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Jan 01, 2020 , 12:42PM Death toll from tribal clashes in Sudan's Darfur rises to 36 AIR Pics

Whereas a local organization that helps run refugee camps in the area has put the toll at 41 dead and more than 100 wounded. It accused Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF, of intervening in the fighting on the side of the Arab forces. Gen.

Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Deputy Head of the Sovereign Council, commands the paramilitary group, which grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias.

Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow longtime autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April. A military-civilian government now rules the country.

One of its key priorities has been ending the insurgencies in Sudan's far-flung provinces in order to slash military spending, which takes up much of the national budget.

The Sudanese Government and a rebel faction signed a peace deal last week. It was expected that the deal could pave way for peace agreements with more rebel groups.

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

Dancer and choreographer Uri Sands has stepped down as co-artistic director of TU Dance, the acclaimed Twin Cities company he helped found, amid allegations of sexual harassment of a former employee, according to a news release Tuesday.

His wife and co-founder, Toni Pierce-Sands, will continue to lead the organization as artistic director.

"We believe Mr. Sands' resignation will help TU Dance move forward in providing a safe and healthy environment for all," the news release said.

Sands, 45, and TU Dance vigorously deny all allegations, said Sara McGrane, the lawyer representing both.

McGrane said a lawsuit was served on a member of the company's board in October, alleging sexual misconduct by Sands involving a female employee between 2015 and 2017. The lawsuit also alleged negligent supervision of Sands by the company.

McGrane admitted a sexual relationship between Sands and the employee, but said he and TU Dance denied the "sexual misconduct" alleged in the lawsuit. Feeling the suit would be a distraction to the company, Sands offered his resignation Monday, McGrane said.

Uri Sands and Toni Pierce Sands of TU Dance in 2014. JOELKOYAMA jkoyama@startribune

Attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing the woman — a former dancer with the company who is not named in the suit — said Sands "sexually exploited" her, and he characterized the alleged misconduct as "nonconsensual sexual intercourse."

McGrane also said that in 2017, TU Dance received an anonymous complaint involving Sands that resulted in the adoption of a sexual harassment policy by the company and a policy that Sands could not travel alone with female dancers. She said Sands was asked to engage in counseling and therapy, which he did.

TU Dance was founded in 2004 by Uri Sands (the "U" in "TU") and Toni Pierce-Sands (the "T"). Both made their mark with the New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the nation's leading troupes. They married in 2001.

In July 2005, they premiered their multicultural dance company to sold-out audiences at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune named the couple its Artists of the Year that December, lauding them for "seamlessly melding African, modern, ballet and vernacular dance styles, underscored by a rhythmic musicality."

On the company's 10th anniversary in 2014, it received a $500,000 Knight Foundation grant to help it add programming, expand its funding base and help diversify the local dance scene. "What will we be in the next 10 years?" Pierce-Sands told the Star Tribune that year. "We'll be taking dance from St. Paul to the world."

In 2018 it collaborated with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on an evening-long work titled "Come Through," which has since toured to major venues across the nation, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Brooklyn just three weeks ago.

Experienced Pole Robert Kubica will be a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo in the 2020 season, the team announced on Wednesday.

Kubica, 35, made his return to Formula One with Williams last season following a long absence caused by a life-threatening rally crash.

He will back up Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Kubica's return to the team formerly known as Sauber has been facilitated by a sponsorship deal between Alfa Romeo and his principal backer, Polish oil company PKN Orlen.

Washington D.C. [USA], Jan 1 (ANI): Post Malone has yet again used his face as a canvas and inked it with a tattoo to celebrate the beginning of 2020.

The pop phenomenon opted for a medieval gauntlet holding a flail to adorn his already heavily tatted face, as reported by Fox News.

The 'Rockstar' singer's tattoo artist shared his creation with a picture he posted on Instagram this Tuesday.

In the caption, 'kylehedigertattoo' wrote: "Last tattoo of 2019. Gauntlet on the baby boy @postmalone love u. 2020 is going to be next level. Love you all".

Malone, who performed in the "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020," at times square on the New Year's Eve, shared a sneak peek of his new tattoo on Instagram right before his gig.

The singer shared the Times Square stage with the K-pop boy-band BTS along with other artists such as Sam Hunt and Lauren Patten. (ANI)

The year 2019 was one of headlines about horrific violence committed against innocent and vulnerable people living in South Africa.

From ongoing attacks on women and children, to the apparent targeting of foreign nationals and the deployment of the army to the Cape Flats – violence grabbed the headlines and the attention of citizens in 2019, who registered their horror and marched in protest to make their voices heard.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also cancelled travel plans and important economic forum appearances to address the nation, and come up with measures to show that the government was serious about the levels of angst in the country.

How did we get here?

Cape Flats

There has been an all-out war on the Cape Flats for many years as gangs continue to fight it out for turf and power.

Those who try to go about their daily lives often end up with the bullet wounds – unarmed men, women and children fall while walking or running to their homes, hiding away or playing outside.

This bloodshed is reflected in official crime statistics.

The Cape Flats is home to the Western Cape's 10 police precincts which have the highest attempted murder rates, contributing to 42% of the attempted murders in the province.

For years, many in the community, along with the City of Cape Town and the DA, have been calling for the army to intervene and help the police enforce law and order.

Their pleas were finally heard in July following a heightened spate of recorded murders. Police Minister Bheki Cele announced then that the army would be deployed to help stabilise ganglands in these 10 areas.

This was after Ramaphosa finally gave the go-ahead and wrote up the legally required letter to Parliament. He has since extended the deployment until March, 2020.

But there is still bloodshed.

A night of horror unfolded in Delft in August when separate shootings left three people dead and several others injured.

In September, gunmen kicked down the door of a structure in Elsies River and mowed down three children and a teenager.

Last month, three men and a woman were shot dead in their home in Mitchells Plain.

And in December, notorious gang leader Rashied Staggie was gunned down outside his Salt River home in the early hours of a Friday morning.

It remains to be seen what long-term impact the army will have in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Elsies River, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Philippi, Kraaifontein and Manenberg.

Cele proudly stated in September that the work of the police, together with the SA National Defence Force, had resulted in more than 1 000 arrests in gang-ridden areas.

Of those, 806 were already in the system and were wanted for various crimes, including murder, attempted murder, hijacking and theft.

People are still being killed and, as stated by the Institute for Security Studies' Dr Johan Burger, the army, due to leave in March, cannot do the police's job.

#AmINext

The murder of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, at a Cape Town post office shocked the nation, coming at a time where many murders of young women were being reported.

Horror killings hogged the headlines, such as that of South African boxer Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels, University of Western Cape student Jesse Hess, horse-riding enthusiast Meghan Cremer and Cape Town resident Lynette Volschenk, who was dismembered in her home.

In Mrwetyana's case, it emerged that post office employee Luyanda Botha lured her there on August 24 and when she didn't welcome his sexual advances, raped her and used a 2kg weight, used to weigh packages, to bludgeon her to death. He then hid her body in the office safe, before transporting it the next day, to be burnt and buried.

The nature of her murder, committed by a government employee in a public building in the afternoon, shocked the country. Women took to social media to express that they were not safe anywhere, not even in a public place or if they were equipped with self-defence skills.

Protesters gather to hand over a memorandum of grievances during a gender-based violence demonstration outside Parliament. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)

The senseless killings prompted the nationwide #AmINext movement, with victims of abuse calling out their alleged abusers, which was documented on a viral thread on Twitter.

It sparked marches and protests across the country against gender-based violence, including and especially at universities, where students demanded that campuses be made safer.

Even international delegates attending the World Economic Forum in Cape Town were confronted with the chants of protesters who cried out for something to be done about the high rate of rapes and murders.

Riot police were brought in as the group, many students, demanded to address Ramaphosa.

Ironically, their cries for an end to violence were met with a heavy-handed approach in the form of stun grenades and several arrests.

Last month, Botha was sentenced to life in prison for murder, two life sentences for both counts of rape, and five years for defeating the course of justice, in terms of a plea and sentencing agreement.

Xenophobia

At around the same time, foreign nationals in Gauteng bore the brunt of sporadic violence across all three of the province's major metros.

Communities looted both foreign-owned and local shops while calling for an end to drug syndicates.

Ten of the 12 people killed in the ensuing violence were South Africans, and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the evidence did not show that foreign nationals were being targeted because of their nationality.

She reiterated that South Africa was not a xenophobic country.

Pressure was on Ramaphosa to give an official response to both the gender-based violence and the apparent xenophobic violence.

Marchers against xenophobia in Johannesburg in April 2015. (PHOTO: Bridget Mnyulwa of Sonke Gender Justice)

He did so in an address to the nation on television, calling for calm and acknowledging that the period had been traumatic for the country.

He also opted out of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

Using a provision in the Constitution normally called upon for State of the Nation Addresses, he held an extraordinary sitting of Parliament instead to tackle gender-based violence and femicide.

"There were 52 000 sexual offences reported in SA in 2018/19. Over the last weeks… we have been shaken by the brutal killings of women and acts of violence have just really exploded in this province," he told residents at Lusikisiki College in the Eastern Cape.

The result of the extraordinary sitting was a five-point emergency plan to be implemented over six months.

Pack up and go

Later that month, Ramaphosa was booed while delivering a speech at a memorial for former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe in Harare.

He said Zimbabweans only accepted him after he offered an apology for the violence committed against foreign nationals.

"It was only when I said I regret what is happening in our country and offered an apology on behalf of all of us as SA, that is when they responded positively in accepting that apology. I have apologised on your behalf and I hope that will sink into our consciousness."

He added: "The world expects us to behave in a way where we respect the rights of people from other nations."

Desperate Nigerians living in South Africa, including some who were forced to close their businesses following the attacks on foreign nationals, signed up for free flights back to Nigeria, instead of taking the risk of staying.

In Cape Town and Pretoria, groups of foreign nationals pleaded with the United Nations in weeks of protests outside their regional offices to be taken to another country.

Where to next?

While the government follows its plan to tackle gender-based violence, stories continue to emerge of women who are killed.

Last month, 21-year-old Limpopo student Precious Ramabulana was stabbed 52 times after her attacker sneaked through the window of her rented room while she was asleep.

Her alleged attacker, Aubrey Manaka, 28, has not yet pleaded to charges of rape, murder, housebreaking with intent to rob and aggravated robbery.

Commemorations for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women have done little to stem the bloodshed.

Tebogo Setlhare was arrested on November 25 for the murder of his girlfriend, Kgaugelo Tshwae, 28, in Mmakau village in the North West.

Her burnt body was found after she apparently failed to return home from a holiday.

Also occurring during the 16 days, was the brutal attack on a woman from uMkhuze, allegedly by her husband.

She lost her arm and also had a cracked skull.

A plastic and reconstructive surgeon said her life would never be the same.

He added that as a teacher, she "needs a hand and one of her hands has lost function, but we will try to restore function to that hand. It will take multiple surgeries."

We do not know what 2020 holds, but 2019 has many lessons for South Africa.

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Some prominent youth groups from the Niger Delta were in Kano for a 2-day consultative meeting with their northern counterparts to discuss possible alignments ahead of 2023 election.

The South-south groups were led by the Niger Delta Congress, headed by Comrade Davies Opiri McLean, while the northern groups were led by Northern Emancipation Network, headed by Malam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman.

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In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was indicated that issues of national interest were discussed and some positions were jointly adopted.

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“On 2023 elections, though still far away from today, it is not too early to sternly challenge the electoral process, and see the possibility of pulling regional and generational forces to push agenda for a regional or generational shift of power or both.

“The meeting also resolved to mobilize all politicians to develop the highest level of tolerance and a commitment to respect the will of the Nigerian People,” the communique read in part.

Other positions adopted at the meeting included the resolve to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions that thrived during the previous republics.

The meeting also observed the need for national dialogue to “holistically and sincerely” discuss Nigeria before the 2023 elections in view of the widespread criticism against the existing federal arrangement.

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The Northern Emancipation Network and the Niger Delta Congress has resolved to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions ahead of the 2023 general election.

In a communique jointly presented to the press and signed by the coordinator Northern Emancipation Network, Abdul – Azeez Suleiman, and a leader of the Niger Delta Congress, Comrade Davies Opiri McLean at the end of its two days consultation meeting, Wednesday, at the famous Munbaiya House, Kano revealed that the groups discussed matters of mutual interest, the economy, growing communal distrust, current security situation, environmental issues, possible alignments in build-up to, and conduct of the 2023 elections and other matters related to the position of the two regions.

The communiqué reads in parts: “In the light of the building apprehension with regards to the elections, the meeting ‘resolved to mobilize all politicians to develop the highest levels of tolerance and a recommitment to respect the will of the Nigerian people.

“The meeting resolved to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions that thrived during previous republics, and to marshall support for a generational shift of power.

“The meeting recalled the understanding between the Northern Peoples Congress and the Niger Delta Congress which was one of the political parties in Nigeria’s First Republic that generated tremendous support from most communities in the Eastern Region.

“This meeting, therefore, resolved to consult further on the possibility of reviving this alliance that thrived throughout the first, second and third republics, and extended well into the current republic.

“The meeting also agreed to device ways of taking comfortable advantage of the window provided by the “Not too Young to Run” act in order to achieve a smooth intergenerational transfer of power.

“The meeting observed that in view of widespread criticism against the existing federal arrangement, the need may arise for a national dialogue to holistically and sincerely discuss Nigeria before the 2023 elections.

“The meeting agreed to work together to ensure that the composition of the delegation to any futuré conference should genuinely represent a serious commitment to holistically addressing the complex problems of the nation, without violating any of the principles of justice, fairness, inclusiveness and equity.

“It noted that any discussion for the future of Nigeria must demand that the obvious imbalance in representation between geo-political zones, age and gender interests be redressed to ensure that issues which may further threaten our peace, security, harmonious co-existence, or which may offend the provisions of the Constitution are avoided.

“The meeting decried the failure by concerned bodies to implement past reports and recommendations on environmental rehabilitation and noted that the current levels of anger and hopelessness among the victim populations are alienating entire communities from government.

“The meeting expressed sympathy with communities affected by environmental degradation and in particular, called on community leaders in the Niger Delta to work hard to expose those forces behind alleged connivance -to deprive the region.

“The meeting expressed major concerns over the seeming reluctance of authorities to commit more to the protection of the lives and properties of citizens.

“While noting that a certain degree of success with the Boko Haram fight is noticeable with the coming of this administration, the meeting however lamented that the shocking level of audacity with which insurgents, bandits, robbers and kidnappers still attack and kill on highways, destroy towns and villages and commit unspeakable atrocities, calls to question the sustainability of the successes. ‘

“The meeting resolved to demand that government improves its willingness to protect citizens all over the country especially in the North East and many other parts of the North”.

A cleric, Prophet Christopher Owolabi, has charged leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to engage in fervent prayer against its possible break-up ahead of 2023 general elections.

Owolabi, who is the General Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Irapada, Omu-Aran, gave the charge during the Church’s cross-over night service tagged: “For a Prosperous 2020 and Beyond”, in Omu-Aran, Kwara state.

Owolabi emphasised the need for the party leaders, especially those at the top hierarchy to imbibe unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in managing electoral victory and entrenching good governance.

According to him, the call for prayers to avert an unwarranted crisis that could jeopardise the party’s future chances and ensure good governance was a divine revelation during the church’s service.

The cleric maintained that the party’s leaders, particularly those steering nation’s affairs, need to stay focused, un-distracted to steer the ship of the country away from its numerous challenges.

“As the ruling party, whatever that affect the party leadership definitely will take its a toll on the entire country, positively or negatively.

“When two elephant fights the grass bears the brunt and no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.

“For the party to remain intact the leaders need to close ranks and engage in prayers in that regard and when that happens the country will also move forward.

“They need to put the nation’s above personal gains and political ambition to achieve its programmes and policies to better the lots of the citizenry,” he said.

Owolabi cited the lingering crisis between some of the party leaders and their god-fathers, saying such portends grave dangers not only for the party but the desire to entrench good governance.

The cleric also prophesied socio-economic posterity for the country, saying that the present administration’s various economic revival policies would gradually manifest in the new year.

“The anti-corruption fight to revive the economy, the transport sector reform, the border closure policy, the coming up of private refineries, these are God’s design, being championed by the administration, to put the country on the path of economic prosperity.

Owolabi, who was known to have predicted the emergence of Sen. Bukola Sarski as the President of 8th Senate, however, maintained that God’s design for a better and prosperous Nigeria could only manifest with the support and prayers of both the leaders and the led.

“God’s favour dwells in an atmosphere of unity, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, so achieving the desired developed economy requires a collective responsibility of stakeholders to succeed,” he said.

The man of God also urged the citizens to pray against the incidence of fire outbreaks, road accidents and air mishaps in the new year.

He charged the youth to shun anti-social vices and be more prepared, morally, spiritually and academically in taking up the mantle of leadership in the nearest future.

Max Armstrong looks at USDA's comment period on hemp regulations. The agency has received more than 1,500 comments and the deadline for input has been extended to Jan. 29. Comments have come from a wide range of groups including hemp groups and state lawmakers. Max shares some of those comments pointing to some specific aspects of the rule from what to do with non-compliant materials, and the challenge of the THC level in hemp.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Max Armstrong, veteran farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.

Photo: Vitalij Sova/iStock/Getty Images Plus

A former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Gen. Patrick Ademu Akpa has urged Nigerians to be positive about the new year.

Gen Akpa said 2020 “will favour the country and her people more than 2019″.

He stated this in a New Year message, signed by his media Aide, Pastor John Desmond, on Tuesday.

Akpa said: “No nation grows with the citizenry being negative about the progress of such a nation.”

He said Nigerians should see light at the end of the tunnel over the nation’s politics, economy, unity and development.

Akpa insisted that 2019 was not a bad year, when properly scrutinised.

He said: “Nigerians must be grateful to God for His goodness in 2019, as well as pray that the current year will be far better than the previous year.”

He enjoined Kogi people to join hands with the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello to continue to work for the good of Kogi state.

Representative image.

PILIBHIT: A case has been registered against Kishanlal, BJP MLA from Barkhera here, his nephew and unknown persons for allegedly beating up the gunner of the district magistrate, a police officer said on Wednesday. Police has registered a case on the orders of Special Additional Session Judge Vijay Kumar, the officer said. Constable Mohit Kumar Gurjar, posted as a gunner of the DM, alleged that he was beaten up by the MLA and his nephew.Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dixit told reporters that sub inspector Naresh Pal Singh, posted at Sunagarhi police station, is probing the matter and gave the assurance that the investigation will be impartial.

2018: Metro steps in to resolve Basalt Creek dispute

Joint planning of the area between Tualatin and Wilsonville had broken down over several dozen acres of land.

Editor's note: This story is part of the The Times' special series, "Decade in Review." This series features three stories that helped to define each year of the 2010s. These can retell single stories that captivated readers of the time, a saga that played out across many articles, and even stories that were crowded to the margins by other news at the time but have made a lasting impact on our region.

In many ways, Tualatin and Wilsonville are mirror images.

Tualatin is mostly located in Washington County, with part of it jutting into Clackamas County. Wilsonville is mostly located in Clackamas County, but it extends north into Washington County as well.

The cities are of similar population, with Wilsonville a shade under 25,000 and Tualatin closer to 27,000. Their economies share similarities, too: Both cities are located along Interstate 5 and have atypically large industrial and retail zones, making them attractive for manufacturing and high-tech businesses, as well as being regional shopping destinations.

A quiet rivalry between Tualatin and Wilsonville has existed for years. And although the cities appeared to put their differences aside to jointly plan the future of the so-called Basalt Creek planning area, a swath of rugged, unincorporated land in Washington County that lies immediately to Tualatin's south and Wilsonville's north, it was a combination of economic interests and political issues that ultimately kept them from coming to an agreement on their own.

It almost worked out according to plan.

The Tualatin and Wilsonville city councils held an amicable joint meeting in December 2015 on Basalt Creek. They agreed on a resolution for what had been the biggest obstacle in their planning effort to that point: which parts of Basalt Creek each city will be allowed to annex. Southwest Basalt Creek Parkway was designated as the future jurisdictional boundary.

Good — one big issue, resolved through compromise.

A year later, everything seemed to be on track for a joint plan to be approved early in 2017. Tualatin councilors said they would designate much of Tualatin's side of Basalt Creek for residential use, but they would also provide a buffer for their partner city's plan to have industrial development on the Wilsonville side of Basalt Creek.

However, two key things happened after the 2016 election: Paul Morrison, a resident of the Victoria Gardens neighborhood just north of Basalt Creek, was elected to the Tualatin City Council, and Mayor Lou Ogden, until then a reliable advocate for Tualatin's proposed mix of housing and industrial development in Basalt Creek, was persuaded to support Victoria Gardens residents and Basalt Creek property-owners' calls for Tualatin to instead designate a key "subarea" of Basalt Creek for more housing. The Tualatin City Council opted to change its version of the plan.

Wilsonville's leaders protested, as did the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Tualatin was going back on its commitments, they said. Wilsonville officials worried that more housing on the Tualatin side would discourage industrial businesses from building on the Wilsonville side. Tualatin officials and property-owners argued that Wilsonville's concerns shouldn't dictate Tualatin's own plans.

2018 was when the dispute finally came to a head. With a deadlock between Tualatin and Wilsonville over how the so-called central subarea should be zoned, the regional government Metro agreed to step in as an arbitrator.

In May 2018, the Metro Council formally sided with Wilsonville, requiring Tualatin to designate the central subarea — with 42 buildable acres in all — for industrial use.

"The area is close to Interstate 5, has good existing and planned transportation infrastructure, including the Basalt Creek Parkway, consists of relatively large parcels, and is in close proximity to other areas planned and developed for employment uses," wrote Martha Bennett, then Metro's chief operating officer, in her recommendation.

Tualatin officials weren't happy, but they had no choice but to comply. The city shelved its objections and agreed to follow Metro's mandate.

Virtually all of the other issues between Tualatin and Wilsonville had been resolved — many of them for years already by the time Metro completed its arbitration. Although it had been delayed for more than a year by the dispute, the Basalt Creek concept plan was finally adopted by both the Tualatin and Wilsonville city councils in August 2018.

The 847-acre planning area isn't expected to be developed right away. Under an agreement between the cities, Washington County and Metro, Tualatin and Wilsonville will gradually annex pieces of Basalt Creek up to Basalt Creek Parkway, the dividing line that was determined back in 2015. Property-owners won't be forced to sell their land or redevelop it if they don't want to, but as Basalt Creek slowly urbanizes, it will do so along the lines set out in the concept plan.

The first phase of Basalt Creek Parkway itself opened in 2017. The road is set to be extended as far east as Southwest Boones Ferry Road sometime in the early 2020s.

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Don’t make a sound. Image : Paramount Pictures ( YouTube

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It’s not just monsters they have to watch out for anymore. The first trailer has arrived for A Quiet Place Part II, the sequel to John Krasinski’s surprise horror hit, which sees Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and her family venturing beyond their home and finding that sound-detecting creatures aren’t the only threat.

Directed and co-written by Krasinski—returning to his behind-the-scenes role from the first film—the sequel comes after Ev elyn, her kids, and their new baby managed to survive an encounter with the monsters that hunt by sound... partially thanks to the sacrifice by the Abbott family patriarch, played by Krasinski. At the end of the film, the family discovered that Regan Abbott’s (Millicent Simmonds) hearing aid emitted a frequency that could temporarily paralyze the monsters, giving the family a fighting chance out in the bigger world.

Determined to survive, the silent but deadly family is heading out into the world to find others and hopefully band together. But that might not go as well as they’d like, as some of their fellow survivors—which include Djimon Hounsou and a survivalist played by Cillian Murphy —may present a different threat to the Abbotts. But that’s not all: As we see in the trailer, we’re also flashing back to the terrifying origin of the monsters, which may help shed some light on the overall mystery.

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A Quiet Place Part II arrives in theaters on March 20, 2020.

For more, make sure you’re following us on our Instagram @io9dotcom.

A Quiet Place had a grim, sci-fi ending, and one that didn’t demand a sequel. But John Krasinski’s tightly wound horror movie also over $340 million worldwide, making it instant franchise material.

The first trailer for A Quiet Place Part II brings us back into a very silent world overrun by winged creatures who attack the slightest sound. Previously, a sparse teaser revealed the return of the Abbott family.

The sequel picks up shortly after the original, as the Abbott family rallies after the death of their father (Krasinski) and their discovery that high frequency noises hurt the fearsome creatures. Emily Blunt reprises her role as Evelyn Abbott, with Millicent Simonds as daughter Regan and Noah Jape as son Marcus. Joining the cast are Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy) as other survivors who may or may not be friends.

Though most plot details are being kept hush-hush, the film is said to focus on the Abbott children growing up. Originally set for a May release date, A Quiet Place Part II was bumped up to March 20, 2020.

Check out the poster below:

Endorsed | Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders receives endorsements from The Nation's editorial board and Friends of the Earth Action. --------- ?? Join the political revolution at ...

(Image by YouTube, Channel: Bernie Sanders) Details DMCA

What better way for Bernie campaigners to end 2020 with a citation of one of the aspects of his campaign that he has worked hardest on: ENDORSEMENTS!

In 2016, I did a similar article, and so therefore, this year, I am doing the first of what I hope will be many more, leading to Bernie's victory in November!

Since 2016, I have noticed some profound progress, especially in the number of legislators in South Carolina supporting him. This bodes well for a crucial Bernie victory in the South Carolina primary, which would be extremely significant in the over scheme of things.

If you are from Oregon, remember that US Senator Jeff Merkley endorsed Bernie in 2016 in the New York Times; please ask him to do this again, and please do it soon!

One thing that profoundly concerns me is the paucity of newspaper endorsements thus far, which to me is a very big deal, one that readers could correct and improve by writing to their local regional and hometown newspapers, ASKING THEM DIRECTLY TO ENDORSE BERNIE SANDERS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

I believe this could be done now, not waiting till a week before your state's primary. The momentum builds and vis-a-vis the editorial pages of America; this truly is vital, and it doesn't cost any campaign disbursements.

The person reading the letters to editors before they are published is most often the person who writes the endorsements, or is alternatively on the editorial board that makes the endorsement just before the primary election.

I encourage you to watch the following 66-minute video of Bernie speaking with the Editorial Board of the Des Moines Register, the largest paper in the first primary state. See also my article introducing this aspect of Bernie's campaign with which you can become directly involved with your own short letter to the editor asking for the endorsement of the papers in your area!

https://www.opednews.com/articles/Bernie-s-Brilliant-Des-Moi-by-Stephen-Fox-Battle-For-The-Editorial-Pages-Of-America_Des-Moines-Register_Editorial-Boards-Of-American-Newspapers_Editorial-Page-Endorsements-191222-740.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Federal officials U.S. Senators Current

Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator from Vermont (1975-present), president pro tempore of the United States Senate (2012-15), president pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate (2015-present)

Former

Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from Alaska (1969-81), Democratic candidate for president in 2008 and 2020 (co-endorsement)

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Apple is taking a firm stance against coronavirus applications that aren’t from “recognized institutions,” a new report from CNBC says. According to the report, Apple is trying to prevent the spread of misinformation with this policy.

For the report, CNBC spoke to four independent developers who had applications related to coronavirus rejected from the App Store. The applications in question “would allow people to see stats about which countries have confirmed cases” of coronavirus, the report says.

Some of the applications used data from sources like the World Health Organization.

Why is Apple rejecting these apps? The company reportedly told one developer over the phone that anything related to coronavirus must be released by an official health organization or government. A separate developer got a written response from Apple saying that “apps with information about current medical information need to be submitted by a recognized institution.”

Citing a person familiar with the matter, the report adds that Apple is looking at where the data in the apps comes from as well as the developers:

Apple has been specifically evaluating coronavirus apps to prevent the spread of misinformation. It looks at both where the health data comes from and whether the developers represent organizations that users can trust to publish accurate data, like governments or health-focused organizations, according to a person familiar with the matter.

As such, a search for coronavirus in the App Store on iOS reveals few results, including one app published by the Brazilian government. If Apple’s goal is to prevent misinformation, critics might argue that applications using data from organizations like WHO would help people be more aware of the ongoing situation.

Apple yesterday revised its App Store guidelines, indcluding one change that specifically relates to this situation:

An updated policy published by Apple on Wednesday has a new item, 5.1.1.ix, which is close to what developers said they were told. Apps in “highly-regulated” fields like healthcare, financial services, or air travel need to be submitted by a “legal entity that provides the services, and not by an individual developer.”

Google has taken a similar stance for Android applications in Google Play, as our sister site 9to5Google reported earlier this week.

Apple seems to be doing a decent job rejecting health advice apps not published by official institutions, but there is deffo keyword spam going on. Plenty of random games show up when you search for “coronavirus”. pic.twitter.com/MD9dqEg4u6 — Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) March 5, 2020

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Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Berlin: A fire at a zoo in western Germany killed a large number of animals in the early hours of the new year, authorities said.

They did not comment on local media reports that the fire was started by celebratory fireworks.

The Krefeld zoo near the Dutch border said the entire ape house burned down and all the animals inside are dead.

The dpa news agency, quoting officials, said the dead animals included chimpanzees, orangutans and two gorillas, as well as fruit bats and birds.

The zoo said the nearby Gorilla Garden didn't go up in flames, however.

Gorilla Kidogo and his family are alive, the zoo wrote on Facebook early Wednesday.

"An unfathomable tragedy hit us shortly after midnight," the zoo said.

"Our ape building burned down to the foundation." Both the zoo and the city said that they didn't know the cause of the fire and that police are investigating.

Officials would not confirm reports by local media that New Year's fireworks could have caused the blaze.

The zoo will remain closed on Wednesday. Police said at least 30 of the animals had died.

Photos: San Antonio celebrates New Year's Eve at city's downtown party

Families and friends rang in the New Year at Celebrate SA, the city's official party, at La Villita and Hemisfair Tuesday night. Families and friends rang in the New Year at Celebrate SA, the city's official party, at La Villita and Hemisfair Tuesday night. Photo: B Kay Richter For MySA.com Photo: B Kay Richter For MySA.com Image 1 of / 53 Caption Close Photos: San Antonio celebrates New Year's Eve at city's downtown party 1 / 53 Back to Gallery

Locals, tourists—and thousands of Longhorns' fans—packed La Villita and Hemisfair Tuesday night to ring in 2020 at Celebrate SA, the city's official New Year's Eve party.

The event featured live music, carnival rides, games and a 15-minute fireworks show at midnight.

PHOTOS: UT, Utah fans cheer on teams at Rudy's Pep Rally in downtown San Antonio

Photos showed families and friends enjoying the night, wearing 2020 glasses, headbands and hats while at the free downtown celebration.

Click through the gallery above to see how San Antonio celebrated New Year's Eve.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre

Cuba congratulated on 61st anniversary of its Revolution Cuba congratulated on 61st anniversary of its Revolution Cuba congratulated on 61st anniversary of its Revolution

Cuba congratulated on 61st anniversary of its Revolution

31 de diciembre de 2019, 11:59Havana, Dec 31 (Prensa Latina) Governments and peoples worldwide have congratulated Cuba on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Tuesday.

According to the source, Singaporean President Mdm Halimah Yacob congratulated the Cubans on behalf of his people on National Independence Day and wished peace and prosperity to the country.Dominican President Danilo Medina and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas also expressed their good wishes for prosperity and well-being, as well as their most sincere congratulations.Latvian President Egils Levits and Foreign Minister Edgars Rink?vi?s also sent messages to Cuban authorities on the anniversary of the Revolution.Panamanian Head of State Laurentino Cortizo Cohen conveyed a fraternal greeting to President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and the Cuban people on the 61st anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, 'a fact of great significance for Latin America as a whole.'Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Edgar Chagwa Lungu (Zambia), Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe) and Paul Biyan (Cameroon) also expressed their best wishes from Africa.Seychelles President Danny Faure extended his deepest congratulations, and recalled the common struggles for self-determination. He noted that the Cuban government is an invaluable companion on the road to development.Likewise, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, King of the Netherlands Williem-Alexander R, and Belgian King Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, also sent warm congratulations and wishes of prosperity to the friendly people of Cuba.For its part, the government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas extended its sincere congratulations to Cuba for the celebration, and expressed its commitment to continue strengthening relations between the two nations.jg/iff/jcm/evm

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Sixteen of the 39 deceased flown to Hanoi, with the rest to be repatriated later, say officials and media

The first 16 bodies of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry in Britain have been repatriated to Vietnam, according to a local official and Vietnamese media.

“Sixteen bodies including five from Nghe An province have arrived in Vietnam,” said a senior official of the province. The bodies arrived at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi early on Wednesday, online newspaper VnExpress reported, and would be taken by ambulances to homes in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces. The remaining bodies would be repatriated later, VnExpress said.

Vietnamese police have said the deceased came from six provinces: Haiphong, Hai Duong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Hue. Their families were plagued by confusion and anguish over how to get the bodies home.

Man arrested in east London over Essex lorry deaths case Read more

The families would have to pay for the repatriation costing up to £2,208, according to a foreign ministry statement seen by Reuters. The statement, dated 14 November, said the Vietnamese government would advance the payment which families could repay later.

Though relatives were encouraged by authorities to opt for ashes “to ensure speed, low cost and sanitation safety”, many paid more for the bodies to carry out traditional burials. Cremation is rare in the Vietnam countryside, where many of the victims were from.

On Monday the Northern Irish driver of the truck, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist illegal immigration. He also admitted to acquiring cash that came from criminal conduct, but did not plead guilty to 41 other charges. Several other people have been arrested in the UK while Vietnam has held at least 10 people, though none have been formally charged.

With Reuters and AFP

Remains of 23 victims arrive in Hanoi following repatriation of further 16 to their hometowns days earlier

The remains of the last 23 of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a lorry near London in October have been brought to Vietnam.

The remains of the 23 victims arrived at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi early on Saturday, a local government official said. Seven of the bodies were cremated in Britain before being repatriated, said the official Vietnam News Agency.

Lorry driver pleads guilty over role in Essex deaths Read more

The first 16 of the bodies had been repatriated on Wednesday to their home towns in Vietnam where they were received by relatives and friends holding white roses.

The discovery of the bodies in the back of a refrigerated truck after being smuggled into Britain has shone a spotlight on the illicit trade that sends the poor of Asia, Africa and the Middle East on perilous journeys to the west.

Police in Vietnam have arrested 10 people in connection with the deaths. On Monday the British driver of the truck admitted plotting to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property.

Essex lorry deaths: Vietnam ‘strongly condemns’ trafficking Read more

In Vietnam poor job prospects, environmental disasters and the promise of financial rewards are all factors pushing people to leave.

Nguyen Dinh Gia, the father of victim Nguyen Dinh Luong, said his son had left home for Britain in “hopes for a better life”. Gia said after his son’s body was buried on Thursday: “How could I describe how big this loss is for my family … but the return of his body has helped ease the pain.”

SEOUL: Oil prices rose on the first trading day of 2020 as warming trade relations between the United States and China eased demand concerns, and rising tensions in the Middle East raised worries about supply.

Global benchmark Brent crude futures, were up 21 cents, or 0.3%, to 66.21 a barrel by 0130 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 21 cents, or 0.3%, at $61.27 per barrel.

Oil markets were closed on Wednesday for New Year's Day.

Both benchmarks ended higher in 2019, posting their biggest annual gains since 2016, buoyed at the end of the year by a thaw in the prolonged trade dispute between the United States and China - the world's two largest economies - and a deeper output cut pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies.

"Oil remains supported by the back-burner trade truce and the uptick in political unrest in Iraq," said Stephen Innes, chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader.

Geopolitical risks remain in the Middle East after U.S air strikes against the Iran-backed Katib Hezbollah militia group over the weekend. Protesters, angry at the air strikes, stormed the U.S.

Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday, although they withdrew after U.S. deployed extra troops.

In 2020, Brent is forecast to average $63.07 a barrel, up from December's estimate of $62.50, while WTI is forecast to average $57.70 a barrel, up from December's estimate of $57.30, as the OPEC-led supply cuts and the expectations of a U.S.-China trade deal boosted analysts' views on the prospects for the year, a Reuters poll showed.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade deal would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House.

January also marks the start of the deeper output cuts by OPEC and its partners, including Russia.

OPEC and its allies have agreed to cut a further of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Jan. 1, on top of their previous cut of 1.2 million bpd that started on Jan. 1 a year ago.

A fall in U.S. crude inventories last week also supported prices. U.S. crude inventories fell by 7.8 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 27, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 3.2 million barrels, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) released on Tuesday.

Official data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due on Friday as the release has been delayed by two days by the New Year's holiday. - Reuters

DETROIT – A 29-year-old man was rushed to a hospital after shots were fired into a Detroit home, police said.

The shots were fired just after 6:30 p.m. on South Ethel Street near I-75.

The front of the home was riddled with bullets. Police said nobody is in custody.

Police are still investigating.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Crews responded to reports of a Condition 2 House Fire in the upper valley at 9:05 p.m. yesterday.

The fire happened at the 800 block of Forest Willow Cir.

17 firefighters and 10 units contained the fire that spread through the house. According to the El Paso Fire Department, the fire was contained at 11:35 p.m.

Officials say, two adults, one male, and a female, were evacuated safely and are being assisted by the American Red Cross Southwest Region.

An investigation has started to determine the cause of the fire and the total amount of damage. We will post updates as they become available.

Final Update – Condition 2 House Fire at Forest Willow Cir.

Fire contained. Crews checking for hotspots. No injuries reported. Two adults evacuated safely and being assisted by the @AmRedCrossSW

Investigators at the scene. No damage estimates not cause of the fire at this time. pic.twitter.com/QHzHn3KCLt — El Paso Fire Department (@EPTXFire) January 1, 2020

Because the house is located just down the street from the New Mexico and Texas state line, a neighbor said it raised some confusion when calling emergency dispatchers.

“I would hate for someone to have an emergency and just have to be put on hold or hesitate just even a moment because they’re trying to figure out what state they’re in,” Barbara Truax said.

The concerned neighbor cautions others in the nearby area to specify where their address is when calling emergency dispatchers to avoid any potential delay to response time.

Mooring fees have increased $50 to cover the costs or removing abandoned boats from Auckland's waters. Photo / Supplied

Mooring fees have increased $50 to cover the costs or removing abandoned boats from Auckland's waters. Photo / Supplied

Michael Neilson is a political reporter for the New Zealand Herald

Hundreds of ghost ships litter Auckland's waters and require recovery, costing ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Auckland Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton said when he started in the role over eight years ago they were plucking about half a dozen abandoned ships out of the water a year.

Last year it was 23.

The costs are increasing too. Last year his team, part of Auckland Transport, spent $135,000 hauling the unloved vessels out of Auckland's waters and disposing of them.

He estimates there could be as many as 200 abandoned boats in the area currently.

"It is becoming an unsustainable burden on the city."

This year they increased the fees for Auckland's 3000 moorings by $50, taking the total price to $296, to take the burden off ratepayers.

Hayton said it was unfortunate for responsible boat owners, but it was not fair for general ratepayers to be picking up the full tab.

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The abandoned vessels had all been left on moorings, and typically had been built in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was more popular for people to build their own boats, Hayton said.

Most were built with rudimentary materials, and the owner had likely since died.

"But the vessels still might hold a sentimental value to the children or grandchildren, and hence these boats just sit there, nobody wanting to get rid of them, until they fall into a state of disrepair, or are forgotten about."

The number of abandoned boats in the waters surrounding Auckland is increasing. Photo / Supplied

In other cases the boats might be sold for what looks like a bargain, until the new owner realised how much work it took to repair and maintain.

As these vessels aged them being abandoned was increasing and it was difficult to identify owners, Hayton said.

While the moorings were registered, there was no boat registration in New Zealand.

"Some people put dead boats onto moorings to dump them, so it is quite easy to shirk responsibility."

There was no typical process, rather the harbourmaster's team would take note of what looked like an abandoned boat, and seek to find the owner.

"It is quite easy to tell when they've been abandoned. There might be excessive growth on it, seagulls nesting, or even trees growing on them. They can be real eyesores."

If the owner could not be identified, under the Maritime Act they were required to place a notice on the vessel, an advertisement in the Herald, and contact police.

Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton says it is "easy to tell" when a boat has been abandoned. Photo / Supplied

If no owner came forward they would then seek to sell the vessel, but if it was beyond repair they would salvage what they could and dispose of the rest.

The process could cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars up to $30,000, the higher figure especially if the boat had sunk, as it would require divers.

There were about six boats going through that process now, but about 200 throughout Auckland's waters Hayton and his team are keeping an eye on.

Hayton said rather than simply abandoning boats owners should get in touch with the harbourmaster.

"The onus is on boat owners to keep their vessels seaworthy. But we understand people can fall on hard times, or people pass away and the boat be left with others.

"If you are unable to look after it, please just get in touch with us and we'll do what we can to help.

"Getting onto it sooner you might be able to recover some costs, whereas leaving it will end up costing more money."

Auckland Yacht and Boating Association chair Ian Clouston said a lot of boats were abandoned because the costs of maintaining them were so high.

"You might be looking at 15 to 20 per cent of the boat's value in maintenance a year, so with rising living costs and berthing fees some people simply can't afford it."

Selling boats was also more difficult these days, with them being classed as "luxury items".

He urged people to get onto the problem sooner than later, rather than abandoning them on random moorings.

"It is very irresponsible, and if you don't know the strength of the mooring the boat could be blown off in a storm."

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

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HAMDEN, Conn. — Police in Connecticut are trying to identify a man they say got a job at a gas station and proceeded to steal $17,000 worth of merchandise and cash on his first, and only, solo overnight shift before disappearing.

The man also stole his employment folder, which contained his personal information, so the store’s owner does not even know the worker’s name, Hamden police said in a statement Tuesday.

Police responded to the Go On Gas store late last month.

The owner told investigators he used an app on his cellphone to view the store security cameras and noticed that the new employee had left.

The owner went to the store and determined that the worker had stolen lottery tickets, 89 boxes of cigarettes and money worth a total of more than $17,000. The employment file was also missing.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect in a surveillance image released by police is asked to contact investigators.

Typically when you start at a new job, you always want to make sure to leave a good impression that very first day. Well, this man left quite an impression, all right. What did he do? He decided to steal on his first day of work, yup, the usual.

According to authorities, the employee made off with more than $17,000 in cigarettes, cash, and lottery tickets while he was working. The incident occurred at the Go On Gas station in Hamden, Connecticut, when management hired a new overnight employee to run the gas station on his own.

A gas station employee in Connecticut is accused of stealing more than $17,000 worth of cash, lottery tickets and cigarettes during his first solo shift on the job, authorities said. https://t.co/GmxIxTbuuk — KTVU (@KTVU) February 6, 2020

Hamden Police Department stated the store owner used an app on his cell phone to see the store camera and check in on how the new employee was doing. He was shocked to see the brand new employee was nowhere to be seen. Through a statement the Hamden Police noted, “[The owner] quickly ascertained that the new employee had left. The store owner immediately responded to the store and ascertained that the new employee had stolen numerous items including lottery tickets, 89 boxes of cigarettes and money.”

The total loss is valued at $17,183.00. Authorities stated the suspect also stole his employment folder with all his personal information, meaning yes, the store owner not only has no way to identify this sly man but doesn’t even know the name of his former employee!

This is so funny! The man stole his employment records so the employer couldn't identify him

New gas station employee allegedly steals $17,000 on very first day of work – ABC News – https://t.co/wIQbkvPB1m via @ABC — Private Figure (@Kingjavanna) February 6, 2020 Advertisement

I have to admit, this is no average man, he is definitely smart and knew exactly what he was doing. I really have to give this man props, especially for doing it at a gas station where there are a million cameras. Someone will definitely recognize him on the street and turn him in.

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But, as of today Hamden Police Department has yet to find him and are asking the public for help in finding this sneaky man. So, if you see someone on the street similar to the guy in the video, well, you know what to do.

Someone in WA will be absolutely loving 2020 after taking out division one on the first day of the year, and the agent who sold the winning ticket is buzzing too after a tough 2019.

The winning ticket was sold in Carramar, in Perth’s north, ahead of Wednesday night’s draw, matching numbers 23, 24, 37, 25, 20 and 43.

The ticket was worth a cool $1 million.

NewsXpress Carramar owner Ray Pigdon said it was the best change of fortune coming off the back of a tough 2019.

“2020 has been a perfect start,” he said.

“Given we had a ram raid at our store last year, it’s nice to start this year with the first division one prize of 2020.

“I’m hoping the ticket has been sold to one of our regulars who have stuck with us.”

Play Video A WA Police spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated and anyone who witnessed the crash can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The West Australian Video A WA Police spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated and anyone who witnessed the crash can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mr Pigdon’s store was among those damaged when a ute was rammed through the front doors of Carramar Village shortly after 4am on June 6.

The ute had allegedly been stolen and two people fled the scene.

“They have ram raided the centre front-on, then done a three-point turn and reversed into the shop taking out everything in their path,” Mr Pigdon’s wife Julie told Community News at the time

“They’ve smashed through our roller shutters and all our stock at the front as well as glass shelving and cabinets.”

She said thieves had taken a safe containing cash, scratchies and stamps.

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With all the 'new year, new me' mantras floating about for the new decade - why not take the plunge and apply for a new job?

There are hundreds of vacancies across Staffordshire, but we've plucked out 20 that almost anyone could apply for today - with little experience needed.

Whether you fancy making coffee, answering the phone, or selling beauty products - you'll find a job in this list that you can apply for.

Intu Potteries

Ann Summers sales assistant

Front of house at Ann Summers in the intu Potteries centre. Applicants need to be over 18 and flexible to work Thursday to Sunday.

For more information, click here.

Security officer for intu

Carrying out regular patrols of the car park and ensuring compliance with all internal procedures and site processes.

To apply, follow this link .

Monsoon Assistant Manager

Monsoon looking for an experienced Assistant Manager to join their busy Hanley Monsoon Accessorize branch.

Apply online here .

Waiting-on staff at Burger Priest

Full time and part time vacancies at one of Hanley's newest eateries with a religious theme.

For more information on the role, click here .

Affinity Outlet

BB’s Team Member

Bakers and Barista's are looking for someone to serve coffee and cake with a smile. Experience isn't essential - so perfect for a first job!

View the job advert here .

Charles Clinkard sales assistant

This footwear store is looking for a part time staff member for a temporary contract until February.

For more information, click here .

Cotton Traders sales assistant

Cotton Traders inside Affinity Outlet are looking for a sales assistant over the age of 18. As well as 50% discount, staff also get a clothing allowance.

Apply online here .

Edinburgh Woollen Mill apprentice

This popular store is offering the opportunity for a candidate to work a 16 hour apprenticeship at Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

For details on how to apply, click here .

Sports Direct sales assistant

Sports Direct are looking for a sales assistant with 'fantastic customer service, commitment, enthusiasm and the flexibility to work weekends and late nights'.

If that sounds like you, click here for more information.

Beauty Outlet store manager

If you're interested in makeup and are 'confident and bubbly', then this Beauty Outlet role could be for you.

Apply for the position here .

Trespass store supervisor

Trespass are on the hunt for a part time supervisor to run the store when the manager is away.

For more information, click here .

Affinity Staffordshire cleaning operative

Get hands on at North Staffordshire's biggest retail park, with no need for previous cleaning experience.

To learn more, click here .

GAP floor manager

GAP are searching for a sales and team driven floor manager to join the team in Affinity Staffordshire.

View the job advert here .

Talke Scents fragrance advisor

This fragrance store are looking for temporary staff for a 12 hour contract. The right candidate should have a minimum of 12 months retail/customer service experience.

For details on how to apply, click here .

Costa barista

If you've got 'bags of personality' and great with customers, then Costa would love to have you on their Affinity Outlet team.

To learn more, click here .

Burger King cleaner

Burger King need someone to ensure that areas are 'cleaned to the highest standards at all times'. Cleaning experience is preferred but full training will be provided if necessary.

For details on how to apply, click here .

Burger King crew member

As well as a cleaner, Burger King are hiring two crew members to join the team in the kitchen.

To learn more, click here .

Royal Stoke and Stafford County Hospitals

Apprentice Administration Support

Stafford County Hospital are looking for someone to join the Endoscopy team to support with admin on the busy reception desk.

View the job advert here .

AdministrationAssistant

Royal Stoke's Urology department are on the hunt for an administrative assistant to join the secretarial team to get their foot in the door of working in the NHS.

To apply, click here .

Sleep Receptionist

Join the team in the Sleep and Ventilation clinic at Royal Stoke to work on the reception, taking calls and inputting referrals.

Find more information on the role here .

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Download our app - You can download our free app for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store , or get the Android version from Google Play .

Follow StokeonTrentLive on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it a like!

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Follow us on Instagram - Featuring pictures past and present from across Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire & South Cheshire - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow StokeonTrentLive on Instagram .

The men were travelling along Ferry Road, Haxey, in a blue Ford Fiesta when the car left the road and came to rest in a ditch.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 10.45pm.

The passenger suffered potentially life threatening injuries and the driver was also seriously injured.

Ferry Road, Haxey

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Coronavirus forcing parents to skip kids’ vaccinations: Unicef

KABUL: The novel coronavirus pandemic that has forced billions of people across the globe to stay home is making parents skip routine immunisations for their kids, the United Nations children´s agency Unicef warned Thursday.

The phenomenon is being aggravated by overburdened health services where medical workers are being diverted from giving vaccines to focus on the COVID-19 response.

Some governments might even have to postpone mass immunisation campaigns as a way of slowing the disease´s spread, Unicef said.

The agency's executive director Henrietta Fore said the requirement for people to stay home and observe social distancing was leading parents to "make the difficult decision to defer routine immunisation".

Of particular concern are impoverished and war-torn countries battling measles, cholera or polio outbreaks, such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, the Philippines, Syria and South Sudan.

"At a time like this, these countries can ill-afford to face additional outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases," Fore said in a statement.

"Medical goods are in short supply and supply chains are under historic strain due to transport disruptions. Flight cancellations and trade restrictions by countries have severely constrained access to essential medicines, including vaccines."

Governments may in future need to postpone preventive mass vaccination campaigns -- where people group together to receive inoculations -- to ensure these do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19, Fore said.

The mood of the market turned quickly at the end of last year. Photo / Getty Images

The mood of the market turned quickly at the end of last year. Photo / Getty Images

The 2010s were a turbulent, transformative and testing time for the global economy but there was not a recession.

That is extremely rare. In fact, it is the first decade in the post-world war II era without a downturn in the UK and US.

A year ago many economists thought the global economy would be crawling over the line into the 2020s and would suffer a recession soon after.

READ MORE:

• 'Indicators are flashing red': Warning signs recession is looming

• A recession will come, but how bad will it be?

• Jared Bernstein: Just how likely is a recession?

• Experts warn the next recession will be 'worse than the Great Depression' and predict it will hit US within two years

The trade war had escalated at a frightening pace, Brexit was in deadlock, global factories were heading into a deep industrial recession and central banks appeared to be oblivious to the threat of a downturn. The market's most-trusted recession signal - the US Treasury yield curve - then flashed red, predicting one within 24 months.

But the mood on markets has turned on a pinhead.

An ageing, and in some parts of the world record-long, economic cycle appears to have been given a shot in the arm. City forecasters have pencilled a slight acceleration in global growth from 2019's post-financial crisis low of 3pc to 3.1pc this year and 3.2pc in 2021. What changed?

The headwinds that threatened to tip the world into the next economic crisis have waned substantially. The US and China have reached an agreement for a "phase one" trade deal, potentially putting a pause on the protectionist wave sweeping the globe.

Boris Johnson's decisive victory in the election will not only get his Brexit deal over the line but gives him more wriggle room in the next stage of negotiations.

And crucially central banks have moved from tightening financial conditions to cutting interest rates and ploughing more money into markets.

The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, cut borrowing costs three times this year and moved from reversing quantitative easing - its bond-buying programme - to expanding its balance sheet again. The European Central Bank has also extended its experimental policies to revive growth, cutting rates deeper into negative territory and restarting its QE programme after an ill-conceived attempt to end it a year ago.

While many economists fret central banks will now not have the firepower to fight a recession if one does strike, the latest burst of stimulus has catapulted stock markets to new record highs. Global stocks have followed their worst year since the financial crisis in 2018 with their best, gaining 25 per cent last year.

But with growth still languishing at post-crisis lows, are investors sleepwalking into the next recession?

Most Wall Street analysts have predicted that the US-China breakthrough and the Fed's policy U-turn will be enough to stave off recession.

The US became the focus of recession jitters earlier this year given its importance to global growth. When America sneezes, the rest of the world still catches a cold - even as economic powers in the east rise.

However, Philip Marey, Rabobank's senior US strategist, warns the euphoria on markets over the trade deal has been "overdone", predicting the US will enter a recession in the second half of this year.

The deal struck by Beijing and the Trump administration picks the low-hanging fruit of agricultural products and rolling back tariffs but fails to tackle the key sticking points between the two countries, such as intellectual property.

Marey also argues that business investment remains low and the slack left in the US economy - the resources of an economy not being used - is very small, capping the room for growth. A key risk is that business worries feed through into the jobs market and hit the confidence of consumers, whose spending accounts for around 70 per cent of US GDP.

More rate cuts from the Fed would not be able to support growth further, he argues.

"It is really ineffective in supporting business investment and that is where the real bottleneck is at the moment," he says.

"For businesses, interest rates are low anyway so that is not their main concern."

The US election in November will start to come into focus for investors, generating another source of uncertainty for businesses.

Signs of a recession brewing in the US could severely dent Donald Trump's chances given the strong economy is seen as stopping his approval rating sliding any lower.

Four more years of Trump will increase the risk of another trade standoff but some of his Democratic challengers are equally problematic for businesses and investors.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren - who are currently polling in second and third place ahead of the Democratic primaries - are two leftist populists with plans to radically redistribute wealth and take on Wall Street.

Citi global chief economist Catherine Mann says uncertainty from trade and politics "matters for the global economy".

"The several risks that have been weighing on the global outlook have not dissipated, and there is a non-small probability that these intensify in 2020."

While most investment banks believe the threat of an immediate downturn has been pushed back, she warns that the "risk of recession still does loom over the economy".

The relief from a prolonged and economically damaging period of uncertainty in the UK could also be brief.

Even with the Brexit deadlock broken, economists expect growth in the UK to be tepid again this year, slowing further from around 1.3 to 1.1 per cent.

With the prime minister insisting on a final trade deal with the EU being agreed before the end of the year, more uncertainty could plague businesses and the UK economy. No-deal Brexit worries could return in the second half of the year.

Berenberg UK economist Kallum Pickering is more optimistic, predicting that growth will hit 1.8 per cent this year after being boosted by the fiscal stimulus promised by the Conservatives.

"An orderly Brexit can lift confidence and spending in the next two years after more than three years of heightened uncertainty and gradually softening momentum," he says.

Economists expect much of the business investment lost over the last three years to return but estimates of how much can be lured back vary from around a quarter to a half. Some of the investment will be lost forever, however.

Torsten Bell, chief executive of think tank the Resolution Foundation, warns that Britain's buoyant jobs market could turn in 2020. This could weaken the economic boost provided by record employment levels and shoppers enjoying their biggest pay rises since the last recession.

"Our best guess is that 2020 will be very different from the last few years," Bell says. "We may well see a welcome return to record pay levels, but a less welcome retreat from record employment, with worrying signs including falling vacancies and rising youth unemployment."

Meanwhile the eurozone economy is expected to be weighed down again by Germany in 2020, with the impotent ECB unable to provide much stimulus and Northern European governments refusing to boost spending.

China, which has been hit hardest in the industrial recession triggered by the trade war, is also expected to slow further. City forecasters are predicting its growth will sink below the symbolic 6 per cent mark despite Beijing's huge fiscal and monetary stimulus efforts to pep up the economy.

While most economists believe a recession will now be avoided in 2020, the ability of policymakers and central bankers to revive growth is severely limited, if one does strike.

The world economy is facing at the very least a prolonged period of stubbornly slow growth that will be difficult to escape.

- Telegraph

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