, leading to a backlash of accusations of police brutality. PIID filed the indictment at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court against Yaakov Sheetrit, who is accused of assault as well as obstruction of justice in the course of the subsequent probe. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up Another officer who was also involved in the incident will have his case dealt with by a disciplinary tribunal, Haaretz reported. The incident happened during a demonstration against the demolition of illegal buildings in the central city of Beit Shemesh, which has a large ultra-Orthodox community. תיעוד מחריד: בלש המשטרה כמעט תולש את פאות העצור >>>הוא לא מתנגד למעצר, וכלל לא השתתף בהפגנה – מה שכמובן לא מנע מהשוטר למשוך לו באכזריות בפאות #משטרת_ישראל_2019 • שתפו – ונשים סוף לאלימות המשטרתית! פורסם על ידי ‏חדשות כיכר השבת‏ ב- יום שני, 8 ביולי 2019 Sheetrit and other officers told a crowd of protesters to disperse from a parking lot and then allegedly began pushing and shoving them. At one point their attention became focused on Kreuzer, and Sheetrit allegedly hit him in the face, then dragged him away to a patrol car, pulling him by his sidelock. During the clash Kreuzer suffered injuries to his face, back, elbow, forearm, shoulder and pelvis. Sheetrit was also injured, apparently falling over and requiring a cast for his leg. He later claimed that Kreuzer attacked him with punches and kicks and that he was also assaulted by other demonstrators, a claim not borne out by the video evidence. Kreuzer was initially arrested and charged with assaulting an officer but released after the video came to light. He said that in the hours after his arrest, which happened on a Friday, he was further mistreated by police at the jail and forced to ride in a car on Shabbat. Sheetrit was suspended from duties after the investigation opened. At the time, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who had come under fire over accusation of police brutality against Ethiopian-Israelis, called the incident appalling and said he approved of the officer’s suspension. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, head of the Haredi political party Shas, said at the time the incident “bordered on anti-Semitism.”

Indore: Struggling with the scarcity of doctors, the health department is preparing a demand letter to fill posts of doctors and staff in the hospitals and health centres in the district. The demand letter will be handed over to the health minister Tulsi Silawat on January 3 who will put it before the cabinet, which will meet on January 4. Indore district has about 150 hospitals and health centres and they all have inadequate number of doctors and staff. The most ambitious scheme of state government, Sanjeevani Clinic, too has been adversely affected due to paucity of staff. According to chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia, a meeting of all incharge of health centres and hospitals was held on Wednesday to assess the availability of staff. Sources said doctors are shifted from one place to another for special duties, which affects the routine work in hospitals. As a result, target of various health schemes is not achieved. The chief secretary had asked for availability of doctors in the state in 2019 but no recruitments took place. Hospitals, health centres in Indore district: 1 - District Hospital 3 - Civil Hospitals 5 - Community Health Centres 25 - Primary Health Centres 111 - Sub Health Centres

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Nine people have died after Indonesia's capital was hit by its deadliest flooding in years as torrential rains on New Year's Eve left vast swathes of the city submerged. Thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters as electricity was switched off in scores of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city's airports also shut. Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency called on residents to leave flood-hit areas. 'The first priority is saving lives,' said agency head Doni Monardo. Indonesian police pull a rubber dinghy as they evacuate residents in Jakarta, Indonesia, after rains which killed nine in the capital Residents push a submerged car on a flooded street in Jakarta, Indonesia A truck drives through a flooded road at Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to the disaster agency. 'My son's body was covered with newspaper when my two other children passed by,' said Fadrid, who identified himself as the dead teen's father. 'People asked them whether they knew the victim. If they hadn't been passing by, we wouldn't have known my son had been killed,' he told AFP. Among the victims was an elderly couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached as high as four metres (13 feet) after a river burst its banks. Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city's outskirts. An Indonesian soldier holds a cat through floodwaters at Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta Residents push a motorcycle among submerged taxis on a flooded street in Jakarta 'We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks,' Ikhsan Asaad, an official at state firm PLN, told AFP. Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown. 'We're currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people's safety,' he added. Angelina Widiyanti was among scores of residents whose houses were flooded with their possessions ruined by the disaster. 'We've had flooding several times before but it was never this high,' she said from her home, where the power had been cut. 'We weren't prepared for this.' Residents sit outside a store on a flooded street in Jakarta Residents push a motorcycle on a flooded street in Jakarta Indonesian men navigate a flooded street with their motorbikes in Depok, Indonesia Authorities said about 19,000 people were evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta's satellite cities. 'We're evacuating people right now,' Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters. 'Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding,' he added. Images from across the region showed waterlogged homes and cars submerged in muddy floodwaters, while some people took to paddling in small rubber lifeboats or tyre inner-tubes to get around. The disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when several dozen people were killed when the city was inundated by monsoon rains. Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia's rainy season, which started in late November. On Wednesday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry. Many flights were transferred to Jakarta's main Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

At least nine people died as Jakarta was hit with severe flooding over the New Year. Torrential rain soaked tens of thousands of revelers as they waited for New Year's Eve fireworks in Indonesia's capital.The rains led to flooding across the city. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said the monsoon rains and rising rivers had submerged at least 90 neighborhoods. Thousands of people were displaced by flooding and a domestic airport was closed after water levels reached up to 3 meters (10 feet) in several places. Watch video 01:58 Share Indonesia: Where climate change is real Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3U46s Indonesia: Where climate change is real Wibobo said some of the deaths were due to hypothermia, but also included a 16-year-old high school student who was electrocuted by a power line. Indonesia's state electricity utility said it had switched off power to hundreds of districts to prevent further electrocutions. Authorities have deployed about 120,000 rescuers to help evacuate those affected and install mobile water pumps. Further flooding is expected with downpours forecast for the coming day. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told reporters his administration would push ahead with infrastructure projects on two major rivers, including a dam and a sluice, to prevent flooding in the city of 30 million people. This was the worst flooding since 2013 when dozens of people were killed in monsoon rains. aw/mm (AP, AFP, Reuters) Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here.

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A New Year is upon us and let’s hope it’s without drama. A New Year is upon us and let’s hope it’s without drama. THE morning after the night before can be a revelation. For the first time in decades, I woke up yesterday fairly well-rested and without a hangover. Part of the reason was that, as a member of the dedicated Daily newsroom team, I had a 7am start. So apart from a restaurant dinner and re-run of the movie Jersey Boys, my New Year’s Eve was uneventful. But I soon realised there was much more to my unusual disinterest in the celebrations. The past few months, the pages of the Daily and our online space have seen so much tragedy in our neighbourhoods, natural disasters and heartache, I think I am in the throes of emotional fatigue. I have so much empathy for the strangers who have lost loved ones, seen irreplaceable keepsakes burn in the rubble of their fire-torn homes, and who are valiantly fighting disease or are down on their luck. I cry for the parents, children and mates who lose loved ones on the roads or to violence in their own homes. I see vision of the walls of flames firefighters throughout the country are being faced with and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I see salt-of-the-earth people raising funds for charity, who later find themselves grappling with life-threatening disease. And there’s nothing I can do. Celebrating life and a new year somehow felt a little off this time. I’m a glass half-full person and personally had a great 2019. But my wish for 2020 is for a boring year — one with fewer dramas for Coast residents, a major cut in the national road toll, no drought or flooding rains. And I’ll raise my early morning coffee cup instead to everyone’s good health and happiness.

Revelers packed the Las Vegas Strip to usher out 2019 and ring in 2020 on New Year’s Eve. New Year's Fireworks on the Las Vegas Strip - VIDEO (James Schaeffer/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Fireworks for New Year's Eve erupt over the Strip as viewed from the VooDoo Rooftop Nightclub & Lounge at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images Moses Carpio, of Las Vegas, kisses his girlfriend Teresa Enriquez, of Juarez, on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae Fireworks for New Year's Eve erupt over the Strip as viewed from the VooDoo Rooftop Nightclub & Lounge at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images Fireworks light up the sky above The Venetian on the Strip on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Trip, left, and Jess Barrios walk the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto The Strip is packed with New Year's Eve goers on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto People watch the Bellagio fountain show on the Strip on New Year's Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Jennifer Gonzalez of New York, from left, Laticia Clinton of Las Vegas and Danielle Porter of San Diego practice their midnight countdown at 9:49 p.m. on New Year's Eve on the Strip at Park Avenue in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto Show girls, right, share a moment with street performers dressed in Kiss attire on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto The Strip is packed with New Year's Eve goers on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Michelle Southerland, left, of Houston, Texas, and her friend Megan Simpson, of Las Vegas, pose for a photo outside T-Mobile Arena on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenkschmidt_ Jennifer Simpson, left, of Las Vegas, and her sister-in-law Megan Simpson, right, of Illinois, play Jenga at Beerhaus on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenkschmidt_ Fatima Peña, from Napa, Calif., enjoys the fountains outside Wynn Las Vegas on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Military forces provide extra security on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Performers entertain the crowd on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Performers entertain the crowd on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto German Moreno of California lays on the pavement after failing at the worm in the center of a dance circle outside Beerhaus on New Year's Eve on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenkschmidt_ Metropolitan police patrol Las Vegas Boulevard for New Year's Eve on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenkschmidt_ Metro provides security on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto The Strip is packed with New Year's Eve goers on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto A girl blows a New Year's Eve kazoo on the Strip on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenkschmidt_ Sage Lewis, 3, from Las Vegas, watches performers on the Strip on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto The Strip is packed with New Year's Eve goers on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto Revelers packed the Las Vegas Strip to usher out 2019 and ring in 2020 on New Year’s Eve. https://res.cloudinary.com/review-journal/image/upload/v1577873313/webNYE_FIREWORKS-JAN01-20-003.jpg An eight-minute fireworks show ended the evening’s festivities on the Strip. Check out the photos above.

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This story is from January 2, 2020 Sikh devotees at a procession on the occasion of Prakashotsava in Patna on Wednesday. PATNA: Thousands of Sikh devotees on Wednesday participated in the ‘akhand path’ and ‘Nagar Kirtan’ at Gai Ghat gurdwara, which was followed by a ‘Shobha Yatra’ on the second day of three-day 353rd Prakashotsava celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The ‘Shobha Yatra’ which started from the Gai Ghat gurdwara at 2.30pm converged at Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib in Patna City late evening. During the yatra, devotees recited ‘Gurbaani’ from the Guru Granth Sahib on the beats of drums. The band members of several schools including Guru Gobind Girl’s Middle and High School, Guru Gobind Boy’s Middle and High School, Guru Tegh Bahadur Academy and Guru Nanak School as well as orchestra members from Punjab enthralled the audience with their scintillating performances. Gatka (martial arts of Sikh) was also performed by the youths during the yatra. Members of the gurdwara committee and locals put up stalls of refreshment between Gai Ghat gurdwara and Takhat Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib gurdwara to provide snacks, juice and water to the devotees. Horses, camels and elephants were also included in the procession. On the occasion of Prakashotsava, all the gurdwaras in the city, including the Takhat Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib gurdwara, Gurdwara Sri Gai-ghat Sahib, Guru Ka Bagh gurdwara and Bal Leela gurdwara have been decked up with flowers and illuminated with lights. A rush of devotees from India, Canada and Australia was witnessed at various locations in Patna City, including the Kangan Ghat and other gurdwaras. Many devotees also showed active participation in serving ‘langar’ to the people. Manpreet Singh from Punjab said he along with his family will contribute their best during the three-day Prakashotsava. Another devotee Mahinder Singh, who, after celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Rajgir, arrived in the city to attend Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary said, “Since I am a retired man, my wife and I have decided to participate in all such events.” Daljeet Singh, superintendent of Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Prabandhak Committee said, “Langar was also arranged at Gai Ghat gurdwara for devotees. People of all religious groups have come out on streets to mark the Prakashotsava celebrations. The celebrations will continue till midnight of January 2,” he said.

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore in a message on Wednesday called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by Guru Gobind Singh. "Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore in a message on the Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by the great Guru and work for creating a harmonious society, based on values of humanism and secularism," said an official statement. According to the statement, the Governor said that Guru Gobind Singh, a saint-soldier, symbolised the virtues of truth, righteousness and universal brotherhood. "He was a great warrior and launched a crusade against social injustice and tyranny of the rulers of those times. Guru Gobind Singh ji sacrificed his four sons, father and mother for preserving human and secular value are rare in the annals of mankind. Their heroic struggle and sacrifice against the Mughals will always be remembered till eternity," the statement quoted the Governor as saying. The Governor said that 'Guru Gobind Singh Ji's teachings and philosophy is particularly relevant in the present-day complexed and materialistic world.' He appealed to the people to celebrate Parkash Utsav in a spirit of social harmony, equality and well being of the people, which the great Guru preached and practiced throughout his life. (ANI)

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The owner of P.E.I.'s Island Potato Soap Company has come up with a new soap he hopes will appeal to some customers south of the border. Pieter Ijsselstein has produced 600 bars of a peach-scented impeachment soap to inject some humour into the political news coming out of Washington. The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump Dec. 18 for abuse of power and obstruction. Ijsselstein said he went online to find out if anyone was making an impeachment soap, and when he found people comparing the impeachment proceeding to a soap opera, he figured he was on to something. "There is lots of references to soap so I thought it would be a neat idea to use that word soap and turn it into an impeachment soap," he said. Pieter Ijsselstein has produced 600 bars of impeachment soap. (CBC) Ijsselstein said the response to the new soap has been good, especially with people looking to buy gifts for relatives who are big Trump supporters. "My son-in-law actually put a sample of it online and immediately got a sale," he said. Ijsselstein said he isn't political and created the soap as a humorous word play. Democratic soap? He's now thinking about whether to create some sort of soap with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, on the wrapper. "I'll just see how the impeachment soap goes first," he said. Ijsselstein said he has a feeling news about the soap could travel fast through social media, and he will be swamped with orders. "It's amazing how many U.S. customers we have," he said. "We get orders on a daily basis now. I think we get a fairly large number of tourists from the U.S. and I am pretty sure they are going to snap up this soap very quickly." More P.E.I. news

| By There are different processes one must undergo for immigration, that some people get confused with all the to-dos in the checklist and ends up getting stressed about the littlest things. In planning for immigration, there are certain things that you should take note of. The Immigration Process Immigration to another country requires a due process that needs to be fulfilled. For countries like the U.S., their immigration process is lengthy and costly. The usual procedure for the immigration process is first, the acquiring of the immigrant visa to be eligible for legal permanent residency. An immigrant visa can be acquired in four ways (on U.S. standards and legal procedures). These are family-based, employment-based, asylum and refugee status or diversity lottery. Aside from the immigrant visa, it should be verified that the immigrant has no criminal records to be issued a legal permanent residency. The processes for immigration can be too complex. Hiring an immigration attorney would not only lessen the burden on you, you can also be assured that the legal processes are duly followed. As mentioned, the whole immigration process can be a bit complicated. To avoid unnecessary troubles along the way, here are some tips when planning for immigration to another place. Tips in Planning for Immigration All requested forms and information should be submitted in advance. Be certain that everything indicated are true and correct. Be ready for any delays. Submitting the forms in an earlier date will buy you more time for preparation. You should also have a copy of all the documents you have passed to the authorities. Be respectful to immigration authorities and be on time if there are scheduled appointments or interviews. Better to follow all the steps legally. Avoid any shortcut methods to prevent any trouble. Hire an efficient and competent immigration lawyer. If your situation is complicated or you find the whole process overwhelming, then legal assistance would be needed. Your lawyer must be an expert in immigration cases. Though the whole immigration process might be tiring and would require much effort, time and money, following these tips might alleviate some of the burden on you. Although the legal processes are important, better be prepared of other things you might encounter a problem with in the future. Other Things to Consider in Planning for Immigration You should have at least a brief background or knowledge about the country you are going to. If the country or place you are planning to move on to speak a different language, better start learning the basics that would be enough for you to survive daily conversations. Even if the whole process can be tedious, the primary advice for a successful immigration is persistence.

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If in the throes of this bull market’s earliest stages of recovery someone told you to forgo stocks, forget commodities, renounce fixed-income assets and buy an unknown digital token, the first of its kind, and watch it grow beyond your wildest dreams, you’d call them crazy, right? Emerging out of the ashes of the financial crisis, Bitcoin was created as a bypass to the banks and government agencies mired in Wall Street’s greatest calamity in decades. At first, it was slow to break through, muddied by a slew of scandals: fraud, thefts and scams that turned away many and brought closer regulatory scrutiny. But once it burst into the mainstream, it proved to be the decade’s best-performing asset. The largest digital token, trading around $7,200, has posted gains of more than 9,000,000% since July 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Bitcoin really captured that wild technology enthusiasm that ‘this time is different,’” said Peter Atwater, the president of Financial Insyghts and an adjunct professor at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Advertisement The performance over the past 10 years, even with its huge run-up and subsequent mega-crash, leaves all others in the dust. It’s a massive windfall for those who — to use the lingo of the crypto crowd — HODL’ed through its ups and downs, even as it continues to provide fodder for get-rich-quick schemes. For some, the never-ending fantasy of continually hitting that payoff still helps to keep Bitcoin’s momentum going. Nothing else comes even close to beating it. The S&P 500 merely tripled in that period. An index that tracks world markets has more than doubled. Gold is up 25%. Some of the best-performing stocks in the Russell 3000 — including Exact Sciences Corp. and Intelligent Systems Corp. — are each up about 3,000%. Those gains pale in comparison to the finance world’s latest — and one of its most controversial -- marvels. Partly, the monster return is a reflection of the calculus behind Bitcoin’s jumping-off point: the token wasn’t worth anything when someone named Satoshi Nakamoto launched it on Halloween 2008. Designed as a method of exchange that can be sent electronically between users around the world, it did not have a centralized control network. Bitcoin, instead, is run by a network of computers that keep track of all transactions on the blockchain ledger. For many, that technology was reason enough to buy into the idea. On the other side of the equation are Bitcoin’s devoted enthusiasts who saw in its technology a promising way to change the global financial system. Advertisement “This is the first time that there’s a real separation — just like church and state — you have a separation of money and state,” said Alex Mashinsky, founder of Celsius Network, a crypto lending platform. “That’s the innovation, that’s the excitement.” But Bitcoin was slow to take off, notching its first transaction two years after its creation, when someone used it to buy pizza. Since then, the first-born token’s price has catapulted, doubling many times over, and hundreds of imitators have cropped up — some with more success than others. Many of those who got in early stayed faithful, watching as it made its way through a boom and bust cycle unrivaled by almost anything else over the last decade. At the beginning of 2017, Bitcoin jumped above $1,000. By mid-summer, it had more than doubled. Insanity was unleashed. By year-end, it hovered above $14,000. But as swiftly as it ran up, it fell even faster. By the end of 2018, Bitcoin barely budged above $3,000. Yet shortly after its crash, it embarked on another huge rally, this time reaching as high as $13,800 in the summer of 2019. “Certainly the numbers are what appeals to investors,” said David Tawil, president of ProChain Capital. “The next 10 years need to be a totally different stage of growth based on totally different factors than the first stage.” As much as it’s made a fortune for speculators and some thieves, Bitcoin’s survival will rest on further adoption. It’s not being used as a widespread medium of exchange. A few large retailers are accepting payment in Bitcoin but there hasn’t been the large-scale embrace so many had predicted. Scams are still running rampant. Interest is waning and consolidation among large owners is at a higher level than it was during the height of the 2017 bubble, which means that their influence over prices could be increasing. Projections for the next decade abound. In the 2020s, mass adoption is surely to take off, they say. Blockchain technology will revolutionize and solve every problem in the world. On the other hand, regulatory scrutiny is likely to intensify, with central bankers paying closer attention than ever before. In the more immediate term, some speculators forecast 2020 might be less fraught with volatility given its upcoming halving, whereby the number of coins awarded to so-called miners who process transactions is cut by 50%. That’s set to happen in May 2020 (the internet is replete with countdown clocks). The coin’s previous cut, about four years ago, coincided with a run-up in its price, pushing many crypto evangelist to believe in a repeat. Advertisement To CoinList’s Andy Bromberg, the halving is already priced in. “Maybe it’s been overpriced in and everyone’s bought into this thesis and we see a dip post-halving,” said the firm’s co-founder and president in an interview. “That would not shock me.” But beyond next year, “Bitcoin is finding its own narrative as digital gold,” he said. “It feels like that narrative is picking up steam and it’s breaking away on its own. I would define success for most crypto assets as doing exactly that.”

(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on what's moving Asia’s markets in your inbox every morning? Sign up here. Thousands of tourists have been told to flee as Australia’s wildfires look set to worsen, Kim Jong Un has once again lived up to his unpredictable reputation, and investors are marveling over Bitcoin’s bull run last decade. Here are some of the things people in the markets are talking about today. Get Out Thousands of tourists holidaying on the south coast of Australia’s New South Wales state have been told to evacuate before the weekend when extreme weather is set to intensify deadly wildfires sweeping through the region. In an unprecedented appeal, the Rural Fire Service said anyone in the southeastern tip of the state should get out in the next two days. The 230-kilometer (143-mile) stretch from Batemans Bay down to the Victoria state border has been ravaged by fires this week, producing apocalyptic scenes as infernos turned the sky blood red and rained down embers and ash on communities. At least seven people have been killed on the south coast of New South Wales just this week and hundreds of properties destroyed. Right now, isolated communities in Victoria remain cut off by road, including the township of Mallacoota, where some 4,000 people were forced to shelter on the beach or escape by boat as wildfires swept through. Military helicopters and ships have been scrambled to bring in supplies and for potential evacuations if roads can’t be re-opened. “Pay for the Pains” Kim Jong Un declared he was no longer bound by his pledge to halt major missile tests and would soon debut a “new strategic weapon,” adding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy concerns in a politically charged election year. The North Korean leader told a gathering of party officials in Pyongyang that U.S. actions left him no choice but to reconsider commitments that underpinned three unprecedented meetings with Trump over the past 18 months, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. Kim called for “shocking actual action” to make the U.S. “pay for the pains” suffered by North Korea under the Washington-led sanctions regime, KCNA said. The speech came during an unusual four-day party meeting and appeared to replace the televised address Kim has delivered every New Year’s Day since 2013. Kim is seeking sanctions relief and security guarantees that the Trump administration has so far refused to provide without a disarmament commitment from Pyongyang. Markets Wait Traders eyed a cautious start on Thursday in Asia as they assessed the latest policy move by China’s central bank and awaited data on the country’s manufacturing sector. Australia’s dollar and the yen edged lower. Activity is set to pick up as most global markets reopen from holiday closures on Jan. 1, though Japanese equities remain shut for the remainder of this week. The People’s Bank of China on Wednesday said it will increase the supply of cheap funding to banks, a move of policy support in line with market expectations. Markets start this year on the back of a strong performance for global stocks and sovereign bonds in 2019. Thursday gives investors the latest read on Chinese manufacturing with the Caixin manufacturing PMI expected to hover around its November level — remaining well in the expansionary zone. Elsewhere, crude fell 1% to $61.06 a barrel on Dec. 31, and gold was at $1,517.29 an ounce. Unbeatable Bitcoin If in the throes of this bull market’s earliest stages of recovery someone told you to forgo stocks, forget commodities, renounce fixed-income assets and buy an unknown digital token, the first of its kind, and watch it grow beyond your wildest dreams, you’d call them crazy, right? Emerging out of the ashes of the financial crisis, Bitcoin was created as a bypass to the banks and government agencies mired in Wall Street’s greatest calamity in decades. At first, it was slow to break through, but once it burst into the mainstream, it proved to be the decade’s best-performing asset. The largest digital token, trading around $7,200, has posted gains of more than 9,000,000% since July 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The S&P 500 merely tripled in that period. An index that tracks world markets has more than doubled and gold is up 25%.

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A Longford man charged with assaulting another man inside Longford Shopping Centre last year has been sent forward for trial. Denis Hannafin (39), Curry House, Athlone Road, Longford was served with the book of evidence before last Tuesday’s sitting of Longford District Court. State solicitor Mark Connellan said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had given consent for Mr Hannafin to be sent forward for trial on indictment in respect of the said incident. They allege that on December 7 2018 at Lloyd’s Pharmacy, Longford Shopping Centre, Longford, Mr Hannafin carried out a Section 3 assault on a man causing him harm. It’s also alleged on the same date, Mr Hannafin produced a knife contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. A third charge relating to a Section 16 affray charge was also added to the indictment. Judge Seamus Hughes gave Mr Hannafin the alibi warning, telling him he must provide to the State within 14 days details of any alibi he intends to rely on in the course of his trial. Mr Hannafin was remanded on continuing bail as a result to the next sittings of Longford Circuit Criminal Court on January 14 2020.

Dear Moneyist, My mother passed away last year. I share the title of my mother’s home with my stepfather, but he wants to get married again and wants his new wife to move into the house. What happens when he dies? Does she have any right to the house or can I kick her out immediately after he dies? Vanessa Dear Vanessa, Given that he’s about to have another chance at love and in the holiday spirit and interest of decorum, let’s start by wishing them the best in their new lives together and hope they both live long and happy lives. It’s nice that he doesn’t have to be alone anymore and is able to share the remainder of his life with a woman he loves. Also see:As a baby boomer, I didn’t grow up with this culture of entitlement — do I have to leave my estate to my children or spouse? If you and your stepfather’s names are listed on the title deeds of your mother’s former home, he owns 50%. His new wife would be his legal heir and, for better or for worse, you would end up owning the house with this woman. If he is a tenant for life, then the 50% of your mother’s former home would pass to you when he dies, assuming you are an only child. Recommended: ‘What did he do with all the money?’ My dying husband cashed his $700K life insurance and emptied his bank accounts In the meantime, I would like to gently suggest welcoming your stepfather’s new wife into your lives as a member of your extended family. Try, if you can, to put this territorial approach to one side for now. You don’t know this woman. What if she is warm and caring and wants for nothing except the love and support of her husband and his family? Don’t miss: I discovered through Ancestry.com that my biological father is someone else — can I claim an inheritance as his heir? At the very least, it will help the years pass without rancor and bitterness. If he invites you to the wedding, raise a glass to their health and happiness. Who knows, they may enrich your life in ways you could not have imagined and that go beyond the half share of your mother’s property. You may even find yourself wishing that they both stick around for a very long time. Read also: ‘My husband’s kids hate me and refused to come to our wedding, yet he is leaving them all his property.’ How can I negotiate to secure my future? Do you have questions about inheritance, tipping, weddings, family feuds, friends or any tricky issues relating to manners and money? Send them to MarketWatch’s Moneyist and please include the state where you live (no full names will be used). By submitting your story to Dow Jones & Company, the publisher of MarketWatch, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties. Would you like to sign up to an email alert when a new Moneyist column has been published? If so, click on this link.

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Some initiatives will be introduced within the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) throughout 2020 as authorities make moves to keep crime under control, speed up some processes and spread thin resources. This assurance has come from Attorney General Dale Marshall, who promised to “redouble” his efforts to tackle the crime situation and achieve greater efficiency within the crime fighting agency. “The Royal Barbados Police Force will also be redoubling its efforts,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY, adding that for him, 2020 will be about “action and achieving results” The length of time it takes to get a police certificate of character has been a major concern. Marshall said he would be meeting with Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith on Tuesday to thrash out those and other issues affecting the RBPF. Pointing out that there has been a deficit in the Force for over two decades, Marshall said they would also be finding ways to make the profession more attractive and to better mobilize resources to bring about solutions. “But until that happens, and we can recruit the additional numbers that we need, we have to do things differently,” he said. “So, for example, the police certificate of character takes up to six police officers. We are completely automating that. Over the next five to six weeks you will see a whole new computer-driven mechanism for getting police certificates of character, which will see them coming out in a matter of days and actually being emailed back to you. We have developed an application so you can actually make the application on your mobile phone,” he explained. The Attorney General also said that come next year, police officers would also stop responding to minor accidents. “Those matters are really matters best left to insurance companies because at the end of the day it is really about who is going to pay. Those are not the kinds of things people get charge for,” he said. “So police will continue to go to fatal accidents and serious accidents, but the run of the mill accidents – somebody bounced your car in a carpark and you are not moving until the police comes – that takes up valuable policing time,” said Marshall. This, he suggested, would allow officers to tackle more serious issues. “So, when it comes to us being able to strategically and holistically reduce all levels of crime and, especially in relation to murders, how we deploy our manpower is going to be key and we are going to be rolling out a whole set of initiatives to take care of that,” he said. With mere hours to go before 2019 comes to a close, there have been a record 49 murders in Barbados. Despite the “unprecedented” number of killings, most of which were executed through gunplay, Marshall told Barbados TODAY he was satisfied enough was being done to bring the situation under control. “Of course there has been enough action this year. The members of the police force have worked more than assiduously in terms of investigations,” he said. The trained attorney explained that “a lot of things that don’t make the Press” were happening, including several successful intelligence-driven operations leading to the seizure of illegal weapons and the stemming of firearm importation. “We know, though, that there has been an accumulation of firearms on our streets over the last decade. Our mission is to ferret those out and to ferret out those individuals who have been using them. So there are things that have been going on that have been achieving results for us,” insisted Marshall. “I know as the year ends everyone is concerned about the high level of murder rates. Forty-nine murders in any year is unprecedented for Barbados, but I want Barbadians to stay the course. “We have put, in difficult financial times, extraordinary financial resources for the police. We are gradually changing how the police do things so as to free up manpower to deal with the more serious things,” assured Marshall. [email protected]

NEW YORK – PFL president Ray Sefo is looking to build on his roster. The 2019 PFL Championship took place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, marking one of the biggest shows in the promotion’s short history. Once again, six fighters walked away with world titles and $1 million. And having recently signed former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, Sefo said the goal is to continue to sign some marquee names in the sport. “(I want to) sign more big name fighters (and) continue to grow,” Sefo said at the post-fight news conference. “But my phone was going off like crazy throughout the show because everybody got to see the PFL show tonight and got to see all the champions get crowned. “It just goes to show that we’re continuing to grow. And then adding someone like Rory to the mix, the sky’s the limit for PFL – and there’s a lot of discussions with other people that are interested and want to come over.” Also on the agenda moving forward is the possibility of superfights. Featherweight champ Lance Palmer and lightweight champ Natan Schulte were two names that were brought up as suggestions for a potential superfight, and while only Palmer seemed quite keen, Sefo likes the idea in general. “There’s a lot in the works for PFL, and those were part of discussions along the way,” Sefo said. “Not necessarily Natan and Lance, but we talked about doing some superfights and whatnot. But that’s part of the plan. Whether it happens next year or the year after that, I’m not sure exactly. But there are discussions in terms of putting on some superfights.” The ESPN deal was arguably the biggest development for the promotion this year, giving the fighters the largest platform possible, to showcase their skills. “ESPN has been great,” Sefo said. “I mean, they’ve been a great partner and the fact we’re on ESPN speaks volumes. It just goes to show that – and it sends a message out there – that PFL is here and that we’re alive and well and we’re going to continue to sign some big names and continue to grow.”

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What is a food desert? Imagine having to get all of your groceries from a gas station or local corner store bodega where you're forced to select bags of chips and frozen pizza as sustenance. This is the reality for the millions of citizens who live in food deserts in the United States. The United States lacks equal access to food across communities and food availability is scarce in portions of the country known as food deserts. In 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture performed a food access study and defined a US food desert as an area where 33 percent of a city’s residents live more than one mile from a supermarket and 20 percent earn below the poverty line. Many residents of food desert locations do not have cars and lack access to public transportation, making them essentially unable to get to a grocery store. Food desert causes are mostly related to economics. Big chain supermarkets have a hard time turning a profit in impoverished areas, which results in places without food cropping up across the country. The effects are devastating. The obesity rates in these areas are generally higher, meaning life-threatening illnesses like diabetes and heart disease are on the rise. Luckily, new laws and various grassroots organizations are currently working to make healthy, affordable food available nationwide. On a local level, many cities have not just opened up food co-ops and food markets in impoverished areas. Local corner stores are also expanding their inventory. Instead of using all of their shelf space for junk food, they are providing more healthy fresh food options. To learn more about the issue and what's being done, scan this list of the top food deserts in the United States.

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Two of K-Pop's biggest stars, Momo from JYP girlgroup Twice, and Kim Heechul from SM's Superjunior, have been confirmed dating. According to Korean Entertainment News platform Soompi, the report was confirmed by the news outlet, Market News which published a report at midnight KST on January 2 stating that according to their investigation, they were exclusively reporting that Momo and Heechul are dating. Market News is the outlet that reported in August that Momo and Heechul were in a relationship, and in the January 2 report they mentioned that Super Junior's Label and JYP Entertainment had denied that they are dating at the time. Kim Heechul and Momo have been seen together on several shows, like Weekly Idol which featured Heechul as a temporary host and Momo as part of her girlgroup, Twice several times. Momo has also been on Knowing Bros, with him. Most of the times on these shows, Heechul has been really impressed by Momo, who hails from Japan and is a dancer. One of the video clips which went viral at the time of an episode of Weekly Idol airing was a clip where Momo re-enacts a Japanese character saying 'Nicco nicco ni,' to do aego, a cute display of affection often expressed including but not limited to through a cute/baby voice, facial expressions, and gestures. As news of them confirmed to be dating broke, fans couldn't be happier, being super supportive despite of some pointing out that Kim Heechul and Momo have an age difference of 13 years. 'Momo' became a Twitter trend worldwide as fans woke up to the news. CONGRATS TO THIS COUPLE pic.twitter.com/YuUSMjd9mi — Kim yohan ㅇㅇ (@centerbunny) January 1, 2020 Support them or pic.twitter.com/1c8atwjf3i — NCT & ATEEZ Enthusiast (@atinycupofnct) January 1, 2020 Heechul has been a big fan of Momo since forever :")I'm happy their relationship developed once they got closer, please everyone support them and respect them, they're both grown up peoples with their own will not your dolls ❤pic.twitter.com/mHSABczz7a — ❤ D&Ŕ (@Kkeke_99) January 1, 2020 FINALLY! Finaaaallyyyy!This is the first time Heechul revealed a relationship to public and AAAAAAAAAAAAA I bet he’s a sweet boyfriend uwu ✊ Heechul and Momo? -> Power couple aaaa nico nico ni!!!! pic.twitter.com/BiV0eWI5yw — nico nico niiiii (@lorjenxgodwin) January 2, 2020 a reminder to everyone hating on momo and heechul dating: pic.twitter.com/osYTraDw19 — (@sakookies) January 2, 2020 Momo found her other weird and funny half pic.twitter.com/yn8cTU4ZEs — tiff (@dramasjihyo) January 2, 2020 pls i hope momo fans who’s again this relationship, you need to know momo is so lucky got heechul as bf. she’s always know as women protector & he’s gonna be cute/manly bf bcs he love to do sudden couple things like kiss momo during red traffic light pic.twitter.com/zCWk66EwNe — ᴍɪɴ ♡ ʰᵉᵉⁿᶦᵐ (@sunflow3rmin_) January 2, 2020 get a man who’d be this whip for you ! #Momo #Heechul pic.twitter.com/Ck7mbLloP6 — m a r i s (@eggnoodlect) January 2, 2020 GOOD MORNING TO ALL WHO SUPPORTS MOMO AND HEECHUL, EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T pic.twitter.com/jlYpsit2tx — #ForJisoowithLove {GOTPINK AU'S} (@Peachyyywrites) January 2, 2020 It’s just 2 out of 366 days of 2020 and we already have Heechul and Momo confirmed to be dating. Imagine the rest of 2020? pic.twitter.com/LhymlkZVEV — Saranghaeyo Oppa (@SaranghaeyOppaa) January 2, 2020 GOOD MORNING TO ALL WHO SUPPORTS MOMO AND HEECHUL, EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T pic.twitter.com/jlYpsit2tx — #ForJisoowithLove {GOTPINK AU'S} (@Peachyyywrites) January 2, 2020 JYP Entertainment, the label to which Twice belongs, earlier had a dating ban, which was lifted last year, with the news that the group leader of Twice, Jihyo was dating K-pop idol Kang Daniel. last year, we got kang daniel and jihyo's dating news. now, we have another power couple, momo and heechul!!!! pic.twitter.com/hhADXE2vVc — ia; univ life. (@softstanbebe) January 2, 2020 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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Pope Francis has apologised after slapping a woman’s hand as he greeted pilgrims at the Vatican on New Year’s Eve. ‌Francis lost his cool when the woman abruptly grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her just after he reached out to greet a child during a visit to the Vatican’s nativity scene on Tuesday night. The woman would not let go of him and in a gesture that appeared to cause him pain, he slapped at her hand before pulling his hand free. During his Angelus address to a packed St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Day, the pontiff referred to his actions. “I apologise for the bad example yesterday … sometimes even I lose patience”, he said. The identity of the woman is unknown, but a video of the incident went viral, sparking indignation on social media. One Twitter user wrote: “What the pope did demonstrates one thing – he’s a man.” In his address on Wednesday morning, the pope also condemned violence against women. He said: “By how we treat a woman’s body, we can understand our level of humanity.” In another clip that went viral earlier this year, Pope Francis repeatedly yanked his hand away from being kissed by a long queue of people. The waiting pilgrims had been attempting to kiss his papal ring as part of a tradition, practised by more conservative Catholics, to show respect to the pontiff. A few days after the incident, the Vatican said Francis had been worried about spreading germs. However, experts said at the time that his reluctance to have his papal ring kissed reflected an uneasiness with an element of traditional protocol that had lost its original meaning.

Pope Francis found himself at the center of controversy on New Years Eve after he slapped a woman’s hand for grabbing him and not letting go. As the Pope greeted pilgrims in St Peter’s Square on Tuesday, the unidentified woman grabbed onto his hand and pulled him violently towards her. Pope Francis slaps pilgrim’s hand after she yanks his arm in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Evehttps://t.co/raVkhKxNNS pic.twitter.com/pVAEygovA5 — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 1, 2020 After telling her to let go, Pope Francis slapped her hand twice as a guard then held the woman back. The incident split online Catholics and other social media users, who debated whether the Pope responded in an appropriate manner. This evening after visiting the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis loses his cool after being grabbed by a pilgrim who wouldn’t let go of his hand. The Pope repeated slapped her hand and told her to let go of him. pic.twitter.com/6Qrgh8aZKz — Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) December 31, 2019 What a nasty guy. This Pope is not a good man. https://t.co/TFeSjY2u0F — John Cardillo (@johncardillo) January 1, 2020 The @Pontifex is a horrible man, and by his fruits we know him. https://t.co/Ptgv3kGrlz — Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) December 31, 2019 Many defended the Pope’s actions. I rarely say this but: Team Pope. Don’t grab people or violate their physical boundaries just because they’re public figures. https://t.co/Da33zmcRaI — Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) January 1, 2020 I think your description is odd and inflammatory. She pulled him hard and refused to let go. He is an 83 year old man with bad sciatica. Being jerked around like that may have been quite painful. — Adrian Vermeule (@Vermeullarmine) December 31, 2019 Pope Francis apologized for the incident on Wednesday, declaring, “I apologize for the poor example yesterday.” Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducted a 5-day Certification Course on 'Blockchain Technology for Professional Accountants at Doha Bank Auditorium in collaboration with Digital Accounting and Assurance Board of ICAI New Delhi. Rukkaiya Pachisa, Chapter Chairperson welcomed the participants and outlined the importance for finance professionals to be tech-savvy and stay updated in line with the technological evolutions and digital transformation that are affecting the jobs and functions of finance professionals in a significant manner. Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO Doha Bank, graced the occasion with his presence and explained to the participants the impact of Industry 4.0 and provided insight into new concepts like data analytics, cloud computing, Internet of things and blockchain. The course was conducted by two expert faculties — Hemant Singh and Narasimhan Elangovan. Hemant touched upon technical side of the blockchain by explaining essential elements and characteristics of the blockchain: cryptography, peer to peer network, distributed ledger technology, and hash and smart contracts. He also explained use cases of the blockchain in various finance functions like trade finance, KYC and identity management and reporting to identify its suitability for the organisation. He also demonstrated practical use and functions of the blockchain by explaining the Ethereum and building blocks. Hemant also illustrated the smart contract and explained how it differs from the traditional contracts. Narasimhan Elangovan, touched upon functional aspects of blockchain and comprehended the areas where the usage of blockchain can result in a substantial cost and time advantage. He analysed sectoral impact of blockchain on various business segments and assessed blockchain from regulatory, governance, risk, and control aspects. He also discussed global business scenario and some of the analytical tools of blockchain in an interesting manner. He predicted that while there will be a paradigm shift in the jobs and functions of the accounting field, the emergence of the new technology will also pave way for many opportunities. The Vote of Thanks was offered by Nirlep Bhatt, Chapter Secretary, who thanked the members for positive response and enthusiastic participation. He also offered gratitude to ICAI, faculties and Doha Bank for their generous and invaluable support. The participants, representing diverse spectrum of industries, appreciated rich contents of the course, resourceful faculties, interactive learning methodology and an effective brainstorming on various cases. They rated it as a high-quality course with wonderful learning opportunity provided by the chapter. The Doha Chapter of ICAI is the oldest among the 33 overseas chapters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The Chapter is actively involved in enhancing and updating the professional knowledge of its members, local professionals and non-members. Doha Chapter of ICAI is the first professional membership body to be registered with Qatar Financial Centre. MENAFN0101202000630000ID1099494576

New Delhi: Continuing a 29-year unbroken practice, India and Pakistan Wednesday exchanged a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral arrangement that prohibits them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. The two countries exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations between India and Pakistan, the External Affairs Ministry said. This was done simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. The exchange of the list came amid tense diplomatic ties between the two countries over the Kashmir issue. The agreement was signed December 31, 1988 and came into force January 27, 1991. The pact mandates the two countries to inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the first of January of every calendar year. This is the 29th consecutive exchange of the list with the first one taking place January 1, 1992. PTI

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0 SHARES Share Tweet Quebec lottery fans have celebrated quite the cash windfalls over the past twelve months, with bigger and better lotto jackpots making their way to their pockets. Lotto 6/49 was once again among the preferred tickets purchased by many Canadians, but it seemed like many of the cash prizes were eventually drawn to the eastern regions of the country. Today we are going to review some of the heftiest Lotto 6/49 jackpots bagged by Quebec players this year. Purchasing tickets as a group has made the entire gaming experience more special for Canadians, as it makes them feel part of a community that could soon become much richer. This is also true for tickets purchased by couples that have agreed to split the jackpot and invest it in something both individuals would find enjoyable. Lotto 6/49 Proves Generosity Such was the case with a couple hailing from Gatineau that became eligible for a cash windfall of CA$7 million mid-July. Just like many winners before them, the two Lotto 6/49 enthusiasts were in a state of disbelief upon realizing their lives would never be the same again. Colette Laberge and Mario Lafrenière collected their jackpot and took a photo with the hefty cheque at Casino du Lac-Leamy. The winging draw for the two of them took place on July 10, highlighting the numbers 07, 15, 22, 28, 43, 49, plus the bonus one 45. Matching the six main numbers sufficed, making their ticket a lucky one indeed. Winners revealed that they had purchased the winning ticket at Uniprix Danyel Dessureault, Place de la Cité-des-Jeunes. According to Loto-Quebec’s regulation, every retail point associated with a winning purchase is eligible for a 1-percent slice of the jackpot. This granted the location some CA$70,000, a motivation for many retailers to include lottery offerings in their array of offerings. One of the regular questions, when winners collect their prize, is related to their plans. The Gatineau couple had already come up with a plan that included treating their extended family as well. Larger Prizes Claimed Another permanent resident of Quebec would forever remember this year as a special one thanks to his lucky Lotto 6/49 ticket purchase. The first days of August were special for Daniel Lavoie of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean who was the proud winner of CA$3.5 million jackpot. This was half of the August 7 Lotto 6/49 Main prize, but still a generous cash pile for the Canadian. August 7 brought a Lotto 6/49 draw coming with a CA$7-million prize that was eventually split between the two tickets eligible for it. The numbers drawn at that draw were 05, 08, 09, 19, 28, 31, plus the bonus one 18. Mr. Lavoie purchased his ticket at the Couche-Tard convenience store in Chambord ahead of the lucky draw. Just like every other retail location selling winging tickets, the convenience store received one percent of the payout. In this case this amounted to CA$35,000 piece of the Main prize. The lotto millionaire was certain that he would continue working at least for the time being, despite the windfall. He also began looking for the perfect new home for his family.

Here are the winning Lotto and Lotto Plus numbers from the Wednesday, January 1 draw: Lotto: 04, 05, 24, 40, 42, 47 Bonus: 17 Lotto Plus 1: 04, 11, 13, 27, 30, 34 Bonus: 08 Lotto Plus 2: 12, 23, 24, 28, 43, 49 Bonus: 14 Are you feeling lucky? See the payouts for the Lotto here, click here for Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2, click here. The next Lotto and Lotto Plus draws are on Wednesday. Download the News24 app via the Play or iTunes App stores and get a free alert moments after each Lotto draw with the winning numbers. Tap here to download the News24 Android App or here to download the News24 Apple App. In case you missed it, here are the winning Powerball and Powerball Plus numbers from the Tuesday, December 31 draw: PowerBall: 22, 31, 44, 49, 50 PowerBall: 08 PowerBall Plus:01, 09, 17, 26, 35 PowerBall: 03 Get the full list of past Lotto and PowerBall draws here.

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In the most anticipated speech of his career today, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un told hundreds of cadre from the Workers’ Party of Korea to prepare for a long-term standoff with the United States over its drive to “seek its own political and diplomatic interests” in Korea while “wasting time away under the signboard of dialogue and negotiations.” But to the obvious surprise of many U.S. experts, Kim hedged on making any move that would cross a red line for the Trump administration or the Pentagon. Instead, he left the door open for further negotiations over peace and denuclearization – but only if the United States “rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK” and helps build “a lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism” on the peninsula. In some ways, Kim’s remarks restated the regime’s long-standing policy on talking to Washington, with an extra dose of determination to withstand the withering U.S. and UN sanctions that have crippled Kim’s attempts to remake North Korea’s economy and stifled any moves towards inter-Korean reconciliation over the last two years. “The DPRK-U.S. stand-off which has lasted century after century has now been compressed to clear stand-off between self-reliance and sanctions,” he said. If that situation continues, Kim declared, the “long confrontation” with the U.S. might include the introduction “in the near future” of a “new strategic weapon” that he declined to describe (apart from being capable of “shocking actual action.”) Moreover, he would show his new hand by ending the halt he declared in 2018 to further development of nuclear weapons and the “test-fire” of long-range ICBMs capable of hitting the United States. “There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to that commitment any longer,” he said. To make the case for ending the moratorium, Kim pointed to the “big and small” military drills carried out by the U.S. military in and around Korea since the talks began in 2018, and its introduction of “ultra-modern warfare equipment” from the United States into South Korea. As he spoke, a fleet of U.S. spy planes, based primarily in nearby Okinawa and carrying the most sophisticated surveillance equipment in the world, combed Korean skies looking for any signs of new tests that would violate the moratorium. Read the original article.

We didn’t wind up getting that Christmas present from Kim Jong-un that he promised. (Not even the vase that President Trump suggested.) While most of us were expecting either a weapon’s test or a missile launch, all remained quiet in the hermit nation for the remainder of the year. But this morning the dictator released a statement through his country’s state-run media outlets that appears to explain what the real “present” was going to be. As of today, North Korea is no longer considering itself bound to the weapons testing moratorium agreed to between Kim and Trump. (NY Times) North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, ​said his country no longer felt bound by its self-imposed moratorium on testing nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles, its official media reported on Wednesday, the strongest indication yet that the country could soon resume such tests… North Korea has not conducted a long-range missile test or a nuclear test in more than two years. Mr. Kim had announced his moratorium at a time when he hoped negotiations with the United States — and his budding personal relationship with President Trump — would prompt the United States to begin lifting crippling sanctions. Kim was still being rather vague about what he plans to do, but he promised that the world would soon see a “new strategic weapon” being deployed from the Korean Peninsula. (The Hill) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned the world will witness “a new strategic weapon” from the isolated nation in the “near future” as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang are stuck in a stalemate. According to reports of his remarks from North Korean state media, Kim blasted the U.S. for its “hostile policy” toward North Korea and said he had no expectation Washington would lift sanctions on his country soon. Reached for comment at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump appeared to discount the threat, saying that he still believes Kim Jong-un is “a man of his word” and will find a way to close the deal. Of course, that’s pretty much been Trump’s modus operandi throughout this entire process. Keep flattering Kim while refusing to give in to his demands. And Trump will no doubt continue to play nice until it’s time get tough. As long as North Korea is only talking about violating the agreement and not actually doing it, there’s still time to cut a deal. It’s even conceivable that Trump could put some small concession on the table along the lines of a partial withdrawal of one or two minor sanctions. That would at least give Kim something to take home and claim a victory if he’s willing to at least continue the moratorium, if not actually start dismantling his nukes. But in reality, those nukes are the only thing keeping Kim in power, at least in his view. It’s almost impossible to conceive of him really carrying through on a comprehensive denuclearization program. So if he doesn’t, what might the “new strategic weapon” be? Intelligence analysts seem to think it will be one of two things. Either he’ll light off a fully functional hydrogen bomb or he’ll test an ICBM with solid fuel propellant that can definitely make it all the way across the Pacific to the west coast of the United States. Either one would be provocative in the extreme and send us right back to where we were stuck before Trump reached out to him. 2020 may be starting off on an upward path domestically but in terms of our negotiations with North Korea, we’re already hitting a sour note. And with Russia and China courting Kim’s favor these days, I’m not particularly hopeful of the situation improving any time soon.

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This coming March, it will have been 10 years since Ryan Westmoreland experienced the scariest day of his life. He was on an operating table at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix as Dr. Robert Spetzler prepped for a five-hour procedure to remove a cavernous malformation on his brain stem. At the time, Westmoreland was the No. 1 prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization and the 21st-ranked minor league player in all of baseball. But as doctors started to put the former Portsmouth High School star under anesthesia, his thoughts didn’t drift toward a future career in the bigs and he wasn’t dwelling on when he’d get back on the field. He was praying he’d make it through alive. Nearly a decade has passed since March 16, 2010 — the date of that surgery, which is emblazoned on his arm with a tattoo — and on the anniversary, Westmoreland will be back on the field as an assistant coach on Bob Prince’s staff at UMass Dartmouth. “It was perfect. I had lost two of my assistant coaches to head coaching jobs, and I had been passively looking [to replace them],” Prince said. “The timing couldn’t have been any better. I reached out to Ryan and it went from there. We had a nice conversation in regards to the program and his role, his expectations.” Westmoreland is currently working with teenage players with the Ocean State Makos, an AAU team. And, in a way, that’s how he ended up with the Corsairs. He was touting some of his players to Rian McCarthy, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with UMass Dartmouth. McCarthy, who had previously coached the Post 18 American Legion team in Newport, asked Westmoreland if he had considered coaching at the next level. “I said absolutely,” Westmoreland said. “I wasn’t reaching out for jobs, but he asked me if I’d be interested, I talked with Coach Prince and it snowballed from there. I’m excited.” When Westmoreland’s professional baseball career ended in 2013, he never envisioned himself as a coach. But after starting with the Portsmouth High School freshman team in 2015, then working with the Makos, he realized he could impart his vast knowledge of the game on the next generation of future stars. And he found it quite enjoyable. “When I retired, I wasn’t dead set on being a coach,” Westmoreland said. “The first year I coached, I said to myself, ‘I have a lot of knowledge and things I can teach.’ Not only the physical, but also the mental part of the game. I can teach what I’ve learned and then watch them to grow up and be successful.” Westmoreland was a star at Portsmouth High School, twice named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, before graduating in 2008. That year, he was chosen by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the MLB First-Year Player draft. A five-tool player with tremendous potential, Westmoreland by the end of his second professional season was named the club’s top prospect. But early in 2010, he felt tingling in his fingers and realized something wasn’t right. Westmoreland had a cavernous malformation on his brain stem that required a dangerous surgical procedure. He attempted a comeback and was invited to Red Sox spring training in 2011, but a second surgery forced him to give up the game he loves so much at just 22 years old. There were some dark times, but Westmoreland found solace in coaching. Now he’ll take the next step in what he hopes is a lifelong endeavor. With UMass Dartmouth, Westmoreland said he won’t have a defined role, but is willing to do what is asked of him. ″[Coach Prince] just said, ‘We want you to be part of our program,’ And that was huge for me, because I’ve never coached in college,” Westmoreland said. “It looks like whatever I can do to help the team, and whatever Coach Prince wants me to do, I’m happy to do it.” Prince knows what he’s getting in Westmoreland. “He brings a lot,” Prince said. “Just the experience in terms of playing and the process and the grind that these kids go through. And he’s been working with kids who are at a high level. He’s been successful at developing players, and that’s what we’re about — developing players and people.” Prince said Westmoreland isn’t hesitant to talk about what happened 10 years ago, and that most of the players already know his story. Infielder JR DiSarcina is the son of Gary DiSarcina, who was the manager of the Lowell Spinners when Westmoreland was with the club in 2009. “When [the players] caught wind of what was going on, we were all on a group text, and one of the players said, ‘Oh my God, I have his rookie card and he autographed it for me.’ The kids know who he is,” Prince said. For Westmoreland, this coaching position could be a stepping stone. “I really hope it opens that door,” Westmoreland said. “Ever since I started coaching, I knew I wanted a future in this. I was looking to get into the college baseball world, and we’ll see where it goes from there. But this is a great opportunity.” And he has a backer in Prince. “He wants to be involved in baseball at a high level, whether it’s coaching in college, professionally or scouting,” Prince said. “My job, as it is with my players, is to help him get him to where he wants to go.”

Former World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva will miss the Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the 2020 season - due to problems with her left wrist. The 35 year old Russian has been a semi-finalist at the Australian Open on two occasions in her career - in 2009 and 2011. She has also reached the finals in a Grand Slam on two occasions - at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. Zvonareva last played in the main draw of the Australian Open in 2015, when she reached the second round and had lost in the first round of qualifying in Melbourne in 2018 and 2019. She is a former doubles champion at this tournament - having won the 2012 doubles title with fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. Zvonareva joins former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka on the sidelines of the tournament on the women's side - the Belarusian has missed the tournament due to personal reasons. The 35-year-old Russian is ranked No. 159 in the world currently but had entered the event by using her protected ranking. On the men's side, former World No. 1 Andy Murray, Japan's Kei Nishikori and Frenchman Lucas Pouille have also withdrawn due to injuries. The first Grand Slam tournament of the season begins in Melbourne on January 20th.

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Bushfires in East Gippsland leave 28 missing as towns evacuate ahead of high-risk weekend Updated Victorian authorities are ramping up efforts to reach and evacuate cut-off communities in East Gippsland, where 28 people remain missing after destructive bushfires tore through the region. Key points: Remote communities across the region are either evacuating in convoys or preparing to stay and defend In one isolated town, several residents are relying on a single shared radio at the general store For the latest information, visit the Vic Emergency website Premier Daniel Andrews said 24 Victorian communities were still isolated by bushfires on Thursday afternoon. Rescue crews were battling to clear roads to reach them so they could evacuate before the risk increased this weekend, he said. Nine satellite phones had also been dropped into other isolated communities. This morning, Mr Andrews said the number of people missing in bushfire-affected areas in Victoria had risen from 17 to 28. "I can confirm today that as at 9:30am, there are 28 people that we cannot locate, and we are very concerned about their wellbeing," Mr Andrews told a press conference in Melbourne. Earlier, a body found in a home at Buchan was identified as 67-year-old Mick Roberts. Thirty-nine firefighters from North America landed in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon to join the battle to control the East Gippsland blazes. The charity group Need for Feed has also organised fodder to be dropped across East Gippsland to help isolated farmers trying to stop their livestock from starving. On Friday morning some of the 4,000 people trapped in the coastal town of Mallacoota were transported to a Navy ship that arrived in the area the previous day. They will be evacuated from Mallacoota to Western Port, at Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula, a journey that is expected to take 17 hours. Dirt-road convoy gets out of Cann River A convoy of 46 cars and a bus left Cann River on Thursday afternoon after residents were told trying to leave on Saturday would be extremely dangerous. The convoy, which included emergency vehicles, was able to leave after crews cleared an old dirt track out of town. Alison Rainey, who owns a local cafe, said they were all headed to the town of Orbost. She said some residents who were undecided about leaving had opted to join the convoy after they were told at a briefing that Saturday would be an extremely dangerous day for the town. Ms Rainey — who has decided to stay in Cann River — said her 10-year-old son was with his father in Bonnie Doon. "Now that the town population has plummeted there's plenty [of food] to go around," she told ABC Statewide Drive. She said she planned to take shelter in the school if things worsened. "I feel confident that the school will be fine, that we will be protected here, I have no doubt about that." Nowa Nowa residents share single radio Further west, several residents in Nowa Nowa have been relying on a single shared radio at a general store to monitor bushfire warnings. Nowa Nowa General Store owner Sandra Huggins said the town was confronted by a "massive wall of fire" on Tuesday. She is now concerned about what will happen this weekend. "Our community hasn't had power since Monday evening," she said. "Because we have no power or phones or internet we're not getting any of the emergency warnings. "If we got out of town a few Ks, we all of sudden get 'ping, ping, pings' and all these messages. "It's a bit disconcerting to learn you're on Watch and Act, which you didn't even know." A passing tradie left them with a decent radio, which is now located in the only part of town with reception — in the car park outside the store. "We don't get radio reception in our store or in our house," Ms Huggins said. "That's our only contact with what's happening, we have no idea otherwise. "It's very scary, especially with what happened on Monday night and what may happen." In the meantime, the community is cooking up the food from their defrosting freezers at a barbecue outside the shop. "We're happy to feed anyone who wants to come and eat it," Ms Huggins said. Those left in Genoa will face the fires alone Just north-west of Mallacoota, the small community of Genoa has found itself completely cut off from Victorian authorities as a result of the fires. CFA chief officer Steve Warrington said Victorian firefighters had asked their NSW counterparts to help, but even they could not reach the town. He said a police officer had driven from Eden through the fire to get into Genoa and help the community as it was hit by the same blaze that devastated Mallacoota. On Wednesday, authorities said about 100 people were trapped in Genoa. David Sykes, who runs the nearby Wallagaraugh River Retreat, said he told his 56 guests to leave the holiday park on Sunday. He said properties in the area had been destroyed, but most residents had already fled over the border to Eden. "That is very, very sad, because as much as the fire out in the open has died down and is under control and in private land, you know, now the sad stories are starting to come out," he said. Orbost serving as a point of refuge The town of Orbost, which sits between Bairnsdale and Mallacoota, is serving as the main point of refuge for people leaving some of East Gippsland's more remote communities. But some people remain trapped in remote communities to the north, such as Goongerah and Bonang. Further west, a major relief centre at the Bairnsdale saleyards has been filling up with bushfire evacuees and about 250 horses. East Gippsland Mayor John White said a backup centre may be needed at the local racecourse. Metung told 'we need to evacuate' Victorian authorities have told communities to the south and south-east of the Bairnsdale complex of fires that they are under threat and should leave as soon as possible before this weekend's weather hits. That message was hardened by Metung CFA Captain Trevor Blundell on Thursday, who told a local meeting that the town needed to be evacuated. "We are not safe in Metung. We are not safe in Metung. We need to evacuate this town," he told a crowd through a speaker on one of the brigade's trucks. "Holidaymakers, residents, all these people in front of me looking at me, we need to leave Metung." Topics: bushfire, fires, disasters-and-accidents, emergency-incidents, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sale-3850, cann-river-3890, nowa-nowa-3887, genoa-3891, mallacoota-3892, orbost-3888, bemm-river-3889, metung-3904 First posted

There are grave fears for 17 people missing in Victoria's massive, deadly East Gippsland bushfires. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Thursday none of the 17 people missing in the region are emergency services personnel. The increased number comes after family members confirmed Buchan man Mick Roberts had died at his home. "There are at least 17 people that at this stage we cannot account for. Their whereabouts are unknown to us, plus there is one person confirmed as deceased," Andrews told reporters at Bairnsdale. "Whilst Victoria Police have not been through the official identification processes, it is clear that the Roberts family have identified Mr Roberts and we send our condolences to their family and the Buchan community to whom he was so well-known and very highly regarded." READ MORE: * Naval ship arrives at Mallacoota to evacuate people as bushfires cut off town * Lives lost, homes destroyed as deadly bushfires rage in Australia * Naval ships, aircraft ready for Australia bushfire rescues as thousands jump in water to flee flames * 'Out of control': Volunteer firefighters in Australia demand income support, equipment Andrews did not narrow down what communities of East Gippsland the missing people are from. "It may be some of those people are safe but we hold very significant fears for the welfare of anybody who is missing at this time," he said. AP In this image made from video, an aerial scene shows fires burning and smoke rising close to properties in Bundoora, Victoria, on Monday. The fires are expected to last for weeks. The military has arrived to get fire victims across the region relief and resources, and also off the beach at Mallacoota. About 24 communities are isolated and reaching them to deliver supplies have been difficult. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government was offering any assistance requested. "Our task has been to fully support and provide whatever assistance is necessary through all the various agencies of the Commonwealth," he told reporters in Sydney. AP Bushfires are raging across Australia, with at least 16 people killed across the country since they began. "The provision of disaster payments that have now exceeded some more than A$21 million in New South Wales alone and we expect more of that to continue in Victoria as the full devastation of the fires there becomes more evident." All fires in Victoria are currently sitting no higher than a watch and act alert, but smoky conditions have meant flights to rescue people, deliver supplies and swap out firefighters have at times been stopped. Firefighters are being helped on Thursday by moderate conditions, with temperatures in East Gippsland in the low to mid 20s expected to be paired with fairly light winds of up to 20 kmh. AP An aerial scene shows destroyed properties after a wildfire in East Grippsland, Victoria, on Wednesday. Australia deployed military ships and aircraft to help communities ravaged by the fires. But the mercury is forecast to creep up in the region on Friday, before reaching the 40s on Saturday, when the heat, hot winds and possible thunderstorms will increase the risk of new fires. People near the Corryong fire in Victoria's northeast near the NSW border are being doorknocked and told to get out of the region before the weekend.

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Good morning and welcome to our bushfire blog today. Let's start with a round-up of what's happening in NSW — where a 'humanitarian crisis' is developing because there's no fuel, no food and no power. Today, a fleet of ships and helicopters is making its way to coastal regions to supply and rescue residents trapped by fires in an Australian Defence Force deployment to bring food, water and medical help to towns in danger. At 5.30am there are 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained. Firefighters will make the most of more favourable conditions today to protect properties before deteriorating conditions again this Saturday.#NSWRFS #NSWFires pic.twitter.com/vb3o55n8XU — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 1, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js About 50,000 homes are without power, phone networks are down, major supermarkets are closed and there are reports of people are queuing up to three hours to get food. Fuel is also running low. Two tankers came in late yesterday and there's a ration to allow motorists enough to fuel up and get out. This comes as the Rural Fire Service has issued a map of highlighting an area 250km long from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, where tourists were being asked to leave. Tourist Leave Zone – South Coast Bush Fires Dangerous conditions for holiday makers on the South Coast of NSW this weekend With the widespread power and communications outages across the South Coast please share this information to as many affected people as possible. #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/JvbwrpC1fe — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 1, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js There's a 24-hour window today to evacuate the region before extreme fire conditions return on Saturday. Motorists are now able to travel north on the Princes Highway from Batemans Bay. A reduced speed limit of 60km/h is in place. Fireys say there's 'no hope' of containing blazes before Saturday. Three watch and acts on South Coast. 110 fires burning across NSW, half of them uncontained. Seven people have died so far in these fires since Monday and 176 homes have been lost. A 72-year-old man remains unaccounted for at Belowra, about 50km north west of Cobargo. Picture, Alex Coppel

Advertisement Residents in Australian towns ravaged by the bushfires have gone into 'panic stations' following 'apocalyptic' blazes that left 50,000 families without power and entire towns with a contaminated water supply. Desperate locals and tourists were clearing shelves in supermarkets and filling up their fuel on Wednesday. Weather conditions are expected to worsen by Saturday and there are currently road closures impacting traffic in and out of fire-affected communities across the New South Wales south coast and parts of Victoria. Water supplies in both states have been contaminated in some areas, while it is simply running out all together in others. One woman who was in the town of Tura Beach phoned the ABC and described the situation as 'panic stations'. 'A car queue of 50 waiting to get petrol and people in Woolworths clearing the shelves… apocalyptic,' she said. Steve McKenzie, managing director of East Gippsland Water, said a 'boil water notice' had been issued in multiple towns. He said the water could remain contaminated until late tomorrow - when it could finally be tested - and also urged residents in fire-ravished towns to use as little water as possible to reserve what they could for battling blazes. Supermarkets are giving out bottled water for free and more supplies are en route. Bega Valley Shire Council announced a boil water notice for Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele on Wednesday. 'All water for drinking, food preparation, the cleaning of teeth and ice-making needs to be boiled before use,' a statement read. Ulladulla Woolworths opened its doors on Wednesday to give locals unable to leave the chance to stock up on supplies About 300 people turned out and lined up for at least two hours to get in the stores and make their purchases More than 110 fires are still burning across NSW on New Years Day after conditions worsened last week. Infernos are also still ravaging Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. At least seven people on the NSW south coast and another in Victoria died on Tuesday and Wednesday, as destructive infernos razed entire communities to the ground. On the south coast alone, at least 176 homes were destroyed and another 50,000 left without power. The townspeople have been told it is too late to leave - and in some cases it is even too dangerous for fire crews to enter. As a result, residents in Ulladulla in the Shoalhaven area and nearby Narooma took the opportunity on Wednesday to stock up on essentials at the local Woolworths. This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra on Tuesday AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement But they have been urged not to over-buy out of panic. Amanda Findley, the Mayor of Shoalhaven City Council, reminded her townspeople the power is not predicted to be restored any time soon - meaning most homes have no access to refrigeration therefore shouldn't be looking to unnecessarily stock up on food. She went on to say there would not be a shortage of food and asked people to buy only what they need. Craig Scott, the store manager at the Ulladulla Woolworths, said the store was running on a recently purchased generator - but it was close to running out of fuel. He was hoping local boat owners would share their diesel to ensure essential food and milk wouldn't spoil. 'The power's out in town, but we decided to open the store just for necessities, so people can get nappies, baby food, all that sort of stuff,' he said. He noted about 300 people were lining up on Wednesday morning, and that most people waited about two hours to be served. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are in Batemans Bay (pictured) experiencing the devastation firsthand The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been levelled Local petrol stations have been forced to post signs letting residents know they've been run completely dry of petrol - while others simply don't have any power to operate. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday evening said power was slowly starting to be restored in towns, and thanked those who had been affected for their patience. NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday. The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega. Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado. Another satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread A kangaroo can be seen moving away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra on the NSW South Coast A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning. The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday. Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning. 'Today we have the three deaths. The police have confirmed at Yatte Yattah, a body found in a vehicle there, which is near Lake Conjola,' NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told media on Wednesday afternoon. 'One at Sussex Inlet, a body in a vehicle. And ambulance officers have told us about a body that they have located as well deceased.' 'In terms of the situation down on the South Coast, we have three emergency operation centres operating locally up and down the coast that are dealing with any amount of local issues and doing their best to solve those problems for people down there. A home lost to a bushfire on Hassall Road in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowra Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast 'There is no magic wand to wave across this and fix it in a short amount of time.' Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo. Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as well, as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast. 'So we know that the damage that's been occasioned right throughout the south-east corner of New South Wales is a heavy toll. And more importantly we're seeing unfortunately the tragedy of lives lost as well,' he said on Wednesday afternoon. 'As the Premier quite rightly indicated, we need to prepare ourselves for that number to climb with information coming out this afternoon.' Residents of Cobargo, NSW, inspect the damage the fire left after it ripped through the town on Tuesday A horse escaped from the nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra as bushfires ravage the area on Tuesday Three people are confirmed dead and there are concerns for five people who are missing after fires left scenes like the one in Cobargo across the state Three thousand firefighters were deployed to help battle the blazes and protect homes, businesses and vehicles Cobargo has been destroyed by fires on Tuesday after blazes ripped through the town and burned several buildings Fires have been burning in Australia - such as this one near Tahmoor known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 - since September

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It’s a restaurant model you don’t see every day. And during the season of giving, we turn our attention toward a unique restaurant with a philosophy just as rare that has landed in the Twin Cities. A group of industry folks have joined forces to roll out Provision community cafe in south Minneapolis, a nonprofit with a pay-what-you-can model. For executive director and founder Anna Wienke, along with David Smith, chefs Kenny Beck, Manny Winston and Heather Mady, it’s a way to gather local resources, reduce food waste and overcome food insecurity by offering nutritious meals that are free and/or affordable. “We’re a space dedicated to overcoming food insecurity, isolation and hardship in our community by serving family-style meals to patrons of all social, racial and economic classes — breaking down all barriers and creating an environment where everyone is welcome and engaged,” Wienke said. “Provision is a true neighborhood restaurant, with a space by local restaurant design giant Shea Design, where menus change by the day and seating and service is family-style.” listen live watch live It takes a small army to run the operation at 2940 Harriet Ave. S. In addition to monetary donations, food contributions from local businesses also helps to cover or keep costs down. Volunteers are a big part of the front-of-the-house operation. An advisory board, from business and financial services to restaurant and food vendors, provide several areas of expertise. How it works: The cafe is on a first-come, first-served basis. Dinners are offered with seatings at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Brunch is available on Saturdays, with seatings at 10 a.m. and noon. Upon arrival, grab a seat at one of the community tables in the dining room and a family-style meal will be served. The menu changes daily and updates are posted on the Provisions Facebook page. A recent dinner spread was made up of a salad, dirty rice, potato wedges, artisan breads and dessert. While on another night, a salad, penne with red sauce, roasted broccoli and cauliflower, garlic bread and dessert was on the roster. At the end of the meal, a give-what-you-can model means you donate whatever amount you would like to or can, with the money going toward helping keep the nonprofit operation — a food-service model based on the One World Everybody Eats (“OWEE”) community café model used by several nonprofit organizations across the country — afloat.

Q: I’m a woman, age 36, who married a man from another country five years ago. I moved there and we bought a house together. But we both found that we just weren’t compatible. He’s very laid-back; I’m hyperactive by comparison. Since we had no children, we agreed to part in an amicable divorce. I decided to go home for a visit, and scout the chances for work. By luck, I was offered a terrific job and decided to stay. But I’d only brought one small suitcase along for the trip. When I informed my ex that I’d like him to ship the rest of my things, and finalize splitting the proceeds from our house sale, his normally easygoing manner changed completely. He became angry, said I’d have to do my own packing and shipping which had nothing to do with him. He added that the money wasn’t easily available. I’m shocked at his meanness. Now I have to wait for my new job to allow early “vacation time” for me to travel overseas, retrieve my own things, and deal with this now-difficult ex about money that’s rightfully mine. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... How can I manage everything in two weeks of so-called “vacation” time? Difficult Ex A: Start preparations now. Reach out to your contacts where you lived for five years, and ask them to refer you to a reliable shipping company. Get informed from that company as to what proof of ownership or other papers may be required. But before addressing the money issue with your ex, try a non-combative phone conversation with him asking if there’s anything you need to know about the house proceeds. Then, communicate with the lawyer involved in the sale, and have him/her or another lawyer inform your ex that you require your share to re-settle back home. Have as many conversations as possible to prepare yourself to be ready to proceed when you travel to complete the move. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... Invite a local friend there to help you with the packing, especially if it’s in the presence of your ex-husband. Q: I work in an open-concept office where my co-workers and I are respectful of each other’s sound space. Most conversations on the phone or in person are kept to reasonable decibels. Unfortunately, we received a newcomer to our space who laughs like a hyena. I’m not exaggerating. She’ll say a name aloud, then laugh in hysterical bursts. Get some good advice in your inbox Get expert advice on life and relationships with the Star's Advice email newsletter. Sign Up Now It’s very annoying and interferes with my concentration. What do I do/say that won’t be turned back on me as workplace harassment? Earplugs Not Enough A: Start with a plan of accommodation, rather than annoyance. She has an ingrained habit, you have a concentration problem. Hers may be a nervous habit which gets exaggerated in new situation. Yours is a reaction. Neither of you are affecting or interfering with the other, on purpose. You do have to be careful in a workplace atmosphere about how you proceed. Talk first to your supervisor who’ll likely ask a human resources representative as to the best plan (if there is an HR department). But if left on your own, speak to this co-worker aside from others, and gently tell her that her exuberant laugh is too loud for an open-concept workplace. Ask her to please try to tone it down. To show that you’re demonstrating goodwill, you could say that you’re willing to use earplugs when you need to concentrate more. If she reacts badly, write a note detailing who said what, and then take it higher up. Ellie’s tip of the day An “amicable” divorce still requires being legally informed and aware of any financial complications. EXPERT ADVICE. IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for the Star’s advice newsletter, get the latest on relationships, etiquette and more.

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Share Tweet Email Copy Link Copied To celebrate New Year's Day, Disney+ released a promo highlighting the new content coming to the streaming service in 2020. Surprisingly, that list includes Marvel Studios' WandaVision, which was originally slated for a spring 2021 debut. While no specific date was listed in the promo, concept art and the title card for WandaVision appear just after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which premieres in the fall. RELATED: WandaVision Photos Appear to Confirm Debut of a Major Marvel Character WandaVision was officially announced in July 2019 during Marvel Studios' Hall H panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, with star Elizabeth Olsen promising "We'll finally understand Wanda Maximoff as Scarlet Witch." In addition to bringing back Paul Bettany's Vision, who died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, the series will tie directly into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will also feature Wanda in some capacity. advertising WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as Vision, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn. The limited series will premiere on Disney+ at some point in 2020. KEEP READING: WandaVision Reveals First Look at Adult Monica Rambeau in New Set Photos Share Tweet Email Copy Link Copied The Mandalorian: Funko Unveils Next Wave of Pop! Vinyl Figures

To kick off 2020, Disney has given a preview of what to expect from its Disney+ streaming service this year. Most notably, a newly released teaser revealed that Marvel's WandaVision series has been pushed forward from 2021 to 2020. While no exact release date has been given, Disney previously indicated the show would premiere spring 2021. WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, who both reprise their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles as Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) and Vision respectively. Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, and Kathryn Hahn round out the supporting cast. The limited series will run for six hour-long episodes and will take place after Avengers: Endgame, which saw Scarlet Witch brought back from Thanos' snap in Infinity War. The teaser additionally shows 1950s-inspired key art of Vision and Wanda together. Is this not what 2020 vision means? From #ToyStory 4 and Aladdin to #LizzieMcGuire and WandaVision, here’s a look into our future at the blockbusters and Originals coming to #DisneyPlus this year. pic.twitter.com/QHGMHat89n — Disney+ (@disneyplus) January 1, 2020 The Disney+ Twitter account made sure to reiterate the news. Among the other upcoming titles expected to hit Disney's streaming service in 2020 are The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Aladdin, and Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. 2021, meanwhile, will bring Loki, Hawkeye, and What If...?.

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With a threat to test a “new strategic weapon” in “the near future” North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to President Donald Trump’s head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is now playing a dangerous game of geopolitical chicken, telegraphing to the world that he most likely will test a new long-range missile that could kill millions of Americans if it landed in a heavily populated area – but would be guaranteed to provoke a devastating U.S retaliatory attack on the North. Trump needs to play his cards right now and base his strategy on an understanding of why North Korea continues to build and test missiles and why it refuses to abandon its nuclear weapons. KIM JONG UN SAYS NORTH KOREA NEEDS TO TAKE 'OFFENSIVE MEASURES' TO PROTECT COUNTRY'S SECURITY If he succeeds, the president can minimize any potential nuclear challenge coming for the communist regime and even bring Kim back to the negotiating table. Of course, any good strategy to take on the North Korean threat must be based on facts on the ground and must be rooted in historical perspective and an understanding of what the hermit kingdom is trying to achieve and what motivates Kim’s actions. Let’s get one thing straight. Kim is not crazy nor is he suicidal. His goal is not to start a nuclear war that will spark a massive U.S. retaliation that would destroy his country and could result in his own death. His goal is to get relief from U.S. and international economic sanctions without giving up his nukes. All it would take is the nuclear weapons aboard just one U.S. Navy ballistic submarine – carrying an astounding 192 nuclear warheads – to wipe out North Korea in roughly 20 minutes. Its population of 25 million people would be killed – all from just one submarine lurking below the surface in the Pacific Ocean – and Kim knows that. That’s some real “fire and fury.” The North Korean dictator – who follows his grandfather and father in leading his nation like a communist hereditary monarch – has a clearly established goal we can all relate to: survival. Let’s get one thing straight. Kim is not crazy nor is he suicidal. His goal is not to start a nuclear war that will spark a massive U.S. retaliation that would destroy his country and could result in his own death. His goal is to get relief from U.S. and international economic sanctions without giving up his nukes. Kim believes that his nuclear weapons are the ultimate insurance policy against an attack by the U.S., South Korea or any other nation aiming to overthrow his regime. Kim knows that U.S. and United Nations forces attacked his country in the Korean War, and is well aware that American forces have waged long wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq in the years since. He doesn’t want any foreign forces seeking regime change in a second Korean War with either a conventional or a nuclear attack – and knows his nukes can act as a deterrent to prevent that. North Korea has made huge sacrifices to build up its small but very dangerous arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles. Although the nation has an economy smaller than the state of Montana and can barely feed its own people, it has beaten the odds to join the nuclear club. But because the North has spent huge sums of money and endured years of international economic sanctions to go nuclear, it’s not realistic to expect to Kim to simply hand over all his nuclear bombs and missiles to the U.S. anytime soon. Demanding such a full denuclearization in return for eventual sanctions relief – something that would take years – is not a policy at all, but a recipe for disaster, simply ensuring that Kim builds more and bigger nuclear weapons. A senior White House adviser told me that he considers North Korea “a fourth-world nation that could kill 100 million people in an hour – and that’s just with nukes, never mind all those chemical and biological weapons. North Korea is a Pandora’s box that – if you open it with military force – will spark at the very least a mini Armageddon.” From all of this, a very clear strategy can emerge for the Trump administration if it can take a more long-term approach. The administration needs to understand that for at least the short to medium term, North Korea will be unwilling to give up its nuclear arms – the regime said as much just weeks ago. For now, Team Trump must focus on starving the regime of any resources it can get its hands on to advance its nuclear program through the tightest sanctions possible and depriving the Kim family of any technology that could advance such a cause. And that’s just the beginning. Washington must also ensure that Pyongyang does not sell any of its nuclear or missile technology. There is clear evidence that North Korea and Iran have traded such knowledge over the years. America must do all it can to ensure that such transfers stop and that no other nation gains from North Korea’s nuclear advances – and prevent Pyongyang from making money off them to advance its weapons of mass destruction programs. Such a policy of what amounts to a Cold War-style containment must be matched by a willingness to continue dialogue. The history of U.S.-North Korea relations is filled with too many ups and downs – tensions and breakthroughs that are too dangerous to continue. We must be willing to try and remove the reasons that North Korea feels it needs nuclear weapons. That can only be done by building trust. As a start, a formal peace declaration ending the Korean War should be signed. In addition, liaison offices should be set up in each nation’s capital to ensure a crisis does not end up in a shooting war. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER From there, both sides should work on small steps to remove all military threats facing the other – both nuclear and conventional. In fact, we should make the nuclear disarmament of North Korea the end goal of a long-term policy shift that could take years but lead to a more stable, less up-and-down relationship. None of this will be easy. In fact, it would be much easier to do what every other U.S. administration has done on North Korea: confront the regime when it acts aggressively, punish it with sanctions and sound tough, but then move on to the next global crisis or challenge at home when missiles stop heading skyward. That would be a mistake. Eventually, President Trump or a future president may reluctantly come to the painful conclusion that getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons is as impossible as trying to get Russia, China, India, Pakistan, or another member of the nuclear club to turn back the clock and give up its nukes. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Should that day come, our fallback position should be to press for an arms control agreement to limit the North Korean nuclear force to the smallest size possible in return for normalized relations. Past U.S. leaders weren’t happy when the Soviet Union and China went nuclear – but weren’t prepared to start a nuclear war to force their denuclearization. And in all the years since, no nation has launched a nuclear attack. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY HARRY KAZIANIS

Dictator Kim Jong Un said North Korea was no longer obligated to comply with a self-imposed moratorium on testing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles. In remarks Tuesday to party leaders– and shared on state media Wednesday– Kim also warned of introducing a “new strategic weapon” in the near future. Kim’s audience also heard him accuse the United States of making “gangster-like demands,” according to Reuters. At times smiling or slapping the podium, Kim charged the U.S. with maintaining a “hostile policy” that included holding continued joint military drills with South Korea, adopting cutting edge weapons and imposing sanctions, KIM JONG UN SAYS NORTH KOREA NEEDS TO TAKE ‘OFFENSIVE MEASURES’ TO PROTECT COUNTRY’S SECURITY “The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future,” Kim said, using the initials for North Korea’s official name–the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, according to Reuters. While saying he no longer felt bound to honor a moratorium, the rogue leader gave no clear indication that a resumption of such tests was impending. He also appeared to leave the door open for eventual negotiations with the U.S. Kim has used the diplomatic stalemate to expand his military capabilities by intensifying tests of shorter-range weapons. His arsenal is now estimated to include 40 to 50 nuclear bombs and various delivery systems, including solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile-defense systems and developmental ICBMs potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim has also strengthened his negotiating position, moving the diplomacy closer to an arms reduction negotiation between nuclear states rather than talks that would culminate in a unilateral surrender of the weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. HARRY KAZIANIS: NORTH KOREA’S KIM HAS THIS GOAL IN MIND (NO, HE’S NOT CRAZY). HERE’S HOW TRUMP SHOULD RESPOND Lee Sang-min, a spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, said North Korea carrying out its threat to showcase a new strategic weapon would be unhelpful for diplomacy. Kim’s comments published in state media Wednesday were made at a key, four-day meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee as talks between Washington and Pyongyang have faltered over disagreements on disarmament steps and the removal of sanctions. President Donald Trump said he had a good relationship with Kim and thought the North Korean leader would keep his word, Reuters reported. “He likes me, I like him. We get along. He’s representing his country, I’m representing my country. We have to do what we have to do. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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If a patient suspected of having the virus has attended the surgery, PHE says the room they were seen in should not be used until it has been cleaned with detergent and disinfectant. All items used to care for the patient should be bagged as clinical waste, including the contents of the bin, and quarantined until it is known whether the patient has tested positive for WN-CoV. Fabric curtains and screens should also be bagged as infectious linen, while any cloths or mop heads used during cleaning should be disposed of as single use items. If the patient spent any time in communal areas, these should be cleaned with detergent and disinfectant as soon as possible. According to the initial guidance, GPs who suspect a patient could have the virus during a consultation should leave the room immediately, leaving the patient and their belongings inside, wash their hands and conduct the remainder of the consultation by phone. They should also contact the local health protection team. If GPs suspect a patient has the virus during a telephone consultation they should avoid a face-to-face assessment in primary care and instead call the local secondary care infection specialist. Spread of coronavirus So far no known cases of WN-CoV have been reported in the UK. On Friday, England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said that the risk to the UK public remains low. However he added: 'there may well be cases in the UK at some stage'. 'We have tried and tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases,' Professor Whitty said. 'We have global experts monitoring the situation around the clock and have a strong track record of managing new forms of infectious disease. We have access to some of the best infectious disease and public health experts in the world from around the UK.' According to the BBC the number of confirmed cases of the virus in China has reached 2,827 and the number of deaths has risen to 81. At least 20 Chinese cities have been placed on lockdown in an attempt to prevent the virus spreading. Cases have also been reported in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France and Australia.

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Sienna Santer is a second-year Harvard student and a YouTube influencer with 302,000 subscribers. Her channel took off after she uploaded a video of herself moving into her dorm room. The video now has 4.8 million views. A year later, Santer supports herself financially with the money she earns online. She shared how she makes money as a college influencer and how much she made from YouTube ads in 2019. In 2019, she earned just over $44,000 from ads in her YouTube videos, according to a screenshot viewed by Business Insider. Sign up for Business Insider's influencer newsletter, Influencer Dashboard, to get more stories like this in your inbox. Click here for more BI Prime stories. Sienna Santer is a second-year Harvard student and a popular YouTube influencer with 302,000 subscribers. She shares videos on topics like how she got into the prestigious university and what a day in her life is like. Santer's influencer career started with friends and family members asking her how she got accepted into Harvard. After a video of her Harvard dorm-room tour got 4.8 million views, Santer treats her YouTube channel and Instagram page like a part-time job. "I had so many people asking how I got in and if I could give them advice," she told Business Insider. "Instead of writing back and forth, I decided to put everything into a video and send that to them." Now she earns money from ads in her videos placed by Google and by promoting brands like Audible and the vitamin company Care/of on her channel. In 2019, she earned just over $44,000 through Google's AdSense program, which places ads in her YouTube videos, according to a screenshot viewed by Business Insider. (She said she'd have to pay about 25% of that in taxes.) How YouTube creators like Santer earn money online Creators with 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours are eligible for YouTube's Partner Program, through which they can earn money off their channels by placing ads in videos. Santer averages about $3,000 a month from AdSense, she said. "My channel has helped me deal with things a lot earlier than some of my friends and helped me a lot with money-management skills," she said. "I have checks for AdSense coming in the mail that I have put aside for taxes, retirement, savings." How much an influencer earns from Google's AdSense program on a YouTube video depends on a number of factors, from the place in the video where viewers normally drop off to the type of advertisers the video gets. Some top creators have ad-placement strategies for earning the most money possible. Generally, how much money is earned varies based on a video's watch time, length, and viewer demographic. Some videos that contain swearing or copyrighted music can be flagged by YouTube and demonetized, earning hardly any money for the creator (or none at all). Santer previously told Business Insider that she usually adds two to three ads to a video that is over 10 minutes long and follows certain techniques to optimize her video's performance. Santer is part of a rising trend of YouTubers that are gaining audiences by sharing their college experiences — especially their move-in videos, which can rack up millions of views (and in Santer's case, thousands of dollars). Margot Lee, a Syracuse student with 425,000 YouTube subscribers, teaches an informal pop-up class on becoming a professional influencer to her classmates (and shared her slides with Business Insider). Read more on Santer's YouTube business here:

Andrei Jikh was teaching magic online but he found more lucrative work by switching to personal finance. One year later, he has 300,000 subscribers and earned six figures just from ads placed on his videos by Google. Jikh spoke to Business Insider about deciding to start a YouTube channel, how he maximizes his earnings, and how much he earned per month in 2019. Sign up for Business Insider's influencer newsletter, Influencer Dashboard, to get more stories like this in your inbox. Click here for more BI Prime stories. Personal finance YouTuber Andrei Jikh grew up in a family of circus performers from Russia, and he moved to the US at age 9 when his dad got a job with Cirque du Soleil. Jikh fell in love with magic and filming home videos. Ten years later, he was hired by a startup to teach magic online. But when his parents acquired "crazy debt," Jikh became obsessed with personal finance. "We were immigrants when we came here," he told Business Insider. "We didn't really know how to manage our money, credit cards, so my parents got into crazy debt. It had a big effect on me when I was younger. At 19, I tried to teach myself, interviewing everyone I worked with to learn what they do." In late 2018, he quit his job, and with the roughly $200,000 he had in savings, started making personal finance videos for YouTube. A year later, he has 300,000 subscribers and earned more than $100,000 in 2019 from ads that run in his videos — far more than the $60,000 he made at his peak year as an online magician. "I never wanted to be in the spotlight," he told Business Insider. "But if that's not your goal, then magic becomes extremely limited, and there's very few ways for you to earn money in that industry." This screenshot shows all the ad formats that creators can use to monetize their videos. Source: YouTuber Marina Mogilko. Marina Mogilko Jikh's monthly revenue quickly increased In just a few months, Jikh was starting to make real money. Creators with 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours are eligible to have their videos monetized with ads by joining YouTube's Partner Program. How much they earn depends on a number of factors, like a video's watch time, length, video type, and viewer demographics. Some top creators have ad-placement strategies to maximize their earnings. Here's his monthly AdSense breakdown for 2019: January: $0. Jikh said he didn't know how to create effective thumbnails and titles. $0. Jikh said he didn't know how to create effective thumbnails and titles. February: $0. By the second month, he was starting to learn how to structure his videos. $0. By the second month, he was starting to learn how to structure his videos. March: $90.48. You have to make a minimum of $100 for YouTube to get paid, so technically, he made $0 that month. $90.48. You have to make a minimum of $100 for YouTube to get paid, so technically, he made $0 that month. April: $1,511.57, from one viral video. $1,511.57, from one viral video. May: $1,923.07, another viral video called "How I made 781.47 with Robinhood Dividends," where he shows his income from dividends. "This was the turning point in realizing that some videos pay more depending on your topic," he said. "Personal finance, financial minimalism, finance, credit cards, brokerages, etc., pay a lot more money than most other topics on YouTube." $1,923.07, another viral video called "How I made 781.47 with Robinhood Dividends," where he shows his income from dividends. "This was the turning point in realizing that some videos pay more depending on your topic," he said. "Personal finance, financial minimalism, finance, credit cards, brokerages, etc., pay a lot more money than most other topics on YouTube." June: $2,558.13. He learned he could monetize his videos by placing ads in the middle of videos. $2,558.13. He learned he could monetize his videos by placing ads in the middle of videos. July: $3,895.60 $3,895.60 August : $5,808.33 : $5,808.33 September: $14,879.04, his first five-figure month. He started earning between $20 and $30 for every one thousand views (CPM). $14,879.04, his first five-figure month. He started earning between $20 and $30 for every one thousand views (CPM). October: $11,622 $11,622 November : $30,782.18 : $30,782.18 December: $41,080.62 $41,080.62 Total for 2019: $121,000 (after YouTube's cut) Jikh said he spent around $10,000 to build a studio and buy camera equipment and spends five to six hours per week doing research for his videos, three to four hours filming, and 10 to 18 hours on editing. He doesn't have a talent agent or manager, he said. Jikh said he learned to make more money by including mid-roll ads, which can run in videos lasting over 10 minutes. They can be skippable or non-skippable, and creators can place them manually or have them automatically placed by YouTube. "You can strategically place ads wherever you want," he said. "If you in the middle of talking about something important, place an ad before you say what it is. I try to place an ad every 3 to 4 minutes, just finding a natural break in the video to place it." He said he also earns money online through Patreon, Amazon links, affiliate marketing, and hopes to add sponsored content to the mix in 2020. For more on how to become a successful influencer, according to YouTube and Instagram stars, check out these Business Insider Prime posts:

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All it took for the outside world to take notice of the surge in anti-Semitic violence in the tri-state area was a man walking into a rabbi’s home with a machete. For many, the domestic terror incident that injured more than a dozen Jews in the Hasidic enclave of Monsey, New York, provided a convenient new weapon with which to strike at their political enemies. This attack was a chameleon. It managed to represent everything and anything to the eye of the beholder. The attack, perpetrated by black men, was the fault of white supremacist fans of the president. It was the fault of Jews for having the gall to live in blue states, for voting for Democrats. Very sad indeed. Maybe stop voting overwhelmingly for Democrats and you might get the leadership that will protect you. Jews vote 3-1 for Dems, I don’t get it...they don’t care about you... — Covfefe2020-text Trump to 88022 (@Covfefe2020Eas) December 30, 2019 And it was Jews' faults for daring to build homes. Goes on bla bla pic.twitter.com/6lcweVdL2R — Baruch Sandhaus (@BaruchSandhaus) December 29, 2019 The attacks happening against Jews daily (and sometimes, multiple times a day) are not a game, and yet, they are being treated as such by people more interested in scoring political points than putting an end to the violence. Those playing these political games with Jewish lives may not be storming synagogues, supermarkets, or homes with machetes or guns, but they are still a major part of the problem leading to anti-Semitic violence and incitement. Those who reflexively blame President Trump for any and all attacks, no matter how unrelated his administration, actions, or rhetoric are, have made a conscious choice: They would rather play politics than put an end to the violence. And worse, it seems they would like it to continue, in order to have more ammunition against the White House leading up to the 2020 election. Just as dangerous are those on the Right who are using the occasion to lecture Jews on how they should be voting, that they should be arming themselves and fortifying their houses of worship, and where they should be living. The problem of anti-Semitism isn’t because Jews vote one way or another. (This is a complicated issue when you break down voting histories between Orthodox and secular Jews, but that is a conversation for another time.) Solving anti-Semitism doesn’t involve making our supermarkets, schools, synagogues, and more into fortresses. That’s not how any of us want to live. Unfortunately, we’ve begun to, and yet the violence continues and is becoming more serious by the day. Most of the attacks in New York have been in the streets, and they’ve taken place against men, the elderly, and even women with their children, in broad daylight and in full view of the public. Advocating for Jews taking advantage of the protections of the Second Amendment is a moot point for many panicked Jews living in areas where obtaining a gun permit is an uphill climb and a conceal carry permit an absolute impossibility. We can recognize that Jews are safer while armed and advocate for less restrictive gun laws while still acknowledging that guns aren’t a magic bullet to solve this crisis, either. In the long term, there is a battle to be fought for expanded access to guns, but in the short term, lectures about firearms are paternalistic and can be deeply frustrating for panicked people unable to avail themselves of the option. That this is the case in New York and New Jersey isn’t the fault of the Orthodox Jews living there. Instead of being condescended to about needing to move, allies would be far more appreciated and be doing far more good, continuing to advocate for less restrictive gun laws in these jurisdictions instead of expecting a small community under siege to flee the homes of their parents and grandparents. There are societal issues that are much more complex and deeper at play — the rot is far more complicated than mere politics and Trump. As long as the violence striking the Jewish community is treated as a political cudgel, it will continue unabated. Bethany Mandel (@bethanyshondark) is a stay-at-home and homeschooling mother of four and a freelance writer. She is an editor at Ricochet.com, a columnist at the Forward, and a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (WABC) -- New video has been released of another anti-Semitic attack in Brooklyn that happened on Christmas Eve.The video, released Wednesday, shows a group of men attack a 23-year-old Hasidic man as he walked in Crown Heights.One of the suspects was caught on camera throwing a chair at the victim that hit him in the head.Other suspects can then be seeing running after the man. One punched the victim in the head while another suspect threatened him with a stick.So far no arrests have been made.The rash of anti-Semitic assaults - including a stabbing attack during a Hanukkah gathering in Monsey last week - prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to visit Brooklyn in a show of support for the Jewish community.The governor shook hands and spoke with Orthodox residents of Williamsburg.He said all of New York feels disturbed by the incidents and New Yorkers stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.----------

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Liverpool vs. Sheffield U​nited EN VIVO | La Premier League no se detiene en Año Nuevo 2020 y los Reds quieren empezar con el pie derecho EN DIRECTO desde Anfield Road, a partir de las 3:00 p.m. (hora peruana) vía ESPN y ONLINE por El Popular. Liverpool vs. Sheffield United EN VIVO disputarán uno de los primeros partidos del año. Los dirigidos por Jürgen Klopp tienen la misión de mantener el invicto en la Premier League y estrar su ventaja en la tabla de posiciones. LEE MÁS: Sadio Mané desmuestra su humildad al usar celular roto y audífonos de bajo costo [FOTO Y VIDEO] Liverpool vs. Sheffield United EN VIVO: minuto a minuto Luego de conquistar la Champions League, Liverpool ha sido una máquina porque no para de ganar todo lo que tiene en su camino. Pudo conseguir por primera vez el Mundial de Clubes y, ahora, va por el campeonato local. Sheffiel United, por su parte, irá a Anfield Road con el objetivo de arruinar el comienzo del año de los líderes de la Premier. Asimismo, necesita sumar para no complicarse con los últimos puestos de la tabla de posiciones. MIRA TAMBIÉN: Liverpool goleó de visita 4-0 a Leicester y es más líder que nunca en la Premier ¿Cuándo juega Liverpool vs. Sheffield United por la Premier League? Liverpool vs. Sheffield United se ven las caras este jueves 2 de enero, siendo, así, el primer partido de los Reds en el año 2020, donde espera coronarse en la Premier League. ¿A qué hora juega Liverpool vs Sheffield United? El horario estipulado para este partido entre Liverpool vs. Sheffield United es a las 3:00 p.m. (hora peruana). Además, el partido se podrá ver en el Perú sintonizando las señales de DirecTV | Movistar TV | y Claro TV. ¿Dónde se jugará el partido de la Liverpool vs Sheffield United por la Premier League? El escenario que albergará el gran partido entre Liverpool vs. Sheffield United será Anfield Road, estadio donde hace de local el equipo dirigido por Jürgen Klopp, que buscará una nueva victoria. ¿En qué canales se transmitirá EN VIVO el partido Liverpool vs Sheffield United? Argentina ESPN Play SurAruba RUSHAustralia Optus SportAustria Sky Go, Sky Sport 1 HDAzerbaiyán Idman TVBahamas RUSHBahréin beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Bangladésh Star Sports Select HD1Barbados RUSHBélgica Play Sports 1, VOOsport World 1Benín SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 2 AfriqueBermudas RUSHBután Star Sports Select HD1Bolivia ESPN2 Sur, ESPN Play SurBosnia-Herzegovina SportKlub 2 SerbiaBotsuana DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 AfricaBrasil Watch ESPN Brasil, ESPN BrasilIslas Vírgenes Británicas RUSHBrunei Astro GoBulgaria Diema Sport 2, Play Diema XtraBurkina Faso DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport 3 AfricaBurundi DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport 3 AfricaCamerún DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport 3 AfricaCanadá DAZNCape Verde Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 AfricaIslas Caimán RUSHRepública Centroafricana SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 AfriqueChad beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport MaximoChile ESPN2 Sur, ESPN Play SurChina QQ Sports Live, PPTV Sport ChinaColombia ESPN2 Colombia, ESPN Play SurComoras SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 AfricaCongo Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 AfricaRD del Congo SuperSport Maximo, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 AfricaCosta Rica Sky HDCote D'Ivoire Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoCroacia Sportklub 2 CroatiaCuracao RUSHChipre Cytavision on the Go, Cytavision Sports 1República Checa Premier Sport, DIGI GODinamarca Xee, Viaplay DenmarkYibuti DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, SuperSport 3 Africa, beIN Sports HD 2Dominica RUSHRepública Dominicana RUSH, Sky HDEcuador ESPN Play Sur, ESPN2 AndinaEgipto beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2El Salvador Sky HDGuinea Ecuatorial SuperSport 3 Africa, DStv Now, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 AfriqueEritrea SuperSport Maximo, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 AfricaEstonia TV3 Sport, TV3 Sport 3Etiopía DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoFinlandia Viaplay Finland, Viasat Sports Premium, Viasat Sport / HD, Viasat Football HDFrancia RMC Sport 1, Canal+ Sport, RMC Sport en directGuayana Francesa RUSHGabón SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv NowGambia DStv Now, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoAlemania Sky Go, Sky Sport 1 HDGhana SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport 3 Africa, DStv NowGrecia Cosmote Sport 1 HDGranada RUSHGuadalupe RUSHGuatemala Sky HDGuinea SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv NowGuinea-Bissau SuperSport Maximo, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, DStv Now, SuperSport 3 AfricaGuyana RUSHHaití RUSHHonduras Sky HDHong Kong 621 Now Premier League 1, 620 Now Premier League TV, Now E, Now PlayerHungría Spíler1Islandia SíminnSportIndia Star Sports Select HD1, Hotstar VIP, Star Sports Select 1Indonesia Mola TVInternacional TalkSport Radio World, LFCTV GOIrán beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Iraq beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Irlanda BT Sport 1, BT Sport LiveIsrael Sport 1Italia NOW TV, SKY Go Italia, Sky Sport Football, Sky Sport UnoJamaica RUSHJapón DAZNJordania beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECTKazajstán Setanta Sports KazakhstanKenia DStv Now, SuperSport 3 AfricaCorea del Sur SPOTV ONKuwait beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECTLetonia TV3 Sport 3, TV3 SportLíbano beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Lesoto SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 Africa, DStv NowLiberia SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo, DStv NowLibia beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECTLituania TV3 Sport 3, TV3 SportLuxemburgo RMC Sport 1Antigua República Yugoslava de Macedonia MaxTV Go, SportKlub 2 SerbiaMadagascar DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoMalaui DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoMalasia Astro SuperSport 3, Astro GoMaldivas Star Sports Select HD1Malí DStv Now, Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, SuperSport Maximo, SuperSport 3 AfricaMalta GO TV Anywhere, TSN2 MaltaMartinica RUSHMauritania Canal+ Sport 2 Afrique, beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, DStv NowMauricio RMC Sport 1, SuperSport 3 Africa, DStv NowMéxico Blue To Go Video Everywhere, Sky HDMonaco RMC Sport 1Mongolia SPS HDMontenegro SportKlub 2 SerbiaMontserrat RUSHMarruecos beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Mozambique DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoMyanmar Skynet Sports 6Namibia DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport MaximoNepal Star Sports Select HD1Países Bajos Ziggo Sport Select, Ziggo Sport 14Nueva Zelanda Spark SportNicaragua Sky HDNíger SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo, DStv Now, Canal+ Sport 2 AfriqueNigeria DStv Now, SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 2 AfriqueNoruega TV2 Sumo, TV2 Sport PremiumOmán beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports HD 2Pakistán Star Sports Select HD1Palestinian Territory beIN Sports HD 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECTPanamá Sky HDParaguay ESPN Play Sur, ESPN2 SurPerú ESPN2 Sur, ESPN Play Sur ¿Dónde puedo ver transmisión EN DIRECTO ONLINE Liverpool vs Sheffield United por la Premier League? Si quieres ver el partidazo entre Liverpool vs. Sheffield United EN VIVO, solo tienes que ingresar a la página web de El Popular (elpopular.pe) y tendrás todos los datos, goles y resumen en tiempo real. Posibles alineaciones del duelo entre Liverpool vs Sheffield United Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané y Roberto Firmino. | DT: Jürgen Klopp. Sheffield United: por confirmar Pronóstico del Liverpool vs Sheffield United por la Premier League Úlitmos cinco partidos del Liverpool: Aston Villa vs. Liverpool (5-0) Monterrey vs. Liverpool (1-2) Liverpool vs. Flamengo (1-0) Leicester City vs. Liverpool (0-4) Liverpool vs. Wolves (1-0) Últimos cinco partidos del Sheffield United: Norwich vs. Sheffield United (1-2) Sheffield United vs. Aston Villa (2-0) Brighton vs. Sheffield United (0-1) Sheffield United vs. Watford (1-1) Manchester City vs. Sheffield United (2-0)

Copyright ©2015 Perform Group. All rights reserved. Data provided by Opta Sports. Articles provided by OMNISPORT.

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It's a new year and, for Illinois, a new era of recreational marijuana. Weed dispensaries across the state opened their doors before sunrise Wednesday, welcoming long lines of customers — some who had been waiting since 4 a.m. "Cheers to lighting up the start of 2020!" one dispensary, Sunnyside, wrote on its Facebook page. Under Illinois law, anyone over 21 with a valid state ID or driver's license can purchase recreational marijuana from licensed retailers. Jackie Ryan, right, of Forest Park, Ill., becomes the first person in Illinois to purchase recreational marijuana as she purchases marijuana products from employee Brea Mooney left, at Sunnyside dispensary Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Chicago. More Residents may legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, five grams of concentrate and 500 milligrams of THC in products such as edibles. Non-Illinois residents in the state may possess up to only half as much as residents. The law also includes a "social equity" plan to improve diversity in the industry by giving a leg up to minority entrepreneurs disproportionately impacted by poverty and the war on drugs. The law expunges certain drug-based criminal records and establishes a fund to provide financial resources for business start-ups, among other provisions. Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker rang in 2020 by granting more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions Tuesday. "The war on cannabis has destroyed families. It has filled jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders. It has disproportionately affected black and brown communities," Pritzker said at a press conference on Chicago's South Side. "Every state that has legalized cannabis has seen high demand and long lines in its earliest weeks, and to be sure, our state will, too. But unlike other states, in Illinois, we purposely built a system where the market has room to grow, so that entrepreneurs, including especially those from the communities devastated by the war on drugs, will have real opportunities in this industry." Illinois weed sales: Some say only white men are set to profit Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx looks on as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a press conference in Chicago after Foxx filed motions to vacate more than 1,000 low-level cannabis convictions, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. More Illinois is the 11th state in the nation to allow the sale of recreational marijuana. Thirty-three states allow the sale of marijuana for medical use, which Illinois legalized in 2013. Some restrictions still apply, however. Landowners can ban cannabis use, and employers can prohibit employees from having THC in their systems. It's illegal to drive while impaired and to possess marijuana on federal land and federally funded facilities, including some hospitals, public housing and more. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and cannot be taken across state lines – by any form of transportation. The marijuana industry in Illinois could eventually bring in $1.69 billion to $2.58 billion in annual revenue, according to a study by Colorado consulting firm Freedman and Koski. That would mean an additional $440 million to $676 million in annual tax revenue statewide, the study said. Chicago, which is facing a more than $800 million budget deficit, expects to bring in $3.5 million in revenue from marijuana taxes next year. A long line of people brave the cold as they wait to be the first in Illinois to purchase recreational marijuana at Sunnyside dispensary Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Chicago. More This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cannabis in Illinois: Legal weed sales start Jan. 1

Customer Elise Swopes (R) makes a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2020, the first day recreational marijuana became legal in the state Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to legalize recreational marijuana as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will allow residents 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana and will expunge thousands of individuals' criminal convictions throughout the state. "We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. On Tuesday night, Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for people with low-level cannabis convictions, the first round of a planned total of more than 700,000. According to the statement, the new law will use 25 percent of the state's cannabis revenue to help "the communities hit hardest" by the earlier crackdown on marijuana. "Today we took another step toward justice, as we continue to address the failed war on drugs and the disproportionate impact it had on communities of color," Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in the statement. Illinois residents age 21 and older will now be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC -- the main active ingredient of cannabis -- contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 grams of cannabis under the bill, which will also create a licensed growing and dispensary system. Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, along with Washington, DC. Thirty-four states and the federal capital permit medical cannabis treatment. But the US Drug Enforcement Administration still considers marijuana a dangerous substance alongside LSD and heroin. A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control published in August found that states that legalize recreational marijuana see a reduction of at least 20 percent in fatalities linked to opioid overdoses. Marijuana legalization has also been shown to improve a state's economic activity, creating jobs and bringing in new tax revenue.

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by Turd Ferguson, TF Metals Report: Our old pal Jim Willie, The Golden Jackass, stops by today for his annual year-in-review and look ahead. If you can find some time over the holiday, you should be sure to have a listen. As usual, Jim is full of valuable information. Over the course of this podcast, just a few of the topics discussed are: the ongoing REPO/QE crisis central bank and media tricks and semantics Click HERE to listen the growing alliances against the US$ how gold will be central to the next monetary system the US treasury bond as the new global contagion and, as you might imagine, a whole lot more Thanks again to Jim for his time and willingness to share his insights with all of us at TFMR. It is going to be a volatile and unpredictable 2020. Listen to this podcast and begin to mentally prepare for what’s ahead. Read More @ TFMetalsReport.com

A 15-year-old intel report predicting the world of 2020 has been hailed for its accuracy, but much of the future it describes was already underway in 2004. Could today’s hyper-politicized intelligence community see even that much? Rolling out a list of “eerily prescient” predictions in order to brag about their accuracy – no flying cars here! – the National Intelligence Council (NIC) report is just what one might expect from an intel community desperate to shore up its reputation ahead of what’s sure to be a hotly contested presidential election.

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Ayodeji Ake, Sunday Ehigiator and Chiamaka Ozulumba, who sampled the opinion of some Nigerians, write that aside their personal goals, their expectations and aspirations for 2020 are for government to provide infrastructural development, basic amenities, as well as create better business environment for all to thrive in Year in, year out, the needs of Nigerians practically remain the same; provision of basic amenities by their elected officials, infrastructural development across board, favourable business environment and adequate security, amongst others. The incoming year is no different. As the curtain dropped on 2019 last Tuesday, to open up to 2020, the clamour across board is for security of people and properties, good governance, stable economy, vibrant health sector, viable education sector without incessant strike actions and basic amenities- good roads, stable power, adequate housing and potable water. THISDAY sampled the opinion of Nigerians across board and here are the excerpts: Ezegbogu Malachi, Medical Doctor My expectations for Nigeria this 2020 are for a stronger and a more united country, actualisation of the dreams of our founding fathers, strong and functional government institutions, better implementation of our annual budget and a better economy. Also, I expect a stronger respect for human rights and freedom of the press. More opportunities for our teeming youth and development of indigenous talents. Mr Osanyintola Oladayo, Oil Contractor My expectations in 2020 are really high but I want to believe it’s impossible. Firstly, I will say the government must be able to provide some basic social amenities that can help improve the livelihood of all inhabitants of this country. Secondly, they must improve on job creation in various sectors of the economy. This has a long way to go in improving the economy and this would also encourage Nigerians to study because they know there is a reward for hard work. In addition, refining our crude oil here in our country will be of a better advantage and would boost the economy better, especially when the refineries function well and are properly managed. In conclusion, my expectations for Nigeria are beyond those mentioned and I know with God and good leadership, we should get positive results in no time. Mr. Adetola Adeleke; CEO Azacom Global My expectations for the year 2020 are a remarkable improvement in infrastructure, projects across the country to enhance true dividends of democracy. This is not limited to power, agriculture, education, rural development, urban renewal, power generation and transmission, prompt payment of workers salaries and allowances etcetera. Engr. Jim Oriahi, MNSE Nigeria is a great country and my expectations for 2020 are as follows: I want a Nigeria that is more focused on human development because the higher the Human Development Index (HDI), the more prosperous the country becomes. Unlike the GDP or GNP, which give income and productivity only, HDI is a vehicle for which income is turned into development; in the education or health sectors for instance. For a country to develop, the literacy level, education, and health sectors should be a priority to the government. Government must ensure that citizens have access to good health care, child mortality/mobidity rates at birth are of concerns, with access to quality education and a platform to incorporate learned knowledge to real-life situations. I look forward to a Nigeria where Income Per Capita is put in check to ensure there is a balance in labour/payments received per annum. High per capita income signifies high economic and financial security for the Nigerian populace. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also used to determine the per capita value. Industrialisation plays a major part in a country’s development. For a country to grow, the rate of industrialisation and employment must be high, thus creating some level of job security for her citizens is very important. I want Nigeria to be such a nation with higher export than imports leading to more profits from the international trade which will ensure that there is economic growth. A Nigeria with political stability. Having stable political environment, low or no corruption, and high level of respect to the country’s laws. Good governance ensures that the level of corruption is low, transparency in the various activities of the government, and employment is based on merit. A Nigeria with good standard of living and with respect for all classes of her citizens. A Nigeria where the government and the masses uphold her peace and unity, and a country with freedom for all. God bless Nigeria. Prince Ozioma Ohia, Real Estate Contractor According to the nobel laureate Professor Chinua Achebe, ‘Nigeria’s struggles as a nation has been of leadership problems and these are manifested in policy formulation and decision making and how these policies are implemented- most of which are not people friendly and proposed policies are anathema to the polity. Some are even enacted oblivious of the electorate and the citizens. The question remains; Cui Bono? The current administration should focus on what every Nigerian yearns for. The development of the human potential. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals of vision 2020, is centered on ‘Human Capital Development’. Great emphasis and energy should be directed towards this area. Thank God for the policy of the Central Bank towards farmers, a step in the right direction. It should not be a political goal scoring point. Professor Claudius Ake asserts that ‘Mans Basic need is Food, Clothing and Shelter’. We should see more partnership between the federal government and the higher institutes of learning especially in the agro sector. There is a positive expectation from the citizenry in the coming year concerning power. The challenges of power generation should be overcome. Vivian Oyinatumba, Student I pray 2020 graces me with better opportunities, growth and, I hope Nigeria becomes a more conducive environment. The year 2019 did not really favour me; the year was a rollercoaster of different events rocking the country. This is why I pray for a better 2020, and that the government at all levels will do more for the masses. Endurance Evulukwu; CEO Endykollections My hope and expectations for the new year is to make Endykollections a fashion household name in Nigeria, and for every Nigerian woman to be an endykollectionswoman. I want to expand my business, so as to create job opportunities for the Nigerian youth. Then I want Nigeria to get better, and for every Nigerian to be passionate about contributing to nation building. And most importantly, I want to move closer to God Timi Timz, Radio Host, PR and Comms Consultant and Entrepreneur I know 2020 is going to be an amazing year for myself and others. It will be full of success stories, love, laughter, travels, lovely experiences and beautiful memories. Life is to be lived! Kemi Ogunleye, Events Planner I pray 2020 would be an amazing year for me; I strongly believe it would be filled with success for me and my friends. I also pray for anyone confused about life and their career to receive clarity in Jesus name. Stay happy always! Henrietta Okoye; Youth Corp Member I hope and expect to have a good job come 2020, build up my own business, travel to more than 20 countries, have a family of my own, if God permits. I pray Nigeria becomes a better country devoid of the present economic issues we’re currently battling. Isi Stella Aigbomian, Midwife My expectations for 2020 as touching healthcare is basically an improvement on the resources in the health sector, referring to both maternal and human. In terms of material resources, I am optimistic that attention of the government and all other health related policy makers will come to the conclusion of equipping our health facilities ranging from primary health care to tertiary health facilities with necessary and basic equipment which assure quality assurance of care, both for diagnostic and patient treatment. In addition, policies that strengthen environmental sanitation and pollution control be put in place for the benefit of all. I also urge the government to prioritise healthcare of the citizens of Nigerians knowing that health is wealth. Rimamskep Ifusumu, Medical Doctor I expect a robust health institution with cancer centres in the six geopolitical regions fully equipped with modern Radioactive machines, and trauma centres built in three geopolitical regions, more funds for residency training to meet up the teaming or curb population of young doctors traveling abroad and meet up with the country’s population demand. I urge the government to increase budgetary allocation to achieve the above. Alabi Tolulope, Fashion Designer To the best of my knowledge, I believe the government needs our taxes to construct better roads in our country, and better roads will reduce the time we spend in traffic daily hence leading to greater and higher productivity on each day’s job/activities. The efficiency from jobs well done will improve the economic system. It will also divert our focus to accomplishing higher goals or trying out new inventions. People and companies evading taxes are doing the masses more harm than good, citizens who don’t pay their taxes have no right to complain about bad roads and other social amenities. So in year 2020 I implore people to pay their taxes promptly and correctly. One of the major problems with the governance of Nigeria is that the government is far from the masses. People are hungry, homeless, jobless and depressed, but the people in power seem not to know the extent to which some of their policies are affecting the masses. They should organise town-hall meetings to know what the masses are going through, this will bring governance closer to the smallest groups. Hon. Ishola Ibrahim, Politician Last year was really a roller coaster journey. After a general assessment of activities and event in 2019, it gives me great joy and expectations to look forward to 2020 as it will consolidate on achievements of 2019. I look forward to a 2020 of perfection. A year of joy creation and youths empowerment using available resources at our disposal. Investing in capacity building to make our youths discover their potentials, so as to become entrepreneurs, and in turn reduce unemployment and Al’s positive increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Osayuwame Ebuehi, Physiotherapist We hope that 2020 will be a good year having signed the budget early for private sector to chip in more businesses to develop the economy. And as regards the roads and electricity, with the constant and consistent payment of income tax, PAYE and VAT, and Nigerian government investing on it, Nigeria will make a better place. As regards the health, I would implore the government to provide more beds for hospitals, adequate facilities and good working Individuals. On my field, I need machines to process herbal roots and leafs to make it edible and very much reliable for consumption. Olatunji Adeleke, Professional Photographer In 2020, I expect the government to focus on building a friendly economy that attracts investors and embark on growing SME businesses as it will be a good bedrock for nation building. I also urge for the government as we approach 2020, they should stop living a lie and embark on serious and constructive poverty alleviation programmes for over 90 per cent of poverty stricken. I urge the government to be prudent in their spending, to be more calculative and wise. Adeola Alabi, Accountant I wish a good economy that will give entrepreneurs a fastanstic platform to operate, good road networks and stable electricity, as well as plan towards improving the standard of living of Nigerians by creating job opportunities for the youths. Adelaja Osisowo, Administrator, Broadcast Media Of course I expect better reform in policy making that would improve the economy in 2020. And repairs of our major roads both at the federal and state level including local levels. The government should be more proactive rather than reactive to things in 2020. Joshua Marcus Usoro, Singer and Dancer I expect a better and more stable economy and more opportunities for youths to grow and for health, I believe the Nigerian government should enforce health insurance and better equipment in hospitals for all Nigerians, it will save a lot of lives.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described 2020 as symbolic in many ways, saying it’s time to work for a better future for Nigerians. In a new year message released in Abuja on Tuesday, Atiku noted that the year heralds a brand new decade required Nigerians to stay together more than ever before. He charged the leadership and the led to take on, head front, the common enemy of insecurity that challenged the citizenry in their everyday life. The statement said, “I do not share the sentiments when some people claim that the outgone 2019 was a successful year for Nigerians. Such sentiments are reductionist and do the harm of making us have a false sense of victory. “The bitter truth is that Nigeria is still in the throes of economic instability, with more people losing jobs and the attendant outcome of more children being out of school and more families having hard time in accessing basic needs of life. “In this New Year, however, I will rather ask that Nigerians stand together with renewed vigour and determination to battle the hydra-headed demon of insecurity that has plagued us in the past decade. “We must challenge the inadequacies that made us become the global headquarters of extreme poverty; much as we must work hard and fast enough to eliminate the scourge of out-of-school children in the country. These are the challenges that this new decade has thrown at us and we cannot afford to slumber and submit to defeat”. Atiku observed that the problems of extreme poverty and scant investments in education played huge roles in fueling the problems of violent extremism that characterised the past decade. He warned that the country cannot win the fight against terrorism without reducing or eliminating poverty and illiteracy. Continuing, Atiku said, “The reality of this new decade requires of us to recalibrate our approaches and to pursue some tough choices. If failure is not an option, then we must let go of our egos and conveniences. “In this new decade, we must start to do things differently if we are honest about our desire for a better and prosperous future. There must be a deliberate effort to improve the material wellbeing of the people, by lifting millions of Nigerians out of the extreme poverty belt at a start, and to prosperity. Government must rethink many of its policies that are sinking more people into the abyss of extreme poverty. Read Also; We’ll not disappoint you in 2020, APC assures Nigerians “It is incumbent on government at all levels to pursue policies that will provide decent housing to the mass majority; put food on the table; provide healthcare and education. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different outcome. It is therefore high time we caused a rejig of economic policies that will promote an expansion of the economy and create job opportunities aplenty. “At the individual level, this moment calls for more empathy and sacrifice. The New Year and a new decade come with the opportunity to make better impressions in our lives and in the lives of people around us. “I wish to restate that our collective call for rule of law and our history about the struggle for democratic rule did not envisage a situation where judicial pronouncements would be worthless than the paper upon which they are rendered. “It is a bad advertisement for the country and its democracy if declarations made by the courts are not respected without the executive arm of government agreeing to same. “Any democracy is not worth the appellation if the principle of separation of powers is not ingrained in it. In the new year, government should not pretend to be democratic, but rather act according to the fundamentals of a democracy. “Above all, I expect that in the New Year, there will be a better observance of rule of law and greater respect for citizens’ democratic rights. “While we anticipate a change of attitude across board in the new year and new decade, I wish every Nigerian a happy and prosperous 2020”.

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1 Dead, 2 Injured in Downtown Minneapolis Fight and Stabbing Jennifer Lewerenz | Dec 30, 2019 AT 11:40 am Click to Enlarge Photo: Jennifer Lewerenz KNSI News (AP) - An altercation in downtown Minneapolis has left one man dead and two other people with injuries. Police say a fight between two men resulted in one of them stabbing the other Sunday morning. The man who was stabbed got in an SUV and intentionally ran over the other man accused of inflicting his injuries, according to investigators. The two men, in their 40s, along with another person in the vehicle were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. Authorities say the man hit by the SUV later died at the hospital. The condition of the other man improved and he was arrested on suspicion of murder. The third person injured suffered minor injuries that appeared to be crash related. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed Posted By Jennifer Lewerenz News Director Jennifer is a twin cities native, spending the entire 20 plus years of her radio career in Minnesota. She and her husband enjoy cooking, fishing, laughing, sports and traveling.

A man died after an altercation that led to a stabbing and motor vehicle crash, Minneapolis police said Sunday. The incident occurred at 11:12 a.m. in the 500 block of South Eighth Street, according to a police department release. Three people were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, two men in critical condition and one person with minor injuries. One of the men originally listed in critical condition died at the hospital. The other man who was listed in critical condition was arrested on suspicion of probable cause murder, authorities said. Investigators were still gathering details but said they are not looking for additional suspects. The deceased man’s identity, along with the nature and cause of his death, will be released by the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office. It was the 47th homicide in Minneapolis in 2019.

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Studio 54 party at Midtown's Electric FeelGood lets partygoers ring in 2020 Midtown's Electric FeelGood hosted a Studio 54 party to celebrate New Year's Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Houston. Midtown's Electric FeelGood hosted a Studio 54 party to celebrate New Year's Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Houston. Photo: Jamaal Ellis/Contributor Photo: Jamaal Ellis/Contributor Image 1 of / 67 Caption Close Studio 54 party at Midtown's Electric FeelGood lets partygoers ring in 2020 1 / 67 Back to Gallery Watching the ball drop on TV is certainly not everyone’s idea of a good time. For those who wanted to skip out on the televised tradition, Houston venues offered party options galore, including Midtown hotspot Electric FeelGood. The two-story bar, featuring an indoor slide, hosted a "Studio 54" soiree Tuesday night. Guests enjoyed spins by DJ Palmo and a champagne toast at midnight. For an inside look at all the fun, see above. Marcy de Luna is a reporter. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. NEW YEAR'S EVE: How Houston celebrities celebrated the arrival of 2020

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A New Year's Eve shooting in a Philadelphia home that left two people dead appears to have been a murder-suicide, authorities said. The shooting happened around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday on Frontenac Street. A 36-year-old woman was found dead in the home, authorities said, while a 37-year-old man who had been shot in the head was taken to a hospital where he later died. Their names and further details about them have not been released. While the shooting remains under an investigation, authorities said it appears the man may have shot the woman and then used the gun on himself. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

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On Tuesday — following U.S. military airstrikes in Iraq and Syria — hundreds of supporters of the Iran-backed Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah (not to be confused with the Hezbollah in Lebanon) angrily stormed the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad, setting fires and chanting, “Death to America.” The incident was an assertion of growing anti-American sentiment in Iraq, and conservative opinion writer Max Boot asserts in his Washington Post column that President Donald Trump has no real strategy for dealing with Iran. Boot, one of Trump’s most outspoken critics on the right, recalls that although he was critical of President Barack Obama’s Iran policy in 2015, it was better than Trump’s. Obama’s deal with Iran, Boot writes, “did nothing to curb Iran’s regional power play and may have even fueled it by lifting economic sanctions — which is why I and others opposed it at the time. But it did at least stop Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. President Trump blundered by exiting the nuclear deal in 2018 and imposing economic sanctions on Iran in 2019, even though it was complying with the agreement.” The airstrikes in Iran and Syria over the weekend were in response to a missile attack on a military compound near Kirkuk, Iraq on Friday that left a contractor dead. And the airstrikes, Boot notes, “killed 25 members of Kataib Hezbollah.” “The United States has only two ways out of this escalating crisis: fight or negotiate,” Boot emphasizes. “A war with Iran, as I have previously argued, could be the mother of all quagmires; it could easily spin out of control with tit-for-tat responses of the kind we have seen in recent days. Better to negotiate. That would mean trying to rebuild a tougher nuclear deal in return for the lifting of U.S. sanctions.” Boot concludes his column by lamenting that things will only get worse for the U.S. in the Middle East if Trump fails to come up with a coherent Iran policy. “Trump shows little interest in either seriously negotiating or fighting,” Boot laments. “He has waged economic warfare on Iran while doing nothing to curb its regional aggression; indeed, by withdrawing U.S. troops from part of northern Syria, he has allowed an extension of Iranian influence. So, we are left with the worst of all possible worlds: Iran is once again waging a low-intensity conflict, and America once again has no effective response.”

US troops on Wednesday fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of pro-Iranian militia members who hurled rocks at the US Embassy as a tense standoff in Baghdad entered its second day. Scores of demonstrators camped outside the embassy overnight after they stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone on Tuesday, chanting “Death to America,” lighting fires at security posts, spraying graffiti on walls and trying to bust through sealed entrances. US Marines fired tear gas into the crowds that returned on Wednesday and set fire to the roof of a reception area. At one point, Iraqi soldiers and counterterrorism forces positioned themselves between the militia members and the compound. The unrest erupted after US jet fighters attacked five bases in Iraq and Syria belonging to the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah over the weekend, killing 25 fighters and wounding dozens more. The US strike was in retaliation for a rocket attack on an Iraq base by the group that killed an American contractor and wounded four US service members. President Trump was asked about the escalating situation in Iraq and whether the US was planning on going to war with Iran. “I don’t think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn’t last very long. Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody. So I don’t see that happening. No, I don’t think Iran would want that to happen. It would go very quickly,” Trump told reporters before a New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mainly Shiite-aligned militias, including Kataib Hezbollah, called on its supporters to move away from the compound after the Iraqi government said their “message has been heard.” Mohammed Mohieh, a spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah, said the group’s members would not budge until the US ambassador is removed and US troops leave Iraq. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US would deploy about 750 troops to the Middle East in response to the storming of the embassy. “This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,” Esper said in a statement. “The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.”

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The president spoke after Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division were prepared to deploy over the next several days to the Middle East. PALM BEACH - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he did not foresee war with Tehran, after pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Iraq. "I don't see that happening," Trump said at his holiday retreat in Florida when a reporter asked about the possibility of war with the Islamic republic. "I like peace," the president said before heading in to New Year's celebrations. The president spoke after Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division were prepared to deploy over the next several days to the Middle East. The US had already flown a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after the attack Tuesday, which left smoke and flames rising from the compound's entrance and further heightened tension between Tehran and Washington. US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. The US reinforcements "got in there very quickly," Trump said. "I think it's been handled very well." He added that "this will not be a Benghazi," a reference to an attack in 2012 by radical Islamists on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed inside the smoke-clogged building including the ambassador, Chris Stevens.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters first lady Melania Trump before his New Year's Eve party: AP Donald Trump has claimed he “likes” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he hoped the North Korean leader would keep his word by upholding a denuclearisation agreement. The US president responded to the supreme leader’s latest claim Pyongyang would continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a “new strategic weapon” – accusing the Trump administration of having “gangster-like demands”. Speaking told reporters at his new year's eve party at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trump said: “He likes me, I like him, we get along ... he’s representing his country, I’m representing my country, we have to do what we have to do. “But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearisation ... That was done in Singapore, and I think he’s a man of his word, so we’re going to find out.” Mr Trump also said he would be happy to have a trial in the US Senate following his impeachment by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. “I don’t really care. It doesn’t matter.” “As far as I’m concerned I’d be very happy with a trial because we did nothing wrong. The impeachment – I call it impeachment light,” he added, predicting any Senate trial would “go very easy”. The president suggested he would win the 2020 election comfortably if the media treated him differently. “If you’re honourable I’m going to win the election by a lot. If you’re not honourable I’m just going to win the election by a little. So I’d rather have you be honourable.” Mr Trump also addressed the attack on the US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, having earlier said he held Iran responsible. “I think he’s a man of his word,” Trump says of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pic.twitter.com/bYQLXeBYPA — QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 1, 2020 Washington drafted in Apache attack helicopters and scores of US Marines to reinforce the embassy compound after storming of the site by Iraqi militia members and their supporters. “We had some great warriors come in,” said Mr Trump. “This will not be a Benghazi … this will never, ever be a Benghazi,” he added, referring to the deadly attack on a US diplomatic compound in Libya in 2012. The president has deployed 750 US soldiers to the Middle East, as about 3,000 more are prepared for possible deployment in the next several days. Mr Trump also said the federal government will soon announce a new strategy to tackle underage vaping, promising. He was vague about what the plan would entail, but suggested “certain flavours” in cartridge-based e-cigarettes would be taken off the market “for a period of time”. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration would ban the sale of most flavoured e-cigarettes. Read more Trump follows Iran threat with bizarre tweet about mixed martial arts Kim Jong-un threatens ‘new strategic weapon’ and rails against the US Trump threatens Iran over embassy attack in furious tweet

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Your browser does not support the audio element. Your browser does not support the audio element. Young left-handed opener Manjot Kalra, who scored a hundred in the final of the last edition of U-19 World Cup, has been suspended by outgoing DDCA Ombudsman for one year from playing Ranji Trophy, for an alleged age-fraud during his U-16 and U-19 days. However for the same offence, Delhi senior team vice-captain Nitish Rana has been let off for the time being with more documents being sought to prove that he fudged his age at the junior level. Another U-19 star Shivam Mavi's case has been referred to the BCCI since he now represents Uttar Pradesh in senior cricket. The outgoing Ombudsman Justice (Retired) Badr Durrez Ahmed passed an order (a copy of which is with PTI) on his final day, preventing Kalra from playing age-group cricket for two years but more importantly denying him a chance to play Ranji Trophy for this season. Kalra, whose age as per BCCI records is 20 years 351 days, last week played for Delhi U-23 against Bengal and scored 80. He was in line to replace senior opener Shikhar Dhawan in the Ranji squad but as it now stands, he will not play any further. When asked a senior DDCA official, he expressed his helplessness. "I find it surprising that Manjot Kalra has been punished for the same offence that Nitish Rana is also allegedly guilty of. We couldn't pick Manjot as it was Ombudsman's order. He passed it at 11:30 pm at night, a day before he relinquished office. Now that's a bit bizarre," DDCA general secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI. In case of Rana, former Ombudsman has asked DDCA to enquire from his school DAV Centenary, Narela and seek specific birth-certificate related documents and place before next hearing. But question remains when the old Ombudsman is not there, does it mean new appointee Justice Deepak Verma will conduct fresh enquiry? What everyone is failing to understand is how Kalra can be prevented from playing senior level cricket for age-fraud? "He has been prevented from playing club matches also. Now his parents will have to appeal for a change of order in front of new Ombudsman. Till then DDCA can't pick him for Ranji Trophy. We are helpless," Tihara said. For the Punjab game in Mohali, selectors have picked right-handed middle-order batsman Vaibhav Kandpal and seam bowling all-rounder Siddhant Sharma in the squad of 15 in place of Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma. Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Your browser does not support the audio element. Your browser does not support the audio element. Actor Robert Pattinson says he is looking forward to playing Batman in Matt Reeves' directorial on the DC superhero and wants to push boundaries of the character as far as possible. "The Batman" will be fronted by Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader. "In terms of the character itself, I want to push it as far as it can possibly go. And I think Matt Reeves does as well. You can do crazy stuff with that part," Pattinson told Empire magazine. The actor made a case for an R-rated version of the film, adding the rating would allow the makers to test different waters. "The only thing that's more complicated is the rating. As soon as you make something an R-rated movie, you're freed up to do so much stuff," he said. The film is being billed as a grounded take on the Dark Knight and will feature many of Batman's villains. Reeves is directing from his own script. He is also attached to produce with Dylan Clark. "The Batman" will hit the screens on June 25, 2021. Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

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Dracula review – a blood-sucking delight that leaves you thirsty for more. Fun, smart, scary and with just the right whiff of ham … Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have served up a diabolic luxury Do you want to have some FUN this Christmastide? Do you like RIPPING YARNS? Do you think there’s no greater pleasure than a brilliant story brilliantly told? You do? Well, have I got good news for you. Which is: BBC One’s new series Dracula is a pure and joyous BELTER. It’s in three parts of 90 glorious minutes each, adapted by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. And it is basically Sherlock but about Dracula. And peak Sherlock at that: seeking always to entertain the audience, revitalising the story while revelling in its absurdity, clever without being clever-clever, and strewn with comic and dramatic flourishes that give you the feeling that this is not just a treat but a tribute – to the author, to the season, to you as an intelligent viewer. It’s a proper job, is what I’m saying. And that means proper scares. No spoilers, but the one in the [redacted] when the [redacted] suddenly [redacted] had me clinging to the ceiling. I advise parental supervision at all times. My dad was annoyed at having to come over, but needs must when the devil calls and starts emanating from your screen. Everything you need is here. A dark, unmappable, labyrinthine castle. Gnarled hands resting on balcony ledges, their unseen owner lurking in shadowy recesses. Terrified locals. Bats. Babies crying. Primal fears inescapably roused. The story unfolds within two timeframes, the Now and the Then. In the Now, where we begin, a strangely deformed man is being interviewed in a nunnery by Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) who – and I’m calling it now – is quite the best nun of all time, and not just because she has no time at all for God. “Like many women my age I am trapped in a loveless marriage, maintaining appearances for the sake of a roof over my head,” she says briskly. She is investigating the man’s tale of escape from someone he calls Count Dracula. The man’s name is Jonathan Harker and he is played by John Heffernan with the same utter conviction brought to the story by the rest of the cast via a script and direction that are all refreshingly devoid of any shred of cynicism. You may point, as apparent disproof of my assertion, to Sister Agatha’s response to Harker’s failure to realise the significance of an SOS message written in English in the heart of eastern Europe: “You are an English man,” she explains. “A combination of presumptions beyond compare.” But you would be wrong. She is simply a truth-teller, unfettered by convention. This is quite different. Also, top nunning. I will brook no riposte. Harker was brought by a fisherman to the nunnery, having been found washed up on the banks of a nearby river muttering about forces of evil. He looks a half-formed thing – bald and white and smooth, a cross between Voldemort and Ryan Reynolds’ irradiated Deadpool – as well, it turns out, he might. Related: Claes Bang on playing a sexy Dracula: 'He's insatiable – and not just for blood!' Harker is a lawyer who was sent to talk a mysterious client through some legal issues at his castle. That’s the Then. The client is an unsettling, old, old man with a – Transylvanian, is it? – accent who says exactly the things you want an old, old man with a Transylvanian accent and an unmappable castle to say. Things such as “I don’t drink … wine”, and “The people around here have no flavour”. “Perhaps you mean ‘character’?” suggests Harker gently. “Perhaps,” replies the old, old man. When asked if there is anyone else living in the place, he replies “No. There’s no one … living here.” It is around this point that you find your bum wriggling its way more firmly into the sofa. The client takes a shine to him, and so Harker must stay. His health fails, he gets weaker by the day – but the years fall away from Dracula until he stands revealed as Danish actor Claes Bang, embodying exactly the wolfish charm and diabolic spirit you love to see in a prince … wait, what am I saying?! The prince of darkness. It’s a bloodstained love letter to a classic, beautifully and delicately scented with just the faintest hint of ham gothic yarns need; a homage to all the great Counts who have gone before, but still entirely its own thing. And again, like the best of Gatiss and Moffat’s Sherlocks, with the searching intelligence that promises to flesh out the foundational story. Enjoy sinking your teeth into it all.

Dracula Rating: Pictured: Claes Bang as Dracula On the first day of Veganuary, my TV gave to me, twelve nuns a-bleeding, eleven bats a-feeding, ten ghouls a-shrieking, nine corpses twitching, eight demons drooling, seven wolves a-howling, six crosses burning, five fin-ger-nails... Four goblets of blood, three dead rats, two stakes through the heart and a vampire baby in a bad mood. Good luck if you were trying to give up meat for the month. Dracula (BBC1) was dripping with more gore than a raw hamburger marinaded in pig's blood and garnished with an eyeball. And that was before the Lord of the Undead decapitated Mother Superior Joanna Scanlan, sending a fountain of vermilion like a geyser across the altar of the convent chapel. This was a Dracula to delight horror movie fans of all stripes. From the bone-chilling menace of Max Schreck in the silent classic Nosferatu almost 100 years ago, to the sheer camp silliness of Hammer horror's bosomy virgins, it paid homage to them all. Writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have done this before, reinventing a Victorian masterpiece for a 21st century television audience, with Sherlock. By taking all the elements they love most from all their favourite versions, the duo salute the past while creating an entirely original vision. Perhaps seeking to stir up publicity, Gatiss and Moffat had announced that this would be a homoerotic Dracula. It wasn't in the first episode: Exuberantly camp, certainly, but not noticeably gay. Dracula was dripping with more gore than a raw hamburger marinaded in pig's blood and garnished with an eyeball, writes Christopher Stevens (Pictured: Bang and Dolly Wells as Sister Agatha) In fact, the script was lovingly sucking up lines from all kinds of treasured movies, feeding off the classics. When naive lawyer Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) finally realised that his host at a remote Transylvanian castle meant to murder him, he gasped: 'You're a monster!' 'And you're a lawyer,' retorted the Count (Claes Bang). 'Nobody's perfect.' Any film buff knows that gag is the punchline from Some Like It Hot, which is nobody's idea of a vampire movie. When a nun armed with a crucifix and a wooden stake tried to drive the dark lord away from the cloister gates, she reminded him he could not withstand the radiance of her Christian goodness. 'Goodness has got nothing to do with it,' smirked Dracula, quoting Mae West. Bang, one of Denmark's most outstanding actors, was relishing every mouthful of his dialogue. He began the 90-minute episode, the first of three, in wig and make-up that made him look convincingly ancient though still capable of moving like a bolt of lightning when he caught sight of a mirror in Harker's luggage. He was rejuvenated within a week, thanks to a diet of fresh claret direct from the jugular, while the lawyer slept. 'You do look rather drained,' the Count sympathised to Harker. Many of the genre's traditions were faithfully observed – the secret passage behind an ancestral portrait, the colony of screaming bats, the skeletal incubus at the bedside. Writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have done this before, reinventing a Victorian masterpiece for a 21st century television audience, with Sherlock Perhaps seeking to stir up publicity, Gatiss and Moffat had announced that this would be a homoerotic Dracula But Gatiss and Moffat gleefully turned others inside out, sometimes literally. Vampires and werewolves are usually separate species. But, as in the original novel, Dracula was able to take the guise of a wolf – and turned up on all four paws at the convent to which Harker had fled. Challenged to show himself by a bold nun, he tore his way out of the wolf's entrails, leered at the quivering sisters and lisped: 'I don't know about you, girls, but I do love a bit of fur.' That bold nun (Dolly Wells) delivered the cleverest twist. She introduced herself as Sister Agatha, and she wasn't noticeably godly – though a Bride of Christ, she described herself as 'trapped in a loveless marriage for the sake of keeping a roof over my head'. When she interviewed Harker, who was decomposing before our eyes, she brought along a novice nun as a chaperone and claimed: 'I can't be trusted around men.' We guessed long before Harker that this novitiate was really his fiancee Mina Murray (Morfydd Clark) in disguise. What I certainly didn't guess was that Sister Aggie was actually the vampire hunter Van Helsing. Wells, previously known for her improvised sitcom Doll & Em, was a match at every step for Claes Bang. This is not a production for delicate souls. There were images of true horror: The broken-jointed corpses climbing out of their packing cases, the hollow-eyed baby lurching forwards to feed on an impaled maiden, and most of all those fingernails... sliding off Harker's hands like loose orange peel. Aarrghhh! One touch was especially impressive. In the whole hour-and-a-half, we didn't hear a syllable of foul language – blasphemy, certainly, but no obscenities, no four-letter swearwords. Dracula's shocks were far more savage than that.

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This year, Coronation Street shocked fans by introducing the Baileys – its first family of colour after almost 60 years on air. How have they been received? When it was announced in April that Britain’s longest-running soap, Coronation Street, would be introducing its first black family, the response was one of shock and incredulousness. Lenny Henry simply tweeted “wow” at the news, while theatre director Matthew Xia asked: “How have the producers managed to get away with this for almost 60 years?” Though Corrie introduced its first black character – Shirley Armitage, played by Lisa Lewis – in 1983, the arrival of the Baileys was a major step forward for the 59-year-old soap, coming almost 30 years after the Taverniers arrived in EastEnders’ Albert Square in 1990. The Bailey family would include the usual mix of high drama and plausibility – patriarch Edison with his gambling addiction, eldest son and wheeler-dealer Michael, youngest son James, a gay footballer, and kindly matriarch Aggie. “Coronation Street is a national treasure,” says Trevor Michael Georges, who plays Edison, “so when they announced they were looking for their first black family, that marked a real shift in mentality.” Georges has a history in opera and theatre, so Corrie marked a major shift for him, too. “The problem is not being the first of something but paving the way for the second or third,” he says. “That way you build a legacy and when you get to the third iteration, the novelty has worn off so you’re appreciated on your own merits.” Still, with no precedent to fall back on, it has been tricky. “There is an immense pressure,” he says. “There is no one I can go to for advice. It has been nerve-racking, but we just have to set up the pathway for others to follow.” With a storyline concerning racism and homophobia in football, Nathan Graham’s character, James, feels especially current. “It’s really important to shine a light on issues happening in the world,” he says. “We need to show all facets of James’s character and not stereotype him. Representation is increasing – but we still need to stay authentic.” Corrie might be the nation’s favourite soap, but, with viewing figures dropping across the board, there’s hope this injection of diversity will prove an incentive for new viewers to tune in. “This family has been so welcomed,” says Lorna Laidlaw, who plays Aggie. So many of her friends and family have come back to Corrie because of the Baileys – and she has been contacted by younger BAME actors asking for advice on breaking into the industry. “Acting is really tough and there isn’t enough representation, so this is a role of a lifetime,” she says. “I don’t see why we shouldn’t have more open casting now. Why we can’t have a black lawyer or black businessman on TV, too?”

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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Business leaders in Japan on Wednesday underlined their determination to further boost digital innovation this year as part of efforts for the country to lead the global economy. In a New Year message, Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, said the country's most influential business lobby known as Keidanren hopes to further develop digital technologies to make people's lives happier and solve social problems. He said the business lobby will be committed to rule-making for digital transformation and economic structural reforms to address the graying and decreasing population in the country. Nakanishi also said Keidanren welcomes the entry into force Wednesday of a Japan-U.S. trade deal, which lowers tariffs on farm and industrial goods, agreed on by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump in September. "We will promote private-sector diplomacy to maintain and strengthen free and open international economic order in the hope of contributing to stability and growth of the global economy," Nakanishi said. Kengo Sakurada, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, called on Japan to take initiative in rule-making on use of digital data and taxation of information technology giants. "Japan needs to compile its own regulations and rules on digital data ahead of overseas countries," Sakurada said. He especially sought deregulation in the fields of online medical services and autonomous driving. Sakurada also urged Japan to express its determination to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with its cutting-edge technologies. Akio Mimura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it is urgently needed to introduce digital technologies to small and midsize firms across the country to increase their productivity. To boost the regional economy, Mimura said the chamber aims to make the most of indigenous resources and external demand including inbound travelers to promote local tourism and the tie-up among agricultural, commercial and manufacturing sectors. © KYODO

President Trump's plan to curb teen vaping exempts some flavors WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. health officials will ban most flavored e-cigarettes popular with underage teenagers. President Donald Trump says the federal government will soon announce a new strategy to tackle underage vaping, promising, “We’re going to protect our families, we’re going to protect our children, and we’re going to protect the industry." But the plan from the Trump administration includes major exceptions that benefit companies that make and sell e-cigarettes and adults who use the nicotine-emitting devices. Trump was vague about what the plan would entail but suggested “certain flavors” in cartridge-based e-cigarettes would be taken off the market “for a period of time." The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday the policy won't affect menthol or tobacco flavors. The policy also won't affect large, tank-based vaping products sold in vape shops that cater to adults. Those changes are a major step back from President Donald Trump's original plan announced in September, which would have banned nearly all flavors in all vaping products. Beginning in May, All e-cigarettes will need to undergo FDA review. Only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.

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Whether you’re trying to laugh, dance, win fabulous booby prizes, or totally shit on this past year, there are multiple shows happening all over town to help you forget your cringy hangout with your sad aunts and weird cousins over the holidays. To help you get the most LOLs possible, we tracked down some of the most unique, interesting, snarky, and delightfully weird comedy shows happening from now through New Year’s. New Year’s with Tiffany Norton New Hope Cinema Grill Tiffany Norton, who has been the queen of New Year’s Eve in New Hope for years, will take the headliner slot for this big year-end show. Norton has been one of the most impressive comedy stories of the past decade, transforming from part-time performer to must-see headliner at night, all while waking up early as part of KS95’s morning show. This show is definitely worth the drive out to the ‘burbs. 8:30 p.m. $19. 2749 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope; 763-417-0017. New Year’s Eve Comedy and Dance Party Dance Love Studio Why choose between comedy, dancing, and partying into the New Year? Dance Love Studio will have the best of all three on New Year’s Eve, with comedians Ali Sultan, Greg Coleman, Shawn Nasfstad, and Abenezer Merdassa providing the jokes. Sultan and Coleman are two of the most seasoned headliners in town, and both are worth the price of admission on their own. Meanwhile, Nafstad and Merdassa are two of the fastest-rising up-and-coming voices in comedy, and will likely find themselves headlining their own New Year’s Eve shows in 2020. Get there early, as the comedy will get the party started for the evening at 9 p.m. From there, you can get up and move with a mini dance lesson from Hanna Esparza, then hit the open floor starting at 10:45 p.m. with DJ Salman and DJ Luv. You’ll be able to countdown to the New Year at midnight, celebrate with a toast, sloppily hug and high-five everyone, and then keep the party going until 2 a.m. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $20/$30 at the door. 2601 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. East Coast-Style New Year’s Eve Sisyphus Brewing For anyone who loves to celebrate but also likes going to bed a reasonable time, Maggie Faris has your back. Faris is once again presenting her East Coast-Style New Year’s Eve event, with a stacked lineup of comedians and plenty of surprises. The best part? Each show ends with a full-blown New Year’s countdown (the late show ends at 11 p.m., or midnight on the East Coast -- get it?), with champagne and confetti and all the pomp and circumstance you could ask for $25 bucks. This year’s shows will feature Faris, alongside Amber Preston, who made her mark as an Acme regular before taking over Los Angeles the past several years, and headliner David Dyer, who is best known as part of the Bob and Tom radio show. One of the staples of Faris’ events has become her affinity for booby prizes, and this year’s East Coast blowout will be no exception. Trust us, they will be ridiculous. There are two sets, giving you plenty of time to get home and relieve the babysitter before the “real” parties start, or sneak off to another bar to watch the ball drop and countdown to midnight for real. 7 and 9 p.m. $25. 712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis; 612-444-8674. Also, these comedy shows are recommended by City Pages writers: Lizz Winstead: Sharknado X The Cedar Cultural Center When recounting the entire history of civilization, the last 10 years is just a blip. But when you’re living through a decade of political malaise, cultural anxiety, economic uncertainty, and environmental deterioration, things can feel like a series of escalating catastrophes. Thankfully Lizz Winstead, the socially astute comic who co-created satirical news staple The Daily Show, has been here all the while to provide cathartic laughter at her popular New Year’s Eve retrospectives. In recapping a 365 days worth of absurdities, Winstead brings an insightful perspective, infusing the most exasperating events with much needed levity. That said, even Winstead’s formidable comic skills are certain to be tested when consolidating an entire irrational decade into one hilarious presentation. Winstead, accompanied by guitarist Sam Breckenridge, will evoke laughter from this period of prolonged tension, hopefully imbuing a bit of hope as we enter a new decade. 7:30 p.m. $50/$60; $70 VIP. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674. --Brad Richason Sean Donnelly Rick Bronson's House of Comedy “I’m newly divorced, which is a bit of a bummer. But I’m doing good,” says comedian Sean Donnelly. “I just did a spot on Tracy Morgan’s show, The Last O.G., playing a security guard, and I’ve been doing tons of standup as usual.” Onstage, Donnelly is talking about everything from U.F.O.s to social media. “I had A.D.D. as a kid,” he says of the latter. “Social media is like my brain, but as a collective unit. After a few days, we can’t remember what we were upset about or who we were mad at.” Donnelly reckons we’re headed back to 1996 as people back away from social media. “I already see it happening. People say, ‘I check my email and maybe look up a recipe.’ Even the tech companies have caught on, offering features that let you lock yourself out of the internet for awhile.” He likens it to how bars were years ago. “They used to say in bars, ‘No politics or religion.’ I think that’s kind of good. I’m not saying we can’t talk about things, but we can still be friends and have different opinions. Family members are unfriending each other. People need to chill out. One thing doesn’t define a person.” 7 and 10 p.m. $25-$55.95. 408 E. Broadway, Mall of America, Bloomington; 952-858-8558. --P.F. Wilson Bengt Washburn Acme Comedy Co. “I’m in an airport in Costa Rica,” Bengt Washburn tells us. “I did a cruise ship gig last week and this is where I get off.” For years, working the boats, as they say, wasn’t the most desirable gig in comedy, but Washburn says times have changed. “I don’t mind it,” he says. “Older audiences now are pretty hip. When I first started, they didn’t know what standup was. Now, if you have an audience of 50 and 60 year olds, they know who Carlin is; they get it.” Washburn doesn’t work blue, but there are still things that seem otherwise innocuous that he can’t joke about on ships. “I still do clubs. That’s where I do the writing,” he says. His PG/PG-13 style earned him two specials on Dry Bar Comedy, a website and production company that favors clean standup. “My last special for them was called Not Bad,” he explains. “At Acme, I’ll be doing the ‘Sort of Bad’ show. It’s all the stuff from Not Bad, but not truncated. It goes a little further.” For example, he’ll be able to touch on some social and political topics that he couldn’t do at sea. “That would start a fight on a ship,” he adds. “But it would be pretty funny given the age group. Someone would tip over and die.” 8 and 10:30 p.m. $30; $60 with dinner. 708 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-338-6393. --P.F. Wilson Other great shows set for New Year’s Eve: Resolution 2020: A Zero Proof New Year's Eve The Parkway Theater This all ages, sober show features music from HALEY and Lydia Liza, plus comedian Moe Yaqub. 9 p.m. $45/$55 at the door; $75 VIP. 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis; 612-822-8080. Bob Stromberg With a Mexican buffet and music from DJ Scott Rousseau. 8 p.m. $40-$50. Heart of the City Music Factory, 2665 Fourth Ave., Anoka; 612-990-6192.

When I was a kid, New Year’s Eve night was one of my favorites. My parents and I would gather with one or two of my uncle’s families. It was the only night of the year we could hang out until midnight. The evening was spent making confetti out of colored paper, getting our homemade noise-makers of pans and wooden ladles ready, and setting the stage so we could scream and yell the New Year into existence. The television was always on, of course, bouncing between the various New Year’s celebrations being covered on the networks. Anyone who was doing the same thing with their family this year may have been treated to Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen discussing a story about Cooper’s mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, wondering if she was going to be asked who had the largest “cock” in Hollywood. Of course Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are talking about "who has the biggest cock in Hollywood" live on #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/7cwaMGBQ3W — Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 1, 2020 No big deal, right? It’s 2020. Old sensibilities are out and penis stories are in. Sorry, but no. That’s not how this works. The constant virtue signaling by mainstream media prohibits us from dismissing when they decide inappropriate things are suddenly appropriate. As Twitter celebrity Carpe Donktum noted, the hypocrisy at CNN, Cooper’s home network, is thick. CNN: DECENCY IS UNDER ATTACK IN TRUMP'S AMERICA!! HIS VULGAR TWEETS ARE HURTING OUR CHILDREN. Also CNN: Let's swap cock stories on live television during New Years! — Carpe Donktum🔹 (@CarpeDonktum) January 1, 2020 One of the biggest threats of Cultural Marxism is taking things that are rightly considered inappropriate and normalizing them for children in modern society. Have most kids heard worse than, “He’s not going to ask me who has the biggest cock in Hollywood, is he?” Yes. Does that make it okay for Anderson Cooper to ask it live on CNN on New Year’s Eve night. No. When we accept such things without objection, we’re acknowledging that the Cultural Marxists have already won. Revelry is no excuse for retelling of adult stories on live television. Anderson Cooper stepped in it on this one, but we shouldn’t expect anything from CNN. Not an apology. Not even an acknowledgement. We need to set a better tone for 2020. We are currently forming the American Conservative Movement. If you are interested in learning more, we will be sending out information in a few weeks.

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Uchechukwu Nnaike examines the efforts made so far by Lafarge Africa to promote basic literacy in Nigeria through its annual National Literary Competition, which was launched in 2014 The alarming rate of out-of-school children in the country has continued to draw concern and intervention from all fronts, among which is the annual National Literary Competition, launched in 2014 by Lafarge Africa to create more literacy enhancement opportunities for indigent students across Nigeria. According to the company, promoting literacy and education has proven to be an effective approach to alleviating poverty and improving the well-being of a society, as well as achieving equality and fostering sustainable development. However it cited a UNESCO report, which stated that globally, approximately 758 million adults (15 per cent of global population) remain illiterate with women constituting two-third and Sub-Saharan Africa home to 26 per cent of world’s illiteracy rate. “In Nigeria, it is estimated that just a little above half of the adult population is literate (about 57 per cent), while youth literacy rate is less than 70 per cent. “Yet, rates vary hugely between states, regions and sex. An in-depth survey by the National Bureau of Statistics reveal that Imo and Lagos States record the highest number of English literate adults at 80.8 per cent and 80.5 per cent respectively, while Sokoto State has only 22.1 per cent of its adult population literate in English Language. According to the 2010 National Literacy Survey, urban literacy surpasses rural at a huge ratio of 69.4 per cent to 38.5 per cent, while 65.1 per cent of males are literate as opposed to 50.6 per cent females. “These estimates reveal that approximately 65 million Nigerians still remain illiterate, while over 10 million children are out of school (UNICEF 2014).” Thus with support of the Ovie Brume Foundation (OBF) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB), the Lafarge Africa National Literacy Competition was launched in 2014 as an annual contest conducted at the state, regional and national levels. After being coached in spelling, pronunciation, essay writing, and summary writing using specially developed study guides, select pupils compete in a state run-off, which sees two candidates (one male and one female) emerge to compete at the regional levels. The winning regions then proceed to the grand finale, where six winners emerge. The competition also aims at enabling pupils to further enhance their language and vocabulary skills with the overall goal of enhancing the participants’ literacy skills (reading, writing, pronunciation and spelling) and improving their educational opportunities. It features reading assessment test- a questionnaire of 40 objective questions in English Language; summary writing, written at respective venues; essay writing also written at respective venues; Spelling Bee – a spelling- off competition across primary schools in 374 local government areas in Nigeria. The initiative started in 2014 as ‘Reading Project’- a community integrated literacy enhancement initiative across five locations (Ewekoro, Sagamu, Onne, Ashaka and Lagos). where Lafarge Africa employees under the Lafarge friends of Communities (FOC) go into schools and read with pupils and support them on literacy; 950 story books were distributed across five locations to reach 250 beneficiaries. The initiative recorded an increase in the literacy skills of beneficiaries ranging from 9 per cent to 63 per cent. The phase II was implemented across five locations – Ewekoro, Sagamu, Onne, Ashaka and Lagos; it was implemented in five schools across the aforementioned project sites and the target was to increase by at least 25 per cent the literacy skills of 500 primary school children in communities where Lafarge Africa operates. A total of 668 pupils were exposed to literacy intervention and 234 were reached. Since the inception of the initiative, the company said there have been remarkable improvements in literacy skills among beneficiary primary school pupils across the country. By 2016, it said a total of 77,144 primary school pupils were reached in 244 local government areas, of which the 1,465 who actively participated in the competition remarkably displayed the ability to spell quickly, accurately and with comprehension, due to the contents of the initiative. The maiden edition of the competition was won by students from Akwa Ibom State, while Ondo and Bauchi States came second and third respectively. In the 2015 edition, participants from Rivers, Lagos and Kogi States came first, second and third positions respectively. For the 2016 edition, Lagos, Plateau and Enugu States produced the first, second and third place winners. In the 2017 edition of the competition, Edo State came first, while Ondo and Kano States came second and third respectively. In 2018, Lagos State emerged winner, while Ebonyi and Gombe States came second and third respectively. In the 2019 competition with the theme ‘Bridging the Literacy Gap Together’, Master David Emmanuella and Miss Barikpoa Prosper from Community Primary School, Rivers State emerged winner, while Ogun and Enugu States came second and third respectively. The winners were awarded scholarships, trophies and various gifts. The grand finale event, which attracted key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, was also an opportunity for the children to engage and interact among themselves, explore various book exhibition stands, take reading sessions and also participate in a spelling bee competition. Speaking at the event, which held in Lagos, the Chairman of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Mobolaji Balogun said: “Literacy is crucial to the development of any society and it is described by UNESCO as a driver for sustainable development in that it enables greater participation in the labour market. It improves child and family health and nutrition, reduces poverty and expands life opportunities.” He said that as an organisation, Lafarge Africa continues to invest in educational interventions, including scholarship and bursary awards for children within its host communities, training programmes, renovation and construction of classroom blocks and other facilities within schools, computer training, skills acquisition programmes among others. “For a country like Nigeria, there is an urgent need to work towards securing a sustainable future. We believe that a sustainable future will enable growth, global peace and security and technological advancement. We need to prepare our children for a future where they will compete globally with ease. That future begins with improving the literacy levels of every child in Nigeria today,” he said. The Country Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Michel Puchercos, who commended all the students that participated at every stage of the competition, said “it is rewarding to watch these brilliant children grow and improve every year. We dream of a bright future for every Nigerian child through basic education. “Six years on, the visible outcomes we have seen encourage us to do more. We have touched the lives of more than 700,000 primary school pupils in 1,665 schools across 544 local government areas. The competition is delivered across all 109 senatorial districts in all 36 states of the federation and the FCT and is organised with the support of the SUBEBs in all the states, with our implementing partners- Ovie Brume Foundation and TEP Centre.” Puchercos added: “As a company, we are proud of this achievement and do believe that it will inspire more well-meaning Nigerians and citizens all over Africa and the world to contribute to improving the lives of the people around them in any way they can.” The special guest of honour, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, commended the company for taking up the initiative to bridge the country’s widening literacy gap. He expressed his passion for children and women and urged more companies to join hands against illiteracy. “We spend a lot on government and infrastructure, but there isn’t enough being spent on education for children.” Emphasising reasons for the initiative by Lafarge, the Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director, Lafarge Africa, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem said: “We have been doing this successfully for the past six years and we are quite happy with the positive impact we have made so far. This year, we are excited to have existing and new partners on board with us, like the British Council, Sterling Bank and Oando Foundation. We look forward to what we will achieve together. We believe that as we continue on this journey, there is room for more partnerships as there is still a lot to be done. The literacy competition is part of our overall sustainable development strategy; our sustainability ambitions which have four pillars- climate and energy, circular economy, environment and community- each with specific actions and targets to ensure we achieve them.’’ she said. According to the Sustainable Development and Corporate Brand Manager, Titilope Oguntuga: “Lafarge Africa’s annual National Literacy Competition is an intervention in Nigeria’s education sector in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal four, which focuses on ensuring inclusive quality education and learning opportunities for all. It is also part of the company’s overall sustainability ambition hinged on four pillars, including climate and energy, circular economy, environment, and community. Our annual National Literacy Competition sits under the community pillar.” Oguntuga said over the past six years, the company has continued to introduce new ideas as a way of improving the competition and making it bigger. “This year, we introduced the computer based testing (CBT) for the first time as a mode of assessment. The tests include a reading assessment exam using a questionnaire of forty objective questions, summary writing, essay writing and an off competition spelling bee.” Responding, the overall winners, who also got scholarships to complete their secondary education, thanked the company and expressed delight at the opportunity to participate and the joy of emerging winners.

The business of selling consumer goods and services online is a relatively young endeavor across Africa, but ecommerce is set to boom. Over the last eight years, the sector has seen its first phase of big VC fundings, startup duels and attrition. To date, scaling e-commerce in Africa has straddled the line of challenge and opportunity, perhaps more than any other market in the world. Across major African economies, many of the requisites for online retail — internet access, digital payment adoption, and 3PL delivery options — have been severely lacking. Still, startups jumped into this market for the chance to digitize a share of Africa’s fast growing consumer spending, expected to top $2 billion by 2025. African e-commerce 2.0 will include some old and new players, play out across more countries, place more priority on internet services, and see the entry of China. But before highlighting several things to look out for in the future of digital-retail on the continent, a look back is beneficial. Jumia vs. Konga The early years for development of African online shopping largely played out in Nigeria (and to some extent South Africa). Anyone who visited Nigeria from 2012 to 2016 likely saw evidence of one of the continent’s early e-commerce showdowns. Nigeria had its own Coke vs. Pepsi-like duel — a race between ventures Konga and Jumia to out-advertise and out-discount each other in a quest to scale online shopping in Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation. Traveling in Lagos traffic, large billboards for each startup faced off across the skyline, as their delivery motorcycles buzzed between stopped cars. Covering each company early on, it appeared a battle of VC attrition. The challenge: who could continue to raise enough capital to absorb the losses of simultaneously capturing and creating an e-commerce market in notoriously difficult conditions. In addition to the aforementioned challenges, Nigeria also had (and continues to have) shoddy electricity. Both Konga — founded by Nigerian Sim Shagaya — and Jumia — originally founded by two Nigerians and two Frenchman — were forced to burn capital building fulfillment operations most e-commerce startups source to third parties. That included their own delivery and payment services (KongaPay and JumiaPay). In addition to sales of goods from mobile-phones to diapers, both startups also began experimenting with verticals for internet based services, such as food-delivery and classifieds. While Jumia and Konga were competing in Nigeria, there was another VC driven race for e-commerce playing out in South Africa — the continent’s second largest and most advanced economy. E-tailers Takealot and Kalahari had been jockeying for market share since 2011 after raising capital in the hundreds of millions of dollars from investors Naspers and U.S. fund Tiger Global Management. So how did things turn out in West and Southern Africa? In 2014, the lead investor of a flailing Kalahari — Naspers — facilitated a merger with Takealot (that was more of an acquisition). They nixed the Kalahari brand in 2016 and bought out Takelot’s largest investor, Tiger Global, in 2018. Takealot is now South Africa’s leading e-commerce site by market share, but only operates in one country. In Nigeria, by 2016 Jumia had outpaced its rival Konga in Alexa ratings (6 vs 14), while out-raising Konga (with backing of Goldman Sachs) to become Africa’s first VC backed, startup unicorn. By early 2018, Konga was purchased in a distressed acquisition and faded away as a competitor to Jumia. Jumia went on to expand online goods and services verticals into 14 Africa countries (though it recently exited a few) and in April 2019 raised over $200 million in an NYSE IPO — the first on a major exchange for a VC-backed startup operating in Africa. Jumia’s had bumpy road since going public — losing significant share-value after a short-sell attack earlier in 2019 — but the continent’s leading e-commerce company still has heap of capital and generates $100 million in revenues (even with losses).

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GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD: Long-time roadie in the Australian live entertainment business, Howard Freeman. GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD: Long-time roadie in the Australian live entertainment business, Howard Freeman. THE life of a roadie is an unusual one. But it is a life Howard Freeman wouldn't change for the world. He has set up and pulled down monumentally large stages for some of the biggest bands on the planet. And with his loyal roadie mates, he then drives interstate overnight and does it all again. Matt Collins: You are one of Australia longest serving roadies. That must be a proud badge to have? Howard Freeman: Yeah, I can remember being four or five-years-old and going into a band room. My father had a holiday resort in Melbourne and he had a big band playing. Every year he would hold ballroom dances through the summer because pubs would close at 6 o'clock. The same year I remember my father shooting a guy in the knee who was coming up the stairs to rob us. MC: All that when you were five? HF: Yeah, no wonder I wanted to leave home in a hurry. MC: How did you go in your school days? Did you enjoy school? HF: At Caulfield Grammar, where my father spent a lot of money getting me educated, I got the lowest score in maths ever recorded in the history of education. MC: Another proud moment. HF: Yeah, but that was at 15 and I worked out recently in my last AC/DC concert my budget was $6.5 million, so I faked it pretty good. MC: Let's talk about some of the huge names you have worked with. Who was the first big act? HF: The most memorable human being to me was Billy Thorpe. When he started playing rock, he did a song at my venue once called, Cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild woman. I was 18 at the time and I listened to the lyrics and went, 'yeah this for me'. MC: Your first tour manager job was for a great Aussie band, Sherbet. HF: Yeah and back then nobody knew what a touring manager did. I had a security business in Melbourne and I could count money, so I could handle myself and I was probably reasonable company then. I had hair and hips and half a brain. MC: That was all the resume you needed. HF: Absolutely. MC: Explain to me what 24 hours looks like for roadie. HF: It depends what era you are speaking. In the 80s it could be behind the wheel of a four-tonne truck driving overnight from Brisbane to Sydney after you've loaded out at 2am. You may find a hamburger on the way, you'd be drinking scotch or Bundy, you're probably smoking a joint and you could've done a line of speed. You'd arrive at approximately 1pm the next afternoon. You'd carry the gear upstairs, you'd set up and everyone would hate you because you haven't showered. And you'd probably do that again in Melbourne the night after. MC: So why do it? What's the appeal? HF: You do it for the people you love and work with, which is the band you represent. Somebody asked me, what was the greatest drug I had ever had. I said, when the house lights go down and the band starts playing music. That doesn't matter whether it's a suburban pub with 20 people, or in a stadium with 100,000 people. You've built it and they have come.

At least eight more people have been killed in catastrophic bushfires in Australia this week, bringing the death toll to 18, according to local reports. Authorities are warning conditions will only get worse, with temperatures expected to exceed 115 degrees in some part of the country this weekend. Out-of-control fires have raged for the past two months across Australia’s east coast, destroying at least 900 homes, killing half a billion animals and wiping out 30 percent of the country’s koala population, officials said. Residents on Wednesday described scenes “like Armageddon” — the massive infernos razing homes, blanketing towns in thick toxic smoke and turning skies to a menacing blood red, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Among the dead are a father and son who stayed behind to defend their property, three young firefighters killed in the line of duty and two men who were discovered in burnt-out cars. Large plumes of ash from the fire have now drifted as far as New Zealand — locals in the city of Queenstown on Tuesday sharing photos on social media of the thick orange haze and noting they could smell the smoke. Images of trapped Australians wearing face masks and sheltering on beaches on New Years’s Eve went viral around the world this week, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced a groundswell of fury over his tepid response to the disaster. With a heat wave predicted for later this week, authorities issued evacuation orders for large stretches of the New South Wales’ coast normally teeming with holidaymakers over the summer vacation period. Long queues formed outside supermarkets and gas stations on Wednesday as stranded tourists and residents attempted to stock up on supplies, the Herald reported. More than 50,000 residents on the New South Wales coast are currently without power while some towns no longer have access to clean drinking water, the report said. Firefighters have struggled to contain the massive blazes — the worst in decades — with record temperatures and a prolonged drought exacerbating the disaster.

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This is the year to start taking happiness seriously. But how – and where do you find the time? Here are the tips and advice you need for a pleasure-filled year The last time I felt joy was at an event that would be many people’s vision of hell: a drunken Taylor Swift club-night singalong in the early hours of the morning a few weekends ago. I certainly experience joy, either as peaks of euphoria or in quiet, unexpected bursts. But as I go about my everyday business – sprinting to meet deadlines, standing in front of the open fridge – I wouldn’t say it looms large. I am not alone. Many of us treat joy like the good china, only warranted on special occasions. Even if we know it is within our reach, we may not see it is within our control. But this is a mistake, according to happiness experts. Nataly Kogan, the author of Happier Now, says: “Happiness and emotional health are not extras, or bonuses, or nice-to-haves – they’re actually at the core of what helps us live well.” Seeking joy may sound frivolous, but being happy has been shown to promote habits and behaviours that are important to our health. A 2017 study of roughly 7,000 adults found that those with positive wellbeing were more likely to be physically active and to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Being happy has also been linked to better sleep, better weight management, lower stress levels, an improved immune system and even increased life expectancy. Despite the myriad benefits of joy – and the obvious incentive that it feels good – many of us don’t prioritise it. But experts point out that our resources and energy are finite; what we put off will fall by the wayside. So, as with any goal, the first step to a joyful life is to make it a priority – which may mean you need to let go of other commitments – and then do the work. In other words, we need to start taking joy seriously. As the founder and chief executive of the wellbeing business Happier, Kogan helps companies to improve their workplace culture and professionals to foster joy in their lives – lessons born out of her experience of career burnout and personal dissatisfaction in her late 30s. She likens herself at the time to a ship on the ocean – fine in favourable conditions, but at the mercy of any storm. Now 44 and based with her family in Boston, Massachusetts, Kogan says she has landed on practices and tools to harness happiness as a steady, sustainable presence in her daily life. The first of these is not to think of happiness as something to pursue at a later date, when your life is in order. “I lived with this idea of: ‘I’ll be happy when ...’ as I know so many people do,” she says. “We have to look at emotional health as a skill, not a destination. And, as with any skill, when you practise, you do better.” The gains have been established in research into baseline happiness – what in psychological literature is called our “hedonic set point”. It varies from person to person, but the key point is that our baseline is only half determined by genetics. “That means the other 50% is up to us,” says Kogan. “I think that is incredibly empowering.” So, what can we do to make 2020 a more joyful year? Identify the problem Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘Draw a large circle, divide it into segments and label each to reflect a different area of life that you want to assess.’ Illustration: Adam Higton/The Guardian Start by identifying where joy is most lacking. Sarah Waite, a London-based psychologist, suggests the “wheel of life”, a personal development exercise derived from the Buddhist theory of balance. Draw a large circle, divide it into eight or 10 segments and label each to reflect a different area of life that you want to assess. There are templates online, typically along the lines of fun and recreation, physical environment, career, finances, personal growth, romance, family and friends, and health. Shade in each wedge to reflect your level of satisfaction. The finished circle should be an overview of the areas of your life that you feel you have under control, and those that may need further attention. When it comes to deciding where to allocate resources, “it’s not necessarily the one you’ve marked the lowest; it’s the one you really value the most,” says Waite. It may be that your job is not a priority for you, so it doesn’t matter if it remains only two-thirds filled. The goal is to get perspective and clarity. The brain has evolved to be much more sensitive to negatives than positives as, historically, it has been more important for us to be attuned to hazardous situations than satisfactory ones. This “negativity bias” distorts our perspective, meaning it is hard to make a good decision under stress, says Kogan. “People can focus on things that are not ‘as they should be’ … We all have our stories of why we are not happy, at work or otherwise.” But small, practical steps taken to boost joy in one part of life can improve happiness across the board as momentum builds. The big picture Kogan’s first tip is to start by writing a list of what you like about your job, no matter how small. “Be specific, think broadly and don’t judge your list as you write it.” It doesn’t matter what they are, or how many there are; the idea is to shift your mindset. Kogan suggests making it a daily habit to note three small, highly specific things that you are grateful for every morning, perhaps before you reach for your phone. “It’s not about pretending that nothing is wrong, it’s about helping your brain to get out of that negativity spiral.” Just three weeks of this consistent “gratitude practice” has been shown to establish new neuron connections facilitating optimism, with the effects lasting for six months. Mindfulness and self-compassion are similarly powerful, says Shamash Alidina, the author of Mindfulness for Dummies and the co-founder of the not-for-profit Museum of Happiness – and more attainable than people may think. Many equate mindfulness with clearing one’s mind of thoughts entirely. This means they often give up out of frustration, says Alidina – but “it’s not about not thinking, it’s about being aware”. Spending just a few minutes noticing your thoughts pass you by like clouds, experimenting with what Alidina calls your “flexibility of attention”, can equip you to stop negative spirals before they start. “People associate meditation with being calm or relaxed, but it’s really just about not getting lost in your thoughts,” he says. What does it all mean? Finding lasting happiness is also about what we do, particularly what we do for others. Kogan says it is important to have a sense of purpose – to find what she calls “the bigger why” among our deadlines and meetings. “It’s not possible to be a happy human being if you don’t feel like what you’re doing is meaningful,” she says. Assessing your to-do list – particularly tasks you find mundane or frustrating – through the lens of “Who does this help?” can increase motivation, lift your mood and improve your ability to manage stress, she says. “When you say: ‘This project is going to help a lot of people’ – my team, customers, readers, whatever – your stress has context and you feel more resilient getting through it.” Helping others may seem like a circular way of boosting your happiness, but Kogan says even small gestures, such as pulling out a chair for a colleague or checking in with them about their day, releases oxytocin in the giver and the receiver. Over time, it also fosters a sense of belonging at work and can lead to office friendships – one of the most common factors in job satisfaction. Play is an effective mood‑booster that is often neglected in adulthood The mindset shift encouraged by practising “intentional kindness” means it is worth doing for your own happiness, says Kogan. At 3pm every day, she receives a reminder to “be kind”. Sometimes that is as simple as texting someone she hasn’t spoken to in a while and telling them that she’s thinking of them: “I cannot tell you how much that means to people.” Family fortunes It is well known that strong relationships are important to happiness, but what those look like – and how to forge them – can be ambiguous. “Happiness can feel very abstract,” says Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project. “My approach is to think about what you want, then break it up into manageable, concrete actions that you can actually take.” In terms of improving relationships, that might look like making a regular time to call or meet a friend, committing to attend a reunion or throw a party, or having a daily exchange with someone in public. Every five days or so, Rubin’s family email each other an update on the “boring everyday stuff” of their lives, freed from any pressure to entertain or an expectation to reply. “We realised that, by staying in touch with the little minutiae, we would feel more connected – and it’s absolutely working.” Making warm greetings and goodbyes habitual at home is another small but effective shift (“I always think that I don’t want to be less enthusiastic than my dog,” says Rubin). Such low-level commitments are less daunting to start and easier to keep up – and they make a real impact. We all have different definitions of happiness, Rubin says, whether it be joy, peace, satisfaction, bliss. “My way of thinking about it is: today, next month, next year – are there things you can do to be happier?” she says. “And if there are, why not do them?” Home truths If Rubin comes across an improvement at home that she can make in less than a minute, she does it immediately. For her, “outer order contributes to inner calm”, so happiness can be as simple as a clean kitchen bench or a decluttered shelf. “It feels trivial – and yet over and over people say: ‘When I have control of my environment, I feel like I have control generally,’” says Rubin. “Like making your bed every morning – it gives people a lift, more than really makes sense.” Often this is understood as minimalism – but there are many happy, successful people who take pleasure in being surrounded by their possessions, says Rubin. It is not a moral failing to prefer abundance, and making your personal space reflect your values and interests “can be very pleasing”. Ingrid Fetell Lee, the author of The Aesthetics of Joy, agrees. “We’ve been taught to think about our homes through the lens of other people: what’s trendy, what the design books say,” she says. As a result, many of us are out of touch with how our spaces measure on our own “joy meters”. We may view a neutral grey palette as the height of sophistication when, in fact, what brings us pleasure is a neon front door. Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘Control is inextricable from exercise, sleep and good money management.’ Illustration: Adam Higton/The Guardian Even the presence of different shapes can have an impact, with people finding angular objects more subconsciously anxiety-inducing than round ones. Rounded objects also tend to make environments more playful, says Lee: “Not only because your mind is unconsciously set at ease, but because you’re less worried about bumping into sharp edges.” Play is an effective mood-booster that is often neglected in adulthood. Rubin says she marks holidays such as Halloween and St Patrick’s Day with themed meals, just because, while the Museum of Happiness’s pop-up installations in London and Manchester later this month are testament to the transformative effects of a ballpit on otherwise sober adults. To bring some of that spirit into your home, Lee advises trying to imagine you are visiting for the first time: “Notice how it makes you feel, almost the physiological sensation in your body, as you move from room to room. What are the things that, when your eyes land on them, make you smile or feel drained?” The key is not to feel burdened by your possessions. “Owning less means you are surrounding yourself with only your favourite things,” says Joshua Becker, who writes the blog Becoming Minimalist. Being intentional with the things that we own – and, by extension, our money – means that our lives align with our values and passions: things that really matter to us. “Minimalism removes distractions so that we can free up our money, time and energy on those things that bring us real joy in life,” says Becker. Early to bed Play, gratitude and kindness may factor into a life full of joy, but so can discipline. A sense of control is more important to happiness than many people realise, says Rubin. Prosaically enough, this is inextricable from exercise, sleep and good money management. Too often, happiness is located solely in the moment, she says, when it could be achieved through giving up sugar or alcohol, or setting an alarm to go to bed on time. “Sometimes, to be happier in the long run, we have to ask more of ourselves or deprive ourselves of something,” says Rubin. “A happy life is not one that’s focused only on the present.” Embracing boredom In the same vein, putting off a difficult or boring task can detract from your daily experience more than getting stuck into it. Waite says she rolls her eyes at the framing of self-care as “baths and candles”: “I love those things, but if doing your tax return is really making you anxious, maybe the kindest thing you can do for yourself is to make a start.” It may not be what is typically understood by joy, but sustainable, long-lasting happiness involves recognising that there are many shades on the emotional palette. Research shows that occasionally accepting the presence of harder emotions means you experience them less intensely and for less time. In fact, the first step towards a joyful life may be letting go of your ideas of what that looks like – and recognising that it is down to you. “Part of this exercise is to recognise that there isn’t anything out there that is going to make you feel good 100% of the time,” says Kogan. “That’s actually great news, because when we let go of this particular idea of happiness we give ourselves more opportunities to be in alignment with our lives.”

× How to succeed at your New Year’s resolutions this year NEW YORK — Do you want to eat better, exercise more, stop vaping or lose weight? Great. Now’s the time to set those New Year’s resolutions. As we head into a year — and a new decade — your first step is to believe you can do it. The opposite is also true, said University of Scranton psychology professor John C. Norcross, who has studied resolutions for decades. If you think you can’t do it, you’ll likely prove yourself right. While about 40% of Americans set resolutions around January 1, about 40% to 44% of them will be successful at six months, said Norcross, reporting his results from multiple studies with colleagues. But if you believe in yourself, you are 10 times more likely to change via a New Year’s resolution, compared to non-resolvers, when both groups have comparable goals and motivation, he reported. Here’s how to start yourself on the strongest possible footing this year. Make it specific Eating better and exercising more are all nice ideas, but they’re too general and don’t give you a plan of action. People often think they lack motivation when the problem is really a lack of clarity, wrote author James Clear in his book, “Atomic Habits.” “The simple way to apply this strategy to your habits is to fill out this sentence: I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION],” writes Clear. If you want to eat better, be specific: Resolve to add a fruit or vegetable to your lunch every day, limit fast food to once per week, or have dessert once a week. Make it possible Avoid resolutions that sound great but are unattainable. In fact, make them them something you will enjoy. They can still be hard, but that doesn’t mean they have to make you miserable. To eat better, put that bowl of fruit right next to your lunch bag, so you grab an apple or orange every day. Hate apples? Don’t pick apples. Pick a fruit you are likely to eat. To exercise more, you might want to run more. But if you’re a night person, don’t make it harder on yourself by trying to run every morning before work, said Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project.” Do it after work. Want to meditate? Great. Rubin hates meditating, so she stopped doing it. It’s ok to experiment and stop doing things you don’t like. “Know who you are, and who you’re not,” she said. Allow yourself to fail Everyone screws up. Expect to have occasional slips. But don’t let the occasional missed exercise class or Friday workplace donut throw you off course, explained Norcross. Most successful resolvers slip in January, but 71% of successful resolvers say their first slip strengthened their efforts through a combination of guilt, increasing awareness of their problem’s severity, and the slip reminding them to refine their plans, he said. If you know you’re walking into a high pressure situation, practice saying “no thanks” to your aunt’s apple pie in advance. Even people who don’t like apple pie sometimes still eat it when offered just to be polite. Instead, practice saying “No, thank you.” And if you do slip? Focus on getting back on track, not the slip. “The people who show more compassion for themselves are more likely to get back on the horse and try again,” Rubin said. Set yourself up for success See what they tell you: If you’re resolved to spend less time on your phone but grab it as soon as you wake up, put your phone in another room at night. Oh, it’s your alarm, you say? Buy an alarm clock. They cost $6 now. If you want to limit sweets, get them out of your house. Stay away from your work’s break room during Wednesday snack time (not that I’m speaking from personal experience at CNN). Know yourself Rather than asking you to consider your goals, Clear asks you to consider this two-step process. Decide the type of person you want to be: A healthy person? A strong person? A writer? A musician? Then prove it to yourself with small wins over time. Gym classes, weight lifting, writing, practicing. Every time you do something toward the goal of you who want to be, tell yourself that you are becoming that person. (I did my Pilates in the morning before I started writing this piece. It’s part of my goal to be a healthy person.) Make it public If you’re surrounded by supportive friends and family, making your goals public and asking for accountability can help. So can joining a gym with friendly competition or a group like Weight Watchers. The resolution guides I spoke to agreed to go public with their resolutions: Norcross resolved to stop multitasking in 2020, and he had already started practicing during our telephone interview. (After he mentioned it, I did feel like I had his full attention.) Psychologist Lisa Damour, author of “Under Pressure” about the lives of teen girls, plans to focus on meditating in 2020, despite having two children and a more-than-full-time career. “I’m going to start at five minutes daily,” she said, crediting James Clear with starting a daily “atomic habit” before trying for more. Rubin is going to try to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every day she’s home in Manhattan, a few blocks from the museum. While that sounds like a tall order, it’s also the subject of her next book — so it’s huge motivation to explore and learn from her new workplace in the new year. Show (don’t tell) your children Parents can open the door to a conversation with their children about resolutions by talking about their own reflections and hopes for the new year. They can mention that it’s hard to meet their own goals, and that perfection is not the goal. Parents can bring up the changes they want to make and model how they want to make those changes, said Damour. It’s important to bring it up without criticizing, she said. With children under age 10, parents can take the lead in a discussion about where family members have room to grow, she said. Once your children get to adolescence, don’t give them any ideas, she added. “Parents should work with the assumption that no normally developing teenager wants to be told what to do,” said Damour. If the teenager is quietly doing the right thing and the parent suggests it, kids will likely stop doing it. “Most of how we guide young people is modeling the behaviors we want,” she said. “If what you say and do don’t match, a teenager will notice and call you on your hypocrisy.” Change it up Do you just hate the idea of a resolution for the entire year, seeing an entire year of failure ahead of you? Follow in CNN Features Editor David Allan’s footsteps and set yourself a year of 12 monthly micro-resolutions. In 2018, he eliminated one behavior each month — think alcohol, sweets, screens around his kids, saying the word “like” — and noted the impact of his mood and the effect on himself and his family. It went so well, this past year he decided to add something to his life every month, including meditation, movement, active listening and more sleep. Getting enough sleep didn’t go so well for him one month, so he swapped it out. He wrote his own rules, so he could change them and therefore succeed. And you can, too.

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The Reds head into 2020 top of the league and top of the world. With Jürgen Klopp’s men threatening to dominate the coming decade there has never been a better time to be a Kopite. Melwood has been preparing for this coming period of dominance, we believe Curtis Jones will be the breakthrough star of 2020. Jones has been at Anfield since he was a kid, first turning out for the club at under-nine level. He has rocketed through the ranks at Melwood, impressing at every level, often captaining his side. The local lad made his first debut in January 2019, starting against Wolves in the FA Cup, he has since collected the man of the match award for his efforts against MK Dons in the League Cup, he scored the winning penalty against Arsenal in the next round. Jones’ Premier League debut came during the Reds’ 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the start of December. We can expect more first team minutes for him in the near future. Curtis Jones will surely be our breakthrough star of 2020 as it is the perfect time for him. The Reds have their strongest squad in modern history, there will be plenty of games where we are leading handsomely enough to bring on one of the youngsters. As long as Jones continues to impress during the cameos we can expect him to win a few starts. The intense footballing style of Klopp’s Liverpool demands rotation, we need to keep our players refreshed in order to maintain our high press – Jones could benefit from this rotation. Of course, Jones may also benefit from our vast lead at the top of the table, if the Reds were to win the league with time to spare, we may see the gaffer blood some young talent.

Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has disclosed that Liverpool are on course to go unbeaten and win the Premier League title this season. Liverpool wrapped up their 17th win of the campaign with a 4-0 win over second-placed Leicester City on Boxing Day. The Reds have only dropped points against Manchester United so far this season. But Wenger now believes that Jurgen Klopp’s men are on the right track to repeat Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ feat of 2003/2004 this term. Asked whether Liverpool can pull off an ‘Invincibles’ season, Wenger told beIN SPORTS: “They were close last year and they are still on course to do it. “But I think what Liverpool is expecting at the moment is just to win the Premier League and that is the first target for such a football city. “To stay for 30 years without winning the Premier League… nobody would have predicted that. “That is their main target and I think they are on a good run and on a good course to achieving that this season because their main opponent is quite far away already.” Liverpool will face Sheffield United on Thursday night in their next Premier League fixture at Anfield.

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Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken Jr, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter. The biggest legends in American baseball history all set records and achieved international fame playing with Louisville Slugger bats, the players’ names immortalized in the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Hall of Fame in Kentucky. But what about the men and women who worked in the factories, the artisans and engravers who produced their iconic bats for America’s favorite pastime? What were their names, and what were their stories? Those are the questions being answered right now in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of the city’s biennial celebration, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory dug out a trove of old photos, many black and white, from decades and decades of the company’s history. The pictures were a snapshot into not only the company’s past but of post-war American life. But many of the proud faces’ identities were unknown. Ruby Judd worked at Louisville Slugger for 50 years filling ordered filling orders and doing quality inspection. She was identified by her niece, Laura Quiggins, who said: ‘She was very proud of her job, very proud of the product that they put out' An unidentified man whittles down a baseball bat. In celebration of Louisville, Kentucky's biennial, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is hosting an exhibit that showcases vintage photos of employees that worked in the Hillerich and Bradsby factory over the years. A local campaign asked family, friends and former colleagues to help identify the nameless faces The Hillerich and Bradsby is a woodworking company that began in 1856 and manufactured various items such as golf clubs butter churns before it made its first bat in 1884. Maril Addams (pictured) is seen operating a lathe on golf club heads A local campaign advertised the museum exhibit and showcased the photos in regional media. That’s when friends and colleagues of former workers began collaborating with the effort, and now many of those earnest, nameless faces have been identified. ‘Back in those days, people took such pride in their work,’ says Laura Quiggins, who identified her aunt, Ruby Judd, who was an inspector and order filler more than 50 years ago for Hillerich and Bradsby, the company which began manufacturing Louisville Slugger bats. ‘Nowadays, it’s like people just go to work to get the paycheck – “What’s in it for me?” ‘She was very proud of her job, very proud of the product that they put out,’ Quiggins tells DailyMail.com. ‘It’s so simple, but a little piece of wood made people famous, and those people made the bat famous.’ The effort came about when the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory was asked to participate in the Louisville Biennial, and curator Bailey Mazik thought of the photos she’d seen in archives and desks, folders of workers in the factories, men and women working for a company that began in 1856 and manufactured everything from butter churns to golf clubs to the famous bats – production of which began in 1884. The company receives information about former players on a daily basis, she says – but this was something new and special. An unidentified man carefully works on a persimmon golf club head at a table saw at the Hillerich and Bradsby company Employee Bill Lesch inspecting rough-turned timber. 17-year-old,John "Bud" Hillerich began making baseball bats in the 1880s after watching Louisville's major league team star player, Pete "Louisville Slugger" Browning break his bat during a game Employee Ray Sizemore weighing a roughout in 1975 Quinton Jackson is pictured dipping bats in an undated photo An unidentified employee is seen branding bats. Rena Jenkins, a longtime current employee who began at the company in 1977 instantly recognized a former employee by the name of Georgia Hines. She told DailyMail.com: '...she was a little bitty lady. She probably weighed maybe 110 pounds fully clothed...but she could engrave a bat. Back then, that was her job. She was the only one that did that back then' ‘One of our former vice presidents was kind of an amateur historian himself, so he collected a lot of these and organized these and wrote down a lot of employees’ names,’ Bailey Mazik says of Jack McGrath, who retired in the 80s. Polly Basham (left) stands with two Hillerich and Bradsby employees in front of a wall of baseball bats She adds: ‘It has been important for us to know who these people are and to celebrate their hard work.’ One of those people was Quiggins’ Aunt Ruby. ‘She was an inspector and an order-filler,’ Quiggins tells DailyMail.com. ‘She inspected the bats and, when someone placed an order for them, she did the quality assurance … She had worked in several departments, because she was there for years.’ Aunt Ruby, who married and had two children, ‘loved her job,’ Quiggins says. ‘My grandfather worked with wood a lot and made things with wood, and he was a whittler. So she said going into work was like going into Dad’s house. She had built a big long 18-by-12 cedar closet in their house, so their house smelled like cedar – and she said that’s the only smell I don’t smell at work, is cedar. She smelled oak and all the other woods. She said it was a family-oriented place … Everybody knew everybody. She loved working there. ‘That was the place to work, back in the day. It was General Electric, Ford and Hillerich and Bradsby.’ Employee Arthur Peyton branding a bat in an undated photo. Today, Louisville Sluggar churns out 1.8 million bats per year Unnamed employee is pictured dipping bats. Recalling post-war America, Laura Quiggins told DailyMail.com: ‘That was the place to work, back in the day. It was General Electric, Ford and Hillerich and Bradsby' Employee inspecting bats before they’re shipped out. January 15, 1958 Willie Leonard is pictured in an undated photo working on metal golf club heads The company has always been based in the Louisville region, and the Kentucky city has become almost synonymous with baseball bats. Tributes to players and their bats are included on a mile-long Walk of Fame through the city, and the Museum is easily identifiable by the world’s largest bat standing proudly outside of it. Paula Dyer, another woman who identified her aunt and uncle – both Hillerich and Bradsby employees – echoed the sentiments of Ms Quiggins. Hillerich and Bradsby was the ‘name I grew up with,’ she says. Her Aunt Polly and Uncle John ‘Buck’ Basham started in the 40s and retired in the 70s. Buck was a WWII Army veteran, and Dyer’s mother and father had worked for Hillerich and Bradsby before leaving, helping her own parents get their jobs. ‘They would get up in the morning ... they were dedicated employees,’ Dyer says of Polly and Buck. They would get up at four in the morning; they would never be a minute late. They never missed a day.’ She adds: They were proud to work there, yes. It was hard work; they never complained too much about it. I remember, Uncle Buck, his hands would be stained.’ Employee rubbing bat with steel wool prior to final finishing operations in 1953 Employee operating sanding machine Unidentified employee applying polish to bats. Every baseball bar cores measure 37 inches long by 2.75 inches in diameter, these raw wood posts are called 'billets.' Despite their uniform size, the wood can vary in weight which is what distinguishes different models Employee weighing roughouts to determine for which model they’re best suited. Date unknown The Bashams were so proud, in fact, that they incorporated their company’s product into the cabin they built saving wages, she says. ‘It was a two-story cabin, beautiful cabin, and the stairs – instead of plain old rails on each step, it was a Hillerich and Bradsby baseball bat, she tells DailyMail.com. ‘And you know, none of us have pictures of it and it’s so sad.’ Uncle Buck died in 1976 at the age of 60 – only two years retired – and Aunt Polly passed away in 1999. ‘To be able to recognize them for their hard work and dedication ... I just love it,’ she says. Paula Dyer, identified her aunt Polly and uncle John 'Buck' Basham (pictured polishing a golf club head) in the trove of pictures on display at the Louisville Sluggar Museum & Factory. She told DailyMail.com 'They would never be a minute late. They never missed a day. They were proud to work there, yes. It was hard work; they never complained too much about it' The Bashams were proud of the work they did for Hillerich and Bradsby, so much so that they incorporated their company’s product into the cabin they built saving wages. ‘It was a two-story cabin, beautiful cabin, and the stairs – instead of plain old rails on each step, it was a Hillerich and Bradsby baseball bat,' said Paula Dyer to DailyMail.com Employee (William White) packing mini-bats. March 2007 Rena Jenkins, a longtime current employee who began at the company in 1977 as an 18-year-old on the switchboard, helped identify former workers from the binders of folders such as Georgia Heins. The effort to name and picture so many people excited her and made her happy to help, she tells DailyMail.com. ‘It is a legacy,’ she says. ‘It goes back so many generations ... I think they realize the history.’ She adds that she still believes the company makes ‘the greatest bat in the world’ and ‘it’s as American as apple pie.’ She’s worked everywhere within the company from accounts payable to shipping and purchasing and in the warehouses and factories, helping her get to know so many employees over the years who were equally proud of their work. One of them was Georgia Heins, who she recognized amongst the pictures. ‘She was real nice; she was a little bitty lady,’ she says. ‘She probably weighed maybe 110 pounds fully clothed and maybe with her pockets lined. She was 5’2, 5’1; she was a small woman, real skinny, but she could engrave a bat. Back then, that was her job. She was the only one that did that back then.' An unidentified female employee is seen placing a gunstock cutout on a table saw. Hillerich and Bradsby produced wooden rifle stocks and billy clubs for the U.S. Army during WWII An unidentified employee works on a metal bat at the Los Angeles, California factory An undated photo of an employee weighing roughouts before they are cut down to the shape of a specific baseball bat model. Baseball bat cores used to be made of Ash wood but have since been changed to Maple wood after Barry Bonds broke the single-season home run record using Maple bats in 2001 She tells DailyMail.com that the company has always been ‘like a family.’ ‘There was a lot of us that started young, so we were young and inexperienced. We learned off of some of the older ones, and we all started having babies and raising our families, and everybody was always here for everybody else.’ Many of the positions, she admits, ‘were tedious jobs – but they just had a little assembly line, and then you had a lot of husband and wives worked here. And then you had several that met their wives here and married.’ ‘Years ago, whenever you had a baby, they used to send us a full-sized personalized bat with a letter from the president [of the company] saying: “Welcome to the Hillerich and Bradsby family.” And they would send us a personalized bat with the day they were born, their height, weight and all of that. So each of my kids have that.’ Bill Kaiser giving a golf lesson to the 'Louisville Power-Bilt girls' in an undated photo Two employees pictured in 1974 prepare golf clubs for shipping An unnamed employee is pictured meticulously wrapping a golf club Archivist Mazik says that emphasis on connectivity and support has ‘been important and implemented in our company for as long as I can tell. ‘We all really make a point to know each other, all different departments, all different kinds of jobs. It has been really special to me to see how employees keep in touch with each other and how they take care of each other.’ The exhibit will run through the end of January, but Mazik hopes it can lead to even further historical research and memorialization of the people responsible for the building blocks of America’s favorite pastime. ‘I want to sit down with some of these folks, do formal oral histories that we can archive,’ she says. Laura Quiggins (left) stands in front of the worlds largest baseball bat outside the Louisville Sluggar Museum & Factory in Kentucky. Quiggins (right) poses next to a photo of her aunt Ruby Judd who was a long-term employee of Hillerich and Bradsby. Quiggins explained to DailyMail.com, '...it was a family-oriented place … Everybody knew everybody. She loved working there'

This is without a doubt my favorite day that rolls around every two weeks, and I’m not talking about payday (though that’s up there pretty high as well.) Today is the day that my housekeeper comes to rescue me from my own sloth, and I never get tired of it, or bored by repetition, even though it occurs every two weeks. (I’m calling her Ronda but that’s not her real name.) Author Erma Bombeck once said that cleaning your house while the kids were still growing is like sweeping your porch while it’s still snowing and I think that’s true, but I still look forward to it. Here are the happy stages of “Ronda The Housekeeper Day:” Stage One Go to the ATM and get some cash, because my kids always suck up any excess I have lying around. I pay Ronda around $20 an hour, which I think is fair for five hours of manual labor cleaning my toilet and mopping my floors. Occasionally, someone will act surprised at this, and insist they can get me someone cheaper. “Gee, I know someone who will clean your whole house for $30!” Well, here’s the thing: I’m not interested in exploiting people just because they’re desperate and will work for less. Ronda came to this country from Guatemala (She’s in this country legally now so don’t send me any hate mail, thank you) as a mom deserted by her abusive, alcoholic husband. She left her boys with her mother and came up here to find a job to support them. At first, she told me, she worked for room and board only, which in my mind sounds an awful lot like slavery. Not the only time I’ve heard that kind of story, by the way. I pay her what I think is fair, and if you bargain your cleaning lady down to get her to scrub your floors for less, I probably wouldn’t like you. Stage Two Scurry around and put away anything that I think might get misplaced. Two women putting things away in the same kitchen is never a good thing. I spend a lot of time pacing and thinking, “Dang, where would she have put the measuring cups?” It’s just easier to put them away before she gets here. I usually throw a load of towels in the washer to give her a head start, since she does our linens. Sometimes I’ll wipe up the dog vomit or something else that’s particularly disgusting, though I’m not one of those people who cleans the house before the housekeeper arrives. I’ve always been a little confused by that concept. I know there are a lot of you out there, so please explain it to me. Stage Three Greet Ronda when she arrives, then vamoose as quickly as possible. I don’t want to be around while she’s cleaning for two reasons. First, because I can tell I’m getting in her way, though she would never say so. The second and more important reason is that I feel guilty. I feel vaguely ashamed that I’m making someone else clean the gunk out of my bathroom sink, even though I know she wants and needs the work. Best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a piece for Harper’s magazine back in 2000 called “Maid to Order: The politics of other women’s work” that I could never get completely out of my head. She went to work as a employee of one of those corporate housekeeping companies for the experience, so she could write about it from an informed perspective. She wrote that people like to hire cleaning services, because they needn’t have a relationship with one person and watch her scrub their bathtub. Seriously, do you really think those maids are merry? Because I’m pretty sure they’re not. Some people also worry about theft, though I’ve never had a problem. One of my former housekeepers, who fled the death squads in El Salvador, had been a college professor there, and the only problem I had with her was letting her finish her work, because she was so interesting I always just wanted to talk. My mother was a neat freak who grew up an orphan in Texas, where in those days the difference between “white trash” and respectable folk was how clean they kept their houses. My mom could never abide the fact that her daughter was clearly trash. Stage Four Come home to a sparkling, lemon-scented house with freshly folded towels and clean sheets, enjoying an hour of pure bliss after walking through the door. At this point, I might think about how I really can’t afford a housekeeper, and wonder which kid I should get rid of so I can continue to hire her services. Stage Five It’s been 24 hours since Ronda was here, and I’m wondering how my house could possibly look so trashed. I also wonder why my son needs five towels for one shower and why he can’t pick them up off the floor. There’s nothing to be done but pine for her next visit. Ronda, please come back!

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Customer Elise Swopes (R) makes a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2020, the first day recreational marijuana became legal in the state (AFP Photo/KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI) Washington (AFP) - Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to legalize recreational marijuana as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will allow residents 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana and will expunge thousands of individuals' criminal convictions throughout the state. "We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. On Tuesday night, Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for people with low-level cannabis convictions, the first round of a planned total of more than 700,000. According to the statement, the new law will use 25 percent of the state's cannabis revenue to help "the communities hit hardest" by the earlier crackdown on marijuana. "Today we took another step toward justice, as we continue to address the failed war on drugs and the disproportionate impact it had on communities of color," Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in the statement. Illinois residents age 21 and older will now be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC -- the main active ingredient of cannabis -- contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 grams of cannabis under the bill, which will also create a licensed growing and dispensary system. Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, along with Washington, DC. Thirty-four states and the federal capital permit medical cannabis treatment. But the US Drug Enforcement Administration still considers marijuana a dangerous substance alongside LSD and heroin. A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control published in August found that states that legalize recreational marijuana see a reduction of at least 20 percent in fatalities linked to opioid overdoses. Marijuana legalization has also been shown to improve a state's economic activity, creating jobs and bringing in new tax revenue.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions Tuesday — one day before a sweeping law makes cannabis legal in the state for people 21 and older. The 11,017 pardons are a small part of the law Pritzker signed in June, making Illinois the 11th state in the nation to legalize weed use by adults. The law is also intended to help people held back from jobs, housing and financial aid for college because of drug convictions, according to state officials. “We are ending the 50-year long war on cannabis,” the Democratic governor, who made the announcement at a church on Chicago’s South Side, said in a statement. “We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core.” State officials said about 116,000 convictions for possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana — not associated with a violent crime — are eligible for pardons under the new law. In all, the law could offer relief to the more than 700,000 residents with marijuana-related offenses on their criminal records, according to state officials and the Marijuana Policy Project. The state’s new Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which takes effect Wednesday, allows people to automatically receive clemency for convictions up to 30 grams of cannabis. Those convicted with larger amounts, from 30 to 500 grams, can petition a court to have the charge lifted. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, in a statement Tuesday, applauded the governor for “acting to address the history of unnecessary and discriminatory enforcement of marijuana laws in Illinois.” “The governor’s pardons of Illinoisans with convictions for marijuana possession makes the new year brighter for thousands,” said Ben Ruddell, criminal justice policy director for the ACLU of Illinois. “We know that black Illinois residents are far more likely to be arrested and convicted for marijuana possession than whites. This is a good step forward as we begin the legal sales of recreational marijuana.” The law defines “expunge” to mean to “physically destroy the records or return them to the petitioner and to obliterate the petitioner’s name from any official index or public record, or both.” But it doesn’t require the physical destruction of circuit court files. “The 11,017 pardons that Gov. Pritzker is granting today are thousands of lives forever changed — and hundreds of thousands more will be changed in the coming months,” Toi Hutchinson, senior adviser to the governor for cannabis control, said in a statement. “Those who were unfairly targeted by discriminatory drug laws can finally get ahead and build a new future for themselves and their families.” So far 18 states have decriminalized marijuana, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. In all, 34 states allow patients with health complaints to use medical marijuana. Illinois is the latest state to offer clemency for marijuana convictions. In May, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law that gave marijuana offenders the ability to have their sentences vacated in the state.

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During the first week of December, notorious Ukrainian Nazis supported the West's color revolution destruction in Hong Kong. No CIA-NGO attempt to overthrow anti-imperialist countries around the world is complete, without a few Nazis to lend an evil hand (https://chinarising.puntopress.com/2019/11/16/china-bolivia-and-venezuela-are-proof-that-social-democracy-cannot-thrive-in-the-global-capitalist-system-china-rising-radio-sinoland-191116/). Ihor Maliar, Serhii Sternenko and Serhii Filimonov are well known members of the Ukrainian Nazi groups, Azov Battalion and Right Sektor. They wear swastikas, iron crosses and other Nazi symbols, including their ubiquitous tattoos, as caught on camera in Hong Kong above. Both of these two fascist groups are funded by the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and other CIA front NGOs (https://sputniknews.com/asia/201912021077466396-why-are-ukrainian-neo-nazis-joining-the-hong-kong-protests/). This is a particularly revolting affront to the Chinese people, of whom 25-35 million died during World War II, in helping to defeat global fascism. Given this 20th century history, these Ukie goons were surely sent to Hong Kong to get a reaction out of Baba Beijing, which will not happen (https://chinarising.puntopress.com/2019/11/28/hong-kong-ensnared-in-the-wests-color-revolution-hot-box-the-latest-news-and-analysis-china-rising-radio-sinoland-191128/). These Nazis also created a color revolution Facebook group in Ukraine, called Free Hong Kong Center, as shown below. Sieg Heils, Herr CIA! We can safely say that the CIA-NGO complex has connected their Hong Kong terrorists to Ukrainian Nazis to work together. I can't think of two groups that deserve each other more. The Taiwan-HK color revolution nexus is no less obvious. Taiwanese "tourists" have been caught at the Hong Kong Airport, with suitcases full of masks, helmets and other terrorist weapons (https://youtu.be/10HaTxCrklU). Taiwan is offering sanctuary and support to Hong Kong subversives (https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/07/19/601315/Taiwan-Hong-Kong-protests-sanctuary). Treasonous leaders, like Joshua Wong, have flown to Taiwan, seeking help to destroy HK (http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aCS/201909030007.aspx). Taiwan is part of a continuous nexus of anti-socialist-communist China color revolutions going back to Tiananmen Square in 1989 (https://chinarising.puntopress.com/2019/05/30/over-100000-people-around-the-world-have-read-this-you-should-too-china-rising-radio-sinoland-190604/). During March 2014, in precision organized scenes eerily similar to Hong Kong's, and right on the heels of the bloody, US orchestrated overthrow of the pro-Russian government in Ukraine (Maidan), students stormed the Taiwanese legislature, occupying it to protest a proposed law to increase commerce with the Mainland. It became known as the Sunflower Movement and had all the hallmarks of a Western organized and financed color revolution. It so shook Taiwan and was such a huge loss of face for the pro-Beijing KMT Party, that it heavily lost later local and national elections, putting into power the US backed/manipulated, secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Since then, cross-strait relations have gone from positive and productive to sour and confrontational. Chalk up a temporary and futile victory for Western imperialism. Flash forward five years. When the Hong Kong color revolution terrorists stormed their legislature, they ransacked it, costing millions of dollars in damage, needing months of repairs. Not by coincidence, they painted in big Chinese-character graffiti, Sunflower HK Seen in this photo below, There are many similar examples. Here is a tweet from a HK NGO, also using the Taiwanese sunflower meme, (Image by China Rising website) Details DMCA Next Page 1 | 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping is going to Macau this week, to join the 20th anniversary celebrations for the territory's return to the Motherland, after 450 years of Portuguese control (https://macaunews.mo/president-xi-jinping-to-arrive-on-december-18-government-sources-say/). He's staying three days, which is unprecedented and a statement in itself. Macau's history is much different than that of colonial Hong Kong, and you can feel the striking differences by visiting both. Mrs. Graça Pacheco Jorge did a great job of explaining this, in her written interview on China Rising Radio Sinoland. It is well worth reading (https://chinarising.puntopress.com/2019/05/22/graca-pacheco-jorge-magical-and-mysterious-macau-the-anti-hong-kong-china-rising-radio-sinoland-190522/). She explains why Macau's reintegration into the Mainland China has been seamlessly successful. During Xi's visit, it is expected that the development of a Macau stock market will be officially approved (https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1497360-20191212.htm). They even sold a Macau bond this week, worth US$730 million, to make another statement (https://www.chinanews.com/ga/2019/12-13/9033268.shtml). While not big by world standards, the message is clear. This is a direct result and an oblique riposte to the West's ongoing color revolution destruction of next-door Hong Kong (HK), something I have reported on extensively, since it began in 2014. This article/podcast gives a nice 10-point recap of the horrific events taking place there (https://chinarising.puntopress.com/2019/11/28/hong-kong-ensnared-in-the-wests-color-revolution-hot-box-the-latest-news-and-analysis-china-rising-radio-sinoland-191128/). Hong Kong is still a British colony in all but name. Pictured above: I think the Macanese are trying to give Xi Jinping a hint. Here they are with a mock stock market board and Wall-Street-esque gong, to welcome their first bond sold. This is part of much bigger picture concerning Hong Kong's precarity. For years, Baba Beijing has been holding Shenzhen's and Guangzhou's airports back, so as to not hurt Hong Kong's economy, which is critically dependent on short-stay tourists. Every year, 60 million visitors pass through for a few days of eating, shopping and sightseeing. China has let Hong Kong keep air tickets cheap, relative to nearby mainland Shenzhen and Guangzhou, not to mention letting HK have many more and frequent regional and international destinations. Ticket prices and destinations are currently so competitive in Hong Kong, that huge numbers of people in Shenzhen and Guangzhou take the high-speed train and ferry there, to then fly around the world. My wife and I did it all the time, when we lived in Shenzhen for three years. Like all these millions of transiting Mainlanders, we would often stay 1-2 days coming and/or going, spending our money in the local economy. If Baba Beijing gives the go-ahead to China's airlines to compete with Hong Kong out of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, it would cripple Hong Kong's economy. That hasn't happened yet, but clearly China giving Macau the green light to open a NASDAQ-style stock market is a harbinger to Western color revolution destroyed HK, since the latter has historical bragging rights as Asia's "Wall Street". Baba Beijing has been keeping Macau's stock market dreams on the back burner for 20 years. The fact that it is being given the go ahead now is no coincidence (http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1166751.shtml and http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1166969.shtml).

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by January2020 “Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now”. ~Thomas Jefferson Everybody is focused on the political arena of entertainment while the framework for a medical tyranny is being built behind the scenes. Conspiracy and corruption in our medical industry is one of the most stealthy forms of control. Average people just assume that the medical community has our best interests in mind so they don’t scrutinize the information coming from that direction to the same degree. The white lab coat has been offered as a symbol of unbiased purity. FFS, think about how Monsanto used to be given a wide pass merely because SciEnTiStS dOn’T liE tO uS, aNd MoNsAnTo = sCiEnCe! Thankfully people are starting to wise up to the whole Monsanto/Bayer debacle and have realized that Monsanto was successfully pulling off unfactual Tobacco $cience for decades. Big victory for humanity! The problem is, they’re still ignoring a huge fucking elephant in the corner. The medical system in the USA kills approximately 225,000 people every year. About 106,000 of those people died from drugs they were prescribed. Did you catch that? About 106,000 people die every year due to following the instructions of their doctor and taking the drugs prescribed to them as directed. Jon Rappoport points out that the medical community supports and is supported by both sides of the political spectrum and enjoys a type of invisibilty and freedom from scrutiny due to this percieved neutrality. They aren’t “neutral”, though. Their polararity slide can be labeled Government Granted Power vs. The Best Interests of the Populace. They have polarized in one major direction: suckling the teats of government and consolidating power while ignoring the best interests of the populace. From this link, written by investigative journalist Jon Rappoport: Which is Worse: The NSA or The FDA? December 30, 2019 By Jon Rappoport A message to WikiLeaks, Cryptome, Public Intelligence, and other sites that expose secrets. Does 2.25 million deaths in America, per decade, at the hands of the medical system, rate as a significant leak? As my readers know, I’ve reported on a number of scandals concerning the toxicity of medical drugs, including shocking death numbers in the US. These scandals are leaks from inside the National Security State. If you visit WikiLeaks, Cryptome, Public Intelligence, and other similar sites, how many purely medical documents do you find posted? How many damaging leaks exposing the crimes of the medical cartel do you find? Very, very few. Where are the medical insiders who are liberating and passing along incriminating documentary evidence? Some of the best exposers of political, intelligence-agency, and military crimes are way behind the curve, when it comes to medical matters. The medical sphere, for various reasons, is far better protected than any other segment of society. For the hundredth time, let me cite Dr. Barbara Starfield’s stunning review, “Is US health really the best in the world?” published on July 26, 2000, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Starfield, at the time, was working as a highly respected public health expert, at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She concluded that the US medical system kills 225,000 Americans a year. That would add up to 2.25 million deaths per decade. Laid directly at the door of the American medical complex. 106,000 of those annual deaths, as Starfield reports, are the direct result of medical drugs. Aside from the genocidal death toll, Starfield’s findings also imply massive fraud in all medical journals that routinely publish glowing results of clinical trials of drugs. Such trials open the door to the marketing of drugs that kill, according to Starfield, 106,000 Americans every year. How is this possible unless deep, continuing, and abetted research fraud are the order of the day? Indeed, Dr. Marcia Angell, the editor of New England Journal of Medicine for 20 years, wrote the following: “It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine.” (NY Review of Books, January 15, 2009) The FDA, of course, is the single government agency responsible for certifying drugs as safe and effective, before their public release is permitted. Yet the FDA takes absolutely no responsibility for the deaths. Can you imagine the feeding frenzy, if, say, some leaker in the Pentagon passed along a political/military document to Wikileaks that showed the Dept. of Defense was poisoning to death, like clockwork, a hundred thousand of its own soldiers every year? Let’s stop this insane nonsense of separating one whole set of government crimes from another, simply because the propagandized priests in the white coats are above reproach. We’re not living in 1950 anymore, and this isn’t Kansas. In 1988, when I was writing my first book, AIDS INC., I stated that medical covert ops are the most successful methods for pacifying, debilitating, and controlling populations, through toxification, because these ops fly the flag of political neutrality. They appear to favor no king, dictator, president, government administration or partisan position. Their propaganda is all about healing and helping. In fact, the medical cartel is, in the long run, the most effective branch of political repression, from one end of the planet to the other. It favors top-down control by those in power, whoever they are, whatever they claim to stand for. Consider this: when Ed Snowden released NSA documents that showed the extent of government surveillance on populations, no one from the intelligence establishment made a serious case that Snowden’s revelations were false. Instead, they attacked Snowden for exposing “methods” of “the war on terror.” However, in the medical arena, leakers would be afraid that doctors, medical bureaucrats, public health agencies, government leaders, drug-company fronts, and major media outlets would, all at once, deny the validity and truth of the leaks—despite the fact that the truth is there for all to see. In other words, the best protected cartel in the world—medical—would act in a far more Orwellian fashion. It would say: the truth is not the truth, the facts are not the facts, 2 and 2 do not equal 4—and the cartel would get away with doing that. This is the kind of clout we’re talking about when it comes to medical matters. Over the years, I’ve alerted mainstream reporters to the Starfield review, cited above, and other confirming published studies that reveal the horrific extent of medical destruction. Those reporters who bothered to get back to me issued blanket denials. They essentially said, “Yes, I see the evidence and the facts, but the facts aren’t facts. What’s happening isn’t happening.” Now we’re talking about some heavy brainwashing. By comparison, it makes the quality of the scandal around Snowden seem like a Sunday lunch in the park. A few years ago, I had one reporter, who exposes political leaks, tell me: “I don’t mess with medical stuff. It would ruin my credibility.” Indeed. Another indication of how powerful the medical apparatus is. Recently, the Washington Post highlighted a new study that puts “medical errors” as the 3rd leading cause of death in America. There hasn’t been any significant follow-up. There hasn’t been an explosion of outrage. So even when exposure occurs, the brainwashing factor is so strong it makes no difference. It’s just another ho-hum day in the news business. That’s mind control par excellence. That’s tremendous protection of criminals. That’s like a crime boss saying, “Yeah, I kill 225,000 people every year, but it’s an accident”—and nothing happens. He goes his merry way, and everyone praises him as a humanitarian. Talk about inventing and selling false reality. This one is at the top of the charts, and it stays there. I could stop here, but I’m going to take this one step further, because, as you can see, I’m talking about mind control. So here is the vital add-on: American Natural Superfood – Free Sample From the dawn of history, humans have been particularly vulnerable to statements, from “selfless altruists,” about being saved, being rescued, being given gifts from above. And behind those statements, when there is an organization involved, a top-down organization, the threat level rises considerably. Leaders have always recognized that if they match their pronouncements and assurances with the population’s unflagging hope of being saved, they, the leaders, win. They win big. Even in societies where overt human sacrifice was practiced, the cover story involved some kind of healing and rescue. The good gods would see the sacrifices and intervene to produce “better days.” Better life for all. This is what was sold, and this was what was bought. For many people, the times have not changed. Make them a promise of medical rescue, and they’re in. They’re floating in a hopeful trance. A hypnotic induction has been performed, and it works. The controlled subject responds with gratitude. At that point, you can engage in complete contradictions, rank absurdities, and doublespeak. The trance will hold. As my old research collaborator, hypnotherapist Jack True, once told me in an interview, “People want dreams. When they lose faith in their own ability to dream about the life they want, they’ll accept someone else dreaming for them. That’s what hypnosis is. Someone else dreaming for you. You accept a substitute. That’s mind control. That’s believing you can live in someone else’s creation forever…” If I were the head of an institution of higher learning, I would engrave that quote above the gates, and I would build a four-year course that explores the implications of the quote in every dimension of human existence. The medical cartel is the best-protected organization on the planet. Disclaimer: This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB.

ABC News(NEW YORK) — On Jan. 1, the Food and Drug Administration’s new nutrition labeling rules kick in, ushering in a host of changes to the way that manufacturers are required to label packaged foods. Perhaps most notably, new guidelines require two side-by-side columns: one with nutritional information for a single serving, and a second with information for eating the entire package. Manufacturers that yield less than $10 million in annual food sales will have until 2021 to comply with the new rules. “We know that Americans are eating differently, and the amount of calories and nutrients on the label is required to reflect what people actually eat and drink,” Claudine Kavanaugh, director of nutrition and food labeling in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement. While consumers might not notice a huge change at first glance, Beth Kitchin, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s department of nutrition sciences, appreciated the enlarged and emboldened calorie information on the new labels, as well as the new emphasis on serving size. Serving sizes are based on Americans’ eating habits, determined by the amount people said they consumed in federal food surveys over the past few decades. With foods that can reasonably be consumed in one sitting, like a pint of ice cream, “the serving size is not what you think it is,” Kitchin said. “It’s a really good change because so many times I’ve talked with consumers who were deceived by that.” Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the new label changes an “important step forward.” He pointed to the fact that manufacturers are now required to disclose added sugars on labels. “Because higher added sugar intake has been associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, it is important to distinguish added sugars from natural sugars in a product,” Hu said. Consuming too much added sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Differentiating between naturally occurring and added sugar could also clear up confusion among Americans who think that all sugar is bad for them. Kitchin said that Americans who are trying to lower their sugar intake sometimes eschew foods like milk, which has naturally occurring sugar, and miss out on nutrients along the way. “In people’s overexuberance to decrease sugars, they may be decreasing some healthy foods,” she said. In general, Kitchin hopes the changes will encourage customers to take more interest in reading nutrition labels and prompt them to compare foods’ nutritional information before they buy. “Hopefully, the information on the new label will not only help consumers make more informed decisions about their food and beverage choices, but also motivate food manufacturers to improve nutritional quality of their products,” Hu added. Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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After President Donald Trump once again dismissed nuclear threats from North Korea on New Year's Eve, a former aide to U.S. President Bill Clinton condemned the president for allegedly allowing Kim Jong Un to play him "like a Stradivarius violin." The North Korean supreme leader on Thursday expressed his intentions to continue developing new strategic weapons for his nuclear arsenal, according to the country's state media. Hours later, Trump responded by boasting about his relationship with Kim, saying "he likes me, I like him, we get along." "He's representing his country, I'm representing my country, we have to do what we have to do," the president added. "I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out, but I think he's a man of this word." After Trump dismissed Kim's threats of more weapons of war, Wendy Sherman—who served as Counselor of the U.S. Department of State, Special Advisor to the President and North Korea Policy Coordinator under the Clinton administration—condemned the president's latest efforts in foreign policy. "I think what is different here is that Kim Jong Un has played the president like a Stradivarius violin," she told MSNBC host Frances Rivera Wednesday. "He has used the time and the photo-ops to gain credibility internationally, while at the same time gaining time to continue to develop his weapons and indeed probably does have a new strategic weapon, at least on its way to reality." Sherman, who's currently a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, then explained the two most important takeaways from Kim's remarks and the ongoing stalemate over denuclearization. "One, Kim Jong Un is signaling that he's still open to diplomacy, though what his objectives are is to reduce the sanctions or get rid of them entirely, the president's objective is denuclearization," she said. "Secondly, Kim Jong Un is watching what's happening in the rest of the world with China, in Iraq, with Iran and all of that says to him that the president of the United States is in a much weaker position." Kim's announcement of potentially expanding his weapons arsenal comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed the U.S. postponement of a joint military exercise with South Korea as an "act of goodwill" to help end nuclear deadlock with North Korea. Esper made the announcement alongside his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, in November, despite warnings from Japan that Kim is unlikely to reciprocate such a gesture.

Donald Trump downplays renewed nuclear threats from North Korea's Kim Jong Un Show Caption Hide Caption North Korea's missile program, explained Kim Jong Un has tested more missiles than his father and grandfather combined. How did North Korea have so much military spending power? We explain. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump played down rhetorical attacks from Kim Jong Un as the end-of-the-year holidays passed Wednesday without any new nuclear tests in North Korea – but with threats of future ones. "If the U.S. persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK (North Korea), there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," the Korean Central News Agency said, quoting Kim as he announced he no longer feels bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing. Trump, speaking with reporters at his annual New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, said he still has "a very good relationship" with Kim, with whom he has met three times. "He likes me, I like him, we get along," Trump said, adding: "He did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization. ... I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out." In announcing that his moratorium on nuclear testing is no longer operative, Kim also told a meeting of ruling party officials in North Korea he would unveil a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, the state news agency said. Kim had given the United States an end-of-the-year deadline to reduce economic sanctions on his country or face the prospect of new nuclear tests. "The DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy," the Korean Central News Agency reported Kim as saying. Trump administration officials had feared such a test during the holiday – a North Korea official had threatened a "Christmas gift" to the U.S. – but nothing had happened as midnight passed in North Korea. In speaking with reporters, Trump joked that he hoped Kim's "Christmas present" was "a beautiful vase ... as opposed to something else." Trump remains hopeful of a denuclearization agreement with North Korea, though critics say Kim's government has continued to develop nuclear programs even after the two leaders signed a document at their first summit in June of 2018. The two men also met in 2019 in Vietnam and at the North Korea-South Korea border. While Trump often cites the Singapore agreement as a hopeful sign, critics pointed out that it was nonspecific and nonbinding when it came to North Korea giving up nuclear weapons. "Kim signed nothing binding regarding nukes or missiles. No Kim ever has," tweeted Robert E. Kelly, professor of political science at Pusan National University in South Korea. He added: "And Republicans used to know that the Kims shouldn’t be trusted. But now the GOP’s a cult of personality, right? So if the great leader says it’s true, it must be so."

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Annual Big Bo Classic held at Wolsey-Wessington If you wish to see more...

The founder and General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Olukoya, has released 31 prophecies for the year 2020. Olukoya, who tagged 2020 as the ‘year of Revival and New Glory, urged Nigerians to pray because the year would be messy and confusing. According to him, many leaders would be shifted away. Here are the prophecies below: 1. 2020 is a year where disobedience to God would yield terrible result that no deliverance can reverse. 2. More than any other year the enemy plans to bring the dog spirit (strange sexual perversions). 3. Year where round the clock prayers are needed against national restlessness. 4. This year impatience would lure many Into strange marriages. 5. A year not only to take back what the enemy has stolen but for you to occupy new territories. 6. Hot prayers are required in 2020. 7. This year would be messy and confusing. 8. Year when some many leaders would be shifted away. 9. A year where all things many have planted and watered in the past years would now begin to produce fruits. 10. Year where many who have endured season of darkness and delay would sing their song and dance their dance. 11. Year of returns of long time prodigals. 12. Year we must return to our accient landmark ( holiness and righteousness. 13. Year of perfection for vision. 14. Year of positive and negative harvest. 15. Extra ordinary and sacrificial giving would yield powerful result this year. 16. 2020 would be an up and down year. 17. Year that the Lord shall tear in pieces kingdom of those boasting against him. 18. Season where that which that has delayed the blessing of God’s children shall be dashed to pieces. 19. Resurrection power would bring back dry bones. 20. The lord would bring fresh start for a lot of people. 21. The lord would bring fresh start for a lot of people. 22. Year for rewriting negative family history. 23. Year of aggressive prayers against voices from foundation. 24. Year of unbelievable answers to prayers. 25. Year of it can only be God testimonies. 26. Year where many captives would divorce their chains. 27. Year for consistently deploying the blood of Jesus. 28. Year when the Lord shall dash to pieces kingdom of evil rulers. 29. Many families shall climb to a new height of victory. 30. Year when sins must be more sensitive to heaven frequencies.

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Starting at 10 a.m., families can enjoy creating winter crafts and activities. Children of all ages are welcome to come to Spring Hollow Lodge at Sharon Woods Metro Park to enjoy getting out and having some fun. The event ends promptly at 2 p.m., so make sure to get there early to enjoy all of the free family fun. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook. Joe Van Artdalen More information about Columbus Metro Parks The Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks serves Central Ohio citizens with natural area parks that are clean and safe. Covering over 27,000 acres of land in Central Ohio, residents have 19 parks to visit and enjoy along with more than 235 miles of trails. Created in 1945, the mission Metro Parks is conservation and providing open spaces that encourage people to experience and discover nature. More than 11 million enjoy the parks annually, whether individually or through Metro Park sponsored programs and events. All Metro Parks: Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Blacklick Woods Metro Park and Golf Courses Blendon Woods Metro Park Chestnut Ridge Metro Park Clear Creek Metro Park Glacier Ridge Metro Park Heritage Park and Trail Highbanks Metro Park Homestead Metro Park Inniswood Metro Gardens Pickerington Ponds Metro Park Prairie Oaks Metro Park Rocky Fork Metro Park Scioto Audubon Metro Park Scioto Grove Metro Park Sharon Woods Metro Park Slate Run Metro Park and Living Historical Farm Three Creeks Metro Park Walnut Woods Metro Park For more information about Metro Parks, programs and other general inquiries, visit metroparks.net. Check out the rest of WeekendScene here. Zoë Glore is an assistant editor. Feedback is welcome at zglore@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Kristy Zurbrick Madison County Editor Since its introduction 47 years ago, the Metro Parks Winter Hike Series has morphed into a massive event. Thousands of people now show up for the hikes which take place in January and February at 13 of the system’s 19 parks. Participants are treated to guided and self-guided hikes, hot chocolate and soup, and the fellowship of like-minded winter adventurers. But with all that good stuff comes lots of discarded bowls, spoon and cups, and carbon emissions from cars carrying those adventurers to and from the parks. While Metro Parks is thrilled that so many people have latched onto the hike series, they also want to be good stewards of the environment. “We’re happy to provide the experience, but we also don’t want to make a mess of this world,” said Jill Snyder, assistant manager of education and interpretation. To that end, Metro Parks started a few years ago to encourage participants to carpool to the hikes and bring their own reusable mugs and bowls. Hikers also can earn commemorative mugs by donating five cans of food, five personal hygeine items, or $5 to the Mid Ohio Food Bank. This year, the park system is ramping up its conservation efforts even more. “We’re really trying to reduce waste from the event,” Snyder said. To do that, Metro Parks is using compostable bowls and utensils where possible in place of styrofoam and plastic. They have partnered with The Compost Exchange, which will compost refuse and food waste from the hikes, as well as educate hikers about composting. In addition to the mugs hikers can earn with food bank donations, the Friends of the Metro Parks are selling reusable bowls and spoons. “We hope to divert a whole lot of trash from the landfill,” Snyder said. Metro Parks staffers plan to track just how much waste they divert. “If we hit certain goals, we’re going to save the turtles–not sea turtles, but our own Ohio turtles,” Snyder said. The idea is to provide better habitat and resources for protection of turtles, especially box turtles, whose numbers are declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. (Turtles are getting hit on roads, including those within the parks, that bisect their living areas.) Additionally, a new nature center planned for Blacklick Woods Metro Park in Reynoldsburg will include an educational component on turtles. So, what do turtles have to do with waste reduction? “Sometimes, it’s hard to get people excited about trash… This way, we’re saying that if we can get everyone on board with our conservation efforts, we as a Metro Park district will give back to protecting the environment,” Snyder said. This year’s motto for the Winter Hike Series is “Hike to a Greener Place.” For more information, go to metroparks.net. Schedule The 47th Annual Winter Hike Series, presented by Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, runs Jan. 4-Feb. 22. Anyone who completes at least seven hikes receives an embroidered patch. Anyone who completes all 13 hikes and is a paying member of the Friends of the Metro Parks receives a walking stick and/or a medallion for the stick. Friends membership is $10 per year. This year’s medallion pays tribute to the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Dates, times, places and distances for each of this year’s hikes are as follows: Jan. 4–10 a.m., Blacklick Woods in Reynoldburg, 2 or 4 miles; Jan. 11–10 a.m., Sharon Woods in Westerville, 2 or 4 miles, pets welcome; Jan. 12–2 p.m., Prairie Oaks in West Jefferson, 1, 3 or 5 miles, pets welcome; Jan. 18–10 a.m., Scioto Audubon, downtown Columbus, 1 or 2 miles, pets welcome; Jan. 25–10 a.m., Clear Creek in Rockbridge, 1, 3 or 5 miles; Jan. 26–2 p.m., Inniswood in Westerville, 2 miles; Feb. 1–10 a.m., Blendon Woods in northeast Columbus, 2 or 4 miles; Feb. 2–2 p.m., Scioto Grove in Grove City, 1 or 2 miles, pets welcome; Feb. 8–10 a.m., Highbanks in Lewis Center, 2.5 or 5 miles; Feb. 9–2 p.m., Glacier Ridge in Plain City, 2 miles, pets welcome; Feb. 15–10 a.m., Three Creeks in Groveport, 1, 3 or 5.6 miles, pets welcome; Feb. 16–2 p.m., Slate Run in Canal Winchester, 2.5 or 5 miles; and Feb. 22–10 a.m., Battelle Darby Creek in Galloway, 2, 4 or 6 miles, pets welcome. Hikes are free. No registration is required.

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MACON, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia man was shot “several times” on New Year’s Eve behind a hotel in Macon, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said. Terrance Fallon Threatt Sr., 29, of Macon, was listed in critical but stable condition at an area hospital, according to the release Tuesday. The shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the Regency Inn & Suites, and officials are investigating what led to the aggravated assault, the sheriff’s office said.. No arrests have been made. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

HANSON, Mass. (AP) - Firefighters rescued two men whose boat capsized in an icy pond in Massachusetts late on New Year’s Eve. Firefighters responded to Maquan Pond in Hanson after receiving a report of people yelling near the water shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson. The men were about 100 yards offshore, holding on to the capsized boat, Thompson said. Firefighters in survival suits used an ice rescue sled to pull the men ashore. Both men were taken to a local hospital to be treated for exposure. Thompson said it was a difficult rescue because of the combination of ice and open water. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

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FC Barcelona aren't expected to busy with new arrivals, but the club have confirmed their first departure ahead of the January transfer window. Click through the gallery the gallery to the other Barcelona players reportedly linked with other clubs. The Catalan giants have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Real Betis for the loan of young midfielder Carles Alena. The Spaniard has found game time hard to come by this season and will now be able to get regular LaLiga top flight game time with Betis. A statment from Barca's website read FC Barcelona and Real Betis have reached an agreement for the loan transfer of Carles Aleñá until the end of the season. Real Betis will take over the player's registration, but the agreement doesn't include any purchase option. Read: 'If Barcelona Call Me, I Leave Everything' The likes of Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic have also been linked with departures in the upcoming January transfer window. Do you think Barcelona need to sign any players next month? Have your say in the comment section below.

Barcelona have reportedly decided not to sell Arturo Vidal to Inter Milan in the January transfer window despite interest from the Serie A leaders. The Catalan giants have decided against allowing the Chile international to move because they have already loaned Carles Alena to Real Betis and have Arthur out injured. Cadena Cope report that despite Vidal’s complaint about unpaid bonuses and frustration at not being at starter the club want to keep him for the rest of the season. Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti has made his club’s interest in Vidal pretty clear in the last few days saying he is a “player with great character and experience, so we’ll see what happens.” However, Barca confirmed that Alena would spent the rest of the season on loan at Betis earlier in the week and also announced Arthur is out for another three weeks. The Brazilian has not featured for Barcelona since the win over Atletico Madrid at the start of the month, and there seems to be some concern about when he will be back to his best. The absence of the two players means that Barca are down to just Frenkie de Jong, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Vidal in midfield, although Sergi Roberto is also an option.

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The video will start in 8 Cancel 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 Thousands of customers who bank with Halifax, Lloyds, and RBS customers are experiencing problems with online banking on the first day of the new year. Online banking is down for all three banks across large parts of the UK as the websites have crashed. Halifax and Lloyds has apologised for the "issues" and a spokesman says they are working on resolving them as a priority. In a statement both said: "We know our customers are having issues with internet and mobile banking. "We're sorry about this and we're working to have it back to normal soon." (Image: Downdetector) RBS has not yet released a statement. Lloyds said they are working on the problem but "if you urgently need to transfer funds you can call our phone bank team on 0345 300 0000 and they would be able to look at it for you". One customer said: "Obviously the millennium bug overslept by 20 years." Another added: "Lloyds taking the 'bank holiday' a little too literally."

The new year has got off to a bad start for millions of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers, who have been unable to gain access to their accounts through the websites and mobile apps because of an outage. The three brands, which are part of Lloyds Banking Group, put out the same statement on Twitter on Wednesday morning after the problem started at about 4am. “We know our customers are having issues with internet and mobile banking. We’re sorry about this and we’re working to have it back to normal soon.” Lloyds said its IT team had identified the problem and had fixed it. The problem only affected the login but it said online and mobile banking was now 75% back to normal and would be fully back within the next 20 minutes. The company said telephone banking and ATM transactions had not been affected by the problem. With 22 million current account customers, Lloyds Banking Group is the UK’s largest provider and also offers the most “basic” or social bank accounts. It has 13 million active online customers, of which more than 9 million are mobile users. All of them were potentially affected. A spokeswoman was unable to say whether customers would get any compensation but added that anyone who had incurred charges as a result of the outage should get in touch with the bank. Customers took to social media to complain about the situation. Many reported that they could not access banking services via the web or through their mobile app.

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Heading into 2020, the huge state-of-art Istanbul Airport, which is currently only partially open and still under development, will for the first time be fully operational for a full year in 2020. It will, therefore, have a chance to showcase its full potential by hosting 90 million passengers, a figure it can handle in the initial phase of development. Already seen as the new center of aviation rising from the outskirts of Turkey's most populous city, perched firmly on the shores of the Black Sea, the airport was officially opened in a grand ceremony on Oct. 29, 2018, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. Two days later, Turkish Airlines flight TK214 took off for the capital Ankara as the first aircraft to leave the airport. However, its first phase became fully operational on April 7, as it took over the air traffic from the now-closed Atatürk Airport. The civil aviation adventure undertaken at Atatürk Airport, which was commissioned in 1953, said goodbye with the pride of having accomplished its mission successfully. It was one of the busiest airports in Europe. The airport has transitioned to other uses such as training activities, aviation fairs and civil use, while some parts are to be transformed into a public park. GREATEST LOGISTIC OPERATION The transfer from Atatürk Airport was a success story in its own right. In what was said to be the greatest logistic operation in civil aviation history, thousands of tons of equipment, from huge aircraft-towing vehicles to extremely sensitive materials, were ferried across the city. Trucks carried equipment a total distance of 400,000 kilometers, an equivalent of going 10 times around the world. Over 1,800 personnel were employed during the operation. Scheduled to last 45 hours, the operation was completed in a record time of 33 hours. It began in the early hours of April 5, 2019, and was completed on April 6, 2019, in the afternoon. The airport – a pinpoint megaproject by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) – was initially launched over a need for meeting the ever-growing demand from around the world, relieving air traffic with a strong infrastructure and large capacity. Completed in 42 months, the first phase of the airport was built with a cost of 6 billion euros ($6.72 billion) with a public-private partnership (PPP) model by a consortium of Turkey's leading contractors Limak, Kolin, Cengiz, Mapa and Kalyon. The consortium will pay 1.1 billion euros annually for 25 years. The project represents a total economic size of 32.4 billion euros, excluding taxes. This figure constitutes an investment cost of 10.2 billion euros and 22.2 billion euros for rental costs to be paid to the government. Before its establishment, there were two airports in one of the world's most crowded cities, Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Istanbul's Anatolian side and Atatürk Airport on the European side. Atatürk Airport served some 68 million passengers in 2018, its last year, while Sabiha Gökçen has a current capacity to welcome some 31 million passengers a year. The new airport can handle 90 million passengers a year in the current phase of development, which, while it is a high figure, is nothing compared to its potential capacity to serve 200 million after the completion of all phases. It served some 40.47 million passengers in its first year, while it reached its 50 millionth passenger on Dec. 23. Once fully operational, it will be the world's largest in terms of the number of passengers. All four phases of the airport's construction and expansion, including six runways, are expected to be completed by 2028. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan in October said the construction of the third parallel runway at the airport in the area of 76.5 million square meters located on the coast of the Black Sea between Yeniköy and Akpınar regions was nearing an end. He said the runway is expected to be put into service in the summer of 2020 and with the opening of the runway, the Triple Parallel Runway Operation used in just a few airports in the world will be implemented. An east-west runway and a parallel taxiway will also be built in the second stage. The second terminal building of approximately 450,000 square meters will be put into service when the number of passengers reaches 80 million and an additional parallel runway with parallel taxiways and an additional apron are said to be used in this process. When the number of passengers reaches 110 million, a new satellite terminal of 170,000 square meters is planned to be put into service at the end of the fourth stage. The airport will eventually be able to host more than 100 airlines and operate 3,500 flights per day to about 350 destinations worldwide, making the city an aviation hub that has already seen an increasing demand thanks to its strategic location and as being a center for connecting flights. ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY AVIATION CENTER The Istanbul Airport project is not only drawing attention as a travel hub. It also contains and uses state-of-the-art technology and has earned a reputation for its environmental awareness policies in line with international standards. The airport's terminal building, which has continued to improve its sustainability since the design phase, was built to provide 24% more energy efficiency and 40% more water efficiency than conventional systems. Moreover, within the "Climate Change Adaptation and Action Plan," the airport has been adapted to climate change. One policy implemented in the airport to create an environmentally friendly workplace for operators and businesses is the waste sorting system. This policy was part of the Zero Waste Declaration signed by the CEOs of 18 main stakeholders under the leadership of the airport's operator IGA. Accordingly, the waste is divided into five categories, paper/cardboard, packaging, glass, organic and domestic waste, allowing for proper recycling. A GLOBAL HUB BETWEEN ASIA, AFRICA AND EUROPE Istanbul Airport has already won several international awards, including the International Airport Reviews' (IAR) "Readers' Choice: Airport of the Year" award. The editor of the U.K.-based magazine, Tara Nolan, pointed out that the new airport in Istanbul serves "as a global hub between Asia, Africa and Europe." The award was given to Istanbul Airport from among several other popular international airports, including London Heathrow Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Canada's Vancouver Airport, Australia's Sydney Airport and Hong Kong International Airport. The airport was also awarded during the Dec. 16-18, 2016 World Architecture Festival held in Berlin for the design of its terminal building under the category of "Upcoming Projects- Infrastructure." The terminal building is the world's largest terminal building with a single roof. The flight control tower of the newly inaugurated airport was also awarded by Chicago Athenaeum with the 2016 International Architecture Award.

In 2020, Turkish Airlines will expand and update its fleet, opening four new flight paths, according to the chairman of Turkey's flag carrier. "We have completed all the necessary procedures to launch flights to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Tokyo's Haneda Airport, Newark, New Jersey, and Vancouver, Canada in 2019," said İlker Aycı, adding that now they are just waiting for the required permits. Besides the latest batch of new destinations, he said the airline would also focus on frequency depth. After launching services to 10 new international routes in 2019, the carrier closed the year with a flight network including 318 cities across 126 countries, Aycı noted. Recalling the airlines' switch from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul's new mega-airport as the company's biggest move in 2019, Aycı said: "Turkish Airlines has to have a strong infrastructure, one supporting its growth, in order to achieve its goals without interruption." Istanbul Airport, the "World's New Hub," officially opened on Oct. 29, 2018, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. With the capacity to serve some 200 million passengers per year and with all four phases and six runways to be completed by 2028, Istanbul Airport is set to become a global aviation hub home to more than 100 airlines flying to over 300 destinations around the world. Underlining that the airline had reached full capacity shortly after moving to the mega-airport, Aycı said: "Our new home knocked both ourselves and our customers out of the usual routine, but here we learned to walk again, putting aside all our old assumptions." While Atatürk Airport fell short of responding to Turkish Airlines' need for more slots and capacity due to constraints such as runway insufficiency, the company now presides over a larger operational space thanks to Istanbul Airport, Aycı said. "The third runway to open at Istanbul Airport in 2020 will ease the traffic density," Aycı added. When the third runway goes live, it will be possible to do an aircraft landing and takeoff every 43 seconds, or more than 2,000 planes a day, he added. Turkish Airlines is continuing to expand its fleet with next-generation aircraft while replacing older models, Aycı said. By the end of 2019, the airline had 351 aircraft, including 98 wide-body, 229 narrow-body and 24 cargo planes, up from 332 at the beginning of the year. "With our current fleet size, we rank 10th among the passenger airlines globally," Aycı said. "Among the top 10, we have the fourth-youngest fleet." He added that 28 more aircraft will be added to the fleet in 2020, stressing that the company is open to rental options. Capacity rising Despite having to ground Boeing 737 Max aircraft and a delay in the delivery of the A321 Neo aircraft, Turkish Airlines posted a 2.7% rise in its capacity between January and November 2019, Aycı noted. This came despite 12 planes from the fleet being grounded and 12 more aircraft's delivery being delayed, he explained. Boeing's top-selling 737 Max was grounded worldwide after crashes which killed hundreds of people and cost the company billions of dollars. On Tuesday, Turkish Airlines announced that Boeing had agreed to compensate it for losses caused by the grounded and undelivered planes. "Boeing will cover some of our losses and the revenue that we cannot generate because of aircraft being grounded and out of use," the carrier said in a statement. In the first 11 months of 2019, the flag carrier served 68.8 million passengers. "Despite an 11.5% contraction in the domestic market in Turkey, we welcomed 28.3 million passengers taking domestic flights, boosting our market share by 2.5 points," Aycı said. The number of passengers carried on international flights rose 3.5% to 40.4 million, he underlined. Turkish Airlines has 15 subsidiaries and joint ventures including Turkish Technic, Turkish Cargo, Turkish Ground Services, Turkish Opet Aviation Fuels and Sun Express. Touching on Turkish Cargo's operations, Aycı said the company had kept growing despite the global air cargo sector shrinking by 3.5%. "Despite these unfavorable market conditions and having to carry out our cargo operations at two different airports, we posted an increase of 9.5% in cargo volume to 1.4 million tons," Aycı stressed. Turkish Cargo posted an impressive $452 million in revenue in the first three quarters, he added.

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Jan 01, 2020 , 9:26PM Home Ministry to decide further action on PFI's role in violence during anti-CAA protests, says Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tweeted by @AIR Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that the role of Popular Front of India (PFI) is emerging in the violence during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in different parts of the country last month. Talking to media persons in New Delhi, he said, many allegations against the PFI have come including its connection with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The Law Minister said, Home Ministry will decide on further action based on evidence. The statement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Chandra Maurya said that organisations like PFI are responsible for inciting violence in the state and such organisations should be banned. Uttar Pradesh IG (Law & Order) Praveen Kumar has said that more than 25 people affiliated with PFI have been arrested across the state for their involvement in different criminal activities. Union Law Minister also said that state governments have a Constitutional duty to implement laws passed by Parliament. His statement came a day after the Kerala assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the amended citizenship law.

Law Minister on Wednesday said state governments have a Constitutional duty to implement laws passed by Parliament and those vowing not to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act should seek appropriate legal opinion. He said it was surprising that those who have come to power by taking oath under the Constitution are making "unconstitutional" statements. His statement came a day after the Kerala assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the amended citizenship law. Prasad said the government's which claim they would not allow the CAA or are getting resolutions passed against implementing it may seek appropriate legal opinion on constitutional provisions. "It is the constitutional duty of the states to implement laws passed by Parliament," Prasad told reporters here. He said Parliament can make laws on subjects under the Union List which includes citizenship. To drive home his point that states cannot oppose laws passed by Parliament, he referred to Clause 2 of Article 245 of the Constitution. "Article 245 (clause 2) states that no law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation," he said. Other states including West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have said they will not implement the amended Citizenship Act.

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Are we all here? Did we all survive the Great Pigs-in-Blanket Famine? Welcome, for the first time in 20 years, to a decade with a proper name. After the Eighties and Nineties we plunged into the 21st century and nobody knew quite what to call the first 10 years; the Noughties never really stuck. Nor, when it came to describing the years between 2010 and 2019 did the Tweenies, a clumsy mix of Twenty and Teens. But now we are solidly and happily in what we, and the historians, will all call the Twenty-twenties. It has an upbeat sort of ring, hasn't it? What could possibly go wrong? Better start stockpiling pigs-in-blankets. According to the long-term forecast, we may go without rain for the next week. Anyone for a hosepipe ban? Still digesting the Xmas TV offerings, Susan Hill's Ghost Story (C5) proved once again that even the scariest plot cannot do much scaring when the action is interrupted every 10 minutes by an advert break. The season's other notable ghost story proved something else. It is that just because a celebrity has proved himself a brilliant actor and writer in the past, it doesn't mean everything he touches will always turn to gold. Mark Gatiss's adaptation of the M R James yarn Martin's Close (BBC4) was about as scary as an old sock. And if you had asked me before Christmas which TV moment would leave me with a tear in the eye, I would never have guessed it would be Nessa's proposal of marriage to Smithy in Gavin & Stacey. The magic of great TV writing is, just when the punters think the show is over, to pull another little rabbit from the hat. Tidy. Hundreds of social-media users (in other words, a mob) want the prominent anti-Brexit barrister Jolyon Maugham prosecuted for allegedly killing a fox with a baseball bat to protect his chickens. The snag with online justice is that in a case like this you never know whether the masses want him punished for a) whacking a fox, b) being anti-Brexit, or c) being a barrister. What we do know is that when animals are involved, all sense of proportion vanishes. I recall some years ago a reader suggesting a suitable punishment for a defendant who had killed a dog. It began with using an industrial sander to flay him alive and then rolling him in rock salt before putting him out of his agony with a bullet. Another reader took the view that a bullet was far too merciful. If there is a lesson to learn from this backyard drama it is that we live in an age when if you really must kill an animal, no matter what the circumstances, it is probably wise to keep quiet about it. Especially if you have a name like Jolyon.

Australia speedster Peter Siddle has expressed his thoughts on how he wanted to bid goodbye to international cricket earlier in the year. Siddle has announced his retirement from cricket on Sunday (December 29) and later on while speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the fast-bowler claimed how he wanted to retire right after the Ashes Series. Siddle's final appearances in Test cricket for the kangaroos was during the 2019 Ashes series. However, he was told by the country's cricketing board to put a hold to his retirement plans. "JL, Painey and I, we chatted about it early on in the Ashes series, there was a possibility (of finishing in England) "But there was a bit of back-and-forth about the chances of maybe being able to do it back home if things fall into place," Siddle said. "I was pretty content to do it over there, but that small, little hope that maybe I might get a chance back in Australia in front of family and friends, I was happy to take the gamble and see if it happened." Since making his Test debut against India in 2008, Siddle earned 67 caps for the Aussies in the longest format of the game and picked up 221 wickets with an average of 30.6. "Obviously it didn't, but very content with the career I've had. As a young kid, I never thought I'd play one, let alone play 67, so very happy." Also read IND vs SL: Sri Lanka names Angelo Mathews in their T20I squad for India series "I've played 180 first-class games, so the longevity to be able to play long-form cricket over that short time, it's all about keeping the body right, maintaining a healthy body and doing everything you can to adjust throughout those years," he added. The pacer successfully made his comeback into the national side in 2018 during Australia's series against Pakistan, after he missed a year of cricket in 2016. Also read Anil Kumble lauds 'matured' Team India skipper Virat Kohli "When you start, you're young and fresh, you can charge in and bowl fast, but as you grow older and as you play more games, the body starts to wear down and you have to change." 54.254."I know there's been plenty of criticism over the years about being slower and these types of things, but I've been able to adjust and find a way," Siddle added.

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VIENNA - Austrian conservative leader Sebastian Kurz struck a coalition deal on Wednesday with the Greens to ensure his return to power and bring the left-wing party into government for the first time, three months after Kurz won a parliamentary election. The deal marked a swing left for Kurz, whose last coalition was with the far-right Freedom Party. It also means Austria will join fellow European Union member states Sweden and Finland in having the Greens in government, albeit in a junior role, at a time of growing calls for urgent action on climate change. After a final round of coalition talks on New Year's Day and two days of leaks of new Cabinet members' names, Kurz and his Greens counterpart said they had struck a deal, as widely expected. They held off, however, on providing details of their plans. Those will be presented to the public Thursday. "We have reached an agreement," Kurz told reporters standing next to Greens leader Werner Kogler. The two will become chancellor and vice chancellor of the new government, and the Greens will control just four of 15 ministries, roughly reflecting their performance in the September 29 election, which Kurz's People's Party won with 37.5% of the vote. The Greens came in fourth with 13.9%. "It is possible to reduce the tax burden and to ecologize the tax system," Kurz said, referring to core campaign pledges of each party and hinting at the deal's contents. The Greens said they wanted an investment package in environmental measures and to make products that damage the environment more expensive.

Austria's Conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday agreed to form a coalition government with the Greens after a final round of talks capping almost three months of negotiations. Advertising Read more It will mark the first time the Green party has been in power, after Kurz's alliance with the far-right collapsed in a corruption scandal and triggered elections in September. Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) and the Greens made gains in the election, bringing them together in unlikely negotiations given the 33-year-old's carefully groomed image as a hardliner on immigration. "The OeVP and Greens have agreed on a government programme together," a Greens representative with knowledge of the negotiations, who declined to be named, told AFP. An OeVP official confirmed the same to AFP. The two parties' leaders are to make a statement later Wednesday. 'Huge stretch' Despite progress to bridge the significant gaps, observers said the new government would face challenges after Kurz's previous rule with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) saw a raft of anti-immigration measures passed, sharply dividing Austrians. "2020 as a political year of change" ran the main online headline of the Kurier daily earlier Wednesday. Both the OeVP and the Greens will be hard-pressed to show they have not compromised too much on their key principals and campaign promises when they present the joint government programme, which is expected Thursday. "From his (Kurz's) perspective, it's a huge stretch and it's also a danger that over time he might lose some of the voters he gained from the Freedom Party," analyst Thomas Hofer told AFP. In the September polls, the OeVP managed to pick up disenchanted FPOe voters, getting 37.5 percent in total. The Greens secured 13.9 percent of the vote, their best-ever result, due to the environment replacing immigration as top concern in the country of 8.8 million people. Trend setter? Hofer said other European countries, such as Germany, could also see Conservative-Green party coalitions in the future. Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Luxemburg already have Greens in government. "Kurz is setting a certain trend maybe ahead of time, and this is certainly something also on the international stage that he would be able to sell," he said. Hofer described Greens chief Werner Kogler, who is expected to be vice-chancellor, as a "pragmatist" who had stabilised the party. The 58-year-old took on the leadership after the party lost all their parliamentary seats in a shock defeat in 2017, largely due to infighting and splits. A congress of the party's almost 280 delegates must still endorse the coalition agreement, but they are expected to do so. "It's a historical chance for them," Hofer said. As junior coalition partner, the Greens would get four ministries, including an enlarged environment ministry that also comprises infrastructure, traffic, energy and technology, according to a party representative familiar with the negotiations. The OeVP will maintain control of the rest, including the coveted interior ministry -- previously headed by a far-right official and embroiled in scandal -- and the finance portfolio. Greens official Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic told the Standard daily in an interview that compromises are "part of democracy", and that the coalition partners would address challenges rather than "feign harmony and sweep difficult topics under the carpet". The far-right FPOe -- previously riding a wave of populist sentiment seen across Europe -- was routed in the polls after the so-called "Ibiza-gate" graft scandal brought down their then-leader and vice-chancellor in May and caused the government to collapse. (AFP)

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With the stock market setting new highs, you don’t need to be an economist to see that companies of all sizes are doing quite well right now. Combine this with excellent consumer confidence levels and extraordinarily low unemployment numbers, and it makes for a lot of companies with cash on their hands. It should be a great season for bonuses, but these strong cash positions also create an opportunity for growth. In fact, if you fail to leverage these good times to grow your business, you’ll be in a much weaker position when the next inevitable downturn hits the economy. Today’s strong economy creates an excellent opportunity to grow your business. © suphakit73- Adobe Stock Create successful growth through diversification With the knowledge that a downturn will eventually hit, let’s look at diversification as an overall guiding principle when we consider growth strategies. When you diversify, it’s not only growing your business, it’s taking out an insurance policy that protects you for when business slows. Diversification is important for your personal investment portfolio; it’s important for your business for similar reasons. Here are some ways you can bring diversity to your business model: Add new products and services to your catalog Target different customer groups Buy related companies Establish your business in new geographic areas Expand overseas Expand your offerings I’m sure you’ve asked yourself the question “What else can I sell to my customers?” If you’ve had ideas along these lines, but haven’t yet followed through on them, there probably won’t be a better time than now, so take action. Also, consider these strategies: Create product or service levels, then as time goes on, add attractive features to the higher-priced levels, encouraging customers to upgrade. Bundle your products and services. Have you ever watched the TV show American Pickers? When they want to make a purchase from a reluctant seller, they “bundle” a few items together. Bundling items makes deals more attractive to both buyer and seller. Target untapped consumers It’s a fact of life that, over the last decade or two, the United States has become much more of a salad bowl than a melting pot, and you can analyze this from a variety of angles. We have a wide range of language and ethnic groups that tend to maintain their identities, and we also have the East and West Coasts versus the “flyover” states. I might also mention that we have an extreme diversity in age cohorts, like the baby boomers, millennials, Gen-Xers, Generation Z, and more to come! Who are your current typical customers? How can your product or service be tweaked to make inroads into other groups of consumers? Let’s take Spanish-speaking consumers as an example. If you watch any of the sports channels, you’ll notice that even on the English-language broadcasts they promote their Spanish-language channels. They know that although Spanish-speaking sports fans are watching their English broadcasts, if they can move them to their Spanish channel, they will create a more loyal and avid viewer. Other Articles From AllBusiness.com: Grow through acquisitions There are two basic ways to go here: acquire competitors or acquire suppliers. A third strategy might be to acquire companies that are somewhat related to your industry or share a customer base. A good thing about acquiring one or more of your suppliers (vertical integration) is that your competitors probably use the same suppliers. If your competitors continue to buy from the companies you acquire, you’re getting a bit of their sales. If your competitors move to different suppliers, you’ve made life a little more difficult for them. Expand domestically Remember the Great Recession? It would have been far worse had it not been for Texas, which continued to grow through much of the Great Recession while every other state was still struggling. There are major population migration streams between states right now, which strongly impacts certain urban areas through loss of residents and a boom in residents. With apologies to the cities that made the shrinking list, these demographics represent bandwagons to jump on and sinking ships to abandon, at least when you’re devising plans to grow your business. Expand overseas With the advent of the internet and convenient international shipping, expanding into foreign markets is easier now than it has ever been. A musician friend of mine was telling me recently how he bought a piece of gear from a seller in Australia, and how a friend of his who owns a music store has done a great job selling to overseas buyers. The benefits are many: Not only can you realize new revenue, you can connect to new talent, discover foreign investment opportunities, boost your reputation, and more. At some point, you’ll need to deal with various currencies, and fortunately there’s been an explosion in online Forex broker sites. That’s good, but it can also be confusing. It’s smart to start your Forex broker search at an overview site where you can customize filters like the one found on FX-List.com; you’ll save yourself some time. There’s also a lot of information available from the government to help you get started selling overseas. Check out the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council and Export.gov. Sometimes the best initial strategy is to partner with an existing foreign company or find a distributor so you can more easily get your foot in the door. We started this by noting the positive business climate that we’re currently enjoying. If you work hard now to expand, there’s a good chance you can continue to ride this wave for quite some time. RELATED: 5 Choices That Can Make a Business More Successful This article was originally published on AllBusiness. See all articles by Megan Totka.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video SEATTLE -- There will be gusty, mild and wet weather to ring in the New Year! Seattle benefits from the Rain Shadow but the rest of Western Washington will be wet. Wednesday will be breezy with passing showers with snow in the mountains. Thursday will be breezy and wet with more snow in the mountains. Quite breezy on the last night of 2019. Stay safe but have a blast. #happynewyear #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/UxzioBOAzY — Walter Kelley (@Walter_Kelley) December 31, 2019 The weekend looks similar with passing showers, breezy conditions and a lot more mountain snow. Drive with care up there and Happy New Year.

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Depending on your age and career stage, you should start or increase your crucial insurance plans. The year 2020 isn’t just a new year; it also marks the end of a decade and the beginning of another consequential one. The next decade will have a monumental impact on all the facets of our lives, including our finances. We need to set clear plans and execute them to perfection to extract the most out of the next 10 years and accelerate our journey to achieve financial freedom. With drastic changes in cost of living expected in the next decade, how should you manage your money and what are the financial tips you should follow? We have some pointers. Identify long-term financial goals Correctly identifying your long-term financial goals is very important as you step into the new decade. So, whether you are in college, in a job or close to retirement, you need to identify your goals carefully. For example, college-going individuals of today would be starting a career in the coming decade, so they should prioritise repaying their education loan, building a contingency fund, saving money for their future, getting a life insurance policy and focusing on buying a car or house. Similarly, people who are in the middle of their careers should focus on goals such as to repay their home loan quickly, stay adequately insured, and build up a fund for their children’s future. And those about to retire should focus on the financial goals pertaining to becoming debt-free and retiring with an adequate corpus which can help them maintain the same standard of living when their income sources deplete. Invest keeping inflation in mind The average inflation in the last decade had been lower than the inflation in the decade previous to that. In the next decade, the average inflation is expected to remain slightly lower than this decade. So, the rates in fixed interest instruments like PPF, bank FDs, etc., are expected to fall. The equity market is expected to become more stable and robust. So, while investing your money, you should factor in the impact of inflation on the returns. Diversify your portfolio adequately and take investment risk strictly as per your risk appetite. You may invest in instruments like PPF, NPS, mutual funds, sovereign gold bonds, ETFs, etc. The emergency fund plays a vital role in boosting your confidence during an adverse situation. So, whether you are young, in the middle of your career or a retiree, keep an emergency fund worth at least six months of your expenses to take on any kind of financial distress. Keep increasing the size of the emergency fund as your cost of living and responsibilities change in the future. Fine-tune your insurance plans Depending on your age and career stage, you should start or increase your crucial insurance plans. If you would start a career in the coming decade, you should get life and health insurance policy with adequate risk cover. However, if you already have these policies, you should fine-tune your insurance policies. Medical inflation is highest in comparison to other forms of inflation, so it’s important to stay adequately insured and avoid big expenses related to hospitalisation. Similarly, you should be ready to save dependent family members from financial hardship by getting a life insurance cover of at least 10 to 20 times your current annual income. Rent or buy a house? Make your choice Housing is going to be a big challenge in the next decade because the land bank is limited, and with a growing population, property demand is expected to increase substantially. So, make your choice now, whether you would be comfortable living in a rented home or would like to buy a home. In either case, make it a goal and start channelising your savings and investment returns to achieve your goal on time. Plan for your children’s higher education Higher education costs have seen a major spike in the current decade and things are unlikely to change in the next one too. So, plan to raise an adequate fund for your kid’s education as early as possible in your career so that you can avoid taking a loan at the end of your career. Set a separate financial goal to that end and consider regular investments in tools like PPF, SSY, SIPs, etc. The author is CEO, BankBazaar.com

What are the things you should look at while buying a Life insurance policy? The need for life insurance is to get financial security in case something happens to the policyholder. While buying a life insurance policy, most look at the premium they need to pay and choose an insurance policy. However, that’s where most policyholders make the mistake – the moment of truth for a life insurance company is at the time of settling a claim. The claim settlement ratio of a company is an indicator of the number of claims they have settled over the intimations received by the insurance company. Yusuf Pachmariwala, Executive Vice President and Head of Operations, Tata AIA Life Insurance, says “The claim settlement ratio reveals the percentage of claims the insurer has paid out during a financial year. Hence, the higher the ratio, the more confidence consumers will have on the life insurer while buying a policy, as it is reflective of the company’s commitment to its consumers.” The claim settlement ratio reflects the overall risk management ability of the insurer. It demonstrates how efficiently the insurer has implemented the necessary technology and process to weed out applications that are not genuine. “Pure protection policies (where there’s no savings component) are more prone to frauds and consequently have a lower settlement ratio,” says an HDFC Life Spokesperson’. Hence, while comparing claim settlement ratios across insurance companies, pay attention to the experience of the insurer, the book size, product mix, and portfolio vintage. Note that, low pending claim ratio indicates the efficiency of the life insurer, indicting how quickly it decides on the claims it received during the financial year. At the same time, while purchasing life insurance, policyholders should also look at factors other than claim settlement ratios, such as brand, financial robustness of the insurer, product suitability, governance standards, and superior customer service. What are the things you should look at while buying a Life insurance policy? As a policyholder, there are various criteria you should look at before opting for an insurance policy. Note that, the product chosen should also meet your financial goals. Pachmariwala, of Tata AIA Life Insurance, says “The process of buying a life insurance policy should start with an assessment of one’s protection need. As a rule of thumb, one should have 10 to 15 times of annual income, depending on one’s age, as their life insurance cover. Having decided on the amount of adequate life cover, one should decide on the kind of product and product features one wants.” Requirements and needs of every individual keep changing as per the changing life stages of the policyholder – such as planning to purchase a home, children’s education, retirement planning, etc. It is imperative to ensure that the insurance policy you choose adequately compensates for the income loss keeping in mind factors like future income, changing interest rates, rising costs, etc. First-time life insurance buyer, should consider buying a Term plan. These policies offer larger financial cover at a low-value premium, especially, if bought, in the early earning phase of the policyholder’s life span. There are additional benefits and features including coverage till a very high age which some insurers offer. From a premium paying perspective, if the choice is that of a regular paying product, policyholders should plan and space premium payments such that continuity of the policy is maintained. Lapsation of policies leads to loss of benefits and life cover for the policyholder and the beneficiaries.

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Russia’s Avangard hypersonic ICBM system is now operational. Russian state media sounded a triumphal tone in the December 27th announcement that the first Avangards are now ready for launch, even specifying the exact hour of combat readiness for the nuclear-armed hypersonic glider. “The Avangard strategic missile system has been put on combat duty at 10 a.m. today,” Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin. The weapon was deployed with a missile division in the Orenburg region 900 miles southeast of Moscow. Avangard is a nuclear-armed boost-glide system. The glider is boosted high into the atmosphere atop a Sarmat ICBM, and then glides down to its target at what Russia claims is a speed of Mach 27. The weapon was spurred by Moscow’s fears that the U.S. missile defense program will eventually be capable of intercepting and destroying conventional Russian ICBMs, and thus encourage America to launch a first strike without fear of Russian nuclear retaliation. But while conventional ICBM warheads descend from space at Mach 20-plus, they follow predictable ballistic trajectories: a winged hypersonic glider can maneuver within the atmosphere to avoid interception. Putin “has the Avangard’s ability to evade U.S. missile defense systems,” noted the Moscow Times. “Russia said it showed the missile system to U.S. inspectors last month as part of a bilateral arms control treaty ahead of its deployment.” “Officials say the ICBM flies 27 times faster than the speed of sound. During the last known tests that took place in December 2018, the Avangard hit a practice target 6,000 kilometers [3,728 miles] away.” Putin recently claimed that “this weapon of the future can penetrate both existing and any future missile defense systems.” Other Russian hypersonic weapons include the nuclear-armed Khinzal air-launched missile, and the Zircon anti-ship missile. Interestingly, Putin also described Russia being the first nation to deploy hypersonic missiles as being “a unique situation in our contemporary history where they’re trying to catch up.” Which suggests that Putin considers it the norm for Russia to be trying to catch up in the arms race. Read the original article.

By Sergei Guriev From Germany’s Adolf Hitler to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to Chinese leader Mao Zedong (毛澤東), the world’s 20th-century dictators took to heart Niccolo Machiavelli’s famous dictum that “it is better to be feared than loved.” Yet, most modern dictators seem more concerned about maintaining their people’s loyalty not by giving them what they want, but by manipulating them into thinking that they already have it. Nobody executes this approach more masterfully than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although Putin’s approval ratings have declined considerably over the past few years, they remain high, with polls indicating that 61 percent of Russians evaluate his performance positively. If a presidential election were held today, 44 percent would vote for Putin. No other candidate would receive double-digit percentage support. Putin certainly does not owe his popularity to his economic leadership. Since recapturing the presidency in 2012, he has consistently failed to deliver on promises of reform, higher productivity and investment, and improvements in Russians’ standard of living. His government also does not seem to have any plan to kick-start stagnant GDP growth. The IMF expects Russia’s annual GDP growth to average less than 2 percent over the next five years. Next year, Russia’s share of global GDP (in purchasing parity terms) is expected to drop below 3 percent for the first time in modern times. In nominal terms, this ratio will be even lower: an estimated 1.8 percent. Most importantly, the real incomes of Russian households are 10 percent lower than they were in 2014 — and show no signs of rising. So what explains Putin’s enduring popularity? The answer — for Putin and other modern autocrats — lies in the ability to control the information that people receive, which enables a leader to convince most of the population that, despite the regime’s imperfections, it is the country’s best option. In the digital age, this is no easy feat. A growing number of educated citizens — or “informed elites” — recognize the system’s deficiencies. It is thus imperative for autocrats to prevent these elites from communicating the truth to the public. TARGETED REPRESSION Repression plays an important role here. However, far from the widely publicized mass repression of the past — aimed at scaring off all potential opposition — today’s repression is targeted and, critically, deniable. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was officially barred from running in the 2018 presidential election not for political reasons, but because of his fraud conviction, which was subsequently overturned by the European Court of Human Rights. This approach enabled Putin to maintain the pretense that he secured power in a free and fair election. Modern informational autocrats also make extensive use of censorship. Russia ranks in the bottom 20 percent of the press-freedom rankings compiled by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders. Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net Index shows that the Internet is less free in Russia than in Belarus, Kazakhstan or Turkey, reflecting the importance of online censorship in an informational autocracy with high Internet penetration. According to the Google Transparency Report, Russia leads the world in official requests to remove online content. In the first half of last year, Russia placed more than 10,000 requests to remove content. The second-place country, Turkey, had just 1,000 requests. (China is not included in the ranking.)

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MIRAMAR, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities are investigating after a woman was found dead in a Miramar lake. Miramar Police officers responded to the scene near Southwest 27th Street and 82nd Avenue just after 10 a.m., Tuesday. 7SkyForce HD flew over the scene where detectives could be seen near the body covered by a yellow tarp in the water. Officials have not released additional details surrounding the investigation. Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A no-swim advisory has been lifted at the Deerfield Beach Pier. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County issued the advisory on Friday after waters by the pier did not meet state requirements. Officials lifted the advisory Tuesday after water samples they tested met state requirements. Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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PERU, Ind (AP) - Two men accused of beating a man to death with a pipe in a northern Indiana forest are facing a joint trial in April. A Miami County judge recently scheduled the trial of Ethan Cain of Marion and Joshua Kean of LaFountaine to begin April 13 in the killing of 22-year-old Drake Smith, the Kokomo Tribune reported. Both men face felony charges of murder, obstruction of justice and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, while Kean also is charged with assisting a criminal. Cain, 23, and Kean, 25, allegedly beat Smith to death with a metal pipe in May 2018 in the Frances Slocum State Forest, near Peru. Police said both men were part of a plot organized by 19-year-old Brittany Morris of Jonesboro to rob Smith of drugs and money. Cain and Kean allegedly attacked the Summitville man after a party in the forest. Police said Cain, Kean and Morris then fled the scene with Smith’s clothing, cash, drugs, beer and a small speaker. Kean and Cain were arrested days later in southern California. Morris is set to stand trial in June on several charges, including aiding or inducing murder. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) - Two people drowned and two others were left hospitalized in critical condition after an SUV plunged into a northern Indiana pond, authorities said. Mishawaka firefighters called the scene Tuesday afternoon pulled one adult and three juveniles from the fully submerged SUV after it entered a retention pond in the city just east of South Bend. St. Joseph County Coroner Michael J. McGann said the two crash victims who were pronounced dead had died from drowning. The two others were in critical condition at local hospitals. Witnesses said the SUV was traveling along a road when it left the roadway and entered the pond, said David Ray, assistant chief for the Mishawaka Fire Department. Local roads were icy at the time, but officials were still investigating what caused the SUV to drive into the pond. Divers searched the pond to be certain all of the SUV’s occupants had been accounted for. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.

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PATNA: In a major reshuffle on the first day of the year, the state government on Wednesday transferred 20 IPS officers, including Patna SSP and SPs of four other districts.ADG (railways) Amit Kumar will be ADG (law and order) while East Champaran SP Upendra Sharma has replaced Garima Malik as Patna SSP. Garima has been promoted to the rank of DIG and posted in CID.IG (Mithila range) Pankaj Kumar Darad has been appointed as ADG (railways) in Patna after his promotion. IG (CID) Ajitabh Kumar will replace Darad. IG (operation) Sushil M Khopde, after promotion, has been made ADG (operation) after upgrading the post. He would also hold the additional charge of ADG, anti-terrorism squad (ATS), a post also upgraded.IG (Magadh range) Paras Nath will be IG (budget, appeal and welfare) in Patna with additional charge of IG, Bihar Military Police (BMP).IG (prohibition) Ratan Sanjay Katiyar has been shifted to weaker section in CID. He was replaced by Amrit Raj, who will also hold additional charge of IG, special vigilance unit (SVU) in place of Katiyar.DIG (Shahabad range) Rakesh Rathi has been made IG, Magadh range. He has been replaced by P Kannan, who was earlier posted as DIG (BMP).DIG (eastern range) Vikash Vaibhav has been made DIG (ATS) in Patna. He was replaced by Sujeet Kumar, who was promoted to the rank of DIG. Kumar was SP (railways) in Patna.CID SP (weaker section and women cell) A Ransingh Sahu has been made DIG (wireless and technical services) after promotion.State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) SP Siddharth Mohan Jain has been posted as DIG (administration) after promotion. He would also hold additional charge of DIG (BMP).Vigilance investigation bureau SP S Premlatha will be DIG in Lokayukta office after promotion.Siwan SP Naveen Chandra Jha has been shifted to East Champaran. City SP (west) Abhinav Kumar replaced Jha in Siwan.Munger SP Gaurav Mangla has been shifted to Vaishali. He replaced J Jalaraddi who has been appointed at Patna rail SP.Barh SDPO Lipi Singh replaced Mangla in Munger. Danapur SDPO Ashok Mishra has been made City SP (west) of Patna.

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore in a message on Wednesday called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by Guru Gobind Singh. "Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore in a message on the Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by the great Guru and work for creating a harmonious society, based on values of humanism and secularism," said an official statement. According to the statement, the Governor said that Guru Gobind Singh, a saint-soldier, symbolised the virtues of truth, righteousness and universal brotherhood. "He was a great warrior and launched a crusade against social injustice and tyranny of the rulers of those times. Guru Gobind Singh ji sacrificed his four sons, father and mother for preserving human and secular value are rare in the annals of mankind. Their heroic struggle and sacrifice against the Mughals will always be remembered till eternity," the statement quoted the Governor as saying. The Governor said that 'Guru Gobind Singh Ji's teachings and philosophy is particularly relevant in the present-day complexed and materialistic world.' He appealed to the people to celebrate Parkash Utsav in a spirit of social harmony, equality and well being of the people, which the great Guru preached and practiced throughout his life. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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EL SEGUNDO — To welcome in the next decade, the Lakers shed their purple and gold for a night, opting for black-tie suits instead. They were all over each other’s social media feeds, dancing and smoking cigars on Monday night as LeBron James celebrated his 35th birthday. Because the Lakers play the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, New Year’s Eve celebrations are expected to be significantly toned down. James said he only decided three days before the big night that he would have a party at all, which his wife Savannah helped assemble on the short turnaround. It wasn’t just a birthday, but a turning of the page on the year as well. “I was able to kill two birds with one stone, get my teammates there, coaching staff, my family, my friends, people that’s been around for quite a while and we had a heck of a time,” he said. “So it was another opportunity for us to bond, which we did. And if it brings us closer, then fantastic. That’s what it’s all about for me, bringing us closer to family as possible.” The Lakers ended 2019 pretty tight-knit, with a strong body of work behind them. Leading the Western Conference standings and finishing a challenging December slate at 9-5, some of their hardest work is behind them even though the bulk of the schedule remains. The year wrapped on an upbeat note with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks. After that second victory, Coach Frank Vogel had a chance to look at the footage of his team holding the No. 1 offense in the NBA to just 95 points – to his surprise, he saw some opportunities where his defense (104.8 defensive rating, No. 7 in the NBA) could be even better. That’s the Lakers’ 2019 resolution: They’re still looking for the perfect performance. “It’s just reason for optimism that we still have a long way to go and a lot of room for improvement,” he said. “It’s exciting what we can be.” A big part of that has been success against the teams they are supposed to beat: The Lakers are 17-0 against teams under .500 this season. They’ll have an opportunity to extend that perfection with upcoming home games against Phoenix, New Orleans, Detroit and New York. The Lakers warmed to the challenge of their tough schedule last month, playing a host of teams bound for the playoffs. The concern, Vogel acknowledged, is that over a third of the way in against less-than-stellar competition, complacency can sneak in. “It’s a different sort of stretch right now,” he said. “I think we begin to enter the dog days of the NBA season, which is like now until All-Star break where it gets a little monotonous and there’s a little bit of a grind and hopefully we can get through that stretch. And then once All-Star break hits, you’re in the home stretch after that.” One of the factors the Lakers feel is in their favor is chemistry. Multiple players have cited the 1-through-15 chemistry on the roster as a strength, and James’ birthday party was the latest event where the Lakers have largely shown up off the court as a group. James pointed to his youth league days as a model: When he was a young player, he and his teammates would go to parks or malls and play video games together. “Not only did it influence the way I play on the court, having an effect on how I play today, it also had an influence of how I grew up with my friends, too, and having that brotherhood,” he said. “If you know anything about my childhood, the guys that I grew up playing ball are still around, they’re still like my best friends.” The same concept is important to his NBA teams, James said, which is among the reasons everyone was invited. The feeling of the Lakers is that off-court chemistry will help form on-court bonds that can help them in competitive games. It also leads to some nice post-party texts. “The best thing about it is that my teammates said how much of a time they had,” he said. “My family and my friends had a heck of a time. Got a lot of messages this morning saying how much fun it was, how much love was in the air. So that’s what makes it cool for me. The people around me had a good time.” 🎥 LeBron: "We ended 2019 in a good position to continue to get better, and play better basketball in January than we did in December.” pic.twitter.com/CZnJC3MsC6 — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 1, 2020

It's natural at this time of the year to both reflect and to look ahead. For us here at the Packet we look back on a successful year, as more people than ever before are reading what we write. That growth has come on our digital platform, thepacket.co.uk At the close of 2019, more than five million pages had been read on our website – around two million more than in 2018. We continue to have a loyal audience in print too and we thank those who believe that our journalism is worth paying money for each week. In 2020 we as a news outlet and, indeed, an industry, continue to fight on various fronts. Aside from battling to secure the advertising revenue needed to survive, one that regularly rears its rather ugly head is the concept of 'fake news'. This is a term that gets thrown around all too frequently, usually to express dismay at a story that one simply doesn't agree with. The actual definition is the deliberate spread of disinformation or hoaxes via the media. A few weeks ago the editor of a Yorkshire newspaper had to do battle with the 'fake news' claims and it's a great example of why trusted local news is more important than ever as we head into a new decade. The story in question was about a young boy who had to sleep on a hospital floor because there were no beds. Social media went into meltdown, slamming the newspaper, saying it simply couldn't be true. The newspaper explained how it had done the basic journalism of verifying the story with the hospital before publication, while those on social media could hide behind a moniker and publish spurious claims without a single check. We had our own example recently, where one of our reporters picked up on a story via social media. That's often the way these days – but social media is merely another source and we will always then verify any information before publishing a story. This particular one involved cameras appearing in Helston. One person gave an apparent explanation on the original social media post, which resulted in another person saying "social media wins again, who needs local newspapers?" But what had been written wasn't right, we discovered when we asked the council about it, and we then went on to publish our story, with the correct explanation. And that's the difference – you can't believe everything you read on social media, but when it's published under the banner of the Packet, you can be assured that it has been verified before being published. Thank you for your support and I wish you a happy New Year. The editor's regular column can be read every week in the Packet, on sale each Wednesday for 85p.

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The UN Is Hiring English-Speaking DISARMAMENT OFFICERS in New York Pin 3 7K Shares If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! (Psst: The FTC wants me to remind you that this website contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase from a link you click on, I might receive a small commission. This does not increase the price you'll pay for that item nor does it decrease the awesomeness of the item. ~ Daisy) by Daisy Luther As the Second Amendment conflict heats up across the United States, here’s another “crazy conspiracy theory” that has turned out to be true. The United Nations is hiring in New York. What positions are they trying to fill? English-speaking DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, AND REINTEGRATION OFFICERS. This job was posted the day after Christmas. So for all the folks who have been saying “nobody is trying to take your guns” you might want to read this job listing and reconsider your opinion. Is this in response to the Virginia crisis? You may recall that citizens of Virginia have become outraged recently by new laws that are likely to pass this month, effectively banning all semi-automatic weapons. Sanctuary counties, cities, and municipalities now cover all but the most urban parts of the state. These sanctuaries have vowed to support the Second Amendment and are refusing to enforce unconstitutional gun laws. In response, a member of the state congress suggested that Governor Northam could call up the National Guard to disarm residents of Virginia despite the wishes of local governments. In response to that, at least one county has formed a militia and others are expected to spring up. The state’s Attorney General says that these sanctuaries carry no legal weight. Despite the AG’s opinion and threats from the state government, Virginians appear to have no plans to give up their guns or register them. Many members of law enforcement entities and the National Guard have said that they will not act on unconstitutional orders. One has to wonder if this is why the UN is hiring “disarmament officers?” What is the job description? Here are the responsibilities for the new hires, as per the United Nations job listing. Within delegated authority, the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Acts as a Focal Point for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) components for two to three missions, responsible for planning, support to implementation and evaluation; • Participates in DPO and Integrated Task Force planning meetings for the establishment of a new peacekeeping mission with a potential DDR component; • Provides technical assistance to peace negotiations; • Participates in technical assessment missions; • Advises, develops and reviews (as appropriate) initial DDR functional strategy and concept of operations for further development into a full programme by the DDR component and the National DDR Commission; • Drafts and reviews DDR inputs to SG report, code cables, and talking points; • Develops initial result-based framework and budget for new DDR components in new mission; • Liaises with UNDP and donor community to raise voluntary contributions for DDR programmes; • Presents and/or defends new and subsequent DDR budgetary requirements in the ACABQ and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly; • Develops staffing structure and terms of reference for a DDR component, including terms of integration with other UN agencies, funds and programmes; • Provides technical clearance for applicants to DDR units in new and ongoing missions; • Provides Headquarters support in planning the civilian and military logistics support for DDR; • Continually reviews DDR programme strategy and implementation through relevant documents, reports and code cables; • Conducts field missions to assess implementation of established DDR programmes; • Identifies potential problems and issues to be addressed and suggests remedies to DDR units in the field; • Liaises with Member States, UN actors and other DDR interested partners to represent the mission’s DDR component at the Headquarters level; • Establishes and maintains an outreach network with CSOs and IGOs active in the area of DDR. • Supports the doctrine development work in the area of DDR in the department, with the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on DDR and other relevant national and international actors working on DDR issues; • Contributes to Department-level or Policy Committee-level policy development work on DDR and related issues; • Maintains and further develops the Integrated DDR Standards – a set of inter-agency policies, guidelines and procedures on DDR; • On behalf of the Chief of the DDR Section, co-chairs the IAWG on DDR, contributes to bringing coherence to the interaction of the UN system and its partners on DDR; • Supervises the Associate Expert (Junior Professional Officer) in the development and maintenance of the web-based United Nations DDR Resource Centre; • Liaises with others (UN, regional organisations and Member States) providing DDR. Other duties as required. (source) Also notable is the required language fluency – English – and the desired experience. Seven years of relevant experience in disarmament affairs, political analysis or in national military or paramilitary service, preferably related to the design, implementation or review of DDR. (source) Employees would answer to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. As per the UN, here are some specifics about this job description. Of special note: Disarmament is the collection, documentation, control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and light and heavy weapons of combatants and often also of the civilian population. Disarmament also includes the development of responsible arms management programmes. (source) As well, the UN especially wants women to apply for this job, citing gender equality. But is it possible they think that a gun owner might have more ethical difficulty firing on a woman trying to take their weapons than a man? The US is no longer part of the UN Arms Trade Treaty. You may recall back in 2013, the United Nations convinced then-Secretary of State John Kerry to sign a treaty that “unequivocally bans arms transfers that are in violation of a U.N. arms embargo or that exporters have reason to know will be used to commit genocide and other grievous war crimes.” In 2013, the US signed the UN Arms Trade Treaty but that signature was never ratified. Last April, President Trump officially withdrew from the international gun control treaty. However noble that may sound, anti-gun control activists were concerned this would lead to the UN being able to disarm Americans on US soil. So why is the UN looking for English-speaking disarmament experts? Don’t be silly, “no one is coming to take your guns.” How many times has someone told you not to worry – that nobody is coming to take your guns away? That all they want is “common-sense gun laws?” In light of the current political climate and this job listing, I’d say that is an outright a lie. What do you think about this job listing? Alarming or not? Please share your thoughts in the comments. About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, globe-trotting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Activist Greta Thunberg attends a climate strike outside the Swedish parliament in Stockholm on December 20. During an interview Monday, Greta said she doubts she would have talked to President Trump at last fall’s climate summit in New York because “he’s not listening to the scientists and experts, so why would he listen to me?” (Pontus Lundahl/TT via AP) Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg said Monday that talking to President Trump at a United Nations summit on global warming would have been a waste of time, because he would not have paid attention. In an interview with BBC radio’s “Today” program, for which she was the guest editor Monday, Greta also said that she regarded personal attacks on her as funny and that she hoped to go back to having a normal life. A video of the 16-year-old Swedish campaigner giving Trump what media described as a “death stare” at a U.N. climate summit in New York in September went viral on social media. Trump has questioned climate science and is pulling the United States out of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change. Asked what she would have said to the president if they had spoken, Greta said: “Honestly, I don’t think I would have said anything because obviously he’s not listening to scientists and experts, so why would he listen to me? “So I probably wouldn’t have said anything. I wouldn’t have wasted my time,” she said. Greta watches as Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters at the summit September 23. (Andrew Hofstetter/Reuters) This month Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called Greta “a brat.” Trump has said on Twitter she needs to work on her anger management problem. “Those attacks are just funny because they obviously don’t mean anything,” she said. “I guess of course it means something — they are terrified of young people bringing change which they don’t want — but that is just proof that we are actually doing something and that they see us as some kind of threat.” Greta came to world attention when she began a grass-roots campaign at age 15 by skipping school every Friday to demonstrate outside the Swedish parliament. The protests have inspired millions of young people to take action against climate change. Thunberg, who was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019, said becoming an activist had helped rescue her from the depression she had previously been suffering. The teenager rejoined activists outside the Swedish parliament this month after four months of overseas trips to attend climate conferences in New York and Madrid. “I hope I won’t have to sit outside the Swedish parliament for long. I hope I don’t have to be a climate activist anymore,” she said, adding she was looking forward to returning to school in August. “I just want to be just as everyone else. I want to educate myself and be just like a normal teenager.” — Associated Press Read more from KidsPost: No bold plans come from United Nations climate summit Greta Thunberg’s trip to New York inspires young climate activists Students worldwide walk out of school to push for action on climate change

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President Donald Trump not only rang in the new year and decade with a slew of family and friends at a Mar-a-Lago party but also used the momentous occasion to remind the rogue state of Iran what may await it this year if it keeps screwing around. “I don’t think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn’t last very long,” he bluntly said when asked by reporters about a potential war with Iran. The remarks were made only hours after Iranian-backed militiamen stormed the U.S. Embassy in Iraq’s capital of Baghdad and nearly triggered another Benghazi. During a roughly 10-minute-long presser before the new year began, he also addressed his predictions for the U.S. economy, as well as his thoughts on North Korea’s recent antics and the Democrats’ flailing impeachment drive. Listen: The rest of the evening was far less somber at Mar-a-Lago’s annual black-tie New Year’s Eve gala, which Politico notes is “a $1,000-a-head event that starts with cocktails by the main pool before moving to a decadent dinner in the estate’s massive ballroom.” “In the past, the shindig has attracted celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Woody Allen, Rod Stewart, Serena Williams, Martha Stewart and Robert Kraft.” This year noted guests included … The president’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, who held his own mini-press conference of sorts. Rudy Giuliani pictured at Mar-a-Lago this NYE. pic.twitter.com/CcAdlYqYtW — Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) January 1, 2020 Watch: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs and notably pro-life My Pillow founder Michael Lindell: Guests include Ben Carson, Lou Dobbs and the My Pillow guy. pic.twitter.com/Bbr2N4FU95 — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) January 1, 2020 The president’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner: The president’s son Eric and his wife, Lara: Eric and Lara Trump. pic.twitter.com/xWYpuoGVS7 — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) January 1, 2020 The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle: The president’s other daughter, Tiffany Trump, and her boyfriend, Michael Boulos: Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk: Conservative radio show host Howie Carr: Happy New Year from Mar a Lago! #KAG pic.twitter.com/gmE6ckF5Rt — Howie Carr (@HowieCarrShow) January 1, 2020 White House principal deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley: The president’s youngest son, Barron: Oh man, Barron Trump. Dapper thy name is… pic.twitter.com/WHQz03QJbT — TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) January 1, 2020 And of course the president himself and his wife, first lady Melania Trump: Trump arrived. He said he hopes Kim Jong Un’s Christmas gift to him is a beautiful vase; he said a partial vaping flavor ban is coming soon (but expressed hope the flavors will be deemed safe and put back on the market soon); he said the China deal likely only needs two phases. pic.twitter.com/5HJ3PkRUPF — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) January 1, 2020 The president reportedly began the day driving to the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach but quickly switched plans and left only 49 minutes after his arrival. Though he received some criticism from the left over the perceived Obama-like optics of showing up at the resort, he himself took to Twitter later to dispute media reports that he’d actually gone on to play golf; and to note the difference between the Baghdad attack and Obama’s infamous Benghazi attack: His decision to take quick, immediate action. Unlike other people … Look: The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019 ….Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019 The Fake News said I played golf today, and I did NOT! I had meeting in various locations, while closely monitoring the U.S. Embassy situation in Iraq, which I am still doing. The Corrupt Lamestream Media knew this but, not surprisingly, failed to report or correct! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019 Hours later, around reportedly 8:30 pm, and after the situation at the embassy in Baghdad had calmed down, the party at Mar-a-Lago officially began: See more photos from the party below: Melania Trump turns heads in glamorous black gown for New Year celebrations with Donald https://t.co/H5xPxBYMsD pic.twitter.com/wRVfyHXFMc — The 24 Hours News (@The24HoursNews1) January 1, 2020 Happy New Year America! What a spectacular celebration of the New Year and ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ and @FLOTUS with hundreds of his friends, great family and loyal supporters at Mar a Lago! #MAGA #AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/B2137iBuyj — Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) January 1, 2020 President Trump speaks to the press with First Lady Melania, prior to entering this evenings New Year’s Celebration he is hosting in Palm Beach, Florida. #HNY2020 pic.twitter.com/BlYw77LT19 — Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸 (@Scavino45) January 1, 2020 When asked by the press about their resolution for 2020, the first lady said “peace” while the president said, without getting into specifics, that it’s something “good” for America. “Peace is right, but I’m not sure you’re supposed to say resolutions out loud, okay?” he said. “So we don’t want to — I don’t want to say what my resolution is because I think we jinx it, all right? But I can tell you, we have a good resolution, and it’s a resolution for our country!”

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7 Shares Email Five businesses will be eligible to apply for a $2,000 grant to improve their retail environment in the first year of a new economic development program in Yorba Linda. Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Youth Media program, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact Digital Editor Sonya Quick at squick@voiceofoc.org. The money for the program will come from the city’s share of revenue generated from the State of the City event. The city and the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce equally share proceeds from the annual event, which this year totaled $21,000, making $10,600 available for five grants of $2,000 maximum between now through December 2020, according to a city staff report. The grants will assist the city’s business community in enhancing retail shopping, the report said. The program, which was unanimously approved by the City Council earlier in December, would allow merchants, retail centers, and business groups to promote their businesses. Eligibility for the grant comes with some guidelines. A business must express a need for improvement to a building exterior or common area, according to the staff report. It must also explain how the enhancement will provide a benefit to the community and demonstrate a need for the grant that cannot be obtained through other funding options. The application process includes a project description, plans, drawings or photos, and a budget. The city plans to review these applications within 15 days of submittal to the economic development manager with a final decision by the city manager, according to the staff report. The City Council meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 4845 Casa Loma Ave.

Support Oxnard initiatives Five citizen-sponsored initiatives are being proposed for the November 2020 election in Oxnard. However, Oxnard’s leadership considers them “dangerous” and instead of placing them on the ballot, the City Council ordered staff to write independent reports to assess their financial and other impacts. Will the city staff truly act as an unbiased third party when assessing these initiatives? I have recently been campaigning for the city to disclose and publish, for all taxpayers to see, the actual cumulative total cost of several recent memoranda of understandings with the city’s unions. The city will only disclose a value that they call total cumulative cost, even after I have repeatedly demonstrated that these values are incorrect. The city’s published total cost values understate the actual cost by millions of dollars. So, even with mandated financial reporting, will the disclosed information be accurate? And why are they just now suddenly concerned about financial impacts when they freely hand out concessions to these unions? If anything is dangerous and/or placing the city’s future in financial peril, it’s these overly generous concessions. Did the city perform an assessment to determine long-term financial impacts before doing this? Probably not since these concessions go directly to city employee pockets. It seems to many that the city is afraid that these measures will bring about accountability and fiscal transparency to city operations. The probable real reason the city has ordered reports is to develop politically-motivated rationale to discourage voters from approving the five initiatives. Once these initiatives make it to the November ballot, I hope Oxnard voters will join me and vote “yes” to communicate our displeasure to the city leadership and reform City Hall. Ray Blattel, Oxnard

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Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens Neil Cooper **** Broken hearts were everywhere onstage for Mark Ronson’s headlining slot in a DJ-only show to see in the new year as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay’s main event. Two pieces of a giant silver construction sit like a collapsed mirrorball, dwarfing the midas-touch producer as he sits inbetween, where his desk-top console resides. Behind him, a twelve-strong all-female string section featuring Scottish Chamber Orchestra violinists Aisling O’Dea and Siun Milne, plus cellist Niamh Malloy swish out the sort of lush clusters barely heard since the Biddu Orchestra turned disco into a classical gas. Other hearts are either framed in red as neon shapes zigzag about them, or else spiral round like Joe 90 might hatch like a Kinder toy. Ronson moves through a set of the last decade’s bangers at a gallop. He only pauses to don guitar for a brief guest slot from Daniel Merriweather, whose Ronson-produced mash-up of the Smiths and the Supremes on Stop Me remains sublime, despite his patter suggesting ambitions to be an international peace envoy. Warm-ups came care of the vintage punky reggae party of Mungo’s Hi-Fi sound system and the old skool hands-in-the-air vibes of Rudimental’s Leon ‘Locksmith’ Rolle, accompanied by free-styling trumpeter Mark Crowney. There are more hearts here, as Rolle gets the audience to make shapes with their hands. All of which fits in with this year’s Be Together theme. Not that there’s been much togetherness in responses to what some see as the serious mismanagement of Edinburgh’s Winter festivals. The resultant brickbats raise serious questions regarding the event’s future - if it has one – that must be addressed. In the meantime, Ronson’s medley of his own hits synchronised to the turn-of-year fireworks is a work of eye and ear-popping razzmatazz. As are his slightly spooky closing renditions of Back to Black and Valerie. The power of Amy Winehouse’s disembodied vocal is heightened by the image of her bee-hived visage that covers the stage wall. Winehouse’s face is bent down, as if acknowledging the broken mirrorball below. All heart, as ever.

They were certainly in the party spirit. Working over New Year can be quite the chore, so it is important to make the evening as light-hearted and fun as possible so time passes quickly. They were certainly in the party spirit. That certainly seemed to be the ethos of these two fun-loving security guards at Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations on Tuesday evening. They can be seen in the video above boogying along to headline act Mark Ronson just moments before the countdown to 2020 began in Princes Street Gardens. One attendee to the sold-out event, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Evening News that even after the camera stopped rolling, the pair continued to cut shapes throughout the evening, regularly joining in with crowds and leading the celebrations. READ MORE: Mark Ronson: Nowhere else on earth has a Hogmanay 'carnival' like Edinburgh They said: "It was great to see. Sometimes people who work at these events can be quite stuffy and serious, so to see these two letting their hair down was great. "It added to the atmosphere as they danced with other people in the crowd and joined families to bust some moves. They really got people going. "That's what Hogmanay is all about." This year’s Hogmanay theme, Be Together, was celebrated by bringing together tens of thousands of friends old and new to share in a warm and welcoming moment of friendship creating a fantastic atmosphere across the Street Party. Ronson dazzled the partygoers with some of the best tracks of the decade in a full throttle count down to the midnight fireworks. Daniel Merriweather joined him for Stop Me and Shallow. A sold-out crowd of 75,000 gathered in Edinburgh’s city centre to see in the New Year.

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Huron-Clinton Metroparks: 2020 annual pass prices to jump on Jan. 1 If you love a good deal, now is the time to act. Tuesday is the last day to get annual vehicle passes to Huron-Clinton Metroparks before prices go up Jan. 1. The 2020 annual vehicle passes are on sale now for $35, which can be used at all 13 Metroparks. The passes can be purchased online. Senior passes (62+) are not available online. The Metroparks annual pass gives you access to nature, exploration, relaxation, beaches, trails and more for 2020. On Jan. 1, prices will go up $5. A regular annual pass will cost $40 and a senior pass will be $29. Senior passes require ID and must be done in person at any Metropark Toll Booth, Golf Course, Park Office or Interpretive Center. Parking at any Metropark without an annual pass costs $10 per day. According to the website, "the Huron-Clinton Metroparks provide a natural oasis from urban and suburban life by providing an ever-growing variety of outdoor recreational and educational activities year round. Picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, nature study, biking, golf, disc golf, winter sports and a host of special outdoor programs and events are available within a short drive of southeast Michigan." More: It's time to register for 2020 Detroit marathon: Here's how to save big More: A second Cedar Point amusement park was almost built in Michigan Contact Bisma Parvez at 313-222-6420 or bparvez@gannett.com Follow her on Twitter @bismapar

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Spring is still a long way off, but registration is already open for the 2020 Rhode Island State Police 5k Foot Pursuit. The annual race draws hundreds of runners, raising money for the State Police Union, which distributes the funds to various characterizes throughout the year. Tuesday is the last day to register for just $25. Starting Jan. 1, the fee goes up to $30. From April 1 through 22, registration costs $35, at which point online registration closes. Runners can register day-of for $40. The race will take place at the North Beach Pavilion of Narragansett Town Beach at 79 Boston Neck Road. This year's race drew nearly 1,000 participants, despite less-than-ideal weather. Saunderstown resident Greg Motta took home first place after completing the race in just 17 minutes, 12 seconds.Motta, along with the first-place female runner Ashley Jenson, took home a $100 prize. Jenson, a 34-year-old from Boston, completed the race in 19 minutes, 39 seconds.

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U.S. and Iraqi forces at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad fired tear gas to disperse Iraqi protesters who gathered at the walls of the compound for a second day to show support for a powerful Iranian-backed Shiite militia. Dozens of protesters and supporters of the Hashd Shaabi militia set up camp outside the gates of the embassy on Wednesday, one day after thousands converged on Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone to decry U.S. strikes that killed at least 25 militiamen on the weekend. Several protesters set fire to the outside wall of the embassy, where heavily armed U.S. forces were seen standing on the roof of the building, witnesses said. Some protesters suffered breathing problems from the tear gas, the witnesses added. The U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria on Sunday targeted the Kataib Hezbollah militia group, which was blamed for an attack last week that killed a U.S. citizen. Kataib Hezbollah, a part of the Hashd Saabi umbrella group, is independent from the Hezbollah group in Lebanon that is trained and financed by Iran. Chanting “Death to America,” angry protesters on Tuesday broke into the U.S. embassy compound and set fire to one of its gates. U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed the attack on Iran and said the country will “pay a very big price.” Tehran has blasted Washington’s “irrational response” to the protests and denied any involvement. Trump spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi by phone on Tuesday and “emphasised the need to protect U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq.” Defense Secretary Mark Esper called on the government of Iraq to “fulfil its international responsibilities” to protect US citizens in the country. Washington has announced that it will immediately deploy 750 soldiers to Iraq “as an appropriate and precautionary action.”

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We have sighted some stunning photos which suggest that popular Ghanaian female dancehall artiste, Kaakie is set to walk down the aisle in the coming weeks. Photos from her bridal shower have hit the internet as many of her fans are anticipating her wedding date which might come out very soon. Born Grace Kaki Awo Ocansey, Kaakie has given us some bangers and she was recently awarded a Master’s Degree from the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, is about to get married although details of the ceremony are scanty. Congratulations, Kaakie!!! Source: www.ghgossip.com

Ghanaian hiplife grand papa Reggie Rockstone hops on a peewezel beat to bring a classic tune titled cocoa. The sensational goddess Sena Dagadu is on the tune. The song talks about his natural love for his african woman, attributing her to the goodness in cocoa. Cocoa has many wonderful healthy benefits. Just like love takes time to build, cocoa takes 5 years to produce it first seed pod. Cocoa is rich in polyphenols, which have significant health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol levels. However, processing cocoa into chocolate or other products can substantially decrease the polyphenol content. For sure, love is beautiful thing like a Ghanaian cocoa. Rich in taste and flavour. Get yourself a cocoa love … Check out video here:

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EDMONTON -- Warning: This story contains imagery which some readers may find disturbing. Mark Holmgren was 17 years old when he borrowed his brother’s motorbike. It was a decision that would alter his life forever. “I was just driving too fast, turned the corner and I wiped out. I tore the nerves in my shoulder. It was a brachial plexus injury and from that day I could never use it. Couldn’t move it, couldn’t feel it.” Holmgren, now 37, carried his dysfunctional arm around for nearly two decades before deciding it was time to do something about it this year. “At first it was: I’m going to wait, they’ll be able to fix it, they’re coming up with new stuff, give me a robotic arm, stuff like that and I’ve been waiting too long,” he recalled. “I just decided to remove it. Move on, I guess.” He contacted doctors at the University of Alberta hospital, who agreed to amputate his right arm in April. However, Holmgren didn’t want to depart with his arm forever—he wanted to have it preserved. “First they sent me a paper, I signed it, sent it back to (the doctor). He brought it into the surgery room with me and just showed me all the doctors in there and they were all like,‘Yup, we know.’” About a month after the surgery, Holmgren got a call from the lab saying his arm was ready to be picked up. “I carried it out of the hospital in a garbage bag,” said Holmgren. “I actually kept it in my freezer for about a month.” He admits that shopping around and asking taxidermy businesses to clean a human arm was a bit of a challenge. “A couple of them told me no, like right away. There was no way that they were going to touch human body parts.” But after a few weeks of searching, Legends Taxidermy in Drayton Valley agreed to do the job. “I went and dropped it off, and got it back just before Christmas.” Holmgren even brought his skeletal arm to Christmas dinner with his family. “Some of them wanted to touch it, some of them don’t want to touch it. It’s just mixed feelings when people see it.” The Edmontonian plans to show more friends and family his limb before retiring it. “I’m just going to keep it probably behind the sink in the kitchen. I’m happy I did it. It’s just not for everybody.”

THE QUEEN began her Christmas message by referring to the 50th anniversary of humanity’s memorable first steps on the moon. Of Neil Armstrong taking ‘a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind – and, indeed, for womankind.’ She observed that it is a reminder to us all that giant leaps often start with small steps, going on to speak of the continuing need for peace and reconciliation in our world and how this generally begins with small steps. It was a very timely message. One of the things I have been reflecting upon since hearing it is how we can only take such steps ourselves. Watching my children take their first steps was a joyous experience precisely because I couldn’t do it for them. First steps towards peace and reconciliation can be equally exhilarating to observe, but we cannot take them on behalf of others. We can only take them ourselves. The Queen spoke ‘of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.’ There has been much talk of deep division in our country since the Referendum. It strikes me that we actually have much more in common than anything that might divide us and that if we can all take some small steps of reconciliation we shall come together in exciting and unforeseen ways. May this New Year bring you many blessings and may you share them with others. Bishop John.

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Three-car accident in Norwalk leads to injuries Firefighters work the scene of a serious accident on Martin Luther King Drive. Firefighters work the scene of a serious accident on Martin Luther King Drive. Photo: / Contributed Photo: / Contributed Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Three-car accident in Norwalk leads to injuries 1 / 1 Back to Gallery NORWALK — A three-car collision on Martin Luther King Drive sent three people to the hospital Wednesday afternoon. A firefighter heading to work came across the accident and went to the assistance of the motorists, while alerting other emergency responders. The collision took place at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday near Knapp Street. A BMW sedan ran off the roadway, and two male occupants in that vehicle were transported to Norwalk Hospital, according to the fire department. A male occupant of a Toyota Sienna van was also transported for medical treatment. No one was injured in the third vehicle involved in the collision. A firefighter drove one of the ambulance while the paramedics tended to the patient, according to the fire department. Norwalk Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command in Ogun, on Wednesday confirmed the death of one person following an auto crash around J3, on Ijebu Ode-Ore Expressway. Mr Clement Oladele, the state FRSC Sector Commander disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ota. Oladele said that the lone accident happened at about 11.25 pm on Tuesday. He explained that a Toyota Sienna Bus, with registration number, FKJ 453XW, was on a high speed when it tyres burst and in the process lost control and somersaulted into the bush. He said that nine persons- five male adults, three female adults and a female child, were involved in the accident. “The corpse of the female victim has been deposited at the mortuary of General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, while two of the survivors are also receiving treatment at the same hospital. “The third survivor who is a child was taken to Ise Oluwa Clinic J3 by a good samaritan before the arrival of FRSC rescue team,” he said. The sector commander admonished motorists to desist from using imported used tyres and also ensure that they check the expiring date on the tyres before purchasing them to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property on the highway.

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Dry weather will continue through this evening with mostly cloudy skies and temps holding in the 40s. Light rain will work its way into the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes heading into Friday morning. Lows tonight will otherwise range from the upper 30s to low 40s for most areas. Light rain will pass through on Friday with the steadiest staying south of the Thruway. Clouds will dominate with highs in the 40s. The next slug of moisture will head in Saturday morning with what looks to be a mix of snow north of the Thruway with more in the way of light rain to the south initially. Colder air will moving in will gradually change this mix over to all snow before tapering Saturday evening. Some slippery pavement will be likely Saturday night and into Sunday morning. More of a seasonable chill is then expected for Sunday and much of next week. While Sunday looks fairly uneventful, the pattern will stay active with occasional widespread light snow Monday through Wednesday. Another warm up will be possible Friday and into next weekend with some rain looking likely for now. Have a great evening!

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It's been a perfect weather start to 2020 for the Tampa Bay region. Warmer Thursday/Friday Rain early Saturday SEE BELOW: See our 7-day forecast ▼ Skies will be mostly clear overnight into early Thursday. Temperatures will be seasonably cool, dropping to the 50s to mid 40s. Thursday will be mostly sunny with warmer highs in the upper 70s due to a southeast breeze. Friday will be partly cloudy and warm with highs in the low 80s. The next cold front will push a line of showers through late Friday night into early Saturday morning. That will set us up for a cooler weekend ahead. 7-day forecast We want your pictures! Show us what the weather looks like in your neighborhood. Your photo could end up on Spectrum Bay News 9.

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Arizona led the drive to give women the right to vote. 100 years later, it's paying off Opinion: A century ago, Arizona led the nation in women's rights. As we begin 2020, the state's women are poised to lead great reforms once again. Show Caption Hide Caption Arizona treated men and women as equals. Where will that take us? Arizona politician Eileen Klein discusses Frances Willard Munds, who fought for suffrage in Arizona, and what women face a century later. David Wallace, The Republic | azcentral.com Editor's note: As 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that opened the door for eventually all American women to vote, we invited Eileen Klein, a leading light for years in Arizona government, to write about the accomplishments of Arizona women and the challenges ahead. She does so in this open letter to Frances Willard Munds, who helped lead the crusade for Arizona women’s suffrage a century ago. Dear Ms. Munds: The dawn of this new and significant year seems a fitting time to recall Arizona’s role in women’s suffrage and share a bit of good news about the state of our state’s women today. We’ve come a long way over rocky ground, Ms. Munds; maybe farther than you ever dreamed? One of the last states to join the union, Arizona was among the first 10 to recognize the women’s vote and has consistently supported women leaders since. Your quest for women’s suffrage, inseparable from the quest for statehood, speaks to the smarts, tenacity and can-do attitude of women in the American West and spotlights their courage. Looking for the other side of the story? Subscribe today for access to even more opinions. Today more than 3 million women who call Arizona home have the benefit to live in one of the freest states in America, forged from the strength of our shared native, pioneer and immigrant heritage. Still young, Arizona finds herself entering her second century of statehood at the forefront of America’s population and economic growth, presenting new chances, if not obligations, to build on the competencies and character of Arizona women. Suffrage was once considered a threat Perhaps it is just coincidence that your own grandfather, Alexander Hamilton Willard, was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, which recorded the first vote by a woman, Sacagawea. The lone woman and a kidnapped Native American, her very presence was instrumental to the expedition’s success, and her “equal fortitude and resolution” was praised by its leaders. In any case, Ms. Munds, it was you who would reset the suffrage strategy, abandoning appeals to male legislative reason and instead go after the male popular vote following decades of legislative defeat — including a veto by a territorial governor who feared that granting women the right to vote might jeopardize the campaign for statehood. After statehood was safely secured in 1912, you took advantage of our new state Constitution’s provision for citizen initiative, built a larger coalition of support, and with help from outside the state, won women’s suffrage immediately and impressively with nearly 70% of the vote. We must pause and duly credit Arizona men with their important role in the victory. The use of citizen initiative, race and immigration would influence state debate and policy for years to come. Arizona women vote and get involved Elation quickly turned to election, and by 1914 women had secured seats in the Arizona Legislature, with you, Ms. Munds, as our first female state senator. Legislation to regulate the workday and increase wages were among the first to be considered. It would take another two generations before statutes would be revised to remove the requirement that officeholders be men. Although you did not live to see the day, in 1988 Arizonans would use the title Madam Governor for the first time. Today, women lead our electorate. Nearly 70% of eligible Arizona women are registered to vote and nearly 60% voted in the 2018 election cycle, with large increases in participation nationally coming from young women. While not yet equal in number, Arizonans are known to elect larger percentages of women and more female governors than other states, once electing all women to statewide office and creating a national sensation. Phoenix, now our nation’s fifth-largest city, is led by a woman mayor, Kate Gallego, and its public safety is led by a woman police chief, Jeri Williams, and fire chief, Kara Kalkbrenner. Arizona elected her first United States senator, Kyrsten Sinema, in 2018. Her counterpart, Martha McSally, is the first female fighter pilot to command a fighter squadron in combat. Women prosecutors bring wrongdoers to justice in our oldest (Sheila Polk in Yavapai) and largest counties (Allister Adel in Maricopa). As a teacher, you will appreciate that several of our university and college presidents are women, including Rita Cheng, president of Northern Arizona University, and Maria Harper-Marinick, chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District. Many of them are America's leaders Arizona women of color, who even after 1912 and 1920 would be excluded from voting in Arizona due to discrepancies in state and federal law and English literacy requirements, are making their mark. Tucson has just elected its first Latina mayor, Regina Romero. Flagstaff’s mayor, Coral Evans, is African-American. Beyond local communities, Hispanic, African American and Asian-American women hold statewide constitutional offices (Lea Márquez Peterson and Sandra Kennedy, Corporation Commission; Kimberly Yee, State Treasurer). Native American women lead several of Arizona’s 22 tribal nations. Arizona has given America some of her most iconic women leaders. Shortly after statehood, an Arizona woman, Sarah Herring Sorin, was the first to try a case unaccompanied by a man before the United States Supreme Court. Later, a woman who grew up on a ranch in southern Arizona would become the nation’s first majority leader in the state Senate and go on to become America’s first female U.S. Supreme Court justice – Sandra Day O'Connor. Sandra Day O'Connor: Breaking glass ceilings on rise to the Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor was raised on an Arizona ranch and would become the first female Supreme Court justice. She'd break barriers all along the way. David Wallace, Arizona Republic The federal bench includes an Arizonan who is America’s first female Native American judge, Diane J. Humetewa. An Arizona woman, Barbara Barrett, serves as secretary of the United States Air Force. Our nation celebrated a Navajo woman, Annie Dodge Wauneka, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in public health. A Tucson troubadour, Linda Ronstadt, who fused her Hispanic heritage with a mix of musical styles has won the highest of praises with a National Medal of Arts and Kennedy Center honors. It is hard to imagine that the women’s vote once threatened Arizona statehood. Today, women define it. Education is making womens' lives better Thanks to further changes in federal law, coupled with improvements in health care, education and the economy, a baby girl born into Arizona in 2020 is more able to direct her own life and flourish here, certainly when compared to the baby girl of 1920. She has independent access to the modern predicates of financial success, namely higher education and credit markets, giving her more opportunity to increase her earnings, build (and pass on) wealth and overcome hardship no matter her race or life circumstance at birth. She has fewer children than generations before, but she – and they – are more likely to live longer. In Arizona, she can send them to the school of her choice, whether district, charter or private, or she can educate them at home. Though her economic status is still likely improved by a spouse, it does not depend on one. In fact, with most jobs requiring learning beyond high school, a young woman’s future prospects depend more on her own level of education. Young women seem to be getting this message. More of them attend and graduate college today, taking advantage of higher education institutions and subjects once closed to them, and opening doors to new career opportunities. (Even Barbie, the nation’s most popular fashion doll, has explored some 200 careers since arriving on the scene 50 years ago dressed in her swimsuit.) But challenges still persist Even so, a woman’s journey in the next 100 years is not guaranteed to be of ease. Wage and health disparities persist. More Arizona women and children live in poverty than the national average, a trend that has not improved even amid a growing economy. Women still marry but more also lead households with children, half of which receive federal assistance. Arizona’s best opportunity and future success lies in addressing these challenges, which will be aided by improving educational opportunity and outcomes. We hope women’s expanded freedoms and direct participation in self-government bring about a better life for them and their families, and that their increased presence in decision-making and empathic leadership traits bring about a better America, not just a different one. After 100 years of tremendous change, we still are sorting out our relationships, family structures and lifestyles, working to reconcile that change with societal expectations and economic reality. Few reforms in the name of women’s rights have enjoyed the same cohesion as suffrage. Some, like abortion, contribute to some of our largest partisan divides. As women debate these and other issues and as they grow their influence, we hope they will value diversity of thought and demonstrate through civil discourse that a person does not find her voice by shouting over or shutting down the voice of others. What's next for women in Arizona Where last century’s reform efforts focused on statehouses and courtrooms, they are now being pursued in board rooms. More companies are recognizing the competitive advantage – and profitability – of fairness and opportunity. Businesses across industries are working to increase leadership diversity, address pervasive sexual harassment, increase flexibility to accommodate family and move more capable women into management roles – the first step to increasing the pipeline of women executives. Arizona is well positioned for this next round of reform. Women lead our state’s largest business and trade associations and hold top executive positions at privately held and publicly traded Arizona-based companies. Arizona is recognized among the top states for growing clout among women-owned businesses. Arizona women lead the state’s largest philanthropic ventures and social service non-profits. Women as consumers drive 70% of the market. If ever there is to be a perfect convergence of leadership, policy, business practices and social responsibility that benefits all people, it will happen here. As is Arizona tradition, we hope the next round of change will be made in in tandem with men – not as their subordinates, nor their superiors, neither in spite of them nor in lieu of them, but with them – in equal partnership and with equal responsibility. And so, Ms. Munds, we gladly join America’s centennial celebration of women’s suffrage and pray for ongoing fortitude and resolution to continue the expansion of freedom for all people. For the Arizona we enjoy through your work and that of your contemporaries, and for lighting the path to a more just and equitable life, you have our enduring thanks and respect. Yours truly, An Arizona woman Born in Alaska, raised in Florida, Eileen Klein has chosen to make her home and career in Arizona, where she has served as state treasurer, chief of staff to a governor and president of the Arizona Board of Regents.

While media outlets breathlessly demand gun control, they often ignore stories like the one that occurred in a Texas church Sunday, when an intruder opened fire before being quickly killed by armed churchgoers. This was yet another case of a good guy with a gun saving potentially dozens of lives. The notion of a good guy with a gun has been repeatedly derided by media outlets as a right-wing, NRA-funded narrative. However, the White Settlement shooting was far from the first example of armed Americans defending themselves, while saving the lives of others. (RELATED: Israeli Veteran: ‘America Has The Best Gun Laws In The World, Appreciate It!’) After a back to school event in Florida last year was interrupted by gun shots, a bystander with a gun took down the shooter and prevented any casualties. In 2012, an 18-year-old mother in Oklahoma shot dead a knife-wielding intruder, potentially saving the lives of herself and her son. The mother, Sarah McKinley would not have had the opportunity to be armed in several blue states, where the law requires you to be 21-years-old to purchase or own a firearm. Several members of Congress and 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have introduced laws that would bar adults under 21 from obtaining firearms. A similar situation also unfolded in Oklahoma City in May 2018 at Louie’s Grill & Bar when a man opened fire on the restaurant and shot two people before being subdued by an armed patron. The only fatality in that shooting was the suspect. If all of the patrons had been unarmed, it’s possible that many innocent people could have been killed. In August, an off-duty firefighter prevented a man carrying more than 100 rounds of ammunition from causing any damage at a Missouri Walmart. The firefighter held the man at gunpoint until police arrived, possibly preventing serious carnage in the process. Despite a good guy with a gun possibly saving lives at one of its stores, Walmart announced earlier this year that it would no longer sell handgun ammunition. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Says She Might Confiscate ‘As Many As 10 Million’ Guns) In 2012, a 71-year-old Florida man saved several lives at an internet cafe after two teenagers walked in with a baseball bat and a gun. The man, Samuel Williams, was sitting at his computer when he witnessed the incident, and quickly pulled out his .380-caliber handgun to prevent carnage. In 2010, a 69-year-old Alabama widow shot a burglar three times to protect her home. The robbery took place at 3 a.m., but the Alabama grandmother sprung into action with her .38 snubnosed revolver to keep herself and her home safe. In 2016, a pregnant mother of two potentially saved her life and the lives of her three children with her firearm after intruders broke into her Ohio home. Her estranged boyfriend and the father of her unborn child attempted to break into her house, breaking down the door of her apartment. The pregnant women prevented a potentially tragic situation by being armed. (RELATED: Students Force University Of Virginia To End 21-Gun Salute On Veterans Day) Despite the listed examples and many more, establishment media outlets have typically snarled at the notion of a good person with a gun acting to save lives. Susanna Lee of the international news outlet Quartz referred to a good guy with a gun as a “deadly American fantasy.” Alyssa Rosenberg of The Washington Post called the notion a “Hollywood’s most dangerous lie,” placing the blame for mass shootings at the foot of one of America’s most left-wing institutions. “Elected officials should be ashamed of hiding their inaction behind this vapid slogan. The industry that’s profited off this image for decades should feel ashamed, too,” Rosenberg wrote. “The entertainment industry has played an enormous role in promoting the idea of the invulnerable action-hero cop, to the detriment of civilians and police officers.” The ominous PBS documentary “Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA” decried the NRA’s influence in American politics, and ridiculed NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre for saying that good guys with a gun have the ability to prevent mass shootings. “And he almost immediately goes right back to what they usually say, which is that the answer to this is more guns,” CBS News political correspondent and former Washington Post reporter Ed O’Keefe says in the documentary. Despite this being the settled wisdom of the establishment media outlets, the examples listed above, and findings by the FBI that good guys with a gun can and often do prevent tragedies. The FBI published a study in 2017 of mass shootings that occurred in 2016 and 2017, and found 10 incidents where a good guy with a gun engaged the bad guy. Of the 10 incidents, eight were resolved successfully. “Armed and unarmed citizens engaged the shooter in 10 incidents. They safely and successfully ended the shootings in eight of those incidents. Their selfless actions likely saved many lives. The enhanced threat posed by active shooters and the swiftness with which active shooter incidents unfold support the importance of preparation by law enforcement officers and citizens alike,” the report stated. The media and the left may not believe that a good guy with a gun can prevent a tragedy, but there are countless examples and an FBI report that suggest otherwise. It will be fascinating to see if these inconvenient truths are given the time of day as states such as Virginia fervently debate gun control.

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At the Foreign Ministry, the Swiss envoy received the Islamic Republic’s strong protest over the hawkish comments made by American officials in violation of the United Nations charter. In a meeting with the Swiss charge d’affaires on Wednesday, Mohsen Baharvand, an assistant to Iran’s foreign minister, urged Switzerland to convey Iran’s protest to the US, and also tell them that Iraq is an independent country with freedom-seeking, independence-seeking, and honourable people. “The US army has martyred at least 25 young members of the Iraqi nation and wounded scores of others without providing any evidence for their culpability,” Baharvand said. “The Iraqi people would naturally show reaction to a country that has occupied their territory and is killing their youths. Americans have even bombed two areas in Syria at the same time. That shows they are seeking to achieve other goals, and are just looking for pretexts,” he added. Baharvand said the American officials had better stop pinning the blame on others and levelling groundless accusations against the Islamic Republic. The Swiss envoy was also told that Iran is not a hawkish country, but its hands are not tied when it comes to countering any threat and unwise move. In that case, it will defend itself with full force. “Instead of raising baseless accusations against others, the US government must learn how to speak to other nations and stop occupation,” the Swiss charge d’affaires was told. Angered by US air raids that killed over two dozen fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) on Sunday, hundreds of protesters stormed its embassy compound in the high-security Green Zone on Tuesday, setting fires and chanting: “Death to America!” They also demanded the removal of American troops from Iraq. Reacting to the attack, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held Iran “fully responsible” for the incident on Twitter and added that the protesters “will be held fully responsible.” In a separate statement, Trump later also warned that Tehran would “pay a very big price” after the attack.

The Swiss charge d’affaires was summoned on Wednesday over Washington’s accusations against Tehran and its stance on the latest developments in Iraq, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website. During the meeting with the Swiss diplomat, an Iranian foreign minister’s assistant, Mohsen Baharvand, asked him to convey Iran’s strong protest to the US officials over their “warmongering statements” in violation of the United Nations Charter, the ministry said. “He (the Swiss envoy) was reminded that Iran is not a country seeking war… but stands against any threat or any unreasonable act and defends itself with all its might,” according to the website. US officials, including President Donald Trump, are trying to accuse Iran of encouraging the protests underway in Iraq against US airstrikes on bases of Popular Mobilization Units PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha'abi. On Sunday, US forces conducted drone strikes on a number of Kata'ib Hezbollah bases in Iraq's western Anbar province, killing at least 28 individuals and leaving another 51 injured. Kata'ib Hezbollah is part of Iraq's PMU. Following the strikes, the Pentagon issued a statement saying that it had targeted three locations of the Iraqi fighters in Iraq and two in Syria in response to alleged attacks targeting American forces. The incident led to a massive funeral ceremony for the Iraqi martyrs, followed by a huge rally by thousands of angry protesters who reached the US diplomatic mission in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, chanting ‘Death to America’ and burning US flags on Tuesday. The protesters further held up signs calling for the US mission to be shut down and for the parliament to order US forces to leave Iraq. Many protesters have set up tents, announcing plans for an indefinite sit-in until the embassy is closed and the ambassador expelled from the country. A few hours into the protest, tear gas was fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

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