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Kolam in front of house against CAA, NRC (File photo)
CHENNAI: The city police commissioner on Wednesday said his officers were probing the alleged Pakistan links of a woman activist booked for anti-CAA kolam protests after one of her social media accounts mentioned her as being part of an organisation based in that country.A K Viswanathan told reporters the Facebook profile of Gayatri Kandhadai, one of those booked, says she is a researcher for Bytes For All (B4A), Pakistan, part of The Association of All Pakistan Citizen Journalists (AAPCJ) based in Pakistan. She was among eight people who held the innovative protest by drawing kolam (rangoli) before they were arrested and detained at a wedding hall on December 29. They were later released.A few organisations like the Welfare Party of India, Arappor Iyakkam and Campus Front of India support her. "We will probe the level of her links with Pakistan," the commissioner said.The website of Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan says it is a human rights organisation and a research think tank with a focus on information and communication technologies. It organises discussions on relevant topics, presents findings, mobilises opinion.On the eight people being booked, Viswanathan said no permission was issued to them to protest against CAA and NRC. "Police did not interfere until an issue was created. A protester drew the anti-CAA messages despite opposition from a houseowner," he said and showed a video of a nonagenarian saying anti-CAA messages were drawn before his house without his permission.Later, incensed at the arrest of the protesters, DMK leaders and partymen drew similar kolams in front of their houses.Protests, meanwhile, continued across Tamil Nadu . At midnight on Tuesday, as many as 200 activists decided to go on a procession from Panagal Maligai to Raj Bhavan when police stopped them. They raised slogans for nearly an hour and dispersed. In Nagapattinam, more than 2,000 people took out a rally on Wednesday demanding that the Centre revoke CAA. The procession, led by Nagappattinam MLA Thamimun Ansari and Kilvelur DMK MLA U Mathivanan, got participation from others parties. In Trichy, police booked members of Makkal Adhikaram, who were also holding an anti-CAA protest, for unlawful assembly. | In the anti citizenship law protests at Chennai, a Pakistan link emerges
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
Chennai, Jan 01: A woman anti-CAA protester here has come under the scanner of the police after her social media profile shed light on her role as a researcher with a Pakistan body, a top official said on Wednesday.
A probe would be carried out to ascertain whether the woman, Gayatri Khandhadai, has links to Pakistan-based "Bytes for All", Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan told reporters.
Police sources told PTI that the woman protester has been a part of a slew of agitations held in the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and was also associated with the 'kolam' demonstrations.
She was present at the Madras University premises as well when the students there protested against the citizenship law last month, they said.
Chennai Police briefly detains 7 people for drawing anti-CAA, NRC rangoli on streets
Dwelling on her background, Viswanathan said Khandhadai has the support of local outfits in Tamil Nadu including an NGO. "If you look at her Facebook profile, she says that she is a researcher at Bytes for All, Pakistan," the senior police official said adding this body seemed to be linked to the Association of All Pakistan Citizen Journalists. The extent and nature of the protester's "Pakistani connection," and "what," it is all about will be probed, he said.
NEWS AT NOON JAN 2nd, 2020
A check will be done to find out if there is any other "information," about her, he said. He clarified that none were arrested or detained for drawing 'kolam,' (rangoli) in Besant Nagar here days ago.
Viswanathan maintained police personnel had to intervene when an elderly resident there objected when protesters drew words opposing CAA (alongside a kolam already drawn up by his family members) in front of his house.
The commissioner also released video clips to substantiate his claim that police had to intervene after the resident's objection. The clip shows an elderly man asking why the words were drawn up (by protesters) and a woman bringing a bucket of water from inside the house and erasing it.
CAA: Students from North East protest in Chennai
On Sunday, police had said eight people, including five women, were picked up for holding the protest without permission and causing inconvenience to others but were later let off.
DMK president M K Stalin has hit out at the AIADMK government for the police action, saying the detained persons were only exercising their right to protest.
The group of women who drew rangoli against the CAA had called on Stalin on Monday at the party headquarters here to thank him for supporting them. | 3.666667 |
The unit also apprehended 72 robbers, 111 snatchers, 105 auto lifters and several bootleggers
Delhi Police felicitated its PCR unit for saving over 500 lives, reuniting over 200 missing people and rushing 67 women having labour pain to hospitals this year, a police official said today.
A felicitation function was held at Aiwan-e-Ghalib Auditorium, where the Joint Commissioner of Police (Operation), K Jegadesan, distributed commendation certificates to Police Control Room (PCR) unit personnel for their performance, the official said.
The PCR unit is the first responder to the caller in distress and attends approximately 5,000 to 6,000 calls daily on their emergency number 112, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR) Sharat Kumar Sinha.
From January 1 till December 29 this year, the PCR staff have performed a record number of 1,824 "good works", which includes saving 508 lives, reuniting 213 missing persons with their families and attending to 67 pregnant women by helping them reach hospitals and even providing assistance for child birth inside the PCR van in some cases, Mr Sinha said.
The unit also apprehended 72 robbers, 111 snatchers, 105 auto lifters and several bootleggers. It also traced 1,199 stolen vehicles across the national capital, the DCP said.
The PCR staff recovered illicit arms and stolen articles and even rescued animals from the clutches of smugglers, the officer added. | Bernama is the trusted source of reliable real-time comprehensive and accurate news for both the public and media practitioners. Our news is published at www.bernama.com ; BERNAMA TV on: Astro Channel 502, unifi TV Channel 631, MYTV Channel 121 IFLIX; and Bernama Radio broadcasting locally on FM93.9 in Klang Valley, Johor (FM107.5), Kota Kinabalu (FM107.9) and Kuching (FM100.9).
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ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after officers allegedly shot and wounded a man in St. Catharines.
The Special Investigations Unit says the incident happened on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, when Niagara regional police officers arrived at a home where a man reportedly had a knife.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Watchdog to investigate after police allegedly shoot, injure man in St. Catharines Back to video
The agency says the officers found the man, and there was some sort of interaction between them.
It says the officers then shot at him, and he was hit several times.
The SIU says the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The arm’s-length agency is automatically called in to investigate reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2020. | HALIFAX -- Halifax police have launched an arson investigating following a structure fire in an apartment building.
Halifax Regional Police say several callers reported smoke in the Victoria Road apartment building on Wednesday afternoon.
No one was hurt and tenants were temporarily evacuated as firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Police say fire investigators confirmed the fire was intentionally set and handed the probe over to officers.
The arson investigation is ongoing.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2020. | 1.333333 |
It is believed that around 4,000 people have gathered on a beach at Mallacoota to escape the fire in the far south east of the state of Victoria as the fire threatened to engulf the town; a change of wind direction just a few hours later meant the town was not destroyed. Despite this good news, thousands of residents and tourists are in need of food, water and medicine – and with fires still making road access difficult, the Navy is sending ships to aid the evacuation effort, while heavy-lift helicopters are being deployed to evacuate the most vulnerable. A joint task force from the Navy and Air Force has been established to co-ordinate the rescue effort. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds authorized the deployment of four helicopters, one fixed-wing aircraft and two ships. The helicopters include one Chinook, two Black Hawks and one Taipan naval chopper. Two C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base at East Sale will also be available for support efforts. RAAF bases are currently being used as SAR bases, providing meals to firefighters, accommodation to volunteers and assisting in fire mapping.
Additional aerial firefighting resources – including personnel and aircraft – have been requested from the US and Canada. | A magpie has been caught on film mimicking the sound of a fire truck siren in what some say is a symptom of the heartbreaking bushfire crisis currently gripping NSW and Victoria.
The copycat bird was filmed in Newcastle by local resident Gregory Andrews who told 7NEWS it was “one of the coolest things ever”.
“Today I met an Australian magpie in Newcastle NSW which had learned to sing the calls of fire-engines and ambulances,” he said.
The magpie is a native Australian bird well known for its intelligence and ability to mimic.
They are believed to have one of the biggest vocal ranges of any bird in the world and can copy the call of other birds and other sounds such as dogs barking and running motors.
There are grave fears for 17 people who remain unaccounted for in Victoria, where one person has already been confirmed dead.
More than 20 communities, including Mallacoota, remain cut off by the fires and the Navy has been called in to offer relief.
In NSW where four people have died, a humanitarian crisis is looming as terrible fire conditions prompted the emergency evacuation of thousands of people from the NSW south coast. | 2 |
It was a busy night for Greater Manchester Police on New Year's Eve with the force receiving 756 emergency calls.
A total of 92 people were arrested during the festivities, including 19 on suspicion of drink driving.
Two serious car crashes were among the incidents police attended.
A motorcyclist, aged in his 30s, died after a collision on Wellington Road South, in Stockport.
Police arrested a 36-year-old woman on suspicion of drug driving and causing death by driving without due care and attention in connection with the incident.
A 59-year-old man died following a collision on Yew Tree Road, in Fallowfield, this morning while another five people were injured.
Police are also investigating a stabbing which took place near to the Royal Sovereign , on Eccles Old Road, in the early hours of New Year's Day morning.
(Image: ASP)
A 24-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering from a stab wound.
Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Russ Jackson, said: “The vast majority of people in Greater Manchester did, as always, enjoy a peaceful New Year’s Eve but officers did deal with a number of serious incidents including stabbings and assaults.
“Very sadly, two people lost their lives in separate road traffic collisions. Our thoughts are with their families as this is the worst possible start to 2020 for them and I can only imagine how hard the coming days and months will be.
(Image: ASP)
“The busiest time was between 1am and 2am when we received 264 999 calls. In the first three hours of this year, a total of 756 emergency calls were made to us.
“By this morning 92 people had been arrested and it’s very disappointing to say in 2020 that 19 of those were on suspicion of drink driving.
(Image: Colin Horne - Manchester Evening News)
“Police staff and officers have worked really hard overnight to keep Greater Manchester safe while people celebrated the New Year and I would like to thank my colleagues their hard work.
“We are continuing our investigations into the serious incidents of last night and if anyone has any information about them please contact us."
Anyone with further information can contact GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
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A man has died, another is fighting for life and four more have been seriously injured in a horror smash as the first few hours of the New Year are met with tragedy.
A 59-year-old man died in hospital a short time after a black Mercedes C43 AMG smashed into his Skoda Octavia around 3.30am today "on what should have been a night of celebration".
Inspector Danny Byrne of Greater Manchester Police said five other men suffered serious injuries and one is fighting for life in a critical condition after the two cars came together on Yew Tree Road in Fallowfield, three miles south of Manchester city centre.
The dead man's family have been told the terrible news today and police are supporting them as their 2020 begins with heartbreak.
Inspector Byrne said: “This is a tragic incident in which one man died and five others were injured on what should have been a night of celebration – our thoughts are with them and their loved ones as our investigation continues."
(Image: MEN Media)
The M.E.N reports that the Skoda Octavia was believed to be a white taxi. The crash was said to have taken place to the junction with Platt Lane.
Multiple fire and rescue crews arrived at the scene four minutes later and found several people trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the cars.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said crews used cutting equipment to release them.
(Image: MEN Media)
Police officers found the Mercedes had collided with the oncoming Skoda Octavia and urged anyone who may have spotted it or filmed it on their dashcam to come forward.
“I would like to use this opportunity to ask anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact us as soon as possible", added Inspector Byrne.
“We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw the black Mercedes in the area prior to this collision.”
(Image: ASP WS)
Fire engines, police vehicles and the ambulance service were parked on the road from the early hours of this morning.
Images taken from the scene show both vehicles badly damaged.
The road was closed while the scene was examined but is now open.
You can call police on 0161 856 4741 quoting 1137 1/1/20.
Or you can give information anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111. | 1.666667 |
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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. | Fashion maven Stacy London is 'in love' with a woman, introduces her girlfriend on Instagram
Stacy London, fashion maven and former co-host of "What Not to Wear," has confirmed on Instagram that she's in love with a woman – not, she noted tartly, that it's anyone's business.
In a lengthy post Tuesday, London, 50, revealed her "incredible joy" as 2019 ends because she has been dating musician Cat Yezbak for more than a year – her "first serious relationship with a woman."
She posted two pictures of the two of them together and told her 300,000 followers she wouldn't ordinarily be spilling her private tea except she felt it necessary to address "all the stuff I hear floating around out there."
"So I used to date men. Now I date her. That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Happy New Year to each and every one of you," she wrote.
She hasn't "paraded" her relationship in public, she wrote, but her friends and family have known about it for more than a year. "NOT THAT IT’S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS BUT...," she opened her post.
She wrote she had a difficult year, including coping with grief (her father, conservative activist and writer Herbert London, died in November 2018) and unforeseen health problems.
"But as with most of life, there has been such incredible joy as well and the person most responsible for that is @catyezbak, who is my girlfriend and has been for over a year. Some of you may have guessed that already. All my friends and family know her well," she wrote.
London told her followers she resisted blabbing on social media about Yezbak not out of shame but because she disliked her past experiences with "public relationships."
"But I want to be clear here that with Cat I felt I owed us the chance to be private since this is my first serious relationship with a woman and I’m sure there will be some hoo ha about that," she wrote. "But I would never hide her out of shame."
She also acknowledged she has it relatively easy, as "a privileged white woman who is 50," to confirm a same-sex relationship with "very few repercussions."
"Unlike me, there are countless people in the LGBTQIAP community who have had no choice in who they are, no love from family on which to lean, no support from anyone anywhere," she wrote. "I fell in love, truly in love, with this beautiful, sexy, kind soul and I won’t apologize for that but I stand on the shoulders of a community that fought like hell for me to be able to do openly and proudly and EASILY."
She cheerfully concluded: "Bring it 2020. Let’s go."
Haters need not post, she added. "AND ALSO: any awful comments will be deleted immediately. My account will not tolerate hate of any kind.) | 1.333333 |
In 2018, a record number of new mayors were elected across British Columbia, many of them promising big changes in their communities. In 2019, many of them tried to implement their promises, with mixed success.
So what will 2020 hold?
There's no crystal ball for predicting how politics will play out across 162 different municipalities — but here are some big stories likely to come up over the next 12 months.
Mayoral opposition in Vancouver and Surrey
Opposition has begun to grow against the agendas of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, with divisive budgets passed by both earlier this month.
In Surrey, the opposition is somewhat splintered, with three independent councillors and one from a different political party voting against McCallum. And in Vancouver, while most councillors support the mayor on some policy issues, the largest opposition group (the NPA) is wracked by a dispute between the board of directors and elected officials.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, left, and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, right, have made it a priority early in their terms to work together. (Justin McElroy/CBC)
Policing in Surrey
Speaking of Surrey, arguably the most substantive policy switch by any B.C. local government in 2019 was the city's move toward an independent police force. The province tentatively approved Surrey's plans to do away with the RCMP, but created a joint task force to oversee the timeline and details.
It's unclear if the task force — chaired by former attorney general Wally Oppal — will approve a full switch and if it will meet McCallum's start goal of April 2021.
SkyTrain to UBC
In Vancouver, the big mayoral promise — an extension of the Millennium Line from its planned terminus at Arbutus Street all the way to UBC — remains more muddled.
Vancouver's council and the TransLink Mayors' Council approved the project, but it will require more than a billion dollars in federal funding.
Stewart said in an October interview that the city needs a commitment from the federal and provincial governments to make sure the line runs to UBC.
The proposed connection to UBC would include four new SkyTrain stations. (City of Vancouver)
Massey Tunnel and North Shore fixed links
Other proposed transportation projects will also be in the headlines in 2020, though the municipalities involved might have less of a say in how they turn out.
The province has promised next year will finally see a business case delivered for a new tunnel that would replace the aging Massey crossing between Richmond and Delta, while a provincially-funded study into options for a new link between the North Shore and Vancouver will also be completed.
Official Community Plan consultations
Next year, Vancouver fully embarks on city-wide plan consultations, while Port Moody, White Rock and the District of North Vancouver are scheduled to consider changes to their Official Community Plans (OCP).
In those smaller communities, mayors were elected on a promise of slowing down growth, and new OCPs will allow opportunities to put new regulations on the height or form of new buildings in town centres.
Budgets under control?
In both Vancouver and Metro Vancouver, budgets for 2020 were passed with significantly higher property tax increases than usual — seven per cent in Vancouver, and six per cent in Metro Vancouver.
In both jurisdictions, elected officials have asked staff to provide more consultation for the 2021 budget, in hopes it might be easier to identify possible savings.
Developer donations
While the provincial government banned corporations from donating in local elections, the people who run companies are still allowed to donate to whomever they choose.
That's caused controversy in many municipalities, as company owners and managers gave money to mayoral and council candidates across the region — often in jurisdictions where they were planning new projects.
A number of actions are underway that could change how the rules are interpreted in the future, from municipalities considering new rules around transparency, lobbying the provincial government for further changes, or lawsuits by concerned citizens.
'Compassion fatigue'
Several mid-sized municipalities passed new bylaws in 2019 cracking down on panhandling activity, and mayors in other communities warned that growing homeless populations, mixed with modular housing projects created by the provincial government, were spurring a backlash.
"We need help in the worst way, and the meantime, the reservoir of public sympathy is fast evaporating because of the level of crime related to addiction," Nanaimo Mayor and former NDP MLA Leonard Krog said in September to the government.
Krog has since asked for the province to institutionalize homeless people who are severely mentally ill.
Victoria byelection
While B.C.'s local elections aren't for another three years, there is a byelection in Victoria that will be watched closely.
Laurel Collins resigned from council after being elected with the NDP in October's federal election, and a number of candidates are expected to run to replace her. With Victoria city council often in the news — and occasionally raising the ire of the province — the expected March byelection will provide an interesting glimpse into the minds of voters in B.C.'s capital city.
North Van Pigeons
And finally, a quickly escalating drama over the ban on owning pigeons in the District of North Vancouver will likely resolve itself next year.
After CBC News revealed that the only person affected by the pigeon ban lived beside a councillor who explicitly asked for the ban and in the past said it affected her property's value, the district launched an internal investigation and both North Vancouver and the councillor in question were taken to court.
All three proceedings should conclude in 2020. | That lovely fresh tree in your living room has just about run its course for the season, so you can now think about composting or chipping it.
While some municipalities offer curbside tree pickups on garbage days — typically on only one day — many also have fundraising chipping services.
Most chipping services are available only for the first week or two in January and there usually is a limit to the number of trees you can chip per household.
Chipping services are available at these locations: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver and White Rock.
Information, hours and restriction information is available for chipping at familyfuncanada.com.
You can compost your tree at Net Zero Waste in Abbotsford for a $4 donation fee.
The Recycling Council of B.C. has information and specifics for chipping in each regional district in B.C. – and a handy location tool. For specific recycling information for the holiday season, check rcbc.ca/recyclepedia or call the Recycling Hotline 604-732-9253, 1-800-667-4321. | 1.333333 |
(CNN) Instead of throwing down the gauntlet, Post Malone put it on his face.
The singer/rapper has debuted a new face tattoo to add to his collection.
The medieval gauntlet is featured prominently in photo posted Tuesday on tattoo artist Kyle Hediger's Instagram account.
"Last tattoo of 2019," the caption reads. "Gauntlet on the baby boy @postmalone love u. 2020 is going to be next level. Love you all."
Malone also shared a photo in which a portion of the new tat can be seen.
Read More | There can be a little bit of sticker shock when you start to think about buying into all the newest wellness and beauty trends applying itself to the new year, new you craze.
Peel into our gallery of celebrities wearing adhesive eye masks to see which stars have slapped on some of the cool cosmetics and shared their tacky selfies on social media in hopes to unload some of that heavy 2019 baggage. | 1.666667 |
There will be no Latin America-focused emerging market report on Jan. 1 owing to the New Year's Day holiday
Dec 31 (Reuters) - Mexico's peso firmed in its last trading day for the year on Tuesday as increasing investor confidence about global growth prospects and significantly better U.S.-China trade relations sent the dollar to six-month lows on fading safe-haven buying.
An index of the greenback against six major rivals .DXY was down 0.3%, putting the currency on track to log meager gains for the year. FRX/MKTS/GLOB
Mexico's peso MXN= rose 0.4% to 18.865 per dollar by 1630 GMT, while the benchmark IPC stock index .MXX fell 0.3%. Other major Latam stocks and currencies marked their last trading day of the decade on Monday.
In a tumultuous year for Mexican markets, the peso was set to end the year up around 4%, building on 2018's bare minimum gains, while stocks rose 4.5%, recovering from a 15% fall last year.
After starting on a positive note, investors turned nervous when a trade deal with United States and Canada that was salvaged in September 2018 was revisited to ensure its labor provisions could be enforced.
As amendments to the deal were under discussion, a second blow came when U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to impose tariffs on all goods from Mexico in response to a surge of illegal Central American immigrants across the southern border.
Mexican assets plunged on the possibility of yet another tariff war.
But tariffs were averted just days before they were to take effect after the United States and Mexico struck a deal, with Mexico agreeing to expand a controversial asylum program and deploy security forces to stem the flow of migrants.
Toward the beginning of the second half of the year, Mexico's central bank began an easing cycling in an attempt to boost the economy, which had slipped into a mild recession in the first half of the year.
The bank began cutting rates by 25 basis points in August - its first cut in five years, and implemented three more cuts that took the benchmark interest rate to 7.25% in December.
Data showing consumer prices slipping well below the central bank's target in early December signaled easing was likely to continue into 2020.
Officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States signed a fresh overhaul of their trade deal in December, aiming to improve enforcement of worker rights, which helped Mexican markets end the year on a high note.
(Reporting by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by Dan Grebler)
((susan.mathew@thomsonreuters.com; +91-80-6749-1130))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. | 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 | 2 |
PNN/ Bethlehem/
Palestinian civil society organizations announced their absolute rejection of politically conditioned funding, according to a new resolution by the European Union, even if this leads to the collapse of institutions and stops them from performing their vital work.
The European Union and other donor institutions are stipulating the signing of the so-called anti-terrorism clauses and policies in order for Palestinian community-based and non-governmental organizations to obtain funding. These policies include labeling a number of Palestinian political and resistance factions, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa-Brigade-Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Popular Front – General Command as terrorist groups and organizations. In addition, the policies require Palestinian civil society to play the role of security accomplice against its people through the so-called procedures of “vetting” and “screening”.*
Director of the Badil Center, Nidal Al-Azzeh, told PNN that institutions of all kinds refuse to sign the annexes sent by the European Union, which include new conditions placed on the funding provided by the union.
Nidal stressed Badil’s rejection of the annex contents, which classifies five Palestinian political forces as “terrorist organizations”adding that center received funding for a project with a value of one million two hundred thousand dollars which they withdrew for their refusal to sign the conditional papers, saying they affected the Palestinian history, cause and resistance of the people.
Al-Azzeh indicated that the organization went to the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, and demanded that they issue a position to prevent Palestinian institutions from signing and accepting this statement.
He also called on the Palestinian street to be part of this opinion that affects the Palestinian national fabric.
Palestinian institutions called on the European Union and donor institutions to abolish this condition from any contracts with Palestinian civil society institutions.
In a statement, Badil called on Palestinian civil society organizations to abstain from signing any conditional funding agreement that includes the anti-terrorism policies, and institutions that have signed such contracts, to terminate such agreements immediately. It also called upon international civil society, especially those movements and organizations in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their rights, to condemn the conditional financing policy and pressure the European Union and its donor institutions to abolish this unjust condition. | Last week I attended and spoke at a conference hosted by the Financial Times and JTI on economic regulation in Prague.
During my panel on the regulation of AI and other innovative new technologies, I made five substantive points about the economics and public policy implications of new technologies:
As far as possible, policymakers should allow permissionless innovation rather than be overly precautionary, only intervening when there was a clear need to do so for some specific application in a given product market. Where regulatory oversight occurs and new products compete with existing goods, policymakers shouldn’t automatically try to shoehorn innovations into current regulatory strictures to maintain a “level playing field.” New products often come with new safety features, for example, changing the balance of risks or mitigating previously perceived market failures. As such, innovation can compete with the regulator as well as incumbent products. Discussion of highly speculative extreme worst-case scenarios and ethical imperfections of new technologies sometimes seemingly ignore that the current world is not perfect, and human beings themselves exhibit biases. It’s a mistake to try to make perfect what is ever-evolving and already very good, especially if doing so deters other new innovations through fines or heavy compliance costs. In some fields where regulation is perceived to be needed, the rules should aim merely to solve the perceived problem proportionately and provide certainty for business. As Alexander Kryvosheyev from JTI explained, for businesses, regulatory clarity can be as important as the regulation itself. It may be that in some areas industry protocols and sharing of best practice can be facilitated, obviating the need for direct government regulation, but we should be ever mindful of the risk of cronyism and capture if this type of forum is provided through government. Regulatory policy is a terrible tool for dealing with distributional concerns re: the winners and losers of technological change.
All in all, I found the messages well received and the conference somewhat heartening.
Speaker after speaker in what was a central and eastern Europe heavy event bemoaned the tendency for Europe to be overly prescriptive with regulation and a mere talking shop for genuine pro-growth reform. Many indicated how the US was their beacon for a better environment for innovation in respect of new technologies.
What was clear though was an apparent appetite for change. Central and eastern European countries have already experienced significant economic upheaval over the past three decades. That means perhaps they are more willing to embrace a radicalism on moving in a market-friendly direction. Certainly, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš talked a good game about the need for pro-market liberalization both domestically and within the EU, at one stage saying explicitly, “the biggest problem for regulation is in Brussels, not Prague,” and lamenting that “the European Union has no vision.”
With much Brexit Remain-sympathizing commentary both here and in the UK seeking to retrospectively paint the EU as a bastion of economic liberty, it was cheering to re-hear the sort of pro-liberty eurosceptic critiques of yesteryear and a determination to make Europe more open to wealth-enhancing innovation. | 1 |
As a new year and a new decade begins, take the opportunity to visit some new spots, enjoy new experiences or revisit favorite attractions in and around Atlanta. Here’s a list of great options to get you started.
NCAA’s Final Four
After seven short years, the NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament is back in Atlanta for 2020 with the semi-final game on April 4 and the national championship on April 6. Attending a Final Four game can make an epic memory to kick off the decade. But even without a ticket to the big game, the Final Four weekend promises other associated events, such as their Fan Fest and the free Capital One JamFest concert, featuring Taylor Swift. Events will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Georgia World Congress Center and the State Farm Arena.
April 3-6. Tickets start at $187. Mercedes-Benz Stadium (for semi-final and final games), 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta. 470-341-5000. ncaa.com/final-four.
Atlanta sports
For that matter, aim to see any sporting event in 2020. Mercedes-Benz Stadium and SunTrust Park, both barely 3 years old, are rather impressive sights for first-time visitors, so that’s reason enough to make the outing. The Gateway Center @ College Park, the newest venue to the Atlanta sports scene, is also worth a gander. The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream will play their 2020 season at the new arena. But overall, it’s also an electrifying experience to soak up the Atlanta sport fandom — from the Braves to the Hawks and particularly the Atlanta United craze (the 2018 MLS Cup Champions begin their season in late February).
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta. 470-341-5000, mercedesbenzstadium.com; SunTrust Park, 755 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-577-9100, mlb.com/braves; The Gateway Center, 2330 Convention Center Concourse, College Park. arenagatewaycenter.com.
October 3, 2019 Atlanta - Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. hits two run home run in 9th inning during Game 1 of best-of-five National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on Thursday, October 3, 2019. St. Louis Cardinals won 7-6 over the Atlanta Braves. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Photo: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The Fox Theatre
You’ve likely attended a play, concert or live production at the world-famous Fox Theatre, but have you ever seen a movie at the Fox? After all, before its short stint as a Shriners temple, the venue started as a movie theater in 1929. So, it’s only fitting you see a reel in honor of the theater’s original function. Check the Fox website for occasional film screenings, such as their Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival.
Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404 -881-2100, foxtheatre.org.
Regal Atlantic Station 4DX
Looking for a new way to watch movies in 2020? Atlantic Station’s Regal theater can now play select showings in 4DX, an immersive, multisensory viewing experience. Moviegoers will be able to experience effects such as wind and chair vibrations, which synchronize throughout an entire feature-length film. The cinema is currently screening “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in 4DX.
Regal Atlantic Station, 261 19th St. NW, Suite 1250, Atlanta. 844-462-7342, regmovies.com.
MORE ON AJC.COM: Best places around Atlanta to keep your New Year’s resolutions
MARTA’s Atlanta Streetcar
Hard to believe, but it has been nearly five years since the Atlanta Streetcar began operation. So, if you still haven’t boarded the streetcar, put it in your 2020 plans. The current path operates from Centennial Olympic Park to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. And with recently announced expansion plans, the streetcar will soon be on the move to new places, such as the Beltline and Atlanta University Center.
Current route starts at Peachtree Center Station and includes 11 stops toward Woodruff Park. 404-848-5000, itsmarta.com.
AJC Peachtree Road Race
The annual tradition — now in its 51st year — draws runners from all over the globe, helping to cement its title as the “world’s largest 10K.” So why not make this the year to participate in this internationally treasured event? (Note: Registration for the 2020 AJC Peachtree Road Race will open on March 15, 2020). But even if you decide not to run/walk the race, you can still take part in the spectacle by finding a spot along the Peachtree Road course to cheer on the 60,000 participants.
July 4. The race starts in Buckhead near Lenox Square Mall and ends in Piedmont Park. 404-231-9064, atlantatrackclub.org/peachtree.
Atlanta Movie Tours
Dubbed the “Hollywood of the South,” several blockbuster movies and acclaimed television shows are filmed right here in the city. By now, you’ve likely even stumbled across a few filming sets unknowingly. But if all those cryptic yellow filming signs only make you more curious about Atlanta’s movie scene, then perhaps 2020 should be the year you finally checked out a movie tour. Atlanta Movie Tours is a great opportunity to tour the filming locations for movies and shows such as “Black Panther,” “Walking Dead,” “Baby Driver” and more.
Atlanta Movie Tours, 327 Nelson St. SW, Atlanta. 855-255-3456, atlantamovietours.com.
Movie Castings
Want a deeper look behind the lens of Atlanta’s filming scene — and want to get paid for it, too? If so, be sure to keep an eye out for casting calls in 2020. Follow the social media pages for casting agencies like Central Casting Georgia, which are always on the lookout for extras/background actors (Also, read how to get cast as an extra in Atlanta).
Central Casting Georgia, 235 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 217, Atlanta; 404- 920-8011, centralcasting.com.
Summerhill Atlanta
The newly redeveloped mixed-use district will certainly be abuzz in 2020 as more restaurants plan to open in the first quarter, joining an already impressive group of new local restaurant concepts. This year, make plans to visit its retail center, where foodies can find everything from Sicilian-style pizza to Instagrammable doughnuts. And among the most notable 2020 Summerhill openings is Little Bear, the first brick-and-mortar restaurant from acclaimed pop-up chef Jarrett Stieber.
Summerhill Atlanta, Georgia Avenue, summerhillatl.com.
Pop-up restaurants and A Mano
Speaking of pop-ups chefs and restaurants, this growing trend will likely carry on into 2020, so take advantage of all the out-of-the-box culinary fun while you still can. A Mano, an Italian restaurant in the Old Fourth Ward, routinely invites outside chefs to host pop-up dinners in their venue. That’s where you can likely catch pop-up chef Seung Hee Lee, known for her exciting Korean flavor fusions.
A Mano, 587 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE, Atlanta. 404-549-7727, amanoatl.com.
The Beltline and beyond
Each new year usually brings those same-old resolutions — one of which is often to get more active. An outdoor walk can be one of the easiest and most rewarding physical activities, and Atlanta has plenty of beautiful options to put foot to pavement, trail or green space. Make this the year to explore everything from hiking trails to the city’s recreational parks. And beginning Jan. 2, 2020, the Beltline (in partnership with the Atlanta Track Club) will host new free weekly group run/walks for their Run.Walk.Go program.
Check website for run/walk group times and directions to each trail head entrance. beltline.org.
The sun casts a long shadow as a man jogs along the Atlanta Beltline near the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM Photo: For the AJC
Emory Continuing Education courses
Did any of your 2020 resolutions involve self-betterment? The Emory Continuing Education center offers a wide selection of courses to help with your goals. Find everything from career-based pursuits, such as learning HTML or email marketing strategy, to personal enrichment interests, such as wine tastings and learning how to paint with acrylics.
Emory Continuing Education, 2635 Century Parkway NE, Suite 300, Atlanta. 404-727-6000. ece.emory.edu .
Centennial Olympic Park and neighboring attractions
It’s true, sometimes, we locals tend to take things for granted and that means rarely — or (gasp) never — taking advantage of our most popular tourist attractions. If this sounds like you, then consider adding Centennial Olympic Park and the surrounding attractions to your 2020 list. Find a concentration of tourist favorites here, including the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, CNN Studios, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and the SkyView Ferris wheel. (Note: the Atlanta CityPass is a cost-friendly way to see multiple attractions for less).
Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W NW, Atlanta. 404-223-4000. gwcca.org. Visit the attraction websites for venue hours, addresses and pricing.
High Museum of Art
In the same vein, a visit to the High Museum is another activity to mark on your year ’20 list, especially if you’ve haven’t visited in some time. In addition to its permanent collection and often Instagram-famous temporary exhibits (like their current Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” exhibit), the High also hosts programming such as their jazz and HIGH Frequency nights, where the museum comes alive with music and cocktails.
High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-733-4400. high.org.
“The Shade” by August Rodin is one of the most notable works on display on the campus at the High Museum of Art. STAFF PHOTO Photo: For the AJC
Oakland Cemetery
It’s more than just a historic graveyard, and if you’ve never been, then perhaps it’s time to discover why. Recognized for its deep history and celebrity grave sites, the popular attraction hosts several tours, including their October Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours, which routinely sell out as early as July. But you don’t have to wait until fall for an ideal time to visit. On Feb. 29, the cemetery hosts its annual Daffodil Day, a free event celebrating the flower’s seasonal return in the cemetery.
Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-688-2107, oaklandcemetery.com.
Overview of Oakland Cemetery. Photo: For the AJC
Atlanta Festivals
Each year you tell yourself you’re going to go to … (insert: Dogwood, Music Midtown, SweetWater 420, AJC Decatur Book Festival, etc.). Don’t let another year go by with missed opportunities and unfulfilled plans. Make 2020 the year to maximize your weekends with some festival fun.
Visit the individual festival websites for festival dates addresses and pricing. dogwood.org, musicmidtown.com, sweetwater420fest.com, decaturbookfestival.com.
Leon Bridges, Walk The Moon, Cold War Kids, and more at Music Midtown Photo: Tad Lemire/ B98.5
Staycation
As you plan more opportunities to add excitement to your year, also consider planning more opportunities for self-care. And a staycation can be an easy and affordable option for a mental health getaway. You can indulge in a spa-luxury combo at properties like the St. Regis Atlanta and the Waldorf Astoria Buckhead or aim for lively, trendier escapes like the Moxy in midtown and Hotel Clermont.
St Regis, 88 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta. 404-563-7900, stregisatlanta.com; Waldorf Astoria Buckhead, 3376 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-995-7500, waatl.com; Moxy Atlanta, 48 13th St. NE, Atlanta. 404-249-9446, acmoxymidtown.com; Hotel Clermont, 789 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE Atlanta. 470-207-5646, hotelclermont.com.
The Unforgettable Atlanta package at the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead is ideal for people with limited time but want the opportunity to relax. Contributed by Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead Photo: For the AJC
2020 Olympic Trials Marathon
As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approach, it’s only natural to reflect on Atlanta’s time as host to the big games. But Atlanta will actually have the chance to relive some of that excitement as the city plays host to the U.S. Olympic marathon trials. The race will take place Feb. 29 (yes, it’s a leap year) and include the nation’s best marathoners. Arranged by the Atlanta Track Club and the USA Track & Field organization, spectators are directed along Peachtree for the best viewing locations of the course.
12:03 p.m. (men’s start time) and 12:13 p.m. (women’s start time) Feb. 29. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. NW, Atlanta. atlanta2020trials.com.
Support local at iVillage @ MLK and more
Consider making a New Year’s resolution to support more local vendors. With new businesses sprouting up around the city, there’s increasing evidence that the push to support small business is taking hold. The iVillage @ MLK is one such initiative dedicated to offering affordable retail spaces for new entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Located just outside the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA station, the newly opened shipping container village already hosts a few new businesses with plans to place more tenants soon.
iVillage @ MLK, 2489 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta. investatlanta.com.
Your polling place
Georgians will have a packed ballot this election year with two Senate seats, several House seats, the 2020 presidential elections and many local races up for a vote this year. Visit the State of Georgia’s My Voter Page to register to vote, check your voter status, view sample ballots and more.
Visit www.mvp.sos.ga.gov for more details.
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Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism. | The month of January is heating up in Atlanta with festivals to warm the heart, and apparently the city.
From wine and beer to a music festival and pop-up Polaroid party, here are 10 festivals to keep you busy this month:
» RELATED: Georgia’s state parks to host ‘first day’ hikes to kick off 2020
In Dreams: A One Day Music Festival & Pop-Up Polaroid Party
8 p.m. Jan. 10, The Bakery, 825 Warner St. Atlanta, www.freshtix.com.
Atlanta's coolest multi-faceted arts complex, The Bakery, is hosting a one-of-a-kind One Day Music Festival & Pop-Up Polaroid Party. Dreamy tunes will be supplied by local bands Rose Hotel, Avery Leigh's Night Palace, True Blossom and others. And for those wanting to taste more, hop on over to the art gallery to experience a pop-up Polaroid party. Tickets are just $10 and all ages are welcome.
Atlanta Winter Wine Festival
Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m, Jan. 18, City Winery, 650 North Ave, NE. #201, Atlanta, www.atlantawinefestivals.com.
There are two sessions of the Atlanta Winter Wine Festival to keep you warm and fuzzy; one from noon to 4 p.m. and another from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be more than 50 wines, beers, and ciders to drink along with live music. Festival tickets are $45 in advanced, $50 after Jan. 9, and $60 day of the event.
Pontoon Brewing's 2nd Anniversary
1-8 p.m. Jan. 18, Noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 19, Pontoon Brewing Company, 8601 Dunwoody Place #500, Sandy Springs, www.eventbrite.com.
Pontoon Brewing is turning two. Over two days, the Sandy Springs brewery welcomes its fans for a festival of beer. One new beer on tap, a tropical creamsicle sour called Glazed, was made in concert with the brewery's favorite band, Tennessee's *repeat repeat. “We aren’t an ordinary band, and Pontoon is not an ordinary brewing company,” the band explains on their website. “They take a fresh approach to beer and flavor profiles and bring excitement into each type of beer they brew”. Come out and show support for this local brewery for their second anniversary.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Celebration
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 20, The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW, Atlanta, www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Celebration at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is just one of the many ways to celebrate a man so important to Atlanta as well as the world. Bring the kiddos by from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on January 20 for special programming such as MLK Day Reader’s Theater and other hands on activities.
» RELATED: 6 must-attend metro Atlanta January 2020 food events
9th Annual Smyrna Oysterfest
Doors open at 7 p.m. Jan. 24, 11 a.m. Jan. 25, Noon, Jan. 26, Atkins Park Smyrna, 2840 Atlanta Rd. SE, Smyrna, www.smyrnaoysterfest.com.
This Mardi Gras-themed Oysterfest will take place at Atkins Park in Smyrna. There will be plenty of raw, grilled, and fried oysters with the promise of plenty of Abita beer and New Orleans-inspired music.
Tickets are $15 in advance for both days or $8 for one, tickets will be $12 per day at the door. Admission for ages 12 & under are free.
ATL Wings Pub Crawl
1-5 p.m. Jan. 25, Midtown Atlanta, www.slinginwingsfestival.com.
Atlanta is known for some of the best wings around; hop on this pub crawl and taste for yourself. Just make sure to order yours lemon pepper wet. Tickets include a wing passport for 10 chicken wings for five crawl stops, your first beer and a souvenir event cup. A portion of event proceeds will benefit Releash Atlanta.
Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25-26, Chinese Culture Center, 5377 New Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, www.facebook.com.
The Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival has been held annually for the last 30 years to celebrate the Lunar New Year celebration. Festivities include dragon dance, lion dance, traditional Taiwan night market food and more.
Atlanta Braves when Chop Fest
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25, SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta, 755 Battery Ave. Atlanta, www.travelcobb.org.
Celebrate your back-to-back National League East Champions, the Atlanta Braves, at Chop Fest. All across SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta there will be a variety of exciting events such as player autographs and photos, unique interactive experiences, baseball clinics, on-field activities, live entertainment and much more. And the best part, admission is free.
Atlanta Jewish Life Festival
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26, Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, www.atlantajewishlifefestival.com.
The 2nd Annual Atlanta Jewish Life Festival is Atlanta's largest single day festival promoting and celebrating Jewish and Israeli arts, culture, music and food at the Georgia Aquarium. Connect with the community by learning about local synagogues, nonprofits and more with the hope to further strengthen the bonds and understanding of Jewish beliefs and traditions. There will be artist vendors, food vendors, a kids zone, and live performances. Ticket prices vary.
» RELATED: Start the new year with wine tasting at Roswell Provisions
Roswell Roots: Festival of Black History & Culture Reception & Proclamation
5 p.m. Jan. 27, Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St, Roswell, www.roswellgov.com.
Throughout the month of February celebrate Roswell's African American history and culture with the Roswell Roots Festival. There are lots of unique and fun events for everyone, starting with the opening reception and National Black History Month proclamation by Mayor and City Council at Roswell City Hall on January 27. Light refreshments and snacks will be served during reception. This event is free and open to the public.
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When Ascension’s St. Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee announced it would cut back services in 2018, residents of the surrounding Sherman Park area balked.
The predominantly black, low-income neighborhood already faced its share of challenges. Nearly a third of residents in the ZIP code live in poverty, and black infants born there are more than twice as likely to die as white infants. Residents feared that reducing services would exacerbate these disparities, and even pave the way for the hospital to be shuttered completely.
They protested fiercely to keep services in place, and St. Joseph’s parent company, Ascension Wisconsin, eventually put the cuts on hold. St. Joseph Hospital works to maintain the community’s trust and fulfill the unmet social needs of patients, through programs such as Blanket of Love, which educates families about prenatal health, nutrition and exercise.
“It’s an anchor institution there,” says Reggie Newson, chief advocacy officer at Ascension Wisconsin.
But St. Joseph remains the target of a different kind of protest. The hospital is Catholic, which means it follows Ethical and Religious Directives, a set of rules written by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The rules prohibit Catholic hospitals, except in extreme situations, from providing procedures the church deems immoral — including abortions, contraception and sterilization. In-vitro fertilization is banned, as is physician-assisted suicide which is legal in nine states and the District of Columbia, although not in Wisconsin.
, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Wisconsin, recently met with members of the St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition , a community group formed after Ascension announced its cutbacks. After she informed them about Catholic hospital policy, “Light bulbs went off in the room,” Keeler says.
Although the majority of people surveyed by the community group had positive views of St. Joseph, some residents told Keeler they were worried and hesitant to send their pregnant loved ones to the hospital.
Keeler says while the ACLU works to safeguard religious liberty, it also has sued when patients were denied care based on religious restrictions.
“We take the position that it (religious liberty) can’t be used to harm other people,” she says.
Reproductive rights advocates say the restrictions impose religious doctrine on patients and violate medical standards of care in ways that disproportionately affect communities like Sherman Park.
Catholic health systems argue that they serve as safety nets in impoverished communities and provide the same quality of care as secular hospitals. According to the Catholic Health Association (CHA), which represents and advocates for the more than 600 Catholic hospitals in the United States, patients who received care at Catholic hospitals are more likely to recommend those hospitals than patients who receive care elsewhere.
That St. Joseph is both desperately needed and criticized reflects an increasingly common tension facing communities. An analysis by the Cap Times and the Fuller Project, a nonprofit news organization focusing on women’s issues, shows that in Wisconsin, the number of Catholic hospitals grew by 13 percent, while the number of non-Catholic hospitals fell by the same percentage, between 2001 and 2018.
Wisconsin hospitals can make these moves with little oversight — or regard for how business decisions might limit access to health care services. Wisconsin is one of 15 states that does not have a process for controlling hospital expansions or mergers, often called a Certificate of Need.
In most ways, these Catholic hospitals, which treat one in every seven patients in the United States, differ from secular ones in name only. Yet, critics say, in a small but important corner of reproductive care, Catholic ethics can trump medical best practice, bishops can wield more influence than physicians, and patients can be denied care they desire or need.
Catholic hospitals common
In Wisconsin, where Catholic Germans and Irish dominated immigration in the mid- to late- 1800s, one-third of hospitals are governed by Catholic religious principles — more than twice the national average.
Hospitals are not always transparent about the services they will and will not provide, and patients often lack a choice of where they seek care — or what care they will receive, the Cap Times and the Fuller Project found.
Wisconsin is more heavily reliant on Catholic health care than almost any other state in the country. It is the only state where black women are more likely to deliver their babies in a Catholic institution than a non-Catholic one, Columbia Law School researchers found. And in 12 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, the only hospitals within the borders are Catholic.
These hospitals are governed by 77 directives, which fuse Catholic theology with medicine and technology. They lay out the Catholic Church’s vision of health care in modern times, including a commitment to serve those on the margins of society and rules for how Catholic hospitals should merge with non-Catholic ones.
Several directives cover reproductive care that the church says can undermine the “biological, psychological and moral bonds” undergirding marriage and family. For example, Catholic-affiliated hospitals will not provide sterilization if the sole purpose is to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.
And abortion is not permitted, unless it is an “unavoidable” consequence of an action taken to save the mother’s life, according to Brian Reardon, vice president of communications and marketing for CHA.
Hospitals can differ on what the directives mean, with some using workarounds, such as a Madison, Wisconsin, hospital that refers patients seeking a common form of sterilization to undergo the procedure at a nearby eye clinic that does surgeries. In other instances, adherence to Catholic directives has led to denials and delays that physicians say put women’s health at risk.
How Catholic law is interpreted varies by hospital and which doctor you have. Some physicians provide referrals for abortions and other restricted services or find workarounds to the Catholic rules, such as prescribing contraception for menstrual pain rather than birth control. Others adhere strictly to the directives.
Out of dozens of former and current medical residents, physicians, nurses and midwives in Wisconsin contacted by the Cap Times and the Fuller Project, only one currently practicing physician agreed to speak on the record for this story. Other currently practicing providers agreed to speak only anonymously because of concerns about negatively affecting their careers or because they had been instructed not to by their employer.
Commenting on the variation in implementation of the Catholic principles, one Milwaukee obstetrician who asked not to be named says: “It’s very difficult because you don’t know what you’re dealing with at different hospitals with different policies. As ridiculous as it sounds, it’s almost like they have different religious values.”
To clarify how Wisconsin’s Catholic hospitals interpret, apply and communicate the directives, the Cap Times and the Fuller Project sent a series of questions to six such hospital systems: Ascension, SSM Health, Hospital Sisters Health System, Divine Savior Healthcare, Essentia Health, and Holy Family Memorial. Questions were also sent to Aspirus and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare, two non-Catholic health systems that own hospitals that adhere to the ERDs.
None responded individually. However, Nathaniel Blanton Hibner, CHA’s director of ethics, sent a statement on behalf of the organization and Ascension, SSM and Hospital Sisters Health System:
“Physicians working in Catholic facilities can and do prescribe contraceptives to treat a variety of underlying medical conditions,” Hibner wrote. “Catholic hospitals also provide emergency contraception to victims of rape or sexual assault. … Catholic hospitals also do not provide elective procedures where the sole intention is to cause the sterilization of the patient.”
The full statement can be read here.
Doctor recalls potential ‘time bomb’
Dr. Kathy Hartke worked in Catholic hospitals for 27 years. She recalls one patient from several years ago whom she says was negatively affected by the directives.
A young woman pregnant with twins arrived at the Catholic hospital in Brookfield, now known as Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital-Elmbrook Campus. Her water broke, and she began having labor contractions. At about 21 weeks, the fetuses had virtually zero chance of survival.
The longer they waited to terminate the pregnancy and her cervix remained dilated, the greater the risk the woman’s uterus would become infected, Hartke said. But at Elmbrook, medical personnel were told they could not terminate the pregnancy as long as the fetuses had heartbeats.
Hartke recommended the patient be transferred to the secular Waukesha Memorial Hospital, where they could induce labor. But nurses gave the patient the opposite advice, insisting the Catholic hospital would safely take care of her.
“Meanwhile, we’re sitting on a possible time bomb of somebody who is going to get very, very sick … and potentially die,” says Hartke, who has retired from practice.
Receiving mixed messages and not knowing whom to trust, the patient remained in Hartke’s care. In the ensuing days, the patient grew sicker and sicker. She eventually developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition that is the body’s extreme response to infection, Hartke recalls.
Fortunately, the patient did not die. Hartke says she eventually went into spontaneous labor and was provided antibiotics, which prevented her from growing sicker. The fetuses did not survive.
If a mother is suffering from a life-threatening condition, Catholic hospitals will provide all medically indicated care — even if it results in the death of the child, CHA’s Hibner says.
“I’ve had calls where a doctor will say, ‘Well, we think there’s a good chance of infection but we’re going to wait,’ ” adds the Rev. Charles Bouchard, senior director of theology at CHA. “And I’d say, ‘Look, don’t wait until this infection starts. You need to be proactive about this because you know where it’s going.’ ”
But in her experience, Hartke says, “they push it to the last possible second.”
“How is any physician supposed to be able to predict when it’s too late and a woman is going to die?” she says.
Such late-pregnancy complications, while rare, can create dilemmas for some women seeking care in Catholic hospitals, says Dr. Jessika Ralph, a former resident of the Medical College of Wisconsin who rotated through two of Milwaukee’s Catholic hospitals. An obstetrician/gynecologist, Ralph now works at University of Minnesota Health.
Ralph tried to facilitate an abortion for a patient who became ill after going into premature labor with twins at St. Joseph in 2017. Ralph says she was forced to wait until the woman hemorrhaged or showed signs of infection to help end the doomed pregnancy.
The first fetus miscarried, and for hours, the patient bled heavily and drained of color. When the woman’s temperature soared after 10 hours, Ralph says she was given medication to induce labor — but not the standard abortion drug mifepristone, which the hospital did not stock. The second fetus was born 24 hours after the woman was admitted, Ralph says, and did not survive.
“While overall I believe these hospitals do provide good obstetric and gynecologic care for women, this unfortunately is a really big gap, and it’s a gap that patients don’t know about,” says Ralph, who also told her story to Rewire.News. “I wanted patients to be aware that this is a real occurrence that sometimes the hospital can’t provide the care that you feel you need.”
Tubal ligations raise thorny issues
At one Catholic hospital in Milwaukee, physicians “constantly” run into these restrictions while providing care to their patients, says the obstetrician who wished to remain anonymous.
The doctor says some Catholic-prohibited procedures, such as tying a woman’s tubes after she delivers via C-section to prevent additional pregnancies, are so frequently requested that doctors have lost track of how many times they have had to deny them.
This type of sterilization is a common form of contraception, with half of all such procedures performed soon after a woman delivers, according to a study by Nan O’Connell, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Women delivering by C-section at a secular hospital can ask physicians to tie their fallopian tubes, cut them and cauterize the ends while the abdomen is still open — a procedure that might last just a few minutes.
But at a Catholic hospital, the same woman must schedule a second surgery at a different hospital, the Milwaukee obstetrician says. By the time the woman is ready to go under the knife, she may already be pregnant again.
In fact, researchers have found that nearly half of women who requested to be sterilized but were denied became pregnant within a year.
“They’re done (having kids) but they lack the ability to come back and set up another surgery,” the physician says.
Hospitals also charge nearly three times more for postpartum tubal ligations than they do for the same procedure done during a C-section, according to a list of procedure costs covering 13 of the 15 Aurora hospitals in Wisconsin. The median charge for a C-section tubal is $515, while the charge for a postpartum tubal is $1,390.
Although it is a one-day procedure typically performed in an outpatient setting, postpartum tubals involve risks common to any surgery, including infection, bleeding and negative effects of anesthesia.
For women with serious health problems, such as heart valve disease or diabetes complications, getting pregnant again could prove fatal. Although death is relatively rare, Wisconsin’s black women are five times more likely to die because of pregnancy than white women, and the state has the highest infant mortality rate for black babies in the nation.
Doctors at Catholic hospitals face a dilemma: Refer patients to a different hospital and undercut their practice, do the tubal ligation and risk violating hospital rules, or make the patient go through two surgeries, at two different facilities.
“When you have a moral conflict like that, it eats away at you,” says Hartke, the retired obstetrician.
The Milwaukee obstetrician now advises patients not to deliver at a Catholic hospital if they want a tubal ligation. The doctor says it’s not worth the risk.
Religious affiliation not always clear
And many people who receive care at a Catholic hospital are not aware of its religious affiliation. In a national survey, one-third of women aged 18 to 45 who named a Catholic facility as their primary hospital for reproductive care did not know it was Catholic.
“There’s no transparency,” Hartke says.
One woman says it was decades later when she discovered the directives had impacted her. After delivering her daughter at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire in 1990, Melissa Davies wanted a tubal ligation.
“I said this would be my only child and asked to get my tubes tied,” recalls Davies, who was 24 at the time.
She says hospital staff denied her request, telling her she was too young and that the procedure was illegal.
“Then I come to find out it was Catholic law, not actual law,” she says.
Sister Mary Haddad, president and CEO of the CHA, rejects the notion that these hospitals are trying to hide their Catholic affiliation.
“If anything, we’re constantly looking for how to be able to communicate that in a very public way,” she says.
Practice, policies appear to diverge
Compounding the ambiguity is the fact that practice does not always appear to match stated policy. For example, physicians at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison perform tubal ligations at SSM’s Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care, a nearby clinic formerly operated by the secular Dean Health Systems.
According to a nurse who worked for Dean, the clinic is set up for eye surgery but not for tubals, and it sometimes lacked necessary supplies. She recalls a physician telling her he had to walk between the eye clinic and hospital to get needed equipment.
The nurse, who asked not to be named, says other clinic staff wondered why they could not perform tubals in St. Mary’s nearby surgery and care center, where other day surgeries are performed. St. Mary’s did not respond to a request for comment.
But Dr. Doug Laube, former president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a retired professor and practitioner at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, confirmed that tubals are performed there. He calls the arrangement “irrational.”
It is unclear whether similar arrangements will be allowed going forward, according to attorneys at the National Health Law Program, which works to protect the health care rights of underserved people. In 2018, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops updated the directives to provide guidance on hospital mergers, writing that such arrangements “must be operated in full accord with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.”
St. Mary’s physicians also may perform tubal ligations at the time of C-section, a former resident says — in contrast to many other Catholic hospitals, which do not offer that service.
According to the former UW-Madison obstetrics/gynecology resident, physicians at St. Mary’s could write a letter to the administration arguing it was safer for the mother not to have any more babies, such as in cases in which having a repeat C-section put them at higher risk of complications. The letter felt like a formality and was approved every time, the former resident recalls.
Contraception policies vary widely
A more pressing restriction was the forms of birth control they could provide, the former resident says. Secular hospitals commonly implant long-acting reversible forms of contraception such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) after a woman gives birth. Physicians interviewed by the Cap Times and the Fuller Project who worked at Catholic hospitals say they were not allowed to implant IUDs, which provide contraception that can last for years.
Data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association suggest this is largely true. Ascension’s St. Joseph Hospital, for example, billed for an IUD just nine times for the fiscal year ending June 2019, whereas the non-Catholic Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, less than 5 miles away, did the same more than 1,500 times.
There are some significant exceptions. Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Superior billed for 135 IUDs in fiscal year 2019; Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, which has two campuses, billed for 666 IUDs, Wisconsin Hospital Association data show.
The time immediately following delivery can be crucial to eliminate gaps in contraception for those who desire it. Forty percent of women do not return for a postpartum visit, while as many as 75 percent of women who plan on obtaining a long-acting contraceptive after giving birth do not follow through.
“It’s a missed opportunity for sure,” says the former Dean nurse.
Cami Thomas compares such religious refusals of care to the nation’s shameful history of people of color sterilized against their will that continued late into the past century. Thomas is a leader of Maroon Calabash, which describes itself as a black radical reproductive justice organization run by doulas who provide support and guidance to pregnant women.
Other research has shown that women of color more often feel pressured by physicians into using contraception than white women.
Reproductive health care, she says, should be about “dignity and consent.”
Thomas recounts going to a Catholic hospital about a decade ago when she was on the brink of death, having lost two-thirds of her blood after her menstrual cycle went on for six months.
To stop her period and bring her blood count up, her doctor wanted to give her Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, she says. But the hospital’s rules on contraception prohibited it, the doctor told her. Furious at the hospital’s policies, he found a loophole.
“Not all doctors are like that,” she says. “Thank goodness I had that doctor.”
This story was a collaboration between Wisconsin Watch, the Cap Times and Fuller Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news outlet that focuses on women’s issues. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates. | ‘Sometimes it’s just pain, pain, pain’: A rural Wisconsin doctor’s fight to manage opioid use
NECEDAH - Dr. Angela Gatzke-Plamann didn’t fully grasp her community’s opioid crisis until one desperate patient called on a Friday afternoon in 2016.
“He was in complete crisis because he was admitting to me that he had lost control of his use of opioids,” recalled Gatzke-Plamann, 40, the only full-time family physician in the central Wisconsin village of Necedah, population 916, nestled among bluffs and pines.
The patient had used opioids for several years for what Gatzke-Plamann called “a very painful condition.” But a urine screening one week earlier had revealed heroin and morphine in his system. He denied any misuse that day. Now he was not only admitting it, but asking for help.
But Gatzke-Plamann had no resources to offer. She and the patient searched the internet while still on the phone, trying to find somewhere nearby that could help. No luck.
Here was a patient with a family and job who spiraled into addiction due to doctor-prescribed pain pills, yet the community’s barebones health system left him on his own to find treatment — which he later did, 65 miles away. If that situation was going to change in Necedah, it was up to Gatzke-Plamann.
“That weekend I went home and I said, ‘I’ve got to do something different,’” she recalled.
In many ways, rural communities like Necedah have become the face of the nation’s opioid epidemic. Drug overdose deaths are more common in rural areas than in urban ones. And rural doctors prescribe opioids more often by far, despite a nationwide decline in prescribing rates since 2012. Meanwhile, rural Americans have fewer alternatives to treat their very real pain, and they disproportionately lack access to effective addiction medication such as buprenorphine.
For rural physicians like Gatzke-Plamann, the burden of responding to the opioid epidemic falls on their already-loaded shoulders.
Rural residents report more pain
One reason there are more opioid prescriptions in the rural United States: Those residents report more chronic pain. Rural communities skew older, meaning they disproportionately deal with painful conditions related to aging, such as arthritis.
Injuries also appear to be more common among communities more dependent on physically demanding jobs, such as mining and logging.
For 62-year-old Necedah resident Michael Kruchten, the chronic pain stems from chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments he received for lung cancer in 2011.
Kruchten is cancer free now, but the treatments left him with permanent and severe nerve damage in his hands and feet.
“Sometimes it’s a burning — a continuous burning,” Kruchten said. “Sometimes it’s just like a sharp jolt of pain. And then sometimes it’s just pain, pain, pain.”
The pain forced him to stop working at the ethanol plant in Necedah. Daily chores became challenging. The pain would keep him awake a night, leaving him pounding his pillow in frustration.
Gatzke-Plamann tries to avoid prescribing opioids when she can, but alternatives are limited. The nearest physical therapy is in Mauston, a 17-mile drive south. Treatments such as cognitive therapy for pain require drives to Madison, Marshfield or La Crosse, each at least an hour away.
She first tried prescribing Kruchten gabapentin and then duloxetine, two non-opioid medicines. Neither helped enough. Eventually she prescribed the opioid hydrocodone, finally allowing him to sleep.
“Without the sleep I was a couch potato,” Kruchten said. “Once I started to get to sleep (at night), I got rid of my TV and the couch and started becoming more active.”
Doctor launches multi-pronged effort
Necedah is not exactly at the center of the opioid epidemic, but it is not far from it either. The overdose death rate in Juneau County — home to Necedah — tracks with the state average, which itself is about average in the United States. But Juneau County shares a border with Adams County, home to one of the state’s highest overdose death rates.
When Gatzke-Plamann came to Necedah in 2010, U.S. opioid prescriptions were peaking. She estimates she inherited 25 to 30 patients with monthly opioid prescriptions. Soon she, like many peers around the country, noticed a rise in overdose and misuse.
Today, Gatzke-Plamann’s affiliated hospital sends her a monthly report of how many of her patients have opioid prescriptions. It varies each month, she said, but usually ranges from seven to 10. That is due to her efforts.
Around 2012, she stopped taking on new patients using chronic opioid medications to focus on current opioid patients. She weaned many off opioids and tracked how many pills she prescribed. Instead of defaulting to a month’s worth of pills for a C-section patient, for example, she might only prescribe three to five pills.
“Most of the time those patients really only have that much pain for a couple of days,” Gatzke-Plamann said. “We don’t need to have those pain medications sitting in their medicine cabinets.”
Gatzke-Plamann helped shape her community’s wider discussion about opioids. That included joining the county’s substance abuse prevention coalition and educating her peers.
Agreements help opioid users
Around 2016, Mile Bluff Medical Center — the hospital in Mauston with which she is affiliated — standardized a medication treatment agreement with patients, laying out rules for opioid prescriptions.
Patients such as Michael Kruchten must agree to stipulations before getting a new prescription. That includes getting pills from only one doctor and filling prescriptions at just one pharmacy while also submitting to random pill counts and urine screenings. Kruchten is something of a model patient in that regard, according to Gatzke-Plamann.
“You come in for appointments regularly and you’re always on time and you’re respectful with the staff,” she told him as they reviewed the contract at an appointment in November.
Gatzke-Plamann can stop prescribing opioids to patients who violate the agreement. But the contracts aim to keep communication open rather than punish. Reviewing the contract with a patient allows them to revisit the risks and warning signs of addiction.
On his recent visit, Kruchten told the doctor he only took one hydrocodone pill instead of his usual two the previous night, saying it was “satisfactory” in curbing the pain.
“And that’s good that you don’t take it to just put yourself to sleep,” Gatzke-Plamann responded. “Because it’s not a sleep medicine. You understand that. We’ve talked about that one before.”
“Yep,” Kruchten agreed.
Treatment lacking in rural areas
The Friday call for help in 2016 made Gatzke-Plamann realize Necedah lacked a crucial tool for solving the pain puzzle: addiction treatment.
“We don’t have as many resources here,” Gatzke-Plamann said of Juneau County, one of the poorest and least healthy in the state. “When I see that there’s a need for something, it’s on me to do something about that.”
She said that is what happened with buprenorphine.
Experts say buprenorphine effectively treats addiction, but the medicine is particularly scarce in rural communities. More than 10 million rural Americans — more than one-fifth of the country’s rural population — live in counties without a single clinician licensed to prescribe the drug. (The rural-urban disparity in access has, however, shrunk since 2017.)
In Wisconsin, 18 of 72 counties lack a buprenorphine provider, and 14 of those unserved counties are rural.
Today Gatzke-Plamann is one of only two people in Juneau County licensed to prescribe buprenorphine. The other is a physician’s assistant she supervises. Catina Stoflet is among about 10 patients they treat in this expansion of a practice that Gatzke-Plamann considered “already at capacity.”
Stoflet, 35, got hooked on prescription opioids as a 16-year-old in 2001, during the first wave of the nation’s opioid epidemic. She started getting kidney stones in high school. She has endured more than 200 of the painful obstructions by her count, leading to many surgeries to remove them.
That first prescription was for Tylenol 3, a combination of acetaminophen and the opioid codeine. Doctors soon escalated her to stronger drugs: vicodin, percocet, oxycodone.
“It was right around the time that people didn’t know what (opioids were) doing to you,” Stoflet said.
Stoflet said she spent years in recovery beginning in 2007. But she relapsed in 2014, progressing to heroin and methamphetamine. This year she decided to quit for good. Stoflet said her primary care doctor introduced her to Gatzke-Plamann, who had recently begun prescribing buprenorphine.
Just like Gatzke-Plamann’s opioid patients, buprenorphine patients must sign contracts, including agreeing to participate in a treatment program.
Stoflet works with a counselor and community recovery specialist at the Roche-A-Cri Recovery Center in Friendship, Wisconsin, about 20 miles from Necedah. The center opened in September 2018. Without its additional resources, Gatzke-Plamann said she would not feel comfortable prescribing buprenorphine.
“I am just one part of their treatment plan,” Gatzke-Plamann said. “I prescribe the medication, but they need the counseling. They need the psycho-social support. They need the group meetings.”
Stoflet lives about 30 miles from Roche-A-Cri and 40 miles from Gatzke-Plamann’s clinic in Necedah. Even so, Stoflet said the long, frequent drives for recovery are worthwhile.
‘It might be rocky’
At an appointment in early November, Stoflet worried about an upcoming surgery that would require her to pause her buprenorphine treatment and return to opioids for pain. She talked through the angst with Gatzke-Plamann.
“We would potentially take you off the buprenorphine and do short-acting pain medications around that time,” the doctor said. “The trouble is then, after your acute pain episode from the surgery is no longer as significant — then we need you to stop those pain medicines for at least 24 hours. And then you can start up on your regular buprenorphine dose.”
“So I will be able to go right to the regular dose,” Stoflet said, “and I should be fine?”
“Yes,” Gatzke-Plamann reassured, adding, “it might be rocky.”
“I know it’s going to be — it’s no treat,” Stoflet replied.
Stoflet did briefly use opioids after her late-November surgery. Then she returned to buprenorphine. December marks seven months of treatment.
The opioid epidemic is too complicated to boil down to grim statistics or the stories of one or two patients. But the crisis is real across Wisconsin and beyond, and Gatkze-Plamann confronts it every day.
“I couldn’t imagine not doing it, because — then who would?”
This story comes from a partnership of Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Public Radio and NPR. Bram Sable-Smith is WPR’s Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Fellow embedded in the newsroom of Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org), which collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
MORE: While millions are spent to fight the opioid epidemic, meth crisis quietly grows in Wisconsin
MORE: At 20 years old, she was addicted to opioids. That's not the end of her story. | 1.666667 |
The old Friedom hotel has undergone many changes this year, from new owners to the newly painted green colour. Claire Palmer/Star Photo
The Friedom hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Golden. Located at 511 Main Street, it was originally built in the early 20th century. The hotel first opened its doors just over 90 years ago, in 1928.
Now, the building is getting a face lift, and as it nears its centennial birthday, it’s being brought into the 21st century by the new owners. Once formerly owned and occupied by Cox and Company, husband and wife Mike Taylor and Claire Dibble have become the new owners, taking over the building on April 15, 2019.
According to Taylor, the renovations included adding a hallway to allow second floor tenants access to their offices without going through the main floor store fronts, several utility upgrades and making sure that everything was up to modern provincial codes and standards.
A tree faller with Sawtooth Tree Services and involved in the ski industry, Taylor has had to briefly put his life on hold while he patches up the old hotel.
“I put everything aside for six months to do this, and I’m just coming up on the end of six months now, and I’m still doing work,” said Taylor. “It’s been fun. It’s been challenging. It’s a heavy work load, but it’s very enjoyable.”
Working on the building has given Taylor an opportunity to learn more about the history of the hotel. He’s read archived articles about opening day in 1928, and says that people frequently approach him to share their knowledge of the building.
“People have been interested to chat about their experience with the building,” said Taylor. “A lot of people have been stopping in and telling me their stories and it’s been really fascinating.”
The idea to take over the building was born out of the idea of restoring the hotel to its former glory, but with a modern twist.
“It was an opportunity that we learned of and we just saw a chance to bring a beautiful old building back to life,” said Taylor.
Originally, the hotel had 14 rooms, four bathrooms and a communal dining area. Now, the building has four residential suites, one one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments, as well as retail and office space.
While there is still one apartment available, all of the retail space has been spoken for, with businesses like the newly minted Worthy Boutique. When searching for businesses, Taylor says they were looking for a particular kind of business to embody what the Friedom hotel is all about.
“We wanted them to be energetic, successful and not noisy,” said Taylor. “Everything is spoken for and rented, we found great businesses.”
Taylor anticipates that around 90 per cent of the planned renovations and construction will be done in the next couple of weeks. While the work has been enjoyable, Taylor is eager to get back to his regular daily life.
For now, Taylor and Dibble are going to continue with what they’re doing and continue to upgrade the building. | Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
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Published: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 @ 4:58 PM
— Police are asking for help identifying three male in an armed robbery at Sammy’s Neighborhood Market last month.
The robbery was reported around 8:45 p.m. Nov. 5 at 3705 Wayne Ave.
>> RELATED: Masked trio rob Sammy’s Market in Dayton
Surveillance video from inside the store shows two males approach the counter and pull out weapons.
The suspects were all wearing hoodies and escaped out the backdoor with cash.
#HELPID - 3 males robbed Sammy's Supermarket, 3705 Wayne Ave on Nov. 5th at gunpoint. Detectives believe they are responsible for numerous other robberies in Dayton & surrounding area.
Recognize them? Call 937-333-COPS or Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP & remain anonymous pic.twitter.com/q67yjcjyVR — Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) December 31, 2019
No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
Detectives believe the trio is responsible for other robberies in the Dayton area.
Anyone with information should contact police at 937-333-COPS or Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP. | Representative image
BENGALURU: A Delhi-based man has lodged a complaint with Bengaluru police stating that gold ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh have gone missing from his room in a star hotel on Kumara Krupa Road. The incident is said to have occurred on December 28 when Kushagra Sharma checked into the hotel along with his wife."My wife had placed a 50gm gold chain with two lockets and a rudraksha chain with three lockets on the bedside. While heading to dinner around 9.30pm, I noticed she wasn't wearing the chains. She went near the bed to collect them and was shocked to see them missing. We immediately informed the hotel management and with their help, carefully searched the room again, but in vain. We suspect housekeeping staff may have stolen them," read the complaint.Police said they have questioned the housekeeping staff. "We were busy with New Year security duties. We will question more staff this week," said police. | 1.666667 |
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By logging in to LiveJournal using a third-party service you accept LiveJournal's User agreement | The agencies of Momo, of TWICE, and Kim Heechul, of Super Junior, confirm reports that the two are an item.
The K-pop stars have been the subject of dating rumors, though their agencies denied reports that they were dating back in August of 2019.
JYP Entertainment released an official statement on Wednesday (January 1) reading, “Hello, this is JYP Entertainment. We are confirming that Heechul and Momo are in a relationship. They have recently started a relationship that grew from a sunbae-hoobae friendship in the industry. Thank you.”
SJ Label also said, “Hello, this is Label SJ. We have confirmed with Heechul and Momo that they have recently started dating from being a close sunbae and hoobae. Thank you.” (via Allkpop and Soompi)
READ MORE: Super Junior Member Kangin Announces He Is Leaving the Group After 14 Years | 4 |
Michael Ungar, Ph.D. is the founder and director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University. His work as a family therapist and resilience researcher is recognized around the world and his latest book, "Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success," was released by Sutherland House in 2019.
If your resolution this year is to change your workplace or your career, there are five easy strategies.
Look for a better supervisor, create work comraderie, change up your physical environment, bulk up your credentials, and set aside some money.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Lots of us will commit in January to making changes at work or in our careers. Most of us will, unfortunately, feel like failures by March. Here are five effective strategies for changing your workplace and your career in ways that are likely to last until at least this coming December.
All of these resolutions share one thing in common: they remind us that we have to change the world around us if we want to make individual changes stick. Simply adapting to a bad workplace or a lousy career is not a long-term plan for success. | Source: lauramusikanski/morguefile
One small word encompasses a big shift in thinking that can help people become unstuck. That word—probably the favorite word of clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals—is “and.” Here are some examples of how you can use it to deepen your understanding and think more flexibly about your circumstances.
Your perspective and their perspective
In conflicts, people often waste a lot of time and energy arguing about who is right or wrong. This tends to go nowhere. A more useful approach is to recognize that different people have different perspectives, all of which can be valid, even if they contradict one another.
This use of “and” recognizes that we can understand and respect someone else’s perspective, even if we don’t agree with it. For example, we can acknowledge, “I would never deliberately try to hurt you and my actions did hurt you” or “I like to be spontaneous and you prefer to make plans.” When we move past right or wrong toward empathy and respect, we’re in a better place to move forward together.
Happy and sad
Life is complicated. Few choices or situations are 100 percent positive, so our feelings in response to them tend to be more like patchwork quilts than whole-cloth blankets.
This use of “and” acknowledges ambivalence and allows us to have a deeper understanding of our emotional lives. We don’t have to pick one emotion; we can experience and embrace all of them, even at the same time. We can be happy about a big change and sad about leaving what we had before. We can be excited and worried, hurt and angry, disappointed and relieved. Recognizing our multifaceted emotional reactions allows us to choose wisely about how we’ll respond and take better care of ourselves.
Then and now
Statements along the lines of “I’ve always…” or “I never…” suggest that we have only one way of doing things, which is the way we’ve done them before. But psychotherapy—and life—are fundamentally about change.
This use of “and” recognizes our patterns and habits, and it also creates room for us to move in new directions. What came before matters. That’s what created our expectations and assumptions. That’s what led up to who we are today. We can accept our past and also commit to creating ourselves anew each day. Maybe in an old relationship, you responded one way and now you want to react a different way. Maybe in the past, it was hard for you to do something and now you are better equipped to handle it. Maybe you’ve been scared and now you’re willing to move forward even though you’re scared.
Embracing the word “and” is about cultivating openness, seeing nuance, and acknowledging possibility. “And” can give us hope.
Related posts:
©2019 Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D. | 2 |
Beyoncé shared a 2019 highlight reel on Instagram on New Year's Day.
The video featured behind-the-scenes footage of family birthday parties, premieres, photoshoots, and planning sessions.
The singer, songwriter, actress, and mogul had a busy year — starring in "The Lion King", releasing "Homecoming" on Netflix, winning awards, and more.
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Beyoncé let her fans see inside her biggest events of 2019 in a video she posted to Instagram on New Year's Day.
The highlight reel features behind-the-scenes footage of birthday parties for twins Rumi and Sir, daughter Blue Ivy, Diana Ross, Adele, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and her mom Tina Knowles.
The video also showed the mogul attending "The Lion King" premieres, the Oscars, the NAACP Image Awards, the Netflix premiere of her film "Homecoming", and the NBA playoffs.
Former first lady Michelle Obama and actress Sandra Oh also appeared in the video giving Beyoncé well wishes.
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) Dec 31, 2019 at 11:48pm PST
Beyoncé and her daughter Blue Ivy, who turns eight years old next week, were spotted celebrating New Year's with rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who posted two photos to her Instagram on Wednesday.
Happy 2020 🤘🏽 @beyonce A post shared by Hot Girl Meg (@theestallion) on Jan 1, 2020 at 9:59am PST Jan 1, 2020 at 9:59am PST
Fans couldn't believe how grown up Blue Ivy looked and how long her hair was. | We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as as they happen!
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Food For Thought provides healing nutrition and compassion to over 850 people affected by serious illnesses in Sonoma County.
They also supply over 300,000 meals per year at no charge to qualified clients who are at risk of malnutrition. Food For Thought services eliminate food insecurity, reduce hospital visits and medical expenses, and improve clients’ health and quality of life.
Food For Thought offers comprehensive nutritional services to over 850 people affected by HIV and other serious illnesses in Sonoma County. Their services are confidential and provided at no cost to clients in a welcoming and beautiful environment.
All clients are welcome to receive weekly groceries, vitamins and dietary supplements, and nutritional counseling. Groceries are delivered to clients who are homebound due to illness or lack of transportation. Clients who are unable to prepare food for themselves may receive frozen meals by applying through their case manager or doctor.
Clients are also invited to participate in FFT’s nutrition education and garden programs and to join other clients for a hot lunch three times a week at their Forestville location.
Volunteers are always needed and greatly appreciated!
To get started, please complete the volunteer registration form. You will be contacted soon after you submit your form. If you have any questions, please email Helen Myers at HelenM@FFTfoodbank.org or call (707) 887-1647.
Volunteer Opportunities include:
FOOD BANK CLERKS
Clerks staff the food bank itself in downtown Forestville. Duties include: greeting clients, taking their orders, and filling grocery bags both for walk-in clients and for those who are homebound. Clerks also stock shelves, receive deliveries, break down bulk items, wash windows, sweep floors and pitch in for any task at hand.
FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS
This is a great opportunity for those who work during the week but want to help once a month for a few hours! Three times a month, on Saturdays, volunteers conduct food drives outside the doors of local markets. Food drive volunteers offer flyers to shoppers as they enter the door, asking them to buy extra items while they shop and then receive the donations in bins as the shoppers exit. View upcoming food drive dates.
PICK-UP AND DELIVERY DRIVERS
Deliver groceries to clients who are homebound due to illness or lack of transportation. Pick up groceries in Forestville in your own car. We provide maps and directions. Usually four to eight stops on a route. Volunteers report an average of two hours of time per route.
GARDENERS
Under the direction of master gardeners, volunteers work to help maintain and harvest our organic vegetable, herb and flower gardens and orchard. The garden volunteers generally enjoy a lunch break together, often with fresh greens from the garden. A fine opportunity to learn more about organic gardening as well as touching the earth and connecting with nature.
LOVING SPOONFUL
Volunteers in the Loving Spoonful Program assist our chef to prep, prepare, and package healthy and delicious soups, salads, and other items for our clients. Volunteers with all levels of cooking skills are welcome to join our kitchen crew — and no experience is necessary! Shifts take place at the kitchen at Shone Farm in Santa Rosa every Monday from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Volunteers for a wide range of jobs are needed for all our special fundraising events: ticket takers, registration folk, guides and hosts, food and beverage assistants, drivers, phone solicitors, envelope stuffers, set up, parking, people with strong backs and people with gentle hands, and the (always important) clean-up crew.
Location:
6550 Railroad Avenue
PO Box 1608
Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-1647
info@fftfoodbank.org
(Originally aired: December 24, 2019) | Jan. 1–A teenager was injured early Tuesday morning when the Cadillac Escalade he was driving crashed near a home in southern Sonoma County.
The luxury SUV, driven southbound on Mecham Road toward Pepper Road, sustained major front-end damage when it went off the roadway around midnight, hitting a tree and striking a power pole, said Battalion Chief Herb Wandel with the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District.
“It pushed the front of the car back far enough that the brake pedal was up in the driver’s seat,” Wandel said of the impact.
The driver and sole occupant, a 17-year-old boy, sustained moderate injuries, according to CHP Officer David de Rutte. Driving under the influence was not suspected in the crash, he said, chalking up the collision to an “unsafe turning movement that caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.”
The teenager was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, Wandel said.
The house, which appeared to be home to several people, lost electric service as the impact splintered a power pole and pulled off an electrical panel, he said. None of the home’s occupants were injured as a result of the crash, according to CHP.
You can reach Staff Writer Will Schmitt at 707-521-5207 or will.schmitt@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @wsreports.
(c)2019 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Visit The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) at www.pressdemocrat.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | 1 |
It's easy to think Long Island is no longer the land of manufacturing.
With the end of high-profile companies like Grumman Corp., and the growth of other key sectors like health care and finance, the Island is no longer as directly and publicly associated with the manufacturing industry as it once was.
Nonetheless, it's still a critical part of the Island's economy — and its future is intrinsically tied to the region's success.
Nassau and Suffolk counties play host to about 3,000 manufacturers and about 70,000 jobs, according to a recent study from the Workforce Development Institute commissioned by a regional manufacturing task force. Perhaps most important, the study found that industry has thousands of open jobs and boasts a relatively high average salary, at $83,358 — critical in a high-cost area like Long Island.
At the same time, however, the industry suffers from a perception problem. It lacks the advocacy that regional business groups bring to other areas of the economy, like real estate development and finance, and unlike the building trades it lacks the support system and educational pipeline to assure that young, skilled workers will be ready to fill the thousands of job openings that exist even now.
Those jobs aren't the widget-making jobs of decades ago. Today, local manufacturers are utilizing robotics and artificial intelligence. Today, they're innovators and engineers. One company on the Island makes and exports tortellini to foreign nations, another makes military-style aircraft seats for military and commercial customers. Going forward, the local manufacturing industry plans to expand its base to include support for offshore wind projects.
To fill the needs, Long Island's community colleges and BOCES facilities have to develop the right certification and professional development programs. They will need to connect with the region's manufacturers to make sure their students' skills meet the companies' requirements. There are models in other parts of the state where successful apprenticeship programs are bridging the gap between student and employee. Additional workforce training, internships and even high school field trips would help both young workers and the companies that hope to employ them, by exposing potential future employees to the opportunities Long Island's manufacturers offer.
But both educators and industry leaders need support. Some advocates have suggested Long Island needs its own region-wide manufacturing association or organization. That might be unnecessary in an area where there are already plenty of business groups, and smaller, more specific industrial organizations, especially if the existing organizations expand their reach to highlight and work with the manufacturing sector.
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Forty years ago, nearly 20% of the Island's workers were employed in manufacturing. That number is now down to 5%, but with the right strategy and spotlight, Long Island has the chance to create more jobs in new industries that can represent the region's future, as much as its past.
— The editorial board | , the animal hero, swoops in to help all animals in need of rescue. Veganza creates more animal heroes by empowering them with empathy. Courage, the mermaid, defends all sea creatures. Together, Veganza and Courage are unbeatable animal defenders.
Author Susan Hargreaves is a 41 year veteran of the animal rights movement.. She is a kindness educator, and activist. She has rehabilitated wildlife and investigated animal cruelty in circuses and rodeos, as well as in the animal-based agriculture industry. Susan founded the youth empowering charity Animal Hero Kids to prevent the animal cruelty she has witnessed by fostering empathy and compassionate choices in youth. Annual Animal Hero Kids Awards events recognize courageous, kind, creative youth and all programs include a vegan fare component.
100 percent of the profits from this book supports the free Animal Hero Kids Kindness Education Programs. | 1 |
NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Argentine Yerba Mate, a tea-like drink featuring powerful antioxidants and high caffeine content, is poised to be a top food & beverage trend in 2020. Introducing this South American staple to new consumers, Argentine Yerba Mate is challenging Americans to swap their daily coffee for a cup of Argentine Yerba Mate, encouraging them to make the change by entering a social media sweepstakes.
Consumers love a challenge that is not only achievable but also improves their lives. Available nationwide in specialty tea stores, natural food markets and on Amazon.com, Argentine Yerba Mate contains 78 mg of caffeine, but with a caffeine kick that is more gradual, giving a sustained energy so there's no crash traditionally associated with coffee.
The superfood's nutrient profile is also unmatched, noted for helping with everything from boosting immunity, increasing circulation, protecting liver cells, serving as a digestive aid, helping with weight control and more.
"Argentine Yerba Mate is a rich source of antioxidants (with levels even higher than green tea!) and drinking it boosts your intake of B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, potassium, and manganese," says Kath Younger, RD, of Kath Eats Real Food.
As the wellness space continues to grow and thrive, consumers are on the lookout for the newest trends in the healthy lifestyle category. According to a report1, 65% of Americans want more functionality out of their food and 25% are eating superfoods.
Young continues, "Yerba Mate has a flavor profile similar to green tea with an earthy finish, and pairs well with a bit of sweetness. If you're torn between tea and coffee because you don't want to sacrifice on caffeine, Yerba Mate might be your answer!"
For more about the health benefits of Yerba Mate, visit: http://www.sayyestomate.com/health-benefits
ARGENTINIAN DIFFERENCE
Yerba Mate is a traditional South American tea-like drink made from the leaves of the Yerba Mate tree, which are native to the Misiones and Corrientes Province of Argentina. Originally championed by the Guarani, an ancient people indigenous to the South American rainforests, the history of Yerba Mate can be traced back many centuries and today the delicious and versatile drink continues to be enjoyed across the globe, with Argentina as the world's leading producer.
Argentina cultivates the tree with production practices that are one hundred percent natural. Within Argentina, the plant is cultivated in the Misiones Province, where the trees thrive in the region's humid, subtropical climate, growing to approximately 40-50 ft. tall before being harvested. Yerba Mate leaves are similar to wine in their aging process, which can take anywhere from one month to three years to age depending on the variety. From germination to packaging, it takes approximately five years to harvest just one crop of yerba mate.
For more information about Argentine Yerba Mate, the Coffee Swap challenge, inspiration and recipes, visit SayYestoMate.com and follow along the #YesToYerbaMate conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
1 Source: Kerry Group
About National Institution of Argentine Yerba Mate
The National Institution of Argentine Yerba Mate is a national organization focused on promoting awareness for Argentine Yerba Mate and its growers. The Institution's vision is to bring Argentina's love for Yerba Mate to the world. It was designed to increase awareness and interest in the leaves of the Yerba Mate tree, which are native to the Misiones and Corrientes Province of Argentina. Originally championed by the Guarani, an ancient people indigenous to the South American rainforests, the history of Yerba Mate can be traced back many centuries and today the delicious and versatile drink continues to be enjoyed across the globe, with Argentina as the world's leading producer.
SOURCE National Institution of Argentine Yerba Mate
Related Links
http://SayYestoMate.com | Twenty years into the 21st century, and what do we have to show for it?
Government corruption, tyranny and abuse have propelled us at warp speed towards a full-blown police state in which egregious surveillance, roadside strip searches, police shootings of unarmed citizens, censorship, retaliatory arrests, the criminalization of lawful activities, warmongering, indefinite detentions, SWAT team raids, asset forfeiture, police brutality, profit-driven prisons, and pay-to-play politicians have become the new normal.
Here's just a small sampling of the laundry list of abusescruel, brutal, immoral, unconstitutional and unacceptablethat have been heaped upon us by the government over the past two decades.
The government failed to protect our lives, liberty and happiness. The predators of the police state wreaked havoc on our freedoms, our communities, and our lives. The government didn't listen to the citizenry, refused to abide by the Constitution, and treated the citizenry as a source of funding and little else.
The American President became more imperial. Although the Constitution invests the President with very specific, limited powers, in recent years, American presidents (Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc.) claimed the power to completely and almost unilaterally alter the landscape of this country for good or for ill.
Militarized police became a power unto themselves, 911 calls turned deadly, and traffic stops took a turn for the worse. Lacking in transparency and accountability, protected by the courts and legislators, and rife with misconduct, America's police forces became a growing menace to the citizenry and the rule of law.
The courts failed to uphold justice. A review of critical court rulings over the past two decades reveals a startling and steady trend towards pro-police state rulings by an institution concerned more with establishing order and protecting the ruling class and government agents than with upholding the rights enshrined in the Constitution.
The Surveillance State rendered Americans vulnerable to threats from government spies, police, hackers and power failures. On a daily basis, Americans have been made to relinquish the most intimate details of who we areour biological makeup, our genetic blueprints, and our biometrics (facial characteristics and structure, fingerprints, iris scans, etc.)in order to navigate an increasingly technologically-enabled world.
The cost of endless wars drove the nation deeper into debt. America's war spending has already bankrupted the nation to the tune of more than $20 trillion dollars. Policing the globe and waging endless wars abroad hasn't made Americaor the rest of the worldany safer, but it has made the military industrial complex rich at taxpayer expense. Meanwhile, America's infrastructure is falling apart.
The government waged war on military veterans. Large numbers of veterans have been treated like criminalstargeted for surveillance, censorship, threatened with incarceration or involuntary commitment, labeled as extremists and/or mentally ill, and stripped of their Second Amendment rights for daring to speak out against government misconduct.
Free speech was dealt one knock-out punch after another. Protest laws, free speech zones, bubble zones, trespass zones, anti-bullying legislation, zero tolerance policies, hate crime laws, shadow banning on the Internet, and a host of other legalistic maladies dreamed up by politicians and prosecutors (and championed by those who want to suppress speech with which they might disagree) conspired to corrode our core freedoms, purportedly for our own good.
The government waged a renewed war on private property. At no point do you ever have any real ownership in anything other than the clothes on your back. Everything else can be seized by the government under one pretext or another (civil asset forfeiture, unpaid taxes, eminent domain, public interest, etc.).
Schools became even more like prisons. So-called school "safety" policieswhich run the gamut from zero tolerance policies that punish all infractions harshly to surveillance cameras, metal detectors, random searches, drug-sniffing dogs, school-wide lockdowns, active-shooter drills and militarized police officershave turned schools into prisons and young people into prisoners.
The Deep State took over. The American system of representative government was overthrown by the Deep Statea.k.a. the police state a.k.a. the military/corporate industrial complexa profit-driven, militaristic shadow government that makes a mockery of elections and the entire concept of a representative government.
The takeaway: Everything the founders of this country feared has come to dominate in modern America. "We the people" have been saddled with a government that is no longer friendly to freedom and is working overtime to trample the Constitution underfoot and render the citizenry powerless in the face of the government's power grabs, corruption and abusive tactics.
No matter who sits in the White House, politics won't fix a system that is broken beyond repair.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 1 |
It was only January when certain journalists went way out on a limb to give friendly news coverage to the racist and anti-Semitic Black Hebrew Israelite cult. This very odd editorial decision seemed to come in the service of better sticking it to the high school students from Covington Catholic — boys whom the Black Hebrew Israelites had taunted on the national mall, inciting what became a famous incident.
So, now that one of the black nationalist cult's former members stands accused of a deadly shoot-out with police, possibly in an act of anti-Semitic terrorism targeting a Kosher grocery market, we are probably not going to hear much talk about the Black Hebrew Israelites in the broader context of radicalization and gun violence. That would be a personal and professional embarrassment for a lot of reporters and editors, some of whom are currently in the middle of defending against lawsuits by the Covington teens.
The New York Times, for example, published an entire profile describing the Black Hebrew Israelites and their tactics in friendly, playful terms, including “gamely engage,” "blunt and sometimes offensive,” and “attention-grabbing,” but all for the purpose of “drawing listeners near.” The profile is even sure to mention that a popular rapper once mentioned the group by name in a song.
It is still possible that Tuesday’s shooting inspires a broader conversation about gun violence and the dangers posed by radical hate groups like the Black Hebrew Israelites. But don't hold your breath.
The Covington teenagers, falsely portrayed as hateful bigots in the pages of the New York Times, are not known to have shot anyone — at least not in the last 11 months. | One of the two suspects in the recent kosher deli shooting had published anti-Semitic and anti-police posts online.
Investigators believe that Tuesday’s attack on a Jewish-owned market in Jersey City, New Jersey, was motivated by anti-Semitic sentiments, according to the New York Times. The shooting ended with six people dead, including the two gunmen who carried out the attack and prolonged gunfight with the police.
A brief, “rambling” manifesto was also found in the van that the assailants were driving, but the note provided no motive for the shooting. A live pipe bomb was also found inside the van during a search by investigators.
The violence began near a cemetery where the suspects fatally shot Jersey City Police Department Detective Joseph Seals, 40, in the head. Seals had approached the van because it was tied to another homicide over the weekend. Surveillance video showed that after killing Seals, the duo drove slowly to the kosher deli about a mile away.
“The perpetrators stopped in front of there and calmly opened the door with two long rifles,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said.
After getting out of the van, surveillance footage shows them enter the market while firing their guns, killing three more people. The shooting was described as a “targeted” attack. They then began an extensive firefight with the police and other responding forces, which caused a lockdown of the area and of schools across the entire city.
Law enforcement managed to kill the two assailants during the gunfight, which lasted for more than an hour.
The attack took place in Jersey City’s Greenville neighborhood, where several Hasidic Jewish families have moved to from Brooklyn, New York, in recent years. The kosher market that was targeted opened about three years ago and was a central hub of the area’s Jewish community.
Although there has been speculation that the shooters were Muslim, the mayor said that there is “zero indication to that being accurate.” | 2.666667 |
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Police are still searching for 21-year-old Ricky Gamage five days after he disappeared.
The young man, from Bude, was last seen at around 8.35pm on Saturday (December 28).He was leaving The Venue, the tenpin bowling allew where he works.
His family said that there are 'great concerns' for his welfare.
Since Ricky went missing there have been several unconfirmed potential sightings of him in Barnstaple, on the M5 at Burnham on Sea, the M5 at Taunton and on the M6 at Junction 11.
Now Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that they are continuing the search.
(Image: Nicole Rachel)
The Force Incident Manager (FIM) said: "We are still appealing for anyone who think they saw him.
"We are still having searches being done."
Ricky is described as 6ft 2in tall with dark hair, a dark-coloured goatee beard, green eyes and a tattoo sleeve down his right arm.
At the time of his disappearance he was wearing a blue beanie hat with an unknown logo, a khaki green North Face hooded jacket, a grey ‘Venue’ logo t-shirt, black skinny jeans which had a tear on the left thigh, and black Dr Martin boots.
If you have seen Ricky, or know of his whereabouts, please call police immediately on 999, quoting log number 897 of 28/12/19. | Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from plymouthherald - Daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Police say they are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of Francis Dellipiani, known as Frank, who has been missing from his home address in the Estover area overnight.
They asked members of the public to call 999 if they have any sightings of him.
Francis is a 62 year-old white male, around 5ft 6ins tall and of of slim build. He is English speaking with a strong accent. He is described as being a Gibraltarian by police.
The police's concern has been raised substantially because Frank is in ill health and takes some prescribed medication, some of which he does not have with him.
(Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)
He is believed to have left his home on foot, possibly still in his dressing gown and slippers.
Any sightings should be reported immediately on 999 quoting log 491 01/01/20
These are the full details we have on this incident at this time. | 3 |
An investigation has found there was good reason for Napier City Council staff to be asked to monitor councillors' social media posts.
Photo: Supplied to RNZ in an OIA
Four councillors opposed to building a new aquatic centre had complained they were surveilled.
The independent review found the council chief executive Wayne Jack asked staff on one occasion to look at Facebook posts after the councillors penned an opinion piece a year ago.
"I consider that the chief executive had a good reason and a lawful purpose for this request," reviewer Peter Chemis, of a Wellington law firm, reported.
"He was enquiring about potential conflict of interest, bias and predetermination.
"As it happened he found nothing of note. Had he done so he said he would have passed this onto the mayor to address."
There were no privacy issues because there was good reason to do the check, and the councillors' Facebook pages were public, Chemis said.
The monitoring was revealed after Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests.
Administrative oversights complicated the handling of those requests, Chemis found, but this "did not involve any wilful or malicious behaviour".
Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley
Emails released alongside the review show the council objected to the draft review in November.
"The report fails to address the shortcomings and failures of persons involved," the new mayor Kirsten Wise, who was one of four councillors monitored, told Chemis after the council had looked at his draft findings.
"The report downplays the active eroding of democracy through the planned, coordinated activities, directed by the CEO on elected members."
Chemis wrote back that he had fulfilled the terms of reference given to him.
A day later the mayor replied that she appreciated the terms "limited your ability to address many of the concerns highlighted by councillors" and she was happy for him to proceed and finalise his report.
Wise today said it was time to put the matter behind them.
"We don't want to spend another dollar of ratepayer money reviewing on what has happened in the past. We now have a new council team," she said.
The mandate from the vote in local body elections in October was for councillors and the whole council to become more transparent and accountable, and that was happening, despite the review's terms of reference being "potentially too narrow".
"Look, I'm confident it won't happen again.
"We've absolutely had the conversation about what is appropriate going forward. It's been a conversation just saying if staff are going to be looking at councillors' social media pages, why are they doing that?"
Also, councillors would now always be told in advance if the council had received a LGOIMA request that involved them. | The tragic story that shook the entire community and the entire nation in 2019 was the Harris Family Daycare fire that killed five children.
The Erie region has been thrown into the national spotlight for many reasons, but this one really hit home for many of us.
Five young children between the ages of eight months to eight years lost their lives in the Harris Daycare fire that happened in August 2019.
“We lost four babies,” said Shevona Overton, Mother of four children.
Four of the children were siblings, La’Myaiah Jones, Luther Jones Jr., Ava Jones, and Jayden Augustyniak.
Another little boy who was at the overnight daycare died too. His name was Dalvin Pacley.
“Everyday you wake up and you go through it again when you realize they are not there,” said Melissa Facchiano, Dalvin Pacley’s Grandmother.
The owner of the daycare Elaine Harris and her two sons survived the fire, but lost their home.
In October, investigators determined the fire was caused by an electrical failure associated with a routinely used extension cord.
Fire investigators also revealed there was only one smoke detector inside the entire daycare, which caused some outrage in the community.
“They said they only found one smoke detector, which I mean if they heard the smoke detector everyone would’ve been out of the house and my kids would still be here today,” said Luther Jones, father of four children.
In September, changes were made to the way state certified daycare facilities are inspected.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said the current inspection guidelines were outdated and did not check for smoke detectors.
“Unfortunately, it took a tragedy like this for us to see that, but that’s why we’re here and we looked at that and said more can be done,” said Teresa Miller, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
In November, Erie City Council unanimously voted to pass an ordinance requiring child care facilities to obtain an annual child care facility certificate of occupancy.
“Sometimes you gotta ruffle some feathers, but if you want change you have to be aggressive,” said Chief Guy Santone, Erie Fire Department.
Erie Fire Chief Guy Santone says more than 40 daycare centers in the city have received a letter explaining the inspection process.
After this tragedy, multiple businesses throughout the Erie region raised thousands of dollars to help the families affected by the fire. | 1 |
Welcome to the dawn of a new decade! With it, comes new innovations in every major field, from technology to medicine — and cosmetic procedures are no exception.
With that, Life & Style spoke exclusively with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Norman Rowe to get his professional opinion on what the biggest plastic surgery trends for 2020 will be. Dr. Rowe, who is based in NYC, detailed three buzzworthy procedures.
First up, Botox cream. “One of the newest innovations in cosmetic surgery that’s currently being tested in the European market is Botox cream, and it will be available in the US in 2020. This non-invasive iteration of Botox involves applying a cream, under the care of a physician, to the skin that relaxes the facial muscles and diminishes wrinkles caused by repetitive facial motions,” explains Dr. Rowe.
“It’s quite revolutionary, as there are no shots, bruising or downtime involved, which are the most common complaints about standard neuromodulators,” he continues. “I can tell Botox cream will be popular, as patients are always looking for the effects of Botox without the needles, and this product offers similar results.”
Needle-free Botox? Yes, please! Second on the list, breast implant removal. “A growing trend in the industry is women opting to remove their implants either altogether or trading them in for smaller implants due to the concern over potential side effects some breast implants can have, such as Breast Implant Illness (BII) or cancer,” details Dr. Rowe.
“Breast Implant Illness can refer to a wide variety of symptoms women with breast implants can experience as a result of having them, such as headaches, depression, chronic pain, brain fog, chest pain and much more. Additionally, there’s a major societal shift where women are valuing a more natural-looking body shape and are choosing to get their implants removed or swapped out for smaller ones purely for aesthetic purposes.”
Courtesy of Anastasia Karanikolaou/Instagram
One such celebrity includes Kylie Jenner’s BFF Anastasia Karanikolaou. The 22-year-old influencer took to Instagram on December 2, 2019, to reveal she “switched” her breast implants for “smaller ones.”
As for the third trend? Dr. Rowe includes nonsurgical penis augmentation. “Men are increasingly getting plastic surgery and the procedure that grows rapidly in popularity is penis augmentation, a non-surgical injection procedure with little downtime that improves self-confidence, as well as his and his partner’s pleasure,” Dr. Rowe says.
“The number of patients I see for this is up 25 percent over last year,” he adds. “I do about 30 of them a month. It definitely helps that they’re more widely acceptable for men to go under the knife, minimally invasive and temporary, in case they have any cold feet.”
Can’t get enough celebrity content? Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars! | LETTERS:MALAYSIA is one of the most unique countries in the world. There are few other countries with our diversity of race, culture and religion.
We have Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other races living in harmony. Sometimes, this harmony and our unity are challenged. But because of mutual respect, we always come together as one.
Foreigners are often surprised at how open and friendly we are, making them feel at home. This is because we are not a homogenous society and our diversity makes us tolerant of each other as we are exposed to other races and cultures on a daily basis.
One obvious benefit is that it allows Malaysians to be comfortable when conducting ourselves globally, whether it is in business or other endeavours.
A second obvious benefit is in our language. Many Malaysians are either bilingual or trilingual. Or even if we are not fluent in a second language, we do at least know a smattering of its words.
And it is not unusual for us to use words from two or more languages in a conversation. This makes for a richer, more interesting Malaysian culture.
And third, and perhaps the most obvious benefit, is our delicious food.
We not only have many different cuisines, but we have also been able to fuse them to create a foodie paradise in Malaysia.
Unfortunately, this diversity in race, religion and culture is also our weakness. Our diversity means that we, as a society, can be easily divided. It doesn’t take much to do this.
All one needs is to find a cause that champions one race, whether culturally or religiously, at the expense of another. This will cause division. We have seen this happen from time to time.
It is almost an inevitable part of life in our nation. This is most unfortunate because most Malaysians want to live in a harmonious rather than a disharmonious society.
We want to live in peace with all races and religions so that we can all prosper, be happy and healthy together. Disunity will destroy that.
So to whose advantage is it to sow the seeds of discord, division and disunity?
Without too much speculation, it would appear to be those who harbour a political agenda.
They yearn to be noticed so that they may climb up the political ladder, whether in opposition or in government. They may raise or champion a cause even though such a cause ultimately benefits no one.
Yet they do not realise that even though they may have achieved something politically, our Malaysian society is the ultimate loser.
They have succeeded in driving a wedge between fellow Malaysians, causing fear and disharmony. This is not a Malaysia we want to live in.
So as we step into a new decade, we should recognise that our diversity is both our strength and our weakness. If our aim was to be become a developed nation in 2020, we should also recognise that we should want Malaysia to develop not only economically, but also as a society.
Developing as a society means promoting the causes of unity and harmony and celebrating our very diversity.
TUNKU HALIM
Petaling jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times | 1 |
It was Blair who was behind the concerted media and propaganda campaign against Corbyn
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The two major political parties, the Conservatives and Labor, are mere shadows of their former selves. Fresh from a major landslide victory in England, the Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is now a hard-right party. Traditional Tories like Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill, and Kenneth Clarke, the grand old man of Conservative Party politics, were expelled as members of the Conservative ranks sitting in the House of Commons as a result of their September 2019 vote against Johnson's government and their pro-European Union positions. With Johnson's December 12 election victory, backing for Johnson's Conservatives has come from such far-right stalwarts as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and the Britain First movement of neo-fascist street hooligan Tommy Robinson.
Johnson has transformed the Conservative Party into one that follows him in virtual lockstep. A similar situation has occurred with the Republican Party in the United States. It has been transformed into a party that worships Donald Trump as a cult leader. Traditional Republicans like former governors John Kasich, William Weld, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Ridge, Christine Todd Whitman, and other former governors, senators, and US House members no longer have a political home in what has become the "Trump Party," one that eschews the policies of past Republican presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and George H. W. Bush.
Britain's other major party, Labor, returned to its traditional socialist roots under leader Jeremy Corbyn. A series of "New Labor" leaders, including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Ed Milliband, transformed Labor into a pro-multinational corporation and free trade party barely distinguishable from the traditional Tories. After being elected leader of Labor in 2015, Corbyn faced a media and political disinformation onslaught that called him everything from a Communist to an anti-Semite. That barrage of lies resulted in Labor suffering its worst defeat since 1935 in the December 12 general election. Chomping at the bit to restore Labor to its pro-corporate/pro-Israel past, former Prime Minister Blair warned against the "hard left" policies of "Corbynism."
Blair drove additional knives into Corbyn in stating that Corbyn "personified an idea, a brand of quasi-revolutionary socialism, mixing far left economic policy with deep hostility to western foreign policy, which never has appealed to traditional Labor voters, never will appeal and represented for them a combination of misguided ideology and terminal ineptitude that they found insulting.
No sentient political party goes into an election with a leader who has a net approval rating of -40 percent."
Yet, it was Blair who was behind the concerted media and propaganda campaign against Corbyn. Corbyn suffered from the same sort of insidious attack from Labor's right-wing tendency as that suffered by past traditional baseline socialist Labor politicians like Aneurin Bevan, Harold Wilson, Michael Foot, and Tony Benn. Individuals like Blair and his ilk conveniently forget that the Labor Party was formed at the turn of the last century by colleagues of Karl Marx, someone who definitely saw no place in a workers' party for those that sought their exploitation.
After the end of World War II, Labor's right-wing faction saw to it that any Labor leader that voiced opposition to NATO and American foreign policy was drummed out of the party's leadership ranks. Prime Minister Harold Wilson's opposition to the Vietnam War helped seal his fate, as did Bevan's initial opposition to Britain's nuclear weapons. Foot favored unilateral disarmament, resulting in Kinnock taking over as Labor leader after the party's electoral defeat in 1983. Benn always remembered Labor's socialist past and it prevented him from ever becoming prime minister. Not only did Britain's MI-5 and MI-6 intelligence services constantly place Benn under surveillance, but the US Central Intelligence Agency propaganda, distributed in British media, made false allegations that Benn was a Soviet KGB agent. The same sort of CIA disinformation targeted Wilson, Foot, and Bevan.
When Corbyn attempted to restore Labor's former mayor of London Ken Livingstone to Labor party ranks, Corbyn was accused of being an anti-Semite, merely because Livingstone compared some of Israel's policies against the Palestinians to those of the Nazis in occupied nations. Livingstone, nicknamed "Red Ken" by his detractors, was seen as part of the same Labor left faction as Corbyn. There are a number of Labor officials vying to succeed Corbyn. Although they have been part of Corbyn's team, most of these heirs apparent are negotiating for support from the Blairite faction. Chief among them is Keir Starmer, Corbyn's Shadow Brexit Secretary, who the anti-Corbyn faction favors as the new Labor leader.
Benn's recognition of Labor's Marxist roots was demonstrated by the following passage:
"The Communist Manifesto, and many other works of Marxist philosophy, have always profoundly influenced the British labor movement and the British Labor Party, and have strengthened our understanding and enriched our thinking. It would be as unthinkable to try to construct the Labor Party without Marx as it would be to establish university faculties of astronomy, anthropology or psychology without permitting the study of Copernicus, Darwin or Freud, and still expect such faculties to be taken seriously."
Australia's governing Liberal-National Coalition has steadily moved to the extremist right under two fundamentalist Christian prime ministers Tony Abbott and the current prime minister, Scott Morrison. Similar to the leadership of the US Republican Party and the Conservative Party of Canada, the "Coalition," as it is known, has become a home for xenophobes and climate change deniers. Morrison's ignorance of the dangers of climate change were recently on full display as the hottest temperatures in recorded meteorological history were registered in Australia. As Australians with respiratory and other health issues suffered from the extreme heat and as a massive outbreak of brush fires swept Australia, Morrison decided to cut short his mid-December family vacation in Hawaii. Unlike past Coalition prime ministers, including Malcolm Fraser and Malcolm Turnbull, Morrison is totally beholden to Australia's mining interests, including the coal industry. As far as Morrison is concerned, there is no climate change and Australians suffering from its effects can be damned.
As for the Australian Labor Party, it has not exercised a socialist mandate since 1975, when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was ousted in a constitutional coup brought about by the CIA, Australia's security services, and the Australian Governor-General. Never again would there be a Labor government like that of postwar Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who attempted to nationalize Australia's banks, or Whitlam, who moved Australia into a more non-aligned foreign policy. Today, Australia's Labor and Coalition parties differ only slightly in foreign policy and seek campaign donations from the same vested business interests and consortiums.
The steady drift of traditional conservative parties to the far right and neo-fascism and the insistence by traditional social democratic and working-class parties to adopt pro-business and anti-labor positions is why large blocs of voters feel abandoned. It is precisely because labor and social democratic parties have purged from their dogma any mention of state control of utilities, transit, health care, and other key public sectors that they are now at their lowest electoral strength in recent history in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, and Finland. And it is because traditional conservative parties have eschewed bedrock principles of conservation and environmental protection; multilateralism as practiced by postwar conservative leaders; and inflation-free economic stability that has many conservatives wandering aimlessly between the neo-fascists who have taken over conservative parties and progressive parties that do not seem to stand for anything. | Brexit
Brexit
Brexit
LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that the first item on his agenda in 2020 is to fulfil the will of the electorate and to conclude the UK 's divorce deal with the European Union within this month.In his new year message, Johnson, who is currently on holiday in the Caribbean, said he hoped the country would "move forward united" after it leaves the 28-member bloc on January 31.Johnson, who was re-elected in the December 12 General Elections said the "first item on his agenda" when he returned to London was delivering on the mandate of the people and taking the UK out of the EU.He vowed to govern "for everyone", not just those who backed him and the Conservative Party at the highly-divisive polls."As we say goodbye to 2019 we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long," he said.The Conservatives' resounding election victory has "driven an electoral bulldozer" through the deadlock in Parliament, the prime minister said, and offered a way out of the "division, rancour and uncertainty" surrounding thedebate since the landmark 2016 referendum vote.Legislation to ratify the withdrawal agreement with the EU easily cleared its first hurdle before Christmas, when MPs backed it by a majority of 124.With an 80-seat Conservative majority in the House of Commons, the remaining stages of the bill are expected to be completed quickly in January in time, he PM said, to "getdone before the end of this month"."We can start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we come together and move forward united, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people," he said.He noted that Britain's exit from the EU should have happened already, but "we were thwarted by a Parliament determined to use every trick in the book to stop us leaving the EU"."Now we have a new Parliament, elected by the people to deliver the people's priorities, which will finally respect the referendum and deliver," the 55-year-old prime minister said."We will getdone before the end of this month. That oven-ready deal I talked about so much during the election campaign has already had its plastic covering pierced and been placed in the microwave," he said.While the UK is set to leave the EU's institutions on January 31, negotiations over its future economic relationship with the bloc have yet to begin, with experts quoted by the BBC saying they will be far tougher than those over the terms of the UK's exit.Johnson has set himself a deadline of completing an ambitious trade deal by the end of 2020, when the 11-month transition period agreed by the two sides ends. Many leading EU figures have cast doubt upon the tight timetable and questioned the Prime Minister's ruling out of any extension.Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn, the vanquished leader of the Opposition Labour Party, in his new year message, acknowledged that the party faced tough times ahead after its fourth defeat in a row but its movement remained "very strong".In his new year message, Corbyn did not make any direct reference to the election rout or his own future. However, he noted that 2019 had been "quite the year for our country and for our Labour movement".The Labour just got 203 seats, a disastrous performance for the party in decades that forced the 70-year-old leader to announce that he would not lead the party in the next election.While the party is set to be out of power for at least another four years, he said Labour must continue to make its influence felt and stand up for its values."It won't be easy," he said. "But we have built a movement. We are the resistance to Boris Johnson. We will be campaigning every day. We will be on the front line, both in Parliament and on the streets."With the contest to succeed him expected to take about three months, Corbyn is set to continue leading the party in Parliament and the country until the spring. | 2.333333 |
Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a 56-year-old man was shot by two Niagara Regional Police Service officers in St. Catharines.
Police were called to a home on Rykert St. around 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday for reports of a man with a knife.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says officers located the man and there was “an interaction.”
They say two officers discharged their firearms and the man was struck multiple times.
He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
In the hours after the shooting on Tuesday night, PC. Phil Gavin spoke to the media and said there had been an altercation prior to the officers firing their weapons.
A neighbour who lives across the street from the victim told CHCH News he was sitting in his car when he saw the police cruisers come rushing down the street.
“My neighbour, who I’ve met a couple of times, was walking up his driveway with his hands out at his sides,” said Duke Willis. “The guy took maybe four or five steps and the cops pulled their guns and shot him three times- bang, bang, bang! He hit the ground, bang! A fourth shot in the back.”
Wilson says he believes his neighbour suffers from some “psychological issues.” He said the 56-year-old man lived at home with his retired mother.
The SIU has assigned five investigators and three forensic investigators to look into the incident. “At this time, two subject officers and three witness officers have been designated,” said the SIU in a news release.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. | Burdwan (West Bengal): Five persons of a family, including two children, were killed after a sand-laden truck lost control and overturned on a hut in West Bengal’s Purba Burdwan district, police said Wednesday.
The incident occurred Tuesday night at Shikarpur village adjoining Damodar river under Galsi police station limits, a police officer said.
While five persons, including a two-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl were killed on the spot, one person was rescued from the debris and admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. He is on ventilator and in a very critical condition.
The incident sparked off angry reprisals by the villagers who set ablaze several trucks, dumpers and earthmovers protesting sand mining on the river bed, prompting heavy police deployment in the area, the officer added.
PTI | 1 |
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With a new decade just around the corner, you might find yourself even more inclined than usual to set New Year’s resolutions. However, resolutions on their own aren’t enough. Studies have shown that approximately 80% of people don’t actually stick to their resolutions past the month of February, so how do the select 20% manage to do it?
Simply put - they turn their resolutions into goals. A resolution on its own is like an empty promise. The intention is good, but the action isn’t there. Imagine that a resolution is an umbrella and a goal is the handle. Like the handle, a goal quite literally holds up the resolution. To successfully achieve your New Years resolutions, whether they’re personal or professional, you need both intention and action. This year, don’t just set resolutions - set goals.
That’s where goals come into play. Instead of a broad resolution of ‘this year I want to get promoted’, setting a goal forces you to get specific and choose a timeframe. ‘I want to be promoted to manager by August’ gives you an end date and therefore something to work consistently towards. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with saying ‘by this time next year, I want...’, the more specific you can be, the more likely you’ll be to turn your resolution into reality.
Most resolutions will actually need to be broken down into multiple goals, or one large goal with micro-goals to achieve along the way. Don’t be afraid to really drill down on your goals and set milestones that you can achieve as you work towards the big goal of achieving your resolution.
Once you’ve set your goals, go one step further and define your ‘why’. Your ‘why’ is crucial for maintaining motivation, and it’s something you should refer back to quite often. It can help you push through challenges and keep going as the year progresses. To establish your ‘why’, think about how you’ll feel when you accomplish your goal and how achieving it will improve your life. For example:
Resolution = Get promoted
Goals = become a manger by August with a good salary increase, take charge of and lead at least one project in Jan/Feb, start discussions about promotion in February
Why = one more step in the right direction on a career path, better schedule, more money
This trifecta of resolution, goal, and motivation is the trick to not only making resolutions, but achieving them. With all of the thought and effort you’ve put into your resolutions, you now have an action plan and a roadmap to follow that will put you well on your way to success. | Definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome. Keep your New Year’s resolutions list simple and focus on the issues that appear on your list year after year.
Set small attainable goals throughout the year, rather than overwhelming goals. Lifestyle changes are important. Work toward them one step at a time.
Lose weight
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time” – in this case it would be the reverse. Every time you eat correctly counts.
Don’t see eating something you like that may not be healthy, as cheating. Enjoy and let it go.
Don’t play power games with yourself. In many cases your challenge has little to do with whether you are “weak” or “strong” willed.
Instead focus on why you want to lose weight and how you will feel when you have achieved your goal. If you are struggling to lose weight it is a good idea to find out exactly why.
Are there underlying health issues?
Get fit
Set clear achievable goals for becoming fit. Join a gym and decide on an achievable amount of times you can go.
Use the staircase at work instead of the lift. Walking is the most natural form of exercise. Start walking.
Regular exercise increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis.
Quit Smoking
As with losing weight, the power game thing is important here. It is difficult to stop smoking, but focus on why it is that you want to quit – healthy lungs, glowing skin, anti-ageing effect, ashtray mouth and breath, saving money – the list goes on.
Avoid situations that “make” you reach for that cigarette, at least initially. Try cutting down gradually.
Take a good multivitamin. There are many products and support services available to help you, but ultimately you have to WANT to stop smoking.
Drink Less
While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once.
Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey, but do much better when they reduce gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking.
If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available. | 2.666667 |
Colton J. Williams, 23, of Crystal Lake McKenna Warchol, 20, of Crystal Lake
A Crystal Lake man and woman are due in a McHenry County courtroom Tuesday after police said officers seized more than $14,000 worth of cocaine, prescription medicine and marijuana from a McHenry Avenue home.
Colton J. Williams, 23, and McKenna Warchol, 20, each is charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office investigation. Authorities said they seized $14,131 worth of those drugs. | Police have recovered two chopped legs in suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai on Tuesday, a day after the torso of a woman was found in the same area, an official said on Wednesday.
Police are yet to trace the head of the woman.
The severed legs have been sent for postmortem to find out if they belonged to the murdered woman, the official said.
The legs were found wrapped in a rexin sheet dumped in a dustbin on Tuesday evening, he said.
The torso was found on Monday morning on Kirod Road in Vidyavihar area.
Viscera of the victim was sent to forensic laboratory for DNA sampling.
This is a third such case in recent past wherein dismembered bodies--one of a man and another of a young woman--were found in the city.
Police have arrested the accused persons in both these cases. | 1.333333 |
Attorney General Dale Marshall is encouraging former owners of the Liquidation Centre building on Bay Street, The City to take possession of the items being stored if they were concerned about theft.
This advice comes on the heels of reports that some of the items that were removed from the building several weeks ago were stolen.
Confirming the report and without giving detail, Marshall told journalists on Tuesday that the stolen items have since been recovered.
“It is regrettable that would have happened. A report was made to me that there was an incident that the area where the things were being stored was broken into. I think the security measures have been upped so as to eliminate that. The things that were stolen have been recovered,” he said.
“So the sooner Mrs Ram takes possession of her belongings, the better for all of us. They are her things. We have moved them out, they are still her things. So she needs to come and take possession of them. Plain and simple,” added Marshall.
Government has compulsory acquired the Bay Street property, owned by prominent businesswoman Asha Mrs Ram Mirchandani, to facilitate construction of a Hyatt Hotel on that stretch of beachfront land.
During the week of November 18, the Ministry of Housing, with the assistance of the Royal Barbados Police Force, took possession of the Liquidation Centre building and subsequently began the process of removing and storing millions of dollars in stock.
This came shortly after Mirchandani held a ‘kick-me-out sale’ in an effort to get rid of some of the merchandise. | Some initiatives will be introduced within the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) throughout 2020 as authorities make moves to keep crime under control, speed up some processes and spread thin resources.
This assurance has come from Attorney General Dale Marshall, who promised to “redouble” his efforts to tackle the crime situation and achieve greater efficiency within the crime fighting agency.
“The Royal Barbados Police Force will also be redoubling its efforts,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY, adding that for him, 2020 will be about “action and achieving results”
The length of time it takes to get a police certificate of character has been a major concern. Marshall said he would be meeting with Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith on Tuesday to thrash out those and other issues affecting the RBPF.
Pointing out that there has been a deficit in the Force for over two decades, Marshall said they would also be finding ways to make the profession more attractive and to better mobilize resources to bring about solutions.
“But until that happens, and we can recruit the additional numbers that we need, we have to do things differently,” he said.
“So, for example, the police certificate of character takes up to six police officers. We are completely automating that. Over the next five to six weeks you will see a whole new computer-driven mechanism for getting police certificates of character, which will see them coming out in a matter of days and actually being emailed back to you. We have developed an application so you can actually make the application on your mobile phone,” he explained.
The Attorney General also said that come next year, police officers would also stop responding to minor accidents.
“Those matters are really matters best left to insurance companies because at the end of the day it is really about who is going to pay. Those are not the kinds of things people get charge for,” he said.
“So police will continue to go to fatal accidents and serious accidents, but the run of the mill accidents – somebody bounced your car in a carpark and you are not moving until the police comes – that takes up valuable policing time,” said Marshall.
This, he suggested, would allow officers to tackle more serious issues.
“So, when it comes to us being able to strategically and holistically reduce all levels of crime and, especially in relation to murders, how we deploy our manpower is going to be key and we are going to be rolling out a whole set of initiatives to take care of that,” he said.
With mere hours to go before 2019 comes to a close, there have been a record 49 murders in Barbados.
Despite the “unprecedented” number of killings, most of which were executed through gunplay, Marshall told Barbados TODAY he was satisfied enough was being done to bring the situation under control.
“Of course there has been enough action this year. The members of the police force have worked more than assiduously in terms of investigations,” he said.
The trained attorney explained that “a lot of things that don’t make the Press” were happening, including several successful intelligence-driven operations leading to the seizure of illegal weapons and the stemming of firearm importation.
“We know, though, that there has been an accumulation of firearms on our streets over the last decade. Our mission is to ferret those out and to ferret out those individuals who have been using them. So there are things that have been going on that have been achieving results for us,” insisted Marshall.
“I know as the year ends everyone is concerned about the high level of murder rates. Forty-nine murders in any year is unprecedented for Barbados, but I want Barbadians to stay the course.
“We have put, in difficult financial times, extraordinary financial resources for the police. We are gradually changing how the police do things so as to free up manpower to deal with the more serious things,” assured Marshall.
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‘Eco-anxiety’ is not a clinical diagnosis, nor is it a disorder. But it is a very real concern that’s impacting people’s lives right now. With the Amazon forest burning, animal species disappearing, coral reefs dying out, more extreme weather events and glaciers melting rapidly, it’s understandable that people are worried. In the words of 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg: “Our house is on fire.”
© Associated Press / Brasil2 via Getty Images Eco-anxiety is on the rise, particularly among young people. Eco-anxiety, or climate change anxiety, can cause sleepless nights, intense bouts of worry and, in severe instances, may also lead to drastic shifts in people’s behaviour. Experts have to HuffPost UK there’s been a rise in the number of people coming to them with environmental concerns over the past two years (a trend which only seems to be getting worse as the headlines on climate change grow more shocking) – and with the UN warning that we have 11 years to make a change before it’s too late. Earlier this week a group of psychologists from The Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA) told The Telegraph eco-anxiety among children “escalated” over the summer. The organisation is now campaigning for it to be recognised as a psychological phenomenon, however caveated that it shouldn’t be classed as a mental illness as the worry is a “rational” one. © ASSOCIATED PRESS Greta Thunberg. Ahead of the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September – which is set to be the biggest yet with both adults and children taking part – here’s what you need to know about eco-anxiety and why taking action might actually help you tackle it.
What is eco-anxiety?
© DisobeyArt via Getty ImagesWhat does it look like?
Eco-anxiety can lead to people overthinking and catastrophising about the future. It can be triggered by almost anything, suggests Burke, who works with adults aged 20-50 years old and is a BACP member – from seeing something in the news to engaging in a debate with a friend about eating meat. One of her clients was triggered by seeing colleagues at work coming in with plastic bags full of food and not recycling them. She had calculated that her small office was one of millions of other offices likely doing the same, and had begun to catastrophise about the huge amount of waste and plastic on our planet. It left her in tears in the therapy room. ____________________________________________________ More on our Empowering the Planet campaign: Make a donation to help our cause Sign our petition to help prevent plastic in the ocean Learn how you can ask UK parliament to stop climate change ____________________________________________________ This type of anxiety can also make people become compulsive in the behaviours they adopt to try and do their bit for the planet. Natasha Crowe has seen this in practice a lot. New mums in particular can become compulsive about their daily behaviours, she explains, “so constantly recycling or making sure they’re using eco wipes and eco nappies, and really trying to drill down on the daily impact that they’re making.” One of her clients commutes for work and has stopped driving to the office. Now he gets a bus to work, which takes him longer – an hour and a half in total. It’s all about taking back control for these people, but when these changes impact on wellbeing, or have a negative impact on a person’s life, it’s time to take a step back. Catastrophic thoughts can be dangerous, as they can lead to “a sense of helplessness” and can be “immobilising”, says Burke. You end up thinking: what’s the point? But there are solutions.
© boonchai wedmakawand via Getty ImagesWhat can you do? | 20:45 by CNN Have your say: Empty stomachs and unpaid salaries, Zimbabweans face a bleak 2020 as economic crisis deepens
Harare, Zimbabwe (CNN)In tattered blue overalls and torn gumboots, Blessing Mautsa, 34, a sand dealer in Harare's Mbare-Magaba industrial market sits miserably in the shade, his crestfallen face is evidence of a day's toil for little return. | 1 |
California is poised to lose a congressional seat for the first time in its history as a state, based on U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released Monday that showed the nation’s growth continued to slow in 2019.
Some 27 states and the District of Columbia lost residents through net domestic migration between 2018 and 2019, the new census data show.
About 203,000 people left California in that period, a result of the state’s shifting migration patterns and economic strains that are making it harder to afford living here. New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Louisiana also saw large losses to other states.
California’s potential loss in reapportionment, which will be determined by next year’s census count, would drop the state’s number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from 53 to 52, said William Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
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“It’s got a lot to do with dispersion from California to the rest of the west,” Frey said. “Arizona, Texas and Colorado are all big destinations for California migrants, and they all are gaining seats.”
A 2019 relocation study by Texas Realtors found that 63,175 Californians moved to Texas in 2017, while California was the top destination for Texans to move — nearly 41,000 relocated here.
Texas is likely to gain three seats following the 2020 decennial count, according to Frey’s analysis of census data, while states such as Arizona, Colorado and Oregon may gain one seat apiece.
The apportionment population count for each of the 50 states includes the state’s total resident population — citizens and non-citizens — as well as a count of the overseas federal employees and their dependents who have that state listed as their home state in their employers’ administrative records, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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The House of Representatives is limited to 435 members, not under the U.S. Constitution, but because of a 1929 federal law that could be changed if lawmakers and the president agreed to do so.
Exactly where California would lose a seat in the House depends on which communities are larger or smaller compared to census numbers from 2010. The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, whose members will be selected in coming months, will hold public hearings in 2021 to determine how to redraw congressional maps.
Paul Mitchell, one of the state’s leading analysts of the redistricting process, said that two places could dominate the discussion: the communities sitting at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties and the suburbs to the east of San Francisco.
But other big changes to the political map-drawing process are also in store — including the 2013 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike part of the federal Voting Rights Act that strongly influenced the current California maps.
“That will allow a massive rewrite of the Central Valley congressional districts, so it might be really hard to see the total impact” of losing a House seat because of population, Mitchell said.
Even so, the most obvious political impact would be to force incumbent House members to either run against each other or leave office. In 2012, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Northridge) defeated former Rep. Howard Berman in a bitter contest brought on by the new lines drawn in Los Angeles County.
California’s future numerical strength in Congress hinges in part on making sure that members of historically undercounted groups are included in the census count. In California, 72% of the population belongs to one of these groups, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
State census workers, community organizations and local politicians started outreach efforts as early as April to ensure an accurate tally in next year’s count. In addition to reapportionment, nearly $800 billion in federal tax dollars and political redistricting are at stake.
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State government leaders have allocated about $187 million to help verify addresses and expand outreach efforts, according to California’s census office.
Still, there will be major hurdles. Those without reliable internet connections may be missed in a census that will rely heavily on online surveys. Los Angeles County, officials say, will be the nation’s hardest to tally because of its high concentrations of renters and homeless people, as well as immigrant communities that may not participate, either because of language barriers or because they fear being targeted by federal immigration authorities.
“If, as many fear, non-citizen populations and the state’s heavily Latino population either fails to participate or participates without providing full household counts, then California could lose more than one seat,” said Mitchell, whose firm analyzes political data for regional and statewide candidates.
Nationally, natural increase (births minus deaths) has declined steadily over the past decade. The U.S. also registered a decline in its population under the age of 18, Frey, the demographer, said. California led in that category, with a drop of about 400,000 people under the age of 18, followed by Illinois and New York. The South and West saw the biggest gain in children, Frey added, led by Texas.
“This is a symptom of an aging population,” he said, “and in states like California, an out-migration of younger families with children.”
California’s representation stayed the same following the 2010 census count. If the state does lose a seat or two in 2020, Frey said, it’s uncertain whether the decline would carry into the 2030 count.
“In a way, these last few years are a confluence of things that may not continue over time,” he said. “The slowdown in immigration may not continue, millennials may finally start having kids. Domestic out-migration may continue. All those things happened at the same time, so I don’t think they’re going to be quite as dim in the next few years.” | By JOSH FRIEDMAN
Fueled by residents leaving the state, largely due to the high cost of living, California is currently at risk of losing a congressional seat. [LA Times]
On Monday, the U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates. California was one of 27 states that lost residents through net domestic migration. California lost about 203,000 residents.
Next year’s census count will determine congressional reapportionment. If California were to lose a congressional seat, it would mark the first time that occurred in California’s history as a state.
California’s potential loss in reapportionment would decrease the state’s seat total in the House of Representatives from 53 to 52.
William Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the potential loss of a congressional seat has a lot to do with California residents moving to Arizona, Texas, Colorado and other western states.
Texas, the state to which an estimated 63,000 Californians moved in 2017, stands to potentially gain three congressional seats. Arizona, Colorado and Oregon may gain one seat each.
California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission will hold public hearings in 2021 to determine how to redraw congressional maps.
Paul Mitchell, a leading analyst of the redistricting process, said two areas that may be at risk of losing a congressional seat are the communities located at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties and the suburbs east of San Francisco.
However, other changes to congressional maps, particularly in the Central Valley, are also expected, so it might be difficult to notice the impact of losing a House seat due to population, Mitchell said.
But, Mitchell also said if California’s Latino and non-citizen populations do not participate in the census as much as state officials would like, California could be at risk of losing more than one seat. | 4 |
If you're taking down you Christmas decorations soon, this could be the handy tip you need to hear.
There's not much worse than coming to decorate the tree to find the fairy lights have become a huge knotted mess in storage.
But hours spend unravelling wires could be a thing of the past thanks to one woman's unique and frankly genius way of stopping them from tangling up.
Taking to social media, she revealed how using an empty Pringles tube can keep the lights neat and knot-free ready for next Christmas.
The woman posted her cheap and eco-friendly solution on the 1m-member Facebook group Extreme Coupling and Bargains UK.
In a discussion about tips for taking down Christmas decorations she wrote: “Discovered a bargain way to keep your lights untangled.
(Image: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group)
“I taped the lid on an empty tube of Pringles. Taped the end of the lights to one end. Wrapped the lights round as I took the lights off the tree.
“Taped the other end on. Works perfectly.”
The innovative idea was met with applause from other group members.
One fan said: Ohhhh that’s a good reason to go buy Pringles.”
Another added: “Pringles tubes are fab, I make a small hole in the lid to insert the plug.”
One wrote: "Would love to see a video of it - I have 500 lights dreading taking them down."
Not only is the trick handy, it also helps make use of waste product,as at present Pringles cans cannot be recycled along with other household waste.
This is due to the complicated mixture of materials the product is made from. | SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4 News) – A man was arrested following a deadly crash on New Year’s Day in South Salt Lake.
South Salt Lake Police said the crash involved two vehicles at 2700 South 300 West.
South Salt Lake Sgt. Matthew Oehler said a woman in her 30s was taken to the hospital where she later died.
The other driver, now identified as Wilonja Lusungu, 46, of Salt Lake City was hospitalized and is believed to have been under the influence at the time of the crash.
“There is some alcohol impairment that is suspected..and that will certainly be part of the investigation moving forward. There are investigators as part of that CAR team at the hospital and will obtain some blood alcohol search warrants,” said Sgt. Oehler.
Once discharged, Lusungu was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He now faces a charge of DUI involving serious injury or death, a third-degree felony.
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US election, Brexit and China to sway the markets in 2020
After profiting from strong markets in 2019, investors are expecting 2020 to bring further rising asset prices and lively merger activity. But Brexit, the US presidential election and the US trade war with China could all spring nasty surprises over the next 12 months and give the long-running bull market a jolt.
The UK and Brexit
Relief that Brexit is resolved will be replaced by anxiety over the future relationship between Britain and the EU, with the transition period due to end in December 2020.
Dean Turner, a UK economist at UBS Global Wealth Management, predicts UK GDP will only rise by 0.9% in 2020, even weaker than the 1.2% in 2019.
“It’s possible that there will be some bounce in activity given the clarity on Brexit, but any improvement in sentiment is likely to fade as the next Brexit deadline draws closer,” Turner says.
Ruth Lea, an economic adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, believes the UK will get a “fiscal boost” from the forthcoming budget, due in February. This could include an increase in the threshold for paying national insurance – in effect a tax cut.
“The economy has been facing the twin headwinds of Brexit uncertainty, which has almost certainly depressed business investment and could also have undermined the consumer, and the weaker global economy, especially in the eurozone. Having said that, there still seems to be growth,” Lea says.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Boris Johnson faces further tough talks with Brussels that could hit sterling. Photograph: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
The London stock market shrugged off Brexit anxiety during 2019 to post its best year since 2016. Several analysts predict it will rally in 2020 as relatively unloved UK shares are embraced by investors again.
Jeremy Podger, who manages Fidelity’s £2.7bn global special situations fund, says the City should benefit from the increased certainty created by the Conservative win in last month’s election.
“It appears to be the case that, in general, investors have been taking money out of the UK stock market since the referendum and that it is generally underrepresented in many international portfolios. This result could be a trigger for these investors to ‘neutralise’ their exposure while existing investors are unlikely to sell for now,” Podger explains.
But the prospect of fresh tough negotiations between London and Brussels over their future relationship will probably weigh heavily on sterling in 2020.
The UK could crash on to World Trade Organization trade rules in a year’s time if it cannot reach an agreement and refuses to extend the transition period. This would be “a significant step down from the current arrangement and an arrangement that investors fear will negatively impact the UK economy,” says Fiona Cincotta of City Index.
Takeovers in the UK
This year there could also be a rise in takeover activity. Jonathan Boyers, the head of mergers and acquisitions at KPMG, predicts a flurry of deals in the next six months now the UK has a stable government.
“Many of those who have been mulling over an exit have done their early prep work and are set to launch processes in the new year. Meanwhile, I expect there will be a significant amount of demand, keeping prices high, as the market makes up for some of the lost volume,” Boyers says.
Ben Higson, the head of the London corporate practice at law firm Hogan Lovells, also expects a “dynamic” mergers and acquisitions market in 2020.
“The removal of political uncertainty in the UK has resulted in early signs of confidence returning to deal-making activity, keeping boardrooms and other decision-makers busy in the final weeks of the year and, we expect, early in the new year,” says Higson.
Trump and US markets
Donald Trump’s attempt to win a second term is likely to dominate the headlines for much of the next 12 months.
Markets often do well in an election year – partly because the White House incumbent has every incentive to make people feel richer. Trump is rumoured to be considering a fiscal boost known as “tax cuts 2.0” which could lift his popularity, and stocks, before the November election.
Many investors have “priced in” a Trump re-election, says Edward Moya of the foreign exchange firm OANDA. A Republican win has been Wall Street’s “base case for a while”, so a Democratic win could startle the markets.
“Despite the strong economy, key battleground states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania all have Biden leading Trump in recent polls. A Biden presidency would still be positive for US stocks but perhaps a few percentage points lower than a Trump victory,” Moya points out.
But if Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders were to beat Trump, tech stocks, banks and pharmaceuticals firms could all face tougher regulation, triggering a sell-off.
John Moore, a senior investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, says political concerns are already being priced into some stocks.
“Elizabeth Warren, for example, has made no secret of her feelings about Facebook and a desire to break up some of the other tech giants. Other candidates have targeted healthcare,” he points out.
On average, Wall Street strategists predict the S&P 500 will gain 5% in 2020, compared with a 28% rally in 2019.
Trade disputes
Trade tensions could escalate in 2020, particularly if the US intensifies pressure on Europe. Last month the US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, criticised the “very unbalanced relationship” in trade across the Atlantic, signalling it was a White House priority for 2020.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Donald Trump with Xi Jinping. The US and China are due to sign a trade deal but the dispute could flare up again, leading to the reimposition of tariffs. Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images
Lighthizer’s comment “imparts a high risk of an escalation of tensions”, says Marc Ostwald of ADM Investor Services. He fears that a US-EU trade war would “inevitably” tip the German economy into recession.
The US economy is enjoying its longest expansion ever, having been growing for more than 10 years. Fears of a recession in 2019 proved unfounded, but the trade tensions stirred up by Trump are bad for growth.
“Trade tensions will continue to foster unpredictability in economic policymaking and cause a drag on demand and capital investment,” predicts Los Angeles-based Hercules Investments.
China and the US are due to sign their phase one trade deal this month. But there is a risk of this dispute flaring up again, leading to tariffs being reimposed on imports. That would have a chilling impact on the global economy.
China’s economy is also likely to keep cooling in 2020, having slowed to its slowest annual growth rate in three decades in 2019, at 6%. Beijing will keep trying to jumpstart growth in 2020, but Nariman Behravesh, the chief economist of IHS Markit, says China is fighting structural factors including an ageing population and weaker productivity growth.
“We predict China’s growth rate will slide even further, to 5.7% in 2020 and 5.6% in 2021, unless the government puts in place a more aggressive stimulus programme,” Behravesh says.
Markit also predicts that the US economy will grow by about 2.1% during 2020 – below the 3% targeted by Trump. Its manufacturing sector has slowed in recent months, but December’s jobs report did beat forecasts – an encouraging sign for Trump.
Central banks
Central banks will, once again, have a major impact on the financial markets – beyond their traditional remit of price stability. The US Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates on hold but could cut borrowing costs if economic data turns sour.
In Europe, Christine Lagarde is overseeing a review of the European Central Bank’s operations, with a new focus on the climate emergency. But she’s not expected to change the ECB’s dovish approach, so interest rates could remain at record lows for some time.
In the UK, interest rates could be cut if the UK economy fares badly once Brexit takes place on 31 January.
Bitcoin
In the cryptocurrency world, the major event will probably be a technical change that halves the reward for digitally mining bitcoins. This halving will probably take place in May, and is likely to reduce the supply of new bitcoins.
The two previous times when the block reward was halved, bitcoin rallied strongly afterwards.
“Bitcoin halvings are important events for traders because they reduce the number of new bitcoins being generated by the network. This limits the supply of new coins, so prices could rise if demand remains strong,” IG told clients. | 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 | 3.333333 |
PROMOTIONS
Amanda Richards was named executive director of the Maine Osteopathic Association.
Richards joined the staff in 2016 as a membership and events coordinator and has served as director of operations since 2018.
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Albin, Randall & Bennett has promoted Laura Everett and Matthew Pore to principals of the firm.
Everett joined the firm in 2006. She is a leader in the firm’s automotive dealership and credit union service groups, providing accounting, attest and business advisory services.
Pore joined the firm in 2018 as a tax director. He is a leader in the firm’s private client services group and works to serve niche clients in the areas of automotive dealerships, closely held businesses and craft beverages.
CERTIFICATIONS
Patrick Chamberlin, a business insurance producer at Allen Insurance and Financial, earned the management liability insurance specialist designation from the International Risk Management Institute.
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PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITIONS
The Maine Judicial Branch Performance Council Awards were presented to the following people:
Superior Court Justice Nancy D. Mills, based in Portland; and Karen Simpson, an administrative clerk at the violations bureau in Lewiston, were recognized with career performance awards.
Mills was honored for her 28 years on the District Court and Superior Court benches, including a term serving as chief justice of the Superior Court. Her achievements include being a driving force in the creation and expansion of the Maine Veterans Court and Co-occurring Disorders Court for treatment and supervision of individuals involved with the criminal justice system.
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Simpson was recognized for her exemplary dedication, work ethic, leadership and commitment to the judicial branch’s mission.
Robert Byron, a judicial marshal at Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland, received the Roy Rice Award. Byron was recognized for his professionalism, composure and dedication to performing the duties of a judicial marshal.
The special service award was presented to the judicial branch facilities team of Director Jeff Henthorn and members Curt Lefebvre, Ryan Bell, Dylan Hanscom, Kevin Fogg and Lisa Morgan.
Chris Coughlan, senior programmer analyst at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, was recognized as the employee of the year. Coughlan was instrumental in the roll-out of the Odyssey digital case management system for Violations Bureau cases.
“Submit your notices of new hires, promotions and professional recognitions to [email protected] and include a jpeg image, if you like.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
filed under: | BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin has quit social media after receiving online abuse.
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The TV host said that the decision to leave sites such as Facebook and Twitter was “a long time coming”.
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Writing in wrote in Cheshire Life magazine, She said: “You might think I am oversensitive (I probably am), and need to grow a thicker skin (I probably do), but the truth is I can read a hundred nice comments about me but it will be the nasty one I will remember, try as I might to shrug it off.
“Recently the level of acrimony on social media reached unnerving levels, with people constantly shouting at each other, whipping up outrage and throwing around wild assumptions.
“I realised, I had had enough of reading it and being drawn into the cycle of negativity.”
Minchin has been a presenter on BBC Breakfast since 2006 and her current co-host Dan Walker has voiced his support of her decision on Twitter.
If you read some of the bile that comes through it would be easy to see why she made the decision. As Louise said… "I was allowing people into my house to shout at me. I decided to close the front door" ???????????? #BBCBreakfast https://t.co/3DuDSQMfQF — Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 31, 2019
Walker has been Minchin’s co-presenter since 2016 and often features in her behind-the-scenes Instagram photos.
The two discussed the story on BBC Breakfast this morning (31st December) and Minchin clarified that she still signs in occasionally but has deleted the apps from her phone.
"Stepping back" from social media @louiseminchin tells us why she's been spending much less time online over the festive period.#bbcbreakfast pic.twitter.com/3qCfGQnSOZ — BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) December 31, 2019
Minchin added that leaving social media sites meant she has more time to be “reading books, watching box sets and actually using my mobile to speak to family and friends.”
“It’s much better than falling into a rabbit hole of darkness,” she added.
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Minchin is far from the first public figure to quit social media over abuse. Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran deleted all her Instagram photos following online harassment in 2018, and the same year Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown quit Twitter after being targeted by memes. | 1 |
It's Up to Us by John Kasich
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A Republican voice of sanity on Jimmy Kimmel: Gov. John Kasich talks about the impeachment of Donald Trump, Quid Pro Quo, our divided country, being a member of the GOP who doesn't always side with his party, climate change, Greta Thunberg, responsible gun control and little ways we can all bring about change for the better.
Kasich is the author of It's Up to Us: Ten Little Ways We Can Bring About Big Change.
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(Opens new browser window) | Soon, the targets of hate are blacks, gays, immigrants and minorities. We need only look at Germany in the 1930s to know this can only end badly. How, you say, can we compare with Germany? We have low unemployment, low inflation — quite the opposite of times past. Yet we have a charismatic leader who speaks a simple language and delivers powerful messages to a waiting audience of extremists on both the left and right. What we are lacking is moral leadership. An unambiguous message that our president will not tolerate an America where Jews are stabbed, shot, beaten and humiliated. That message is not forthcoming from President Donald Trump or our Republican leaders. | 1.666667 |
It’s too early in the morning. I would go for a run, but I also believe that I need sleep and deserve to keep lying in bed, indefinitely.
It’s too late at night. I could go for a run, but I worked hard today, so never mind.
I recently read that you should eat breakfast before you work out. Your body needs fuel. I really want to go for a run, but the thing is my run will actually be better if I eat a full English breakfast beforehand.
Wow, I just finished an incredible plate of eggs and beans. The time is right for a run, but running with a full stomach can lead to indigestion, so I’ll need to wait several weeks.
My phone says that it might rain in ten hours.
It’s windy.
It’s so cold, and I own a really soft fleece blanket. According to research from a team of Danish scientists, I should curl up under it instead of going for a run.
It’s so hot. A study by Swedish scientists concluded that running when it’s hot is bad. Yes, bad no matter what, even if you wear a hat or have one of those belts with tiny water bottles attached to it. I believe the study also said that those belts are confusing and make you look like a water officer.
I’m supposed to meet a friend in six hours. If I go for a run, I might enjoy it so much that I end up running for the full six hours. I’m a good friend and I don’t want to be late, so even though I would love to go for a run I will not.
I already took a shower today. If I go for a run, I will have to shower a second time, and that would use too much water. I care about the environment, so I will abstain from running.
I have no clean running clothes.
I have too many cute running outfits and I can’t choose which one to put on. Instead, I will continue to wear my nightgown.
I think I hear a parade outside. The people may need my running path, so I will cede it to them.
I think I hear a high-school track team outside. I will be generous and allow these worthy youths the use of the entire running path, even after they have left it.
I think I hear something crushing metal outside? Like, some kind of construction-related grinding?
Possible floods.
I might be getting sick. I’m not sick yet, but I’m getting that feeling in the back of my nose, where it transitions to the ring-a-ding section, also known as the uvula. Instead of running, I should really get into bed and let my immune system do its good, preventative work. I’m sorry, but that’s what I read in my self-published anti-running zine, “Simply Stay in Bed, Plus.”
There will be people with big dogs. I don’t have a problem with big dogs, but I like little dogs better and people usually take their little dogs for walks later in the day. At least, that’s what I’ve been noticing in my neighborhood. One of them even wears a denim jacket!
The little dogs used to come out at around five, but lately it’s been more like six, so I’m going to check my e-mail.
Actually, sometimes it’s more like seven.
Yikes, that was so much e-mail. Unfortunately, now it’s dark out, and running in the dark, as we all know, isn’t safe. Maybe I should go to the gym.
Oops, I forgot that the gym exposes me to germs and a spirited exercise community. For my health and emotional well-being, I regret that I cannot enter the gym.
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SEATTLE -- There will be gusty, mild and wet weather to ring in the New Year!
Seattle benefits from the Rain Shadow but the rest of Western Washington will be wet.
Wednesday will be breezy with passing showers with snow in the mountains. Thursday will be breezy and wet with more snow in the mountains.
Quite breezy on the last night of 2019. Stay safe but have a blast. #happynewyear #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/UxzioBOAzY — Walter Kelley (@Walter_Kelley) December 31, 2019
The weekend looks similar with passing showers, breezy conditions and a lot more mountain snow. Drive with care up there and Happy New Year. | 1 |
Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken Jr, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter. The biggest legends in American baseball history all set records and achieved international fame playing with Louisville Slugger bats, the players’ names immortalized in the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Hall of Fame in Kentucky.
But what about the men and women who worked in the factories, the artisans and engravers who produced their iconic bats for America’s favorite pastime? What were their names, and what were their stories?
Those are the questions being answered right now in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of the city’s biennial celebration, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory dug out a trove of old photos, many black and white, from decades and decades of the company’s history. The pictures were a snapshot into not only the company’s past but of post-war American life. But many of the proud faces’ identities were unknown.
Ruby Judd worked at Louisville Slugger for 50 years filling ordered filling orders and doing quality inspection. She was identified by her niece, Laura Quiggins, who said: ‘She was very proud of her job, very proud of the product that they put out'
An unidentified man whittles down a baseball bat. In celebration of Louisville, Kentucky's biennial, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is hosting an exhibit that showcases vintage photos of employees that worked in the Hillerich and Bradsby factory over the years. A local campaign asked family, friends and former colleagues to help identify the nameless faces
The Hillerich and Bradsby is a woodworking company that began in 1856 and manufactured various items such as golf clubs butter churns before it made its first bat in 1884. Maril Addams (pictured) is seen operating a lathe on golf club heads
A local campaign advertised the museum exhibit and showcased the photos in regional media. That’s when friends and colleagues of former workers began collaborating with the effort, and now many of those earnest, nameless faces have been identified.
‘Back in those days, people took such pride in their work,’ says Laura Quiggins, who identified her aunt, Ruby Judd, who was an inspector and order filler more than 50 years ago for Hillerich and Bradsby, the company which began manufacturing Louisville Slugger bats. ‘Nowadays, it’s like people just go to work to get the paycheck – “What’s in it for me?”
‘She was very proud of her job, very proud of the product that they put out,’ Quiggins tells DailyMail.com. ‘It’s so simple, but a little piece of wood made people famous, and those people made the bat famous.’
The effort came about when the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory was asked to participate in the Louisville Biennial, and curator Bailey Mazik thought of the photos she’d seen in archives and desks, folders of workers in the factories, men and women working for a company that began in 1856 and manufactured everything from butter churns to golf clubs to the famous bats – production of which began in 1884. The company receives information about former players on a daily basis, she says – but this was something new and special.
An unidentified man carefully works on a persimmon golf club head at a table saw at the Hillerich and Bradsby company
Employee Bill Lesch inspecting rough-turned timber. 17-year-old,John "Bud" Hillerich began making baseball bats in the 1880s after watching Louisville's major league team star player, Pete "Louisville Slugger" Browning break his bat during a game
Employee Ray Sizemore weighing a roughout in 1975
Quinton Jackson is pictured dipping bats in an undated photo
An unidentified employee is seen branding bats. Rena Jenkins, a longtime current employee who began at the company in 1977 instantly recognized a former employee by the name of Georgia Hines. She told DailyMail.com: '...she was a little bitty lady. She probably weighed maybe 110 pounds fully clothed...but she could engrave a bat. Back then, that was her job. She was the only one that did that back then'
‘One of our former vice presidents was kind of an amateur historian himself, so he collected a lot of these and organized these and wrote down a lot of employees’ names,’ Bailey Mazik says of Jack McGrath, who retired in the 80s.
Polly Basham (left) stands with two Hillerich and Bradsby employees in front of a wall of baseball bats
She adds: ‘It has been important for us to know who these people are and to celebrate their hard work.’
One of those people was Quiggins’ Aunt Ruby.
‘She was an inspector and an order-filler,’ Quiggins tells DailyMail.com. ‘She inspected the bats and, when someone placed an order for them, she did the quality assurance … She had worked in several departments, because she was there for years.’
Aunt Ruby, who married and had two children, ‘loved her job,’ Quiggins says.
‘My grandfather worked with wood a lot and made things with wood, and he was a whittler. So she said going into work was like going into Dad’s house. She had built a big long 18-by-12 cedar closet in their house, so their house smelled like cedar – and she said that’s the only smell I don’t smell at work, is cedar. She smelled oak and all the other woods. She said it was a family-oriented place … Everybody knew everybody. She loved working there.
‘That was the place to work, back in the day. It was General Electric, Ford and Hillerich and Bradsby.’
Employee Arthur Peyton branding a bat in an undated photo. Today, Louisville Sluggar churns out 1.8 million bats per year
Unnamed employee is pictured dipping bats. Recalling post-war America, Laura Quiggins told DailyMail.com: ‘That was the place to work, back in the day. It was General Electric, Ford and Hillerich and Bradsby'
Employee inspecting bats before they’re shipped out. January 15, 1958
Willie Leonard is pictured in an undated photo working on metal golf club heads
The company has always been based in the Louisville region, and the Kentucky city has become almost synonymous with baseball bats. Tributes to players and their bats are included on a mile-long Walk of Fame through the city, and the Museum is easily identifiable by the world’s largest bat standing proudly outside of it.
Paula Dyer, another woman who identified her aunt and uncle – both Hillerich and Bradsby employees – echoed the sentiments of Ms Quiggins.
Hillerich and Bradsby was the ‘name I grew up with,’ she says. Her Aunt Polly and Uncle John ‘Buck’ Basham started in the 40s and retired in the 70s.
Buck was a WWII Army veteran, and Dyer’s mother and father had worked for Hillerich and Bradsby before leaving, helping her own parents get their jobs.
‘They would get up in the morning ... they were dedicated employees,’ Dyer says of Polly and Buck. They would get up at four in the morning; they would never be a minute late. They never missed a day.’
She adds: They were proud to work there, yes. It was hard work; they never complained too much about it. I remember, Uncle Buck, his hands would be stained.’
Employee rubbing bat with steel wool prior to final finishing operations in 1953
Employee operating sanding machine
Unidentified employee applying polish to bats. Every baseball bar cores measure 37 inches long by 2.75 inches in diameter, these raw wood posts are called 'billets.' Despite their uniform size, the wood can vary in weight which is what distinguishes different models
Employee weighing roughouts to determine for which model they’re best suited. Date unknown
The Bashams were so proud, in fact, that they incorporated their company’s product into the cabin they built saving wages, she says.
‘It was a two-story cabin, beautiful cabin, and the stairs – instead of plain old rails on each step, it was a Hillerich and Bradsby baseball bat, she tells DailyMail.com. ‘And you know, none of us have pictures of it and it’s so sad.’
Uncle Buck died in 1976 at the age of 60 – only two years retired – and Aunt Polly passed away in 1999.
‘To be able to recognize them for their hard work and dedication ... I just love it,’ she says.
Paula Dyer, identified her aunt Polly and uncle John 'Buck' Basham (pictured polishing a golf club head) in the trove of pictures on display at the Louisville Sluggar Museum & Factory. She told DailyMail.com 'They would never be a minute late. They never missed a day. They were proud to work there, yes. It was hard work; they never complained too much about it'
The Bashams were proud of the work they did for Hillerich and Bradsby, so much so that they incorporated their company’s product into the cabin they built saving wages. ‘It was a two-story cabin, beautiful cabin, and the stairs – instead of plain old rails on each step, it was a Hillerich and Bradsby baseball bat,' said Paula Dyer to DailyMail.com
Employee (William White) packing mini-bats. March 2007
Rena Jenkins, a longtime current employee who began at the company in 1977 as an 18-year-old on the switchboard, helped identify former workers from the binders of folders such as Georgia Heins.
The effort to name and picture so many people excited her and made her happy to help, she tells DailyMail.com.
‘It is a legacy,’ she says. ‘It goes back so many generations ... I think they realize the history.’
She adds that she still believes the company makes ‘the greatest bat in the world’ and ‘it’s as American as apple pie.’
She’s worked everywhere within the company from accounts payable to shipping and purchasing and in the warehouses and factories, helping her get to know so many employees over the years who were equally proud of their work. One of them was Georgia Heins, who she recognized amongst the pictures.
‘She was real nice; she was a little bitty lady,’ she says. ‘She probably weighed maybe 110 pounds fully clothed and maybe with her pockets lined. She was 5’2, 5’1; she was a small woman, real skinny, but she could engrave a bat. Back then, that was her job. She was the only one that did that back then.'
An unidentified female employee is seen placing a gunstock cutout on a table saw. Hillerich and Bradsby produced wooden rifle stocks and billy clubs for the U.S. Army during WWII
An unidentified employee works on a metal bat at the Los Angeles, California factory
An undated photo of an employee weighing roughouts before they are cut down to the shape of a specific baseball bat model. Baseball bat cores used to be made of Ash wood but have since been changed to Maple wood after Barry Bonds broke the single-season home run record using Maple bats in 2001
She tells DailyMail.com that the company has always been ‘like a family.’
‘There was a lot of us that started young, so we were young and inexperienced. We learned off of some of the older ones, and we all started having babies and raising our families, and everybody was always here for everybody else.’
Many of the positions, she admits, ‘were tedious jobs – but they just had a little assembly line, and then you had a lot of husband and wives worked here. And then you had several that met their wives here and married.’
‘Years ago, whenever you had a baby, they used to send us a full-sized personalized bat with a letter from the president [of the company] saying: “Welcome to the Hillerich and Bradsby family.” And they would send us a personalized bat with the day they were born, their height, weight and all of that. So each of my kids have that.’
Bill Kaiser giving a golf lesson to the 'Louisville Power-Bilt girls' in an undated photo
Two employees pictured in 1974 prepare golf clubs for shipping
An unnamed employee is pictured meticulously wrapping a golf club
Archivist Mazik says that emphasis on connectivity and support has ‘been important and implemented in our company for as long as I can tell.
‘We all really make a point to know each other, all different departments, all different kinds of jobs. It has been really special to me to see how employees keep in touch with each other and how they take care of each other.’
The exhibit will run through the end of January, but Mazik hopes it can lead to even further historical research and memorialization of the people responsible for the building blocks of America’s favorite pastime.
‘I want to sit down with some of these folks, do formal oral histories that we can archive,’ she says.
Laura Quiggins (left) stands in front of the worlds largest baseball bat outside the Louisville Sluggar Museum & Factory in Kentucky. Quiggins (right) poses next to a photo of her aunt Ruby Judd who was a long-term employee of Hillerich and Bradsby. Quiggins explained to DailyMail.com, '...it was a family-oriented place … Everybody knew everybody. She loved working there' | This is without a doubt my favorite day that rolls around every two weeks, and I’m not talking about payday (though that’s up there pretty high as well.) Today is the day that my housekeeper comes to rescue me from my own sloth, and I never get tired of it, or bored by repetition, even though it occurs every two weeks. (I’m calling her Ronda but that’s not her real name.) Author Erma Bombeck once said that cleaning your house while the kids were still growing is like sweeping your porch while it’s still snowing and I think that’s true, but I still look forward to it.
Here are the happy stages of “Ronda The Housekeeper Day:”
Stage One
Go to the ATM and get some cash, because my kids always suck up any excess I have lying around. I pay Ronda around $20 an hour, which I think is fair for five hours of manual labor cleaning my toilet and mopping my floors. Occasionally, someone will act surprised at this, and insist they can get me someone cheaper. “Gee, I know someone who will clean your whole house for $30!” Well, here’s the thing: I’m not interested in exploiting people just because they’re desperate and will work for less. Ronda came to this country from Guatemala (She’s in this country legally now so don’t send me any hate mail, thank you) as a mom deserted by her abusive, alcoholic husband. She left her boys with her mother and came up here to find a job to support them. At first, she told me, she worked for room and board only, which in my mind sounds an awful lot like slavery. Not the only time I’ve heard that kind of story, by the way. I pay her what I think is fair, and if you bargain your cleaning lady down to get her to scrub your floors for less, I probably wouldn’t like you.
Stage Two
Scurry around and put away anything that I think might get misplaced. Two women putting things away in the same kitchen is never a good thing. I spend a lot of time pacing and thinking, “Dang, where would she have put the measuring cups?” It’s just easier to put them away before she gets here. I usually throw a load of towels in the washer to give her a head start, since she does our linens. Sometimes I’ll wipe up the dog vomit or something else that’s particularly disgusting, though I’m not one of those people who cleans the house before the housekeeper arrives. I’ve always been a little confused by that concept. I know there are a lot of you out there, so please explain it to me.
Stage Three
Greet Ronda when she arrives, then vamoose as quickly as possible. I don’t want to be around while she’s cleaning for two reasons. First, because I can tell I’m getting in her way, though she would never say so. The second and more important reason is that I feel guilty. I feel vaguely ashamed that I’m making someone else clean the gunk out of my bathroom sink, even though I know she wants and needs the work.
Best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a piece for Harper’s magazine back in 2000 called “Maid to Order: The politics of other women’s work” that I could never get completely out of my head. She went to work as a employee of one of those corporate housekeeping companies for the experience, so she could write about it from an informed perspective.
She wrote that people like to hire cleaning services, because they needn’t have a relationship with one person and watch her scrub their bathtub. Seriously, do you really think those maids are merry? Because I’m pretty sure they’re not. Some people also worry about theft, though I’ve never had a problem. One of my former housekeepers, who fled the death squads in El Salvador, had been a college professor there, and the only problem I had with her was letting her finish her work, because she was so interesting I always just wanted to talk. My mother was a neat freak who grew up an orphan in Texas, where in those days the difference between “white trash” and respectable folk was how clean they kept their houses. My mom could never abide the fact that her daughter was clearly trash.
Stage Four
Come home to a sparkling, lemon-scented house with freshly folded towels and clean sheets, enjoying an hour of pure bliss after walking through the door. At this point, I might think about how I really can’t afford a housekeeper, and wonder which kid I should get rid of so I can continue to hire her services.
Stage Five
It’s been 24 hours since Ronda was here, and I’m wondering how my house could possibly look so trashed. I also wonder why my son needs five towels for one shower and why he can’t pick them up off the floor. There’s nothing to be done but pine for her next visit. Ronda, please come back! | 1 |
Large crowds gathered in European capitals for spectacular fireworks displays that lit up the skies over landmarks like Big Ben in London, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Parthenon in Athens and the Kremlin in Moscow.
In Australia, a million revellers thronged Sydney harbour and nearby districts to watch more than 100,000 fireworks explode above the city, even as thousands of people along the country’s eastern seaboard sought refuge from the bushfires on beaches.
Thousands in Hong Kong welcomed 2020 on neon-lit promenades in the picturesque Victoria Harbour, breaking into pro-democracy chants shortly after the countdown to midnight.
Hong Kong authorities cancelled the main midnight fireworks display for the first time in a decade, citing security concerns. A “Symphony of Lights” took place instead, involving projections on the city’s tallest skyscrapers, while smaller-scale pyrotechnics were launched from waterfront rooftops.
In Japan, people took turns striking Buddhist temple bells, in accordance with tradition.
Sydney decided to press ahead with its fireworks despite calls by some members of the public for the display to be cancelled in solidarity with fire-hit areas in New South Wales, of which the city is the capital.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said planning had begun 15 months ago and that the event also gave a boost to the economy.
Some towns in eastern Australia cancelled their New Year’s celebrations as naval vessels and military helicopters helped firefighters rescue people fleeing the fires, which have turned swathes of New South Wales into a raging furnace.
The fires have killed at least 11 people since October, two of them overnight into Tuesday, destroyed more than 4 million hectares (10 million acres) and left many towns and rural areas without electricity or mobile coverage.
Elsewhere, revellers from Auckland, New Zealand, to Pyongyang, the capital of isolated North Korea, welcomed the new year with fireworks displays.
But amid the celebrations of a new year and decade, old tensions threatened to flare up. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Wednesday his country would keep developing nuclear programmes and introduce a “new strategic weapon” in the near future, after the United States missed a year-end deadline to restart denuclearisation talks.
Protests, Brexit
In Hong Kong, rocked by months of sometimes violent pro-democracy demonstrations, protesters were urged to wear masks at a New Year rally called “Don’t forget 2019 - Persist in 2020,” according to social media posts.
Some 6,000 police were deployed and Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, appealed for calm and reconciliation in her New Year’s Eve video message.
The protests began in June in response to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party, and have evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement.
Thousands of Indians ushered in the year by demonstrating against a citizenship law they say will discriminate against Muslims and chip away at India’s secular Constitution.
The demonstrations came despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempts to dampen protests that have run for nearly three weeks.
Irshad Alam, a 25-year-old resident of the Shaheen Bagh area of New Delhi, stood with his 1-year-old child in his arms and his wife by his side. He said he had been participating in the protest every day.
“It’s freezing here,” he said. “But we are still here because we care about this movement.”
More than three years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, fresh from winning a parliamentary majority in last month’s election, promised in his New Year’s message to “get Brexit done before the end of this month.”
“As we say goodbye to 2019, we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long,” Johnson added.
In New York, large crowds were gathering ahead of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop over Times Square.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. | Fireworks, smoke and tear gas start new decade
A woman celebrates as she watches the traditional New Year's fireworks at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with an estimated three million revellers.
NEW YORK: New York dropped its traditional crystal-encrusted ball to ring in 2020 in a packed Times Square, after crisis-marred celebrations in other countries ended a year of worldwide upheaval that saw strike-hit Paris welcome the new decade with fireworks, and London's Big Ben ring out after a long restoration.
Billions around the world cheered in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political revolt and action on climate change.
"I'm not particularly optimistic about the future," 29-year-old Natalie Reinhart told AFP ahead of New York's midnight celebration.
"I don't think anybody thinks the world is in a good place, and I think that's one of the defining things of the decade," the New Yorker said.
"There's a sort of overt pessimism. Even our pop songs are sad."
Performers in Times Square pulled through nonetheless, as artists including feminist rocker Alanis Morissette took the stage ahead of a highly anticipated performance by K-pop sensation BTS.
New Yorker Gabriel Rodriguez, 53, voiced gloom over society's future but told AFP his way of coping: "I live day by day."
-'New Year with Dignity'-
Chile saw thousands of demonstrators gather at Santiago's Plaza Italia -- the epicentre of protests against President Sebastian Pinera's right-wing government since October -- to celebrate a "New Year with Dignity."
One of the world's biggest New Year festivals took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with an estimated three million revellers.
Most of them wore white as they listened to concerts and watched a traditional fireworks show at Copacabana Beach.
In the French capital, tens of thousands gathered on the Champs-Elysees, despite a gruelling transport strike that has spelled weeks of misery for commuters.
They came on foot, by bike, taxi -- and a few by Metro -- to ring in the new decade as a dazzling light show lit up the Arc de Triomphe.
In the British capital, thousands of revellers lined the Thames to watch fireworks fired from the London Eye for the last new year before Brexit.
Big Ben rang out 12 times after the bell had fallen mostly silent in 2019 because of renovation work.
It followed a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson's pledging to leave the European Union on January 31.
As US-Iran tensions rose again in the Middle East, fireworks exploded in Dubai around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, pyrotechnics reflected off the waters of the Ebrie lagoon.
Smoke-choked Sydney ushered in the New Year with an enormous fireworks display, despite a petition to cancel it that received more than 280,000 signatures as devastating bushfires raged across the country.
But the show did go on: more than 100,000 fireworks lit up the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the city centre.
- Celebrations amid upheaval -
After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong ushered in 2020 with tear gas and water cannon. Pro-democracy protesters took their movement into the new year with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for Wednesday.
Before midnight, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong.
Demonstrators at the harborfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" in a sea of light from their mobile phones.
Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades and riot police unleashed their first volleys of tear gas for 2020 in response.
Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighbourhoods.
In impoverished North Korea, a large crowd that gathered for a concert in the centre of Pyongyang cheered as the clock struck midnight. Fireworks burst in the sky above a neon-lit stage hosting a tightly choreographed dance performance.
Across the border, South Koreans flocked to bell-ringing ceremonies -- a traditional ritual marking the start of the new year -- with thousands watching in central Seoul alongside performances by Korean pop stars.
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual New Year address, 20 years after he was elevated to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin's shock resignation in his 1999 end-of-year speech.
Russia celebrated the new decade over several time zones, with Muscovites flocking to the centre of the capital for fireworks over the Kremlin. | 4 |
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd is quoting at Rs 1668.35, up 0.97% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 34.64% in last one year as compared to a 12.82% gain in NIFTY and a 0.07% gain in the Nifty FMCG.
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd rose for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1668.35, up 0.97% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.07% on the day, quoting at 12176.55. The Sensex is at 41298, up 0.11%. Jubilant Foodworks Ltd has added around 4.62% in last one month.
Meanwhile, Nifty FMCG index of which Jubilant Foodworks Ltd is a constituent, has added around 2.18% in last one month and is currently quoting at 30121.5, up 0.31% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 8.35 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 7.63 lakh shares in last one month.
The benchmark January futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1672.05, up 0.47% on the day. Jubilant Foodworks Ltd is up 34.64% in last one year as compared to a 12.82% gain in NIFTY and a 0.07% gain in the Nifty FMCG index.
The PE of the stock is 65.29 based on TTM earnings ending September 19.
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | Titan Company Ltd has lost 1.4% over last one month compared to 0.7% fall in S&P BSE Consumer Durables index and 1.91% rise in the SENSEX
Titan Company Ltd lost 1.03% today to trade at Rs 1143. The S&P BSE Consumer Durables index is down 0.34% to quote at 24578.29. The index is down 0.7 % over last one month. Among the other constituents of the index, V I P Industries Ltd decreased 0.66% and TTK Prestige Ltd lost 0.12% on the day. The S&P BSE Consumer Durables index went up 18.9 % over last one year compared to the 15.5% surge in benchmark SENSEX.
Titan Company Ltd has lost 1.4% over last one month compared to 0.7% fall in S&P BSE Consumer Durables index and 1.91% rise in the SENSEX. On the BSE, 17115 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 74216 shares in the past one month. The stock hit a record high of Rs 1389.85 on 25 Oct 2019. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 920.45 on 04 Jan 2019.
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 2.333333 |
From Consortium News
Houses destroyed by earthquake in Haiti, Jan. 21, 2010.
(Image by (EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid/Flickr)) Details DMCA
I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-Second Street Uncertain and afraid As the clever hopes expire Of a low dishonest decade.
These are W.H. Auden's lines, written as the 1930s drew to a close and six years of global conflagration commenced. Eighty years later, they are pitifully, painfully apt as the second decade of our new century gives way to the third.
With 2019 staggering to its end, what do we see when we look back over the 2010s? What when we look forward to the 2020s? These are our questions, each to be answered without flinching, dissembling or deflecting.
It requires a wide-eyed Boy Scout's optimism to consider the decade now behind us and see anything other than a steady descent into global disorder, violence and abuse of international law. If this seems unduly pessimistic, it is merely because the 2010s were also a decade of probably unprecedented mis and disinformation, both deployed to mask responsibility for 10 years' worth of calamities that, with no obvious exceptions, could have been averted.
In this same line, you would have to be Hillary Clinton or Mickey Rooney, fresh from a rendition of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," to miss the rampantly pernicious character of American foreign policy this past decade. The evident trajectory resembles what we find on the climate-change question: Amid copious signs of crisis, the U.S. spent the last 10 years hurtling in the wrong direction. By any measure, it is now very arguably the primary source of global disorder in this century.
U.S. as Major Planetary Threat
The world comes to understand this, even if many Americans prefer to bury themselves in illusions and self-deceptions.
A Pew Research Center study published earlier this year indicated that nearly half the planet now considers the U.S. "a major threat" to their nations. This is almost double the rate of negative views Pew found in 2013, when it began this series of surveys.
Two years ago, the Council on Foreign Relations convened a workshop of Europeans to consider "Managing Global Disorder," as the event was titled. "To some," CFR reported afterward, "the principal source of instability has been the overzealous actions of the United States particularly in the wake of 9/11 in promoting democracy, human rights, and regime change around the world in contravention of established principles of state sovereignty."
The good people at Pew seem intent on sanitizing the 2010s by dropping the blame for this rise in anti-American sentiment on Donald Trump's doorstep. The president certainly bears responsibility for souring the global mood, notably in pulling out of the Paris climate pact in 2017, the Iran nuclear accord a year later, and various arms-limitations agreements with Russia. But let us disabuse ourselves on one important point. The world's wariness and weariness of America's conduct beyond its shores was well in train before Mr. Trump went to Washington.
Bearer of Many Clever Hopes
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | TOP 10: President Trump’s Biggest Accomplishments of 2019
Americans saw plenty of Washington at its worst this year, with one party in Congress obsessed with a partisan impeachment stunt and obstructing progress at every turn. But despite getting no help from the far left, America today is soaring to new heights.
It’s tough to pick only 10 accomplishments from such an extraordinary year, but here are just a few of the biggest things President Donald J. Trump has gotten done for the American people in 2019:
The Trump Boom is going strong. The unemployment rate recently hit its lowest mark in 50 years. All told, since President Trump’s election, our economy has added more than 7 million jobs—over half a million in manufacturing alone.
The stock market keeps breaking records: The Dow Jones and S&P 500 hit record closes again on Friday.
The working class is thriving, as are previously forgotten communities. Wages are now rising the fastest for low-income workers, and poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans have reached all-time lows.
Accountable government is back. Since taking office, President Trump has rolled back nearly 8 regulations for every new one, saving American taxpayers more than $50 billion in the process—with bigger savings still to come.
Better trade deals are putting America back in the driver’s seat. Congress approved President Trump’s USMCA this month—a huge win for U.S. workers, farmers, and manufacturers that will create 176,000 new jobs.
Trade with China, in particular, is about to get a whole lot fairer. As part of a historic “phase 1” deal, Beijing has agreed to structural reforms in its trade practices and to make substantial purchases of American agricultural products.
Securing the border is paying off and making our country safer. President Trump struck new agreements with Mexico and Central American countries this year to help stop the flood of illegal immigration. Thanks to this swift action, border apprehensions fell by more than 70 percent from May to November.
On health care, President Trump is fighting to give our patients the best system on Earth. While Democrats try to take away choice, the President’s focus on affordability led to the largest year-over-year drop in drug prices ever recorded.
American interests are taking center stage abroad. In just one example: After years of not paying their fair share, NATO Allies will have increased defense spending by $130 billion by the end of next year.
Our great military took out the world’s top terrorist in October. (Meet Conan, the hero dog who helped them do it!) Our troops are now getting the support they deserve. President Trump recently signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2020 fiscal year, which includes the biggest pay raise for our military in a decade.
SOURCE: AMERICAN MIRROR | 1.333333 |
An authentic Cuban restaurant in the heart of Wigan, Casino de Cuba offers everything from classic Cubano cocktails to distinct and unique Cuban tapas. Wrap that up in a warm atmosphere whilst also offering live sports, live music, and a shisha garden, and you can see why this particular locale promises to set the scene for an unbeatable night out.
Located just a few paces away from the home of Northern Soul, the old Wigan Casino - once named The Best Nightclub in the World by American Billboard Magazine - the restaurant is named in the casino’s honour.
The restaurant also serves Cuban gyros
“I’ve always been a people person, so the fact that the job gives you a chance to meet new people in the town centre on a daily basis is something which I like,” said General Manager Josh Smith, 25. “We get to know loads of good people what with us being a small business. I enjoy my work.”
Restaurant Manager Kyle O’Dowd, 22, agrees. “Making sure people are happy and that they leave with a smile on their face means I can go home and sleep well,” said Kyle, who is from Leeds and who has worked at the restaurant for six months. “We’ve got a good team, they’re a good bunch.”
With the menu proffering meals such as steak gyros, tacos, nachos, and paella as well as thick burgers and an assortment of steaks, Casino de Cuba - which has around 25 staff members - also offers cocktail masterclasses.
“I worked my way up from starting two years ago and took over as manager in Spring, so putting together a team has been a challenge which I have really enjoyed,” said Josh, from Ashton-in-Makerfield. “I’ve liked assembling the team and we’ve got to the stage now where we click.
From Cuba Libre to daiquiris...
“When you’ve got a team you really relish working with, it makes the job a lot easier.” | The café will launch inside the BLK BOX retail concept, a pioneering shopping experience based around revolving retail, art and avant garde independent brands.
Shoppers can enjoy coffee and sweet treats from the tuk-tuk when they visit the ground floor space at Trinity Leeds from January 9.
Owner Greg Gallaghar, who launched his café at Leeds Food & Drink Festival in July 2019, said he is excited to grow his business at BLK BOX.
Greg Gallaghar, 25, with his Mobile Jazz Cafe
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The 25-year-old studied jazz at Leeds College of Music, before deciding to combine his love of music and coffee to set up his own mobile café.
Greg said: "I'm still making all my own tray bakes and have even built the bar myself.
"I’ve saved hard to invest in the best equipment - even though I’m selling out of a tuk-tuk, I want the quality of my coffee to match coffee shops around Leeds.
"Eventually, I want to run my own jazz bar and for people to walk past and think - oh look, that’s the place that used to be a mobile jazz café!” | 1.666667 |
Taylor Swift and Ryan Seacrest seem to have jumped into a flame they weren’t quite prepared to overtake. Amid Nicki Minaj’s tweets, they’ve somehow twisted her words. But fans and non-fans aren’t standing for it.
In a previous Inquisitr article, it mentioned Nicki Minaj‘s VMAs rant and how some things may have been taken out of context. Well, it appears that several people were affected by Minaj’s words — but not by what she said. Rather, it came indirectly because of who responded.
Of course, it started with Taylor Swift‘s response to one of Nicki’s tweets, as can be seen in the previous article. However, it progressed once Ryan Seacrest made a tweet about the topic. The on-air personality poorly worded a headline.
Then, several Twitter users lit into the personality.
@OnAirWithRyan wow Ryan U suck for this headline — Gladiator Goldwyn (@iMargo_CEO) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan @taylorswift13 @NICKIMINAJ it’s nice to see that you only report half the story, not to mention it’s incorrect. — Sarah (@Petty_In_Pink) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan @NICKIMINAJ said she loved Taylor back! Wyd making T the victim of this, you’re intentionally missing the whole point smh — 1D Updates (@1DWWATUpdates) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan @taylorswift13 @NICKIMINAJ always thought you were one of the nice guys — Sam Elizabeth (@hxneydew) July 21, 2015
And several others were directed at him. However, Taylor didn’t escape the onslaught. Fans believe she wanted to make the topic about her, rather than focus on what Nicki’s words suggested.
@OnAirWithRyan @taylorswift13 @NICKIMINAJ This exactly what taylor wanted more news articles about her 👋🏻 congrats taylor 😒 — wendy (@katycatwendy) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan @taylorswift13 @NICKIMINAJ “Poor innocent white woman VICTIMIZED by black woman’s opinion having nothing to do with her!” — Julian Burrell (@Julian_Burrell) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan Taylor isn’t a victim. Okay? She’s not the one you need to rally around after this. — YourDadWantsToFave (@BertLoch) July 21, 2015
@OnAirWithRyan THAT WASNT A JAB AT TAYLOR, WHY ARE YOU PRAISING TAYLOR FOR THINKING EVERYTHING IS ABOUT HER LMFAO BYE — møm (@paulinaugh) July 21, 2015
I’m baffled as to WHY @taylorswift13 felt the need to come at @NickiMinaj for speaking on behalf of unsung black female entertainers.. — Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) July 21, 2015
.@taylorswift13 stop using “support all girls” as an excuse to not be critical of racist media that benefits and glorifies you — berenice (@itsbereniced) July 21, 2015
nicki was making valid points about the history of racism in the music industry, taylor should be standing by her not making it about her — becca (@margaerytyreII) July 21, 2015
Nicki Minaj responded to Ryan Seacrest’s headline as well.
Nothing I said had to do with Taylor. So what jabs? White media and their tactics. So sad. That’s what they want. https://t.co/AfcwoyDvpg — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ryan posted a headline of Taylor saying she loves & supports me. But not me saying the same to her. Lol. Their headline says I took a “jab”? — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
I’m so glad u guys get to see how this stuff works. Taylor took her music off spotify and was applauded. We launched Tidal & were dragged. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Sometimes, it’s difficult to recant statements after they’ve been made, especially after people see those statements. This shows evident proof, does it not? What do you think about it all?
Did they intentionally twist Nicki Minaj’s words and switch the focus? Do you agree or disagree with the majority’s thoughts about it all? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
[Photo Credits: Twitter] | "My bike's handlebars are wider than that," one social media user said, after another posted photos of it on Twitter.
Several people noticed the markings directed cyclists in the opposite direction to other traffic on the one-way street.
"Surely this is less safe than not having one???" said one.
The council said it would send engineers to take a look, unsure if it was responsible or not.
"We're not sure if this is something our contractors has done - looks like a tight squeeze!" one of its social media team said.
Worryingly, a study earlier this year found motorists give cyclists less room when there's a dedicated cycle lane.
Wellington City Council told Newshub as it's the holidays, they've been unable to find anyone who knows how it happened. | 1 |
Paramount Pictures has revealed the first full-length trailer for A Quiet Place 2. The studio had previously revealed a brief teaser that offered a tiny glimpse of what's to come in the sequel to 2018's inventive horror hit. This, however, offers a much more thorough look at what the studio has cooked up, with most of the core cast returning to once again face down the horrors of this post-apocalyptic, silent wasteland. But the horrors aren't limited to deadly, sound-seeking monsters this time around.
The initial A Quite Place 2 teaser trailer picked up following the events of the first movie. John Krasinski's character gave his life to protect his children, ultimately making it so they could survive with their mother. The family managed to figure out a way to kill the beasts that have invaded Earth, which gave them a leg-up in the survival game. However, as we can see, they are having to step off the sandy path that had kept them safe for so long and will be forced to head into uncharted territory. Emily Blunt is back as the head of the Abbott family, with Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe also returning as her children.
John Krasinksi, who directed and co-wrote the original, returns to the director's chair this time around. Krasinski also wrote the screenplay. Original writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods stepped back to focus on original endeavors but remain involved in a more limited capacity. New cast members include Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins) and Djimon Hounsou (Captain Marvel). Details regarding any characters were being kept under tight lock and key during production.
A Quiet Place 2 picks up following the deadly events of the first movie. The Abbott family is forced to face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. As they hesitantly journey into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. Allyson Seeger, Joann Perritano and Aaron Janus, Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller serve as producers.
Released in 2018, A Quiet Place went on to become one of the most unexpected hits of the year. The movie was embraced widely by critics, currently boasting a 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences agreed and moviegoers turned up in droves to see it. The movie, working from a relatively modest budget of just $17 million, went on to gross $340 million at the global box office. With that, a sequel became a top priority for the studio. The question is, was this a lightning in a bottle situation? Or can they manage to strike gold twice? A Quiet Place 2 is set to hit theaters on March 20, 2020, from Paramount Pictures. Be sure to check out the new trailer for yourself. | Paramount Pictures has now released the official trailer from John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place Part II”.
Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence.
Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Emily Blunt is returning for A Quiet Place 2 alongside cast members Noah Jupe (Suburbicon, Wonder) and Millicent Simmonds (Wonderstruck), with John Krasinski set to write, and direct again. Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou will also star in the sequel.
A Quiet Place was from a spec script by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck which was rewritten by Krasinski. It opened in theaters in April of 2018 and grossed over $334 million worldwide on a $17 million dollar budget.
A Quiet Place: Part II is produced by Krasinski and Michael Bay (Transformers) along with Bay’s Platinum Dunes partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller (Ouija, The Purge, Texas Chainsaw Massacre). The sequel is executive produced by Allyson Seeger, Joann Perritano, Aaron Janus.
The sequel is slated to hit the theaters on March 20. | 4 |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Karnataka on January 2 and 3 when he will inaugurate five DRDO Young Scientists' Laboratories, a statement said on January 1. The development is a boost to indigenous research capabilities in the defence sector, the statement added.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation on Thursday, January 2, 2020," the statement said.
Modi will also visit the Sree Siddaganga Mutt, where he will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone for a memorial museum of Shri Shri Shivakumar Swamiji.
He will also distribute Krishi Karman Awards and Commendation Awards to states at a public meeting in Tumkur, Karnataka on Thursday, another statement said.
The PM will also give away the Agriculture Minister's Krishi Karman Awards for Progressive Farmers.
The event will also witness the release of the third installment of PM-Kisan (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) of Rs 2,000 for December 2019-March 2020. This will benefit approximately 6 crore people.
The Prime Minister will also hand over certificates to beneficiaries under PM-Kisan from eight states/UTs.
At the same event, the Prime Minister will also handover the Keys of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels and Fishing Vessel Transponders to select farmers from Tamil Nadu.
He will also distribute Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to select farmers from Karnataka, the statement said.
Download your money calendar for 2022-23 here and keep your dates with your moneybox, investments, taxes | Representative image
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Shares of Bajaj Electricals gained 2.4 percent intraday on January 1 ahead of board meeting for fund raising.
The meeting of the board of directors is scheduled on January 6 to consider, among others, the proposal for raising of funds by issue of equity shares, convertible securities or any other securities, including, through a rights issue, preferential issue and/or qualified institutions placement, company said in its BSE filing.
The fund raising is subject to receipt of regulatory/ statutory approvals, it added.
The stock rallied 10 percent in last one month. It was quoting at Rs 360.50, up Rs 2.65, or 0.74 percent on the BSE at 1330 hours IST.
Download your money calendar for 2022-23 here and keep your dates with your moneybox, investments, taxes | 1.333333 |
Dounia Batma and her sister paid MAD 500,000 each for a provisional release during the ongoing investigation.
Rabat – The public prosecutor at the Marrakech Court of First Instance has formally appealed the decision of the investigating judge to grant Moroccan singer Dounia Batma and her sister provisional release on bail.
An investigating judge ordered the release of Dounia and her sister on bail after their indictment for alleged involvement in the “Hamza mon bb” case.
The Hamza mon bb case involves accounts active on social media on Snapchat and Instagram, posting videos and photos about celebrities and influencers for blackmail.
The prosecutor at the court of appeal has contested the court’s decision to release Dounia and Ibtissam Batma on bail.
The singer and her sister paid MAD 500,000 each to be released during the ongoing investigation.
Read Also: Dounia Batma Appears Laughing in Video After Release on Bail
The sisters are facing serious charges, including defamation, blackmail, and sharing people’s statements and photos without their consent.
They could both face to five years in prison if convicted.
National judicial police in Marrakech transferred Dounia Batma and her sister Ibtissam to the Public Prosecutor in Marrakech for further investigation on Monday, December 30.
The Batma sisters are not allowed to leave Moroccan territory before the end of the investigation while the investigation remains ongoing.
Police also seized Dounia’s phone, currently subject to technical examinations to determine any links between the two sisters and the Hamza mon bb case. | Moroccan singer Dounia Batma was heard, Monday, by the King’s prosecutor in Marrakech and then brought before the investigating judge over alleged involvement in blackmail. The Bahrain-based singer is reportedly prosecuted over «blackmail and defamation» allegations, Alarabiya reports.
According to media reports, Dounia’s sister Ibtissam Batma has been arrested by the police over the same claims.
Last week, Dounia Batma, who rose to fame as the runner-up of the first season of Arab Idol, had her passport and cell phone seized by the police as soon as she arrived in Morocco, Le360 reported.
On Thursday, she was interrogated for 12 hours by the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca as part of an investigation into the «Hamza mon bb» case. «She was also formally notified that she is banned from leaving the country», well-informed sources said.
The «Hamza mon bb» case emerged in August when Moroccan singer Saida Charaf filed a complaint against an anonymous account on social media. This account released intimate details about the private lives of several Moroccan celebrities.
On September 16, the main owner of the account was arrested and then brought before the Marrakech Court of First Instance. He was charged with «defamation, insult, bashing, sexual harassment and violation of the privacy of several people on the Internet».
One of the people related case revealed that the Batma sisters were allegedly involved in the case. | 3.333333 |
As Northern Ireland greets 2020, just a year shy of the centenary of the foundation of the state, there will be many who hope DUP leader Arlene Foster means to deliver on her new year message of making the province a place at peace with itself and which the majority of people, unionist and nationalist, can feel comfortable in
Editor's Viewpoint: Time Northern Ireland parties step up and bring back power sharing BelfastTelegraph.co.uk As Northern Ireland greets 2020, just a year shy of the centenary of the foundation of the state, there will be many who hope DUP leader Arlene Foster means to deliver on her new year message of making the province a place at peace with itself and which the majority of people, unionist and nationalist, can feel comfortable in. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/editors-viewpoint/editors-viewpoint-time-northern-ireland-parties-step-up-and-bring-back-power-sharing-38825563.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/0ed4b/38825614.ece/AUTOCROP/h342/Stormont%20facade%202.jpg
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As Northern Ireland greets 2020, just a year shy of the centenary of the foundation of the state, there will be many who hope DUP leader Arlene Foster means to deliver on her new year message of making the province a place at peace with itself and which the majority of people, unionist and nationalist, can feel comfortable in.
That is the greatest guarantee Northern Ireland's future within the Union is secure. Unionists, who have never learned from what they term as past betrayals by the Westminster government, is feeling nervous. They recognise that demographics are against them and the toxic atmosphere generated by Brexit in particular has created an increased groundswell to test opinion on Irish unity.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald wants a border poll but there is widespread agreement that it would be a divisive move at a time when Northern Ireland's more pressing day-to-day problems need sorting out.
Whatever one says, the ideological divide is always there between the two big parties.
But as they and the other local politicians return to talks tomorrow they know that public opinion demands they find a compromise and return to work at Stormont.
The problems that should unite them far outweigh the demands that divide them.
While Mrs Foster is correct to point out that civic and business life has soldiered on heroically during the three years that politicians have abdicated their responsibilities, it cannot be denied that the underlying problems in public services are at crisis point. | Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney DUP leader Arlene Foster
Simon Coveney urges 'new beginning' as Stormont talks set to resume BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has called for a "new beginning" as talks to restore power-sharing resume tomorrow at Stormont. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/simon-coveney-urges-new-beginning-as-stormont-talks-set-to-resume-38827500.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/b1f78/38827498.ece/AUTOCROP/h342/2020-01-02_new_56004090_I1.JPG
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Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has called for a "new beginning" as talks to restore power-sharing resume tomorrow at Stormont.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party aimed to secure a "fair and balanced" deal.
The parties have just 11 days to reach a compromise. Secretary of State Julian Smith has warned that he will call a fresh Assembly election if an agreement hasn't been brokered by then.
Mr Smith will hold bilateral meetings with the parties before a round-table discussion at Stormont House.
Mr Coveney yesterday urged Northern Ireland politicians to show leadership and generosity in the negotiations.
He said the new year offered a chance for a fresh beginning and he urged all sides not to disappoint the public again. The dialogue had been paused for the Christmas holidays.
The Tanaiste held pre-talks with Mr Smith yesterday. | 4 |
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Rather than winding down for the festive period, the staff and judges at Truro Crown Court have had an extremely busy December dealing with a huge number of serious cases.
Many criminals have been given huge sentences ensuring that this Christmas isn't the only one they'll spend behind bars.
Cornwall is certainly a better place without some of these criminals walking our streets over the festive period.
Here are the criminals sentenced at Truro Crown Court in December
Michael Barber
A racist menace was jailed for a spree of offending that included attacking shop workers, verbally abusing police officers and launching the most sickening tirade of racist abuse at an innocent man he encountered at a railway station.
Michael Barber, 33, told the man at the train station that he should go back to Africa and the cotton fields before spitting in his face.
Barber, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting two common assaults, twice making malicious communications and racially aggravated assault, all occurring in June and July of this year.
The offences also put him in breach of a community order handed to him for two sexual assaults.
Prosecuting the case, Ian Graham, told the court how Barber entered the Co-Op store in Truro .
He began to swear at the cashier and was asked to leave by a member of staff.
As the member of staff walked him to the door drunk Barber headbutted him in the nose before punching another intervening member of staff in the face.
Barber was eventually wrestled to the floor and restrained before police arrived.
Then, some days later, a police call handler took a call from Barber who was asking for an ambulance claiming he’d taken an overdose.
When asked his name he replied “Jesus Christ” before proceeding to verbally abuse the call handler, making a series of vile and personal insults including saying that he’d “f*ck his mother”.
Barber followed this up by leaving a sweary voicemail on a female PC’s answer phone when he made similar remarks.
Then, most seriously of all, Barber encountered a man at Penzance Railway Station and called him a n*gger whilst speaking on the phone.
Mr Graham described how the victim then approached the defendant and asked him what he said, Barber replying “sorry mate, I called you a n*gger, the whole of Cornwall are racists”.
Mr Graham said: “The victim then ignored Mr Barber by playing games on his phone but the defendant said ‘why don’t you go back to your cotton fields’.
“The defendant then said ‘why did you come here from Africa’ and when rail staff became involved made further comments about cotton fields and said that he was a better rapper than the victim.
“The victim told him he made him feel sick and Mr Barber then spat at him, laughing as he did so saying ‘that’s exactly how you make me feel’.”
The court was then told how Barber attempted to punch and kick the victim but was held back by staff.
Briefly addressing the sexual assaults for which he received a community order, Mr Graham outlined how drunk Barber twice touched the breast of and tried to kiss a 76-year-old woman who tried to look after him at the Greenbank Community Church in Liskeard .
Sentencing Barber, Judge Robert Linford said: “You are 33 and have many, many convictions recorded against you over many years for offences of being drunk and disorderly, threatening behaviour and common assault.
“They all stem from homelessness and addiction but the time has come when a therapeutic approach to sentencing has to stop. The National Probation Service has tried and failed to help you.”
Barber then appeared to shake his head at which point Judge Linford stormed out before returning and slamming Barber for “the most appalling tirade of racial abuse it is possible to imagine”.
An irritated Judge Linford then jailed Barber for 14 months for all of the offending.
He was also made subject of a five year criminal behaviour order banning him from being in possession of an open container of alcohol in Cornwall and being found in a state of drunkenness in the county.
Kane Powell
A judge told a prolific offender that he had reached the end of the line as he jailed him on his 22 birthday.
Kane Powell found himself in the dock at Truro Crown Court for a third time in two years, this time for his role in disorder at an organisation that helps young people facing difficulties in their lives.
Powell, of Higher Fore Street, Redruth , was given non-custodial sentences previously for racially abusing and attacking a taxi driver and then damaging a stranger’s car .
Powell returned to the court to be sentenced after previously admitting using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, putting him in breach of a suspended sentence.
Prosecuting the case, Michael Brown said: “On October 23 at 7pm officers were called to attend Redruth Foyer due to reports of a disturbance involving a number of individuals and the defendant was seen kicking a door.
“He was told to stay away but two hours later he returned and was again asked to leave. This time he was swearing and spitting and told officers to f*ck off as well as making other threats.”
Sentencing Powell, Judge Simon Carr said: “On November 20 2018 you were sentenced for a range of offences. These offences were serious and involved the possession of a knife, racially aggravated threats of violent and battery.
“Offences like these usually attract a custodial sentence but the court took a chance on you hoping you would address your issues. You would have no doubt been told this was your last chance.
“Your reaction was to breach this order by being drunk and committed criminal damage. In April this year you were given another chance but have now reached the end of the line. Those who breach suspended sentence don’t get repeated chances.”
Judge Carr did concede that Powell has made progress in some respects and that the recent offence was less serious, but proceeded to jail him for four months and give him a £150 fine.
Brian Parsonage
A former teacher and researcher stabbed his wife of 29 years with such force the knife remained lodged in her arm.
Brian Parsonage exploded in a huge fit of rage on September 30 after a row about money, not long after he had been made redundant.
Parsonage, 60, of Commercial Road in Hayle , appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.
Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey, said that Parsonage had never laid a finger on his wife until the day in question but had turned to drink after losing his job.
Detailing events, Mr Bailey said: “Christine Parsonage was angered at the defendant for wasting money and when she realised he’d been drinking an argument flared up.
“The defendant later told police he drank half a bottle of vodka neat and when words were exchange between him and his wife, he went to the kitchen and Mrs Parsonage saw a folding knife in his hands.
“He came at her with the knife and jabbed at her arm and she instinctively raised her arm to defend herself. Such was the force of the blow that the knife went into the side of the victim’s forearm.
“He said to her ‘I hate you, I really hate you, I want to kill you’. The defendant then throttled her and pushed her into the dining room.
“The knife remained sticking into her arm and after some time Mr Parsonage pulled it out and grabbed her by the throat again.”
Mrs Parsonage, afraid for her life, was eventually able to escape and sought refuge at a nearby vets, whereas Mr Parsonage took himself to Hayle Police Station and handed himself in.
The victim was left scared to return to her own home and now wishes to leave Cornwall completely.
Sentencing Parsonage, Judge Simon Carr said: “The circumstances behind this case are truly sad. You and the victim were married for 29 years and had a daughter together.
“Finances were tight and one way you dealt with that was to drink to excess which you did on this day.
“There was an argument with your wife over the fact you’d been drinking and you took a knife and stabbed her with sufficient force that the knife penetrated her arm and lodged there.
“You continued to be verbally abusive, attacking her and holding her against a wall.
“The effect on your wife has been obvious. She is severely traumatised and was so scared she not only left the house, but now intends to leave Cornwall.
“You are 60, a man of previous impeccable character and have dedicated your life to education and that’s why I described it as a truly sad case.”
Parsonage was sentenced to 18 months in prison and made subject of a restraining order preventing him from contacting his wife.
Join our Cornwall's Court Insider Facebook group We've set up a dedicated Facebook group for our court and crime content - Cornwall's Court Insider. It's the place to find a wide range of crime related coverage, including sentencings, plea hearings, ongoing trials, crimes that shocked Cornwall through the years, crime stats and more besides. The content will primarily relate to hearings at Truro Crown Court, Truro Magistrates' Court and Bodmin Magistrates' Court but every now and then we will publish police appeals or pull in content from further afield with links to Cornwall. To join the group click here and select 'join'.
Jack Conway Baker
A gambling addict was jailed for a scam in which he created fake profiles and sold sexy pictures to two men before blackmailing them out of £14,000.
Jack Conway Baker, 23, initiated contact under the name Courtney Hall and then got in contact pretending to be Courtney’s older brother, repeatedly and menacingly demanding money from the two ashamed men saying that if they didn’t pay up he’d tell their friends, family and work about their online activities.
Conway Baker of Trevingey Road in Redruth , appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting two blackmail charges.
Prosecuting the case, Philip Lee told the court how in April 2017 the first victim was feeling low after being signed off work due to medical reasons.
He was contacted online by a person saying their name was Courtney Hall and agreed to buy naked pictures from her.
He bought the first set of pictures for £50, before buying more, eventually spending over £300.
Mr Lee said: “The victim then received a Snapchat message reporting to be from Courtney’s brother saying she was underage and that he would tell their parents and the police unless the money was paid.
“He agreed to pay £1,000 and then received further demands via Snapchat and other forms of social media.”
Conway Baker then became increasingly menacing with his threats, saying he’d found the victim’s address and contacted his work place.
Even in August 2017 when he told his parents, the threats continued and he received one message claiming to be from a police officer (really it was Conway Baker), saying if he paid a sum of money the case would be closed.
The first victim paid Conway Baker a total of £7,500 and was left suffering from stress and anxiety.
Also throughout 2017, Conway Baker used the Courtney Hall profile to trap a second victim after meeting him on Tinder.
After the initial payment for a naked picture, the threats followed with up to 30 messages a day being received by the victim demanding money.
The second victim paid Conway Baker £6,495 and was left embarrassed and in financial difficulties.
Sentencing Conway Baker, Judge Simon Carr said: “You developed a gambling addiction and needed money to fund it.
“You set up a fake internet identity called Courtney Hall who was by the pictures you used in her late teens or early 20s.
“It was clear from the information she was willing to sell pictures to those willing to pay and the two victims found that profile, one on Tinder, one elsewhere.
“They agreed to pay for pictures and once they had a couple of times you appeared demanding money. You threatened them, saying unless they paid significant amounts of money you’d to go the police, their family or work colleagues.
“You reiterated these demands with threats of violence, saying you knew their home and work address. You even took on the persona of a police officer.
“This was a plot of some sophistication and the threats were repeated and persistent.
“Both men felt embarrassed. One paid £7,500 and the other £6,000 to buy your silence. Each time they paid you came back and demanded money.”
Judge Carr jailed Conway Baker for three years and told him he must compensate the victims for the amounts they paid him.
Marcus McPherson
A “dangerous and violent sexual predator” was given a huge prison sentence after years of criminality against young girls eventually caught up with him.
Marcus McPherson, still only 21, targeted young girls online and violently sexually assaulted two of his victims after eventually persuading them to meet.
McPherson, of Dunveth Road in Wadebridge , appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting sexual assault, assault by penetration, distributing an indecent image of a child, three counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual communication with a child and two breaches of a sexual risk order.
Opening the case, Philip Lee told the court how McPherson’s crimes came to light after a lengthy investigation.
Mr Lee describing how “four victims were identified and willing to help police with their investigation”.
Moving onto the offences against the first victim, Mr Lee described how she met the defendant in 2015 when she was 14 and he was 17.
Mr Lee described “persistent and demanding messages” in which he requested sexual chat and photos and also sent pictures of his penis to the girl.
In November 2015 she went to meet a friend at a bus stop in Lanivet and agreed the defendant could come along. When they were alone McPherson pushed the girl back and tried to unbutton her trousers and zip.
He then held her head with one hand and continued trying to undress her with the other, saying it was ‘what happened to people who said no’.
The second victim, of a similar age to the first, was again bombarded with sexual messages by McPherson and eventually agreed to meet him in Par in 2017.
He took a train there and they went to the skate park and then into the woods to take shelter from rain.
When there he put her arms around her so she couldn’t move and his hand inside her top, touching her breasts.
He then put his hand inside her underwear and abused her in such a way she was left in pain. When she told McPherson to back off he still persisted saying ‘let me do it, it’ll feel really nice’.
Chillingly, Mr Lee said after the ordeal McPherson continued to message her and blackmailed her into sending him a naked photograph, warning if she didn’t he’d tell everyone what happened. The girl sent him the picture but he then distributed it to others leading to her receiving comments and abuse.
The third victim, aged 13, was contacted by McPherson when he was 19 and sent thousands of messages, many of a sexual nature that included videos of him masturbating to the point of ejaculation.
The girl did meet McPherson but only when others were present, meaning no contact offences took place.
Then, in September 2018, McPherson contacted a young girl on Instagram saying he was 16.
Mr Lee said: “Conversation was normal at first but when it moved from Instagram to Snapchat it became sexual and the defendant sent pictures of his penis and videos of him masturbating.”
While the investigation was progressing McPherson was made subject of a sexual risk order which he repeatedly breached by being found with social media apps on his phone. One breach was reported by a girl he knew from school who he contacted and in turn told police as she was aware of his situation.
The girls McPherson physically abused were said to have suffered physically and emotionally as a result of his offending, going on to have problems with their education and with self-harm.
Sentencing McPherson, Judge Simon Carr said: “Such was the concern of the authorities about your behaviour that in 2018 they obtained a sexual risk order. They are rare and awarded by magistrates even before a criminal offence is proved.
“It was a result of this investigation and obtaining the order that officers were able to look at your devices and this revealed a catalogue of offending.
“It started when you were 17 in 2015 and the offending against each of the four victims followed a similar course.”
Judge Carr described how the girls were bombarded with a barrage of messages.
Detailing the attack on the first victim, Judge Carr said he was convinced that McPherson thrived off not just the sexual aspect but the violence he exerted too.
Moving onto the offence against the second victim, Judge Carr said that the manner of the penetration showed he intended to inflict maximum physical pain.
Judge Carr added: “The effects of what you did were devastating and the victims relive what they experienced on a daily basis. They quite wrongly blame themselves and have self-harmed and found it difficult to form relationships.
“You are a dangerous and violent sexual predator and I suspect you will be for the rest of your life.”
Judge Carr sentenced McPherson to an extended sentence of 14 years, nine years custodial and five on licence. He will only be eligible for parole after two thirds of the custodial element.
He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Philip Chalker
A man threatened police officers with a knife after they were called following a huge row when his partner found out he was seeing another woman.
Phillip Chalker, 44, was said in court to have a severe dislike of the police and vowed to kill every one of the officers who attended the scene.
Chalker, of Colinsey Road in Penzance , appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting affray.
Prosecuting the case, Philip Lee told the court how in the late afternoon of October 13 three callers contacted police summoning them to the defendant’s address.
Mr Lee said: “When police arrived they found Deborah (the defendant’s wife), with an injury to her face.
“The defendant emerged from the front of the house shouting abuse and making threats, saying to police ‘if you come into the house I’ll kill you’.
“Officers tried to reason but the defendant continued with the abuse and threats. He then threw something out of the upstairs window and shouted ‘stay away from my house of I’ll stab you, I’ll cut you up’.”
Chalker then ran into the garden with the kitchen knife in hand.
Mr Lee added: “He then shouted at officers ‘get that taser away, I’ll kill every one of you’. He went back inside and there was the sound of smashing glass. Eventually he came out and did comply with the officers.”
The court heard how in 2014 Chalker was sentenced for an almost identical set of offending, also occurring at his home and involving the waving of a knife.
Sentencing Chalker, Judge Simon Carr said that the ordeal occurred in broad daylight and must have been frightening for those who witnessed it.
He added that his previous non-custodial sentence for a similar incident did nothing to deter him and that those who threaten police officers with knives can expect nothing but jail.
Chalker was jailed for 15 months.
John Williams
A pervy pensioner caught by paedophile hunters engaging in internet sex chats with who he believed to be 12 and 13-year-old girls was sent to prison.
John Franklyn Williams, 71, of Leskinnick Place in Penzance, was door-knocked by members of the group Hunters 24/7 who had travelled nearly 350 miles to question him after conversations with their decoy profiles.
Williams went on trial at Truro Crown Court on Monday charged with two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and two of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child charges.
Following a short period of deliberation a jury rubbished Williams’ account that he knew all along they were paedophile hunters and was playing along to call them out, convicting him of all four charges.
Prosecuting the case, Paul Grumbar said: “On September 22, 2017, police received a call asking them to attend a property in Penzance.
(Image: Hunters 24/7)
“When police arrived they were met by a man wearing a jumper which had Hunters 24/7 written on it.
“The people at the address were members of a paedophile hunters group who explained to the officers that female adults had been communicating with the defendant over the internet pretending to be young girls and that the defendant engaged with them with sexually explicit messages.
“They explained that they were filming a live stream of their interactions with the defendant. The defendant was then arrested on suspicion of child grooming offences and taken to the police station.
“The messages between the defendant and the two decoys was retrieved and it is clear and obvious that he was obtaining sexual gratification from them.”
During the trial the jury was then showed the Hunters 24/7 video in which they explain to Williams that they’ve travelled 347 miles to see him and that he was talking to decoys he believed to be real girls aged 12 and 13.
The hunters describe that Williams told the decoys that he wanted to have sex with them, asking what difference age makes.
He also nicknamed his penis and the girls’ genitals during chats and asked them questions about their underwear, urging them to send him pictures and videos.
Judge Simon Carr jailed Williams for 21 months.
You can view the full sting on Williams here by accessing the Facebook page and then searching his name on the right hand side search function.
Dale Laidlaw
Police have welcomed a sentence handed down to a prolific shoplifter and burglar saying it acts as reassurance to the public.
Dale Laidlaw, 30, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Truro Crown Court for a series of burglaries and thefts across Cornwall .
Laidlaw, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three counts of commercial and four counts of residential burglaries.
A further 22 offences that hadn’t yet reached the crown court were taken into consideration by Judge Simon Carr as he passed sentence after being admitted by Laidlaw.
Investigating officers DC David Squire welcomed the sentence.
He said: “Laidlaw is a prolific offender, carrying out many of his burglaries at residential addresses across Bodmin , stealing money, jewellery, electronic items and much more.
“We are pleased with the sentence outcome and hope this reassures the public that police do take a proactive stance on these types of offences.
“We work tirelessly to ensure that, where possible, justice is served.
“I would like to acknowledge the good police work carried out by CID, Neighbourhood and Response teams and Scenes of Crime officers in bringing this person to justice.
“We would like to thank the public who contacted us following our previous appeals for information on social media. Such information proved vital in this person’s conviction.”
Jake Campbell
A notorious thug had six months added to his sentence for another unprovoked episode of violence.
There was jubilation in the Bodmin area in October when Jacob Campbell, 26, was finally put behind bars .
In August prolific criminal Jake Campbell was given four months to save himself from prison when sentenced for headbutting, choking and punching Jacob Comertoglu as he made his way through Bodmin to see the town’s Christmas lights last year.
Campbell got his suspended jail sentence deferred by the judge after he launched a ferocious beating that left his 19-year-old victim’s face swollen and bruised. A picture of Jacob Comertoglu’s injuries was shared by his mother, causing outrage across Cornwall.
After calls from the victim’s mum and others for action, Campbell, 26, was eventually arrested and admitted a charge of assault when he appeared at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court .
Passing sentence at Truro Crown Court , Judge Robert Linford told Campbell, of Wallace Road in Bodmin , that he’d be given one final throw of the dice, deferring sentence until December.
Campbell was told that if he kept out of trouble, saved money towards compensation and kept his appointments he’d avoid a prison sentence. However it took him less than three weeks to blow the chance.
He found himself back in the dock for an offence of being drunk and disorderly outside The White Hart Inn.
Judge Linford jailed Campbell for 14 months to take into account a wounding suspended sentence and the common assault.
Then, on December 19 he was back before Judge Linford, this time after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Prosecuting the case, Althea Brooks said: “On October 20 this year at about 9:15pm Sean Flynn was walking from his parents’ house with his partner Donna Martin.
“They were walking past the entrance to McColl’s when a man asked to borrow ID to buy alcohol. Mr Flynn said no and kept walking but the man continued to ask.
“He became agitated and hostile and pinned Mr Flynn to the wall. It was at this point the man was joined by the defendant and together they took him to the floor and kicked him numerous times in the head and stomach with one witness hearing the impact.”
Campbell was also aggressive to officers on arrest and Mr Flynn was left with numerous injuries including memory loss which still affect his sleep and work.
Sentencing Campbell yet again, Judge Linford said: “I remember you very well. You were a person I took a chance on and you threw it back in my face.
“This offence is another offence of violence and you launched an unprovoked attack on someone doing nothing wrong at all. It was appalling and outrageous.”
Campbell was given a new sentence of six months to be served on consecutively to the sentence he is already serving ensuring he will remain behind bars even longer. | Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from liverpoolecho - daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
At Christmas we're all guilty of over-indulging on the delicious food and drink on offer.
It's more than likely we'll have put on a few pounds over the festive season and could be regretting that last sausage roll at the buffet.
With a New Year starting many of us will be making a resolution to shape up and lose some excess weight, so for some inspiration we decided to take a look back at some super slimmers, who've done just that.
In 2019 many people shared their weight loss success with us, so we decided to share some of the most inspiring stories, to kick start your resolutions.
Here's some of the most amazing weight loss transformations of 2019 as they explain just how they did it.
1. Obese mum who got stuck on Centre Parc slide
A mum-of-two swore to lose weight after getting wedged on a water rapids ride in Center Parcs.
The embarrassing experience was enough to motivate Sue Wilson to transform her 20.3st body.
And in just 22 months, the Marks and Spencer section manager has lost a whopping 8st.
(Image: COPY MEDIA)
Sue from Aintree always started the day with egg and sausage on toast or a full fried English breakfast.
For lunch she would eat sandwiches with crisps and chocolate, followed by more sweet treats and sometimes even a whole rotisserie chicken with skin on a barm cake.
However, Sue's gorging didn't stop there, for dinner should either have pizza or an Indian takeaway with a rich and creamy sauce.
But during a holiday in 2017, Sue was speeding down the Wild Water Rapids ride in Center Parcs, when she came to a sudden stop and found herself wedged halfway down.
(Image: COPY MEDIA)
She said: "Everyone was looking at me from the observation area and I tried to shove myself down but I was wedged firmly in.
"I could see kids coming screeching down behind me and I totally blocked their path. It took four youngsters slamming in behind me one after the other before they managed to push me through.
"I was so embarrassed; especially when we got off and the kids said to ‘hurry up or that fat one’s going to beat us and block us again’ - I never went back in."
Joining Slimming World in April 2017, Sue had a complete diet overhaul.
Starting with a healthy breakfast of fruit, Sue moved on to having a salad for lunch and a homemade burger and chips for dinner - made the Slimming World way.
After her weight loss Sue even made a trip back to Center Parcs, saying: I couldn’t wait to get back down the Rapids ride, and this time nothing and no-one was going to stop me - especially not my weight.”
2. Jon who lost 20 stone
Jon Vidler used to tip the scales at 33st 12lbs, but after shedding 20st 7lbs even his own family struggle to recognise him.
Jon, 42, was named as Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2019, and can now buy medium-sized clothes after cutting his 66 inch waist in half.
Jon said: "I feel I have a second chance.
"I want to fill it with things I missed out on due to being so heavy. Meeting someone special would be amazing."
Before his weight loss Jon could barely stand for more than a few minutes and was prone to panic attacks caused by worrying about his weight.
He would eat takeaways, huge bowls of sugary cereal and mountains of sweets and chocolate on a daily basis.
Those and other health scares drove him to join a friend at a Slimming World group in Hampshire.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Jon saw his weight plummet after being inspired to eat healthily and take up walking.
Jon now eats meals made from scratch the Slimming World way, lots of fruit and homemade healthy cooked breakfasts.
3. Paul who downed seven pints a day sheds 14 stone after revelation in Benidorm
A man who thought nothing of downing seven pints a night has lost over 14 stone after suffering a shock revelation in Benidorm.
Paul Aitchison , 59, from Toxteth, had a huge appetite and his love of a pint down at the pub saw his weight slowly creep up over the years.
A fan of a full English, Paul tipped the scales at 28st 13lbs thanks to his excessive eating that didn’t stop after breakfast.
He said: “I’d have butties on white bread for lunch – and lots of them – with ham, or cheese or corned beef on.
(Image: Copy Media)
“And I’d always have cake and biscuits afterwards, easily going through at least a packet of biscuits a day.
“For tea, we’d usually go down the chippy and have a curry or a steak with loads of chips."
The turning point came when Paul and Pam, went on holiday to Benidorm and couldn’t make it up to the short hill to their holiday hotel.
Paul said: “My sister and her husband had booked the hotel and we had no idea it was at the top of a hill before we went.
“I was horrified when I saw it because there was no way I could easily walk up, especially in the Spanish heat.
“Just attempting it left me sweating and breathless – so, in the end, we left my sister and her husband to climb the hill – and Pam and I gave up and got in a taxi.
“I was so big then, I couldn’t even bend down to tie my shoelaces and so that, and the hotel hill, made me realise I had to do something about it.”
By the time Paul weighed in at Slimming World in August two years ago, he had managed to lose one stone by himself, but he still tipped the scales at 28st 13lbs.
(Image: Copy Media)
But a healthy diet and a new food regime has seen Paul go from 29st 13lb at his heaviest to 15st 11½lbs.
Paul said: "I changed the fried breakfast for Weetabix with skimmed milk and I’ll have sandwiches on brown bread for lunch or, sometimes, I’ll just have fruit.
“I’ve stopped going to the chippy now and I do all the cooking for me and Pam, and I enjoy doing it. So now it’s a healthy stew or a casserole, or chicken or steak with vegetables."
4. Liverpool FC fan shed five stone to play football with his son
A Liverpool FC fan shed five stone in an incredible transformation - and it was all so he could play football with his little boy.
Kevin Derbyshire, 32, from Anfield, started hitting the gym two years ago when he found out he would soon be a dad to baby Harlen.
Tipping the scales at 17 stone, the 32-year-old said his weight left him feeling "too embarrassed to take his top off and look in the mirror."
(Image: Kevin Derbyshire)
Kevin said: "I'd just eat anything. I was eating the wrong things, like chocolate instead of fruit and I didn't eat any veg.
"When my little boy came along I didn't want to be overweight for him.
But after building up the confidence to walk through the doors of a gym, Kevin went on to lose more than five stone.
Kevin, who works as a bus driver for Arriva, has now slimmed down to under 12 stone.
(Image: Kevin Derbyshire)
He said: "It's about doing that little bit even if it's just 20 minutes a day it will make a difference.
"I eat things now that are going to fill me up the same but that are also going to be a lot more beneficial, instead of chocolate and crisps."
5. Benidorm barmaid who ate 6am chips every day sheds 13 stone along with sister
Two sisters who do ‘everything’ together shed 13 stone between them after ditching their chippies and kebabs.
Toni Fitzgerald, 28, and her older sister Rachel, 33, both from Dingle, said they both had a huge appetite for take-aways and saw their weight creep up over the years.
Rache said : “I would sit there and eat pasta with loads of cheese piled on it.
“I wouldn’t eat much in the day but it got to 3pm and then I would eat, I’d come home and have kebabs or five pieces of toast at once.”
Toni also gorged on unhealthy food while she was living in Benidorm and working at a nightclub.
She said: “I would have a chippy all the time and fast food because I was finishing work at 6am because I worked in a nightclub called Hippodrome in Benidorm."
It was New Year’s Day in 2016 that Rachel decided she had enough of feeling depressed about her weight and needed to do something about it.
Her little sister, Toni saw how well she was doing and was also “so unhappy” about her weight that she decided to join the group while still in Spain.
(Image: Rachel Fitzgerald)
Rachel said: “It was New Year’s Day 2016 and I was so depressed and sad.
“You know how everyone says ‘new year, new me’ I really wanted it, so decided to join Slimming World again.”
Sister Toni added: “I was living in Spain and was so unhappy about my weight and when my sister started Slimming World I couldn’t believe how well she was doing.
“So I joined in Spain and we helped each other - we used to Facetime every single day about our food and what we're eating.
(Image: Toni Fitzgerald)
“Then when I came home for good me and my sister went to the gym together and we take dogs for walks and we do everything together.”
Rachel went onto lose eight stone, while Toni shed an incredible five.
The pair said they feel so much happier and confident after their weight loss and “love going clothes shopping now.”
6. Mum who struggled to breathe going upstairs sheds six stone
A mum who struggled to breathe going upstairs decided to change her life by shedding six stone in a matter of months.
Helen Rooke, from Childwall , said she now has her confidence back and feels amazing after she swapped takeaways and oven chips for homemade pizzas and chocolate Weetabix.
With a family wedding and her daughter's Holy Communion on the horizon, the mum-of-two joined her local Slimming World group last January, and by August 2018 she had said goodbye to her size 26 clothes.
In just eight months, Helen had gone from 20st 5lbs to 14st 5lbs.
Now a slinky size 14, she said: "I have got so much more confidence now.
"It is so nice that I can go into shops and get fashionable clothing that fit me. I can just go to the rail and they have my size."
"I have also started going swimming - something I did not have the confidence for before my weight loss."
Helen's diet before included skipping breakfast and loading on easy 'grab-and-go' prepared foods.
But now, she cooks nearly every meal from scratch, she said: "I can still have foods I love, just with simple changes - like swapping out white bread for brown."
7. Mum thought she would die before Christmas if she didn't lose weight
A 31-year-old mum who weighed a staggering 30 stone feared she would die before Christmas if she didn't lose weight.
Laura Cain, from Southport , gorged on takeaways and scoffed her way through bread, barm cakes, butter, and chocolate, alongside cups of tea every day.
But after tipping the scales at a whopping 30 stone her seven-year-old son inspired her to lose weight so they could "enjoy a longer life together".
(Image: Laura Cain)
Laura, who went to school at Stanley High School in Southport, swapped her unhealthy ways and transformed her lifestyle.
Instead of fatty foods Laura now enjoys grape nuts or Weetabix for breakfast, tuna with salad or jacket potato for lunch Slimming World meals for tea.
(Image: Laura Cain)
And now the mum has lost a third of her body weight - trimming down to an impressive 19 stone and seven pounds.
The mum said: “I could still eat badly if I wanted too, but I don't. I stick to food optimising with Slimming World. I attend group every Wednesday for the love and support and amazing tips I get there.
(Image: Laura Cain)
“I know I have haters out there who say I am cheating because I have had weight loss surgery but in fact no - it is just a tool to help me.
“I have just been awarded my 10 stone award and I am now in the 19 stone bracket! I can't remember the last time I was in the teens bracket."
8. Mum sheds half her bodyweight after not being able to get up for loo
A mum-of-four lost half her body weight after she couldn't get up out of a chair to use the loo.
Janet Lewis weighed 22 stone at her heaviest, but she's shrunk to 10 stone 10lb after joining a slimming group in July 2017.
Janet, 53, says she knew things needed to change when her partner had to help her out of the chair to go to the loo.
(Image: Janet Lewis)
She said: "I couldn't carry my own body weight, so my partner had to help me to the toilet.
"I was crying that I was going to wet myself. That was the turning point for me."
The death of her father, coupled with the embarrassment of being unable to support her own body weight, drove her to join Slimming World.
She said her consultant Rob Phillips was a real driving force in her quest to get slim - and stay that way.
(Image: Janet Lewis)
Janet said: "Rob never gives up on me. Even when I come back from holiday and put on some weight, I prove to him that I can get it off again.
"My motto is to 'eat myself slim'. I make sure I stick to the Slimming World food optimisation plan by making loads of food myself, including homemade KFC and cheese burgers with bacon.
"And my children love my Chinese food."
9. Dad loses ten stone after being too large for Alton Towers ride
A dad managed to lose half his body weight after being shamed into shedding the pounds when he was too fat for an Alton Towers ride.
Blake Lewis, 33, who tipped the scales at 23 stone, was left mortified when he was told he was too big to ride the theme park attraction with his young daughter.
He had been visiting the Staffordshire theme park with his wife Laura, 35, and their children Sophie, five, and Toby, six, on May 29 last year.
But as Blake went to climb aboard the Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom roundabout-style ride in CBeebies Land he found the the safety bar wouldn't fit over his belly.
The embarrassment led to Blake going on a diet and in just under 18 months, he lost an impressive 10 stone - dropping from a 40 inch waist size to 32.
Incredibly, Blake did not join any weight loss groups and managed to reach 12-and-a-half stone all by himself as a result of healthy eating and regular exercise.
He said: "I saw myself as addicted to junk food, mainly savoury things like pies, burgers, fries, and crisps.
"Now if I see a pork pie I'm not bothered but before I thought: 'I've got to have it.'
"It's all about will power, being disciplined and cutting out the rubbish.
"Every Sunday I'd prepare healthy meals and freeze them or put them in the fridge.
"When I'd come home hungry I'd have one instead of burger and chips.
"I've never been healthier."
10. Man who devoured mountains of toast after 'messy divorce' sheds four stone
A minister who used to munch mountains of toast for breakfast managed to shed four and a half stone after his "messy divorce".
Malcolm Fife would scoff a fry-up every morning and said his lunches "always involved chips" when his weight ballooned.
The 66-year-old, who is a minister at the United Reform Church in Newton-le-Willows , tipped the scales at 17 stone at his heaviest weight.
(Image: Malcolm Fife)
But he had a wake-up call when a doctor said he could develop Type 2 Diabetes because of his bulging frame.
Malcolm puts his incredible transformation down to Weight Watchers, which helped him lose between five and six pounds in a single week.
Malcolm said: "I joined just as the new Flex programme was being launched, this has since become WW Freestyle as WW and settled in to following the plan.
"I have found no problem with the loss in weight as I started to eat more fruit and veg, making good use of the 200 zero point foods available.
(Image: Malcolm Fife)
"I have continued to lose weight and am now maintaining the weight loss that I have made."
Malcolm said the change on the scale, down to 12st 7lbs, has been so dramatic that when he visited a church in Nottingham after two years, people did not recognise him.
Now instead of cakes and carbs Malcolm now feasts on chicken and veg and mountains of fruit. | 1 |
The stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, gained nearly 30% this year. It was truly an incredible run.
The last time we saw this sort of return was 2013, when the market ended the year up 29.6%.
Here's a bar chart of S&P 500 returns over the last 30 years so you can see how 2019 stacks up to past performances.
However you look at it, this has been quite a year. But you might be surprised to learn that this wonderful year for the stock market has been "hated" by investors...
You see, typically when we have a good month or year investors pour more money into the stock market. For instance, in 2017 stocks returned a superb 19%. Investors, not wanting to miss out on future returns, poured $54.2 billion into stocks in the first month of 2018. That's the largest monthly inflow in years.
The same holds true when the market is falling...
You might recall that this time last year the S&P 500 was in freefall. It fell as much as 15% in the month of December alone. Investors were scared. They yanked $57.4 billion from equities during that last month of 2018.
In short, when the market is doing good, investors typically put more money to work. When the market turns sour, they pull money out.
So, I found it quite astonishing when I looked up what investors had done with their money this year -- a fantastic year for the stock market.
Turns out, they're getting out of stocks.
According to data from the Investment Company Institute, investors have pulled more than $196 billion out of their stock funds (stock ETFs and stock mutual funds) this year. This is the second-largest outflow from stock funds on record.
The largest outflow came in 2008, when investors jerked more than $200 billion out of their stock funds. As I'm sure you recall, that was about the worst year to be an investor in generations. Every asset class fell... a lot.
Why Fear Is Great News
Again, when the market is on a tear, we normally expect investors to pour money into stocks. When the market is crashing, we expect massive outflows.
So what's going on? I think it can be summed up in one word: fear.
Despite the meteoric rise of the market, investors have been pulling their money out of the stock market. Fear is the only reason you'd do that. In fact, investors haven't been this "scared" since 2008.
Had you decided to go against the crowd in 2008 and buy the S&P 500 starting in January 2009 you would be up a whopping 258% since then.
Of course, I have no idea what the markets will deliver in 2020 or the year after that, or where it will be in 10 years. But it seems that after so many years of incredible returns investors are still skittish.
That's great news for stock investors. It tells me that we could continue to see wonderful gains from the market. Investor sentiment isn't at euphoric levels, yet.
And if history is any guide, bull markets usually die shortly after a euphoric stage. If anything, you should be greatly concerned that a big market plunge will happen soon if everybody in the market is euphoric.
The fact that we're not there means we should see the momentum from 2019 carry over into 2020. And we should be prepared to continue riding this wave.
But before we do, I want to wish you all a happy New Year. Here's to a prosperous 2020.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. | Welcome to HuffPost Canada’s (almost) daily guide to helping you pick up an easy, everyday ritual that can make your life a bit better, in a small but significant way.
Canadians are stressed out, anxious, and are feeling disconnected from each other. Every Monday through Friday, we’ll share a tiny tip to help you feel good. We’ve got your back.
Today’s habit: Flip through our slideshow of small habits we did in 2019!
For whenever you’re feeling: Like you’re in need of some inspiration, motivation, and a little bit of fun.
What it is: As we embark on a new year (and new decade!), it’s only natural to look back on everything we accomplished last year.
In 2019, we started a regular franchise with the aim of making our readers’ lives a bit easier, healthier, and filled with a bit more joy — and we hope we’ve succeeded!
So, while we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for 2020, we’re rounding up our favourite easy habits from 2019 that you can definitely pick up this month, or anytime this year.
Happy New Year, everyone! | 1 |
From tornadoes to record flooding and everything in between, let's look back at 10 years of weather events in Windsor-Essex.
2019: A new normal
In 2019, temperature records — both lows and highs — were set in Windsor and the surrounding area. In some cases, heat warnings were issued too soon, resulting in mixed messages from Environment Canada and the municipality.
Ice cover continued to decrease on the Great Lakes, increasing coastal erosion problems. Experts said the Great Lakes will "bounce back" and have shown resilience year-after-year.
This year, Windsor also joined a Red Cross pilot program on flood preparation education.
2018: 'Eerie' funnel clouds, tornados
(Submitted by Janis Stammler)
In July 2018, "eerie" funnel clouds were spotted in the area — for three days in a row. Funnel clouds were photographed in Lakeshore, Tecumseh, parts of Chatham-Kent and in south Windsor.
In September 2018, three tornadoes touched down in southwestern Ontario, including McGregor, Comber and Amherstburg. It took until the end of October 2018 for Environment Canada to confirm the tornadoes, while municipal officials defended not issuing public warnings.
2017: Record rainfall causes 'Code Orange,' strands motorists
Devonshire Mall was closed Aug. 29, 2017 after a one-day record rainfall dropped 54.7mm of rain on Windsor. The hospital declared a 'Code Orange' and motorists abandoned their vehicles in flooded streets.
A motorist attempts to negotiate a flooded street in Windsor on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Jason Viau/CBC News)
Radar estimates showed that as much as 140mm of rain landed on the Tecumseh area, while just 14mm of rain fell on Harrow.
2016: Drought-like conditions cause problems for farms, trees
Some Essex County farmers spent the summer of 2016 wishing for rain as drought-like conditions reminiscent of 1988 caused stress. Following the record-setting June rainfalls from the year before, farmers said they wanted a "normal year" but weren't sure what that was anymore.
The drought — Windsor received only 13 millimetres of rain that August — also caused leaves on trees to change colour and fall off. Environmentalists blamed that on the lack of rainfall.
(Sanjay Maru/CBC)
2015: Superbowl snowstorm
On Feb. 1, 2015 — Superbowl Sunday — the biggest storm of the winter in Ontario slammed into southwestern parts of the province, with more than 40 centimetres of snow falling between Windsor and Hamilton.
2014: A snowless December
2014 was the coldest year on record in Windsor, with an average temperature of 8.2 C. However, no measurable amounts of snow fell in Windsor in December 2014 — the first time since 1943.
On the other hand, November 2014 broke snowfall records. About 10 times more snow fell in November 2014 than it did in November 2013.
An August deluge also battered Windsor in 2014, with a 10-hour storm dropping 70 millimetres of rain on the city in one day. Just a week later, another storm brought two EF0 tornadoes to the region.
2013: Windsorites head to Toronto to help with ice storm aftermath
Tens of thousands of people spent Christmas 2013 in the dark after an ice storm knocked out power in large parts of Ontario and Quebec.
Disaster management volunteers for the Red Cross from Windsor went into more battered parts of Ontario to help residents dig out from the deep freeze.
2012: Ten straight days of 20 degree weather
Across North America, temperatures in March 2012 were unlike any year before. The long-lasting intense heat eclipsed every previous record.
There were 10 straight days in Windsor with temperatures above 20 C in 2012. (Melissa Nakhavoly/CBC)
In Windsor, there were 10 straight days with temperatures above 20 C.
2011: The year of wild weather
All four seasons in 2011 broke records, with wild ups and downs. From the snowiest year on record to summer temperatures so hot you could cook on the dashboard of a car, 2011 had it all.
CBC's Allison Johnson updates her dashboard cooking experiment to see if the sweltering weather in Windsor, Ont., is enough to cook a batch of food 2:07
It rained so much, Amherstburg residents threatened to sue the town for not stopping their basements from flooding.
2010: More than half of Ontario's tornadoes hit in Windsor-Essex
Ontario's seasons in 2010 weren't extreme on their own, but more than half the tornadoes this year landed in the Windsor-Essex region.
On June 6, 2010, a series of tornadoes tracked through Essex County — up to F2 intensities — and a state of emergency was declared.
About 15,000 people went without electricity for days and the event cost about $100 million in insured losses.
More tornadoes ravaged Midland, Ont. later that month, with a fifth Essex County tornado landing in Amherstburg in July. | KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — With the 2010s now in the rearview mirror, we’re looking back at the big news and sports stories in East Tennessee that helped shape the decade.
Below are the WATE 6 On Your Side Decade in Review videos – featuring file content from our coverage of some of the major news stories in our region; as well as the news briefs to coincide with the video clips.
Decade in Review Part 1 (2010-2015)
2010
Knoxville’s top story saw a local leader step up to the state level with then-mayor Bill Haslam, who was elected to become the Governor of Tennessee.
2011
A shake-up for South Knoxville kicked off 2011, with the closure of the Henley Bridge.
Plus, history was made for Knoxville’s top office – Daniel Brown became the city’s first black mayor, as interim leader after Haslam became governor. Then, Madeline Rogero became the city’s first female mayor.
2012
It was upheaval for the criminal justice system in Knox County as Judge Richard Baumgartner found himself on the wrong side of the law; admitting to addiction to painkillers, which created questions about judgment in major cases including the Christian-Newsom murder trials.
2013
Heads turned the day after Tax Day, April 15, 2013, with federal agents at the headquarters of Pilot Flying J. Federal court documents revealed how the company executives worked to cheat customers by “jacking the discount.” Pilot Flying J would go on to pay nearly $200 million in settlements and penalties.
2014
A crash on Asheville Highway shocked our community and renewed calls for change: One school bus swerved over a concrete median, crashing into the side of another school bus. The investigation revealed distracted driving to be the cause. The incident prompted a review of the district’s transportation program – penalties were stiffened for bus drivers caught texting, but calls to require seat belts on school buses did not bring a change to state law.
2015
This year tragically saw a teen hero’s ultimate sacrifice. Fifteen-year-old Zaevion Dobson was killed while shielding two friends from gunfire. The Fulton High School football player’s death would get national attention: His sacrifice was mentioned by then-President of the United States, Barack Obama in a speech urging more gun control.
Zaevion’s mother, Zenobia Dobson, urged the community for change and for healing.
Decade in Review Part 2 (2016-2019)
2016
It was years in the making – the Battle at Bristol, transforming Bristol Motor Speedway into a football stadium. More than 160,000 fans came out, which was the biggest crows to see a college football game. The Vols claimed the victory, 45-24.
In June, sports fans across the nation mourned the loss of Pat Summitt after her fight with Alzheimer’s.
In November was a tragedy the the community with never forget — wildfire spread across Sevier County, killing 14 people and scorching homes and businesses. From that, an outpouring of support helped by homegrown superstar local Dolly Parton.
2017
People around the area turned their gaze skyward as parts of East Tennessee had the perfect vantage point the see a total solar eclipse.
The year also brought chaos to UT Athletics with the firing of Coach Butch Jones and fans revolting against the hiring of Greg Schiano. The university’s reputation took a nose-dive in the national press. Then, then-athletics director John Currie was replaced by legendary former Vols Football Coach Phillip Fulmer.
2018
The year brought political transitions with Tim Burchett’s term limited as Knox County Mayor. In a squeaker of an election, former pro-wrestler Glenn Jacobs won the primary and went on to win the general to become the county’s new mayor.
Congressman Jimmy Duncan had announced the year before he wasn’t running for re-election, marking the end of a political dynasty. He had held the seat since the 1980s; before that, it was his father’s seat since the 1960s.
Tim Burchett and fellow Republicans like Jimmy Matlock made the primary one of the hottest area races in a long time. Burchett won in the primary and the general – heading to Washington, D.C. in his Carhartt jacket as the new congressman for District 2.
2019
Knoxville voters kept political history rolling – electing Indya Kincannon as the city’s second female mayor, plus a majority female city council.
Also, a youngster bullied for his DIY Vols T-shirt went viral; embraced by the Orange & White Nation – the shirt was recreated by a local business to sell at the VolShop and went on to raise nearly $1 million for the STOMP Out Bullying organization.
Dollywood also celebrated the launch of Wildwood Grove, the park’s biggest expansion, as Dolly herself seemed to be everywhere — she was also the subject of a popular NPR podcast and her songbook the center of a hit Netflix series, “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.”
LATEST STORIES | 1.666667 |
QNA
A two-day workshop organised by electrical engineering faculty at Texas A&M University at Qatar brought together experts and practitioners from the United States, Europe and Qatar to focus on ensuring delivery of electric power in Qatar safely and reliably.
Presented in partnership with VITO Middle East and Energyville, with funding support from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), the Workshop on Safe and Reliable Electrical Distribution Systems for Qatar shared best practices, lessons learned and new technologies that are ready for application to enhance the safety and reliability of the electricity distribution systems in Qatar.
Workshop chair and associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program at Texas A&M at Qatar Dr. Robert S. Balog , said that most of the electrical distribution system in Qatar is relatively new, certainly compared with US and European systems where there are well-known problems due to the aging infrastructure. But as solar energy becomes more widespread and electric vehicles gain traction, what will happen here in Qatar when equipment ages or is pushed beyond its intended design
The workshop aimed to leverage expertise at Texas A&M at Qatar and VITO to identify potential problems and develop paths and partnerships to form and implement Qatar-specific solutions.
However, Balog said, more work may be needed to customize these technologies into solutions specific for Qatar, thereby necessitating a research ecosystem built around technology transfer to industry and the design, development, deployment and service of these technologies.
Dean of Texas A&M at Qatar, Dr. Cesar Octavio Malave, said, “Texas A&M at Qatar is proud to have a strong partnership with academic institutions and local industry, as well as several government entities.
Our mission is to play a key role in creating sustainable solutions to real-world challenges by generating new knowledge through research and collaborative partnerships, and then disseminating that knowledge to the rest of the world through scientific publications and workshops such as this one.
Texas A&M at Qatar is committed to expanding the human capital of the State of Qatar that is essential to fuel innovation and new thinking.”
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Read More Ooredoo launches New Year offers for Shahry and Qatarna customers 01 Jan 2020 - 9:06 Both new customers signing up for a new Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G pack, and existing customers upgrading to a new Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G pack, can choose an Add-on pack – either extra data, local minutes or international minutes, depending on pack – absolutely free for three months. | (MENAFN - The Peninsula) Qatar's leading telecommunications operator, Ooredoo, has announced special New Year 2020 offers for new and existing Shahry and Qatarna customers.
Both new customers signing up for a new Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G pack, and existing customers upgrading to a new Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G pack, can choose an Add-on pack either extra data, local minutes or international minutes, depending on pack absolutely free for three months.
New customers signing up for a Shahry 5G Pack will have the choice of the Data Pack 30, the Local Pack 30 or the International Pack 30 for three months free.
They can enjoy from 2GB to 5GB extra data, 300 to 1000 local minutes or 25 to 100 international minutes extra free per month.
New Qatarna customers will get Data Pack 50 or International Pack 50 free for three months, giving them from 20GB up to 30GB data or 500 to 1000 international minutes extra free per month.
Offers for new customers must be activated in any of our Ooredoo shops around town. Existing Shahry customers who upgrade to a new Shahry 5G pack will get the Data Pack 30 normally priced at QR30 - free for three months, giving them from 2GB to 10GB data extra per month.
Existing Qatarna customers who upgrade to a new Qatarna 5G Pack will get the Data Pack 50 - normally priced at QR50 per month - free for three months, giving them from 20GB to 30GB data extra absolutely free. Offers for existing customers will be activated automatically once the upgrade is processed.
Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Director PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said: 'The recent launch of our new Shahry and Qatarna 5G postpaid packs has been extremely popular and we're delighted to introduce these offers so customers get even better for value for money as well as our awesome service. Whether they have a 5G-compatible device or not yet, they'll be able to access the Supernet and stay in touch with loved ones for longer with the free add-ons.
The New Year 2020 promotion runs from today until January 4.
MENAFN0101202000630000ID1099494583 | 2.333333 |
FIREFIGHTERS from the Gold Coast are in town to help relieve local crews.
The Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade announced that a strike team from the Gold Coast had arrived in the region for a few days.
"They were in Woodgate this afternooon having a look around our local fire ground," the Woodgate crew said on Facebook today.
"If you see them, say hello and thanks."
The Gold Coast team said they were wising all fireys well as their crews also prepared to relieve firefighters in New South Wales.
"We wish all of the volunteers from across the region good luck and to be safe," their social media post read. | Scott Morrison declared that the upcoming Test match between Australia and New Zealand would be played in the shadow of tragedy.
As children of the two teams played a few overs on a lawn that crunched like tinder underfoot at Kirribilli House on Wednesday, the Prime Minister acknowledged the bushfire crisis away from the idyllic harbour setting.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins the Australian cricket team at Kirribilli House before the Sydney Test against the New Zealand side. Credit:Steven Siewert
"This Test and this whole season has been played out against terrible events both here in Australia and also in New Zealand with the White Island [volcanic eruption]," the Prime Minister told those gathered for the New Year’s Day function in support of the McGrath Foundation and the Pink Test that begins on Friday.
He thanked the Australian captain Tim Paine and Black Caps vice-captain Tom Latham for their teams’ decision to wear black armbands to commemorate the lives lost in the fires and expressed his gratitude to New Zealand for its on the ground support. | 1.333333 |
From Common Dreams
Remembering some of the gains in the difficult year of 2019 can help inspire us for the critical struggles ahead.
In the coming year, those of us in the US will face one of the most important elections of our lifetimes.
(Image by (Photo: Creative Commons)) Details DMCA
Impeachment, Trump, impeachment, Trump. It's hard to think of this year without obsessing about the occupant of the White House. But yes, there were lots of other events going on in the world this year. Some of them were tragic, like the coup in Bolivia, but some are hopeful and move us in a positive direction. Here are 10. Please add more.
In January, the most diverse class of lawmakers in U.S. history was sworn into Congress, including a record number of women in the House: 102. Four of the freshman known affectionately as "the squad" -- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley -- have shown what a few brave women can do to shake up the DC establishment. They denounced the inhumane treatment of migrants on our southern border; pushed for a Green New Deal and Medicare for All; confronted big pharma; started paying congressional interns; refused to take the "mandatory" AIPAC trip to Israel. They changed the Congressional ecosystem and thanks to them, a lot more young progressives are now running for Congress.
The Democratic primaries have forced the country to talk about progressive policies like never before. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have pushed Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and policies to address this nation's horrific inequalities. Tulsi Gabbard has focused on the need to end the endless wars. And compared with 2016, all of the candidates have been more open to directly confronting the military-industrial complex, with vague but critical calls for reducing the overblown Pentagon budget. The debates and campaign rallies have been opportunities to air discussions on real solutions to our nation's ills, solutions that are not popular with big-dollar donors but are wildly popular with the public. 2019 was a year of awe-inspiring environmental youth activism. The sensational 16-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden captured world attention at the UN climate summit with her call for young people to hold adults accountable for the disaster they've created. Greta's school strike (she sat in front of the Swedish Parliament instead of going to school) inspired students walkouts throughout the world. She also inspired some famous elders: Thanks to Greta, Jane Fonda brought the Fire Drill Fridays to Washington D.C., doing civil disobedience at Congress every Friday and bringing more national attention to the climate crisis.
While the environmental gains this year are not nearly on the level needed, there are countries taking serious actions. The New Zealand parliament passed landmark legislation to achieve zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. The legislation establishes New Zealand as one of the few countries in the world with a legislated commitment to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. In contrast to Australia, where climate and energy policy has provoked toxic debate and scare campaigns from the far right, the New Zealand bill passed with bipartisan support. The government also established a $100 million Green Investment Fund, which will invest public funds in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; plant one billion new trees by 2028; and stop exploration for new oil and gas reserves.
In more environmental news, the European Union banned single-use plastic, including plastic cups, plates, forks, and straws. The ban will take effect by 2021. The change could help avoid nearly $25 billion-worth of environmental pollution by 2030. While the U.S. lags behind at the federal level, jurisdictions across the United States have instituted bans and fees on various types of plastics, like bags, carryout containers, polystyrene (Styrofoam), and straws. Eight states, including California and New York, have passed statewide bans on single-use plastic bags, while Maine has a ban on single-use polystyrene containers.
While Donald Trump crows about how great the domestic economy is, more and more workers are demanding a fairer share of the pie. Tens of thousands of workers across the country, from General Motors employees to teachers in Chicago, went on strike to win better wages and benefits. G.M. agreed to a path for temps to become permanent workers, and to alter its tiered wage scale. Airline mechanics, including at Southwest Airlines, won raises. The move toward a $15 minimum wage is gaining steam, with 21 states raising minimum wages in 2019 and more increases on the way in 2020.
For Latin America, 2019 was a year of people's power. There were advances and setbacks, but it's clear that there is a return of the Pink Tide (the name given to the wave of progressive governments in the late 1990s and 2000s). In this past year, social movements and organized people rose up against neoliberalism in Chile and Ecuador, they defeated a coup in Venezuela, they're resisting a coup in Bolivia, they rose up against a narco-dictator in Honduras, they rose up against state violence and austerity in Colombia, they took back power in Argentina, they're transforming Mexico, and, last but not least, in Brazil they organized a successful and massive international campaign to free former president Lula da Silva.
In the Middle East, people also rose up in a massive repudiation of neoliberal policies and corrupt governments that benefit the wealthy and multinational corporations at the expense of working people. In what has been dubbed the Autumn of Discontent, there were uprisings from Iraq to Lebanon, from Iran to Egypt. The repression against activists has been savage, with hundreds killed. In Lebanon, the protest s led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri but their goals are broader: They are demanding an end to corruption and mismanagement that results in blackouts and piles of garbage in the streets, as well as the crony sectarianism that enables it.
In Sudan, where the nation suffered for years under the murderous dictatorship of Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who had been in power since 1989, people poured into the streets by the hundreds of thousands. After months of courageous protests in which scores of Sudanese were shot, Abdalla Hamdok took office as prime minister in a power-sharing deal between the armed forces and the pro-democracy movement. The movement won a commitment for a three-year transition leading to elections, and Bashir was sent to prison for corruption. People are still in the streets demanding justice for the people killed in protests. "The victims have the right to truth, justice and reparations under international law," say the protesters. While Trump didn't fulfill his promise to end our endless wars, and he actually sent 14,000 MORE troops to the Middle East, at least he didn't start any new wars! Why? The American people have had enough. That hasn't always been the case. After the 9/11 attacks, for example, most Americans supported both the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan and in Iraq. But no longer. They want to get out of the wars we are in and don't want to engage in new ones. When the U.S. accused Iran of a spectacular attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, the hawks in the Trump administration wanted to respond with a military attack. But polls showed a miniscule 13 percent in favor. This has been a restraining factor for Trump and his war-hawks. And let's remember, this year also marked the downfall of the biggest warhawk of all, Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
In the coming year, those of us in the US will face one of the most important elections of our lifetimes. Four more years of Donald Trump will be devastating for our nation and our world.
No matter what happens with the impeachment process in the Senate, we must mobilize to defeat Trump and build a more effective progressive movement. Remembering some of the gains in the difficult year of 2019 can help inspire us for the critical struggles ahead. | Protesters burn property Tuesday in front of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. (Khalid Mohammed/AP)
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that the Middle East’s 2020 will be tumultuous. Libya’s civil war has taken a dangerous turn, with Russian mercenaries and Turkish forces joining the fray as Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s forces push into the capital. Yemen’s still ravaged by economic blockade and war, despite recent efforts on all sides to de-escalate the conflict. Syria’s civil war continues to metastasize, with a massive new wave of refugees fleeing violence in Idlib. Large-scale popular protests are challenging Iraq’s government, which is bracing for fallout from the growing confrontation between the United States and Iran. Israel and the Palestinian territories could dramatically change their relationship, as the prospects of a two-state solution dissolve. And protest movements throughout the region could shake up half a dozen regimes.
Here are three trends to watch in the Middle East over the coming year.
1. Every government is on edge about the U.S. 2020 election
Usually, when the U.S. government changes hands, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East remains steady and consistent. No more. If a Democrat replaces Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Middle Eastern regimes expect sharply reversed policies on such front-line issues as the nuclear agreement with Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian relationship, relations with Turkey, and alliances in the Gulf. If Trump remains in office, he will be unleashed, convinced by his electoral success that even his most controversial policies were right.
Facing such different possible futures, Middle Eastern governments could choose one of two approaches. They have good reason to be cautious, reaching out to both sides of the American partisan divide to ensure continuity in their relations. But some may see a closing window of opportunity for cherished goals — including potentially destabilizing moves that the Trump administration may wish to encourage, seeing possible political advantages. That means there’s an unusually high risk that Israel will annex the West Bank or launch a major military strike against Iran or Hezbollah over the next 11 months.
Key regional players such as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, the United Arab Emirates and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu placed all their bets on Trump’s presidency. Their enthusiastic embrace of Trump brought near-complete impunity for their regional adventurism, atrocities such as the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, and controversial domestic policies. That close relationship came at a cost, though: Both Congress and the U.S. public increasingly identified them as Republican allies. Should a Democrat take the White House, Saudi Arabia in particular can expect serious repercussions. Their assessment of the likelihood of a new American administration in 2020 will likely guide their decision-making in the coming months.
[Looking back at the Middle East's 2019: surprises from Trump, Saudi power moves, mass protests, and more.]
2. Conflicts in the gulf region are getting harder to control
The Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran has inflicted economic pain — while accomplishing few or none of its strategic objectives. For all its internal problems, the regime is unlikely to collapse. Seeing no diplomatic openings ahead, Iran and its proxies have launched a series of escalating attacks on U.S. interests. After avoiding responding to such earlier incidents as suspected Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the U.S. bombed Katai’b Hezbollah targets in Iraq. While all players have thus far managed the conflict to avoid escalation, this will become increasingly difficult. Expect continued escalation between Iran and the United States across the Persian Gulf region, Iraq, Syria and even Lebanon as these dynamics continue. While neither the U.S., its allies, nor Iran wants war, the complexity of the situation, the number of potential spoilers, and the uncertainty generated by Washington’s turmoil raise the risk of unintended escalation.
Even without war, Iraq will suffer the collateral damage of this confrontation, as it is torn between its close relations with both Iran and the United States. Remarkably, the Trump administration has abandoned the U.S. strategic consensus that it’s essential to support the Iraqi government that the United States largely created — and has instead single-mindedly focused on confronting Iran and its allies, even when that endangers the coalition’s campaign against the Islamic State. The U.S. strike against an Iranian-backed militia has been predictably destabilizing. Protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, as popular opinion which had been focused on Iran’s presence in recent weeks has turned sharply against the United States. Don’t be surprised if Iraqi politicians begin demanding that U.S. forces leave the country.
[Could the Gulf crisis with Qatar be winding down?]
3. Protests and more protests
2019’s wave of protests across the Middle East rivaled those of the Arab Spring in 2011 — and in some ways were more impressive. Protests challenged regimes in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon; forced political change in Algeria; and overthrew the Sudanese regime. More will come. Lebanon’s economic crisis is intersecting with the protests in unprecedented ways, while the sudden death of Algeria’s military strongman and the election of a new president has opened the door to the possibility for real change. Sudan’s remarkable democratic transition will be sorely tested. Popular dissatisfaction had been building in these countries — and others — for years, with widespread discontent over worsening unemployment, food shortages, crippled or nonexistent public services, and corrupt or repressive governments were amplified by a new generation’s impatience. New protest waves were only a matter of time.
Sudan’s remarkable success offers a glimmer of hope that protest movements may break with recent patterns of failure in 2020. Protesters have learned from past failures, showing remarkable resilience, creativity and political discipline. However, keep an eye on whether these sustained peaceful protests will tip over into violence, as loosely organized opposition coalitions fray and impatient regimes use harsher policing tactics. In Iran, brutal repression seems to have quashed its 2019 protests but the underlying grievances simmer. In Iraq and Lebanon, the governments’ violent attacks on protesters haven’t yet slowed those demonstrations — and could escalate from arrests and beatings to slaughter.
Don’t be surprised if protests erupt in other countries this year. Egypt’s government has been intensifying its repression, arresting journalists and shuttering civil society while its economy has struggled. Jordan’s economic struggles have become more pressing under the weight of Syrian refugees and reduced aid from the Gulf, and Israel’s annexation of the West Bank could spill over onto Jordan’s territory. Oman’s long-ruling Sultan is reportedly critically ill, and his succession is of great interest to its bickering gulf neighbors. While renewed protests in Syria against Assad’s brutal regime are difficult to imagine, the dramatic spillover of Lebanon’s economic crisis into Syria poses a challenge that the regime cannot kill its way out of, and few if any other nations are likely to send assistance.
Expect these three trends to bring numerous crises during this U.S. election year, shaping the challenges that will await the next administration.
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Save big on one of the leading meditation apps on the market.
December 30, 2019 2 min read
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Stress tends to accumulate around the holiday season but it's not like it simply disappears otherwise. Life is full of stressors, from tight project deadlines to frustrating coworkers to rush hour traffic. Don't just accept the stress, deal with it appropriately by investing in your own mindfulness. Aura is a meditation app that can help you manage stress and anxiety effectively without resorting to bad or destructive habits.
Aura was created by top meditation teachers and therapists and designed to help you prioritize and improve your mental health. Personalized with AI, Aura provides short, science-backed mindfulness meditation exercises every day to give you the peace of mind you need to power through stress and anxiety to be your best self. Each day, you'll get a free 3-minute guided meditation session and have the option to choose between 3-, 7-, or 10-minute meditations throughout the day depending on your availability. By rating each meditation experience, Aura learns your preferences and can provide more specific meditations to meet your needs. Through the app, you can also track your mood patterns, save unlimited meditations, and access additional wellness content like life coaching sessions, stories, and music.
Find out why Aura has a 4.7 rating on 17,000 reviews in the App Store and a 4.5 rating on more than 7,000 reviews in the Google Play Store. Right now, you can get a one-year premium subscription for 57 percent off $94.99 at just $39.99, a three-year subscription for 78 percent off $284.97 at just $59.99, or a lifetime subscription for 83 percent off $499 at just $79.99. | Description
Relieve stress & anxiety w/ a free 3-minute guided meditation session every day
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Diverse wellness content: meditations, life coaching sessions, stories & music included
Rate your experience & Aura will learn how to provide more specific meditations for your feelings whenever you need
Track your mood, learn about your mood patterns & visually see yourself improve
Receive daily reminders for mindful breathers
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Non-meditation wellness content coming soon
How will you improve this year? How about prioritizing your mental health? Created by top meditation teachers and therapists and personalized with ground-breaking AI, Aura Health helps you relieve stress and anxiety by providing short, science-backed mindfulness meditation exercises every day. There are many mindfulness apps out there, but Aura is the only one that uses machine learning to completely cater to you and your specific needs. You can tackle stress ferociously head-on, or you can allow Aura to help you reach a greater equilibrium without breaking the bank or spending excessive amounts of time on complicated exercises.
Reviews | 4 |
( MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) Riyadh, December 31, 2019, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulations to President Miguel Díaz-Canel of the Republic of Cuba on the anniversary of his country's Liberation Day. The King wished the President constant good health and happiness and the Government and people of Cuba steady progress and prosperity. --SPA 10:22 LOCAL TIME 07:22 GMT 0006
Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above. | (MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) Riyadh, January 01, 2020, SPA -- Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received at his office here today Ziauddin Saeed Bamakhrama, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Djiboutian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, they discussed regional and international developments in addition to means of enhancing bilateral cooperation.
--SPA
17:20 LOCAL TIME 14:20 GMT
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MENAFN0101202000780000ID1099495459 | 1.666667 |
Palghar: The Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra will be controlled by "Matoshree of Delhi" and not from "Matoshree" in Mumbai, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday in an apparent reference to Congress leadership.
Fadnavis made the remarks targetting Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while campaigning for the upcoming Palghar Zilla Parishad elections.
"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi", the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly told a rally.
Fadnavis, however, didn't take any names while firing the "Matoshree in Delhi" barb. 'Matoshree' means mother in Marathi.
The NCP and the Congress are the other constituents in the Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 'Matoshree' gradually emerged as a formidable power centre in Maharashtra politics when Sena founder Bal Thackeray was alive.
Many prominent personalities, including tallest political leaders of the BJP, Bollywood actors and even late King of Pop Michael Jackson, had visited "Matoshree" in suburban Bandra.
Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.
Continuing his diatribe, Fadnavis also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray's comments that he had given a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra. "Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the NCP and Congress after polls," Fadnavis said.
He also accused the Sena of "betraying" the public mandate by forging an alliance with the NCP and Congress after the state elections.
Fadnavis appealed to people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls. It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena has to compromise with those who "abused" Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the "infighting".
The Sena not only "betrayed" the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.
Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the Shiv Sena bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.
"Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power," he said. Hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying" the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.
"Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices," he said.
On Tuesday, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte had vandalised the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, which was expanded on Monday.
Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a "clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine" to form government, but later things took a different turn. He said citizens are witness to the political developments in the state.
"It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet," the BJP leader said.
On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, "It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme."
The Shiv Sena made "tall claims" that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be made free of encumbrance. "They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit," Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses.
"Now, they have gone back on their word," he alleged.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. | Mumbai: Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the New Year Day 'greeted' BJP's former ally, Shiv Sena, by taking a dig at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray saying it is 'Matoshree of Delhi' and not 'Matoshree' in Mumbai that is controlling the MVA government.
He said the Sena has insulted the people's mandate and has been dishonest with the people of the state.
"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi (without naming Congress party and Sonia Gandhi)," the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly said.
Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.
Fadnavis was speaking at the rally to launch a campaign for the election to the Palghar Zilla Parishad election. He said BJP-Sena alliance had received the mandate but BJP despite winning 105 seats is now out of power.
"Why Shiv Sena did not remember PM Modi at the time of government formation? Shiv Sena instead joined hands with Congress and NCP to form the government," he noted.
"Uddhav Thackeray had promised Sena chief Bal Thackeray that there will be Shiv Sena CM one day. But had he promised that party's CM will be on the support of Congress and NCP?" asked Fadnavis adding,
"Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the NCP and Congress after polls." He claimed that Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will not complete its tenure.
Fadnavis attacked MVA government for the crop loan waiver announced recently saying that the government has betrayed farmers who are in distress. ''Betrayal is a base for the MVA government. The party has betrayed the people's mandate and now farmers also,'' he said. | 4 |
Hours before donning their costumes, Mummers from a number of clubs were blessed for their New Year’s Day strut down Broad Street.
Some 400 Mummers and their supporters gathered for the 31st annual Mummers Mass on Dec. 31 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in South Philadelphia. The liturgy celebrated the neighborhood’s commitment to the Mummers tradition, while marking the vigil of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.
“Jesus believed in fun,” said pastor and celebrant Father Francis Cauterrucci, who delivered his homily while wearing a sequined eye mask. “We gather in joyful celebration because we believe in one another.”
According to various estimates, some 10,000 participants typically perform in the Philadelphia parade, which ranks as the nation’s oldest of its kind. The event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in person and via television.
The city began formally sponsoring the parade in 1901, but the Mummers’ roots extend back to ancient and medieval traditions. Locally, the practice of dressing in costume and acting out short skits during the holidays grew with the influx of European immigrants into Philadelphia. Such performances have historically relied on humor and satire: the word “mummer” itself derives from medieval French and English words for “mask” and “mutter,” and may also be related to the name of the Greek god of ridicule, Momus. Political and cultural references shape many of the performances at Philadelphia’s parade.
The five divisions of the city’s Mummer clubs – comic, fancy, wench brigade, string band and fancy brigade – were highlighted at the Dec. 31 Mass, which was preceded by a presentation of iconic items from each group. After a prelude by the Mummers Chorus, a stylized umbrella, a set of golden slippers, a banjo, trophies and two Mummers dolls were placed on a table in the sanctuary.
One of the dolls was dedicated to the late Father Thomas Wassel, a former pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a Mummers chaplain.
Philadelphia’s mummery tradition has deep roots in South Philadelphia’s European immigrant communities and in their Catholic faith, according to the Mummers Museum.
For Fran Kelly, the Mummers Mass affirms that sense of constancy.
“We have the same routine each year at the Mass, including recognizing our deceased members,” said Kelly, a member of the Satin Slipper Fancy Brigade.
The Mass also offsets the intense competition among the clubs, he added.
“It brings us all together,” Kelly said. “We’re friends now and we love each other, but tomorrow, everybody’s out to win.”
Many families have made the Mass part of their New Year’s Eve tradition. Parishioner Noreen Brennan, who has attended the liturgy for the past three decades, brought her eight-month-old granddaughter Marlee to the Dec. 31 celebration.
“It starts off the year well, and we’re keeping the tradition alive,” said Brennan, whose family members perform in both the fancy and wench divisions.
Fellow parishioner Stosh Visack was joined at the Mass by his son Chase, who flew in from his U.S. Navy assignment in Pearl Harbor to attend the New Year’s festivities. For both father and son, the liturgy is mandatory preparation for their big day on Broad Street.
“This is our blessing for tomorrow, so we all stay safe and have a good time,” said the elder Visack, a member of the Riverfront Mummers Wench Brigade. “But first and foremost, we praise the Lord for the New Year and its blessings, and we thank God for everything that went well over the past year.”
Visack added that he wasn’t too worried about the “intricate details” of his brigade’s choreography.
“We just go right to the heart of it,” he said. “Whatever comes out, comes out.”
And that’s exactly the creative freedom that the parade and, more fundamentally, Christ’s salvation brings, said Father Cauterrucci in his homily.
“We celebrate the great and particular gifts given to us by God,” he said. “Celebrate the parade, celebrate the people who are in the parade, and celebrate this gift of life that we share together in the church.” | While some will likely spend Wednesday recovering from their New Year's Eve celebrations, many in Philadelphia will watch the Mummers Parade, a tradition unique to the City of Brotherly Love.
As mummery in the United States is largely unknown outside of the Philadelphia area, the first question some people might ask is "What is a mummer?" Honoring a tradition whose roots trace back to America in the 1600s, mummers dress up in fanciful costumes and celebrate the New Year with an annual parade on January 1.
More than 10,000 men, women and children participate in the nearly 120-year-old celebration, according to the city's Independence Visitor Center. The parade begins at 9 a.m. EST at City Hall and continues south on Broad Street until it hits Washington Avenue. It's expected to conclude at 5 p.m.
Thousands of people line the streets to watch the procession, and those who can't be there in person can stream the parade live from the comfort of their home. People in the Philadelphia area can watch the parade on TV by tuning in to WPHL. The outlet also has a live stream set up on its website.
There are five divisions of mummers in the parade. Comics try to make people laugh with slapstick or sarcastic comedy, while those in the Wench Brigade Division don the traditional attire of a dress, hat or scarf, bloomers and a parasol.
Fancies are judged on their ornate costuming, and Fancy Brigades put on Broadway-like performances. String Bands also put on a show with saxophones, banjos and percussion dominating the band, according to the Mummers Museum.
The first formal Mummers Parade was in 1901. The event is the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States, according to the Mummers Museum. Before the parade became official, in the 17th and 18th centuries, mummers used to fire guns into the air as part of the celebration, but firearms are no longer allowed in the parade because they could be dangerous.
Although the mummers engage in fierce competition on New Year's Day, George Balzer IV of the Woodland String Band told WPVI that they're "family" the rest of the year. Ahead of the 2020 parade, clubs threw their support behind the South Philly String Band, which lost two members in a car crash on January 2. Dennis Palandro, Joe Ferry and his fiancée, Kelly Wiseley, were killed after a driver veered into opposing traffic, hitting their car.
On Sunday, the Golden Crown Fancy Brigade presented the South Philly String Band with a bear and their walk-through T-shirt. The shirt included the South Philly String Band's emblem, featuring Palandro's, Ferry's and Wiseley's initials, and was intended to honor the club during the walk-through.
"Whether you're in the Comics, the string band or the Fancies, we're all mummers and we're all in together and we're all brothers and sisters, and that's what this parade has always been about—traditions," Golden Crown's Bill Burke Jr. told WPVI. | 4 |
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Tens of thousands of people ushered in 2020 in downtown Los Angeles, gathering at Grand Park for the city’s biggest free music and dance party.
The gates opened shortly after 8 p.m. for the massive set-up in front of City Hall, but sound and light checks have been happening all day for the 7th annual Grand Park and the Music Center’s New Year’s Eve L.A.
The event was billed as the city’s go-to central gathering place and it is the West Coast’s flagship New Year’s celebration complete with live music. But beyond the entertainment, the celebration featured more than 40 food trucks serving up tasty eats for a crowd expected to be about 50,000.
The main rule for the night? No alcohol was allowed.
“It’s a low-key event, a mellow crowd,” Paul Parkhurst, an attendee, said. “You don’t have to worry about the effects of people drinking and driving. I don’t have to worry about drinking and getting a ride back anywhere, so that’s why I like this event better.”
In the past Parkhurst has had to work the event, but said he was looking forward to enjoying it.
“I would say from the beginning, L.A. has really embraced this event,” Julia Diamond, Grand Park director, said. “In our very first year, we had 25,000 people who came, which was, I will say, a surprise for everyone. We’ve seen it grow year after year, so now we’re expecting this year about 50,000-plus, and what we’re saying is people coming back. They’re making this their New Year’s.”
For those still making their way down to the celebration, a reminder that liquids are not allowed, unless its a juice box for children.
The festivities were scheduled to last until 1 a.m. | DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Thousands of Angelenos flocked to one of the West Coast's biggest New Year's Eve parties to ring in the new year.The 7th annual celebration in downtown Los Angeles' Grand Park spanned seven blocks all the way to the Music Center."It's a moment that really unites Angelenos, and it's something we didn't have before, so I think people connect to it," said Julia Diamond, Grand Park's director.This year's celebration theme: "Who is L.A. 2020?"The faces of countless Angelenos from all walks of life were projected onto the Hall of Records and City Hall. The star of the show was a one-of-a-kind 3-D video countdown to 2020.But, the party wasn't just for locals. One group traveled from Hong Kong to celebrate the new decade in L.A.The festivities included two stages for live entertainment, more than four dozen food trucks and plenty of photo booths to document special moments. | 3.666667 |
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Long before the days of TVs, DVDs and streaming services, there used to be a cinema or picture house on nearly every street corner.
Often housed in ornate buildings with names like the Rialto, the Roxy, or the Majestic, people would flock to them once, twice, even three times a week.
It would not only be a film - the programme would also include newsreels to bring viewers up to date on what was happening in the world, and cartoons. Basically it was like the TV of its day.
Fast forward to the 1970s and 1980s, and many of these cinemas still survived - albeit to much smaller audiences, most of whom had deserted the "flics" for "the box", which they could watch in the comfort of their own home.
But in the long term this model was unsustainable - the remaining vintage cinemas all but disappeared with the advent of multiplexes and increasingly sophisticated ways of watching movies at home, which were almost as good as watching them in the cinema.
Here we take a look back at some of the great cinemas on Merseyside which have been loved and lost over the years.
Lime Street
Lime Street was once dominated by three ABC cinemas - the large one overlooking St John's shopping centre and the mainline railway station, along with its two smaller cousins, the Futurist and the Scala.
Many of us will have fond memories of catching the new releases in these vintage picture houses - in many cases, it was our first ever experience of going to the cinema.
(Image: Google Street View)
Of the three, only the main Lime Street ABC cinema still survives in mothballed form.
In November, it was reported a "number of options" were being considered for the future of the site - three years after the council gave the green light for plans to turn it into a performance venue.
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Meanwhile, the long disused Futurist and Scala cinemas were demolished as part of a controversial redevelopment of Lime Street, with a Lidl store now covering part of the site.
London Road
The multi-screen Odeon cinema in London Road was once the only one of its kind in Liverpool, and survived well into the new millennium.
Again, it was a favourite haunt for many of us growing up.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
It was rendered redundant when Odeon opened its new multiplex as part of the Liverpool One development in 2008.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The cinema was demolished to make way for a large development of new student flats, however the scheme was halted when the developer ran into difficulties, leaving behind a half-finished building.
Opposite the Odeon stood another cinema, the Gaumont.
The 051, Mount Pleasant
A three-screen cinema first opened at this site, at the junction of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant, back in the 1970s. Its more usual fare then were porno flick double bills (this was long before the Internet), and the cinema went through a number of name changes and temporary closures before re-opening in the early 90s as the 051.
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
For those wanting a more "alternative" choice of films - such as arthouse and cult movies - this was the go-to place, but it struggled to attract enough punters to make it viable and the cinema finally closed for good in 1997. The vacuum for non-mainstream films was filled by the opening of Picturehouse at FACT early in the new millennium.
Birkenhead town centre
The town centre formerly boasted two main cinemas - the Classic on Conway Road, and the ABC on Argyle Street.
Although they had long since closed, both were still standing - that is, until this year.
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A devastating fire led to the old Classic building - latterly a nightclub - being flattened in April. Meanwhile the Argyle Street cinema - which became a snooker hall and fitness club - was also demolished, to be replaced by a car park.
Gaumont cinema, Park Road, Dingle
Located on the corner of Dingle Lane and Park Road, the art deco building is a Liverpool landmark which once held a 1,500-seat cinema.
Opened in 1937, the curve-fronted cinema was built to replace the old Dingle Picturedome.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
After functioning as a cinema for nearly three decades, the building was turned into a Top Rank Bingo Club in the 1960s.
It has stood empty and unused for a number of years, despite being bought and resold by potential investors looking to transform the site.
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Last year the former Gaumont was put up for sale with Venmores Auctions, who have since confirmed that it was sold to an unknown bidder.
Majestic Cinema, Daulby Street
A cinema had occupied this prominent site, on the corner of Daulby Street and Prescott Street, since 1914.
The last one, the Majestic, opened in 1937 and was closed in 1970 with a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Howard Keel in The Day of the Triffids.
Due to its sturdy construction, demolition of the building proved to be a difficult task. The site is now part of the grounds of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Did you have a favourite cinema which has now disappeared? Do you have any pictures of it? Send your memories and photographs to alan.weston@reachplc.com and we may use it for a follow-up article. | At Sunday's London Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner on Earth, will toe the line in what could become the most controversial shoe his sport has ever known: Nike's ZoomX Vaporfly Next%. Long anticipated by the sort of runner who devotes his free time to scouring Facebook groups, Instagram pages, and online message boards for news about foams, colorways, heel-toe offsets, and inventory restocks (and who is willing to part with hundreds of dollars to gain a competitive edge), the Next%, which was unveiled this week, is the successor to Nike's Vaporfly 4%—a shoe the company claims can make runners four percent more efficient on their feet, translating to precious minutes over the course of a race like the marathon. Since their debut in 2017, Vaporflys have become a race-day favorite among professional athletes and hobby joggers alike. (Observe the sea of red Vaporflys among the elite field at last year's London Marathon.) They have so far avoided being banned from competitive events by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the governing body of the running world. But the Next% could change that: Nike claims the shoe saves runners even more energy than its predecessors. This week, I confirmed those claims with the researchers who performed external validation of Nike's internal tests: The shoes, they say, provided a significant advantage over the 4%s in a controlled study. The new Vaporfly's superior energy-savings could translate to even faster times. But how much of an advantage will the Next%s actually provide—and will it be enough to compel the IAAF to act?
The story so far goes like this: In 2016, Nike unveiled the first version of the Vaporfly, appending "4%" to the name in reference to the energy savings they were purported to provide. The shoes represented the technological component of a three-year, multi-pronged effort to engineer a perfect marathon and break the 26.2-mile race's elusive two-hour barrier at a race track in Monza, Italy. Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, headlined the attempt. He came just 25 seconds short—closer than most people thought he would. Granted, the conditions of the race were optimized for speed—Kipchoge had a phalanx of pacers blocking the wind for the majority of the race, and he ran on a loop with zero time-sapping 90-degree turns—so it didn't count as an official record. What's more, it was far from clear that the shoes were the key to Kipchoge's brush with the two-hour barrier. Yet he and many other runners, professional and otherwise, have worn some version of the shoes in each of their races since. After Monza, Vaporflys quickly became a controversial talking point among the running set. Do they really make you faster, or are they part of a carefully orchestrated marketing stunt? Are they designed for elite runners, or can casual competitors benefit from them, as well? The answer to all these questions appears to be yes. Peer-reviewed research has confirmed that the shoes make runners more efficient. WIRED's in-house analysis found that runners of the 2017 New York Marathon finished faster if they were wearing Vaporflys. Last year, the New York Times analyzed nearly half a million marathon and half-marathon times logged between 2014 and 2018, and found that, even after accounting for confounding variables, runners shod in Vaporflys ran between 3 and 4 percent faster than similar runners wearing other shoes. As for the marketing bit: The $250 shoes sold so well that, for months, the only reliable way to land a pair was to buy them at a premium on the secondary shoe market. So firmly has the Vaporfly effect anchored itself in the running community's consciousness that last year, when the Boston Marathon subtracted five minutes from the times that athletes must run to qualify for the race, conspiratorially minded runners speculated that all the Vaporflys had something to do with it. As for Kipchoge, he managed to clinch an official record a year after his unofficial attempt in Monza. At the 2018 Berlin Marathon, he traversed the course's 26.2 miles in 2:01:39. It was a precedent-shattering performance. For more than half a century, improvements to the marathon world record had come in increments measured in seconds. Kipchoge crushed the previous record by a colossal one minute and 18 seconds. And he did it wearing Vaporflys.
The question you're probably wondering: How do these shoes work? "Our research suggests that the energy savings of the first Vaporfly came from two things, the foam in the midsole and the carbon fiber plate sandwiched inside," says Wouter Hoogkamer, a biomechanist in the Locomotion Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder. An expert in the energetics of running, Hoogkamer was the first author on the peer-reviewed study Nike used to claim the OG Vaporfly could improve running economy by four percent. What that study couldn't tell him and his colleagues was where the energy savings came from. So they designed a followup study to begin teasing apart where those precious percentage points originate. Nike Their results showed that the foam in the midsole (Nike calls it ZoomX, but foam nerds know it as Pebax) is uncommonly compliant and resilient. Translation: It's squishy and springy, respectively. Those properties enable the foam to absorb the energy a runner applies when their feet meet pavement and return a portion of it to their stride… somehow. How it works, exactly, remains unclear. The researchers originally hypothesized the foam would save runners energy by reducing bending at their knees, but that turned out not to be the case. "But the foam, mechanically speaking, is a big player in whatever's going on," Hoogkamer says. Their results also showed that the carbon fiber plate plays a role—but not in the way many people think. When the Vaporfly was first unveiled, critics of the shoe speculated that the plate acted like a spring. But Hoogkamer's findings suggest the plate's spring function is negligible. What the plate does do is improves runners' ankle mechanics by stabilizing the joint and reducing the load on the calves. At the same time, its stiffness helps keep runners' toes nice and straight, allowing them to preserve the energy they would otherwise spend flexing them. If keeping your toes straight sounds to you like it would provide pretty meager energy benefits, Hoogkamer agrees. "Physiologically speaking, I have a hard time believing that eliminating toe flexion saves you much," he says. "My current thinking is that the foam and plate are working in concert, but that the foam is doing more work than the plate." And reader, you won't believe this, but the Next%'s midsole contains 15 percent more foam than its predecessor. | 1 |
K-word using crime victim released from prison after Ramaphosa's special remission announcement
Vicki Momberg's sentence expired after Ramaphosa's special remission announcement, says correctional services
Convicted racist Vicki Momberg was released from prison in Johannesburg on Friday after reaching her sentence expiry date, the Department of Correctional Services has confirmed.
Department spokesperson Logan Maistry said Momberg had qualified for the special remission of sentences that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on December 16.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the Day of Reconciliation celebrations in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, and said the move was part of "established international practice" and would grant special remission of sentences to sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees,News24 previously reported.
"The inmate in question was released from custody today after having reached her sentence expiry date following the special remission of sentence announced by President Ramaphosa," Maistry confirmed.
Momberg was re-arrested in November after she was on the run following a warrant of arrest that was issued after she failed to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court in August.
She had been unsuccessful in appealing her crimen injuria conviction, News24 reported.
The former real estate agent was found guilty of four counts of crimen injuria after she called a black police officer the k-word 48 times when he came to her aid following a smash-and-grab incident in 2016.
Momberg's release from prison follows that ofKing Buyelekhaya Dalindyeboand #FeesMustFall activistKanya Cekesheearlier this week.
Dalindyebo was jailed for 15 years in December 2015 after being found guilty of, among others, seven charges of kidnapping and three of arson, while Cekeshe was convicted for public violence and malicious damage to property after trying to set a police van alight during protests in 2016.
News24 | MIRI: Sarawak police have smashed an international drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of seven suspects and seizure of drugs worth about RM1 million here.
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the suspects, aged between 21 and 39, were picked up in raids on three locations between 3.45am and 5.40am today.
The suspects, all unemployed, comprised four men and three women, one an Indonesian, told a press conference here today.
“The drugs seized were 9kg of syabu, 349gm of ketamine powder, 449gm of ecstasy powder, 16,250 ecstasy pills and 2,250 erimin 5 pills,” he added.
Ramli said police also seized two cars — a Mercedes Benz E230 and a Volkswagen Polo — worth a total of RM105,000.
He said the syndicate is believed to have been distributing drugs to the local and overseas markets for a year.
Initial investigations showed that it supplied drugs to the Brunei and Indonesian markets, he added.
“The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death sentence or life jail term,” he said.
He said Sarawak police would continue with their crackdown on drug distribution, especially at entertainment centres.
He urged the public to contact the police if they have information on drug activities. — Bernama | 1 |
Protest in New York City calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to take action against anti-Semitism, New York, September 23, 2019.
A Jewish woman was hit in the head while walking with her son in Brooklyn, ABC reported on Thursday.
This is at least the fourth reported incident targeting Jews in New York in the last week.
According to the report, a 42-year-old woman shouted an anti-Semitic slur and then beat the 34-year-old mother with her bag near West 6th Street and Avenue S in the borough’s Gravesend section.
New York police are increasing their presence in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, and Williamsburg neighborhoods following the incident, the report said.
“The overall Jewish community was reeling from what happened in Jersey City. Now to have to deal with this during the holiday season-during Hanukkah is so difficult,” said Evan Bernstein, the Anti-Defamation League’s regional director for New York and New Jersey.
Earlier this week, a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke was physically and verbally assaulted in Manhattan. A Miami man was arrested and charged with that assault.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Jewish man was assaulted by a group of teenagers in Crown Heights.
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An earlier third incident was reported as a case of aggravated harassment in Brooklyn, according to the ADL. | What to Know There were at least four incidents of possible hate-based attacks against Jews in New York City during Hanukkah, police say
A 34-year-old mother was hit on the head, a man in Manhattan was punched and kicked, and there were two other assaults in Crown Heights
Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday offered a $10,000 reward for information regarding the attacks
In the latest string of hateful attack during Jewish holidays, a 34-year-old woman and her 4-year-old son were attacked Thursday by someone who yelled anti-semitic slurs at them.
Police say the woman and her son were walking out of a Dunkin Donuts in Gravesend, Brooklyn, when a woman approached them and hit the mother over the head with her bag. The victim, who did not want to be identified over her safety, tells NBC New York that she immediately called 911 and a good samaritan followed the attacker, leading officers to arrest the suspect.
The NYPD said they are looking into at least three other incidents of possible hate-based attacks against Jewish people over the past several days. City leaders have condemned the attacks that are happening as the Jewish community celebrates the holidays.
"It seems like it's open season on Jews in New York City," said Councilmember Chaim Deutsch.
Investigators were looking into an incident Wednesday where a 40-year-old man was punched in the face on 13th Avenue in Borough Park.
This horrific and cowardly act of antisemitism is repugnant to our values, and it's even more despicable that it occurred over the holidays Gov. Andrew Cuomo
The last confirmed attack happened in the early morning hours on Tuesday on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, when a 25-year-old Jewish man was walking on the sidewalk when he saw a large group of people walking toward him, police said.
That man told police that members of the group yelled “f--- you Jew” before hurling a Slurpee at him. The group can be heard laughing and one appears to be filming the incident as they quickly flee shortly after.
About 15 hours later, a man in his 50s was standing in front of a building on Union Avenue in the same neighborhood when he said he saw as many as six people approach him after 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, according to police.
One of the people who came up to the man punched him in the back of the head, and the group took off.
The first attack occurred in the morning of Dec. 23 on the Upper East Side, according to the NYPD. A 65-year-old man was hit in the face with a closed fist after the suspect made an anti-Semitic remark, then was kicked while on the ground. The victim suffered cuts to his face and hand, police said.
Steven Jorge, of Miami, Florida, was later arrested and charged in the beating. The 28-year-old was charged with assault as a hate crime. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said the victim had been wearing a black yarmulke and checking his cellphone when the attack happened.
"The attacks against Jews are out of control, and we must have a concrete strategy to address the rise of these attacks," said Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism. "What is happening in New York City with attacks against Jews has created a deep and growing concern in our community."
The attacks come less than two weeks after a deadly shooting rampage at a New Jersey kosher market that Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said was driven by hatred of Jews and law enforcement. The gunbattle and standoff in Jersey City left six people dead - the two killers, a police officer and three people who had been inside the market.
The spate of attacks captured the attention of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, with both condemning the actions.
"This horrific and cowardly act of antisemitism is repugnant to our values, and it's even more despicable that it occurred over the holidays," Cuomo said in a statement. "We have absolutely zero tolerance for bigotry and hate, and we will continue to call it out whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head."
The mayor echoed those sentiments, saying that it is “not enough to condemn anti-Semitism — we have to confront it,” in a tweet Christmas night.
“The despicable crimes committed against our Jewish community over the last 24 hours are an attack on ALL New Yorkers,” de Blasio added.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday offered a $10,000 reward for information regarding the attacks.
"We are appalled at the sheer frequency and aggressive nature of these incidents," Evan Bernstein, the group's regional director in New York and New Jersey, said in a news release. "They're made particularly heinous by the fact they are occurring during a time when society is supposed to come together in peace for the holidays, and as the Jewish community is particularly on edge as it's reeling from the deadly attack in Jersey City on Dec. 10." | 3.333333 |
Assistant brewer is responsible for cleaning, inventory, packaging and physical plant cleanliness and supervision of packing technicians. Filling orders, proper record keeping and participating in forecasting brew schedules. Wort production, yeast management, fermentation, and transfer of beer.
Ability to brew in the absence of the head brewer, brew production beers and assist with hard cider.
Creativity is not only allowed, we expect you to enjoy your work environment. Creating small batch brews, participate in tastings, guest and staff education.
Home brewers, certificate in brewing, previous beer industry work all welcome and encouraged to apply. | JOB TITLE: Brewer
DEPARTMENT: Production
REPORTS TO: Head Brewer
POSITION TYPE: Flexible hours with ability to work nights and weekends
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1/1/2020
Job Description: Scofflaw Brewing Company is looking to expand our brewing team. With continued growth and new projects underway, we are looking for an experienced brewer (3+ years professional brewing experience preferred, however, less will be considered for the right candidate). Ideal candidates will have experience brewing on a fifty-barrel commercial system and a detailed understanding of a purpose driven laboratory. Equity potential after 6 months of demonstrating ownership level performance. Agreement will be made by contract prior to on-boarding. Moving allowance potential. This is NOT a 40 hour per week job. This is a career move for a highly qualified and motivated candidate.
QUALIFICATIONS
3+ years working in a brewery, winery, or distillery strongly preferred.
Must be willing to work 2nd and 3rd shifts (sometimes on weekends)
Ability to work flexible hours, nights and weekends if needed.
Must be familiar with all aspects of the brewing, cellaring and packaging process
Possess common safety and sanitary procedures for working with grain, chemicals, heat and pressure.
Possess common CIP and SIP procedures for brewhouse, FVs, BBTs, kegs and other production equipment.
High School diploma or GED equivalency
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to come to work with a positive attitude and arrive promptly every day. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Main responsibilities will be daily wort production on our 50-bbl automated brewhouse or our 15-bbl pilot system
Perform general process and maintenance procedures for operating grain mill, boiler, brewhouse, pumps and other equipment.
Perform full CIP procedures based on SOP’s
Keep meticulous records of all brewing and cellaring logs
Have an obsession with maintaining a clean production facility
Assist in any other tasks needed to run a successful brewery
Maintain a safe and secure and clean working environment
Must be timely and punctual arriving to work and in all brewery related activities
Participate in weekly individual meetings with Head Brewer
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
You must be at least 21 years old to work at Scofflaw Brewing Company.
Understand and communicate in English.
Continually required to stand, walk, utilize hand and finger dexterity.
Frequently required to sit, climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell.
Continual exposure to wet and/or humid conditions (non-weather).
Frequently work near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals
Occasional exposure to outside weather conditions
While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environments is usually loud
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 170 pounds
Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
Specialized equipment, machines, or vehicles used: canning line, keg washer/filler, brewhouse, boiler, CIP skid, yeast propagator, forklift, pallet jack, pallet wrapper.
How to Apply
Interested? Please send your resume and a brief description of why you would be a good fit for this position to jp@scofflawbeer.com with the subject line “Brewer Application”. Please no phone calls or drop-ins. | 2.666667 |
The Fisheries Administration says more fish can be caught from January 1-6 along the Tonle Sap River. Heng Chivoan
Fishing season for prahok, meat paste-making officially begins
The Fisheries Administration has announced that the fishing season to make prahok and meat paste will begin early this month.
However, it urged fishermen to release the endangered giant barb fish into rivers if they were found entangled in nets. It said the fish is a symbol of the Kingdom and should be allowed to spawn.
“Based on the present condition of the rivers and lakes, more fish can be caught from January 1-6 along the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh and Kandal province provided the skies are clear with no early rainfall or storms,” it said in a press release.
At the same time, the Fisheries Administration appealed to those who wanted to make prahok and meat paste for their families to prepare it within the given dates.
It also urged the local authorities at all levels to make it easier for people to travel, stay and transport fish products without obstruction.
The Fisheries Administration said the season for making prahok and meat paste this year would face some issues as fish was not as abundant as in previous years. It is also twice as expewnsive.
During the first fishing season in December, fish for making prahok was sold at between 2,000 to 3,500 riel per kg, while that for making meat paste sold for 8,000 to12,000 riel per kg.
Ouk Chanthy, 45, from Kampong Speu told The Post on Tuesday that during the first fishing season in December, she and her husband went to Russey Keo district’s Kilometre 6 commune in the capital to buy fish to make prahok.
However, as 1kg cost 3,000 to 3,500 riel, they had returned home to wait for the coming season in early January.
She expressed optimism that in this fishing season, the price of fish to make prahok, meat paste, and smoked fish would be lower than in the first season. “More fish would be caught than in the first stage.
“I will buy 30kg of fish to make prahok and 300 bamboo sticks of fish to smoke, despite prices not going down as low as in previous years which was about 1,200 to 1,500 riel per kg,” she said.
She said she was confident there would be more fish this January as that is when the fish will leave the lakes, rivers and tributaries of the Tonle Sap river to travel downstream. But the fishing season can be protracted until the end of January or early February, she said. | Everything you need to know about how to watch the next meteor shower. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Keep your eyes on the skies, the first meteor shower of the year is due to peak this weekend.
Signs of the Quadrantid meteor shower began in the tail end of December, but the event peaks in early January.
Meteor showers usually occur when particles of comet debris enter our atmosphere and burn up, appearing as shooting stars.
The Quadrantid shower, however, is a product of an asteroid.
This year the spectacle of the Quadrantid shower will be most visible from dark on January 3 and will peak at dawn on Saturday, January 4.
While the peak of the shower won't be until the early hours, there's a good chance you'll see shooting stars during the later part of the evening so you won't have to stay up too late to catch a glimpse.
It will be visible to the naked eye so there is no need for any equipment, just let your eyes adjust to the dark and look out for fast and bright meteors with fine trains.
For the best views find a safe location that is away from sources of light pollution such as street lights and where you can scan the whole sky. | 1 |
Bureau of Meteorology data shows average temperature record across the country beat previous high of 2013
The year 2019 was the hottest on record for Australia with the temperature reaching 1.52C above the long-term average, data from the Bureau of Meteorology confirms.
The year that delivered crippling drought, heatwaves, temperature records and devastating bushfires was 0.19C hotter than 2013, the previous record holder.
Climate scientists told Guardian Australia that climate change pushed what would have been a hot year into record territory, driving heat extremes and the risk of deadly bushfires.
Australia weather forecast: dangerous bushfire and heatwave conditions to return after brief cool reprieve Read more
The Bureau of Meteorology data shows the average temperature across the country was 1.52C above the long-term average taken between 1961 and 1990. The second hottest year was 2013, followed by 2005, 2018 and 2017.
The data, from the bureau’s long-term ACORN-SAT data, will be used as part of the bureau’s annual climate statement due for release on 9 January.
Prof Mark Howden, the director of the ANU Climate Change Institute, said the continued rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, caused mainly by burning fossil fuels, was the underlying driver of the heat.
He said: “It’s very clear that greenhouse gas emissions are changing the radiation balance of the Earth. Other contributors are minor in comparison.”
He said two other climate systems had also played a role in delivering the record hot year.
The Indian Ocean Dipole system had drawn moisture away from the centre of the continent, causing extra heat to build there. Another system known as the Southern Annular Mode had also contributed to the heat.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology shows 2019 was the hottest year on record. Data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology shows 2019 was the hottest year on record.
The data also shows that 2019 was the hottest year on record for New South Wales, with temperatures 1.95C above the long-term average, beating the previous record year, 2018, by 0.27C.
Western Australia also had its hottest year, with temperatures 1.67C above average, beating the previous 2013 heat record by 0.58C.
The Northern Territory and South Australia both had their second hottest years, with 2019 coming in fifth hottest for Victoria and sixth hottest for Queensland, according to the data. Tasmania had a relatively cool year, but was still 0.41C above the long-term average.
The previous summer of 2018-19 was the hottest on record. The spring of 2019 also delivered the worst bushfire weather since at least 1950, when the Forest Fire Danger Index data began.
On Wednesday 18 December, Australia experienced its hottest day on record with an average maximum temperature of 41.9C (107.4F), beating the previous record by 1C that had been set only 24 hours earlier.
Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales specialising in extreme events, said 2019 had started hot, with the previous summer being the hottest on record.
Climate patterns behind Australia's bushfires, heat and drought set to improve Read more
She said: “The extremes have been seen in lots of heatwaves and, of course, the bushfires, that are a consequence of the very hot and dry conditions.”
She said while natural climate cycles had pushed temperatures higher, “climate change has given them a boost”.
“2019 would not have been pleasant anyway, but climate change has made it worse. We are focusing now on the bushfires, but the underlying heat has been driving these conditions for much of the year.
“Climate change isn’t the outright cause, but it’s an undeniable contributor to this extreme year on all accounts.”
A bureau spokesperson said it would provide official comment on the 2019 temperatures in its annual climate statement on January 9 that would include a “comprehensive analysis of the year’s weather events and climate context, including any records of note”. | India hockey team captain Manpreet Singh believes his team has the capability of reaching the final of the Tokyo Olympics, provided a sense of discipline and consistency is maintained in the run-up to the event.
Leaving behind a disappointing 2018 where India crashed out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup at home, the Manpreet-led side has managed to maintain its consistency and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under a new coach in Australian Graham Reid.
Reviewing the year gone by, Manpreet said 2019 has been productive for the team in terms of its performances despite not getting enough opportunities to compete in high-level international tournaments.
“Looking back, 2019 has been very good for us,” Manpreet was quoted as saying by PTI. He added: “We started the year in the fifth spot and managed to maintain that. The biggest aim for us in 2019 was to qualify for the Olympics and we have managed to achieve that under a new coach.
“Our main target in 2020 is to reach the finals of the Olympics and, believe me, it’s achievable. Throughout the year we have managed to maintain the No 5 position in world rankings and there is no reason why we can’t climb from that. But, for that, we have to maintain the consistency which we have showed in the entire 2019.”
The ace midfielder, who has been nominated for the 2019 FIH Player of the Year award, said encounters against top teams like Netherlands, world champions Belgium and Australia in the upcoming FIH Pro league will give India a fair idea about where the eight-time Olympic champions stand.
India, who pulled out of the inaugural edition of the Pro-League, will play the Dutch side on January 18 and 19 before hosting Belgium on February 8 and 9, followed by two more home fixtures against Australia on February 22 and 23.
“The FIH Pro League is our first step towards Olympic preparation. In the Pro League, we will get to face all the top teams of the world before the Olympics and this experience will give us an idea where we stand before the Olympics,” Manpreet said.
The skipper said the biggest takeaway for Indian men’s hockey team in 2019 was the transition of quite a few young players into the senior fold.
“In 2019, we witnessed quite a few young players making it into the senior side,” he said. He added: “They performed to their potential at the international level and outsmarted some of the senior guys. It’s the biggest positive for us, especially in a busy year, where we will be competing at the FIH Pro-League be sides the Olympics.” | 1 |
Maine's minimum wage rises $1 to $12 an hour starting in 2020 Share Shares Copy Link Copy
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LIVE WITH HOW SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS PLAN TO ABSORB THE EXTRA PAYROLL COSTS. ONE BUSINESS OWNER TOLD ME OFF CAMERA - SHE IS WORRIED SHE MIGHT HAVE TO CLOSE...CALLING THE INCREASES IN THE MINIMUM WAGE - UNREALISTIC... SAYING THEY HAVE JUST ABOUT REACHED THEIR BREAKING POINT... WE RE-VISITED ANOTHER BUSINESS - TO SEE WHAT ADJUSTMENTS HE PLANS TO MAKE TO STAY ALIVE. <SOT FROM LAST YEAR-> "WE'RE DOING OUR BEST HERE TO KEEP OUR PRICES LEVEL." THAT WAS THEN ...THIS IS NOW.... <SOT-CRAIG ALLAIRE/PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA-04.54> "SO, IF WE PAY MORE, SOME THINGS DO HAVE TO GO UP." CRAIG ALLAIRE IS THE OPERATIONS A MANAGER AT THE "PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA." WE TALKED HIM BEFORE LAST YEAR'S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE....AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN --AS THE MINIMUM WAGE IS SET TO INCREASE AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR FROM 11 TO 12 DOLLARS AN HOUR. <SOT-CRAIG ALLAIRE/PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA-04.15> "WE'VE ALWAYS PAID MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE HERE. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON PAYING MORE - WE TRY AND KEEP OURSELVES - WE TRY TO BE BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE JOE." YET TO COMPETE AND STILL MAKE A PROFIT - ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE AGAIN THIS YEAR..IT MAY COME DOWN TO HIGHER PRICES - PASSED ON TO HIS CUSTOMERS...BUT HE'S BEING VERY CAREFUL AND SELECTIVE...HOW HE GOES ABOUT THAT. <SOT-CRAIG ALLAIRE/PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA-05.06 TO 05.14 TRT > "SUCH AS MAYBE CHEESE PRODUCT OR SOME MEATS HAVE GONE UP A LITTLE BIT." <SOT-CRAIG ALLAIRE/PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA-02.02+> "IT'S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE SO YEAH WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO A SMALL INCREASE ON SOME OF THE PRICES - ACROSS THE BOARD NO - BUT A FEW THINGS HERE AND THERE - YEAH." WITH 23 EMPLOYEES HE'S ABLE TO STAGGER THE SCHEDULE - FEWER STAFFERS AT THE COUNTER.... MEANING WORKERS ARE WORKING HARDER.. BUT THIS IS HOW HE CAN KEEP PAYROLL DOWN, IN THE WAKE OF HIGHER SALARIES. <SOT-CRAIG ALLAIRE/PORTLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA-04.51 | AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's minimum wage is going up from $11 to $12 per hour effective New Year's Day, giving a wage boost to thousands of workers in the state.
It marks the fourth annual increase in Maine under a ballot measure approved in 2016 when the state's minimum was $7.50 an hour. State lawmakers subsequently changed the law to allow restaurants to continue paying tipped workers a lower hourly wag
About 8% of Maine’s 679,000 workers earned at or below minimum wage in 2018, according to available state labor data.
Federal labor rules on overtime eligibility also became effective on Jan. 1, lifting the minimum salary for exemption from $23,660 to $35,568 per year for a full-time employee.
Maine's minimum salary for exemption to overtime eligibility rises from $33,000 to $36,000 per year. That's based on state minimum wage.
Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said her department estimates 1,600 Maine workers will be newly eligible for overtime pay protection. | 3.666667 |
Good Newwz box office collection Day 5: This Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor film was the last big release of 2019. Good Newwz box office collection Day 5: This Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor film was the last big release of 2019.
Raj Mehta directorial Good Newwz, starring Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani, has managed a respectable sum of Rs 94.60 crore after five days of its box office run.
The film has been produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta among others.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the film’s box office figures. He wrote, “#GoodNewwz gallops into #NewYear triumphantly… Packs a superb number on Day 5 [New Year Eve], despite lower ticket rates on weekdays… Will cross ₹ 100 cr today [Wed; 1 Jan]… 17.56 cr, Sat 21.78 cr, Sun 25.65 cr, Mon 13.41 cr, Tue 16.20 cr. Total: ₹ 94.60 cr. #India biz.”
In another tweet, Adarsh wrote about Good Newwz crossing a milestone on January 1.
“#Simmba – the last release of 2018 – crossed 100 cr mark on 1 Jan [2019]. #GoodNewwz – the last release of 2019 – will also cross 100 cr mark on 1 Jan [2020]. A wonderful coincidence, isn’t it?” Taran Adarsh shared on Twitter.
Talking about the response to Good Newwz, Akshay Kumar had said, “I knew it will do good. It has the seed in the right place. A lot of people have done IVF but I would be glad if more people come out and talk about it.” | This picture has been used for representational purposes.
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A man was arrested on Monday for creating fake profiles of women on Facebook to offer webcam sex service. The man impersonating the women, would take money from customers and block them on the social networking platform, Indian Express reported.
The crime came to light after an event manager learned from a friend about her profile being impersonated on Facebook. The event manager’s friend came across the advertisement for the webcam sex services with her service, police said.
According to the police, the page sold nude webcam sex sessions for Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 as per the time frame. Once the event manager learned about the crime, she and her husband approached an officer of the cyber cell, to nab the perpetrator.
"…I found that the person operating the page would accept payment only through online wallets. I posed as a customer and convinced him to give me his bank account number to transfer him the money," said the officer.
Using the bank account number, the officer said that he was able to gain access to an Aadhar card , subsequently leading him to a mobile phone contact number linked to it.
After the perpetrator was identified, the event manager filed a police complaint against him and he was arrested on Monday. The police also found that he was operating three similar accounts
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates | 1 |
DULUTH -- “This is a wonderful time to be plant-based,” says Arlene Coco Buscombe, known to many in the Duluth-Superior, Wis., area as the Cajun chef who headed Coco’s Catering and Coco’s to Geaux. Buscombe sold those businesses in 2005 and became a culinary instructor, teaching cooking classes and food safety in three states. In the spring of 2019, her food interests took a new turn — toward a plant-based diet.
As I chatted with Buscombe over coffee, she explained that health was her primary motivation for getting “on the road to vegan.” “I have good health, and I want to keep it,” she said. “I want to stay off medications.” Mounting scientific evidence shows that plant-based eating significantly increases a person’s chances of having a long and healthy life. Buscombe has found that she sleeps better and has more energy on a plant-based diet.
Here are some highlights of our conversation.
Q: What is the transition to vegan cooking like for a highly trained chef like yourself?
A: Taste is paramount! After 40 years over the stove cooking professionally, I’ve learned what tastes good. I’ve always been interested in all types of cooking, and many traditional dishes don’t have meat, so I was already familiar with many meatless dishes. And I love to learn new things! The most exciting thing for me is to learn something new after cooking professionally for so long.
Savory dishes swap out with vegan ingredients very easily. Vegan baking is a bit more challenging. Lately, I’m looking toward making more of my own vegan meats. I make an andouille sausage with seitan. The first day, it’s good. The second day, you can’t tell the difference between it and meat sausage. My husband is a non-vegan, and he likes it.
I’m blown away by The Herbivorous Butcher in Minneapolis! People need to understand that when they experiment with plant-based meats and cheeses, they can’t expect them to taste exactly the same as animal-based, but they’ll be better off!
Q: You mentioned your husband. Any insights on the subject of mixed vegan/non-vegan households?
A: It teaches the art of compromise! You can’t always have it your own way.
Q: Would you describe yourself as vegan?
A: I’m a flexitarian — 80% vegan. When I’m a guest, I will eat a little meat, but I don’t make it for myself, and I often bring a plant-based dish to share at potlucks. I still cook meat sometimes for my own guests, but I introduce them to vegan dishes, too. I occasionally have seafood, because it’s part of my Cajun background, and it’s my specialty.
Q: What are some plant-based dishes you like to share?
A: My favorite vegan cuisine is Italian. I make polenta lasagna with mushrooms, mushroom risotto, and mushroom bolognese. Mushrooms are a good swap for meat, and most people like them. I use a mix of fresh and canned. I like to make a base mix of celery, onion and carrot (called a mirepoix) with added mushrooms; it can go in many directions.
Q: What advice do you have for readers who want to be more plant-based?
A: From a chef’s perspective, a whole food, plant-based diet requires two things: first, you must have time to cook. And second, you must learn to use seasonings and take an interest in learning about new ingredients and flavor profiles. Your spice cabinet will grow! Learning about plant-based food is an ingredient adventure. Have fun!
It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. You can start with a Meatless Monday or Mark Bittman’s VB6 idea (vegan before 6 p.m.). Like any lifestyle change, it can’t be done successfully overnight. A supportive partner is helpful. I have a niece who lives in another city; she is vegan and has been a great influence on me.
For me, this is part of a lifelong journey. As I grow, I find people along the way to collaborate with. It’s an opportunity for exploration.
* * *
Arlene offers frequent cooking classes at Whole Foods Co-op and teaches cooking parties in private homes. She also does TV cooking segments on Duluth's Fox 21. Readers can find some of Buscombe’s recipes on her blog at arlenecoco.com.
Here are two recipes Buscombe shared with me.
Skinny Vegetable Soup
Makes 6 servings, or 10 cups
From “Coco’s Latest Bite: Cozy Soups and One Pot Meals for a Crowd”
“This soup is gluten-free and dairy-free. It can be made with most any type of vegetable. Freeze it in pint containers for individual servings or the whole batch for a first course at an upcoming dinner party.” — Arlene Coco Buscombe
4 pounds winter squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes*
2 medium white onions, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
8 cups vegetable stock
½ teaspoon ground cumin
One 13.5-oz can coconut milk (optional)
½ cup pistachio nuts or pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional)
extra virgin olive oil for garnish (optional)
*Winter squashes include acorn, butternut, kabocha, hubbard, pumpkin. You can use frozen squash that is already peeled and cubed; butternut is the variety most commonly available. Or, if you’re starting with a whole raw winter squash, make peeling easier by microwaving the entire squash for a few seconds, or baking it for a few minutes and letting it cool. This will soften the hard skin.
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add olive oil. Add onions, garlic and salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add squash, vegetable stock or water, and cumin and cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Carefully puree until smooth using an immersion, or stick, blender or a food processor or blender. Add coconut milk. Garnish with nuts or seeds and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired.
Mushroom Farro Risotto
Makes 8 servings
From “Coco’s Latest Bite: Vegan and Vegetarian”
“Any kind of dried mushroom will work. I used dried lobster mushrooms. Leftovers freeze well." — Arlene Coco Buscombe
1 ounce dried mushrooms
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 onion, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
Three 8-oz containers (or 3 cups) fresh cremini mushrooms, sliced
3 cups farro, rinsed
6 to 8 cups vegetable stock, hot
½ cup frozen green peas, thawed
½ cup white wine
⅛ cup truffle oil (optional)
½ cup vegan Parmesan (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Soak dried mushrooms in warm water for at least an hour. Drain through a sieve or coffee filter and reserve mushroom water to add to vegetable stock. Chop soaked mushrooms into small pieces. Rinse farro and set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil, then add fresh mushrooms and saute until soft and water releases, about 10 minutes. Add soaked mushrooms and heat until cooked through, about 2 more minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan, add 2 more tablespoons olive oil, and saute onions and garlic for a couple minutes until soft. Add farro and stir to coat all the kernels. Add hot vegetable stock, a cup at a time, and cook until farro is tender to the tooth, much like arborio rice — 18 to 30 minutes, depending on your cooking heat and how hot the stock is. When farro is cooked, add mushrooms back in, plus peas, white wine, truffle oil (if using) and vegan Parmesan to taste. Add salt and pepper and serve hot.
Did you know?
If the US became a nation of vegans, we would save $250 billion annually in health care costs and carbon emissions, and would avert 320,000 deaths due to obesity and chronic disease. Another estimate places the savings at $2 to 3 trillion. From a study by Marco Springmann published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2016, reported in “The Atlantic.”
Bonnie Ambrosi lives in Duluth and is an organizer of The Vegan Cookbook Club, which meets at 11:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Mount Royal Branch Library. Contact Ambrosi at bonnieambrosi@gmail.com.
Read more about Veganuary
'Veganuary' is a gift you give to your body and the Earth
I'm riding the Veganuary train | Have you thought about getting married in Italy? How about saying yes to a small church in a beautiful historic city or on a perfect beach with all your loved ones or in a special place that remembers your love story? Maybe, where he met or had his first vacation or where his parents are from? There are many reasons to choose Italy as your wedding destination: beautiful places, a pre-established honeymoon, excellent food and wine and much more.
If you have found a house rental in Italy and are planning a wedding in the country, then read on as these are the ten things you will need to do and the information you will need to make those vows legally binding.
1. Get Contact the consulate of your country of origin in Italy.
This will be useful as a support system and a reliable source of specific information about the chosen destination. They can help you start the process and prepare your wedding, starting with the organization of documents such as the Princess Apulia, which is a document required for US and Australian citizens to marry in Italy.
2. Send your declaration of intention of marriage to the local marriage office
The local marriage office – civic registry – is located in the town hall of the town, city or area where your marriage will take place. Be sure to do so at least three weeks before your wedding date, if not before. You will also have to get a couple of officially translated documents. However, the specific details of this part of the process may change, so being in contact with the consulate and the local town hall is the easiest way to know the exact details of the area in which you plan to get married.
3. Organize a translator
Not only for ease, even if you speak Italian, but you will also need to hire a translator to attend the ceremony for civil ceremonies due to a rule from a time ago. However, organizing a wedding planner who speaks your language is probably the best option for those who want an easier experience, since they can help you with all the paperwork, with the wedding organization, overcome language and cultural barriers and much more.
4. Other Religious Weddings and Same-sex Marriages
Italy recognizes religious weddings of all religions, including the different branches of Christianity, Jewish weddings, Hindu weddings, and Muslim weddings, as long as a civil ceremony is incorporated into the marriage to be officially legal. You will be asked to prove that you are civilly married before the ceremony can be held in a religious temple.
Unfortunately, same-sex marriages are not yet legally recognized in Italy. However, civil unions were legalized in 2016, so, in this scenario, you may want to hold a symbolic wedding while in Italy and legally marry in your country (if that is possible, of course!).
5. Weddings in the Church
While there are other religious groups in Italy, Catholicism is still the majority religion and the great part of the small and beautiful churches that you will see will be Catholic churches. If you want to marry in one of these, it is, sadly, almost always necessary that both members of the couple are of the Catholic faith. You will also have to comply with the rules of your local parish and the parish in which you are getting married. You will have to present all religious documents, at the latest, seven weeks before your wedding date, as they must be processed by both your consulate and the local Bishop. Contact with the two parishes will allow you to clarify the exact details.
6. Weddings and Civil Ceremonies
Civil ceremonies are usually performed by the city mayor or by an assistant or civil servant and, as noted, you must have an interpreter, but such an interpreter may be a friend or acquaintance who speaks Italian fluently, it is not necessary for Be an official translator.
Your votes and readings can be added and the main legal requirement is quite standard, at least two witnesses over 18 years. They must be present at the time of the wedding and sign in the register. Note: It may not be the best idea to ask your Italian friend to witness, since, according to Italian tradition, they would feel pressured to give away a large sum of money – you may suddenly find fewer guests at the wedding!
After the wedding, you must also return to the town hall to present the marriage certificate and receive an apostille seal, which verifies the document.
It should also be borne in mind that, as a rule, these ceremonies will only take place at the town hall and an outdoor wedding may not be requested. However, specific places, villas, castles, gardens, etc. They will be approved, authorized and prepared for civil ceremonies. Look at the area around where you want to get married and see if there is a place nearby.
7. The documents you will need:
– A valid passport or national identity document of both parties.
– Original birth certificate of both parties.
– Divorce documents or death certificate (if necessary).
– An affidavit, Nulla Osta or Dichiarazione Giurata, before a consular office in your home country, indicating that there is no legal impediment to your marriage in your home country.
– A Notorious Atto signed by two witnesses (if American or Australian)
– A declaration of intention of marriage that will go to the civil registry.
8. Also, for a Catholic wedding you will need:
– Baptism certificates.
– Confirmation certificates.
– Letter of non-impediment to marry.
– Proof of attendance at a premarital course.
– Permission of the local bishop to marry abroad.
9. Fees
The following document and processing charges will be incurred if you are getting married in Italy:
– A tax stamp for the Dichiarazione Giurata / Nulla Osta that will cost € 16
– A tax stamp for the Notorious Atto that will cost € 16
– A request for the Notorious Atto that will cost € 10.62
– An application for the Nulla Osta that will cost around € 40
– An urgent fee for the Notorious Atto will cost € 31.86, if necessary
There may also be local administrative fees, parish charges, etc., so be sure to check with the place where you are getting married for information on additional costs.
10. Everything is much easier if it is a symbolic wedding.
With this type of wedding, you can have a second wedding and have everything exactly customized to your tastes and needs. This way you can set aside the legalities of the official wedding for when you are in your home country, making things much easier. You can also get married wherever and whenever you want (within reason) since these ceremonies do not have the same type of legal requirements and restrictions.
With all this in mind, now you can start planning the Italian wedding of your dreams! Be sure to check out our amazing Italian wedding planner and you may find a place to stay and a wonderful place to celebrate the wedding, all under one roof! | 1 |
Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao has aced all his characters with his acting skills. The actor is once again ready to shine bright in Anurag Basu’s next directorial, Ludo. Rao, who never leaves a chance to push his best efforts, gave his fans with a surprise on the New Year. The Queen actor shared the first look from his next project and left the netizens baffled.
In the first of the two pictures, the actor can be seen sporting a drag look. In the picture, he can be seen wearing ghagra choli with thigh-long hair, red lipstick and a bindi. The look was so different that fans confused him with actresses like Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon.
In the second picture, he is riding a bike, sporting long hair and white-rimmed sunglasses. The bike also has a picture of Mithun Chakraborty on the front.
Sharing the pictures he wrote, “Happy new year guys. #LUDO @anuragbasuofficial @bhushankumar @tseries.official.”
Ludo, a collaboration between Basu and Rao, is a crime anthology. The movie also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh in prominent roles.
Meanwhile, Rao also has a number of films in his kitty. He is doing The White Tiger with Priyanka Chopra for Netflix, Roohi Afza with Janhvi Kapoor and Chhalaang with Nushrat Bharucha.
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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. | Rajkummar Rao in Ludo. (Image courtesy rajkummar_rao )
Highlights The film will be directed by Anurag Basu
The actor will be seen sporting 2 drastically different looks in the film
Ludo will also star Abhishek Bachchan and Fatima Sana Shaikh
We bet you won't be able to identify Rajkummar Rao in the new look from his forthcoming film Ludo. The 35-year-old actor shared the first look from the film and It is anything but conventional. In the first look, Rajkummar Rao can be seen dressed in a green lehenga and he sports hair extensions. He can also be seen sporting dramatic makeup. The look has been trending on social media big time. In the second picture, Rajkummar Rao can be seen dressed in a retro look. The actor sports long hair and flashy clothes and he can be seen wearing flashy clothes. Sharing the look on Instagram, Rajkummar wrote: "Happy New year, guys."
Take a look at Rajkummar Rao's post here:
Ludo, directed by Anurag Basu, is reportedly a dark comedy, which also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Pankaj Tripathi. Speaking of the film's star cast, Anurag Basu, in an interview with news agency IANS last year, said, "I am extremely happy to have found this talented new generation cast, though I will trust my old friend Pritam for music as always. It is my pleasure to be working with Bhushan Kumar for my next that is a dark comic anthology."
On the professional front, Rajkummar Rao was last seen in the film Made In China, co-starring Mouni Roy. He also has Roohi Afza, opposite Janhvi Kapoor and Chhalaang, co-starring Nushrat Bharucha in the pipeline. The actor will also be seen in The White Tiger, an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name. | 3.666667 |
National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) on Wednesday advised athletes 'not to indulge in doping and be careful with their food intake and supplements' this year to promote fair play.
Taking to Twitter, NADA India wrote, "From this New Year onwards, we advise our athletes not to indulge in doping and be careful with their food intake, supplements, etc for their respective sport. PlayFair."
On December 28, weightlifter Seema was banned by the NADA for four years for a doping violation. The verdict comes following the hearing on her positive test for banned performance-enhancing drugs.
"Presence of prohibited substances were found in her system during an ongoing Championship to enhance her performance which amounted to a clear cut case of cheating and outright violation of National Anti-Doping rules," the official statement had said.
Her dope sample was collected this year during the 34th Women National Weightlifting Championship held in Vishakhapatnam by NADA dope control officer.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has nabbed a middleman while he was allegedly receiving a huge bribe on behalf of a senior officer of an investigation agency, officials said on Wednesday.
The officer in question has been detained and being questioned after the middleman told the sleuths about the officer, they said.
The CBI has refused to comment on the matter saying investigation was going on, officials said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 1.333333 |
Opinion
Housing affordability: Two New Year’s resolutions for state
Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Housing affordability: Two New Year’s resolutions for state 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
The lack of affordable housing in many Connecticut communities is more than a zoning or diversity issue, it is a human rights issue. A decent place to live in any of our 169 towns should not be a privilege of the wealthy — it should be a basic right of all residents of our state.
In many of our communities, teachers, law enforcement personnel and first responders cannot afford to live where they work and many young people cannot afford to stay where they grew up. Ensuring that the elderly can continue to live in the communities where they have lived their lives and that young people can stay in the towns where they were raised helps create the diversity that makes a town a true community.
Exclusionary zoning laws and the lack of affordable housing in some Connecticut towns conspire to keep many people out. We have serious problems, but they can be solved — if the General Assembly has the will to do so. Since we cannot create more land, the only solution is to make the best use of the finite land within our borders.
The authority to regulate the use of land is fundamentally a state power, the so-called “police power” to protect and promote the public’s health, safety, and general welfare. It arises from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which gives states the rights and powers “not delegated to the United States.”
Some lawmakers forget or ignore that the state is the sole source of the power to regulate land, partially because the state has granted local governments broad powers through charters and enabling legislation. In the name of home rule, some lawmakers deny that the General Assembly has the primary responsibility as to land use. Casting housing affordability as a “local issue” has enabled them to kick the can down the road for decades.
In 2020, the General Assembly should resolve to exercise its exclusive authority to address two of Connecticut’s top land use issues:
1. Affordable Housing
The National Low-Income Housing Coalition ranks Connecticut 9th in the country in terms of wages required to afford a two-bedroom rental home without the household paying more than 30 percent of its income. Forty-one states are more affordable than Connecticut. That is shameful. Our state also has a half million renter households, many who need housing assistance.
The Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals law enacted 30 years ago allowed an override of local zoning for producing affordable housing but has so far produced just 5,000 units, a drop in the bucket. The appeals process can take over a decade and costs a small fortune. The law could be strengthened and should be kept, but we need additional solutions and we need them fast.
The General Assembly should do what Vermont, California, and Oregon have done at the state level and what Minneapolis and Seattle have done locally and mandate that anyone with a single-family home can add one or two additional units on their lot.
There are 1.4 million housing units in Connecticut and more than 800,000 are single-family detached homes. If the General Assembly would follow the lead of Vermont and the other states, Connecticut’s 800,000 homeowners could produce over 100,000 new units, mostly affordable, without a dime of government money, no court appeals and no big lawyer bills.
The land, utilities, and site improvements are free because they are already there. If a mere 5 percent of those single-family homeowners created just one new unit inside their home or over their garage or with an addition or freestanding cottage, we would have 40,000 new housing units.
If another 5 percent were to decide to do two units on their large suburban and rural lots, we would have a total of 120,000 new homes and it would happen almost overnight and be better suited to the smaller households of today. The immediate increase in housing units would soften the housing market across the board, increasing affordability.
If Vermont, California, and Oregon can do it, why can’t Connecticut?
2. State Land Use Regulations
The statues granting local governments the power to regulate land use are a mess, a hodgepodge of piecemeal legislation, often designed to promote narrow interests. Some statutory provisions have made Connecticut the laughingstock of the rest of the country including one law in the Connecticut General Statutes that protects a single landowner.
There is little integration of zoning and wetlands regulation, the procedural time limits are arcane, the process is exceedingly slow and requires heavy-duty lawyering at almost every turn. None of the stakeholders — developers, local governments, neighbors, advocacy groups — are well-served.
In 2020, lawmakers should resolve to create a Blue-Ribbon Commission, bring in experts from around the country to help us completely redo the statutes so Connecticut can emerge from the Stone Age. Fifteen years ago, the American Planning Association developed model state enabling legislation called the Growing Smart program and issued a report of over 1,000 pages for all to use for free. A decade and half later, we are still stuck with our utterly dysfunctional enabling statute. The solutions exist and Connecticut should take advantage of them.
Dwight Merriam is a former Director of the American Planning Association, Past President of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and a practicing lawyer in Simsbury. Email him at dwightmerriam@gmail. | Amazon
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Los Angeles: UK chip designer Imagination Technologies Group Plc said it’s struck a new license agreement with Apple Inc., reviving a business relationship that had all but ended in recent years.
The company, which was sold to Chinese buyout firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners for 500 million pounds ($663 million) in September 2017, said Thursday it “formed a new multi-year license agreement under which Apple has access to a wider range of Imagination’s intellectual property in exchange for license fees."
Apple previously used graphics chips or GPUs in its iPhones and iPads that were designed by Imagination Technologies, but it moved to its own internal chip designs starting with the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2018. The U.S. company also uses its own graphics processors in the Apple Watch. It told Imagination Technologies in 2017 that it would stop using its intellectual property in new products within two years.
When Imagination Technologies, then a public company, announced the loss of Apple as its biggest customer, its stock plummeted. The British company said in 2018 there may be “material uncertainty" regarding the future of the company if Apple doesn’t pay any royalties on its latest generation of iPhones and iPads. It’s unclear if Apple has paid those fees, but Imagination has argued it would be “extremely challenging for Apple to design a GPU in a way that allows them not to pay royalties to Imagination."
The company didn’t specify on Thursday which intellectual property the latest agreement covers, but Imagination’s IP related to graphics and artificial intelligence could be key to future Apple devices. The iPhone maker uses a combination of supplier deals and acquisitions to build up its portfolio of patents and designs. Last year, Apple acquired Intel Corp.’s modem unit to design cellular chips for future devices. | Apple Could Start Using Imagination GPUs Again For iPhones And Beyond
Apple disrupted the status quo when it started making its own chips for its mobile devices. That was true not just for Qualcomm and its processors or Intel and its LTE modem but even for Imagination and its mobile graphics chips. The latter, however, seemed to follow in Qualcomm's footsteps and engaged in a legal battle with Apple. Now Apple and Imagination have apparently made up but also raises questions about what the future may hold.
Once upon a time, Imagination and its PowerVR were the household name when it came to graphics in mobile devices, especially phones. Over time, its market share dwindled but was largely kept afloat by Apple's use of the technology in its iPhones. That changed in 2017 when Apple announced that it would be making its own GPUs as well, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.
That announcement naturally meant Apple was dropping Imagination as a partner. The latter even blamed Apple for its sharp decline in revenue and filed a complaint about the sudden termination of their deal. To make matters worse, Apple has reportedly poached Imagination employees to work on its own mobile graphics chips.
Now the two have apparently settled their differences even before things got messy. Imagination announced that their agreement with Apple has been changed from "multi-year, multi-use license" to "multi-year license". Furthermore, that agreement gives Apple access to a "wider range of Imagination's intellectual property".
The terse and cryptic announcement naturally leaves the matter open to the imagination, no pun intended. The company just announced a new IMG A-Series GPU tech that it claims is the fastest in the market to date and it could very well be in the next iPhones. The wording, however, does also suggest that Apple may be cooking up something that will need more than just smartphone GPUs, possibly to power its AR glasses or even ARM-based MacBooks. | 3.333333 |
The last two years of Dinnie Moeahu's life have been a whirlwind of achievement.
Dinnie Moeahu's story is the story all of us can aspire to.
In the last two years he has achieved more than he ever thought possible.
He has raised at least $100,000 for charity, reinvented himself as a triathlete, been elected to the New Plymouth District Council and helped guide his family through a horror run of adversity
His is a very personal triumph and yet his journey is one he is taking for his whanau and his community.
READ MORE:
He is a man who is discovering his massive potential and who has the mana and drive to bring out the best in all of us. Moeahu is already a leader. It is likely his influence in Taranaki will only grow.
This is why he is the Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
It is never easy choosing a winner for this award.
Inevitably the award could successfully be invested in any of the five nominees. The achievements may be different but invariably they are equivalent in a number of ways.
SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF Suzanne Porter's work with the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust has largely defined Taranaki's cultural landscape for the first two decades of the new millenia.
For sheer impact on Taranaki it is hard to find someone who has had a greater influence than Suzanne Porter. In recognising her as the 2019 runner-up we acknowledge her role in building the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust into a festival powerhouse that has largely defined Taranaki's modern cultural landscape.
One festival - Womad - rises above all others. Since the international event was first held in Taranaki in 2007 it has grown to an annual celebration of all that Taranaki can be.
More than two-thirds of the people who attend Womad come from outside Taranaki and almost all can't say enough about how much they rate the experience.
It is what differentiates us from other provincial centres. It makes us - as corny as it sounds - just a little bit special.
Porter has a team that helps her run that festival. She would be the first to acknowledge that. But ultimately the success of Womad is a reflection of her leadership. We thank her for it. She has changed Taranaki for the better.
ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Sasha Finer is a Taranaki story teller who speaks our language.
Writer Sasha Finer has a promising future and is a talent to watch. Writing is not an easy business. The hours are long, the workplace is solitary and the money is pitiful. But it is an art the writer and the audience they write for cannot do without.
We wish Finer all the best in pursuing her career, whatever it involves, but we hope it involves more stories. Her words of Taranaki are precious because they talk about who we are.
SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF Paul Rangiwahia is helping bring conversations about mental health out of the shadows.
Paul Rangiwahia's message is ours too. He has taken his vulnerabilities, the lowest point in his life, and turned it into an experience we can all learn and grow with.
Mental health still has a long road to travel before it is free of stigma. But Rangiwahia is driving us along that road and demonstrating how much better life can be if we acknowledge our true selves and are courageous enough to be honest with each other.
SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is on track for a huge career in rugby.
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has stayed true to himself for years. The teenager set a goal to be a professional rugby player early and then worked toward it. That he was given entry into the upper echelon of the game straight out of high school speaks to his focus and commitment to be the best he can.
Like all nominees, he is an inspiration. | MONROE, Mich. (AP) — A southeastern Michigan police officer is credited with pushing two people out of the path of a suspected drunken motorist who nearly slammed into them and then fled the scene.
Monroe police said the officer had pulled over a vehicle early Sunday along the city’s Telegraph Road when an SUV came barreling toward the back of his police cruiser.
The officer quickly pushed two people over the roadway’s guardrail to prevent them from being hit, Monroe Police Capt. Jon Wall told WDIV-TV.
“He heard what sounded like a car slamming on its brakes, which was squealing the tires, which alerted him to look into that particular direction,” Wall said.
The SUV went up on a sidewalk before its driver put it in reverse and fled the scene. Police pursued the SUV and soon arrested the motorist.
Walls said the suspect is facing several charges, including fleeing, resisting and obstructing. | 1 |
2019 Broke the Record for Store Closings. What Can We Expect in 2020?
America's retailers had their roughest year yet in 2019 as a record number of stores went out of business and retail bankruptcies jumped.
Payless ShoeSource closed up shop after more than 60 years. Sears and Kmart continued to wither away. At Party City, 55 locations turned out the lights and sent everybody home.
And that's just a small sample of what happened. Retail forecasters are placing their bets on whether more of the same is likely in 2020 as they tally up the damage from the last 12 months.
Numbers that add up to an ugly year
Mark Winfrey / Shutterstock
A record 9,300+ stores went out of business in 2019.
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2019 was a generally terrible year for traditional retailers, their shareholders, people who work in stores, and mall operators. But it was a great year for bargain hunters who love store-closing sales.
More than 9,300 stores shut down during the year — which is a record, say the retail analysts at Coresight Research. Closings jumped about 60% from the 5,844 that Coresight tracked in 2018.
Also spiking was the number of store companies filing for bankruptcy. There were 23 of those in 2019, compared to 17 in 2018, according to a count from CB Insights.
A parade of bankruptcies
Shawn Hill / Shutterstock
Payless ShoeSource filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its US stores.
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Retailers that made the trip to bankruptcy court in 2019 included:
Payless ShoeSource . The footwear retailer, founded in 1956, announced it would be shuttering its e-commerce site and its roughly 2,350 locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Chief Restructuring Officer Stephen Marcotta said in a news release that Payless was "ill-equipped to survive in today’s retail environment," because it had too much debt and too many stores.
Gymboree . The once-popular children's retailer couldn’t keep up with the demand for cute, Instagrammable clothes. When Gymboree Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2019, the company announced plans to close more than 800 stores under its Gymboree and Crazy 8 banners.
Forever 21. The fast-fashion chain burned through its money by trying to expand into 47 countries in just six years. Now, 350 stores are closing globally, including 178 in the U.S. A failure to adapt to consumer tastes has taken a toll on Forever 21, as preferences among millennials and Gen Z’ers have shifted from low prices to higher quality. Online rivals including Fashion Nova and Zaful have put pressure on the company, too.
E-tailing soars as traditional retailing sinks
Zodiacphoto / Shutterstock
Traditional retailing is being hurt by the popularity of online shopping.
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Forever 21 is hardly the only chain feeling that kind of squeeze; e-commerce competition has become a widespread problem for old-school brick-and-mortar retailers. | New New American Spot Highlands Debuts In Downtown DetroitA new bar and New American spot have opened its doors in the neighborhood. Located at 400 Renaissance Center, Floors 71 and 72, in Downtown, the fresh addition is called Highlands.
Explore 5 Favorite Budget-Friendly Grocery Stores In DetroitLooking to try the best grocery stores in town?
4 Events To Check Out In Detroit This WeekLooking to mix things up this week? From a holiday party to a tech industry training, here's a roundup of options to help you get off the couch and out into the world.
The Top 4 Bars For A Special Occasion In DetroitWondering where to find the best bars near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end bars in Detroit.
The 3 Best Dive Bars In DetroitLooking to try the best dive bars in town? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top dive bars in Detroit.
Here's What To Do In Detroit This WeekFrom webinar to dance part, there's plenty to enjoy in Detroit this week. Read on for a rundown of ideas for how to fill your calendar. | 2.666667 |
Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan were both among the 25 players called into the United States men’s national team January training camp. The main portion of the camp will run from Jan. 5-25 in Doha, Qatar, and the camp will officially conclude with a friendly against Costa Rica on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
As usual, the roster is heavily dominated by MLS players. Traditionally, U.S. Soccer uses this camp as a chance to call in players who are outside the normal group and it is often used as a way to give younger or overlooked players an extended look.
For the most part, this roster fits that profile. All but three of the players are based in the United States and 14 MLS teams are represented. FC Dallas (three) is the only team with more representation than the Sounders. Morris (39 caps) will actually be the second-most capped player in camp, trailing only Gyasi Zardes, while Roldan (19) will be the fourth-most capped.
The downside is that this likely means Morris and Roldan will miss the first two or three weeks of Sounders’ training camp, which is scheduled to open on Jan. 14 at Starfire and moves to Southern California from Jan. 19-29. They would likely rejoin the Sounders when the team returns to the Seattle area from Feb. 1-5.
Although MLS teams have the ability to decline call-ups since this camp falls outside of an official FIFA date — and Atlanta United apparently did just that with Miles Robinson — the Sounders have never made a habit of declining USMNT requests. Both Sounders players have also previously expressed a desire to report to USMNT camp whenever they’re given the chance.
USA ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 6/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 10/0), Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC; 0/0), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 16/3), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 11/2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Christian Cappis (Hobro; 0/0), Bryang Kayo (Unattached; 0/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 13/2), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; 1/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 32/5), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 5/0), Ulysses Llanez (Wolfsburg; 0/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 39/10), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 55/12) | When the dog starts to smell like Eau de Garbage, his breath is bad enough to peel paint off the walls, and people think he is a brown dog when really he is white, I know it’s time to give him a bath. Since I am the one who feeds, walks and cleans up after him, it has fallen to me to be the official dog bather as well. Naturally, there are many different books written on this subject, and many people who think they know the best way to bathe a dog, but I like to think that over the years, I have really perfected this particular duty of pet ownership. Having a vast amount of expertise in this area, I will share with you the procedure for the absolute best way to bathe a dog:
1) Fill tub with warm water up to your dog’s elbows.
2) Carefully lift dog into tub.
3) Chase dripping dog through house after he jumps out of the tub, out the bathroom, up the stairs, and onto your bed.
4) Drag dog back downstairs and bring him back into the bathroom.
5) THIS TIME, remember to close bathroom door behind you.
6) Lift dog back into tub.
7) Turn on water and shriek helplessly as hose attachment whips around spraying water everywhere.
8) Clean up water that sprayed everywhere.
9) THIS TIME, remember to switch off hose attachment before you run water.
10) When the water is lukewarm, switch faucet back to hose, hold dog firmly with one hand and spray dog until fur is soaked through.
11) Release dog to get shampoo that you left under the sink and shriek helplessly as dog shakes repeatedly and sprays water everywhere.
12) Clean up water that sprayed everywhere.
13) THIS TIME, remember to keep firm hold on dog as you apply dime-sized amount of dog shampoo to fur and work into a lather all over dog.
14) Scream, “NO, DON’T OPEN THAT DOOR!!!” when daughter opens bathroom door and comes in to see what you are doing.
15) Chase very soapy dog through house after he jumps out of the tub, out the bathroom, up the stairs and back onto your bed.
16) Make mental note to put “DO NOT OPEN!!!” sign on bathroom door next time you wash dog.
17) Drag soapy dog back downstairs and lift him back into tub.
18) Remember that floor is now quite slippery and take caution lifting dog.
19) Abandon dog to get ice pack from freezer. Apply to forehead where you slipped and banged head on side of tub.
20) Return to bathroom to find daughter, covered in dog hair and soap, in bathtub with dog.
21) Abandon dog to go wash daughter.
22) Realize you left bathroom door open when you went to wash daughter.
23) Go get dog off wet and soapy bed.
24) Drag dog back downstairs
25) Put leash on dog and drive him to professional groomers.
This is a repeated Lost in Suburbia column, which has appeared in GateHouse Media newspapers since 2008. As Tracy Beckerman’s main column is shifting focus - her kids are grown and she has moved back to the city - we are rerunning her earlier work for readers who may have missed these the first time around. You can follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LostinSuburbiaFanPage/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tracybeckerman. | 1 |
The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Koodathayi serial murders submitted the chargesheet in the murder of Roy Thomas before the Thamarassery Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court II in Kozhikode district on Wednesday.
The chargesheet, running into 1,800 pages, was the first of six sensational cases in which the prime accused Jolly Joseph allegedly eliminated two branches of the Ponnamattom ancestral family after giving them cyanide-laced food or drink over a period of 14 years.
The 47-year-old was named the first accused in the murder of her former husband Roy on September 30, 2011. Along with Jolly, the chargesheet named M.S. Mathew, aka Shaji, 44, and Prajikumar, 44, who allegedly helped Jolly in getting the cyanide and a former Communist Party of India (Marxist) functionary K. Manoj, 41, who helped to forge documents.
Jolly's mother-in-law Annamma Thomas; her father-in-law Tom Thomas, a retired Education Department officer; Sily, wife of Shaju Zacharias, Jolly’s second husband; Sily's two-year-old daughter Alphine; and Annamma’s brother-in-law Mathew Manjadiyil were the other victims.
Crime Branch Superintendent of Police K.G. Simon said the accused were charged under Sections 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security and will), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 110 (punishment for abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 (2) [penalty for unlawful importation] of the Poison Act.
The extraordinary case had 242 witnesses, 322 documents, and 22 material objects, Mr. Simon said.
Now, the chargesheet would be submitted to the Kozhikode Sessions Court. The chargesheets in the remaining murder cases would be filed shortly. | Amidst a raging controversy over allotment of land for the Jesus Christ statue atop the Kapalabetta in Kanakapura taluk, Revenue Minister R. Ashok has said that authorities have illegally provided electricity connection and laid a two-km road to the site.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Ashok said officials have inspected the spot where the trust had undertaken works of the statue and orally informed him that the trust had suspended the work. A borewell was drilled illegally atop the hill by the trust. Authorities have also laid a road for transporting materials to the site, he said.
Mr. Ashok said his department would take action based on a written report to be submitted by officials. Meanwhile, the work on the statue has come to a halt after spot inspection. Police personnel have been deployed at the site.
The Minister said 10 acres of gomala land had been allotted for construction of the Jesus statue during the H.D. Kumaraswamy government. Following the controversy, the State government has transferred Kanakapura tahsildar Anandaiah. Yelandur Tahsildar Varsha has been posted to Kanakapura. | 1 |
Bust of a Woman was reportedly ripped while gallery was open to public on Saturday
A man has been charged with criminal damage after a £20m Picasso was allegedly attacked while on display at Tate Modern.
The 75-year-old oil painting was reportedly ripped on Saturday while the London gallery was open to the public.
Shakeel Ryan Massey, 20, from north-west London, appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates court on Monday charged with criminal damage. He indicated he would deny the charge.
The painting, Bust of a Woman, has been removed from display and is being assessed by conservation experts. Tate Modern declined to comment on the condition of the painting.
A spokesperson for the gallery said a member of the public had attempted to damage a painting, and a suspect had been “swiftly apprehended”.
The Metropolitan police said in a statement: “Detectives investigating an incident of criminal damage at the Tate Modern, Bankside, on Saturday 28 December have charged a man.”
Massey was denied bail and has been remanded in custody until a pre-trial hearing at Inner London crown court on 30 January.
Bust of a Woman was created in Paris in 1944 during the Nazi occupation. The semi-abstract work portrays the photographer Dora Maar, reportedly Picasso’s lover, sitting on a metal chair wearing a hat and green clothing.
Tate Modern is the most popular visitor attraction in the UK, welcoming almost 5.9 million people in 2018. It offers a number of free exhibitions and has an extensive collection of international artworks.
In 2012, a prized Mark Rothko painting was vandalised at the gallery, for which a man was sentenced to two years in prison. Vladimir Umanets wrote his name and a statement about the visual movement Yellowism on the painting, claiming it was an artistic act.
At London’s National Gallery in 1914, Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus was slashed by a suffragette, Mary Richardson, who was protesting against the arrest of Emmeline Pankhurst. The piece was restored and remains on display. | • Danielle Franzoni, 31, a restaurant server in Alpena, Mich., who was living in a homeless shelter a year ago, said "things like this don't happen to people like me" after she got a $2,020 tip on a $23 food bill, with "Happy New Year. 2020 Tip Challenge," written on the receipt.
• Shawn Hyde and his wife, Leah, face burglary charges after rangers at the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park near Millington, Tenn., went to prepare a cabin for a coming rental and found the Hydes and their two young children illegally staying there.
• Shakeel Ryan Massey, 20, was arrested, accused of damaging a Picasso painting, identified as a 1944 semi-abstract style portrait of a woman wearing a hat and green clothes titled Bust of a Woman, at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
• Regis Wilson and Grayson Chamberlain, two St. Louis University students, founded the Queer Closet, which they describe as a clothing library that helps transgender and gender-nonconforming students find outfits that match their gender identities.
• Jordan Olsen and his wife, Jennifer, who met in 1997 at a Subway sandwich shop in Kaysville, Utah, where they both worked, decided to celebrate their nearly 18 years of marriage by buying the shop where they were first smitten.
• Lawrence Battiste, police chief of Mobile, Ala., called it an "insensitive gesture" and apologized for an officer's social media post showing two unidentified officers holding what was described as a "homeless quilt" made of cardboard signs confiscated from panhandlers.
• Derrick Forest, 40, of Minneapolis, was charged with murder after authorities said he got into an SUV in the city's downtown and ran down a man who stabbed him in the back, killing him, after an argument between the two became physical.
• Jeff Beckman, a Hershey Co. spokesman, said the Pennsylvania chocolate company is retiring its 26-foot-long Kissmobiles -- custom vehicles that resemble three Kisses candies and have traveled across the country since 1997 -- citing safety concerns and difficulty finding replacement parts for the aging vehicles.
• Nate Takacs, 8, who said he was excited when he ran to see a Nativity scene on display in a park in Tallahassee, Fla., called it "a big sin" when he found the crib empty because someone had taken the doll depicting Baby Jesus in the manger six days after Christmas.
A Section on 01/01/2020 | 1.666667 |
PATNA: The prevalence of childhood mental disorder is more in Bihar compared to other states in the country. A recent report published in Lancet Psychiatry stated that Bihar and other states falling in the low Socio Demographic Index (SDI) reported more number of mental disorder cases related to children and adolescent. On the other hand, adult mental disorder is prevalent in states with high SDI, the report said.As per the report, Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) per 1,00,000 population is more in Bihar in the category of autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder which are related to children.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), DALYs for a disease or health condition are calculated as the sum of the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality in the population and the Years Lost Due to Disability (YLD) for people living with the health condition or its consequences.Conduct disorder is a condition in which a child becomes hostile or physically violent and may hurt others by pushing or biting during childhood and bullying in adolescence.Dr Santosh Kumar, associate professor (psychiatry department), Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), said such children are more likely to become anti-social when they grow up.Dr Kumar said conduct disorder for Bihar was second highest in the country at 117, while the same for Jharkhand stood at 118. DALY in the category of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (a condition in which child is hyperactive and distractive) for Bihar is 5.3 — which is also second highest in the country. DALY for Himachal Pradesh was 39, the least in the country, he added.Idiopathic developmental intellectual disability (IDID) in Bihar has been calculated to be 252 — highest in the country — followed by Uttar Pradesh at 215. Dr Pramod Kumar Singh, head of psychiatry department, Patna Medical College and Hospital said IDID in simple terms was mental retardation. It can occur due to some post-natal care or poor health infrastructure.Autism spectrum for Bihar along with nine other states was 54 which was the highest in the country. However in Bihar, life year lost to death or with disability disorder and anxiety disorder have been found to be 406 and 299 respectively — which is less than several southern states. In Tamil Nadu depressive disorders has been found to be 836, with Andhra Pradesh following next with 793. | NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday held a crucial meeting with senior party functionaries, including working president JP Nadda, to take stock of the party’s outreach in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and how effectively it can counter the opposition’s campaign against the new law.The meeting also reviewed the party’s preparations for the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi, sources said.Apart from Shah and Nadda, general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh and all other general secretaries of the party were present. The party has assigned responsibilities to its office-bearers to lead the campaign in favour of CAA.Anil Jain is leading party’s charge in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — the states which have witnessed major protests against CAA. Avinash Rai has been entrusted with leading and coordinating the outreach programme in Chhattisgarh , Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.Saroj Pandey has been tasked to coordinate in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Daman and Diu, while Suresh Bhatt is to lead the programme in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir.For the southern zone, the party has selected Ravindra Raju who will coordinate outreach programmes in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh , Telangana, Karnataka, the Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep For the eastern belt, former Bengal BJP chief Rahul Sinha has been made in-charge of West Bengal , Odisha, Jharkhand and the north-east. He will work in coordination with Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the northeast. | 1.333333 |
(FOX NEWS) - It's not your typical college New Year's party — more than 65,000 young Christians gathering in an Atlanta stadium to kick off a new decade with worship, prayer and Bible teaching.
While a Pew Research Center survey shows the "nones" or religiously non-affiliated Americans are increasing, with a decline in Christians over the last decade, the sold-out conference Passion 2020 seems to be outright defying that.
Over the next three days, thousands of millennials and Gen Zers – along with their church and campus leaders – will be filling up the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Passion founders Louie and Shelley Giglio as hosts and music by the Passion Band.
"Passion is more than a conference. More than an event. More than a feeling," the website states. "Passion is you and me saying goodbye to lesser things and saying yes to Jesus, the One whose name is above every name."
Students (ages 18 to 25) will hear from guest speakers like Tim Tebow, Ravi Zacharias, Christine Caine, Levi Lusko, John Piper and Sadie Robertson, with worship led by Hillsong United, Lecrae, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes, Elevation Music, Crowder, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Social Club Misfits, Tedashii and Sean Curran.
Each year, students have joined together to raise money for different initiatives, including the END IT Movement, which launched at Passion 2013 and has raised $8.3 million to fight modern-day slavery. In addition to that, students will raise money for Share Light, a campaign to see the Bible scriptures translated into the 6,000 known languages during this generation’s lifetime.
Make sure to LIKE FOX 5 Chief Meteorologist David Chandley on Facebook and FOLLOW him on Twitter for more updates on Passion 2020.
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To symbolize that, a flame was lit in Jerusalem, the birthplace of Christianity, and carried to the stadium where the students are encouraged to share the light with the world.
“We're not simply keepers of the light, but we are carriers of the light of Jesus to the world,” Louie Giglio, Passion founder, said. "One of the practical ways that we can carry that light to the world is to participate in the goal of Scripture translation."
Last year, almost 40,000 students gathered at Passion 2019 and were able to raise more than $400,000 to translate the Bible for deaf people across the world.
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Haines City's credit card purchases have been under scrutiny since February, when expensive dinners brought former city manager Ed Dean under fire. | 2 |
BEIJING (China Daily/ANN): A total of 192 genetically modified plant specie- including two corn species and a soybean specie - are expected to pass biosafety evaluations by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, opening the way to their commercial use in China.
The ministry released a list of the genetically modified organisms on Monday (Dec 30) to solicit public opinion until Jan 20, and will award biosafety certificates for them if no objections are raised during the period.
The GMO soybean species, which is resistant to weedkiller, was developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is suitable to grow in South China. The two GMO corn species feature qualities such as being resistant to insects and weedkillers, according to the ministry.
In a similar move in 2009, the ministry awarded biosafety certificates to a genetically modified corn species and two GMO rice species, but none of them has been approved for commercial production.
However, insect-resistant GMO cotton has been grown on more than 31 million hectares across China, helping to reduce the use of pesticides by more than 70%, according to the ministry.
"After passing safety evaluations, GMO researchers and developers must complete some other procedures before the GMO species can be put into commercial use and be available on the market, including gaining different permits for the production of the seeds and production of the species," said Wang Xiping, a professor of life sciences at Beijing Normal University.
Academic opinion generally accepted that GMO products were safe, she said, but safety evaluation standards varied in different countries. GMO crops, such as soybeans, were already grown extensively in countries such as the United States and Brazil, she said.
GMO technology helps improve the quality of crops, such as making them more productive and resistant to insects, and therefore also protects the environment through reduced use of pesticides and fertilisers, Wang said.
Of all agricultural species, only GMO corn and papaya have been approved for commercial planting in China, while some GMO plants, such as soybean and corn, are allowed to be exported to China as material for food processing, according to the ministry.
All GMO products available on the domestic market have passed strict safety evaluations and are safe, the ministry said.
The ministry encourages scientific research and development in GMO technology, but remains cautious in its commercialisation. Commercial promotion efforts will first focus on agricultural species that cannot be eaten, such as cotton, and products used as staple food, including rice and soybeans, will come last, it said.
Research into GMO crops in China started in the 1980s, among the earliest in the world, and breakthroughs in the research and development of GMO species, such as insect-resistant rice, drought-resistant wheat and weedkiller-resistant soybeans, have been made in recent years, according to the ministry. - China Daily/Asia News Network | Remember – I am an Amazon Associate. Anything you buy from Amazon through any link on this site puts a commission in my pocket, at no cost to yourself.
Or just CLICK THIS LINK to start shopping for anything. Don't worry - anything you buy through it for 24 hours after you click through will pay Daily Pundit a commission! Or, if you hold your purchase in your cart, I will receive a commission if you buy it within 90 days! Thanks!
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GUTHRIE, Okla. -- We are turning back the clock as we Pay it Forward in 2020.
Sewing is a dying art.
Years ago, many girls and boys learned the skill as a necessity.
Today, very few children know how to sew.
However, this week's Pay It Forward recipient is trying to turn the tide on that trend.
Beautiful things come together with one stitch at a time.
There is creativity and wonder in selecting a pattern and choosing a style.
Ann Marshall's two daughters Emily, 12, and Melanie, 10, have been learning to sew.
They are young apprentices with a gifted teacher.
"She's so very patient and kind and encouraging," said Marshall. "She is always complimenting their work, and if they get discouraged along the way she's there to encourage them to keep going and give it another try."
Sewing teacher, Susan Grace, is our Pay It Forward nominee.
"Susan embodies everything about Pay It Forward in the way she uses her love and talent to spread love and joy for others," said First Fidelity Bank's James Boggs. "So on behalf of First Fidelity Bank, I'm so pleased to help you pay it forward."
Classes at Simple Life Center in Guthrie are free.
Instructors like Susan Grace volunteer their time.
Miss Susan has been teaching at Simple Life Center for three years.
"I remember when she first walked in; cute as pie," said Simple Life Center director, Linda Bryan. "These kids just love her to death. She is so patient and sweet."
On behalf of all of Miss Susan's students over the years and those in the community she has blessed with her time and talent and News 4 and First Fidelity Bank, we are happy to Pay it Forward with a small token of appreciation.
Miss Susan teaches three days a week.
That's three days she gives up income, which she could use to pay off debt accumulated from recent financial hardship.
"She will do anything for our kids," said Rita Canning. "If she sees a yarn or fabric that will suit one of the kids, she will get it for them even if she has to do without. She's such a blessing to all of us."
Measuring and cutting teach patience and persistence.
Seam-ripping teaches forgiveness.
"I just want to pass on a dying art, that's all," said Grace. "I just want to pass this on to these beautiful children."
A soul is fed with needle and thread.
In Miss Susan's class, they are filled to the brim.
If you'd like to join Miss Susan for one of her sewing classes, she's volunteers at the Simple Life Center in Guthrie several times a week.
Her classes are always free.
Pay it 4Ward is sponsored by First Fidelity Bank | As we start a new year, people tend to look back and reflect on what has passed.
Having lost my dad earlier this year, I must admit that I am rather relieved to see the back of 2019 – in the hope of happier times to come.
He slipped away in spring, and it always struck me as ironic that we lost Dad at a time when even nature seemed hopeful, with the daffodils in full bloom.
I am also aware of how lucky I am, in part due to my job.
I am privileged to speak to people every day who have been faced with extraordinary circumstances, and chosen to flourish in the face of trauma far greater than my own.
With that in mind, I am looking ahead to what 2020 will hold.
There is no resolution to be a better mum, or a more patient parent at the helm of a crafting activity which includes glitter.
I admire those who can commit to finally reading that parenting book, while simultaneously signing up to a juice diet detox.
But if this year has taught me anything, it’s that my best is good enough. When a friend asked my advice on returning to work, I told her the wisest course of action was to lower her standards at home.
That might sound a little dismal, but bear with me.
I have learned that it simply isn’t possible to keep on top of the washing, be present as a mum, hoover the stairs and clean out the vegetable drawer in the fridge.
I reason that as long as the house is vaguely clean, the rest of the chaos can wait.
I have been known to batch cook at 10pm, in the hope that it would somehow make me a better mum.
It led to a surplus of soup and partly burned lasagne, alongside a mountain of washing up.
Although mum guilt still snaps at my heels most days, I am secure in the knowledge that I have been a fairly decent parent thus far.
There is, however, one change, which should hopefully be occurring in our household.
No, not baby number two – we’re still recovering from a solid year of sleep deprivation.
Instead, I hope that 2020 will see me spend a lot more time with my other half.
It has often struck me that we are like ships in the night, discussing little else except Reuben and whose turn it is to walk the dog.
In the early days, our life revolved around our new addition.
But Reuben is no longer a tiny bundle clasped to my chest.
It is perhaps time that I cut the apron strings ever so slightly and enjoy the odd meal out which doesn’t include crayons and a high chair.
It is difficult not to be totally consumed by the feat which is taking care of a young child, with their many milestones and somewhat maddening phases.
But in dedicating every spare second to our son, we have forgotten to take time for ourselves.
You cannot expect to continue as normal upon having a baby, but nor can you risk losing each other completely.
We have vowed to go out once a month, and discuss something other than potty training and the latest episode of Peppa Pig.
We may well fall asleep before dessert, but the thought is there.
My other half has a dry sense of humour, a secret love of history and possesses endless patience. He is also notoriously private, and he therefore dreads this column.
But here it is in black and white, my resolution to catch up with the person who has held my hand through the onslaught of 2019.
The date is firmly set in the diary, although the choice of restaurant is still in debate.
So if you can recommend the perfect venue for two knackered parents, let me know. | 1 |
For months, Yves Kibendo woke up every morning at 6am. He would leave his house in an ancient area of Istanbul, returning late in the evening, after working for 12 hours in a textile factory.
He was paid under the table, or sometimes not at all.
Yves Kibendo enjoys a kickabout on Istanbul’s waterfront.
But Kibendo didn’t come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to work long shifts in a factory, he came to play football.
Fast and talented, Kibendo plays on the right wing. Hundreds of young African football players like him arrive in Turkey every year to seek their fortune. In many cases, intermediaries bring them with the promise of a trial at one of the big clubs in Istanbul. The players pay up to $5,000 (£3,800) for a “full package”, including visa, accommodation and contacts with talent scouts.
But many are left deeply disappointed. Shortly after Kibendo arrived in Turkey he found himself with an expired visa and none of the opportunities he had been promised.
Communities often invest all their money in these young people, hoping they will become rich and lift those at home out of misery. But in most cases these young men find themselves stranded soon after they arrive.
Sometimes there is no one waiting for them. In other cases, the trials are nothing but a show, with no real link to a football club. The young hopefuls find themselves alone, in a country they don’t know, whose language they don’t speak. None of them want to go back, having invested and risked so much just to get here.
Even when the “trial” does take place it is often a sham. The footballers are brought to small pitches on the outskirts of town to show their abilities. But actually there are no scouts to watch. After a few hours, it is all over. They are simply told they have missed their opportunity, even though no opportunity actually existed.
Julius Kugor, a leading figure in Turkey’s African community, at the stadium of Beşiktaş, one of the biggest clubs in Istanbul.
When their visa expires they are stranded and turn to Istanbul’s African communities for help. They are ready to do any kind of job just to survive. Many start working illegally in factories – mostly producing shoes and T-shirts – or selling fake watches and perfumes to tourists. They are vulnerable and often blackmailed by criminal gangs.
Julius Kugor has been fighting these scams for years. A former footballer, he is now a leading figure in the African community in Turkey and campaigns to stop the trafficking. “We have written many times to the Turkish embassies in African countries, but nothing has changed. The boys keep coming,” says Kugor.
Kugor campaigns to stop the trafficking of young African footballers.
To give these players an opportunity, a special “African Cup” was created 15 years ago by the African community in Istanbul. In 2005, only six countries took part. Now the tournament includes teams from 16 nations. The purpose is to raise the profile of the players. On the terraces of Istanbul’s small Feriköy stadium, agents and scouts from all over Turkey are joined by colleagues from Georgia, Azerbaijan, northern Cyprus and Bulgaria. They’re on the lookout for low-cost, talented players. At the end of the tournament, perhaps a dozen will find clubs.
Nigeria and Seychelles in action.
Yves Kibendo and teammates.
The tournament is popular with the African community in Istanbul.
Sani Gideon got his big chance this way. A 29-year-old Nigerian, who plays on the left wing, he is one of the few who who has made it. Starting from this pitch in the suburbs, he ended up playing for Akhisarspor in the Süper Lig, Turkey’s first division. But at the beginning it was difficult for him. He spent months doing cleaning jobs that paid only a few pounds a day. But today his story is an inspiration for many younger players. Whenever he can Gideon comes back to where it started and helps as a trainer for the Nigerian team.
Sani Gideon, who now plays professionally.
In recent years Turkey has become one of the major arrival points for migrants and refugees from the Middle East and central Asia. As well as the 3.6 million Syrians now living there with temporary protection status, hundreds of thousands of Afghans, Pakistanis and Iraqis have entered Turkey without legal documents. Faced with these figures, migration from Africa has not been at the top of the political agenda in Ankara.
Gideon at his Istanbul home.
Gideon now plays for Akhisarspor.
Yasir Bodur, a sociologist at Istanbul Şehir University, is among the few academics to address this topic. For several years he has been researching the daily lives of these immigrants, with a focus on working conditions and social environment. According to Bodur, the lack of institutional support exposes them to the risk of exploitation.
“Football is a common passion helping to overcome the distances and open channels of dialogue with the Turkish population. But after the game, these guys still find themselves isolated from the local community,” says Bodur.
Jean Claude Effa’Aessi.
Jean Claude Effa’Aessi is a football agent from Cameroon who also works forIstanbul’s African Cup. Before the games, he reminds everyone of the spirit of the tournament: do your best, play fair, respect each other. “There are so many talented young players among these guys. I try to give them advice,” says Effa’Aessi.
One of the games at the Feriköy Stadium.
Footballers pray for success before a match.
One of the coaches watches.
Unfortunately, Kibendo could not find a team this year. Despite a stint as a professional player in Angola, he has had no luck in Turkey. Sometimes talent is not enough. Many clubs in lower divisions shy away from signing foreign players because of bureaucratic and financial difficulties. However, Kibendo doesn’t want to give up. “But this can’t be for ever. If I keep failing, I will be forced to look for a plan B, meaning I will try to get to Greece on a migrant boat,” he says. “Even though I know I would risk my life.” | Placement is the much-needed talent agent for jobseekers “We’re giving away money to strangers on the internet” is a pretty cavalier pitch for a new startup. But the more I learned about Placement, the smarter it sounded. In exchange for 1
Jeanette Manfra, senior DHS cybersecurity official, to leave government Jeanette Manfra, one of the most senior and experienced U.S. cybersecurity officials, is leaving government after more than a decade in the public sector. Manfra, who served as assistant director for
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If you’ve been admitted to the hospital, it’s usually a sign you were really hurt or sick. In that situation, no one expects you to look your best when they come visit, as you should be totally focused on your recovery. However, this Vietnamese influencer couldn’t stand the thought of having her boyfriend see her without makeup even though she had been hospitalised, so she immediately put on full makeup when he said he would visit!
According to China Press, Wangmei was so excited that her boyfriend had told her he was coming to visit that she posted about it on Facebook with the joyful caption, “My boyfriend is coming to see me!”. Not wanting him to see her listless appearance, she immediately applied base makeup, eyebrows, blusher, eye shadow, and eyeliner, and even nail polish with earrings!
Source: China Press
Despite her amazing makeup job even with a respirator attached, netizens criticised her for putting on such heavy makeup, saying there was no need to go to “clubbing makeup” lengths to look pretty. Her humongous pearl earrings also drew fire as some netizens said that she doesn’t even look like a sick person anymore.
Some netizens defended her, however, saying that it was possible that Wangmei didnt want to worry her boyfriend with her poor appearance, so she went to extra lengths to beautify herself.
Source: China Press
We definitely think she could have toned down a little, but if she wanted to be extra, the girl is entitled to be extra. We wonder what the boyfriend said when he saw her!
Also read: M’sian Influencer Who Fat-Shamed Size “M” Said She Was Called A “Swollen Pig” & Starved At 48KG | TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump says the federal government will soon announce a new strategy to tackle underage vaping, promising, “We’re going to protect our families, we’re going to protect our children, and we’re going to protect the industry.”
Trump was vague about what the plan would entail but suggested “certain flavors” in cartridge-based e-cigarettes would be taken off the market “for a period of time.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration would ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes, such as those sold by Juul and NJOY. E-cigarette pods formulated to taste like tobacco or menthol would still be allowed.
The Journal also reported that tank-based vaping systems, which are less popular among teenagers, would still allow users to custom-mix flavors. The Journal report cited anonymous “people familiar with the matter.”
In September, Trump and his top health officials said they would soon sweep virtually all flavored e-cigarettes from the market because of their appeal to young children and teens. But that effort stalled after vaping lobbyists pushed back and White House advisers told Trump the ban could cost him votes with adults who vape.
Beginning in May, All e-cigarettes will need to undergo FDA review. Only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.
On Tuesday, Trump suggested a ban of flavored e-cigarettes might be temporary. “Hopefully, if everything’s safe, they’re going to be going very quickly back onto the market,” he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he was hosting a New Year’s Eve party.
“People have died from this, they died from vaping,” the Republican president said. “We think we understand why. But we’re doing a very exhaustive examination and hopefully everything will be back on the market very, very shortly.”
But the FDA had already announced that, starting in May, all e-cigarettes will need to undergo a review. And only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.
In Florida, Trump added: “Look, vaping can be good from the standpoint — you look at the e-cigarettes, you stop smoking. If you can stop smoking, that’s a big advantage. So, we think we’re going to get it back on the market very, very quickly.” | 1 |
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska man has been fined $300 for his role in a fatal vehicle crash after he was acquitted of manslaughter.
Christopher Turkette, 42, of Anchorage was acquitted by a jury earlier this month, The Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.
Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson gave Turkette the highest fine for reckless driving.
Turkette's vehicle collided with a motorcycle driven by 30-year-old Douglas J. Bittinger, who died at the scene in August 2017, authorities said.
Turkette had a flashing yellow light while Bittinger had a green light, authorities said.
Charges were filed about six months after the accident when blood test results showed marijuana in Turkette’s system, police said.
The judge said both the defence and prosecution foreshadowed difficulties with the law because “there wasn’t a clear, bright line for a drug DUI like there is for alcohol.”
There are limits to the amount of THC allowed in blood tests in some other states with legal recreational marijuana, but Alaska does not have a defined legal limit.
“There is no doubt in certain factors in this case,” Peterson said. “There is no doubt that you had active THC in your system and there isn’t any doubt even from your own expert, who said you caused the accident. Now, whether or not it was criminal was a decision for the jury to make and they’ve made that decision.”
Bittinger’s parents said during Monday’s sentencing hearing that the verdict made them feel hopeless.
“He gets nothing more than a slap on the hand for killing my kid,” Bittinger’s mother said. | The man accused of fatally shooting another man in Pine Ridge earlier this month will remain in jail until he goes trial, court records show.
Colton Bagola will be detained without bond because he's a flight risk and danger to the community, federal Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann wrote in a Monday order.
Bagola, 26, was arrested Dec. 20 during a brief standoff with law enforcement in Rapid City after he allegedly fled Pine Ridge after shooting 30-year-old Sloane Bull Bear in back of the head on Dec. 17.
Bagola pleaded not guilty at the federal court in Rapid City last week to second-degree murder. During that initial appearance, Assistant Public Defender Thomas Diggins asked Wollmann to hold a detention hearing to decide whether Bagola should be jailed or released.
Wollmann set a hearing for Dec. 30 but on Friday Diggins filed a document saying his client consented to detention and the hearing was cancelled. | 2 |
news, story, article
By Godfred A. Polkuu, GNA
Bolgatanga, Jan. 1, GNA – The New Year will be filled with God’s abundant grace and Ghanaians will achieve great success, Reverend Dominic Ziba, the Head Pastor of the Holy Ghost Temple of the Assemblies of God Church in Bolgatanga, said on New Year’s Eve.
“As we welcome the New Year, believe that God is on your side and certainly your defense will be from heaven, the grace will be sufficient and in 2020, you will do better than you did in 2019, you will achieve better than you did in 2019”, he said.
Speaking on the theme: “On the ticket of open heavens”, to a jubilant congregation of both the young and old who put on show their dancing skills to usher in the New Year, Reverend Ziba quoted Matthew 3:16-17, and prayed to God to “open the heavens and grant us divine interventions.”
“When the heavens are opened, we are divinely enabled to overcome weaknesses and achieve divine support from the heavens as we enter the year 2020,” he said.
The Head Pastor urged Ghanaians to act responsibly and allow God to choose a leader for the country in the build up to election 2020 saying “the God who chose Ghana and ordained Ghana will select a President who will lead us to His own glory”.
When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Pentecost International Worship Centre as part of its coverage of the 31st December Church activities to welcome the new year, in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Reverend Emmanuel Kyei Boate, the Resident Minister, urged members of his congregation to give thanks to God in all things.
He called on them to put their trust and hope in Jesus, “Fear not, because God is the one who holds the key to everything that happens,” he said, and prayed to God to lead them through the New Year and beyond.
At the Saint Cyprian Anglican Church, Reverend Father David Akurikiya in an interview with the GNA, thanked God for the year 2019 and called on Ghanaians to bury their differences and live together as brothers and sisters, especially as the elections approaches.
“Let’s not use politics to spoil the nation Ghana; your political opponent is not an enemy, let’s live together and work as a team to lift the image of Ghana high. I pray that God will give us divine direction and the grace to live peacefully as a nation,” he said.
At the premises of the churches visited, the GNA observed the presence of Police personnel; some were stationed along parts of the Municipality, especially areas without street lights, while some personnel patrolled the Municipality to ensure the safety of residents.
When the GNA extended its coverage of the night activities to drinking spots to ascertain the patronage, it observed that patrons who were mostly the youth, were drinking and dancing to loud music.
Some patrons who spoke to the GNA said “We are happy to live up to the end of the year, we have to drink and dance to show the joy in us. Some chose to go to church to show appreciation, we are also here to drink to the glory of God.”
GNA | news, story, article
By Francis Ameyibor, GNA
Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - The Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), in a New Year message said: “I would like to wish Ghanaians at home and abroad a 2020 that comes with positive change that contributes to personal and societal advancement.
“May 2020 bring with it the positive changes that will ensure that we build a better Ghana for all.
“In order to build a better country, the people of Ghana deserve the kind of leadership that serves with humility, integrity and with a view that says the people come first and the Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic,” Mr Kofi Akpaloo LPG Leader stated in a New Year Message to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday.
“May 2020 bring with it a commitment to working towards building and growing an inclusive economy that guarantees job creation for the 5.6 million jobless Ghanaians and those who join the ranks of jobseekers following the completion of National Service.
“In this regard, we call upon Private Sector, Students and Higher Education Institutions with support from Government to work together in order to ensure opportunities for jobs and wealth creation are identified and tapped before leaving the country’s campuses,” Mr Akpaloo, stated.
Mr Akpaloo described 2019 as a challenging year “for us all making it vital for us all to reflect on it so that we do not repeat the same mistakes while working to find better solutions to our problems as a country.
“The New Year, 2020, presents us with an opportunity to start afresh by recommitting to economic advancement, the Rule of Law, accountability, transparency and constitutionalism”.
The LPG Leaders said: “May 2020 be the year we begin with the allocation of National Identification numbers linked to Residential Addresses nationwide. This will help create a credit economy and generate jobs.
“May 2020 be the year we start with the project of building a country that is full of entrepreneurs and millionaires. The past year saw too many instances of joblessness”.
“May 2020 be the year we implement the Right to Information act to prevent corruption and I call upon Ghanaians to celebrate the New Year by abiding by the rules of the road and to celebrate responsibly”.
GNA | 2.666667 |
Rumours circulating recently that AMD Radeon RX 5600 series graphics cards will be coming very soon might just have turned out to be correct since AMD GPU partner ASRock accidentally leaked information and specifications of an upcoming RX 5600 XT SKU.
Just over a week ago, the guys over at VideoCardz received a tip from Reddit user _rogame that the new cards from AMD are likely to offer a 30% improvement in performance over the Radeon RX 5500 XT with leaked information appearing on the 3DMark database of a suspected Radeon RX 5600 XT SKU featuring 12 Gbps memory at 1500MHz clock speed and a 6144 MB memory capacity. The assumption was made that this will be the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT since the company has not launched a 6 GB card in years.
These rumours have been all but confirmed now with VideoCardz picking up on a leak from ASRock themselves listing a specification sheet for the Radeon RX 5600 XT Challenger D 6G OC card, which we can now assume will be released in the very near future and includes 2304 Stream Processors just like the Radeon RX 5700 non-XT cards.
As previous rumours suggested, the Radeon RX 5600 XT Challenger D 6G OC leaked specification does in fact, include 6 GB of GDDR6 VRAM with 12 Gbps bandwidth and a 192-bit memory bus. Also listed in the ASRock specification is the core frequency which reads 1235 MHz base, 1460 MHz boost and 1620 MHz game clock. Since this is a factory overclocked card, the game clock is likely to be the result of ASRock’s in house overlocking.
Another thing worth noting from the ASrock 5600 XT specifications is the listing that reads “2nd Gen 7nm GPU”, which further fuels rumours that the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT will be based on a refined RDNA architecture from AMD Navi 2x. However, this could just be how ASRock refer to all Navi GPUs, with Vega 20 being regarded as 1st Gen 7nm, so this rumour may well turn out to be wide of the mark.
KitGuru says: Looking at the potential specification for Radeon RX 5600 XT, it seems like it’s placed much closer to the RX 5700 series and could provide a handy alternative for overlocking to compete with mid-range Nvidia cards such as the 2060 and 2060 super maybe. What do you guys think of this information and how do you expect the RX 5600 XT to stack up against Nvidia’s offerings?
Become a Patron! | As we look back at 2019, one thing is for sure—AMD is a force to be reckoned with, thanks in large part to the continued evolution of its Zen CPU architecture . Make no mistake, though, AMD is not resting on its laurels. Now that 2020 is official under way, AMD is promising to "push the envelope yet again" in the high-performance computing sector.
AMD made the bold statement on Twitter, adding that 2020 will be an "incredible year" for the enthusiast sector. No specifics were given, though AMD did also announce it will be hosting a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on January 6 at 2:00 pm Pacific (5:00 pm Eastern). And it will be livestreamed on AMD's YouTube channel.
At #CES2020 , AMD will push the envelope yet again to make 2020 an incredible year for high-performance computing. Join us for our press conference on Monday, January 6th at 2PM PT on YouTube!
So, what can expect from AMD in 2020? There are a few things on tap. One of those is the launch of AMD's fourth generation Zen 3 CPU architecture . It can be a little confusing if you don't follow the technical details closely, but that's not a typo—Zen 3 is the fourth iteration of Zen. Here's a timeline of Zen...
Zen: 14nm, Ryzen 1000 series, launched March 2017
14nm, Ryzen 1000 series, launched March 2017 Zen+: 12nm, Ryzen 2000 series, launched April 2018
12nm, Ryzen 2000 series, launched April 2018 Zen 2: 7nm, Ryzen 3000 series, launched July 2019
7nm, Ryzen 3000 series, launched July 2019 **Zen 3: 7nm+, Ryzen 4000 series, launching in 2020**
7nm+, Ryzen 4000 series, launching in 2020** **Zen 4: 6nm or 5nm, Ryzen 5000 series, launching in 2021**
The two starred entries have not yet launched, so technically, specs, features, and dates could change. However, they have been part of AMD's roadmap for a long while, and there is no indication that things have gone off track. Just the opposite, AMD has made statements suggesting things are progressing pretty much as planned.
Zen 3 will see AMD make use of a refined 7nm+ manufacturing process. Generally speaking, we can expect faster clockspeeds and better power efficiency, and perhaps even more cores. That latter part is interesting, though, because the current-generation Ryzen 9 3950X is technically a 'mainstream' desktop CPU, with 16 cores and 32 threads.
All that said, don't expect AMD to actually launch Zen 3 at CES. Instead, there is a good chance it at least mentions the upcoming architecture, if for no other reason than to say nothing has changed with regards to its 2020 time frame.
AMD's 64-Core/128-Thread Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Could See A Debut At CES
AMD mentions high-performance computing in its CES announcement. To us, that is a not-so-subtle hint that it will finally launch the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X , a high-end desktop (HEDT) processor with a staggering 64 cores, 128 threads, and 288MB of cache (and 280W TDP). AMD might also launch its Threadripper 3980X part with 48 cores and 96 threads.
We are also expecting AMD to introduce new mobile and desktop APUs, and specifically, its Ryzen 4000 "Renoir" lineup . For whatever reason, AMD has kept its APUs slightly behind the curve, as they compare to its regular desktop processors. That's to say, at the present moment AMD's latest-generation APUs are still based on Zen+, not Zen 2.
Beyond all that, AMD might talk about the next version of Navi. We already know that a custom Navi part will power both Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X at the end of the year, both with hardware-level support for real-time ray tracing. On the PC side, however, Navi 20 could bring parity with NVIDIA's fastest graphics cards, though we will have to wait and see.
Before that comes to pass, however, AMD will almost certainly announce another lower end Navi part, and specifically the Radeon RX 5600 XT. We have see a bunch of leaks pointing to this unannounced part, including a few 3DMark entries that indicated it will perform roughly on par with a Radeon RX Vega 56. The most telling leak came from ASRock , which briefly posted a product page seemingly confirming the Radeon RX 5600 XT will sport 2,304 stream processors and 6GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus.
Whatever ends up getting announced at CES, 2020 figures to be a busy year in tech. | 3 |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Daniel Olukoya Of MFM Unveils 33 Prophetic Declarations For 2020 (67751 Views)
Maureen Badejo To Pay Daniel Olukoya 6-figure Damages - Court Orders In London / Daniel Olukoya Celebrates His 64th Birthday With His Wife All Loved-Up (Video) / Meet Kehinde Adegbolahan, The Assistant General Overseer Of MFM? (Photos) (2) (3) (4)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (Reply) (Go Down)
...calls for national prayer for Nigeria
Arogbonlo Israel
General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Pastor Daniel Olukoya, has called for continuous prayer for Nigeria, adding that it was easy to identify a problem but hard to proffer a solution.
Olukoya said this while revealing 33 prophetic declarations for the year at the Cross over service at MFM prayer city, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.
He said 2020 categorised a year where there will be a lots of political shaking among the leaders of Nigeria, which he summed up as 'palm-up, palm-down'.
He said: “This year (2020), rapid prayer is needed against national, economic, and political oblivion."
“A year when the Lord shall dash into pieces the kingdom of wicked rulers. It will be a year of ups and downs. It's what you can call a 'palm-up, palm-down'. A palm-up is for receiving while palm-down is for losing,” he said.
The cleric cautioned the youths to stay away from all forms of sexual perversion as God would be sanctioning all perpetrators of this unwholesome acts.
Olukoya tagged 2020 as a year of spiritual revival and new glory. http://community.vanguardngr.com/forum/topics/breaking-mfm-s-pastor-olukoya-unveils-33-prophetic-declarations 20 Likes 7 Shares
Glory to God 14 Likes 2 Shares
Won tun ti de oo 75 Likes 2 Shares
Where is it? 3 Likes
Lol... on behalf of myself and every forward thinking Nigerians, please stick your prophesy up your arse!!
Thank you and God bless!
The mumu no even see corona virus! None of them saw it! But some lost souls take their gimmicks seriously 120 Likes 7 Shares
To God be the honour forever and ever amen 9 Likes 5 Shares
Wow!! 2 Likes
More to come...we no go hear word with prophecy this January 22 Likes 2 Shares
How long will they continue to list their prophesies here with no divine manifestation in the lives of average Nigerians?
How many pastors dey predict for China, Australia, Canada, United state??
In 365 days another prophesy will be out, outcome still the same
Something must be wrong with us 66 Likes 5 Shares
Amen 1 Like
Oya naa 2 Likes
Making guesses, predicting or foretelling? It's not new though, we are still going to read many frm Pastors. Let me not say kpim....... 1 Like 1 Share
. 1 Like 1 Share
The one they Said same moment last year...
Men are still hoping for it to manifest. 5 Likes
*Pastor Bastin 2020 Prophecies*
1. I see SARS killing innocent Nigerian
2. Ogun State will maintain it's RAPE Capital of Nigeria
3. Husband will kill wife.
4. Wife will kill husband.
5. A prominent politician will die.
6. Plane crash will happen in the world.
7. Herdsmen will kill farmers.
8. Nigerian married celebrity will divorce
9. Police will kill guys back from Club.
10. Church pastor will do fake miracles.
11. Boyfriend will use girlfriend for ritual.
12. Pastors will ride more expensive cars.
13. Boko-Haram will strike again.
14. House maid would be maltreated by madam.
15. God will surprise the broken hearted.
16. Lassa Fever will breakout in the North.
17. Father will sleep with daughter.
18. Fuel tanker will fall and catch fire
19. Market will be brunt.
20. Yahoo boys will die
21. Musicians will crash and burst into each other
22. Fuel will increase in price
23. MTN will lose customers
24. Bobrisky will shake Nigerians.
25. Sex tape would be released.
26. Condom will burst during sex.
27. People will cry and say why did I vote Buhari.
28. More Marlians will emerge
29. Big Brother Nigeria will hold and more sex
30. Jesus Christ will shocked and say so this is the people I died for. 65 Likes 7 Shares
Scam! 2 Likes
Ok
Expected to see 33 prophetic declarations maybe he summarized the summary 5 Likes 1 Share
s
They have started again, they won't even allow the new year to unpack it's luggage and then take a shower after making the long trip. 12 Likes
. 1 Like
They should check that of 2019 and compare it with the result before taking this 2020 prophetic declaration serious! Some GOM will just wake up after Marathon sex with whoever and be uttering balderdash! 14 Likes
All these recycled prophesies. I hear you 7 Likes
They are all doing trial and error. 7 Likes
Scam prophesy to deceive the gullibles,no definite talk,because he knows his lies will easily be exposed 10 Likes
Yearly routine have started again, I hear una. 5 Likes
Bukasint:
1. I see SARS killing innocent Nigerian
2. Ogun State will maintain it's RAPE Capital of Nigeria
3. Husband will kill wife.
4. Wife will kill husband.
5. A prominent politician will die.
6. Plane crash will happen in the world.
7. Herdsmen will kill farmers.
8. Nigerian married celebrity will divorce
9. Police will kill guys back from Club.
10. Church pastor will do fake miracles.
11. Boyfriend will use girlfriend for ritual.
12. Pastors will ride more expensive cars.
13. Boko-Haram will strike again.
14. House maid would be maltreated by madam.
15. God will surprise the broken hearted.
16. Lassa Fever will breakout in the North.
17. Father will sleep with daughter.
18. Fuel tanker will fall and catch fire
19. Market will burn down
20. Yahoo boys will die
21. Musicians will crash and burst into each other
22. Fuel will increase in price
23. MTN will lose customers
24. Bobrisky will shake Nigerians
25. Sex tape would be released.
Don't be silly my guy nah. 6 Likes 1 Share
Another one! | The founder and General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Olukoya, has released 30 prophecies for the year 2020.
Olukoya, who tagged 2020 as the ‘year of Revival and New Glory, urged Nigerians to pray because the year would be messy and confusing.
According to him, many leaders would be shifted away.
Here are the prophecies below:
1. 2020 is a year where disobedience to God would yield terrible result that no deliverance can reverse.
2. More than any other year the enemy plans to bring the dog spirit (strange sexual perversions).
3. Year where round the clock prayers are needed against national restlessness.
4. This year impatience would lure many Into strange marriages.
5. A year not only to take back what the enemy has stolen but for you to occupy new territories.
6. Hot prayers are required in 2020.
7. This year would be messy and confusing.
8. Year when some many leaders would be shifted away.
9. A year where all things many have planted and watered in the past years would now begin to produce fruits.
10. Year where many who have endured season of darkness and delay would sing their song and dance their dance.
11. Year of returns of long time prodigals.
12. Year we must return to our accient landmark ( holiness and righteousness.
13. Year of perfection for vision.
14. Year of positive and negative harvest.
15. Extra ordinary and sacrificial giving would yield powerful result this year.
16. 2020 would be an up and down year.
17. Year that the Lord shall tear in pieces kingdom of those boasting against him.
18. Season where that which that has delayed the blessing of God’s children shall be dashed to pieces.
19. Resurrection power would bring back dry bones.
20. The lord would bring fresh start for a lot of people.
21. Year for rewriting negative family history.
22. Year of aggressive prayers against voices from foundation.
23. Year of unbelievable answers to prayers.
24. Year of it can only be God testimonies.
25. Year where many captives would divorce their chains.
26. Year for consistently deploying the blood of Jesus.
27. Year when the Lord shall dash to pieces kingdom of evil rulers.
28. Many families shall climb to a new height of victory.
29. Year when sins must be more sensitive to heaven frequencies.
30. Food supplies from the kingdom of herod shall be cut off. | 3.666667 |
PATNA: Foggy weather conditions continued to affect the movement of passenger trains in all the five divisions under East Central Railway (ECR). While 93 passenger trains were delayed due to fog on Tuesday, several mail and express trains were running late by four to five hours on Wednesday.According to an ECR official, at least 30 passenger trains reaching the Danapur division were delayed on Tuesday followed by 33 in Mughalsarai, 20 in Sonepur, 6 in Dhanbad and 4 in Samastipur division. “The dense fog prevailing in the entire northern region on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Pt Deendayal Upadhaya Junction-Patna Junction route was badly affected,” the official said, adding that the stretch between Tundala and Allahabad was the bottleneck causing slow traffic movement due to poor visibility on tracks.Danapur railway official told this newspaper on Wednesday that New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Rajdhani Express (12310) reached Patna Junction about 90 minutes late, while New Delhi-Patna Sampoorna Kranti Express (12392) was delayed by 210 minutes and New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express (12394) by about 180 minutes on Wednesday.Similarly, the Yesvantpur-Patliputra Sanghamitra Express (22352) reached 180 minutes late while New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express (20802) was delayed by 300 minutes and Surat-Bhagalpur Express (22947) by 60 minutes followed by Udhna-Danapur Express (19063) by 70 minutes and Brahmaputra Mail (15956) by 160 minutes. “The railways also cancelled Anand Vihar-Sealdah Expres (13120), Kumbha Express (12370) and Mokama-Howrah fast passenger (53050) trains on Wednesday,” the Danapur official said.According to sources, long distance passenger trains were running at full caution speed of 60km per hour on the mainline section of Danapur division at night. Extra alertness is being maintained on bridges where night track patrolling is being carried out under the supervision of senior safety officers.“Loco pilots have been directed not to take risk and follow winter safety measures on the Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad route due to zero visibility on the tracks during night,” sources said. | New Delhi, Jan 01: Delhi Police issued a total of 352 challans for drink-and-drive cases on the eve of New Year, officials said on Wednesday.
Security was beefed up across the national capital, especially in the vicinity of markets, malls, five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars, in order to ensure orderly celebrations.
Night of Shame: Several girls molested during new year celebrations at Koramanagala
All PCR vans, Raftaar motorcycles and Prakhar vans were dynamically deployed at vulnerable points, according to police officials.
There were heavy police presence, fire tender deployment and traffic arrangements at areas where high footfall was anticipated such as Connaught Place among other places.
Police had warned that any incident of hooliganism and drunk driving would be dealt with strictly.
Also Read:
Automated Facial Recognition Software in full swing during anti citizenship bill protests
Delhi metro stations closed to ease rush of passengers on New Year's Day
Delhi's winter power demand touches record high on new year's day | 1.333333 |
Before
the end of 2019, President Akufo-Addo hosted some of the famous
personalities that were still town at his Nima residence for a private
party.
The party which came off on Monday was graced by Nigerian singer, Davido who kept the party alive with his hit songs.
The
‘Year of Return’ policy was introduced by government to encourage
people from the diaspora to visit the country and connect with their
origin.
Celebrities like Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o were all present at the event.
In a photo with award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o, Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson were captured smiling cheerfully.
American Businesswoman, Bazoma Saint John who was also present shared a photo with a captioned which reveals she was on her third trip to the country.
Earlier that day, President Nana Akufo-Addo touted the progress of the Year of Return, describing activities generated by the campaign in Ghana as a “welcomed shock”.
In October this year, the President launched the “Year of Return” to
make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to
their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and their identity.
So far, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) revealed they spent GHC6m on the policy’s campaign.
Meanwhile, Nana Addo has launched an extension of the “Year of Return” which he calls “Beyond the Return The Diaspora Dividend” | Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print.
Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.
If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. | 1 |
What did CMSWire readers care about in 2019? Well, if you measure that by who's clicking on what, our readers are invested in watching technology moves of major vendors in digital customer experience, information management and the digital workplace. Twelve of our top 20 stories of the year covered vendor technology, including our No. 1: Virginia Backaitis' thoughtful look into the paradoxical vibe of SAP's company restructuring and multi-billion-dollar acquisition as it held its SAP Qualtrics X4 Experience Management Summit in March.
Our readers also cared about the connection between employee experience and customer experience, major web design fails and why digital transformation can't be confused with customer experience.
Without further ado, let's take a peek at our reader's top 20 most popular stories:
Managing an organization-spanning Microsoft Teams environment is no easy task. Major governance measures must be in place to contain sprawl, secure internal data and ensure efficiency. We cover the 10 most important factors to consider when setting up your Microsoft Teams governance.
The scrum master’s role is deep and wide. Scrum masters need to support their teams while working with the rest of the people in their organizations to build awareness and enable greater agility.
The demand for rapid and constantly improving digital experiences has never been higher. To match the market’s demands, brands are adopting a DevOps culture to streamline the development, deployment, management and maintenance of software at scale. Here’s everything you need to know about DevOps and the principles necessary to be successful.
IBM's agreement to sell (Lotus) Notes and Domino as well as Sametime and Connections to global tech firm HCL was announced last December. We know far more details about what will happen with Notes and Domino, since the plans were — to a large extent — already published before the announcement of the planned takeover. And the worldwide launch of Domino version 10, which took place before the announced acquisition, points the way to this future.
Companies that care about their customers may not be able to truly deem themselves “customer-obsessed.” They may think or say they are because they focus on great products and great service. But the moniker of customer-obsessed goes deeper than that.
Chatbots have become commonplace on platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Slack and WhatsApp. In fact, most enterprise company websites now boast a chatbot in some way shape or form in the bottom right-hand corner.
Mozilla gave users an early holiday gift in November 2017 when it introduced an initial release of its open-source speech recognition model. Perhaps more significantly, it also released the world’s second largest publicly available voice data set, called Common Voice, which was contributed to by nearly 20,000 people globally. Here are other voice data sets, both public and private, that are worth exploring.
The potential business edge that access to data from billions of connected devices offers is too much for enterprises to resist. As a result, in 2019 more and more enterprises will be connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) using more and more endpoints.
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably familiar with two popular industry buzzwords that are often mentioned in the same breath: digital transformation and customer experience.
Salesforce reported an outage with its Pardot B2B marketing automation platform that began Friday, May 17, lasted into the next week and left users unable to perform their marketing tasks — but more than able to complain about it on Twitter.
Microsoft took advantage of the Adobe Summit in March to get in front of 17,000 marketers and tout its partnership with Adobe. Particularly, Microsoft and Adobe pushed an extension of the Open Data Initiative (ODI) partnership with SAP and their investment in Account-Based Experiences (ABX) with LinkedIn. Was it a sign of things to come?
Happy and engaged employees create better experiences, which leads to more satisfied and loyal customers and, ultimately, brand and company growth. A virtuous cycle, market-leading organizations recognize that a thoughtful and deliberate focus on managing employee experience (EX) is not only good for their workforce but also good for their company.
Adobe and Salesforce entered the customer data platform (CDP) mix last month, a big boon to marketers seeking validation as they look to fit CDPs into their marketing technology (martech) stacks. The digital experience software providers, which seem to be going head-to-head in the martech race, debuted CDPs within a day of one another.
For the most part Ernst & Young is very enthusiastic about robotic process automation (RPA), according to a report about the technology in which E&Y wrote: “It promises to transform the cost, efficiency and quality of executing many of the back office and customer-facing processes that businesses rely on people to perform.” However, in that same report E&Y also made clear that the implementation of what for all appearances is a simple application — many are low or no-code — can be fraught with issues for some companies.
At the beginning of July, Microsoft and Oracle announced that they were creating a cloud interoperability partnership enabling customers to migrate and run mission-critical enterprise workloads across Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud. The companies said this means enterprises will be able to seamlessly connect Azure services, like Analytics and AI, to Oracle Cloud services, like Autonomous Database.
Machine learning and, more broadly, artificial intelligence (AI) have become the tech industry's most important trends over the past 18 months. And despite the hype and, to some extent, fear surrounding the technology, many businesses are now embracing AI at an impressive speed.
If you've never heard Microsoft Kaizala, you aren’t alone. But, depending on where you live, it may already be part of the Office 365 subscription you own.
With all the talk in recent months about Microsoft Teams and Slack and which platform might be better for what collaborative work, the obvious solution for many enterprises — especially those that have already made a substantial investment in Microsoft tools — is to pull the two of them together.
The website redesign project that led to Hertz’s $32 million lawsuit against Accenture “was a catastrophic relationship meltdown of epic proportions,” according to Liz Miller, senior vice president of marketing for the CMO Council. There are many lessons to be learned for brands enlisting the digital services of agencies.
A week in early March played out like a tale of two cities at SAP, especially for those who are employees or members of the large and engaged SAP community. For some it was the best of times, for others it was the worst of times. | It would be hard to top the 2018 enterprise M&A total of a whopping $87 billion, and predictably this year didn’t come close. In fact, the top 10 enterprise M&A deals in 2019 were less than half last year’s, totaling $40.6 billion.
This year’s biggest purchase was Salesforce buying Tableau for $15.7 billion, which would have been good for third place last year behind IBM’s mega deal plucking Red Hat for $34 billion and Broadcom grabbing CA Technologies for $18.8 billion.
Contributing to this year’s quieter activity was the fact that several typically acquisitive companies — Adobe, Oracle and IBM — stayed mostly on the sidelines after big investments last year. It’s not unusual for companies to take a go-slow approach after a big expenditure year. Adobe and Oracle bought just two companies each with neither revealing the prices. IBM didn’t buy any.
Microsoft didn’t show up on this year’s list either, but still managed to pick up eight new companies. It was just that none was large enough to make the list (or even for them to publicly reveal the prices). When a publicly traded company doesn’t reveal the price, it usually means that it didn’t reach the threshold of being material to the company’s results.
As always, just because you buy it doesn’t mean it’s always going to integrate smoothly or well, and we won’t know about the success or failure of these transactions for some years to come. For now, we can only look at the deals themselves. | 1 |
‘If she’s going down, you can bet a lot of others will be going down with her’
(Infowars) – Exiled British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is confident she won’t be prosecuted for her involvement in deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s pedophile network, according to friends close to the madam.
“Ghislaine and her sister Isabel remain totally convinced that she’ll escape any criminal convictions and will eventually clear the family name and return to high society once the dust has settled,” Laura Goldman, a friend of Maxwell’s sister Isabel, told The Sun.
“She has wealthy connections who hide her and even pay some legal fees. She can stay out of the public eye as long as she wants.”
Goldman added that despite Maxwell going into hiding, she remains sure she won’t face consequences for allegedly procuring underage women for Epstein.
“Ghislaine is so confident that she’ll be back that she’s still texting friends in different social circles while she’s in hiding,” Goldman said.
“She obviously has some serious dirt on someone to be so sure of herself in the circumstances,” she added.
Notably, despite Maxwell maintaining her innocence, she was was apparently “relieved” after learning of Epstein’s suspicious death from his Manhattan jail cell, because the disgraced pedophile wouldn’t be able to turn on her.
“She was more relieved than anything,” Goldman said. “It may have placed her more in the spotlight but at least he couldn’t turn on her.”
The FBI reportedly is aware of Maxwell’s whereabouts and is “building a case against her,” according to lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who is representing several of Epstein’s victims.
“I think ultimately they are building a case and know where she is and they’re just not letting on, much like they did with Mr Epstein, who, when he stepped foot in the US, they just arrested him,” Kuvin said last month. “Nobody knew that, they didn’t broadcast it, they didn’t tell anyone he was traveling here, they just did it.”
“Anytime she travels, the federal government is going to know where she is because there are flight logs required for every type of travel, whether it’s private jet or commercial, the federal government, through the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], has flight logs and international organizations also have flight logs,” he added.
Another source close to Maxwell told The Sun that if she goes down, she’s taking a lot of powerful people down with her.
“She’s an incredibly intelligent, cunning character and you can bet she’ll have a lot of tricks up her sleeve still – even though she’s up to her neck in trouble through her association with Epstein,” the source said.
“If she’s going down, you can bet a lot of others will be going down with her.”
Below: Shock videos show young girls dressed as stewardesses being used to lure other young women into the elite world of private executive jet travel while enticing men to join their club.
infowars.com/untouchable-ghislaine-maxwell-has-serious-dirt-on-elites-confident-wont-face-charges-for-epstein-pedophile-network/ | Ghislaine Maxwell — the British socialite who’s long been accused of serving as Jeffrey Epstein’s madam — is hiding in a series of safe houses and is being “protected because of the information she has on the world’s most powerful people.”
Maxwell, 58, allegedly procured young women and groomed them to have sex with Epstein and his wealthy pals, but she has remained out of public view after the convicted sex offender’s re-arrest last year and his death in jail in August. She has always denied any wrongdoing.
On the heels of a Reuters report that Maxwell was the main focus of an investigation by the FBI into several “people who facilitated” the dead pedophile’s alleged sexual abuse, a source tells Page Six: “Ghislaine is protected. She and Jeffrey were assets of sorts for multiple foreign governments. They would trade information about the powerful people caught in his net — caught at Epstein’s house.”
The source added of Ghislaine, who has homes in Manhattan and London, “She is not in the US, she moves around. She is sometimes in the UK, but most often in other countries, such as Israel, where her powerful contacts have provided her with safe houses and protection.”
The source added that Britain’s disgraced Prince Andrew had begged Maxwell to come forward and give an interview to protect him after he was accused of having sex with one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, which he strongly denies. But Maxwell refused, forcing the prince to conduct his own disastrous interview. The source said: “Andrew pleaded with Ghislaine to publicly defend him. She carefully considered it, but decided no good would come of it (if she came forward). It isn’t in her best interests.” Lawyers for Maxwell didn’t get back to us.
The source also added, “If the US government was really interested in bringing in Ghislaine, the IRS would have looked at her tax returns and the income she may have got from Epstein and perhaps some of his powerful associates.” | 3.666667 |
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has visited the Police Training College at Alimankara in Gwoza and climbed the hills as part of operational visit to North East.
News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the college is one of the critical security institutions overran by the Boko Haram terrorists during the peak of their activities in Borno state in August 2014.
The Alimankara village where the college is located and indeed the entire Gwoza local government was under the control of the terrorists for months before the troops of Nigerian Army retook the area in 2015.
During the visit, it was observed that normalcy has since returned to the town with the residents chanting in excitement while the rebuilding works at the college has reached advance stages of completion.
Buratai was conducted round the college by the top police officers in the college.
After the ascent of the two hills, Buratai disclosed that the value of climbing the hills was borne out of the desire to feel what they troops feel in carrying out operations there.
According to him, if you don’t feel the pinch you will not know the impact of what your colleagues are also facing.
“This what they do virtually every day, they don’t only climb, they equally trek far distances and so it is good for us to appreciate what they are doing and we will be in a better state to understand their feeling and also address them as the case may be.
“As you can see, it is equally a morale booster because I have gone up there to see the observation course officer at the peak of this hill which is almost the highest around here.
“Seeing the chief of Army Staff with him there is something that he never imagined but this is encouraging them and to tell them we are with them,” he said.
Buratai commended the performance of the troops against the terrorists in the area and the north east in general, adding that the performance had been impressive and encouraging.
He said that the troops had exhibited high level of professionalism and resilience with the knowledge of the terrain, adding that they had continued to raid the hideouts of the terrorists.
He said: “I am sure the progress is quite commendable and we hope as we enter the new year, they will be more result oriented operations to finally clear the remnant of the Boko Haram.”
He said that the super camp concept had achieved its objective, saying it has helped the troops to have much understanding of the behaviour of the terrorists.
According to him, the initial misconception about super camps has been assuaged as well as the fears of the people and it is something that we will continue to build on to make sure we succeed at the end.
Buratai, while wishing the people of the area a peaceful 2020, also assured them that the troops would continue to provide them security enable them enjoy more harvest from their farms.
“Let them keep supporting the troops and all of us and provide useful information that would be used in identifying the terrorists in the communities and around the bushes as well,” he said. | SAN FRANCISCO, January 01, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has recognised five soldiers with awards and special promotion for their gallantry in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.
The awards were given at the 2019 Nigerian Army West African Social Activities (WASA) on Monday in Gwoza, Borno State.
They (promoted officers) were also given N200,000 each by Governor Babagana Zulum.
The two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were also recognised for their gallantry and bravery in the fight against insurgency.
Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said that WASA was an age-long tradition of Nigerian army that brings all officers and soldiers together to mark the end of the year and usher in a new year.
Gen. Buratai said that the event was also an opportunity to reward the gallantry of personnel in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
According to him, Gwoza’s choice for the 2019 edition was an indication that the troops had recorded success in the war against Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.
He praised the personnel for the successes recorded in all other operations across the country and assured them of improved welfare next year.
The COAS also commended the field commanders and principal officers for the support and implementation of all the strategic directives.
He said: “If you pass directive from the headquarters to the field commanders and they fail to execute it, that directive becomes useless; your operational and tactical capabilities have contributed to the successes recorded so far.”
He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his guidance, support and motivation for the army to have the wherewithal to win all wars as well as the National Assembly for their support.
The governor said that activities like WASA could serve as a tool to encourage the troops and boost their mental capacity.
Zulum said that the celebration of the annual event by Nigerian army had over the years confirmed its commitment to appreciate and promote diverse cultural diversity in the army.
Praising the successes recorded by the military in the war against insurgency in the state, he lauded the effort of the civilian JTF and hunters for their support for the army.
He, however, implored the military and other security agencies to redouble their effort with a view to permanently end the scourge of insurgency.
The governor also called on the government and army authorities to ensure that the necessary logistics needed was provided for the troops to successfully prosecute the war.
He also called for judicious utilisation of resources available to them, urging them to develop the mindset to reduce corruption and sabotage.
On his part, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, said that the successful hosting of WASA in Gwoza, was a confirmation that the Boko Haram has not only been ‘technically defeated but practically defeated’.
Namdas lauded the synergy between the army and other paramilitary agencies and urged them to continue in that manner.
He took details of the soldiers recognised for their gallantry for onward transmission to the national assembly for recognition.
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Euro Area Government Debt to GDP
The Government Debt in the Euro Area was last reported at 85.1 percent of the country´s GDP. From 1999 until 2010, the Euro Area's average Government Debt to GDP was 71.18 percent reaching an historical high of 85.10 percent in December of 2010 and a record low of 66.20 percent in December of 2007. Generally, Government debt as a percent of GDP is used by investors to measure the Euro Area's ability to make future payments on its debt, thus affecting the Euro Area's borrowing costs and government bond yields. This page includes a chart with historical data for the Euro Area's General Government Gross Debt as a percent of GDP.
Government Debt to GDP
Government debt as a percent of GDP, also known as debt-to-GDP ratio, is the amount of national debt a country has in percentage of its Gross Domestic Product. Basically, Government debt is the money owed by the central government to its creditors. There are two types of government debt: net and gross. Gross debt is the accumulation of outstanding government debt which may be in the form of government bonds, credit default swaps, currency swaps, special drawing rights, loans, insurance and pensions. Net debt is the difference between gross debt and the financial assets that government holds. The higher the debt-to-GDP ratio, the less likely the country will pay its debt back, and more likely the country is to default on its debt obligations. | (CNN) Instead of throwing down the gauntlet, Post Malone put it on his face.
The singer/rapper has debuted a new face tattoo to add to his collection.
The medieval gauntlet is featured prominently in photo posted Tuesday on tattoo artist Kyle Hediger's Instagram account.
"Last tattoo of 2019," the caption reads. "Gauntlet on the baby boy @postmalone love u. 2020 is going to be next level. Love you all."
Malone also shared a photo in which a portion of the new tat can be seen.
Read More | 1 |
Jason Holder has been rested from West Indies' squad for the first two ODIs against Ireland, to be played in Barbados on January 7 and 9. This is the only change from the most recent ODI squad that completed a tour of India last month, with its strength dropping from 15 to 14.
"The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year," chief selector Roger Harper said in a statement. "With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white ball formats."
The lack of major changes in the squad reflects West Indies' gains from their India tour. They lost both the ODI and T20I series against India by 2-1 margins, but pushed the hosts hard, with a number of the younger players showing promise for the future. Before that, the team played a full series against Afghanistan in India, completing a 3-0 ODI sweep and winning the solitary Test but losing 2-1 in the T20Is.
"The Afghanistan and Indian series told me that the team is making very positive strides," Harper said. "Winning the ODIs against Afghanistan, our first ODI series win for five years, followed by the very competitive performance in against India is testament to that. The team demonstrated a determination to compete and gave it every effort.
"Against India the batting was consistent and while the bowling had its moments, it is clear that we have to improve our 'death' bowling. However, the fact that the team played in such an organised and competitive manner consistently augurs well going forward.
"This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players. Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win."
The ODI series against Ireland, which concludes with the third match in Grenada on January 12, will be followed by three T20Is in Grenada (January 15) and St Kitts (January 18 and 19).
West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (capt), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh | No names were disclosed and sources said the BJP government will unravel the optics in the run-up to the mission. More than anything the space odyssey will be about messaging – the choice of the pilots and the areas they represent would be part of the matrix.
The quartet will undergo training in Russia from the third week of this month. Though PM Modi had hinted in his Independence address on August 15, 2018, from the Red Fort that three Indians, including a woman, would be sent into space, ISRO chief K Sivan said that the crew would be male.
IAF test pilot Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to take a sojourn in outer space, albeit as a cosmonaut on board Russian craft Soyuz-T on April 2, 1984, when he was 35 years old.
In the run-up to the ambitious manned mission, the space agency will launch 2 to 3 unmanned missions in 2020 and 2021 with humanoids to test the human rating of the propulsion modules, including the crew module and the escape system in the event of an emergency in the spacecraft.
The Chandrayaan-3, too, is on course and its configuration will be similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, Sivan said. It will have a lander, rover and a propulsion module. Asked about the launch date, he said it would be announced only when the project nears completion.
The work on both Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan was going on simultaneously. Noting that Chandrayaan-2 orbiter's mission life was seven years, he said it would be used for the third lunar mission as well.
Giving an estimate of the project cost for Chandrayaan-3, Sivan said the cost of lander and rover configuration is about Rs 250 crore. The total cost of the project is Rs 615 crore.
The objective of Chandrayaan-3 would also be to land on the lunar South Pole. | 1 |
Harpoon's Baltic Porter aged in WhistlePig barrels Harpoon Brewery
Founded along the Boston waterfront in 1986, Harpoon Brewery is among the country’s first craft breweries. It has been heralded as a New England staple practically since inception. Vermont-based WhistlePig launched in 2008 as one of the first purveyors of premium rye. Today it, too, is widely viewed as a classic liquid of the Northeast. So it’s only fitting that these two brands would eventually collaborate. That auspicious moment arrived earlier this month when Harpoon announced the release of its Baltic Porter, aged in select WhistlePig barrels.
The 9.5% ABV beer contains hints of molasses and stone fruit, finishing with notes of bittersweet cacao. Dark yet still slightly light in body it has a warming effect from the boozy barrel aging that is well-suited to wintertime sipping. The original liquid was brewed in previous years—minus the added aging. But the brewery decided a partnership with the rye would suss out even more magic from the initial fermentation.
“When we decided to bring back our Baltic Porter, we wanted to introduce a special edge to make it our best one yet,” says Dan Kenary, CEO and co-founder of Harpoon Brewery. “We thought, what better way to foster innovation than to partner with our neighbors at WhistlePig, bringing our brewers and their talented distillers together for a meaningful and delicious collaboration.” Harpoon operates a taproom and beer garden in central Vermont, not far from WhistlePig’s farmhouse distillery.
“We were excited about the opportunity to bring wintery warmth to this popular brew in a way that only our unique rye whiskey barrels can,” says Pete Lynch, Master Blender for WhistlePig. “And Harpoon Brewery is well-known across all of New England.” So when the brewery approached him, he didn’t hesitate to pursue the partnership.
Barrel-aged beers are certainly nothing new. In fact, every year Chicago celebrates the broad category with its own Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer. The 17th Annual iteration this past November lined up with the release of Goose Island’s illustrious Bourbon County Stout—commonly cited as the pioneer of whiskey cask finished beer.
Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer in Chicago Brad Japhe
Typically brews such as these are stored in barrels sourced from third party brokers. Rarer are the releases where a brewery collaborates in direct partnership with the booze maker. Chicago-based Forbidden Root introduced an intriguing example of such in 2017, with its imperial black ale brewed with the herbs and spices familiar to Fernet-Branca. This bold cult classic never spent time in oak, however. The practice is gaining mainstream traction now, after Jim Beam hooked up with Budweiser on two recent releases: a copper lager aged in casks of the whiskey brand’s white label, and a black lager aged in Jim Beam Black barrels.
As for Harpoon and WhistlePig, the partnership appears to be a one-off—for now. Their Baltic Porter was released in 12-packs of 22 oz. bottles and is now available on draft at Harpoon Brewery’s Boston and Vermont locations. But if thirsty New Englanders have anything to say about it, you can expect this to be merely the start of a beautiful friendship. | A custom modular house in Amagansett is listed for $3.299 million. This brand-new home was built in 2017 and is now looking for its first owner.
“It’s a great house for a family that entertains,” says Michael Cinque, the listing agent, and the builder, adding “it’s pretty much on one level. From the kitchen, you can see the front door, the living room, the back deck and then the pool, so even the chef or the mom can be at the party.”
The 3,000-square-foot house has four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and two garages. It’s located on the Montauk Highway, and within walking distance to the beach and restaurants in town.
Annual taxes are $13,425. It is in the Amagansett Union Free School District.
Michael Cinque of the Saunders & Associates is the listing agent. | 1.5 |
Federal judge to block latest North Carolina voter ID mandate
GOP leaders in charge of the Legislature have been trying for most of the decade to advance voter ID. | RALEIGH, N.C. — The federal judge who blocked the newest version of North Carolina's voter identification law cited the state's "sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression" as she ordered officials not to enforce the law in 2020.
U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Biggs' decision was released Tuesday and prevents North Carolina from requiring voters to provide identification starting in 2020. The Republican leaders of the state House and Senate, however, have asked North Carolina's Department of Justice to appeal.
The federal court advised last week that Biggs would formally block the photo ID requirement until a lawsuit filed by state NAACP and others is resolved. Her decision provided insight into why she blocked the law, which she said was similar to a 2013 law that a federal appeals court struck down in 2016.
That court said the photo ID and other voter restrictions were approved with intentional racial discrimination in mind, and Biggs said the newest version of the law was no different in that respect.
"North Carolina has a sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression stretching back to the time of slavery, through the era of Jim Crow, and, crucially, continuing up to the present day," Biggs wrote.
Legislators received a breakdown of voter behavior by race before passing the 2016 law and used that data to target African American voters, the court wrote in striking down that law. The defendants said there's no evidence of similar behavior before the most recent voter ID law.
But the same key lawmakers championed both bills, Biggs wrote. " ... they need not had racial data in hand to still have it in mind," the ruling says.
The approval of the new version, known as S.B. 824, was "procedurally unobjectional," Biggs wrote. But its closeness in time to the previous version; the fact that many of the same legislators were involved in both bills; the use of "unconstitutionally gerrymandered maps" and other issues "indicate that something was amiss," she wrote.
The legislative history of the bill, including statements from its supporters, show that "rather than trying to cleanse the discriminatory taint" imbued in the previous voter ID law, lawmakers tried to circumvent state and federal courts, she wrote.
The photo ID law would have been effective with the March 3 primary. But the requirement would have been put into motion sooner than that with mail-in absentee voters, who also would have had to provide an ID copy.
The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, president of the North Carolina conference of the NAACP, said he was "overjoyed" by Biggs' decision.
"Quite frankly, tears are coming to my eyes as I read the decision," he said. Biggs' "strong language is so appropriate" as the nation approaches the 2020 elections, Spearman said.
"I hope it is something that will encourage people who have not exercised their right to vote to cast their votes," he said.
After losing one court battle over voter ID, Republicans put a question on the November 2018 ballot enshrining voter ID in the state constitution. The amendment passed with 55% of the vote. The legislature approved a separate law in December 2018 detailing how to implement that amendment. Legal challenges were filed almost immediately.
GOP legislators said they had to enact an ID law because voters had approved one. But Biggs, who was appointed to the bench in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama, said the constitutional amendment was a cover for legislators that allowed them to present themselves as "faithful servants whose hands were tied."
The argument that lawmakers had to pass this particular bill falls short, she wrote. "While the legislature may had to pass some form of photo voter-ID law, it did not have to enact one which suffers from impermissible defects," she wrote.
The law did allow for more types of IDs to be used and allowed voters to get a free ID card or fill out a form explaining their "reasonable impediment" to obtaining one.
But legislators rejected an amendment allowing the use of public assistance IDs, which Biggs described as "particularly suspect."
Republican legislators have urged the state DOJ to seek a stay of the temporary injunction, saying Biggs' ruling was "inappropriate."
Their attorneys sent a letter Monday saying it's "imperative that you seek a stay of Judge Biggs' injunction immediately to avoid irreparable harm to the state."
A state DOJ spokeswoman didn't respond to an email seeking comment on the lawmakers' request. | 4 |
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Sign up! | TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Three mountain lions found feeding on human remains near a popular Tucson hiking trail have been killed, Arizona authorities said Wednesday.
They were not suspected of killing the person, but were determined to be a danger to the public because they showed no fear of officers trying to remove the remains, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a statement, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
The area in the Coronado National Forest was closed for a day while officials attempted unsuccessfully to trap the mountain lions.
The medical examiner will work to identify the name and cause of death for the person found Tuesday morning off the Pima Canyon Trail.
The trail at the base of Mount Lemmon was reopened on Wednesday, ahead of a planned Jan. 14 re-opening, after authorities decided there was no danger to the public.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 1 |
After Hemant Soren’s step to withdraw the Pathalgadi sedition case, Uddhavshould follow suit in releasing prisoners of Bhima-Koregaon sedition case.
Arun Srivastava31 Dec 2019 10:11 PM
While Hemant Soren, just after assuming the office of the chief minister of Jharkhand, withdrew the Pathalgadi sedition case in the maiden cabinet decision, the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, even after being in office for some time, has so far not initiated the process to withdraw the Koregaon sedition case. In both cases, innocent protesters were framed by the previous BJP governments of these two states. The Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand began in 2017 when some stone plaques and signboards were placed in over 200 villages. The inscriptions on the stones dismissed the authority of the state governments in their villages. Also Read – Lingering terror The plaques had inscriptions from the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act or PESA which underlined that villagers were independent of the state and the Central governments.
The state government and the state police took it as a challenge to the authority of the state. In fact, tribals would not have resorted to this form of movement if the Raghubar Da government had exercised some restraint. The trigger for this agitation was the move of the Das government to acquire their lands and hand over them to the corporate houses, particularly to the Adani group.
. In the wake of this move, Jharkhand witnessed a number of protests. Tribals took to streets. Bandhs were called. A couple of protesters were killed by the police. The movement at that point of time had received wide political support. The protagonists of the movement accused Das of snatching away rights of the tribal people after amending the CNT and SPT laws.
A total of 19 cases of sedition were registered against over 150 people. More than 75 FIRs were filed nearly against 1,000 supporters of the movement in different police stations of Khunti district in 2018. The government charged that the Pathalgadi movement was a separatist movement initiated by the tribal groups in 2017 against then Chief Minister Raghubar Das. The protesters did not even get relief from the High Court which declined to quash an FIR against four tribal leaders J Vikash Kora, Dharm Kishor Kullu, Emil Walter Kandulna and Ghanshyam Biruly, who were charged with sedition for allegedly inciting the members of the Munda tribal community to attack police officials on June 26, 2018. The BJP government claimed Pathalgadi was sponsored by Christian missionaries. But the accusations could not be substantiated as the Torpa block in Khunti district, which has the highest population of Christians, did not see any Pathalgadi ceremonies?
After the coalition government in Maharashtra took office, the partners approached Thackeray with the request to immediately withdraw the cases against activists who were arrested in Bhima-Koregaon violence and ridiculed as “urban Naxals” by the saffron brigade.
The activists suffered a lot because of ideological reasons. They are not Naxalites and they never indulged in violence. There was no credible evidence against them. The Shiv Sena was an ally of the BJP at that time. But even at that time, Uddhav had criticised police for holding a media trial of the accused persons instead of submitting the evidence before the court. The Bhima-Koregaon case is linked to the commemoration of a victory of the British army, made up mostly of Mahar soldiers, over a larger force led by the upper-caste Peshwas in 1818.
Over the decades, the commemoration, pioneered by BR Ambedkar, has become a signature event for Ambedkerites. The police carried out raids across the country and arrested several people including Telugu poet and writer Varavara Rao, rights activists Rona Wilson and Vernon Gonsalves, lawyers Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Surendra Gadling and journalist Gautam Navlakha.
Most of them have been behind bars since August 2018. The government accused the activists of involving in Maoist activities, including the plan to assassinate the Prime Minister, and collecting funds for the insurgents. Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde was put under house arrest after Delhi High Court stayed his detention.
What was most shocking was the accusation against Vernon Gonsalves of possessing the most “objectionable material”, Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace at his home. The book was presented as evidence for the activists’ affiliation with a banned organisation.
http://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/remedying-the-wrong-393647
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Related posts | Bhima Koregaon: When a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister was unearthed
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, Jan 01: Maharashtra braces for the Bhima Koregaon Anniversary. The spotlight is on the event being held to mark the 202nd anniversary. Security is tight in the wake of the protests around the newly amended citizenship law.
Further, it may be recalled that last year there was large scale violence that had broken out, following which the Pune police unearthed a major plot. Among the many anti-national acts that the police had cited, it also said that there was a plot hatched to kill the Prime Minister.
In a 5,000-page charge sheet, the Pune police spoke about an assassination plot that was hatched by the naxalites.
In the charge sheet filed, the police said that some of the naxal leaders were conspiring to kill the PM and had planned on procuring arms and ammunition with an intention of waging war against the country.
Bhima-Koregaon Anniversary: Maharashtra braces for historic day, security heightened
The police also said that the Maoists are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December as part of this strategy.
NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020
The Maoist-backed conclave "aggravated" the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, the charge sheet said.
The over 5,000-page charge sheet named 10 persons, including activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6.
Besides, it named five Maoist leaders believed to be underground: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu.
"Maoist leaders including...Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition," it stated.
The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi's assassination plan.
The larger conspiracy of CPI (Maoists) was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the charge sheet claimed.
The charge sheet, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC, was filed in the court of District & Sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane here.
The Elgar Parishad had been organised with "inspiration, money and directions" of Maoists, it alleged.
After Uddhav assures to drop Bhima-Koregaon cases, BJP asks is this Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena
"It is the policy of the CPI (Maoists)... to mobilise Dalit community's sentiments and mislead them and provoke them to take violent path against the system," it said.
"As a part of this strategy, Sudhir Dhavale and other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM, a cultural group) spread hatred by giving inciting speeches, presenting distorted history and staging provocative skits and songs," it said.
On the directions of CPI (Maoists) Dhavale and KKM, under the banner of Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan, galvanised Dalit organisations and organised Elgar Parishad on December 31, the charge sheet said.
"During the conclave, inciting speeches were made, inflammatory songs and street plays were played...all these things aggravated the violence on January 1, 2018, at Bhima Koregaon (in Pune district) during 200th commemoration of Bhima Koregaon battle," it said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the investigating officer, said Pune Police recorded the statement of surrendered Maoist leader Pahad Singh.
"Singh gave details of Milind Teltumbade's role. He revealed that Teltumbade has the responsibility of spreading Maoist network in urban areas and he is particularly involved in mobilizing the Dalit community for Maoist activities," he said.
Singh's statement is part of the charge sheet.
Bhima Koregaon: Why do you have 'War and Peace' at home, Bombay HC asks Vernon Gonsalves
Vishrambaug police here had initially registered a case on the complaint of Tushar Damgude who alleged that "provocative" speeches at Elgar Parishad led to violence at Bhima Koregaon in which one person was killed.
In August, Pune Police arrested rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Telugu poet Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha in the case. The charge sheet does not name them.
Dalits at a commemoration event of the Bhima Koregaon battle -- in which the forces of the Peshwa, ruler of Pune, were defeated by the British East India Company -- came under attack on January 1.
While Dalits see the victory as an assertion of their identity as the British forces included Mahar (a formerly untouchable caste) soldiers, some Hindu right-wing organisations were opposed to the celebration. | 3 |
ST. PAUL — While the United States' overall economy has picked up steam in the decade since the Great Recession, some parts of America still lag behind.
A United States Department of Agriculture report released in November illustrates the urban-rural divide, which has, by some metrics, deepened over the past 10 years.
Non-metro counties located close to metros or that have overall higher populations have kept pace with their metro counterparts. However, the country's most rural and isolated counties lag behind. Their populations are on the decline, employment rates are down, poverty rates have increased and residents' personal incomes have dropped in the past decade.
Population
Overall, population in America's non-metro counties has declined this decade. In July 2010, 46.3 Americans lived in non-metro counties. Eight years later, in July 2018, 46.1 million Americans lived in non-metro counties, marking a 0.4% decline.
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While the non-metro population has grown in the past two years alone, those gains — approximately 54,000 from 2016 to 2018 — do not offset the first-ever non-metro population decline earlier this decade. Between 2010 and 2016, non-metro counties saw a 260,000-person decline.
Population changes due to natural causes — births and deaths — are also at a historic low in non-metro counties, gaining 272,000 from natural changes between 2010 and 2018. These gains did not offset non-metro counties' population losses from net out-migration, which totaled 478,000 in those same years.
In contrast, metro counties saw population increases of almost 7% between 2010 and 2018. The greatest population losses were seen in America's most rural, isolated counties.
Employment
While employment, overall, is on the rise across the country, America's non-metro counties gains are lagging behind their metro counterparts.
Between 2010 and 2018, metro employment increased by 1.5%, compared to only 0.4% in non-metro counties. Employment growth has been faster in more populous non-metro counties, — about 4% in those years — while the country's most rural, isolated counties have actually seen a 0.4% decline in employment rates.
By the second quarter of 2019, employment rates in non-metro counties remained more than 1% below pre-Great Recession levels. Meanwhile, employment in metro counties has exceeded pre-recession levels by 9%.
Poverty and wealth
Since a peak in 2013, poverty rates have been on the decline across the country, but remain higher in America's more rural counties.
In 2011, non-metro counties' poverty rate was approximately 18.5%. Six years later in 2017, it was 16.4%. In metro counties, the poverty rate was approximately 15.5% in 2011, and dropped to 12.9% by 2017.
One way to measure economic health is through Personal Income Per Person, or PIPP. According to the report, PIPP remains lower and is growing more slowly in non-metro counties than in their metro counterparts, causing the income gap between metro and non-metro counties to widen over time.
Between 2010 and 2017, real (adjusted for inflation) PIPP in metro counties grew 13.5%, compared to 9.7% in non-metro counties. By 2017, PIPP reached approximately $54,000 in metro counties, compared to about $40,000 in non-metro. And in the country's most rural and isolated counties, PIPP has declined since 2015.
Part of the reason for this income gap, USDA theorizes, is because of losses in America's agricultural and mining markets. After farming- and mining-related incomes peaked in 2013 and 2014 respectively, incomes in these industries have dropped dramatically because of lower agricultural commodity prices and lower gas and oil prices.
In farming-dependent non-metro counties, PIPP declined by 5.1% between 2013 and 2017, per the report. And between 2014 and 2017, PIPP fell 7.8% in mining-dependent counties.
For non-metro counties that are not dependent upon farming and mining, PIPP has actually grown. Notably, non-metro counties with recreation have seen the greatest exponential PIPP gains in the last decade, and have had the highest PIPP among non-metro counties every year since 2014. | PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Each year, Google reveals the fastest-rising search terms people searched for. Eyewitness News took a look at the top search terms for each year of the past decade and some of them may surprise you.
In 2019, it appears that most people were curious about Disney+. The streaming service launched in November.
The men’s World Cup dominated 2018 searches. Team France defeated Croatia 4-2 for the title that year.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma led all searches. Several islands in the Caribbean were affected when the storm hit the region in September—it also caused widespread damage in Florida.
Powerball led all searches in 2016. The Term skyrocketed when the jackpot topped $1 billion in January of that year.
In 2015, Lamar Odom was the most searched term, as the former basketball player married Khloe Kardashian. Later that year he was discovered unconscious in a Nevada brothel.
Sadly, the death of Robin Williams led all searches in 2014. The comedian died in August of that year.
The fatal accident involving actor Paul Walker dominated searches in 2013. The Fast and Furious star died in November of that year at the age of 40.
Tragedy also struck in 2012, when legendary singer Whitney Houston died. Her name was the most searched term that year.
In 2011, then 13-year-old Rebecca Black became a music sensation when she released the catchy song “Friday.” The song went viral, kind of becoming an “ear-worm” stuck in the heads of millions of people.
Finally, way back in 2010, it was iPad leading all searches. Apple released the device that year and if you remember a lot of people were unsure if it would be a hit. To date, Apple has sold more than 350 million of them. | 1.333333 |
Related News
An early morning fire on New Year Day burnt down the Maiduguri home of a popular medical doctor in Borno State, Olugbenga Aina.
Mr Aina is a senior medical doctor in the Borno state Hospital Management Board.
The fire which started at about 9 a.m. could not be put out until the entire three-bedroom apartment was razed down.
A PREMIUM TIMES reporter in Maiduguri witnessed the incident.
All members of Mr Aina’s family were not hurt, but they lost belongings, including critical documents in the fire.
At the time of the incident, Mr Aina was 85km away in Bama where he is providing humanitarian services to thousands of displaced persons living in the town.
“We still cannot explain what happened that led to the fire…but everything in there including documents is gone,” one of his sons said.
Firefighters arrived 15 minutes after the fire started and stopped the fire spreading to adjoining buildings, but nothing was saved in the burnt house.
The physician was on his way back from Bama at the time of filing this report. | Not far from the Algerian border, the infant gave up its fight for life under the punishing Saharan sun.
“The mother, she is a friend of mine. Her baby passed away in the desert,” said Thomas Howard, a painter and decorator from the west African state of Liberia.
Mr Howard and his friend had migrated north to Algeria looking for work but were rounded up, beaten and robbed by Algerian security forces before being put in a truck, driven back south and dumped in the desert.
They were told to start walking south through the dunes as their captors drove away.
Since September 2017, Algeria has left more than 10,000 people at its southern border, leaving them to trek for hours without food or water towards scattered border towns in neighbouring Niger.
North African countries are cracking down on immigration in a bid to stem the flow of sub-Saharan migrants reaching the Mediterranean, and ultimately Europe, and they have received financial backing from Britain and the EU. | 1 |
January 2 – Fitness Hike at Little Sycamore
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this difficult, strenuous and fast-paced, 7.2-mile hike (1050-ft. elevation gain) over very steep, uneven terrain with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Laguna Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: This is a fitness hike; pace is approximately a 19-minute mile. For ages 15 and up. Ages under 18 are welcome with a signed waiver from a parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/fitnesshikeatlittlesycamore.
January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Wild Tales
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Bring your little wild ones to learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors. Join us for a fun-filled parent and child experience that includes storytelling, a guided nature walk and arts and crafts.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: www.ocparks.com/parks/newport
Cost: $5 per child
Parking: Free
Contact: Nathan Taxel at (949) 923-2290
Special Instructions: Trails are sandy/muddy, so wear closed-toe shoes and clothing suitable for the outdoors. Strollers are not recommended on the trails. Program and crafts are tailored for preschool level (ages 2-5); however, all ages are welcome to attend. Registration is required; please sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/wildtales.
January 4 – Let’s Go Hiking
8 – 10:30 a.m.
Do you want to take a hike with other nature enthusiasts? Enjoy a moderate (100-ft. elevation gain) 3.5-mile hike through Canyon and Mariposa trails with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. You’ll experience a variety of plant communities, from coastal sage scrub to oak woodland and enjoy a panoramic view of the canyon at the top. You’ll also see one of Orange County’s few natural lakes.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: No experience is necessary, and tools are provided. Be sure to wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water. Ages 5-16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16-18 are welcome with a waiver signed by a parent/guardian that is collected at the start of the event. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/lets-go-hiking.
January 4 – Keep It Wild – Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
8 – 11 a.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks for our habitat restoration stewardship in Aliso and Wood Canyons. We’ll learn and work together to create a healthier home for the park’s native plants and wildlife. Depending on the time of year, volunteers may assist with removal of non-native plants, seed collection, planting of native plants and/or trash pick-up along the creek.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Park Ranger Headquarters (from Alicia Parkway, turn onto Awma Road, then left into the parking lot). 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Cost: Free
Parking: Free for volunteers
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: No experience is necessary, and tools are provided. Be sure to wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water. Ages 5-16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16-18 are welcome with a waiver signed by a parent/guardian that is collected at the start of the event. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.org/keepitwild.
January 4 – Wilderness Access Day: Black Star Canyon
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Black Star Canyon offers pleasant introductory trails for beginner hikers and families, as well as challenging experiences for seasoned trail users. Designated trails are available for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. A variety of loops offer extended exploration throughout the canyons. Take time to explore the local plant communities and beautiful scenery in easy 30-minute walks or take in 7 miles in a strong cardio trek.
Location: Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park, Baker Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 12 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Register online at www.letsgooutside.org/wildernessaccessdayblackstar.
January 4 – Wilderness Access Day: Black Star Canyon, Equestrian
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Discover the history found along the trails in beautiful Black Star and Baker Canyons from the back of your horse. Designated trails will be open for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use, where you can reach several peaks to view the local canyon terrain or meander along single tracks though the thick chaparral brush. Riders who have trail riding experience with a fit and able horse will enjoy choosing routes from easy 30-minute walks to strenuous 7-mile loops.
Location: Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park, Baker Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 16 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required, register online at www.letsgooutside.org/wildernessaccessdayequestrian.
January 4, 8, 11, 15, 22, 25, 29 – Dig in! Plant & Protect Wildflowers with the Native Seed Farm
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Want to have fun while giving back to nature? Then come help out at the Native Seed Farm in Irvine! There you can help the Irvine Ranch Conservancy grow and harvest native seeds which will be used to repair wildland right here in Orange County.
Location: Native Seed Farm
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 8 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; to register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/plantandprotectflowers.
January 4 – Modjeska’s Holiday Open House
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The holiday is in full swing at the historic Modjeska House and Gardens. Holiday trees are adorned with dried fruit garlands, with miniature candles and Polish-inspired ornaments adding to the festive flair. Rooms filled with glowing candles and seasoned with pine and mistletoe create a wonderful sense of times gone by. Enjoy the home and gardens this holiday with family and friends. Enjoy hot cocoa and the famous Modjeskas, a caramel marshmallow that Madame Modjeska approved herself.
Location: Arden: Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens. 29042 Modjeska Canyon Road, Silverado, CA 92676
Website: www.ocparks.com/modjeskasholidayopenhouse
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2230
Special Instructions: Space is limited. To register, please call (949) 923-2230.
January 4 – Volunteer Led Hike
12 – 1 p.m.
Join Caspers Park Foundation volunteers for a one-mile guided nature hike in the beautiful Bell Canyon area of Caspers Wilderness Park. Hike lasts approximately one hour and is suitable for all ages.
Location: Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Meet at the Old Corral Day Use Area, adjacent to the restrooms.
Website: www.ocparks.com/caspers
Cost: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2210
Special instructions: Contact park office for hike updates and cancellations.
January 4 – Family Hike
3 – 5 p.m.
Come and enjoy an easy, 2.5-mile family hike over moderate but uneven terrain (45-ft. elevation gain). Starting at the James Dilley Preserve, we will hike one of the most diverse areas of the park to Barbara’s Lake and back. The hike is led by Laguna Canyon Foundation naturalist volunteers.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (I-5 or 405 south to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: All ages are welcome. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; sign up at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/familyhike.
January 4 – Sunset Fitness Hike on Paved Hicks Haul Road: Both Sides of Loma Ridge
4 – 6 p.m.
You will enjoy a gorgeous sunset with panoramic views of Orange County while hiking on the paved Hicks Haul Road. This hike travels 6 miles, out and back on both sides of Loma Ridge. If you are comfortable with our mid-week after work fitness hike, this is the perfect activity for you to get your workout in and view the sunset.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Hicks Haul Road, Jeffrey Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: Ages 16 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; sign up at www.letsgooutside.org/sunsetfitnesshike
January 5, 12, 19, 26 – Ranger Led Hike
8 – 9:15 a.m.
Join OC Parks rangers for a one-mile nature hike in the beautiful Bell Canyon area of Caspers Wilderness Park. The hike lasts approximately one hour and is suitable for all ages.
Location: Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Meet at the Old Corral Day Use Area.
Website: www.ocparks.com/caspers
Cost: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2210
Special Instructions: Contact park office for hike updates.
January 5 – Santiago Oaks Guided Nature Hike
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Join us on a moderate 2-mile hike that includes climbing 400 feet above the Santiago Creek watershed as we watch for raptors, birds and other wildlife. Along the way, you will learn about some of the animals that call the park home and how they are dealing with the recent Canyon 2 Fire.
Location: Santiago Oaks Regional Park. 2145 Windes Dr, Orange, CA 92869
Cost: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Special Instructions: Ages 18 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Sign up at www.letsgooutside.org/santiagooakshike.
January 5 – January Migratory Bird Survey
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
From October 2019 through March 2020, Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve will host monthly migratory bird surveys open for public participation. We will be tracking the abundance and diversity of the amazing variety of migratory birds who overwinter on the bay. This activity is open to birders at all levels and no experience is necessary.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: Nathan Taxel at (949) 923-2277
Special Instructions: Participants can expect to walk 2 to 3 miles over uneven terrain. Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. To register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/migratorybirdsurvey.
January 6 – The Lure and Lull of Limestone Canyon and the Sinks Equestrian Ride
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Take a leisurely equestrian ride through beautiful Limestone Canyon, home of oak woodlands, grasslands and coastal sage scrub. View evidence of the old ranch days when cattle once roamed the area and see plants that are native to our area. You will be touring the beautiful Natural Landmarks.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Augustine Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 16 and up. Registration is required. Sign up at www.letsgooutside.com/limestonecanyonride.
January 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 – After Work Fitness Hike on Paved Hicks Haul Road
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us every Monday and Wednesday night for a fitness-focused hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road. During spring, summer and fall, hikers will enjoy wonderful sunset views and a panoramic overview of Orange County.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Hicks Haul Road, Jeffrey Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 16 and up. Registration is required; sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/afterworkhike.
January 7 – Twilight Hike: Fremont Canyon
2:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Come enjoy a scenic fast-paced twilight hike in the remote Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve. Our hike climbs steeply from the mouth of Fremont Canyon, past an abandoned coal mine, up to the Fremont Weather Station where winds have been clocked up to 100 mph. After enjoying the view, we’ll turn around and hike back the same way to our starting point. This challenging hike involves steep hills and a 1,200 feet elevation change, but the rewards are sweeping views at the magic hour of twilight, just before and after sunset.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Hicks Haul Road, Jeffrey Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 18 and up. Registration is required; sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/twilighthike.
January 7, 14, 21, 28 – Tuesday Morning Fitness Hike on Paved Hicks Haul Road
9 – 11:30 a.m.
Ready for a workout? Forget the gym for the day and head outside! Join us for an exhilarating morning fitness walk on the paved Hicks Haul Road. This hike allows you to choose between a three, six or eight-mile route, all of which are conducted at the speed of about 3 to 3.5 miles per hour.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Hicks Haul Road, Jeffrey Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Walkers should be confident in their ability to hike three, six or eight miles at a steady pace. Ages 16 and up. Registration is required; sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/tuesdaymorninghike.
January 8 – Yoga Hike
9 – 10:30 a.m.
Stretch your mind and body on this 2.4-mile hike with a yoga twist over steep and uneven terrain (100-ft. elevation gain) led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas).
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Please bring water, your own yoga mat and large beach towel. Mats will not be provided. For ages 15 and up. Ages under 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.org/yogahike.
January 9 – Fitness Hike at Ridge Park
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this difficult, strenuous and fast-paced, 6.6-mile hike (1,100-ft. elevation gain) over steep and uneven terrain with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Ridge Park Staging Area (Newport Coast Drive to Ridge Park Rd. east to end; meet at the gate). 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: This is a fitness hike; pace is approximately a 19-minute mile. For ages 15 and up. Ages under 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/fitnesshikeatridgepark.
January 9 – Native Plant Nursery at Augustine Staging Area
9:30 – 11 a.m.
Please join us at the Augustine native plant nursery to plant native shrubs and enhance native habitat at the staging area. We will be working in close proximity to the parking area at the Augustine staging area in Limestone Canyon.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Augustine Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 12 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; to register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/nativeplantnursery.
January 9 – Intermediate Evening Mountain Bike Ride
5 – 7 p.m.
Explore Limestone Canyon by night on this intermediate mountain bike night ride. We will ride out of Augustine, up Loma Ridge, down to The Sinks and along Limestone Ridge or Limestone Valley, depending on the group.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Augustine Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Please plan for a distance between 10-12 miles. Please arrive early as it will get dark quickly. Ages 18 and up. Registration is required; sign up at www.letsgooutside.org/eveningmountainbikeride.
January 10 – Distance Hike: Limestone Canyon
7:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Join us for a scenic, fast-paced, challenging distance hike in the beautiful Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. This 10 to 12-mile hike offers sweeping views of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains as well as possible wildlife sightings. Depending on timing, this hike may include a visit to The Sinks and/or Dripping Springs.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Augustine Staging Area
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: This hike is for physically fit hikers who enjoy the challenge of multiple steep climbs and descents. Ages 18 and up. Registration is required; sign up at www.letsgooutside.org/distancehike.
January 10 – Animal Art II Preschool Program
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Join us for an hour of creativity and fun with an animal theme! Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts and meeting zoo animals up close! There will be different crafts than Animal Art I.
Location: OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park). 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: www.ocparks.com/zoo
Cost: $5 per child (includes one adult)
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (714) 973-6846
Special Instructions: Ages 3-4 years old only. Parent must accompany child for the duration of the program. Registration is required; call (714) 973-6846 to register.
January 10 – Full Moon Hike
7 – 9 p.m.
Meet at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center for a walk around the Bay, lit by the full moon. We will see and hear nocturnal animals as the “night shift” clocks in for duty.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2250
Special Instructions: Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Walk-ins are welcome, however space is limited, so registration is suggested. Sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/fullmoonhike.
January 11 – Extreme Cardio Hike: Fremont Run and Hike Loop
6:30 – 11 a.m.
Join us for a strenuous, extremely challenging, fast-paced, early morning cardio run/hike around Fremont Canyon loop. This is a 16-mile cardio run/hike, completed in 4.5 hours. The first 10 miles are intensely difficult over a 3,500 ft. elevation change.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: This hike is for experienced, physically fit hikers who enjoy the challenge of multiple steep climbs and descents. Those who are not prepared may have to return to the staging area and not complete the hike. Ages 18 and up. Registration is required; to register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/extremecardiohike.
January 11 – Hicks Haul Fitness Run: Extended 10K Distance
6:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Join us for a road run in the Irvine Ranch Open Space. We’ll run on the paved Hicks Haul Road, up to a 10k (6.5 miles) distance. We’ll begin with some warm-up exercises before we set off on our run. The route is up and over Loma Ridge, providing both uphill and downhill training on both the out and the back portions. The pace is up to you, but you must finish and be back to the staging area by our designated end time. Besides not having to share the road with vehicles, we’ll enjoy being surrounded by the amazing natural resources of the Landmarks and far-reaching views of the Santa Ana mountains to the north on our way out and then the pacific coastline on our return leg of the run.
Location Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Hicks Haul Road, Jeffrey Staging Area
Parking: Free
Special Instructions: Ages 12 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. To register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/hickshaulfitnessrun.
January 11 – King Tide at the Bay
8 – 10 a.m.
King tides are the highest tides of the year and occur during full moons in the winter. They are also previews of how rising sea levels may affect coastal communities. Join us at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center for a family-friendly program to learn about how and why king tides occur and how anyone can help document their impact through the Coastal Commission’s “California King Tides Project.” All you need is a smartphone or camera!
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: www.ocparks.com/parks/newport
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: Nathan Taxel at (949) 923-2290
Special Instructions: Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Rain will cancel the event. Walk-ins are welcome but registration is suggested. To register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/kingtide.
January 11 – Keep It Wild – Nursery and Plant Care
8 – 11 a.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers in beautiful Laguna Coast Wilderness Park at our native plant nursery as we care for native plants from their seed stage to their mature, ready-to-be planted stage. Volunteers may collect seeds, sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, plant at restoration sites, sterilize plant containers and help maintain the nursery. Gain hands-on experience with habitat restoration while working alongside other zany and interesting plant lovers!
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, just south of El Toro Road). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: Free for volunteers
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sun protection. Ages 5-16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16-18 are welcome with a waiver signed by a parent/guardian that is collected at the start of the event. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/keepitwild.
January 12 – Trail Stewardship
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
If you use the wilderness park for hiking, biking, photography or just relaxing, trail stewardship will be right up your alley! Get up close and personal with the trail you use; you’ll see the trails in a whole new way. This is fun hard work. Whatever your skill level is, there is a job to do: cleaning drains of brush; building “gargoyles” to better define the trail; moving dirt or building an in-slope turn. We will be using tools such as loopers, picks, shovels and McLeods to restore features that protect the trail and/or build new features to improve trail sustainability. Remember: let’s keep users on the trail and water off the trail to prevent fragmentation of our precious wilderness.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Big Bend Staging Area (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 1 mile south of El Toro Road). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: Free for volunteers
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sun protection. Ages 5-16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16-18 are welcome with a waiver signed by a parent/guardian that is collected at the start of the event. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/trailstewardship.
January 12 – Second Sunday Restoration
9 – 11:30 a.m.
Join Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve staff and volunteers in enhancing the Bay’s habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, trash cleanup and Butterfly Garden maintenance.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: www.ocparks.com/parks/newport
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2290
Special Instructions: No experience is necessary; please bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks, etc. Water and tools are provided. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Rain or heat advisories cancel the event. Sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/secondsundayrestoration.
January 12 – Geology Hike
1 – 4 p.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Enjoy an afternoon of unspoiled canyon views and learn about the geology of this area. The rocks and fossils reveal fascinating stories about the park’s ancient environments. There will be a brief introduction lecture at the trailhead. This will be a 4-5-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (600-ft. elevation gain).
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area. 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: This hike is not for beginners. Be sure to carry water and wear proper shoes and attire.Hiking poles are suggested. If we have to cancel the event due to weather or other circumstances, we will notify you through your provided email address. Ages 15 and up (with a signed waiver from a parent). Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/geologyhike.
January 15 – Discovery Hike
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Explore beautiful Wood Canyon and discover its native flora and fauna with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this steep, uneven and rocky 5-mile hike (depending on trail choice, up to a 500 ft. elevation gain). While we will stop from time to time, spending moments to “discover,” this hike isn’t for beginners.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas).
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: We will meet on the paved sidewalk easement leading toward Wood Canyon Trail. Please wear closed-toe hiking shoes and sun protection and bring plenty of water. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/disoveryhike.
January 16 – Fitness Hike at Willow
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 5.5-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (750-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area. 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: This is a fitness hike and not for beginners; pace is approximately a 19-minute mile. For ages 15 and up. Ages under 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/fitnesshike.
January 16 – Nose, Toes & Ears Preschool Program
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Come find out why some animals have big or small noses or ears and what their toes look like! Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts and meeting zoo animals up close!
Location: OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park). 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: www.ocparks.com/zoo
Cost: $5 per child (includes one adult)
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (714) 973-6846
Special Instructions: Ages 3-4 years old only. Parent must accompany child for the duration of the program. Registration is required; call (714) 973-6846 to register.
January 17 – Tot Walk
9 – 11:30 a.m.
Join OC Parks naturalists along with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers and bring your young ones (infant to age three) to explore Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park’s wild backyard. Take a leisurely stroll through the garden and to the creek. We will see bugs, plants and birds and explore! Park rangers and OC Parks staff may even lead a game or introduce a local resident to the children. Come join the fun!
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Park Ranger Headquarters. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From southbound Aliso Creek Road, turn right on Alicia Parkway, first right on Awma Road, then left into the parking lot.
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: If the event is cancelled due to weather or any other circumstance, you will be notified through your provided email address. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/totwalk.
January 18 – Irvine Regional Park Fishing Derby
7 – 11 a.m.
OC Parks would like to invite you and your kids to a fun morning of fishing at Irvine Regional Park! This is a Kids’ Fishing Derby (for ages 15 and under). The lake will be stocked with rainbow trout. Trophies will be given to the participants who catch the largest fish!
Location: Irvine Regional Park. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: www.ocparks.com/parks/irvine
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (714) 973-6835
Special Instructions: Please bring your own fishing pole and bait. Adults will not be permitted to fish until the event is over. Registration is required at the OC Parks check-in table on the day of the event.
January 18 – Keep It Wild – Big Bend
8 – 11 a.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks at one of our habitat restoration stewardship events in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park as we learn and work together to create a healthier habitat for the native plants and wildlife that call the canyon their home. Depending on the time of year, volunteers will assist with various stewardship activities, including removal of non-native plants, seed collection and/or planting of native plants.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Big Bend Staging Area (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 1 mile south of El Toro Road). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: Free for volunteers
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sun protection. Ages 5-16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16-18 are welcome with a waiver signed by a parent/guardian that is collected at the start of the event. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/keepitwildbigbend.
January 18 – Habitat Restoration
9 – 11 a.m.
Help us enhance Talbert Regional Park by joining our team of volunteers. You and fellow volunteers will restore habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, trail maintenance, planting and watering. No experience is necessary.
Location: Talbert Regional Park. 1298 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, CA 9262. The group will meet at the vehicular gate to the park, located on Balboa Blvd.
Cost: Free
Parking: Free; street parking will be available at the end of 19th Street in the city of Costa Mesa (19th St. and Balboa Blvd.)
Special Instructions: Minors must have a legal guardian present at all times. Sturdy boots, long pants and long sleeves are highly recommended. All training, tools and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Space is limited and registration is required. Sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/habitatrestoration.
January 18 – Star Light, Star Bright Night Hike
5:30 – 8 p.m.
Come see Carbon Canyon Regional Park in a completely different setting – in the dark! Park rangers will lead starlit hikes showcasing the natural wonders that can only be seen at night. The night hikes will feature many fun activities, including hot cocoa and cookies, live animal presentations and a hike through the wilderness area to Redwood Grove.
Location: Carbon Canyon Regional Park. 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea, CA 92823, Parking Lot B
Website: www.ocparks.com/starlighthike
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (714) 973-3160
Special Instructions: This is an outdoor event. Please dress warmly, wear good walking shoes and bring a flashlight. Rain will cancel event. Space is limited, and registration is required; sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/starlighthike.
January 19 – Intro to Mountain Biking
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer mountain bike trail assistants on this beautiful 8-mile bike ride (400-ft. elevation gain) on uneven terrain. Learn mountain biking basics and trail etiquette while enjoying the canyon views.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Park Ranger Headquarters. 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. From southbound Aliso Creek Road, turn right on Alicia Parkway, take the first right on Awma Road, then left into the parking lot.
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: Must have helmet, gloves, hydration; a snack is strongly suggested. Also, be prepared for varied weather out in the canyons. The bike ride is not for beginners. Ages 15 and up are welcome with a signed waiver from parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/intromountainbiking.
January 19 – Intermediate Mountain Biking
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Catch beautiful canyon views on this 10-mile ride over steep and uneven terrain (1,600-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer mountain bike trail assistants.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Park Ranger Headquarters. 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. From southbound Aliso Creek Road, turn right on Alicia Parkway, take the first right on Awma Road, then left into the parking lot.
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: This is for intermediate riders with mountain biking experience. Appropriate mountain biking equipment is required. Must have helmet, gloves, hydration; a snack is strongly suggested. Also, be prepared for varied weather out in the canyons. This bike ride is not for beginners. Ages 15 and up are welcome with a signed waiver from parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/intermediatemountainbiking.
January 19 – Introduction to Nature Journaling and Writing
1 – 3 p.m.
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve presents Introduction to Nature Writing and Journaling. Join us for a classroom workshop followed by time in the field where participants will get an introduction to nature journaling, learn some basic nature observation techniques and explore the art of creative writing and sketching.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: No experience is necessary. All ages are welcome, but this program will be geared toward adult learners. Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Walk-ins are welcome; however seating is limited, so registration is suggested. To register, visit www.letsgooutside.org/intronaturejournaling.
January 20 – Reach for the Heights with Quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hike up the Little Sycamore trail with your family and friends, elevated by the words of our brave, brilliant and compassionate American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drop in between 10 and 2 p.m. to hike on your own, reading inspirational quotes along the path to lift your spirits. From the ridge, enjoy the view of the canyons.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: This moderate 2-mile hike is over uneven, steep and sometimes rocky terrain with a 400-ft. elevation gain. Hiking poles are recommended. Recommended for hikers ages 9 and up. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/reachfortheheights.
January 23 – Fitness Hike at Canyon View
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, moderately paced, 6.2-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (800-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas).
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: We will meet on the paved sidewalk easement leading toward Wood Canyon Trail. For ages 15 and up; ages under 18 must have a signed waiver from parent. Registration is required; sign up at www.lagunacanyon.org/fitnesshikeatcanyonview.
January 25 – Trail Stewardship
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
If you use the wilderness park for hiking, biking, photography or just relaxing, Trail Stewardship will be right up your alley! Get up close and personal with the trail you use; you’ll see the trails in a whole new way. This is fun hard work. Whatever your skill level is, there is a job to do: clearing drains of brush; building ”gargoyles” to better define the trail; moving dirt or building an in-slope turn.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas).
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: We will be using tools such as loppers, picks, shovels and McLeods to restore features that protect the trail and/or build new features to improve trail sustainability. Remember: let’s keep users on the trails and water off the trail to prevent fragmentation of our precious wilderness. Snacks will be provided. Expect to hike up to 4 miles during our morning. Please wear long pants, closed-toed shoes and sun protection. Bring plenty of water. The location will be determined closer to the date. Register online at www.lagunacanyon.org/trailstewardship.
January 26 – Bird Walk
8 – 11 a.m.
Spot local native and winter resident birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this 2-mile hike over moderate but uneven terrain (up to 100-ft. elevation gain) through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (I-5 or 405 south to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: For ages 12 and up; minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Be sure to wear hiking or walking shoes and bring your binoculars. All ages are welcome. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; sign up at www.lagunacanyonfoundation.com/bridwalk.
January 26 – Junior Ranger Day at the Bay
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Come earn your Junior Ranger Badge and Certificate at Upper Newport Bay. Participants will go on a guided hike, complete a short service project and take the junior ranger oath. Activities will be designed for learners in the 9 to 12 age range, but everyone is welcome to attend.
Location: Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2250 or email [email protected]
Special Instructions: Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Rain will cancel the event. Registration is required, sign up online at www.letsgooutside.org/juniorrangerday.
January 29 – Discovery Hike
8:30 – 11 a.m.
Explore beautiful Wood Canyon and discover its native flora and fauna with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this steep, uneven and rocky 5-mile hike (depending on trail choice, up to a 500 ft. elevation gain). While we will stop from time to time, spending moments to “discover,” this hike isn’t for beginners.
Location: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas).
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Contact: (949) 923-2200
Special Instructions: We will meet on the paved sidewalk easement leading toward Wood Canyon Trail. Please wear closed-toe hiking shoes and sun protection and bring plenty of water. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/discoveryhike.
January 30 – Trail Running
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers on a 5.5-mile run for intermediate level trail runners. This run, with an elevation gain of 600 feet on the rugged terrain of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, is a great way to experience the trails. Please come ready to have fun.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area. 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: Be sure to wear proper shoes and attire, carry water and snacks. Ages 16 and up are permitted with a signed waiver from parent. Registration is required; sign up online at www.lagunacanyon.org/trailrunning.
January 30 – Fitness Hike at Dilley
8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 4.8-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (650-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (I-5 or 405 south to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right). 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (949) 923-2235
Special Instructions: This is a fitness hike and not for beginners; pace is approximately a 19-minute mile. For ages 15 and up with a signed waiver from parent. Registration is required; sign up at www.lagunacanyon.org/fitnesshike-dilley.
January 30 – Scales, Feathers & Fur Preschool Program
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Come learn all about animals covered with scales, feathers or fur! Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts and meeting zoo animals up close!
Location: OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park). 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: www.ocparks.com/zoo
Cost: $5 per child (includes one adult)
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Contact: (714) 973-6846
Special Instructions: Ages 3-4 years old only. Parent must accompany child for the duration of the program. Registration is required; call (714) 973-6846 to register.
This article was released by OC Parks. | Woody Guthrie's 1943 New Year's Resolutions are a powerful reminder to "Keep the hope machine running."
I'd seen this before, but I was reminded of it when I saw Billy Bragg share a webcomic version of it on Facebook. But here are Woody Guthrie's New Year's resolutions from 1943. While they were written in the throes of World War II, I think we'd all do well by following their example every day and every year, but especially right now.
1. Work more and better
2. Work by a schedule
3. Wash teeth if any
4. Shave
5. Take bath
6. Eat good — fruit — vegetables — milk
7. Drink very scant if any
8. Write a song a day
9. Wear clean clothes — look good
10. Shine shoes
11. Change socks
12. Change bed cloths often
13. Read lots good books
14. Listen to radio a lot
15. Learn people better
16. Keep rancho clean
17. Dont get lonesome
18. Stay glad
19. Keep hoping machine running
20. Dream good
21. Bank all extra money
22. Save dough
23. Have company but dont waste time
24. Send Mary and kids money
25. Play and sing good
26. Dance better
27. Help win war — beat fascism
28. Love mama
29. Love papa
30. Love Pete
31. Love everybody
32. Make up your mind
33. Wake up and fight
Dance better. Beat fascism. Keep the hope machine running. I think that pretty much covers everything.
Woody Guthrie’s Doodle-Filled List of 33 New Year’s Resolutions From 1943 | 1 |
Cardiovascular Devices Market 2020 Global Industry Demand, Industry News, Business Updates by Size, Share, Sales Revenue Forecast by 2025 – Industry Research.co
Posted on Jan 2 2020 6:55 AM
"Cardiovascular Devices Market Report provides a logical calculation of the major challenges confronted by Influence Driver Market currently and in the coming years, which helps Market participants in understanding the problems they may face while operating in this Market over a longer period of time. "
Global ' Cardiovascular Devices Market report 2020 highlights key points of industry which includes market dynamics and growth of Cardiovascular Devices industry in upcoming years. The research report provides geographically analysis. This report provides in-depth information of Top key players, Types and Applications. The report contains Industry Overview, Definition, Specifications, Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis, Raw Material and Suppliers, R & D Status and Technology Source. Cardiovascular Devices market report also presents the proficient and detailed analysis of the current situation of industry.
Get a Sample Copy of the Report at - https://www.industryresearch.co/enquiry/request-sample/14926749
Global Cardiovascular Devices Market Analysis:
Cardiovascular devices are designed to diagnose, prevent, monitor and treat diseases related to the cardiovascular system, including heart diseases and related health problems.
The global Cardiovascular Devices market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025.
This report focuses on Cardiovascular Devices volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall Cardiovascular Devices market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan.
At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report.
Global Cardiovascular Devices Market Covers Following Manufacturers:
Medtronic
Abbott Laboratories
Boston Scientific
Cardinal Health
Edwards Lifesciences
Global Cardiovascular Devices market 2020 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications, and industry chain structure. The Global Cardiovascular Devices market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue, and gross margins.
Important Features that are under Offering and Key Highlights of the Reports:
Detailed overview of Market
Changing market dynamics of the industry
In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc.
Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value
Recent industry trends and developments
Competitive landscape of Cardiovascular Devices Market
Strategies of key players and product offerings
Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth
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On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of Cardiovascular Devices Market types split into:
Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices
Interventional Cardiology Devices
Defibrillator Devices
Peripheral Vascular Devices
Prosthetic Heart Valve Devices
Others
On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Cardiovascular Devices Market applications , includes:
Hospitals
Clinics
Others
Region and Country Coverage:
Europe: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe
North America: USA, Canada
South and Central America: Brazil, Mexico
Middle East and Africa: South Africa, Saudi Arabia
Asia Pacific: Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Cardiovascular Devices are as follows:
History Year: 2014-2018
Base Year: 2018
Estimated Year: 2020
Forecast Year 2020 to 2025
Purchase this Report (Price 2900 USD for a Single-User License) - https://www.industryresearch.co/purchase/14926749
The study objectives of this report are:
To study and analyze the global Cardiovascular Devices market size (value & volume) by company, key regions, products and end user, breakdown data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.
To understand the structure of Cardiovascular Devices market by identifying its various sub-segments.
To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).
Focuses on the key global Cardiovascular Devices companies, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape and recent development.
To project the value and sales volume of Cardiovascular Devices submarkets, with respect to key regions.
To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.
Cardiovascular Devices Market TOC Covers the Following Points:
1 Study Coverage
1.1 Cardiovascular Devices Product
1.2 Key Market Segments in This Study
1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered
1.4 Market by Type
1.5 Market by Application
2 Executive Summary
2.1 Global Cardiovascular Devices Market Size
2.2 Cardiovascular Devices Growth Rate (CAGR) 2020-2025
2.3 Analysis of Competitive Landscape
2.4 Key Trends for Cardiovascular Devices Markets & Products
3 Market Size by Manufacturers
3.1 Cardiovascular Devices Production by Manufacturers
3.2 Cardiovascular Devices Revenue by Manufacturers
3.3 Cardiovascular Devices Price by Manufacturers
3.4 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans
4 Cardiovascular Devices Production by Regions
4.1 North America
4.2 Asia-Pacific
4.3 Europe
4.4 South America
4.5 Middle East and Africa
5 Cardiovascular Devices Consumption by Regions
5.1 Global Cardiovascular Devices Consumption by Regions
6 Market Size by Type
6.1 Global Cardiovascular Devices Production by Type
6.2 Global Cardiovascular Devices Revenue by Type
6.3 Cardiovascular Devices Price by Type
7 Market Size by Application
7.1 Overview
7.2 Global Cardiovascular Devices Breakdown Data by Application
8 Manufacturers Profiles with Company Detail, Production Revenue and Gross Margin (2014-2020)
9 Production Forecasts
9.1 Cardiovascular Devices Production and Revenue Forecast
9.2 Cardiovascular Devices Production and Revenue Forecast by Regions
9.3 Cardiovascular Devices Key Producers Forecast
9.4 Forecast by Type
10 Consumption Forecast
11 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis
12 Market Opportunities & Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis
13 Key Findings in the Global Cardiovascular Devices Study
Click Here for Detailed TOC
Contact Us:
Name: Ajay More
Phone: US +14242530807/ UK +44 20 3239 8187
Email: [email protected]
Our Other Reports:
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MENAFN02012020007010266ID1099497092 | DUBLIN, Dec. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Cleanroom Lighting Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forcast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Research and Markets Logo More
The Global Cleanroom Lighting Market is poised to grow strong during the forecast period 2018 to 2028
Some of the prominent trends that the market is witnessing include increasing adoption of modular cleanrooms, high adoption in sterile manufacturing areas in pharmaceuticals industry and increasing demand for energy-efficient cleanrooms.
This industry report analyzes the market estimates and forecasts of all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2015, 2016 revenue estimations are presented for 2017 and forecasts from 2018 till 2028.
The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors.
Report Highlights
The report provides a detailed analysis on current and future market trends to identify the investment opportunities
Market forecasts till 2028, using estimated market values as the base numbers
Key market trends across the business segments, Regions and Countries
Key developments and strategies observed in the market
Market Dynamics such as Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and other trends
In-depth company profiles of key players and upcoming prominent players
Growth prospects among the emerging nations through 2028
Market opportunities and recommendations for new investments
Key Topics Covered
1 Market Outline
2 Executive Summary
3 Market Overview
3.1 Current Trends
3.1.1 Increasing Adoption of Modular Cleanrooms
3.1.2 High Adoption in Sterile Manufacturing Areas in Pharmaceuticals Industry
3.1.3 Increasing Demand for Energy-Efficient Cleanrooms
3.1.4 Growth Opportunities/Investment Opportunities
3.2 Drivers
3.3 Constraints
3.4 Industry Attractiveness
3.4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers
3.4.2 Bargaining power of buyers
3.4.3 Threat of substitutes
3.4.4 Threat of new entrants
3.4.5 Competitive rivalry
4 Cleanroom Lighting Market, By Mounting Type
4.1 Surface Mounted
4.2 Recessed Mounted
5 Cleanroom Lighting Market, By Light Source
5.1 Light Emitting Diode (LED)
5.2 Fluorescent
6 Cleanroom Lighting Market, By Offering
6.1 Services
6.2 Hardware
6.3 Software
7 Cleanroom Lighting Market, By End User
7.1 Industrial Manufacturing
7.2 Healthcare and Life Sciences
7.3 Food & Beverages
7.4 Other End Users
7.4.1 Scientific Research Institutes
7.4.2 Aerospace
8 Cleanroom Lighting Market, By Geography
8.1 North America
8.1.1 US
8.1.2 Canada
8.1.3 Mexico
8.2 Europe
8.2.1 Germany
8.2.2 U.K
8.2.3 Italy
8.2.4 France
8.2.5 Spain
8.2.6 Rest of Europe
8.3 Asia Pacific
8.3.1 China
8.3.2 Japan
8.3.3 India
8.3.4 Australia
8.3.5 New Zealand
8.3.6 Rest of Asia Pacific
8.4 Middle East
8.4.1 Saudi Arabia
8.4.2 UAE
8.4.3 Rest of Middle East
8.5 Latin America
8.5.1 Argentina
8.5.2 Brazil
8.5.3 Rest of Latin America
8.6 Rest of the World (RoW)
8.6.1 South Africa
8.6.2 Others
9 Key Player Activities
9.1 Acquisitions & Mergers
9.2 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures
9.3 Product Launch & Expansions
9.4 Other Activities
10 Leading Companies
10.1 Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals
10.2 LUG Light Factory
10.3 Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting
10.4 Kenall Manufacturing
10.5 Eagle Lighting
10.6 Signify (Philips Lighting)
10.7 Paramount Industries
10.8 Terra Universal
10.9 Eaton Corporation PLC
10.10 Hilclare Ltd
10.11 Solite Europe
10.12 Imperial Sp. Z O.O. S.K.
10.13 Linder AG
10.14 Ledspan Ltd.
10.15 Havells India
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fo1vzn
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