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(CNN) Australia is being ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades, with large swaths of the country devastated since the fire season began in late July.
At least 28 people have died nationwide, and in the state of New South Wales (NSW) alone, more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. State and federal authorities are struggling to contain the massive blazes, even with firefighting assistance from other countries, including the United States.
All this has been exacerbated by persistent heat and drought, and many point to climate change as a factor making natural disasters go from bad to worse.
Where are the fires?
A satellite image of the bushfires burning across Australia on December 26.
There have been fires in every Australian state, but New South Wales has been hardest hit.
Blazes have torn through bushland, wooded areas, and national parks like the Blue Mountains. Some of Australia's largest cities have also been affected, including Melbourne and Sydney -- where fires have damaged homes in the outer suburbs and thick plumes of smoke have blanketed the urban center. Earlier in December, the smoke was so bad in Sydney that air quality measured 11 times the "hazardous" level.
Haze from the bushfires is seen over Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 10, 2019.
The fires range in area from small blazes -- isolated buildings or part of a neighborhood -- to massive infernos that occupy entire hectares of land. Some start and are contained in a matter of days, but the biggest blazes have been burning for months. In NSW alone, more than 100 fires are still burning.
What is causing the fires?
Each year there is a fire season during the Australian summer, with hot, dry weather making it easy for blazes to start and spread.
Natural causes are to blame most of the time, like lightning strikes in drought-affected forests. Dry lightning was responsible for starting a number of fires in Victoria's East Gippsland region in late December, which then traveled more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in just five hours, according to state agency Victoria Emergency.
Humans can also be to blame. NSW police have charged at least 24 people with deliberately starting bushfires, and have taken legal action against 183 people for fire-related offenses since November, according to a police statement.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Animal rescuer Marcus Fillinger carries a burned kangaroo on February 4 in Peak View, Australia. Fillinger tranquilized the wounded animal for transport to a recovery center. Hide Caption 1 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A bushfire burns near the town of Bumbalong, south of Canberra on February 2. Hide Caption 2 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Horses panic as a fire burns near Canberra, Australia, on Saturday, February 1. Hide Caption 3 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter coats a bridge with foam as a bushfire burns near Moruya, Australia, on Saturday, January 25. Hide Caption 4 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia In this long-exposure photo, a car's taillights streak at left as a wildfire glows at dusk near Clear Range, Australia, on Friday, January 31. Hide Caption 5 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An airplane dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennent as fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park in Canberra on Thursday, January 30. Hide Caption 6 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People embrace near the scene of a water tanker plane crash in Cooma, Australia, on Thursday, January 23. Three American crew members died in the crash. Hide Caption 7 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Flying embers are seen in this long-exposure photo from Moruya on Thursday, January 23. Hide Caption 8 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A young koala named Jeremy receives medical attention for burns at the Healesville Sanctuary in Badger Creek, Australia, on January 23. Hide Caption 9 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters battle the Morton Fire as it burns a home near Bundanoon, Australia, on January 23. Hide Caption 10 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The Parliament House in Canberra is blanketed by bushfire smoke on January 23. Hide Caption 11 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter battles the Morton Fire as it consumes a home near Bundanoon on January 23. Hide Caption 12 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Veterinarian Ludo Valenza holds two grey-headed flying foxes, which were being treated for bushfire injuries at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah, Australia, on Wednesday, January 15. Hide Caption 13 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Lt. Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire on Australia's Kangaroo Island. Hide Caption 14 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A smoky haze from bushfires hovers over the Melbourne skyline ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, January 14. Poor air quality disrupted the qualifying rounds of the tournament. Hide Caption 15 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Properties damaged and destroyed by fire are seen in Nerrigundah, Australia, on Monday, January 13. Hide Caption 16 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Debris remains where houses stood in the Australian village of Wingello on January 13. Hide Caption 17 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Bonnie Morris and sister Raemi Morris look on as their family and firefighters battle bushfires at the edge of their family farm in Karatta on Saturday, January 11. Hide Caption 18 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Pictures of firefighters are projected onto the Sydney Opera House on January 11. Hide Caption 19 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A vehicle makes its way through thick fog mixed with bushfire smoke in the Ruined Castle area of the Blue Mountains on January 11. Hide Caption 20 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Protesters march through downtown Melbourne on Friday, January 10, in response to the ongoing bushfire crisis. Hide Caption 21 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An aerial view shows a track running through trees that were scorched by bushfires in East Gippsland, Australia, on Thursday, January 9. Hide Caption 22 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A pile of wood chips burns at a timber mill in Eden, Australia, on January 9. Hide Caption 23 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Lisa Poulsen tends to her Clydesdale horse, Jake, on January 9. Jake suffered burn injuries in a bushfire on December 31. Hide Caption 24 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A small wave of black water full of burned debris breaks at a beach at Eden on January 9. Hide Caption 25 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A dead kangaroo lies on a burnt farm in Batlow. Hide Caption 26 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter backs away from flames after lighting a controlled burn near Tomerong on January 8. Hide Caption 27 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Stephenie Bailey is embraced on Wednesday, January 8, as she describes the impact the bushfires have had on her farm in Batlow. Hide Caption 28 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Charlotte O'Dwyer, the young daughter of Rural Fire Service volunteer Andrew O'Dwyer, wears her father's helmet during his funeral after being presented with a service medal in his honor by RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Tuesday, January 7, in Sydney. Hide Caption 29 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A resident throws a bucket of water onto a smoldering tree on his property on Monday, January 6, in Wingello, Australia. Hide Caption 30 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A military helicopter flies above a burning woodchip mill in Eden, New South Wales, on January 6. Hide Caption 31 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist, on Sunday, January 5, in this image provided by the Australian Department of Defence. HMAS Adelaide and army reserve forces have been assisting with bushfire evacuations on the southern coast of New South Wales. Hide Caption 32 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Families are evacuated by air from Mallacoota on January 5. Hide Caption 33 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man walks past ash from bushfires washed up on a beach in Merimbula on January 5. Hide Caption 34 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The flight deck of a C-130J Hercules is lit by the red glow of the fires below as the aircrew attempts to land in Merimbula to drop off fire and rescue crews to assist fighting the bushfires on January 5. Hide Caption 35 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image provided by NASA on Saturday, January 4, shows smoke from fires burning in Victoria and New South Wales. Hide Caption 36 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A father holds his daughter as the skies above turn red during the day on January 4 in Mallacoota, Australia. Many parents with young children were stuck in Mallacoota after flights were grounded because of smoke and only school-aged children and older were allowed to evacuate by boat. Hide Caption 37 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A Royal Australian Navy crew unload luggage as evacuees from Mallacoota arrive aboard the MV Sycamore on January 4 at the port of Hastings, Australia. Hide Caption 38 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from wildfires shrouds a road near Moruya, Australia, on January 4. Hide Caption 39 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Nancy Allen stands outside her house as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire toward Nowra in New South Wales on January 4. Hide Caption 40 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Evacuees board the Royal Australian Navy's MV Sycamore on January 3 in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia. Navy ships plucked hundreds of people from beaches and tens of thousands were urged to flee before hot weather and strong winds in the forecast worsen Australia's already devastating wildfires. Hide Caption 41 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria on January 2. Hide Caption 42 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Royal Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons presents a posthumous Commendation for Bravery and Service on January 2 to the son of RFS volunteer Geoffrey Keaton, who was killed battling bushfires , at Keaton's funeral in Buxton, New South Wales. Hide Caption 43 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage on January 2 behind Lake Conjola. Hide Caption 44 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Cars line up as people evacuate the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales on January 2. Hide Caption 45 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A satellite image released by Copernicus Sentinel dated December 31 shows bushfires burning across Australia. Hide Caption 46 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on December 31. Hide Caption 47 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man tries to defend a property in Lake Conjola on December 31. Hide Caption 48 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales on December 31, 2019. Thousands of holidaymakers and locals were forced to flee to beaches in fire-ravaged southeast Australia on December 31, as blazes ripped through popular tourist areas leaving no escape by land. Hide Caption 49 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A destroyed home in Sarsfield, East Gippsland, Victoria, on December 31. Hide Caption 50 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children evacuated from areas affected by bushfires play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega on December 31. Hide Caption 51 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A skycrane drops water on a bushfire burning near houses in Bundoora, Melbourne, on Monday, December 30. Hide Caption 52 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured this satellite image of the historic bushfires burning across Australia on December 26. Hide Caption 53 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is briefed by fire officials at New South Wales Rural Fire Service control room in Sydney on December 22. Morrison arrived back in Sydney amid criticism after taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the bushfire emergency. Hide Caption 54 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Tributes for volunteer firemen Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton are seen at Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade in Sydney, Australia, on December 22. It's believed they were killed when their vehicle hit a tree before rolling off the road, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said in a statement Hide Caption 55 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter battles the Gospers Mountain Fire in Bilpin, New South Wales, on Saturday, December 21. Hide Caption 56 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A charred bicycle lies on the ground in front of a house destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of Bargo on December 21. Hide Caption 57 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fire and rescue personnel monitor a bushfire as it burns near homes on the outskirts of Bilpin on Thursday, December 19. Hide Caption 58 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A property burns in Balmoral on December 19. Hide Caption 59 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops fire-retardant to protect a property in Balmoral. Hide Caption 60 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police disperse demonstrators during a climate protest near Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's official residence in Sydney, on December 19, during his absence on an overseas holiday, as bushfires burned across the region. Hide Caption 61 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children swing into the Penrith river during a heatwave in Sydney on December 19. Hide Caption 62 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A landscape of burnt trees is pictured after a bushfire at Mount Weison, in the Blue Mountains, on Wednesday, December 18. Hide Caption 63 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A wallaby flees a fire burning near Mangrove Mountain, north of Sydney, on December 10. Hide Caption 64 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A smoke haze blankets Bondi Beach as the air quality index reaches higher than ten times hazardous levels in some suburbs of Sydney on December 10. Hide Caption 65 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People join a guided climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as bushfire haze darkens the sky on December 6. Hide Caption 66 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People are seen wearing face masks to protect against the poor air quality in Sydney on December 5. Hide Caption 67 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A bushfire burns out of control in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales on December 2, Hide Caption 68 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An aerial view shows bushfires burning in the Richmond Valley on November 26. Hide Caption 69 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A CFA crew member rests after a day of maintaining controlled back burns in St Albans, Australia, on November 21. Hide Caption 70 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An injured koala receives treatment after its rescue from a bushfire at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on November 19. The hospital said the fires have "decimated" the area, which is a key habitat and breeding ground for the marsupials. More than 350 koalas are feared to have been killed by bushfires in NSW, according to animal experts. Hide Caption 71 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to protect the Colo Heights Public School on November 19. Hide Caption 72 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Bushfire smoke clouds the sky over the Hawkesbury River in Brooklyn, Australia. Hide Caption 73 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters work on controlled back burns on November 14. Hide Caption 74 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image shows wildfire smoke on November 14. Hide Caption 75 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man uses a wet towel to help put out flames near the town of Taree on November 14. Hide Caption 76 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters organize their crews prior to working on controlled back burns in Sydney on November 14. Hide Caption 77 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Warren Smith pats his dog after returning to find his house destroyed near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 78 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Teresa de Ruyter, left, and Michelle Wilson embrace after returning to their homes near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 79 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters battle a spot fire in Hillville on November 13. Hide Caption 80 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Residents look on as thick smoke rises from bushfires near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 81 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks at a screen as he gets a briefing on the bushfire situation on November 12. Hide Caption 82 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Locals watch the fires impact farmland near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 83 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter mops up after a bushfire in the Sydney suburb of Llandilo on November 12. Hide Caption 84 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire and rescue team inspects damage around the village of Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 85 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage to the area around his home in Torrington. His home was spared, but his neighbors' house was burned to the ground. Hide Caption 86 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from the Gulf Road Fire fills the air in Glen Innes on November 11. Hide Caption 87 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A sign on a Taree fire station warns of "catastrophic" fire conditions. Hide Caption 88 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A lone joey is pictured on a scorched patch of ground in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 89 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Emergency crews tend to animals on a property in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 90 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Burnt trees dot the landscape in Old Bar on November 10. Hide Caption 91 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter works to contain a bushfire near Taree on November 10. Hide Caption 92 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Old Bar on November 9. Hide Caption 93 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This aerial photo, taken on November 9, shows bushfires in the northeastern part New South Wales. Hide Caption 94 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster on November 9. Hide Caption 95 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire rages in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 96 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The remains of a property are seen in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 97 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A plane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington on November 8. Hide Caption 98 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to put out a bushfire in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 99 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police knock on the door of a house to warn residents of an out-of-control bushfire near Clumber on November 8. Hide Caption 100 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A resident hoses smoldering logs as a bushfire burns in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 101 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The sun is seen through heavy smoke as a bushfire burns in Woodford. Hide Caption 102 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down an area in Woodford. Hide Caption 103 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Forster residents watch as a water-bombing helicopter flies over a bushfire on November 7. Hide Caption 104 of 105 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia In this handout photo from NASA's Aqua satellite, destructive bushfires are seen off the coast of New South Wales on November 7. Hide Caption 105 of 105
Why are the fires so bad?
Fire season in Australia is always dangerous -- the 2009 Black Saturday fires killed 173 people in Victoria, making it the deadliest bushfire disaster on record. But conditions have been unusually severe this year, fanning the flames and making firefighting conditions particularly difficult.
Australia is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades -- the country's Bureau of Meteorology said in December that last spring was the driest on record. Meanwhile, a heatwave in December broke the record for highest nationwide average temperature, with some places sweltering under temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius (about 113-120 degrees Fahrenheit).
Strong winds have also made the fires and smoke spread more rapidly, and have led to fatalities -- a 28-year-old volunteer firefighter died in NSW in December after his truck rolled over in high winds.
Experts say climate change has worsened the scope and impact of natural disasters like fires and floods -- weather conditions are growing more extreme, and for years, the fires have been starting earlier in the season and spreading with greater intensity.
A climate action protest in Sydney, Australia, on January 10, 2020.
Several high-ranking emergency service officials, including the former commissioner of the NSW Fire and Rescue Department, sent letters to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2019 warning of the impact of the climate crisis on Australia.
In response, Morrison emphasized a commitment to reduce carbon emissions -- but also said he would stick to "sensible" policies, and that there wasn't "a single policy, whether it be climate or otherwise," that can completely protect against the fires.
What has been the damage so far?
Bushfire survivor Melinda Plesman examines the remains of her destroyed property in Nymboida, NSW.
Entire towns have been engulfed in flames, and residents across several states have lost their homes. The heaviest structural damage occurred in NSW, the country's most populated state, where 1,588 homes have been destroyed and over 650 damaged.
In total, more than 7.3 million hectares (17.9 million acres) have been burned across Australia's six states -- an area larger than the countries of Belgium and Denmark combined. The worst-affected state is NSW, with more than 4.9 million hectares (12.1 million acres) burned.
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To put that into perspective, the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires burned more than 7 million hectares (about 17.5 million acres), according to Brazilian officials . In California, which is known for its deadly wildfires, just over 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) burned in 2019, and about 404,680 hectares (1 million acres) in 2018.
A total of 28 people across Australia have died this fire season, including several volunteer firefighters
The remains of burnt buildings in the New South Wales town of Cobargo on December 31, 2019.
How many animals have died?
About half a billion animals have been affected by the fires across NSW, with millions likely dead -- and that's a conservative estimate. That number of total animals affected could be as high as one billion nationwide, according to ecologists from the University of Sydney.
The figures for NSW include birds, reptiles, and mammals, except bats. It also excludes insects and frogs, so the real sum is almost certain to be higher, the ecologists said.
Almost a third of koalas in NSW may have been killed in the fires, and a third of their habitat has been destroyed, said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
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Some species, like koalas, aren't in any immediate danger of extinction because they are spread out across the country, said the university ecologists. But others that live in more niche environments with lower populations, including certain types of frogs and birds, could be wiped out entirely if their habitats are hit by the fires.
These are pretty good estimates based on previous research on population density -- but until the fires stop, researchers have no way of surveying just how extensive the damage is, and exactly how many animals have died.
What is being done?
Firefighters battle bushfires around the town of Nowra, New South Wales, on December 31, 2019.
State and federal authorities have been working to combat the fire crisis for months.
Early in January, Victoria declared a state of disaster and NSW declared a state of emergency -- both granting extraordinary powers and additional government resources to battle the fires. The state of Queensland also briefly declared a state of emergency in November.
There are more than 2,000 firefighters working on the ground in NSW alone, and more support is on the way -- the US, Canada, and New Zealand have sent additional firefighters to help.
The Australian Defence Force is assisting in firefighting efforts around the country.
The federal government has also sent in military assistance like army personnel, air force aircraft, and navy cruisers for firefighting, evacuation, search and rescue, and clean-up efforts.
The Morrison administration has also allocated billions of dollars in federal aid, to help rebuild vital infrastructure like schools and health facilities struck by fire.
The prime minister earlier said up to $4,200 will go to each of the volunteer firefighters battling blazes for more than 10 days. Other relief measures include compensated pay and extra leave for volunteer firefighters.
When will the fires end?
Unfortunately, Australia is only about halfway through its summer season. Normally, temperatures peak in January and February, meaning the country could be months away from finding relief.
The fires are unlikely to end entirely since they are an annually occurring event -- and may even get worse if recent years are a guide. | Advertisement
One of the biggest peacetime evacuations in Australian history is under way as devastating bushfires threaten a 250km stretch of the south-east coastline.
Catastrophic conditions which fanned blazes on the New South Wales south coast and in eastern Victoria on Wednesday will return on Saturday as the mercury hits 46C.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has told people to flee the area from Bateman's Bay down to the state border - as a navy landing ship prepares to evacuate people trapped in Mallacoota in eastern Victoria as roads are closed off.
'If you are planning on visiting the South Coast this weekend, it is not safe. Do not be in the area on Saturday,' the service said.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance called it the 'largest evacuation of people out of the region ever' as a queue of cars clogged the highway toward Sydney while thousands fled.
Locals and holidaymakers who decided to stay queued for hours for supplies as panic-buying emptied shelves at supermarkets which were powered by generators as electricity was turned off.
At 10am on Thursday the HMAS Choules and the MV Sycamore, a defence contracted training vessel, arrived off the coast of Mallacoota where 4,000 people are stranded - as troops in helicopters delivered food, water and medicine to isolated towns.
The ships will tomorrow morning carry hundreds from the town to either Western Port or Port Welshpool, depending on which has more favourable conditions.
Those who choose to leave after three meetings with police and defence officials this afternoon and evening will be loaded at 7am via smaller boats.
Tourists and residents have been told to evacuate a 250km stretch of the New South Wales south coast as devastating bushfires threaten the area
A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala on January 1
Residents met in the Mallacoota town hall on Thursday afternoon for an evacuation briefing by defence force officials
Left: Commanding Officer of HMAS Choules CMDR Scott Houlihan leading a liaison team to meet with community leaders in Mallacoota, Victoria. Right: HMAS Choules travels through smokey haze off the coast of Mallacoota, Victoria on 2 January
HMAS Choules' enhanced medical team disembarks a MRH-90 Taipan maritime support helicopter as the ship prepares to provide support to the communities affected by bushfires
Holidaymakers attempting to flee Batemans Bay before temperatures reach 46C on Saturday were trapped on the roads with long rows of cars seen piled up on Thursday
HMAS Choules' flight deck team marshals an aircraft as the ship prepares to provide support to the communities affected by bushfires
HMAS Choules (pictured leaving Sydney Harbour on Wednesday) will provide relief to 4,000 people who remain stranded in Mallacoota, Victoria
On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, NSW as fires raged
This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers told the ABC officials are desperate to get tourists out before Saturday as strong winds, scorching temperatures and low humidity was forecast.
'We have so many fires still burning down there … and quite close to communities as well,' he said.
'We won't get containment on those fires before Saturday.'
HMAS Choules HMAS Choules is a Bay-class landing ship that served with the British Royal Navy from 2006 to 2011. The vessel was built by Swan Hunter in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. She was named after Largs Bay in Ayrshire, Scotland. During her career with the RFA, Largs Bay served as the British ship assigned to patrol the Falkland Islands in 2008, and delivered relief supplies following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. When she was bought by Australia in 2011, she was re-named HMAS Choules. Advertisement
Major highways leading out of the leave zone, including the Princes Highway between Milton and Nowra, were reopened on Thursday. Falls Creek at Jervis Bay Road and Corks Lane at Milton has also reopened but with reduced speed.
However, many people have struggled to flee as many petrol stations have either run out of fuel or are without power. Queues of cars have been seen at the remaining petrol stations around Batemans Bay that still have stock.
Tankers of 60,000 litres of fuel were brought in overnight to help with the disaster.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said in press conference on Thursday afternoon that 17 people are missing feared dead and one is confirmed dead after fires in Gippsland on Wednesday.
Talking about the evacuation effort, he said the HMAS Choules was able to carry roughly 700 passengers at a time.
'We think around 3,000 tourists and 1,000 locals are there. Not all of those will want to leave, not all can get on the vessel at one time,' he said.
'Then there's a whole lot of planning going on about where that vessel will go, it will be a long trip, potentially a 10 or 12 hour trip to take them to another port and then to provide them with all the support they will need.'
Meanwhile, Kosciuszko National Park is being evacuated ahead of Saturday. 'This is an essential measure to protect life,' National Parks and Wildlife has warned.
Hundreds of fires are burning out of control across the country in a horrific season which has killed 18 people, razed 1,298 homes and destroyed millions of hectares of land.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has told people to flee the area from Bateman's Bay down to the state border
An evacuation zone stretching more than 250 kilometers along the New South Wales South Coast has been set up as scorching temperatures and more devastating bushfires threaten the area
Thousands of people are stranded in the seaside town of Mallacoota (pictured trapped on the beach on Tuesday)
This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra on the NSW south coast
Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020
On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, NSW, which has experienced power outages
This satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread
Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather forecast for Saturday
Water supplies in towns in both Victoria and New South Wales have been affected by the fires.
On Tuesday boil notices were issued for Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele after disinfection infrastructure was lost.
Power was restored to 11,000 homes in New South Wales' South Coast on Wednesday but more than 30,000 people are still without electricity or internet.
People who had suffered horrific burns or were injured in the fires were forced to wait for more than 24 hours until they were rescued by the Navy as roads remain closed.
Since Monday, eight have been killed and four are missing feared dead in the fires in NSW and Victoria.
On Wednesday a 42-year-old man was rescued by a Navy helicopter from Cadgee, south of Moruya, and a 49-year-old woman and 23-year-old woman were rescued from Nowra.
Tourists walk through dense smoke from bushfires in front of the Batemans Bay bridge as cars line up to leave the town in New South Wales to head north on January 2
Traffic has been barely moving as hundreds flee Batemans Bay in New South Wales before temperatures skyrocket on Saturday
AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that trees had fallen on roads and had become welded to the bitumen making the task of clearing highways even more difficult.
There are concerns that food supplies will deplete quickly with no way to deliver more food.
On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, which has experienced power outages.
Store manager Craig Scott said the supermarket was running on a recently purchased generator - but it was close to running out of fuel.
He was hoping local boat owners would share their diesel to ensure essential food and milk wouldn't spoil.
'The power's out in town, but we decided to open the store just for necessities, so people can get nappies, baby food, all that sort of stuff,' he said.
In the town of Tura Beach there were long queues of people waiting to fill up on petrol and to get supplies at the supermarket.
One woman called Kerry told the ABC: 'A car queue of 50 waiting to get petrol and people in Woolworths clearing the shelves … apocalyptic.'
Ulladulla Woolworths opened its doors on Wednesday to give locals unable to leave the chance to stock up on supplies
A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra, NSW, on Tuesday
Vehicles gutted by bushfires are seen in the town of Lake Conjola in New South Wales on January 1, 2020
Workers erect fences around properties that were destroyed in a bushfire in Cobargo on January 1
Conditions improved on Wednesday for firefighters but RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of hellish weather this weekend which would be worse than Tuesday, despite roads reopening.
'Unfortunately that also correlates with where we have some of the worst, most damaging ad destructive bushfires in NSW at the moment,' he said.
Very high fire danger is forecast on Thursday for eight fire districts on or west of the Great Diving Range while high fire risk is due for some coastal regions.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said communities needed to brace for the worrying weekend and more fatalities possibly coming to light in coming days.
'Many people who have been here for decades are just completely shocked that the fire reached as far as it did,' she told reporters at Batemans Bay.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys asked for patience as police and utility providers tried their best to get power and telecom services restored down the south coast.
'We have to make sure that when we restart the power, we do that with safety and confidence, that it will remain on. People need to understand this is not a simple or easy task.'
Mr Fitzsimmons said the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Tourists were warned to get out while they still could.
Eight people have died in bushfires since Monday, seven in New South Wales and one in Victoria.
SLEEPLESS NIGHT FOR NSW SOUTH COAST EVACUEES A Rural Fire Service firefighter conducts mopping up near the town of Sussex Inlet on December 31 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS As fires took hold over the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve, evacuees, daytrippers, dogs and a tortoise crammed into a bowling club. Sussex Inlet man David Warner was among a group of locals who had travelled to Nowra by bus before the Princes Highway was blocked off on Tuesday. 'When we came in, everything was blue, it was all good and then 11 o'clock (there was) all these fires, smoke, sirens everywhere,' Mr Warner told AAP on Wednesday. 'I said, we're not going to get back.' Unlike those who had evacuated to Bomaderry Bowling Club, Mr Warner had nothing with him. He said those running the centre were very nice but 'none of us slept at all'. 'It was shocking,' he said. 'I will never forget this New Year's. 'It'll be stuck in my head 'til the day I die.' Near people and their pets - including dogs, cats and a tortoise - he watched Sydney's famous foreshore fireworks on a giant projection screen hanging at the front of the room as sausage sandwiches were served. 'I forgot it was New Year's actually because of all of what was going on,' Mr Warner said. Reality hit home on Wednesday as information from Sussex Inlet began filtering through the evacuation centre. The body of a yet-to-be-identified man was found about midday in a vehicle on Wandra Road. Sussex Inlet was a community where 'everyone knows everyone', Mr Warner said. 'I'm a bit upset about it because I don't know who it is, and we know a lot of people in Sussex,' he said. Crews on Wednesday built containment lines around the massive Currowan fire that impacted Sussex Inlet and other towns over a 100km stretch of the coast. A watch-and-act alert advises communities to monitor conditions, beware of falling trees and seek shelter as the firefront approaches. Advertisement
Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19
NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.
The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.
Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.
A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.
The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.
Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, as found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.
An 81-year-old woman who was missing from Conjola Park was found alive on Wednesday.
Destroyed buildings are seen in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 202. Several bushfire-ravaged communities in NSW have greeted the new year under immediate threat
Pictured: Food truck in Narooma offering free food to locals who have been displaced or affected in the bushfire catastrophe
VICTORIA REELS FROM 'HORRIFYING' EAST GIPPSLAND BUSHFIRES Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flies in helicopter over the East Gippsland fires in Victoria on Wednesday January 1 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Victorians are reeling from 'hurricane-like' and 'horrifying' bushfires which have claimed the life of a man in East Gippsland. Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and on Wednesday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his Buchan home. 'He's not missing anymore,' Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page. 'His body has been found in his house..very sad day for us to srart (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick.' Victoria Police said a person had been found dead in Buchan, but the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed. Earlier on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said four people were still missing, but would not say what communities in East Gippsland the people belonged to. 'Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people,' he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre. Mr Andrews lamented reports of Mr Roberts' death. 'It is of course the worst of all news, the notion that someone has lost their life,' he told ABC Gippsland. After spending more than a day on emergency alert, the bushfire threat in East Gippsland and at Corryong in northeast Victoria was downgraded to watch and acts. More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt, after three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday. The blaze at Corryong has burnt at least 109,000 hectares. The total area burnt has exceeded that of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. There were more than 40 fires still burning across Victoria at 9:30pm on Wednesday with 11 at the watch and act level. The risk of flare-ups elsewhere remains. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday and dry lightning has continued to spark new fires. Mr Andrews spent Wednesday in East Gippsland where he said emotions were running high. 'I spoke with people today and they just said it was hurricane-like, horrifying, terrifying, the most frightening experience of their life.' 'The next few days are going to be a lot of hard work and the next few months will be a very long and steady process of helping these communities to rebuild,' the premier said. So far, confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa. Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast. AusNet said it could take days to restore power because it was unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage. Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk. A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota, an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border, from Tuesday to reduce public health risks. A NSW police boat brought in water to Mallacoota on Tuesday and a Victoria water police boat is taking 1.6 tonnes of water on Wednesday. A barge from Melbourne with two weeks' supply of food, water and fuel is also making its way to the town. After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel have begun helping with the relief effort, including undertaking rapid damage assessments. Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in coming days to move people out of the area. Naval vessels including HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed. Advertisement
Frightening satellite images from January 1 showed the horrifying extent of the bushfires on the NSW South Coast
Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowr
2019/2020 FIRE SEASON DEATH TOLL NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday. The recent deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega. A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning. The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday. Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning. On Sunday, young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was fighting a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, when the truck he was in rolled, killing him instantly. Two other firefighters died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, were later named as the volunteers involved in the tragic accident the following day. Both men were young fathers and had volunteered with the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service brigade for more than a decade. Two people also died in South Australian fires before Christmas, including 69-year-old engineer Ron Selth. His body was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21. Another person died in a fiery car crash on the same day. In early November, just weeks into the horror fire season which has been baring down on the nation for months, three people perished in northern NSW. George Nole's body was found in a burnt out car near his home in Glen Innes while 63-year-old Julie Fletcher's body was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree. Vivian Chaplain, a 69-year-old woman from Wytaliba, succumbed to her injuries in hospital after attempting in vain to save her home and animals from the blaze. The fourth victim was named just days later as 58-year-old Barry Parsons. His body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on November 13. 77-year-old Bob Lindsey and 68-year-old Gwen Hyde were found in their burned out property on October 9th. Advertisement
In Western Australia, another 40 bushfires are still raging, but despite burning through more than 1.2million hectares of land the fires have only destroyed one home.
A bushfire south of Perth was controlled and contained late on Wednesday leading authorities to downgrade their alert about the blaze.
An emergency warning had been issued for the fire at Sandringham Park, Orelia, about 3pm on Wednesday, with residents told the flames could put their homes at risk.
Aerial support had been sent to assist ground crews battling the blaze.
Authorities downgraded the alert to an advice level an hour later, once the fire was under control and contained. | 3.333333 |
Paris - Experienced Pole Robert Kubica will be a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo in the 2020 season, the team announced on Wednesday.
Kubica, 35, made his return to Formula One with Williams last season following a long absence caused by a life-threatening rally crash.
He will back up Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Kubica's return to the team formerly known as Sauber has been facilitated by a sponsorship deal between Alfa Romeo and his principal backer, Polish oil company PKN Orlen. | LONDON, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Robert Kubica will be Alfa Romeo's Formula One reserve driver for the 2020 season with Polish oil company and personal backer PKN ORLEN joining as co-title sponsor, the Swiss-based team said on Wednesday.
Kubica, 35, made his race debut with the team in 2006 when they were competing as BMW Sauber.
The Pole, who suffered a near-fatal rally accident in 2011, made his comeback with struggling former champions Williams last season but left at the end of the campaign in which he scored their sole point.
"I'm starting a new chapter in my career by joining Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN. This is a team that has a special place in my heart and it'll be nice to see the familiar faces I still remember from Hinwil," he said in a statement.
Alfa Romeo's race drivers this year are Finland's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, an unchanged lineup from 2019.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
REUTERS2 | 4 |
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Australia is teetering on the edge of a humanitarian crisis as remote communities remain cut off from medical help, water sources are compromised and food and fuel supplies run low.
Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving at least 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather conditions forecast for Saturday.
HMAS Choules, which delivered emergency supplies to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, left Sydney on Wednesday and docked off the coast of fire-stricken Mallacoota mid-morning on Thursday.
The vessel can carry 700 passengers but there are 4,000 people who remain stranded in the seaside town after it was devastated by bushfires.
The ship has also brought much-needed relief for those who will remain.
Authorities are considering airlifting more supplies, such as water, toilet paper and basic medical supplies as some roads may be closed for weeks.
On New Year's Eve residents and tourists fled to Mallacoota's beach, ready to throw themselves in the water to protect themselves from the flames while the sky turned an apocalyptic red.
There are concerns that the town's water supply has now become contaminated due to the fires, and residents have been told to boil water until it can be tested.
HMAS Choules (pictured leaving Sydney Harbour on Wednesday) will provide relief to 4,000 people who remain stranded in Mallacoota, Victoria
HMAS Choules, which delivered emergency supplies to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, left Sydney on Wednesday and docked off the coast of fire-stricken Mallacoota mid-morning on Thursday
HMAS Choules' flight deck team marshals an aircraft as the ship prepares to provide support to the communities affected by bushfires
Thousands of people are stranded in the seaside town of Mallacoota (pictured trapped on the beach on Tuesday)
This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra on the NSW south coast
Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020
On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, NSW, which has experienced power outages
This satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread
Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather forecast for Saturday
Water supplies in towns in both Victoria and New South Wales have been affected by the fires.
On Tuesday boil notices were issued for Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele after disinfection infrastructure was lost.
Power was restored to 11,000 homes in New South Wales' South Coast on Wednesday but more than 30,000 people are still without electricity or internet.
People who had suffered horrific burns or were injured in the fires were forced to wait for more than 24 hours until they were rescued by the Navy as roads remain closed.
Since Monday, eight have been killed and four are missing feared dead in the fires in NSW and Victoria.
On Wednesday a 42-year-old man was rescued by a Navy helicopter from Cadgee, south of Moruya, and a 49-year-old woman and 23-year-old woman were rescued from Nowra.
Many people have taken the advice to flee the area, however, this has created a backlog of traffic out of Batemans Bay.
Pictures show a large stretch of cars waiting in a smoke haze as holidaymakers try to get out before Saturday.
Although some roads reopened on Wednesday, including the Princes Highway - the main road running through the fire affected region - some will remain closed for weeks.
Many people have taken the advice to flee the area, however, this has created a backlog of traffic out of Batemans Bay (pictured: Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales to head north)
Traffic has been barely moving as hundreds flee Batemans Bay in New South Wales before temperatures skyrocket on Saturday
AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that trees had fallen on roads and had become welded to the bitumen making the task of clearing highways even more difficult.
There are concerns that food supplies will deplete quickly with no way to deliver more food.
On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, which has experienced power outages.
Store manager Craig Scott said the supermarket was running on a recently purchased generator - but it was close to running out of fuel.
He was hoping local boat owners would share their diesel to ensure essential food and milk wouldn't spoil.
'The power's out in town, but we decided to open the store just for necessities, so people can get nappies, baby food, all that sort of stuff,' he said.
In the town of Tura Beach there were long queues of people waiting to fill up on petrol and to get supplies at the supermarket.
One woman called Kerry told the ABC: 'A car queue of 50 waiting to get petrol and people in Woolworths clearing the shelves … apocalyptic.'
Ulladulla Woolworths opened its doors on Wednesday to give locals unable to leave the chance to stock up on supplies
A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra, NSW, on Tuesday
Vehicles gutted by bushfires are seen in the town of Lake Conjola in New South Wales on January 1, 2020
Local petrol stations have been forced to post signs letting residents know they've been run completely dry of petrol - while others simply don't have any power to operate.
Conditions improved on Wednesday for firefighters but RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of hellish weather this weekend which would be worse than Tuesday, despite roads reopening.
'Unfortunately that also correlates with where we have some of the worst, most damaging ad destructive bushfires in NSW at the moment,' he said.
Very high fire danger is forecast on Thursday for eight fire districts on or west of the Great Diving Range while high fire risk is due for some coastal regions.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said communities needed to brace for the worrying weekend and more fatalities possibly coming to light in coming days.
'Many people who have been here for decades are just completely shocked that the fire reached as far as it did,' she told reporters at Batemans Bay.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys asked for patience as police and utility providers tried their best to get power and telecom services restored down the south coast.
'We have to make sure that when we restart the power, we do that with safety and confidence, that it will remain on. People need to understand this is not a simple or easy task.'
Mr Fitzsimmons said the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Tourists were warned to get out while they still could.
Eight people have died in bushfires since Monday, seven in New South Wales and one in Victoria.
SLEEPLESS NIGHT FOR NSW SOUTH COAST EVACUEES A Rural Fire Service firefighter conducts mopping up near the town of Sussex Inlet on December 31 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS As fires took hold over the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve, evacuees, daytrippers, dogs and a tortoise crammed into a bowling club. Sussex Inlet man David Warner was among a group of locals who had travelled to Nowra by bus before the Princes Highway was blocked off on Tuesday. 'When we came in, everything was blue, it was all good and then 11 o'clock (there was) all these fires, smoke, sirens everywhere,' Mr Warner told AAP on Wednesday. 'I said, we're not going to get back.' Unlike those who had evacuated to Bomaderry Bowling Club, Mr Warner had nothing with him. He said those running the centre were very nice but 'none of us slept at all'. 'It was shocking,' he said. 'I will never forget this New Year's. 'It'll be stuck in my head 'til the day I die.' Near people and their pets - including dogs, cats and a tortoise - he watched Sydney's famous foreshore fireworks on a giant projection screen hanging at the front of the room as sausage sandwiches were served. 'I forgot it was New Year's actually because of all of what was going on,' Mr Warner said. Reality hit home on Wednesday as information from Sussex Inlet began filtering through the evacuation centre. The body of a yet-to-be-identified man was found about midday in a vehicle on Wandra Road. Sussex Inlet was a community where 'everyone knows everyone', Mr Warner said. 'I'm a bit upset about it because I don't know who it is, and we know a lot of people in Sussex,' he said. Crews on Wednesday built containment lines around the massive Currowan fire that impacted Sussex Inlet and other towns over a 100km stretch of the coast. A watch-and-act alert advises communities to monitor conditions, beware of falling trees and seek shelter as the firefront approaches. Advertisement
Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19
Pictured: People lining up to use a public telephone booth after telephone reception was cut across the south coast of NSW
NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.
The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.
Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.
A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.
The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.
Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, as found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.
An 81-year-old woman who was missing from Conjola Park was found alive on Wednesday.
Destroyed buildings are seen in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 202. Several bushfire-ravaged communities in NSW have greeted the new year under immediate threat
Pictured: Food truck in Narooma offering free food to locals who have been displaced or affected in the bushfire catastrophe
VICTORIA REELS FROM 'HORRIFYING' EAST GIPPSLAND BUSHFIRES Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flies in helicopter over the East Gippsland fires in Victoria on Wednesday January 1 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Victorians are reeling from 'hurricane-like' and 'horrifying' bushfires which have claimed the life of a man in East Gippsland. Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and on Wednesday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his Buchan home. 'He's not missing anymore,' Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page. 'His body has been found in his house..very sad day for us to srart (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick.' Victoria Police said a person had been found dead in Buchan, but the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed. Earlier on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said four people were still missing, but would not say what communities in East Gippsland the people belonged to. 'Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people,' he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre. Mr Andrews lamented reports of Mr Roberts' death. 'It is of course the worst of all news, the notion that someone has lost their life,' he told ABC Gippsland. After spending more than a day on emergency alert, the bushfire threat in East Gippsland and at Corryong in northeast Victoria was downgraded to watch and acts. More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt, after three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday. The blaze at Corryong has burnt at least 109,000 hectares. The total area burnt has exceeded that of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. There were more than 40 fires still burning across Victoria at 9:30pm on Wednesday with 11 at the watch and act level. The risk of flare-ups elsewhere remains. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday and dry lightning has continued to spark new fires. Mr Andrews spent Wednesday in East Gippsland where he said emotions were running high. 'I spoke with people today and they just said it was hurricane-like, horrifying, terrifying, the most frightening experience of their life.' 'The next few days are going to be a lot of hard work and the next few months will be a very long and steady process of helping these communities to rebuild,' the premier said. So far, confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa. Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast. AusNet said it could take days to restore power because it was unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage. Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk. A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota, an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border, from Tuesday to reduce public health risks. A NSW police boat brought in water to Mallacoota on Tuesday and a Victoria water police boat is taking 1.6 tonnes of water on Wednesday. A barge from Melbourne with two weeks' supply of food, water and fuel is also making its way to the town. After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel have begun helping with the relief effort, including undertaking rapid damage assessments. Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in coming days to move people out of the area. Naval vessels including HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed. Advertisement
This bushfire season NSW has lost more than 1,000 homes have been razed and entire towns, including Mogo and Cobargo have been destroyed.
At least 110 fires are still burning across New South Wales, with seven burning at a watch and act warning level. More than 40 significant bushfires are still burning in Victoria.
Four remain missing after the inferno tore through East Gippsland this week.
The Australian Defence Force are helping to respond to fires raging in the Victorian coastal region where four people are missing in blazes which have destroyed at least 43 homes.
In addition to the homes and lives lost, those who remain are faced with increasingly stretched resources.
More than 30 fires are still burning in the state of Tasmania, with at least seven of those of significance.
One home has been destroyed during the blazes, which have decimated 8,000 hectares of land.
Two people died in South Australian fires in late December after an out-of-control fire tore through the Adelaide Hills.
Ron Selth, a 69-year-old engineer, died in the Cudlee Creek bushfire on December 19.
He was remembered by family and friends as a doting and generous man.
Frightening satellite images from January 1 showed the horrifying extent of the bushfires on the NSW South Coast
Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowr
2019/2020 FIRE SEASON DEATH TOLL NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday. The recent deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega. A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning. The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday. Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning. On Sunday, young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was fighting a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, when the truck he was in rolled, killing him instantly. Two other firefighters died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, were later named as the volunteers involved in the tragic accident the following day. Both men were young fathers and had volunteered with the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service brigade for more than a decade. Two people also died in South Australian fires before Christmas, including 69-year-old engineer Ron Selth. His body was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21. Another person died in a fiery car crash on the same day. In early November, just weeks into the horror fire season which has been baring down on the nation for months, three people perished in northern NSW. George Nole's body was found in a burnt out car near his home in Glen Innes while 63-year-old Julie Fletcher's body was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree. Vivian Chaplain, a 69-year-old woman from Wytaliba, succumbed to her injuries in hospital after attempting in vain to save her home and animals from the blaze. The fourth victim was named just days later as 58-year-old Barry Parsons. His body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on November 13. 77-year-old Bob Lindsey and 68-year-old Gwen Hyde were found in their burned out property on October 9th. Advertisement
'He will be remembered for his incredible – sometimes injury-causing – hugs and will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends,' Mr Selth's family said in a statement.
'Some people give firm hugs - I don't know what's beyond firm, but that's what Dad occasionally delivered. When he gave a hug, he meant it.'
The grandfather's body was found on his Charleston property after the bushfires swept through.
Another fatality was reported at Lameroo when a car hit a tree, sparking a grass fire.
About 20 fires are still burning across the state. Again, seven are currently of significance.
At least 90 homes have been destroyed by the inferno in the state so far this season.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said there were 'scenes of absolute devastation' as residents returned to their homes that had been reduced to rubble.
Emergency crews also suffered injuries with 23 firefighters injured, one seriously, and two police officers needing treatment.
In Western Australia, another 40 bushfires are still raging, but despite burning through more than 1.2million hectares of land the fires have only destroyed one home.
A bushfire south of Perth was controlled and contained late on Wednesday leading authorities to downgrade their alert about the blaze.
An emergency warning had been issued for the fire at Sandringham Park, Orelia, about 3pm on Wednesday, with residents told the flames could put their homes at risk.
Aerial support had been sent to assist ground crews battling the blaze.
Authorities downgraded the alert to an advice level an hour later, once the fire was under control and contained. | More than 900 homes have been confirmed destroyed since July in NSW
WHERE ARE THE NSW BUSHFIRES?
More than 110 blazes continue to burn across NSW on Wednesday.
A fire burning south of the Snowy Mountains Highway in the Ellerslie Range near Kunama and Laurel Hill was at "emergency" level at 4.30pm.
The blaze has ripped through more than 100,000 hectares.
Six fires were burning at a "watch and act" level including the 229,000ha Currowan blaze on the south coast, the 68,000ha Clyde Mountain fire near Batemans Bay, the 178,000ha Countegany blaze east of Cooma and the 104,000ha Green Valley fire east of Albury.
An out-of-control blaze is also burning in Werri Berri, north of Bemboka near Bega.
More than 2500 firefighters are battling the blazes.
WHAT IS THE DEATH TOLL?
Seven people have died since Monday evening, taking the number of deaths this season in NSW to at least 15.
A 70-year-old man was found dead on Tuesday outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, a man's body has been discovered in a burnt-out car near the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah, another man in a vehicle in Sussex Inlet and a body outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo.
Young father Patrick Salway, 29, his dad Robert Salway, 63, and volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul, 28, were confirmed dead earlier this week in separate blazes that ravaged the state's south.
A 72-year-old man remains missing at Belowra, west of Narooma, while a 70-year-old woman is missing after her home in Conjola Park was destroyed by fire on Tuesday.
HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST?
More than 175 homes have been confirmed destroyed on the south coast since Monday including 89 in Conjola Park, 40 in Malua Bay and 15 in Rosedale.
At last count, 1087 homes have been confirmed destroyed across NSW since July.
THE WARNINGS
Wednesday's fire danger rating is severe in the central ranges and a total fire ban has been declared in that area.
Total fire bans are also in place in the southern slopes and southern ranges where the fire danger rating is very high.
Fire danger is also rated as very high in the greater Sydney region, the Monaro alpine region, north western NSW, the ACT, the Hunter, and the northern slopes.
FORECAST
Hot, dry and windy conditions were expected to bring elevated fire danger to the southern and central ranges and southern slopes on Wednesday.
Parts of the state got some reprieve from the soaring temperatures on Wednesday with forecasts of 27C in Nowra, 34C in Penrith in western Sydney, while the mercury was expected to climb to 36C in Tumut in the Riverina and 42C in the Hunter.
Sydney was under a smoke haze on Wednesday morning with a fair-air quality, and cloudy and windy conditions forecast.
Dangerous fire conditions are expected to return to the south coast on Saturday where the temperature is forecast to reach 43C.
THE ROADS
Motorists are advised to avoid travel to the south coast and Snowy Mountains Riverina area where fires caused widespread power outages and major road closures.
The Snowy Mountains Highway is closed between Tumut Plains Road and Adaminaby.
The Princes Highway remains closed between Falls Creek and Milton, Batemans Bay and Moruya, Brogo and Tilba Tilba, and Narrabarba and Cann River (Victoria). | 3.5 |
Missouri businesses could see tax cuts in 2020
Businesses in Missouri will see tax cuts in 2020 where some corporations could see more.
JEFFERSON CITY - Businesses in Missouri will see tax cuts in 2020 and some corporations could see more.
Missouri’s new corporate tax rate dropped from 6.25% to 4%; one of the lowest rates in the US.
Former Gov. Eric Greitens, hours before his resignation, signed the give-and-take tax law. It took effect on January 1 for the start of the 2020 tax year.
In the US, only 44 states have an income tax. Although Missouri’s new rate is low, the lowest is North Carolina at 2.5%.
Sara Paben, the owner of a Columbia cafe, said after meeting with her CPA, there are a lot of changes that are being made.
“With sales tax and state tax, small businesses get taxed tremendously. So, it really does help with that because with our CPA this a couple days ago we were looking over things and there are a lot of changes being made so it really accommodates for those changes to be not so drastic,” Paben said.
The Missouri Budget Project, which analyzes financial issues, estimates the tax cut could save 28-million dollars for low income residents.
Individual income tax rates were also cut from 5.9% to 5.4%, which also went into effect January 1. | × New law makes Missouri corporate tax one of lowest in US
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Thousands of Missouri businesses will receive tax cuts with the new year. But because of the way the new law is written, some corporations doing business in Missouri could end up paying more.
The give-and-take tax law enacted by former Gov. Eric Greitens just hours before his May 2018 resignation is to finally take effect Wednesday with the start of the 2020 tax year. The law will cut Missouri’s corporate income tax rate from 6.25% to 4%, making it one of the lowest rates in the nation. But another provision in the law will do away with an option for calculating corporate income that could result in higher Missouri tax bills for some multi-state businesses.
The two-prong overhaul to Missouri’s corporate tax laws has made it difficult to project whether the state stands to gain or lose money, and if so ho much. Yet the state’s largest business groups believe the change will be beneficial.
“Ultimately, I think what we could see is a bit of incentivizing companies to set up operations here in the state and bring employees into the state,“ said Matthew Panik, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Or if they’re already here, to of course increase their operations.”Forty-four states levy corporate income taxes, which typically account for a much smaller slice of state revenues than individual income and sales taxes. The lowest flat corporate tax rate is in North Carolina, at 2.5%.
When figuring corporate income taxes, Missouri currently allows businesses to chose among options. One approach calculates the percentage of their total income attributable to in-state sales when figuring their Missouri income tax. Another approach lets businesses average the percentage of their total sales, payroll and property attributable to Missouri when calculating their tax.
The three-part option can reduce Missouri income taxes for businesses that sell products in Missouri but don’t have physical stores or warehouses in the state. The new law will end that option and instead require all corporate income taxes to be based on Missouri sales, joining a majority of states that already use that approach.
After the law was enacted, legislative research staff estimated that it could result in anywhere from a net $4.4 million tax cut to a $4.9 million tax increase for the 2020 fiscal year, which ends July 1. ear.
Projections diverge even further for the law’s first full year of application. Legislative researchers estimated its impact could range from an $8.8 million net tax cut to a $9.7 million tax increase in fiscal year 2021. The nonprofit Missouri Budget Project, which analyzes state financial issues with an eye toward their impact on low-income residents, estimated the new law could result in a net 28 million tax cut.
The Missouri Budget Project said the corporate tax changes build on a “decades-long trend of cutting taxes.”
“It continues to erode the foundation and our ability to fund education, early ed, infrastructure, health care and all of the other services that families and communities rely on,” said Traci Gleason, the Missouri Budget Project’s vice president of external relations.
The Republican-led Legislature also passed changes to Missouri’s individual income tax code in 2018. That law reduced the top individual income tax rate from 5.9% to 5.4% effective Jan. 1, 2019. But the effect of the tax rate cut was offset by another provision in the law that reduced the Missouri income tax deduction that can be claimed for taxes paid to the federal government. | 3.333333 |
(Newser) – Kathy Griffin surprised her fans on New Year's Eve with news that she was engaged. And after midnight, she went ahead and married longtime boyfriend Randy Bick, reports People. Griffin tweeted a short video of part of the ceremony, which was officiated by none other than Lily Tomlin. "We promised you atypical," wrote Griffin. "We are in love and we cannot stop laughing." Griffin is 59 and Bick is 18 years her junior. They met in 2011. Here is how Tomlin described things: "What was supposed to be a shallow, 'toot it and boot it' one-night stand has grown and flourished into something far more meaningful," she said. "They stayed together. Then they couldn’t stay away from one another." (Griffin is no longer apologetic over an infamous Trump image.) | Comics Kathy Griffin and Randy Bick are set to tie the knot in the new year.
The couple made the surprise announcement on New Year's Eve and said they were going ahead with the nuptials after midnight.
Griffin, 59, revealed the in a clip that featured her and Bick dressed in formalwear.
"Happy New Year! And, surprise! We're getting married! Tonight! After midnight! the couple said in unison in the video.
"She said yes!" Bick, 41, added.
The couple started dating in 2011 after meeting at a wine festival.
They briefly parted ways in November 2018, after being together for seven years then, but reunited in April 2019.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 4 |
STATEWIDE -- Live table games are being allowed at Indiana's racinos for the first time. It's part of a massive overhaul of the state's gambling laws, which includes sports betting, which began in September.
"It's something that Indianapolis, the whole state has been waiting for for a long time," said Colin Skidmore, director of table games at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, talking to WISH-TV. "Just to get land-based casinos to have live dealers, live table games, real dice, roulette wheels and have a great time with our guests."
Matt Bell, president of the Casino Assoc. of Indiana, says table games are part of the expansion, but you've actually been legally allowed to play the same games in another form.
"Live table games at our racinos is a new gaming opportunity. But, I would argue that you can currently play so same games electronically. So, is that an expansion? I'm gonna leave that in the eye of the beholder."
Casinos have put in thousands of hours of training for the dealers and have invested millions of dollars in upgrading their gambling space to accommodate the new games. Bell said he believes expanded gambling in Indiana will pay off, as opposed to gambling in Illinois, where Bell believes overregulation will take a toll.
"We'll be ahead of Illinois. We'll offer a better experience than Illinois, and that will allow us to draw
customers from across the state line that otherwise might belong to them."
Live table games begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
(PHOTO: Getty Images) | Indiana’s latest gambling expansion comes Wednesday as two horse track casinos near Indianapolis will be allowed to have table games with live dealers for the first time.
Officials of Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville have long pushed for the change that they expect will draw more gamblers as the two casinos have been limited to only electronic games since opening in 2008.
Indiana Grand will have more than 40 tables for games such as blackjack, craps and roulette and Hoosier Park will have nearly 30 tables as those new sections open up New Year’s Day afternoon. Hoosier Park has an opening ceremony planned with Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo.
The change will allow the two horse track casinos to operate essentially the same as the 11 other state-regulated casinos, mostly along Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. The tribal casino is South Bend is still limited to only electronic games.
Tonya Johnson of Indianapolis said during a visit to the Shelbyville casino last week that she was looking forward to the change.
“I just like the live people,” Johnson said. “The interaction and everything.”
Live dealers weren’t going to be allowed at the horse track casinos until July 2021 as then-Gov. Mike Pence objected to that change being included in a 2015 gambling bill approved by state lawmakers. But that date was moved up by 18 months in a wide-ranging gambling bill signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb in May that included the legalization of sports betting and allowing construction of new casinos in Gary and Terre Haute.
Dan Nita, regional president for Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Anderson and Shelbyville casinos, said he expected both sites will soon expand their live table game sections.
“I think we will very quickly be able to demonstrate that the (central Indiana) market can support two to three times as many table games as we’re currently set up with,” Nita said.
The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates the new table games will mean a $12 million a year boost in state tax revenue after accounting for projected declines at other Indiana casinos. That would mean about a 3% boost in the $443 million of state casino taxes collected during the 2019 budget year. | 3.5 |
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Realme has very confidently announced that they’ll be kicking off 2020 with a bang. And by bang, we mean more ads on your phone. Yikes.
It’s called “content recommendations” and Realme says it’s being done to give users a better ecosystem and to keep a sustainable business model, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for with your next phone.
The process is pretty simple, at least if you’re familiar with other Android device bloatware. You’ll randomly see promotions for apps and other commercial links on your device if you’re running ColorOS 6 and above, which could be anything from a popular game to a shopping site that’s paid Realme for the advertising space. It sounds a little more intrusive than most other ads on devices since they’ll just show up in places on your device, but there is an opt-out.
Realme has detailed how you can go into settings and remove these recommendations from your phone so you won’t have to keep dealing with them. Most people, however, probably won’t be doing that, and that’s the point. They see some ads, Realme makes some cash and gets to keep their phone costs low. I can understand the reasoning, but that doesn’t make it suck any less.
source: Realme
Related | Better late than never, right? OnePlus has already updated their OnePlus 7 Pro to Android 10 back in September, but the T-Mobile locked variant of the phone lagged behind a bit. That update’s finally starting to roll out.
That’s unfortunately one of the drawbacks to buying a phone through a carrier, but at least the wait is over.
The update is the same that OnePlus pushed out a couple months ago, bumping the phone to Oxygen OS 10.0.1. That brings Android 10 and all of its new features, plus the November 2019 security patch and some other bug fixes. It’s also thoroughly tested on T-Mobile’s network, so it should be rock solid after this delay.
It clocks in at 2GB, so make sure you’ve got some time to let the install happen. Good way to start off 2020.
source: reddit
Related | 2 |
A federal appeals court decision that could strike down the Affordable Care Act as soon as this month has rattled officials in several states who are pursuing legislation to preserve some coverage in the absence of any Trump administration contingency plan.
Lawmakers in states including Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico and California have passed bills or are reviewing action aimed at dealing with the fallout if the ACA is overturned. Many of these lawmakers are also facing re-election campaigns this fall in some of the very states that brought the lawsuit.
Plans include giving subsidies to insurers that cover high-cost consumers, possible emergency legislative sessions to address sudden coverage gaps, and regulations that prevent people from being denied coverage even if the law is no longer in effect.
The state initiatives reflect growing angst over the possible ramifications of a decision that could ultimately end health coverage for more than 20 million people.
A three-judge panel of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in July in a lawsuit driven by 18 GOP-led states seeking to invalidate the law. The Trump administration has largely sided with the states.
The judges’ questions during the arguments suggested they could rule against upholding the ACA, legal experts said. A ruling would likely be stayed, and the case is expected to be taken up by the Supreme Court, pushing the timeline for a final decision into 2020 or beyond.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in an interview Friday that because the ruling is likely to be stayed, there is no reason for concern now.
“Our message is to keep calm and carry on,” he said.
He added that should the makeup of Congress change after next year’s elections, lawmakers could revisit an ACA replacement, although the Republican-controlled House and Senate couldn’t agree on a new health plan in the early months of the Trump administration.
“A lot of what we’d support would depend on the political climate at the time,” he said.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What do you think states should do to prepare in case the ACA is struck down? Join the conversation below.
But some lawmakers risk being portrayed as jeopardizing coverage if they don’t push bills to enshrine parts of the ACA, especially its protections for people with so-called pre-existing conditions. Lawmakers are also acting now because of the time it can take to get legislation passed.
“If we’re going to be upending and amending it, it needs to be done through Congress,” said Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. “The lawsuit is just so much uncertainty. It could create great chaos in the system.”
Colorado is pursuing the creation of an insurance plan, similar to a so-called public option, that would provide insurance to people on the individual market. The state would set the rates, which could help lower premium costs if the ACA ends.
Louisiana, under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, is seeking input through October on a replacement plan that would provide some coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions, said Frank Opelka, the state’s deputy commissioner for life, health and annuity.
The legislation directs the state’s insurance commissioner to set up a system known as a “high-risk pool,” where insurers get subsidies for covering people with expensive medical conditions who are locked out of health insurance.
Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry, joined the lawsuit from GOP-led states seeking to invalidate the ACA. Both the governor and Mr. Landry are running this year for re-election.
“ “Our message is to keep calm and carry on.” ” —Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary
The prospect of losing coverage could prove unpopular with the electorate. Much of the coverage gains under the ACA came from the law’s expansion of the Medicaid program, and more than 450,000 Louisiana residents covered under that expansion could lose their insurance. Many of the 90,000 people in Louisiana who have coverage through the ACA’s individual exchange risk losing subsidies that help offset their premiums.
In Nevada, Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak is fielding applicants for a patient-protection commission, directed under a bill lawmakers passed last year, that will make recommendations for protecting coverage if the ACA is eliminated. Like Louisiana, the state has 90,000 people who get insurance on the state’s ACA exchange, and more than 210,000 residents in Nevada gained coverage through Medicaid expansion.
Democratic lawmakers in Texas, the state leading the lawsuit against the ACA, have weighed calling an emergency legislative session depending on when a decision comes down. The legislature passed a bill this year that would establish a temporary high-risk pool as a stopgap to provide some coverage if the ACA is overturned.
“States should certainly be thinking about contingency plans,” said Nicholas Bagley, a professor at the University of Michigan law school. He added that “coming up with reasonable contingency plans will take time.”
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The state actions are putting pressure on President Trump because he has yet to produce a health plan despite repeated promises to do so. The administration has been working on plans should the courts knock down the ACA or large parts of it, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
“We’re prepared for every scenario,” a senior White House administration official said. “We have spent a lot of time and have prepared for various permutations.”
In Congress, Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) has been pressing Republicans to present a plan in case the law is shot down. The conservative House Republican Study Committee has been working on a health plan that is expected to be released soon.
Meanwhile, at least 11 states including Connecticut, Louisiana, Indiana, Maryland, Vermont and Washington have enacted laws that require insurers to provide coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or offer health plans that provide the same suite of benefits as those mandated by the ACA, according to a July report from Avalere, a health-care consulting firm.
State budgets would be thrown into turmoil if the ACA ends because federal funds pay for most of the Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies for roughly nine million people who buy their own insurance on the health law’s exchanges. The federal government spent about $63 billion for Medicaid expansion in 2018, and states lack the funding to make up the difference.
Write to Stephanie Armour at stephanie.armour@wsj.com | California and other states are challenging the Trump administration over its reversal of standards for energy-efficient lightbulbs. | 1 |
This story is from January 2, 2020
Representative image
CHENNAI: Upset after his wife left for her mother’s home following a quarrel, a man cut his genitals at his house in New Washermenpet on Tuesday night.
Police said Babu, 40, of Tsunami Quarters was married to Devi, 35. The couple were childless and would often pick fights over it. The woman also did not like her husband getting sloshed.
Police said Devi sought a divorce from Babu and left for her mother’s home on Monday. However, she returned to celebrate the New Year on Tuesday when a quarrel broke out over Babu consuming liquor. Devi left for her mother’s house again.
Upset, Babu went to the kitchen and cut his genitals with a knife. Hearing his cries, neighbours rushed him to Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital. Police said his condition is critical.
Read this story in Bengali. | Partly cloudy and cold tonight with lows around 30. Temps will rise a touch late.
Thursday looks nice and notably milder with ample sun and highs approaching 50.
Widespread light rain will develop after midnight Thursday night and continue through Friday with highs on Friday well into the 40s.
Rain will continue on and off into Saturday morning, but colder air arriving from the northwest will begin to transition rain over to snow from west to east mainly after noon but this will happen earlier to our west. The timing is a close call.
Colder air will settle in for Sunday and stick around through Wednesday with occasional light snow showers through this period. Thursday then looks quiet with perhaps another warm up to follow for Friday with more rain showers.
Happy New Year! | 1 |
Five members of the Qatari royal family are among a list of more than 3,500 foreigners who in 2018 acquired Maltese citizenship either by naturalisation or through the controversial cash-for-passport scheme.
Though the complete list is publicly accessible in the Government Gazette, the information provided is rather limited.
Apart from the fact that it is sorted by first name rather than surname, thus making it difficult to spot members of the same family, there is no distinction between applicants who became Maltese citizens through naturalisation and the wealthy individuals who bought a Maltese passport for €1.15 million.
Yet, a search for the Al Thani surname of the Qatari Royal family yielded five results – Sheik Mohammed Ahmed J. Al Thani, his wife Hanadi and their children Jassim, Jude and Layana.
A former Qatari Minister of Economy and Commerce from December 2003 to March 2006, Sheik Al Thani also spent 17 years in the oil and gas industry mainly with Qatar Petroleum, RasGas and QatarGas.
In 2016, Sheik Al Thani had set up a Maltese-registered company – Monifa Wings – of which he was listed as shareholder, director, legal representative and judicial representative. This company specialises in the provision of air transport services, aircraft leasing and the operation of chartered flights.
Sheika Hanadi is a prominent entrepreneur and is the CEO and founder of Al Waab City Real Estate.
Saudi precedent
Last year, Times of Malta had reported that in 2017, 62 members of the richest families in Saudi Arabia had acquired Maltese citizenship through the passport scheme.
These included the Al-Muhaidibs and the Al-Agils, who are not only two of the wealthiest business clans in the Saudi kingdom but are also named by Forbes as among the wealthiest families on the planet.
Launched in 2014, the scheme, known as Individual Investor Programme, enables foreign wealthy citizens to obtain a Maltese passport through a contribution of €650,000, the acquisition of a property worth at least €350,000 and investment of a minimum of €150,000 in shares, debentures and bonds for at least five years.
However, the scheme has been in the line of fire over lack of transparency in the names of the successful applicants and to a larger degree over the level of due diligence being applied to vet applicants.
In October, Opposition MP Karol Aquilina tabled a list of names in Parliament including that of a Russian-Israeli businessman facing fraud charges to the tune of millions in the US, who was granted the right to vote after filing a false declaration on the same day as buying a Maltese passport.
Dr Aquilina had denounced what he had described as the “fake due diligence” being adopted by State agency Identity Malta when screening passport applications, which he said was tarnishing the country’s reputation.
However, the government has refuted such claims, insisting that the IIP scheme is being operated in the most rigorous manner.
Labour leadership contender and deputy Prime Minister, Chris Fearne, recently pledged to scrap the scheme and replace it with a new one which would have the full endorsement of the European Commission. | Acting police Inspector General Duncan Mwapasa says the police have instituted a second probe into the Msundwe rapes following the release of a Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) report on the matter.
A report releasedby MHRC in Decemmber 2019 found that police raped at least eight women and sexually violated several others, including girls, during October’s post-election unrest.
Mwapasa said following the release of the MHRC report, he met 17 women who were allegedly raped and assaulted by the police officers.
“They were brought to my office by women lawyers. We even took their caution statements,” he said.
Mwapasa has however said he would not shield any police officer implicated in the matter.
He said the first report by the police on the Msundwe rapes is over and would be released in two weeks’ time.
The alleged sexual assaults were outlined in a 62-page report released by Malawi’s Ombudsman Martha Chizuma and Law Commissioner Rosemary Kanyuka.
The MHRC report says the police assaults occurred in the homes of victims and were carried out in revenge for the stoning death of a fellow police officer.
“We found out that a total of 17 women were sexually violated,” Chizuma said. “Five of them were under 18. One of the five girls was actually defiled. Eight women were raped. The rest, police found them doing their menses so were just violently beaten.”
But observers note a lack of evidence, as victims failed to obtain medical exams after the alleged assaults and were unable to identify police officers, whose faces were covered.
Meanwhile, no officers have yet been suspended or detained, and government authorities are questioning the validity of the report.
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Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday launched Visit Nepal Year 2020, an initiative of the Nepal government to attract two million tourists in a bid to re-energise the country's tourism sector which was hit by the great earthquakes of 2015.
Speaking at a grand ceremony held at the Dasharath Stadium here for the launch of Visit Nepal Year 2020, Bhandari said that there was a need to forge collaboration and cooperation among all for the development of tourism sector.
"We also need to preserve the nature and culture while promoting tourism, not by damaging them," Bhandari said.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the Visit Nepal Year 2020 was only an entry point and that the government was preparing to observe the coming decade as the tourism decade.
Tourism is the largest industry in Nepal, and the largest source of foreign exchange and revenue.
Possessing eight of the 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hot-spot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventure.
The devastating earth quake in 2015 that caused the Himalayan nation a huge infrastructure loss impacted its tourism industry the most.
Nepal received 1.2 million tourists in 2019 and the government is working out a strategy to increase the number of foreign visitors to two million in 2020.
The inaugural function was attended by the several dignitaries including India's Minister of State for Tourism Pralhad Singh Patel, China's Deputy Tourism Minister Wang Siaopheng, Myanmar's Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Conservation U. Ohan Moug among others.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | Arpana Ale Magar
Kathmandu, January 1
Lighting the flame of unity, President Bidya Devi Bhandari officially launched Visit Nepal 2020 today with the slogan ‘Lifetime Experience’. Respective province chiefs also launched the campaign in all seven provinces at the same time.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, President Bhandari said the country’s economy was dependent on tourism, which had been affected by the long civil war and unstable political system.
“As we have already overcome political challenges, our major focus now is on economic prosperity. Tourism is the backbone of the country’s economic development,” she said.
Emphasising the immense tourism potential of Nepal, she said, “We can cater to all kinds of tourists as our country has been bestowed with cultural and natural diversity.”
She added that the campaign would play a significant role in conveying that Nepal had more to offer than just Sagarmatha, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini.
She requested all Nepalis — those residing in the country and abroad — to be a part of the campaign and make it successful as Nepali culture equated ‘guest with god (Atithi Devo Bhava)’.
Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai said Nepal was a unique creation of nature and implored all visitors to come for a lifetime experience.
“Nepal is a land of cultural excellence and tourists can visit sacred religious sites and experience our diverse wildlife, flora and fauna,” he said.
Assuring that the country was moving towards the path of good governance and prosperity, the minister also claimed that the government had created a conducive environment for investment.
Stressing that tourism is the main pillar of Nepal’s economic development, he said the target of two million tourists and the campaign itself were inadequate for sustainable development of the sector. “We consider this year as the starting point and plan to follow this path and mark 2020-30 as the tourism decade.”
Tourism ministers from India, China, Myanmar and Jamaica were present during the inauguration and extended their good wishes to Nepal for the grand success of the VN2020 campaign.
The inauguration ceremony of the mega tourism campaign kicked off with chanting of mantras of seven religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Kiratism, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism — practised in the country. Viber stickers of VN2020 and mascot for the campaign, Yeti, were also released during the inauguration.
A version of this article appears in print on January 02, 2020 of The Himalayan Times.
Follow The Himalayan Times on Twitter and Facebook | 4 |
A Jewish former UK Labour lawmaker has condemned the frontrunners in the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn as party leader, saying they were “cowards” in confronting the rampant anti-Semitism in the party and were unfit to lead.
Ruth Smeeth, who lost her seat in the December election, has headed the Jewish Labour Movement, which broke with Corbyn, accusing him of anti-Semitism.
Writing in the Jewish Chronicle on Tuesday, Smeeth slammed the leading contenders like Rebecca Long-Bailey, Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry, saying they were hypocrites as the anti-Semitism debate raged in the party.
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“Too many leaders-in-waiting were prepared to speak out if it was politically convenient, not because it was the right thing to do,” Smeeth wrote. “That means that no currently serving member of the Shadow Cabinet deserves our vote.”
“They have been timid when we needed strength,” she said. They have failed us when we needed them most. They enabled Mr Corbyn and his friends to make us a target.”
“For me, therefore, expunging anti-Jewish hate from our politics must mean that the next leader of the Labour Party has to be one of the backbenchers who have stood by us, whether that’s Jess Phillips, Lisa Nandy, Dan Jarvis or Yvette Cooper. They have all shown leadership on racism when others were cowards,” Smeeth wrote.
British Jews deserted the party in droves because they believed that the Labour Party had become institutionally anti-Semitic under Corbyn, a pro-Palestinian politician who was elected to lead the party in 2015.
Corbyn has been accused of failing to deal with hundreds of incidents of anti-Semitism within his party, as well as his reluctance for the party to agree to a definition of anti-Semitism that included some anti-Israel language.
His ties to members of the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups and photos of him laying a wreath at the grave of a Palestinian terrorist also sparked worries among UK Jews and Israelis, who feared that the Jewish state could lose its close alliance with the UK if Corbyn won.
In an unprecedented move, the chief rabbi of Britain, Ephraim Mirvis last month published an op-ed in The Times of London, effectively calling on voters not to vote for Labour over the anti-Semitism issue, saying that Corbyn is “complicit in prejudice.”
However, Smeeth urged Jews to remain involved in the party and help choose the next leader, saying it was the only way to take back Labour from the anti-Semites.
“The next leader of the Labour Party can either make zero tolerance of antisemitism within our own ranks an immediate priority or they can continue to empower and facilitate racists, allowing the politics of hate to drive our politics,” she wrote.
“Which means the outcome of this election is vital for the community. You can sit back and let the horror of anti-Jewish hate continue to pervade the Labour Party or you can join the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) and get a vote for the next leader. I beg you to do the latter.”
“What happens next in combating anti-Jewish hate does depend on who wins the leadership election. But what I can promise you is that although I may no longer be an MP, this is not a fight I will be walking away from. But I’m going to need your help to fix it. | A potential left-wing candidate for the Labour leadership has come under fire after claiming that Brexit, and not Jeremy Corbyn’s policies, was to blame for the party’s landslide defeat in last month’s election.
Party chair Ian Lavery said Labour had to earn its “right to exist” by rebuilding the trust of its traditional voters in the wake of the 12 December rout, when it shed 59 seats as Boris Johnson romped to an 80-seat majority.
But centrist MP Neil Coyle said it was time for Mr Lavery to answer questions about his own role in the debacle, accusing him of failing to take the necessary action to tackle antisemitism and prevent party splits, and of breaking a three-line whip as chair in order to vote against a second Brexit referendum.
A leadership bid would give Labour members the chance to ask Mr Lavery “why his term as party chair has left him questioning whether Labour – a party in government just nine years ago – now has any right to exist”, Mr Coyle told The Independent.
The row came after former MP Ruth Smeeth, the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said that no member of Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet deserved to succeed him and called on Labour members to vote instead for backbench candidates such as Jess Phillips, Lisa Nandy, Dan Jarvis or Yvette Cooper who spoke out against antisemitism in the party’s ranks.
Writing in The Jewish Chronicle, Ms Smeeth – who lost her seat last month – said: “No currently serving member of the shadow cabinet deserves our vote.
“They have been timid when we needed strength. They have allowed racism in the Labour Party to be … normalised. They have failed us when we needed them most. They enabled Mr Corbyn and his friends to make us a target.”
In the latest salvo in the increasingly bitter battle to succeed Corbyn, Mr Lavery used an article in the Daily Mirror to warn against a return to what he termed the “bland centrism” of pre-2015 leaders such as Ed Miliband.
The Wansbeck MP has said he is “seriously considering” throwing his hat into the ring for the leadership contest due to get under way formally later this month.
His entry would risk splitting the left-wing vote with Rebecca Long Bailey, who has so far been viewed as the “continuity Corbyn” candidate.
Only shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and economy spokesperson Clive Lewis have so far declared their intention to stand in what is expected to be a wide field vying to replace Corbyn.
‘For Labour to win again we need to understand why we lost,’ says Lavery (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) More
Mr Lavery left no doubt in his article that he would stick to the programme – set out by Mr Corbyn – of nationalisations and tax hikes for corporations and the rich.
He said that the offer of a second referendum on Brexit was to blame for driving voters away, and accused the “architects of our defeat” of attempting to rewrite history.
“To survive, we must understand why we lost and articulate a bold vision for the future,” wrote Mr Lavery.
“It seems ridiculous to point out it was not our policies that led to defeat.
“For some, that would be a neat conclusion allowing them to return to a bland centrism of 2015. But it isn’t true.
“Labour lost because of our Brexit position, infighting, a collapse of industry in our communities and a lack of trust in our ability to deliver.”
Talk of a second referendum was seen by many traditional Labour voters as “a way to foist Remain upon them”, he said. “Communities represented by Labour for generations felt abandoned. It is time to outline a positive vision of the future outside of the EU.”
Story continues | 2.333333 |
Society
NICOSIA (AP) — Cyprus’ attorney general said Tuesday he couldn’t suspend the trial of a 19 year-old British woman found guilty of lying about being gang raped by as many as dozen Israelis because she had leveled “grave accusations” against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.
Costas Clerides said the woman’s allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim “could not have been left to linger” so he could not move to suspend the trial.
Clerides also said the woman’s insistence that she didn’t get a fair trial is “essentially a legal-constitutional matter” that a courtof law must rule on.
“Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciary’s work,” Clerides said in a statement.
The woman, who hasn’t been named was found guilty on Monday on a charge of public mischief and is due to be sentenced Jan. 7. The charge carries a maximum of a year in prison and a fine of 1,700 euros ($1, 907).
She insists that she was raped in a hotel room at a coastal resort town on July 17 and that she was forced to sign the retraction 10 days later while under police questioning. Her lawyers said they would appeal the decision, citing the judge’s refusal to consider evidence that she had been raped.
Famagusta District Court Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the defendant didn’t tell the truth and tried to deceive the court with “evasive” statements in her testimony.
The judge said the woman had admitted to investigators that she made up the claims because she was “ashamed” after finding out that some of the Israelis had videoed her having consensual sex with her Israeli boyfriend on their mobile phones.
During the trial, defense lawyers had called the police investigation deficient and improper, with detectives making major lapses and omissions in their work while having a mistaken perception of the true facts surrounding their client’s claim.
Clerides issued the statement following revelations that two former attorneys general and others had sent him a written appeal last month to suspend the case so as not to damage Cyprus’ image abroad.
The British government on Monday cast doubt over whether the teenager received a fair trial and said that it would raise the issue with Cypriot authorities.
Cyprus’ government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said the government doesn’t intervene or comment on pending court cases, saying it has “full confidence in the justice system and the courts,” which should be left unfettered to implement the law and deliver justice.
—
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press | THE devastated mother of a British teen convicted of making up a gang rape story in Cyprus has called for a tourism boycott of the island.
The woman - who can't be named for legal reasons - said she supported a campaign to shun the holiday spot saying she believes the resort of Ayia Napa is unsafe.
7 The teen's mother has labelled parts of Cyprus unsafe following her daughter's conviction
"The place isn't safe - it is absolutely not safe," she told Radio 4's Today programme after labelling the court's verdict "absolutely astonishing".
"And if you go and report something that's happened to you, you're either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or, in the worst case, something like what's happened to my daughter may happen,"
The teenager said she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town on July 17.
But she was charged and the dozen young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.
The woman said her daughter is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hallucinations, and is sleeping for up to 20 hours a day because of a condition called hypersomnia.
"She needs to get back to the UK to get that treated - that's my absolute primary focus.
"She can't be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode.
7 The Brit teen faces jail after being found guilty of making a false gang rape accusation in Cyprus Credit: Louis Wood - The Sun
7 The teen and her mum wore masks with stitches on the lips in protest at her treatment as they left court
"It needs resolving otherwise she's going to carry on having this for the rest of her life," the woman said.
She said her daughter had planned to go to university this year after being accepted for the courses she applied for and being offered a bursary at one institute.
"So, no question, she would have gone to university, but it was in a career that she wouldn't be able to do with this 'public mischief' verdict, so - again, life-changing for her - she needs to totally rethink her options."
A crowdfunding appeal to raise money for legal support for her daughter has passed £80,000.
The "help teen victim get justice in Cyprus" GoFundMe page was set up by British lawyer John Hobbs in August to raise cash for the 19-year-old's legal representation.
The teenager claimed in court she was raped but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.
7 Ayia Napa is a magnet for young Brits looking for fun in the sun Credit: Jamie Lorriman - The Sun
7 The hotel room where the woman claimed the assault took place
The Foreign Office said the UK was "seriously concerned" about the fairness of the woman's trial and it is understood officials have raised the "deeply distressing case" with the Cypriot authorities.
Her mother said she would "definitely" like the British government to intervene in the case.
She told Radio 4: "I would love the Foreign Secretary to get involved, that would be fantastic."
She said they will be appealing against the verdict "without question" and hoped the FCO could help them progress the case to the Cypriot Supreme Court.
She added: "Unfortunately there's quite a long waiting list, so our lawyers are looking at what could be done to expedite that.
"That's something maybe the Foreign Office can help us with."
7 The Israeli suspects were released without charge and returned home Credit: AP:Associated Press
7 Supporters of the teenager waved banners and wore stitched-lip masks outside the court Credit: EPA
Lawyers and campaigners criticised the justice system after she was convicted of public mischief at Famagusta District Court, in Paralimni, on Monday.
There are now reports some of those originally accused of the attack have friends in high places.
While the boys’ identities have not been released because they were minors at the time, some of their parents appear to be close to the Israeli establishment, it's claimed.
One of their fathers is even an adviser to an important mayor, reports the Times.
It reports there is now the impression that the 12 had at least some backing from powerful figures.
However, the government of Cyprus has said it has "full confidence in the justice system and the courts".
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The country's attorney general said on Tuesday that he could not suspend the trial because she had levelled "grave accusations" against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.
Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said he believed the woman had made false allegations because she felt "embarrassed" after realising she had been filmed having sex in a video found on mobile phones.
The woman has been on bail since the end of August, after spending a month in prison, and could face up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (£1,500) fine when she is sentenced on January 7. | 3.666667 |
North Carolina is poised to gain a new congressional seat in 2020, giving the state more clout in Congress and presidential elections.
It also raises the stakes in this year races for the state legislature, which draws the districts.
North Carolina would be one of seven states to gain at least one House seat, according to an analysis of new census numbers by Election Data Services.
That would give the state 14 House members -- and 16 electoral votes. That's as many as Georgia and more than all but six states.
"Every election is critical, but this one is even more so," said political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University. "There's a lot at stake in 2020 because even more will be at stake in 2022 and 2024."
U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this week show the state's population grew 10% since 2010, to 10.5 million. That's part of a pattern that saw the South grow faster than any region in the country.
North Carolina added 106,000 people in the decade, about the population of High Point and more than all but Texas, Florida and Arizona. According to EDS, those states also are expected to gain congressional seats along with Colorado, Montana and Oregon.
Ten states including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan are each projected to lose a seat.
Final population numbers will be determined by the 2020 Census, which officially kicks off this spring. N.C. state and local officials have urged people to make sure they're counted.
'Ground zero'
North Carolina last added a congressional seat — the 13th — in 2002 following the 2000 census.
A new seat now would mean a new round of reapportionment, or dividing the state into 14 districts, not 13. It would happen in 2021 along with the redistricting of congressional and legislative districts that normally occurs after every census. (In North Carolina, court rulings, including two in 2019, have made it a more regular occurrence.)
After Republicans won the General Assembly in 2010 for the first time in more than a century and with it the right to draw voting districts, they passed redistrictings that for a time gave them veto-proof super-majorities in both chambers.
"The redistricting puts added emphasis and importance on (the election) for both sides," said Democratic consultant Thomas Mills. "After 2010 people in North Carolina see the census year as the most important election year we've got going."
Reapportionment and redistricting are just one reason both parties will fight hard for the state in 2020.
North Carolina will feature a race that will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. It also has races for governor, Council of State and Supreme Court. A closely divided state, it's a presidential battleground that will host the 2020 Republican convention.
"It's safe to say North Carolina is ground zero for national politics in 2020," said Dee Stewart, a Republican strategist. "(And) it makes the stakes much higher for the legislative races."
Impact in Congress
When North Carolina does gain a new seat, it's hard to say exactly where it would be.
Wake and Mecklenburg are the largest counties. But suburban areas and retirement destinations like coastal Brunswick County were among the fastest growing in 2017, according to the University of North Carolina's Carolina Demography.
Gerry Cohen, a former longtime legislative official, said while it's unclear where a new district would be created, a likely scenario would be that the 12th and 2nd Districts— now comprising large parts of Mecklenburg and Wake counties — to shrink within their respective counties. That would mean parts of those counties would be added to other districts, and potentially a new one in the Piedmont between the population centers.
"So there isn't a particular place where a new seat would be added," he said. "It's likely in that corridor."
Even without a new seat, North Carolina's new court-ordered congressional districts already are already expected to have an impact on Congress.
Republicans, who currently have 10 of the state's 13 House seats, are only expected to gain eight under the maps that will be in effect in 2020.
"The changes in North Carolina should give Democrats a couple of extra seats in their pocket as they defend their House majority," wrote analyst J. Miles Coleman of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. | A
s we reported earlier in the week , the 2020 Census is set to shift around seats in the House of Representatives in a manor that slightly benefits states that voted for President Donald Trump in 2020.
The states projected to pick up seats are Arizona (1), Colorado (1), Florida (2), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), Oregon (1), and Texas (3). Every state gaining seats voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, with the exception of Colorado and Oregon. The states losing seats are Alabama (-1), California (-1) Illinois (-1), Michigan (-1), Minnesota (-1), New York (-1), Ohio (-1), Pennsylvania (-1), Rhode Island (-1), and West Virginia (-1). This list is more evenly split politically, with California, Illinois, New York, and Rhode Island having voted blue in 2016 (as they always tend to).
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States that voted for Trump as gaining eight seats and losing five (for a net +3), while states that voted for Hillary Clinton are gaining two seats while losing four (for a net -2). In other words, states that votes for Trump are expected to see an increase in representation – albeit an insignificantly small one.
New York was one of those expected to lose a seat (and could lose up to two), and the one getting the ax could be Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s.
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According to PJ Media’s Matt Margolis:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may be a rising star in the Democratic Party, but the district she represents could potentially not exist following the 2020 Census since New York is expected to lose as many as two House seats. According to The City, nearly 47 percent of her district is foreign-born, and more than a quarter are not citizens—both are segments of the population that are often underrepresented in the census due to concerns of taking part in an official government count, and her district has a higher percentage than any other district. This could mean that her district could be divided up in reapportionment, meaning that she might have to face another incumbent to stay in Congress. Frank Luntz says that the state’s Democrats are actually looking to “draw out” her district.
This has been on AOC’s radar, and in August she began encouraging her constituents (25% of which are illegal aliens) to partake in the Census. That’s unlikely to work, and AOC is unlikely to be able to defeat an incumbent. As a poll conducted by Quinnipiac found, she polls at a net negative, with 36% having a negative opinion of her compared to 23% with a positive one. | 2.666667 |
Global publications have exploded with reports of the most exciting new developments that can be expected in the coming year, and many of these would have already advanced by the time the bloggers hit ‘publish’.
From Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to edge computing and blockchain, co-founder and director of Quicket, James Hedley takes a look at the four most exciting tech trends to watch out for in Africa in 2020.
Exponential investment in Africa
In November, Nigerian-based payment ventures received a $360 million investment, making it the ‘unofficial African capital for fintech investment and digital finance startups’ according to TechCrunch.
It was also reported that the continent’s fintech investment quadrupled to $357 million in 2018, with sub-Saharan Africa being the area with the most expected growth.
So, what does this mean for South Africa? “We can expect even more investment after being listed as one of the top three African countries with the highest amount of investment next to Kenya and Nigeria.”
The Southern African Venture Capital Association also announced that venture capital funding grew 31% to over R1.5-billion in 2018, up from R1.1-billion in 2017.
Leading the charge with sizeable investments this year include on-demand cleaning service SweepSouth and business funding company Lulalend.
The continued rise of mobile money
Since 2011, the value of mobile transactions has grown over 890%, with sub-Saharan Africa leading the way as the world’s largest region responsible for moving money on mobile phones – a total of 45,6% of the activity in the world.
The industry has grown exponentially and there are no signs of the market decreasing in value.
Mobile money has proven an effective tool for feature phone users who have not yet migrated to the smartphone movement, and USSD codes have become one of the technologies that have enhanced the transaction experience for millions.
Associated rise of the mobile money powered ecosystem
Hundred of millions of upwardly mobile consumers linked to a cost-effective mobile and easy-to-use payment system will create vast opportunities for all sorts of business models.
One only has to look to China to get a feel for the vast range of possibilities this could enable, like the incredible success WeChat has seen with their payment options.
In a recent report, they stated that over 84% of adults using their payment options now felt comfortable not carrying cash.
Reducing data costs
Recently, mobile firms Vodacom and MTN were ordered by the Competition Commission of South Africa to slash their data costs, despite introducing price reductions.
The Commission released their long- awaited findings, and the network providers have two months to significantly reduce their data costs, making space for a wider audience to have not only access to the internet, but access for longer periods of time.
Although MTN has stated that they will be opposing the ruling, “what we can still look forward to is a more inclusive audience who engage with online content, shopping, etc”.
Corporates, small businesses and even retailers may look for more ways to engage with their audiences in order to reel in new and maintain existing consumers through online engagement.
Messaging 2.0
We have seen great strides in messaging apps over the last year, with many businesses using apps like Messenger and WhatsApp as extended forms of customer service.
“As a society, we have grown to demand immediacy from the brands that we choose to interact with, and we can expect much more from brands next year,” Hedley said.
With updates in chatbots, interactions will be even more nuanced, with ‘robots’ who are being programmed to deliver to us more effectively every day.
Read: A look at the new tech being used by Joburg police | The continent’s sovereign dollar debt has generated total returns of 20% since the start of 2019, more than any other region in emerging markets.
The continent’s sovereign dollar debt has generated total returns of 20% since the start of 2019, more than any other region in emerging markets.
If the world’s major central banks remain dovish in 2020, that should sustain a dash for higher yields in emerging markets and mean that African bonds remain in hot demand.
Africa is a “land of opportunity” and could be one of the main beneficiaries if the U.S. and China make more progress on trade talks, said Bank of America strategists including London-based David Hauner.
The extra yield investors get when buying sovereign dollar bonds in Africa rather than U.S. Treasuries has narrowed almost 100 basis points this year, according to J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.’s indexes. Still, at 461 basis points, that spread remains the highest of any emerging-market region and double that of Eastern Europe.
But investors face plenty of potential risks in 2020. South Africa could lose its last investment-grade rating, Ghana’s government might ramp up spending ahead of elections, Zambia’s debt crisis could spiral out of control and Nigeria may be forced to devalue its currency.
Here’s what to watch for in 10 key markets.
Angola
Africa’s second-biggest oil producer is still reeling from a crash in crude prices five years ago. The economy will contract for a fourth straight year in 2019, the International Monetary Fund said this week. Still, investors have been impressed by the central bank’s reforms, including the devaluation of the kwanza. Its fall of 32% this year against the dollar -- only Argentina’s peso has weakened more -- has increased inflationary pressure. But it’s also eased a shortage of foreign exchange that was crippling businesses.
Egypt
Egypt remains a favorite among portfolio investors. Carry traders, attracted by yields of around 14% on pound bonds, have flocked to the Arab nation. The currency has rallied 12% this year, its best performance in at least 25 years -- and Societe Generale SA forecasts it will gain another 4.5% to 15.35 per dollar in 2020. But the reforms of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi are yet to translate into the foreign direct investment and jobs that Egypt badly needs. Aware of that, investors will watch to see if there’s any repeat of the anti-government protests in September that briefly rocked local markets.
Ethiopia
The Horn-of-Africa nation remains one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But that masks deep problems: inflation has accelerated to more than 20% and shortages of foreign exchange are acute. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, recently turned to the IMF for a $2.9 billion, three-year loan. Investors welcomed the move, which should speed up plans to open up and modernize the state-controlled economy. The central bank has already started to weaken the overvalued birr, which had been largely pegged to the dollar. “This IMF deal is one of the biggest ideological shifts I’ve seen in Africa this decade,” said Charlie Robertson, Renaissance Capital’s London-based chief economist.
Ghana
West Africa’s second-biggest economy holds general elections in late 2020, with President Nana Akufo-Addo probably seeking a second term. The country has a history of fiscal profligacy in the run-up to polls and investors will watch whether the government is more cautious this time. The cedi has been under pressure and fell to a record low this month. But Renaissance Capital, which recommends that clients buy Ghana’s Eurobonds, says it is now one of Africa’s most undervalued currencies.
Ivory Coast
The Francophone country is set to hold a general election in October. Many analysts hoped it would mark a transition to a younger generation of leaders. But there’s a chance it will be a contest between President Alassane Ouattara, who came to power in 2011, and his long-time rivals Henri Konan Bedie and Laurent Gbagbo. If so, “the country risks slipping back into the political turmoil it seemed to have escaped barely 10 years ago,” said Teneo Intelligence analysts Anne Fruhauf and Malte Liewerscheidt.
Kenya
Kenya’s economy is forecast to grow 5.8% next year, making it one of Africa’s most buoyant nations. Bank of America says the removal of a cap on interest rates in November is a further reason for optimism and should help the government obtain a standby loan from the IMF. Key to the East African country’s longer-term prospects will be whether it can rein in the budget deficit. Forecast to be 6.6% of gross domestic product this year, it’s one of the widest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mozambique
Mozambique completed a debt restructuring in October that had dragged on since it defaulted on $727 million of Eurobonds in early 2017. That should pave the way for the government to raise the funding it needs for its portion of multi-billion-dollar gas projects. Once they’re finished, the impoverished southern African country is set to become a major exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Nigeria
Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s best carry trades will probably last as long as central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele keeps the naira stable. That’s becoming harder, with Nigerian foreign reserves having dropped 14% to $39 billion since July. Emefiele’s signaled he’ll let them fall a lot further before loosening his grip on the currency, which barely budges. Fiscal authorities, meanwhile, will try to boost an economy that’s been growing more slowly than the population for the past five years.
South Africa
Portfolio investors have exited South Africa en masse this year, pulling a net $10 billion from its stock and local-bond markets, according to data from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. They’ve been concerned by the deepening crisis at state-owned power company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., which can’t service its $30 billion of debts without government support, and the increasing chance that Moody’s Investors Service will cut South Africa’s final investment-grade rating to junk. But if President Cyril Ramaphosa makes headway in reforming Eskom, investors will probably be quick to come back. Bank of America and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. both say its inflation-adjusted bond yields are attractive and the central bank has room to cut interest rates. | 2.333333 |
Start your 2020 with the inspirational video of this kid Madda Ram playing cricket 🏏 with his friends.
It warmed my heart and I am sure it will warm yours too. pic.twitter.com/Wgwh1kLegS — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 1, 2020
Let’s go meet with him master
I’ll take the picture — atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) January 1, 2020
Gift the kids a cricket set for the new year. — Mohan Sinha🇮🇳 (@Mohansinha) January 1, 2020
#HappyNewYear my fav cricketer @sachin_rt
Yes its really a inspirational tweet
Really overwhelmed 😊😊 — ̷ͲȺའȺ. 🌟⭐🌠 (@methaara) January 1, 2020
I am overwhelmed by the spirit of the boy and his teammates I wish people in position like you the Hero could help him get a wheelchair. Happy new year to all. — Atanazio Bwongyererwa (@AtanazioBwongy1) January 1, 2020
I seen him as a soldier, how loves and passionate on this game..
Also should appreciate other kids, they accept him as ordinary player..
Spirit of game called cricket.. — J G Pandian (@JGP_OSSI) January 1, 2020
Truly inspiration 🙏🙏 We must learn a lot things from this kid hats off 🙏🙏 — CrickeTendulkar 🇮🇳 FC (@CrickeTendulkar) January 1, 2020
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, on Wednesday, tweeted a video clip of a differently-abled boy playing cricket with children his age, making his fans praising the youngster's passion for the sport.Tendulkar tweeted the clip and wrote on @sachin_rt: "Start your 2020 with the inspirational video of this kid Madda Ram playing cricket with his friends. It warmed my heart and I am sure it will warm yours too."The clip got over 400K views at the last count.Tendulkar's post warmed the hearts on Twitter and garnered positive responses far and wide.Ace photographer Atul Kasbekar tweeted: "Let's go meet with him master, I'll take the picture."(With IANS inputs) | Naagin 4 star Nia Sharma is making a bold style statement and adding oomph on social media by sharing images of herself in a bikini.
The actress turned heads on Instagram by sharing pictures while taking a dip in the pool.
With her wet hair tied in a bun, the actress is seen flaunting her toned body in the pictures. She has completed the look with red lipstick and a simple accessory. "Let yo Portrait mode blur out your worries and enemies too! #2020 goals," she wrote with the images, which have gone viral on the social media.
On the professional front, Nia is getting applauded for her stint in hit TV show Naagin 4.
"For the first time I am trying my hands in fantasy fiction that has become a very strong brand. Naagin demands commitment, versatility and I am playing the role of Brinda, who is simple and soft spoken in nature. She avoids fights even when people are harsh towards her," Nia had said about her role.
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Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles wild-card playoff preview: Can Russell Wilson win again on road?
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: How to bet on Sunday's wild card games SportsPulse: The two best games of the weekend may come out of the NFC slate on Sunday. Lorenzo provides the best bets you can make on each. USA TODAY
A preview of the NFC wild-card matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles
When: Sunday, Jan. 5, 4:40 p.m. ET
Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Channel: NBC
Line: Seahawks by 1½
Injuries: Both teams are relatively banged up entering this one, with several key players who may or may not be able to play.
The Eagles recently lost starting right guard Brandon Brooks to a season-ending shoulder injury, while tight end Zach Ertz (ribs/back), running back Miles Sanders (ankle), wide receiver Nelson Agholor (knee) and right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) missed all or part of the regular-season finale. Coach Doug Pederson said Monday the team would monitor their statuses throughout the week.
Seattle, meanwhile, had 14 players on its injury report entering last week's game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks will be without starting linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, but hope to get safety Quandre Diggs back for Sunday's game, according to coach Pete Carroll. They could also be thin at wide receiver with Jaron Brown (knee) out and Malik Turner questionable this week after suffering a concussion.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Carries to be had: Few teams in the NFL embraced the run this season like the Seahawks and Eagles, who ranked third and seventh, respectively, in rushing attempts on the year. But injuries have put them in a similar predicament, trying to figure out who's going to get the carries. Philadelphia will hope for a healthy Sanders, lest they want to rely on Boston Scott for a second consecutive week. The Seahawks split carries between Marshawn Lynch (fresh out of retirement) and Travis Homer. With the cast of characters changing, it will be interesting to see if either team can establish consistent production on the ground.
2. What's home worth? The Eagles (9-7) earned home-field advantage in this game by virtue of winning the lowly NFC East, even though the Seahawks finished with a better record (11-5, including a 7-1 mark on the road) and have generally played like the better team this year. (They also beat the Eagles, in Philadelphia, in Week 12.) If the Eagles manage to pull off the upset and win this one, it would illustrate the value of home-field advantage in the playoffs — and help fuel critics who say playoff seeding should be determined by record, regardless of division.
3. All eyes on tight ends: One of the key matchups in this game will be Seattle's defense against Philadelphia's tight ends. The Seahawks ranked 31st in the NFL this year in catches (97) and receiving yards (1,099) surrendered to opposing tight ends, and Carson Wentz's top two targets are Ertz and Dallas Goedert. That pair combined for 146 catches, 1,523 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. All of this makes the health of Ertz that much more important in the days leading up to kickoff.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad. | Eagles facing Seahawks for second time with Boston Scott, Greg Ward, other new players filling big roles
Show Caption Hide Caption Eagles' Elijah Holyfield on his dad, boxing champ Evander Elijah Holyfield, signed by the Eagles on Tuesday, talks about his famous father; and Carson Wentz on upcoming game vs. Seahawks Martin Frank, The News Journal
PHILADELPHIA – When the Eagles played the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 24, Greg Ward had just been promoted from the practice squad, and Jay Ajayi, not Boston Scott, was the backup running back to Miles Sanders.
Mack Hollins was a starting wide receiver, even though he was going on his seventh straight game without a reception.
Right tackle Lane Johnson was sitting out with a concussion, and Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks would leave in the first quarter after having an anxiety attack.
SON OF A CHAMP: Eagles sign boxing champion Evander Holyfield's son Elijah to play RB with Sanders hurt
And quarterback Carson Wentz was playing in his first game without his top three wide receivers as DeSean Jackson was recently put on injured reserve, while Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor were sitting out with injuries.
Needless to say, it didn't go well as the Eagles committed five turnovers – four by Wentz with two lost fumbles and two interceptions – in their 17-9 loss.
The Eagles fell to 5-7 after losing the following week to Miami. They haven't lost since, winning four straight games despite a brand new cast of skill position players, most of whom the Seahawks haven't seen when the two teams play on Sunday in the NFC Wildcard Round of the playoffs.
SEASON SAVIORS: Ranking the Eagles' 10 former practice squad players by their importance
"I think it’s been different bodies out there, different guys making the plays, but Coach (Doug Pederson) has been putting together an awesome game plan each week and executing it and calling it really well, so I can just play fast and take what the defense gives me," Wentz said.
"And guys have been making plays. I’ve said that over and over now. It’s someone different every week. We saw Boston Scott last week. What was he, the (NFC) offensive player of the week? How cool is that? It’s finding ways to get the ball in playmakers hands and it’s my job to distribute it."
SEAHAWKS AGAIN: Eagles to face Seahawks in NFL playoff game, with chance to avenge regular-season loss
Scott didn't touch the ball at all in that first game against Seattle. Yet last Sunday against the Giants, Scott took over when Miles Sanders left with an injury in the second quarter and had 138 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in the Eagles' 34-17 win.
It's the same way with Ward. The first game against Seattle was only his second game on a game-day roster after spending parts of each of the last three seasons on the Eagles' practice squad.
Ward had his first NFL reception in that game, finishing with 6 catches for 40 yards. He has been the Eagles' leading receiver since, with 28 receptions, along with 254 yards and a touchdown. A week later, Hollins was released, while Jeffery has since gone on injured reserve, and Agholor has missed the last four games.
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"Some of the names are different, but the style of play and the way (Pederson) calls the offense and the defense, and how they do their stuff, doesn’t look different," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Boston Scott is so much in the same vein (as Miles Sanders). They have the same-style type of guys of really exciting football players. They know how to use their guys. We’re just going to expect them to continue to do what they do."
But that has taken some time.
The Seahawks game was really the first time Wentz was playing with a new set of skill position players. That has continued to evolve as the weeks have gone on. Yet the Eagles have adjusted in must-win games in order to make the playoffs.
"We’ve had some moving parts," Scott said. "Guys have gone down. Guys have had to step up. At the end of the day, I feel like Carson has been putting us in good situations. It doesn’t really matter who’s in there. He’s kind of making that thing go. He’s our leader, and we have confidence in him, and he’s been putting us in positions to succeed."
In the last few days alone, Brooks went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury; tight end Zach Ertz missed last week's game with hip and back injuries and might not return this week; and Johnson has missed the last three games with a high-ankle sprain, and it's not known if he can return this week, either.
Fletcher Cox, Boston Scott after Eagles win over Giants Fletcher Cox had a pivotal fumble recovery at the Giants 2 yard line, while Boston Scott took over at running back to lead the win. Martin Frank, The News Journal
In that first game, rookie Andre Dillard, who had played left tackle ever since he began playing football, played right tackle and was benched at halftime for Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and Matt Pryor got into his first-ever NFL game at right guard.
Pryor played in the second half against the Giants last Sunday, and would be prepared to start if needed again Sunday.
The Seahawks have dealt with a similar situation over the past few weeks, when they lost 3 of their last 4 games. Their top three running backs in Chris Carson (1,230 yards rushing), Rashaad Penny (129 yards rushing vs. the Eagles) and C.J. Prosise have all suffered season-ending injuries.
The Seahawks last week signed veteran running back Marshawn Lynch. He hadn't played at all this season until last Sunday night in Seattle's 26-21 loss to San Francisco.
"We have to just deal with what’s been dealt to us," Carroll said. "Just make the adjustments and count on the guys to come through and make the plays, and play like the guy who just left. I know (the Eagles) have done a great job of that, overcoming tremendous odds. We’re up against a little bit now.
"Obviously, there’s a big survival challenge for both teams."
Injury update
Both Johnson and Ertz were limited participants in practice Wednesday, which was a walkthrough session. Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Ertz has not been cleared for contact, so unless that changes by Sunday, he won't play. Johnson has missed three straight games with an ankle injury.
WR Nelson Agholor, who has missed 5 of the last 6 games with a knee injury, didn't practice. Neither did Sanders. Pederson said a decision on Sanders will be made later in the week.
Eagles sign a WR
The Eagles placed Brooks on injured reserve Wednesday and signed WR Shelton Gibson. Gibson was the Eagles' fifth-round pick in 2017. He was waived in August, and spent the season on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad. Gibson has 3 career catches for 59 yards in 2017 and 2018.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl. | 4 |
VANCOUVER -- The new year will start off much better than 2019 did for 13 puppies who were living without adequate food and shelter months ago.
Those 13 Saint Bernard/Great Pyrenees puppies have all found new homes after their previous owner – an aspiring breeder in northern B.C. – surrendered them to the SPCA. The older puppies had been living in a small, dirt pen while the younger ones had been confined to a horse trailer.
"All the puppies inside the horse trailer had been living in feces that were five inches thick and had mild urine scalding on their paws," said SPCA North Peace branch manager Candace Buchamer in a news release.
"Most of the pups had minor bite wounds on their faces and were frightened of the larger dogs barking at them."
The puppies had never even worn a collar and had little human interaction or leash training, the SPCA said.
The staff still managed to bring them into SPCA care using lots of treats and praise. Each of the puppies were then bathed several times and medication was given to those that needed it.
"They were very playful, energetic and only slightly submissive during handling," said Buchamer.
The SPCA said the puppies didn't show signs of stress during their rehabilitation and weren't aggressive, but just a little afraid of meeting new people. Eventually, the puppies even learned to walk on a leash.
Of the 13 puppies, nine were female and four were male. They came from three different litters, ranging in age from four to six months old.
One of the first puppies to be adopted was Blix, from the North Cariboo branch.
"She is nervous of loud noises like doors slamming and a bit uncertain around traffic but does well on walks and enjoys meeting new people," a statement from the SPCA said.
Four of the puppies went down to Vancouver for adoption: Gabrielle, Heidi, Leslie and Kinsley. Gabrielle was the most outgoing of the youngest puppies, the SPCA said, while the other three were more nervous around toys and in new places.
"Kinsley was only afraid of toys that would make noise and needed to be introduced to new people and situations slowly," the SPCA said. "Shy Leslie likes to dig and chew on rocks."
The other dogs went to various branches including Abbotsford, Burnaby and Quesnel, while four of the puppies stayed in the North Peace region. Some were quite submissive and took a while to gain confidence.
"All 13 puppies found guardians who appreciate their unique personalities and are willing to work with them on their flaws," the SPCA said. "Each pup will enjoy many wonderful years ahead with their new families in loving homes." | The Jets injury problem was so bad in 2019 that the trainer’s room barely had enough space for all of the rehabbing players, who had to schedule their times with trainers to avoid a logjam.
Now, the Jets are trying to figure out if there was a reason for all of those injuries or if it was just bad luck. Jets coach Adam Gase said they began looking at what was causing all the injuries about two months ago.
“I wish it was cut and dry and say, ‘Hey we had 15 hamstrings,’ ” Gase said. “But we’re having season-ending-type injuries. We’ve had discussions with the training room, strength and conditioning; [general manager] Joe [Douglas] and I have had conversations; we’ve talked to other people. We’re going to continue to take deeper dives and all that when we meet with the staff as far as was it practice schedule, training camp, offseason. Is it something we’re doing during the season? We’re combing through everything because we can’t have this happen again.”
The Jets had a staggering amount of injuries. Here are some eye-popping numbers:
They used a franchise-record 73 players. Only the Dolphins and Redskins used more this season.
They had 20 players wind up on injured reserve.
They used 11 starting offensive linemen. They had nine starting combinations on the line. They had three starters each at left guard and right guard.
They used four quarterbacks and three starting quarterbacks. It was the first time since 2005 they had four quarterbacks take a snap.
Four players viewed as key starters in the preseason ended up playing two games or less — ILB C.J. Mosley (2 games), TE Chris Herndon (1 game), WR Quincy Enunwa (1 game) and ILB Avery Williamson (0 games).
The Jets used six starting cornerbacks on the outside (not counting nickel corner Brian Poole). They used five starting inside linebackers.
All of this contributed to the Jets’ 7-9 season. They failed to overcome many of these injuries in the first half of the season but handled them much better in the second half.
see also Jets' Joe Douglas is on the clock Thirty miles east of Jets headquarters and two hours before...
The Jets need to consider whether changes need to be made to their medical or strength and conditioning staffs, although Gase indicated that is highly unlikely.
Practice rules in the NFL are highly regulated by the collective bargaining agreement. There are limits on offseason practices and how often you can wear pads in practice. That makes it unlikely Gase is running practice any differently than other teams when it comes to contact and the length of practices.
“Without having all of the facts, my initial thought is that this year is a bit of anomaly as far as the amount of injuries that we sustained as an organization, as a team,” Douglas said. “We are in the midst of that research; we are doing a deep dive to as far to what we can do to prevent this from happening again and what we need to implement to make sure that this amount of injuries doesn’t happen.”
The Jets have plenty of priorities this offseason. Figuring out a solution to their injury issue, if there is one, should be near the top of the list.
For more on the Jets, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast: | 1 |
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From CEPR Blog
My friend, Bill Greider, died on Christmas day. Greider, who was 83, was an old-time journalist who believed that the job meant exposing the corruption of the rich and powerful, rather than becoming their friends in order to get inside stories. This meant that he was never very popular with elite types, as perhaps best evidenced by his minimal obituary at the Washington Post, where he had worked for a decade as a reporter and an editor.
Greider's writing had a large impact on my thinking about the economy and the world. When I was still in graduate school I read his great study of the Federal Reserve Board, Secrets of the Temple. While there were many things in that book which were not exactly right, it did much to highlight the power of this fundamentally undemocratic institution. I, and many others, have worked with considerable success in recent years to make the Fed more open to public input, and for it to take its legal mandate for maintaining full employment more seriously.
Greider also wrote the book, Who Will Tell the People? The Betrayal of American Democracy, about the corruption of politics in Washington. The book became the basis for a PBS documentary with the same name. I remember well a segment from this documentary.
It was an interview with a reporter. (Sorry, can't remember who it was.) The reporter was discussing how he came to fully appreciate the corruption of Washington. The reporter explained that someone asked him "why do you think members of Congress sit on the banking committee?" The reporter gave the textbook answer about sitting on the committee to oversee the regulations and laws on banking. His questioner responded, "they sit on the banking committee to get money from bankers."
I grew up in Chicago, when the machine politics of the first Mayor Daley was the only game in town, so I was not naive about politics and corruption, but this still stunned me. Folks who have been around Washington know it is obviously true, but I think the level of corruption is probably news to most people in the country. This was an education for me.
Back in 1997, Greider wrote a book, One World, Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism, which warned that competition from the developing world would put downward pressure on the wages of manufacturing workers and that large trade deficits could lead to serious shortfalls in aggregate demand, meaning weak growth and high unemployment. The book was widely trashed by economists, including the leading liberals of the day. In particular, they ridiculed the idea that trade deficits could lead to unemployment, after all, the Fed could just lower interest rates to make up any shortfall in demand.
Two decades later, most of the mainstream of the profession accepts the idea of "secular stagnation," meaning a sustained shortfall in demand that leaves the economy operating well below its potential level of output. With interest rates having bottomed out at zero following the Great Recession, most economists would concede that the Fed does not have the ability to boost the economy back to full employment, or at least not with its traditional tool of lowering the federal funds rate.
While economists generally do not like to talk about the trade deficit as a cause of secular stagnation, fans of logic and arithmetic point out that if we had balanced trade rather than a deficit of 3.0 percent of GDP, it would provide the same boost to the economy as an increase in government spending of 3.0 percent of GDP or roughly $650 billion a year in today's economy. There is little doubt that would be a huge boost to demand and would have gone far towards ending the problem of secular stagnation. (There is no magic to balanced trade. I only use it as a point of reference.)
There were certainly things that Greider got wrong in One World, Ready or Not, as he did in his other economic writings. He was a journalist not an economist. Still, as one great economist commented, it is better to be approximately right than exactly wrong, a position that described many of his economist critics.
The response to Greider's death as well as his life calls to mind another great saying. In Washington, the only thing worse than being wrong is being right. And Greider was often guilty of that. | Cantwell Calls for Comprehensive Privacy Protections for American Consumers; Transparency, Consent Alone Not Enough
Senator criticizes efforts to pre-empt state privacy laws
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the committee, called for Congress to pass comprehensive federal legislation to protect the privacy and data of American consumers.
“Over the last several years, we have seen a barrage of consumer privacy and security violations, and consumers are on the receiving end of these reckless practices,” Senator Cantwell said. “The information age is still unfolding, and we will face many challenges. It's time for Congress to deliver meaningful privacy and security protections for the American public… I believe that just notice and consent are no longer enough. I don’t think that transparency is the only solution.”
In her remarks before the committee, Cantwell noted that American consumers still face privacy challenges from a range of different online practices.
“Consumers continue to see the challenges that they face with corporate practices that allow for collection, storage, analyzing, and monetizing their personal information,” Cantwell continued. “I hope we kick off a very substantive discussion to explore how we go about changing this mindset that treats personal information as a commodity for profit.”
Cantwell also criticized efforts to pre-empt laws from states like Washington, which is considering adopting its own privacy protections, in any federal legislation that Congress may consider.
“I find this effort somewhat disturbing, that as our country is grappling with all the privacy violations we’ve seen, the first thing people want to organize is a preemption effort,” Cantwell said.
Senator Cantwell has long advocated for more stringent protections for the privacy of American consumers, including when she questioned the CEO of Equifax on data breaches, when she questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and when she urged President Trump to veto a resolution passed by Congress to undo consumer privacy regulations adopted by the FCC.
Here is VIDEO and AUDIO from Senator Cantwell’s opening statement at today’s hearing.
Here is VIDEO and AUDIO from Senator Cantwell’s Q&A with the witnesses at the hearing.
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Office of the Governor of... A photo taken by graduates of a West Virginia prison training course doing the Nazi salute. Share
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(JTA) — More than 30 West Virginia correctional academy trainees who were seen giving a Nazi salute in a class photo will be fired.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Monday that he has approved the recommendations from a report by state investigators calling for the dismissal of the correctional officer trainees who participated in the photo. According to the report, the trainees regularly gave the Nazi salute “as a sign of respect” for their instructor in the weeks prior to the release of the photo, The Associated Press reported.
The photo of dozens of participants in the basic training class making the Nazi salute reads “Hail Byrd!” at the top, a reference to their correctional academy instructor, Karrie Byrd.
Two correctional academy trainers and a cadet from the class shown in the picture were fired when the photo came to light in early December.
Byrd told investigators that she was unaware of the “historical or racial implications of the gesture” and said it was “simply a greeting,” according to the report, NBC News reported. Other sources for the report contradicted her statements.
“The investigation disclosed that she encouraged it, reveled in it, and at times reciprocated the gesture,” the report said.
Justice said in a statement Monday that “this act needed to result in real consequences – terminations and dismissals.”
“This kind of behavior will not be tolerated on my watch in any agency of state government,” he said. | A three-page executive summary was released Monday detailing the state's inquiry into the controversial image. (West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (AP) — West Virginia plans to begin training its corrections department staff about the Holocaust after a photograph of correction officer cadets giving Nazi salutes led to dozens of firings and widespread outrage, officials said Tuesday.
A spokesman for the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said the leader of the regional Anti-Defamation League chapter has agreed to draft the training materials and coursework. He said the agency is “committed to taking all steps necessary to accomplish this.”
The move comes a day after Gov. Jim Justice announced that more than 30 trainees seen in the photo were being fired, along with their instructor. He made the announcement after a report was released detailing how the instructor “reveled” in the salute and encouraged the class to perform the gesture. Four other instructors are being suspended without pay.
"This kind of behavior will not be tolerated on my watch in any agency of state government,” Justice, a Republican, said in a statement Monday.
The photograph, which shows the trainees with their arms raised and faces blurred, was released in early December as officials promised a swift probe of the matter. The image also includes a line of text that reads “Hail Byrd,” a reference to instructor Karrie Byrd.
On Monday, the state released a a summary of its internal investigation, which found that an unspecified number of trainees in Academy Class 18 began using the gesture early on in their training “as a sign of respect” for Byrd. Soon after, other class members also began flashing the salute.
Byrd, who taught the course on “Cultural Diversity,” told investigators that she was “completely unaware of the historical or racial implications of the gesture and reported it was simply a greeting,” according to the summary.
The investigation lists multiple sources contradicting Byrd's statements. Two other instructors told Byrd and the class that the gesture was inappropriate but Byrd said there was nothing wrong with it, according to the report.
“The gesture was done with Byrd's knowledge," the document read. “The investigation disclosed that she encouraged it, reveled in it, and at times reciprocated the gesture. Additionally, Byrd appeared to overrule the corrective actions taken by others and assured the cadets the behavior was acceptable.”
A voicemail message could not be left at a phone number listed for Byrd in public records.
Byrd eventually directed her class to use the hand gesture while taking a photo of the group, though the image had to be taken several times because not everyone was giving the salute, the report said. It added that after 10 members resisted, Byrd explicitly directed them to give the gesture. Seven of those cadets told investigators they made a fist so as to appear to comply with Byrd's demand but not directly mimic a Nazi salute — which can be seen in the photo released.
After the image was taken, a secretary asked Byrd what the class was doing, the report said. State investigators wrote Byrd responded with “look there is nothing wrong with it, we have people of all colors and backgrounds in the picture and everyone of them are participating.” Byrd then told the secretary to caption the image “Hail Byrd,” and said “that's why they do that because I'm a hardass like Hitler."
The photo also made its way before “Capt. Daniels-Watts,” according to the report, which withheld the captain's first name. The report said the captain never addressed Byrd about the photo and did not attempt to stop the photo's distribution.
“Do I resign now or what”" Daniels-Watts asked state officials during the investigation. “I saw the picture and did nothing.”
Ultimately, investigators determined the cadets displayed “poor judgment” but concluded no one who participated in the gesture was being discriminatory.
The report concluded: “There is no dispute that the ‘Hail Byrd’ gesture and photograph were highly offensive and egregious in appearance, but the investigation did not reveal any overt motivation or intent that this was a discriminatory act towards any racial, religious, or ethnic group.”
Byrd made a little over $36,000 from the state in 2018, according to the most recently available employee compensation records. | 4 |
The couple whose legal battle paved the way for a change in the law have walked out of a register office as one of the first heterosexual couples in England and Wales to enter into a civil partnership.
Civil partnerships, which the government expects to be embraced by about 84,000 mixed-sex couples in 2020, offer almost identical rights as marriage, including property, inheritance and tax entitlements.
'How to get hitched as a feminist': mixed-sex civil unions to begin Read more
Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who won their legal battle at the supreme court in 2018 for the right to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage, said their wish was “rooted in our desire to formalise our relationship in a more modern way, focused on equality and mutual respect.”
Steinfeld, an academic, said on the steps of Kensington and Chelsea register office: “There is now a space for new, more modern possibilities for people to express their love and commitment to one another.
“The urgent need to reform cohabitation law so that social policy keeps up with the reality of family life in modern Britain has been brought into greater focus. And by ending the unrivalled position of marriage we have helped to create the space for deeper discussions about giving legal recognition to other types of personal and caring relationships, such as those between friends, siblings and co-parents.”
Quick guide Explainer: civil partnerships Show Hide Civil partnerships were created in 2004 as a means of allowing same-sex couples to enter into a union that guarantees them similar legal rights to those who are married. They are limited to same-sex couples but in October 2018, following a supreme court ruling declaring the existing position discriminatory, the government announced that heterosexual couples would also be entitled to enter the arrangement. There are differences between the two forms of union, partially symbolic and partially matters of substance. For a marriage, the ceremony is solemnised by the couple saying a prescribed form of words; in a civil partnership, the couple can simply sign a document. Marriages can be conducted through either a civil or religious ceremony, at a registry office, church or wherever a venue is licensed. Civil partnerships are secular events, although partners can choose to hold a religious ceremony on the day. Civil partners cannot declare, for legal purposes, that they are married. Civil partnership certificates include the names of both parents of the parties whereas marriage certificates in England and Wales include only the names of a couple's fathers – for the time being. In terms of annulment the rules are virtually identical, although the clause that permits a marriage to be dissolved if one partner is 'suffering from a venereal disease in a communicable form' does not apply to civil partnerships. Likewise, adultery can be grounds for a married couple to divorce though it cannot be relied upon to end a civil partnership.
Those in civil partnerships and those who are married enjoy the same tax breaks and benefits – such as the marriage allowance and bereavement payments. Surviving civil partners are treated the same as widows or widowers in terms of rights to state pension.
While those who are married and in civil partnerships enjoy extensive legal rights, those who are merely cohabiting – 3.3 million couples at the last estimate – have no legal protections or property rights if one of them dies.
The couple were joined for the registration by their two children, Eden, four, and Ariel, two, and their parents and friends who acted as witnesses.
Keidan said: “Through this long journey and hard-fought battle, our mental health has suffered, our ability to be civil to each other has been tested, and, crucially, we missed out on that important moment to state clearly what we mean to each other – not just what we’ve become in the eyes of others.
“So we’re grateful to, and wish to thank, everyone who has supported us on this journey so that we could finally do that in private a few moments ago.”
Those involved in the couple’s campaign said that they were aware of as many as 80 other civil partnership ceremonies happening on Tuesday around the country. The first took place in Carmarthenshire, where a register office opened at 00:02am on New Year’s Eve for Jake Rayson and Emma Wilson. | London: A heterosexual couple who campaigned for mixed-sex civil partnerships have become one of the first couples to tie the knot in a ceremony today after winning a Supreme Court case to change the law.
This morning Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan registered their 'more modern' partnership at Kensington and Chelsea Register.
They were pictured outside the building looking loved up as their two children stood by their side.
The change in the law will allow couples up and down the country to enter into civil partnerships rather than a marriage following a Supreme Court legal victory last year, reports the Daily Mail.
They won a legal battle in 2018 for the right to heterosexual civil partnerships, paving the way for today's change in the law. The couple took their fight to the Supreme Court, the highest court in Britain, forcing the law change.
Steinfeld told journalists it was their personal wish to form a civil partnership which came from a personal desire to formalise their relationship in a more modern way, with a focus in equality and mutual respect. She said it creates new, modern possibilities for thousands of people to express their love and commitment and ends the unrivaled position of marriage.
The change means couples will be able to access the same tax benefits, pensions and inheritances as those available to married couples.
The government said thousands of civil ceremonies were taking place across England and Wales Tuesday as the new rules came into operation.
A spokesperson for the Government Equalities Office said: "Civil partnerships are not intended to compete with marriage but rather to provide an alternative option for those couples who do not wish to marry but want legal certainty and stability for their families." | 4 |
The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was one of the first organised police forces in Britain or Ireland when it was founded in 1836 following the amalgamation of four provisional forces. At the same time the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) was founded. Crucially, while the RIC was armed, the DMP was not.
The RIC became an overwhelmingly Catholic police force, but its top brass were invariably Protestant. It was involved in many occasions in putting down nationalist unrest most notably during the Fenian revolt of 1867, the last armed insurrection in Ireland before the Easter Rising.
The reputation of the forces varied according to the level of unrest in Ireland at the time. During the Land War of 1879-1882, the RIC earned a reputation for brutality. In quieter times, in the first decade of the 20th century for instance, the RIC became a more conventional police force dealing with the normal business of policing.
Nevertheless, the role of both police forces as guarantors of British rule in Ireland was resented by nationalists.
The situation came to the head during the Easter Rising. The first fatality of the Rising was DMP Constable James O’Brien from Co Limerick; the second was Constable Michael Lahiff from Co Clare.
The worst fatalities for the police during Easter Week were the eight RIC men killed during the Battle of Ashbourne in Co Meath, the largest engagement outside Dublin during the Rising.
Worse was to follow for the RIC during the War of Independence. The opening event of the War of Independence was the Soloheadbeg ambush in which two RIC men, Constable James McDonnell and Constable Patrick O’Connell, were shot dead while escorting a consignment of gelignite to a quarry in Co Tipperary.
The shooting was widely condemned even in nationalist circles. Both men were regarded as respectable members of the local community. McDonnell was an Irish speaker from Co Mayo and a widower with six children. O’Connell was from Co Cork.
Nevertheless, 10 days after the shooting, the Irish Volunteer newspaper, An tÓglach, declared that every volunteer had a duty “to use all legitimate methods of warfare against the soldiers and policemen of the English usurper and to slay them if it is necessary to do so in order to overcome their resistance”.
Boycott
In April, Dáil Éireann declared a boycott of the police. In January 1920, GHQ gave authority for RIC barracks to be burned.
Hundreds were across the country and many in the force were left in the invidious position of taking up arms against those who were fighting for Irish independence.
In maintaining British rule they were at odds with the majority view of the Irish public at the time.
Thousands of RIC and DMP men quit their jobs. Many were Catholic nationalists who had joined up at a time when opportunities were limited and a career as a policeman offered a measure of job security at the time.
In response the British sent in the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries to bolster the role of the RIC in the thankless task of maintaining British rule in Ireland.
As the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries were hired as temporary constables, the reputation of the RIC was permanently sullied by many of the atrocities carried out by crown forces during the War of Independence.
The DMP was also targeted by the IRA during the War of Independence and seven members of its intelligence wing, the notorious G Division, were assassinated.
Both police forces were dismantled in 1922 after the Treaty was signed and no Irish Government has until now saw fit to honour those who served in either the RIC or DMP.
The decision by the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to honour both forces at an event in Dublin Castle on January 17th is bound to be controversial, but it is consistent with the Government’s stated ambition to remember all those who died during the revolutionary period.
Thousands of families in Ireland have a direct connection to both the RIC and the DMP as their relatives served in them.
Mr Flanagan maintains that the vast majority of DMP and RIC were decent men doing a job that all policemen do and they deserve to be remembered.
After becoming the first Government Minister to attend a service remembering those who had died with those forces, he told The Irish Times:
“These are difficult and sensitive issues. We cannot any longer ignore them or be partisan. I believe I have a duty as Minister for Justice to police officers.” | The Government is to commemorate those who served in the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) prior to independence.
The event, part of the State programme to mark the decade of centenaries, will take place in Dublin Castle on January 17th will be addressed by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
The RIC was established in 1836 and disbanded after Irish independence in 1922. It operated in all parts of Ireland except in Dublin, where the DMP was the police force during the same period.
Mr Flanagan in September became the first government minister to attend a commemoration service for policemen killed by the IRA in the War of Independence.
Ministers have traditionally shied away from such services because of the role of both forces in opposing those who sought Irish independence through armed actions.
The armed RIC was in the vanguard of British resistence to the IRA during the War of Independence causing thousands to quit the force. Dáil Éireann organised a boycott of the force from April 1919 on and the mass burning of RIC barracks began in January 1920.
When the British government realised the RIC was not up to the task of defending British rule in Ireland, they drafted in the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries, mercenary soldiers from Britain, to take the fight to the IRA.
In September, Mr Flanagan was a guest at the annual interdenominational service for members of the RIC and DMP held at the Church of St Paul of the Cross in Mount Argus in Dublin.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was represented by his aide-de-camp Commandant Caroline Burke at the service.
The names of 11 RIC and four DMP men killed in 1919 during the first year of the War of Independence were read out.
Speaking to The Irish Times after the service, Mr Flanagan said he attended because the policemen involved were “doing their job. They were murdered in the line of duty.
“They were doing what police officers do. As they saw it they were protecting communities from harm. They were maintaining the rule of law. These are fundamental to police services everywhere.”
Mr Flanagan described himself as a “pluralist who believes in the co-existence of peoples of different traditions on the island coming together.
“As Minister for Justice, I acknowledge that being a policeman is a very tough job. The men that we commemorated were all killed in the line of duty.”
He added: “I believe very strongly in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and, in the spirit of co-existence. These are sensitive ceremonies and they are very important to me.
“The fundamental basis of the Good Friday Agreement brings people together. I see the fundamental principle of Brexit being the opposite.
“These are difficult and sensitive issues. We cannot any longer ignore them or be partisan. I believe I have a duty as Minister for Justice to police officers.”
The decision by the State to hold a service to remember the RIC and DMP has been welcomed by the Historical & Reconciliatory Police (HARP) Society set up in 2012 to remember Irish policemen killed on duty between 1836 and 1922 of whom 525 were killed during the War of Independence.
Spokesman Jim Herlihy said: “The Harp Society are delighted with the initiative now taken by Government in at long last hosting the forthcoming event in Dublin Castle and are also in hope that such an event will lead to the provision of a fitting permanent memorial to commemorate the sacrifice made by the 642 members of Royal Irish Constabulary and the 30 members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police between 1836 and 1922.”
Mr Herlihy said his extensive research over the last number of years reveals that 10,936 Black and Tans and 2,264 Auxiliaries served in Ireland during the War of Independence.
Of those, 152 Black and Tans and 44 Auxilaries were killed.
His research also reveals that 883 Black and Tans were Irish-born and 126 Auxilaries were Irish. | 4 |
“Pasadena, California, USA – January 1, 2011: Up close to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Marching Band parades down Colorado Blvd. at the 122nd Tournament of Roses in Pasadena California.”
PASADENA (KTLA) — A Southern California New Year’s Day tradition, the Rose Parade, runs along a 5 1/2-mile route in Pasadena. This year the parade includes 39 floral-decorated floats, 20 marching bands, 17 equestrians units, and the Royal Court and Rose Queen.
Put on by the Tournament of Roses, the 131st Rose Parade begins at 8 a.m. PT Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. This year marks the 73rd consecutive television broadcast of the Rose Parade on KTLA news broadcasts.
The theme for the 2020 parade is “The Power of Hope,” which the tournament says “celebrates the influence of optimism and hope.”
Pasadena CA – January 1, 2016: Up close of a Marching Band parading down Colorado Blvd. at the 127th Tournament of Roses in Pasadena California.
The 3 grand marshals for the parade are Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, actress Gina Torres, and performer Rita Moreno.
The 102nd Rose Queen is Camille Kennedy of Pasadena, a senior at La Salle College Preparatory.
KTLA’s hosts for the broadcast are Leeza Gibbons, Mark Steines, and Micah Ohlman. Fans of the marching bands can watch the “Band Cam” – a raw, unedited feed devoted to the bands in the parade – on the KTLA’s Facebook or YouTube page. | After a flyover by a B-2 stealth bomber, marching bands and floral floats took to the streets under mostly sunny California skies as the 131st Rose Parade drew hundreds of thousands of spectators on New Year’s Day.
Grand Marshal Rita Moreno waves to the crowd during the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The Pasadena Celebrates 2020 float makes its way along the parade route at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The Royal Court, clockwise from lower left, Princesses Rukan Saif, Mia Thorsen, Emilie Risha, Rose Queen Camille Kennedy, Princesses Reese Rosental Saporito, Michael Wilkins and Cole Fox at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The band Los Lobos performs on the Wells Fargo float at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The Rancho Verde High School marching band performs at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The China Airlines float wins the International Award at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The UPS Store, Inc. float wins the Sweepstakes Award at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The Wisconsin marching band performs at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
PASADENA, Calif. — After a flyover by a B-2 stealth bomber, marching bands and floral floats took to the streets under mostly sunny California skies as the 131st Rose Parade drew hundreds of thousands of spectators on New Year’s Day.
Among the fanciful floats was an award-winning entry from the Chinese American Heritage Foundation that marked the 75th anniversary of the U.S. victory in World War II and honored the sacrifices of women and minorities in the military.
A Curtiss P-40 Flying Tiger fighter and Sherman tank on the float were decorated in eucalyptus leaves with accents of black onion seed, white sweet rice and red ilex berries.
After the bomber streaked overhead, a performance by singer Ally Brooke kicked off the colorful proceedings.
The annual extravaganza on Wednesday in Pasadena featured dozens of floats decked out with countless flowers and waving celebrities.
There were just a few clouds and temperatures reached the mid 60s after a chilly night.
It has rained only once on the Rose Parade in the past six decades — that was in 2006 — and it has never been canceled because of weather.
The theme of the 2020 parade is “The Power of Hope.” The grand marshals are actresses Rita Moreno and Gina Torres and Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez.
A beaming Moreno waved from a rose-adorned antique car with her two adult grandsons.
“Aquatic Aspirations,” a float built by students at California Polytechnic State University, featured a submarine, Hope, festooned with red and orange lentils, white mums, silver leaf, and seaweed.
Spectators started lining the 5.5-mile route on Tuesday, many of them camping on sidewalks and braving overnight temperatures in the 40s.
Pasadena police said there were no known threats to the parade, and spectator safety would remain the first priority and security would be tight. No major problems were reported. | 3.333333 |
tech2 News Staff
End to end encrypted messaging app Telegram has announced a whole bunch of new features that will be seen on the app soon.
These features were announced in a blog post last night. Being a security focused app, Telegram will now let developers who make open source apps to independently verify their code on GitHub and ensure that it is the same code that was used to build the app they downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.
The new features coming to Telegram have already started rolling out.
Here are the major features.
New Theme Editor 2.0
via GIPHY
You will need to head to Chat Settings (Android) or Appearance Settings (iOS) to tweak how your Telegram interface looks. From changing the background to changing the chat window gradients, you can tweak the look to your heart's content. You also have predefined colour themes, where you can further tweak some things.
Send When Online
via GIPHY
Telegram already had a feature to schedule your messages when the recipient came online, provided you are allowed by the recipient to see when they are online. Now you can also schedule Stickers along with messages, with or without sound.
View Search Results as a list
via GIPHY
You can use the universal search feature to search for a particular word or phrase in a Telegram chat. But earlier you had to click on the up/down arrow to toggle between search results. The latest update shows you a list of search results thereby reducing the number of clicks required to go to your desired result.
Podcast and Audiobook support
This is a boon for podcast addicts. If you have an audio file or a podcast longer than 20 mins, Telegram will be able to remember your last played position. There's also a 2x speed dial for podcasts.
Android updates
Switch to Night Mode quicker
via GIPHY
Telegram on Android has supported Night Mode since 2017, but activating that involved a lot of steps. Now with just a single tap, you can switch between regular and night mode. This applies to the Maps as well.
New ripple animations
via GIPHY
Select part of a message
via GIPHY
This feature has been there on iOS. Now the Android app will also let you select part of the message instead of the full text.
Multi-sharing from other apps
via GIPHY
Telegram on Android will now let you share stuff with your friends from multiple apps. You can send a photo from Instagram or a tweet from Twitter to multiple friends and will even get an option to add a comment accompanying it.
iOS updates
Choose your browser
External browser support has now been added for opening links. Head to Settings > Data and Storage > Other to select between in-app Safari, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera Touch among others.
Share sheet settings
You can control what does or doesn't appear in your iOS Share Sheet (which generally adds your most popular Telegram chats). Head over to Settings >Data and Storage > Other > Share Sheet and toggle according to your preference.
Switch Accounts faster
Just long hold on the Telegram icon and it will show you the other Telegram accounts. You can switch between up to three phone numbers without logging out.
Storage usage at a glance
You can get a quick look at how Telegram is using your phone's storage now. You can see the Telegram Cache, Other apps and Free storage. There is a button to clear Telegram Cache with a single click as well. Head over to Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage for more options.
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Nashville, TN – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch for Clarksville-Montgomery County and portions of Middle Tennessee that is in effect from Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 at 12:00pm CT until January 3rd, 6:00pm CT.
The first storm system of 2020 will bring more moderate to heavy rain to Middle Tennessee on Thursday and Friday, with rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches expected. This rainfall falling so soon after the recent heavy rain last Sunday could lead to more flooding across the area.
The chance of rain Thursday and Thursday night is 100%. Rain likely Friday at 70% tampering off to 50% Friday night.
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected.
Heavy rainfall could lead to flooding of roads, low lying areas, low water crossings, rivers, creeks and streams.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
Counties Affected
Stewart County, Montgomery County, Robertson County, Sumner County, Macon County, Clay County, Pickett County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Dickson County, Cheatham County, Davidson County, Wilson County, Trousdale County, Smith County, Jackson County, Putnam County, Overton County, Fentress County, Perry County, Hickman County, Lewis County, Williamson County, Maury County, Marshall County, Rutherford County, Cannon County, De Kalb County, White County, Cumberland County, Bedford County, Coffee County, Warren County, Grundy County, Van Buren County, Wayne County, Lawrence County, and Giles County.
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Topics | The National Weather Service in Melbourne predicts a 40% chance of rain late Friday and 50% early Saturday as a cold front moves through the area.
After a chilly start to 2020, Lake County residents should see a warming trend before a front moves through late Friday and early Saturday morning to bring rain and more cooler temperatures.
The official forecast is provided by the National Weather Service in Melbourne. The official weather station is at the Leesburg International Airport. Due to the size and shape of Lake County, rainfall chances and temperatures can differ a few degrees from the official forecast.
Melissa Watson, a weather service meteorologist in Melbourne, said the daybreak low on New Year’s Day will be in the mid-40s, with a high in the upper 60s.
On Thursday, the forecast calls for a daybreak low in the lower 50s, with a high in the upper 70s. Then on Friday the rain chances will escalate as the day progresses. That rain will continue through early Saturday.
“There is a 40% chance of rain on Friday,” said Watson, adding the chances rise to 50% early Saturday as the front moves through.
Friday’s daybreak low temperature is expected to be in the mid-60s, with an afternoon high reaching the lower 80s. Though Saturday morning’s daybreak low will be in the lower 60s, the afternoon high will only climb 10 degrees as the cold front moves through the area.
On Sunday, the daybreak low temperature will dip into the upper 40s, with the afternoon high only reaching the mid-60s. The good news is that there is no rain in Sunday’s forecast. | 1.666667 |
David Weingard, CEO and founder of Cecelia Health, traces the beginning of his company to the day, at 36 years old, he walked into a doctor’s office and was told he had Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes.
David Weingard, CEO and founder of Cecelia Health in New York City. Cecelia Health
“I had no energy, and when I stepped on the scale I was 30 pounds lighter than I expected,” Weingard said. “I was in shock, overwhelmed.”
Normally Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed at a much younger age than Weingard was at the time, but a small percentage of people are diagnosed later in life. No one knows the reason for the later onset of the disease, according to Weingard.
Weingard’s next shock came as he tried to find advice and support. Weingard was born and raised in Manhattan, where he still lives.
“I went to the local hospital and was told the next diabetes training was months away,” Weingard said. “I was fortunte to meet a great clinician named Cecelia Born-Cort, who gave me support and compassion, and inspired me.”
Born-Cort was a Diabetes Educator Clinician at Lighthouse Guild, a non-profit on West 64th Street in New York City dedicated to preventing vision loss, a common symptom of uncontrolled diabetes. Like most nurses, Born-Cort was overbooked. What made her special, Weingard said, is that she knew how important it was to help him understand and deal with his Type 1 diabetes. She made the time to fit him into her schedule.
“It’s a chronic, progressive disease,” Weingard said. “People get diagnosed and don’t realize if they don’t take the medications, or take care of themselves, there’s a high probability of a heart attack, going blind, or losing a limb.”
Cecelia Born-Cort, the Diabetes Educator Clinician who helped David Weingard, CEO of Cecelia Health. Cecelia Health
Weingard worked for Microsoft in business development at the time he was diagnosed. He was also a competitive runner and cyclist, entering Ironman competitions. Inspired by Cecelia, he decided in 2008 to leave his job at Microsoft and launch a business that would deliver the kind of help she gave him to hundreds of thousands of people across the country by leveraging technology.
Weingard named his company for Cecelia after learning she had passed away from cancer. He was able to track down her son in Atlanta, and on the company website there’s a four-minute video of an interview with him about his mother and the company she inspired.
In order to maximize the impact of Cecelia Health, Weingard realized he needed to work with pharmaceutical companies and insurance health plans. These companies pay a monthly subscription to Cecelia Health to reach out to diabetes patients and establish a level of trust that results in improved outcomes.
Weingard knew that 50 percent of patients prescribed diabetes medications don’t get their prescriptions filled and initiate treatment.
“It’s a huge problem for these pharmaceutical companies, and obviously a problem for patients,” Weingard said.
Cecelia Health has 250 clinicians who work with diabetes patients in whatever way is going to be most effective. They make it clear to patients that they are there for them whenever they’re needed, that they’re not going away, and that they’ll fit into their lives in whatever way works. If it’s best to call after the kids have gone to bed, or whenever the patient is not at work, Cecelia Health’s clinicians will do it.
“I want to be able to bring a form of Cecelia to everyone with diabetes on the planet,” Weingard said. “That form can be human, it could be a video, it could be electronic through email, in every language, whatever way people need it.”
The need for the kind of intervention Cecelia Health is providing is critical. At the end of 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 84 million Americans, roughly one-third of the population, are prediabetic, with higher than normal blood sugar levels, and are on their way to developing full-blown Type 2 diabetes.
Cecelia Health CEO David Weingard is a competitive triathlete, which he says helps him deal with his ... [+] Type 1 diabetes. Cecelia Health
As of 2015, there were about 30 million Americans with diabetes, with an additional 1.5 million people being diagnosed with the disease every year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Weingard points out there are not nearly enough endocrinologists to go around.
“There are only 3,000 endocrinologists, and most of them are on the East and West coasts,” he said. “There’s no way the math works. The center of the country is a vacuum. We’ll be able to help.”
The next big step for Cecelia Health, Weingard said, is to become a provider in every state so the company’s clinicians can write prescriptions and adjust medications – essentially a diabetes telemedicine company. He expects to have the legal framework in place some time late in 2020, and by 2021 to be able to go international.
“This mode is virtual, so we can easily do that,” Weingard said. “We’re already handling multiple languages.”
Weingard himself, at 56 years old, continues to compete in triathlons. Most days he gets in a 25-mile bicycle ride in Central Park before going to work.
“I’ll tell you for me getting up and doing that makes me feel I’m beating diabetes,” Weingard said. “I’m not that fast, but I’m taking care of myself. I changes my whole sense of empowerment.” | With our obesity rate at an all time high — nearly four in 10 Americans are not just overweight, but obese — the Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on one of our greatest social ills: flavored e-cigarettes in stores that admit minors. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is expected to announce the regulations any day now.
In the latest episode of the nanny state run amok, the FDA has decided that teen vaping is its villain of the day. It is imposing heavy restrictions on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, such as a complete ban of sales in non-age-restricted facilities, like gas stations and convenience stores, as well as increased regulations for online sales.
The cigarette industry must be thrilled. A marked increase in vaping has contributed to the lowest rate of cigarette use among American adults since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began reporting on it in 1965. A quarter of smokers who successfully quit within the year are now vaping instead. Study after study demonstrates that vaping significantly increases the probability of quitting smoking, whereas other methods, like nicotine replacement therapy, do not.
Still, Gottlieb decries e-cigs because they're "not risk-free" and there is supposedly an "epidemic" of teen use. Well, considering that 1.4 million teenagers have still smoked cigarettes in the last month, I'll take a vaping epidemic over a cigarette one.
As with most things we put in our bodies, vaping does come with risks. E-cigarettes were specifically designed to wean smokers off of cigarettes, so vaping delivers nicotine. However, Public Health England found that e-cigs are only 5 percent as harmful as actual cigarettes. The research in the U.K. demonstrated that just 1 percent of all vapers picked up a regular vaping habit after never smoking before. Thus, vaping is being consistently used for its intended purpose, with very few outside consequences.
All pubic health decisions involve trade-offs. If e-cigarettes are helping millions of adults cease a practice with a 50 percent chance of killing them in the long term, that's undoubtedly worth having a tiny minority of teenagers pick up a habit that is unproven and unlikely to do much more harm than most of the American fast food industry has already done. Banning flavored vaping products in convenience stores will also harm low-income Americans trying to quit smoking more than anyone else.
Gottleib calls this an "unfortunate tradeoff." And it is. His decision could very well kill people by taking away the single most successful alternative to a habit that murders people en masse.
Repealing net neutrality was never going to kill anyone. Tax cuts were never going to kill anyone. Banning 70 percent of the e-cigarette supply from being sold in the cheapest, most accessible venues, however, could actually kill people. | 2 |
Fire broke out in an apartment building in central Las Vegas early Wednesday.
Clark County Fire Department crews at the scene of a one-unit apartment fire on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, at 3750 S. Palos Verdes St. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A few residents of one apartment were displaced by a fire, according to a Clark County Fire Department battalion chief. The fire began about 4:30 a.m. at 3750 S. Palos Verdes St. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Fire broke out in an apartment building off East Spring Mountain Road in central Las Vegas early Wednesday.
Clark County Fire Department Battalion Chief Joseph Page said the fire started in an apartment at 3750 S. Palos Verdes St. at 4:30 a.m.
“The fire was contained to one unit. There are a few residents who are going to be displaced,” Page said.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Contact Glenn Puit at gpuit@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0390. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter. | A report of shots fired prompted an extensive police response to an apartment complex in northwest Las Vegas early Wednesday.
Crime scene tape surrounds Atlas Apartment Homes on Madre Mesa Drive in northwest Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A report of shots fired prompted an extensive police response to an apartment complex in northwest Las Vegas early Wednesday, with police eventually learning a man was hospitalized because of an assault during a New Year’s party.
Las Vegas police Lt. David Gordon said police were called at 5:30 a.m. to Atlas Apartment Homes at 5067 Madre Mesa Dr., off North Decatur Boulevard, for a report of shots fired.
“When officers arrived several people with various family relations told a convoluted story, with some hearing gunshots,” Gordon said.
Police were later told a male victim was possibly run over by a vehicle. One man was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries to his face.
A preliminary investigation, however, indicates the man was assaulted during a party, but there were no shots fired. The victim was at University Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Contact Glenn Puit at gpuit@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0390. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter. | 2.333333 |
The Reserve Bank released data relating to India's International Investment Position at end-September 2019. Net claims of non-residents on India declined by US$ 14.8 billion during July-September 2019. The decline in net claims was due to an increase of US$ 7.4 billion in Indian residents' overseas financial assets and a reduction in foreign-owned assets in India by US $ 7.4 billion during the quarter.
The decline in foreign-owned assets in India was mainly due to reduction in portfolio equity investment. Depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar during the quarter contributed to the reduction in India's liabilities, when valued in US dollar terms.
Increase in reserve assets, currency and deposits as well as overseas direct investments resulted in higher foreign assets of Indian residents. Reserve assets accounted for nearly 65 per cent of total foreign assets. The share of debt liabilities in total liabilities increased marginally to 51.0 per cent in September 2019 from 50.6 per cent a quarter ago.
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | The Indian Space Research Organisation and Chinese mobile manufacturer Xiaomi are in advanced stage of talks on provision of chipsets that can support NaVIC, the Indian version of Global Positioning System (GPS), an official said here on Wednesday.
The NavIC-friendly chipset, being manufactured by the US chip manufacturer Qualcom, is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area, the ISRO has stated earlier.
"Qualcom has announced that its chip is going to have NaVIC and they are releasing it. Now almost Xiaomi is in agreement to have it. Xiaomi may launch its mobile phones with NavIC chipsets," the ISRO official said.
NavIC is the abbreviation of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
According to the ISRO, the IRNSS was developed for terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management and integration with mobile phones.
It would provide Standard positioning Service (SPS) to all users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service for only authorised users.
The IRNSS is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 metre in the primary service area.
The ISRO official said the international body 3GPP has formally approved usage of NavIC, allowing the ISRO to collaborate with Qualcom.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 1.666667 |
The year 2019 was successful for Israel's security agencies, who although didn't manage to prevent the deaths of five Israelis murdered by Palestinian terrorists, did manage to avert multiple terror attacks.
According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre, a think tank dedicated to the research of terror trends, 2019 saw only 28 "serious" attacks against Israelis, in which people were killed or hurt. But although Palestinian militants' ability to carry out such acts has declined, their motivation hasn't.
"Shin Bet [Israel's internal security agency] says that they - together with the country's other forces - have averted some 450 terror attacks from the beginning of the year, up until November", said Amos Gilad, a former senior defence official, who has filled key positions in Israel's military apparatus, including heading a military intelligence research division and serving as a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces.
In 2018, Israel faced 55 terror acts and 480 attempts to carry out assaults.
Gilad says today's militants are more difficult to spot and track, but claims Israel's security forces have managed to arrest and jail "big terrorists" thanks to the fact that over the years Israel has managed to develop techniques and technologies that proved to be indispensable when handling terrorism.
"We enjoy unprecedented success. Now we have unique intel capabilities coupled with technology, our deep understanding [of the area and the region] and qualitative coordination with Israel's various security agencies".
Catch 22
But there is another component - tight cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.
In 2015 alone, the PA's security forces arrested a third of the suspected terrorists and is reported to have prevented up to 200 attacks against Israel. More recently, it was reported that Ramallah handed over to Tel Aviv the intelligence information that eventually led to November's assassination of Baha Abu al-Atta, a top commander from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Although Gilad dismisses the allegations that the PA's assistance played the main role in Israel's success story, he does admit that the coordination with Ramallah contributed greatly to the country's ability to curb terror.
© AFP 2019 / JALAA MAREY Israeli troops patrol the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights on January 18, 2015.
Now, however, this might come to an end. On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet approved a bill proposed by Defence Minister Naftali Bennett that would deduct $45 million from the annual sum of $550 million Israel transfers to the PA as part of the 1994 Paris Agreement.
Israel says that the tax money it collects for the Palestinians - and which is supposed to be used to pay officials' salaries as well as provide Palestinians with social welfare - goes to fund terrorists jailed in Israel for security offences, including the murder of Israelis. Palestinians don't deny these allegations but stress the money is essential to support families that have lost a bread-winner.
"We need to be sensitive to their needs and appreciate their cooperation. Unlike Yasser Arafat [late chairman of the PLO], who supported terror while talking peace to Israel, President Abbas rejects terrorism and we have to appreciate it", Gilad noted, adding that he preferred to encourage the Palestinians, rather than punishing them for their contribution to Israel's security, which has brought about economic prosperity.
Missed Opportunities
Israel has already lost an important ally that helped the Jewish state to combat terrorism - Turkey.
In 2010, news website UPI reported that Ankara had severed ties with Israel'd Mossad and stopped exchanging intelligence information and conducting joint operations with the country's spy agency.
Relations between the two soured following Israel's 2008 Cast Lead Operation that saw more than a thousand Palestinians killed and as a result of Israeli forces' assault on six Turkish vessels bound for Gaza that resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals.
"Terror suspects, arrested by our security forces, admitted that they had Turkish handlers", said Gilad adding that it was unlikely for the Turkish government, which boasts superb intelligence capabilities, not to know about their existence.
© REUTERS / MUSSA ISSA QAWASMA An Israeli soldier shouts during a protest as Palestinians call for a day of rage over U.S. decision on Jewish settlements, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank November 26, 2019
"If President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan wanted to stop terror, he would have done so easily. This is very sad that they keep on supporting terror when Turkey itself suffers from an acute security problem", he summed up.
Since the beginning of the so-called knife intifada in 2015, which has been characterized by terror acts planned and executed by individuals, not groups, Palestinian militants have killed 87 Israelis and wounded more than 1500 in 210 stabbings, 239 shootings, and 77 vehicular attacks.
The views and opinions expressed in the article do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik. | Local sources, requesting not to be named, told Palestine's official WAFA news agency that Israeli forces also arrested the Secretary of the Fatah movement in Jerusalem al-Quds, Shadi Mutawar, in Wadi al-Joz neighborhood of East Jerusalem al-Quds on Wednesday noon.
The arrest came hours after Israeli troops raided Mutawar’s house, and handed his family a summons order, Presstv Reported.
Early on Wednesday, the secretary of the Fatah movement in al- Isawiyah neighborhood in East Jerusalem al-Quds, Yasser Darwish, was detained at his home.
A third Fatah official, whose identity was not immediately available, was also summoned for interrogation at a police station in Jerusalem al-Quds.
The development came as Fatah marked the 55th anniversary of its establishment in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday evening.
The celebration was held near the tomb of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, founder of the faction, with the participation of senior officials of the faction and the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian revolution, which started in 1965, is still going on until today "and will continue until achieving victory."
“Many expected that we will finish on the first day or the first year, and many conspiracies had been plotted against us, but instead of being finished, we found ourselves stronger than before,” Abbas said.
A number of Palestinian rights groups announced in a statement on December 30 that Israeli military forces had arrested more than 5,500 Palestinians, including 889 children and 128 girls and women, across the occupied West Bank throughout the year 2019.
The Palestinian groups, including the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), said the number of Palestinian detainees being kept behind bars in Israeli detention centers stood at around 5,000, including 50 women and 200 children.
Approximately 450 inmates were under the so-called administrative detention, which is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israel to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months, extendable an infinite number of times.
The statement added that around 700 of the prisoners suffer from various illnesses, and that there are 10 cancer patients and 200 others with chronic diseases among them.
“In 2019, Israeli authorities intensified arbitrary arrest campaigns against women and children, who suffered various forms of torture both during and after arrest,” it read.
The statement further noted that five Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons due to lack of proper medical treatment and deliberate medical negligence in 2019. | 2.5 |
WASHINGTON — The Washington Redskins hired Ron Rivera as their coach on Wednesday in owner Dan Snyder’s latest step to try to turn around the wayward franchise.
Washington announced the move two days after Snyder fired president Bruce Allen following a decade of futility. The former Carolina Panthers coach quickly emerged as the Redskins’ top candidate and inherits a team that went 3-13 this season and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2015.
“After several meetings with Coach Rivera, it was clear he is the right person to bring winning football back to Washington, D.C.,” Snyder said in a statement. “He is widely respected around the league as a man of great integrity and has proven to be one of the finest coaches in the country.”
The 57-year-old of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent is the first minority to be named full-time coach in Redskins franchise history. Rivera is the seventh coach hired by Snyder in his two decades of ownership that have included just five playoff appearances.
Rivera spent the past nine seasons coaching the Panthers, taking them to the Super Bowl in 2015.
“He gets the best out of players,” said Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, who played for Rivera with Carolina. “And not just players, but men. He builds men and guys — and also builds character, and sets them up not just for football, but sets (them up) in life. I think that’s the first and foremost thing you want to see in anybody, that they actually care about you instead of the game itself.”
The Redskins are the first team that fired its coach this season to fill the position. Snyder zeroed in on Rivera, who flew to Washington on Monday to meet with him about the job.
“While I love the storied history of the franchise, I am focused on the future and excited for the opportunity to win football games with this talented young team,” Rivera said in a statement.
Rivera replaces interim coach Bill Callahan, a favorite of Allen, who was fired after going 62-97-1 during his 10 years with the organization.
Snyder and Allen fired Jay Gruden in October after a 0-5 start to his sixth season. Rivera was fired by the Panthers in December after starting 5-7.
Carolina made the playoffs four times during Rivera’s tenure, including a 15-1 season in 2015.
“Those Panther teams were tough and physical,” said Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, the team’s longest-tenured player. “Obviously they made the Super Bowl that one year. We played against them that year and they really were a damn good team that year. He’s always had a physical, tough bunch. I know that.”
Rivera previously was a defensive coordinator for the Bears and Chargers. He should boost a Redskins defense that underachieved and finished 27th out of 32 NFL teams.
“Just not consistent enough is the big word of the year,” defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said. “We have a young group, young defense and, I mean, (the) only place from here is up, honestly.”
Rivera could bring in Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator after time together in Carolina. Wilks spent one season as Arizona’s coach and most recently was defensive coordinator in Cleveland under Freddie Kitchens, who was fired Sunday.
Norman, who had his only All-Pro season under Wilks, called him “the best guy for the job.”
Rivera goes from coaching Cam Newton with Carolina to younger quarterback Dwayne Haskins with Washington. Haskins, whom the Redskins selected 15th overall and goes into 2020 as the starter, met Rivera during the pre-draft process.
“He’s a good dude,” Haskins said. “I heard a lot of good things about him. We’ll see what happens.” | Chris Szagola/Associated Press
New Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera reportedly hired Jack Del Rio as his defensive coordinator Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
It is unclear who else will be part of Rivera's staff, but JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reported Bill Callahan, who served as interim head coach following the firing of Jay Gruden, and most of the defensive staff will not return.
Finlay added that offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell is among the holdover offensive assistants who will interview with Rivera but noted that none of them "definitively" have a job.
While Del Rio is known for his defensive prowess, he has plenty of experience as a head coach as well. He served in the position with the Jacksonville Jaguars for nine seasons from 2003 through 2011, when he was fired after Week 12. He was also the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2015 through 2017.
The 56-year-old finished with a 93-94 record and never advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs as a head coach, but he did as a defensive assistant.
He was the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999 through 2001, the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2002 and the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2012 through 2014.
Baltimore won a Super Bowl during his tenure with Ray Lewis leading his linebackers unit, and Denver reached a Super Bowl but lost. In four seasons as a defensive coordinator, Del Rio directed groups that finished in the top three in the league in yards allowed three times.
What's more, the 2000 Ravens defense he was involved with allowed three, 10, three and seven points (on a kickoff return and the point after) in four playoff games before lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
The Redskins now have a coach with championship pedigree and a track record of success who brings name recognition to that side of the ball.
Del Rio will take the reins of a unit that ranked 27th in total defense and 27th in points allowed under Greg Manusky in 2019.
While there is work to be done, Del Rio will have plenty of talent, including safety Landon Collins and a strong line that features Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis and Montez Sweat.
The Redskins also own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, which they could use to select Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
Offensively, Washington ranked 31st in yards and 32nd in scoring under O'Connell, but he is viewed as a brilliant young offensive mind and helped rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. and wide receiver Terry McLaurin improve over the course of the season, which could help him appeal to Rivera. | 3.333333 |
Maureen Esisi, the estranged wife of Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu has announced she is single following the end of their three-year-old marriage.
She took to Instagram to announce that she is ‘Single’ in a post which she also wrote: ‘#NoManners2020.’
Also Read: He Has No Idea How Much I Pray For Him – Maureen Esisi Says Months After Split From Blossom Chukwujekwu
Maureen Esisi and Blossom Chukwujekwu, who both got married in 2016 have since gone their separate ways.
However, months ago, runours of trouble in their marriage hit the social media.
See her post below: | The law, enacted over the Governor’s veto, usually requires a qualifying photo ID to vote. As compared to the previous ID law passed in the wake of Shelby County and invalidated in 2016, it expands the list of acceptable IDs (to a list of 10 different types, though with limits on student and government employee IDs) and the means of getting a free ID, applies to absentee as well as in-person ballots, and allows for a voter with a reasonable impediment to getting a photo ID to say so at the polls in order to vote a ballot that should count … if the administrative process works smoothly.
The court enjoined the law as the product of discriminatory intent, but found that the proven impact was (at least at the preliminary stage) insufficient to make out a “results” violation of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Stay tuned for the inevitable appeal.
Coverage of the federal court’s decision is here, here, and here. The order itself is here. | 1 |
CALGARY, Dec. 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, NorthRiver Midstream closed the final stage of the previously-announced transaction and assumed operation of the remaining assets of Enbridge's Canadian midstream business.
"With the strategic location of our operations across the Montney basin in British Columbia and Alberta, and the backing of a committed Canadian owner in Brookfield Infrastructure, NorthRiver Midstream is built on an asset base that creates a robust platform for growth," said Brandon Anderson, CEO of NorthRiver Midstream.
"NorthRiver is driven by our values and committed to building a different type of energy company. We are focused on operating responsibly, being present in communities and ensuring that we are looking at creative ways to deliver value to partners, customers and communities that are touched by our operations."
With over 700 talented employees, NorthRiver safely and reliably provides natural gas processing services with connectivity to major demand markets.
NorthRiver operates 19 natural gas processing plants and 3,550 kilometers of natural gas gathering pipelines across the Montney region of British Columbia and Alberta.
SOURCE NorthRiver Midstream
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2019/31/c1321.html | PITTSBURGH, Dec. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "I believe we need more ways to produce energy without leaving a carbon footprint," said an inventor from Grand Blanc, Michigan. "This inspired me to develop an alternative method to generate electricity."
He developed the patent pending V.N. SUPPLEMENTAL POWER SYSTEM to produce clean and free electricity. This invention would easily install as a replacement to existing downspouts. Additionally, it would protect the environment as it would eliminate tapping into the grid for power.
The original design was submitted to the Bowling Green sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-BGF-2355, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inventhelp-inventor-develops-wind-and-rain-power-system-bgf-2355-300978967.html
SOURCE InventHelp | 1 |
Legal weed sales begin in Illinois as state pardons more than 11,000 marijuana convictions
Show Caption Hide Caption Illinois governor erases many pot convictions Illinois' governor granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on Tuesday, describing the step as a first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state's new marijuana legalization law. (Dec. 31) AP
It's a new year and, for Illinois, a new era of recreational marijuana.
Weed dispensaries across the state opened their doors before sunrise Wednesday, welcoming long lines of customers – some who had been waiting since 4 a.m.
"Cheers to lighting up the start of 2020!" one dispensary, Sunnyside, wrote on its Facebook page.
Under Illinois law, anyone over 21 with a valid state ID or driver's license can purchase recreational marijuana from licensed retailers.
Residents may legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of concentrate and 500 milligrams of THC in products such as edibles. Non-Illinois residents in the state may possess up to only half as much as residents.
The law also includes a "social equity" plan to improve diversity in the industry by giving a leg up to minority entrepreneurs disproportionately impacted by poverty and the war on drugs. The law expunges certain drug-based criminal records and establishes a fund to provide financial resources for business start-ups, among other provisions.
Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker rang in 2020 by granting more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions Tuesday.
"The war on cannabis has destroyed families. It has filled jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders. It has disproportionately affected black and brown communities," Pritzker said at a press conference on Chicago's South Side.
"Every state that has legalized cannabis has seen high demand and long lines in its earliest weeks, and to be sure, our state will, too. But unlike other states, in Illinois, we purposely built a system where the market has room to grow, so that entrepreneurs, including especially those from the communities devastated by the war on drugs, will have real opportunities in this industry."
Illinois weed sales: Some say only white men are set to profit
Illinois is the 11th state in the nation to allow the sale of recreational marijuana. Thirty-three states allow the sale of marijuana for medical use, which Illinois legalized in 2013.
Some restrictions still apply, however. Landowners can ban cannabis use, and employers can prohibit employees from having THC in their systems.
It's illegal to drive while impaired and to possess marijuana on federal land and federally funded facilities, including some hospitals, public housing and more. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and cannot be taken across state lines – by any form of transportation.
The marijuana industry in Illinois could eventually bring in $1.69 billion to $2.58 billion in annual revenue, according to a study by Colorado consulting firm Freedman and Koski. That would mean an additional $440 million to $676 million in annual tax revenue statewide, the study said.
Chicago, which is facing a more than $800 million budget deficit, expects to bring in $3.5 million in revenue from marijuana taxes next year. | CHICAGO (CBS) — Gov. JB Pritzker has issued more than 11,000 pardons for people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana cases, in the first step toward clearing the records of hundreds of thousands of low-level pot convictions, a day before the state legalizes cannabis in 2020.
“These 11,017 misdemeanor convictions represent individuals who have carried around with them a stain on their records for possessing less than 30 grams of cannabis; a stain that has very often prevented them from obtaining housing, or jobs, or benefits. Today, we lift the burden on the first 11,000,” Pritzker said Monday at Trinity United Church of Christ.
The move is just the first wave toward clearing more than 700,000 low-level pot convictions in the coming months and years, as Illinois officially legalizes marijuana beginning Wednesday.
Illinois residents who are at least 21 years old may possess up to 30 grams of marijuana when the new law begins on Jan. 1.
Pritzker promised people with low-level pot convictions will get a new lease on life as marijuana becomes legal. The governor said marijuana convictions disproportionately affected the African American and Hispanic communities for decades. This step was one way to right that wrong.
The process for expunging an estimated 700,000 marijuana convictions won’t be simple, or fast, however. The state law legalizing marijuana provides for up to five years to clear convictions.
The automatic expungement does not happen when recreational marijuana is legalized on Wednesday. It happens when when cases are identified and processed – and the State of Illinois and Cook County are each going about that differently.
Each start with The Illinois State Police, with officers reviewing databases for eligible cases individually.
In the end, State Police and local law enforcement will be responsible for dedicating personnel to wiping away the records.
An “automatic” expungement doesn’t have to be approved until January 2021 if it dates as far back as 2013.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office moved to expunge more than 1,000 low-level, non-violent pot convictions in Cook County earlier this month. Ultimately, her office expects to clear tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of marijuana convictions. | 3 |
As 2019 has come to a close, it’s time to step back and reflect on the number of awesome things that the year brought to the world of tech, streaming services and podcasts.
Below are just a few of my favourite things from 2019.
Favourite TV Show from a streaming service: The Boys
As someone who loves superhero TV shows, this one was pretty great because it offered a fresh take on the genre. It shows what would likely happen if superheroes actually existed. It isn’t afraid to get dark and weird, which makes it wildly entertaining. The Boys channels anarchic energy that makes it fresh and exciting.
In my opinion, Amazon outdid itself with this series, and it’s also pretty cool that the series was filmed in Toronto. You can recognize parts of the city as you watch, which is always fun.
Honourable mentions: The Umbrella Academy and The Witcher on Netflix
Favourite movie from a streaming service: El Camino
I remember saying for years that I wanted to know what happened to Jesse Pinkman after he drove through that chain-link fence. Well, Netflix delivered this year with the Breaking Bad movie.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie brought the closure that I wanted for so many years after the series finale of Breaking Bad. It was a wonderful final chapter for a series filled with amazing characters. The movie captured the essence of Breaking Bad and brought back all the characters that viewers, including myself, so dearly missed.
Although several people complained that it was too slow or too boring, they seem to have forgotten that Breaking Bad itself was not a fast-paced show, and so the movie stayed true to this storytelling format.
Honourable mentions: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix
Favourite podcast: Crime Junkie
As someone who enjoys true crime, this podcast is pretty great because it focuses on a different case each episode. The hosts are when they recap cases and offer a number of different theories.
The episodes are also grouped in different categories of cases, such as Missing, Serial Killer, Murdered and Wanted. The hosts also look at a number of Canadian cases like the Robert Pickton murders and the Highway 16 murders in British Columbia.
Crime Junkie will give you chills and have you clicking the next episode as soon as you finish one. This podcast got me through many long commutes this year and is one that I’ll definitely be listening to next year.
Favourite app: Yummly
As someone who can’t cook at all, I love using recipe apps. After testing out a few, I found that ‘Yummly’ is a great app because it’s suited for cooks of all levels of expertise. I also really like that I can filter out any recipes that include peas.
I used this app quite a bit this year during my time as a busy grad student who had no time to prepare difficult recipes. I was able to choose quick and easy recipes on the app to make on a busy schedule.
Top milestone: Getting a job as a tech reporter in Toronto
During my masters program, I interned at MobileSyrup and thoroughly enjoyed my time here and all of the topics I got to cover. Fast-forward to October after I finished my masters at Western University, and I started as a full-time staff reporter.
As someone who has always wanted to work in downtown Toronto doing something I love, I feel beyond grateful to have been able to join the wonderfully talented MobileSyrup team.
Here’s hoping that 2020 will be even better than 2019! | Posted By TheNewsCommenter: From Washingtonexaminer.com: “In 2020, conservatives need to get a handle on nationalism”. Below is an excerpt from the article.
“I think we are going to address spending at some point," White House acting budget director Russ Vought told us late in 2019.
It’s a familiar refrain to conservatives, and we’re used to hearing this promise on all sorts of issues. Wait till next year. The leadership gets what it wants this time and says that next time they’ll really fight for conservative priorities.
As we look ahead to 2020, we hope, against experience, that this will be the year. Nobody is going to take on overspending if not the Republican Party. Nobody is going to take on corporate welfare if not the drain-the-swamp president. Nobody is going to reform entitlements if not the GOP.
This first wish we have for 2020 is the same we have every year: that this year, Republicans govern the way Republicans have long spoken.
But we also have a much bigger wish for the GOP, and it’s a new one: We hope 2020 is the year it figures out what, in the Trump era, it stands for.
Read more... | 1 |
(Gateway Pundit) – On January 17, 2016, a cargo plane with $400 million in foreign currencies was secretly sent to Iran in the dead of night.
This was the same day the Iranian regime released four American hostages held in Tehran.
Above: L to R: Matt Trevithick (Photo Credit Robin Wright) Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian (Photo Credit AP), Saeed Abedini (News 4).
Two days after Obama sent Iran the ransom cash the US government wired 13 individual payments for $99,999,999.99 , each with an independent MICR, totaling $1,299,999,999.87.
Cash from Obama’s ransom payment to Iran was traced to terrorist groups in the region.
Via Reddit The Donald:
Democrats thought this was a good idea.
On Tuesday Iranian proxy groups attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad.
Democrats including Rep. Gerry Connolly blamed President Trump — NOT Iran.
Via Breitbart:
Rep. Gerry Connolly said, “I would call upon the president to re-examine both his rhetoric and his policies with respect to Iran. Much of this friction and violence flows from his very fateful decision to renounce and walk away from our own agreement that was working, the Iran nuclear agreement. Thus severing any working relationship we possibly could have with Iran. And Iran now has very little to lose in the relationship. That puts it in a very dangerous position.”
Featured image credit: Cliff – flickr.com/photos/nostri-imago/5098785388
thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/sick-democrat-lawmaker-blames-president-trump-after-iranian-proxy-groups-attack-us-embassy-in-baghdad/ | Washington [US], Jan 01 (ANI): Hours after upping the ante against Iran on Twitter, US President Donald Trump has said he is not gearing up for war with Tehran adding that he prefers peace.
Trump made these remarks while speaking to media as he arrived at the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago for a New Year bash on Tuesday night, Russia Today reported.
"War with Iran? I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran...I like peace...I don't see that happening," Trump said.
Earlier in the day, Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad and said that the Islamic Republic will have to pay a big price if any American is killed.
Dozens of protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashed windows, set fire to outbuildings and overturned vehicles outside the US Embassy, CNN reported.
This development came after the US conducted strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.
The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the embassy.
Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy shortly after funerals were held for fighters of Kataib Hezbollah militia killed in Sunday night strikes that the Pentagon launched in response to a rocket attack on a Kirkuk base. (ANI) | 3 |
Known for their famous Cristal, Roederer is spearheading a movement for more sustainable agriculture ... [+] in France's idyllic Champagne region. Roederer
Could the Champagne you choose to drink during this festive season actually do some good beyond just the lovely effects of effervescence?
The house of Louis Roederer, known for Cristal champagne, has been in business since 1776, and would argue yes. In fact, that glass of bubbly could be part of the broader challenge with climate change and farming. Led by the seventh generation Frédéric Rouzaud, they’re bringing organic and biodynamic Champagne to the forefront by releasing their first organic and biodynamic Champagne, the 2012 vintage of Cristal, in the coming year, 2020.
Currently, 115 hectares, or half of the Roederer estate, is under organic certification. This includes 100 percent of Cristal, Cristal rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Nature. The other 115 hectares are all biodynamically farmed. For the last twenty years, Roederer has been deliberately and quietly moving towards organic and biodynamic under the hands of Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.
Biodynamic farming, a concept heralded by Rudolph Steiner in the 1920s in Europe, puts emphasis on treating the farm as an ecosystem, one that feeds itself rather than relying on external inputs—be it fertilizers, pesticides, or other additives. Instead different elements of the farm are repurposed, either used for composting matter, or as natural pest control; in addition, there’s a reverence for the lunar calendar. It can take longer, produce less yield in the early years, and require more hands-on attention. All of these have been barriers keeping many farmers from venturing down the biodynamic path.
In 2017, less than 5 percent of the world’s vineyards were certified organic or biodynamic; Europe had the bulk of them — 80 percent. Though the interest for biodynamic farming is now increasing, popularized by The Big Little Farm, a movie about a biodynamic farm in Southern California that’s received acclaim and captured audiences, they are still a minority.
With a big player like Cristal backing the biodynamic philosophy, this could be part of a broader movement towards more self-sufficient farming and vineyards across the region. Reportedly, less than 2 percent of the vineyards in Champagne are currently biodynamic.
But with the region’s growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture, more and more wine (or Champagne) makers are thinking about the fundamentals of their operations: repurposing water, harvesting rainwater, investing in bio-based pesticides, and build their own soils organically. One French media story indicated that high levels of glyphosate were identified in the soils — a byproduct of conventional farming.
Not surprisingly, the fervor for biodynamic and organic farming is coming from the youth:
"People are more aware of what they drink, probably drinking less but of better quality,” says Lécaillon. “ I believe there is a strong desire for truth in this generation. Truth in what they eat and drink...and in what they wear. There is also a question of ethics in the farming that goes beyond the wine, as it does impact all the environment. In the young generation of growers we see more and more people being interested in organic, biodynamic, permaculture, and natural farming movements. But it is slow and you need to be very focused. It is not an easy way!”
In fact for Roederer, the journey began two decades ago with trials in 2000 that were focused on improving the quality of the grape, not just cut back on the environmental impact. “The question was: having tasted great biodynamic wines in Burgundy, what could biodynamic bring to the taste of our Champagne?” Lécaillon notes.
Other Champagne houses, located in the picturesque village of Épernay, did follow suit, including Leclerc Briant and Dom Pérignon. To truly transform the soils of Champagne, more vineyards will need to consider their cultivation practices and the Champagne houses, which often buy from a variety of farms in the region, could help propel this move.
“I don’t exactly know what is important in biodynamic farming as it is just a tool in the middle of a much bigger picture,” Lécaillon clarifies. “Behind the project of biodynamic farming there is the return to craftsmanship and stewardship of the land that is very exciting and motivating. It’s all about the small details that transform farming into a true and timeless art.” | A US Navy aircraft carrier dramatically collided with a huge wave that sent crew members running to the front of the carrier.
The footage, which was captured on camera, shows the carrier in the middle of the sea battling against the large waves.
At first, the vessel appears to be managing the increasing waves and the crew on board can be heard shouting ‘whoa’ as they take in the view.
However, moments later, a rogue wave crashes into the ship, flooding the deck leaving the crew to run for safety as the footage goes blank. | 1 |
Bills' Levi Wallace upgraded to 'limited,' status still unclear for Texans
Show Caption Hide Caption Josh Allen knows the offense needs to pick it up Josh Allen says whatever it takes to win, that's what the offense needs to do Sunday against the Jets, and then in the playoffs. Sal Maiorana, @salmaiorana
ORCHARD PARK – With the Buffalo Bills playing in just their second playoff game in 20 years, injured players are doing everything possible not to miss the party.
Starting cornerback Levi Wallace (ankle), key reserve defensive end Shaq Lawson (hamstring), return specialist Andre Roberts (foot) and reserve tackle Ty Nsekhe (ankle) each took part in practice to various degrees on New Year's Day at New Era Field.
Wallace did not practice Tuesday and Lawson, Roberts and Nsekhe were listed as "limited.'' Wallace, who practiced with a heavily taped right ankle, was upgraded to limited on Wednesday’s injury report.
"He worked in there a little bit,'' coach Sean McDermott said. "He’s continuing to get better so we’ll see how he does.’’
The availability of Wallace and Lawson for Saturday’s wild-card playoff game at Houston would be a major boost for the Bills' defense facing dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Wallace has shared time with Kevin Johnson the last half of the season opposite Tre White in a Buffalo secondary that ranks fourth in the NFL against the pass.
Lawson, a fourth-year pro and former first-round pick, has had a career-best season with 6.5 sacks, 18 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss. He would play a critical role helping to keep the mobile Watson in the pocket.
Wallace was injured in the first quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets, falling awkwardly to the ground while making his second interception of the season. Lawson did not play against the Jets with his hamstring pull.
Nsekhe, who was splitting time with rookie Cody Ford at right tackle, had returned to action against the Jets after missing five games. He was doing extra work after practice.
The Bills have been among the NFL’s healthiest teams in 2019. They entered Week 17 having used just 57 players, lowest since using 56 in 2008.
"We take a lot of time to go through schedules and make sure we’re doing right by the players,'' said McDermott, who praised his training and medical staff. "We work them, but we also try and have a feel for where they are and what they need. I can’t tell you I've specifically been a part of something like this, but I know it's a good thing to stay healthy throughout the whole year.''
LROTH@Gannett.com | Bills cornerback Levi Wallace has returned to the practice field and was taking part Wednesday as Buffalo continues its preparation for the Houston Texans in Saturday's AFC wild-card game.
Wallace, who did not practice Tuesday, was wearing a wrap around his right ankle. He has been listed as day to day.
Wallace was injured when he landed awkwardly after an interception Sunday against the New York Jets.
Offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (ankle), wide receiver/kick returner Andre Roberts (foot) and defensive end Shaq Lawson (hamstring) all were on the field, meaning every member of the active roster was available for practice. The three were limited participants Tuesday. | 3.666667 |
Horse racing lost some of its biggest names in 2019, led by one of racing's most significant philanthropists in Marylou Whitney, one of racing's greatest jockeys in Hall of Famer Randy Romero and longtime trainers Richard Hazelton, Vinnie Blengs and Gary Sherlock.
Marylou Whitney was heralded as the "Queen of Saratoga" for her many contributions to racing and the city of Saratoga Springs, including the founding of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1966. In the 1970s, the Whitneys helped convince NYRA to keep Saratoga open as a viable part of its racing calendar at a time when wagering and attendance sagged. In 2003, Bird Town, trained by Nick Zito, made Whitney the first woman in 80 years to own and breed a Kentucky Oaks winner, and in 2004 her Birdstone won the Belmont Stakes, ending Smarty Jones's Triple Crown bid, and then the Travers that summer.
Of Kentucky Derby legend, racing lost a winning horse, trainer and jockey. Sea Hero, the 1993 Derby winner; David Cross Jr., who saddled Sunny's Halo in 1983; and David Erb, who piloted Needles to victory in 1956 all died in 2019.
Among well-known equine athletes, the most dramatic loss was that of stallion Pioneerof the Nile, who died suddenly at age 13. As the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Pioneerof the Nile had already made a huge impact in the breeding shed. On the racetrack, the son of Empire Maker reeled off four straight wins on the Kentucky Derby trail before finishing second to Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
In addition to Sea Hero and Pioneerof the Nile, racing lost Menifee, who was second in the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and tragically lost 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Battle of Midway and Grade 1 winner Mongolian Groom to the racetrack injuries that plagued Santa Anita Park.
Racing also lost some well-known media members, including Jack Whitaker who covered the Triple Crown for CBS and ABC; noted handicapping author and handicapper Steve Davidowitz; award-winning turf writer Bob Fortus; and southern California trainer and radio host Roger Stein. Overseas, racing fans in England lost their most well-known racing pundit in John McCririck. Industry leaders Sherwood "Chilly" Chillingworth, who guided the Oak Tree Racing Association for decades; Liz Bracken, an executive with NYRA and the University of Arizona's racetrack program; and John Schuster, the general manager of racing for Indiana Grand all died this year.
While far from complete, here is a list of notable racing figures that were lost in 2019 and more on their contributions to the sport:
Additionally, here is a list of notable equine athletes that died in 2019:
Who are the people and horses who left us in 2019 that you will remember the most? Let us know in the comments. | Yes, we're about to remind you of the Kentucky Derby disqualification, and racing's safety issues can't be ignored. But what else ranks among racing's top moments in 2019? We asked our writers about what they'll remember most.
RELATED: Top 8 races and top 7 stories in 2019
And how about yours? Let us know in the comments...
Bee Buck: Winx goes out a winner
The amazing mare Winx finished her career in April of 2019 with a staggering 33-race winning streak in tact. The racing world hadn’t seen the likes of it, with the farewell race Randwick’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In typical Winx fashion, it was an event she’d won before, and Australian fans packed the place, there to send her off in style. There may never be another like her, now the world’s Grade/Group 1 wins record holder as she begins her next career as a broodmare. Those will be some highly anticipated foals, with the first one by, appropriately, I Am Invincible.
Candice Curtis: California Chrome sold
Nov. 20, 2019, is a day no “Chrome” will forget. That’s when news broke that California Chrome, two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, had been sold to Japanese interests for stud duty. Reaction was swift and ugly, as I don't think anyone involved with the horse imagined what vitriol would come their way with this decision. The troubling part to me is not that anything untoward will happen to our beloved Chrome, but that so many American fans have such a hatred for people who are different. Let's hope that in 2020, Chrome can be a bridge to understanding between cultures. After all, we already have one big thing in common: our love of racing.
Ryan Dickey: Brown sweeps Arlington Million day
Trainer Chad Brown, hardly a stranger to winning major turf races, took them all on Arlington Million day, sweeping four graded events on the card. Sistercharlie carried her winning streak to five Grade 1 races when she captured the Beverly D. (G1); 3-year-old Valid Point took the Secretariat (G1); Bricks and Mortar reigned in the Arlington Million (G1); and Cafe Americano wrapped things up in the Pucker Up (G3). The four Brown graded stakes winners earned a combined $1,285,800 on the day. His Arlington Million winner went on to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf, making him the Horse of the Year favorite, and his Beverly D. heroine’s under consideration for her second straight championship as top turf female.
Jarrod Horak: Michael Dickinson speaks up
Racetrack safety has been the top story in thoroughbred racing since the well-documented problems at Santa Anita Park earlier this year. Dirt surfaces have been under increased scrutiny, and Michael Dickinson, renowned trainer and president of Tapeta Footings, did not mince words at the University of Arizona's Global Symposium on Racing on Dec. 10. "The revolution against dirt has already started, but some of you haven't recognized it yet," he told the audience. Synthetic surfaces are proven to be safer than conventional dirt, and safety should be the No. 1 concern for everyone involved in the thoroughbred industry. Synthetic surfaces are not the only answer, and we should keep an open mind in regards to racetrack safely. We can always do better and should not be afraid of change. If 2019 proved anything, it’s that the days of kicking the can down the road are over.
Jonathan Lintner: The Kentucky Derby DQ
Oh boy. It’s the singular moment for which 2019 will be remembered — on the racetrack, at least — with stewards’ 20-plus minutes of deliberations in taking down Maximum Security an unprecedented move. Not before this year had a Derby winner been disqualified for interference, with Maximum Security having veered out through the far turn at Churchill Downs. After all the conversation over the DQ’s merits, the outcome seems to have redefined only one horse. Maximum Security is a likely champion and War of Will went on to win the Preakness Stakes. But as for Country House, he’s become vilified by a sect of racing fans who still don’t support the DQ. Here’s to hoping that colt — who ran the race of his life to be second across the wire — gets another chance to prove his worth.
Reinier Macatangay: Mitole takes over
Heading into the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) back in April, Mitole sported an impressive 8: 5-2-1 record. But he hadn’t yet attempted any graded stakes races despite a four-race win streak including the Chick Lang and Bachelor Stakes. Those stakes wins came against 3-year-olds in his previous season.
Mitole also needed to face an older and battle-tested Whitmore over the slop. But the public trusted Mitole more anyway by making him the 2/5 favorite. Luckily for chalk players, Mitole answered all questions.
Mitole secured the lead early on with Whitmore flanking him in second, giving both horses a fair chance. Whitmore challenged for the lead around the turn and even put his head in front, but Mitole fought back in a straight line as Whitmore began to wobble and fade slightly in the stretch. Mitole won by 2 ¾ lengths.
For the win, Mitole earned career-best figures. It was also a passing of the torch moment in the sprint division, as Mitole went on to complete a fantastic year with wins in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Forego Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Sprint, while Whitmore still seeks another win.
Mary Dixon Reynolds: The Industry unites
This will go down in the annals as a turbulent time in the history of Thoroughbred horser acing. Santa Anita, with a mostly consistent climate, counts an unseasonably rainy winter among the myriad factors that led to a spate of catastrophic injuries in southern California. They also led the industry to do some self examination with its safety protocols and reforms, culminating on Nov. 19 when organizations such as NYRA, Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Cup representing 85% of graded stakes in the U.S. came together to form the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.
The industry-led effort seeks to enhance protections that already existed and to develop new reforms to ensure racing’s future. Without healthy horses and humans, there would be no sport, after all.
Those behind federal legislation called the Horseracing Integrity Act want to see the government maintain drug testing and oversight. That could happen in due time, and the Coalition has some supporters of the Integrity Act. But the Coalition is also an earlier step in the right direction seeing these major organization on the same side of the table to promote the well-being of the athletes.
Victor Ryan: Omaha Beach wins off the bench
Asking Omaha Beach to dust himself off from the rigors of the Triple Crown trail and return nearly six months later to beat one of the fastest racehorses in the land seemed an impossible task. Yet that's precisely what I witnessed on Oct. 5 when gathered along the finish line with my media brethren. Omaha Beach surged in the final strides to best the eastern invader and heavy 2-5 favorite Shancelot by a head in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1).
The experience displayed just what is possible when a Hall of Fame trainer like Richard Mandella can partner with a Hall of Fame-caliber racehorse like Omaha Beach. As this 3-year-old colt leaves the racetrack much too soon — next month’s Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park will be his final start — the memory of the 2019 Santa Anita Sprint Championship won’t be easily forgotten. | 2 |
Northern Ireland's violent past looms over last-ditch Brexit talks
Analysis: These are distressing times for those of us who were children when "the Troubles" began, who lived through its daily carnage. | As Brexit Pulls Britain Apart, It Could Bring Ireland Back Together
The latest proposed Brexit deal is deeply unpopular in Northern Ireland, where it will require a new customs border between the island and the rest of Great Britain. That could mean tariffs.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
We have a dispatch now from the not-so-United Kingdom (ph). As the U.K. prepares for Brexit, some people in Northern Ireland consider leaving the U.K. to rejoin Ireland to the south. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from Belfast.
FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Leaving the EU requires Britain to create a new customs border. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants one that divides Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., and that means some Northern Irish businesses will have to pay tariffs on products coming from the rest of the country, which would be a little like a company in California paying tariffs on products from Oregon.
(SOUNDBITE OF MACHINE BUZZING)
LANGFITT: All this has Chris Suitor rethinking how he does business with his homeland. Suitor runs Suitor Brothers. It's a menswear company in Belfast. And because of the new administrative costs, he may stop buying from the U.K. and import all his stock from the south, meaning Ireland and the European Union.
CHRIS SUITOR: I'm a U.K. business. I'm a U.K. citizen. I would love to continue our U.K. relationship. But for the good of the business - if it's tariff-free and admin-free to trade North-South, I will be looking to taking my business there.
LANGFITT: Suitor says Brexit is a setback for a region - or a country, as Northern Ireland is considered inside the United Kingdom - that's been making a comeback since the political violence of the 1980s.
SUITOR: We were in the doldrums, in the dark ages for so long with The Troubles. Now that that's behind us in the past, this little country has flourished. I think that essence is getting lost in this whole Brexit process, which is sad.
LANGFITT: The island of Ireland was partitioned nearly a century ago, dividing the North from the South.
(SOUNDBITE OF EXPLOSION)
LANGFITT: The Troubles pitted Catholic nationalists, who wanted to reunify the island, against Protestant unionists determined to stay a part of the U.K. More than 3,600 people died in the conflict, including 13-year-old Leanne Murray, who was killed by an IRA bomb blast in 1993.
(CROSSTALK)
LANGFITT: Her brother, Gary, was on the Shankill Road, which back then was home to many Protestant gunmen, when he heard the explosion.
GARY MURRAY: So I then run straight back there into the rubble. And I started digging the best way I could, looking for my sister. It was pandemonium. Like, you know, everybody was searching, and nobody could find her.
LANGFITT: If Brexit draws the North into Ireland's economic orbit, Gary Murray worries that people loyal to Britain will take up arms.
MURRAY: It's really frightening people because the way things can turn. Rumors are that trouble can be started all over again. I certainly don't want that after what I've been through.
LANGFITT: What's your greatest fear?
MURRAY: Going back to The Troubles.
LANGFITT: This is Shankill Road. And today, people are out walking around shopping. But every couple of blocks, what's so striking is you see a memorial to the dead from The Troubles. Right now, I'm looking up at a big archway and a big marble stone that says, in memory of five innocent Protestants slaughtered by IRA gunmen who came and blew up and shot up a bar in 1975.
(CROSSTALK)
LANGFITT: Gordon Young (ph) is shooting pool at WAVE Trauma Centre, which supports victims and survivors of the troubles. He says, by backing customs board if it splits the country, Boris Johnson is selling out Northern Ireland.
GORDON YOUNG: The British - the Protestant people will not accept it. The English should be ashamed of themselves for even voting on this thing because we're part of the United Kingdom, and that's where we belong.
LANGFITT: How did you feel when you first heard about the deal personally?
YOUNG: I felt let down completely. I'm a Protestant. I'm a unionist. I believe in the United Kingdom.
LANGFITT: Some people are concerned...
YOUNG: About the Good Friday Agreement?
LANGFITT: Well - and just also about reunification eventually.
YOUNG: No, there won't be no unification, that's one thing for sure. There will be a lot of blood spilt before then.
LANGFITT: The Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland in 1998. And because the North was in both the EU and the United Kingdom, there was no need for a border. Most people in Northern Ireland wanted to keep it that way and voted against Brexit. Duncan Morrow teaches politics at Ulster University in Belfast.
DUNCAN MORROW: The problem of Brexit is that Brexit says we need borders. And borders are the opposite of what the Good Friday Agreement was about.
LANGFITT: Naomi Long leads Northern Ireland's centrist Alliance Party, which draws support from both Catholics and Protestants. She says Brexit has thrust the question of reunifying the island back on the public agenda.
NAOMI LONG: I didn't think I would see a united Ireland in my lifetime. I expected that it would be a generation or two before that Pandora's box was reopened. But Brexit has reopened that prematurely and at a time when, frankly, I don't think our society has matured enough to be able to have rational, logical and peaceful conversations about those issues.
LANGFITT: A poll in September found a slim majority in Northern Ireland supporting reunification. A far larger majority predicted that, a decade from now, a reunification vote would pass.
(APPLAUSE)
LANGFITT: This has fired up Sinn Fein, one of Northern Ireland's largest parties. Once the political arm of the IRA, Sinn Fein is still bent on bringing the two Irelands together, though, now through peaceful means. Sinn Fein's John Finucane - he's the lord mayor of Belfast - spoke about reunification at a recent community meeting.
JOHN FINUCANE: Not only is this possible, but I believe it's inevitable in the time ahead. Brexit is a serious direct threat to Ireland's future, political stability and economic prosperity. These changes require new thinking and a radical and innovative response.
DIANE DODDS: I don't think that that is in any way a realistic prospect in the immediate or near future.
LANGFITT: Diane Dodds is a member of the European Parliament with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which is devoted to staying in the U.K. She says there are big barriers to reunification. For instance, Northern Ireland is one of the U.K.'s poorest regions and relies on more than $13 billion in subsidies from London each year, which, Dodds points out, the Irish government might have to finance.
DODDS: The hit to the Republic of Ireland's economy - were to actually provide the same level for the same levels of services and public services in Northern Ireland - would be just, I think, beyond anything that they could actually manage with.
LANGFITT: Which raises the question, would people in Ireland back reunification once they considered the cost? It's unclear how all of this will play out, but Naomi Long of the Alliance Party isn't optimistic.
LONG: I think we will be a poorer place as a result of Brexit. I think we will be a more unstable place politically. I think that Northern Ireland's future within the U.K. is less certain than it has ever been, certainly in my lifetime.
LANGFITT: All because of a referendum more than three years ago that most people in Northern Ireland voted against.
Frank Langfitt, NPR News, Belfast.
(SOUNDBITE OF RELEASE THE LONG SHIPS' "TURNED INTO A DEER")
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With developments going from bad to worse for the Iranian regime, the mullahs have decided to play a 40 year-old card. They have orchestrated an attack on a U.S. embassy, this time the one in Baghdad. President Trump summarized the situation in this tweet: Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified. Trump’s expectation of protection from the Iraqi government
Reply 1 - Posted by: DCGIRL 1/1/2020 5:41:47 AM (No. 275766) Last night watching the news, I was thinking that all of these Iran protester were gather in one spot. What an easy target. Problem solved. Click Here if you Like this Comment 5 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 2 - Posted by: George R. 1/1/2020 6:42:17 AM (No. 275775) Why were these "protestors" allowed into the Embassy undeterred? $1000. to $1. not one magazine was emptied in it's defense. The Marines look real pretty in their red striped pants, but maybe some Boy Scouts from Texas could do a better job, at least they know how to shoot. The feckless Marines put on Embassy Duty evidently are deployed there to be decoration not a deterrence. The US Army should have relieved the marines of Embassy Protection after their performance in 1979. Click Here if you Like this Comment 1 person likes this. person likes this. Report
Reply 3 - Posted by: Chuzzles 1/1/2020 8:19:51 AM (No. 275801) And therein lies the rub. Will the Iraqi government step up to protect our embassy? Or should we just pull out and let them fend for themselves. Their government has not been the most reliable in the past. Poster #2 is so filled with ignorance it breaks my heart. It is not up to the boots on the ground to decide to fire. It is up to the commanders at the Pentagon who decide. And IIRC, Carter disarmed those Marines in 1979. The most trouble embassies ever have is when a democrat is in the WH. Clinton allowed for many bombings, Carter had the hostage crisis, and Obama had Benghazi. Give the Marines a break and stop with the disrespect. Click Here if you Like this Comment 17 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 4 - Posted by: jar 1/1/2020 8:58:03 AM (No. 275826) When Obama pulled the troops out of Iraq, Iran came in in full force. Iraq has become a satellite of Iran. Iranian blocks control the Iraqi Parliament, and the caretaker Prime Minister of the Iraqi government is an Iranian puppet. Iran is stealing Iraqi wealth and using Iraq to bypass US sanctions, Yes, we need more troops there by the thousands. Click Here if you Like this Comment 3 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 5 - Posted by: udanja99 1/1/2020 9:21:45 AM (No. 275850) Thank you, #3. The Marine Security Guard Detachments can only protect the embassies if they are allowed to do it. There are still many desk-riding 0bama generals in the Pentagon. PDT needs to get rid of them too while he’s cleaning up the swamp. Click Here if you Like this Comment 6 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 6 - Posted by: MDConservative 1/1/2020 9:47:49 AM (No. 275873) FTA: "...the number of troops will initially be less than a 1,000. A larger force of several thousand soldiers has also been placed on stand-by..." Another "surge" to secure a $750 Million embassy that was supposed to be the most secure in the world. Waiting for a useless "government" to protect it, even after nearly two decades of training and "liberty". More American lives potentially on the line...to what end? Any "orders" sent down by Jimmy Carter, who left office in 1981, are easily rescindable today, and have been ever since then. Somehow these orders survived several CINCs, from Reagan to Trump. Seems an empty excuse for exactly what #2 wrote. These Marines, following orders or otherwise, are clearly nothing more than decoration if unable to use their skills and weapons for the purported purpose they are stationed at our embassies. Click Here if you Like this Comment 1 person likes this. person likes this. Report
Reply 7 - Posted by: HotRod 1/1/2020 10:13:17 AM (No. 275902) I think direct conflict with Iran is inevitable, as much as it is unwanted. It will not be a nuking of cities or bombing of the population, but will be targeted action against the leadership, military facilities and nuclear development locations. We will not go it alone either. Israel is at the tipping point too. The Russians and Chinese will make a lot of noise, but will end up influencing the remaining leadership to surrender. They need the oil. Click Here if you Like this Comment 4 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 8 - Posted by: udanja99 1/1/2020 10:30:26 AM (No. 275919) I’ve just gone back and re-read some articles about this posted here yesterday and found that this is not the first time that #2 has bashed the Marines. I wonder what his issue is. Was he tossed out because he couldn’t cut it at boot camp? My husband walked in and volunteered to be a Marine in 1969, even though he had a high draft number and at a time when some of his friends were burning their draft cards and high-tailing it to Canada. He served for 2 years and got orders for Nam, but they were rescinded because, by then, the Pentagon was beginning to pull the Marines out in accordance with the “first in, first out” rule. I also served at 2 American embassies overseas, one behind the Iron Curtain, and have tremendous respect for ALL Marines. Click Here if you Like this Comment 11 people like this. people like this. Report
Reply 9 - Posted by: bighambone 1/1/2020 11:21:39 AM (No. 275949) Most of the media reports on what is occurring at the US Embassy is misleading as the “protesters” have not taken over the Embassy grounds, what they have actually done is take over part of a wall and a couple of buildings on the compound perimeter setting fires and vandalizing US property there. The US Marine guard force has kept the “protesters” away from the main embassy buildings. Right now it will tell a lot as to the competence and motives of the Iraqi government and military by what happens next, as while the Iraqi military should never have allowed the “protesters” to even approach the embassy outer perimeter in the first place, and should now be moving the “protesters” from the embassy grounds. Click Here if you Like this Comment 3 people like this. people like this. Report | With developments going from bad to worse for the Iranian regime, the mullahs have decided to play a 40 year-old card. They have orchestrated an attack on a U.S. embassy, this time the one in Baghdad.
President Trump summarized the situation in this tweet:
Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified.
Trump’s expectation of protection from the Iraqi government may be too optimistic. Indeed, Trump seems to recognize this. Reportedly, he is sending additional forces to keep U.S. personnel in Iraq safe.
According to CNN, the number of troops will initially be less than a 1,000. A larger force of several thousand soldiers has also been placed on stand-by and could also be deployed to the region if the need arises.
Let’s hope that Trump is able to avoid an embassy takeover or similar disaster. And if there is an embassy takeover, let’s hope that Trump handles it a whole lot better than Jimmy Carter did 40 years ago. | 4 |
People gather during a protest against US President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to build a border wall, outside Trump International Hotel & Tower in Manhattan, New York. Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency in a bid to fund his promised wall at the US-Mexico border without congressional approval, an action Democrats vowed to challenge as a violation of the US Constitution.
The Republican president's move to circumvent Congress represented an escalation in his efforts to make good on a 2016 presidential campaign pledge to build a wall to halt the flow into the country of illegal immigrants, who Trump says bring crime and drugs.
Hours after Trump's announcement, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee said it had launched an investigation into the emergency declaration.
In a letter to Trump, committee Democrats asked him to make available for a hearing White House and Justice Department officials involved in the action. They also requested legal documents on the decision that led to the declaration, setting a deadline of next Friday.
"We believe your declaration of an emergency shows a reckless disregard for the separation of powers and your own responsibilities under our constitutional system," said the letter signed by Chairman Jerrold Nadler and other top Democrats on the panel.
Trump on Friday also signed a bipartisan government spending bill that would prevent another partial government shutdown by funding several agencies that otherwise would have closed on Saturday.
The funding bill represented a legislative defeat for him since it contains no money for his proposed wall - the focus of weeks of conflict between him and Democrats in Congress.
Trump made no mention of the bill in rambling comments to reporters in the White House's Rose Garden.
He had demanded that Congress provide him with $5.7 billion in wall funding as part of legislation to fund the agencies. That triggered a historic, 35-day December-January government shutdown that hurt the U.S. economy and his opinion poll numbers.
By reorienting his quest for wall funding toward a legally uncertain strategy based on declaring a national emergency, Trump risks plunging into a lengthy legislative and legal battle with Democrats and dividing his fellow Republicans - many of whom expressed grave reservations on Friday about the president's action.
Fifteen Democrats in the Republican-controlled Senate introduced legislation on Thursday to prevent Trump from invoking emergency powers to transfer funds to his wall from accounts Congress has already committed to other projects.
'EXCLUSIVE POWER'
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House, and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer swiftly responded to Trump's declaration.
"The president's actions clearly violate the Congress’s exclusive power of the purse, which our Founders enshrined in the Constitution," they said in a statement. "The Congress will defend our constitutional authorities in the Congress, in the courts, and in the public, using every remedy available.”
New York state's attorney general, Letitia James, said her office would also challenge Trump in court. California's governor, Gavin Newsom, also pledged to file suit.
"We won't stand for this abuse of power & will fight back with every legal tool at our disposal," James wrote on Twitter.
The president acknowledged his order would face a lengthy court fight.
"I expect to be sued. I shouldn't be sued ... We'll win in the Supreme Court," Trump predicted.
Trump may have also undermined his administration's argument about the urgency of the situation when he told reporters, "I didn't need to do this. But I'd rather do it much faster."
In their letter to Trump, House Judiciary Democrats said that language had left them "troubled."
Both the House and the Senate could pass a resolution terminating the emergency by majority vote. However, that measure would then go to Trump, who would likely veto it. Overriding the veto would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
Trump says a wall is needed to curb illegal immigrants and illicit drugs coming across the border. But statistics show illegal immigration via the border is at a 20-year low and that many drug shipments come through legal ports of entry.
Confronted with those statistics by reporters at the Rose Garden event, Trump said they were "wrong."
Also present were a half-dozen women holding poster-sized pictures of family members killed by illegal immigrants. Trump noted their presence in announcing the emergency declaration.
He estimated his emergency declaration could free up as much as $8 billion to pay for part of the wall. Estimates of its total cost run as high as $23 billion.
As a candidate, Trump repeatedly promised Mexico would pay for the wall. It was one of his biggest applause lines at his campaign rallies. Mexico firmly refused to pay, and now Trump wants U.S. taxpayers to cover the costs.
REPUBLICANS CONCERNED
Some congressional Republicans expressed dismay following Trump's announcement.
Greg Walden, a senior House Republican, said on Twitter he was "deeply concerned about the precedent that this action sets."
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said in a statement that Trump' declaration was not a solution.
"It wouldn't provide enough funding to adequately secure our borders, it would likely get tied up in litigation, and most concerning is that it would create a new precedent that a left-wing president would undoubtedly utilize to implement their radical policy agenda while bypassing the authority of Congress," Tillis said.
Other Republicans, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, were supportive.
With an emergency formally declared, Trump left Washington to travel to his Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida for a holiday break. | FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will lead a group of U.S. officials who will attend the World Economic Forum later this month in Davos, Switzerland, the White House said Wednesday.
Mnuchin will be joined by officials including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House senior advisers Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
Also attending will be Keith Krach, a State Department under secretary for growth, energy and the environment, and Christopher Liddell, a White House deputy chief of staff.
Reuters reported on Dec. 17 that President Donald Trump planned to attend the annual Davos economic forum, citing a source familiar with the plan. [nL1N28R10N] A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that Trump is still expected to attend at this time.
In 2019, Trump had to cancel his plan to attend the annual gathering of global economic and world leaders due to a government shutdown. He attended the Davos forum in 2018.
The World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort town is scheduled to run Jan. 21-24.
Events in Congress could affect the Republican president's attendance at the event.
Trump, who became the third American president to be impeached on Dec. 18, faces a trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress once House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, sends the charges - called articles of impeachment - to the Republican-controlled Senate.
A dispute between Pelosi and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell over how the trial will be conducted arose after the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump.
(This story corrects surname of U.S. Treasury Secretary in headline and second paragraph.)
(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis) | 1.666667 |
MISSOULA — The Missoula Food Bank is reporting that they made their holiday food drive goal of $250,000.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Food Bank said that so many generous donors, including Patt and Terry Payne, pushed them over their goal on the very last day of 2019.
They go on say, that they do not take for granted the incredible support of this community. The final total collected was $250,308.96.
Every dollar makes a difference and keeps healthy food on the tables of children, aging adults, and others in our community who face the threat of food insecurity in their day-to-day lives.
KPAX TV, KAJ TV, First Security and Glacier Banks are proud sponsors of this annual food drive. | KENNEWICK, WA- Many homeowners woke up Wednesday morning to find broken tree limbs or a broken piece of equipment because of high winds overnight.
One Kennewick resident experienced something far greater; instead of a tree limb, an entire tree fell on his home.
This happened on 8th Ave. According to the homeowner the experience was like an explosion had gone off outside his home.He also noted this is the second time this has happened to the home. According to him there is minimal damage to the home and that he is thankful everyone is safe.
FOX41 Yakimae©FOX11 TriCities© | 1.333333 |
SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle police officers chased and arrested a suspect after they saw him shoot another man in Pioneer Square.
KOMO-TV reports the officers were patrolling in the area of Occidental Avenue South and South Washington Street at about 1:25 a.m. when they witnessed the shooting, said Detective Patrick Michaud of the Seattle police. The suspect fled on foot.
Officers chased after the suspect and took him into custody without further incident.
Medics rushed the victim to Harborview Medical Center, where he later died due to the severity of his injuries. No other information was immediately available about the victim.
Detectives questioned the suspect in an attempt to determine what led up to the shooting, then booked him into the King County Jail, Michaud said.
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Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. | VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has apologized for hitting the hand of a well-wisher who grabbed him and yanked him toward her.
In his new year’s wishes to the public in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Francis confessed to losing his patience with the woman while he was strolling in the square Tuesday night to admire the Vatican’s Nativity scene.
Cameras captured the scene when the woman, from behind a barrier, reached out and grabbed the pope’s hand, pulling him violently toward her. Francis reacted sharply, exclaimed something and then slapped her hand so she would let him go. Frowning in anger, he turned and strode away.
In his impromptu remarks Wednesday, Francis said “so many times we lose patience. Me, too.” He then added “I say ‘excuse me’ for the bad example” he gave in the incident Tuesday.
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Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. | 1 |
After a long practice one day about a year ago, Southern University band director Kedric Taylor huddled his 200-plus-member squad for a quick message.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, a freshman at the time, didn’t expect much. He thought Taylor would give the team instructions for the weekend’s game or a critique of their practice that day. But when Taylor told the band, known as the “Human Jukebox,” that they had been selected to perform in the 2020 Rose Parade, Soberanis-Ramos’ heart leapt with excitement.
“I was in shock because we were going to be in my backyard,” said Soberanis-Ramos, a Compton native. “It’s something that I never thought I would do before. To be a part of this, it’s simply a blessing.”
Soberanis-Ramos, 19, said he always watched the Rose Parade on television growing up, but could never make the 23-mile drive to Pasadena to see the New Year’s Day festivities in person. Instead, choosing to attend a historically black university in Baton Rouge, La., unexpectedly had provided him with an opportunity he had dreamed of. Merely being in the parade, he said, “gives me hope.”
And that’s what this year’s parade is all about.
Tournament of Roses President Laura Farber thought of this year’s theme, “The Power of Hope,” with people like Soberanis- Ramos in mind. Farber, the first Latina to serve in the role, said she wanted to use her platform to promote diversity and inclusion.
The Human Jukebox, along with many of the other bands that will perform, embody that, she said. She’s excited for Southern California and the rest of the world to see that impact.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, right, adjusts his hat while waiting to perform with the Southern University Band during Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
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“With the country and the world as divided as it is right now, we want hope to bring everyone together,” Farber said. “That’s what America’s New Year celebration does. Hope is a powerful concept, and we wanted to focus on that.”
The word “hope” had never been used in the previous 130 Rose Bowl themes, Farber said. Her life revolved around hope, she said, and she knew that the word would resonate with others if she centered the parade on it.
Farber was born in Argentina and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was young to escape the country’s military dictatorship that seized power in the mid-1970s. She graduated from UCLA in 1987 and then from Georgetown Law three years later. Today she’s a wife, mother and attorney in Pasadena. She volunteered for the Tournament of Roses for 26 years and slowly climbed the ranks.
Laura Farber, president of the 2020 Tournament of Roses, steps to the stage to announce the 2020 Royal Court. (Tim Berger/La Cañada Valley Sun)
With each passing year, she saw the leadership diversify. The past five years produced the first African American and the first Asian American presidents of the organization. Farber said the best part of the job is the people. Hearing their stories inspires her.
“Sometimes you don’t appreciate the impact of our events until you meet people and see how engaged they are,” Farber said. “It changes them, especially kids who have never left their towns or cities and are now playing on a big international stage.”
That description fits Soberanis-Ramos, who started playing the horn at Manuel Dominguez High in Compton.
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His parents, who immigrated from Mexico before he and his four younger siblings were born, never attended college and worked hard to support them, he said. He used band as a way to keep himself busy. He practiced for hours by himself, meticulously going over songs and honing his technique. He wanted to use music to better his life, he said.
“All the dedication and hard work started paying off,” he said. “It was getting me ready for the real world — the practices, the uniforms, the precision. When you see the joy on people’s faces when you do a song and their heads are bopping, it makes it all worth it.”
Soberanis-Ramos, a computer science major who wants to work with mobile technology, said that a friend told him about Southern University, and he began watching videos of the marching band on YouTube. He saw “one of the best bands in the world,” as Farber describes them.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, right, warms up with his 200-plus member squad, the Southern University marching band, a.k.a. the “Human Jukebox,” at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The Southern University Band plays on the field at Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The band is used to performing at elite venues. Since its creation in 1947, it has played at Super Bowls, presidential inaugurations and the 1980 Rose Parade. Most famously, it headlined the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. After researching and witnessing what the band stood for, Soberanis- Ramos knew that he wanted to be a part of it. He auditioned and was accepted.
Soberanis- Ramos said that attending a historically black university was eye-opening at first, noting the Southern hospitality that pervaded the campus. The positive energy and genuine sense of camaraderie gave him “a huge culture shock,” he said. He and his band mates now carry those unique feelings with them to Pasadena.
Bands from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) are known for their pride and competitiveness. In 2017, ESPN’s The Undefeated ranked the Human Jukebox as the best HBCU band in the country. It has called itself the “Human Jukebox” since the 1960s because it boasts that it can play the “Top 40” hits of the day.
Recently, it’s lived up to the name.
At Bandfest, a showcase of the parade bands on Dec. 30, they dressed in their powder uniforms and yellow capes, and moved across the whole field of Pasadena City College stadium, dipping and weaving into different formations while they performed Lil Nas’ hit “Old Town Road.” Farber even started dancing as she watched from the sideline.
Lizzo, the Associated Press entertainer of the year, featured the band in a December music video. It also performed at a church service and a Los Angeles Lakers halftime show in Staples Center while they were in Los Angeles.
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Members of the Southern University Marching Band gather their instruments at their busses for Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Taylor said that Soberanis-Ramos is a great ambassador for the band, and he is happy they’ll play near the student’s hometown. Taylor also is glad that the Human Jukebox may provide some Californians with their first introduction to an HBCU band. He’s especially pleased that they are participating in this year of “Hope.”
“This theme fits our program to a T,” Taylor said. “God created all of us as equal, and when you have everybody on the same page and pulling in the same direction, you can accomplish way more.”
Soberanis- Ramos said it’s important to put on a performance that spectators won’t forget, especially given this year’s theme.
“I’m coming back home, and I want people here to see what HBCUs stand for and what we’re about,” he said. “I want them to see the passion we have and hopefully it will open their eyes. We’re carrying a lot of weight.”
Bands from Denmark, El Salvador, Japan and seven other counties will play at the parade, along with bands from 47 states. Farber said it was easy to pick Southern University when she and the music committee sifted through the pile of applications.
The 1 million people expected to watch the performance in person will be “blown away,” she said.
“It’s just going to lift everybody up,” she said. | With 44 floats, 20 marching bands and 17 equestrian groups, the 2020 Rose Parade offered something for everyone to enjoy Wednesday.
The parade was filled with its usual pageantry and history on a sunny, warm New Year’s Day.
But some moments stood out more than others, gauged both by the reactions from spectators along the parade route and as expressed via social media.
Here are the top five moments from the 2020 Rose Parade:
Grand Marshal Rita Moreno
It’s safe to say that fans loved Grand Marshal Rita Moreno. Moreno shared the grand marshal title with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and actress Gina Torres, but Moreno — who has won all four of the major annual American entertainment awards with an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony — won fans’ hearts with her infectious energy.
Moreno stood and danced in her parade vehicle as it made its way down most if not all of the parade route. She also caught the attention of a nearby TV camera, got close to it and introduced her grandsons, who were riding alongside her.
#RoseParade grand marshal @TheRitaMoreno gives one of my favorite quotes as she boards her #roseparade2020 car: “We’re off like a herd of turtles.” (i am now a fan for life) pic.twitter.com/pfWBFnTtd7 — Ryan Carter (@ryinie) January 1, 2020
Los Lobos performing “La Bamba”
While the crowd on Orange Grove Boulevard just before the turn onto Colorado Boulevard was excited to see Los Lobos as they prepared to perform the closing musical number for the 2020 Rose Parade, its excitement increased significantly when the band performed its version of “La Bamba,” which stayed atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1987. The song was recorded for the film of the same name about musician Richie Valens, played by Lou Diamond Phillips. The song also topped the U.K. Singles chart, and its music video won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.
Fans got up and danced at their seats and sang along during the performance.
The Cowboy Channel’s live bull rider
The Cowboy Channel’s “Walk. Ride. Rodeo.” float caught the audience’s attention for several reasons — it launched fireworks, and it played the song “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, which got the crowd singing along — but the main reason was because a person was riding a mechanical bull atop the float for the duration of the parade. The bull bucked slowly, likely as to not throw its rider down to the pavement, but the crowd remained enthralled by the performance.
Also riding the float was Amberley Snyder, a nationally ranked rodeo barrel racer who survived a devastating car crash that left her paralyzed below the waist in 2010. Snyder defied the odds to return to the sport she loves and now is a motivational speaker.
Donate Life’s “Light in the Darkness” float
Every year, Donate Life highlights organ, eye and tissue donors and recipients with its float. Those remembrances regularly evoke emotion, especially on social media.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted he and wife Fran DeWine’s participating in last year’s Donate Life float by honoring the 421 Ohioans who were donors then.
Today, is the Rose Parade in Pasadena! @FranDeWine and I were honored to sign one of the rose vials that’s on the Donate Life float. Last year, 421 Ohioans shared the gift of life through organ donation, and our rose honors those individuals and their tremendous gift. #DonateLife pic.twitter.com/UYy6mxSMyg — Mike DeWine (@MikeDeWine) January 1, 2020
Writer Rachel Brougham tweeted that a rose portrait on this year’s float was dedicated to her late husband, Colin Brougham.
Awhile ago, I received a letter from Donate Life, telling me there was a rose on their float in the Rose Parade in honor of Colin. I forgot about it until I turned on the TV at the exact moment that float was on. I’ll take that as a sign. We miss you, Colin. You should be here. — Rachel Brougham (@RachelBrougham) January 1, 2020
A couple from Georgia tweeted out that one of them was a donor tissue recipient and is a registered donor.
This float was GORGEOUS….and HUMBLING…I’m a donor tissue recipient and registered donor…wonderful work for all who put this together…heart goes out to the HEROS who donated so that others can live❤️ #DonateLife #DonateLifeFloat #BeADonor #RoseParade2020 — Dave & Laurie 🏁🇺🇸 (@DavelaurieC) January 1, 2020
Marching bands from near and far
Marching bands are a staple of the Rose Parade, but this year’s entrants seemed to delight crowds more than in years past. Many locals from across Southern California were on hand to cheer on the Alhambra Unified School District Marching Band, the Los Angeles Unified School District High School Honor Band, the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band and the Rancho Verde High School Crimson Regiment.
Other high school bands from around the country impressed, and the many international bands in attendance — from Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico — each brought their own unique styles that delighted audiences.
However, the standout band was Southern University’s “Human Jukebox” marching band, which wowed those in attendance with its power and precision in playing local favorite tune “I Love LA” by Randy Newman. | 2.666667 |
As the curtain falls on 2019, one significant journey will for long be remembered by Nigerians, South Africans and entire African continent: President Muhammadu Buhari’s historic three-day visit to South Africa, October 3-5th, 2019. Before the visit, fear and anxiety had engulfed the continent, and cries of xenophobic attacks ruled the air waves. Daily figures of casualties, both real and imagined, flared tempers, and reprisals were already taking a toll on South African business interests abroad.
Headlines, local and international, were metaphoric, pumping adrenaline: “Africa’s Big Brothers at War’’, “Africa’s Two Largest Economies Set for Show Down’’, “Xenophobic Attacks Record More Casualties’’, “Bad Blood Between Two African Powerhouses’’ and “Ramaphosa’s Shame’’. For the period, Africa’s policy of brothers’ keeper was tested. The theatre of the absurd, which started in South Africa, Africa’s second largest economy, was fast consuming lives and relations. Citizens of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Somalia were leaving. All hope rested on President Buhari and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
On September 4th, 2019, following more attacks and reports of killings, Nigerian delegation to the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, which was to be led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shelved participation. “Clearly with this climate, he (Osinbajo) and Mr. President have agreed that he should not go,” Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama explained. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Malawi’s Peter Mutharika had earlier pulled out of the conference, citing various reasons.
In South Africa, the onslaught on foreign businesses, largely attributed to frustration from growing unemployment, and allegations of misgivings and poor conduct of some foreigners, had become unbearable. To further register Nigeria’s chagrin, the High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Kabiru Bala was called to Nigeria for briefing, and the South African acting High Commissioner, Bobby Moroe, was invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs over the deteriorating situation. For safety, South African High Commission in Abuja and other businesses across the country were closed.
On September 5th, 2019, President Buhari despatched a special envoy to South Africa. The special envoy, who is Director General of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, met with South Africa’s President and expressed Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens. President Ramaphosa gave an assurance on safety of lives and property, attributing attacks to criminal elements.
On September 16, 2019, President Ramaphosa’s special envoy, Mr Jeff Radebe, was received at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. At the meeting, a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, quoted President Buhari as saying: “Going back to historical antecedents, we made great sacrifices for South Africa to become a free state. I was a junior officer to Gen. Murtala Muhammad, and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. They were not operating in a democracy, but they got Nigerians to support them in the bid to see a free South Africa. Our leadership was quite committed to the cause. We made sacrifices, which younger people of today may not know. During my last visit to South Africa with the late President Robert Mugabe, it was very emotional, as Mugabe spoke about Nigeria’s contribution to free South Africa.” Radebe apologized on behalf of his President for what he called “acts of criminality and violence” that recently occurred, adding that “such do not represent our value system, nor those of the larger number of South Africans.”
On September 11, 2019, the first set of Nigerians evacuated by a private airline, Air Peace, arrived in Lagos, mostly women and children. More than 600 Nigerians were flown out of the country by the airline. “We had long delays with issues of biometrics by the host country, and people were frustrated. The tension was high. When it was eventually waived, teary Nigerians started the national anthem. It was such a touching moment,’’ Nigeria’s Consular General in Johannesburg, Amb. Godwin Adama, said. Adama had spent many sleepless nights ensuring safety of citizens at the height of the diplomatic uproar.
In Nigeria, South African businesses were at high risk. Initial attacks, spurred by looters, were quickly nipped in the bud. The Police made arrests, and protected all business outfits. The atmosphere of bitterness and mutual suspicion persisted. In spite of arrests in Johannesburg and Pretoria, foreigners kept fleeing the country.
On August 11, 2019, President Buhari had agreed to visit South Africa, after a phone conversation with President Ramaphosa. The President spoke with the South African leader from his country home in Daura, Katsina State. In spite of the escalation of violence and destruction of Nigerian businesses in following weeks, he kept his promise. A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, that President Buhari would visit South Africa was greeted with mixed feelings. In Nigeria, some felt it was belittling for the Nigerian leader to visit South Africa since the crisis started from there, while others said it was unsafe. For some, since Nigeria played a significant role in the fight against apartheid, it deserved more respect. The President was unperturbed, preferring heart-to-heart talks to resolve the issues, not diplomatic ego tripping.
At 9.10pm, October 3, 2019, President Buhari arrived at the South African Air force Base, Waterkloof, Pretoria and was received by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor and Minister of Social Development, Ms. Lindiwe Zulu. Apart from the State visit, the President attended the 9th meeting of the Bi-National Commission, alongside President Ramaphosa. The Bi-National Commission for the first time witnessed the participation of two Heads of State after an elevation. The warmth and friendliness when the leaders met at the Union Building signalled intention for harmony. The elaborate, colourful military welcome ceremony at the South African administrative hub, tête-à-tête to discuss issues of mutual interests relating to the welfare of citizens, and review of 32 agreements/MOUs of the Bi-National Commission dowsed all fears and uncertainty on Nigeria/South Africa relations.
At every turn, which include press briefing, bi-national commission meeting and the state dinner, both leaders stood on a common reconciliatory ground, condemning the strings of attacks, and assuring their citizens of an early warning signal framework, need for more tolerance in a rising competitive world and closer working relationship to promote greater harmony. They also promised implementation of the MOUs from the Bi-National Commission to promote more Nigerian investments in South Africa.
“Going further back in recent history, during the dark days of the fight against apartheid, Nigeria was formally designated a Frontline State, notwithstanding the fact that we were not geographically in Southern Africa. It was rather in recognition of the political, human and material support and sacrifices of the Nigerian Government and people for South Africa,’’ President said at the State Dinner. “Nigerian workers, students and the Government made great contributions and stood shoulder to shoulder with the peoples of Southern Africa in their struggles against colonialism and apartheid.’’
President Ramaphosa apologised for the loss of lives of foreigners, damages to property and strained relations, with an assurance: “Your Excellency, we owe our freedom to the people of Nigeria and the people of Africa. We pay tribute to Nigeria’s tireless support for the international campaign against apartheid. We will not forget how Nigeria spearheaded the call for political and economic sanctions against apartheid South Africa following the Sharpeville Massacre of 21 March 1960, which left many unarmed demonstrators dead.
“We will not forget the great sacrifices made by the Nigerian people in the 1970s and 1980s for the freedom that South Africans enjoy today. Without Nigerian support, our freedom would have come at a much greater cost. We will never forget the great debt we owe you and we will never allow the lawless actions of a few to undermine the bonds of friendship between our peoples.’’
Months after President Buhari’s visit, Nigerians in South Africa enjoy a more peaceful stay, and South African citizens and businesses in Nigeria continue to thrive, unhindered. In both countries, 2019 end-of-year thanksgivings captured the visit that ushered in harmonious living and understanding.
On December 17th, 2019, after receiving Letters of Credence from South Africa’s new High Commissioner to Nigeria, T.D. Mseleku, President Buhari said: “At the end of our visit to South Africa, all those that were expressing doubts and fears had nothing to say. The visit was spectacular in many ways. Please give my deep appreciation to President Ramaphosa.’’ The President said former South African President, Nelson Mandela’s legacy of forgiveness, sacrifice and humility should be Africa’s template for leadership, and peaceful co-existence.
Oche Echeija Egwa is a Press Officer in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity. | The business of selling consumer goods and services online is a relatively young endeavor across Africa, but ecommerce is set to boom.
Over the last eight years, the sector has seen its first phase of big VC fundings, startup duels and attrition.
To date, scaling e-commerce in Africa has straddled the line of challenge and opportunity, perhaps more than any other market in the world. Across major African economies, many of the requisites for online retail — internet access, digital payment adoption, and 3PL delivery options — have been severely lacking.
Still, startups jumped into this market for the chance to digitize a share of Africa’s fast growing consumer spending, expected to top $2 billion by 2025.
African e-commerce 2.0 will include some old and new players, play out across more countries, place more priority on internet services, and see the entry of China.
But before highlighting several things to look out for in the future of digital-retail on the continent, a look back is beneficial.
Jumia vs. Konga
The early years for development of African online shopping largely played out in Nigeria (and to some extent South Africa). Anyone who visited Nigeria from 2012 to 2016 likely saw evidence of one of the continent’s early e-commerce showdowns. Nigeria had its own Coke vs. Pepsi-like duel — a race between ventures Konga and Jumia to out-advertise and out-discount each other in a quest to scale online shopping in Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation.
Traveling in Lagos traffic, large billboards for each startup faced off across the skyline, as their delivery motorcycles buzzed between stopped cars.
Covering each company early on, it appeared a battle of VC attrition. The challenge: who could continue to raise enough capital to absorb the losses of simultaneously capturing and creating an e-commerce market in notoriously difficult conditions.
In addition to the aforementioned challenges, Nigeria also had (and continues to have) shoddy electricity.
Both Konga — founded by Nigerian Sim Shagaya — and Jumia — originally founded by two Nigerians and two Frenchman — were forced to burn capital building fulfillment operations most e-commerce startups source to third parties.
That included their own delivery and payment services (KongaPay and JumiaPay). In addition to sales of goods from mobile-phones to diapers, both startups also began experimenting with verticals for internet based services, such as food-delivery and classifieds.
While Jumia and Konga were competing in Nigeria, there was another VC driven race for e-commerce playing out in South Africa — the continent’s second largest and most advanced economy.
E-tailers Takealot and Kalahari had been jockeying for market share since 2011 after raising capital in the hundreds of millions of dollars from investors Naspers and U.S. fund Tiger Global Management.
So how did things turn out in West and Southern Africa? In 2014, the lead investor of a flailing Kalahari — Naspers — facilitated a merger with Takealot (that was more of an acquisition). They nixed the Kalahari brand in 2016 and bought out Takelot’s largest investor, Tiger Global, in 2018. Takealot is now South Africa’s leading e-commerce site by market share, but only operates in one country.
In Nigeria, by 2016 Jumia had outpaced its rival Konga in Alexa ratings (6 vs 14), while out-raising Konga (with backing of Goldman Sachs) to become Africa’s first VC backed, startup unicorn. By early 2018, Konga was purchased in a distressed acquisition and faded away as a competitor to Jumia.
Jumia went on to expand online goods and services verticals into 14 Africa countries (though it recently exited a few) and in April 2019 raised over $200 million in an NYSE IPO — the first on a major exchange for a VC-backed startup operating in Africa.
Jumia’s had bumpy road since going public — losing significant share-value after a short-sell attack earlier in 2019 — but the continent’s leading e-commerce company still has heap of capital and generates $100 million in revenues (even with losses). | 1.333333 |
The figure represents a 2.7 per cent rise from last year.
The ambulance service dealt with more than 2,500 calls on Hogmanay, one of the busiest nights of the year.
The ambulance service dealt with more than 2,500 calls on Hogmanay, one of the busiest nights of the year.
Additional call handlers, dispatchers, ambulance crews and support staff were on duty to deal with the high levels of demand on New Year's Eve.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said its control centres handled 2,547 calls between 7pm on December 31 and 7am on January 1, a 2.7 per cent increase on the same period last year.
Chief executive Pauline Howie praised all the staff involved.
She said: "Our frontline staff have coped with an exceptionally busy period over Hogmanay.
"It was a real challenge this year, as it has been over the whole festive period, but day in, day out our staff have constantly risen to the challenges and have shown real dedication.
"They have all done a great job and have helped us continue to deliver the highest possible level of care to patients across Scotland.
"I would like to thank all our fantastic staff for their hard work in 2019 caring for patients and saving lives and I wish them a very happy new year." | Honduras closed 2019 with more than 115,000 cases of dengue and 177 deaths from the disease, the worst in Latin America.
"It is the biggest epidemic that we have had," said Deputy Minister of Health Roberto Cosenza. He added that more than 20,000 people were diagnosed with severe dengue fever.
The viral disease has rapidly spread in recent years and is transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika infections.
More than 400 people died last year as one of the worst dengue epidemics on record swept through Central America — a type of outbreak that some scientists and public health officials are warning is likely to become more frequent and more widespread because of climate change.
But while climate change is threatening to increase the spread of dengue worldwide by expanding the range of the mosquitoes that carry the virus, the disease has already found an especially fertile breeding ground in Honduras, for reasons that go beyond the environment.
In Honduras, which accounted for more than 40 percent of the dengue deaths in Central America this year, according to the Pan American Health Organization, the effects of climate change have been compounded by government dysfunction, political tumult and public apathy.
Honduras’s notorious criminality has worsened matters, too, as public health teams, already stretched thin by budget cuts and a lack of trained personnel, have been blocked by gangs from entering some of the most severely afflicted neighbourhoods to educate residents and fumigate against mosquito infestations. | 1 |
In testimony police sergeant admits no legal basis for threats against Bucks player Sterling Brown.
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The Milwaukee police sergeant who threatened to tow Sterling Brown‘s car during a confrontation in a Walgreen’s parking lot in January 2018 admitted in a deposition that he had no legal basis to make such a threat, according to Federal Court records.
“I’m talking about when you’re talking to Mr. Brown unprofessionally – using your words – and you told him, ‘Let’s tow the car,’ you had no basis to tow the car at that point in time. Correct?” attorney Mark Thomsen asked.
“That’s correct,” Sgt. Jeffrey Krueger responded during his May deposition.
Krueger also admitted he failed in his supervisory duties when he arrived at the scene and did not bother to learn what was happening before injecting himself into the situation.
“As a supervisor, I failed to do – one of my duties was to figure out what was going on beforehand,” he testified.
Krueger, a 13-year-veteran, also said he was not aware of any Milwaukee police officers being disciplined during that time for excessive use of force or racist conduct.
Krueger arrived at Walgreen’s after Brown, a Milwaukee Bucks player, was detained in a Walgreen’s parking lot after he parked illegally in a handicapped space at about 2 a.m. Brown eventually was confronted by several officers, including Krueger, and was taken to the ground, tased, stepped on, and arrested.
After the incident, in a squad car and after Brown was recognized as an athlete, Krueger was caught on a body camera saying, “We are trying to protect ourselves.”
He did not know the camera was on when he made the statement.
Krueger eventually was suspended for 10 days for failing to be a role model for professional police service.
Brown has filed a lawsuit alleging the officers violated his constitutional rights and his lawyer, Mark Thomsen, has filed several deposition excerpts in the case.
The City of Milwaukee and other defendants have denied violating Brown’s rights.
Assistant City Attorney Naomi Gehling objected repeatedly to Thomsen’s questions during Krueger’s deposition. They are part of the full transcript here.
After Brown’s arrest, officers involved, including Krueger, were ordered to undergo remedial training, which included watching video of the incident and discussing what went wrong, which Thomsen asked about during Kruger’s deposition:
Thomsen: What were the officers told went wrong?
Krueger: It was about professional communication.
Thomsen: So what about professional communication was wrong?
Krueger: There was many examples where it wasn’t used in this incident.
Thomsen: Okay. Tell the jury what all those examples are….
Krueger: Officer (Joseph J.) Grams – how he spoke to Mr. Brown.
Thomsen: Okay. What else?
Krueger: How my discussion with Mr. Brown went.
Thomsen: So what was wrong with your discussion with Mr. Brown?
It wasn’t very professional….I became frustrated, and that caused me to say,like, “You know, you’re bothering me.” So –
Thomsen: What else?…
Krueger: I just – I think the overall demeanor that I had, we talked about that.
Thomsen: What about your overall demeanor was inappropriate, sir?
Krueger: It wasn’t – my overall – Well, my demeanor was not professional.
Thomsen: In what way, sir?
Krueger: Well, how I talked to him.
Thomsen: And please explain to the jury the details of that.
Krueger: Well, I told him he was bothering me, and that’s the biggest one that sticks out to me.
Thomsen: You threatened to tow his truck – I mean tow his car.
Krueger: Correct….
Thomsen: I’m talking about when you’re talking to Mr. Brown unprofessionally – using your words – and you told him, “Let’s tow the car,” you had no basis to tow the car at that point in time. Correct?
Krueger: That’s correct.
***
Thomsen: Okay. So at the point you first approach him, he’d already been detained. Right?
Krueger: Yes.
Thomsen: There had been no basis – no reasonable suspicion that he had committed a crime for him being detained. Correct?
Krueger: I’m about to – At the time I didn’t know what the interaction between Officer Grams and him were – or was, so I didn’t know necessarily – Well, I did not know what had transpired….
Thomsen: Right. So you failed to ask Officer Grams what the situation was. Correct?
Krueger: Correct.
Thomsen: You failed to ask Mr. Brown what was going on. Correct?
Krueger: Correct.
Thomsen: You failed to ask his date what was going on. Correct?
Krueger: Correct.
Krueger reported to internal affairs that he saw a gun in Brown’s car, but told Thomsen he misspoke. He said he believed Brown might be armed in part because there was a shooting target in his car’s back seat and because Brown appeared upset when Krueger looked into Brown’s car.
Thomsen: Citizens have a right to have targets in the back seat of their car. Correct?
Krueger: Yes, sir.
Thomsen: Citizens have the right to have targets with holes in the back seat of a car. Correct?
Krueger: Yes, sir.
And the fact that there’s a target with holes in the back seat of a car does not constitute a reasonable suspicion that a person is armed. Correct?
Krueger: Correct.
Thomsen: I mean, this is Officer Grams telling his supervisor – you – right after Mr. Brown is tased “Hey, if he just wouldn’t have been a dick, I would have just said, ‘Hey, here you go.'” Right?
Krueger: That’s what he said. Yes….
Thomsen: Now, were you also in the vehicle when Officer (James P.) Collins was calling Mr. Brown a douchebag?
Krueger: I’m – Yes, I was in a squad car when that happened.
Thomsen: You agree that Officer Collins had no basis to be standing on Mr. Brown’s leg. Correct?
Krueger: I don’t know the context of when he was standing on his foot. It’s not a trained technique.
Thomsen: It’s clearly an unreasonable use of force. Correct?
Krueger: I don’t know how much force was applied. I would call it “untrained and probably inappropriate,” but “unreasonable”? I don’t know.
Thomsen: You have been on the force for how many years, did you say?
Krueger: 13.
Thomsen: And in those 13 years, are you aware of any Milwaukee Police Department officers that have been disciplined for excessive use of force?
Krueger: I don’t recall. Excessive use of force? No, I don’t.
Thomsen: And in those same 13 years, are you aware of any officers that have ever been disciplined for racist conduct?
Krueger: No. Not that I recall.
Gretchen Schuldt writes a blog for Wisconsin Justice Initiative, whose mission is “To improve the quality of justice in Wisconsin by educating the public about legal issues and encouraging civic engagement in and debate about the judicial system and its operation. | Bigg Boss 13 saw the first nomination task of the New Year today. In the morning, Rashami Desai complained that food is not being made on time. Mahira Sharma who cooks daily got really upset and started shouting. Paras Chhabra came to her defense. He said she would not cook any more. Later, Sidharth Shukla made her understand. Mahira Sharma was also nominated by a number of members. However, she held her ground and answered back to everyone. The housemates also said that Paras Chhabra had no other work than look after Mahira. But the lady has given it back...This is how Twitter reacted to Mahira's statements...
Aaj Asim ne abuse kya #MahiraSharma ko to kisi celebrity ne tweet nahi kya,aurton ki izzat nahi krta badtameez hai But agar yahi #SidharthShukla ne kiya hota to aajate sab jhund bana k tweet par tweet krte.
Bolye @GAUAHAR_KHAN aunty ji, soch to liya hoga kaise Asim ko sahi bolu. — Roshni ||? #SidHearts❤️ (@roshni_khanam) January 1, 2020
#MahiraSharma: Sorry apko Kutta bol diya!!!
Unko bura lag jayega, kyuki kutte wafadaar hote hain!! Mahira killing it today ?? — Maaz (@Maaz20877942) January 1, 2020
#MahiraSharma was lit ??
Kya dhoya sabko single-handedly... — Happy (SidHeart♥️) (@oyehappy) January 1, 2020
Yes. We should vote for #MahiraSharma . In this phase of the show Sidharth Shukla a strong and loyal friend like Mahira Sharma. Thanks Mahira and Paras. #SidharthShukla #MahiraSharma #ParasChabbra #BiggBoss — Anup Biswas (@AnupBis71680145) January 1, 2020
Mahira killed it today???#MahiraSharma : Har waqt #SidharthShukla k peechay paray rehtay hain Pehlay #ParasChhabra chahye tha phir #Arhaan ab isko #Assim chaye
Khud kuch kar lai TRashmi Aunty
??? Go & Vote For Mahira #bb13 #BiggBoss13 @BiggBoss@ColorsTV — Bigg Boss 13 Official (@BiggBoss_13) January 1, 2020
#MahiraSharma: Sorry apko Kutta bol diya!!!
Unko bura lag jayega, kyuki kutte wafadaar hote hain!! Mahira killing it today ?#BB13 #BiggBoss13 — Sandeep Tanwar Sidheart ❤ (@sandeep353055) January 1, 2020
Today’s episode her punches were upto the mark
Mahira to madhurima- main paras k bina zero hu,aap ek dusre k bina ke zero,best one liner by #MahiraSharma #SiddharthShukla kaa influence hai — Sushmita Das (@Drsushmitalone7) January 1, 2020
We can see that Mahira Sharma is coming into her own in the game. It will be fun to see her fierce side. Paras Chhabra and Mahira's bond is the strongest in the house. Stay tuned to BollywoodLife for more scoops and updates! | 1 |
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Bleary-eyed Londoners braved the cold and shook off their hangover this morning to see 10,000 performers from around the world in the capital's New Year's Day parade.
The 34th parade kicked off at 12pm today and was scheduled to finish at around 3.30pm across London's Piccadilly Circus area.
The procession, which featured more than 10,000 performers from across the world, saw a group of enthusiastic cheerleaders perform as many watched on from the barriers.
The troop is thought to have been in the area rehearsing from around 5.30am this morning, and the crowds seemed to love their performance.
Those wanting to enjoy the parade and stretch their legs enjoyed a tour around London as performances spanned across Nelson's Column to Downing Street.
The parade finishes at Westminster this afternoon but some road closures will remain in place in order to regulate the traffic.
Performers were pictured today taking part in the annual parade. These cheerleaders were dressed in blue dresses and used white and red pom poms
These performers were seen running through a tunnel of flowers and love hearts today as they donned black and white outfits with hats
A member of the Moto Stunts International team performs during the New Year's Day Parade in London this afternoon
This woman looked amazing as she strutted her stuff during the parade. She was wearing an elaborate costumer with peacock feathers
Performers in colourful outfits dace in the street while taking part in the annual New Years Day parade in London today
As part of the New Year's Day parade in London one group walked with large heart balloons while the crowds continued to gather
A woman smiles during the New Year's Day parade. She is wearing an elaborate red costume and is also wearing jewels on her face
The inaugural event took place in 1987 with 2,000 performers entertaining onlookers for the first ever London New Year's Day Parade.
Today's parade boasts more than 10,000 participants from the USA, UK, Europe and beyond to entertain the street audience of more than 500,000 and the TV audience - which reached more than 300 million in 2019.
Since the beginning, the LNYDP claims to have raised or donated more than £1.5 million for London Charities.
Rob King, singer and judge on BBC One's Saturday night singing competition All Together Now, is among the participants.
Also attending are Italian percussion orchestra Banado, the Bloco Fogo Samba Band, Campo Verde High School Coyote Pride Marching Band - a top marching troupe from Arizona, US - and the Varsity Spirit All-American Cheerleaders, Dancers & Spirit Performers.
A woman is seen waving at the crowds as she takes part in a the New Year's Day parade this afternoon, while her troops walks behind her
A samba dancer wearing peacock-style attire takes part in the New Year's Day Parade in London on the first day of 2020
Today's New Year's Day event saw a group of enthusiastic cheerleaders perform as many watched on from the barriers
Revellers wearing brightly coloured clothes are out in force as the New Year's Day parade marches through Piccadilly Circus
Attendees used nearby bike stands to give themselves a boost in order to see the proceedings at the New Year's Day parade
Revellers are accompanied by a Tyrannosaurus through the streets of London with cheerleaders following close behind
The parade, pictured, will finish at Westminster this afternoon but some road closures will remain in place to regulate traffic
Londoners and visitors hold their phones to the air to capture a parade of horses adorned with British flags walking past
A child in a very impressive regal costume riding his small but sturdy steed takes part in the New Year's Day Parade in London
The 34th parade kicked off at 12pm today with cheerleaders lining the streets to celebrate the New Year in Piccadilly Circus
Brazilian samba dancers joined in the festivities as Londoners marked the beginning of the 2020s near Piccadilly Circus today
Selfie: Colourfully-dressed revellers made the most of the start of the 2020s today with a parade through Britain's capital
Parade attendees roll through the proceedings near Piccadilly Circus, London in a set of traction engines on January 1
Members of a marching band wearing very striking green and white uniforms wave to the cameras during the London parade
Performers dance through the confetti-laced streets of London as crowds watch on from the barriers on New Year's Day 2020
The London Pearly Kings and Queens Society - an organised charitable tradition committed to raising money for all London-based charities - marches through the streets of the capital wearing their iconic garb
A performer gestures towards the camera with her dog lies softly across her left arm on London's New Year's Day Parade | At last, it has started to feel a bit more like winter the past couple of days. We'll continue to see temperatures in the 30's for most of the day today, with highs approaching 40° by this afternoon. However, winds will remain breezy for most of the day, causing it to feel closer to 30°. Skies clear out by this morning, making for mostly sunny skies.
After today, southerly winds kick in, bringing temperatures into the upper 40's. Clouds begin to build back in ahead of our next weather system that arrives Friday.
That weather system brings rain on Friday and snow for Saturday. We're timing it all out on ABC21!
Gabe Prough
ABC21 Meteorologist
Facebook: Gabe Prough Weather
Twitter: @proughwx | 1.333333 |
The first Mitten Drop is happening at Canterbury Village and the Detroit Ghostbusters will be there.
The new tradition will be family-friendly and fun for all ages. Eric Lindow came by with his crew to visit and talk about the event.
"We are having a kid's drop at 6:30, tickets are $5 and every ticket purchased goes toward hat and glove donation for children in need," he said.
The Family Kidz Celebration is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the midnight Mitten Celebration will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with the drop at midnight.
In addition to the Ghostbusters, there will be fire jugglers, live entertainment, kid's karaoke, friendly characters, inflatables, clowns, face painting.
Also on hand, will be horse drawn carriage rides, fire pits, lite tubes, hot chocolate, treats, food trucks and adult beverages.
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Introduction – Just like the first 2 paragraphs in this article, every article must have an introduction that does a couple of things. First, it’s a good idea to identify what the article is going to be about. You can reiterate the title if you want or you can identify what they are going to get out of the article by reading it. The second thing you should do in an article is define the main subject. In this case, I defined exactly what article marketing is.
As with your title, you want the cover to grab a reader. There are number of image services where you can get free images, just be sure you can use the image on products for sale and without attribution.
If you have a web based business you hear this all the time and they are proper, why? Because your competition is doing it and you need to out do your competition to have an opportunity creating wealth online. So what’s it? It’s a part of search engine optimisation (Search Engine Optimization), which works towards getting your site on prime of the various search engines organically (without straight paying for it). The concept is that if you may get other sites to reference yours, the major search engines will see it and rank your website higher than one which has fewer references.
Ask your readers what matters to them? Don’t try to guess. You can do this through email newsletters and social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook.
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Tags: Business, Places, Promote, Unusual | 1 |
From Capitol Hill Blue
Trump can't have any Christmas Spirit because he is always taking and never giving anything...but grief.
(Image by Twitter. (Courtesy of The New York Daily News)) Details DMCA
Does Donald Trump ever have the spirit of Christmas?
Of course not.
On Christmas Eve, after a quick teleconference call with troops overseas, Trump returned to form with tweets blasting Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for the impeachment that hangs over his head.
"She hates the Republican Party. She hates all of the people that voted for me and the Republican Party," Trump charged on Christmas Eve. "She's doing a tremendous disservice to the country."
Then he and Melania, the nude model turned First Lady, hopped over to a Southern Baptist Church for a holiday celebration.
Southern Baptist? Yes, Trump wants to showcase his support from evangelicals, so he ignored his usual church -- the Episcopalian one -- so he could be photographed hanging out with some Bible thumpers.
Trump is pissed at Pelosi for holding the impeachment documents approved by the House until she gets some assurances from Senate leader Mitch McConnell that he will allow calling of witnesses and, at least, provide something that looks like a real trial of who will go down in history as America's most corrupt president.
"Let's put it like this: If there are no documents and no witnesses, it will be very hard to come to an agreement," Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer told The Associated Press.
The AP also reports:
Schumer is demanding witnesses who refused to appear during House committee hearings, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton.
"McConnell, who has all but promised a swift acquittal of the president, has resisted making any guarantees, and has cautioned Trump against seeking the testimony of witnesses for fear of prolonging the trial. Instead, McConnell appears to have secured Republican support for his plans to impose a framework drawn from the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. "In a letter Monday to all senators, Schumer argued that the circumstances in the Trump trial are different from those of Clinton's, who was impeached after a lengthy independent counsel investigation in which witnesses had already testified numerous times under oath. Schumer rejected the Clinton model, saying waiting until after the presentations to decide on witnesses would 'foreclose the possibility of obtaining such evidence because it will be too late.' "Schumer also demanded that the Senate, besides receiving testimony, also compel the Trump administration to turn over documents and emails relevant to the case, including on the decision to withhold military aid from Ukraine. He told the AP that Democrats aren't trying to delay but are simply asking for information directly relevant to the charges in the impeachment articles.
Next Page 1 | 2 | WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she’s open to calling witnesses as part of the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, but she says it is “premature” to decide who should be called until senators see the evidence that is presented.
Collins also said it was inappropriate for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, to pledge “total coordination” between the White House and the Senate during the impeachment trial.
“It is inappropriate, in my judgment, for senators on either side of the aisle to prejudge the evidence before they have heard what is presented to us,” Collins told Maine Public Radio in an interview Monday.
Senators take an oath to render impartial justice during impeachment — an oath lawmakers should take seriously, Collins said.
Collins, who is running for reelection and is considered one of the nation’s most vulnerable GOP senators, also faulted Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts for saying Trump should be found guilty and removed from office.
“There are senators on both sides of the aisle, who, to me, are not giving the appearance of and the reality of judging that’s in an impartial way,” she said.
Collins is the second Republican senator to criticize McConnell, who recently told Fox News he would be working “in total coordination with the White House counsel’s office and the people who are representing the president” during impeachment.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said last week that she was “disturbed” by McConnell’s comments, adding that there should be distance between the White House and the Senate in how the trial is conducted.
“To me, it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense, and so I heard what Leader McConnell had said, I happened to think that that has further confused the process,” Murkowski said.
The remarks by the GOP senators come as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer hailed as a “game changer” a news report detailing the role of White House officials in withholding aid to Ukraine, a key element of the impeachment effort.
The New York Times reported new details about efforts by acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and other officials to cut off the aid to Ukraine. Senate Democrats are seeking to call Mulvaney and three other White House officials as witnesses in the impeachment trial.
“Simply put: In our fight to have key documents and witnesses in a Senate impeachment trial, these new revelations are a game changer,” Schumer said. ”Will the Senate hold a fair trial, or will it enable a cover-up?”
McConnell said last week that he is not ruling out calling witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial, but he indicated he was in no hurry to seek new testimony.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 3 |
Photo Credit: Screenshot from 'Pictorial History Of The Jewish People', by Nathan Ausubel
JTA, which probably would not invite Haredi authors to share their views on intermarriages, homosexuality, kosher slaughtering and circumcision, on Tuesday invited Shimon Rolnitzky, writer, activist and Chassidic resident of Monsey, New York—where last Saturday night a machete wielding black man injured five Jews during a Chanukah Melaveh-Malka meal—to sing a post-pogrom kumbaya (We Hasidic Jews of Monsey must ignore the outsiders who want us to take up arms and politicize our tragedy).
Rolnitzky spends the first thousand words of his essay on glorifying the loving relationship between blacks and Jews, dotted with his own personal anecdotes of bliss and harmony:
“When I stopped at a gas station on Skyline Drive in Ringwood, New Jersey, several weeks ago, the gas station attendant dropped everything and volunteered to show me which products were kosher. He himself uses kosher symbols, he explained to me, because he eats halal.”
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And who can forget this one:
“My twin boys were raised with the help of a black woman who developed a taste for cholent and gefilte fish and was extraordinarily loyal to my children. After the attack in Monsey, she called to express worry and sympathy about what happened.”
Which made this writer wonder if anyone has claimed that the entire black community in the US, all 20 million or so of them, are anti-Semites. I’m pretty sure I haven’t.
But I, like practically every sane person who followed the news in the month of December, 2019, couldn’t help noticing that every last one of the two dozen anti-Semitic attacks on religious Jews were carried out by black men and women.
It’s not a racist observation, it’s just an observation.
Should we ignore this obvious fact? Should we conceal it?
I’ve read many responses online that suggested just that.
A recent JewishPress.com report that was headlined “Watch: Black Predators Assault Young Chassidic Man in Rush Hour” was called racist by some angry readers, even though every word in it was true: it was a gang of black predators who spotted an innocent Chassidic young man walking down the street and attacked him like mad dogs.
And, as could be seen in the attached video, after he had quickly moved on, trying to evade a full blown confrontation, they picked up the chase a second time.
I trust that the editors of the JewishPress.com would have headlined the story “Watch: White Power Predators Assault Young Chassidic Man in Rush Hour” had those young men been blonde and adorned with Nazi tattoos. But they weren’t. Neither were they Muslim. It so happened that in December, 2019, it was all black thugs doing the Jew hate thing.
After a thousand words that would have made even the late Malcolm X put a quarter in the blue and white JNF pushke, Shimon Rolnitzky finally gets to the reason for which he had been given all this parking space at JTA:
“And we must be wary of those who say that guns are the answer. From the time that Haredi children are very small, we learn to despise weapons. The words of my teacher ring in my ears: ‘Our strength is only with our mouth (praying to the Almighty).’ When we learned the Talmud tractate of Shabbat, the teacher pointed out that the sages say (63a) that a person is not allowed to go around with a weapon on the Sabbath because their purpose is ‘shameful,’ they are a disgusting item. We always heard from our religious leaders that the weapon of a Jew is the voice of Jacob (Genesis 27:22). “They educated us to be pacifists and talked to us about how nice it will be when the Messiah comes, when ‘nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4)”
Let’s unpack: the mishna in tractate Shabbat is not about self defense, it’s about whether or not it is proper to wear a weapon on Shabbat as a kind of adornment, as jewelry, which is Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion, and the Gemara cites Psalms 45:4 – “Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh; [gird on] your splendor and majesty.” Meaning a weapon could add to the beauty of the Shabbat attire.
As to the voice of Jacob, the occasion upon which Isaac makes this statement is when Jacob, with encouragement from his mother, Rebecca, pretends to be his murderous brother Esau, at which point his blind father Isaac says, “The voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are the hands of Esau.” Indeed, years later, when Jacob is confronted by the angel of Esau who wants to kill him, Jacob fights him, physically, like a Roman gladiator, following which the angel crowns Jacob as a god.
Our sages educate us to be pacifists?!
The very holiday those sweet Chassidim were celebrating when the meshugener black man burst into the house with his machete, was the commemoration of the war waged by five warrior brothers and their father, who chased out of the land of Judea the invading Syrian army along with the Helenized Jews (man, do I miss Rabbi Meir Kahane’s favorite analogy…). Pacifists?
It’s sad to see how Rolnitzky cherry picks from Scripture and the Talmud to come up, out of context, with the destiny of Esau, as foreseen by Isaac, “You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you break loose, you will shake his yoke off your neck,” to suggest that the children of Jacob “despise” the sword.
No we don’t, and neither did our sages and our Shulchan Aruch:
“And with regard to a town that is located near the border, even if the gentiles did not come with regard to lives, but rather with regard to matters of hay and straw, i.e., to raid and spoil the town, they may go out against them with their weapons, and they may desecrate Shabbat due to them, as the border must be carefully guarded, in order to prevent enemies from gaining a foothold there. “Rav Yosef bar Manyumi said that Rav Naḥman said: And Babylonia is considered like a town located near the border, and war may be waged there on Shabbat even if the gentiles came for financial gain. And this means the city of Neharde’a, which was located near the border.” (Eruvim 45a)
In other words, Jews must regard misbehaving gentiles as potential murderers at all times, including on Shabbat. And the Shulchan Aruch, which I know Rolnitzky regards as a reliable halachic source, rules (Orach Chayim 329):
“There is one who says that in our times, even if they come for money, we desecrate the Shabbat [to fight them], because if the non-Jew is allowed to plunder his money, the situation would become deadly. (In any event, everything is according to the situation (Piskei Mahara’i Chapter 156).)
For the record, I’m not a big fan of the NRA; I support a strong ban on guns so that only people who can show that they are sane and have undergone training to handle guns competently and who can show a reason why they need guns should be permitted to own guns. But I despise cheap tricks, and the use of Shimon Rolnitzky’s bizarre essay to support a progressive agenda he probably would not support if you threatened to take away his last piece of herring at a shalosh seudos, is a cheap trick.
Incidentally, JTA included a video of Rabbi Rottenberg, whose house had been invaded, saying that had anyone there possessed a gun things would have been much worse. I agree, because I know the good rabbi envisioned some untrained members of his own flock trying to use a gun, but you know, we do have the commandment (II Samuel 1:18): “to teach the people of Judea archery.”
Buy guns with a permit, get properly trained in using and handling your gun, and defend yourself against rabid anti-Semites. | JTA — Flyers described by police as anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim were found on cars in a Georgia county that is home to a large Jewish community.
The flyers were discovered in the Toco Hills neighborhood of DeKalb County earlier this month, but first reported on Monday in the wake of the attack on a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York.
The DeKalb County Police Department’s homeland security unit is investigating the incident, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
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One of the flyers, bordered by swastikas, described the Holocaust as a “Jew lie” and included an illustration of a large-nosed rat wearing a kippa with a Star of David on its body.
“There was no holocaust,” it says, according to the Atlanta Jewish News. “You odious creatures have been living on the invention of Nazi gas chambers, blackmailing and perpetrating this filthy extortion racket on humanity long enough.”
The flyers also contained a quote attributed to Heinrich Himmler, architect of Adolf Hitler’s “Final Solution,” and the words “Hitler was right” written in Yiddish in the lower right-hand corner.
They were first discovered on December 18, according to a security notice sent to Jewish communal leaders by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and signed by Zach Williams, deputy director of Community-Wide Security. | 2 |
Catholic Academy of Waterbury to reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 7 following water main break | Osakis senior meals are served at the Community Center. Call (320) 859-2325 for reservations.
Wednesday, January 1 – closed for New Year's Day.
Thursday, January 2 – closed.
Friday, January 3 – cook's choice.
Monday, January 6 – chicken strips, mashed potatoes and gravy, fruit salad.
Tuesday, January 7 – chicken alfredo, salad, brownie.
Wednesday, January 8 – pork roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed peas, bread pudding. | 1 |
NORTH CAROLINA -- We are in for plenty of sunshine on this New Year's Day.
Clouds will increase Thursday as our next storm system approaches from the southwest
Rain chances begin for the western half of the state by later Thursday
Precipitation ends for most of us by later Saturday but, up in the mountains, the rain will transition over to snow that will continue through Sunday morning
Enjoy it while you can! Clouds will increase Thursday as our next storm system approaches from the southwest. Rain chances begin for the western half of the state by later Thursday and for the eastern half of the state by later Friday.
We will be very mild as the rain moves through. Precipitation ends for most of us by later Saturday but, up in the mountains, the rain will transition over to snow that will continue through Sunday morning.
The highest elevations may end up with one to two inches of snow accumulation. We trend drier and cooler again next week. | Wawa Bests Royal Farms In Food And Wine Magazine's Convenience Store RankingsRoyal Farms or Wawa? It's an age-old question, but if Food and Wine magazine is to be believed, Wawa has the edge.
Thousands Expected To Ring In 2020 At Baltimore's Inner HarborIn just hours, fireworks will fill the sky as we say farewell to 2019 and welcome a new year and a new decade.
Final Preparations Underway For Inner Harbor New Year's Eve Fireworks DisplayFor more than 40 years, Baltimore has welcomed the new year with fireworks at the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore's 5 Top Bakeries That Won't Break The BankLooking to try the best bakeries in town?
Christmas Surprise: Baltimore County Officer Becomes Impromptu SantaA little boy was overjoyed after a Baltimore County officer delivered his holiday letter to Santa on Christmas Eve.
3 Top Spots For Desserts In BaltimoreCraving desserts? | 3.333333 |
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed state councils to await directive to engage state governors who fail to meet the Dec. 31 deadline implementation of the minimum wage.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba said this in a New Year message on Tuesday in Abuja.
Wabba said in the year 2020, the NLC would mount a very robust campaign for the generation of mass jobs and for already existing jobs to be decent.
He disclosed that the NLC was perfecting plans for a National Job Summit in 2020, NAN reports.
Wabba said: “We use this medium to implore states that are yet to implement the new national minimum wage including the states that are yet to begin negotiation with labour on the consequential wage adjustment to speedily do the needful.
“In tandem with our position as adopted and communicated after a stakeholders’ meeting on Dec. 11, 2019, organised labour will not guarantee industrial harmony in states that fail to implement the new national minimum wage by Dec. 31, 2019.
“We direct our state councils to be on the standby to robustly engage state governments that fail to obey our laws.
“We wish to remind State Governors that no excuse would be good enough for failure to pay.
“The ongoing revelations on the monumental looting perpetrated by former governors prove that only an intent to loot and deadened conscience, not availability of resources, would be the reason any Governor would hesitate to pay workers the N30,000 new national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment in salaries.
“The new national minimum wage is now a law and State Governors do not have the luxury to choose whether to pay or not
“Where it will get stakeholders, experts, policymakers, concerned demographics and workers on a roundtable to find answers and solutions to Nigeria’s burgeoning unemployment crisis.
“We also commend the states already paying the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustment in salaries for assuming the pacesetter status,” he added.
The NLC president said the congress have resolved to protect, promote and prioritize workers’ and pensioners welfare as it would be indefatigable.
He also said that the congress would continue to be the voice for the oppressed and downtrodden.
“We will dare the enemies of Nigerian workers and people and we will triumph by the grace of God. Nigerian workers under the leadership of the NLC will continue to work assiduously towards the promotion of national security, peace and unity.
“We will continue to put the needed weight on the things that unite us and hold in contempt the things that seek to divide us.
“We encourage our political leaders to exemplify the same by their utterances and conduct. By so doing, we will be laying an enduring foundation for national peace, unity, and development.” | Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has commended Nigerians for their resilience and tolerance in the face of many socio-economic obstacles faced collectively in the country.
Tambuwal gave the commendation in his New year Message released by his spokesman, Muhammad Bello in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Addressing plans to divide Nigeria, the governor said that any attempt to divide Nigeria in 2020 will be futile, adding that ‘Nigeria is one indivisible entity ordained by Allah’
According to him, the travails holding Nigerian compatriots together shall never be torn into pieces by the myriads of problems they cope with frequently.
Tambuwal further appealed to Nigerians to ensure that the rule of law and good governance are not truncated.
The statement reads: “I have said it times without number that Nigeria and Nigerians are one indivisible entity ordained by Allah.
“Any contrived or accidental attempts to foist disunity among Nigerians can only last but some moments.
“Christianity, Islam, animism and other shades of religious beliefs are disparate expressions of our collective strive to be close to our creator.
“None of the beliefs diminish our togetherness as human beings subsisting under one nation with common destiny.
“I am confident that as we move into the New Year, we shall surmount, as we have done countless times, all the challenges staring us in the face and putting us at daggers drawn with tolerance and understanding,” the governor explained.
“While wishing Christian brethren a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, he admonished them to reflect on the blessings of the outgoing year and pray for good tidings in the coming year.
“As I am confident that you and I will weather through whatever storm is gathering, I enjoin you to be steadfast in your resolve to ensure that the rule of law and good governance are not truncated.
“I pray to Allah to make us more united to confront the menace of insurgency, cultism, banditry and all manners of crimes and criminality.” | 2 |
Ken Holland has found himself in a tricky situation halfway through his first season at the helm of the Edmonton Oilers.
His big-picture plan is to retool the organization, through the draft. There’s a core here of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Oscar Klefbom, and others along with a nice prospect pool in the minors. But there’s still a ways to go, and the most prudent way to add talent is through drafting and developing.
But there’s also a team and a fanbase desperate for playoff hockey. There’s a building that isn’t being sold out on a nightly basis because fans aren’t interested in paying top dollar to see a team that isn’t winning. There are also two superstars in McDavid and Draisaitl doing everything they can to drag this team to the playoffs.
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The Oilers are on the bubble. Their hot start has come to an end and a cold stretch in December has the team right on the cusp of the playoffs. It’s pretty much a coin flip at this point. That, of course, is if Holland doesn’t do anything before the deadline. If he makes a big addition or two, the likelihood of the team making the playoffs obviously becomes a lot higher.
So, what do you do now? Do you stick with the original plan and think about the big picture? Or do you lean into what’s right in front of you and try to make the playoffs?
According to Elliotte Friedman, Holland is wary of trading draft picks away to improve the roster right now…
The Oilers are wary of trading picks. There’s no guarantee all work out, but, the more lottery tickets you have, the better. They didn’t have a second- or third-rounder in 2015; their 2016 first-rounder is estranged from the organization; didn’t have a second-rounder in 2017; nothing in round three-to-five in 2018; and six picks last year. That’s one of the reasons they passed on Taylor Hall — not wanting to give up two more high selections.
Friedman went on to make another Oilers-related point, this time in regards to McDavid and Draisaitl’s frustration…
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You can see the frustration on Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid as the rest of the Pacific catches the Oilers. St. Louis players in particular noticed in-game how upset Draisaitl was by missed chances in a 2-1 loss to the Blues on Dec. 17. They thought it really affected him.
So there are a couple of things going on here.
First, we have Friedman suggesting that Holland is skeptical of giving up draft picks, which isn’t all that surprising, given the fact we know his priority here is building the Oilers up for long-term success. When Peter Chiarelli came in, he was trigger happy, dealing away everything in his sight in order to fill what he viewed as primary needs for the organization. That won’t happen with Holland.
Second, we have the classic McDavid and Draisaitl are frustrated analysis. I mean, there’s no doubt that they are. They’re first and second in the league in points and they’re dragging the team on their backs to the best of their ability and they might not have anything to show for it at the end of the year. No, this isn’t McDavid and Draisaitl want out of Edmonton but there is merit to them being frustrated with potentially missing the playoffs for the third year in a row.
That’s what makes this situation so challenging. Holland’s plan of worrying about the future is the right one for the Oilers. I wrote last February that, as awful as it sounds, the best course of action is for the Oilers to be patient in order to be successful.
If the next general manager comes in and tries to remedy the Oilers with a quick fix, things will only get worse. Buyouts will worsen the cap situation long-term. Trading prospects and draft picks for short-term solutions will continue to hemorrhage the organization of depth. Being active in free agency will sink the Oilers deeper into cap hell. The only solution is patience. It’ll take time, but they have to get it right this time.
That hasn’t changed. After 2020-21, the Oilers have a much neater salary cap situation that’ll afford them flexibility in free agency. They’ll also likely have a handful of internally-developed, young talent establishing itself on the roster. If they’re patient, they can continue to stock the farm this year and continue working towards a very deep farm system, something we haven’t seen since, well, I don’t even know.
But is being patient that easy? Can you tell McDavid and Draisaitl to be patient? Can you ask them to drag this roster all season to a position in which they’re in playoff contention at the trade deadline and then stand pat, hoping they can do a few more months of heavy lifting? That’s a big ask.
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I can understand why Holland doesn’t want to deal draft picks away at this stage, but hopefully, he can find some kind of middle-ground, because standing pat and giving McDavid and Draisaitl nothing to work with down the stretch isn’t ideal. | Kollywood actor Vishnu Vishal and badminton star Jwala Gutta have been dating for some time and have been sharing their photos together on their social media.
As the world ushered in the new year 2020, the two again took to Twitter to share a few pictures of them being together on the new year's eve.
While the first picture showed them wishing their fans a happy new year, the second picture was more of an intimate one with the caption, “My baby.”
The third picture had them sharing a cozy moment.
On the professional front, Gutta had earlier launched the Jwala Gutta Academy of Excellence—a state-of-the-art sports complex which will have training facilities for various games, including cricket, badminton and swimming. "India is huge country and we just have Saina and Sindhu, so I believe we need more players. With the Jwala Gutta Academy of Excellence, I will strive to inculcate discipline in those who are willing to learn and work towards making them good and contributing members of society," she had said while launching the academy in December.
Vishal, meanwhile, was last seen in the 2018 action comedy film Silukkuvarupatti Singam. He has two movies lined up—Jagajaala Killadi and F.I.R. | 1 |
Without wishing to sound too Prince Andrew about this, there are hotels in New York where I won’t stay. One is called the Casablanca, and is extolled in this book as a fine example of how to stick it to the “power of bad”.
By “bad”, the authors don’t mean moral or aesthetic bad, but what they call negativity bias. That bias means an unfortunate impression outweighs a good one; a financial loss is more painful than an equivalent gain; and that a hotel’s many five-star reviews on TripAdvisor have no clout over potential customers who have read the single one-star review – particularly if it mentions rats’ droppings in the bed.
Something had to be done against this online bias. And so the Casablanca launched a charm offensive. “If you manage to connect with every single guest, you’ve given yourself an insurance policy against bad reviews because they’re unlikely to say something negative about someone who’s their friend,” argued the hotel’s Adele Gutman, who initiated a policy of what she calls “sparkling sunshine”.
John Tierney and Roy F Baumeister eulogise this offensive: “From the doorman to the bellhop everyone is supposed to beam – “Welcome to our hotel” – and treat the guest’s arrival as a singularly delightful treat: ‘This is your first time in New York? We’re going to have fun with you!’ The favourite part of our job is helping people make the most of New York!” Maybe I’m overcome by negativity bias but just kill me now.
The bellhop studies how you react to seeing your room and reports back to central control, who offer you a new suite if you’ve disclosed disappointment. Every evening there is free wine and cheese in the lounge so staff can take your spiritual temperature, learn of your every hitherto unexpressed whim and satisfy it. If, presumably, it’s legal. The hotel’s replies to online reviews are often longer than the reviews themselves. This minimises the risk of one-star reviews by obeying psychology’s peak-end rule, which is to leave customers thinking that even if their stay was all blocked toilets and cold showers, at least the staff seemed to care. “We’re devastated to hear that you did not enjoy your one-night stay with us,” went the Casablanca’s reply to a one-star review complaining about street noise.
The result? The Casablanca has conquered bad. It has had a five-star ranking on TripAdvisor for more than a decade. Even so, I’d rather stay in Fawlty Towers than be haunted by irrepressible extrovert staff sparkling non-stop sunshine during my stay and nice-trolling me online.
What Tierney and Baumeister don’t realise is that there is not just a power of bad but a curse of good too. That’s the sequel right there. But they would be ill-equipped to write it since they are professional Pollyannas who have read too little Adorno and listened to too much Bing Crosby, so they accentuate the positive to the point of complacency. “We really are living in a golden age,” they write, “even if most people believe otherwise.” Elsewhere they add: “We are richer, healthier, freer and safer than our ancestors could have ever hoped to be, yet we don’t enjoy our blessings. The Great Enrichment continues and it will proceed even faster if we can overcome the real crisis by learning to ignore the fearmongers.”
Walter Benjamin wrote of the angel of history moving backwards into the future with debris piling up around his feet, eyes on the ruin of the past. Tierney and Baumeister don’t roll that way. Ignore the debris and the naysayers. Keep your eyes on the prize. Only Cassandras like me doubt there is a prize.
Clearly I need to cultivate a positivity bias. But how? The authors have an idea. Each Thanksgiving, diners should write down things they are grateful for on a tablecloth. “The effect gets stronger every Thanksgiving that you reuse the tablecloth and it makes for good reading the rest of the year too.” I’m grateful for every Thanksgiving I don’t spend counting my blessings with Tierney and Baumeister.
If their cure to me seems worse than the disease, they are at least astute at diagnosis. The adaptive traits that served our ancestral hunter-gatherers on the savannah hobble us in the 21st century. Those of our ancestors who survived sensibly focused more on avoiding poisonous berries rather than finding the delicious ones. Today we’ve become Chicken Littles, so irrationally fearing that the sky will fall that we hurry into the Fox’s lair where, ironically, we get murdered.
The authors capitalise Fox in making this point, and I hoped they were subtly indicting Trump’s favourite news medium. One reason, after all, for the power of bad is what they call the crisis industry of journalists, politicians and social media blowhards. Consider terrorism: “Randomly murdering a few innocent civilians was strategically pointless until the late 19th century. Only then, as the telegraph and the cheap printing presses began quickly spreading news, did terrorists discover the power of a single horrendous act.” Yet like several reactionary, improbably upbeat analyses of current politics in the book, this perspective serves neocon values. It wasn’t scaremongering hacks who created Isis; invading Iraq had something to do with it. No matter. The crisis industry makes us worry about jihadists when we should be more concerned about bathtubs. Those killed worldwide by Al Qaeda and Isis is fewer than the number of Americans who died in their baths, Tierney and Baumeister contend. The irrational negativity bias explains how, as they put it, “countries blunder into disastrous wars, why neighbours feud and couples divorce, how economies stagnate, why applicants flub job interviews, how schools are failing pupils”. And why American taxpayers bankroll spiralling defence expenditure instead of spending a few bucks on non-slip bath mats.
For the authors, our task is to use innovative rational thought to stop such flubbing, stagnating and blundering. They chart in engaging detail how Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgarten overcame his (quite understandable) negative thoughts about plummeting to death from space by means of cognitive behavioural therapeutic techniques such as repeating mantras and deep breathing. As a result, he acquired the power of positive jumping, falling from a helium balloon in the stratosphere in 2012, reaching 843.6 mph before he touched down in New Mexico 24 miles and four minutes 19 seconds later. Good for Felix: he’ll never be my role model.
The authors believe we shouldn’t eliminate the negative but harness it for good. They rip into the 1970s self-esteem movement that was devised to thwart the power of bad but that led, they claim, to schools ringfencing students from failure. It’s nuts, they argue, for alienated schoolboys to be chided for playing violent video games. Why? Because being killed online and forced to begin again better prepares them for overcoming failure in the real world than having fragile egos incessantly massaged with school prizes and no real competition.
The moral? Sticks work better than carrots. “It’s fine to reward your children for good report cards,” Tierney and Baumeister counsel, “but you should also deduct something from their allowance if the grades show they’ve been shirking.” That way kids learn to shape up. Sometimes it’s good to be bad. | Iraqi security force stands guard while firefighters work at the scene of a fire set by pro-Iranian militiamen in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi security force stands guard while firefighters work at the scene of a fire set by pro-Iranian militiamen in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) | 1 |
I T IS KNOWN colloquially as “the change”. The end of a woman’s natural child-bearing years is a moment of transformation that is welcome to some and miserable for others. But for too many, menopause is also a painful process that can damage their bones, heart and brain. As societies age, the question of how best to preserve women’s health during menopause is becoming more urgent. In 1990 nearly half a billion women were 50 or older (the age when menopause typically begins). Today there are almost twice as many.
About 47m women around the world reach the age of menopause each year. In Western countries, where most research has been conducted, up to 80% will experience symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, depression, insomnia, anxiety and memory loss. Symptoms can last up to 12 years. Around a quarter of women going through menopause feel so wretched that their quality of life is dimmed, according to studies in rich countries. Almost half of British women experiencing it say that their work suffers as a result.
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Twenty years ago, doctors would routinely have prescribed hormone-replacement therapy ( HRT ) to women entering menopause. But in 2002 the results of a huge randomised trial were published, showing that the treatment brought health risks, including a slightly raised chance of breast cancer after five years. Women and doctors were alarmed. Around the world they abandoned hormonal therapy in droves. Before the study, 22% of menopausal women in America took HRT . Six years later that figure had fallen below 5%. In Australia, around 15% of menopausal women with moderate or severe symptoms receive the treatment. Take-up of HRT is now low in most countries. Women are scared and doctors wary.
And yet the conclusions of the study in 2002 were rapidly debunked (see article). A re-examination of its results showed that women aged between 50 and 59 who took HRT were 31% less likely to die of any cause during their five to seven years of treatment with the hormones than those who did not. For a woman who has had her uterus removed or who starts menopause before the age of 45, HRT greatly reduces the risk of heart disease, a life-saving effect. It can also prevent osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle. One study of post-menopausal American women over a ten-year period found that, of those who had had hysterectomies, between 18,000 and 91,000 died prematurely because they had shunned hormone therapy. HRT also lowers women’s risk of uterine and colon cancers. Fears about the increased risks of breast cancer have been overplayed.
Hormonal therapies are typically off-patent and inexpensive. In Britain the annual price tag is only £125 ($165); in the United States generic pills are similarly affordable. And the benefits vastly outweigh the costs. Nothing else controls the symptoms of menopause so well, and a heightened risk of any one disease must be weighed against the lowered risks of contracting several others. | Several months ago, President Donald Trump put the power of discernment back in the hands of the people when he gave each state the right to decide whether or not they would continue to accept refugees welcomed into the United States. While dozens of Democrat governors quickly moved to assure the federal government that they would keep taking in and resettling these refugees, others on the Republican side hesitated. On Monday, one of those Republicans came to a decision: Gov. Mike Parson of Missouri told the State Department that his state would continue to welcome refugees.
“Missouri has a long and rich history of immigration, dating back to America’s earliest explorers, fur traders, and missionaries,” Parson said in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “Today, Missouri’s population includes thousands of refugees who have become vital members of our communities.”
According to Parson, Missouri has resettled more than 18,000 refugees from 45 countries since 2002.
“Missouri will continue to work hard to ensure refugees become a thriving part of our communities, and I am confident this demonstration of compassion will mark the first step in these immigrants becoming patriotic and productive fellow Americans,” Parson wrote.
Parson said he would continue to work with five agencies who have helped to resettle refugees in St. Louis, Springfield, and other Missouri cities.
“These groups do an excellent job of transitioning newly settled populations, ensuring they are educated, trained and prepared to assimilate into their community,” Parson said.
While we didn’t exactly hear any cheers coming up from the people that voted Parson into office, Anna Crosslin of the International Institute of St. Louis was certainly happy to hear the news.
“We are incredibly excited and gratified to learn that Missouri will remain a welcoming state for refugees from war-torn countries around the world since Governor Parson has given consent for continued resettlement,” said Crosslin. “Refugees are important assets to our communities, culturally and economically. With the right kind of resettlement assistance from agencies and our faith communities, these newcomers quickly become workers, shop owners, neighbors and friends.”
Just look at how quickly they can replace the native-born population! It’s wonderful!
Well, just goes to show you (again) that just because you’ve got an (R) next to your name, it doesn’t mean you’re working for the good of the American people. Maybe someone should primary this fool. | 1 |
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news on the final trading day of 2019
Introduction: Global stocks have surged by 24% this year
Best year for MSCI World Index since 2009 | Global stocks have surged in their best year for a decade after being given new life by interest rate cuts and signs that turmoil over Brexit is coming to an end.
More than $10 trillion (£7.6 trillion) was added to the value of shares around the world as central banks slashed rates and restarted money-printing schemes to battle an economic slowdown.
The MSCI World Index of global stocks has gained 25pc this year, bouncing back from its worst performance in a decade in 2018. This year was the best annual performance for stocks since 2009 and one of the strongest in decades.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 is up nearly 14pc and the mid-cap FTSE 250 has risen 26pc into new record territory, boosted by... | 3.25 |
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja celebrated her New Year with her sister Rhea Kapoor, husband Anand Ahuja and her friends. In the video, Rhea and Sonam who are twinning in black with their girl gangs are wishing their fans.
2019 has ended and 2020 has begun. Many of our beloved B – town celebs jetted off to exotic places ahead of the New Year while a few others decided to stay home and be with their family members and friends to celebrate the special occasion. While Sara Ali Khan decided to stay home, and Virat Kohli partied with Kareena Kapoor Khan, and . Ahuja celebrated her New Year with her sister Rhea Kapoor, husband Anand Ahuja and her friends.
Rhea Kapoor has shared a video on her Instagram story in which we can see Rhea and Sonam who are twinning in black with their girl gang are wishing their fans Happy New Year. Later Sonam is searching for the boys and then they finally spot Anand Ahuja who is busy taking a picture or video from his phone. Anand has shared a cute picture of Sonam hugging him tightly and giving a smile as they celebrate New Year together.
Check out the Sonam and Rhea's video here:
Check out Sonam Kapoor & Anand Ahuja's pic here:
Before entering 2020, the Veere Di Wedding actress had shared a loved up video on Instagram with husband Anand Ahuja as the couple bid adieu to the decade together. Sonam also wrote about everything she gained and lost in this decade and this overwhelming post is winning hearts. In this adorable video, Sonam, who is ringing the New Year in Rome, was seen kissing her husband. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonam has given two movies this year including Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao and The Zoya Factor opposite Dulquer Salmaan. Besides, she is also working on her home production Battle of Bittora. However, the movie is yet to hit the floors as Sonam is yet to find a lead actor for the movie.
Also Read: Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja bid goodbye to the decade with a kiss; Says ‘May love lead your way’
Credits :Instagram
Read More | Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja have been on a vacation with their family and pictures and videos from their holidays have been making the rounds on the internet for a long time now.
Anand recently took to his Instagram handle to share a picture from their Rome vacation and it is sure to give you some serious vacation goals. In the pictures, Sonam and Anand are seen posing for the picture with Rhea Kapoor and Karan Boolani at the Colosseum.
He captioned the picture as, ‘... ~2000 years ago ... 50,000 people....Free entry. ♂️’. Dressed in their winter outfits, the gang looks stylish as they strike a pose with the Colosseum in the background.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonam was last seen in ‘The Zoya Factor’ which also starred Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role. The actress is yet to announce her next. | 2.666667 |
Last year, politics in Toronto were marked by tension.
There were threats of provincial cuts, tremendous uncertainty around future transit plans, and big questions about how to pay for the kind of big-picture, city-building projects that Toronto so desperately needs.
With the start of a new year here, many of these issues linger. And as the city enters a brave new decade, council is bracing for more challenges.
Housing plan rolling out
Housing affordability has long been a hot topic in Toronto, and that shows no signs of changing in 2020.
This year marks the start of the city's new decade-long, $23.4-billion housing plan that involves approving 40,000 new affordable rental homes, including 18,000 new supportive units for vulnerable residents. An update on proposals gathered for the Housing Now program, which aims to use 11 city-owned sites for affordable development, is also expected early this year.
But getting shovels in the ground won't happen overnight. While the city is chipping in $8.5 billion, more cash is needed.
"I will be working hard with the other orders of government to ensure the entire plan is fully funded," Mayor John Tory has said.
One newly-confirmed housing boost coming is a federal-provincial partnership providing rent subsidies to low-income and marginalized residents including renters in Toronto.
Transit, road safety momentum
On the transit file, construction on the Eglinton Crosstown will be winding down, with the line set to open in 2021. Coun. Josh Matlow says that means it's time to zero-in on streetscape improvements and what the stretch will look like after years of upheaval.
He also hopes council pushes the province for more details on Premier Doug Ford's priority projects, including the Ontario Line, since there are many outstanding questions about the route, feasibility and station locations.
Getting around the city will change in a more concrete way next year as Vision Zero road safety improvements planned by council — including speed limit reductions on streets across the city — become more widespread.
There's also a council-backed bike lane pilot project on Danforth Avenue, between Broadview and Victoria Park avenues, that's expected to start in 2020.
"We need to move it forward," said Coun. Brad Bradford, who stressed that the project involves making the stretch safer for all road users.
New visions for neighbourhoods
Transformative neighbourhood proposals could be a key theme for 2020.
Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam said one iconic downtown roadway in particular — Yonge Street — could be transformed with a safety focus, with recommendations set to come to council next summer.
"We have an opportunity to rethink, re-imagine, and ultimately redesign and reconstruct Yonge Street for the next 100 years," Wong-Tam said, "and that includes opportunities to widen the sidewalk to put pedestrian priority emphasis on this downtown portion."
There will also be updates on the city's ambitious Rail Deck Park concept early in the new year, and more consultations are expected for Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs proposal which, if approved by council this spring, could transform a nearly five-hectare site on the waterfront into a so-called "smart city."
Brace for bigger bills
With so many projects in the works, money will yet again be a central issue this year.
"The question was left, well, how do you pay for it?" Tory recently told CBC Toronto.
While Tory aims to keep property taxes tied to the rate of inflation, his plan to hike a special city building levy did get the green light from council this year.
That means homeowners will see an extra 1 per cent on their property tax bill in 2020, costing the average household an additional $45 annually. Increases will continue until 2025, all meant to raise billions to pay for transit and housing.
And that's not the only area where residents could be paying more, with rates for garbage collection expected to rise, thanks to rebate phase-outs. | It’s officially 2020, so it’s time for the resolutions to begin. I typically don’t like to make resolutions for the new year because they tend to feel like promises I’ll break to myself around month three or four.
But in light of it being a new year and a new decade, I thought it made sense to set some goals for the health of my skin, hair, and nails. So I’m starting off the 2020’s with these 15 resolutions in a concerted effort to do better when it comes to my beauty habits. And this time I plan to make it through the entire year.
Wash my face twice daily. Celebrities like Ciara and La La Anthony pressed how necessary it is to wash your face in the morning and night. And based on the glow of their skin I would certainly take their advice. Washing at night is intuitive, but not in the morning. So I’ve built a wake up routine to keep me on track. I’m already starting to see a difference.
Trim my hair every quarter. Hair growth guru Whitney Eaddy explained that excessive trimming is actually bad for hair growth. “For my clients, I say once a quarter, for some, every three and a half months. I have a proprietary trim that I developed because cosmetologists are taught to cut for shape, but not actually retention,” she told ESSENCE. So I’m taking my cues from her and her growing hands, and only trimming four times a year, and keeping that appointment.
Learn to apply false lashes. I’m very transparent about the fact that I am awful at putting on falsies. I can apply magnetics but not lashes that require glue. That limits the different styles I can wear. Right now I have several pairs of false lashes from brands such as KISS, Sephora, Absolute New York, and more. I’m not willing to consistently pay for lash extensions so this is the year I master this.
Use hair masks. With my low porosity hair it’s always a process finding the right products. And even when I like a product I typically have to deep condition with a heat cap every time I wash with it. For that reason I’ve stayed away from extra steps, like masks. But masks can be great for hydrating thirsty strands, and even for deep conditioning. This year I’ll make sure I find the right masks, and start to reap their benefits for the sake of my strands.
Drink more water. Every year I say I’ll drink more water and every year I fail. It’s mainly because I don’t drink a lot of liquids overall. But your skin will always benefit from an abundance of clean water. It goes hand in hand with washing your face twice a day.
Drink less wine. This goes hand in hand with drinking more water. I love wine, but alcohol undoubtedly ages your skin. If I can replace some of my wine with water I’ll be on my way to truly making 40 look like the new 20.
Experiment with hair color. It’s been years since I’ve colored my hair in an attempt to get it back to its virgin state. But when I see celebs like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B sporting brightly colored tresses I get a little nostalgic. I don’t necessarily need to dye my curls, but this year I want to explore more colored units, hair gels, and temporary color sprays.
Megan Thee Stallion
(Getty Images)
Invest in eco-friendly brands (specifically ones who cut down on plastic use). We had significant conversations about climate change in 2019 and it shook me. I realized that I needed to do more in my daily life to combat environmental issues. Most plastics are non-recyclable and they dominate when it comes to our beauty product containers. It’ll take more work on my part to find the brands and products that use alternatives, but well worth it.
Do more natural DIY skincare. One of my face washes contained something called sodium lauroamphoacetate. When I looked it up I still didn’t understand what it was made of and why I needed it in my facial cleanser. That was one of 10 chemicals that I couldn’t pronounce in this one product. It made me yearn for the days of avocado and banana masks to keep my breakouts at bay. So in 2020 there will be more of that, and less PEG 120 methyl glucose dioleate.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stress leads to breakouts, and breakouts stress you out. This year I’m committing to spending less time worrying about the little daily stressors. This is a lofty goal for someone who lives in a city of more than 8 million people. More people, more problems. But I’m also not going to obsess about the occasional pimple on the cheek, gray hair sprouting at the hairline, or quickly disintegrating manicure.
Treat my edges like a newborn baby. I’m going to feed them only the best stuff. I’m going to care for them like they’re delicate. I will massage them gently, and make sure I’m doing the most to care for them daily. This year my edges will grow for me!
Be consistent with supplements. I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of supplements when I use them as directed, and consistently. It can feel like an extra thing to do in the morning but once you work it into your schedule it becomes second nature. I want enviable skin, hair, and nails for the next decade.
Ask more questions. I’m a journalist so I’m always asking lots of questions, all the time. But when I’m talking to brands about their ingredients claims I could stand to ask their reps more questions, not just my dermatologist. It’s never enough to just know what’s in your products, but it’s imperative to know exactly what they do, and if they’re worth what you’re paying.
Eat less carbs. I love my pizza, pasta, breads, and chips, but all that stuff turns to sugar and sugar gives me pimples and rough skin. While health and beauty go hand in hand in many ways this is completely for skincare purposes. What you eat can show up on your face. A sugary face might sound like a sweet dream, but it’s really an exfoliating nightmare.
Use less products overall. It’s so important to find what works for you and stick to those products. While I’m never going to stop trying products (I’m a beauty editor and a product lover), I’ll be better about not switching my main items so often. This will keep the clogged pores away for face and hair.
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The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has cautioned Nigerians against HIV/AIDS infection through indiscriminate sex in 2020.
NACA Director General, Dr Gambo Aliyu, gave the advice in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Publicity, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe on Wednesday in Abuja.
Aliyu urged Nigerians to strive hard to know their status which was necessary for preventive interventions and treatment.
“We recommend to Nigerians to know their HIV status as we enter in New Year, your HIV story begins with knowing your HIV status which is the safest gateway to HIV prevention, care and treatment.
“Knowing your HIV status allows you to make informed decisions either way the result turns out.
“Remember, people still get infected with HIV every day, mostly as a result of indiscriminate sexual behaviour,” he said.
The director-general said that NACA has taken bold steps to prevent new HIV infections through consistent provision of information on prevention and accessible HIV/AIDS services to Nigerians irrespective of where they resided in the country.
“We must build on the successes recorded so far at individual, family and community levels to prevent new HIV infections as we move into the last mile decade for the control and eradication of HIV,” he said.
Gambo assured that as the country joined the rest of the world to push for the last mile, NACA, in synergy with stakeholders, would ensure 90 per cent of Nigerians who lived with HIV knew their status.
He also assured that those infected would be placed on life saving treatment to achieve viral load suppression to keep them alive and healthy.
“Knowing one’s HIV status is no longer difficult as Nigerians can now test themselves in a matter of minutes using self-test kits or call NACA at 6222 for guidance,” Gambo said. | Share Facebook
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IBADAN – Former Gov.Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on Nigerians to keep hope alive and support President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ajimobi made the call in his New Year message issued by his spokesman, Mr Bolaji Tunji, on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The former governor urged Nigerians to continue to place their trust in the Buhari administration and his team, assuring them that they were capable of ensuring remarkable economic turn-around Nigerians as envisaged.
Ajimobi noted that the administration had set the tone for the revamping of the socio-economic situation in the country through policies and projects embarked upon at the inception of the administration.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that the love of the nation burns brightly in the heart of the President and he is determined to ensure that legacies that would stand the test of time are in place in the country.
“We have seen some of the giant strides of the administration in areas of infrastructure, especially transportation and power.
“Roads are being constructed, rail lines also being laid across the country.
“These are ways of further opening up the economy. The administration needs our support.
“A great leader takes people to where they ought to be and not where they want to be. It may look difficult now but we shall all smile at the end of the day,” he said.
The former governor thanked APC members at the state level for their patience and support.
” Our reconciliation is still ongoing and positive steps have been made. We should eschew the bitterness of the past and forgive.”
Ajimobi reiterated his commitment and support for the party, noting that ” as humans, we are bound to offend one another.”
“Some people offended me and I offended some people too. But in the spirit of true reconciliation, we should forgive one another and allow the past to end with 2019.
“Let us chart a new course of love and reconciliation for ourselves and the party in 2020.”
“All our actions and activities should be geared toward strengthening our party.”
... | 1.666667 |
PNN/ Bethlehem/
Dr. Ola Awad, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) President presents a brief on the status of Palestinian people at The end of 2019 as follows:
More than 13 Million Palestinians in the world by the End of 2019
An increase in population of Palestinians in the world
The projected number of Palestinians in the world is 13.350 million, of whom 5.039 million are in State of Palestine, 1.597 million in 1948 Territory, 5.986 million in Arab countries and around 727 thousand in foreign countries.
More than one-third of population reside in Gaza Strip
The projected number of Palestinians living in State of Palestine at the end of 2019 is 5.039 million: Around 3.020 million reside in the West Bank and 2.019 million in Gaza Strip. Palestinian refugees make up 42% of the Palestinian population in State of Palestine: 26% of them in the West Bank and 66% in Gaza Strip.
Decline in fertility rate
The total fertility rate declined during (2011-2013) to 4.1 births (compared to 5.9 births in 1999). In Gaza Strip the rate was 4.5 births compared to 3.7 births in the West Bank during 2011-2013.
Total Fertility Rate in the State of Palestine, Selected Years
Decrease in average household size
The average household size in the State of Palestine was 5.1 persons in 2017 (compared to 6.1 in 2000): 4.8 persons in the West Bank and 5.6 persons in Gaza Strip.
Average Household Size in State of Palestine by Region in 2000, 2017
Decrease in crude birth and death rates
The crude birth rate is 30.2 births for every 1000 of population in the State of Palestine 2019: 27.7 in the West Bank compared to 34.0 in Gaza Strip. The crude death rate is 3.7 deaths for every 1000 of population in State of Palestine 2019: 3.9 in the West Bank compared to 3.5 in Gaza Strip.
.
High fertility rate among Palestinian women in Jordan compared Palestinian women in Syria and Lebanon
The total fertility rate for the Palestinian women living in Jordan was 3.3 births in 2010 compared to 2.5 in Syria in 2010 and 2.7 for the Palestinian women in Lebanon in 2017.
Selected Demographic Indicators by Country of Residence, Selected Years
Country of Residence Average Household Size Total Fertility Rate Jordan 5.1** 3.3* Syria * 4.1* 2.5** Lebanon 4*** 2.7*** * Data represent for 2010
** Data represent for 2011
*** Data represent for 2017
The Palestinian population in 1948 Territory is a young population
The number of Palestinians living in 1948 Territory is 1.597 million at the end of 2019, of whom the percentage of individuals under 15 years was about 32.8% for males and 31.8% for females, while the percentage of individuals 65 years and above was 4.4% for males and 5.3% for females at the end of 2018. | The Palestinian population around the world has increased to over 13 million, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
In a year-end report, the governmental body said more than five million are inside Palestinian territories and nearly six million in Arab countries.
Around three million reside in the West Bank and two million in the Gaza Strip, the report said.
Palestinian refugees make up to 42 percent of the Palestinian population in Palestinian areas, it said, adding 26 percent of them are in the West Bank and 66 percent in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the report cited a decline in fertility rate in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the past decade, saying this may be detected in the decrease in average household size, 5.1 persons in 2017 compared to 6.1 in 2000. | 4 |
Barcelona: Arthur Melo out for month of January
By Colin Millar
Barcelona will continue to be without their midfielder Arthur Melo for the month of January, according to Diario AS.
The Brazilian international has not featured for the Blaugrana since the victory at Atletico Madrid at the start of December, when he was substituted off in the 73rd minute.
The central midfielder has been diagnosed with a thigh injury but it had been thought that he would return to the Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium on 4 January, but now he will be sidelined for several more weeks.
The player is said to be working double training sessions - both with his teammates and at home - while both he and the club have both avoided going down the route of surgery.
Arthur has spent Christmas at his hometown Goiania where he was accompanied by a physiotherapist and a Catalan physical trainer, to ensure he returns to full fitness, but he has suffered a fresh setback.
Barcelona have a busy schedule for January with the Spanish Supercopa commencing on 9 January. | Barcelona have reportedly decided not to sell Arturo Vidal to Inter Milan in the January transfer window despite interest from the Serie A leaders.
The Catalan giants have decided against allowing the Chile international to move because they have already loaned Carles Alena to Real Betis and have Arthur out injured.
Cadena Cope report that despite Vidal’s complaint about unpaid bonuses and frustration at not being at starter the club want to keep him for the rest of the season.
Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti has made his club’s interest in Vidal pretty clear in the last few days saying he is a “player with great character and experience, so we’ll see what happens.”
However, Barca confirmed that Alena would spent the rest of the season on loan at Betis earlier in the week and also announced Arthur is out for another three weeks.
The Brazilian has not featured for Barcelona since the win over Atletico Madrid at the start of the month, and there seems to be some concern about when he will be back to his best.
The absence of the two players means that Barca are down to just Frenkie de Jong, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Vidal in midfield, although Sergi Roberto is also an option. | 3 |
As of today, five million hectares of Australian land has been lost to bushfire this season.
We’ve lost 18 human lives – three of which were volunteer firefighters. Five people are missing.
We’ve lost 480 million – almost half a billion – animal lives.
At least 1200 homes have been destroyed.
But these are just the numbers, these figures don’t put into perspective the emotional turmoil, the fear, the worry, the heartbreak.
Here’s an insight into the fear. Tracey and her family ran for their lives last week as fire licked its way up their holiday home. Post continue after video.
If we were to compare the destruction on a global scale, the 2019 Amazon fires (across four countries) destroyed 906,000 hectares, and the California fires burnt 102,000 hectares. The fires in NSW alone have burnt through an area the size of Belgium.
The fires in Australia right now are unprecedented. The scale of this disaster is unfathomable.
The even more terrifying reality is that they’re far from over. Yes the fires are still burning, but we’re also now facing a humanitarian crisis because of the scale and unrelenting nature of them.
Victoria’s Gippsland.
There are 17 people missing in the bushfire affected communities of Victoria’s East Gippsland region, with one person confirmed dead.
Buchan resident Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and yesterday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his home.
As authorities search for those still missing, residents in the East Gippsland and Alpine areas have been urged to leave now ahead of Friday and the weekend. They’re being told they have a “small window of opportunity” to get out.
About 24 communities are isolated and reaching them to deliver supplies has been difficult. | There are serious fears for 17 people missing in a massive and deadly bushfire in the Australian state of Victoria.
Huge bushfires have been burning for weeks across the country, with new blazes sparked into life almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions in bushland left tinder dry after a three-year drought. Military moves in to help mass evacuation Fuelled by searing temperatures and high winds, more than 200 fires were now burning across the southeastern states of New South Wales and Victoria, threatening several towns.
Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Thursday that none of the 17 people missing in the East Gippsland region were emergency services personnel.
The increased number comes after family members confirmed Buchan man Mick Roberts had died at his home.
"There are at least 17 people that at this stage we cannot account for. Their whereabouts are unknown to us, plus there is one person confirmed as deceased," Mr Andrews told reporters at Bairnsdale.
"Whilst Victoria Police have not been through the official identification processes, it is clear that the Roberts family have identified Mr Roberts and we send our condolences to their family and the Buchan community to whom he was so well-known and very highly regarded."
Mr Andrews did not narrow down what communities of East Gippsland the missing people are from.
"It may be some of those people are safe but we hold very significant fears for the welfare of anybody who is missing at this time," he said.
The military has arrived to get fire victims across the region relief and resources, and also off the beach at Mallacoota.
About 24 communities are isolated and reaching them to deliver supplies have been difficult.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government was offering any assistance requested.
"Our task has been to fully support and provide whatever assistance is necessary through all the various agencies of the Commonwealth," he told reporters in Sydney.
"The provision of disaster payments that have now exceeded some more than $21 million in New South Wales alone and we expect more of that to continue in Victoria as the full devastation of the fires there becomes more evident."
All fires in Victoria are currently sitting no higher than a watch and act alert, but smoky conditions have meant flights to rescue people, deliver supplies and swap out firefighters have at times been stopped.
Firefighters are being helped on Thursday by moderate conditions, with temperatures in East Gippsland in the low to mid 20s expected to be paired with fairly light winds of up to 20 km/h.
But the mercury is forecast to creep up in the region on Friday, before reaching the 40s on Saturday, when the heat, hot winds and possible thunderstorms will increase the risk of new fires.
People near the Corryong fire in Victoria's northeast near the NSW border are being doorknocked and told to get out of the region before the weekend. | 3.333333 |
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GAVIN Groth enjoyed a first over Christmas and hopes that "holiday" morphs into success at upcoming meetings at Inverell Cup day, home track Gunnedah and Mudgee. The Gunnedah trainer starts Epic Decision in Wednesday's $24,000 Local Appliance Rentals Inverell Shorts (1010m) and Redemption Road in the $37,000 XXXX Gold 2020 Inverell Cup (1400m). On Monday he has Danspur, Malzoom and Davor lining up at Riverside Racecourse, Gunnedah before Red Liberty and Annie's Street race at Mudgee on Tuesday, providing Red Liberty, an emergency for the Inverell Cup, doesn't get a run at Inverell. It's a busy little run far removed from the more gentle pace over Christmas where the Groth stable had two days off. "We had a lovely Christmas with all the family," Groth said. "I was lucky enough that all our horses were well enough into their campaigns." "We were able to plan this a couple of months ago on the calendar and I was able to give the staff time off and I just looked after the horses with a couple of the family." He's hoping that a relaxing couple of days was also helpful for all his horses and has them in positive frames of mind for some nice races. READ ALSO: Epic Decision and Redemption Road, he hopes and believes, will run well at Inverell. "Epic Decision ran fourth (to Dylan's Luck) in last year's Shorts and won there the year before (in a Class 3 1200m)," he said. "Redemption Road is drawn well and weighted well in the Cup." He's only had the five-year-old gelding son of Dane Shadow for two starts but said he has done well and hopes he can add to his three wins in 18 starts. Love sport? Subscribe today and receive a sports fan discount. "Never won a Cup," he added. "Don't know that I've had that many runners in it." Gunnedah Jockey Club received 138 nominations for next Monday's seven-race TAB meeting, the highlight being a benchmark 58 handicap over 1000m that attracted 22 nominations. That included last start winners Fourth Protocol (Neville McCarthy), Hey Dude (Zach Hatch) and Swoop (Peter Sinclair). Fourth Protocol won at Gunnedah on December 7 for his Narrabri trainer while Hey Dude also saluted at Gunnedah on December 17 for his young footballing trainer Zach Hatch. Swoop won at Inverell on Boxing Day and in his only start at Gunnedah was second to stablemate Palace Street back in late October. Sign up to receive the Leader's breaking news and top stories straight to your inbox.
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/ingYyB85ps4jmG9t8mfsHP/de64d2c4-95ff-4477-bdb1-4038a6a45523.jpg/r3_0_1017_573_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg | Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): After winning 2019 women's world rapid chess championship, Humpy Koneru says that she never thought of winning the title.
"I am very happy. I did not expect I would win the title," Humpy told reporters here on Wednesday.
Humpy received a grand welcome at Gannavaram where the Andhra Pradesh Olympics Association members and family members welcomed the chess championship.
Koneru defeated China's Lei Yingjie in the final playoff match.
In the final playoff, three players -- Yingjie, Koneru, and Ekaterina Atalik, were tied for the top place.
Koneru said: "On the last day, I thought that I have a chance to win a medal. When I won the last two rounds, I got a chance to play a tie break. I lost the first game with white pieces in the tie break.""But I won the second crucial game with black pieces. In next time break, I could draw with black pieces and won the title. It's an unexpected title for me and most wanted one," she added.
She said that her husband and family member supported her to fulfil her dream and added that her win will inspire many young players.
"It's my dream to become a world champion. That dream is fulfilled now. I am the first Indian woman to win this title. I think this can inspire many young players," she said.
"My father's training is highly helpful for me even now. He is my mentor and guide. His suggestions are helpful to me. I have been playing for the past 25 years. It all paid off today. My husband and all family members also gave good support to me," added Koneru.
Norway's Magnus Carlsen won the men's world rapid chess championship. He won the title with eight wins, seven draws, and no defeats. (ANI) | 1 |
"In his new book, Bottom-Up, Rob Kall's exploration of top-down and bottom-up forces in our culture, our brains, and our planet provides a deep insight into the challenges we face. He offers pathways we can use to create the changes we need to break free of the war economy and build local peace economies."
Jodie Evans, cofounder of Code Pink and Chair of the Women's Media Center | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he would ask parliament for immunity, weeks after the embattled premier was indicted on a range of corruption charges.
The move is expected to delay the start of court proceedings for months, as lawmakers are not due to vote on the matter until after March 2 elections.
"I intend to make a request to the speaker of the Knesset," Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier and leader of the right-wing Likud party, told reporters in Jerusalem.
The request "would be in line with the law... (and) with the goal of continuing to serve you, for the future of Israel."
Netanyahu was charged by the attorney general in November with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases.
He denies the allegations and accuses prosecutors and the media of a witch hunt.
Reacting to the premier's announcement, his rival Benny Gantz, the leader of the centrist Blue and White party, said "Netanyahu knows that he is guilty."
Gantz said his own party will do everything it can to "prevent immunity".
"In Israel, nobody is above the law".
A sitting prime minister is only required to step down once convicted and after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted.
'Only the people decide'
But legal experts have asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether a premier can be tasked by the president with forming a new government while under indictment.
A panel of three judges began looking into the matter on Tuesday, and said they would make a ruling at a later time, without giving a date.
Netanyahu has described the legal initiative as a trap.
But "I don't for a moment think that Israel's Supreme Court will fall into this trap. In a democracy, only the people decide who will lead them, and nobody else," Netanyahu said on Twitter on Tuesday.
Allegations against the premier include receiving gifts worth thousands of dollars and offering to change regulations in exchange for positive media coverage.
Despite his legal woes, Netanyahu remains popular within Likud and last week secured a landslide victory in a leadership challenge.
He saw off a bid to wrest control of the party by one-time interior minister Gideon Saar, winning with 72.5% of Likud members' ballots, compared with 27.5% for the challenger.
The result strengthened his position in a party he has dominated for 20 years, with Netanyahu calling it a "huge win".
Saar launched his bid after the premier failed to cobble together a governing coalition in the wake of two general elections in 2019 - one held in April, the second in September.
He said his challenge was "not because of the Likud's ideas", but because a failure to change leadership would bring the risk of a left-wing government.
Likud and the Blue and White party were deadlocked in April and September, necessitating a third national poll within a year.
The premier has vowed to win the March general election, although early opinion polls indicate the vote could result in yet another stalemate. | 3.333333 |
Gardaí have released without charge two men who were arrested for questioning about a meat cleaver raid on a shop in Co Cork.
Two men fled with a small quantity of cash, cigarettes and alcohol after bursting into Cuddihy’s shop in Ovens on Sunday evening.
They were armed with a meat cleaver and threatened two staff members on duty before escaping..
No one was injured in the raid but the staff members were badly shaken and the shop remained closed on Sunday night and for a time on Monday morning.
Gardaí began examining CCTV footage from the store and Garda technical experts carried out a forensic examination of the shop for DNA evidence.
Detectives arrested a man in his late 20s in the Ovens area on Monday afternoon and brought him to Gurranebraher Garda station for questioning.
On Tuesday, detectives arrested a second man, also in his late 20s and also in the Ovens area, and brought him to Gurranebraher Garda station.
Gardaí released the first suspect late on Monday night and the second man was released without charge shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve
Gardaí said that they will now prepare a file for the DPP. | ROSEVILLE, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Roseville Police say two suspects robbed a Tim Hortons, forcing one employee into a freezer and demanding another employee to give them cash from the cash register.
It happened at the Tim Hortons located at 25511 Gratiot Ave., Sunday at 8:45 p.m.
No one was injured and police believe the suspects fled west on foot from the location.
While the employees were working in the back of the restaurant the two suspects approached them. One displayed a handgun and the other carrying a white plastic bag.
Police say the suspects demanded money and cash was taken from the office and the cash registers.
The first suspect is described as a 6’4″ man weighing 240 pounds. He had on black gloves and was wearing an all black hoodie with black face mask. He wore black sweat pants and possibly black shoes with a white wavy stripe down the outside (possibly puma shoes).
The second suspect is said to be between 5’6″ and 5’9″ weighing 180-200 pounds. He was wearing a blue hoodie with a black knit hat over the hood, grey sweatpants and black shoes with black gloves.
Police said Monday afternoon there was no surveillance video at the time and the amount of cash taken is undetermined.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Houstoulakis at 586-447-4501.
© 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | 2.333333 |
A decade is an arbitrary 10-year span, especially since people can’t even agree on when this decade ends: with the arrival of 2020 or 2021? Still, it’s a good moment to take stock.
For the West, this decade marked the end of the post-Cold War triumph of liberalism — the belief in economic and individual freedom balanced by welfare programs and regulation at home, and support for a “liberal world order” abroad. In a way, the stage for the end of liberalism was set in the late 2000s by the financial crisis and the failure of nation-building in Iraq. But the full consequences became evident several years later.
By the end of the 2010s, much of the West was consumed by right-wing populist fever — with the ostensible leader of the free world as populist-in-chief — with a radical socialist revival underway on the left.
This decade also saw an unprecedented rise of identity politics, in the United States and in many other Western countries. The intense focus on racism that began with the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 addressed some real issues. But it also turned into a zealotry that often ignored facts, assigned collective guilt, and inflated trivial offenses. Talk of “whiteness” and “white privilege” became mainstreamed.
Gender politics followed the same trajectory, from valid concerns to polarizing rhetoric of “rape culture” and “toxic masculinity.”
Moreover, thanks to the social media explosion and the spread of technology that made it easy to capture and share videos, progressive identity politics became wedded to “attack now, check later” public shaming of perceived bigots.
The emergence of white — and white male — identity politics toward the decade’s end, culminating in the election of Donald Trump, was certainly not just a backlash against the excesses of progressivism. However, when racial and gender labeling is normalized and the stigma of racism is diluted by trivial accusations, this ultimately plays into the hands of the far right.
It is not an accident that as the decade of tribalism comes to an end, we see the comeback of violent anti-Semitism, now even in America, perpetrated by extremists of all stripes.
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If we continue down this path in the 2020s, the future is grim. Optimists point to the good things that are being overlooked, including progress in medicine and in fighting poverty. But without a return of true liberalism, no gains are secure.
Cathy Young is a contributing editor to Reason magazine. | President Donald Trump welcomed guests to Mar-a-Lago for a New Year’s Eve party on Tuesday evening, predicting great things for 2020.
“We’re going to have a great year, I predict,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be a fantastic year.”
The president noted the record year for the American economy, predicting even better economic news.
“I think we’re really set for additional growth and jobs and everything else,” he said. “It’ll be great.”
The president answered questions about the ongoing conflict in Iraq after the American embassy in Baghdad was beset by protesters and American Marines responded.
“They were there instantaneously, as soon as we heard,” he said. “I used the word ‘immediately’; they came immediately. And it’s in great shape, as you know.”
He compared the recent attacks to the devastating attacks in Benghazi in 2012, noting that he would never stand for similar results.
“This will not be a Benghazi. Benghazi should never have happened,” he said. “This will never, ever be a Benghazi.”
The president warned Iran from continuing to back militia attacks in Iraq but dismissed the idea that the United States was going to war with Iran.
“I want to have peace. I like peace,” he said. “And Iran should want peace more than anybody. So I don’t see that happening.”
The president also spoke about the impeachment effort led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“I think the impeachment thing — I call it impeachment light,” he said. “It’s a disgrace. And Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself. She’s a highly overrated person. I know her well; she’s highly overrated.”
Trump said he looked forward to an impeachment trial in the Senate.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’d be very happy with the trial because we did nothing wrong,” he said.
The president even wished the press a Happy New Year.
“I want you to have a great year. Look, you’re honorable people. You have to stay honorable,” he said. “If you’re honorable, I’m going to win the election by a lot. If you’re not honorable, I’m just going to win the election by a little. So I’d rather have you be honorable, okay?”
When First Lady Melania Trump was asked about her hopes for the New Year, she replied, “Peace on the world.”
President Trump agreed but said he would not reveal his New Year’s resolution.
“I’m not sure you’re supposed to say resolutions out loud, okay?” he said. “So we don’t want to. I don’t want to say what my resolution is because I think we jinx it, all right?” | 1.333333 |
I respond to the Tuesday letter “Ditch Electoral College for presidential elections” from Marge Carnahan concerning the elimination of the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote.
We are not a democracy, but a republic. The only direct elections are local, state and Congress. The president is elected by the states through the Electoral College.
If one does not want the large populations on the East and West coasts to elect our presidents — leaving the middle of the country and those states with small populations powerless — one needs to be careful of what one wishes for. This system of electing a president was not set up by our founders without great forethought.
Kathleen Caster, Westerville | Maharashtra Congress legislator Sangram Thopat on Wednesday condemned the alleged vandalism of Congress office by his supporters after he was not accorded the ministerial berth.
This office was destroyed days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his ministry by inducting 36 ministers.
"What has happened is wrong and condemnable. Whatever decision leadership arrived on I agreed to that and I will agree with it in future too," Thopat said. The purported incident took place on Tuesday.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 1.333333 |
With both a brand new year and a brand new decade here in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons should have a few New Year’s Resolutions.
After a mostly miserable start to the 2019-2020 season the Detroit Pistons are hoping 2020 will finally bring some hope to Detroit. The new year brings with it new life and new opportunities, and for many it is a good time to reflect on ways to improve and to set goals to attack with renewed focus.
After a decade of irrelevance the Pistons are nearing a low-point for the franchise and need to take a hard look in the mirror. Here are three New Year’s resolutions the Pistons should pledge to adhere to over the coming months.
I will not play Blake Griffin until he is healthy
It doesn’t take a medical degree or advanced basketball expertise to see that Blake Griffin is not healthy. He is moving slowly, often with a limp, has no lift around the rim, and even his three-point shots are flat due to a leg that is clearly not fully recovered. Griffin has career low numbers in just about everything, shooting an abysmal 24.3 percent from three-point range and 35.2 percent overall and scoring just 15.5 points per game.
His PER is nearly twenty points below his career average and even a casual fan could use the eye test to conclude that Griffin just isn’t right. With a long injury history Griffin is unlikely to ever be 100 percent again but the Pistons should sit him until he is close. There are several reasons this resolution makes sense: | DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after a made three point basket during a game against the Chicago Bulls on December 21, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
Should Detroit Pistons fan feel comfortable with the idea of losing? by Nicolas Henkel
The 2010s weren’t too kind to the Detroit Pistons and 2020 is off to a bleak start, but here’s a look back at how the Pistons can’t be worse this decade.
The Detroit Pistons didn’t win a playoff game the entire last decade, despite reaching the playoffs twice, so it can’t get much worse in as the roaring 2020s begin.
Fortunately, the 2010s brought Detroit a building block in Andre Drummond. He isn’t the franchise star like Blake Griffin once was in Los Angeles, but he is a solid piece that helped lead the Pistons to playoff appearances in 2016 and 2019.
Acquiring Reggie Jackson was a key element for both playoff runs as he was healthy for the full season. Trading for Griffin essentially willed the Pistons to the 2019 playoffs, battling through a torn meniscus late in the season and grinding through the final three weeks and two playoff games.
But bad draft pick after bad draft pick led to an underwhelming decade for the Pistons, which their fans hope to have success like the 2000s when the Goin’ to Work Pistons captured a new generation of fans’ hearts.
Fortunately the draft is turning at the right time. Luke Kennard was a solid selection and Bruce Brown has proven to be a gem found in the second round. The 2019 selection of Sekou Doumbouya provides hope for a better decade in the 2020s.
Dwane Casey, Ed Stefanski and Co. are in their second year in Detroit, looking to build and develop young talent. The Pistons enter 2020 with an average age of 22.2, including the two-way players of Jordan Bone and Louis King. Looking on a macro level, there’s plenty to look forward to.
But let’s take one last look back at the 2010s. Here’s what our staff compiled to review.
We look forward to the 2020s and are grateful that you are a part of what makes Piston Powered a great community. Happy New Year, Pistons fans! | 2.666667 |
The Management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Ado-Ekiti has confirmed the sacking of an unspecified number of workers in the hospital.
The organised labour in the state had on Monday raised alarm over the decision of the hospital to disengaged workers, threatening to shut down the hospital if the due process were not followed.
However, the Head Corporate Affairs Department, Mrs Rolake Adewumi in a statement on Wednesday said the decision to sack workers followed recommendations of the visitation panel to the hospital.
She explained that affected workers include those who failed to make themselves available during the verification exercise and also those who were on leave of absence but failed to return after the approved period.
The statement read, ”As a result, it has become necessary to disengage some workers who did not show up for the Human Resources Verification exercise and who could not be sighted till date, and so were regarded as “Ghost Workers”, Others include, those on leave of absence with/without pay who had exhausted the approved period of leave and refused to resume.
“Another category were those who were found with one misconduct or the other as well as those employed after the State Government placed an embargo on employment. In addition, based on the recommendations, some critical areas of needs were filled with qualified appointees. Many members who were wrongly placed have been regularized and placed on appropriate salary levels.”
The management urged the affected workers who were not satisfied with the decision to channel their grievances and complaints to the Board through the Director of Administration. | Some artists only have one really big hit.
[The YouTube]
Confession time. I thought I had shared this before. But, I don’t see it in my list (yeah, I keep a list) and I didn’t find it doing a search. So, if I did share it before, my apologies. Unless you really liked it and am glad it was repeated. If so, then it was just for you, because we care that much.
What’s been on your mind? Got something you’d like to share? A topic to discuss? It’s Wednesday Night Open Thread.
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Art stolen from the wall of a Quebec City café-bar has been turned over to police after the alleged thieves were served a thinly veiled threat of legal consequences on social media.
On Boxing Day, La Ninkasi Simple Malt Québec posted photos to its Facebook page that showed a wall lined with the framed work of local artist Stéphan Paquet.
However, in that post, four of the frames are missing: only empty wall space and label cards remain.
"Rather than your faces, here are images of the holes left by your theft of four drawings," the café-bar said in its post, describing the events that unfolded in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve — events captured on surveillance cameras, the post implied.
"It would be a good idea to bring back the stolen works before we file a complaint of theft."
The post then drove home the lifelong consequences of a criminal record that could follow not just the thieves, but their accomplices, as well.
Artwork turned over to police
The post was shared hundreds of times in the days that followed. On Tuesday, the artwork was returned to a police station outside of Quebec City.
The café-bar's manager, Caroline Marois, said the alleged thieves are not from the area.
They have apologized for the theft, she said — just in the nick of time, as her next step was to publish their faces on social media.
Marois said the young people who frequent her establishment on Saint-Jean Street sometimes get drunk and make bad decisions, without thinking about the long-term consequences.
There may still be consequences, as the artist did file his own complaint with police Monday.
Paquet told CBC News that he will withdraw that complaint once he confirms the art, priced at around $160 per drawing, was undamaged.
Having a computer or a bicycle stolen is one thing, he said, but it's a whole other experience when something he created — something into which he invested time and effort — is taken.
Artist 'very happy' to have work back
Paquet is a web designer, photographer and musician. He also draws, and he spent years on the work he had on display in La Ninkasi.
He said he was proud to finally hang it in the exhibition — and subsequently shocked when four of his pieces went missing.
The art was returned Tuesady, the day after the artist reported it stolen to Quebec City police. The manager of La Ninkasi says her cameras recorded every detail of the theft. (Facebook)
He applauded Marois for her effort to get the art back.
The photos of the missing frames and text sent a powerful message, and "they were shared more than 300 times," he said. "The dozens of comments were nice, also."
He said it's important to him, too, that the alleged thieves are aware of the impact they had — that it makes no sense to steal. If they show remorse, he said he'll forgive them. It makes no sense for them to have to live the rest of their lives with a criminal record, he said.
Once he gets the art back, it will be returned to the walls of La Ninkasi in the coming days.
Paquet said he is "very happy" to know he will soon be reunited with his work. | Home » World
NINE people died after Indonesia’s capital Jakarta was hit by its deadliest flooding in years, authorities said yesterday, as torrential rains on New Year’s Eve left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged.
Electricity was switched off in hundreds of waterlogged neighborhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city’s airports also shut.
A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three people died of hypothermia, Jakarta disaster management agency head Subejo said.
“We’re hoping that the floodwaters will recede but if the rain keeps up, it’ll continue,” said the official, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Among the victims was an old couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached up to 4 meters after a river burst its banks.
Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city’s outskirts.
“We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks,” Ikhsan Asaad, an official of state firm PLN, said.
Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown. “We’re currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people’s safety.”
Authorities said about 13,000 people were evacuated but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta’s satellite cities.
“We’re evacuating people right now,” Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters. “Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding.”
Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia’s rainy season, which started in late November.
Yesterday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry. | 1 |
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has called on society to transform so that the newborns are raised in a peaceful South Africa.
JOHANNESBURG/CAPE TOWN/DURBAN - As the world settles into a new decade, KwaZulu-Natal officials said 66 newborn babies have been recorded in the province so far.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said this is a special decade for the country as it prepares to implement the highly-debated National Health Insurance.
Mkhize said all the newborns have been issued with birth certificates and this will be the standard practice once the NHI is fully implemented.
#2020NewYear Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is at the newly refurbished King Dinizulu Hospital in Durban to welcome New year’s babies. @NkoRaphael pic.twitter.com/i7pjNpv5Q3 — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 1, 2020
It’s a joyous occasion at Dbn’s King Dinizulu Hospital as nurses welcome #2020NewYear’s babies. Earlier, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize was at the hospital accompanied by KZN Premier @sziks. Officials say in total, 32 babies were born in KZN between 00:30 & 10:30. @NkoRaphael pic.twitter.com/b0Ir2YpWyd — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 1, 2020
Mkhize has also used the occasion to call on parents to ensure that their children are immunised as soon as possible.
"We have actually almost lost the status of a polio-free South Africa simply because of the faltering in the level of immunisation. We need this to be picked up on all preventable diseases."
Mkhize has called on society to transform so that the newborns are raised in a peaceful South Africa.
"Non-natural causes of death are also a big issue. When you talk about the issue of violence against women and children, car accidents, as well as homicides - all of these are preventable. They are all about societal transformation."
22 NEW YEAR'S BABIES BORN IN THE WESTERN CAPE
Ten boys and 12 girls have been born so far on the first day of the new decade in the Western Cape, making a total of 22.
Health MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo, visited the Khayelitsha District Hospital where one birth has been recorded for New Year's Day so far.
Weighing 3.3 kilograms, a baby boy was the first birth registered in the province at Mowbray's Maternity Hospital.
The second baby boy was born at 00:13 at Paarl Hospital weighing 3.65 kilograms. The hospital has been the busiest since midnight, with five births recorded at the facility
Mbombo said it's important for parents to create a healthy environment for the newborns from day one.
#NewYearsBabies Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo, this morning visited Khayelitsha District Hospital where Baby Mlungwana was born at 03:50. She weighs 3.15 kg. KB pic.twitter.com/UnsdMfGzKB — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 1, 2020
GAUTENG RECORDS OVER 200 NEW YEAR BIRTHS
The Gauteng Health Department said 213 newborn babies have been born in the province's public hospitals so far on New Year's Day.
Health MEC Bandile Masuku congratulated the parents of the newly born babies. | Nthuthulezo Mlungwana gave birth to a baby daughter, Mlungwana, at the Khayelitsha District Hospital on New Year's Day. Picture: Courtney Africa / African News Agency (ANA)
Cape Town – The number of New Year babies born at public health facilities in the Western Cape has more than doubled since this morning. Earlier, the Western Cape Health Department said 22 babies had been born, but the figure has now been revised to 58.
The first baby, weighing 3.3kg, was born to Zahraah Abrahams in Mowbray at exactly midnight.
Thirteen minutes later, the second baby in the Western Cape was conceived at the Paarl hospital – another boy weighing 3.6kg. A total of seven babies have been born so far at the Paarl hospital today.
The newborns in the province comprise 32 boys and 26 girls. | 4 |
Casualty crashes due to driving too fast for the conditions increase in December, ICBC reports
In B.C., winter tires are defined as those with either the Mountain Snowflake symbol or the Mud and Snow (M+S) symbol, according to the RCMP. (The NEWS – files) Winter tires must be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres, and must be used on designated highways from Oct. 1 to March 31.
RCMP and ICBC are asking drivers to prepare for and slow down in winter driving conditions.
Each year in the Lower Mainland, the number of casualty crashes due to driving too fast for the conditions increases by 17 per cent in December compared to October, according to ICBC.
The information is based on police-data from 2014 to 2018 and defines a casualty crash as one in which at least one person is killed or injured.
READ MORE: Nearly half of B.C. drivers nervous in winter conditions: BCAA
The owner of Big O Tires in Maple Ridge said, ideally, drivers would have started preparing for winter driving conditions in late October.
“Winter tires are recommended as soon as it gets below 7 C,” said Bill King. “The reason for that is that all-season tires tend to harden up and become more slippery, while winter tires are a soft rubber compound, so they get better traction in the cold weather.”
The type of tire required for a given vehicle varies.
But in B.C., winter tires are defined as those with either the mountain snowflake symbol or the one with mud and snow, according to the RCMP.
Winter tires must be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres, and must be used on designated highways from Oct. 1 to March 31, the police authority noted.
Drivers should keeping vehicle tires properly inflated to avoid irregular wear and prolong tread life.
READ MORE: B.C. truck drivers to face higher fines for not using winter tire chains
Large trucks are also required to carry chains in the province.
King also recommends getting your vehicle’s battery inspected. The cooler the weather the more difficult it is to turn the engine, he said.
“With windshield wipers, it’s pretty much evident as soon as you turn them on if they’re not doing the job, if they need to be replaced, King added. “It’s not a big cost item, but it’s nice to see where you are going.”
ICBC is reminding drivers to clear off any snow from their vehicle before driving, including from their headlights. Headlights and taillights should be on in poor weather conditions when there’s often reduced visibility.
The crown corporation asks drivers to be aware of black ice when temperatures are near freezing. Black ice is commonly found in shaded areas, bridges, overpasses and intersections, according to its website. Slow down and keep a distance from motor vehicles.
In severe winter weather, consider alternatives such as public transit, or carpool with someone who is equipped for the conditions. ICBC suggests leaving the car at home if it is not safe to drive.
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joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. | Dancer and choreographer Uri Sands has stepped down as co-artistic director of TU Dance, the acclaimed Twin Cities company he helped found, amid allegations of sexual harassment of a former employee, according to a news release Tuesday.
His wife and co-founder, Toni Pierce-Sands, will continue to lead the organization as artistic director.
"We believe Mr. Sands' resignation will help TU Dance move forward in providing a safe and healthy environment for all," the news release said.
Sands, 45, and TU Dance vigorously deny all allegations, said Sara McGrane, the lawyer representing both.
McGrane said a lawsuit was served on a member of the company's board in October, alleging sexual misconduct by Sands involving a female employee between 2015 and 2017. The lawsuit also alleged negligent supervision of Sands by the company.
McGrane admitted a sexual relationship between Sands and the employee, but said he and TU Dance denied the "sexual misconduct" alleged in the lawsuit. Feeling the suit would be a distraction to the company, Sands offered his resignation Monday, McGrane said.
Uri Sands and Toni Pierce Sands of TU Dance in 2014. JOELKOYAMA jkoyama@startribune
Attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing the woman — a former dancer with the company who is not named in the suit — said Sands "sexually exploited" her, and he characterized the alleged misconduct as "nonconsensual sexual intercourse."
McGrane also said that in 2017, TU Dance received an anonymous complaint involving Sands that resulted in the adoption of a sexual harassment policy by the company and a policy that Sands could not travel alone with female dancers. She said Sands was asked to engage in counseling and therapy, which he did.
TU Dance was founded in 2004 by Uri Sands (the "U" in "TU") and Toni Pierce-Sands (the "T"). Both made their mark with the New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the nation's leading troupes. They married in 2001.
In July 2005, they premiered their multicultural dance company to sold-out audiences at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune named the couple its Artists of the Year that December, lauding them for "seamlessly melding African, modern, ballet and vernacular dance styles, underscored by a rhythmic musicality."
On the company's 10th anniversary in 2014, it received a $500,000 Knight Foundation grant to help it add programming, expand its funding base and help diversify the local dance scene. "What will we be in the next 10 years?" Pierce-Sands told the Star Tribune that year. "We'll be taking dance from St. Paul to the world."
In 2018 it collaborated with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on an evening-long work titled "Come Through," which has since toured to major venues across the nation, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Brooklyn just three weeks ago. | 1 |
KEY POINTS Giuliani said he'd be willing to testify during the Senate's impeachment trial
Giuliani is considered a key figure in the Ukraine scandal
The remarks may harm Senate Republicans' goal of blocking witness testimonies
After the House’s impeachment inquiry, which was characterized in part by several subpoenaed key witnesses refusing to testify, there’s one member in President Donald Trump’s camp willing to take the stand: former New York City mayor and Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
According to The Hill, this week Giuliani told reporters outside Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida-based resort, that he “would testify” if summoned by the Senate during the impeachment trial. The former mayor also floated the idea that he may “do demonstrations” and would also “love to try the case.”
It is unclear whether or not Giuliani is suggesting that he would organize protests during the Senate trial; and, his enthusiasm notwithstanding, Giuliani won’t be serving on Trump’s legal defense despite being his personal lawyer.
To give Giuliani the benefit of the doubt, it is likely his remarks about being willing to testify were given to demonstrate his conviction that Trump is innocent of the charges made against him. Still, good intentions aside, he may have done more harm than good – Giuliani may have accidentally undermined Senate Republicans in no small way and pushed them into an increasingly difficult position.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has repeatedly affirmed his intent to forbid witness testimony during the impeachment trial, citing a desire for a speedy conclusion. While, unsurprisingly, Democrats have protested this move vigorously, virtually all Senate Republicans, with two notable exceptions, appear to agree with McConnell on having no witnesses.
Now, with Giuliani volunteering to appear as a witness, he has added unwelcome pressure to McConnell and other Republicans. After all, it would look rather odd for Republicans to block testimony from someone within Trump’s own camp, especially someone who has proven himself very loyal to the president.
No doubt Democrats would be more than open to having Giuliani testify, given his central role in the Ukraine scandal. By several accounts, Trump’s personal lawyer played a key role in pushing for legally questionable agreements between the White House and the Ukrainian government, including an investigation of Hunter Biden – but that’s assuming both that Giuliani won’t walk these statements back first and that Republicans will permit trial witnesses.
Photo: AFP / SAUL LOEB | Rudy Giuliani, personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday that he is willing to testify or take the case at Trump’s impeachment trial in the US Senate, Trend reports citing Sputnik.
“I would testify, I would do demonstrations, I'd give lectures, I'd give summations, or I'd do what I do best, I'd try the case. I'd love to try the case,” Giuliani told reporters at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort Tuesday.
Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and former mayor of New York City, said he would use his knowledge of racketeering law, which helped him to become the New York City mayor in the 1980s.
“I don't know if anybody would have the courage to give me the case, but if you give me the case, I will prosecute it as a racketeering case, which I kind of invented anyway. It have [sic] been 30 years ago, but let's see if I can still do it,” Trump’s lawyer offered.
Trump’s lawyer was asked to testify in front of House Democrats during the first impeachment inquiry but did not comply with Congressional subpoenas, arguing instead that Trump did nothing wrong regarding the latter's dealings with Ukraine.
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Crafted from boxes, wooden sticks and toilet roll tubes, the boats – each carrying a tea light – were released one by one on to the River Severn at Castle Walk Footbridge.
Wrapped up in coats and scarves to fight off the wintry chill of the evening air, residents of Castlefields and beyond lined the river to will their boats on.
Some went up in flames as they were launched, others succumbed to the river’s current – but a handful of triumphant vessels made it as far as the Weir before capsizing.
The inspiration for the event came from a single boat that was created and then set on its way on the Severn 25 years ago. Since then it has grown into an annual event in which families gather to celebrate the new year.
And the creations get more ambitious as the years go by, with arks, rafts and even model coracles taking to the river.
More pictures from the New Year boat launch:
The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields Andrew Taylor, 11 The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields Wayne Danter The event in Castlefields Joseph Curtis, 6, and Charlie Goff, 8 The event in Castlefields Ryan Kenny Mike Cripps Mattie Sharman The event in Castlefields The event in Castlefields Ryan Kenny and Jake Kenny, 5
The idea was born in a pub, and 25 years later the annual New Year boat launch has become a major community event .
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Eleanor Sheffield was a young child when she set her first handmade boat onto the River Severn in Castlefields, as she has done every New Year’s Eve since.
Some of the boats are sent off carrying hopes or resolutions for the New Year, while others are prayed over before being released.
Eleanor said: “It started off unbelievably small, and now it is a massive tradition. Every year the whole community comes out.
“We have got people coming from all over town now, not just Castlefields.
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Competitive
“The boats get more elaborate each year as people get more competitive.
“Some families are making three or four.
“One of my friends made an Ark, and put two of each animal on it.
“There was a Viking boat, a coracle, a raft made from twigs.
“We fill ours with wishes for the new year, and lots of people have different things they do with their boats to send them off.
“It is really nice night, it is one of those things you have to keep coming back to.” | New Years-fresh starts, clean slates and new resolutions. Every first of January, people set New Year’s Resolutions in the hopes of improving themselves or their lives; but how best to make them stick?
The following are a few tips to help with keeping what we resolve to do-or not do in the new year, according to experts:
1. Set intentions. An intention is a guiding principle for how you want to be, live, show up in the world and is the starting point to every goal.
2. Ask yourself why the intention or goal you set matters to you-and if it is realistic. Expectations that are too high can cause you to be too overwhelmed to start or maintain your goals.
3. Talk to people about your resolutions. This creates a support system as well as can hold you accountable.
4. Make a list of plans. Big goals can seem daunting, break your plan up into little things you can do each day to help achieve your ultimate goal.
5. Take the first step. Don’t procrastinate. You don’t need to wait until everything is just right. Get started now and make adjustments as you go along.
6. Ditch deprivation. Try not to approach your New Year’s resolutions from a place of deprivation, restriction or punishment.
7. Try not to focus on the end result. When you commit to the process of the goal, rather than the result, it’s easier to make it an enjoyable experience.
8. Take breaks. A goal should not consume your every thought and life, after all, is meant to be lived.
9. Plan for success. Instead of thinking about failing and what could go wrong, think of succeeding; put those positive thoughts out to the world. Worrying about failure is pointless and destructive.
10. Reward yourself. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small; you deserve it! | 1.333333 |
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Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. | PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Jovenel Moïse broke with tradition on Wednesday and celebrated the country’s independence day in the capital for security reasons following months of political turmoil.
Moïse, whose government has been accused of corruption, denounced graft during his speech at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince and urged Haiti’s elite to work with the government and help create employment.
“We’re still extremely poor,” he said. “Those who continue to get rich find it normal that they do not pay taxes, find it normal that there can be no competition, find it normal that they set prices for consumers, especially when this consumer is the state itself.”
Moïse also apologized for the country’s ongoing power outages and renewed his 2016 campaign pledge to provide electricity 24 hours a day, saying it was harder to accomplish than he imagined.
The speech that marked the 216th anniversary of the world’s first black republic was originally slated to take place in the northern coastal town of Gonaives, where Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence. But the town, like many others, was hit by violent protests that began in September amid anger over corruption, fuel shortages and dwindling food supplies as opposition leaders and supporters demanded the resignation of Moïse. More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured.
Large-scale protests in Port-au-Prince have since dissipated, although smaller ones are still occurring elsewhere in the country. On Wednesday, opposition leaders and supporters gathered in Gonaives to attend the funeral of an anti-government protester and then carried his coffin through the streets as more protesters joined them.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 1 |
Orthodox faction objects to ordinance
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to resolve disputes over burial of bodies in churches under the possession of Jacobite and Orthodox factions, the state cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to ensure burial rights for believers in their church cemeteries. The Orthodox faction has condemned the move, saying it is not in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict and is an attempt to bring in parallel administration in churches.The cabinet has sent the ordinance for the consideration of the governor. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that the ordinance would ensure the right of any family of a parish to bury bodies of its family members in the cemetery of the church where their family tomb is situated, irrespective of any objection or dispute. If there is no family tomb, a believer’s body will be buried in the cemetery of his/her parish church.Vijayan said the ordinance would also allow the family of the deceased to conduct the post-death rituals anywhere outside the church or cemetery by a priest of their choice. The provision will allow a family to perform the final rites at a Jacobite church and conduct the burial in an Orthodox church where the family tomb is situated and vice versa.He said the government had to take the decision as the cabinet subcommittee that was formed to resolve the disputes between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions could not succeed in its efforts.“One of the factions refused to even discuss the matter with the sub-committee. There is nothing illegal in the ordinance. The usual custom is that a body should be buried at the earliest and when one section decides not to concede to any solution, the government cannot be a mute spectator. We are also not going against anything ruled by the Supreme Court,” the chief minister said.The Jacobite Church has welcomed the move but Orthodox Church episcopal synod secretary Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Diascoros said the clause in the ordinance that anyone can cremate the body of a parish member in the cemetery cannot be approved.“The right for getting buried in a cemetery belonging to Orthodox Church is only for those belonging to the parish church. The vicar of the parish is in charge of the cemetery. The clause allowing anyone to enter the cemetery and bury the dead is a violation of the Supreme Court verdict. The Supreme Court had made it clear that it will not allow parallel rule in the cemetery. Burying bodes in the cemetery without the permission of priests who have officially become the vicars through the court judgment will create anarchy,” he said.The cabinet also decided to re-promulgate the Kerala education (amendment) ordinance 2019, the Kerala devaswom recruitment board (amendment) ordinance 2019, the Kerala state goods and services tax (amendment) ordinance and the Kerala minerals ordinance. | A+ A-
Thiruvananthapuram: In a bid to end the Church feud over burial grounds, the Kerala government on Wednesday proposed an ordinance making burial a right of every Christian at his or her parish cemetery.
The ordinance in effect will benefit the Jacobite faction of Malankara Church as the ongoing property dispute between the Jacobite and Orthodox Church had resulted in an undue delay in burials.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state government has introduced the ordinance as the warring factions were unable to reach a consensus. “The Cabinet had appointed a sub-committee to look into the issue and amicably solve it. But even after reaching out only one faction was ready for discussion. Instances of burial being obstructed were reported. Since it was becoming a social issue, the government intervened, ” he said.
The dispute between Jacobite and the Orthodox faction over properties is continuing for long in Kerala and even after a Supreme Court verdict in 2017, the feud is yet to die down. | 4 |
Christmas isn't over just yet.
Eight people have been named to Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, including Santa's longtime stand-in, Bruce Templeton.
Templeton, of Outer Cove, has been invested into the order for his decades of volunteer work, community leadership and humanitarianism — including more than 40 years of playing Santa — as well as published books and charity work.
An investiture ceremony will be held on Jan. 29 at Government House in St. John's, where Templeton's name will be joining the 118 recipients in the 13 ceremonies since the order began in 2004.
"As Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, it will be an honour to invest eight fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, who have made outstanding contributions to our province and people, into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province's highest level of recognition," said Lt.-Gov. Judy Foote in a news release on Tuesday.
"I look forward to thanking each of them personally at the investiture ceremony on Jan. 29 for the many efforts they have made, and continue to make, to ensure our province is the best it can be."
With new appointees set to receive their honours, 118 people will have been invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)
Joining Templeton will be Jim Burton of Portugal Cove-St. Phillip's, Elaine Dobbin of Portugal Cove-St. Phillip's, Robert Lyall of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Helen Murphy of St. John's, Myles Murphy of St. John's, Susan Rose of Broad Cove and Gordon Slade of Mount Pearl.
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in an exemplary manner for the province and its residents, according to government.
Appointments to the Order are made by the chancellor on the recommendation of its advisory council.
"These eight individuals are determined to make a difference where and when they can for which I thank them on behalf of all the people of Newfoundland and Labrador," Foote said.
Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador | The body of a missing snowmobiler was found near Hopedale Tuesday, police say.
The RCMP said officers received a call around 10 a.m. concerning the 39-year-old woman after she was last seen heading out onto the sea ice on her snowmobile.
Police and search and rescue crews found the woman's body on the ice Tuesday afternoon about 4.5 kilometres outside Hopedale.
The snowmobile was partially submerged in the ice.
The woman's death is the third fatal incident involving a snowmobile or ATV in Newfoundland and Labrador in the past week.
Joshua Wilcox, 10, drowned in Clarenville on Christmas Day when the side-by-side he was travelling in went through the ice.
On Sunday, police recovered the body of a 36-year-old snowmobiler who went through the ice on a pond near Grand Falls-Windsor.
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 |
From the private funicular that takes you to model Cheryl Tiegs’s Palm Springs hideaway to Joe Pesci’s Jersey Shore home with its symbolic barber chair and Kaley Cuoco’s California home with the swing settee, these are the celebrity homes that captured everyone’s attention in 2019, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com:
1. Alicia Keys’s ‘Razor House’
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This home’s sleek contemporary lines and commanding views of the Pacific Ocean have graced the pages of cutting-edge magazines and websites around the world, in addition to a starring role in Visa Black Card and Calvin Klein television commercials. “Girl on Fire” and 15-time-Grammy-winner Alicia Keys is the big winner once again and holds the keys to the” Razor House” as its new owner. Designed by Wallace E. Cunningham in La Jolla, California, it was on the market originally at $45 million; Keys paid $20.8 million.
Built in 2007, the Razor House extends several stories below the original surface so that each roof forms a terrace to the adjacent upper floor. The center of the structure is essentially hollowed out, creating a perimeter house wrapped around an open courtyard that allows in daylight, moonlight, and stunning views. The main house has 10,240 square feet of living space, including two master suites, two additional bedrooms, six baths, two steam rooms/showers, a gym, a roof-top spa, and a built-in outdoor barbecue. The detached multilevel guest house is 1,301 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths.
Luxury finishes and special touches include travertine stone floors that run continuously from interior to exterior, solid-walnut flooring in the library and on the family-room ceiling, and suede-wrapped walls in the primary master suite. The library contains a custom Ralph Lauren glass-and-stainless pool table. A glass elevator operates from the subterranean garage level all the way to the rooftop terrace. Entertainment includes a state-of-the-art theater and a 5,100-cubic-foot-infinity swimming pool that visually blends in with the ocean.
Josh Altman and Matt Altman of Douglas Elliman were the brokers for the sale.
2. Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston’s newlywed mansion
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Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt owned this home from 2001 to 2006, and it is once again on the market — priced at $44.5 million.
One of Southern California’s most romantic homes, the French Normandy Revival-style estate includes canyon views, a lighted pool, a stone courtyard, patios, multiple fireplaces, an outdoor living room, and a tennis court. They bought it soon after their Malibu marriage. The supercouple immediately started a three-year renovation, replacing the kitchen floor with heated marble, designing and installing a pub with floors sourced from a 200-year-old French château, and adding a private screening room. They also added a tennis court and pavilion with a guest house on the upper level. In January of 2005, their separation was announced, and the home sold in 2006 to a hedge fund executive, who completed the renovation and added features of his own.
The 11,173-square-foot home is nestled into a bit over an acre on a quiet cul-de-sac with gated entrances on two streets, five bedrooms, and 13 baths between the main house and guest house. The formal rooms are large, with the dining room capable of seating 20 guests.
The home was originally built in 1934 for actor Fredric March, one of the first movie star mansions in Beverly Hills. March was as big a star in his day. His 52-year career totaled more than hundred films, including classics such as The Best Years of Our Lives and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The listing agent is Susan Smith of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills.
3. Kelly Clarkson’s lake mansion
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Kelly Clarkson made a meteoric rise to stardom after singing and winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. Kelly is now one of America’s favorite entertainers, a judge on The Voice, and host of a new NBC talk show. Ten years after her American Idol win, Kelly bought a Tennessee lake home in Hendersonville, 25 miles up the Cumberland River from Nashville. Her Tennessee mansion is for sale, priced at $7.49 million.
Who needs a vacation when you could live in a home designed to take full advantage of its recreational waterfront? The Clarkson house is positioned on four acres with an adjoining useable two acres owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. With its outward curving shoreline, the property boasts exceptional water views and a two-boat covered boathouse with a lift. There is a long, gated driveway to a car park with center fountain. The grounds are dotted with mature trees, emerald lawn, a sand volleyball court, English-style gardens, a conservatory/greenhouse, and a large pool/spa terrace with a fireplace and a pavilion for outdoor dining — all accessed via a double-sided-curved staircase descending from the upper terrace.
The 20,121-square-foot home’s entrance is a grand foyer with soaring double staircases. Included are seven bedrooms, one of which is a large master suite with a seating area in front of a fireplace; 11 baths; a family room; a movie theater; and a children’s room with four built-in bunk beds and a play area. There is a billiard/game room, a gym, a two-level office and an elevator.
Singer, songwriter and talk-show host Kelly Clarkson is now living near the California studio where she is filming The Voice and her weekly talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Jack Miller, the listing broker, is with Parks Real Estate, Nashville.
4. Kaley Cuoco’s Tarzana house
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Since The Big Bang Theory came to a close in May, Kaley Cuoco and her husband, equestrian Karl Cook, are busy building their dream home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., so she has put her Tarzana-neighborhood home in Los Angeles on the market at $4.895 million. Cuoco bought the house from Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian in 2014.
Behind a gated entrance in a small enclave of similarly elegant homes, the 7,977-square-foot house is spread across its three-quarter-acre lot with a large car park in front and a pool with generous patio for entertaining at the rear of the property. The entrance opens into a grand two-story foyer with a curved staircase and starburst chandelier. The home also has a living room with a whimsical swing settee suspended from the ceiling and a contemporary formal dining room. Sized for a large family and guests, the home has six en-suite bedrooms, plus three additional baths. The master has a fireplace, three huge walk-in closets, and French doors that open to the terrace. The kitchen is stocked with high-end appliances and has an island, breakfast area, and bar. It opens to the family room.
The home is made extremely private by the mature thick hedges and trees that follow the property line from the entrance gate to encircle the lot. The outdoor space is ideal for entertaining, with multiple shaded seating areas, a full-covered outdoor kitchen with bar seating, a pool, a spa, and a fire pit.
Currently Cuoco has created and is starring in a new HBO Max series, The Flight Attendant, for which she will also act as executive producer. A huge fan favorite for her roles in 8 Simple Rules, Charmed, and, of course, 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory, Cuoco is following her dreams of becoming a producer.
The listing agent is Stephanie Vitacco of Keller Williams, Encino-Sherman Oaks.
5. Cheryl Tiegs’s Bel Air beauty
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Cheryl Tiegs was America’s favorite model in the 1970s and ’80s: She graced the covers of three Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, four People covers, and three Time covers. Almost as beautiful as Tiegs, her Balinese-style Bel Air home is for sale at $18.5 million.
Her enclave is situated on 1.43 lush acres behind gates that open to a long drive, giving privacy and entrance into something that feels much more like the deep tropics than suburban Los Angeles. Perched on a promontory with 180-degree views, it is awash in palm trees, huge Monstera vines, and tropical flowers. The house itself is a study in bold natural elements, textures, and colors from fabrics, floors, dark-wood beams, glass walls opening to vegetation, and stunning views. The 4,770-square-foot house has five bedrooms, five baths, a kitchen with a butcher-block island, huge open spaces for entertaining both inside and out, a wine cellar, pool, guest house, and three-car garage.
Tiegs began modeling when she was 17, appearing on the covers of Glamour, Seventeen and Elle. Her fresh-faced beauty inspired teenaged girls and young women to buy her beauty book, The Way to Natural Beauty, in the hope that they would discover some wonderful secret that would turn them into glamour girls, too. Ahead of her time and a natural entrepreneur, Cheryl was noted for being first at many things: She was the first model to start a signature line of clothing and accessories, which were sold exclusively at Sears. During the 10-year life of that business, almost a billion dollars of her merchandise was sold.
With her modeling career taking her all over the world, Tiegs was able to pick from her own experiences how she wanted to live. When it came time to buy her own home, she found solace and inspiration in the Balinese way of life and duplicated that environment in her own Southern California home.
Jade Mills and Tiffany Mills of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, Beverly Hills are the listing agents.
6. Jeff Bridges’ Home becomes Oprah Winfrey’s
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When you’re worth almost $3 billion and can easily say, “been there, done that, have that,” . . . . what do you do with the rest of the money after the usual investments? For more than a decade, the superwealthy have been parking it in real estate. In fact, they’re buying up a lot of the planet in the form of islands, vast ranches, resorts, and glamorous homes. Yes, Oprah owns at least six homes despite selling her Chicago and Atlanta properties. Lately, her focus has been on the Montecito neighborhood of Santa Barbara, where she purchased actor-friend Jeff Bridges’s home. She owns three in Montecito, including “The Promised Land” (her 40-acre main home and grounds), now worth about $90 million. She purchased Bridges’s home after waiting for the price to be reduced from the original $7.495 million. She bought it for $6.85 million — the exact price Bridges and his wife, Susan Geston, paid for it five years ago. Oprah also owns homes in Maui, Hawaii, Orcas Island, Washington, and Telluride, Colorado.
Bridges’s 3,517-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bath Spanish Revival-style home was built in 1919 by architect James Osborn Craig on four acres of gardens. Meticulously cared for and having undergone restorations and updates, it still has its original windows, doors, hardwood floors, and five fireplaces. The kitchen and bathrooms were remodeled to bring them into the 21st century. The kitchen, with its new cabinetry and quartz countertops, adjoins a large family room. High ceilings, expansive windows, and French doors illuminate the home, with every room opening to lush gardens. The master suite features an open-beamed ceiling, large bay window, French doors, and a fireplace.
Montecito is a sought-after neighborhood at the western tip of Santa Barbara with commanding views of the Pacific Ocean. Always lush with large trees and thick with greenery, the neighborhood has recovered from the 2018 Thomas Fire that destroyed several homes. Though Winfrey’s and Bridges’s homes were untouched, Gwyneth Paltrow’s home sustained damage.
Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston have been downsizing, with the sale of their 20-acre, Tuscan-style vineyard estate two years ago for $15.9 million. They have also sold land parcels in Malibu this year.
Sally Hanseth of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Montecito, handled the sale for both Bridges and Winfrey.
7. Joe Pesci’s Jersey Shore mansion
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Whether as Vinny Gambini, Joe Pesci’s character in the Deep South legal comedy My Cousin Vinny, or Nicholas “Nicky” Santoro, his mob character with animal killer instincts in Casino, Pesci’s skilled sense of timing brings his characters to life in a way that few actors can match. He announced his retirement from acting in 1999 to return to music, his first love, but fans are thrilled to learn that once again he has teamed up with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino for The Irishman, which is streaming on Netflix. In the meantime, Pesci has put his waterfront home up for sale in Lavallette, New Jersey, with his sights focused on returning to the warm California sunshine. It is priced at $6.5 million.
Built in 1990, the 7,200-square-foot contemporary with an Art Deco vibe is located in the West Point Island neighborhood, protected from Atlantic storms on Barnegat Bay and only a short bicycle ride to the beach. Bright, airy, and spacious and taking full advantage of the beautiful view, the eight-bedroom, eight-bath home has an open floor plan with large rooms perfect for parties that spill out to the spacious pool terrace at the water’s edge. The gated property is completely fenced with a large motor court that can accommodate multiple guests.
A dramatic free-standing curved staircase sets the stage for the living areas. With white rooms filled with light and the backdrop of the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows, the living room with its two seating areas and pianos hint at musical get-togethers. The large eat-in kitchen with island is perfect for preparing meals for dinner guests in the dining room, which is encircled by glass doors opening to the pool terrace.
The media room walls are decorated with posters from Pesci’s films, and a barber’s chair occupies one corner, a poignant reminder of his first occupation. The upper level, which can be reached by elevator, contains bedrooms and an office, all with terraces and spectacular views. A downstairs party room next to the pool and spa has its own kitchen for entertaining.
After making 34 films, Joe Pesci has cut his second album, Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You, named after his character in My Cousin Vinny. This second album comes 30 years after his first, which was where he started in the entertainment business. He was deeply involved in the music industry until acting in the film The Death Collector, which grabbed the attention of Martin Scorsese.
An Academy Award-winning actor for his role in Goodfellas, Joe Pesci is selling his Jersey Shore waterfront mansion that has been his home for nearly 30 years.
The listing agent is Michael Puccio of RE/Max Central, North Manalapan, New Jersey.
8. Suzanne Somers’s Palm Springs hideaway
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Suzanne Somers has just completed her latest book, A New Way to Age, which be in bookstores in January. A prolific author, she has close to 30 published books — 14 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Still an energetic spitfire at age 73, she shares her secrets of aging well in her writing. Most recently she has been in the news for her nude 73d-birthday photo and interviews about her and husband Alan Hamel’s sex life.
At her Palm Springs home, Somers has masterfully set the scene for social entertaining with a romantic vibe, while at the same time creating private venues. Almost every square inch of the couple’s hillside oasis shows Somers’s thoughtful and artful touch. On their 73-acre mountainside, there are five buildings to explore with 10,000 square feet of pavilions. The buildings include a romantic stone guest house Albert Frey designed in the 1920s. There is also an amphitheater carved into the mountain that seats 50 under the stars and has a dance floor, a pool, a spa with hiking trails, and a natural waterfall that spills down the hillside.
Set into the side of a craggy mountainside above the valley in Mesa Canyon, the property combines the couple’s love of nature and elegance by bringing out the best in both with their use of contrast. Imagine crystal chandeliers twinkling against natural rock and reclaimed wood — all in perfect balance. To add even more intrigue, access is via a private funicular, a golf cart, or a hillside of stone steps — but no cars.
Back on the market after a long hiatus, the home has been reduced to $9.5 million.
The co-listing agents are Scott Lyle of Douglas Elliman, Palm Springs and Ronald Parks of Pacific Sotheby’s, Palm Springs.
9. Adam Lambert’s Hollywood Hills pad
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Delivering a blend of contemporary sound and theatrics, Adam Lambert’s style has propelled him from an American Idol superstar singer-songwriter into an international celebrity. The house he bought in 2009 that overlooks the Sunset Strip, the same year he appeared on American Idol, reflects his personality along with his penchant for drama. Now traveling the world almost full time performing in tours and major guest appearances, the Grammy-nominated vocalist has recently put his West Hollywood Hills home on the market for $3.35 million.
Enjoying a view of Los Angeles city lights, the 3,799-square-foot house is surrounded by lush greenery, is very private, and has a disappearing glass wall that opens to a large terrace that includes an outdoor living room, fire pit, and contemporary free-form pool and spa with various depths for lounging, swimming, or sharing a glass of wine in the spa with friends. The master suite has two balconies, a sitting room, a huge dressing room, and green marble bath with a steam shower and soaking tub. Night lighting adds drama to the pool deck and a party atmosphere.
Built in 1947, the three-bedroom, four-bath house has undergone impressive updates over time. In addition to formal and family rooms, there is custom wine storage and a separate studio with a private entrance.
Hollywood Hills has been a celebrity magnet for as long as the film industry has existed, and Lambert chose his home location well. Neighbors include Leonardo DiCaprio, who bought two extra lots and built a huge basketball court, Keanu Reeves, and Halle Berry.
Though Lambert hit the big time when he appeared on American Idol in 2009, his career began in 2001 as a cruise ship entertainer. From there he performed in musical theater in California and on a European tour of Hair. With his appearances on American Idol, he began generating international recognition and toured with Queen + Adam Lambert, from which he is taking a short break. In May, the group announced the expansion of The Rhapsody Tour to include seven stadium dates in Australia and three in New Zealand. In 2020, Japan and South Korea will be included. Between writing and recording, cutting albums, world tours, and guest appearances filling in all the time spaces, it’s not surprising that he has no time to kick back at his Hollywood Hills home.
The listing agents are Tomer Fridman and Jonathan Siegfried of Compass, Los Angeles.
10. Regis Philbin’s Connecticut home
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At age 88, Regis Philbin has had one of the most successful and long-lived careers as a game-and-talk-show host who, after graduating from his beloved University of Notre Dame and a stint in the Navy, began his television career as an announcer on The Tonight Show, a talk-show in San Diego, and in 1967 as Joey Bishop’s sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show. Regis worked nonstop from coast to coast, including Los Angeles, St Louis, and New York as America’s favorite conversationalist until he retired from Live! With Regis and Kelly in 2011.
He has resided on the East Coast for decades close to the New York television studios, but recently put his Connecticut home on the market so that he and wife, Joy, can move to California to be closer to their children. The mansion is priced at $4,595,000, 36% less than what he paid for it almost a decade ago.
Located in Greenwich, the estate sits on 2.59 acres in a lushly green neighborhood among other similar-sized homes. Measuring in at 13,661 square feet, the home has six bedrooms, nine full baths, and three half baths.
Indoor features include the formal living and dining rooms, a large eat-in kitchen, a mahogany-paneled library, a home theater, family room, sunroom, billiards room, gym, and sauna, as well as a wine cellar and tasting room that includes a full bar. There are a total of seven fireplaces.
Outside, the property offers expansive manicured lawns and mature trees, shrubs, and gardens; terraces; a swimming pool, a fountain; spa; and tennis courts. The gated drive ends at garages that can house five cars.
The listing agent is Joseph Barbieri of Sotheby’s International Realty-Greenwich Brokerage.
Philbin was host of the popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password, and was a judge on the first season of America’s Got Talent. He hosted the daytime talk show Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee and later with Kelly Ripa for almost 28 years. In 2004, he set a Guinness World Record for most on-camera hours — 15,188 — for that year. | Look ahead: Twenty things to watch out for in 2020
Twenty things to track at the start of the next decade in the Middle East and wider world.
1
The global spotlight will fall on Saudi Arabia in 2020 as it assumes the presidency of the G20 ahead of the leaders’ summit in Riyadh starting on Nov. 20. Under the theme “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All,” the Saudi presidency will focus on three aims: Empowering people by creating the conditions in which everyone — especially women and young people — can live, work and thrive; safeguarding the planet by fostering collective efforts on food and water security, climate, energy and the environment; and long-term strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.
2
On Feb. 29, an elite field of runners and riders will assemble at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack in Riyadh for the Saudi Cup which, with a purse of $20 million, is the world’s most valuable horse race. Hailed by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chair of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, as “without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia,” the contest is the spectacular opening move in the Kingdom’s bid to position itself as a leading player on the sport’s global stage. The cup also marks another first in the Kingdom’s race toward modernization — it is open to both male and female jockeys.
3
Could 2020 be the year that peace finally returns to Syria — or, in the wake of the US withdrawal and the surge into northern Syria by the Turks and Assad regime, will the territorial ambitions of Moscow and Ankara condemn the country’s civilians to another year of despair? The signs are not good. The latest round of peace talks, held in Geneva in November, faltered after government and opposition negotiators failed even to agree an agenda for plans to draft a new constitution. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for one million Syrian refugees in Turkey to be returned to the north of Syria could further destabilize a volatile situation.
4
On March 17, Saudi Arabia will begin conducting the fifth general census in the nation’s history, designed to gather information about its population — vital for government planning in areas including education, health, employment, housing and deverlopment. The first census, in 1974, recorded a population of just over 7 million. By the time of the fourth and most recent census, in 2010, the population had grown to more than 27 million.
5
On Oct. 20, Dubai will formally come of age when millions of visitors begin flocking to the Gulf’s most dynamic city for Expo 2020, the first to be held in the Arab world and without doubt the number-one highlight of the year for the UAE and wider region. Featuring live shows, mass-participation events, more than 200 opportunities to experience global cuisine and 190 countries showcasing the best they have to offer in a breathtaking range of pavilions, this six-month celebration of the best of human ingenuity, art and culture will cement Dubai’s reputation for innovation and doubtless boost its role as a global destination.
6
From March 12 to 21, Jeddah Old Town will host the inaugural Red Sea Film Festival, a nine-day international celebration that promises to showcase “the world’s best films, educational workshops, informative industry master classes, immersive art experiences, experimental projects and other cinematic events.” The festival will feature a retrospective honoring the pioneering Egyptian film director, Khairy Beshara, who will attend public screenings of nine of his films, remastered and restored by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.
7
Will 2020 be the year that superfast fifth-generation 5G mobile Internet access changes your life? STC and Zain have already launched 5G services — which promise faster upload and download speeds — in Saudi Arabia, as have Etisalat and du in the UAE and Batelco in Bahrain. But 2020 is predicted to be the year that the prices of handsets, infrastructure and data will fall dramatically, not only bringing the benefits of superfast connectivity to phone users everywhere, but also facilitating and speeding the adoption of information-hungry autonomous vehicles.
8
If you need an excuse to upgrade your mobile connectivity to 5G, look ahead to July 25, when athletes from the region and the world will converge on Japan for the Tokyo Olympics. The six GCC nations will be hoping to improve on the tally of one gold, two silver and one bronze medals that they brought back from Rio in 2016. If you want to make sure you don’t miss them in action, keep a careful eye on the competition schedule at tokyo2020.org and be prepared for some early starts — some events are scheduled for 9 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. in the UAE.
9
Futurists predict that 2020 will be the year that artificial intelligence (AI) jumps the barrier from behind-the-scenes data manipulation to mainstream applications, revolutionizing media, entertainment, transport and more — but also potentially threatening millions of jobs as roles for which human beings were once essential go the way of automation.
10
Virgin Hyperloop One, the company behind the long-awaited rapid-transit system that the company claims will one day shrink the journey time from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to just 12 minutes, says it plans to break ground in 2020 on a Center of Excellence in King Abdullah Economic City that could propel Saudi Arabia to the forefront of hyperloop development worldwide. There are plans to build the world’s first full-speed test track and a manufacturing plant, creating 124,000 high-tech jobs for the Kingdom, from which hyperloop parts would be exported to other markets. Actual travel by hyperloop, however, remains some way off — perhaps by 2029, says Virgin.
11
A dramatic opening ceremony and spectacular celebrations are planned for the long-delayed opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a hugely ambitious project on which work began in 2002 and which is finally scheduled to open its doors to the public at a yet-to-be-decided date in 2020. Barely 2 kilometers from the pyramids of Giza, this will be the world’s largest archaeological museum. Bringing all the treasures of ancient Egypt under one roof as “a gift from Egypt to the whole world,” it is a bold attempt to put the country back on the world tourism trail and reinvigorate an economy damaged by years of political instability and terrorist violence.
12
With Boris Johnson and the Conservative party back in power with a much improved majority, the UK is now certain to leave the EU on Jan. 31. The immediate ramifications of Brexit for overseas visitors and foreigners living in the UK remain unclear. What is clear, however, is that with Britain now not only free but also desperate to sign new trade agreements around the world in double-quick time, canny trading partners everywhere will be looking to exploit the London’s isolation from the powerful European trading bloc.
13
In July, Nasa’s Mars 2020 mission blasts off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, opening a new chapter in the race to colonize the red planet. It will take the Mars 2020 Rover about seven months to make the journey to the Jezero Crater, where it will spend more than 680 Earth days (one Mars year) collecting samples and other intelligence vital for future human expeditions to the red planet. Rover will not be alone. Orbiting above will be the UAE’s Emirates Mars Mission’s Hope Probe, designed to answer key questions about the Martian atmosphere with future colonization in mind.
14
Teams from Oman, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan will be in Australia for the 2020 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, to be held in seven locations across the country from Perth to Brisbane. Regional teams are expected to do well — three of the six championships held since the World Cup was inaugurated in 2007 have been won by India (2007), Pakistan (2009) and Sri Lanka (2014).
15
It is 40 years since the world managed to eradicate the curse of smallpox but in the past four decades every other disease targeted for elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO) has proved stubbornly resilient. That could all change in 2020, the deadline set by WHO and its supporting agencies for the eradication of polio, a crippling disease that remains endemic in just three countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
16
COP26, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland next November, has been described as “the meeting to save human civilization.” This is the climate-change summit at which nations will be expected to follow the commitments they made in Paris five years ago — already exposed as insufficient to prevent the target of 2 degrees of warming — with realistic, actionable plans. Inspiration to act may come from the 52nd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Paris in February, at which scientists will release their revised assessments of the globe’s environmental state.
17
The last three months of 2019 in Iraq were marred by increasingly bitter and deadly protests triggered by frustration with corruption, poor public services and Iranian influence, leaving 500 protesters dead and tens of thousands wounded, according to the UN. With warnings that the violence “risks placing Iraq on a dangerous trajectory” and no replacement in sight yet for Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, will 2020 see the crisis deepen — or protesters’ calls for political overhaul met?
18
Out of the news cycle for now, the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and North Africa continues. Across the region, says UNICEF, more than 70 million vulnerable people, including 32 million children, desperately need help, with harsh winters in store. To provide it, the UN is appealing to donor nations to pledge $10.4 million in 2020.
19
From Jan. 16 to Feb. 1, the UAE emirate of Sharjah will play host to the first international spin-off of Edinburgh’s famous Fringe Festival to be held in the Middle East. Expect 17 days of theater, dance, circus and music featuring artists from around the world.
20
Few countries in the world will be unaffected by the outcome of the US presidential election on Nov. 3. President Trump is likely to survive impeachment proceedings brought by the Democrats — his trial in January will be held in the Republican-controlled senate, and the prosecution is unlikely to win the two thirds necessary to remove him from office. That could mean a second term and continuation of uncertainty over global trade wars, Trump’s on-off relationship with North Korea and, if the US continues its retreat from the world stage, big questions about what will happen when Russia and China fill the vacuum across the MENA region. | 1 |
A two-year-old petition calling for the removal of Meghan McCain from 'The View' has gained an uptick in support, with more than 2,000 joining it in the past few days.
A Wednesday update to the petition - called 'The View on ABC please replace Meghan McCain with Ana Navarro or bring Jedidiah Bila back' - has garnered just over 2,300 signatures.
The 2,000 mark was hit early on Wednesday morning for the petition, which was initially created two years ago by Catherine Iyoha-Idiong.
It's not clear what sparked the sudden surge in support for the old petition.
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A Wednesday update to the petition - called 'The View on ABC please replace Meghan McCain with Ana Navarro or bring Jedidiah Bila back' - has garnered just over 2,300 signatures
The petition is close to 2,400 signatures
'Anyone who like me has watched The View for years and has seen the sourness and immaturity that Meghan has brought to the show doesn't need much persuasion,' the petition reads.
'Let's get her OFF our favorite morning show and back to Faux News where she can safely keep discussing Obama possibly faking tears with onions after little children were murdered at school.'
People commenting on the petition call McCain 'disrespectful' and say that her hiring was the 'worst decision' that the talk show has made.
The petition calls for Ana Navarro or Jedidiah Bila to take McCain's place on the panel of women.
Navarro, a Republican strategist who has worked for both John McCain and Jon Huntsman Jr - who both have daughters on the panel - has become more and more popular with the show's audience since she first appeared on 'The View' in 2015.
McCain - who joined the talk show in 2017 - has had intense battles with both her liberal co-hosts and with guests visiting the show
The petition calls for Ana Navarro or Jedidiah Bila to take McCain's place on the panel of women
Bila, another conservative voice on the panel, appeared on 'The View' in 2016 but left after a little more than a year. She did appear as a guest on the show in 2018.
McCain - who joined the talk show in 2017 - has had intense battles with both her liberal co-hosts and with guests visiting the show.
She infamously stormed off the set of the morning talk show in September after getting into a heated debate with Ana Navarro over the Trump whistleblower.
Last month, Whoopi Goldberg asked her co-host to 'please stop talking' when McCain refused to let other people speak when discussing the impeachment inquiry.
Goldberg would later explain that things were copacetic between the two.
McCain even notably had words for Democratic Presidential nominee hopeful, Elizabeth Warren, when discussing why the politician would not appear on Fox News. | A petition to get Meghan McCain removed from “The View” that was started nearly two years ago has had a recent spike in signatures, hitting a total of more than 2,000 supporters as of Wednesday morning.
The petition’s author wants ABC to replace McCain with either Ana Navarro, a former aide to Jeb Bush and John McCain (Meghan McCain's late father), or Jedidiah Bila, a former "Fox & Friends" weekend host who later became a co-host of "The View" until leaving the program in 2017.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, MEGHAN MCCAIN EXPLAIN NASTY 'VIEW' SPAT: 'WE ARE ALL PASSIONATE WOMEN'
Some of the petition’s supporters say McCain has been “disrespectful,” a “loud mouth” and “petulant" on the program.
McCain joined the morning talk show in 2017 and has had several on-air blowups with her more liberal co-hosts.
During an argument over impeachment last month, co-host Whoopi Goldberg told McCain to “stop talking.”
Goldberg later explained that things sometimes get “heated” on the show and that all of the co-hosts are “passionate.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
McCain echoed that the women “fight like we’re family.” | 4 |
Today marks a new decade. It is a time of hope, optimism and fresh possibilities. We look forward as a nation to the 2020s as the opportunity to build on the foundations we have laid together on security, diversification of our economy and taking on the curse of corruption. These are the pledges on which I have been twice elected President and remain the framework for a stable, sustainable and more prosperous future.
Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. I salute the commitment of the millions who voted in peace last February and of those leaders who contested for office vigorously but fairly, submitting to the authority of the electorate, the Independent National Electoral Commission and judicial process. I understand very well the frustrations our system has in the past triggered. I will be standing down in 2023 and will not be available in any future elections. But I am determined to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across the region, where several ECOWAS members go to the polls this year.
As Commander-in-Chief, my primary concern is the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens. When I assumed office in May 2015 my first task was to rally our neighbours so that we could confront Boko Haram on a coordinated regional basis. Chaos is not a neighbour any of us hope for.
We have been fighting on several fronts: violent extremists, cultists and organised criminal networks. It has not been easy. But as we are winning the war, we also look to the challenge of winning the peace, the reconstruction of lives, communities and markets. The North East Development Commission will work with local and international stakeholders to help create a new beginning for the North East.
The Federal Government will continue to work with State Governors, neighbouring states and our international partners to tackle the root causes of violent extremism and the networks that help finance and organise terror. Our security forces will receive the best training and modern weaponry, and in turn will be held to the highest standards of professionalism, and respect for human rights. We will use all the human and emerging technological resources available to tackle kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.
The new Ministry of Police Affairs increased recruitment of officers and the security reforms being introduced will build on what we are already delivering. We will work tirelessly at home and with our allies in support of our policies to protect the security of life and property. Our actions at all times will be governed by the rule of law. At the same time, we shall look always to engage with all well-meaning leaders and citizens of goodwill to promote dialogue, partnership and understanding.
We need a democratic government that can guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hard-working people. Our policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry. Our new Economic Advisory Council brings together respected and independent thinkers to advise me on a strategy that champions inclusive and balanced growth, and above all fight poverty and safeguard national economic interests.
As we have sat down to celebrate with friends and family over this holiday season, for the first time in a generation our food plates have not all been filled with imports of products we know can easily be produced here at home. The revolution in agriculture is already a reality in all corners of the country. New agreements with Morocco, Russia and others will help us access on attractive terms the inputs we need to accelerate the transformation in farming that is taking place.
A good example of commitment to this inclusive growth is the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the creation of the National Action Committee to oversee its implementation and ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to allow us to fully capitalise on regional and continental markets.
The joint land border security exercise currently taking place is meant to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and security. No one can doubt that we have been good neighbours and good citizens. We have been the helpers and shock-absorbers of the sub-region but we cannot allow our well-planned economic regeneration plans to be sabotaged. As soon as we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed.
Already, we are making key infrastructure investments to enhance our ease of doing business. On transportation, we are making significant progress on key roads such as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja – Kano highway. 2020 will also see tangible progress on the Lagos to Kano Rail line. Through Executive Order 007, we are also using alternative funding programmes in collaboration with private sector partners to fix strategic roads such as the Apapa-Oworonshoki Express way. Abuja and Port Harcourt have new international airport terminals, as will Kano and Lagos in 2020. When completed, all these projects will positively impact business operations in the country. These projects are not small and do not come without some temporary disruption; we are doing now what should have been done a long time ago. I thank you for your patience and look forward to the dividends that we and future generations will long enjoy.
Power has been a problem for a generation. We know we need to pick up the pace of progress. We have solutions to help separate parts of the value chain to work better together. In the past few months, we have engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop a series of comprehensive solutions to improve the reliability and availability of electricity across the country. These solutions include ensuring fiscal sustainability for the sector, increasing both government and private sector investments in the power transmission and distribution segments, improving payment transparency through the deployment of smart meters and ensuring regulatory actions maximise service delivery. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/01/01/a-new-year-letter-from-president-buhari/amp/ 15 Likes 8 Shares | 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 |
People in Roscommon are being urged to consider donating blood early in the New Year.
Over Christmas and New Year the Irish Blood Transfusion Service have stated
they struggled to keep supplies due to a surge in illness, particularly flu in the run up to the holidays.
While the service had been running additional Sunday clinics prior to Christmas and New Year, they have organised a clinic Roscommon in the first two weeks of 2020 to ensure they have adequate donations.
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A clinic will run from the 7th to the 9th of January in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
Finbar Gethin from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has encouraged people in the region to attend particularly now that the lifting of certain criteria has made it easier: | Surrounded by snow, Indian soldiers sing heartwarming song for the New Year
01 Jan 2020, 01:49PM IST
Source: TOI.in
A heartwarming video of Indian army soldiers celebrating Christmas on a snowy altitude has surfaced on the internet and is winning hearts all over. While the entire nation celebrates New Year with joy today, the on-duty soldiers on a snowy peak also joined in the celebrations with a cheery spirit. All of them appear to be in a cheerful mood as they clap and groove to the tunes of the song. This video will definitely make your day merrier. | 1 |
Adweek's annual #Brandweek summit will explore the ideas behind breakthrough successes, discuss solutions to pressing challenges and explore new opportunities in the Metaverse. Join leaders from Alo Yoga, Hyundai Motor America, Frito-Lay and more, Sept. 12–16 in Miami. Sign up early to save. | W. Quill
What does power most dearly fear
perhaps not first what one may think
an idea which really is a thread
spun through the eyes,teasing the ears
on it’s pathway into the readers head.
Pen ‘n Ink’s been exiled ‘n flogged
so,what power most dearly fears then!
are those long censored ‘n dogged
who’ll grasp the torch ‘n raise again!
the forgotten power of Ink ‘n Pen
Today we have the technocrats
these spoiled,wealth inherited brats!
building their ships on sinking seas
then fleeing them like rats!
why then is Ink ‘n Pen important?
it’s because it’s hard to defeat
not like the technology of today
so easy to hack ‘n delete
blowing their smoke into “The Cloud”!
so what comes out is” SHLEET”
Ailing arrows,the touch of a key
sent piercing the heart of a nation
No Bot,Troll or techno scroll
can change or erase the printed text
of a book or newspapers’ publication.
The Bison Cafe ‘n morning coffee
The P.A. Herald,sometimes a book!
I’m able to sit,relax ‘n think
trusting whats there I read and look
as I savor my warm delicious drink
In a chair that holds me softly. | 1 |
North Carolina hospital secures loan to pay employees
After two missed pay periods, employees of Washington Regional Medical Center in Plymouth, N.C., are expected to be paid this week, according to TV station WCTI.
Hospital employees did not receive their paychecks Dec. 13 and haven't been paid since. The hospital postponed issuing paychecks after a loan fell through at the last minute, Frank Avignone, CEO of Affinity Health Partners, which operates Washington Regional Medical Center, told WNCT.
The hospital, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, is catching up on payroll with a $500,000 loan from First Capital. Affinity secured the loan, which was approved by a bankruptcy judge Dec. 30, according to WITN.
More articles on healthcare finance:
UPMC drops tax appeal after announcing hospital will close
Paychecks late at Tennessee hospital
Kansas hospital at risk of losing Medicare funding
© Copyright ASC COMMUNICATIONS 2020. Interested in LINKING to or REPRINTING this content? View our policies by clicking here. | WAKE FORREST, N.C. (AP) — A couple in North Carolina say they popped a frozen pizza into the oven only to discover that a snake was burning inside about 10 minutes later.
Amber Helm told the Raleigh News & Observer Wednesday that her family had hoped to have an easy dinner on Monday night in Wake Forrest.
But Helm said the oven started smoking and smelling terrible as they waited for their pizza to cook.
“I opened up the oven and thought ‘is that part of the oven?’ I looked more closely and it was a snake,'” she said.
She said she left the pizza behind and took her young sons out to eat. Her husband stayed behind to deal with the snake.
“I put the oven on self clean after I pulled that crispy critter out,” Robert Helm said.
The snake was about 18 inches long and the diameter of a quarter.
The Helms said their oven had been snake free when they baked a ham on Christmas.
Their worry now is how the snake got into the house.
“I have two little boys so I’m just so concerned,” Amber Helm said. “Every time I see a shadow I’m like freaking out.” | 1.25 |
Back in 1987, veteran Joe Walsh co-founded the north San Diego County chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assn. because he believed the men he served with on that fateful day of Dec. 7, 1941, “deserved to be remembered.”
Now, respects are being paid to Walsh, who died Dec. 21 after a brief illness at the Pacifica Senior Living complex in Vista. He was 100 years old.
Walsh was the last surviving active member of the association’s Chapter 31, following the death in February of chapter co-founder John Quier, 98, of Fallbrook.
As the chapter’s longtime president, Walsh organized Pearl Harbor Memorial Day services each Dec. 7 at Oceanside Harbor. Over the years, he never missed a service, including one held earlier this month.
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“I think he was holding on for this year’s service,” said daughter Joan Culver of Fallbrook."It meant a lot to him.”
At his 100th birthday party in March, Walsh said his memories of that morning 78 years ago were still razor-sharp.
“You don’t forget something like that,” he said.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joe Walsh in Guam in 1945, during World War II. (Courtesy photo)
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Then a Marine in the 3rd Defense Battalion, Walsh was at a color guard ceremony in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard when the Japanese attack began at 7:55 a.m. He and his fellow Marines manned three anti-aircraft guns, trying to shoot down the invading planes before they could sink the American battleships near the harbor’s entrance.
“I didn’t have time to get scared,” he recalled. “You don’t think about it. You did what you were told to do. You manned your gun and tried to get anyone you could.”
A few weeks after the attack, Walsh was shipped to the desolate Johnston Atoll in the South Pacific to build air defenses. Then, after a brief stint in Navy flight school, he spent the rest of the war in the Marine Corps’ VMO-8 observation squadron, according to a biography written by local World War II historian Linda Dudik.
Walsh served nine years in the Marines, retiring at the rank of gunnery sergeant. During the Korean War, he was called back to active duty to serve as a drill sergeant major at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Culver said.
Although he was proud to have served his country, Walsh never glamorized his military experiences, and he was grateful that his sons never had to fight in a war. He found those years challenging and often harsh, especially the severe deprivation he suffered on Johnston Atoll.
“It was pretty rough,” he said last spring. “All I could think of was how to get the hell out.”
A native of East Orange, N.J., Walsh joined the Marines in 1938 not for the adventure but for the steady income it would provide. It was the Great Depression, and jobs were scarce. Walsh earned $19 a week in the Marines and sent $10 from every paycheck home to his mom, who raised him and his siblings alone after his father abandoned the family when Joe was 5, Culver said.
Walsh met his future wife, LaVonne “Bea” Phaneuf, at the wedding of a fellow Marine in 1945. That marriage didn’t last, but the Walshes’ union, sealed in 1946, endured for 73 years and produced six children. Bea was also a Marine veteran, having served in the Aviation Women’s Reserve Squadron 21 at Brown Field in Quantico, Va. She was one of just 23,000 women who enlisted during World War II.
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Dudik said Friday she would visit the Walshes every Saturday at Pacifica, and she and Culver would push the couple around in wheelchairs side by side. “They were a lovely couple. They held hands when we wheeled them down wide hallways,” Dudik said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Levin holds the congressional record recognizing married Marine veterans LaVonne “Bea” Walsh, 95, and Joe Walsh, 100, on Joe’s 100th birthday in March. (U.S. Marine Corps)
For decades after he left the military, Walsh never shared his war memories with his family. That changed in the mid-1980s when he was invited to speak to students at a San Diego County school and was shocked to discover the children had never heard of the Pearl Harbor attack, Culver said.
That led to the founding of Chapter 31 and the annual memorials at Oceanside Harbor’s small-craft fishing pier. In 2006, working with his wife and Quier, Walsh successfully campaigned to have the city install a stone Pearl Harbor memorial monument by the pier.
“The guys who were over there who didn’t make it back deserved to be remembered,” Walsh said in March. “We didn’t want to forget any of them.”
At its peak in the 1990s, Chapter 31 had 130 members. That count gradually dwindled in recent years as members died. At this month’s Pearl Harbor Memorial Day ceremony in Oceanside, the only two Pearl Harbor veterans in attendance were Walsh and Oceanside resident George Coburn, 99, who served on the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk by a torpedo during the attack.
After World War II, Walsh returned to New Jersey, where he earned a business degree at Seton Hall University. Except for his Korean War years in El Toro, he spent the rest of his career working for Prentice Hall Publishing. From his home in Encinitas, he traveled by car throughout the Southwest selling legal and tax books to judges, lawyers and CPAs. He retired in 1986 at age 67 and moved with Bea to Fallbrook, where the couple lived for nearly 30 years before moving to Pacifica Senior Living a few years ago.
Walsh is survived by his wife and their six children: Kate Walsh of San Diego; Joan Culver of Fallbrook; Patrick Walsh of Arizona; Mary Adams of Portola Valley; Thomas Walsh of Oregon; and Christopher Walsh of Encinitas; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Walsh’s ashes will be interred in a brief graveside service at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego. Culver said his tombstone would be engraved with the words “Prince of a Fellow,” the beloved and fitting nickname by which her father was known among family and friends since his boyhood days. | A Vermont man's love of history and country have led him to take a special trip this week, which he's calling a true honor.
"This is a bucket list item that came early," said Marty Irons, a pharmacist at Beauchamp & O'Rourke Pharmacy in Rutland, who is heading to Hawaii to attend commemoration services this weekend at Pearl Harbor.
When he's not filling prescriptions, Irons is a hobbyist historian, who was invited to attend services at Pearl Harbor.
This weekend marks the 78th anniversary of the sneak attack by Japanese forces that killed more than 2,400 Americans and injured many more, spurring the U.S. to enter World War II.
"It forever changed this country," Irons said of the attacks of Dec. 7, 1941.
Irons interviewed as many veterans as he could for a book he wrote about the war in the Pacific. Titled "Phalanx Against the Divine Wind," the book project was dedicated to learning more about his late father-in-law's service to the Navy, and teaching readers about events of the war in a relatable way.
Those relationships with veterans are what led to the Pearl Harbor invite, Irons said.
"It's fun getting together and meeting these 93, 95, 100-year-old sailors," Irons told necn. "They're terrific guys."
Irons said he will be there for three memorial services, two of which are normally off-limits to members of the public, because they're on such hallowed ground at the base.
Irons said considering how quickly this country is losing its World War II vets, especially Pearl Harbor vets, marking the sacred anniversary with some of them will be an honor.
"We also want to remember that time that America came together, and I think probably even more than ever, this is the time to remember that," Irons said.
The pharmacist said he may well get material for his next book project, too. | 3 |
It promises to be a busy 2020 in Delta. The Optimist is taking a look at 20 significant issues or events that are scheduled to play out in the coming 12 months.
Here is one of them:
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Delta Hospice Society
It was a tumultuous 2019 for the society with bitter infighting over whether the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner should provide Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Following a recent heated AGM, the balance of power of the society’s board changed with the majority of directors now opposed to MAiD. After the AGM, they wasted no time in repealing a policy approved by the previous board just a week prior to allow MAiD, which has set up a possible showdown with Fraser Health. The region’s policy mandates MAiD be provided at hospices, but it remains to be seen if Fraser Health will pull its funding if the board doesn’t comply. | It promises to be a busy 2020 in Delta. The Optimist is taking a look at 20 significant issues or events that are scheduled to play out in the coming 12 months.
Here is one of them:
article continues below
Delta Hospital expansion
A major new addition for Delta Hospital is scheduled to open by late February. The Peter C. and Elizabeth Toigo Diagnostic Services Building will double the size of the hospital's current diagnostic services area and will provide space for approximately 32,000 additional patient visits per year. Originally estimated at $12.5 million, the finished project will cost more than $15 million, half of which was raised by the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation. That total included a sizable donation from the Delta Hospital Auxiliary as well as $2.5-million from the Toigo family. Many contributions also came from community groups, businesses and individuals. | 2.666667 |
Sharjah's forensic investigators were involved in more than 15,000 crimes this year
The poisoning of a child at a family home and an industrial chlorine leak that left more than 70 people hurt are among the complex cases tackled by a top forensics unit.
The Sharjah Police Forensics Laboratory was involved in 15,513 investigations in the past year, probing tragic accidents and complex crimes.
Their workload has risen every year, from 12,554 cases in 2017 to 13,054 in 2018.
The team investigated the death of Khuzaimah Khan, 10, in Al Nahda in May.
No one can get away with it, no matter what interfering agents they use to mask drugs in their urine or blood samples Idris Mohammed, Sharjah Police Forensic Laboratory
He and his twin sister Komal, who survived, were taken to hospital after industrial pesticides were used to fumigate a nearby flat. The investigation has yet to reach a conclusion.
Lab chief Brig Ahmed Al Serkal spoke of the case as he gave The National a tour of the facilities this week. He said the tragedy was one of five cases involving the use of hydrogen sulph ide-based pesticides.
The unit of 46 investigators and technicians was also involved in the investigation of an industrial chlorine leak in February that killed one person and left more than 70 needing treatment.
“Our on-site management plan for a chlorine leakage that affected 73 people in Sharjah’s industrial area helped contain the disaster,” Brig Al Serkal said.
The department spent years adding samples of evidence from crime scenes, prisoners and suspects to its DNA database and there are now 6,412 people listed.
The investment has paid off and the lab has helped to solve crimes using 164 DNA matches.
Emergency services respond to a chlorine gas leak that killed one person and left more than 70 in need of treatment in May
The unit's experts find their time increasingly taken up by drug cases.
Toxicology expert Idris Mohammed said the lab’s up-to-date equipment tests for traces when suspects have tried to cover up their drug use or flush it from their system.
“No one can get away with it, no matter what interfering agents they use to mask drugs in their urine or blood,” he said.
Dr Taj Abbas, a chemist, said the forensics team had come across all manner of smuggling techniques, including the smuggling of "gold in dough, inside protein powder, or [drugs] in the form of candy tin boxes, smuggling drugs inside sesame seeds " .
Though gun crimes are rare in the Emirates, the unit developed a residue programme to analyse bullet fragments and the traces of gunpowder on an assailant 's hands and clothing.
In a country in which cheques are still widely used, forgeries remain relatively common.
“We've solved many forgery cases, including altering passports, educational degrees, cheques, among others and I see that criminals are always one step ahead,” said anti-forgery technician Sayyed Shaaban.
The unit also provides a range of career paths to bright, young science graduates.
Noura Jaleel, who has a degree in biotechnology, is among the few Emiratis in the unit.
She called on young people with an interest in science to embrace the chance to work in a different field.
“It's not all about dead bodies," she told The National. "It's a wide and extremely interesting science offering new developments and challenges everyday."
Her colleague, Aisha Al Tunaiji, who joined five months ago, said she each day fascinates her .
“I love the work and I want to learn more. And surprisingly, I was not afraid to see and work on corpses." | Funding for tech startups has been on an inevitable upswing for years, a result of a virtuous circle where wildly successful tech companies on the public markets whet the appetites of investors and investors’ backers to find more diamonds, a push met by a pull from the rush of talent with entrepreneurial aspirations out to put that money to work.
2019 has felt a bumper year in that longer trend, with 9-figure rounds ($100 million or more) and “unicorn” statuses so prevalent that the numbers have started to cease to be news items in themselves.
With 2020 now just days away, a look at the 50 biggest funding rounds for start-ups in the past year draws out some trends. We’re pulling out the top five below for a closer look, but it’s interesting too to see some of the other trends emerging across the rest of the pack.
Automotive remains a huge pull when it comes to raising big bucks: part of the reason is because the space is capital intensive, as it straddles both software and hardware (that is, not just equipment but cars).
Capex is another reason for some of the other big investment rounds of the year, such as the biggest of them all, for an internet data center startup.
Asian companies figure massive in the list and account for 7 of the 10 biggest rounds in the list.
Small players: there were only three companies in health tech in the top 50, only one in education technology, and only three in the areas of AI and robotics. I don’t know if that means these areas simply don’t require as much capital investment, or if these challenges are simply not as interesting right now for investors as those more squarely focused on revenue generation and business needs.
Hopefully the former, as the wider tech world faces a lot of cynicism and skepticism from the public and could use a better profile from solving actual problems.
Note: for this piece, we have focused on investments made in pre-IPO technology companies, and on new equity investments rather than secondary or debt rounds. | 1 |
The year 2019 was one of headlines about horrific violence committed against innocent and vulnerable people living in South Africa.
From ongoing attacks on women and children, to the apparent targeting of foreign nationals and the deployment of the army to the Cape Flats – violence grabbed the headlines and the attention of citizens in 2019, who registered their horror and marched in protest to make their voices heard.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also cancelled travel plans and important economic forum appearances to address the nation, and come up with measures to show that the government was serious about the levels of angst in the country.
How did we get here?
Cape Flats
There has been an all-out war on the Cape Flats for many years as gangs continue to fight it out for turf and power.
Those who try to go about their daily lives often end up with the bullet wounds – unarmed men, women and children fall while walking or running to their homes, hiding away or playing outside.
This bloodshed is reflected in official crime statistics.
The Cape Flats is home to the Western Cape's 10 police precincts which have the highest attempted murder rates, contributing to 42% of the attempted murders in the province.
For years, many in the community, along with the City of Cape Town and the DA, have been calling for the army to intervene and help the police enforce law and order.
Their pleas were finally heard in July following a heightened spate of recorded murders. Police Minister Bheki Cele announced then that the army would be deployed to help stabilise ganglands in these 10 areas.
This was after Ramaphosa finally gave the go-ahead and wrote up the legally required letter to Parliament. He has since extended the deployment until March, 2020.
But there is still bloodshed.
A night of horror unfolded in Delft in August when separate shootings left three people dead and several others injured.
In September, gunmen kicked down the door of a structure in Elsies River and mowed down three children and a teenager.
Last month, three men and a woman were shot dead in their home in Mitchells Plain.
And in December, notorious gang leader Rashied Staggie was gunned down outside his Salt River home in the early hours of a Friday morning.
It remains to be seen what long-term impact the army will have in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Elsies River, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Philippi, Kraaifontein and Manenberg.
Cele proudly stated in September that the work of the police, together with the SA National Defence Force, had resulted in more than 1 000 arrests in gang-ridden areas.
Of those, 806 were already in the system and were wanted for various crimes, including murder, attempted murder, hijacking and theft.
People are still being killed and, as stated by the Institute for Security Studies' Dr Johan Burger, the army, due to leave in March, cannot do the police's job.
#AmINext
The murder of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, at a Cape Town post office shocked the nation, coming at a time where many murders of young women were being reported.
Horror killings hogged the headlines, such as that of South African boxer Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels, University of Western Cape student Jesse Hess, horse-riding enthusiast Meghan Cremer and Cape Town resident Lynette Volschenk, who was dismembered in her home.
In Mrwetyana's case, it emerged that post office employee Luyanda Botha lured her there on August 24 and when she didn't welcome his sexual advances, raped her and used a 2kg weight, used to weigh packages, to bludgeon her to death. He then hid her body in the office safe, before transporting it the next day, to be burnt and buried.
The nature of her murder, committed by a government employee in a public building in the afternoon, shocked the country. Women took to social media to express that they were not safe anywhere, not even in a public place or if they were equipped with self-defence skills.
Protesters gather to hand over a memorandum of grievances during a gender-based violence demonstration outside Parliament. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)
The senseless killings prompted the nationwide #AmINext movement, with victims of abuse calling out their alleged abusers, which was documented on a viral thread on Twitter.
It sparked marches and protests across the country against gender-based violence, including and especially at universities, where students demanded that campuses be made safer.
Even international delegates attending the World Economic Forum in Cape Town were confronted with the chants of protesters who cried out for something to be done about the high rate of rapes and murders.
Riot police were brought in as the group, many students, demanded to address Ramaphosa.
Ironically, their cries for an end to violence were met with a heavy-handed approach in the form of stun grenades and several arrests.
Last month, Botha was sentenced to life in prison for murder, two life sentences for both counts of rape, and five years for defeating the course of justice, in terms of a plea and sentencing agreement.
Xenophobia
At around the same time, foreign nationals in Gauteng bore the brunt of sporadic violence across all three of the province's major metros.
Communities looted both foreign-owned and local shops while calling for an end to drug syndicates.
Ten of the 12 people killed in the ensuing violence were South Africans, and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the evidence did not show that foreign nationals were being targeted because of their nationality.
She reiterated that South Africa was not a xenophobic country.
Pressure was on Ramaphosa to give an official response to both the gender-based violence and the apparent xenophobic violence.
Marchers against xenophobia in Johannesburg in April 2015. (PHOTO: Bridget Mnyulwa of Sonke Gender Justice)
He did so in an address to the nation on television, calling for calm and acknowledging that the period had been traumatic for the country.
He also opted out of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Using a provision in the Constitution normally called upon for State of the Nation Addresses, he held an extraordinary sitting of Parliament instead to tackle gender-based violence and femicide.
"There were 52 000 sexual offences reported in SA in 2018/19. Over the last weeks… we have been shaken by the brutal killings of women and acts of violence have just really exploded in this province," he told residents at Lusikisiki College in the Eastern Cape.
The result of the extraordinary sitting was a five-point emergency plan to be implemented over six months.
Pack up and go
Later that month, Ramaphosa was booed while delivering a speech at a memorial for former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe in Harare.
He said Zimbabweans only accepted him after he offered an apology for the violence committed against foreign nationals.
"It was only when I said I regret what is happening in our country and offered an apology on behalf of all of us as SA, that is when they responded positively in accepting that apology. I have apologised on your behalf and I hope that will sink into our consciousness."
He added: "The world expects us to behave in a way where we respect the rights of people from other nations."
Desperate Nigerians living in South Africa, including some who were forced to close their businesses following the attacks on foreign nationals, signed up for free flights back to Nigeria, instead of taking the risk of staying.
In Cape Town and Pretoria, groups of foreign nationals pleaded with the United Nations in weeks of protests outside their regional offices to be taken to another country.
Where to next?
While the government follows its plan to tackle gender-based violence, stories continue to emerge of women who are killed.
Last month, 21-year-old Limpopo student Precious Ramabulana was stabbed 52 times after her attacker sneaked through the window of her rented room while she was asleep.
Her alleged attacker, Aubrey Manaka, 28, has not yet pleaded to charges of rape, murder, housebreaking with intent to rob and aggravated robbery.
Commemorations for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women have done little to stem the bloodshed.
Tebogo Setlhare was arrested on November 25 for the murder of his girlfriend, Kgaugelo Tshwae, 28, in Mmakau village in the North West.
Her burnt body was found after she apparently failed to return home from a holiday.
Also occurring during the 16 days, was the brutal attack on a woman from uMkhuze, allegedly by her husband.
She lost her arm and also had a cracked skull.
A plastic and reconstructive surgeon said her life would never be the same.
He added that as a teacher, she "needs a hand and one of her hands has lost function, but we will try to restore function to that hand. It will take multiple surgeries."
We do not know what 2020 holds, but 2019 has many lessons for South Africa. | Africa starts 2020 battling extremism, Ebola and hunger A tragic airline crash with far-reaching consequences, cataclysmic cyclones that may be a harbinger of the future, the death of an African icon and the rise of a new leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize
JOHANNESBURG -- A tragic airline crash with far-reaching consequences, cataclysmic cyclones that may be a harbinger of the future, the death of an African icon and a new leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize. These African stories captured the world's attention in 2019 — and look to influence events on the continent in 2020.
The battles against extremist violence and Ebola will also continue to be major campaigns in Africa in the coming year.
The crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa in March killed all 157 passengers and crew. The disaster, which claimed the lives of a large number of U.N. officials, involved a Boeing 737 Max jet and came just five months after a similar crash in Indonesia of the same aircraft.
Boeing was inundated with questions about the safety of its plane. After initially claiming that it was safe, the company was forced to ground the plane after many countries refused to let it fly in their airspace. In December Boeing announced that it would suspend production of the jet.
The air crash was a trial for Ethiopia's reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who later in the year won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for achieving peace with neighboring Eritrea. But Abiy is challenged by often violent ethnic rivalries in his country and elections set for May 2020 will be crucial, analysts say.
Cyclone Idai ripped into Mozambique in March, killing more than 1,300 people, making it “one of the worst weather-related disasters ever to hit the southern hemisphere,” according to the U.N. A month later Cyclone Kenneth roared into northern Mozambique, killing more than 50 people.
This was the first time in recorded history that Mozambique had two major cyclones, prompting some to worry that the country, with a 1,000-mile Indian Ocean coastline, may be prone to more storms as a result of climate change.
Across Mozambique more than 2.5 million people remain in urgent need of assistance, according to the U.N. Mozambique also starts 2020 troubled by ongoing attacks on vehicles in the country's central area and by Islamic extremist attacks in the country's north.
Extremist violence continues to vex Africa from the east to the west.
2019 began with extremist violence. In Kenya in January, insurgents launched an assault on a luxury hotel and shopping complex in Nairobi that killed at least 14 people.
The year came to an end with extremist attacks across the continent.
A bomb in Somalia killed 78 people, including many university students, in the capital, Mogadishu, on Dec. 28, the deadliest attack in years. Somalia's al-Shabab, allied to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
In Nigeria extremists linked to the Islamic State group circulated a video showing 11 hostages, most of them Christians, being executed. They were thought to be killed on Christmas Day. The extremist group, which calls itself the Islamic State West Africa Province, said the captives were executed as revenge for the killing of Islamic State group leaders in Iraq and Syria in October.
In northern Burkina Faso, jihadists killed 35 civilians, most of them women, and ensuing clashes with security forces left 80 jihadists dead, the West African nation's president announced Dec. 24. That attack came weeks after an attack on a convoy carrying employees of a Canadian mining company in which at least 37 civilians were killed in the country's east. Both attacks were by groups numbering close to 100, indicating the presence of relatively large, well-organized extremist groups.
“The startling deterioration of the security situation in Burkina Faso has been a major development in 2019," said Alex Vines, director of the Africa program at Chatham House, the British think tank. ”There's been a dramatic spike in extremist attacks."
Frequent attacks in Burkina Faso's north and east already have displaced more than a half million people, according to the United Nations. While Burkina Faso's military has received training from both former colonizer France and the United States, it starts 2020 with little progress in halting the surge in extremist violence.
Congo starts the year waging a different kind of war — a campaign against Ebola, which has killed more than 2,200 people since August 2018. The medical effort to control the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history has been severely hampered since the start by the presence of several armed groups in eastern Congo, the epicenter of the epidemic. It was hoped that new vaccines would help control the outbreak more quickly, but the violence has hampered those efforts.
Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi, elected in 2019, said in November that he was optimistic that the Ebola outbreak would be ended before 2020, but the epidemic continues throughout eastern Congo.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected in 2019, said in a New Year's statement that the need to boost his country's ailing economy and create jobs is his biggest challenge for 2020. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, also re-elected, has said that his government has controlled the rebellion by Boko Haram extremists, but violence continues to plague the country's northeast.
Zimbabwe's longtime ruler, Robert Mugabe, died at age 95 in September. Mugabe, the guerrilla leader who fought to end white-minority rule in Rhodesia and then ruled independent Zimbabwe from 1980 until 2017, left a mixed legacy of liberation, repression and economic ruin.
Zimbabwe begins the new year with severe economic problems including inflation estimated at more than 300% and widespread hunger. In an emergency appeal at the end of December, the U.N.'s World Food Program said that even though the southern African country had suffered a drought, Zimbabwe's food shortages are a “man-made” disaster, laying the blame squarely with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government.
The once-prosperous country staggered to 2020 with power shortages lasting up to 19 hours per day and large parts of the capital, Harare, a city of some 2 million people, going without running water. | 1.333333 |
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) – Hundreds of people are set to run into the frigid waters off of Tybee Island Wednesday to kick off 2020.
The annual plunge on Tybee Island attracts thousands of brave people from across the country.
Organized by the Tybee Post Theater, it is one of the largest fundraisers for the theater.
Melissa Turner, the Executive Director of the theater, says it’s a unique way they can entertain a diverse audience.
“We’ll have about 12-hundred people that actually sign up to plunge and they’re from everywhere,” says Turner. “They’re from at least 30 or 40 different states.”
Before taking the plunge, there is also a Gang of Goofs Costume Contest and Parade at the Pier. Groups who dress up in a crazy costume could win prizes.
“What’s fun for us at the theater is to just be able to provide something, another form of entertainment so-to-speak, for many people from that many different places,” says Turner.
The Gang of Goofs Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the pier while the Polar Bear Plunge is at noon.
It’s $25 for an adult and $15 for children under 12 to take the plunge. All of the proceeds collected go to the Tybee Post Theater. | Image source : timescolonist.com
Thousands of people dove into 2020 with a splash at ocean beaches throughout the capital region on Wednesday. In Sidney, thousands of onlookers watched from balconies and an oceanside walkway at the foot of Beacon Avenue as hundreds of swimmers age four to 84, fully clothed and barely clothed, ran into the ocean off Glass Beach. “The enthusiasm of these people is just amazing,” said Sidney town cr | 2 |
I don't really see it.
She looks like another actress, but I can't nail down who it is.
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kstew
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100%what I see
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the free upgrade tho
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KStew's imaginary bb sis who owns a hairbrush
Edited at 2020-01-02 03:12 am (UTC)
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theresa palmer?
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She looks a lot like Emilia Clarke to me.
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rachel mcadams!
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My first thought was Astrid Berges-Frisbey, at least in that photo.
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shes a mix of hil duff and elizabeth olsen
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I don't watch the show, but in that picture I'm getting a little bit of Mireille Enos from The Killing and Big Love
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Carly Chaikin From Mr.Robot and Suburgatory
Edited at 2020-01-02 06:23 am (UTC)
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elizabeth olsen + emma stone
basically this girl looks basic af
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She looks like Maddie Ziegler but grown up
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I see a Kat Dennings Piper Perabo hybrid
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stacey dash
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Felicity Jones
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Hilary Duff
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Liv Tyler
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Piper Perabo imo
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Evangeline Lilly
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this thread is sending me, lol
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Yep that was my first thought! Not like twins, but her looks and way of speaking were like Kat-lite. They’re both gorgeous.
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She reminds of Kristen Stewart and Riley Keough. And maybe more Riley than Kristen.
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yeah, I thought she looks more like riley keough too.
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idk about Kat so much but she looks 110% exactly like my friend's gf which makes watching this season an interesting experience
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your friend is so lucky
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I hope Kat Dennings comes back in the next Thor movie.
I was told that I look like Jennifer Lawrence once but I don't trust the guy that said it and I think I'm more like Shailene Woodley, which is kinda unfortunate tbh
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Lucky you, they're both very pretty!
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An old lady once swore I was identical to Jennifer Lawrence and to answer your question, no I am not.
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lmao
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She's apparently going to be in WandaVision I think.
I'd like to see Darcy again tbh
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I see a bit of Kristen Stewart?
I only recently realized Kat Dennings is a different person from Kristen Ritter, so I'm not the one to ask I guess.
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Her and Maddy Ziegler look alike
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Season 3 better be a main new girl with a normal name , love is different name ,
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i think so too lol
it would explain too why they decided to focus so heavily on that instead of his backstory in s1
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she definitely does just like the first girl looked like emily vancamp
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I thought the same when she was in Haunting of Hill House
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She absolutely does, it was the first thing I thought when I saw her in The Haunting of Hill House and even more so in YOU.
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I get more Kristen Stewart. I don't see Kat at all.
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Kinda, but her facial mannerisms aren't similar at all. She reminds me of someone, but I can't figure out who.
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I feel the exact opposite, like in pics not so much but in motion so much.
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ia
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same
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Her facial mannerisms really reminded me of Elizabeth Olsen.
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I think she looks like a more basic Anna Friel
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I see Sarah Sutherland
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It still blows my mind she's Kiefer Sutherland's kid.
Also christ! They really are twins.
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She’s WHAT
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she rocks both eye colors
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this girl looks like everyone
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IDK this girl but someone above said Liv Tyler and here I definitely see it.
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Link | earnings growth collapsed – basically all the fiscal injections and frontloading, or basically let's call it a sugar high – is over – that's why trump admin has been begging for nirp, qe-4 and 5, and emergency tax cuts pic.twitter.com/MnjlBmrDxh
This is a super interesting chart: normally one would assume that this index has much farther to go as funds hop on board this rally. BUT we are facing a different time in history where boomers are the major contributor to flows. Will they rejoin? Or play it safe with bonds/cash? t.co/Y0S4UAzByL
— 𝕮𝖍𝖎 🛢️ (@chigrl) January 1, 2020 | 1 |
Holidaymakers heading north of Auckland today on SH1 will be in for a long drive.
For some people just getting out of central Auckland proved difficult with a multi-vehicle crash on the Auckland Harbour Bridge slowing northbound traffic. Police were called to the incident at 12.20pm and say it was resolved before 1pm.
Traffic is busy on many parts of the popular SH1 route north, with congestion particularly heavy between Silverdale and Warkworth.
Vehicles have been moving slowly on the Windy Ridge, north of Puhoi, where there is a merging lane.
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The NZTA Traffic hotspot dashboard that shows heavy traffic between Silverdale and Warkworth. Image / NZTA
HOW DEADLY IS YOUR ROUTE THIS HOLIDAY?
According to the NZTA journey planner at midday, travelling from CBD Auckland to Whangārei would take two hours and 45 minutes instead of two hours and seven minutes.
However, using a combination of SH16 and SH1 the same journey would take two hours and 25 minutes, which is only fractionally slower than normal.
Simon Townsend, a paramedic for ProMed, was travelling south from Maungaturoto to drop his sister off at Auckland Airport today and captured the bumper to bumper traffic heading north on video.
"It was absolutely crazy," he said.
And the traffic got worse the closer they neared Auckland, he said.
"From Windy Ridge all the way to the other side of the tunnel it was stationary.
"It wasn't moving at all."
On his return trip, Townsend will be among the many who faces the long journey north and will be considering using SH16 as an alternative.
Advertisement
SH1 WELLSFORD TO PUHOI - ALLOW EXTRA TIME
Please be patient if travelling on #SH1 through this area today with traffic expected to be busy with holiday journeys most of the day: https://t.co/HVp6CEiyI6 Consider using #SH16 as an alternative. ^TP pic.twitter.com/CS4APdyHUV — NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) January 1, 2020
NZTA is urging motorists to be patient.
Traffic is expected to be busy between Puhoi to Wellsford from 10am to 4.30pm for northbound traffic and from 9.30am to 7.30pm for southbound traffic today, the agency advises.
"Road users are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their journeys when travelling through this area."
Meanwhile, traffic heading north towards Auckland is also expected to be moving slowly.
SH1 TAKANINI TO BOMBAY - ALLOW EXTRA TIME
Please be patient if travelling on #SH1 through this area today with traffic expected to be busy with holiday journeys for much of the day: https://t.co/HVp6CEiyI6 ^TP pic.twitter.com/Ujzhe28qQ4 — NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) January 1, 2020
NZTA advises traffic is expected to be busy in the Takanini area between 11.30am and 7pm for northbound traffic and between 10am and 2pm for southbound traffic today.
Traffic is also expected to be busy for northbound traffic on SH1 through Taupiri between 1.30pm and 6.30pm and 10am and 2pm for southbound traffic.
SH1 HUNTLY / TAUPIRI - ALLOW EXTRA TIME
Please be patient if travelling on #SH1 through this area today with traffic expected to be busy with holiday journeys for much of the day: https://t.co/Xwlg6YvfBP ^TP pic.twitter.com/eXfe8fHm8Z — NZTA Waikato/BoP (@NZTAWaiBoP) January 1, 2020
SH1 PEKA PEKA TO OTAKI - ALLOW EXTRA TIME
Please be patient if travelling on #SH1 through this area today with traffic expected to be busy with holiday journeys for much of the day: https://t.co/u0GSxOT64y ^TP pic.twitter.com/LJDn1iUNzf — NZTA Wellington (@NZTAWgtn) January 1, 2020
And Auckland bound traffic on SH2 from Maramarua to the SH1 interchange was also very heavy.
Stay safe, arrive alive - tips for holiday driving
Slow:
Drive within speed limits, drive at 30km/h or lower in communities, and slow down on rural roads too. Avoid overtaking unless you're sure it's safe.
Sober: If driving, don't drink any alcohol, or take any illegal drugs or medication that could affect driving.
Sharp: Drive alert – not tired, ill or stressed. Plan your journey so you have plenty of time, and take breaks every two hours on long journeys. Have an eye test at least every two years and wear glasses or contact lenses if needed.
Silent: Phone off or on message service. Minimise other distractions such as sat nav/GPS and tuning the radio as much as possible.
Secure: Always belt up and insist that everyone else in the vehicle does the same and adjusts head restraints. If travelling with children, ensure you have correctly fitted, appropriate child restraints.
Sustainable: Only drive when you have to.
Source: Brake, the road safety charity | At 11am, a long line of vehicles could be seen approaching the Johnstone Hills Tunnels.
Motorists heading out of Auckland for the day are being warned to expect long delays on State Highway One.
The worst of it is for those heading north towards Wellsford on Thursday, the New Zealand Transport Agency says.
"Please be patient if travelling on SH1 through [Puhoi to Wellsford] today with traffic expected to be busy with holiday journeys most of the day," it said.
Northbound traffic would be heavy from 10am until 4.30pm, with southbound traffic expected from 9.30am until 7.30pm.
READ MORE:
* Auckland traffic: Motorists at standstill on SH1 to Northland, more jams forecast
* Auckland's Christmas getaway: When and where holiday traffic will be at its worst
* These car safety systems lead to distracted driving, according to AAA study
Traffic was also expected to be busy in areas south of Auckland city between Takanini and Bombay.
Supplied Cars crawled towards Wellsford on SH1 on December 27.
Northbound traffic was expected to be heavy from 11.30am until 7pm and southbound traffic was expected from 10am until 2pm.
At 11am, a long line of vehicles could be seen approaching the Johnstone Hills Tunnels.
Google Maps was predicting a 43 minute ride for the 35km journey between the new destinations.
It was heaviest just before Warkworth and at Windy Ridge in Pohuehue.
On December 27, traffic between Puhoi and Wellsford crawled the majority of the day.
One motorist who was heading southbound, witnessed the same queue of traffic stretching all the way to the Northcote off ramp on Auckland's North Shore.
Puhoi Pub manager Amego Joseph described the traffic as "crazy" and it had stopped outside the Johnstones Hill tunnels.
"It happens every year. Typical Christmas traffic," he said.
Friday is expected to be heavy with traffic also heading north, with the worst of it between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
MetService is predicting a few morning showers, moving into long fine spells.
There will be southwesterlies, strong in exposed areas from the afternoon. | 3 |
Kim Jong-un says the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by North Korea in the near future - KCNA via KNS
North Korea is to abandon its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Kim Jong-un has announced.
Addressing a meeting with party officials, the North Korean leader also said the country would unveil a new strategic weapon in the new future, the country's official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," he is quoted as saying.
"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future."
North Korea has not tested a long-range missile or nuclear warhead since 2017 under a self-imposed moratorium.
But in recent weeks the North Koreans had been more bellicose as tensions escalated on the Korean peninsula.
Kim had signalled that Pyongyang was preparing a "gift" which would be unveiled if the US failed to make significant concessions in negotiations by the end of the year.
He paved the way for the move at a meeting of 300 top officials.
The North Koreans had been demanding the lifting of sanctions as a price for stepping up the pace of peace talks which appeared to have stalled.
His announcement will be a blow for Donald Trump who thought personal diplomacy could end decades of hostility.
A series of summits raised hopes that the US president's unconventional diplomatic approach could bear fruit.
Mr Trump, who had derided Kim as "Rocket Man", struck a different note over the summer praising the leader of the rogue regime.
The US president on Tuesday said he believed Kim would stick to his commitments on denuclearisation.
"We did sign a contract, talking about denuclearisation. That was the number one sentence, 'denuclearisation', that was done in Singapore. I think he's a man of his word," a tuxedo-wearing Mr Trump told reporters before heading into New Year festivities at his holiday retreat in Florida.
In Florida Mr Trump repeated his previous comments that he and Kim "like" each other and have a very good relationship.
"He is representing his country. We will do what we have to do," he added.
Hopes had been raised further when the two men met at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) which divides North and South Korea at the end of June.
The US president maintained that the suspension of nuclear tests was evidence that his approach had succeeded where others had failed and that Kim could be persuaded to give up his nuclear arsenal.
In Washington officials had sought to play down the threat from Pyongyang, despite the increasingly aggressive noises coming from North Korea.
But in recent months relations have worsened and the North Korean leader struck a harsh note at the meeting of the ruling Workers Party.
"The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.
"We can never sell our dignity," he added, saying Pyongyang would "shift to a shocking actual action to make (the US) pay for the pains sustained by our people".
Kim added that "if the US persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy," according to the agency.
Kim and President Donald Trump have met three times since June 2018, but negotiations have faltered since the collapse of their second summit last February in Vietnam.
The North announced in December that it performed two "crucial" tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent, prompting speculation that it was developing an ICBM or planning a satellite launch that would provide an opportunity to advance its missile technologies.
North Korea also last year ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity by testing a slew of solid-fuel weapons that potentially expanded its capabilities to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases there. | Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that his country would soon introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, adding that he sees little reason to stick to his country`s suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests, he had put in place during talks with the US.
Talks between North Korea and the US have stalled with Washington refusing to lift sanctions until Pyongyang fully abandons its nuclear programme. The North conducted several smaller weapons tests late in 2019, in what was seen as an attempt to pressure the US into making concessions, the BBC reported.
Speaking at a party meeting here on Wednesday, Kim said North was no longer bound by the self-declared moratorium, as the US continued joint military drills with South and had stepped up their sanctions.
"Under such condition, there is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer, the commitment to which there is no opposite party, and this is chilling our efforts for worldwide nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," state news agency KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
Live TV
He also threatened that "the world will witness a new strategic weapon" by the North "in the near future", while giving no further details.
In response to the North Korean leader`s latest threats, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he and Kim "did sign a contract, talking about denuclearisation".
"I think he`s a man of his word," he said, as he headed into New Year events in Florida.
US Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo said he hoped the North would choose peace over war.
Kim andTrump held face-to-face talks in Singapore in June 2018, and in Vietnam in February 2019, aimed at denuclearisation.
The two leaders also held an "impromptu" meeting at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea in June. | 4 |
At least 26 members of Afghanistan's security forces were killed in a new wave of Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan, local officials said on January 1.
The insurgents claimed responsibility for all the attacks.
In northern Kunduz Province, at least 10 Afghan officers were killed and four others wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on December 31, the head of the provincial council Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi said.
In Balkh Province, the Taliban killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint. The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.
In another attack on December 31 seven members of the security forces were killed in a gun battle with the Taliban, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.
Earlier this week, the Taliban said it has no intention of declaring a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan.
'In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about a cease-fire... The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no cease-fire plans,' the Taliban said in a December 30 statement.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036 | Prominent Afghan comedian and actor Asif Jalali has died of a heart attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture spokesman Sabir Mohmand told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan.
His death on January 1 has surprised people across Afghanistan, and some of his many fans have been honoring him on social media.
'Jalali did God's work by making us laugh,' Saad Mohseni, who heads the MOBY group that owns local broadcaster TOLO TV, said on Twitter.
Jalali hosted several comedy shows on local Afghan broadcasters, including the popular 'Shabkhand' ('Evening Laughter').
Film director Latif Ahmadi told the dpa news agency that Jalali has started his artistic career some 13 years in commercials.
Jalali appeared in the famous Afghani drama 'Bulbul,' in which he played the love interest of a female character.
With reporting by dpa
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036 | 1 |
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I trust everyone had a nice, or at least tolerable, Christmas?
With the presents unwrapped and the more pro-active members of the family looking forward to putting the decorations back into the attic as quickly as possible, thoughts begin to turn to the New Year – and the resolutions that go with it.
One area that people frequently cut back on in January is of course alcohol. And that makes sense – it’s expensive and it’s not exactly good for you in large doses.
However, one area of the high street this hits badly is pubs.
The great British pub is facing a lot of problems and January can be a lean time for landlords – which is never a good thing for an industry that sees pubs constantly shutting their doors, often for the final time, with depressing regularity.
You hear about more pubs being turned into houses or shops than you do about houses or shops being turned into pubs.
There’s no denying Leek still has a lot of pubs but we’ve also lost a good number in recent years – ones that spring to mind for me particularly are the Unicorn on St Edward Street, my local for many years, and the Sea Lion on Russell Street.
This was brought home to me on Christmas Day as for the first time in six or seven years the family didn’t go to our local pub for a few lunchtime pints.
There was a reason for this - the Pride of the Moorlands, better known as the Herdsman, was closed and knocked down earlier this year. Houses are set to be built on the land - but until then the site stands empty, doing nothing but serving as a reminder of what a good job the pub did of blocking the view of Barnfields Industrial Estate from Junction Road.
It’s true that I am as much to blame for this as anyone. Aside from Christmas I only went in once or twice a year, sometimes more.
A community pub isn’t going to last if the community don’t go there.
Leek and the Moorlands have excellent pubs throughout and they all deserve support - whether they’re award-winning town centre pubs like the Fountain, quirky rural pubs like the Yew Tree Inn in Cauldon or solid local pubs like the Wellington or the Priory.
Perhaps rather than a bottle of wine or a few cans at home, venture to your nearest pub.
And, let’s face it, January is a miserable month anyway – we could all use a bit of a pick-me-up.
I’ll see you in 2020 - possibly down the pub.
Cheers!
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A road in Leek is currently cordoned off as firefighters attend an incident.
Fire crews are at the scene on Southbank Street/Moorhouse Street in the Staffordshire Moorlands town this afternoon (January 1).
We now have an update on this incident.
The fire service have taped off a section of Southbank Street and police are also at the scene according to one witness who got in touch with StokeonTrentLive.
We are contacting Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for comment and will bring you further information when it becomes available.
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Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow SOTLive on Twitter .
Follow us on Instagram - Featuring pictures past and present from across Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire & South Cheshire - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow StokeonTrentLive on Instagram. | 1.666667 |
Kevin didn’t specify which character it would be (Picture: Marvel Comics)
Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting their first transgender character.
After pleas for Marvel to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their franchise, Kevin appears to have delivered in The Eternals.
When asked at the New York Film Academy whether there were any plans to introduce more diverse characters, specifically transgender characters, the 46-year-old producer said: ‘Yes, absolutely yes.
‘Very soon, in a movie, we’re shooting right now, yes.’
Kevin never specified which movie the character will appear in, but The Eternals is currently the only project in the middle of filming.
The Eternals stars Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, and Salma Hayek.
According to Kevin, The Eternals will also be getting a gay character, who is ‘married, he’s got a family, and that is just part of who he is.’
Kevin revealed The Eternals also has a gay character (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
On 7 December, a few lucky fans were treated to a first look at The Eternals, giving a glimpse at Angelina and Salma’s characters.
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Kevin hosted a panel at Comic-con in Sao Paolo where he unveiled a fresh look at Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow after the official trailer dropped last week.
But it was The Eternals preview which had everyone talking as it’s been kept tightly under wraps since news of the movie broke earlier this year.
And while the first look footage still isn’t available for the wider public, a group of lucky Comic-Con attendees were able to watch a short clip.
According to Deadline, the video showed a blonde Angelina ‘kicking some major a*s’ during a huge fight scene and, frankly, we wouldn’t expect anything less.
The rest of the heroes are then shown in different parts of the world before the footage closes with Salma’s character Ajak stating: ‘This world has changed us. We must protect it.’
Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Who is in the cast of Marvel’s The Eternals with Angelina Jolie and when is the release date?
MORE: Marvel’s The Eternals’ Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie evacuated after unexploded bomb found on set | Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige feels like a failure when big actors turn down roles in blockbuster Marvel films.
The 46-year-old film producer – who has been President of Marvel Studios since 2007 – deals with rejection on a regular bases as actors turn down iconic roles in the blockbuster franchise, but has said he can’t help feeling as though he’s done something wrong when big names walk away from movie deals.
Speaking at a Q&A at New York Film Academy, Kevin said: “It happened the other day, with an actor. There’s an actor we want for something, they come in, you give a big pitch and you can sort of tell they’re not into it. [You think] ‘I guess I’m a failure, I’ll show them, we’ll cast somebody even better.’ “ | 1.666667 |
Community calendar for Jan. 2-8
Listings of a selection of free or nonprofit community, neighborhood and arts events in Clackamas County
Community Calendar
Thursday, Jan. 2
AARP TAX AIDE: The Pioneer Adult Community Center will begin making appointments today for free tax assistance for low-to-middle-income Clackamas County taxpayers. Call 503-657-8287, ext. 0, to make an appointment.
BLOOD DRIVE: From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fred Meyer Happy Valley, 17005 S.E. Sunnyside Road, or from 2:30-7:30 p.m. at Starbucks, 1900 McLoughlin Blvd., Oregon City. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
HOME ORGANIZATION: Register now for this class in decluttering your home that runs Jan. 10-March 10 at the Pioneer Adult Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City. The fee is $114. To register, call 503-657-8287.
BABY SIGN LANGUAGE: This event takes place at 1 p.m. at the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St.
STORYTIME BREAKS: The Oak Lodge Library storytime is on break through Jan. 9, and the Gladstone Library storytime is on break through Jan. 4.
BOOK GROUP: The Elevated Readers Book Club will meet from 6:15-8 p.m. at the Oregon City Library to discuss "Snow Falling on Cedars." All are welcome.
Friday, Jan. 3
BLOOD DRIVE: From noon-6 p.m. at GracePoint Church, 10750 S.E. 42nd Ave., Milwaukie. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Saturday, Jan. 4
WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Buy local meats, cheeses, eggs, bread, preserves, honey, soaps, holiday greenery and more at the Oregon City farmers market from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 2051 Kaen Road, off Beavercreek Road. Call 503-734-0192 or visit orcityfarmersmarket.com. Also Jan. 18.
BLOOD DRIVE: Two opportunities to donate in Clackamas from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Spring Mountain Bible Church, 12152 S.E. Mather Road, or from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 8955 S.E. 82nd Ave. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: Visit audubonportland.org/event/christmas-bird-count-portland-area/ for more information.
Monday, Jan. 6
SAVVY CAREGIVER: This six-week program is designed to help family caregivers. It takes place from 10 a.m.-noon through Feb. 24 at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive. Call 503-653-8100 for more information.
BLOOD DRIVE: Three opportunities to donate in North Clackamas include from 1-6 p.m. at Damascus Community Church, 14251 S.E. Rust Way; from noon-5 p.m., Fred Meyer Garden Center, 14700 SE McLoughlin Blvd.; or from 2-7 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church Parish Center, 11709 S.E. Fuller Road. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
BLOOD DRIVE: From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Oregon City Public Library, 606 John Adams St. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
BEGINNING GENEALOGY: Drop in from 1-2:30 p.m. for assistance in genealogical research at the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St.
SENIOR LAW: Volunteer elder law attorneys provide up to a half-hour consultation on senior legal issues. To schedule an appointment, call the Milwaukie Center at 503-653-8100.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
WOMEN'S GROUP: The Happy Valley Women's Group luncheon will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Spaghetti Factory. Guest speaker will be Sarah Bushore of the U.S. Census Bureau. For reservations and information, call 503-470-0192.
BLOOD DRIVE: From 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge 1189, 610 McLoughlin Blvd., Oregon City. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
SEASONED ADULTS: The Seasoned Adult Enrichment Program presents "Pack It Up" by Anne McAlpin. Learn how to pack for any trip. All sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays at CCC on the Harmony Community Campus, 7738 S.E. Harmony Road, room HW130, just off Sunnyside Road, near Clackamas Town Center. Call 503-594-0620 for more information. Cost is $3 per session.
Thursday, Jan. 9
GLADSTONE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: All are welcome to attend this meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Gladstone City Hall Conference Room at 525 Portland Ave. Visit Gladstone-historicalsociety.org for more information.
Neighborhood meetings
BARCLAY HILLS: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, St. John the Apostle Cemetery, 451 Warner Road, Oregon City.
BEAVERCREEK: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Beavercreek Grange Hall, 22041 S. Kamrath Road. Visit Beavercreek.org, call 503-632-8370 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
BORING: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, Boring Fire Station on Highway 212. Call 503-502-5837 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
CAUFIELD: 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Oregon City School District's Bus Barn, 14551 Meyers Road.
EAGLE CREEK-BARTON: 7 p.m. Thursday, January 9, Eagle Creek Fire Station, 32200 S.E. Judd Rd. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
GAFFNEY LANE: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, Meadows Courtyard, 13637 Garden Meadow Drive, Oregon City.
JENNINGS LODGE: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Church of the Nazarene, 4180 S.E. Jennings Ave. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKE ROAD: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Rowe Middle School, 3606 S.E. Lake Road, Milwaukie.
LEWELLING: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Chapel Theatre, 4107 S.E. Harrison St., Milwaukie.
LINWOOD: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, Linwood Elementary School, 11909 S.E. Linwood Ave., Milwaukie.
OAK GROVE: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, Performing Arts Center at Rose Villa, 13505 S.E. River Road. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
RHODODENDRON: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, Mt. Hood Village, 65000 E. Highway 26, Welches. Topics will include Rhododendron's Jan. 25 Centennial Celebration. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
STAFFORD-TUALATIN VALLEY: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, Stafford Primary School, 19875 S.W. Stafford Road, unincorporated West Linn.
Arts
Thursday, Jan. 2
IMPROV CLASS: Sign up now for Jump-Start, Rising Phoenix Theater's improvisation class. It will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays from Jan. 8-Feb. 12 at the Oak Grove Methodist Church, 14700 S.E. Rupert Drive. Instructors: Susan Scovil and members of the Spontaneous Combustion improv troupe. The fee is $100 for five classes and a showcase performance is set for Feb. 12. Register by email at mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
TEEN ART CONTEST: The Libraries in Clackamas County invite interested teens to submit original artwork for the fifth annual Teen Summer Reading Artwork contest. The contest begins today and submissions are welcome until Jan. 31. For more information, contest rules and an entry form, go to lincc.org and click on "Library Events" or get a form at any of the 13 libraries in the county.
Friday, Jan. 3
JOHN MUNGER MEMORIAL JAZZ BAND: It's a perfect opportunity to practice dance steps from noon-2 p.m. at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive. Free.
Monday, Jan. 6
A TIME TO WRITE: Start a writing project in this free, informal writing circle that meets from 4-7 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St. Also Jan. 20.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
ART LAB: All are invited to make self-portraits at this event from 2-4 p.m. at the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St.
Ongoing:
STEVENS-CRAWFORD HERITAGE HOUSE: The house has reopened, and visitors are welcome from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 603 Sixth St., Oregon City. Call 503-655-2866 for more information.
BINGO: Play bingo and help support Meals on Wheels on Thursdays at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive. Early birds start at 6:30 p.m. Regular games start at 7 p.m. Interested in volunteering? Call 971-303-0418.
ROTARY CLUB: The Gladstone-Oak Lodge Rotary Club meets from noon-1 p.m. Thursdays at the Gladstone Senior Center, 1050 Portland Ave. All are welcome.
GLADSTONE LIBRARY STORYTIMES: The Gladstone Library hosts four weekly storytimes at 135 E. Dartmouth St. Toddler storytime takes place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays; baby storytime is at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays; and all-ages storytime is at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.
OREGON CITY LIBRARY STORYTIMES: The Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St., offers storytimes for toddlers (ages 1 and 2) at 10:15 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays; Music & Movement Storytimes (up to age 5) at 10:15 and 11 a.m. Thursdays; and Preschool Connection storytimes for 3- to 5-year-olds at 10:15 a.m. Fridays.
AMERICAN MAH-JONGG: Learn to play American mah-jongg from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays at the Pioneer Adult Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City. Free.
OLDTIME FIDDLERS: Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers' Association hosts a free dance music jam from 1-4 p.m. on first Saturdays at the Sunnyside Grange, 13130 S.E. Sunnyside Road. Everyone is invited to come and join to play, or just listen, dance or sing. Fiddle teachers are available for the first part of the afternoon.
OAK LODGE STORYTIMES: The Oak Lodge Library hosts three different storytimes at 16201 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd., Oak Grove. Babies and toddler storytime takes place at 11 a.m. Mondays; all-ages storytimes take place at 11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
SUPPORT GROUP: The Open Minds Art Studio meets from 1:30-4 p.m. Thursdays at the NAMI Clackamas Office.
NAMI CONNECTIONS: NAMI Connections meets from 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-7:30 p.m. Sundays at Kaiser Brookside, 10180 S.E. Sunnyside Road.
BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Oregon City Public Library Used Bookstore, 814 Seventh St., offers a 10% discount to seniors age 55 and older on Mondays.
SQUARE DANCING: All square dancers are invited to join the Bachelor 'n' Bachelorettes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Abernethy Grange, 15745 S. Harley Ave., Oregon City. For questions, call 503-654-9141.
SQUARE DANCING: Join the River City Dancers at 7 p.m. on the second and third Saturdays of each month at the Milwaukie Community Club, 10666 S.E. 42nd Ave. Free Sunday beginner classes for those age 12 and up start at 6 p.m. Sept. 8.
BINGO: Bingo for those 21 and over is played at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Oregon City Elks Lodge No. 1189, 610 McLoughlin Blvd.
TOPS MEETINGS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly groups meet 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at the Kairos-Milwaukie United Church of Christ, 4790 S.E. Logus Road; at 9:30 a.m. Fridays at St. Stephen Church, 290 W. Gloucester St., Gladstone; and 6-8 p.m. Mondays in the Clairmont Mobile Home Park meeting room, 13531 Clairmont Way, Oregon City.
BEAUTIFUL BABIES: This group for parents of mobile babies and young toddlers meets from 6-8 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Gladstone Center for Children & Families, 18905 Portland Ave. Call 503-367-9116 for details. Free dinner and childcare.
TERRIFIC TODDLERS: This group is for parents with children 2 to 3 years old. It meets every second Thursday of the month at the Gladstone Center for Children & Families, 18905 Portland Ave. Call 503-367-9116 for details. Free dinner and childcare.
GROWING UP: This group is for parents who have children 3-6 years old. It meets every third Thursday of the month at the Gladstone Center for Children & Families, 18905 Portland Ave. Call 503-367-9116 for details. Free dinner and childcare.
ALL ABOUT MEMORY: This program focuses on teaching techniques to improve mental fitness by using memory enhancing and retaining activities. It meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive. For additional information, application process and scheduled fees, call 503-653-8100 and speak with Abby or Lisa.
TECH HELP: One-on-one computer and technology help is available by appointment from noon-4 p.m. Saturdays at the Gladstone Public Library. To schedule a half-hour appointment, call 503-656-2411, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or visit the library at 135 E. Dartmouth St. Weekday appointments can be arranged if needed.
TECH CONNECT: One-on-one technology assistance is available by appointment only from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the Oregon City Library. Call 503-657-8269, ext. 1017, to set up an appointment.
SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: This group meets from 2-4 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of the month at the NAMI Clackamas Office, 10202 S.E. 32nd Ave., Milwaukie. Call 503-344-5050 for details.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: This group meets from 2-5 p.m. Sundays at the Oregon City Library.
SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST: Enjoy breakfast from 9 a.m.-noon Sundays at the Milwaukie American Legion Post, 2146 S.E. Monroe St. The event supports veterans and local community activities. Prices range from $3 for children to $7+ for adults.
CHARITY BINGO: The community is invited to play bingo from 3-5 p.m. Sundays at the Milwaukie American Legion Post, 2146 S.E. Monroe St.
FITNESS: This free REFIT fitness class takes place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City.
GET MOVING: The Oregon City Walking Group (getthinspired.me) meets at 9:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City. All ages and speeds welcome.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: This group meets from 7-8 p.m. Mondays at Clackamas Park Friends Church, 8120 S.E. Thiessen Road, Milwaukie. For more information, call Margaret at 503-757-1943.
WAGON TONGUE TOASTMASTERS: All are welcome to learn to be a better public speaker with this supportive group. It meets from 12:05-12:50 p.m. Thursdays on the top floor of the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St. Contact Matthew Broderick, membership leader, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
MILWAUKIE TOASTMASTERS: The Milwaukie Talkies Toastmasters meets from 7:15-8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Oregonians Credit Union, 6915 S.E. Lake Road, Milwaukie. For more information, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
AMERICAN LEGION: All are welcome to attend Oregon City's American Legion meetings starting at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Pioneer Center, entering the lower level near Washington and Fifth streets. For more information, contact post Cmdr. Ed Mathews at 503-313-3395 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
AL-ANON: Friends and relatives of alcoholics meet from 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Oak Grove Methodist Church, 14700 S.E. Rupert Drive. For more information, call the Al-Anon Office at 503-292-1333.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: From noon-1 p.m. Thursdays, join the Overeaters Anonymous group in Oregon City in the religious education wing of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, 710 Sixth St. For more information, call 503-705-5599.
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT STORYTIME: Children up to age 5 are invited to this event from 10:15-11 a.m. Thursdays at the Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Children ages 3-6 are invited to this event at 10:15 a.m. Fridays at the Oregon City Library.
MAH-JONGG: Those who enjoy American mah-jongg are invited to play from 1-4 p.m. Fridays at the Happy Valley Library. Be sure to bring your 2018 National Mah-Jongg League cards.
MUSIC MAKERS: Singers in the Oregon City area are invited to join this group meeting from 10 a.m.-noon Fridays at the Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City. The cost is $30 per semester.
CURE: This organization that seeks to help people with incarcerated family members meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month (except the second Monday in September) at Abundant Life Church, 17241 S.E. Hemrich Road, Damascus. For more information, leave a message for Will Timberman at 503-757-7762 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . | Thursday, Jan. 2
Cards 1-4 p.m. at Wadena Senior Center.
MOPS (Mothers of preschoolers) meet, 9-11 a.m. at Wadena Alliance Church, 1428 Jefferson St. S.
Monday, Jan. 6
Cards 1-4 p.m. at Wadena Senior Center.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
Tri-County Health Care (TCHC) will host its monthly grief support group from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Wesley Conference Room, located in the lower level of TCHC in Wadena. For more information contact (218)631-5228.
Dance held at Wadena VFW, 1-4 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information call (218)639-0132.
Cards 1-4 p.m. at Wadena Senior Center.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
A senior health clinic sponsored by Wadena County Public Health will be held at Wadena County Public Health, 22 Dayton Ave. SE, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Health screening including blood pressure, foot care, health information and referrals are provided. There is a $20 fee for foot care. Bring your MN Health Plan card if you have one. Services are by appointment only. To make an appointment call Wadena County Public Health at 218-631-7629.
Thursday, Jan. 9
Wadena Whirlaways Square Dance Inc. group will be at the Wadena VFW; dancing will start at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Roger McNeil will be the caller and the theme is Oriental.
Tri-County Health Care (TCHC) and the National Alzheimer’s Association will host a Memory Loss Support Group for Caregivers meeting at 2:30 p.m. in the Wesley conference room in the lower level of Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. This group seeks to show caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia that they are not alone, and broaden their skills to better care for and understand their loved ones dealing with memory loss. For more information contact TCHC’s Medical Social Services at 218-631-5228 or visit TCHC.org.
Other/Upcoming Events
Wadena’s Community Dinner will be held on Jan. 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 403 2nd St. SE. This will be a Turkey dinner. No cost, all are welcome. Serving from 4:30-6 p.m.
Standing dates
Celebrate Recovery program will be held at the Verndale Family Life Church, 402 Clark Dr. NE, from 6-8 p.m. every Sunday. Childcare available if needed. For more information please call (218) 445-5568.
SAIL (Stay Active & Independent for Life) is offering classes to improve strength, balance and fitness for seniors. Classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Verndale Fire Hall Mtg. Room, 101 S. Brown St., Verndale. For information and to register, contact Sheila Stave 218-632-3600.
Weight Watchers--weigh in at 5 p.m., meeting at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Maslowski Wellness and Research Center--17 5th St. SW. If you have questions please contact Jeannie.A.Stromberg@weightwatchers.com .
. Alcoholics Anonymous open meetings - Sunday and Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Friday, noon; every night at 8 p.m., all at 421 NW Fourth St., Wadena. For more information, call (218)631-3828.
Narcotics anonymous meetings - 8 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday at 421 NW Fourth St., Wadena. For more information, call (218)631-3828.
Al-Anon - 9:30 a.m. Saturday; noon Wednesday, 421 NW Fourth St., Wadena. For more information, call (218)631-3828.
Alcoholics Anonymous, closed meetings - Fridays at 8 p.m., Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Verndale, 106 Thompson St. SW.
Dual Recovery Anonymous meetings - Fridays, 4 p.m., Northern Pines Mental Health Center, Inc., Wadena. For more information, call (218)631-1714.
Wellness in the Woods Peer Connection meetings, Fridays at 1 p.m. at 318 Jefferson St. S, Suite 3.
The Sebeka Food Shelf is open Thursday evenings from 5-7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Sebeka. Contact Kay Oehlenschlager at (218)472-3288 if you have any questions.
Wood carvers invited to carve personal projects from 1-3 p.m. every Thursday at the Wadena Senior Center. Call (218)631-4077 for more information.
Chess Club, 6-8 p.m. every Thursday, Wadena City Library.
TOPS MN 9087 - every Wednesday, weigh-in 6:30 p.m., meeting 7:30 p.m., lower level of the Wadena VFW.
Wadena City Library story time, every Wednesday at 10 a.m., stories and fun for toddlers, preschoolers and parents, too.
TOPS MN 1808, every Wednesday, weigh-in 10 a.m., meeting at 10:30 a.m., Humphrey Manor Community Room. | 2.333333 |
The founder of New Zealand charitable foundation Make Give Live was shocked to see royal baby Archie wearing one of their hats in a new photo.
New Zealand social enterprise Make Give Live has been overwhelmed with orders since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a photo of their baby, Archie, wearing one of its beanies yesterday.
"The orders are just flying in like crazy," said Claire Conza, who co-founded Make Give Live three years ago alongside her business partner Becky Smith.
"I'm getting multiple orders a second. We'd made thousands of dollars before 8am this morning and we've sold out of all the stock that we had of that style (the Cocobear)."
SUSSEXROYAL / INSTAGRAM In the picture posted as part of the Sussexes' New Years Message, Archie wears a hat made by Kiwi social enterprise Make Give Live.
A person involved with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's tour to New Zealand last year approached Make Give Live for a hat to gift to the royal couple while the Duchess of Sussex was pregnant with Archie.
READ MORE:
* Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex share new picture of Archie
* Tiny home let Mum keep loneliness-busting social enterprise running
* Prince Harry reveals that baby Archie inherited his famous red hair
* Help needed to distribute nearly 2000 woolly hats to kids in need
* Handmade beanies for people in need
At the time, however, Conza wasn't even sure if the Sussexes would receive the hat due to strict rules around what kinds of gifts the royal family can accept.
"I'd kind of almost forgotten about it until yesterday," she confessed.
MATTHEW CATTIN/FAIRFAX NZ Make Give Live founder Claire Conza was as surprised as anyone to see Archie wearing one of her hats.
She thought Make Give Live, which aims to tackle isolation and mental illness by bringing people together to knit and crochet hats and other items, one of which is then donated to charity for each item sold, would appeal to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex because of their commitment to mental health advocacy.
But she "never imagined" that they would give her little social enterprise such a huge global platform.
"I almost can't even comprehend what it means," she said.
The rush of orders came as a particular surprise because up until now Make Give Live had been focusing on building a wholesale business rather than online sales.
So this morning, Conza had kicked into action.
She had purchased literally all the wool that her supplier had available, which was about 400 balls, or around 600 beanies' worth.
"I don't think it's really going to make a dent though," Conza admitted.
Her other challenge was finding enough knitters to fulfil 200 per cent of all of the orders - one for the customer and one for charity.
Make Give Live currently has 125 people working in 11 groups, but Conza there were also about 200 people who were on waiting lists, wanting to get involved.
Supplied The Make Give Live "Cocobear" beanie worn by Archie has now sold out.
And while the influx of orders had taken Make Give Live utterly by surprise, Conza was excited by the chance to expand the benefits of the social enterprise.
"We know from our makers how, in some cases, life-changing and life-saving it has been - something as simple as being in a group of people who care about each other and become like your family, and just enjoying the therapy of the knitting and crochet."
It could even present the opportunity to expand internationally, something Conza said she had been approached about before.
"Isolation and mental illness are global problems, and social connection and knitting and crochet are a global solution," she said. | There's more to the adorable Archie and his hat than meets the eye.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a video to their Instagram the day before the New Year which included a photo of their almost 8-month-old son wearing a pom-pom hat as he snuggles with his father.
The photo was reportedly taken during the recent Thanksgiving holiday.
Archie's hat doesn't just keep him warm, it also gives back to people in New Zealand (known as Kiwis), per People.
When you buy a hat from Make Give Live, which runs community-based knitting groups in New Zealand, one is given to a Kiwi in need, People reported. The women who knit the hats sign their names on the accompanying tags in an aim to give a personal touch to the item, according to Make Give Live's website. Hats for babies sell for $49 each, while the adult versions are $69.
Co-founder Claire Conza started the social enterprise in 2016, using knitting to ease isolation and improve mental health in New Zealand. People come together for a few hours to socialize and make the beanie hats.
SEE ALSO: Four generations of British royalty pose for Christmas pudding photos
The royal couple got involved with the cause during a trip to New Zealand in October 2018, when Markle was pregnant with Archie and was given a Make Give Live hat, People reported. The publication notes that the Duchess — clearly a fan — has already bought him more in larger sizes. | 3.5 |
Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton and Hove Albion on New Year's Day, after Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored a breathtaking equaliser late on for the hosts.
The Blues took the lead inside ten minutes, when Tammy Abraham's blocked shot fell to the feet of César Azpilicueta, who tapped home from close range. Leandro Trossard forced an excellent diving save from Kepa towards the end of the first half, as Frank Lampard's men went into the break ahead.
Brighton were the better team in the second half, and deservedly equalised with just under ten minutes left to play, when substitute Jahanbakhsh struck a stunning overhead kick to bag the Seagulls' first goal of the new decade.
The hosts almost snatched all three points at the death, but Kepa made an excellent stop to keep the scores level, and the spoils were shared.
Brighton
Key Talking Point
There's only one moment we can really talk about here. Jahanbakhsh has struggled to adapt to life in England since his heavily-anticipated move, and he has failed to hit the heights expected of him. So having waited 18 months to score his opening goal for Brighton, he then scored a second against Chelsea. And what a second it was.
As the ball dropped from the sky, there was a moment where time stood still, and the whole world watched and waited. And then, delirium.
Jahanbakhsh flung his legs into the air, and with a moment of sheer magic, he delivered the perfect overhead kick, wrong-footing Kepa and giving Brighton a vital point against Chelsea . Absolute class.
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Ryan (7); Montoya (7), Webster (7), Dunk (8), Burn (N/A); Bissouma (7), Pröpper (7); Trossard (9), Mooy (7), Alzate (7); Maupay (7)
Substitutes: Bernardo (7), Connolly (6), Jahanbakhsh (8)
STAR MAN - This guy is a real live-wire. Leandro Trossard struggled in the initial stages of the match - as did every Brighton player. But the change of shape really benefitted the Belgian winger, and he began to cause Chelsea's defence all sorts of problems.
The 25-year-old drifted inside, threading cute balls through to his teammates or twisting and tormenting his marker at every given opportunity. Trossard forced an excellent save from Kepa in the first half, and he grew into the game as his team upped the ante.
Although he may not be the most consistent player in the Premier League, Trossard is certainly one of the most exciting on his day, and he epitomises the change in style which Brighton are attempting to perfect.
Chelsea
Key Talking Point
Chelsea's superb away form has been much-talked about of late, but the Blues struggled in their 1-1 draw with Brighton. Lampard initially set his side up expertly, and their pressing game was nothing short of extraordinary. The hosts couldn't get out of their own half for large periods, and the Seagulls were forced into making some horrendous individual errors at the back by their rampant visitors.
But when opposing manager Potter re-jigged his Brighton side, Lampard had very little to offer and the Seagulls grew throughout the match to pick up a superb point. The Chelsea boss will ask questions of his team after this result, having seemed incapable of reacting to the switches made, and their naivety shone through again.
Youthful, but chaotic at times.
Player Ratings | What term do you want to search? Search with google | 4 |
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