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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.

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.

WFB: In every generation, there are American men willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible at great risk to themselves. Think Chuck Yeager smashing the sound barrier in 1947, or Donald Trump shattering the Great Blue Wall in 2016. In 2019, we now know that bulletproof vests are capable of stopping five shots to the back thanks to Christopher Hicks, Charles Ferris, and numerous bottles of alcohol.

After going a few sheets to the wind, Ferris and Hicks decided to test the mettle of a bulletproof vest. Hicks fired one shot from a .22 into Ferris’s chest, bruising his fellow experimenter. That’s when things soured between the two, and Ferris, surprised by the pain, fired the rest of the clip into his buddy’s back. Read more

OTTAWA (Ontario), Unceded Traditional Algonquin Territory (January 1, 2020) — The Minister of Indigenous Services, Marc Miller, issued the following statement today:

"Today, Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act) comes into force. This new law, co-developed with partners, affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to determine their laws, policies and practices in relation to Indigenous child and family services and sets out basic principles that must be followed by every person providing services to Indigenous children.

The Act demonstrates meaningful implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, and the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will also help advance numerous Calls for Justice made within the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report.

This marks a new chapter in Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples. It is designed to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous children and youth now, and for generations to come. The new law emphasizes the need for the system to shift from apprehension to prevention, with priority given to services that promote preventive care to support families. It further supports Indigenous children in care by:

helping them to stay with their family and community;

helping children currently in care to return to their family;

ensuring they stay connected with their language, culture and community; and

reducing the number of children separated from their families only because of financial, health or housing challenges.

Until Indigenous laws are in place — services to Indigenous children will continue as before. However, every Indigenous child and family services provider will have to apply the basic principles set out in the Act. This means, for example, that when an Indigenous child comes into care, child and family services providers will always have to consider:

the child's physical and emotional well-being;

the importance for that child to have a relationship with his or her family and community; and

the opportunity for providing services that maintain a connection to their culture.

Change will not come overnight — the only way to achieve this is to continue to work with our partners through this transition period to make sure the law works for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and most importantly, for their children."

Associated links

IF YOU know someone deserving of recognition, don’t wait any longer.

Nominations for Mackay Regional Council’s Australia Day Awards close soon.

A Mackay Regional Council spokesman said the awards were a perfect way to acknowledge the efforts of local heroes who went above and beyond to help their communities.

Nominating someone can be done online. Or download a hard copy version of the form and return it to one of council’s client service centres.

Award Categories include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.”

Ramallah/PNN/

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates slammed Israel’s decision to deduct millions of dollars from the Palestinian tax revenues.

The ministry slammed Israel’s decision to deduct 150 million Israeli shekels ($43million) from the taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority on goods destined to the Palestinian areas as “an attempt to stigmatize the Palestinian people with terrorism” and as an “act of piracy” and “organized state terrorism”.

“Stealing more funds from the Palestinian people falls under the systematic economic war waged by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people,” said the ministry in a statement, adding that it was tantamount to “a desperate attempt to disrupt the domestic stability and the social fabric.”

It added, “Attempts to weaken the Palestinian Authority and its institutions are central to these Israeli schemes.”

Israel said it will freeze $43 million from the tax revenues, which it says is equivalent to the amount the monthly Palestinian allowance to the families of prisoners and those killed by Israel for resisting its occupation.

Over the past 18 months, Donald Trump has picked a fight with Iran that he won’t end and can’t win. That fight has had horrifying consequences for the Iranian people, led Tehran to restart its nuclear program, and now left parts of the American embassy compound in Baghdad in flames. In the days and weeks to come, Trump’s policy will likely lead either to war or to additional American humiliation, or both.

The fight began in May 2018, when the Trump administration left the Iran nuclear deal, and intensified last spring, when the United States designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization and moved to shut off Iran’s ability to export oil. Numerous observers warned that Iran would meet America’s escalation with escalation of its own. The Revolutionary Guard Corps designation, The New York Times reported last April, “was opposed by some top Trump administration national security officials who said it could incite retaliation by Tehran against American troops and intelligence officers.” The following month, the Times added that “in private meetings, military officials have warned the White House that its maximum-pressure campaign against Iran is motivating … threats to United States troops and American interests in the Middle East.” In The Atlantic that same month, Mike Giglio noted, “The militia groups that act as Iranian proxies in Iraq … would be an effective tool for further [Iranian] escalation” against the U.S.

These predictions have proved correct. In May, the United States accused Iran of attacking oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. Then, in June, Iran shot down an American drone.

Iran’s escalation left the Trump administration in a quandary. The president likes grand diplomatic gestures. But his administration’s withdrawal from the Iran deal—combined with its absurdly maximalist demand that, as a condition for any future nuclear agreement, Iran entirely capitulate to Saudi Arabia in the two countries’ contest for regional influence—has made a diplomatic solution to the crisis virtually impossible. In June, Trump’s then–national security adviser, John Bolton, argued for meeting Iran’s provocations with force. But Trump, convinced that his supporters want no more Middle Eastern wars, called off an attack aimed at punishing Iran for the drone strike. The attack on the drone didn’t kill any Americans, Trump explained. If it had, that would have made “a big, big difference.”

In backing down, he thus established a red line. And last week, Iran’s proxies crossed it. An Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah, fired on an Iraqi military base, wounding four American servicemen and killing an American contractor. This time, the Trump administration did respond with force: On Sunday, it launched air strikes against the militia’s forces in Iraq and Syria, killing 24 people and wounding 50.

But if Trump’s nonresponse made America look weak in June, his military response on Sunday set off a chain of events that has made America look even weaker. On Tuesday, following funeral services for the dead militiamen, thousands of supporters of Kataib Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militias stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, shouting “Death to America.” Outraged by the U.S. attacks, many of Iraq’s top clerics and politicians are now demanding the withdrawal of all American troops. On Tuesday, Abbas Kadhim, the director of the Iraq initiative at the Atlantic Council, tweeted, “I expect the days of the large American diplomatic & business presence in Iraq to be numbered.” Liz Sly, The Washington Post’s bureau chief in Beirut, predicted an end game reminiscent of Saigon in 1975. “After today,” she tweeted, “how do the Americans trapped inside the embassy leave except by helicopter?”

Trump, as is his wont, has responded with bluster: “Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities,” he tweeted on Tuesday. “They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat.” The Pentagon announced plans to send in reinforcements. But with each escalation, Trump’s predicament worsens. His confidants insist that he can’t afford a war—which would likely boost oil prices and damage the economy—especially in an election year. Yet he also can’t pursue real diplomacy, at least not without provoking a confrontation with the GOP’s hawkish foreign-policy elite. He’s caught between his desire to avoid being like George W. Bush and his desire to avoid being like Barack Obama.

So, absent a revolution that replaces the Islamic Republic with a more pliant regime, he’s at Iran’s mercy. Given the crushing sanctions America continues to impose, Iran has every incentive to make America bleed. Its proxy armies offer it numerous opportunities to do so. And every time it does, it offers Trump the unenviable choice of launching a potentially catastrophic third Middle Eastern war or being exposed as a paper tiger.

When it comes to Iran, Trump has shifted Republican foreign policy away from war without shifting it toward diplomacy—the only stable alternative to war. So he’s caught in a kind of purgatory. The American embassy compound in Baghdad, now covered in pro-Iranian graffiti and strewn with broken glass, is the latest symbol of that purgatory. It probably won’t be the last.

Chinese phone maker Realme has said that they will introduce ads with their latest software update of ColorOS. In a note on their official website, the brand confirmed that this feature of content recommendation will be available on phones with ColorOS 6 and above. This will basically promote apps and commercial links in the base operating system through the phone’s Phone Manager app and Security Check page.

“To continue offering more surprises for you and maintain a healthy and sustainable business model, we have introduced commercial content recommendation in the OS. Realme phones with ColorOS 6 and above will receive such recommendation updates. We encourage you to update the system regularly to enjoy a better operating experience and receive the latest Android security patches,” the phone maker said in its note.

Even though the brand has stated that ads will appear in the Phone Manager and on the Security Check page once new apps are installed, they have also mentioned that the users who do not want this ad service can disable the same. In order to remove ads from the Realme phone, these steps need to be followed:

• Go to settings

• Select Additional Settings

• Scroll down to, get recommendations option

• Disable the toggle.

Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.

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.

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"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.

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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.

Society

NICOSIA (AP) — Cyprus’ attorney general said Tuesday he couldn’t suspend the trial of a 19 year-old British woman found guilty of lying about being gang raped by as many as dozen Israelis because she had leveled “grave accusations” against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.

Costas Clerides said the woman’s allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim “could not have been left to linger” so he could not move to suspend the trial.

Clerides also said the woman’s insistence that she didn’t get a fair trial is “essentially a legal-constitutional matter” that a courtof law must rule on.

“Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciary’s work,” Clerides said in a statement.

The woman, who hasn’t been named was found guilty on Monday on a charge of public mischief and is due to be sentenced Jan. 7. The charge carries a maximum of a year in prison and a fine of 1,700 euros ($1, 907).

She insists that she was raped in a hotel room at a coastal resort town on July 17 and that she was forced to sign the retraction 10 days later while under police questioning. Her lawyers said they would appeal the decision, citing the judge’s refusal to consider evidence that she had been raped.

Famagusta District Court Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the defendant didn’t tell the truth and tried to deceive the court with “evasive” statements in her testimony.

The judge said the woman had admitted to investigators that she made up the claims because she was “ashamed” after finding out that some of the Israelis had videoed her having consensual sex with her Israeli boyfriend on their mobile phones.

During the trial, defense lawyers had called the police investigation deficient and improper, with detectives making major lapses and omissions in their work while having a mistaken perception of the true facts surrounding their client’s claim.

Clerides issued the statement following revelations that two former attorneys general and others had sent him a written appeal last month to suspend the case so as not to damage Cyprus’ image abroad.

The British government on Monday cast doubt over whether the teenager received a fair trial and said that it would raise the issue with Cypriot authorities.

Cyprus’ government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said the government doesn’t intervene or comment on pending court cases, saying it has “full confidence in the justice system and the courts,” which should be left unfettered to implement the law and deliver justice.

—

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press

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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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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) - The Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions, and it's time to celebrate with a party - possibly one at the home of Paul Rudd's mom.

"I'm freaking out. I guess we really got to plan a big 'ole kegger, don't we," Rudd told WDAF during the Chiefs postgame celebration.

It all began in 2015 when Rudd jokingly threw out an invite when the Royals advanced to the World Series. He did the same two weeks ago when the Chiefs won the AFC to advance to the Super Bowl.

"Kegger at mom's," Rudd said Sunday after the Chiefs big win. "Somebody better let my mom know."

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea’s inflation came in at 0.4% in 2019, the weakest since data going back to 1966, as uncertainties from a trade war and a slowdown in the global tech cycle hit consumer demand.

In December, consumer prices rose 0.7% from a year earlier, according to the statistical office. That compares with the median estimate of a 0.6% rise in a Bloomberg survey of economists and a 0.2% gain in November.

South Korea has been grappling with inflation that’s undershot the 2% target this year, with the central bank’s two rate cuts doing little to boost prices. While consumer-price growth hovering near zero have spurred concerns about deflation risks, policy makers have dismissed such worries as excessive, blaming higher-than-usual food prices last year.

Key Insights

South Korea’s economy is expected to grow 1.9% this year, the slowest pace in a decade, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Falling exports have forced both the government and the central bank to slash their forecasts to 2%.South Korea’s consumer prices fell for the first time on record in September and returned to growth only in November.The Bank of Korea expects inflation to pick up gradually to 1% in 2020. In its 2020 policy statement, the central bank pledged to keep policy accommodative as inflationary pressure from the demand side is likely to to remain weak.South Korea’s aging population and falling potential growth are two challenges that raise the risk of structural deflation in the long term.“Korea has entered disinflation and there’s a worry that time is ticking before that morphs into deflation,” said Ahn Dong-hyun, a professor of economics at Seoul National University. “The economy is losing its dynamics, which leads to low consumption and investment, weakening inflation.”Government’s welfare policy worked to push inflation lower in 2019, but “a more significant factor was likely depressed demand due to an unfriendly export environment and the electronics down-cycle”, Park Chong-hoon, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Seoul, wrote before the release. This “leads us to believe CPI inflation is not likely to pick up in 2020,” Park wrote.

Bank of Korea Warns Aging Population Threatens Inflation Efforts

Get more

Compared with the previous month, consumer prices rose 0.2% in DecemberCore inflation year-on-year was 0.9% in 2019, and 0.7% for Decembe

What Bloomberg’s Economist Says

“Muted inflationary pressures underscore slack in the economy. That should keep the Bank of Korea’s stance accommodative. But low policy ammunition means further rate cuts may prove difficult to make. Our baseline forecast is for the central bank to remain on hold through 2020.”-Justin Jimenez, economistClick here to read more.

(Updates with economist comment.)

To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Kim in Seoul at skim609@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Jackson at pjackson53@bloomberg.net, Jiyeun Lee, Karthikeyan Sundaram

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

Today’s Forecast: April 3, 2020

Temperatures will drop into the mid 40s tonight with mostly cloudy skies and slightly breezy winds.

Saturday will consist of mostly cloudy skies and slightly cooler temperatures in the mid 50s. Sunday will be partly sunny and seasonable with milder highs in the low 60s.

Monday will be mostly sunny and pleasant with highs reaching the upper 60s. Partly sunny skies are in the forecast on Tuesday with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. An isolated shower is possible.

Temperatures will stay in the upper 60s to lower 70s on Wednesday with partly sunny skies and isolated showers. The partly sunny skies and isolated showers continue into Thursday with highs in the mid 60s.

Friday will be mostly sunny and cooler with highs falling back into the 50s.

Have a great weekend!

-Daniel

We are kicking off the new year the same way we ended 2019… with some snow showers. The snow globe continues this morning with a lake effect snow band dragging the flakes all the way from Lake Ontario through southern parts of the North Country and all the way to Waitsfield Vermont!

Snow showers continue through the day today, but eventually, become more confined to the higher terrain this afternoon as we turn on the upslope snow machine!

Most folks in the valleys can anticipate a quick dusting, while the higher terrain is looking at 1-3″ Hey Jay Peak… how does a foot of fresh powder sound?

We settle down with the snow overnight Wednesday and start off Thursday with sunshine and a few passing clouds.

Then things get a little dicey… We are tracking multiple low-pressure systems, the first of which will bring us a bit of wintry mix but mostly rain Friday afternoon and evening.

Heading into the weekend we cool our temperatures and watch for accumulating snow especially in our higher terrain. Stay tuned for the latest on this forecast as we iron out the fine details!

Happy New Year!

-Skytracker Meteorologist Haley Bouley

I was recently trolled in an online debate. I was raving about President Trump’s booming economy and the fact that there’s record employment numbers, wage gains for woman, people of color and blue-collar workers. The troll invoked their disgusting identity politics and reminded me that this was the Democrats’ base. My response was: “Fantastic, perhaps they will finally realize that Republicans want them to succeed, Democrats only want their vote.” To prove this point, just 6 months ago Democrats and their allies in the fake news media were hoping for a pre-election recession, a clear indicator that they’re putting party before country.

Putting party over country is exactly what New Hampshire’s all-Democratic congressional delegation is doing. These partisans spent the whole year trying to reverse the will of the people with a Marxist-style un-American impeachment, totally absent of any sense of fairness. These partisans spent little to no time representing the people of New Hampshire. In November, we the people of New Hampshire have the chance to cast our own impeachment vote and remove Jeanne Shaheen, Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas from office and replace them with people who’ll actually represent the people of New Hampshire and respect the will of the people.

With the scary clown car show crossing New Hampshire, we are getting a good look at how extreme their party is. In fact, the frontrunner, who thinks he is above the law, is so error prone that his campaign restricts his campaign appearances. No-show Joe often doesn’t even know what state he’s campaigning in.

VAN MOSHER

Bow

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DETROIT – Police said robbers have been targeting fast food restaurants across Metro Detroit.

At least five restaurants targeted have been in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Police are starting to believe the same group is behind all of the robberies.

Police are taking the men very seriously, because they are threatening to have guns while committing the crimes. New footage has been revealed that could bring investigators one step closer to catching the culprits.

In just the last few weeks the robberies have become more common. In some cases it’s two men making violent demands, escaping in a burgundy SUV and in other cases it’s one man acting alone and then fleeing on foot.

Robbery locations potentially connected:

Taco Bell in Livonia on Dec. 15

Fast Food restaurant in Independence Township on Dec. 21

Taco Bell in Milford on Dec. 25

Burger King in Auburn Hills on Dec. 27

Tim Horton’s in Roseville

LIVONIA (WWJ) - The search is on for a group of robbers who have been targeting fast-food restaurants in Metro Detroit.

Over the past two weeks, at least four fast-food restaurants across the area have been robbed shortly after opening for business for the day and police believe the same suspects are behind the crimes.

Livonia police say a single masked suspect robbed the Taco Bell on Merriman Road near Plymouth Road on December 15, implying he had a gun. A similar crime was reported at an unidentified fast-food restaurant in Independence Township on Dec. 21. Two masked suspects also robbed a Taco Bell restaurant in Milford on Dec. 24, as well as a Burger King restaurant in Auburn Hills on Dec. 27. Suspects in Auburn Hills Burger King robbery (photo: Auburn Hills Police)

[VIDEO: Milford Taco Bell Robbed By Masked Men]

The suspects in the Livonia and Auburn Hills robberies were caught on surveillance videos fleeing in the same vehicle -- an older model maroon or red Ford Explorer with dark bottom trim and running boards. Witnesses also reported a vehicle matching the same description fleeing from the Milford robbery.

Security cameras captured images of the suspects, one of whom was carrying a blue backpack during the Milford and Auburn Hills robberies. The suspects are described as black males in their 20s, with hoods pulled up over their heads and their faces covered.

It's unclear how much cash the suspects took in the Livonia and Independence Township robberies, but they got about $200 from the Milford robbery. The employees in the Auburn Hills robbery refused to give the suspects money and said they were calling police, which sent the suspects running.

Anyone with information should call Livonia police at 734-466-2330, Milford police at 248-684-1815 or Auburn Hills police at 248-370-9460.

Salman Khan's birthday is often a star-studded affair. However, this year Bhaijaan got a huge surprise as his sister Arpita Khan gave birth to a baby girl Ayat.

Since that day wishes are pouring in for the family. Salman, who always makes it a ritual to ring in his birthday at his farmhouse, decided to skip it as his sister was due and after the birth of baby girl Ayat. Ever since the first picture of Ayat went online, fans and fraternity just couldn't stop gushing over baby Ayat's snaps.

During the birthday celebration, Salman Khan got emotional after seeing the first picture of lil Ayat. A teary-eyed bhai told the media, "Ab celebrations sath mein hoga. Maamaaur chacha toh bann gaya, abhi baap banna baaki hai. (Now the celebrations will be together. I have become a maternal and paternal uncle, but I am yet to become a father. I woke and checked my phone and saw the picture of Ayat, nothing could have been a better gift than this to our family. She is beautiful. Ab iske baad toh December 27 ka matlab hi badal gaya in our family. In fact, I just tweeted to my fans that I really want to thank them for their love and good wishes."

Ayat was born at Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital. Besides Salman, his parents Salim and Salma, brother Sohail and his wife, were seen at the hospital. The actor's former girlfriend Sangeeta Bijlani, his other sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, were seen arriving too. Salman was accompanied by his alleged girlfriend Iulia Vantur when he reached the hospital.

As per social media posts, Salman and family are all set to ring in New Year's eve at their farmhouse at Panvel with the lil one Ayat!

International Business Times wishes Salman Khan and family a very happy new year!

A couple times a year, some “new report” makes the rounds on social media alerting us all to the fact that—ick, yuck, shudder—something or other has “more germs than a toilet seat.” This is apparently primo would-be-viral content, to judge by how often those headlines come up.

Ew, gross, right? You shudder, cringe, comment about hygiene practices … and then move on because what are you actually going to do about the fact that [the thing you can’t avoid touching] has cooties? Here’s what becomes clear after a few rounds of this: Every damn thing has more germs than a toilet seat—and one surprising reason may be that toilet seats actually aren’t that dirty, perhaps because people think they’re so dirty that they get cleaned a lot.

The dirtier-than-a-toilet-seat list includes cell phones, steering wheels, shopping carts, restaurant menus, and restaurant high chairs. It includes just about everything in the kitchen, starting with your sponges and cleaning cloths and going on to your cutting board and faucet. All of which are positively teeming with germs. Your clean laundry? Maybe not so clean.

In public, add on money, ATMs, elevator buttons, door handles, and … you know what? If a lot of people touch it, it is extremely dirty.

In short, guys, maybe this is not something to get so worked up about. Wash your hands, keep your possessions clean, and don’t click through to find out the shocking truth about TV remotes.

We report a simple synthetic method and the unique properties of four types of individual NPs that are well-dispersed in polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from the core to the shell without the formation of alloy or core–shell NPs. Additionally, this result cannot be achieved by conventional methods. By mixing and heating PEs with metal precursors, individual metal NPs stabilized by PEs were synthesized. The four types of individual metal NP-containing PECs were prepared by mixing anionic and cationic PEs involving individual metal NPs. The individual metal NPs were homogeneously distributed within the polymer particles, and their contents were easily tuned by varying the loading fractions of the individual metal NP-containing PEs. The as-obtained PEC–Au/Pt/Ag/Pd (separate entities) exhibited promising performance for surface enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS ) and catalytic activities, which was further enhanced when the four types of metals demonstrated different optimal composition in comparison to the mixed types, such as the alloy or core–shell NPs. Our results also show that it is necessary to tune the types or individual metal contents of the multi-metallic complexes (individual, alloy, or core–shell) for the control or application of certain properties.

Don’t spread invasive freshwater pests this summer

Gisborne District Council and Biosecurity New Zealand are reminding everyone who visits rivers, lakes and streams this summer to check, clean and dry their gear when they move between waterways.

“Checking, cleaning and drying your gear between waterways stops the spread of invasive freshwater pests, such as didymo, hornwort, pest fish and oxygen weed,” says Gisborne’s Check Clean Dry advocate, Teegan Maxwell.

Ms Maxwell says freshwater pests pose a serious threat to all rivers, streams and lakes in the Gisborne Wairoa area.

“If pests get into our waterways they are just about impossible to get rid of, they cost a fortune to manage and can ruin beautiful water ways and habitat for native species.

Some freshwater pests, like didymo, are microscopic and can be spread in a single drop of water. Even if you can’t see the danger you could be spreading it,” she said.

Ms Maxwell recommends people follow the simple Check-Clean-Dry process before leaving any waterway:

• Check all gear that touched water and leave behind any weed or debris.

• Clean gear with a simple solution of 5% dishwashing liquid (one tablespoon per 250mls of water). The solution can be tipped into anchor wells, bilge areas, kayak hulls and sprayed onto wet surfaces and fishing gear. Absorbent materials, such as lifejackets, wetsuits, booties and tramping boots can be soaked for several minutes

• Dry gear inside and out for at least 24 hours before visiting another waterway.

“Following these simple procedures will help stop freshwater pests from spreading throughout New Zealand’s waterways. If we all do our bit, we’ll protect our waterways for future generations,” said Ms Maxwell.

For more information about didymo and other freshwater pests visit www.mpi.govt.nz/check-clean-dry .

To report suspected Didymo or other pests, phone the hotline immediately on 0800 80 99 66.

© Scoop Media

KANSAS CITY – In the same spirit and celebratory atmosphere of the Christmas season, the Midwestern Seminary community celebrated the culmination of its students’ hard work, dedication, and perseverance, as the school held its 66th commencement service, Dec. 6.

Additionally, President Jason Allen announced that the seminary will begin a series of messages—during graduation and convocation service addresses over the next couple of years—focusing on specific doctrinal topics of urgency and relevance.

Two hundred and five students were conferred 222 degrees and began their ministry service as the next generation of pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders. With the enrollment increases the school has made, now surpassing 4,000 students, the number of graduates has also increased, up from the 169 students who graduated this time last year.

Midwestern Seminary also celebrated a noteworthy milestone during the commencement ceremony, as 29 Spanish-speaking church planters earned their Church Planting Certificates. Two of those graduates also received their Master’s in Theological Studies with an emphasis on Pastoral Ministry.

Felix Cabrera, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and Spanish church relations coordinator, helped pioneer the certificate program in 2017. “What happened today is epic and historic. The pilot program is no longer a pilot,” Cabrera shared. “Ministerial experience combined with theological education is an ideal scenario for these pastors who serve in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico.”

“We cannot be more pleased that these men have worked so hard and accomplished so much through our Spanish Language programs,” Allen said. “This is ‘for the Church’ in action, as they will now go and establish local churches and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Kicking off the 10-part graduation/convocation sermon series focusing on significant, urgent doctrinal issues—including topics such as the sufficiency of Scripture, the exclusivity of the gospel, and penal substitutionary atonement—Allen noted there’s no better place to begin than with biblical inerrancy. As such, he preached a message from Jude entitled, “Truths Worth Contending For: Biblical Inerrancy.”

Allen said that, as Southern Baptists, there is never a wrong time to reassert, cling to, and contend for one of our central and foundational truths.

He affirmed biblical inerrancy as the belief that the Bible is without error. “It’s an argument for the truthfulness of God’s word. It is divinely inspired, comprehensively truthful and, thus, authoritative for life and doctrine. It is from this inerrant Word that we can know our inerrant savior, Jesus Christ. …

To view Allen’s commencement address, visit https://www.mbts.edu/2019/12/sixty-sixth-commencement-address/.

To learn more about Midwestern’s Spanish Language programs, visit https://www.mbts.edu/degrees/spanish-studies/. ν

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Question:
Popular rapper, Naira Marley who is also the CEO of Marlians has added more soldiers to his army as he just signed Zinoleesky, Mohbad, Cblack and Fabian.

Naira Marley brought the four artists on stage during Marlians in Lagos, and later in the day made it official on his social media page.

Also Read: Naira Marley Ordered To Appear Before Court Over Alleged Car Theft

According to reports, the signed artistes have been cohabitating with the popular rapper even before the official signing and they already recorded loads of songs with the Marlian Music Imprint.

See his tweet below:

By Taiwo Okanlawon

Controversial musician, Adeyemi Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley has officially signed upcoming singers Zinoleesky, Mohbad, Cblack and Fabian to his record label, Marlian Music Imprint.

The Marlian President had brought the four artists on stage during Marlians Fest on 30th December 2019 held at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

Sharing the official news on his Instagram page, Naira Marley wrote, “Marlians can u welcome my talented brothers to MarlianMusic. 2 thousand and plenty. @zinoleesky @iam_cblack01 @fabian_blu @iammohbad talented motherfvckers👊🏾👊🏾🔥”

It was revealed that the new artistes have been cohabitating with Naira Marley even before the official signing and they already recorded loads of songs with the Marlian Music Imprint.

One of the artistes, C Blvck featured Naira Marley on “Ogologo” and “Tingasa,” off his latest EP titled LOL.

(MENAFN - PR Newswire) MANAMA, Bahrain, Jan. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bahrain announced its participation in the Dakar Rally, to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 5 to 17. The first rally in the Middle East will see the victorious X-raid team racing for Bahrain in their first self-developed and constructed Mini John Cooper Works and Mini John Cooper Works Buggy; the Bahrain team will include champion drivers Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz and co-drivers Lucas Cruz and Paulo Fiúza.

The 2020 edition of the rally also marks a milestone for the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia becoming the first country in the region to play host to the challenge, gaining the right to hold it for the next five years. The 13-day off-road race that was founded on a love of desert driving will see more than 550 drivers from 62 nations contest in 12 stages while exploring the vast and formidable desert terrains of the largest country in the region.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain's Motor Federation said: "This is as much a moment of pride for Bahrain, as it is for our region. Our participation shows Bahrain's advances in the motorsports world, inspired no doubt by Bahrain's pioneering move to host the Formula One Grand Prix since 2004."

"An event of such global magnitude presented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a monumental opportunity to showcase its unique natural landscape, as well as its keenness and enthusiasm to bring global sporting events to the country and the region."

Sven Quandt, owner of the German motorsport team X-raid, a specialist in cross-country rallying, which will be taking part in the rally explained: "This is a big achievement for Bahrain, which is already making its presence felt on global stage. The country's participation adds another dimension to its vision to be a nation that hosts, supports, organises, develops and participates in the success of the global sports movement."

The rally will be flagged off in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah and conclude in the capital, Riyadh, covering 7,500 kilometres. The route will pass through some of the vital and most picturesque destinations in Saudi Arabia, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al Ula in the north-west; Tabouk region in the north-west, which is home to the futuristic Neom-city project; the ancient Ha'il region; and Wadi Al Dawasir in Najd province, which is being developed in the middle of the desert as a new urban centre.

The Dakar Rally is the latest in a series of sporting events to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, with both Race of Champions (ROC) and Formula E hosting rounds having been held in Riyadh, apart from the FIA-backed Middle East Rally Championship.

The Dakar Rally, an annual event which was first launched in Paris 1979, ran from Europe to the Senegalese city it is named after for decades, then moved to South America in 2009, where it remained until now.

SOURCE Bahrain EDB

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MENAFN0201202000701241ID1099497170

St John, police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand attended the scene of the crash on the Moutere Highway.

One person has been seriously injured following a crash in Appleby on New Year's Day.

A police spokeswoman said the crash happened at the intersection of the Moutere Highway and Maling Rd, at about 12.10pm on Wednesday afternoon.

St John and Fire and Emergency also attended the scene.

A St John spokeswoman said the crash involved a motorcycle and a truck, with one person being taken to Nelson Hospital with serious injuries.

DFO says heavy waves caused the trailer to roll off the deck near Campbell River

A tank trailer filled with liquefied dead fish was knocked into the water off Vancouver Island on Dec. 30, 2019. (Tavish Campbell)

An ocean transportation company says it has retrieved a tank trailer filled with liquefied fish after it was knocked into the water off Vancouver Island.

Billy Vaughn of Coastal Seatrucking says the silage was pumped into another tanker on Tuesday and the trailer was removed from the ocean near Campbell River.

Silage is a product made with dead fish that is commonly used in animal feed.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says heavy wave action caused the trailer to shift and roll off the deck of the landing craft, which is similar to a barge, on Monday.

It says the Canadian Coast Guard attended the scene and no one was injured or required rescue.

The department says the tank trailer remained afloat and was towed into Duncan Bay.

READ MORE: B.C. fish farm operator says most of escaped salmon likely eaten

Photographer Tavish Campbell says he was out boating in the area when he came across the scene Monday.

“It’s a huge tanker trailer and it was half submerged with the oil boom around it,” he said.

The Canadian Press

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'It's not our concern to catch Liverpool' - Rodgers claims Leicester focused on developing youngsters, not title race

The Foxes boss saw his young side put in another impressive performance to brush Newcastle aside with a 3-0 away win on New Year's Day

Leicester are more concerned about developing their young squad than catching Premier League leaders this season, according to Brendan Rodgers.

The Foxes kept up the pace at the top of the table with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, closing the gap to 10 points ahead of Liverpool’s game with on Thursday.

Ayoze Perez, James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury scored against a Newcastle side riddled by injuries at St James’ Park.

With struggling for consistency, Leicester have been tipped by many to push Liverpool closest this season – but Rodgers isn’t interested.

"It's not our concern to catch Liverpool, we get asked all the time but we are about developing the squad and the team," the Foxes manager said.

"They are young players still learning, James has shown he is a top talent consistently, a magical player, and Hamza can get better at that part of his game.

"We played very well. We wanted to attack with and without the ball and we were very good in both aspects. Our pressing got us the first two goals.

“They obviously lost a man [to injury] early in the second half and I was pleased with how we controlled the game.

"It's difficult to play with a man less but we had chances to score more and then eventually Hamza gets his first goal for the club. A really good performance.”

Rodgers is also hoping for a quiet January transfer window, with a number of his players rumoured to be targets for rival clubs.

Maddison and defender Caglar Soyuncu are among those linked with a move away, though Rodgers has been clear that he will not sanction departures for any of his first-teamers.

"The club will look at any players who can make us better but January is a difficult window,” he added.

“You can see the talented squad we have here."

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Leicester’s victory on Tyneside was all the more impressive for the fact they were without leading scorer Jamie Vardy.

The 32-year-old had missed the 2-1 win over West Ham due to the birth of his daughter, and missed out on the Newcastle game with a minor calf injury.

Leicester have back-to-back home cup fixtures up next, with an clash with followed by the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

RCMP have launched a criminal investigation after swastikas and "disturbing phrases" were discovered on an out building at a Jewish summer camp for children on Gabriola Island.

Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said in a news release that the graffiti was found by a caretaker at Camp Miriam and reported to Gabriola RCMP on Dec. 19.

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Given the camp's secluded location, the vandalism could have occurred any time from the September long weekend to the date of discovery, RCMP say. Investigators are trying to narrow the time frame.

"RCMP take matters such as these very seriously," O'Donaghey said. "Local investigators have consulted with the B.C. RCMP Hate Crime Team as they continue the criminal investigation in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gabriola RCMP at 250-247-8333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Question:
There’s what you’ll see — and what you hopefully won’t see — during Wednesday’s 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Case in point: Drones.

The FBI on Tuesday issued a reminder to the public that the air space above Wednesday’s Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl is a “No Drone Zone,” calling for all drone enthusiasts to leave the mechanical flying camera critters at home for this event, citing the need for “safety of attendees.”

The Pasadena Police Department, which is leading security efforts on Wednesday, along with the FBI, will enforce federal laws covering unmanned aircraft, according to the FBI.

Anyone who does attempt to fly a drone stands a good chance of being arrested, prosecuted, fined and/or imprisoned, according to the FBI.

You also hopefully won’t have any surprises like last year, when the Chinese American Heritage Foundation’s “Harmony Through Union” stopped moving and smoke began erupting from it just before bend in the road where Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards meet.

Chinese American Heritage Foundation’s “Harmony Through Union” stopped moving and smoke began erupting from it just before bend in the road where Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards meet. It didn’t help that the first tow truck that attempted to move the float failed, and a second truck was needed to take the float to the end of the route. It wasn’t pretty.

But this year, parade officials put together new safety protocols and procedures float builders had to abide by to prevent another float fire. An investigation concluded the fire was most likely caused by an accidental discharge of transmission fluid onto the float’s exhaust pipe. The Tournament of Roses now requires float builders to install fire suppression measures similar to ones on buses, dispersing fire retardant powder in the event engines overheat, as well as fire barriers protecting driver compartments.

OK. Now, for the fun stuff that hopefully you will see.

Maybe you’re cozied up on the couch in your pjs with the TV on and a cup of joe or hot chocolate in reach. Maybe you’re bundled up on Colorado Boulevard, your face cool in the crisp morning Pasadena air.

Either way, we have a few suggestions on what to watch for in this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade. First off, note that this year’s parade theme is “The Power of Hope.”

So, fueled by that theme, organizers have created a parade event that really takes hold of the idea of rising up from adversity and tragedy but also mixed that with themes of healing and optimism as the decade kicks off. In that sense, all of the entries have a story to tell, and represent a part of the overall theme.

But, since there are 90 entries, and we’ve only got so many inches here — and a deadline — here are 20 or so moments to keep an eye on as you watch the 131st Rose Parade with that warm drink in your grasp. We tagged a number to the end, so you’ll see where it comes in the parade lineup. You can find all the acts listed in order here.

GET THIS PARTY STARTED

Rose Parade Opening Spectacular. Look for Ally Brooke, Emilio Estefan, Farruko and the Chino Hills High School Drumline (Parade Entry #1)

UP IN THE SKIES…

B-2 Spirit Flyover. The sight of that thing flying overhead as the event begins is just hard to ignore. Frankly, TV doesn’t do it justice. But you just gotta watch it. It sets quite the tone for the parade march — assuming you still have your hearing. (#2)

TERRIFIC TRIO

The grand marshals. It’s hard not to root for Rita Moreno and her co-grand marshals, Gina Torres and Laurie Hernandez. All represent generations of Latin American women who have climbed their own heights in stage and sport, and have inspired others in their journey. (#11)

ROYALS TIMES SEVEN

The Royal Court. How will Rose Queen Camille Kennedy and her court of Pasadena-area princesses stay warm for 5.5 miles? (#24)

MORNING OF HONOR

Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Four musicians from Saugus High, who endured the trauma of the Nov. 14 fatal shootings on campus, were chosen to appear with this band. They called the experience a great honor and a great boost to their ability to cope with the tragedy. (#25)

WORTH YOUR VOTE

“Years of Hope. Years of Courage.” This is a really unique chance to be up close with a landmark moment — and history. This float pays homage to the struggle for women’s suffrage, celebrating 100 years of women voting. Riding on it will be civil rights giants and descendants of giants such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas. (#26)

THE GRANDDADDY’S KIDS

Rose Bowl floats and bands. What would the parade be without a little pre-Rose Bowl fun — like a massive pep rally for Oregon and Wisconsin. Keep an eye out for Rose Bowl Game floats and bands. (#28, 29, 38 and 39)

LISTEN UP

Banda Municipal de Zarcero. Watching the marching bands live can be mesmerizing. They’re coming from all regions of the U.S. — from Pasadena to Mississippi. And from the world — from the Japan Honor Green Band to the Elsinore Girls Marching Band from Denmark. We recommend them all, but keep an eye — and an ear — out for this one, Banda, from Costa Rica. (#41)

THAT YOU, OLAF?

Halftime! LADIES and GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, HORSES AND SNOWMEN! A mid-parade performance of Disney’s “Frozen.” Let it gooooo! (#48)

YOU GO, GIRLS

Mid-America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team. The Rose Parade equestrian units are always a treat. They’ll all rock this year. The Cowgirls did just that (rocked it, that is) at the nearby Equestfest at the LA Equestrian Center in Burbank. (#55)

TINY BUT MIGHTY

Mini-Therapy horses. All together now: Awwwwww. Make sure the kids see this group. (#59)

MIGHTY AND MAMMOTH

Budweiser Clydesdales. Make sure the kids see this one, too. And they’re harder to miss! (#63)

SALVADORAN STRUT

Banda El Salvador: Grando Como Su Gente. That name translates roughly as “band as big as its people.” Rose Princess Mia Thorsen, whose family has roots in El Salvador, got to spend the day with performers from this band at Bandfest on Monday. (#77)

ROCKIN’ THE AGES

The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses band. It’s marched in the event for 100 years. (#83)

STORIES OF HOPE & LIFE

City of Hope and Donate Life floats. Stories of survival and sacrifice on these. (#83 and #84)

HOWLIN’ FINALE

Closing show: “Where Flowers and Football meet!” When Los Lobos performs, good things happen (#90).

—

The parade begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning. But you knew that. It’ll be televised live.

You’re invited to keep up with us on Twitter, from our reporters in the field Wednesday @PasStarNews. And for tons more Rose coverage, read here.

Bannered under the theme “The Power of Hope,” the 2020 Rose Parade took flight on Wednesday, Jan. 1, helmed by its first Latina president and three Latina grand marshals, honoring 100 years of the right to vote for women and christened by a flyover by a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber piloted for the first time by a woman.

The parade enjoyed a welcome return to its usual carefree tone after the chaos of last year’s float fire puzzled paradegoers, left a handful of entries off the live broadcast and inspired months of investigation.

On Wednesday, only the usual minor issues were reported. Two unexpected entrants were noted, one tow truck to pick up a Tournament of Roses Hall of Fame fire engine that overheated near Mar Vista Avenue, and another to mop up a small oily mess the engine left behind.

Members of the Pasadena Celebrates 2020 float during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

The B-2 Spirit passes under the Goodyear airship above Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, CA., on January 1, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

The Rose Parade president, Laura Farber, waves during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Grand Marshal Gina Torres waves as she rides down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

Grand Marshal, Laurie Hernandez, waves as she rides down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band marches along the parade route during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band performs during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

The tournament of Roses Queen and Court ride down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The UPS store float “Stories Change Our World” is towed down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The Downey Rose Float Association’s “On The Wings of Hope” rolls down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The opening act of the Rose Parade performed by Ally Brooke along with the Chino Hills High School Drumline during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Ally Brooke, left, performs during the opening act of the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Los Lobos performs “La Bamba” on the Closing Show float as they roll down Colorado Boulevard during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA., on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

Early predictions of rain and nasty wind never materialized. Instead, the parade welcomed the New Year on a postcard-perfect Pasadena day.

The verdict from the hundreds of thousands who lined the traditional route? “Better than last year,” agreed Pasadena residents Raquel Garcia and Alfonso Zavala, perched in prime viewing spots on Colorado Boulevard.

The Pasadena pair particularly enjoyed this year’s musical roster, which boasted more Latin-American bands than ever before. That wasn’t strategic, said Laura Farber, the Tournament of Roses’ first Latina president, with all the bands chosen solely on merit.

Among the brassy ensembles: Musicians from West Harrison High School, in Gulf Port, the first Mississippi band to perform in the parade in 30 years. Proud mom Mandy Geddings scurried about on the sidelines as the band trooped by, calling out to her daughter and snapping cell phone photos.

“That was amazing,” she said, gathering her breath. “It makes all those years and all that work of being a band parent all worth it.”

The Pasadena City College Honor Band marched through with four students from Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, who performed among 70-some other top Southern California student musicians. The four students were selected prior to the Nov. 14 shooting at the school but said marching in the parade helped them cope with the trauma spurred by the shocking campus attack.

“It was good to get back to being with people,” Saugus junior Jason Treanor said. “We could be social and not be stuck at home, dwelling on what happened.”

The band was bookended by the tournament’s beaming Royal Court and a float that proved to be 100 years in the making.

The seven-member court sat on a tiered float with Rose Queen Camille Kennedy sitting up high with the six princesses on the levels below. Kennedy, a self-described history buff and thespian, reveled in her role, taking a particular interest in the court’s volunteer work.

Following the Pasadena City College Honor Band came a float from Pasadena Celebrates 2020, adorned in such quotes as “Equal Rights for All” and “Lifting as We Climb” — all surrounding a mock Statue of Liberty and accompanied by a throng of suffragists. Titled “Years of Hope. Years of Courage,” the float celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

The parade’s top honor for floats, the 2020 Sweepstakes Trophy, went to the UPS Store entry, “Stories Change Our World,” featuring whimsical monkeys and parrots set against a patch of of tropical trees.

While that float, and most others, were crafted by professionals, the Downey Rose Float Association took home the top award among the floats built by volunteers. Featuring a floral garden, a small pagoda and a bridge running over a river of blue roses, the float’s defining elements were large origami cranes.

Downey volunteers spent weeks folding 10,000 small paper cranes ahead of the event. They were ultimately distributed to nonprofits, according to a news release from the float’s sponsor, PIH Health.

For the first time, the parade featured a mid-parade “halftime show” with a live-action production number from Disney’s “Frozen.” Portraying such characters as Anna, Elsa and Olaf, the performance featured players from the production currently on stage at the Hollywood Pantages, just a few months before the Los Angeles-based crew takes its show on the national road, a spokeswoman for the tournament said.

The elaborate performance was one of three major musical moments in the parade. Also included:

The Rose Parade Opening Spectacular, starring Ally Brooke, Emilio Estefan, Farruko, myriad dancers and the Chino Hills High School Drumline. They performed an original choreographed song, “Reach for the Stars.”

The parade’s closing show, “Where Flowers and Football Meet!” featured a song from Los Lobos and American Idol alum Alejandro Aranda, also known as Scarypoolparty.

Legendary 88-year-old actress Rita Moreno — one of three grand marshals, all Latinas chosen by Farber — proved a crowd favorite as she energetically danced her way down Colorado Boulevard in the back of a historic car. Some declared her a “a national treasure.”

Fans also sung the praises of her two co-marshals, actress Gina Torres and Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez.

“We thought we had a fantastic parade today,” Tournament of Roses Chief Executive David Eads said. He lauded the floats and the musical performances, as well as the unbeatable weather.

There were no arrests during the parade itself, police said and only three people were cited for drunken behavior the night before. That’s down from last year’s seven citations.

“There were no issues at all,” Lt. Pete Hettema of the Pasadena Police Department said “As far as law enforcement, we had a good day.”

CALGARY, Dec. 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, NorthRiver Midstream closed the final stage of the previously-announced transaction and assumed operation of the remaining assets of Enbridge's Canadian midstream business.

"With the strategic location of our operations across the Montney basin in British Columbia and Alberta, and the backing of a committed Canadian owner in Brookfield Infrastructure, NorthRiver Midstream is built on an asset base that creates a robust platform for growth," said Brandon Anderson, CEO of NorthRiver Midstream.

"NorthRiver is driven by our values and committed to building a different type of energy company. We are focused on operating responsibly, being present in communities and ensuring that we are looking at creative ways to deliver value to partners, customers and communities that are touched by our operations."

With over 700 talented employees, NorthRiver safely and reliably provides natural gas processing services with connectivity to major demand markets.

NorthRiver operates 19 natural gas processing plants and 3,550 kilometers of natural gas gathering pipelines across the Montney region of British Columbia and Alberta.

SOURCE NorthRiver Midstream

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2019/31/c1321.html

Brisbane - Venus Williams pulled out of the season-opening Brisbane International on Wednesday after a "setback" during practice.

The American veteran said she still hoped to play at the Adelaide International later this month ahead of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.

"Unfortunately I will not be starting my season in Brisbane due to an unexpected setback during my training," the 39-year-old seven-time major winner said in a statement.

"I look forward to being in Australia in the new year and will see everyone in Adelaide."

The tournament, featuring a strong field including world number one Ashleigh Barty and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, gets underway on January 6.

Organisers will announce a replacement for Williams on Thursday.

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.

A Corbin man is facing multiple charges, including DUI, after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through southern Laurel County early Sunday morning that ended when he ran over a set of spike strips.

Matthew Bryce Kolvek, 33, was arrested in connection with the pursuit that began at approximately 2:15 a.m. when Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Joey Robinson attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Ford Fusion that he observed weaving on the roadway it traveled south on U.S. 25 in Lily.

“The vehicle then passed a car on double yellow no passing zone lines,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer.

When Robinson activated his blue lights to initiated the traffic stop, Acciardo said, the driver, later identified as Kolvek, turned off the car’s headlights and continued south, turning onto American Greeting Card Road

Laurel County Constable David Griffith, who was traveling north on American Greeting Card Road, was nearly struck head on as the Fusion continued to flee.

“The vehicle traveled onto West Cumberland Gap Pkwy., running red lights and driving in the opposing land of traffic nearly hitting other vehicles,” Acciardo stated.

The chase passed under Interstate 75 before turning onto Adams Road where Kolvek turned around in a field and traveled south back toward Ky. 770.

“Sheriff’s deputies had radioed ahead requesting Corbin City Police to deploy spike strips where Adams Road met Ky. 770,” Acciardo stated, noting the Fusion hit the strips, ending the chase.

Deputies along with Corbin Police and Constable Griffith attempted to secure Kolvak in handcuffs, and were successful after a brief struggle.

“The arrested individual (Kolvek) was determined to be under the influence and had numerous outstanding warrants,” Acciardo stated, noting the warrants are for unpaid child support.

Kolvek was charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police – motor vehicle, reckless driving, second-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, failure to signal, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, failure to wear seat belts, speeding more than 20 mph over the limit, operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, resisting arrest and tampering with physical evidence.

Acciardo noted that Kolvek allegedly threw drugs out the window during the pursuit.

Deputies served Kolvek with an outstanding warrant out of Whitley County charging him with contempt of court on the child support matter.

A second warrant out of Clay County charged Kolvek with failure to appear in district court on charges of first-degree fleeing or evading police – motor vehicle, second-degree fleeing or evading police – on foot, giving officer false identifying information, and identity theft.

Kolvek was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center where he is being held on a $5,000 cash bond.

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(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.

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